GOP senators warn of deadly new drug ‘more potent than fentanyl’ hitting US
FIRST ON FOX: A trio of Republican senators is introducing a coordinated slate of legislation to crack down on nitazenes — a class of synthetic opioids that are little known to the public but increasingly viewed by law enforcement and health officials as potentially the next fentanyl-level crisis.
Sens. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania unveiled three new bills aimed at addressing the growing spread of nitazenes through law enforcement, technology and foreign policy measures. The push represents one of the most aggressive congressional efforts yet to get ahead of what experts warn could be a deadly new chapter in America’s opioid epidemic.
Schmitt’s Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of Nitazenes Act of 2025, or DETECT Nitazenes Act, directs the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Drug Enforcement Administration to develop and deploy new technology capable of detecting trace amounts of nitazenes. The bill also updates the Homeland Security Act to explicitly include nitazenes in federal efforts to identify and disrupt illicit substances.
Ricketts and Schmitt joined McCormick and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) in introducing the Nitazene Control Act, which would permanently classify nitazenes as Schedule I controlled substances under federal law — the same category as heroin, fentanyl and LSD.
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And in a third measure, Ricketts, Schmitt and McCormick rolled out the Nitazene Sanctions Act, which targets the Chinese supply chain behind the synthetic opioids. The bill would expand sanctions on persons and entities in Communist China that support the manufacturing of nitazenes and require the State and Justice Departments to develop a coordinated strategy to cut off the flow of precursor chemicals into the United States.
“Nitazenes could become the next fentanyl crisis if not stopped,” Ricketts said. “It’s already killed thousands of Europeans, and it’s quickly making its way to our shores. The Nitazene Sanctions Act will unleash sweeping sanctions against those in Communist China who are helping to poison and kill Americans.”
Schmitt echoed that warning. “Nitazenes are powerful synthetic opioids which overwhelmingly originate from Communist China. The Nitazene Sanctions Act will combat this deadly drug by unleashing devastating sanctions against any entity in Communist China that is manufacturing this deadly drug to poison and kill American citizens,” he said.
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McCormick added that the scope of the problem should serve as a wake-up call. “The fact that nitazenes are oftentimes more deadly than fentanyl, which killed nearly 4,000 Pennsylvanians last year alone, should be a wake-up call to us all,” he said. “We must target nitazenes before they become the next drug epidemic. These illicit drugs are extremely potent and difficult to detect.”
Nitazenes belong to a class of synthetic opioids known as benzimidazole-opioids. First developed in the 1950s as experimental painkillers, they were never approved for medical use due to their extreme potency and risk of overdose. The most common forms are estimated to be five to nine times stronger than fentanyl, and some variants can be up to 40 times more potent, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Once obscure laboratory compounds, nitazenes began appearing around 2019 in seizures and toxicology reports across North America, Europe and beyond. Because they often contaminate counterfeit pills or powders without users’ knowledge, even trace amounts can be lethal.
Recent data from the National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) highlight the rapid rise of nitazene-related overdoses across the country. Between January 2023 and April 2025, emergency medical services recorded 18,449 encounters tied to nitazene use — 99.4% non-fatal and 0.6% fatal — with the highest rates concentrated in the Southeast. The DEA’s Houston office has also warned of a spike in fatal poisonings involving nitazenes in Houston, Austin and San Antonio.
The true scale of the crisis, however, remains difficult to measure. Many state toxicology systems and CDC overdose tracking programs do not yet distinguish nitazenes from other synthetic opioids, leaving significant blind spots in federal data.
Unlike opium-based narcotics, nitazenes and other synthetic opioids can be produced anywhere using widely available precursor chemicals. U.S. officials have warned that Chinese chemical manufacturers can easily synthesize these compounds — and that Mexican cartels could exploit their supply networks with Chinese partners to funnel nitazenes into the U.S.
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Together, the three new Senate bills — the DETECT Nitazenes Act, Nitazene Control Act, and Nitazene Sanctions Act — mark a coordinated Republican effort to confront the emerging threat from multiple angles: technology, law enforcement and international pressure.
While fentanyl remains the leading driver of America’s overdose epidemic, lawmakers and health officials are increasingly concerned that nitazenes could represent a new and even deadlier frontier in the synthetic-opioid crisis — one that the GOP senators say must be confronted before it spirals out of control.
DHS celebrates victory after ‘judicial overreach’ on Chicago raids gets blocked
The Department of Homeland Security is celebrating a victory after an “act of judicial overreach has been paused.”
On Wednesday, an appeals court blocked an order issued on Tuesday that required a senior Border Patrol official to give unprecedented daily briefings to a judge about immigration sweeps in Chicago.
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis had ordered the meetings after weeks of tense encounters and increasingly aggressive tactics by government agents working on Operation Midway Blitz, which has resulted in more than 1,800 arrests and complaints of excessive force.
While Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino told Fox News earlier Wednesday that he was eager to talk to Ellis, government lawyers were appealing her decision at the same time, calling it “extraordinarily disruptive.”
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“The order significantly interferes with the quintessentially executive function of ensuring the Nation’s immigration laws are properly enforced by waylaying a senior executive official critical to that mission on a daily basis,” the Justice Department argued.
“We are thrilled this act of judicial overreach has been paused,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to The Associated Press.
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On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released footage on X that appears to show Border Patrol agents under siege during an immigration raid in Chicago’s Little Village, a Southwest Side neighborhood often referred to as “La Villita” and home to one of the largest Mexican American communities in the Midwest.
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“VIDEO EVIDENCE,” DHS wrote in the post with the video attached.
Last week, on Oct. 22, three illegal immigrants and six U.S. citizens were arrested on charges on what DHS dubbed “one of the most violent days” of Operation Midway Blitz.
Cops cry foul as Dem-run cities shovel mountains of cash to illegal aliens: police group
A police group says that law enforcement in Democratic-run cities and states across the country are “tired” of seeing local politicians supporting illegal immigrants rather than attempting to address key issues they’re dealing with, such as being understaffed and underfunded.
New York City alone was projected to spend more than $8.9 billion on illegal immigrants in 2024 and 2025, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute. According to the report, that funding went toward housing and support for illegal immigrants.
The Illinois Policy Institute estimated that the state has spent over $2.5 billion on care for illegal immigrants since 2021. Most of the costs came from healthcare, and costs vastly exceeded initial estimates, the institute claimed.
In 2022 and 2023 alone, Chicago spent around $255 million on costs for illegal immigrants such as housing, food, clothing and other care, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
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During one City Council meeting in December 2024, one Chicago resident said she was fed up with the mass amounts of funding for illegal immigrants and wanted it to stop.
“I got a great way what we can do with this budget. First, let’s start with cutting off illegals getting free everything, free housing, free schooling, free food. Yeah, let’s start with that. That’ll save us a lot of money,” one woman said to Mayor Brandon Johnson.
National Police Association spokeswoman Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith told Fox News Digital that law enforcement officers view the funding as unnecessary when their agencies are already understaffed, using Chicago as one example.
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“It’s very frustrating for law enforcement,” she said. “There are so many financial resources spent toward illegal aliens, as well as all the political capital that is being spent right now in Chicago in support of illegal aliens.”
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is already nearly 1,000 officers down and its superintendent said city administrators asked him to come up with $98 million in budget cuts, according to ABC 7.
“We still have a lot of work to do. We’re going in the right direction,” CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said. “It’s going to take some time, and we just have to make sure that our department is properly staffed to get that done.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor of Chicago for comment.
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Smith said the billions of dollars being spent on illegal immigrants should be redirected toward items such as police training and recruitment, which would help cities combat crime.
“They are tired of supporting illegal aliens and they are tired of hearing their politicians demonize law enforcement and ignore their needs,” Smith said. “Our government system was not designed to be able to support millions of people from other countries, especially at a time when we have so many people who are citizens of the United States and are really in need of assistance.”
Media spotlight looms large on far-left podcast as backlash grows over remarks
Far-left podcast star Jennifer Welch has become a liberal media darling as her recent commentary has generated intense backlash from the right.
Welch, co-host of the “I’ve Had It” podcast, went viral this week for comments she made on her politically-charged spinoff “IHIP News” where she is seen laughing at a clip showing a No Kings protester saying she was “glad” that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated.
“So listen up, Democratic establishment,” Welch said on her podcast. “You can either jump on board with this s—, or we’re coming after you in the same way that we come after MAGA. Period.”
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Just days earlier, Welch suggested White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller was a “Nazi Jew.”
“Stephen Miller is a White supremacist. I mean, he is. And he’s basically running the White House. They keep Trump busy with his decorating projects. He’s got building the arch now. He’s got his Oval Office design,” Welch said. “And then you have these real sociopaths that are real antisemites, true White supremacists like Steven Miller. And even though he’s Jewish, he’s like a Nazi Jew.”
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Welch’s career has had quite the evolution. Welch, an Oklahoma City-based interior designer, starred in the short-lived Bravo reality show “Sweet Home Oklahoma” from 2017-2018. It wasn’t until 2022 that she launched “I’ve Had It” with co-host Angie Sullivan.
The podcast, which initially launched as an apolitical platform for Welch and Sullivan to air “petty grievances” and to combat “toxic positivity” from other influencers, increasingly delved into politics in 2024, landing high-profile interviews with former President Barack Obama, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Welch and Sullivan were invited onto NBC’s “Today” fourth-hour program twice and have appeared on “CBS Mornings” and ABC’s “The View” to promote a book earlier this year. They also received glowing profiles in Rolling Stone, The Guardian and New York Magazine’s The Cut and were invited to MSNBC’s live event in New York City, all within the last month. Many of her fans on social media have speculated whether Democrats have found their Joe Rogan.
“Is the Future of Viral Left Podcasting These Two Hilarious Red State Moms?” Rolling Stone asked in its headline.
“How two blond suburban moms gave Democrats an answer to the rightwing media ecosystem,” The Guardian’s headline similarly read.
However, Welch specifically has had an increasing presence on cable news. After making her CNN debut with Sullivan in September 2024, Welch has made at least four solo appearances on “CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip” since May. She’s also been on MSNBC three times in recent months.
“I’ve Had It” is among the top 100 podcasts on Apple and has over 1.36 million subscribers on YouTube. Some of Welch’s most recent guests include House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, MSNBC’s Jen Psaki and CNN’s Abby Phillip.
The liberal Oklahoma native quickly embraced Mamdani and scolded other Democrats for not rallying behind the socialist candidate.
“Zohran Mamdani is putting on a masterclass on how the Democrats win,” Welch said on her podcast. “This guy is the future of the Democratic Party and the fact there is leadership in the Democratic Party that has not endorsed this man is why we lose.”
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While she regularly bashes President Donald Trump and other Republicans, Welch isn’t shy to attack Democrats from the left.
Welch laid into former Chicago Mayor and potential Democratic presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel, who voiced concern about their party’s fixation on transgender rights.
“That is such bulls—. That is total bulls—. That is buying into the right-wing media narrative. And I’m so sick of Democrats like you selling out and saying this,” Welch told Emanuel.
In another podcast interview, Welch accused Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. of “capitulation” to what she calls the “fascist” Trump administration, comparing Democratic leadership to “Neville Chamberlain.” She also attacked him for previously accepting money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Welch raised eyebrows in August when she scolded White voters who supported Trump, saying they shouldn’t be able to walk into a Mexican, Chinese or Indian restaurant or see a gay hairdresser.
“I don’t think you should be able to enjoy anything but Cracker Barrel. Get your fat a—es over to Cracker Barrel,” Welch told Trump voters.
Welch held no punches against Kirk following his horrific murder last month, branding the Turning Point USA co-founder a “hate-monger.”
“I oppose gun violence … but Charlie Kirk was a hate-monger, a racist, a misogynist, and a homophobe who trafficked in cruelty and in culture wars that marginalized people,” Welch told The Cut. “I opposed his opinions when he was alive, and I oppose his opinions now that he’s dead. The violent nature of his death doesn’t change that.”
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NASCAR champion warns Americans about alleged insurance scam after family loses millions
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and his wife are warning the public about an alleged life insurance scheme that they claim caused their family to lose more than $8.5 million.
Busch and his wife, Samantha, released statements Tuesday announcing that they have taken legal action against Pacific Life for allegedly “designing and promoting a series of complex indexed universal life (IUL) policies as ‘tax-free retirement plans’ that were misrepresented as safe, self-funding investment vehicles.”
“According to the filing, the defendants used misleading illustrations, undisclosed costs, and false promises of guaranteed multipliers and controllable charges to induce the Busches to pay more than $10.4 million in premiums, resulting in net out-of-pocket losses exceeding $8.58 million,” a press release from RP Legal, which is representing the Busches, said.
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Busch said in a statement provided by the firm that he had been dragged into a “financial trap.”
“I never thought something like this could happen to us,” he said. “These policies were sold to us as part of a retirement plan—something safe and secure that would grow tax-free and protect our family long after racing. We trusted the people who sold them, and the name Pacific Life. But the reality is far different. What was pitched as retirement income turned out to be a financial trap.”
Samantha Busch echoed that sentiment, adding that their situation “makes me worry about families, retirees, and anyone trying to plan responsibly for their future who may be hearing those same promises.”
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“If this could happen to us, it could happen to anyone, and I want people to be aware and protect their financial future,” she added. “If sharing our experience helps even one person protect their financial future, then speaking out is worth it.”
IULs are a type of life insurance that allows policyholders to build cash value based on a stock market index’s performance while still offering a death benefit, but their returns are limited by caps and reduced by fees, and they depend on complex formulas that can make them riskier than they appear.
The Busches claim that the policies were riskier and more complex than they were led to believe.
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“This is not just an issue for celebrities or professional athletes. It is an issue for everyday Americans,” attorney Robert G. Rikard said in a statement. “Across the country, teachers, small business owners, and retirees are being sold complex life-insurance contracts as if they were simple, risk-free retirement plans. The danger lies not in the product itself, but in how it’s marketed and presented as guaranteed paths to retirement security. Kyle and Samantha’s experience is a clear example of how easily that can happen. Our mission is to hold the industry accountable and help families recover what they have lost.”
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Pacific Life declined to comment on the specifics of the suit.
“To maintain the privacy and trust of our clients, Pacific Life does not comment on the specifics of individual matters. For nearly 160 years, we have committed ourselves to fairness, integrity, and acting in the best interests of our clients – and we continue to take this responsibility very seriously. Pacific Life offers several different life insurance products, each with unique characteristics that are important to understand before making a decision. We encourage individuals to visit our website or contact their financial advisor to learn more about our products.”
State GOP steps in after Turning Point chapter barred from official status on campus
The Louisiana GOP is offering help to the students at Loyola University New Orleans who founded a Turning Point USA chapter on campus, only to have the student government bar the chapter from becoming an official organization.
“For the students, certainly, we encourage them to go through the process the way that it’s written out,” Louisiana GOP Chairman Derek Babcock told Fox News Digital. “I think that’s the right way to initially do this … and we’ll support them in every way we can through that process.”
On Oct. 15, the campus Student Government Association (SGA) denied the group the ability to charter — become an official campus organization — during a student senate meeting. The denial means that the organization will not receive funds from the university and will not be able to reserve campus space for any activities.
Babcock said the group is preparing to appeal the decision through the proper SGA channel.
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“If they’re denied again, I believe that is an injustice that needs to be rectified, and we’re going to be there to help them in any and every way necessary to right the injustice,” he said.
The SGA reportedly denied the charter after students raised concerns that Turning Point does not share the same values as the Jesuit Catholic school.
“Loyola University New Orleans, and our whole Jesuit Community, have prided themselves on the core values of Saint Ignatius, and the Society of Jesus at large. As it stands, Turning Point USA, its leaders, and many of the individuals whom they support are in direct opposition of these values,” one student reportedly said.
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The student attributed quotes to Turning Point’s founder, Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10, about “queer people are trying to corrupt your children” and “transgenderism and gender fluidity are lies that hurt people and abuse kids,” as evidence for that claim. However, official Catholic Church doctrine does not support gay marriage or transgenderism.
Another student, who identified herself as Hispanic, claimed Kirk held bigoted views towards Hispanics.
“You know, as far as the student government, I certainly would encourage them to take a better look at this and think twice about the initial decision they made,” Babcock said, noting that other right-leaning groups like the Federalist Society exist on campus along with other faith-based organizations.
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“There is no justifiable reason for denying Turning Point to have a chapter at that university,” he said. “That’s an argument we’ll make in every arena that it needs to be made. And if that’s what has to happen, we’ll be there with those students to help support them through that process.”
Babcock also called for the school to look into the matter, and possibly override the SGA’s decision, though he said he respects the school’s commitment to allowing students to govern themselves.
“Well, I think that they need to be paying attention to this, and they need to take it seriously, because if they don’t have a mechanism in place today… they need to get one quickly, because it may become necessary,” he said.
Babcock pointed to the support for Turning Point USA from Gov. Jeff Landry, who on Monday night spoke at a Turning Point event at Louisiana State University and called for the school to erect a statue of Kirk.
“I know they’re a private university, but they’re in the state of Louisiana, and here’s our Louisiana governor, not just supporting but actually speaking at and advocating for Turning Point events and memorials,” he said. “So, you know, that university administration needs to think very carefully about what’s happening here.”
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When asked about the appeals process, Loyola spokesperson, Aariel Charbonnet, pointed Fox News Digital to a document containing the SGA bylaws, which says, “The Court of Review shall handle all appeals rendered to it by the constituents of Loyola University of New Orleans Student Government association.”
The document explains that every Justice on the Court of Review has a vote on all the matters before the court.
It is unclear whether the Turning Point chapter members have the opportunity to plead their case in front of the court.
Charbonnet said there is no process by which the university administration could override an SGA decision, except under certain conditions involving legality or conflicts with rules and regulations of the school.
“Any part of this Constitution or any resolution passed under its authorization that is in conflict with the laws of the United States of America, the State of Louisiana, or with any rules or regulations of Loyola University New Orleans, shall be null and void from the time of its enactment,” the school’s constituion says.
“The Student Government Association will support through its actions and programs the goals, purposes, and values of Loyola University New Orleans … and will abide by all university policies and procedures.”
Singer slams complainers after grueling military training with NFL husband
Jessie James Decker says her “warrior” bloodline helps her dominate on “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test.”
Jessie is joined by her husband, former NFL star Eric Decker, for this season of the FOX show. Both of their fathers served in the military, which Jessie believes was an advantage when competing on the military-style training show.
“My brother’s words stuck in my mind more than anybody. Before we had to turn our phones in, he sent me this long message about, you know, how our dads were in the military. My dad and stepdad were both Army/Air Force. And he was like, listen, he used some language, they were warriors. They were warriors, and you have that in your blood. And so was our grandfather. So was our great-grandfather,” she said.
Jessie explained that the grit that is demanded from U.S. troops is in her blood.
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“This has been in our bloodline forever. I want you to channel that warrior inside of you and just do it. And so I thought about my brother’s words every single day and wanted to make my family proud, truly, because I’m a very proud military brat,” Jessie said.
“This has been in our bloodline forever. I want you to channel that warrior inside of you and just do it. And so I thought about my brother’s words every single day and wanted to make my family proud, truly, because I’m a very proud military brat.”
Being in a military environment stirred up a lot of frustration for Jessie because she feels U.S. citizens don’t appreciate “how good” life is back home.
“Lots of emotions and, I think probably a little frustration too, if I’m being completely honest. I think that as we were there, and I saw how people are living in Morocco [where ‘Special Forces’ films] and seeing how hard it is just day in day out what our military goes through, it almost stirred up an anger of like I can’t believe anyone would ever complain back home.”
WATCH: Jessie James Decker is a ‘very proud military brat’
“We have it so damn good, you know. It definitely lit a fire in me. I will never complain again. Just because we have it so good and look at, look at how these men and women are fighting for us and the living conditions and what they’re going through just to keep our country safe. It just, yeah, it fired me up,” Jessie said.
Competing on “Special Forces” proved to Jessie and Eric that they could still get “down and dirty,” according to the singer.
“We got that tenacity,” Eric said.
“Yeah, I think we’re still gritty,” Jessie added. “We like, you know, we both left home gritty kids and tough and scrappy. And obviously we’re living this life now, and we’re very blessed and fortunate, but it was good to see that we still have that in there.”
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In September, Jessie and Eric told Fox News Digital how competing together on the show made their marriage stronger.
“I think that experience, when it was all said and done, we had one of the best dates and nights of our entire marriage,” Jessie explained. “We had a layover in London, and we went to dinner, and we, like, got to lay in a bed and I just feel like we laid there looking at each other, and it was just such a beautiful night.”
She continued, “We went through something really hard together, and it really does bring you closer together. We were just so grateful to be laying in that bed together.”
The couple has been together for about 15 years, married for just over 12, and share four children: Vivianne, 11; Eric “Bubby,” 10; Forrest, 7; and Denver, 1.
When it comes to the key to their successful marriage, both Eric and Jessie joked that living in Nashville is their secret, before Eric credited their shared “value system” as the real secret.
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“I think, obviously, we’re rooted in our value system, where we have four kids,” he said. “We do love the community we raise our kids in. We take time to just be home and, in a sense, be with our family, that grounds us.”
Jessie agreed, adding, “I think we just view the world the same way.”
“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.
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Sydney Sweeney turns heads in sheer gown as Sharon Stone says ‘it’s hard to be hot’
While Sydney Sweeney turned heads in a sheer, silver gown, another Hollywood star took the time to defend her right to “use what mama gave you.”
The “Euphoria” star’s daring look made a red-carpet statement at Variety’s Power of Women event Wednesday night in Los Angeles, and Sharon Stone praised Sweeney for embracing her image and owning her power.
Stone, who will appear alongside Sweeney in the upcoming third season of “Euphoria,” gave the 28-year-old actress a glowing endorsement during the star-studded event.
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“It’s OK to use what mama gave you,” Stone told Variety on the carpet.
“It’s hard to be hot, and I think we all know that. It’s really OK to use every bit of hotness you have — right here, right now — and go for whatever that is. Everybody has their own certain kind of hotness, their own certain thing, and you’re supposed to go for that. Because who are you not to be beautiful? You know, who you are isn’t an accident.”
Stone also revealed that she had spoken with Sweeney during the production of “Euphoria” when controversy swirled over Sweeney’s American Eagle “Good Jeans” campaign.
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The Oscar-nominated actress recalled sharing a story about her friend and fellow icon, primatologist Jane Goodall, who once faced criticism for appearing on the cover of Life magazine during her groundbreaking work with gorillas.
“When Jane was on the cover of Life Magazine for her work with gorillas, she was in her safari shorts and shirt, sitting with one of the animals that she was working with. Other scientists said, ‘Well, she only got the cover of Life Magazine because she had good legs.’ And Jane said, ‘Well, if I did, then that helped me get more money for my research,'” Stone said.
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Sweeney’s response, according to Stone was, “‘Yeah, and I’m sure I made a billion dollars for the jeans company, and I’m good with that. Because, you know what? I’ll get another job.’”
That self-assured attitude came after the actress’s “Good Jeans” campaign sparked online backlash this summer.
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The ad — a tongue-in-cheek play on genetics — featured Sweeney saying, “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My jeans are blue,” as the camera closed in on her eyes.
Critics accused the campaign of echoing “eugenics” themes, while others defended it as harmless wordplay.
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American Eagle responded on Aug. 1 with a statement on social media that read, “‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always was about the jeans — her jeans, her story,” the brand said. “We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Despite the uproar, Sweeney continues to shine — both on-screen and off — with “Euphoria” season 3 now in production and a slate of new projects solidifying her status as one of Hollywood’s most-watched stars.
Trump and Xi strike trade truce: 5 key takeaways from the South Korea summit
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement on several trade matters that were driving their high-stakes trade dispute following their meeting in South Korea.
Trump and Xi met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Busan on Thursday for what was their first in-person meeting since 2019, during Trump’s first term.
Trump said that he reached a deal with China following what he told reporters aboard Air Force One was “an amazing meeting” that he rated “12 out of 10.”
The president and Xi reached agreements on several areas that had been the source of friction in the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and China, which marked a step back from recent escalatory moves. Here’s a look at some of the key aspects of the trade truce.
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Soybeans
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that China agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in the current season and committed to buying 25 million tons annually over the next three years.
China halted purchases of U.S. soybeans earlier this year in retaliation for the Trump administration’s tariffs on Chinese exports and instead pivoted to buying soybeans from South America.
The move cut off American farmers from the world’s largest importer of soybeans, a market in which they were China’s primary supplier of soybeans dating back to before Trump’s first term. Soybean farmers are in a critical period for marketing their crop, and a failure to resolve the dispute would leave them struggling to find alternative buyers and taking a financial hit.
Ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting, Reuters reported that a Chinese state-owned firm moved forward with the first purchase of U.S. soybeans from China in months, though the two trade sources told the outlet they don’t expect a significant rise in demand for U.S. soybeans after China’s purchases from South America.
TRUMP, AUSTRALIA PM SIGN $8.5B CRITICAL MINERALS DELA TO COUNTER CHINA DOMINANCE IN RARE EARTHS
Fentanyl
Trump said following his meeting with Xi that China’s efforts to crack down on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors have been sufficient to lower tariffs on Chinese goods.
The president imposed 20% tariffs on China over fentanyl earlier this year and also imposed them on Canada and Mexico, arguing the precursor chemicals are shipped through those countries.
After meeting with Xi, Trump said he’s slashing the 20% fentanyl tariffs on China in half, which will reduce overall tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47%.
CHINA RESPONDS TO US-AUSTRALIA RARE EARTHS DEAL
Rare earths
The Chinese government recently moved to implement tougher export controls on rare earth minerals, which are used in a variety of high-tech applications, ranging from smartphones and electric vehicle batteries to military radars and cruise missiles.
Xi, in an effort to smooth over trade tensions, agreed to pause China’s export controls on rare earths for one year following the meeting with Trump in South Korea.
China is the world’s leading producer of rare earths and has the largest reserves, according to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS found that, in 2024, China’s mines produced 270,000 tons of rare earths, and the country has 44 million tons of reserves. By comparison, the U.S. produced 45,000 tons and had 1.9 million tons of reserves last year, while Australia produced 13,000 tons and had 5.7 million tons of reserves.
The U.S. and Australia recently announced an agreement to cooperate on developing rare earths in response to China’s move. The two governments agreed to each invest $1 billion in mining and processing projects in the next six months and to cut permits for mines, processing facilities and related operations.
OIL PRICES SURGE AS TRUMP HITS RUSSIAN ENERGY GIANTS WITH SWEEPING NEW SANCTIONS
Russian oil and energy
Last week, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Russian oil companies over their role in funding Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has become the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.
The sanctions, aimed mainly at China and India as key energy clients of Russia, give companies until Nov. 1 to cut their transactions with Russian oil producers or face losing access to the Western banking system.
Major Chinese state oil companies, including PetroChina, Sinopec, CNOOC and Zhenhua Oil moved to halt purchases of Russian seaborne oil, at least temporarily, in response to the sanctions.
TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWING TIKTOK DEAL TO PROCEED
TikTok
Trump said he may be able to sign a final deal with Xi that allows TikTok, the short-form video platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance, to separate its U.S. operations from ByteDance in a transaction valued around $14 billion.
The president signed an executive order late last month to allow the deal to proceed, though the U.S. and Chinese governments hadn’t finalized the agreement that would allow the transaction to proceed.
Bessent said Thursday that he expects the deal to move forward in the coming weeks and months, telling FOX Business Network that the U.S. secured China’s approval for the deal during meetings in Kuala Lumpur. China’s Commerce Ministry said earlier on Thursday that it wil properly handle TikTok-related issues.
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Last year, Congress enacted a law that banned TikTok and other apps, which are subject to the control of adversarial foreign governments like China’s, over concerns about data security and the use of the platforms’ algorithms for foreign influence operations. It allowed for them to be divested from foreign ownership to remain available to U.S. users.
The law took effect Jan. 19, 2025, after it survived a Supreme Court challenge and allowed a 90-day extension, though the president signed multiple 75-day extensions to conclude the deal.