Charlie Kirk’s widow reveals how Sabbath practice made him a ‘next-level husband’
Turning Point USA (TPUSA) CEO Erika Kirk opened up about her late husband’s final book and the message he wanted people of all faiths to walk away with during a wide-ranging conversation on “Hannity” Monday.
“He did not just write this book,” Kirk told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “He lived it.”
An outspoken Christian who promoted civil discourse on college campuses across the country, Charlie Kirk was “fiercely proud” of his final book, according to the book’s publisher, Winning Team Publishing.
He finished what would be his final book – “Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life” – only one month before his assassination on Sept. 10.
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His wife of four years explained why the late conservative activist and TPUSA founder urged his followers to honor the Sabbath.
“In this book, Charlie talks about how important it is – to put your phone down, engage with your family,” Kirk said. “Pour into them. That’s your legacy.”
Charlie’s own experience of practicing the Sabbath by spending time with his family made him a “next-level husband,” Erika shared.
“At first, it started with an hour, two hours,” she described. “But then once he fully incorporated it into his life, he totally elevated. He became a next-level husband, which I didn’t even think was possible because he was already so incredible to me and the babies.”
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Hannity, who praised Charlie as a “biblical scholar,” commended the message of his friend’s book about the Sabbath.
“He talked about how that’s real rest,” he began. “And that means not watching television, binge-watching. It means being present with your family. Present with God.”
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“Rest your brain, rest your heart,” Kirk replied. “Rest your soul. We’re not machines. We’re humans, we have souls. We are here to make a difference and you can’t hear from the Lord if you’re being inundated constantly from other people trying to take your attention away from what the ultimate goal is.”
“How are you able to make decisions for your family and for your company and for X, Y, Z if you are so inundated with what the enemy wants you to have?” she asked.
Kirk went on to argue there is a difference between busyness and productivity.
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“We can get bogged down with to-do lists and thinking that is productivity,” she began. “It’s actually not. Charlie was incredible with time management.”
Charlie’s assassination put into perspective how “limited” time on Earth is, Erika added, reflecting on how “precious” time is.
“Are you going to spend that time investing into your family, investing in the eternal things that you will have in Heaven, or are you going to waste that time getting into internet debates and, you know, going down rabbit holes?” she asked.
While Kirk and Hannity further discussed the biblical roots of the Sabbath and even marriage as a covenant, Kirk stressed that readers of her husband’s book do not have to be Christian to learn something from it.
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“You don’t even have to be religious,” she said. “You can be a non-observing citizen and use this book to change your life.”
Kirk’s final book is available for pre-order and will be available nationwide Tuesday, including at WinningPublishing.com, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, Walmart, 45Books.com and more.
Family sues Royal Caribbean after father dies in vacation tragedy aboard cruise
The family of a 35-year-old man who died aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise after allegedly being served 33 alcoholic drinks has filed a lawsuit seven months after an autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
Michael Virgil, 35, and his family boarded Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2024, for a four-day cruise to Ensenada, Mexico, a trip they intended to be a fun vacation.
What began as a routine departure quickly unraveled, the lawsuit says, after an onboard incident involving security that would later become the center of a legal battle.
The family – which includes Virgil’s longtime fiancée and their young son who has autism – has filed a wrongful death complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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The lawsuit alleges the cruise line is responsible for his death, claiming he was overserved and then subjected to what it calls the excessive use of force and fatal actions taken by crew members.
According to the complaint, the family was directed to a bar with live music because their cabin was not ready. As they waited, Virgil’s then 7-year-old son grew restless and left with his mother to check the room, leaving Virgil alone.
The suit claims that within hours of the ship’s departure, crew members negligently served him at least 33 alcoholic drinks, after which he became intoxicated and increasingly agitated while trying to locate his cabin.
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Security and crew members allegedly tackled and restrained Virgil, compressing his body until he stopped moving. The complaint says that at the direction of the staff captain, the crew injected him with the sedative Haloperidol and used three cans of pepper spray.
The suit says the combination of restraint, sedative use and pepper spray caused significant hypoxia, impaired ventilation, respiratory failure, cardiovascular instability and ultimately cardiopulmonary arrest. The medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide.
The medical examiner wrote that the cause of death was “combined effects of mechanical asphyxia, obesity, cardiomegaly and ethanol intoxication.” The report also said the injury occurred from “body compression during restraint by multiple ship security personnel” and “ingestion of ethanol.”
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Virgil’s body remained refrigerated on board until the ship returned to Los Angeles on Dec. 16, 2024.
“Michael’s family has suffered unimaginable heartache and torment caused by Royal Caribbean, a mega cruise line that prioritizes profit over passenger safety,” Kevin Haynes, a partner at Kherkher Garcia, said. “Crew members, including security and medical personnel, are required to undergo rigorous competency training; it is very clear that Royal Caribbean is completely negligent in the hiring, training and supervision of its vast fleet of maritime employees.
“What was supposed to be a beautiful family vacation came to an unimaginably tragic end due to the reprehensible way the situation – that should have never occurred – was handled,” Haynes added.
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The complaint also notes that Virgil purchased the “Deluxe Beverage Package,” which gives passengers access to nearly all of the ship’s drink offerings, including alcohol. It explains alcohol sales are among Royal Caribbean’s top revenue streams and that the ships are designed with numerous outlets serving alcohol throughout the vessels.
“We are seeing an incredibly alarming number of serious injuries and fatalities on cruise ships of late,” Haynes said. “Our goal is to force systemic change in the way this industry operates to ensure that no person or family experiences tragedy like this again.”
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Through the lawsuit, the estate of Michael Virgil is seeking judgment for damages under the Death on the High Seas Act, including loss of support, inheritance, past and future earnings and net accumulations. The family is also seeking funeral and medical expenses, loss of companionship and protection and mental pain and suffering, among other claims.
Royal Caribbean refrained from commenting on the specifics of the case due to the pending legal matter.
“We were saddened by the passing of one of our guests, worked with authorities on their investigation, and will refrain from commenting any further on pending litigation,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Blood-pressure meds pulled nationwide, FDA finds unexpected drug mix
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a nationwide recall of thousands of bottles of blood-pressure medication last week after discovering cross-contamination with another drug.
Federal regulators issued the warning on Dec. 1 for roughly 11,100 bottles of the combination medication bisoprolol fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide, sold under the brand name Ziac.
Testing revealed that “trace amounts of ezetimibe,” a prescription drug used to treat high cholesterol, were detected in reserve samples.
The recall was classified as Class III, indicating that use of or exposure to the contaminated product is “not likely to cause adverse health consequences,” according to the agency.
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Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, based in Elmwood Park, New Jersey, manufactures both the recalled blood-pressure tablets and ezetimibe.
The affected pills come in 2.5-milligram and 6.25-milligram doses, according to federal regulators.
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The FDA added that the recall affects 30-count bottles (NDC 68462-878-30), 100-count bottles (NDC 68462-878-01) and 500-count bottles (NDC 68462-878-05).
The recalled lot numbers carry expiration dates ranging from November 2025 to May 2026, the agency said.
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Bisoprolol fumarate and hydrochlorothiazide are commonly prescribed together, according to Mayo Clinic. Bisoprolol helps the heart beat more regularly, while hydrochlorothiazide increases urination to remove excess sodium and water. Combined, the drugs help relax blood vessels, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and the FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from FOX Business.
Jason Bateman reflects on why he and sister Justine don’t see each other often
Jason Bateman shared a rare glimpse into his relationship with his sister Justine Bateman.
The 56-year-old appeared on the cover of Esquire’s Winter “Meaning of Life” issue and reflected on his bond with the 59-year-old actress in the accompanying interview.
“My sister and I don’t see each other a ton,” he admitted.
However, Jason clarified that this wasn’t due to any conflict and explained that the two have a mature relationship built on mutual respect.
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“There isn’t the typical ‘We see each other every Thanksgiving or every Christmas and our kids want to be together.’ There isn’t that. In a great way,” he said.
Jason and his wife Amanda Anka are parents to daughters Francesca, 19, and Maple, 13, while Justine shares son Duke, 23, and daughter Gianetta, 21, with her husband Mark Fluent.
The “Arrested Development” alum described his conversations with Justine as the “rich conversations you would have with an adult friend, not the kind of petulant back-and-forth you might have with your adult sibling.”
“We hang out, and we’re nice to each other because we respect one another as individuals regardless of the blood thing,” Jason added.
Jason also noted that he had upcoming plans with Justine, telling the outlet, “I’m seeing her for lunch next week.”
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The siblings both rose to fame in Hollywood as child actors in the 1980s. Jason began acting at age 10, appearing in commercials before starring in hit shows such as “Little House on the Prairie,” “Silver Spoons” and “The Hogan Family.”
Justine was 16 years old when she was cast in her breakthrough role as Mallory Keaton on the TV sitcom “Family Ties” in 1982. The show became a huge hit almost immediately, turning Justine into a teen idol.
Jason has previously spoken about how the two faced pressure after becoming their family’s breadwinners. During his interview with Esquire, he noted that their careers had an impact on their dynamic with their parents, Kent and Victoria Bateman.
“My sister and I had a peer relationship with our parents; they were our managers,” he said.
The siblings’ career paths eventually diverged after they entered adulthood. Jason continued building his career as an actor, director and producer, while Justine shifted away from acting and established herself as a filmmaker and author.
In September, Justine slammed speculation that she and Jason were at odds due to political differences. Following President Donald Trump‘s re-election in November 2024, Justine told Fox News Digital that she felt “great” about his victory and that a “suffocating cloud” had been lifted.
While Justine said she doesn’t support any political party, she said she found the team surrounding Trump “very interesting,” and their “strong position” on free speech won her over.
Meanwhile, Jason took part in a virtual rally for Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, called “Comics for Kamala” that also included Jon Hamm, Tom Arnold and Kathy Griffin. During a June appearance on the podcast “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” Jason criticized Trump supporters, whom he said are “by choice keeping themselves insulated from the facts and common sense.”
However, Justine set the record straight regarding any rumored issues with her brother in a post shared to X, formerly Twitter.
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“Anyone bringing up my brother to me for any other reason than to say you like his new upcoming show, or any of his past work, will be muted at best, and blocked at worst,” she wrote. “I’m not interested in your fantasy about some imagined conflict between the two of us over your political ideologies.”
“Really, it’s sick,” Justine added. “So, keep it up. It makes it easy for me if identify yourselves, so I can make an X setting adjustment to never have to hear from you, ever again.”
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During a 2015 appearance on the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast, Jason reflected on his bond with Justine.
The “Black Rabbit” star said that he and Justine “have that really kind of healthy relationship” in which they don’t have to spend “every day, every week, every month, every holiday” together just because they are siblings.
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“It’s like, well, let’s earn the relationship that adults should or could have,” he said. “You’re not handcuffed because of the blood.”
Jason noted with a laugh that Justine “lived about a mile from my house” at the time and admitted, “Yeah, I could be a better uncle, brother, son.”
Mila Kunis calls out neighbors’ nonstop complaints as head of neighborhood HOA
Mila Kunis is just looking for one thing as the head of her homeowners association – appreciation.
The Hollywood star took on the leadership position for her eight-household neighborhood but says she’s been inundated with complaints and little gratitude.
“All people do is complain. All I get is complaints all day long,” Kunis said during an appearance on the “TODAY” show. “No one ever goes, ‘You know what? Thank you so much,’ for anything ever.”
Kunis even said she had to text a friend in the neighborhood, asking them to reply to her email with a simple “thank you” as an example.
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Kunis revealed she’s head of the HOA during a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal.
“I don’t know if this is a hobby, but I’m the head of the Homeowners Association in our neighborhood,” she told the outlet. “I take the complaints. If you have a complaint about someone’s trash or if you have a noise complaint, you complain to me.”
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The “That ’70s Show” star said her neighbors are “desensitized” and unfazed that a Hollywood celebrity runs their HOA.
“They’re desensitized – it is L.A,” she explained. “The funnier part is when I have to call someone to look at the road because it is eroding or something, and then they show up and start laughing. I’m like, ‘I know this is ridiculous, but please, can you give me a quote on this?’”
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Kunis lives in Beverly Hills with husband Ashton Kutcher and their two kids. The “Black Swan” actress enjoys “laid-back” mornings with her family.
“I wake up every day at 6:15. First thing I do is turn my alarm off. My husband either wakes up at 5:30 and works out, or I’ll give him an extra hour of sleep,” she told WSJ. “I make myself a cup of coffee and make the kids their breakfast and lunch, then Ashton takes them to the bus. It’s very laid-back.”
KEVIN COSTNER SAYS FIRST BIG CHRISTMAS PURCHASE LEFT HARDWORKING FATHER IN TEARS
For Kunis, a morning workout might mean Pilates or the gym.
“Sometimes I shower, and sometimes I don’t, and that’s OK,” she added, referencing comments she previously made about not consistently bathing her children. “Sometimes I just have time to wipe my armpits. Don’t come after me.”
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Actress suggests ‘Marxist, Communist’ solution for ‘capitalist hell’ Hollywood
Actress Kristen Stewart said the entertainment industry is a “capitalist hell” during an interview on Saturday, and said it hated women and “marginalized voices.”
“We’re in a pivotal nexus, because I think we’re ready for a full system break. Do you know what I mean? I mean that across the board and also specific to the world that I live in, which is very exclusively the entertainment industry,” Stewart said.
Stewart spoke to The New York Times’ “The Interview,” and said the entertainment industry was racist.
“We need to start sort of stealing our movies. I’m so appreciative of every union. Trust me, we would not survive without them. But some of the terms and some of the rules and some of the structures we’ve set up have created unbelievable barriers for artists to express themselves,” Stewart said.
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She argued the industry needed a workaround.
“I think having it be so impossible for people to tell stories, and having it be such an exclusive and rarified novel position to be in to find yourself doing so, is capitalist hell, and it hates women, and it hates marginalized voices, and it’s racist. I think we need to figure out a way to make it easier to speak to each other in cinematic terms. It’s too hard to make movies right now that aren’t blockbustery, whatever, proven equations,” she said.
She said she wasn’t sure what it meant, but said she hoped that the next movie she makes would be a smash hit, and she didn’t want to make a dollar on it.
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“It’s just so difficult to make movies, it just doesn’t need to be. I’m just trying to think of some sort of weird, like Marxist, Communist-like, situation that other people can definitely think, of course this psycho is saying that, but I think it’s possible, especially in these kind of narrow and exclusive environments. I’m not talking about the world at large, but for us, the system has barred people and made it too difficult to be honest,” Stewart argued.
During an interview in May, Stewart called out industry power players, highlighting the still limited opportunities for a handful of female filmmakers.
“[There’s a] thinking that we can check these little boxes, and then do away with the patriarchy, and how we’re all made of it,” the actress told the outlet. “It’s easy for them to be like, ‘Look what we’re doing. We’re making Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie! We’re making Margot Robbie’s movie!’ And you’re like, ‘OK, cool. You’ve chosen four.’”
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Colts bringing 44-year-old ex-NFL quarterback in for visit after losing starter
The Indianapolis Colts, desperate at the quarterback position after injuries to both Daniel Jones and backup Riley Leonard, are bringing in a retiree to potentially lead the way in a playoff race.
Philip Rivers, the former Colts and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback who turned 44 years old on Monday, will be hosted by Indianapolis on Tuesday for a visit, according to multiple reports.
Rivers would be considered for a practice squad position, NFL Network reported, as the rookie Leonard, who took over for Jones after he suffered an Achilles injury on Sunday, is considered the team’s starter moving forward.
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However, Leonard is reportedly dealing with a knee injury that could leave Brett Rypien as the team’s only healthy option heading into Week 15 against a tough Seattle Seahawks team on the road. Leonard is being considered week to week, according to reports.
ESPN added that, while the Colts will be evaluating to see if Rivers is in shape enough to play in the league, he is still determining whether he wants to make an NFL comeback. But he’s clearly thinking hard about it with a trip to Indianapolis.
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Rivers last appeared in the NFL in 2020 when he started 16 games for the Colts. He was 39 at the time and certainly a serviceable option at the position after passing for 4,169 yards with 24 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. Indianapolis went 11-5 that season before losing to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
Rivers ended up announcing his retirement after that loss to the Bills, though he remained in the rumor mill as someone who could come back. He was open to being the New Orleans Saints quarterback in 2021, and the San Francisco 49ers admitted he was their choice if they made it to Super Bowl LVII when Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson both suffered injuries during the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
But Rivers remained in Alabama, where he coached high school football over the past few years. The Colts clearly came calling, though, after a disastrous Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
During the first quarter, Jones, who has been playing on a broken fibula, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and he was visibly frustrated as he slammed his helmet to the turf.
The Colts have now dropped into the bubble group of AFC teams hoping to get into the playoffs after losing three straight games since coming off their bye week.
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Rivers, who recently became a grandfather, threw for 63,440 passing yards and 421 touchdowns with a 64.9% completion rate across 244 career games in the NFL. He also owns a 5-7 record in the playoffs.
Untreatable tropical virus prompts CDC alerts for Americans heading abroad
U.S. health officials have issued travel advisories for Americans planning trips to certain tropical countries amid outbreaks of an untreatable mosquito-borne disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Friday that it has issued Level 2 travel advisories for Cuba, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Guangdong Province in southern China, advising Americans to “practice enhanced precautions” when visiting these areas.
Health officials say there are currently no treatments for chikungunya, but the disease is vaccine-preventable, and vaccination is recommended for travelers to affected areas.
The most common symptoms of the virus include fever and joint pain, though patients may also experience headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or a rash, according to health officials. Symptoms typically appear three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, and most people recover within a week.
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In severe cases, some may experience severe joint pain lasting months or even years while others “may require hospitalization because of the risk of organ damage and death,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to an Oct. 3 notice from WHO, there have been 445,000 suspected and confirmed cases of chikungunya and 155 deaths worldwide between January and September 2025.
In Bangladesh, WHO reported 700 suspected chikungunya cases in the capital, Dhaka, between January and September 2025, citing the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research.
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As of late September, a total of 16,000 locally transmitted chikungunya cases have been confirmed in Guangdong Province, China, marking the largest documented outbreak of the disease in the country to date.
Between January and late September, 34 confirmed cases of chikungunya were reported in Cuba, and public health interventions have been implemented to contain the outbreak.
In Sri Lanka, a total of 150 confirmed chikungunya cases were reported between Jan. 1 and the second week of March 2025, WHO said, adding that cases reportedly peaked in June.
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The CDC warned that Americans traveling to Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand may also face an increased risk of chikungunya infection, even if no outbreak is currently reported.
The U.S. has not seen any locally acquired chikungunya cases in its states or territories since 2019.
Socialist mayor-elect taps armed robbery felon for public safety role
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has chosen a formerly incarcerated rapper to serve on his City Hall transition team as he prepares to take office in New York City Jan. 1, according to reports.
The controversial selection comes as Mamdani, who won November’s election on a progressive platform, assembles his transition team.
Mamdani’s appointment of Mysonne Linen, 49, was announced in a Nov. 26 Instagram post from Until Freedom, a New York City–based social-justice organization, where Linen is a leader.
Linen is featured in the social media post alongside Tamika Mallory and Angelo Pinto.
“We are proud that Until Freedom leaders have been chosen to serve on Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team on committees for public safety and criminal justice respectively,” the post reads.
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“This is a testament to our decades of work advocating on behalf of Black and Brown communities and our expertise in gun violence prevention, legislative advocacy, and criminal justice reform. We are building something different.”
Over the years, Linen has built a public presence as a community activist, frequently posting about anti-violence initiatives and civic engagement, and promoting his involvement with Until Freedom.
According to past reports, Linen, a Bronx native who was once signed to Def Jam, was convicted of two felony robberies in the late 1990s.
In 1999, a Bronx jury is said to have found him guilty in two armed robberies of taxi drivers, per the New York Daily News.
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Prosecutors said Linen was part of a group that robbed cab driver Joseph Exiri on June 8, 1997, striking him with a beer bottle, and later held up cab driver Francisco Monsanto at gunpoint on March 31, 1998, stealing cash and a ring before fleeing.
Both cabbies testified and identified Linen as one of the robbers.
The New York Daily News reported that Linen’s defense argued he had no reason to commit the crimes because he was earning money writing songs for artists such as Lil’ Kim and Mase, and his music was slated to appear on an all-star album featuring LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, and Q-Tip.
He faced up to 25 years in prison and ultimately served seven years. Linen maintained at the time that he had been falsely accused, per reports.
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The Until Freedom website where Linen holds a leadership post, describes the group as “the definitive non-profit organization for community activism, education, and rapid response to tragedies resulting from injustice.”
It states: “We are not asking for a donation, we are asking for your investment; an investment in a movement worthy of the most marginalized people.” The appeal is followed by several payment options, including Cash App and Venmo.
Mamdani’s decision to place Linen on committees that shape the city’s public-safety vision prompted backlash. The group Jews Fight Back wrote on X:
“Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just appointed a convicted armed robber to help shape NYC’s crime and policing policy,” calling the move “insane.”
MAMDANI BREAKS WITH ADAMS, VOWS NYC WILL STOP CLEARING HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS IN JANUARY
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Linen, reiterating a phrase he has used in recent speeches to crisis-intervention groups, also posted again this week on Instagram,”We are building something different.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mysonne Linen, Until Freedom and Zohran Mamdani’s office for comment.