Elon Musk fires back after judge blocks team from accessing government systems
Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s government efficiency team has been temporarily blocked from accessing certain government systems, according to a federal judge’s ruling on Saturday.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer issued the ruling after a group of attorneys general sued Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Friday, arguing that the presidential commission does not have the right to access U.S. Department of Treasury systems.
The order was condemned by Musk, who called the decision “absolutely insane” in an X post and accused Engelmayer of being “an activist posing as a judge.”
“How on Earth are we supposed to stop fraud and waste of taxpayer money without looking at how money is spent?” Musk said on Saturday.
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The Friday lawsuit, which was filed by 19 Democratic attorneys general, claimed Musk’s team violated the law by being given “full access” to the Treasury’s payment systems. The systems include information about Americans’ Social Security, Medicare and veterans’ benefits, tax refund information and more.
The lawsuit was filed in New York by the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who wrote that President Donald Trump “does not have the power to give away Americans’ private information to anyone he chooses, and he cannot cut federal payments approved by Congress.”
“Musk and DOGE have no authority to access Americans’ private information and some of our country’s most sensitive data,” James’ statement added.
In his order, Engelmayer said that the lawsuit’s claims were “particularly strong,” and expressed concern about cybersecurity risks of DOGE having privileged Treasury Department access.
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“That is both because of the risk that the new policy presents of the disclosure of sensitive and confidential information and the heightened risk that the systems in question will be more vulnerable than before to hacking,” Engelmayer wrote.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has expressed support for Musk and DOGE in the past, recently saying that the U.S. “doesn’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.”
“At the Treasury, our payment system is not being touched,” Bessent said in a “Kudlow” interview on Wednesday. “We process 1.3 billion payments a year. There is a study being done — can we have more accountability, more accuracy, more traceability that the money is going where it is?”
Bessent also said that DOGE “is not going to fail” during the FOX Business appearance.
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“They are moving a lot of people’s cheese here in the capital, and when you hear this squawking, then some status quo interest is not happy,” he observed.
Trump says Secret Service has ‘held back’ information about attempted assassinations
President Donald Trump said he has directed the Secret Service to give him “every bit of information” known about his two attempted assassins last summer during the presidential campaign, according to a report.
“I want to find out about the two assassins,” the president told the New York Post Friday. “Why did the one guy have six cellphones, and why did the other guy have [foreign] apps?”
Trump told the Post the Secret Service had been holding back information because of President Biden.
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“I’m entitled to know. And they held it back long enough,” he added. “No more excuses.”
Trump was shot in the ear July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, while speaking at an outdoor campaign rally by 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was killed by the Secret Service after shooting at Trump, killing a rally attendee and injuring two others.
Two months later, Ryan Routh, 59, allegedly waited for over 12 hours in brush with a rifle on the perimeter of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach as Trump was golfing Sept. 15.
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A Secret Service agent saw Routh allegedly pointing a rifle through a fence and fired at him. Routh fled and was arrested that day.
He has pleaded not guilty to several counts, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and assault on a federal officer, and remains in federal custody. His trial is scheduled for Sept. 8, 2025.
Six cellphones were reportedly found in Routh’s car after his arrest.
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Crooks had encrypted messaging accounts on multiple platforms based in Belgium, New Zealand and Germany, according to Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., who was appointed to a congressional task force investigating the assassination attempt.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Boy Scouts of America officially changes name to be more ‘inclusive’
Nine months after announcing a name change was coming, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) on Saturday officially changed its name in an attempt to “meet the evolving needs of young people.”
The organization adopted the new name, Scouting America, on its 115th anniversary, “marking a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey,” according to a statement released Saturday.
The shift comes after a recent policy change in 2018, allowing girls to join the program. The organization began allowing gay youth in 2013 and ended a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015.
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President and CEO Roger Krone told the Associated Press there was “some backlash,” but said there was a small spike in membership after announcing the rebranding in May.
“The fact that we were going with a more kind of gender-neutral name, a lot of people kind of wanted to know more about it,” Krone told the AP.
More than 15,000 scouts joined, the AP reported, bringing total membership to more than 1 million.
As the nation’s foremost youth program, Scouting America said it provides children opportunities focused on character development, leadership, fun and outdoor exploration.
The adaptation will “ensure future generations have the opportunity to benefit from this transformative program,” according to the statement.
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While the name changed, the Texas-based organization said its mission has remained the same for a century: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
“Whether it’s a camping trip, a pinewood derby car race or a trail hike, every adventure encourages personal growth by teaching youth how to set goals and achieve them with determination,” spokespeople wrote in the statement. “As we look to the future, Scouting America is dedicated to providing young people with the values, skills and experiences they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
The organization’s website features its new name, but social media accounts still have the traditional handles.
“Scouting America has helped instill timeless values for multiple generations of Americans,” Krone wrote in the statement. “In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the values and skills instilled by Scouting are more critical than ever and the need for strong character, ethical decision-making and effective leadership remains paramount.”
Krone added it is reaffirming its commitment to providing a “safe and supportive environment” where young people can develop essential qualities.
“Scouting America has remained committed to providing youth with a safe environment where they can learn meaningful life skills, create lifelong memories and grow into tomorrow’s leaders,” the organization wrote in the statement. “In fact, more than 130 million Americans have been through Scouting America programs since our founding in 1910.”
Fox News Digital previously reported the rebranding came after a substantial hit in membership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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It also follows a court order to pay out a $2.46 billion settlement involving about 82,000 former Boy Scouts who claimed they were sexually abused by BSA officials and volunteers.
Filing for bankruptcy allowed the organization to keep operating.
Family shares emotional reason why Mahomes’ grandfather is ‘hanging on’ in hospice care
Patrick Mahomes will look to become the first quarterback in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls Sunday, and he is also looking to give at least one more gift to his grandfather Randy, who is in hospice care.
Mahomes’ mother, Randi Mahomes, shared the news that Patrick’s grandfather was in hospice care Jan. 24, just a day before the quarterback led the Kansas City Chiefs to an AFC championship win over the Buffalo Bills.
Now, Randi said her father is “hanging on,” hoping to see Mahomes lead the Chiefs to one more victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Sunday’s Super Bowl, according to People.
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“I know that it has meant a lot to him,” Randi said. “And I think he’s hanging on because he wants to see his grandson do an amazing thing or just let him play.
“I mean, he must be such a proud grandpa, so proud. And my mom was very proud, and his other grandparents [were too].”
Randi added that one thing her father still remembers is the date and time of the Super Bowl.
Randi announced her father was in the hospital in mid-September.
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“Prayer warriors please pray for my daddy. He is in the hospital and is not well His name is Randy,” she wrote on X Sept. 14. A few days later, her post on Instagram said, “This is how I fight my battles. If you are seeing this, take a moment, and PRAY for my dad now.”
Patrick Mahomes will have that as motivation as he looks to make history for his team and family Sunday.
Mahomes’ opponent, the Eagles, will also have some motivation.
After a medical plane crashed on a street near the Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia Jan. 31, the Eagles are now playing to honor one of their young fans.
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown told reporters Wednesday he and his teammates are playing for Trey Howard, a fourth grader who suffered a brain injury while using his body to shield his sister from the plane crash.
“He’s a hero,” the Eagles wide receiver said Wednesday. “Stepping in to save his sister. You can tell he has great parents. He was raised right. For him to wake up and say, ‘Did I miss it?’ It’s crazy. Something of that magnitude takes place, and he’s worried about a football game. Of course, we want to do it for him.”
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On top of that, both teams will also have the honor of playing in the first Super Bowl attended by a sitting president. President Trump will be in New Orleans for the game Sunday.
Mahomes gave his thoughts on Trump attending the game to reporters Wednesday.
“It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president,” Mahomes said. “Someone that is at the top position in our country.”
It will also mean a lot to Mahomes’ mother, who announced her endorsement for Trump a day before the election in a video message to OutKick at the Chiefs’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Nov. 4.
Randi told Fox News Digital she is excited for her son to play as Trump watches Sunday.
“I think for a president of our country, of the United States, I think it’s amazing,” she said. “I think whoever the president is, to support the teams, to support America’s best sport. … I think it’s really neat for a president to be able to support it. You know what, let’s do it.”
FOX’s coverage of the Super Bowl begins at 1 p.m. ET Sunday with the game kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game can be streamed on Tubi for free.
Elon Musk stands up for DOGE employees after crude attacks from ‘deceitful’ hosts
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk slammed podcast hosts and frequent CNN “experts” Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway via X Saturday, claiming the pair are “cruel, mean and deceitful human beings” who are “threatening” young DOGE professionals.
Tech journalist Kara Swisher and NYU professor Scott Galloway, who host the podcast “Pivot,” said in a recent episode they want to see Democratic governors arrest DOGE employees, claiming the team is attempting a coup.
While acknowledging DOGE has the authority to conduct actions ordered by President Donald Trump, Swisher said she didn’t like that the team included many young professionals, whom she called “children” and “arrogant little pr—s.”
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“These idiots, these children, these arrogant little pr—s – come in and say, ‘We’re going to call the federal marshals, or the President has ordered you to step aside,” Swisher said of DOGE sweeping into more than a dozen federal agencies.
DOGE was launched to root out wasteful spending in the government and has nearly closed the entire U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Galloway added he wanted to know the names of the employees so Democratic governors could do “everything in [their] power” to “put them in prison.”
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“I think what [they are] doing is trespassing,” Galloway told Swisher. “I think this is a coup. … Just because [an] insurrectionist was elected, I don’t believe this is legal. … I’m going to hold the people accountable who are trespassing and a part of a coup accountable.”
Democratic attorneys general from 19 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over DOGE access to sensitive, personal data belonging to Americans at the Treasury Department.
New York Judge Paul Engelmayer issued an order barring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from giving DOGE access to the department’s financial data.
However, Galloway advised going “full gangster” and tracking down where the federal employees live.
“Here are their names, here are their faces,” Galloway said. “And we have contacted the local authorities where these kids live, these young adults, and we are going to hold them accountable.”
Musk wrote on X that Galloway and Swisher were “threatening talented, young software engineers.”
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He added the engineers “gave up high compensation for death threats” to help the American people.
“Shame on Swisher & Galloway, cruel, mean & deceitful human beings that they are,” Musk wrote.
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Over the last few weeks, CNN quoted Swisher multiple times discussing Musk.
Headlines included, “‘He’s making trouble anywhere’: Swisher on Musk feuding with world leaders”; “Kara Swisher has theory on why Musk is hiring young men to work at DOGE”; and “Swisher says Musk is bashing Trump’s AI project because he’s not part of it.”
Flu cases skyrocket across US to highest level in at least 15 years, some schools close
Newly released data shows the current U.S. flu season is shattering recent records, topping numbers dating to the early 2000s, when swine flu plagued the country.
Numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday morning showed nearly 50,000 people were admitted to hospitals with influenza, and 10 children died of seasonal flu during the fifth week of the year.
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The CDC estimates there have been at least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths from the flu so far this season, which started Oct. 1.
Nearly 60 of those who died were children.
Although COVID-19 and RSV cases appear to be falling nationally, the flu, which typically peaks in February, has forced schools to temporarily close in some states, according to The Associated Press.
The Godley Independent School District, which serves 3,200 Texas students, closed for multiple days last week after nearly 700 students and staff were absent on a single day, the AP reported.
School district spokesperson Jeff Meador said it has been the worst flu season he remembers.
Of the 50 states, 43 reported high or very high flu activity in the fifth week of 2025, according to CDC data.
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The most activity was detected in Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York City, according to a CDC map.
While health officials recommend the annual flu shot to those older than 6 months, only about 44% of adults got flu shots this winter, the AP reported.
Children’s vaccinations dropped from 50% to 45%.
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It is unclear how successful this year’s flu vaccine will be.
Fox News Digital recently reported the CDC is closely monitoring reports of a spike in human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China.
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HMPV, which was discovered in 2001, remains at pre-pandemic levels and presents the same as the common cold, according to the CDC.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were spotted cozying up ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
The couple sneaked away for a double date dinner with Kelce’s Kansas City Chiefs teammate, Patrick Mahomes, and his wife, Brittany, at the French restaurant Lilette in New Orleans Friday.
The celebrity pairs stepped out hand in hand, gearing up for the big game Sunday, when the Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
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The mega pop star, 35, stunned in a stylish black lace dress with matching black shoes and her signature red lipstick. Swift’s hair was styled with loose curls and front bangs.
Her NFL boyfriend, Kelce, 35, sported a gray tracksuit with a white shirt and sneakers.
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Patrick, 29, wore a black jacket with silver buttons and a white graphic T-shirt. He wore a backward white baseball cap and matching sneakers to complete his look.
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His wife Brittany, 29, who recently gave birth to their third child, stepped out in a large red trench coat with matching boots. She wore a black top underneath and a gold necklace. Her blonde wavy hair was styled in a loose up-do.
This will be the second Super Bowl the “Bejeweled” singer will be supporting Kelce. The couple shared a kiss on the field last year. The Chiefs took home the championship against the 49ers.
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Swift and Kelce debuted their relationship in 2023, when the singer attended one of his games.
Since then, the “Cruel Summer” crooner has formed a close friendship with Brittany and Kelce’s mom, Donna. The three were spotted last month on the field celebrating an AFC championship win.
When Swift and Brittany aren’t on the field cheering on their partners, the celebrity gal pals are typically spotted in stadium luxury suites.
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In October 2023, the “Welcome to New York” singer brought her famous friends to support her boyfriend at a Chiefs game.
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Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, along with Hugh Jackman and Sabrina Carpenter, were spotted hanging out in her luxury suite.
Sophie Turner was also spotted catching a few plays with her celebrity friends.