Vulnerable Republicans back Johnson as Schumer faces ‘math problem’ in shutdown fight

House Republicans in battleground districts appear to be closing ranks as GOP leaders dig in on their government shutdown strategy, while the fiscal standoff shows no signs of slowing. 

Eight House GOP lawmakers whose seats are being targeted by Democrats in 2026 spoke with Fox News Digital this week. And while some shared individual concerns, they were largely united in agreeing with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., that Republicans should not renegotiate their federal funding proposal — and were confident that Americans are behind them.

“The more people understand the math inside of the Senate, the more I would say Republicans are winning,” said Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., who defeated a moderate Democrat for his seat last year.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., who also flipped her seat from blue to red, argued the results of the 2024 election show Americans “can see through a lot of the games that the Democrats have been playing.”

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“We’ve gotten to work with the demands of the American voters, and Democrats are still in disarray,” she said.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said, “It’s a simple math problem. And the Democrat Party grossly underestimated the American public’s ability to understand math.”

For a House GOP conference that’s been plagued by historic levels of division in recent history — particularly over the issue of government funding — it has shown a notable display of unity amid the shutdown, with few exceptions.

The shutdown is poised to roll into next week after most Senate Democrats voted to block the GOP’s bill for a tenth time. 

Republicans put forward last month a seven-week extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding levels, called a continuing resolution (CR), aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to strike a long-term deal for FY2026.

But Democrats in the House and Senate were infuriated by being sidelined in those talks. The majority of Democrats are refusing to accept any deal that does not include serious healthcare concessions, at least extending COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Several vulnerable Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital pointed out they’re in favor of extending the Obamacare subsidies as well. Indeed, a majority of them are backers of a bipartisan bill to extend them for one year, led by Kiggans.

“I think we would actually prefer to have … longer term than one year,” said Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa.

But Mackenzie also pointed out that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., criticized the one-year bill, adding, “He already said ‘Absolutely not,’ so I don’t even know what their position is and what they’re asking for.”

Jeffries walked those comments back somewhat a day later, telling reporters that Democrats were willing to look at any good-faith offer.

Kiggans told Fox News Digital, “I care about that issue, certainly, you know, I had introduced that [Affordable Care Act] premium tax cuts extension.”

She added that Obamacare, formally called the ACA, and reopening the government are “two different issues, though” that should be discussed separately.

The House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital, while largely supportive of discussing Obamacare subsidy reforms and extensions, were united in refusing to entertain Democrats’ demands to come back to the negotiating table on federal funding. All maintained, in some form, that the House did its job in passing the CR on Sept. 19.

“We have a clean CR that would fund all of the programs — all of the federal employees, keep everything up and running through Nov. 21st, so that we can finalize FY2026 appropriations and address issues like healthcare. But you don’t do it at the barrel of a gun,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y.

Lawler is one of three House Republicans who won in a district that President Donald Trump lost in 2024.

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“I think what the Democrats are doing here is creating a mess for the American people. And they’re not actually solving any of the problems,” he said.

Mackenzie said, “It was a seven-week continuing resolution so that we could have time to have policy discussions on other issues that did need to be wrapped up by the end of the year. And we were on track to do that. And I think [Democrats] totally blew that process up.”

“This is an unprecedented thing that Senate Democrats are doing, trying to add policy programs into the new continuity of funding bill,” Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J., the most vulnerable Republican in the Garden State, also said.

Both Lawler and Rep. Dave Valadao, R-Calif., warned that giving up a policy rider-free spending bill in favor of inserting partisan demands would create an unworkable new standard.

“Holding the government office is never a good strategy. And if it becomes a successful way of negotiating … it’ll set a bad precedent for governing moving forward,” Valadao said. “So this is an absolute no-go, should never be successful.”

Lawler said, “The reality is, the moment you start giving in on a clean CR and start giving in to demands, this will continue in perpetuity. Every time there’s a government funding lapse, you’ll have a group of people demanding something, and it will turn into a fiasco.”

Several of the battleground Republicans also praised Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in the process.

Valadao told Fox News Digital, “I think they’re doing a good job. At least all the calls I’ve been on, the conversations I’ve had with my colleagues and, again, folks in the district, they all seem pretty confident that we’re doing the right thing.”

Lawler said Johnson had “handled it well,” while Bresnahan said, “I would say, at least with members, they’re, you know, keeping very fluid conversations. We have daily or at least biweekly calls here as to what the messaging needs to be and what the conversations are.”

HOUSE PASSES TRUMP-BACKED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

But there has been some dissent within the House GOP as the shutdown drags on.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., has criticized House Republican leaders for not announcing a plan on extending the Obamacare subsidies.

And Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., publicly ripped Johnson’s decision to keep the House out of session while the Senate considers the CR.

“It is absolutely unacceptable to me and I think only serves further distrust,” Kiley told MSNBC on Wednesday.

Notably, not all battleground House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital directly backed Johnson’s move — but none explicitly condemned it, either, and most blamed Senate Democrats for the holdup.

“I’m kind of torn on that, because to come back and just be a part of the gimmicks that you see going on right now is not helpful,” Valadao said. “Holding the government hostage is what’s the problem here.”

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Kiggans, who said she’s lobbying for the House to vote on a standalone bill to pay both active duty and civilian members of the military, said, “I think we all want to get back to work. We know that we have work to do, but the ball’s in the court of the Senate Democrats and Chuck Schumer.”

Others more directly backed the move, however.

Kean told Fox News Digital that his staff were still busy in D.C. and in New Jersey trying to help constituents navigate the shutdown and other matters.

“Any chance we can get back to our district, it’s always important that we listen to our constituents and hear their concerns,” Kean said. “Right now, I 100% support the decision.”

Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, said it was “the right move.”

“We should be with our district. I’m keeping all my district offices open despite nobody getting paid,” Nunn said. “Coming back and having a theatrical debate is less effective than having a real conversation about how to get the government back open.”

‘No Kings’ movement gets dethroned by violence as leader pushes peace post-pandemonium

Progressive watchdog group Public Citizen says its ‘No Kings” demonstrations are meant to defend democracy and protest what organizers call “executive overreach.” Yet nationwide arrests, injuries and warnings about outside agitators are adding complexity to that narrative.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, rejected suggestions that the movement had turned violent, saying that the goal was to send a message of unity rather than confrontation.

“The idea that America is a democracy is, at its core, small-‘d’ democratic. It’s not [the] Democrat [party]; it’s not [the] Republican [party],” she said. “It is the idea that we have a system that is based on checks and balances, where we understand that our elected officials answer to us. And that our votes count and matter.”

“At its core that is what this [“No Kings”] is all about. And why people are turning out.”

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Nationwide protests, local violence

While most “No Kings” demonstrations on June 14 were peaceful, a handful erupted into violence, leading to several arrests and at least one death. This Saturday, organizers say about 2,500 rallies are planned nationwide.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, an innocent bystander and fashion designer who appeared on “Project Runway,” was shot and killed at a “No Kings” rally in Salt Lake City on June 14. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said that the fashion designer was not the “intended target.”

Redd said the 39-year-old father of two was mistakenly shot by an event peacekeeper in a neon vest who opened fire after a suspect, identified as Arturo Gamboa, 24, ran toward the crowd with a rifle. 

Austin, Texas

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that nine people were arrested during “No Kings” protests in Austin on June 14. According to the department, the march began at the Texas State Capitol before moving through downtown Austin when the Capitol grounds closed that evening. DPS worked alongside Austin Police Department officers during the response.

Riverside, California

Two people were arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash at a “No Kings” protest in Southern California on June 14 that left Alexa Carrasco, 21, seriously injured, authorities said.

The SUV driver veered toward marchers in Riverside, east of Los Angeles, and struck the woman, according to investigators. Carrasco was hospitalized in critical condition, the Riverside Police Department said. 

Russell Alan Prentice, 58, was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of hit-and-run causing injury, and a special allegation of causing great bodily injury to the victim. 

Ocala, Florida

On June 14, during the “No Kings” demonstrations in Ocala, three people — two men and a woman — were arrested, according to the Ocala Police Department. 

The individuals taken into custody were identified as Stephen Libardoni, 60, who was arrested for battery after allegedly pushing a protester; Michael Loren, 47, who was arrested for battery and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon after police said he pushed a protester while wearing brass knuckles; and Alexandra Krolman, 35, who was arrested for battery after allegedly hitting someone with a cardboard sign.

Culpeper, Virginia

Joseph R. Checklick Jr., 21, was arrested in Culpeper, Virginia, after allegedly driving his SUV into a crowd of “No Kings” protesters on June 14, authorities said.

The incident occurred as demonstrators were dispersing near 801 James Madison Highway and crossing a business parking lot, according to the Culpeper Police Department. Police say Checklick “intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd,” striking at least one person. 

No injuries had been reported to law enforcement by the time of the arrest, and the identity of the individual hit was not disclosed. Checklick was charged with reckless driving and was later released on a $4,000 bond. 

‘No Kings’ leaders defend protest safety efforts

While Gilbert said organizers “cannot control every single person,” she maintained that Public Citizen provides safety training and guidance.

“We can’t let the militarization that they are bringing to bear cow us. We need to be willing to stand up; silence is not an option,” she said. “And so, turning out to protest peacefully is our First Amendment right and what we plan to do. We are taking precautions to make sure our events are as safe as possible. Obviously, you cannot control every single person, but we are running training [sessions] and protecting people in every way we can.”

“But at its core, these events are peaceful, and that is the point. The violence is not coming from the ‘No Kings’ events; the violence is coming from militarized crackdowns and masked agents who are roaming our streets to terrorize communities. That’s not coming from protesters.”

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Yet even as those events challenge the “peaceful” framing, a different variable looms: the possibility of paid agitators or external provocateurs. Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, warned that “No Kings” is susceptible to such infiltration. 

Swart told Fox News Digital that demonstrations are often co-opted by groups “making money off chaos,” not movements grounded in personal conviction. 

“My concern is that there are forces — some domestic, some maybe foreign — that actually want to pull America apart,” he said.

WATCH: Crowd-for-hire CEO calls ‘No Kings’ protest a ‘dud,’ warns of outside agitators

Swart’s company declined involvement in “No Kings,” calling it “a dud in the making,” but emphasized that protests can resemble legitimate grassroots events while harboring hidden provocateurs. 

Organizers, like Gilbert, defend their approach: they say they run threat monitoring, online vetting, volunteer security teams, training in nonviolence and coordination to flag suspicious behaviors. 

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Top 5 moments from fiery NYC mayoral debate: ‘He literally has never had a job’

With just under three weeks until New Yorkers choose their next mayor and socialist candidate, Zohran Mamdani, leading by double digits, the pressure was on independent candidate former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa to break through to voters at Thursday night’s mayoral debate.

As such, much of the pressure throughout the two-hour-long debate was on Mamdani.

Here were the top five moments from the debate.

1. Mamdani flips on Hamas

During the debate, Mamdani appeared to backtrack on his position about Hamas laying down their arms, saying, “Of course I believe that they should lay down their arms.”

Mamdani was responding to a question from a moderator who said his previous answer, which was made to Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, was “confusing,” after he dodged questions when she asked whether he believes Hamas should lay down their weapons and leave leadership in Gaza, according to the cease-fire agreement they entered into.

“I’m proud to be one of the first elected officials in the state who called for a ceasefire,” Mamdani said.

“That means all parties have to ceasefire and put down their weapons. And the reason that we call for that is not only for the end of the genocide, but also an unimpeded access of humanitarian aid. I, like many New Yorkers, and I’m hopeful that this ceasefire will hold.”

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Mamdani was also pressed by Cuomo on his refusal to condemn the phrases “from the river to the sea” and “globalize the intifada,” both of which are widely seen as calls for the extermination of Jews. Sliwa pressed on this issue as well,  telling Mamdani, “Jews don’t trust that you will be there for them when they are victims of antisemitic attacks.”

Mamdani answered that he will be a mayor for all New Yorkers, saying, “Jewish New Yorkers who have told me about their fear in living in this city, and I will be a mayor who finally addresses that, not through the theatrics of the politics on the stage, but through action.”

2. National Guard not welcome

President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to major American cities also loomed large over Thursday night’s New York City mayoral debate.

Candidates were asked about the “threat hanging over the city” of National Guard troops being sent to New York City. All three candidates indicated they would oppose troops being sent to the city.

Mamdani asserted that “What New Yorkers need is a mayor who can stand up to Donald Trump and actually deliver on that safety.”

“When Donald Trump sent ICE agents on people in Los Angeles, Andrew Cuomo said that New Yorkers need not overreact. That is the furthest answer that New Yorkers are looking for. They are looking for someone who will lead, someone who will say that they will have their back, someone who will actually fight for the people of this city,” said Mamdani.

Cuomo, meanwhile, said that “the answer in the subways is not more National Guard” but rather “more NYPD is the answer.”

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3. ‘Literally has never had a job’

Cuomo attacked Mamdani’s thin resume, saying, “He has no experience.”

“This is not a job for someone who has no management experience, to run around 300,000 people, no financial experience to run a $115 billion budget,” said the former governor.

“He literally has never had a job. On his resume, it says he interned for his mother. This is not a job for a first timer. Any day you could have a hurricane, God forbid, a 9-11, a health pandemic, if you don’t know what you’re doing, people will die.”

Mamdani immediately shot back, “If we have a health pandemic, then why would New Yorkers turn to the governor who sent seniors to their death in nursing homes? That’s the kind of experience that’s on offer here today.”

“What I don’t have in experience I make up for in integrity, and what you don’t have in integrity you could never make up for in experience,” he added.

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Cuomo dismissed the nursing homes dig as a political investigation that “went nowhere.”

4. Defund the police continues to haunt Mamdani

Cuomo also knocked Mamdani for previous calls to defund the police and statements denouncing law enforcement.

“Respect the police. They’re not racists as the assemblyman calls them, they’re not a threat to public safety as he says, they’re not anti-queer, they are here to protect New Yorkers, work with them, fortify them,” said Cuomo.

Sliwa jumped in at this moment to deliver a jab to Cuomo, saying, “That’s ironic that you say that now … your parole board released 43 cop killers back into the street. Your father, when he was governor, released none. I knew Mario Cuomo; you’re no Mario Cuomo.”

In response to Cuomo’s attack, Mamdani said, “As much as Andrew Cuomo wants to bring up tweets from 2020, which is around the same time that he was sending seniors to their death in nursing homes, I am looking to work with police officers, not to defund the NYPD.”

Mamdani again touted his plan to have “dedicated teams of mental health outreach workers” deployed to the top 100 subway stations with the highest levels of mental health crises and homelessness.

FINAL STRETCH: MAMDANI’S LARGE LEAD SHRINKING AS CUOMO GAINS GROUND IN NYC MAYORAL RACE

5. No love for Hochul

In a debate filled with candidates interjecting and talking over each other constantly, the room suddenly went silent when a moderator asked, “Show of hands. Who supports [New York Gov.] Kathy Hochul for re-election?”

Not a single candidate raised their hand.

Cuomo, who picked Hochul as his lieutenant governor, said, “We have to know who’s running.”

Mamdani said, “It’s a decision that should be made after this general election.”

He noted, however, that he believes Hochul is “doing a good job, and not only delivering for New Yorkers but also standing up to Donald Trump.”

“Then endorse her!” Cuomo interjected. “Why don’t you endorse her?”

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Mamdani noted, “I appreciate her support, and I appreciate her work,” but said, “I’m focusing on November.”

Sliwa signaled his support for the gubernatorial campaign of Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., saying, “a Republican Mayor Curtis, a Republican Governor Stefanik … save this city.”

Top Democrat candidates spotted at dinner with vile sign promoting violence against MAGA

FIRST ON FOX — A sign featuring coded language threatening President Donald Trump and equating his supporters with Nazis greeted guests to an event last week headlined by Michigan Democrat gubernatorial front-runner Jocelyn Benson and U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow

The sign, displayed by local Democrats, said “MAGA=NAZI” and “86 47.” The number “86” originated in restaurants to mean “cancel” or “throw out,” but in underworld slang is frequently used as a call sign for murdering someone. The number “47” is commonly interpreted as denoting the 47th president of the United States, Trump. 

Recently, when Trump foe James Comey posted to social media a cryptic photo featuring “86 47,” it was taken seriously enough that Secret Service investigated the matter.

Earlier this month, Lenawee Democratic Chair Bill Swift and other county Democrats posed for a photo in front of a large sign with the phrasing in massive bold letters. The photo was then subsequently posted on Facebook by the Lenawee County Democratic Party.

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“LenDems at the Monroe County Democratic Party at the John Dingell Dinner,” the photo was captioned. Meanwhile, users in the comments chastised the local Democrat leaders for being “entirely embarrassing” and “alienating over half of your fellow citizens in the country.”

Headlining the Oct. 11 event, titled the “John D. Dingell Unity Dinner,” was Benson and McMorrow. Benson is polling as the front-runner in the Democratic Party for the race for governor.

McMorrow, a state senator, is fundraising well herself and is considered among those in the fight to be the state’s next U.S. senator. The pair spoke at the so-called “unity” dinner alongside Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber and Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Curtis Hertel Jr.

Political violence has become a flashpoint in the upcoming election amid heightened sensitivity around the issue following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and two attempted assassinations on President Donald Trump.

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“This sign was wrong. Especially now, we each have a responsibility to choose our words and signs carefully, and avoid anything that may be interpreted as a call to violence,” Andrew Mamo, spokesman for McMorrow for Michigan, told Fox News Digital.

Just a week after Kirk’s murder, McMorrow participated in a fundraiser for her campaign hosted by liberal commentator Rebecca Schoenkopf, who posted on social media mocking Kirk hours after his shooting. Schoenkopf, who runs a leftist Substack blog, mockingly reposted a news story on Bluesky with the caption “o.o” about people paying witches on Etsy to curse Kirk. 

In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment at the time, a campaign representative for McMorrow pointed to her two social media posts addressing Charlie Kirk’s killing, saying that she was “horrified” by it. 

Meanwhile, Swift, the Lenawee Democratic Chair posing in the picture with the “MAGA=NAZI” and “86 47” language, got in hot water in January for calling into a radio show and saying Trump supporters should be executed.

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Swift reportedly called in to “Talk Back Radio with Doug Spade and Mike Clement,” telling them that Trump is “an illegitimately and unconstitutionally elected insurrectionist president who ran on Nazi rhetoric” who had “a Nazi rally for his presidential inauguration” and that ICE agents are “Nazi collaborators.”

Around the same time, the Lenawee County Democrats social media account also reportedly shared a post that called for the death penalty for Trump’s supporters, saying, “They should be hanged by the neck until dead.”

In a lengthy statement to Fox News Digital, Swift defended his actions. 

“We have not advocated for political violence and any interpretation that we have is false,” Swift said. “We are fully committed to the traditional patriotic American principles of defending our democratic institutions and our Constitution, under threat thanks to Trump and Republicans.”

“We know that President Trump campaigned on Nazi rhetoric and Nazi ideology and shared Nazi propaganda. We know that Nazi salutes occurred at President Trump’s Inauguration. We know that President Trump and Republicans and MAGA Americans have continued to embrace this Nazi rhetoric, ideology, and propaganda.”

Taylor continued, “We have no regrets about taking the photo at the ‘unity’ dinner. The principle of the dinner was unity against fascists, not unity with fascists. As such, we eagerly invite and welcome Never Trump Republicans and those former Trump supporters who have come to realize that Americans pay for the MAGA Trump tariffs, that Americans pay for MAGA Trumpflation, and Americans and American communities are victimized and terrorized by Trump MAGA policies.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Benson campaign for comment but did not receive a response. 

Deadly drug mix drives staggering rise in overdose deaths among seniors

America’s seniors aren’t immune to the ongoing opioid epidemic.

Among adults 65 and older, overdose deaths from fentanyl mixed with stimulants — like cocaine and methamphetamines — have surged 9,000% in the last eight years, which matches rates among younger adults.

That’s according to research from the American Society of Anesthesiologists, which was presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2025 annual meeting this week in San Antonio. 

DEADLY DRUG STRONGER THAN FENTANYL SPREADS RAPIDLY ACROSS THE AMERICAS, EXPERTS WARN

Using CDC data, the researchers analyzed 404,964 death certificates that listed fentanyl as a cause of death between 1999 and 2023.

Older adults represented 17,040 of the individuals, while younger adults, aged 25 to 64, represented 387,924.

Fentanyl-related deaths increased from 264 to 4,144 in older adults between 2015 and 2023 — a 1,470% increase. Younger adults saw a 660% increase.

Among those 65 and older, fentanyl-stimulant deaths rose from 8.7% in 2015 to 49.9% in 2023, marking a 9,000% increase.

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In younger adults, these deaths increased from 21.3% in 2015 to 59.3% in 2023, which is a 2,115% increase.

The year 2015 marked the onset of the fourth wave of the opioid crisis, when fentanyl-stimulants began to drive the increase in overdose deaths, data shows.

Deaths in older adults began to rise sharply in 2020, the researchers highlighted. Among stimulants paired with fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines were the most common, surpassing alcohol, heroin and benzodiazepines.

“There is no quality control. Many drugs today are laced with fentanyl.”

Seniors are especially susceptible to these overdoses, as many live with chronic health conditions, take several medications, and process drugs “more slowly due to age,” the researchers stated.

It’s a common misconception that opioid overdoses primarily affect younger people, according to Gab Pasia, lead study author and a medical student at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

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“Our analysis shows that older adults are also impacted by fentanyl-related deaths, and that stimulant involvement has become much more common in this group,” he said in a statement. “This suggests that older adults are affected by the current fourth wave of the opioid crisis, following similar patterns seen in younger populations.”

The researchers could not determine the underlying reasons for these overdoses, as the analysis was a cross-sectional study on patterns over time, Pasia noted.

“However, the findings underscore that fentanyl overdoses in older adults are often multi-substance deaths — not due to fentanyl alone — and the importance of sharing drug misuse prevention strategies to older patients,” he said.

Reducing the risk

The study authors advised anesthesiologists and other pain medicine specialists to recognize that polysubstance use can occur in all age groups, and to be cautious when prescribing opioids to adults over 65.

Study co-author Richard Wang, M.D., an anesthesiology resident at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, added that older adults prescribed opioids, or their caregivers, should be informed about overdose prevention strategies, such as having naloxone available and knowing the signs of an overdose.

Risk can also be reduced by simplifying medication routines, and using clear labeling and safe storage instructions.

“With these trends in mind, it is more important than ever to minimize opioid use in this vulnerable group and use other pain control methods when appropriate,” Wang said in the press release. “Proper patient education and regularly reviewing medication lists could help to flatten this terrible trend.”

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Dr. Larissa K. Laskowski, an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist at NYU Langone Health, told Fox News Digital that the findings of this study are “not surprising,” since illicit-made fentanyl is “one of the deadliest substances known to man.” 

“In recent years, it has proliferated throughout the illegal drug market,” said Laskowski, who was not involved in the study. “Fentanyl is regularly found in supplies of cocaine and methamphetamine.”

Laskowski, an educator in fentanyl risk at schools, stressed that everyone, not just seniors, should be aware of the drug’s potential harms.

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“Just a small amount (the equivalent of a few grains of salt) can stop breathing and cause overdose death,” she warned. “Any substance that is sold illegally (not from a dispensary, pharmacy or licensed retail store) could have anything in it.”

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“There is no quality control. Many drugs today are laced with fentanyl.”

The expert reiterated that doctors should speak with patients and caregivers about reversal agents, like over-the-counter Narcan, which is often available for free at health departments, clinics and hospitals.

Bartenders reveal how much to tip for every beer, wine and cocktail you order

You’ve ordered drinks at the bar, and now it’s time to pay.

Before you even see the total, the bartender hands you a tablet with a digital tip screen. The typical options are 18%, 20%, 25% — or “custom.”

Welcome to one of America’s latest cultural dilemmas: How much should you tip your bartender?

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Bartenders from around the country recently sounded the alarm on shrinking tips, pointing to a generational divide on the other side of the counter. Some claim younger drinkers, particularly Gen Z, are tipping less, if at all — leaving bartenders frustrated and financially squeezed.

Veteran mixologist and Washington, D.C.-based hospitality expert Derek Brown said there’s a blanket percentage for tipping bartenders.

“It’s 20%,” he told Fox News Digital. “That’s how much a tip should be.”

Jonathan Hall, bar manager at Ranch 616 in Austin, Texas, told Fox News Digital that tipping has “seen a general uptick over the years.”

“The accepted gratuity percentage moved from 15% to 18% and is now 20%,” Hall said.

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Restaurant management software company Toast somewhat aligns, saying bartenders should receive a percentage-based tip for recurring drink orders.

However, “there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much you should tip a bartender,” according to a blog on Toast’s website.

A good rule of thumb, per Toast, is to tip $1 to $2 for every alcoholic drink ordered. This includes beer, wine and standard mixed drinks.

“For more expensive cocktails or when running a tab, consider tipping 15-20% of the total bill,” according to Toast. “This is similar to tipping etiquette in restaurants.”

Hall said most bartenders consider 20% to be a proper tip, “but we really don’t expect that amount on bottled or canned beverages.”

The minimum tip amount, even if you’re ordering a single, inexpensive drink, according to Toast, should be $1.

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“This shows appreciation for the bartender’s time and effort,” Toast said.

When ordering labor-intensive cocktails that require more time and skill, like mojitos or an old-fashioned, “consider tipping on the higher end of the scale,” according to Toast.

Other factors that can influence how much someone tips at a bar are the quality of service, the time of day and the relationship between the bartender and customer, said the same source.

“If the bartender provides exceptional service, consider tipping more generously,” Toast said. “This could include making great recommendations, being attentive or crafting drinks with extra care.”

During happy hour or times when bartenders are especially busy, “consider tipping on the higher end to acknowledge their hard work.”

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For those who are regulars at certain bars and have a rapport with the bartender, “tipping well helps maintain that positive relationship.”

Monica Baber of South Florida said she always tries to tip well whenever she’s at a bar, although she admitted that service plays a role in her decision.

“If someone is giving me great service and paying attention, I try to stick to 20%,” she told Fox News Digital. “If it sucks, I may adjust down.”

Josh Lough of Seattle said he sticks to the $1-per-drink recommendation.

“I generally tip a buck per round, plus an additional dollar when I close out,” he told Fox News Digital. “I will tip two bucks per round if they are a willing conversationalist.”

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There are a few situations when it’s acceptable to tip less or not at all, according to Toast.

“If a bartender is rude, inattentive or provides genuinely bad service, it’s OK to tip less,” Toast said. “However, consider whether the poor service might be due to factors beyond the bartender’s control, like an unusually busy night.”

“Check your receipt carefully to avoid double-tipping.”

One setting in which it might be acceptable to skip a tip is at self-service bars. Since customers pour their own beer or wine, no tip is required, “although it’s still nice to leave something if staff members are cleaning up or providing other services.”

In large group settings or during special events, gratuity is often added to the final bill, so a tip isn’t required.

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“Check your receipt carefully to avoid double-tipping,” Toast said.

Top House Dem unleashes torrent of personal attacks on Trump press secretary: ‘Sick’

The top Democrat in the House of Representatives attacked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt with a slew of insults on Friday.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused Republican officials of unjustly going after Democrats amid a controversy over a swastika flag found in a House GOP lawmaker’s office this week, though the lawmaker denied he or his staff played any role. Jeffries made the comments during a press conference with reporters on day 17 of the ongoing government shutdown.

“You’ve got Karoline Leavitt, who’s sick. She’s out of control. And I’m not sure whether she’s just demented, ignorant, a stone-cold liar, or all of the above,” Jeffries said.

“But the notion that an official White House spokesperson would say that the Democratic Party consists of terrorists, violent criminals, and undocumented immigrants makes no sense, that this is what the American people are getting from the Trump administration in the middle of a shutdown.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for a response.

Jeffries had been asked about the swastika, which was reportedly embedded into a small American flag that was hanging on a cork board in the office of Rep. Dave Taylor, R-Ohio. It was first reported by a local Ohio social media reporter who goes by the X handle “The Rooster.”

Taylor said in a statement to Fox News that several offices were targeted with the flag, which he said was the work of an “unidentified group” in a coordinated opposition campaign.

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“New details have emerged from a coordinated investigation into the vile symbol that appeared in my office. Numerous Republican offices have confirmed that they were targeted by an unidentified group or individual who distributed American flags bearing a similar symbol, which were initially indistinguishable from an ordinary American flag to the naked eye,” Taylor said. 

“After a full-scale internal investigation, I am confident that no employee of this office would knowingly display such a despicable image, and the flag in question was taken down immediately upon the discovery of the obscured symbol it bore.”

It’s not immediately clear why the events made Jeffries invoke Leavitt specifically, however.

Tensions have run high on both sides as the shutdown drags on, and the standoff shows no signs of slowing down.

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In fact, it’s expected to roll into its fourth week after Senate Democrats blocked the GOP’s federal funding measure for a fourth time on Thursday before leaving Washington for the weekend.

Republicans put forward last month a seven-week extension of fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding levels, called a continuing resolution (CR), aimed at giving congressional negotiators more time to strike a long-term deal for FY2026.

But Democrats in the House and Senate were infuriated by being sidelined in those talks. The majority of Democrats are refusing to accept any deal that does not include serious healthcare concessions, at least extending COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

Keira Knightley’s call for tolerating opinions sparks liberal meltdown

Actress Keira Knightley faced backlash from the political left and praise from the political right when she laughed after being asked about the political backlash against “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling.

Knightley will voice Professor Umbridge in the upcoming audiobook adaptation of Rowling’s hugely popular series. Rowling has faced years of backlash for speaking out against transgender ideology.

During a recent interview with Decider, Knightley was asked about her upcoming role in the adaptation and whether she was “aware that some fans are calling for a boycott, given J.K. Rowling’s ongoing campaign against trans people?”

“I was not aware of that, no. I’m very sorry,” she said with a smile, going on to laugh. “You know, I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect.”

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Many users on Reddit expressed outrage about her response, arguing it was far worse in video than it was in mere text. 

“Oh wow, that’s so much worse,” one user said in response to the video footage. “She looks pissed that she was even asked about this, but what did she expect when she took the job?! Also, this is an insanely privileged take, bloody hell.”

“She’s got a terrible poker face. And poker laugh, if that’s a thing. She seems like she’s contemptuous, either at the interviewer or at the subject in general,” another user said.

Another user criticized Knightley for her “evil middle class middle aged [W]hite woman laugh.”

The left-leaning culture site BuzzFeed was clearly agitated with Knightley, collecting irritated progressive reaction to her viral clip. Its dramatic headline read in part, “People Are Even More Outraged At Keira Knightley’s Comments On The ‘Harry Potter’ Boycott After Seeing New Footage Of Her Response.”

Meanwhile, non-liberals across X praised Knightley for not immediately backing down to what is seen by some as the culture of outrage.

“Oh Keira Knightley is OVER it,” the account representing the women’s magazine Evie wrote.

The magazine later added, “The reactions to this are so deranged. Trans advocates aren’t beating the allegations that they are mentally unstable, violent, and full of hate.”

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“Even celebrities are tired of the BS,” Evie Magazine co-founder Brittany Hugoboom wrote. “It’s over.”

Daily Signal commentator and podcaster Elise McCue said, “Actress Keira Knightley refuses to [kowtow] to petty trans insanity. Refreshing!”

Jennifer Sey, who has a clothing line celebrating the differences between men and women wrote, “Now I officially love Keira Knightley.”

“That laugh says it all. Tired and fed up with the petulant, childlike mob that demands our entire world deny the reality of gender,” author Gina Bontempo argued. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Knightley’s management and did not receive immediate reply.

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Ancient curse ignored as 4,200-year-old Egyptian artifact vanishes from sealed tomb

Egyptian officials are frantically searching for an ancient limestone painting taken from an ancient tomb — the latest in a series of high-profile artifact thefts.

Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced the suspected theft on Sunday. The painting was stolen from the Saqqara necropolis, per The Associated Press. 

The open-air museum is “one of the most important cemeteries” in Memphis, some 15 miles south of Cairo, the council’s website said.

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The limestone relief was in the tomb of Khentika, a high-ranking figure during the sixth dynasty of the Old Kingdom period.

The painting dates back to around 2,300 B.C., making it at least 4,200 years old.

The tomb, found in the 1950s, was sealed by officials in 2019. 

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Citing Egyptian media, the AP reported that the painting was discovered missing in May, but its disappearance was not announced until this week.

Details about the painting are limited. 

Egyptian media indicated the painting showed the ancient Egyptians’ three seasons: the flooding season Akhet, the planting season Peret and the harvest season, Shomu.

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Khentika’s tomb is a mastaba, one of the few in Egypt to have a curse inscribed on its facade. Mastabas were rectangular, flat-roofed structures with sloping sides built over underground burial chambers.

The inscription warned intruders they could face the wrath of the gods if they trespassed, the AP reported.

The announcement comes weeks after officials announced that a pharaoh’s priceless bracelet had been stolen the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. 

The bracelet, which had belonged to Pharaoh Usermaatre Amenemope, was melted down.

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Egypt isn’t the only country hit by recent artifact thefts. In Wales, thieves recently stole Bronze Age gold jewelry from St. Fagans National Museum in Cardiff.

Speaking to Fox News Digital in September, threat management expert Spencer Coursen said that poverty in Egypt creates “an environment in which opportunistic crime thrives.”

“Pickpocketing in crowded markets, taxi overcharging and aggressive sales tactics are much more common than armed robbery or assault,” noted Coursen.

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“Egypt also has unique risks tied to regional instability and terrorism, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula and occasionally in major cities.”

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