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Nancy Armour's disastrous Caitlin Clark article exemplifies why sportswriting and sports media is failing
Caitlin Clark is the most popular player in the WNBA as a result of her talent, ability and flair for making shots few of her peers would think of attempting. She's also White. And for that reason alone, the vast majority of modern sportswriters or sports media personalities appear to hate her.
The latest example is Nancy Armour, a columnist for USA Today Sports, who put together one of the most bizarre, inexplicable, unacceptable articles you'll ever see attacking Clark. Some of her complaints about Clark's penchant for sometimes flopping or going after the officials are legitimate issues that the 24-year-old should address.
But other complaints? Well, let's just say Armour left the world of rationality far, far behind.
DAVE PORTNOY BLASTS USA TODAY COLUMNIST FOR CLAIMING CAITLIN CLARK’S REFEREE COMPLAINTS FUEL RACISM
She stated that Clark arguing calls puts "Black" and "queer" WNBA players "in danger." Even though Clark herself has often been aggressively fouled or mistreated, with little protection from the league's officials. She brought up examples of contact that she claims Clark exaggerated, then blames her for certain fans sending inappropriate and offensive messages to WNBA players. Even though Clark has never, and would never, encourage that behavior. In fact, she did the opposite, saying in 2024 that fans should not use her to push racism or harass opposing players.
But all that pales in comparison to the profoundly absurd comparison to Emmett Till. What does Till, a 14-year-old Black teen who was abducted, tortured and eventually lynched in 1955 Mississippi after an accusation by a White woman, have to do with Caitlin Clark? Well, because Clark's "actions" are supposedly influencing, uh, lynching? Seriously.
"The WNBA's All-Star Game this weekend is in Chicago, Emmett Till's hometown, and a local art gallery is currently hosting an exhibit imagining his life if he hadn't been lynched. While it’s incumbent on the WNBA to do more to protect its players, there also should be an expectation on Clark to recognize the wider consequences of her actions," Armour wrote.
Caitlin Clark telling officials she's been fouled on a basketball court can lead to "consequences" like Emmett Till, is the implication. This paragraph grabbed so much attention for its idiocy and offensive premise that Armour issued an apology at the ancestral home of sportswriter liberalism, BlueSky, saying it was an "inartful comparison."
No kidding. OutKick reached out to the Emmett Till Foundation to see if they had any comment about Armour trying to tie Caitlin Clark to a lynch mob, but as of time of publishing, had not received a response.
Armour has a long history of ludicrous columns, including one just before the start of the 2026 World Cup claiming that the U.S. had already "lost" because of President Donald Trump, or something. But she's just a symptom of a larger problem. Sportswriting and sports media is broken. Consumed by politics. Unable to cover things objectively, fairly, or without injecting their own personal beliefs where it doesn't belong.
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There are countless examples, and it's cost employers ratings, revenue and prestige. Ryan Clark, now formerly of ESPN. Mina Kimes. Jemele Hill. Essentially the entire staff of The Athletic. Los Angeles Times writers who have pushed far-left ideology on Dodgers fans and demanded their local team avoid visiting the White House. The Ringer. Remember the reaction and outrage from many sports media personalities when the US Men's National Hockey Team won the gold medal and laughed at a joke made by President Trump? They "failed to meet the cultural moment." Or didn't "read the room."
How many media figures asked Steve Kerr about his disregard for the truth with ICE-involved shootings in Minnesota, other than OutKick? Or Doc Rivers? How many in sports media criticized teams visiting the Biden White House to celebrate their titles? What about Sophie Cunningham? After she bravely spoke out to defend women's sports, she was immediately peppered with questions from a furious WNBA press unable to comprehend someone telling the truth about biology.
Nancy Armour is just one in a long, long line of sportswriters who are so consumed with progressive politics and injecting it into every story, every situation, every athlete, that they can't stop even when audiences or readers beg them to. Comparing Caitlin Clark to Emmett Till might sound unreasonable or even insane for most readers. But that's how Armour thinks. And the worst part is, it's not just her. It's all of them.
The woke left captured the Smithsonian. America needs a patriot to take it back
Contrary to what some on the right may believe, we are not winning the war against DEI placements and promotions, and we are not winning the war against the greater "Woke" ideology. Both have been placed in faux hibernation by a far-left playing the long game.
Actually, the game may not turn out to be that long at all. Many on the left are planning to double and triple-down on the "Woke" gameplan should the Democrats take back part or all of Congress in November and the White House in 2028.
Should you need a very recent reminder of how insidious and embedded DEI appointments combined with the "Woke" theology can be, I encourage you to watch the smug and condescending testimony given by National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig in response to a number of sane and pragmatic questions asked of her by Congressman Brandon Gill of Texas. While Gill put on a masterclass on exposing merit and nation-destroying "wokism," I can assure you that the seemingly self-righteous and arrogant Hartig was mentally drumming her fingers while thinking: "We are just going to wait you and the Trump administration out and then reinstall "Woke" and DEI across the government and private sector spectrum."
One of the most dangerous programs Congressman Gill exposed was something called the "MASS Action Toolkit." MASS standing for "Museums as Sites for Social Action." A far-left, anti-Trump propaganda narrative created by museum professionals around 2017 to turn their workplaces into hubs of woke activism and "resistance." The Smithsonian staff heavily promoted it as part of their DEI initiatives.
The obvious question then becomes how best to combat a war that we are losing. First, acknowledge we are losing. Next, see the strategy of the left for what it is. They are playing the "wait you out" game. Next, pick high profile battlefields subverted by the left and decisively win back that terrain.
And with that strategy in mind, I can think of no better place than the Smithsonian. The greater museum of the American people has been deeply infiltrated by the left. They have, year-by-year, step-by-step, turned it into a toxic cauldron for "Social Justice."
WATCH: ‘SHOCKING’ BEN FRANKLIN SMEAR LEAVES SMITHSONIAN CHIEF WITH ‘NO REGRETS’
President Trump has the power to help reverse that. While he can’t directly appoint someone as the head of the Smithsonian, he can exert sustained pressure on the 17-Member Board of Regents to make it happen.
And he does need to make it happen as fast as humanly possible.
To millions in our nation and billions around the world, the Smithsonian Institution is the face of "America." It hosts over 20 million visitors per year while also "educating" over 20 million students per year. It is one of our nation’s most important megaphones and no one understands that better than the woke, Socialist and Marxist subversives who have infiltrated every building and hallway within the institution.
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They view the Smithsonian Institution as one of the greatest tools at their disposal to indoctrinate American citizens and global visitors against the values and traditions first articulated by our Founding Fathers and then outlined in our founding documents. I say that as one who authored a book titled: "The 56 – Liberty Lessons from those who risked all to sign The Declaration of Independence." A book with the express purpose of protecting our Founding Fathers from the smears and cancellation by the left.
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But I also say that as one who – as with the fight against wokism and DEI – believes we are losing the battle to protect the names and reputations of men such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Just as we are losing the battle to prevent the far-left from erasing and then "reinventing" our shared American history.
The Smithsonian Institution being "Ground Zero" for the vilification of our nation and those who strongly believe in its exceptionalism. It is for that reason that I believe we need a high-profile "America First" name to take over that institution and proclaim: "The cancellation of our Founding Fathers and the reinvention of our American history ends now. Today."
President Trump must find a new leader for "The Nation’s Attic." One who does recognize the courage, sacrifice and genius of our Founding Fathers and one who does deeply believe in our exceptionalism.
An American Patriot who will step into the Smithsonian Institution and on day one, begin to throw out the far-left garbage filling every nook and cranny of those buildings. He or she should do so as if our very future depends upon it. Because it does.
Trump turns to 'zombie' court after Boasberg pointed to it in deportation fight
The Trump administration is moving to deport an unnamed illegal immigrant suspected of terrorism through the long-dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), which has never heard a single case.
The Justice Department filed its first-ever application for a removal order with the court on July 15, marking the first attempt in the court's nearly 30-year history to invoke a little-known law allowing the government to deport noncitizens suspected of terrorism through a specialized judicial process that relies on sealed classified evidence. If successful, the administration could revive what legal scholars have called a "zombie" court as a powerful new tool for removing suspected terrorists.
"This Department of Justice will use every tool available to bring alien terrorists to justice and remove them from the United States, including by use of this court established by Congress in 1996," a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The move also comes months after Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., pointed to the long-dormant Alien Terrorist Removal Court as an alternative for handling terrorism-related deportation cases while questioning the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act.
"In fact, Congress has an answer for us, doesn't it? Because they created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court," Boasberg said during a March hearing. "So if there's a national security concern with having these hearings, whether via habeas or otherwise, you can always go to the ATRC, which would be a first, but that's what it's there for, right?"
Boasberg made the comments while presiding over litigation challenging the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He temporarily blocked the administration from using the wartime law for those removals while the courts determine whether Trump's use of the statute is lawful. Boasberg also ordered deportation flights already in the air to return, setting off a high-profile legal battle between the administration and the judiciary.
Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow at Advancing American Freedom, told Fox News Digital that it was about time the Justice Department took advantage of this special court.
"I think it is a sign of negligence, frankly, of prior presidents that they did not use this special court, this special procedure that was specifically set up by Congress, so that they could quickly get aliens — aliens who were either terrorists or supported terrorist activities — out of the U.S." von Spakovsky said.
BIDEN JUDGE OVERRULED ON KEY TRUMP IMMIGRATION POLICY
The one-page sealed application contained virtually no information, leaving out the person's identity, the alleged conduct, and the specific section of the anti-terrorism law the Justice Department cited.
After hearing arguments from Justice Department officials, ATRC Chief Judge Joan N. Erickson, appointed by President George W. Bush, requested additional information before proceedings could continue.
"The Court had questions about the nexus that the government alleges between the actions of the respondent and the specific sections and subsections it invokes with respect to those actions," Erickson wrote.
"The answers persuaded the Court that the Government could benefit from the opportunity for more thoughtful consideration," Erickson continued.
Erickson gave the Justice Department until Wednesday to respond with additional documentation.
Congress created the ATRC through the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996.
"From now on we can quickly expel foreigners who dare to come to America and support terrorist activities," Clinton said at the bill's signing.
The court is made up of five federal district judges who serve five-year terms. It handles terrorism-related deportation cases where the government says its evidence cannot be made public because it would threaten national security. In those cases, the government provides the respondent with an unclassified summary instead of the classified evidence itself.
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At the time of the law's passage, then Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., blasted the law.
"You and me, Judge — me, the prosecutor; you, the judge — let's deport him in a secret hearing, using secret evidence," Biden said. "We know you did it, and we can't tell you how we know. Now I think that is about as un-American as it gets."
According to the 9/11 Commission staff report, DOJ attorneys considered 50 cases by 1998 and another 50 over the next two years, but every one was rejected. Some terrorism-related cases moved forward through the regular immigration court system instead.
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The Justice Department's case before the ATRC comes as the Trump administration has repeatedly faced resistance from federal judges, who have blocked, delayed or narrowed key parts of its immigration enforcement agenda.
Von Spakovsky said the Justice Department's use of the ATRC could not only streamline terrorism-related deportation cases but also reduce interference from what he described as "rogue" liberal judges.
"I think this court is a much stronger tool the Justice Department can use, and it's going to make it much tougher for what I consider to be rogue judges to interfere with, and hopefully prevent, the removal of immigrants," von Spakovsky said.
Americans are paying people to wait in line for TikTok-famous food
People desperate to try viral food items are going so far as to pay others to wait in line for them at shops and restaurants.
Line sitting, also called line waiting or line standing, has been a common practice in big cities like Los Angeles and New York, where people pay others to wait in line for tickets, the latest iPhone or a table at a popular restaurant, Eater reported.
The practice is more popular now than ever because of social media, Robert Samuel, a professional line sitter and founder of the professional line-waiting company Same Ole Line Dudes in New York, told Eater.
RESTAURANTS ARE SELLING GOURMET BURGERS SO POPULAR THEY HAVE TO CAP ORDERS
"It’s always been a thing, but I think social media makes it bigger than it used to be," Samuel said.
"That's why there's more people out there doing it. I blame TikTok more than any other platform."
One of the earliest viral food crazes to fuel Samuel's business was the cronut – a revolutionary pastry that combines a croissant with a doughnut.
"We had a client who wanted to impress these businesspeople visiting from Japan," he told Eater. "They wanted to close a deal with something they'd never seen before, and I guess that was cronuts. They sent six of our [line sitters] to get a dozen, because you can only buy so many per person at a time."
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Today, Samuel said Same Ole Line Dudes employs about 35 line sitters who take requests in New York and beyond "for anything that requires a wait."
Dot cakes from Manhattan's Butterfield Market have taken social media by storm. They're single-serving cakes topped with a thick layer of icing and covered with tiny sprinkles called nonpareils.
The colorful cakes have become a viral sensation on TikTok and Instagram, with customers posting videos of long lines outside the Upper East Side grocery store.
"We had a customer who wanted two [dot cakes] of every flavor, so she hired five line sitters," Samuel told Eater.
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Same Ole Line Dudes requires customers to book a minimum of two hours for $50. It charges $25 for each additional hour and $15 for a half-hour add-on, according to the company's website. Rates vary depending on inclement weather, rush orders and the type of service.
TaskRabbit is another company that connects people with line sitters, and there are more than 4,900 line-sitting "taskers" available in New York City, Eater reported.
"People are chasing the high of novel new things and experiences, and food always seems to be at the center of that, particularly when there's an exclusivity angle to it," David Henkes, senior principal and head of strategic partnerships for Chicago-based food service consultant firm Technomic, told Fox News Digital.
"Largely, I suspect, due to social media, but regardless, this trend of line sitting reflects this continued consumer demand for newness, while also exposing the realities of the economy today," Henkes added.
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"People are time-strapped and, particularly [those with] higher incomes, are willing to pay more for experiences but don't want to go through the hassle of waiting. Obviously, not everyone can afford sitters, so this is really mostly for those with money but not time, widening small gaps in access to cool experiences."
Fox News Digital's News Quiz: July 24, 2026
Test your news knowledge with this week's Fox News Digital News Quiz, featuring allegations of financial hardship tied to the Obama Center project, and a musician's political remarks.
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The acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing and a raging Yellowstone National Park bison are featured in last week's News Quiz.
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Is Israel really isolated? Polls and diplomacy point in opposite directions
President Donald Trump predicted in recent days that additional countries would soon join the Abraham Accords, renewing debate over whether Israel is becoming increasingly isolated or continuing to expand its most important strategic relationships.
"The Abraham Accords have been, I think, a tremendous success," Trump said during a Tuesday Oval Office meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. "I think you’re going to see a lot of countries joining pretty soon."
Trump's prediction underscores a central debate about Israel's global position: Public support for the country has fallen sharply in the United States and across much of the world, yet Israel continues to build or preserve diplomatic, military, energy and technology relationships with foreign governments.
TRUMP CALLS ON ARAB NATIONS TO SIGN ABRAHAM ACCORDS
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the Trump administration in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sunday. Trump has made expanding the agreements a central goal of his Middle East strategy.
The dispute depends partly on how isolation is measured. Critics point to worsening public opinion, pressure at international institutions and growing opposition among Democrats and younger voters. Israeli officials and conservative foreign-policy experts argue that government-to-government cooperation remains strong and, in some regions, is expanding.
Trump reinforced that strategy Thursday by saying a U.S. civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia would depend on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords. The statement showed the administration attempting to use one of Washington’s most valuable offers to Riyadh to secure normalization with Israel, but it did not demonstrate that Saudi Arabia had agreed to do so.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon rejected the contention that Israel had become isolated.
"The claim that Israel is an isolated country is simply not true," Danon told Fox News Digital. "While the campaign to dismantle the Hamas terrorist organization has drawn international criticism, Israel’s relationships with other countries have not weakened. They have evolved."
Former White House national security official Richard Goldberg similarly argued that Israel retains strong support among conservatives and that its electoral gains are translating into closer government relations.
"Polling in the United States shows massive support among conservatives and Republicans, including self-described MAGA, for Israel still," Goldberg told Fox News Digital. "And that’s reflected around the world, particularly among conservative candidates and parties that win elected office right now."
Goldberg pointed to political changes in Latin America, expanding partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean and Israel’s continuing defense and technology relationships as evidence that public criticism has not translated into comprehensive strategic isolation.
The dispute comes amid polling that shows Israel retaining deep support among Republicans while losing ground across the broader American electorate and much of the world.
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Eighty percent of self-identified MAGA Republicans said Israel’s security matters to U.S. security and prosperity, a Reagan Institute survey released in June found, while 73% supported sending Israel U.S. weapons. Among MAGA Republicans under 30, 63% said Israel’s security matters to the United States and 60% supported sending weapons.
The same survey found that broader support was narrowing. Sixty-five percent of Americans said Israel’s security matters to U.S. security and prosperity, down six percentage points from a year earlier.
The figure fell nine points among Democrats to 57%, compared with 75% of Republicans and 80% of MAGA Republicans.
A Pew Research Center survey published in June found that a median of 67% of adults across 36 countries viewed Israel unfavorably, while 25% viewed it favorably. The findings came from Pew’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey.
In the United States, 60% of adults viewed Israel unfavorably, up from 53% in 2025 and 42% in 2022, according to a separate Pew survey conducted March 23 to March 29. Eighty percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents held an unfavorable view, while negative assessments were also widespread among adults under 50.
Israel no longer held a statistically significant advantage over the Palestinians in Americans’ sympathies, Gallup reported in February. Forty-one percent said they sympathized more with the Palestinians and 36% with the Israelis, although Gallup said the five-point difference was not statistically significant.
In 2023, 54% sympathized more with Israelis and 31% with Palestinians.
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel highlighted that erosion during a July 8 speech at Tel Aviv University.
"Support for Israel around the world is declining," Emanuel said, "The only diplomatic achievement Israel has secured in the past three years is Somaliland."
THE US-ISRAEL STRATEGIC ALLIANCE – PARTNERSHIP, NOT CHARITY
Emanuel’s conclusion focuses on Israel’s declining public legitimacy and its strained position in traditional diplomatic institutions. Goldberg and Danon argue that it overlooks expanding government-to-government relationships built around defense, intelligence, energy, technology and trade.
Goldberg pointed in particular to Latin America, where he said newly elected conservative governments have made closer ties with Israel an early priority.
"Every time a government in South America right now flips from left wing to right wing, one of the first things they do is reestablish better relations with Israel, withdraw recognition of a Palestinian state and see what else they can do to make Israel a strategic partner," Goldberg said.
He cited Argentina under President Javier Milei and the proposed "Isaac Accords," along with political changes in Chile, Colombia and Bolivia, as evidence of a broader realignment.
Goldberg also argued that Israel remains central to emerging partnerships involving energy, defense, intelligence and critical infrastructure.
"If you’re in the Eastern Mediterranean and you’re Greece and you are Cyprus, you’re thinking about how do we work with Israel to make the Eastern Mediterranean partnership even stronger," he said. "If you’re Armenia and Azerbaijan in a tough neighborhood between Turkey and Iran, you’re talking to Israel, you’re getting closer to Israel."
Israel, Greece and Cyprus reaffirmed their strategic partnership during a trilateral summit in December 2025, agreeing to expand cooperation in energy, security, emergency preparedness and regional connectivity.
Danon said the diplomatic shift is visible even inside the United Nations, an institution where Israel routinely faces critical resolutions and public condemnation.
"We see this every day in the corridors of the United Nations," he said. "While many South American countries were once highly critical of Israel in recent years, we are now cooperating with many of them. These discussions are happening in public and behind the scenes."
"As Israel’s official representative to the United Nations, I regularly meet with ambassadors from around the world, including from Arab countries, to quietly advance initiatives where we share common interests," Danon said.
Danon went further than Goldberg in assessing Israel’s position since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks and the subsequent war.
"Compared to the period before October 7th, Israel is in a far stronger geostrategic position," Danon said. "That is reflected not only in regional developments but also in the country’s diplomatic relationships around the world."
The competing evidence suggests that much of the disagreement depends on how isolation is defined.
Israel may be losing public support and influence in traditional international institutions while simultaneously preserving or expanding government-to-government cooperation in defense, technology, intelligence, energy and agriculture.
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Goldberg acknowledged that relationships driven by conservative political victories could become vulnerable when governments change.
But he argued that Israel is increasingly building relationships around durable national interests rather than political ideology alone.
The central risk for Israel is that today’s collapse in public opinion could eventually reshape tomorrow’s government policies. Conservative governments may currently protect and expand strategic ties, but younger voters and left-wing parties could alter those relationships after future elections.
Israel is scheduled to hold national elections Oct. 27, the country’s first since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Goldberg argued that a change in Israel’s government would provide a test of whether international opposition is directed primarily at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or at Israel itself.
"If there is somebody else who becomes prime minister next, we will have to evaluate," Goldberg said. "Those very loud detractors of Israel who right now use Netanyahu as their symbol for bashing and say it’s not about Israel, it’s about Netanyahu, they’ll be put to the test very quickly."
He noted that the boycott movement and anti-Israel campus organizations remained active during the previous government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, when Netanyahu was not prime minister.
"Is their hatred and venom really just about Bibi Netanyahu, or is it fundamentally about a Jewish state that they don’t like existing?" Goldberg asked.
For now, both realities appear to be unfolding at once: Israel remains a sought-after military, intelligence and technology partner for a growing group of governments, while its support among the global public has fallen to levels that could eventually threaten those relationships.
WATCH: Cory Mills blasts DOJ probe as ‘political op' ahead of Florida primary
Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., is forcefully denying reports that he is under criminal investigation by the Justice Department, claiming the allegations are part of a politically-motivated effort to damage his reelection campaign weeks before Florida's Republican primary.
"If you also read the rest of the reports, it never says that the DOJ or the FBI has ever said there's an investigation," Mills told Fox News Digital. "All it ever says is that a source claims the following."
A source familiar told Fox News that the DOJ is investigating Mills, but did not specify exactly what he is being investigated for. ABC News later reported, citing additional sources, that the investigation is tied at least in part to Mills' finances.
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But Mills denies that neither the DOJ or FBI have ever reached out to him about any probe.
"I have no indication," Mills said about being contacted about an investigation. "No one's ever reached out to us. And the DOJ, FBI themselves have never even confirmed such an investigation exists.
The Florida Republican claimed that the timing of the unsubstantiated allegation indicates that the claim comes from one of his opponents in the upcoming race to fill a House seat representing Florida’s 7th Congressional District.
"This is clearly a political op by our opponents and they're hoping that within four weeks left to go that they can use this to try and slander my name a little bit further," Mills said.
"It's ‘source on the inside with knowledge,’" Mills said. "Well, if it's a source on the inside with knowledge then why can't they give the details of what exactly they're supposed to be investigating?"
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There are three candidates running against Mills in Florida’s upcoming Republican primary — former newscaster Ryan Elijah, former Defense Department official Michael Johnson and former business executive Sarah Ulrich. Mills’ main competitor in the race is Elijah.
The DOJ probe claims come as the House Ethics Committee currently has a separate investigation open on Mills. He is being investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct and dating violence, along with violations of his campaign finances.
Mills was accused of domestic abuse in an incident in Feb. 2025. He was also accused of blackmail later that same year, alleging he threatened to release a romantic partner’s explicit pictures.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., filed a motion to expel Mills in April, also on claims of sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations but additionally including misrepresenting his military service and unlawful involvement in federal contracts while serving in Congress.
RESIGNATION IS THE NEW ESCAPE HATCH AS LAWMAKERS FACE EXPULSION
Mills has denied any allegations of wrongdoings in all three efforts against him.
The House Ethics investigation began in Nov 2025, and it has not been specified when it will end.
Mills was first elected to serve in the House in 2022 and was re-elected in 2024, now serving on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees. He is seeking a third House term.
Florida’s primary race is set to take place Aug. 18.
Trump heads back to correspondents’ dinner months after gunfire forced evacuation
President Donald Trump will return to the stage Friday to deliver remarks at a rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association dinner at the Waldorf Astoria, just months after gunfire abruptly ended the organization’s annual banquet.
"In April, President Trump promised to finish the job and plan another WHCA Dinner, and on Friday, he will deliver on that promise. We look forward to a great and fun evening celebrating 250 years of American greatness and a free press," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital.
Trump attended the original dinner in April during the nation’s 250th-anniversary year. He skipped the event throughout his first term amid repeated clashes with the press. This month's dinner is expected to be a night of unity with a more intimate guest list after the April dinner devolved into chaos.
"This dinner will not only be an opportunity to carry out our program. It will be a statement that violence has no place in American life and a free press will not be intimidated into silence. As you have all demonstrated, courage and community can and should rise above," Weijia Jiang, president of The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), said when the new date was announced.
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES EVENT BEING RESCHEDULED AFTER SHOOTING
The annual dinner has historically been held at the Washington Hilton. Chaos, however, broke out at this year’s banquet when an armed suspect, Cole Allen, stormed the event in what authorities say was an attempt to assassinate the president.
The incident prompted Secret Service agents to rush the president and first lady from the room as guests scrambled for cover, abruptly ending the dinner.
The WHCA will honor U.S. Secret Service Officer Victor Gonzales during Friday's dinner in recognition of his actions in helping stop an armed suspect from entering the ballroom, WHCA announced in a press release Tuesday.
Gonzales was at a security checkpoint when Cole tried to burst through the Washington Hilton.
"The WHCA is deeply grateful that law enforcement officials prevented the armed suspect from entering the ballroom," said Jiang.
"Officer Gonzales played a significant role when he ran toward danger so that thousands of others could make it home safely. His courage stemmed from a dedication to service, which we are looking forward to honoring this week," she added.
While first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not be in attendance due to prior commitments, many Cabinet officials will be present.
FBI Director Kash Patel, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among those attending.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman will return as entertainment for the guests.
The April dinner drew dozens of anti-war protesters outside the Washington Hilton as the conflict with Iran dominated headlines, and similar demonstrations could greet attendees Friday as U.S. military operations continue.
The event also comes as Trump has used a string of high-profile speeches to highlight his administration's priorities, including a primetime address last week on election security.
Speaking after the April dinner was cut short, Trump said he hoped the event would be held again and previewed a less combative tone for his eventual remarks. He said he had been prepared to "really rip" the press but decided that delivering such a speech after the shooting would have been inappropriate.
"I think I’m going to be probably very nice. I’ll be very boring the next time. But we’re going to have a great event," Trump said.
Governor blames activists in Nolan Wells case for ‘stoking division,’ official says FBI probing threats
MISSISSIPPI – The FBI is investigating threats against the people who were with Nolan Wells in the hours before the Mississippi teen vanished and was found dead, one of the state's top law enforcement officials says.
Wells, 18, disappeared July 4 after joining friends on a boat trip to Horn Island, a barrier island off Mississippi's Gulf Coast. Search crews scoured the area for two days before a National Park Service ranger found his remains on the island's northwestern tip on July 6.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said Wednesday that the FBI is investigating threats made against public officials, the people who were with Wells before he vanished and their families. Tindell made the comments on Mississippi Public Broadcasting's "The Sit Down" hosted by Magnolia Tribune Founder and CEO Russ Latino.
NOLAN WELLS' HOMETOWN OFFICIALS RALLY BEHIND SHERIFF AFTER 'DERELICT IN THEIR DUTIES' ATTACK
"I'm sure state law enforcement and, the FBI is going to be very interested in investigating, so, you know, when you make those types of threats against public officials, against possible witnesses, and against, the, you know, the folks that are involved in this investigation and the family, then you are also, committing a criminal act, and that's going to be taken very, very seriously," Tindell said.
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Tindell said "false information" shared about Wells' death has incited "rage and emotion" that has led to a higher level of calls coming into his office, some of which are "direct threats." Tindell said he believes Wells' mother, Christine Wonsley, has also received threats.
"I can tell you, the FBI has reached out. They're working in any capacity. They've offered a hand, in this case, to do anything that that's needed from their end. But they're also taking a serious look, at some of these threats that have come across, to public officials, to witnesses to the family, to anybody involved in this case," Tindell said.
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The warning from one of Mississippi's top public safety officials comes as national attention on the case has reached a fever pitch, with Rep. André Carson, D-Ind., accusing officials in Mississippi of not being transparent.
"Not only are [Nolan Wells' family] suffering the unimaginable grief of losing a child, they're not getting the truth, transparency, or accountability. Mississippi officials retained some of Nolan's body parts, so yesterday's independent autopsy leaves more questions unanswered," Carson said.
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As the speculation has grown, Mississippi's top elected officials have begun pushing back publicly.
SEARCH CALLED OFF AFTER BODY MATCHING MISSING TEEN NOLAN WELLS FOUND OFF MISSISSIPPI COAST
Republican Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves told Fox News Digital in a statement that attorney Ben Crump and Al Sharpton are responsible for inciting the threats.
"Ben Crump and Al Sharpton are to blame for the threats. They are stoking division for personal gain. It’s sad to see, but not unexpected. This is how they’ve built their careers," Reeves said. "Jackson County law enforcement, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, and the State Medical Examiner are conducting a thorough investigation. I’m confident they will follow the facts of the case, wherever that leads them. The state's top prosecutor is also drawing a hard line."
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Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told Fox News Digital in a statement that her office will hold accountable anyone who threatens law enforcement working the case.
"I am proud of the professionalism with which our law enforcement, district attorney, and other local leaders are approaching this tragic case. During an open investigation, it is vital to the cause of justice that everyone respect the integrity of the process. Efforts to intimidate, disrupt, or interfere with the work of our law enforcement and prosecutors and threats to their well-being will be taken seriously and we will hold those who make them accountable. A bright young life has been lost and we extend our prayers to his family," Fitch said.
During Wednesday's news conference, Crump revealed that an area of "red discoloration" was found on Wells' head, but said Dr. Roger Mitchell, who performed the autopsy, couldn't come to a conclusion on a cause or manner of death "pending further investigation." An official autopsy into Wells' death hasn't been completed, but the revelation from Crump fueled even more speculation.
Wells' friends returned to the mainland that July afternoon without him, but Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter previously said investigators believe Wells chose to stay on the island. It wasn't until later that night that his mother learned he was missing from one of Wells' friends and reported it to authorities.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Crump, Sharpton and the FBI for comment.
Lock down your ChatGPT account before the next AI attack
OpenAI has admitted that a combination of its advanced AI models found a way out of a locked-down test environment and compromised another company's systems. That should make every ChatGPT user stop and pay attention. The models were supposed to stay inside a tightly controlled digital sandbox with no open internet access. Instead, they found a weakness, got online and compromised systems belonging to Hugging Face, a major platform for AI models and datasets.
OpenAI described the breach as an "unprecedented cyber incident" involving "state-of-the-art cyber capabilities." The company says the system included GPT-5.6 Sol and an even more powerful model still being tested behind closed doors. Here is what concerns me. OpenAI built the models and controlled the testing environment, yet the systems still found a way around the safeguards designed to contain them.
The AI models were trying to complete a cybersecurity challenge. They apparently had no goal of damaging Hugging Face. However, they kept pushing until they found vulnerabilities and crossed into another company's infrastructure. That should be a wake-up call. You cannot control what happens inside OpenAI's labs, but you can take a few minutes to lock down your ChatGPT account before an AI-powered threat comes looking for your password, personal files or private conversations.
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OpenAI designed the internal evaluation to measure how well its models could find and exploit difficult security vulnerabilities. The company ran the test without some of the production safety systems that normally block high-risk cyber activity. OpenAI said researchers removed those protections so they could measure the models' maximum capabilities.
The models operated inside a restricted testing environment. Internet access was limited to an internally hosted service that acted as a proxy for software packages. However, the models found a previously unknown vulnerability in that service. They exploited the weakness and moved through OpenAI's research environment until they reached a computer with internet access.
Once online, the models identified Hugging Face as a possible source of answers for the ExploitGym security benchmark. The models then searched for information that could help them complete the test. OpenAI said they combined several attack methods. Those methods included stolen credentials and previously unknown vulnerabilities.
In one case, the models found a path that allowed remote code execution on Hugging Face servers. That gave them the ability to run code on another company's infrastructure. OpenAI said the models remained focused on completing the evaluation. Yet their narrow goal still led them to cross security boundaries and compromise an outside company.
OpenAI says the incident exposed a growing gap between what advanced models can do and the safeguards designed to contain them. "The primary lesson from this incident is that model security and safety must keep pace with rapidly advancing capabilities," OpenAI said in its incident report.
Hugging Face first disclosed the breach on July 16, 2026. The company said an autonomous AI agent system carried out the intrusion from beginning to end. The attack involved thousands of automated actions across short-lived digital environments.
Hugging Face identified unauthorized access to a limited set of internal datasets. The attacker also accessed several credentials used by its services. However, the company found no evidence that anyone altered its public models or user-facing datasets. It also verified that its software supply chain remained clean.
Hugging Face closed the vulnerabilities used for the initial access. It also rebuilt affected systems and rotated exposed credentials. Meanwhile, the company advised Hugging Face customers to rotate their access tokens and review recent activity. That guidance applies to Hugging Face accounts rather than consumer ChatGPT accounts. OpenAI later determined that its models caused the activity during its internal evaluation. The two companies continue to investigate the incident together.
CyberGuy reached out to OpenAI and Hugging Face for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
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OpenAI's disclosure does not identify consumer ChatGPT accounts as part of the incident. The company has also issued no incident-related instruction telling ChatGPT users to reset their passwords. Therefore, this article should not leave you thinking someone breached your personal ChatGPT account.
The larger warning comes from what the models managed to accomplish. They searched for software weaknesses and found an unknown vulnerability. Next, they moved through restricted systems and used stolen credentials to reach an outside target. OpenAI says models such as GPT-5.6 Sol can sustain complex cyber operations over long periods. The company also says the incident shows these abilities can work against real-world systems.
That raises the stakes for any account containing valuable information. Your ChatGPT history may include private conversations and uploaded files. Developers may also have API keys connected to paid OpenAI usage. Good account security cannot stop an AI model from finding a vulnerability inside a major company. However, it can make your account much harder to take over.
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OpenAI now offers several security controls for personal ChatGPT accounts. Availability can vary by account, device and sign-in method. Start with the settings you have today. Then add stronger protections as they become available to your account.
A unique password helps protect your ChatGPT account when another website suffers a breach. OpenAI recommends using a password manager to create and store a strong password. The company also advises changing your password immediately when you believe someone exposed or shared it. To add or update your ChatGPT password:
Changing your ChatGPT password updates the password across your OpenAI account. That includes the API Platform. If you originally registered through Google, Microsoft or Apple, you may not have an OpenAI password to change. Instead, secure the outside account that you use to sign in. Also protect the email address connected to ChatGPT. Anyone who controls your inbox may receive verification messages or password-reset emails.
Multi-factor authentication adds another verification step during sign-in. Even when someone gets your password, they still need access to your second verification method. OpenAI may offer an authenticator app, push notification, text message or passkey. Available choices depend on your account and device. To turn on MFA:
An authenticator app may ask you to scan a QR code. Text-message verification may ask for your phone number. OpenAI will use the most secure enabled option first when you have more than one method available. Keep in mind that enabling MFA does not close sessions that are already active. Change an exposed password first. Then review your active sessions.
A passkey lets you sign in without typing your password. It uses a secure credential stored on your device or a compatible security key. You can protect the passkey with Face ID, Touch ID or your device PIN. Some passkeys can also sync across your devices. To add a passkey:
After setup, ChatGPT may use your passkey as the default sign-in method. The passkey may also work as an additional MFA check. The Passkeys option may not appear on every account. Availability depends on how you created the account and which sign-in method you use. If you store a passkey on only one device, losing that device could create access problems. A synced passkey can offer an easier backup route.
Someone who gained access to your account may remain signed in after you change other security settings. ChatGPT's Active sessions page can show browsers and first-party OpenAI apps connected to your account. Details may include the device, approximate location and sign-in time.
To review your sessions:
To remove one session:
To close every session:
This closes your current session along with the others. OpenAI says the process may take up to 30 minutes. Active sessions does not display every possible connection. It excludes third-party app sessions and connected apps. It also excludes Codex CLI sessions. The feature may also be unavailable when an organization controls the account through single sign-on.
Eligible personal accounts may offer a feature called Advanced Account Security. This setting replaces password-based access with passkeys or compatible security keys. It also disables email sign-in codes and SMS sign-in codes. However, the stronger protection comes with more responsibility. You must keep your secure sign-in methods and recovery keys safe. Before you enroll, you need at least two secure sign-in methods. At least one must work across devices.
To set it up:
ChatGPT will sign you out of every device after setup. You must then sign in with a passkey or security key. Advanced Account Security also turns on login-alert emails and shortens active sessions. In addition, OpenAI says conversations will not be used to train its models while the setting remains enabled. Store your recovery keys away from the devices you use to access ChatGPT. Each recovery key works only once. Losing every sign-in method and your recovery keys could leave you unable to regain access. OpenAI Support cannot restore normal access by resetting your password while Advanced Account Security remains enabled.
Lockdown Mode helps reduce the risk of data leaving ChatGPT during a prompt injection attack. A prompt injection can hide malicious instructions inside a website or uploaded file. Those instructions may try to manipulate how an AI handles sensitive information. Lockdown Mode limits outbound network access that an attacker could use to receive that information. However, it cannot prevent every prompt injection from affecting a response.
To turn it on:
Lockdown Mode restricts live browsing and disables deep research. It also blocks agent mode and file downloads for data analysis. You can still upload a file for ChatGPT to examine. Image generation also remains available. Lockdown Mode may affect connected services and web-based images. It does not change your memory settings or data controls. When you need a blocked feature, you can turn off Lockdown Mode for one conversation. A status message above the message box provides that option.
OpenAI may send a push notification through the ChatGPT app when it detects a login attempt. Approve the notification only when you started the login. Deny access when the request appears unexpectedly. OpenAI may also email a six-digit one-time password. The company says legitimate verification emails may come from these addresses:
noreply@tm.openai.com
otp@tm1.openai.com
Check the sender carefully before using a code. OpenAI advises changing your password immediately when you receive a login alert from an unfamiliar device or location. Never give a verification code to someone who contacts you. Open the official ChatGPT app or type the website address yourself instead of following an unexpected link.
Move quickly when you see conversations you did not start or unfamiliar account activity.
OpenAI deserves credit for disclosing what happened and working with Hugging Face. Still, the company's own report shows that its models crossed a security barrier and reached another company's production systems. The models kept working after they encountered restrictions. That persistence helped them uncover a zero-day vulnerability and find credentials they could use. This should push AI companies and regulators to move faster on containment. Strong monitoring also needs to stay active during the tests designed to measure dangerous capabilities. Consumers cannot build safeguards for frontier AI laboratories. However, you can reduce your exposure by protecting your login and closing sessions you no longer use. When the company building the AI says its own test environment could not contain it, people deserve visible safeguards and fast disclosure when those protections fail.
Would you trust an autonomous AI agent with your banking or personal data after learning that another agent escaped its own security test? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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