Cracker Barrel has undergone major evolution on internal LGBT policies

Cracker Barrel over the past decade has worked closely with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), changing its company culture to be more inclusive and LGBT-friendly ahead of its controversial store rebrand.

The restaurant chain’s former management and training leader, Steve Smotherman, who spearheaded an LGBT employee resource group at Cracker Barrel, went on to sit on the HRC’s Business Advisory Council, Upward News reported. 

“For more than ten years of my time at Cracker Barrel, I had an emphasis on Diversity & Inclusion, especially with LGBTQ workplace inclusion. My training background allowed me to understand the steps of adult learning, facilitate difficult conversations and be effective at it [sic] Diversity & Inclusion content,” Smotherman, who joined the company in 2005, wrote.

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Smotherman said at first he was reluctant to join Cracker Barrel due to it having a bad reputation with the gay community. In 1991, the chain instituted a corporate-wide policy stating that any employee who failed to demonstrate “normal heterosexual values” would be fired. After 11 employees were fired due to their sexual orientation, protests and boycotts were staged throughout the country.

After a few years with the restaurant, Smotherman founded an LGBT resource group that originally had six members. Over time, the group was successful at changing Cracker Barrel’s culture and making the “Old Country Store” more welcoming towards LGBT employees, Smotherman said. He left the company in 2020. The former Cracker Barrel employee would go on to sit on the HRC Business Advisory Council.

The HRC has wielded immense power in the corporate world in recent years with its Corporate Equality Index. The index, which, on its website, is defined as a “national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees,” would assign companies a score based on how inclusive the HRC determined they were to gay employees. Companies would then jockey to increase their scores by instituting more DEI-related policies, some of which, critics alleged, went too far.

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Cracker Barrel was originally given a score of zero when the CEI debuted in 2002. Later that year, the franchise added “sexual orientation” to its list of characteristics protected by its employment discrimination policy. Over time, Cracker Barrel’s score increased. It achieved a score of 80 in 2021 after it had taken some high-profile pro-LGBT stands.

In 2014, it pulled “Duck Dynasty” products from its shelves after star Phil Robertson made remarks that many deemed to be homophobic. In 2019, the restaurant chain barred a pastor from hosting an event at one of its 660 locations after he preached that homosexuals were “freaks” and “animals” who are “worthy of death” in a sermon. 

In 2023, the “Old Country Store” celebrated Pride by unveiling rainbow-colored rocking chairs. Cracker Barrel sponsored the Nashville Pride Parade in 2024. 

Cracker Barrel is now in the crosshairs of consumer backlash after it unveiled a new logo and restaurant redesign. The logo, which drops the imagery of a man leaning over a barrel and instead just has the restaurant’s name in black text over a yellow barrel-shaped backdrop, has elicited sharp criticism online.

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A redesign of the restaurant’s interiors, which dropped the kitschy American aesthetic it was known for in favor of a slick modernist motif, has also roiled their longtime fans. 

A representative for Cracker Barrel told Fox News Digital in a statement about the new logo that the company’s values had not changed.

“Our values haven’t changed, and the heart and soul of Cracker Barrel haven’t changed,” the company said. “And Uncle Herschel remains front and center in our restaurants and on our menu. He is the face of ‘The Herschel Way,’ the foundation of how our 70,000-plus employees provide the country hospitality for which we are known.

“Cracker Barrel has been a destination for comfort and community for more than half a century, and this fifth evolution of the brand’s logo, which works across digital platforms as well as billboards and roadside signs, is a call-back to the original and rooted even more in the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all back in 1969.”

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Fox News Digital reached out for additional comment from Cracker Barrel.

Military family’s savings seized by NY despite federal protections for servicemembers

EXCLUSIVE: Sarah Ogasian, a Marine Corps spouse, mother and ER nurse, remembers the exact moment her husband, Master Sgt. Jon Ogasian, discovered their savings account had been wiped out. 

The couple lived in Highland, New York, while Jon was stationed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, before moving to Texas, where he is currently at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

“[Jon] said that he woke up, went to work at the military base, opened up his cellphone and looked on his app, checking our bank accounts, and that it was completely drained,” Sarah Ogasian said in an interview with Fox News Digital. “There was absolutely no money left in our bank account, and he just literally wanted to just vomit. … As soon as the money was gone, it literally left us with pennies.” 

The Ogasians were told by a representative from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance that their money had been seized by the state through a tax levy.

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Although New York has since admitted the levy was in error and canceled the assessment, the Ogasians say they are still waiting for their funds to be returned and are being told that “a processing fee is being taken out to get the check back.”

“If this is happening to us, then who else has this happened to? Who else has wrongfully gotten money taken out of their account?” Ogasian said. 

The Ogasian’s case raises questions about whether state tax systems are failing to properly apply federal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) and the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act (MSRRA).

The SCRA is a federal law that shields active-duty service members from certain state taxes, liens and financial actions when their legal residence is elsewhere. In practice, it means that a Marine stationed in New York cannot be taxed by the state on his military income if his domicile is legally New Hampshire, which does not have an income tax.

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The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act also extends that same protection to military spouses, allowing them to claim the servicemember’s home state for tax purposes even if they work in the stationed state.

Capital One, the family’s bank, told Fox News Digital it had complied with all applicable laws and stressed its commitment to honoring the SCRA, though the company declined to discuss the Ogasians’ account specifically.

“Capital One is committed to both the letter and spirit of the SCRA. This includes the provision of benefits and protections above and beyond what is required under the SCRA in certain situations that involve a Capital One loan or liability,” a Capital One spokesperson said. “Further, we also comply with any applicable federal or state laws concerning levy orders.”

New York flagged the family because they had a state mailing address, but weren’t paying state taxes. Yet Jon’s W-2s and military records clearly listed New Hampshire as his legal domicile, making him exempt under federal law.

When the Ogasians called, Sarah said they were shocked to find state officials weren’t familiar with the SCRA protections.

“The New York tax rep had no idea what the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act even was. My husband had to explain it to him, which I don’t think is his position,” she said. “He shouldn’t have had to explain that to a tax representative.”

According to Sarah, without access to their savings, her family has been unable to buy back-to-school clothes, repair their broken van, or pay for their children’s sports and dance activities. 

“We were starting school here in Texas. We start in the first two weeks of August. We had to sit our kids down and say, ‘listen, we don’t have any money right now,’” she said. “There’s literally no money to be had. We can’t afford school clothes, we can’t afford new backpacks, we can’t afford new shoes. We had to really limit what we got… for the first time in our lives we just had to go out to like secondhand stores and get new clothes that way.”

Sarah points to the years of service and sacrifice their family has given. She worked on the front lines as an ER nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Jon has served 21 years in the Marines, including deployments overseas. 

“Back when COVID hit during the pandemic, I was working the front lines in upstate New York. I was the one there watching people die and holding their hands while their loved ones were not there. We were deemed as such heroes back then,” she said. “And now, New York state couldn’t care less about what I’ve done for New York state, never mind my husband, who has served 21 years of his life.”

Fox News Digital reached out to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office and the state Office of the Taxpayer Rights Advocate, but had not received responses at the time of publication.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik also weighed in to Fox News Digital, blasting the state’s handling of the case.

“The reckless and incompetent Hochul Administration violated federal law under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the Military Spouses Residency Relief Act with gross government overreach by levying [an entire savings account] from a military family without their knowledge.

Despite this error, the Hochul Administration is brazen enough to still charge a processing fee to the family just to get their money back. I call upon Governor Hochul and New York State to rectify this error immediately and to drop the fee charged against the family. This egregious overreach is another example of the Hochul Administration attempting to exact huge tolls on New York families to pay for New York State’s bloated and mismanaged budget,” Stefanik said.

For now, the Ogasians are left waiting, watching their hard-earned savings remain in limbo.

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“People keep telling me ‘sue the state, sue the state.’ And I said, ‘no, I don’t want their money. I just want my money back. The savings we worked hard for are being held hostage from us,'” said Sarah, who offered advice to other military families. “Keep your records. That is the biggest thing as a military family. But also know your rights. Know what the SCRA is. I didn’t know what it was prior to that… stick to your guns. 

“When you know that you’ve been wronged, go for it.”

Former Secret Service agent warns Americans about dangers in popular vacation spot

The U.S. State Department has issued an updated travel advisory for Mexico, warning Americans about potential dangers in the popular vacation destination.

Released on Aug. 12, the advisory raised Mexico to a Level 2 alert, urging travelers to “exercise increased caution” due to the threat of violent crime, including terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activity.  

U.S. officials also warned that in certain areas they may have limited ability to assist travelers in emergencies.

“Violent crimes such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery are widespread,” the advisory notes. “There is also a risk of terrorist violence, including potential attacks.”

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Mexico’s popularity among U.S. tourists

The alert comes as Mexico continues to attract millions of international travelers.

According to RoadGenius, in 2024, Mexico received approximately 45.04 million international tourists, including about 13.5 million visitors from the United States, making it the top international destination for U.S. travelers. Popular hot spots include Cancún, Tulum, Cabo San Lucas, and Mexico City.

Expert perspective: Awareness over alarm

Despite the heightened warning, one expert emphasized that Americans don’t necessarily need to cancel their trips.

Robert McDonald, a retired supervisory Secret Service agent and alecturer in criminal justice at the University of New Haven, told Fox News Digital the advisory should be viewed as a reminder rather than a deterrent.

“It’s really a lot of situational awareness, a lot of common sense,” McDonald said. “If you can avoid traveling into a hot zone, do so. Otherwise, just be smart about your surroundings.”

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With more than 20 years in executive protection and intelligence, McDonald has coordinated security for U.S. and foreign dignitaries. He said that while most resorts are generally safe, venturing off-property is where risks increase.

Risks outside of resorts

McDonald explained that resorts and cruise lines work hard to maintain reputations for safety, often downplaying incidents to reassure guests. While most tourist hubs remain stable, travelers who leave resort areas may face exposure to cartel activity, gang violence, robbery, or drink tampering.

“Stay on the resort. Enjoy what’s on the property. Don’t go off — that’s where problems can occur,” McDonald said. 

McDonald also highlighted how resorts and cruise ships alike are motivated to maintain a reputation for safety, even if that means underplaying incidents, adding that guests can still have safe and enjoyable vacations by being cautious and limiting exposure to risky situations.

AMERICANS TOURISTS WARNED OF INCREASED THREAT IN SUMMER VACATION HOTSPOT

“Resorts don’t want problems advertised because it hurts business, but dangers exist once you step off,” he explained. 

According to McDonald, safety largely depends on where you’re going. 

“Tourist-friendly areas haven’t seen a significant spike in violent crime,” McDonald noted. “But you should avoid areas dominated by drug cartels or where violence is common.”

Travel safety tips

For those still planning trips, McDonald recommends the following precautions:

Avoid street taxis: There have been reports of extortion involving unregulated taxis. Instead, book transportation in advance through reputable companies offering vetted services.

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Stay on resort grounds: Resorts typically provide 24-hour security. If you plan to leave the property, avoid going out alone or after dark.

Stay vigilant: Avoid distractions like using your phone while walking, and keep an eye on your drink when out socializing.

Dress modestly: Avoid wearing flashy or expensive jewelry that could draw unwanted attention.

Communicate safety: Check in with people back home and travel with trusted groups.

Be prepared for emergencies: Always know exit strategies and how to “get off the X” (escape dangerous situations quickly).

Travel safety awareness

McDonald stressed that these tips apply not only to Mexican resorts but to any crowded environment.

“Travelers must be vigilant. Whether at a resort, a ball game, or any crowded venue, it’s important to always identify exit routes and have a plan to ‘get off the X’ if danger arises, since law enforcement often arrives only after the fact,” McDonald said. 

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Ultimately, he advised travelers to balance enjoyment with preparation.

“Enjoy the trip, but don’t let your guard down — safety relies on awareness, preparation, and smart choices,” McDonald said. 

“A little bit of preparation, knowing where the consulate, police, or hospital are located can make a big difference. So plan ahead, and always be ready to remove yourself quickly from unsafe situations.”

Jillian Michaels pulls back curtain on viral CNN slavery debate: ‘Lied about everything’

EXCLUSIVE: A CNN segment on “NewsNight with Abby Phillip” about the Trump administration’s review of the Smithsonian erupted into a heated debate over slavery when fitness trainer and media personality Jillian Michaels said President Donald Trump is not “whitewashing” history. 

Speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital about the now-viral segment, Michaels accused Phillip of lying and then verbally attacking her after she argued that White people do not bear all the blame for slavery. 

“There was no moment where I defended slavery,” Michaels clarified. “I would never. I just said it’s evil, but you can’t lay it all at the feet of one race. There was no moment where I tried to litigate who benefited from slavery in America, and I said specifically this has been going on for thousands of years.”

Michaels said Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky started the debate when she referred to Trump as “Dear Leader” – a jab evoking the authoritarian title used for North Korea’s Kim Jong Il – and said, “Slavery was a bad thing, and we should talk about it.”

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“He’s not whitewashing slavery,” Michaels responded, triggering crosstalk on the panel and Michaels’ viral moment. 

The Huffington Post published an article after the segment aired, accusing Michaels of a “stunning meltdown.” In a social media video, Phillip explained the viral debate from her perspective, accusing Michaels of trying to “minimiz[e] the impact of racism and slavery on American history.”

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“If I could tell you literally the lies that Abby Phillip and CNN and the Huffington Post have perpetuated after that interview, it’s staggering how they’ve mischaracterized and manipulated and lied about everything,” Michaels said. 

And the CNN host said Trump followed Michaels’ lead in a Truth Social post, calling the Smithsonian “WOKE” and “OUT OF CONTROL.”

Michaels maintained to Fox News Digital that she had no intention of “trying to relitigate who benefited from slavery in America,” as Phillip claimed. 

“Slavery and imperialism and racism have been practiced by every single human race, and everybody of every skin color throughout history has worn both the chains and the whip, and I think if we don’t start talking about this, it’s going to tear apart the fabric of our society,” Michaels said. 

She questioned how it’s racist to “tell both sides of this story.” White House officials told Fox News Digital that the new Smithsonian guidance seeks to “support a broader vision of excellence that highlights historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of America’s heritage.”

“This ultra-woke narrative that tells only one side of history and that paints an entire, just one, race, with all the evils of slavery, imperialism, racism – this younger generation is choking on [it], and they’re vomiting it back up,” the former “The Biggest Loser” trainer said. 

Michaels argued that cancel culture “is a lever of power.” While politicians campaign on “culture wars” with “race baiting,” she said “nobody’s paying attention to the greater evils.”

She said someone commented, “Little Nazi,” on a photo her son posted on Instagram with conservative media personality, Charlie Kirk, while others made comments about her having a Black daughter. 

“I will sign up for any difficult conversation,” Michaels said. “I want to have it. I embrace it. I think it’s necessary, but when you see people attack your family, your kids, your spouse, your parents, the people that you work with, and their livelihoods get threatened, you can see why people are afraid to say anything.”

The “Keeping It Real” podcast host said that cancel culture is intentionally used as a means to maintain racial division and uphold the status quo. But she’s no stranger to the public’s ire. 

After admitting she voted for Trump in 2024 and going all in on the Make American Health Again (MAHA) movement, the public said, “She’s lost it, she’s MAGA, she’s alt-right,” she said.

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As Michaels faces a slew of criticism in light of a new Netflix docuseries, “Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser,” she said, “It’s like ‘The Biggest Loser’ all over again because the Left is manipulating narratives and smearing [me].”

Fox News Digital reached out to CNN and the Huffington Post, but the outlets did not immediately provide comment. 

Federal arrests in DC pile up as suspected gangbangers, child predators captured

Thursday’s arrests in Washington, D.C. amid the Trump administration’s federal crime crackdown included a suspected member of the brutal Salvadoran street gang MS-13.

“Just yesterday we made 40 arrests, took 5 more illegal firearms off our streets, and had 36 ICE arrests—including a suspected MS-13 gang member,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X on Friday morning. 

Thursday’s arrests bring the total to 719 since President Donald Trump announced his effort to federalize the D.C. police on Aug. 11, according to Bondi. She thanked Trump for his “unwavering support to make DC safe again!”

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Approximately 800 National Guard troops have descended upon the city since the order, along with countless federal agents from the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ICE and the DEA. 

On Aug. 15, Bondi said the total number of arrests was 189, meaning that over the past week, federal authorities have arrested 530 suspected criminals, an average of almost 76 per day. 

The suspects have been charged with crimes including homicide, drug trafficking, possession of illegal firearms and child sex crimes. 

With mounting criminal cases in the nation’s capital, the Trump administration said Thursday that it was deploying Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorneys, who are military lawyers, to prosecute misdemeanors. 

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A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. confirmed to Fox News Digital that 20 JAGs will handle the cases. 

“The assignment of 20 JAGs to my office is further proof of President Trump’s commitment to fighting and reducing crime in the district,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement. 

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The DOJ is investigating suspected crime statistics manipulation after city police Commander Michael Pulliam was suspended in mid-May for allegedly changing crime statistics in his patrol district. 

Ilhan Omar erupts at own party for ‘inexcusable’ decision on socialist candidate

A progressive House “Squad” member is attacking her own state party leadership for going back on its endorsement of a self-described democratic socialist to be mayor of Minneapolis.

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., called out the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), the Democrats’ affiliate group in Minnesota, late on Thursday night after it revoked its endorsement of state Sen. Omar Fateh.

DFL leaders cited “substantial failures” in its endorsement convention process.

“It is inexcusable to overturn the DFL endorsement from Omar Fateh,” Omar wrote on X. “A small group, a majority living outside Minneapolis, met privately to overturn the will of Minneapolis delegates who volunteered, organized, and participated in a months-long DFL process. Unacceptable.”

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The progressive House Democrat also led other DFL officials in a letter announcing they “strongly condemn” the move.

“Right now, there is a clear tension between the progressive Democrats who are challenging the status quo and moderate Democrats,” Omar and other left-wing officials wrote.

“It is extremely disheartening that Omar Fateh, the first Black mayoral candidate to be DFL-endorsed in the last three decades, will have his endorsement revoked.”

Omar herself has not yet made a public endorsement in the race, which is set for November 2025.

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Fateh, who described himself as a “democratic socialist” in an October 2020 interview with Jacobin Magazine, defeated several other Democrat hopefuls to clinch his state party’s endorsement after a July 2025 endorsing convention.

Among the primary candidates he defeated at the time was current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is running for a third term.

Fateh has been compared to democratic socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

But DFL Party Chairman Richard Carlbom did not mention Fateh’s politics in a Thursday statement announcing the revocation of his endorsement.

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But Omar and state progressives have seized on the move as an example of the ongoing divisions within the Democratic Party.

“Chair Richard Carlbom campaigned on uniting the DFL; this decision directly runs counter to that effort, to which we are all committed. The DFL Party is a big-tent party and all factions should be fairly represented, not silenced,” Omar wrote.

“Undoubtedly, this appalling decision will leave many voters feeling discouraged and unwelcome from participating in our party.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Minnesota DFL for comment but did not hear back by press time.

US secures strategic corridor, ending decades long conflict and sidelining Iran

President Donald Trump’s new deal in the South Caucasus has ended a decades-long conflict and handed Washington a rare strategic foothold on Iran’s northern border, experts say.

The agreement, signed earlier this month between Armenia and Azerbaijan, grants the U.S. a 99-year lease over the Zangezur Corridor – a narrow strip of land that will serve as a critical trade and energy route to Europe, bypassing Tehran entirely. Iranian American journalist and dissident Banafsheh Zand told Fox News Digital the move is “a wonderful gain for the U.S.” that also delivers a “slap in the face” to the regime in Tehran.

The corridor has long been at the center of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which displaced tens of thousands and fueled three decades of instability. Trump’s intervention brought both sides to the table and created what observers say is a new trade and security lifeline linking the Caspian Basin to Europe, bypassing Iran entirely.

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Known as the Trump Route for Peace & Prosperity (TRIPP), economically, the agreement secures Washington a direct role in overseeing the flow of Caspian hydrocarbons to Europe. The U.S. will manage rail and road infrastructure, telecom networks and energy pipelines running through the corridor, giving American companies a dominant position in regional transit for oil, gas and goods. By controlling this artery, the U.S. not only generates billions in future trade and investment but also locks Europe into alternative supply routes that reduce reliance on both Russia and Iran. 

For allies, the corridor offers cheaper and safer access to Caspian energy. For Tehran, it represents lost revenue, lost leverage, and the end of its ability to act as a mandatory gatekeeper for east-west commerce.

Zand said the deal is not only historic but also a direct win for Washington. “It’s a wonderful gain for the U.S.,” she said. “American contractors will be supervising oil and gas from the Caspian Basin, routed through Zangezur and Turkey to Europe. The profit margins are great, and it all happens under NATO’s blessing.”

Zand said the potential goes even further. “Nobody’s talking about it yet, but I don’t think it’s out of the question to see U.S. bases there,” she said. “If that happens, then checkmate the Khamenei regime and Russia.”

TRUMP MAKES PEACE DEAL BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

For Iran, the corridor represents what Zand called a nightmare scenario. Tehran has long used its geography to shape energy and trade flows. By inserting the U.S. into the region, the new deal effectively strips Iran of that leverage. Zand put it in stark terms: “Iran is shaped like a cat, a sitting cat. This corridor literally runs above the cat’s ears. It bypasses Iran, takes money away from the regime, and pushes them out into the cold.”

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Iran Program, said the corridor exposes how vulnerable Iran has become in the Caucasus. “Both the defeat of Armenia in the most recent war with Azerbaijan, as well as the political problems between Moscow and Yerevan today, have made it harder for the Islamic Republic to really benefit from its traditional economic and political relationship with Armenia,” he told Fox News Digital.

“They still do have ties, and the regime is an opportunistic actor as much as it is an ideological one. If there is any way to throw stones at this agreement, or extract concessions on the back end, they will try.”

At the same time, he said the strategic picture is clear. “The Islamic Republic is, in essence, carved out of this route,” he said. “This is not just a critical corridor that could bring stability to the South Caucasus and economic improvement for all countries involved-it also drives home the point that the regime has been such a poor guardian of Iran’s national interest that the Iranian state has been excluded from a major transit route just above its border.”

The timing, Zand argued, makes the impact even greater. She pointed to Iran’s weakening position since October 7, 2023, and Israel’s recent 12-day war with Tehran. “The regime was self-isolated when it couldn’t come to Hamas’s or Hezbollah’s rescue. Iraq’s Shiites are saying they don’t want to be controlled, Syria is out, and Hezbollah has been degraded. For those of us who’ve watched the regime for decades, we always knew it was a paper tiger. October 7 and the war exposed it to the world.”

The killing of senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists has deepened the sense of vulnerability inside Tehran. “They can huff and puff about blowing the house down, but the truth is, there’s a whole lot of fear among the regime’s leaders now,” Zand said. “Khamenei has even gone into hiding again.”

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Ben Taleblu added that Washington is now using these shifts to turn Iran’s weakness into opportunity. “Wherever the regime is weak, that invites pushback, whether militarily or economically,” he said. “The U.S. has followed Israel’s military success against the Islamic Republic with strikes of its own against nuclear facilities, and it is now following Azerbaijan’s battlefield success with a political and economic success of its own. This corridor is another example of America moving in when Tehran is most vulnerable.”

Zand, whose father was a well-known Iranian journalist and intellectual assassinated by the regime, said she views Trump’s direct involvement as the key to the corridor’s success. “Because it’s Trump, it makes all the difference,” she said.  “Trump doesn’t care about not hurting people’s feelings. He responds to how people act. And with this move, he’s sitting over Iran like a vulture-ominous, watching, ready.”

For dissidents like Zand, the corridor represents more than a transport route. “We’ve prayed for this for decades,” she said. “Until the regime is gone, people inside Iran will remain too afraid to rise up again. But this corridor is a boon. It shows the regime is surrounded, and its days are numbered.”

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The deal was reached with NATO backing and has already been compared by some observers to historic peace accords. Zand believes the significance lies not only in ending a 30-year conflict but also in turning the U.S. presence in the Caucasus into a permanent reality. “The regime knows the jig is up.”

Vegas casino boss warns ‘cheap buffets’ era over as tourism numbers fall

During a recent board meeting of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), officials addressed factors that have contributed to the decline of tourists this summer in Sin City.

Steve Hill, the group’s president, spoke of the impact tariffs are having on both returning and potential new visitors. 

“Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism,” said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas. He noted in particular a drop in Canadian visitors. 

VEGAS CASINO OWNER FIRES BACK AT ‘EXAGGERATED’ CLAIMS OF SIN CITY’S DEMISE

Others have pointed to the high prices in Vegas.

Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens told Fox News Digital, “I think some people are feeling Vegas is maybe pricing itself out.” (See the video at the top of this article.)

“Getting a steak in Las Vegas is not as inexpensive as it used to be,” he said.

“The days of Vegas being a place to visit because of cheap buffets and things like that are a bit in the past.”

“As with any other city, things evolve.”

He added, “I understand how a number of people are talking about missing some of those elements — but as with any other city, things evolve.”

Stevens acknowledged that the state of Vegas tourism is a nuanced one — and that overall, the restaurant business is very challenging.

LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS

Circa has a total of 11 dining options, including restaurants, bars and cafés.

“I think every property owner wants to design a very broad-ranging restaurant selection because people like to eat where they wake up,” Stevens said. “They like to get coffee where they wake up.”

The industry has taken notice, he said, that visitors are “a bit more adventurous at lunch, although it has to be convenient” for them.

“And then [for] dinner, you’re competing against the entire city,” Stevens continued. “Everybody’s trying to go to the new hotspot.”

Other contributing factors 

The Culinary Workers Union, which represents 60,000 Vegas workers, recently renewed or created several new contracts with major casinos in the city. 

LAS VEGAS CASINO CULTURE SUFFERS REJECTION BY GAMBLERS OF YOUNGER GENERATIONS

“There was a relatively new culinary union contract that was signed that increased some costs,” Stevens said.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of the Culinary Workers Union, previously told Fox News Digital that companies had frozen hiring and were making targeted cuts to part-time workers’ hours. 

“If it continues, it could bleed into the full-timers,” he added.

Pappageorge also called the tipped income tax exemption in President Donald Trump‘s “big, beautiful bill” a “welcome relief.” 

He pointed out, however, that if workers aren’t “making the tips, the credit doesn’t help.”

Some industry observers have said the issues are more local.

“Many attribute [Vegas’ current problems] not only to a general dip in international travel demand to the U.S., but also to aggressive price-gouging by hospitality venues,” Rob DelliBovi, a consultant and founder of the Miami-based RDB Hospitality Group, previously told Fox News Digital. 

“Guests are pushing back on $18 bottles of water in the minibar and $37 martinis.”

Still, Stevens of Circa takes a more measured view.

“It’s not as if the sky is falling,” he said, according to The Associated Press.

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Circa has introduced inexpensive package deals to lure those with less money to spend.

“Vegas continues to reinvent itself as a destination worth visiting,” he said. 

FOX ONE LAUNCHES: Users can stream live news, sports and entertainment anywhere

FOX One, a bold new streaming service that brings together the full portfolio of FOX’s News, Sports and Entertainment content – all in one place, both live and on demand – launched on Thursday with a seven-day free trial, Fox Corporation announced. 

FOX One is designed for the modern digital-first audience, offering easy access to the bold voices, breaking news, career-making plays, dynamic features, and entertainment America loves and has come to expect from FOX, all in a single, highly personalized platform. 

FOX’s expertly executed livestream presentation of Super Bowl LIX on Tubi raised the bar for digital broadcasting at scale, reaching 15.5 million peak concurrent viewers and 24 million unique viewers. FOX One builds on that technological achievement and momentum with a next-generation platform engineered for a live-first experience. 

FOX One has a robust collection of live sports, news and entertainment offerings with the latest news and biggest plays as they happen in real time. Viewers can stay current with breaking news as it unfolds. From the hottest FOX series to iconic live events, FOX One subscribers won’t miss a beat. 

FOX One allows users to stream Fox News Channel live 24 hours a day, providing access to live coverage, breaking news, and Fox News shows, all in one seamless experience, with alerts to keep users informed.

Behind the experience are smart, purpose-built AI integrations that give audiences choice and flexibility in when and how they watch. From personalized content packaging and publishing to intelligent discovery, enhanced search capabilities powered in partnership with Perplexity, and responsive support through Sierra AI, FOX One applies emerging tech to unlock value, clarity and connection.

FOX One also provides personalized content to cut down on aimless scrolling, and viewers can discover relevant, live, and on-demand shows right on their home screen. Users can record their favorite leagues, teams and shows with no storage limits and save them in a personal library to enjoy at any time.

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Joined the game late? No problem—users can catch up with the highlights they missed, then join live instantly. Users can bypass the spoilers and hide the live score until they’re all caught up. 

There will also be swipe-worthy shorts, as users will discover the top-trending sports stories, informative news, and buzzy TV clips in a fresh vertical video format. 

With easy access and a full slate of programming at their fingertips, FOX One has something for everyone, all in one place. FOX Nation and B1G+ are available on the FOX One platform where users can add-on B1G+ or bundle FOX One.

• FOX One: $19.99/month with a 7-day free trial or $199.99/year
• FOX One + FOX Nation bundle: $24.99/month or $239.88/year
• FOX One + ESPN bundle: $39.99/month (available Oct. 2)

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Starting October 2, get FOX One and ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer service together for $39.99/month. This includes FOX One’s full portfolio of live and on-demand FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment, along with ESPN’s linear networks—ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes—in addition to ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, SECN+, and ACCNX. The package covers 47,000 live events each year, on-demand replays, studio shows, original programming, as well as newly expanded NFL content and more.

Existing FOX Nation subscribers can continue to use their FOX Nation app, or they can stream FOX Nation content in the FOX One app using the same email address and password. They can choose to bundle and upgrade their subscription with FOX One for $24.99 per month or the equivalent of $19.99 per month when purchasing the annual plan at launch. 

FOX One is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Prime Video Channels, Apple TV, Google TV, Android TV, Samsung, LG, and Vizio, along with Microsoft Xbox. 

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