Border Patrol chief, Democrat mayor square off amid tense immigration operation
A heated confrontation unfolded Wednesday in Evanston, Illinois, where city Mayor Daniel Biss — a progressive Democrat and congressional candidate — confronted Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino during a street-level Title 8 immigration enforcement operation that drew “a couple dozen” protesters and quickly turned chaotic, according to video and accounts posted on X.
The standoff occurred around 11:30 a.m. near Green Bay Road and Dodge Avenue in the city outside Chicago, where an 11-vehicle Border Patrol convoy had arrived to detain multiple individuals. Eyewitness Mark Weyermuller wrote that agents “appeared to detain at least two” people as the crowd formed.
Video shared by FOX 32 Chicago reporter Paris Schutz shows Biss, dressed in a dark tailored coat and dress shoes, visibly standing out from the bundled-up crowd, stepping directly toward Bovino as protesters yell and blow whistles around them.
Biss confronted him immediately, declaring, “The abuse has not been acceptable. The racism has not been acceptable. The violence has not been acceptable.”
DHS: CHICAGO CRIME DROPS SHARPLY AFTER FEDERAL OPERATION TARGETING CRIMINAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Bovino, surrounded by agents wearing protective masks and tactical gear, fired back, “Yeah, that’s why we’re here in your community.”
A nearby protester then shouted repeatedly at the commander, “Hey Bovino, we don’t want you here, bro! We don’t want you!”
As the shouting intensified, multiple protesters tried to block the roadway while police from Evanston and Chicago worked to keep a corridor open for vehicles to leave the area.
DHS TORCHES ‘BAMBOOZLED’ DEMS FOR CALLING ICE CRACKDOWN ‘VICIOUS LIES’
Biss, who is running for Congress as a “pragmatic progressive,” later amplified his criticism in a post on X, writing, “The only ‘violent mob’ in Evanston today was Greg Bovino and his masked thugs, terrorizing innocent people and then lying about our city to try and sow chaos.”
He added that Evanston is “safe in spite of ICE/CBP, not because of it,” praised residents who “chased you out of town” and concluded with, “Don’t come back.”
Bovino disputed Biss’ claims and described the encounter as productive.
ICE ACCUSES DEM LAWMAKER OF JOINING ‘RIOTING CROWD’ IN ARIZONA, INTERFERING IN MASS ARREST
He wrote that agents were in Evanston “to make his city a safer place through Title 8 immigration enforcement” and said the mayor “fell back into the divisive talking points that we’ve heard ad nauseam.” Bovino called it an “excellent day in Evanston.”
The Evanston Police Department and Chicago Police Department assisted with crowd control and ensuring federal vehicles could exit safely, according to Bovino’s account. In the video, officers directed traffic and created space as protesters attempted to approach the convoy.
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Title 8 is the federal legal framework for immigration enforcement and can involve operations far from the border when agents are conducting investigations or targeting specific individuals.
Wednesday’s confrontation reflects growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement and leadership in Democrat-run communities.
Fox News Digital reached out to Biss’ office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for comment.
Trump mocks Biden, Obama with new plaques under ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’ portraits
President Donald Trump took some not-so-subtle swipes at his predecessors with new plaques below their portraits in the new White House Presidential Walk of Fame.
Former President Joe Biden had already been mocked in the installation, which was unveiled in September, when Trump used a photo of an autopen to represent the 46th president. Now, there are two plaques that include Trump’s nicknames for Biden.
“Sleepy Joe Biden was, by far, the worst President in American History,” the top plaque states. “Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction. His policies caused the highest Inflation ever recorded, leading the U.S. Dollar to lose more than 20% of its value in 4 years.”
WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS PRESIDENTIAL WALK OF FAME WITH BIDEN PORTRAIT REPLACED BY AUTOPEN IMAGE
“Nicknamed both ‘Sleepy’ and ‘Crooked,’ Joe Biden was dominated by his Radical Left handlers. They and their allies in the Fake News Media attempted to cover up his severe mental decline, and his unprecedented use of the Autopen,” the second plaque reads. “Following his humiliating debate loss to President Trump in the big June 2024 debate, he was forced to withdraw from his campaign for re-election in disgrace.”
Trump also took jabs at former President Barack Obama, calling him “one of the most divisive political figures in American History.”
“As President, he passed the highly ineffective ‘Unaffordable’ Care Act, resulting in his party losing control of both Houses of Congress, and the Election of the largest House Republican majority since 1946,” the first of two plaques says.
EXCLUSIVE: TRUMP WHITE HOUSE TORPEDOES BIDEN ATTEMPT TO SHIELD ‘AUTOPEN PRESIDENCY’ FILES
“Obama also spied on the 2016 Presidential Campaign of Donald J. Trump, and presided over the creation of the Russia, Russia Hoax, the worst political scandal in American History,” the second plaque reads. “His handpicked successor, Hillary Rodham Clinton, would then lose the Presidency to Donald J. Trump.”
Despite not ever being president, and therefore not being pictured in the walk of fame, Hillary Clinton is referenced more than once.
Beneath the picture of former President Bill Clinton, a plaque says, “In 2016, President Clinton’s wife, Hillary Clinton, lost the Presidency to President Donald J. Trump!”
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In November, Trump gave Fox News Channel’s Laura Ingraham a tour of the walk of fame and told her that “beautiful bronze plaques” were going to be installed. He said the plaques would describe the presidents but did not tease the political jabs written on them.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s official cause of death revealed by medical examiner
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele died due to multiple sharp force injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners office.
Other significant conditions contributed to their deaths, the initial report said. Medical examiners determined Dec. 14 as the day the Reiners died, and listed their deaths as homicides.
Rob and his wife Michele were found dead Sunday inside their Brentwood home around 3:30 p.m.
Their son Nick was located and arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday. He was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Nick Reiner appeared in court for the first time Wednesday, days after he allegedly killed his parents.
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. Nick was arrested later that night and was subsequently charged with two counts of first degree murder on Tuesday.
Nick, 32, appeared in the courtroom Wednesday wearing a suicide prevention vest. He wore no shirt under the blue vest that went down to his knees. Nick’s hands and his feet were shackled. When a judge asked if Reiner waived his rights to a speedy arraignment, Nick said, “Yes, your honor.” His arraignment is set for Jan. 7.
Nick’s attorney, Alan Jackson, admitted there were a myriad of issues in the case against his client while speaking to the press after court.
“First of all, and most importantly, this is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family,” Jackson said outside the courthouse. “We all recognize that, our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family. There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case that needs to be thoroughly but very carefully dealt with, and examined and looked at and analyzed.”
Hours after the court appearance,
Rob and Michele’s cause of deaths were released.
They both died due to multiple sharp force injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners office. Other significant conditions contributed to their deaths, the initial report said.
“This is Spinal Tap” star Michael McKean shared a touching tribute to Rob Reiner and his wife Michele days after the two were discovered dead at their Brentwood home.
Reiner famously directed and starred in the cult classic mockumentary.
“Rob was a dear friend and collaborator for fifty years,” McKean said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. “The loss of this good man and his wife and partner, Michele, has devastated everyone who knew and loved this family. The work will last and we’ll treasure it, but now we are all poorer for this tragedy.”
McKean also appeared in “Laverne & Shirley” with Rob’s ex-wife Penny Marshall. The two were married for 10 years.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele reportedly didn’t think their son Nick was violent.
The “Princess Bride” director and his wife were aware that Nick was “self-destructive in many ways,” but the 32-year-old had not been violent towards the family.
“If they thought he was violent, things would have been very different,” a source told People magazine. “At the worst of it, it hadn’t been like this. I don’t think anyone could have ever seen anything like this coming. Nick was declining lately but he had been really bad before.”
Nick was formally charged Tuesday in the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele.
Meg Ryan remembered Rob and Michele Reiner in an Instagram post shared Wednesday.
Ryan laughed alongside her “When Harry Met Sally” director as they danced around a room in an image shared on social media.
“Oh how we will miss this man,” she wrote. “Thank you, Rob and Michelle, for the way you believe in true love, in fairy tales, and in laughter. Thank you for your faith in the best in people, and for your profound love of our country.”
Ryan continued, “I have to believe that their story will not end with this impossible tragedy, that some good may come, some awareness raised… I don’t know, but my guess is that they would want that to be hopeful and humane, to be something that brings us all to a greater understanding of one another and to some peace.”
Rob and his wife Michele were found dead Sunday inside their Brentwood home around 3:30 p.m.
Their son Nick was located and arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday. He was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Nick Reiner walked into a gas station Sunday in video footage captured from a Los Angeles retailer.
Wearing a blue windbreaker with a thick green and white stripe, the 32-year-old covered his head with a blue baseball cap and appeared to be carrying a red bag across his shoulder.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. Their son was later arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Authorities charged Nick with the double homicide of his parents on Tuesday.
“These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a press conference.
“He also faces a special allegation that he personally use a dangerous and deadly weapon that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
No decision has been made on if they’ll seek the death penalty.
Nick Reiner
was seen quickly exiting a gas station shortly before his arrest Sunday night in security camera footage obtained by Fox News.
Nick, 32, was wearing a black, green and white windbreaker and a baseball cap. The son of Rob and Michele Reiner can be seen carrying a red backpack in the CCTV footage. After his quick exit, he went back into the gas station store to grab a drink.
The security camera picked up Nick at the gas station hours after Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead inside their Brentwood home.
Nick was arrested near the University of Southern California college campus around 9:15 p.m. that same day. He was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents Tuesday.
LAPD police chief Jim McDonnell was unable to share the exact timing of Rob Reiner and his wife’s deaths during a press conference Tuesday.
“We don’t have that kind of specificity yet,” Jim McDonell told reporters while announcing the charges that will be filed against Reiner’s son, Nick. “We’re waiting on the coroner to be able to try and determine as best they can, at this point, time of death.”
The murder case against Rob Reiner’s son, Nick, appears to rely mostly on connecting dots rather than on someone directly seeing the crime happen or the suspect admitting to it, a legal expert told Fox News Digital.
Duncan Levin, the high-profile lawyer who previously defended Harvey Weinstein, noted there hasn’t yet been any smoking-gun evidence — as far as we know.
“Based on what’s been made public, this looks like a case built largely on inference — timeline reconstruction, alleged access, and post-incident conduct — rather than direct eyewitness or confession evidence,” Levin explained. “There has been reporting about a hotel room where significant blood was allegedly found after the killings, and if that is forensically tied to the victims and the timing, it could matter significantly of course.”
“But the legal question isn’t whether something looks incriminating in isolation; it’s whether the physical evidence, forensic results, and sequence of events fit together in a way that excludes other reasonable explanations,” he continued. “That is a demanding burden, and at this stage, it remains untested.”
Rob Reiner and wife Michele’s lives were “business as usual” weeks before they were discovered dead inside their Brentwood home, according to friend and cinematographer Barry Markowitz.
Markowitz, who worked with Rob and his son Nick Reiner on “Being Charlie,” stayed with the couple at the end of November while in town for a film premiere.
“Romy was in and out [of the house] and at dinner time she comes over and we all bulls— together,” Markowitz told Page Six. “[We would] scream at the TV, we watched a movie and a basketball game. Played with the dogs. Family time. One big love fest.”
According to Markowitz, Nick seemed to be “on the upswing.”
“He looked great. He was sitting and talking with the family,” Markowitz shared. “They eat dinner together, old school, and a lot of love, always a lot of love.”
The cinematographer claimed he didn’t see “anything strange” between Nick and the Reiners during his five-night stay.
“He helped out, he took out the garbage, he watched TV, he washed dishes,” he recalled. “He’d bring me something to drink. He was just normal in that sense.”
Nick Reiner appeared in court for the first time Wednesday wearing a blue suicide prevention vest.
When a judge asked if Reiner waived his rights, Nick said, “Yes, your honor.” His arraignment is set for Jan. 7.
The 32-year-old wore no shirt under the blue vest that went down to his knees. Nick’s hands plus his feet were shackled.
Nick was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Nick was “not medically cleared” to appear in court Tuesday, his lawyer Alan Jackson told Fox News Digital.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. Their son was later arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this post.
Nick Reiner’s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, addressed media Wednesday following Reiner’s first court appearance.
After explaining that the case involved “very, very complex and serious issues,” Jackson pleaded for patience.
“We ask that during this process, you allow the system to move forward in the way that it was designed to move forward, not with a rush to judgment, not with jumping to conclusions, but with restraint and with dignity and with the respect that this system and this process deserves and that the family deserves,” Jackson said.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. Their son was later arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department.
On Tuesday, Nick was officially charged for the murder of his mother and father.
Rob Reiner’s children, Jake and Romy Reiner, opened up about the “unimaginable pain” the two are experiencing after the death of their parents.
“Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day,” a statement provided to Fox News Digital read. “The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends.”
“We are grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life.”
“We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave.”
The statement was released shortly after Nick Reiner’s arraignment was pushed to Jan. 7. Authorities formally charged Nick in connection to the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner on Tuesday.
Nick Reiner’s attorney, Alan Jackson, admitted there were a myriad of issues in the case against his client.
“First of all, and most importantly, this is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family,” Jackson said while addressing media Wednesday.
“We all recognize that, our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family. There are very, very complex and serious issues that are associated with this case that needs to be thoroughly but very carefully dealt with, and examined and looked at and analyzed.”
Reiner, 32, appeared in the courtroom wearing a suicide prevention vest. When a judge asked if Reiner waived his rights, Nick said, “Yes, your honor.” His arraignment is set for Jan. 7.
Nick was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Nick was “not medically cleared” to appear in court Tuesday, his lawyer Alan Jackson told Fox News Digital.
Nick Reiner’s defense team asked for a continuance Wednesday in court.
Reiner, 32, appeared in the courtroom wearing a suicide prevention vest. When a judge asked if Reiner waived his rights, Nick said, “Yes, your honor.” His arraignment is set for Jan. 7.
Nick was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Nick was “not medically cleared” to appear in court Tuesday, his lawyer Alan Jackson told Fox News Digital.
LAPD Deputy Chief
Alan Hamilton confirmed details of Rob Reiner’s son’s arrest during Tuesday’s press conference.
“He was arrested in a public area in the Exposition Park area near the University of Southern California campus,” Hamilton said. “He was approached by the officers, and he was arrested without incident. There was no indication that he was going to resist or anything like that. He didn’t flee or anything like that. He was taken into custody without issue and he was transported to our police, actually.”
Nick Reiner arrived to Los Angeles court on Wednesday wearing a suicide prevention vest, days after he allegedly killed his parents.
The 32-year-old wore no shirt under the blue vest that went down to his knees. Nick’s hands plus his feet were shackled.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. Their son was later arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Authorities charged Nick with the double homicide of his parents on Tuesday.
“These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a press conference. “He also faces a special allegation that he personally use a dangerous and deadly weapon that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
No decision has been made on if they’ll seek the death penalty.
Nick Reiner is expected in court this morning for the first time since he was accused of murdering his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
On Sunday night, Nick was arrested under the suspicion of murdering Rob and Michele Reiner. Their bodies were found in their Brentwood home prior to Nick’s arrest.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said during Tuesday’s press conference that prosecutors would review the case for any evidence of mental illness in his background.
“We anticipate again after the arraignment, that the process will go through the normal process,” Hochman said. “A case like this goes through at the appropriate time. If there is evidence of mental illness, it will be presented in court, and in whatever detail the defense seeks to do that.”
Reiner, 32, retained powerhouse lawyer Alan Jackson to lead his defense.
Alan Jackson, the former Los Angeles prosecutor turned star defense attorney, is taking on one of his darkest Hollywood cases yet, defending Nick Reiner, the son of filmmaker Rob Reiner, who is accused of killing both of his parents in their Brentwood home.
The Reiners were found dead with stab wounds at their home in the ritzy community of Brentwood, California.
After a career of marquee cases, this may be his biggest yet. And he’s squaring off against the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, where he was previously a top prosecutor.
In 2009, Jackson landed a conviction for Phil Spector, the once-famed music producer who gunned down actress Lana Clarkson in his California mansion, dubbed the Pyrenees Castle.
After leaving the DA’s office, Jackson went on to defend Harvey Weinstein and Karen Read.
Read more about Alan Jackson’s high-profile cases.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
During Tuesday’s press conference, the Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said they will take the “thoughts and desires of the family into consideration” when deciding whether to pursue the death penalty against Nick Reiner – who is suspected of killing his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
However, if the death penalty is pursued, Nick would not be executed due to the 2019 moratorium instituted from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The moratorium could be overturned once a new governor is elected in 2026.
“No matter how you look at it, this case is a tragedy,” San Diego criminal defense lawyer David P. Shapiro
told Fox News Digital. “Two individuals appear to have been brutally murdered. In essence, a third life may be lost in the event Nick Reiner is convicted and spends the rest of his life in prison. The family’s heartache must be immense.”
Nick was arrested on Dec. 14 at 9:15 p.m. near the University of Southern California campus.
On Tuesday, Nick was officially charged for the murder of his mother and father.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney who announced Nick Reiner would be charged in his parents’ murder lives nearby the Brentwood home where the couple was found dead.
DA Nathan Hochman was spotted walking by Rob Reiner and his wife Michele’s home Tuesday night, hours after Nick was officially charged.
Hochman, who was out walking his dog, told Fox News that he lives nearby.
Rob and his wife Michele were found dead Sunday around 3:30 p.m. Their bodies were allegedly discovered by their daughter, Romy.
Nick was arrested on suspicion of murder that same day and charged Tuesday in the double homicide.
Fox News’ Matt Finn contributed to this report.
Nick Reiner allegedly asked three strange questions to partygoers at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas party Saturday, hours before Rob Reiner and his wife Michele’s bodies were discovered at their Brentwood home.
“What’s your name? What’s your last name? Are you famous?” Nick asked comedian Bill Hader, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Nick allegedly interrupted the “Saturday Night Live”
comedian, sources told NBC News. After Hader told Nick that he was in the middle of a private conversation, a source told the outlet that Nick just stood there and stared before “storming off.”
A rep for Bill Hader had no comment when reached by Fox News Digital.
Family friends of Rob and Michele told the Los Angeles Times that Nick also got into an argument with his parents at the event, one night before their death.
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Prior to discovering her father’s body, Romy Reiner – the 27-year-old daughter of Rob and Michele Reiner – was called by a massage therapist who had arrived at the Reiners’ home for an appointment, but was unable to gain access, according to the New York Times.
Romy, who ran over to her parents’ home with a roommate, discovered her father’s lifeless body and ran outside. Her roommate was the one to call 911, according to the NYT.
She did not see her mother inside, the publication reported. Paramedics were the ones to inform Romy that her mother had died.
Rob and Michele were found dead inside their Brentwood home on Sunday around 3:30 p.m. The couple’s son, Nick, had been living at the family home on-and-off for some time.
Nick was arrested on Dec. 14 at 9:15 p.m. near the University of Southern California campus.
On Tuesday, Nick was officially charged for the murder of his mother and father.
According to a press release shared with Fox News Digital, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman says “we owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives that were taken.”
“Prosecuting cases involving family violence are some of the most challenging and heart-wrenching we face because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes. Rob Reiner was one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. His murder and his wife of more than 35 years, Michele Singer Reiner’s murder, are shocking and tragic. We owe it to their memory to pursue justice and accountability for the lives that were taken,” District Attorney Hochman’s statement read.
Footage obtained by the New York Post showing the moment Nick Reiner raised his hands to surrender to Los Angeles authorities has surfaced days after he allegedly murdered his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
Nick will reportedly make his first court appearance on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. This comes after his attorneys said Tuesday that he had not been medically cleared to appear in court.
Nick Reiner was initially scheduled to appear in court Tuesday for the first time, but his lawyer, Alan Jackson, confirmed to Fox News Digital that “he is not medically cleared to be transported to the court.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced double murder charges against Nick following a press conference with LAPD Chief Jim McDonell.
“These charges will be two counts of first degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders,” Hochman said. “He also faces a special allegation that he personally use a dangerous and deadly weapon that being a knife. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.”
Additionally, the youngest son of “The Princess Bride” director and his wife will be “going through medical clearance.”
“Something that everybody who goes who gets arrested and gets held in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department jail goes through,” Hochman said. “Once he is medically cleared, he will be brought to court to be arraigned on these charges.”
Nick was located and arrested at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday. He was booked on suspicion of murder and transferred Monday to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Rob and his wife Michele were found dead Sunday inside their Brentwood home around 3:30 p.m.
Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were found dead on Sunday, Dec. 14 in their Brentwood, California home.
Their son, Nick Reiner, was later confirmed to be a suspect for the murder of the famous Hollywood director and his wife, and was booked for the crime. He was initially booked on $4 million bail, but was then held without bail and was transferred to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility.
Neighbors who spoke to Fox News Digital said that Nick had
been to rehab years ago, and she thought he was “back to normal.” He has been open about his struggles with addiction in the past, even teaming up with his dad to write the 2016 movie, “Being Charlie,” about his experience.
While discussing the movie in September 2025, Rob told NPR that Nick had “been great…hasn’t been doing drugs for over six years,” adding,”He’s in a really good place.”
He previously told BUILD, YouTube’s live interview series in 2016 that making the film with his son “brought us closer together” and helped him understand his son a lot more.
As new developments emerge following the horrific deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, questions continue to surface about the double-homicide investigation and what’s next for their son, suspected killer Nick Reiner — who was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances.
Though he was expected to appear in court on Tuesday, Nick was “not medically cleared” to do so, his lawyer, Alan Jackson, confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Daniel Rubin told Fox News Digital that Nick’s defense strategy will depend on a number of things — including his mental competency.
“His defense strategy will depend on a number of factors: the weight and admissibility of any collected evidence, the testimony of any witnesses, events leading up to the deaths, the defendant’s mental health issues, and any possible mitigating factors,” said Rubin.
“If he is mentally incompetent, he will be ordered to be assessed for ‘competency’ and he will need to be evaluated by specialists to ascertain his mental competency,” Rubin continued. “If he is found ‘incompetent,’ he will need to be medicated or treated to the point where he will be able to assist in his own defense and understand the proceedings. That could take several weeks to several months.”
His defense team could also request a psychiatric evaluation, according to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani. “The defense may ask for a psychiatric evaluation to argue not guilty by reason of insanity,” Rahmani told Fox News Digital.
“But for that, you have to be unable to know right from wrong. If you’re capable enough to have an argument with your parents at a Christmas party, you are not insane.”
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright and Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood, California home on Dec. 14.
After news of the beloved Hollywood director’s death broke, many of Hollywood’s biggest stars took to social media to share their heartfelt tributes.
Actress Kate Hudson shared a photo of Rob and Michele, as well as one of her and Rob on set together, with a lengthy tribute.
“The loss of Rob and Michele is absolutely devastating,” she began. “They were not only important to our close community but Rob touched so many millions globally with his art. Rob was one of the greats. Inspiring so many of us with his ability to craft films that are humorous, powerful, inspirational. He knew no genre, only great storytelling.”
Jerry Seinfeld also honored Rob on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two of them on stage with Rob’s dad, Carl Reiner, writing “Next to Larry David and George Shapiro, Rob Reiner had the biggest influence on my career.”
“Our show would have never happened without him. He saw something no one else could. When nobody at the network liked the early episodes, he saved us from cancellation.That I was working with Carl Reiner’s son, who happened to be one of the kindest people in show business, seemed unreal.”
He continued: “I was naive at the time to how much his passion for us meant. Rob and Michele married right as our show was starting and they became an imprint for me of how it’s supposed to work, each one broadening the other. Their death, together, is impossibly sad.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger took to X to share his thoughts about the late director, calling him a “rare talent.”
“In Hollywood, Rob Reiner was a rare talent: he could act, he could produce, he could direct, and he was amazing at all three,” he wrote. “He was a creative genius who left us some of the greatest movies of all time, and he was a wonderful friend. My thoughts are with his family.”
Nick Reiner was charged Tuesday with two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman confirmed Nick, 32, also “faces a special allegation that he personally used a dangerous and deadly weapon, a knife.”
The charges Nick is set to face carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
“Now, prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and most heart wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved,” Hochman said during a press conference Tuesday.
DA Nathan Hochman said his office “will take the thoughts and desires of the family into consideration in making our decision.”
Hochman noted that prosecutors would review the case for any evidence of mental illness in his background.
“We anticipate again after the arraignment, that the process will go through the normal process,” Hochman said. “A case like this goes through at the appropriate time. If there is evidence of mental illness, it will be presented in court, and in whatever detail the defense seeks to do that.”
Hochman claimed he doesn’t anticipate the case to move fast, but insisted it will be “very thorough.”
“These are some of the most serious charges
that a DA’s office can bring against anyone,” the DA said. “And we anticipate that the discovery that we will produce to the defense will be robust. It will be very involved. They’ll want adequate time to review it, though. Again, they’ll want to go through every single factor that they can ascertain in the defense.”
Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, were both found dead at their Brentwood home on Sunday. The acclaimed movie director was 78 and Michele was 68.
Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
Who is the Brown U president behind the press conferences that sparked viral outrage?
As the manhunt for the perpetrator of a deadly mass shooting at Brown University enters its 5th day, the prestigious institution’s president, Christina Paxson, is facing mounting criticism for her response to the crisis.
In a Tuesday press conference, law enforcement and university officials had very little to tell the public in regard to any leads or potential motives revealed by their investigation into the shooting that left two students dead and Paxon sparked criticism online over an answer where she discussed gun violence.
“The primary point that I wanted to address before we get to questions is that Brown is deeply committed to the safety, security, and well-being of our community. And I’ve been deeply saddened to see people questioning that,” Paxson told reporters amid questions about why the school has been unable to provide video of the shooter from inside the building or any concrete information about a suspect.
Many on social media took exception with Paxson’s comments.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SHOOTING PROBE FACES HURDLES AFTER CAMPUS EMPTIES OUT AS WITNESSES SCATTER: FORMER FBI AGENT
“We understand that as time goes on, there is maybe a natural instinct to assign responsibility for a tragic event like this. Anxiety and fear is very natural, but the shooter is responsible. Horrific gun violence took the lives of these students and hospitalized others. It’s deeply sad and tragic that schools across the country are targets of violence, Brown is no exception.”
“Kind of a bizarre quiet part out loud,” Republican communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X. “You may be tempted to blame a violent terrorist or even a failed security apparatus when an innocent person is murdered.. but don’t forget… it’s actually the gun’s fault. These people educate our kids.”
“She’s awful,” Twitchy.com editor Samantha Janney posted on X. “How can any family allow their kids to attend this school?”
“A domestic terrorist attack by an unknown shooter just occurred on her campus and her primary point is how Brown is regarded?” Canadian politician and commentator Lisa MacLeod posted on X.
Paxson was also involved in a tense exchange with a reporter days earlier when she was asked 6 hours after the shooting if she knew what the students were doing in the classroom when they were shot and she answered, “I do not know.”
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“That’s kind of concerning,” the reporter told her.
“Do you believe Brown University had the right precautions in place?” A reporter asked her in a separate exchange responding to criticism from parents surrounding the school’s security system.
“I do,” Paxson responded.
Paxson is an economist who has served as Brown’s 19th president since 2012 after previously serving as the dean of the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University.
Paxson earned just over $3 million dollars in 2023, according to the Brown Daily Herald, which represented a roughly 74% increase in pay from the previous year and includes various compensation arrangements in addition to her base salary of about 1.3 million.
Since her hiring in 2012, Paxson’s pay has increased over 700%, the outlet reported.
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Paxson also serves as chair of the board of directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Paxson has waded into political waters on multiple occasions as Brown’s president, including in 2017 when she joined other university presidents in sending a letter to President Donald Trump related to immigration, and urging protection and financial assistance for DACA students.
In 2019, Paxson found herself at odds with pro-Palestine activists on campus by rejecting a BDS-style divestment platform despite a student referendum.
“Brown’s endowment is not a political instrument to be used to express views on complex social and political issues, especially those over which thoughtful and intelligent people vehemently disagree,” Paxson said at the time.
BROWN UNIVERSITY WAS ‘SOFT TARGET’ FOR SHOOTER WHO REMAINS AT LARGE, CRIMINAL PROFILER SAYS
In July, Brown received national news coverage for agreeing to shell out $50 million over a decade to state workforce development organizations as part of a deal struck with the U.S. government that was touted by the Trump administration as a win over DEI.
“Beyond the financial stresses of terminated and unpaid research grants and contracts, we have observed a growing push for government intrusion into the fundamental academic operations of colleges and universities, and with the stated purpose of compelling a commitment to comply with laws focused on prohibitions against antisemitism and discrimination,” Brown wrote in a lengthy post at the time.
Only a few months later, when Trump’s team offered select universities a “Compact for Academic Excellence,” essentially extra access to federal funding in exchange for strict limits on DEI, caps on international students, and other ideological terms, Paxson publicly refused.
In late October, Paxson hosted and moderated a sit-down with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Brown’s Pizzitola Sports Center.
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Earlier this year, Fox News Digital reported that Brown University under Paxson’s tenure faced criticism from student Alex Shieh, who testified before Congress that the university suffers from administrative bloat.
“According to Brown’s own disclosures, the university employs 3,805 full-time non-instructional staff,” Shieh said in his testimony. “With 7,229 undergraduate students, this translates to one non-teaching staff member for every 1.9 undergraduates. These staff do not include faculty members, but rather administrators, consultants, and support staff, many in roles of unclear necessity.”
Shieh urged the House Judiciary Committee to look into why his school has become so expensive, and his recommendations included subpoenaing Paxson “for testimony and documents related to administrative growth, financial aid coordination, and retaliation.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Brown University for comment.
Jillian Michaels surprises far-left panelist after he brands her ‘White nationalist’
Fitness guru Jillian Michaels had sharp words for far-left writer Wajahat Ali during a clash that went viral over Islamic extremism on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” this week, informing him she was of Arab descent when he accused her of being a “White nationalist.”
Michaels, host of the “Keeping It Real” podcast, appeared on a panel Monday with Ali — co-host of the “Democracy-ish” podcast — along with The Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur, “Unfiltered” host Roland Martin and pro-Israel commentator Emily Austin. The panel was assembled to discuss the mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia on Sunday.
In her initial remarks responding to the attack, Michaels said she believed that the vast majority of Muslims worldwide are peaceful, but warned that even a small percentage of extremists could pose a significant threat. The suspects in the massacre are alleged to have been inspired by the Islamic State terrorist group.
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“But if 10% wants to bring down the West, you’re looking at a heck of a lot of people. You’re looking at like 200 million people,” she said. “So, what do you do about that? And yes, there are amazing heroes like the man who tried to stop them. But guys, when you look at the fact that there have been 64,000 terror attacks since 9/11 that were committed by radical Islam, 243,000 people died in those terror attacks. And you’re saying all religions? I mean, not really. Not really.”
Michaels also argued that much of what is labeled “Islamophobia” stems from fear of extremist ideology rather than Muslims as a whole:
“What I think they’re afraid of is an ideology that is not in alignment with the West — and it’s not the vast majority of Muslims,” she said. “But when it’s, let’s say, 10%, it’s still a lot of people. These are statistics.”
Ali, who is a Muslim, strongly objected to her characterization, saying her numbers were outdated and inaccurate. He cited recent examples of Muslims intervening to stop terror attacks in both Australia and Germany.
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“I let you say a lot of hateful, stupid, reckless things about Muslim Islam, and I just sat there,” Ali said as Michaels interjected to defend her point.
Michaels replied, “Would you like to say 1%? That’s 20 million people.”
Ali then accused Michaels of previously calling herself a White nationalist.
“Jillian, you are, by your own admission — you by your own admission, are a White nationalist… You admitted it. I saw the clip,” he claimed.
Michaels, visibly confused, rejected the accusation immediately.
“You know I’m Arab, right? I’m Syrian and Lebanese and Turkish,” she replied.
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As the two spoke over each other, Ali repeated his claim that such a clip existed, while Michaels forcefully denied ever making such a statement.
“When did I say I was a White nationalist?” she asked.
Ali then backed off, saying he may have been mistaken and was relieved to hear she was not a White nationalist. The debate ultimately moved on.
The clip went viral on X after being shared by the Washington Free Beacon and Defiant L’s.
It remains unclear which clip Ali believed showed Michaels calling herself a White nationalist.
In a separate interview earlier this month on “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Michaels sarcastically joked that she was “a White nationalist now” while discussing online critics who mischaracterized her comments in an August CNN segment about the Trump administration’s anti-DEI policies. The comment was made in jest, not as a description of herself.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ali for comment.
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Speaker Johnson ekes out healthcare bill victory after House GOP Obamacare rebellion
House Republicans passed a bill they say will lower healthcare costs for a broad swath of Americans by roughly 11%.
It’s a victory for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has been managing deep divisions within the House GOP on the topic of healthcare as insurance premiums are set to spike across the country in a matter of weeks.
One glaring issue that remains unresolved is Obamacare subsidies, which were enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic but are set to expire at the end of this year.
The legislation passed 216 to 211. Just one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted against it along with all House Democrats.
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The bill’s passage comes hours after a group of moderate Republicans joined a Democrat-led discharge petition to force a vote on extending the subsidies for another three years.
A discharge petition is a mechanism for overriding the will of House leaders to get a chamberwide vote on specific legislation, provided it has support from a majority of lawmakers. It sets up the legislation for a vote sometime in the new year.
Each of the four House Republicans made clear that backing Democrats’ bill was not their first choice, but they felt they were left with few options after Johnson made clear this week that there would not be a separate vote on extending the subsidies before the end of this year.
But the majority of House Republicans are against extending the subsidies, at least without significant reforms. Conservatives have argued the subsidies amount to throwing more money at a long-broken system that does little to tackle the actual cost of healthcare.
“Obamacare has been an unmitigated disaster for 15 years, crushing families with high premiums and rampant fraud while enriching insurance companies. It’s time for conservatives to get serious about advancing policies that can become law and therefore actually reduce costs,” Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, who called the House bill a “solid first step,” told Fox News Digital.
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Republicans who are for extending them have also conceded that reforms are needed, but have positioned a short-term extension as the best course of action to buy more time to work on an off-ramp.
The House GOP bill, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, includes provisions to codify association health plans, which allow small businesses and people who are self-employed to band together to purchase healthcare coverage plans, giving them access to greater bargaining power.
Republicans also plan to appropriate funding for cost-sharing reductions beginning in 2027, which are designed to lower out-of-pocket medical costs in the individual healthcare market. House GOP leadership aides said it would bring down the cost of premiums by 12%.
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New transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are also in the legislation, aimed at forcing PBMs to be more upfront about costs to employers.
PBMs are third parties that act as intermediaries between pharmaceutical companies and those responsible for insurance coverage, often responsible for administrative tasks and negotiating drug prices.
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PBMs have also been the subject of bipartisan ire in Congress, with both Republicans and Democrats accusing them of being part of a broken system to inflate health costs.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that enacting the bill would reduce the federal deficit by $35.6 billion for a 10-year period through 2035.
If the bill became law, it would also decrease the number of people with health insurance by an average of 100,000 per year between 2027-2035 and lower gross benchmark premium costs by an average 11% through 2035, CBO said.
However, it’s not immediately clear whether it will be taken up by the Senate.
Republicans in the upper chamber failed to advance their own healthcare plan last week after also rejecting Democrats’ plan to extend the Obamacare subsidies.
Major study reveals why COVID vaccine can trigger heart issues, especially in one group
One of the most widely known risks linked to the COVID-19 vaccine is myocarditis, especially in young males — and now a new Stanford study has shed some light on why this rare effect can occur.
Myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart, occurs in about one in 140,000 people who receive the first dose of the vaccine and one in 32,000 after the second dose, according to a Stanford press release. Among males 30 and younger, that rises to one in 16,750.
Symptoms of the condition include chest pain, shortness of breath, fever and palpitations, which can occur just one to three days after vaccination. Another marker is heightened levels of cardiac troponin, which indicates that the heart muscle has been damaged.
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In most cases, people who experience myocarditis recover quickly and restore full heart function, according to study author Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, the director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and a professor of medicine and radiology.
“It’s not a heart attack in the traditional sense,” Wu told Fox News Digital. “There’s no blockage of blood vessels as found in most common heart attacks. When symptoms are mild and the inflammation hasn’t caused structural damage to the heart, we just observe these patients to make sure they recover.”
In rare cases, however, severe heart inflammation can lead to hospitalizations, critical illness or death, Wu noted.
Finding the cause
The new Stanford study — conducted in collaboration with The Ohio State University — aimed to determine the reasons for the myocarditis. The research team analyzed blood samples from vaccinated people, some with myocarditis and some without.
They found that those with myocarditis had two proteins in their blood, CXCL10 and IFN-gamma, which are released by immune cells. Those proteins then activate more inflammation.
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“We think these two are the major drivers of myocarditis,” said Wu. “Your body needs these cytokines to ward off viruses. It’s essential to immune response, but can become toxic in large amounts.”
In mouse and heart tissue models, high levels of these proteins led to signs of heart irritation, similar to mild myocarditis.
Prevention mechanism
“One of the most striking findings was how much we could reduce heart damage in our models by specifically blocking these two cytokines, without shutting down the entire (desired) immune response to the vaccine,” Wu told Fox News Digital, noting that a targeted, “fine‑tuning” immune approach might be enough to protect the heart.
“This points to a possible future way to prevent or treat myocarditis in people who are at the highest risk, while keeping the benefits of vaccination,” he added.
The team also found that genistein, an estrogen-like natural compound found in soybeans, reduced inflammation in lab tests, but this has not yet been tested in humans.
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The findings were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
“This is a very complex study,” Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel told Fox News Digital. “Myocarditis is very rare, and the immune mechanism makes sense.”
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“Myocarditis is worse with COVID — much more common, and generally much more severe.”
Wu agreed, adding that COVID infection is about 10 times more likely to cause myocarditis compared to mRNA-based vaccines.
‘Crucial tool’
The researchers emphasized that COVID-19 vaccines have been “heavily scrutinized” for safety and have been shown to have an “excellent safety record.”
“mRNA vaccines remain a crucial tool against COVID‑19, and this research helps explain a rare side effect and suggests ways to make future vaccines even safer, rather than a reason to avoid vaccination,” Wu said.
“The overall benefits of COVID‑19 vaccination still clearly outweigh the small risk of myocarditis for nearly all groups.”
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The study did have some limitations, primarily the fact that most of the data came from experimental systems (mice and human cells in the lab), which cannot fully capture how myocarditis develops and resolves in real patients, according to Wu.
“This points to a possible future way to prevent or treat myocarditis in people who are at the highest risk.”
“These findings do not change what people should do right now, because our work is still at the preclinical (mouse and human cells) stage,” he said. “Clinical studies will be needed to confirm whether targeted treatments are safe and effective.”
The researcher also added that myocarditis risk could rise with other types of vaccines.
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“Other vaccines can cause myocarditis and inflammatory problems, but the symptoms tend to be more diffuse,” he said in the release. “Plus, mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines’ risks have received intense public scrutiny and media coverage. If you get chest pains from a COVID vaccine, you go to the hospital to get checked out, and if the serum troponin is positive, then you get diagnosed with myocarditis. If you get achy muscles or joints from a flu vaccine, you just blow it off.”
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Gootter-Jensen Foundation.
Dan Bongino to resign from FBI as Trump says he did a ‘great job’
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino is leaving the bureau in January after speculation rose this week concerning his departure.
“I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January,” Bongino wrote in an X post Wednesday. “I want to thank President [Donald] Trump, AG [Pam] Bondi, and Director [Kash] Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America, and all those who defend Her.”
President Donald Trump hinted at the news on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews earlier in the afternoon, saying, “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”
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Bongino, a former Secret Service agent, had no FBI experience before Trump tapped him to serve in the No. 2 position there. Prior to Bongino, the role had for more than a century been filled by someone who worked at the bureau, according to the FBI Agents Association. The position does not require Senate confirmation.
Fox News confirmed Andrew Bailey, co-deputy director, has been on the job since September and will stay on for now in the deputy role reporting to Patel.
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The White House and the FBI did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Airports are bringing back gate access for non-travelers to reunite with loved ones
An airport tradition of years gone by is slowly making its way back to certain locations in the U.S., following massive changes in air travel security procedures after the terror attacks of Sept. 11.
Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) in California announced this week it will be introducing guest passes for “non-passengers,” for example.
Visitors can proceed to the post-security side of the passenger terminal to accompany friends or loved ones who are flying out, the airport notes on its website.
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“Non-passengers” must apply online for security clearance up to seven days in advance of the day they want to visit the airport, according to the new process.
After people fill out the form, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will approve the visit by sending the “non-passengers” an OAK guest pass.
“Non-passengers” have to present the pass along with a TSA-approved photo ID, such as a passport or Real ID.
Before 2001, U.S. airports generally allowed almost anyone — even those without a boarding pass — to pass through security and wait at the gate.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, the TSA was created, and federal regulations began requiring airports to restrict access to secured areas.
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These rules mandate that only passengers with a valid boarding pass may enter post-security areas.
A few other airports have begun to offer “non-passenger” passes, while others plan to roll them out in the future.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has a “hangout pass,” while San Antonio International Airport (SAT) has a “SAT Pass,” according to the airports’ websites.
Kansas City International Airport, for its part, has a “guest pass.”
Other passes include a “wingmate pass” at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and a “destination pass” at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
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In the “r/travel” forum on Reddit, one user asked, “How was airport security before 2001?”
Travelers jumped to the comments section to share nostalgic memories of flying before security tightened.
“One of the biggest differences is that unticketed people could come with you, so family could accompany you to the gate,” wrote one person.
Another user responded, “One of my fondest memories is seeing my grandma as I exited the plane with my brother when my parents sent me out to see her.”
Said a different person, “Going to the airport to watch planes was a big deal. Anytime one had to fly, or a friend or family member [was flying off], a whole group would accompany the traveler/s just to get there early and watch planes take off and land.”
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One person wrote, “You could go to the airport just to hang out, even if you had no travel plans.”
The airport “reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel the program.”
Yet another user reminisced about “being able to see people off at the gate (or vice versa). Now you have to say your goodbyes, then walk half a mile to your gate alone.”
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The writer also recalled that “being able to greet someone at the gate was nice.”
The Oakland airport noted on its site about the new initiative, “The OAK Guest Pass is not a permanent program. In response to exigent circumstances or operational needs, the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel the program, cancel approved OAK Guest Passes or modify program rules at any time without prior notice.”