Actor joins long list of celebs ripping state’s response to devastating LA wildfires
Joe Lando is devastated after losing his home in the Palisades Fire.
During an interview with Fox News Digital Thursday, the “Dr. Quinn” star explained that now that he’s been able to clear his mind, he’s grasping the extent of damage to his community in Pacific Palisades.
“I’m replaying what happened. And I’m getting a little aggravated now because I’m realizing there were so many things that happened that morning that could have possibly made this far less of the disaster that it turned out to be,” Lando said.
“I mean, my neighborhood looks like Hiroshima,” the actor explained.
CALIFORNIA FIRES: ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM
Lando noted that part of Pacific Palisades still stands, which locals call “Carusoville.”
“Rick Caruso, a land developer-builder, bought a little part of our town and put some stores there,” he explained. “And he had his own private fire department there, I believe, on Tuesday, and that’s the only thing that’s left standing. And you could hit one of his buildings from my house with a rock.”
“I mean, my neighborhood looks like Hiroshima.”
Lando said Caruso, who lives in Pacific Palisades, was just trying to protect what was his, which many residents opted to do, even Lando.
“My son Christian and I, we stayed behind to fight the fire for hours. I mean hours. [We] dumped water on top of my roof, my neighbor’s roof,” he said.
“But I was concerned.
WATCH: ‘Dr. Quinn’ star compares Palisades Fire aftermath to Hiroshima
“If that catches fire, you’ll catch my house on fire and my other neighbors. So, we were hosing down, you know, each other’s homes for a bit. And then people certainly slowly drop off. And Christian and I stayed there till the very, very end,” Lando said.
Eventually, Lando and his son had to leave their home. Initially, they went to his son’s apartment in Santa Monica, and the star recognized people from his neighborhood that relocated toward the coast to escape the flames.
“And, you know, like I’ve said before, if it was just my house, this wouldn’t be as tough to bear. But it’s everybody, and it’s everything we know. It’s our world,” Lando said.
He explained to Fox News Digital that many of his neighbors, himself included, may never be able to rebuild after the Palisades Fire.
WATCH: Joe Lando salutes the firefighters who helped defend Pacific Palisades
“They were three-bedroom, two-bath houses that belonged to elderly folks. They’re never going to be able to rebuild here again. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to rebuild because, three months before this fire, the insurance company, Allstate, dropped my entire street,” Lando said.
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Lando expressed frustration and pointed out a reservoir that was behind his house that had been “empty” the last 18 months.
“That would have meant helicopters could have been to the fire in literally seconds instead of having to go all the way to the ocean and fill up and come back again to drop it because the fire was right there,” he said.
Lando said he is “convinced” someone started the Palisades Fire.
“I saw right where it was. This wasn’t the climate. This wasn’t a downed power line. This wasn’t a gardener or a car hitting a rock or anything like that.
“It was Skull Rock. Somebody walked in. They started that fire. And then I watched it go from one spot to two to three spots, and it was five spots. And I know the wind was strong at that point. Maybe all those other spots were caused by that first fire. But that very first puff of smoke at 9 was a man starting this fire. I’m convinced of it,” Lando said.
WATCH: Joe Lando stayed behind with his son to defend his home from the Palisades Fire
Lando is not the first celebrity to float the arson theory. However, officials have said that they have not determined the cause of the Palisades Fire.
On Jan. 9, authorities deployed arson investigators to the Pacific Palisades to determine the origin of the blaze that consumed thousands of buildings.
“The cause of the fire remains unknown, and it continues to be under active investigation,” Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said at the time.
During his interview with Fox News Digital, Lando explained that this is an emotional time for him but wanted to thank the firefighters and first responders who fought to preserve the Pacific Palisades.
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“I want to first thank all the firefighters, first responders, people that helped try to save our homes. It is such a dangerous job, one we don’t appreciate until you live through what I just lived through with my son and my family,” he said.
While he was evacuating, Jane Seymour opened her home to her “Dr. Quinn” co-star.
“My wife and I spent the night in a hotel. Things are just still burning out of control. It was very smoky. And Jane said, ‘Come up here. There’s no smoke up here. The air is clear.’ They didn’t have water or power here, but that doesn’t matter. It was a safe place where the air was clear,” Lando said.
WATCH: Joe Lando thanked God for having someone like Jane Seymour in his life
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“I just thank God that there’s somebody like Jane, and there’s a lot of people in the world like Jane. This has done something where it’s brought out the best. As always, these tragedies bring out the best of us. If we could only hang on to these feelings and remember them, you know, when we get so down on each other.”
Billionaire VP Harris supporter details dinner that left him ‘impressed’ by Trump
Billionaire Bill Gates recently offered a rare glimpse into his private conversation with President-elect Donald Trump and a nearly three-hour dinner that left him “impressed.” Gates, who backed Trump’s opponent Vice President Harris in the 2024 election, seemed to walk away from the dinner with feelings of optimism about the president-elect.
“I had a chance, about two weeks ago, to go have a long and actually quite intriguing dinner with him,” Gates told The Wall Street Journal.
In his interview, Gates detailed the “wide-ranging” dinner conversation, noting that he spoke with Trump about public health, which has been the major focus of Gates’ philanthropic efforts.
“I felt like he was energized and looking forward to helping to drive innovation,” Gates told WSJ. “I was frankly impressed with how well he showed a lot of interest in the issues I brought up.”
BILL GATES SAYS ULTRA-WEALTHY WOULD ‘HAVE A THIRD AS MUCH’ IF HE CREATED TAX SYSTEM
Gates’ dinner with Trump comes as a growing group of billionaires and tech leaders flock to meet with the president-elect ahead of his historic return to the White House. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and pledged $1 million to the president-elect’s inaugural fund. Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Platforms also gave $1 million to the fund.
Citing people familiar with the discussion, WSJ reported the promise of the paycheck came before Zuckerberg met with Trump at a November Mar-a-Lago dinner following the Republican’s presidential win.
MARK ZUCKERBERG PRAISES BENEFITS OF ‘MASCULINE ENERGY’, CALLS CORPORATE AMERICA ‘CULTURALLY NEUTERED’
At the dinner, according to the outlet, Zuckerberg also provided a demonstration of the company’s latest invention — Ray Ban Smart Glasses — and gifted them to Trump.
Bezos, who also made the trek to Trump’s Florida estate, said that he left the dinner feeling “very optimistic” about the incoming administration. He also brushed off concerns about Trump’s relationship with Elon Musk.
“Elon has been very clear that he’s doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain. And I take him at face value,” Bezos told Reuters, referencing the SpaceX CEO.
AMAZON PLANS TO MAKE $1 MILLION DONATION TO TRUMP INAUGURAL FUND; BEZOS TO VISIT MAR-A-LAGO
Trump’s relationship with billionaires and tech moguls has changed tremendously since 2020, when he was banned from several social media platforms. Back in October, Gates was reported as saying privately that he gave about $50 million to a nonprofit supporting Vice President Harris.
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Additionally, Zuckerberg announced an end to Meta’s controversial fact-checking policies in a push to bring back “free expression on Facebook and Instagram.” Zuckerberg admitted that the checks, which started in the wake of Trump’s 2016 victory, “destroyed more trust than they created.” He also stated that the policies led to “too much censorship,” despite the company trying “in good faith” to “address concerns” about misinformation.
Biden WH reportedly feels ‘like a morgue’ ahead of Trump inauguration
NBC News shed light on President Biden’s legacy and the somber mood engulfing the White House in the president’s final days in an article on Thursday.
The article contrasted Biden’s pledge “to unite the country, strengthen his party and defend democracy,” when he took office, to what actually manifested during his term as president.
Biden “leaves a nation divided, a party in tatters and the American people questioning the self-described institutionalist’s respect for the rule of law,” according to the report.
MSNBC’S LAWRENCE O’DONNELL GUSHES OVER BIDEN’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN FINAL INTERVIEW: ‘LIKE A MAGIC TRICK’
This disconnect between Biden’s pledge when he took office, and his actions as president, has led to many Democrats “blaming Biden for handing the White House to Donald Trump, criticizing the aging politician for staying in office too long and reeling after he pardoned his son,” said NBC News.
According to a person directly familiar with Biden’s comments, the president “privately mused about the idea of pardoning [President-elect Donald] Trump as a magnanimous move,” while at the same time, the president was “not on speaking terms with some of his closest allies.”
Prominent Democratic political strategist James Carvile is quoted in the article, giving his take on Biden’s legacy and his final days in office.
“The Joe Biden story is one of the great tragedies of American politics. I really mean that. He should be having a glorious, well deserved, highly acclaimed retirement. And he’s not,” Carville said, adding, “It’s hard to blame anybody but him.”
BIDEN ENTERED OFFICE AS MEDIA DARLING, BUT INACCESSIBILITY, SECRECY AND TRUMP WIN LEAVES LEGACY TATTERED
According to a person who recently met with officials at the White House, the current mood feels “like a morgue,” with one White House official saying that personnel are trying to hold back emotions until Biden officially leaves the Oval Office.
“It’s hard to reflect, it’s hard for it to sink in that we’re done here — until we’re actually done and out the gates with our stuff,” one White House official told NBC, adding, “it hasn’t sunk in for people who are still here yet because we’re working until the last minute.”
The article details Biden’s “many fractured friendships,” claiming, “He is estranged from some of the people who were once among his most powerful allies.”
According to NBC News, “He [Biden] harbors, along with first lady Jill Biden, a simmering resentment toward former President Barack Obama, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several former aides, including Bob Bauer and Anita Dunn, all of whom he believes either failed him or pushed him out of the 2024 race, according to several people close to him.”
An aide to ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, revealed she and Biden have not had a substantive meeting together since she pressured him to drop out of the presidential race in July.
A person close to Biden corroborated this claim, saying, “That relationship is permanently damaged.”
Jill Biden also told the Washington Post in an article published this week that she was “disappointed” in Pelosi’s actions.
BIDEN COMMUTES NEARLY 2,500 MORE SENTENCES IN FINAL DAYS OF PRESIDENCY
Although President Biden has not pubically expressed his frustrations with former President Obama, Ben Rhodes, a former aide to Obama, pointed out Biden’s recent decision to name aircraft carriers after former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, seemingly snubbing Obama.
“Barack H. Obama did not get a f—ing personnel carrier named after him,” Rhodes said on an episode of the “Pod Save The World” podcast.
NBC News was also critical of Biden pardoning his son Hunter Biden, claiming, “Biden went back on his promise to protect the norms he said undergirded the nation’s stability by pardoning his Hunter Biden on federal gun and tax charges.”
The article also alleges that former Biden advisor, Anita Dunn, and former Biden lawyer, Bob Bauer, blamed members of Biden’s family for them being “unceremoniously” cut from the president’s inner circle.
“Dunn and Bauer resented being unceremoniously cast out of the president’s inner circle and blamed two Biden family members in particular for that — Hunter Biden and Jill Biden,” claimed NBC News.
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A mournful quote from James Carville at the end of the article seems to encapsulate the overall energy surrounding the end of the Biden presidency.
“Joe Biden had many successful acts in his life. Unfortunately, you get remembered for your last act,” he said. “Right now, he’s remembered as the guy who stayed too long.”
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TikTok influencers break down in tears over ban: ‘I’ll never forgive’ the government
TikTok influencers are mourning the impending shutdown of the popular Chinese-owned social media platform after the Supreme Court upheld a law to ban the application if it is not sold in the United States.
A popular voice on the app, Emily Senn, broke down in tears after hearing the news and said she would “never forgive” the U.S. government for its actions against TikTok.
“I’m never going to trust you ever again because you just, like that, took away millions of people’s income and livelihood and who does that?” she asked Friday morning.
BIDEN MAINTAINS HE WILL NOT ENFORCE TIKTOK BAN, PLANS TO PUNT TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Senn, who lost her job as a cruise ship singer during the pandemic, said TikTok has helped support her financially and gave her a sense of community over the last three years.
Madilynn Cameron, who has amassed over 1 million followers on TikTok and signed a petition to save the platform, asked her followers to remain “calm and hopeful” that President Biden or President-elect Donald Trump would intervene.
“We are a laughingstock to other countries,” she said. “Do you understand that? Everyone mocks us.”
Many other popular accounts were devastated and angry about the news.
Popular social media star and content creator Kelsey Pumel released a video on Friday titled “Goodbye freedom of speech,” in which she questioned the government’s priorities.
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“I just still can’t get over the fact that the government literally cares more about an app that hasn’t proven to pose any of the threats that our country claims it does over kids literally being unalived [sic] at school, the healthcare epidemic, not being able to afford housing, the homeless population. You know, whatever. F— this country,” she said.
Podcast host and influencer Alex Pearlman appeared flustered by the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision.
“Y’all can’t agree that kids shouldn’t be shot in school. Y’all can’t agree that women should have healthcare,” he shouted. ‘Y’all can’t agree that we should have healthcare. Y’all can’t agree on f—ing cops not being allowed to just f—ing kill people with impunity. But a TikTok ban? Y’all lined up and said, what’s this about? The Chinese? Yo f— them mother—ers.”
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a federal law that would ban TikTok if it is not sold just two days before the bipartisan divestiture law is slated to take effect.
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“There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community,” the court wrote in the unsigned ruling. “But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national security concerns regarding TikTok’s data collection practices and relationship with a foreign adversary.”
“For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the challenged provisions do not violate petitioners’ First Amendment rights. The judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is affirmed.”
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There were no noted dissents.
The decision comes at a time when President-elect Trump has signaled apparent support for the app in recent months.
Who’s performing at Trump’s inauguration? The star-studded lineup of musical guests
President-elect Trump’s inauguration events are gearing up to be filled with a number of celebrity performers.
Many of country music’s biggest stars are preparing to take the stage for a number of events taking place throughout the weekend and on Monday, the day of Trump’s inauguration.
Here is a list of celebrities performing at various inaugural gatherings.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD JOINED BY VILLAGE PEOPLE, LEE GREENWOOD AT TRUMP INAUGURATION EVENTS
Jason Aldean
Country music star Jason Aldean is confirmed to be taking the stage at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on the evening of Monday, following the swearing-in ceremony and other events.
It is unclear what song the musician will perform, but it is no surprise he agreed to sing at the event, as he was an outspoken supporter of Trump throughout his campaign and following his win.
“Over the past several years we have taken a lot of heat from the entertainment industry and the media for our support of @realdonaldtrump,” Aldean wrote on Instagram on Election Day. “As a father and an American citizen, I want to see our country get back to its values and principles that made us great to begin with.”
Carrie Underwood
It was announced earlier this week that “American Idol” winner and country music superstar Carrie Underwood will sing “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in ceremony during the inauguration.
She will take the stage after Vice President-elect JD Vance takes his Oath of Office and before Trump takes the Presidential Oath of Office.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO PERFORM ‘AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL’ AT TRUMP INAUGURATION
Village People
The popular ’70s disco group Village People is set to perform at multiple events throughout the inauguration weekend, including the Make America Great Again Victory Rally on Sunday and the Liberty Inaugural Ball on Monday.
“We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics,” a statement posted to both original member Victor Willis and the group’s official pages reads.
“Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost,” the statement continued. “Therefore, we believe it’s now time to bring the country together with music which is why VILLAGE PEOPLE will be performing at various events as part of the 2025 Inauguration of Donald J. Trump.”
The group’s 1978 hit song “Y.M.C.A.” was played at many of Trump’s campaign rallies.
Kid Rock
Kid Rock is set to take the stage at the Make America Great Again Victory Rally ahead of the inauguration on Monday.
It should come as no surprise that the singer agreed to appear at inauguration events, as he performed at the Republican National Convention in July. He also headlined the touring festival Rock the Country with Aldean, which aimed to celebrate conservative politics in country music.
Following the announcement that he would take the stage at the rally, Kid Rock took to Instagram to make an announcement, in which he called for “unity.”
“The announcement is that I’m going to play seven arena shows in the Midwest this March and April,” he said in the video. “After so many years of taking s— and being s— on by the powers that be, the left-wing media, I think a celebration with the fans isn’t only in order, it’s overdue.”
“I still believe that now is not the time to gloat, it’s definitely time to try and unite this country,” he continued. “It’s definitely time to celebrate with some other like-minded, common sense, hard-working patriots who unapologetically love this country. Come one, come all.”
KID ROCK WANTS TO ‘UNITE THE COUNTRY,’ SHARES PLANS TO CELEBRATE WITH ‘LIKE-MINDED,’ ‘HARD-WORKING PATRIOTS’
Christopher Macchio
Opera singer Christopher Macchio will sing the National Anthem during the swearing-in ceremony. He will perform the song alongside the U.S. Marine Corps band orchestra and choir.
Macchio has maintained his loyalty to Trump, performing songs such as “Ave Maria,” “Nessun Dorma” and “Hallelujah” at rallies. In a video posted to Instagram, Macchio called himself “so privileged to be a part of his circle, his family, and the entire Trump organization.”
Billy Ray Cyrus
Country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus is set to appear on Sunday during the Make America Great Again Rally, although it is unclear what song he will be performing.
“I stand here with former U.S. President Donald J. Trump as a proud AMERICAN. Mr. Trump is the 6th U.S. President I’ve met and I felt like Mr. Corey Comperatore was right there with us,” he wrote alongside a photo of himself with Trump, which he posted on Facebook, along with the quote, “‘Some stood through for the red, white and blue And some had to fall. Some Gave All.'”
BILLY RAY CYRUS PERFORMS AT FUNERAL FOR TRUMP SHOOTING VICTIM COREY COMPERATORE
Lee Greenwood
Lee Greenwood is expected to take the stage at two different events during the inauguration weekend. First he will perform at the Make America Great Again Rally on Sunday, and then again at the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, where he will sing “God Bless the USA.”
Greenwood appeared several times at Trump’s rallies during his campaign, including the Republican National Convention over the summer. He also sang at the first inauguration of Trump in 2017.
“The pageantry is wonderful. I’m excited about all of that,” Greenwood told The Associated Press on Wednesday. “I’m excited to sing yet again for President of the United States and particularly my friend Donald J. Trump.”
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin DeGraw has been confirmed to be performing at the Starlight Ball on Monday evening, following the swearing-in ceremony and various other events. It is unclear what song he will sing.
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Parker McCollum
Country music singer Parker McCollum is set to take the stage at the Commander-in-Chief Ball on Monday evening, although it is unclear what he will be performing.
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Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is set to appear at the Commander-in-Chief Ball on Monday evening, although it is unclear what song the country group will be performing.
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33 hostages set to be released Sunday after being held in Hamas’ grip for 15 months
The cease-fire between Hamas and Israel is expected to go into effect on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry.
Qatar’s foreign minister Majid al-Ansari urged people to exercise caution when the cease-fire goes into effect and to wait for instructions from officials. This is the second cease-fire achieved during the war.
Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal early Saturday morning for a cease-fire in Gaza that would include the release of dozens of hostages and pause the war with Hamas that began after the terror group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the Jewish State.
The deal would allow 33 hostages to be set free over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The remaining hostages are set to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE HOSTAGES AND CEASE-FIRE DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS SET TO BEGIN SUNDAY
The IDF has been preparing to receive the hostages after their release from Hamas captivity and is operating to provide suitable physical and psychological support, with careful attention to every detail.
Alongside the agreement and our commitment to bringing home all the hostages, the IDF will continue to operate in order to ensure the security of all Israeli citizens, particularly those in communities near the Gaza Strip.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting cease-fire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
But questions still remain about the cease-fire, including the identities of the 33 hostages who are set to be released during the first, six-week phase and which of them are still alive.
Hamas agreed to release three female hostages on the first day of the deal, four on Day seven and the remaining 26 over the next five weeks.
Israel’s justice ministry released a list of more than 700 Palestinian detainees who are set to be freed in the deal’s first phase. The justice ministry said the release would not begin before 4 p.m. local time Sunday.
This is the second cease-fire achieved during the war.
Israeli forces also announced Saturday morning that its Air Force had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, just ahead of the expected cease-fire. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol but – as of early Saturday – no injuries were reported.
Gaza is expected to receive a surge in humanitarian aid. Trucks carrying aid were seen Friday lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza.
ISRAEL-HAMAS CEASE-FIRE, HOSTAGE RELEASE DEAL REACHED: ‘AMERICANS WILL BE PART OF THAT’
The 15-month-long war in Gaza started when Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which roughly 1,200 people wer killed and about 250 others were abducted, prompting military retaliation from Israeli forces. Nearly 100 hostages remain captive in Gaza.
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More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s offensive, according to the Hamas-run government’s local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and terrorists.
New study sounds the alarm on disturbing side effect of culprit found in drinking water
The debate about the benefits and risks of fluoride is ongoing, as RFK Jr. — incoming President Trump’s pick for HHS secretary — pushes to remove it from the U.S. water supply.
“Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease,” RFK wrote in a post on X in November.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics on Jan. 6 found another correlation between fluoride exposure and children’s IQs.
RFK JR. CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF FLUORIDE FROM DRINKING WATER, SPARKING DEBATE
Study co-author Kyla Taylor, PhD, who is based in North Carolina, noted that fluoridated water has been used “for decades” to reduce dental cavities and improve oral health.
“However, there is concern that pregnant women and children are getting fluoride from many sources, including drinking water, water-added foods and beverages, teas, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash, and that their total fluoride exposure is too high and may affect fetal, infant and child neurodevelopment,” she told Fox News Digital.
The new research, led by scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), analyzed 74 epidemiological studies on children’s IQ and fluoride exposure.
FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS EPA FURTHER REGULATE FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER DUE TO CONCERNS OVER LOWERED IQ IN KIDS
The studies measured fluoride in drinking water and urine across 10 countries, including Canada, China, Denmark, India, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain and Taiwan. (None were conducted in the U.S.)
The meta-analysis found a “statistically significant association” between higher fluoride exposure and lower children’s IQ scores, according to Taylor.
“[It showed] that the more fluoride a child is exposed to, the more likely that child’s IQ will be lower than if they were not exposed,” she said.
These results were consistent with six previous meta-analyses, all of which reported the same “statistically significant inverse associations” between fluoride exposure and children’s IQs, Taylor emphasized.
The research found that for every 1mg/L increase in urinary fluoride, there was a 1.63-point decrease in IQ.
‘Safe’ exposure levels
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established 1.5mg/L as the “upper safe limit” of fluoride in drinking water.
“There is concern that pregnant women and children are getting fluoride from many sources.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 mg/L in drinking water.
“There was not enough data to determine if 0.7 mg/L of fluoride exposure in drinking water affected children’s IQs,” Taylor noted.
FDA BANS RED FOOD DYE DUE TO POTENTIAL CANCER RISK
Higher levels of the chemical can be found in wells and community water serving nearly three million people in the U.S., the researcher noted.
She encouraged pregnant women and parents of small children to be mindful of their total fluoride intake.
“If their water is fluoridated, they may wish to replace tap water with low-fluoride bottled water, like purified water, and limit exposure from other sources, such as dental products or black tea,” she said.
“Parents can use low-fluoride bottled water to mix with powdered infant formula and limit use of fluoridated toothpaste by young children.”
While the research did not intend to address broader public health implications of water fluoridation in the U.S., Taylor suggested that the findings could help inform future research into the impact of fluoride on children’s health.
Dental health expert shares cautions
In response to this study and other previous research, Dr. Ellie Phillips, DDS, an oral health educator based in Austin, Texas, told Fox News Digital that she does not support water fluoridation.
“I join those who vehemently oppose public water fluoridation, and I question why our water supplies are still fluoridated in the 21st century,” she wrote in an email.
“There are non-fluoridated cities and countries where the public enjoy high levels of oral health, which in some cases appear better than those that are fluoridated.”
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Phillips called the fluoride debate “confusing” even among dentists, as the American Dental Association (ADA) advocates for fluoride use for cavity prevention through water fluoridation, toothpaste and mouthwash — “sometimes in high concentrations.”
“[But] biologic (holistic) dentists generally encourage their patients to fear fluoride and avoid its use entirely, even if their teeth are ravaged by tooth decay,” she said.
“Topical fluoride is beneficial, while systemic consumption poses risks.”
Phillips encouraged the public to consider varying fluoride compounds, the effect of different concentrations and the “extreme difference” between applying fluoride topically and ingesting it.
“Topical fluoride is beneficial, while systemic consumption poses risks,” she cautioned.
“Individuals must take charge of their own oral health using natural and informed strategies.”
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The study received funding from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Intramural Research Program.
NFL legend says Eagles fan hurt his mom amid controversy over fan’s vile tirade
Philadelphia Eagles fans are under a national microscope after one of their own, Ryan Caldwell, was seen verbally assaulting a female Green Bay Packers fan in viral footage at a playoff game last Sunday.
But the fan base’s history of abuse against women on the opposing side dates back much further than that.
Former Dallas Cowboys player DeMarcus Ware, who played a game in Philadelphia every year during his Dallas career from 2005 to 2013, told Fox News Digital that he once had to witness Eagles fans hurl dangerous projectiles at his mother, Brenda Ann Ware, during a game his rookie year in 2005.
“My rookie season when my mom was in the stands, I told her not to wear my jersey, and she was in the front row, and were up there in Philly, they were putting batteries in snowballs and throwing them and one of them hit my mom,” Ware said.
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Seeing his mother get pegged by a snow-covered battery nearly prompted Ware to abandon his football duties and run up into the stands to start a fight.
“I turned around at the time, and I didn’t care about football anymore. I wanted to go get the guy who was in the stands. But I didn’t,” Ware said.
The linebacker held back, allowing team security to take care of the fan who hurt his mom. But he let the memory of the incident fester in his mind, and motivate him every time he took the field against the Eagles.
The Cowboys beat the Eagles 21-20 in that 2005 game in Philadelphia to sweep the season series.
In 17 career games against the Eagles, Ware had 16 total sacks. The Cowboys went 9-8 against their rivals in the games that Ware played.
Ware had his most vengeful stretch against the Eagles in 2011. In January of that year, he had three sacks in Philadelphia in the 2010 season finale to help seal a 14-13 win. The following season, in an October game in Philadelphia, he had four sacks, the most he ever had in a game against the arch rival. He had two more sacks in the second meeting against the Eagles that year in December in Dallas.
But despite nearly a decade of animosity against the Eagle fans for what they did to his mother, he still respects the will of the fan base. The franchise’s former home, Veterans Stadium, had an on-site judicial court and jail cells to deal with law-breaking fans, which isn’t something that Ware takes lightly.
“The Philadelphia Eagles fans, they are very, very strong-willed fans,” he said.
“When you have a jail at the bottom of the stadium back in the day, when you’re able to go to jail because you’re acting up, even from the point every single time we played, it was a rivalry battle showdown if it was up there or at home. And their fans, they travel well, they’re just tenacious, and that’s just who they are.”
Caldwell’s recent viral video has re-ignited certain stereotypes of the fan base as the team contends for a Super Bowl this season.
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The footage shows Caldwell calling the nearby Packers fans vulgar and sexist names, while taunting the man accompanying her with explicit gestures.
Caldwell has since been fired from his job as a project manager at the NJ-based company BCT Partners. He has apologized but also defended himself by insisting his actions “were not without provocation” and that the viral video “does not show the full context” of what happened.
Still, Caldwell’s abusive behavior is only the latest in a long history of unruly and sometimes illegal behavior by the fan base over the years.
In 1997, during a Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers, one mischievous Eagles fan shot a flare gun into the stands full of other fans, endangering multiple lives.
After the flare was shot, multiple fistfights broke out around the stadium as most of the violence was directed at 49ers fans by Eagles fans.
“There were a large number of fights and acts of intimidation, many directed at fans in 49ers jerseys,” the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote at the time.
After the game, Eagles owner Jeffrie Lurie was forced to condemn his own fans.
“In spite of the fact that we feel we have made significant strides in recent years with regard to fan conduct at Veterans Stadium, what we witnessed this past Monday was undoubtedly a step backward,” Lurie told reporters at the time.
In 2018, an Eagles fan was arrested during the NFC divisional playoff game against the Falcons, for punching the horse of a Philadelphia police officer.
According to a police report at the time, a man was ejected because “he was intoxicated and did not possess a ticket.” After his ejection from Lincoln stadium, the man walked toward a police officer mounted on a horse and “began punching the horse in the face, neck and shoulder area.”
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After the Eagles won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots that year, multiple violent riots broke out around the city. Looting and destruction were reported at multiple convenience shops and a local Macy’s department store. Cars were flipped over, traffic lights and lamp posts were torn down, and there were even unconfirmed reports of explosions.
One of the most storied examples of unruly Eagles fan behavior took place all way back in 1968, when a man dressed as Santa Claus walked out onto the field. He was booed relentlessly by fans who were upset about a disappointing season and, like Ware’s mother, he was even hit with snowballs.
But it didn’t stop at snowballs, as he was also hit with beer cans and even sandwiches.