College sports chief flees scene after mistaken answer on trans athlete investigation
LAS VEGAS – EXCLUSIVE: The Mountain West Conference has addressed concerns over an investigation into alleged misconduct by former San Jose State transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming in an exclusive statement provided to Fox News Digital. The statement also clarified a mistaken response by Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez to a question about the issue at a press conference on Wednesday.
Fox News Digital reported in June that the conference hired the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher (WFG) to investigate allegations against Fleming of conspiring with an opponent to harm teammate Brooke Slusser in November. The same firm defended the Mountain West against a request for a preliminary injunction that would have ruled Fleming ineligible to compete in women’s volleyball in that same month.
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Fox News Digital questioned Nevarez at her Mountain West Media Days press conference on the issue, asking “In November, the Mountain West launched an investigation of misconduct into a San Jose State volleyball player. Why did the conference hire the same law firm that was hired to defend the player’s eligibility in court to conduct that investigation, and was there any concern of a conflict of interest?”
Nevarez responded, “Well, that is a question concerning active litigation, so I’m not going to comment on ongoing litigation. But the statement that the same law firm represented the school in defending the player is incorrect.”
Fox News Digital asked, “Why is it incorrect?”
Nevarez responded, “Because, that’s not, that, the lawyer that did our investigation was not representing San Jose State.” Fox News Digital did not insinuate in its question nor has it ever reported that the law firm represented San Jose State.
Fox News Digital immediately followed up during the press conference, saying, “It was representing the Mountain West to defend the player’s eligibility in court.” Nevarez did not respond, remaining silent for several seconds.
Fox News Digital then asked, “Are you confident in your legal defense?”
Nevarez responded, “Um, yes.”
Fox News Digital attempted to question Nevarez about her response shortly after her press conference ended as she spoke with other reporters, but she ignored the inquiry and walked away. A Mountain West media relations associate said, “Sir, we have to get to another interview.”
The Mountain West later provided its statement that claimed Nevarez “believed” the initial question was asking about the law firm representing SJSU.
“Commissioner Nevarez believed you were asking about our law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, representing both the Mountain West and San Jose State. It was clarified that you were asking about a potential conflict of interest with the lawsuit related to a conference policy and the match investigation,” the statement read.
LAW FIRM THAT WORKED TO KEEP SJSU TRANS PLAYER ELIGIBLE ALSO CLEARED ATHLETE OF CONSPIRING TO HARM TEAMMATE
The statement also claimed that WFG did not defend Fleming’s eligibility in the November legal dispute.
“To be clear, Willkie Farr & Gallagher is defending the Mountain West’s policy regarding forfeitures, not a student-athlete’s eligibility. Eligibility is determined by NCAA policy and the university, not the conference office. The investigation was focused on alleged player misconduct. The two matters in question are unrelated and thus there is no conflict of interest.”
Four conference opponents forfeited games to SJSU in 2024, and the status of the forfeited matches and the impact of conference seeding was challenged in the request for preliminary injunction. However, Fleming’s eligibility to continue the season and play in the conference was challenged as well as a key point.
WFG deleted a Nov. 27 press release from its website announcing the firm had secured a legal victory for the Mountain West against the plaintiffs, led by Slusser, seeking to keep the trans athlete out of the tournament. The page is still viewable via online archives and notes the athlete’s right to play as the first issue in the dispute.
“Willkie secured a high profile win for collegiate athletic conference Mountain West Conference in a suit brought by members of San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team and other Mountain West teams that played against SJSU. The suit sought to (i) prohibit a transgender woman on the SJSU team from competing in the MWC’s Championship,” the press release read, later stating “Plaintiffs sought an order preliminarily (i) blocking the player at issue from playing in any remaining matches this season.”
The press release also directly referenced the Mountain West’s own gender eligibility policy.
“The court noted the player in question has played for SJSU since 2022, and that Mountain West’s policy on transgender athletes has been in place since 2022.”
The WFG attorneys that represented the Mountain West argued against the request for a preliminary injunction as a whole, and made no clear distinction not to challenge the plaintiffs’ request to have Fleming ruled ineligible.
“Preliminary injunctions are an extraordinary remedy only granted in true emergencies. The moving plaintiffs should not be granted such an extraordinary remedy based on the fabricated sense of urgency created by their decision to hold onto their grievances until the eve of this year’s conference tournament,” read the Mountain West’s response brief to Slusser’s complaint.
Slusser and the other plaintiffs argued in their complaint that “Fleming has been continuously ineligible to play women’s volleyball pursuant to Title IX as Fleming’s sex is male and is therefore ineligible to play in, and should not be permitted by the MWC to play in, the MWC women’s volleyball tournament.”
The lead attorney who represented the Mountain West in November, Wesley R. Powell, repeatedly insisted that the Mountain West is not subject to Title IX, as seen in transcripts of the November hearing obtained by Fox News Digital.
“Our position is that we’re simply not subject to Title IX,” Powell said during the status conference. “To be subject to Title IX we would have to be recipients of federal government support and the conference is not a recipient of any such support. And so from our perspective, all of the details, the expert testimony, you know, virtually everything that has been put into the record is ultimately irrelevant to us.”
During oral arguments, Powell said, “It’s only a Title IX issue if the Mountain West receives federal funds, and that is not the case.”
Fox News Digital reached back out to the Mountain West and to WFG for a response to the presentation of these facts as they relate to the conference’s statement. No response has been provided. None of WFG’s attorneys have been accused of violating any applicable rules of professional conduct.
Slusser previously alleged in a bigger lawsuit against the Mountain West, signed by 10 other current or former women’s college volleyball players, that Fleming and other teammates snuck out the night before an Oct. 3 game against Colorado State and met with an opposing player.
The lawsuit, and a separate Title IX complaint filed by former SJSU coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, alleged that the teammates who snuck out with Fleming allegedly later told players and coaches of an alleged plan by Fleming, in conspiracy with the Colorado State player, to have Slusser spiked in the face during the game.
The lawsuit and complaint alleged that the players who snuck out told other players and coaches that they saw Fleming also hand over an SJSU scouting report, with an agreement to throw the game in Colorado State’s favor.
Slusser was never spiked in the face during that game. Fleming led the game in errors with 10, as San Jose State lost in straight sets.
The Mountain West Conference investigated the allegations in November, but concluded that “sufficient evidence” could not be found.
Public records obtained by Fox News Digital show that the lead WFG attorney in the investigation, Tim Heaphy, coordinated with SJSU and California State University legal counsel Dustin May to set up interviews with at least six witnesses. SJSU head volleyball coach Todd Kress was one of the witnesses.
California State University redacted the identities of the other five witnesses that corresponded with Heaphy and May during the investigation in public records provided to Fox News Digital.
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Emails coordinating interviews for the investigation, obtained by Fox News Digital, repeatedly incorrectly stated the game took place on Oct. 2. A letter announcing the investigation had closed without finding sufficient evidence was sent just three days after May and Heaphy’s first emails to witnesses to set up interviews were sent. That letter also incorrectly dated the game Oct. 2.
In February, Heaphy reached back out to May offering legal counsel in navigating a federal Title IX investigation into the situation over the trans athlete, as seen in emails obtained by Fox News Digital. May responded on Feb. 18, declining Heaphy’s offer. Heaphy responded the next day, writing, “Please let me know if we can help in any way on this or other issues.”
May’s office initially responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment after providing the public records, requesting a list of questions and background information be provided before speaking. Fox News Digital did not provide the information or list of comments, and requested a virtual or phone interview.
May’s office then responded with the statement, “Any speculation that the firm or attorney mentioned in your inquiry represented SJSU or the CSU is unfounded.” Fox News Digital had not posed that question or any other stipulation, only an interview request, at that point.
Fox News Digital later followed up with May’s office requesting an interview to address other questions, and fulfilled his office’s request to provide background information on what would be discussed.
May’s office responded saying, “He will not be available,” and has not responded to request for further comment.
Russia says NATO threatens WWIII in defensive plan that could take down Kaliningrad
Russian officials on Friday clapped back at a recently announced NATO deterrence plan that to looks to unite the alliance’s ground response capabilities, and has Moscow particularly worried about the vulnerabilities posed by its highly militarized exclave – Kaliningrad.
Warnings rang out from the halls of the Kremlin as one official warned that a deterrence strategy announced this week by U.S. Army Europe and Africa commander Gen. Christopher Donahue amounted to “a plan to unleash World War III with a subsequent global standoff [and] no winners.”
“An attack on the Kaliningrad region will mean an attack on Russia, with all due retaliatory measures stipulated, among other things, by its nuclear doctrine,” chairman of the Russian Parliamentary Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky told the East 2 West media outlet.
RUSSIA THREATENS WEST WITH ‘PREEMPTIVE STRIKES’ AS NATO LOOKS TO DELIVER PATRIOTS ‘AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE’
Slutsky further claimed that NATO poses a “threat to global security and stability” after Donahue, in explaining the new capabilities being rolled out by the U.S. and NATO militaries, said the alliance has the ability to “take down” Kaliningrad using ground-based operations “in a timeframe that is unheard of and faster than we’ve ever been able to do.”
The strategy, dubbed the “Eastern Flank Deterrence Line” and announced by the U.S. general on Wednesday at the Association of the U.S. Army’s inaugural LandEuro conference in Wiesbaden, Germany, illustrates how NATO is rethinking its defensive strategy against the region’s chief threat – Russia.
The plan looks to enhance ground-based capabilities and utilize military-industrial interoperability, specifically in the Baltic region, to effectively counter and eliminate the threat posed by Russia based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.
While Donahue was not directly threatening Kaliningrad, his comments highlight the vulnerability that the territory – which is situated between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic Sea and completely cut off from mainland Russia – poses to Moscow.
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Renewed focus has been brought to a sparsely populated strip of land known as the Suwalki Corridor, also known as the Suwalki Gap, which runs less than 60 miles in length and marks the Lithuanian-Polish border.
But the strip of land is also the only possible direct route between the Russian territory of Kaliningrad and that of ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarus.
“It’s Putin’s gap. It’s our corridor,” Russia expert and adjunct senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Peter Doran, told Fox News Digital. “Putin wants to close it. We must keep it open.
“All eyes in the Baltic States are focused on a potential military threat in the next few years, whereby Russia would reconnect the land corridor to Kaliningrad,” Doran highlighted. “That’s what has got a lot of people paying attention to Russia’s military force posture in the Baltic region.”
Donahue’s comments regarding NATO’s increased capabilities in the Baltic region not only didn’t go unnoticed by Russian leadership, but they highlighted the significant focus there is on the small Russian territory.
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“Kaliningrad is Russian territory, and such threats are essentially a declaration of war,” Sergei Muratov, who serves on the Russian parliamentary committee on defense and security, told the East 2 West outlet.
Muratov said a full-scale war with NATO would be a very “different conversation” from the current war in Ukraine.
“None of them are ready for this,” he added.
Fox News Digital could not immediately reach U.S. European Command for comment.
Tech firm launches investigation after execs caught on Kiss Cam at Coldplay concert
A Coldplay concert Kiss Cam is causing major heat at a rising tech firm.
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron is now under “formal investigation” by his board after allegedly being caught on the jumbotron with the company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, at a recent Coldplay show—an eyebrow-raising moment that quickly exploded online.
The tech firm Astronomer posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the controversial matter.
“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability,” the company shared.
COLDPLAY’S CHRIS MARTIN CALLS OUT COUPLE ON KISS CAM, SPARKING AFFAIR ACCUSATIONS
“The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”
The company emphasized that no other employees appeared in the video, and confirmed that Alyssa Stoddard, the Senior Director of People at Astronomer, was not present at the concert.
Fans speculated that the embarrassed woman spotted beside Byron and Cabot was their co-worker Stoddard.
When reached for comment, the company directed Fox News Digital to their statement on social media.
The Coldplay concert Kiss Cam turned into viral chaos after frontman Chris Martin joked that a couple on screen were “either having an affair or just very shy.”
The pair, who online sleuths quickly claimed were Astronomer CEO Byron and his Chief People Officer Cabot, sparked a firestorm of speculation and mockery across social media.
Within hours, an apology statement, allegedly issued by Astronomer CEO Byron, went viral. However, it turned out to be a fake.
“I want to acknowledge the moment that’s been circulating online, and the disappointment it’s caused,” the fake statement read in part.
“What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage. I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader.”
The hoax statement continued, “This is not who I want to be or how I want to represent the company I helped build. I’m taking time to reflect, to take accountability, and to figure out the next steps, personally and professionally, I ask for privacy as I navigate that process.”
“I also want to express how troubling it is that what should have been a private moment became public without my consent. I respect artists and entertainers, but I hope we can all think more deeply about the impact of turning someone else’s life into a spectacle.”
The fake statement concluded with Coldplay’s song lyrics to “Fix You,” “Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you.”
Astronomer shut down the false apology and said it was “not a real statement,” according to the recent statement by the tech firm.
A fake Coldplay account additionally posted that the band would be making changes to their performances after the viral Kiss Cam moment between the two alleged Astronomer execs.
“Starting with our next show, we’re introducing camera-free audience sections for people and their sidepieces,” the post read.
Reps for Byron, Cabot and Coldplay did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
WATCH: COLDPLAY’S CHRIS MARTIN CATCHES COUPLE ON KISS CAM, JOKINGLY ASKS IF THEY’RE HAVING AN AFFAIR
While the two statements were deemed to be a hoax, the internet can’t get enough of the awkward moment. Fans were quick to react on Coldplay’s official Instagram account about the viral moment.
“Show #207, Boston,” the caption read with photo highlights from the concert, not including the Kiss Cam moment.
“Coldplay released ‘two’ new singles that night,” one fan quipped.
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Another comment read, “Did Karma have to pay for her ticket?”
“You forgot the best photo of the whole tour,” a fan wrote.
Other comments read, “I always wanted to be part of a jumbotron at your concert, but then I realized that not all of the people feel the same way.”
MYSTERY COUPLE MISTAKEN FOR JEFF BEZOS AND LAUREN SÁNCHEZ AT CANNES
During the band’s performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., on Wednesday, Coldplay’s frontman serenaded the crowd with an improv of “The Jumbotron Song” where he sang about couples featured live on the big screen.
“Whoa, look at these two,” Martin said, as a man and woman were seen cozying up with one another.
Once the attention was on the pair, the woman immediately turned away and dodged the camera. The man also exited the frame.
“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” Martin joked as the audience laughed.
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Once internet sleuths made the claim it was Byron and Cabot, the affair accusations took off.
Byron is the CEO of Astronomer, the cybersecurity startup, and Cabot, according to her LinkedIn, is the company’s chief people officer. It seems they have worked closely together for years.
Last November, Astronomer posted a press release, as the tech company announced Cabot as the newly appointed Chief People Officer.
“Kristin’s exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory,” Byron wrote of his new employee at the time. “She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer.”
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The press release also included Cabot’s statement about her new job: “I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resources, as the real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy.”
Explosion at LA County Sheriff’s Department facility leaves 3 dead, source says
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and federal law enforcement partners are investigating the cause of a devastating explosion Friday morning that left multiple deputies dead at the agency’s Special Enforcement Bureau in East Los Angeles.
The blast, which occurred at the Biscailuz Training Facility just after 7:30 a.m., killed three deputies assigned to the arson explosives detail.
The fallen deputies, whose identities have not yet been released, had a combined 74 years of service, according to L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna.
No other injuries were reported, and there is no threat to the community, according to Luna.
HUMAN REMAINS DISCOVERED DAYS AFTER DEVASTATING CALIFORNIA FIREWORKS FACILITY EXPLOSION
Sources said the explosion was not part of a planned training exercise, and it appears the incident occurred while deputies were moving ordnance on the training facility property.
However, they noted it is uncommon for the arson and explosives detail to use live ordnance, so it is unclear what exploded.
It is also unknown if the blast happened within the suspected arson and explosives truck, or beside it.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Los Angeles and L.A. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the “post-blast portion” of the incident, according to Luna. Homicide detectives also responded to the scene.
The tragedy marked the largest loss of life within the department since 1857.
“If you’re familiar with our Special Enforcement Bureau, they’re the best of the best. The individuals who work on our arson explosives detail have years of training,” Luna said. “They average about 1,100 [calls] per year, so these aren’t people who don’t do this very often. They are fantastic experts, and unfortunately, I lost three of them today. … There are other law enforcement agencies who have bomb techs, not only around the country, around the world, that want to know what happened here. We want to make sure that we don’t repeat this.”
SEVEN MISSING AFTER POWERFUL EXPLOSION AT CALIFORNIA FIREWORKS FACILITY AS EVACUATION ORDERS REMAIN IN PLACE
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in a series of X posts that she spoke with Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, and the LASD sheriff regarding the “horrific incident.”
“I just spoke to @USAttyEssayli about what appears to be a horrific incident that killed at least three at a law enforcement training facility in Los Angeles,” Bondi wrote. “Our federal agents are at the scene and we are working to learn more. Please pray for the families of the sheriff’s deputies killed.”
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed DHS is working with state and federal law enforcement in relation to the incident.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed and offered full state assistance to the sheriff’s office, according to a statement.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott confirmed LAFD’s arson and ATF members are assisting with the investigation.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass offered the city’s support in an X post.
“The thoughts of all Angelenos are with all of those impacted by this blast,” Bass wrote.
CALIFORNIA SHERIFF SAYS NEARLY A DOZEN DEPUTIES INJURED IN ANTI-ICE RIOTS
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also weighed in on social media, offering his family’s prayers.
“Any loss of life in law enforcement is a sad and difficult circumstance,” Kemp wrote in a post. “Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by the tragedy at the @LASDHQ Sheriff’s Office and are praying for the families of those killed in today’s accident.”
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Federal judge slammed for ‘extreme gender fanaticism’ after releasing illegal alien
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ripped a federal judge in Washington for releasing a transgender illegal migrant from detention, saying the release was caused by the judge bowing to activist pressure.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio, a President Joe Biden appointee, ignored the rule of law and promoted “gender ideology fanaticism” by releasing the migrant, a transgender woman who is claiming asylum in the U.S.
The migrant, identified by DHS as “Odalis Jhonatan Martinez-Velasquez, a male illegal alien from Mexico,” entered the country in 2023 and was released under the Biden administration.
JUDGE ORDERS RELEASE OF MIGRANT TRANS WOMAN HELD IN MALE SECTION OF ICE FACILITY
Martinez-Velasquez was detained on June 2 and placed into ICE’s male detention center for the safety of women in ICE custody in accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at protecting women, DHS said.
Baggio ordered Martinez-Velasquez released this week, despite having already been processed for expedited removal, ruling that the asylum seeker had been deprived of liberty without proper procedural safeguards.
“The activist judge is ignoring the biological reality of sex, undermining ICE’s commitment to promoting safe, secure, and humane environments for women in custody, and subverting the American people’s mandate to restore commonsense to our immigration system and reject extreme gender fanaticism,” McLaughlin said.
“An immigration judge, not a district judge, has the authority to decide if Odalis Jhonatan Martinez-Velasquez should be released or detained.”
On his first day back in office, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order of Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, which prohibits DHS from detaining males in women’s detention centers.
McLaughlin said Martinez-Velasquez is no exception.
TWICE-DEPORTED MIGRANT RAPIST FREED AS DEMS FACE HEAT FOR SANCTUARY POLICIES
“The President made it clear on Day One: DHS will not buy into radical gender ideology when detaining illegal aliens,” McLaughlin said.
Martinez-Velasquez is claiming asylum after allegedly being abducted and raped by cartel members in Mexico.
The migrant was arrested outside a Portland courtroom last month and transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. and held there for over 40 days after a judge granted the government’s request to dismiss the asylum case.
The nonprofit Innovation Law Lab, whose attorneys represent Martinez-Velasquez, decried the fact that Martinez-Velasquez was being held at a men’s facility.
Martinez-Velasquez’ attorneys filed a habeas petition, a legal motion asking the court to review whether the detention was lawful, saying they were not aware of their client’s location after the migrant was taken into custody.
Under due process standards, especially in asylum cases, attorneys must be able to locate their client and ICE is required to notify or justify sudden detentions and transfers.
In Martinez-Velasquez’s case, the judge found that ICE’s failure to provide timely, specific information about the migrant’s location and legal status violated fundamental procedural fairness.
The judge had also demanded to know why it was deemed immediately necessary.
One of the migrant’s attorneys, Stephen Manning, of Immigrant Law Group, previously told OPB that Martinez-Velasquez was processed into the Tacoma detention center, but he had not been granted access to her since her transfer. Martinez-Velasquez was identified only as “O-J-M” in court documents.
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“They threatened to kill her because O-J-M is a transgender woman,” her habeas petition states, per OPB. “Fearing for her life, she fled and sought asylum in the United States in September 2023,” Manning said.
Manning told Willamette Weekly that his client had not committed a crime while in the U.S. and had regularly checked in at ICE offices as instructed.
Oregon sanctuary laws prevent it from having long-term immigration detention facilities, and — aside from temporary holding cells at the Portland ICE office — the nearest immigration detention center is the Tacoma facility.
Trump mocks Colbert after show cancellation, says Kimmel could be next
Count one prominent person among those happy that Stephen Colbert’s late-night show was canceled.
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,” President Donald Trump posted Friday on Truth Social.
“His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show,” Trump went on.
Colbert, one of Trump’s fiercest critics, took over the CBS show from David Letterman in 2015, and became a major platform for Democratic politicians. Last month, Colbert welcomed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani before the socialist hopeful clinched the Democratic nomination. On Thursday, the same day he announced his cancellation effective next May, his first guest was Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
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CBS said in a statement that the long-running late-night show will end in May 2026, but it was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” adding, “It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.”
There had been speculation about the future of the Paramount-owned late-night programs, which also includes “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central, as its planned corporate merger with Skydance Media is expected to take place later this year.
Colbert was outspoken against the settlement, calling it a “big fat bribe” to the Trump administration. He joked about being pressured by studio heads earlier this week.
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“Some of the TV typers out there are blogging that once Skydance gets CBS, the new owners’ desire to please Trump will ‘put pressure on late-night host and frequent Trump critic Stephen Colbert,’” Colbert joked. “OK, but how are they going to put pressure on Stephen Colbert… if they can’t find him?”
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Meanwhile, Fox News Channel’s “Gutfeld!” has surged to become late-night’s highest-rated program. In the second quarter of 2025, the show, hosted by Fox star Greg Gutfeld, notched 3 million viewers and 365,000 in the 25-54 age demographic at the 10 p.m. ET hour.
In addition to routing cable news competition, “Gutfeld!” outpaced all broadcast and late-night television, including “The Late Show” and other such established programs as Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and NBC’s “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”
Young boy dies after 10 minutes missing at popular Southern travel spot
A 5-year-old boy died in Georgia after he “wandered” into a lake near his family’s vacation home, police said.
The tragic death unfolded midday Tuesday near a house on Stonecrest Circle in Hiawassee, on the banks of Lake Chatuge, according to the Towns County Sheriff’s Office.
“Investigation revealed the child had been missing for about 10 minutes and apparently had wandered into the lake where he was found by a family member,” police said. “The family was here at a rental home visiting from Cumming, GA.”
When deputies arrived, “they found that the child had just been pulled from the lake,” the Towns County Sheriff’s Office continued.
WOMAN DIES AFTER FALLING AT LEAST 75 FEET WHILE HIKING IN NORTH CAROLINA
“Deputies immediately began CPR along with fire personnel who had also arrived on the scene,” it added. “The child was then taken to Chatuge Regional Hospital where he died later that afternoon.”
The identity of the child is unclear.
Towns County Coroner Tamela Cooper told 11Alive that the child “fell into the lake and was unable to pull himself out.”
“EMS, Chatuge Regional Hospital and the Town’s County Sheriffs office gave it their all,” Cooper added. “They threw everything they had into saving him but in the end he was just down too long.”
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The death reportedly was ruled accidental.
Georgia’s tourism website describes Lake Chatuge as having scenic beauty that is “nearly unsurpassed in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, drawing tourists and seasonal residents from all over the country.”
It said the lake has “132 miles of shoreline, perfect for boating, fishing, skiing, swimming, picnicking in secluded coves and camping.
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“There are many public boat ramps that offer easy access to all water sports. A swimming beach, playgrounds and numerous picnic tables are also provided at the Towns County Recreational Beach,” Georgia tourism officials also said. “Many of the campgrounds are located on the scenic lake shore, and other campgrounds offer more private settings.”
Anti-American tourism protests prompt Mexico City mayor to cave to requests
Local residents of Mexico City have been making their feelings known about unwanted tourists visiting their home areas.
Residents were protesting mass tourism over the weekend, with hundreds of people taking to the streets and demanding stricter housing laws and legislation to regulate tourism levels.
On Wednesday, it appears that government officials caved to the requests by announcing a preliminary plan to address gentrification and the other concerns of locals, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
AMERICANS TARGETED IN MEXICO CITY AS LOCALS PROTEST AGAINST TOURISM AND SOARING RENTS
Clara Brugada, Mexico City mayor, said landlords will not be allowed to increase rents above inflation.
Meanwhile, authorities will have a list of “reasonable rental” proposals to share, according to AP.
Brugada said her administration will consult residents on her proposal, with the goal of drafting legislation that incorporates measures to keep rents affordable.
Earlier this month, an initially peaceful march took a turn when a small group of people in masks began smashing storefronts, looting and harassing foreigners, Fox News Digital reported earlier.
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Many protesters were calling out American tourists.
The number of Americans living in Mexico jumped 70% from 2019 to 2022, according to the U.S. State Department.
Popular areas such as Condesa and Roma were affected.
Graffiti written on shattered glass from rocks read, “Get out of Mexico,” as AP reported.
Other signs held by protesters read, among other messages, “Gringos, stop stealing our home,” and “Pay taxes, learn Spanish, respect my culture.”
During the COVID pandemic, many Americans took advantage of cheaper rent prices in Mexico by escaping lockdowns in 2020 as “digital nomads.”
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The number of Americans living in Mexico has continued to grow to a total of 1.6 million, according to the U.S. State Department.
Portnoy reveals network that was ’embarrassed’ by Barstool before finding new home
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy says the company’s new partnership with FOX Sports marks a major shift from past collaborations, and it’s one that finally feels like the right fit.
Portnoy reflected on earlier attempts to work with major media networks, including a deal with ESPN. It’s something, he admits, didn’t meld with their brand.
“When we did the ESPN deal, they looked like they had a sour taste in their mouth every time they looked at me,” Portnoy told “Fox & Friends” Friday. “They wanted nothing to do with Barstool. They were embarrassed by it.”
That experience, he says, is completely different to the new partnership with FOX Sports.
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“Fox is the exact opposite. They’re embracing everything they do,” Portnoy said. “They’re embracing why people like us. They are basically [going to] be a true partner.”
As part of the collaboration, Barstool personalities, including Portnoy and Dan “Big Cat” Katz, will be featured on FOX Sports programming. Portnoy will join “Big Noon Kickoff” this fall to cover college football, with a particular interest in representing his alma mater.
“I’m going to be on the road every single week with these guys,” he said. “It’s about time Michigan gets represented. Since we do run the conference, it’s only natural you have an alumni there.”
Portnoy also revealed that he’ll be appearing on a new Monday show on FOX Sports 1, and that a dedicated Barstool studio is being built in Chicago as part of the expansion.
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“Our cast of characters will be on it,” he added.
“FOX Sports really wanted the Barstool feel. They want what makes us attractive, which is, you have a bunch of idiots just trying to get along in the world, make people laugh.”
Looking ahead, Portnoy said he’s excited about what the partnership will bring for both fan bases.
“It’s a totally new chapter for us,” he said. “We’ve never partnered with a network as big, as many resources, as much talent as FOX Sports that is invested in us.”
“They’re as excited about it as we are,” he added. “So, you know, the sky’s the limit.”
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