Pilot with ‘ideological motive’ hijacks small aircraft, forces major airport shutdown
A stolen plane triggered a major security incident at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Tuesday afternoon, temporarily halting operations and forcing multiple flights to reroute.
Just before 1:30 p.m. local time on July 15, a “security incident” involving a small private plane led to a temporary halt in airport operations, according to a statement from YVR. The plane, flying within YVR’s airspace, forced nine incoming flights to reroute to different airports.
At approximately 1:45 p.m., following a 39-minute air traffic suspension, the Cessna 172, operated by a single individual, safely landed. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) then apprehended the pilot.
In an air traffic control recording obtained by the Vancouver Sun via LiveATC.net, a controller alerted other pilots: “We do have an aircraft that has been hijacked and is in the vicinity of the airport … just in case anything starts heading toward [you], you have the ability to move at your discretion.”
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“They are currently flying overhead,” a voice from air traffic control can be heard saying. “At this time, I have no further updates. We have the aircraft in visual range—please stand by for further instructions.”
Later, air traffic controllers instructed grounded aircraft to remain on standby during the ongoing situation:
“We’re not certain what will happen next. The aircraft continues to circle above, and its intentions remain unknown. For now, we are holding position.”
RCMP later confirmed that the aircraft had been taken from Victoria International Airport and had flown around 40 miles into Vancouver’s airspace.
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A spokesperson for Vancouver Airport Authority said in a statement to Fox News Digital that the issue involving a plane from the Victoria Flying Club had been resolved without injury.
“Safety and security are our top priorities, and we continually review our processes and procedures in service of our operation, our passengers, and our airline customers,” the statement read. “Following any significant situation or emergency operations activation and as part of our standard procedures, we debrief on what took place and make recommendations for changes or improvements where necessary.”
One eyewitness, speaking to CBC, described seeing the low-flying aircraft and suspected something was wrong.
“A few minutes later, the plane made a second pass, circling in a wide clockwise turn,” eyewitness Paul Heeny told CBC.
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On July 16, RCMP revealed the identity of the pilot as 39-year-old Shaheer Cassim, who now faces a hijacking charge. Authorities allege he threatened a flight instructor at YYJ before taking control of the aircraft.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Tammy Lobb said in a press release that the suspect appeared to have an “ideological motive” aimed at disrupting air traffic. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Police noted that the investigation is still in its early stages and remains active.
British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Garry Begg, praised the swift actions of first responders.
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“Grateful for the professionalism shown by police, air traffic control, and airport staff during today’s incident,” he posted on X. “Relieved there were no injuries and that normal operations have resumed.”
The airport says flights have resumed at YVR, though minor delays may persist. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but did not immediately receive a response.
Angel Reese lashes out at WNBA for not offering enough money as she struggles with rent
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese made her feelings clear on the recent negotiations between the WNBA and its player’s union, the WNBPA, over a new collective bargaining agreement.
Reese said the proposal the WNBA sent to the players was “disrespectful.”
“It was an eye-opener for me. Like, hearing the things and hearing the language of things and not things that I was happy to hear. It was disrespectful the things that we were sent back, the proposal that we were sent back,” Reese told reporters at WNBA All-Star weekend on Friday.
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“It’s important to be able to be vocal. If I sit back, it looks like I don’t care.”
Reese is one of the league’s more popular and polarizing players, and has built a passionate following largely on her ongoing rivalry with phenom Caitlin Clark dating back to their college days. Clark’s and Reese’s rookie season in 2024 saw the league break multiple viewership and attendance records, particularly due to games featuring Clark and the Indiana Fever.
“Obviously, women’s basketball is skyrocketing. And it’s important for us to get what we want now, not just now, but for the future as well,” Reese said. “It’s really nice to have vets that may not be playing for 10 more years, but they are speaking for us because they know how important it is right now.”
The players met with league officials on Thursday, and the two sides did not come to a deal. Reese is one of many WNBA players who have expressed criticism for the league’s handling of negotiations.
New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu said the players weren’t just going to settle for “the minimum” in negotiations, while Phoenix Mercury player Satou Sabally called the league’s latest CBA offer a “slap in the face.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert told The Associated Press after the meeting that the meeting was “constructive.”
“It was very constructive dialogue. I think, you know, obviously part of the process is to go back and forth and, listen to the players, they listen to us and the owners who represent the board of governors,” Engelbert said. “I still feel really optimistic that we can get something transformational done by the end. But it’s a process.”
Reese previously ignited a social media firestorm after claiming that players are prepared to sit out games to demand higher salaries during an episode of her podcast in early March while previewing the upcoming CBA negotiations.
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“I’ve got to get in the meetings, because I’m hearing like, ‘If y’all don’t give us what we want, we sitting out,'” Reese said.
Reese has griped about her financial situation in the past.
“The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think it pays one of my bills. Literally,” Reese said.
Reese signed a four-year, $324,383 rookie contract ahead of her first WNBA season in 2024. She made under $75,000 in her first year and will make less than that in 2025.
In October, Reese admitted she couldn’t afford to pay her bills based on that salary, in an Instagram live video.
“I’m living beyond my means. Hating pays them bills, baby. I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” she said. “I don’t even think that pays of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at. Let me do the math real quick. I don’t even know my (WNBA) salary, $74,000?”
Reese said she is paying $8,000 for rent.
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“Babe, if y’all thought… That WNBA check don’t pay a thing,” she added. “Did that even pay my car note? … I wouldn’t even be able to eat a sandwich with that. I wouldn’t even be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live.”
The WNBA players’ union opted out of its current collective bargaining agreement last October, two years before its expiration. The current CBA will still cover the 2025 season, so the two sides have a year to negotiate a new agreement.
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.
An Astronomer PR representative shared an official leadership update with Fox News Digital on Friday night.
“Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave. We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days,” the statement said.
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.”
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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.
Fox News has confirmed Cabot and her husband filed for divorce in 2018 and court documents appear to show their divorce was finalized in 2022. No divorce records have been found for Byron, who appears to still be married.
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.”
LA mayor under fire after pushing ICE kidnapping story that was alleged elaborate scam
Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, a critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, is being mocked for pushing a story about an LA woman being kidnapped by ICE that ended up allegedly being an elaborate hoax.
The Department of Homeland Security posted on its official X account on Friday, “Mayor, you pushed a HOAX. There is still time to delete this.”
This comes after Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old Mexican illegal alien living in Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers, according to the DOJ.
On July 1, Bass posted a link to a local news story about Calderon’s supposed kidnapping, commenting, “She’s a mother from L.A. — taken out of her car on her way to work, and then held in a warehouse as officers hoped she would ‘self-deport.’
“No hearing. Just fear,” Bass added. “This doesn’t make anyone safer.”
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After the charges went public, DHS slammed Bass for her comments, saying, “Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was NEVER arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty hunters—this criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from Los Angeles.”
RNC Research, a page run by the Republican National Committee, also chimed in, commenting on X that “Karen Bass spreads a false story demonizing ICE agents.”
According to the Justice Department, Calderon claimed to have been kidnapped by masked, uniformed men in unmarked cars at a Jack in the Box parking lot June 25. She claimed to have been forcibly taken to the border and presented to an ICE staffer who demanded she sign self-deportation papers. Calderon said that when she refused to sign the document, she was taken to a warehouse to be held indefinitely.
The Los Angeles Police Department launched a missing person investigation and notified DHS, which, after determining Calderon was not in its custody, launched its own investigation.
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During the investigation, HSI noticed several irregularities, including that the phone calls to loved ones that Calderon had supposedly made via borrowed phones were made from her cell phone, intentionally masked to appear as an unknown number.
According to the affidavit, video surveillance of Calderon’s alleged forced abduction further showed her calmly leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot and getting into a nearby sedan. Despite the video showing a marked LAPD car in the vicinity, Calderon did not make any attempts to alert officers that she was in danger.
The affidavit states that “when confronted with true information that contradicted their kidnapping story,” Calderon and others lied to federal agents and “attempted to thwart law enforcement efforts” by keeping her whereabouts from law enforcement.
According to a DOJ statement, HSI agents tracked Calderon down July 5 at a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield, California. The statement said Calderon continued to claim she was taken by masked men and held in custody with others.
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Calderon’s daughter also attempted to raise money from Calderon’s alleged kidnapping by creating a GoFundMe page.
A spokesperson for GoFundMe told Fox News Digital the page was removed and that the family did not access any of the money raised.
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Calderon is in U.S. immigration custody and is facing a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years for false statements if convicted of the charges.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bass’ office for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
Belgian man’s shocking discovery after $35K romance and 472-mile journey to model
A Belgian man who drove nearly 500 miles to meet his future wife was stunned to find out the French model, and her husband, had no idea who he was.
After driving 472 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud at her home, the man, who identified himself as Michel, was met by the 38-year-old’s husband, Fabien Boutamine.
“I have to film because there’s a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says ‘I’m the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud’,” Boutamine said in a video he filmed during the get together. “Well, I’m the current one. There’s going to be a confrontation.”
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After some cringeworthy back and forth, Michel admitted to Boutamine something might be “wrong.”
“I think she played a dirty trick on me,” Michel could be heard saying in the distance.
“My wife, no, it’s the fake accounts,” Boutamine replied. “You have to be very careful.”
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Michel explained he had sent $35,000 to someone posing online as Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 first runner-up.
A bewildered and emotional Michel added that the scammer told him she had been pregnant, but later lost her baby.
“No she’s still there, luckily for us,” Boutamine said. “I’m sorry sir … but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt.”
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Vouzelaud later joined the men to clear up the heartbreaking misunderstanding, saying “this hurts my heart.”
“You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police,” she cautioned Michel.
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It is unclear if a police report was filed following the romance scam, though Boutamine’s video, which he posted to social media, garnered nearly 11,000 likes on Instagram.
“I feel so sorry for this man…,” Boutamine wrote in the caption. “Watch out for fake accounts, I’m sharing this video to show you it’s real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself.”
Boutamine and Vouzelaud did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Trump signals 10 more Gaza hostages to be released ‘very shortly’ at White House dinner
During a celebratory dinner at the White House with a number of Donald Trump’s GOP allies, including several Republican lawmakers from Congress, the president signaled that 10 more hostages in Gaza would be “coming very shortly.”
The dinner was largely focused on touting the achievements Republicans have had over the last six months, but while praising his administration’s work on foreign policy, Trump commented about the hostages.
“Gaza – we got most of the hostages back,” Trump said when his comments turned to the Middle East. “We’re going to have another ten coming very shortly. And we hope to have that finished pretty quickly,” the president added.
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So far, the U.S. has brought home five total American hostages captured by Hamas, three of whom were alive, two of whom were dead. Two Americans reportedly still remain in captivity, in addition to dozens of other non-Americans.
The rest of Trump’s address Friday night mostly included praise for Congressional Republicans over their work passing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with the president stating he doesn’t “think anybody’s ever come close to” passing such sweeping legislation with such a small majority.
In particular, Trump thanked by name Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelly Moore-Capito, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham.
“Nobody’s done so much, so fast. And probably you could say, with so few votes,” Trump praised. “You stayed in session for a marathon ten consecutive weeks, and that’s the longest of any Senate in 15 years. And you held over 400 votes, more than any Senate in 35 years. And they were successful votes. And just a few weeks ago, we had the biggest victory of them all. When you passed the one big beautiful bill.”
The president also lauded Republicans for all the work they have done on immigration, border security, foreign diplomacy, speedy cabinet nominations, deregulation and spending cut efforts, calling out Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff specifically for their work on U.S. foreign diplomacy.
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Top of mind Friday night was the GOP recission package as well, which Trump praised the passage of. Trump did not indicate when he would sign the GOP bill, but did note that “we have numerous other recissions coming up, adding more, many more $10 billion dollars to it.”
Meanwhile, Trump also predicted that, in 2026, the GOP majority “is going to be stronger in both the House and the Senate.” Typically, conventional wisdom predicts that the party that won the presidency will not typically perform as well two years later during the midterm elections.
“I don’t understand why they say that when you win the presidency, you always almost automatically lose the midterms, because nobody’s had a more successful period of time than we have,” Trump told the crowd of attendees at the White House Friday evening. “Based on that, we should do great.”
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Trump added Friday that “We achieved more in six months than almost any administration could accomplish in eight years.”
“And we’re going to have a lot of good six months left. We’re going to have a six and another six and another six. So we’ll keep going,” he continued. “Over the next year and a half, we’ll have an incredible record to share with the American people,” he continued. “As long as we continue to keep our promises to the voters, Americans will continue to stand by our side.”
Pentagon’s surprise move ends female superintendent’s tenure at Naval Academy
In a landmark nomination that reshapes nearly two centuries of tradition, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte has been tapped to serve as the next superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
If confirmed by the Senate, he will become the first Marine to hold the top post in the Academy’s 180-year history.
The move was announced Friday by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a broader slate of military leadership nominations. Borgschulte currently serves as the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs at Marine Corps Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. He is a 1991 graduate of the Naval Academy.
The nomination comes amid an unexpected leadership shuffle. Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, who assumed command of the academy last year, has been nominated for reappointment and reassignment to the Pentagon. She is slated to become the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, strategy, and warfighting development (N3/N5/N7), pending Senate approval and a congressional waiver.
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“I’m honored to be nominated,” Davids said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to serve alongside America’s strongest warfighters.”
Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan praised both officers. He called Borgschulte a “decorated combat leader” with “strategic insight” and commended Davids for her “strategic vision” and “operational depth.”
Phelan also noted the significance of the nomination, calling it a powerful signal of “naval integration” as a Marine prepares to lead the Navy’s flagship officer training institution.
s, founded in 1845, has long been led exclusively by Navy officers. The nomination of a Marine marks a sharp departure and a signal of evolving priorities in joint leadership and force development.
Phelan described the Academy as one of the most “consequential institutions in American public life” and said Borgschulte’s leadership will help shape officers “for an increasingly contested world.”
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Borgschulte was commissioned in 1991 after graduating from the Naval Academy and has held multiple command and combat roles throughout his career. In his current position, he oversees the personnel policies, readiness and force structure of the Marines.
Davids, a 1989 graduate of the Naval Academy, made history as the first woman and the first Hispanic to serve as superintendent. Her tenure at the academy appears to be ending prematurely.
Superintendents are traditionally expected to serve three-year terms and then retire. A Department of Defense (DOD) news release did not provide an explanation for the sudden change, and her next assignment requires a waiver from Congress. Her next role would typically require a post-retirement transition, which she has not yet completed.
Davids’ husband, Rear Adm. Keith Davids, retired last year as commander of Naval Special Warfare. The couple met at the Academy while they were both plebes.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Navy regarding the timeline of the leadership transition. The nomination is now in the hands of the Senate with no official date yet for confirmation or change of command.
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Borgschulte’s nomination is part of a broader DOD leadership shake-up that includes nominations for new service vice chiefs and combatant command heads across the military.
The Navy referred Fox News Digital to the DOD release on the matter when asked for further comment.
New report reveals Colbert’s hefty price tag as ‘Late Show’ lost millions for CBS
A new report is putting a spotlight on the finances of “The Late Show” as critics speculate the CBS cancellation was a political move to silence its anti-Trump host Stephen Colbert.
Puck News’ Matt Belloni reported the late-night show “has been losing more than $40 million a year” for CBS and that it had a budget of “more than $100 million per season,” contrasting it with network’s daytime and primetime programming, which he noted were “still profitable.”
“‘Late Show,’ with its topical humor and celebrity interviews pegged to specific projects, has struggled on Paramount+. And of the three network late-night shows, ‘Late Show’ has by far the smallest digital footprint on YouTube and other platforms,” Belloni wrote. “So from a business perspective, the cancellation makes sense.”
CBS CANCELS ‘THE LATE SHOW,’ STEPHEN COLBERT TO END PROGRAM IN MAY 2026
Belloni said the sources he spoke with at CBS and Skydance Media, the company that is set to buy the network’s parent company Paramount Global as part of an $8 billion merger, insist Colbert’s cancellation was “based on economics, not politics,” pointing to the decision to give his show a 10-month extension to May 2026 instead of pulling the plug immediately as evidence.
“Still, two other people with deep ties to CBS and Late Show suspect otherwise,” Belloni said. “After all, when a network decides that a show is too expensive, executives typically go to the key talent and ask them to take pay cuts, fire people, or otherwise slash costs. That didn’t happen here—though with Colbert said to be making between $15 million and $20 million per year, a pay cut wouldn’t have solved the problem on its own.”
The veteran entertainment journalist went on to suggest that political motivations could be in play if Paramount goes on to also cancel “The Daily Show,” which airs on CBS’ sister cable network Comedy Central, but stressed, “for now, I cautiously (and skeptically) believe that this was mostly an economic decision.”
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That said, Belloni asked whether this was “the dam bursting” in late night on broadcast television, suggesting that Jimmy Kimmel at ABC as well as Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers at NBC could be next.
“I’ve sensed that the networks have all been reluctant to be the first to pull the trigger on a cancellation in the historic time slot. CBS has now fired the opening shot, and it’s reasonable to suspect that NBC and ABC will follow,” Belloni wrote. “So no, I wouldn’t sleep well tonight if I were Kimmel or Fallon, though both have larger digital footprints and do a lot more for their respective networks. Fallon and Meyers have also been protected by Lorne Michaels, who produces both their shows, though I wonder if even Lorne might recognize that the 12:30 slot is increasingly not viable, and the sacred cows of television are being slaughtered, one by one.”
President Donald Trump speculated about the future of the other late-night hosts in his Truth Social post celebrating “The Late Show” cancellation.
“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired,” he said. “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.”
CBS said in its statement Thursday announcing the cancellation that 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.”
In a somber message breaking the news to his studio audience, Colbert said, “The folks at CBS have been great partners.”
However, he struck a vastly different tone on Monday while slamming Paramount’s recent settlement with Trump.
“I believe this kind of complicated financial sentiment with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It’s ‘big fat bribe,'” Colbert said. “Because it all comes as Paramount’s owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner, Skydance!”
There had been concerns within Paramount that not settling Trump’s lawsuit would halt its Skydance merger, which needs the approval of the FCC.
Skydance Media CEO David Ellison, who would control CBS after the planned merger, is believed to desire a less-partisan operation.
Liberal critics, including several top Democrats, have expressed outrage towards CBS, insisting Colbert’s show was canceled for political reasons.
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Paramount did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital‘s request for comment.
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.
DAVE PORTNOY RECEIVES PRAISE FOR HANDLING OF ANTISEMITIC INCIDENT AT BARSTOOL BAR
“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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