Union Jack movement grows as cultural battle intensifies in rapidly changing Britain

LONDON: A battle over British identity and the nation’s flag is just the latest issue to widen the political divide in the United Kingdom in 2025. As the Labour government continues to face growing criticism over a number of issues, from cracking down on free speech to its migration policies, many Britons are concerned about their country’s future.

The issue simmered over the summer amid concerns of a growing rift between the ruling elites and members of the public centered on the nation’s flag. The debate, while ongoing for several years, gained new life since anti-Israel protests erupted after Hamas’ mass terror attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, when Britain saw a proliferation of Palestinian flags across the country.

Tensions were further heightened over the display of Palestinian flags on public buildings, with critics arguing it represents an abandonment of traditional British values, and that immigrant communities are dictating community values. Several councils in major cities bowed to public pressure. Those cities — all with sizable immigrant communities — including Sheffield, Preston, Bradford and others chose to raise the Palestinian flag last month to honor the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

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“There’s only one flag that should be flying on public buildings in the U.K., and I include the home nations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and that’s the Union flag. We need to start cohering around national stories and symbols, and the flag is the simplest, most visual, visceral way of doing that,” Colin Brazier, a commentator on British culture, told Fox News Digital.

Brazier is calling for a “strategy of national cohesion” with a ban on foreign flags on taxpayer-funded buildings. He said that Britain should follow America’s model of nation-building as the U.K. wrestles with “imported disintegration” and attempts to return to Britain’s core values.

Current GOV.UK guidance indicated that councils should prioritize the Union flag.

In August, a group of concerned citizens started ‘Operation Raise the Colours, which called for people to put their flags up where they live and in their everyday lives to rally Britons. The online movement encouraged Britons to continue putting up England’s St. George’s Cross and Union Jack flags.

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Yet, the sudden resurgence of British and English flags has been met with suspicion and criticism from the left, with many angered at the proliferation of the flags, complaining they represent anti-migration and far-right sentiment.

Critics warn the U.K. is becoming increasingly divided — so much so that it is deemed controversial to fly the Union flag in public — and that parts of the country seem to care more about causes happening thousands of miles from its borders.

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The controversy over the flags continued after Prime Minister Keir Starmer recognized a Palestinian state in September. A few days later, Starmer delivered an impassioned speech to the Labour Party’s annual conference as his center-left party pushed back against critics who said it had abandoned patriotism.

Speaking to flag-waving supporters, Starmer tried to reprise his party’s patriotic roots, urging a cheering crowd, “Let’s fly all our flags, conference, because they are our flags, they belong to all of us, and we will never surrender them. . . . And with resolve, with respect, with the flag in our hands, we will renew this country.” He also made clear the flag was for all citizens ,noting, “Our flags — flying proudly, as we celebrate differences and oppose racism.”

Yet opposition politicians were quick to dismiss Starmer’s flag speech, with one Member of Parliament, Lee Anderson, Reform’s chief whip, saying: “You’re more likely to see a Labour member fly the flag of Palestine than a St. George’s flag. That tells you all you need to know,” the Daily Telegraph reported.

While many councils ignored Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Belfast City Council in Northern Ireland justified its decision by declaring the flag was hoisted, “In recognition of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, to erect the national flag of Palestine above the City Hall on the next available day from midnight.”

This issue, however, is also viewed as a symbol of shifting power. Brazier lamented the government’s indifferent attitude toward immigration and says “importing 10 million people in 25 years has a ruinous impact.”

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According to a March 2025 report by the Muslim Council of Britain, the country’s Muslim population increased by 1.2 million between 2011 and 2021, with the total number of Muslims accounting for about 6% of the U.K.’s population.

A recent YouGov study found mixed views on the Union flag and England’s flag of St. George. 58% of 2024 Labour voters perceive the English flag as a racist symbol, but just 19% of Conservative voters and 8% of Reform voters feel the same way. The poll said that a majority of ethnic minority adults (55%) believe those putting up St George’s flags do so “mostly as a way of expressing anti-migrant and/or anti-ethnic minority sentiment,” with a plurality (41%) saying the same goes for the union flag.

It also found: “White adults too tend to believe anti-migrant/minority motivations are primarily behind the flag raisings, with 49% saying so for the English flag and 39% for the British one.”

Another finding of the YouGov study found that those of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage were “the most likely to see racist sentiment in the flag displays. This is particularly marked when it comes to the belief that the England flag has become a racist symbol with 68% of Pakistani/Bangladeshi adults believing this, compared to 54% of those of mixed ethnicity, 51% of those with Indian heritage and 43% of Black adults.”

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

Sanders leads Browns past Steelers as NFL fans erupt over controversial end

The Cleveland Browns hung on to defeat the Steelers on Sunday, 13-6, giving rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders a marquee victory in his rookie season and forcing a battle for the AFC North division title between Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers’ final play of the game had NFL fans asking for a penalty flag.

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Aaron Rodgers hoped to find wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone for the go-ahead score with 21 seconds left. However, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was on Valdes-Scantling to break up the play and help Cleveland seal the victory.

Ward appeared to jump with Valdes-Scantling simultaneously, getting his arms up as the pass came into Rodgers’ intended target. Ward didn’t look at the ball and there appeared to be contact between him and the receiver as the ball came in.

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No flag was thrown on the play and Cleveland came out the victor. Fans wondered why there was no defensive pass interference on the play.

Despite two tough interceptions, Sanders did enough to keep the Browns out in front. He found Harold Fannin Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Kicker Andre Szmyt nailed two field goals and it was all the Browns needed.

Sanders was 17-of-23 with 186 passing yards and was sacked twice.

Rodgers, who was without his top target in DK Metcalf, was 21-of-39 for 168 yards. He made a precision pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth to keep the Steelers’ final drive alive. The team just couldn’t get it done in the closing seconds.

Freiermuth had three catches for 63 yards.

The Steelers’ loss means they will take on the Ravens for the division title, and a playoff spot, in the Week 18 finale.

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Baltimore came out the winners of its showdown against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. The team used a lot of Derrick Henry, who scored four touchdowns.

The Steelers won the previous matchup against the Ravens, 27-22, back in Week 14.

Pelosi says she didn’t intend to tear up Trump’s 2020 State of the Union speech

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed Sunday that she didn’t intend to tear up President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address — the moment that went viral at the time when she was Speaker of the House.

During a conversation with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, Pelosi said her defining moments in her relationship with the president were “spontaneous.”

“People like the tearing up of the speech. I didn’t intend to go to the speech to tear it up. I just, the first part of it, I tore a page because he was lying. And then the next page, then the next page. I thought it was a manifesto of lies all throughout, so I better tear up the whole speech. Now, the speeches are on strong paper, so you have to do it a few times to get it done. But I had no intention of doing that. I thought my staff was going to die,” Pelosi said.

She also talked about an image of her pointing a finger at Trump during a 2019 meeting that included the cabinet.

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The former House Speaker said she gets more requests to sign that image than anything.

“You know what I’m saying when I go out the door? I’m leaving here because I’ve had it with you, Mr. President. With you, all roads lead to Putin,” she told Karl, who noted that the White House put the picture out and called Pelosi “crazy.”

“They did me a favor,” she added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment. 

Pelosi announced in November that she would not seek re-election after completing her current term.

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Karl also asked what she wanted to be remembered for.

“I’m very proud of the Affordable Care Act. I think it just made a big change in terms of what working families need for their health and their financial health. We will continue to have that fight. It’s not a value that is shared with the Republicans. The healthcare bill was a way of not only meeting health needs but the national needs of families. If I were to be remembered for one thing, it’s the Affordable Care Act,” she said.

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Jennifer Aniston shares intimate holiday photos with ‘love’ Jim Curtis

Jennifer Aniston shared a peek inside her first Christmas with boyfriend Jim Curtis.

The “Friends” star posted a carousel of images to her Instagram page from her holiday celebrations — with one image of Curtis playing with a friend’s baby.

Other pictures included her adorable dogs, as well as snaps with friends, and the sunset.

Aniston also posed for a selfie with one of her pups, and also included an image of herself relaxing on the couch.

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The inclusion of Curtis in her Christmas post comes almost two months after confirming her romance with the life coach and author, who specializes in hypnotherapy.

According to Curtis’ Instagram, his “mission is to help you heal and thrive by upgrading your I AM.”

Aniston gave Curtis a birthday shout-out in early November, writing, “Happy birthday my love. Cherished.”

She also shared a black and white image of herself with her arms wrapped around his waist.

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Two weeks later, her longtime pal Adam Sandler gave his seal of approval.

The ‘Friends’ actress attended Elle’s Women in Hollywood event with Curtis for their first joint public appearance — where Sandler took the stage.

Sandler praised Aniston during his speech on stage – and even shouted out Curtis and their romance.

“She’s gorgeous, she’s patient… she’s talented, she’s deep, she’s smart, she’s funny as hell,” Sandler said about Aniston, according to a video obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. “Her comedic timing is impeccable, and she makes me a better comedian when we work together. She’s an incredible producer, writer, one of the best collaborators I’ve ever worked with. I love her with all my heart. Aniston, you’re simply the coolest and kindest. You never stop being loving and caring to me and my family and all of your wonderful friends.”

“Everyone in this room loves you, Jennifer,” he added. “It’s just automatic happiness when we are around you. Me and Jackie [Sandler’s wife] are so happy you and Jim found each other and are having the love affair you two deserve. We love you, Jim. The whole world loves you.”

Aniston was first spotted with Curtis in July, while on a yacht off the coast of Mallorca, Spain.

The actress was seen gently placing her hand on Curtis’ hand while his arm was around her waist.

At the time, a source told People that Aniston and Curtis were “casually dating and having fun.”

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“They’ve been seeing each other for a few months now,” another source told the outlet. 

“They were introduced by a friend and started out as friends. Jen had read his book and was familiar with his work. She’s really into self-help and wellness. They are dating, but it’s still casual.”

“She’s been happy on her own, but she’s also open to sharing her life with someone. As long as it feels right,” the source added. “Jen’s in a very good place right now — grounded, fulfilled and very happy.”

Aniston was married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 and Justin Theroux from 2015 until 2018.

Savannah Chrisley ‘excited’ to co-host talk show that ‘bashed’ her family

TV personality Savannah Chrisley revealed she will soon join the ladies of ABC’s daytime talk show “The View” despite the show’s co-hosts’ past comments against her parents’ pardons.

“I am co-hosting ‘The View’ the week of February 15, so I’ll be on ‘The View’all week,” Chrisley announced on her podcast “Unlocked” on Tuesday. “I’m so excited for that because I like doing things that challenge me. I like doing things that educate me.”

Chrisley acknowledged that the women of “The View” had “bashed” her family in the past but was nevertheless excited about the opportunity.

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“I’m going outside my comfort zone by going on a show where there’s four or five women who all believe one way, and I believe differently,” she said. “I’m excited for it because I know God’s hand is going to be on me throughout that entire experience.”

Fox News Digital reached out to ABC for comment.

Chrisley’s parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley of the reality show “Chrisley Knows Best,” were both pardoned by President Donald Trump in May after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022. They were previously sentenced to a combined 19 years behind bars.

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The women of “The View” previously criticized the pardon shortly after it was announced.

“According to this administration, ‘if you are a reality star with a lot of money, and a tax cheat, and you commit fraud, then that’s good. We’re going to give you a pardon,’ co-host Joy Behar said. “But poor people on Medicaid or food stamps, according to this administration, those are the real moochers in the country, and they have to be taken off of healthcare or food stamps.”

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She added, “Americans need to understand what’s going on. That’s what’s going on. Somebody like this guy, Chrisley, whatever his name is. I never saw the show. I’ve only seen clips where he’s running around being rich. He gets let off the hook, but somebody, anybody that we might know who needs help doesn’t get the help from this administration.”

Co-host Ana Navarro suggested the pardons were not “ethical,” though Sara Haines said they were “not surprising.”

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Rat Pack legend destroyed classic car at McDonald’s drive-thru for hungry child

In the early days of fast-food drive-thrus, Rat Pack legend Dean Martin once destroyed an expensive vintage car trying to get a burger for his girlfriend’s son.

Phil Crosby Jr., Bing Crosby’s grandson, told Fox News Digital about how his mother once dated and was even engaged to Martin — who always called him “the kid” — following her “tumultuous” marriage to the “White Christmas” singer’s son, Phil Crosby Sr.

“I was almost Dean Martin’s stepson,” he said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “So, if that had happened, I would have grown up with a silver spoon in my mouth, but that didn’t happen.”

Crosby said he was very young at the time his mom, Peggy Crosby, now 85, began seeing the “That’s Amore” singer after meeting him at a club where she worked, following her short-lived marriage to Crosby.

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“And I think my mother, she wasn’t really ready [to be married again],” Crosby said of their eventual breakup. “She was still a young, beautiful woman. She’s still a beautiful woman.” 

He said that Martin, who was 23 years older than his mother, “was very on in years” at the time they dated.

And although he was very young when he knew Martin, he does remember him.

His best memory of the crooner was when he peeked into his mother’s bedroom one time looking for her, and Martin was in there and asked him to grab him a pack of cigarettes.

“My only real recollection of him is a little too stereotypical,” Crosby said. “He used to call me ‘the kid.’ And this is a true story. I was ‘The kid. ’‘Where’s the kid at?’ Even years later when my mom bumped into him, I was ‘The kid.’”

Crosby said the singer asked him, “‘Hey, kid, you know, go downstairs and bring me up some cigarettes,’ as an adult of those days should be able to ask a child and the child’s supposed to do it.”

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“Well, I am from like the first of a bit of the spoiled generation where we lost that respect for our elders,” he continued. “And I told him, I said, ‘You can’t tell me what to do. You’re not my father.’ So that’s my recollection of my Dean Martin story, which I wish it was a little bit better.”

But he said his story of Martin destroying his own classic car while trying to get “The kid” fed has been passed down to him.

“I don’t really have this recollection myself, but it’s a story I’ve been told, and I call it the Stutz and the drive-thru, because Dean had a Stutz [Blackhawk], or I’ve been told a Stutz Bearcat,” Crosby said. “When I do research now, I see pictures of him with a Stutz [Blackhawk]. These were very large, vintage automobiles.”

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Crosby explained that Stutz cars were “these very classic, very, very valuable collectors, vintage automobiles, but they are wide.”

“I was a bit of a spoiled kid. I did not like to eat a lot of different types of food, but I loved McDonald’s,” Crosby explained. “So, we were driving back in his Stutz, my mom and Dean and I, and I’m in the back seat, probably complaining, didn’t eat dinner and probably complaining about being hungry.”

He continued, “So, Dean decides, ‘All right, McDonald’s has a drive-thru that’s open,’ and drive-thrus were probably pretty new” at the time, saying this took place around 1976 in Santa Monica, California.

“But it was too narrow,” Crosby explained. “So, Dean takes this thing, and he just drives it right into this [drive-thru] and it just crunches the sides, scrapes the side of this — I mean, we’re talking one of the most valuable, you know, collectors’ vehicles.”

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He said his mom just laughed “because by the time we got up to the window, the people there just had this horrified look, like aliens had just arrived. They just heard this terrible crunching sound, and here’s Dean Martin sitting in there.”

Crosby said he wished he could have remembered Martin better because “from what I know about him, especially from what his reaction to having expensive damage done to his car so he could feed the little spoiled brat, he blew it off.”

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Crosby said the damage was “nothing to him” because he wasn’t a “materialistic man.”

“He wasn’t a temperamental guy. He really was a sweet man and what I’ve heard from, even some of the Rat Pack stuff, that, compared to the other guys anyway, he was pretty faithful and a pretty, you know, pretty good guy.”

When he was a teenager, Crosby said he got to meet Martin once more before he died.

“That was pretty cool,” he said. “He was a class act.”

Crosby also reflected on what Christmas meant to his grandfather. 

“Bing was a great American, and I think it meant a lot to him, you know, for his Catholic faith, that [Christmas] be honored and enjoyed,” he said of his grandpa, who died when he was a baby.

“He came from a big family,” Crosby continued. “So, I think, I mean, Christmas just became such an important American tradition … and I know they did it up pretty good in the Crosby House, tall trees, lots of presents.” 

He added, “Obviously, Christmas is dominated, still, with the voice of Bing Crosby.” 

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Crosby said, although he never met his grandfather, he still enjoyed many festive Crosby Christmases as a child.

“I grew up with a few of my cousins and a couple of my uncles … and I’d see them on some holidays,” he said. “We had great big holidays with lots of Crosbys. So, I definitely had Crosby Thanksgivings and Crosby Christmases with Bing’s other sons and their wives and children. And I was very, very thankful and happy for that.” 

Crosby is also releasing two singles for the holidays: a cover of a rarely-heard Bing Crosby song called “A Time to be Jolly,” and an original titled “Guess Who’s Coming Tonight.” 

“It’s a Christmas song nobody else recorded,” Crosby said of “A Time to be Jolly.” “But it’s fun song. It’s a little silly … I’d never heard it before … You won’t find it done by Dean Martin or anybody else. So I hope people enjoy it.” 

Republican governor saves taxpayers millions by exposing Medicaid fraud

One red state’s Medicaid reforms are drawing fresh attention to deep-blue Minnesota’s fraud crisis, standing in contrast by raking in hundreds of millions in savings generated through what one Republican calls “common-sense” measures.

“Medicaid, which we share with the feds, all states are going to find low-hanging fruit to pick,” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said Sunday.

“We found folks that should have been on Medicare that were still on Medicaid. People double-dipping Medicaid through a couple of different states, pharmacies with a 340B program, buying drugs at a discount, selling them at high margins. We’re just picking that low-hanging fruit, and that’s why we’re going to lead the country.”

Braun then pointed to Minnesota, which is currently enshrouded in a fraud scandal that has exposed widespread abuse of taxpayer-funded programs and raised questions about oversight.

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A Wall Street Journal report from Friday echoed estimates that fraud losses in Minnesota since 2018 could top $9 billion, highlighting cases in which bad actors openly exploited the system. 

The Journal went on to describe the repeated cycle of establishing “sham” companies and submitting false claims to take advantage of the system.

Braun said the solution is “common sense.” 

“I ran a business for 37 years before I became a U.S. senator, was on health, education, labor and pensions there. … You can see what happens in a place like Minnesota, where they just want the government benefits but don’t do anything to run them like you do a business,” Braun said.

Gov. Tim Walz, who has come under scrutiny since the fraud issue came to light, has publicly acknowledged the problem and pledged to tackle it, saying the situation “is on my watch” and that he is “accountable” for fixing it, even as his administration has questioned some federal estimates about the scale of the fraud.

Walz also issued a third-party audit of Medicaid billing through Minnesota’s Department of Human Services and paused payments for some services while the audit is underway, according to FOX 9, an affiliate based in St. Paul.

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Walz previously told the outlet in a statement, “We cannot effectively deliver programs and services if they don’t have the backing of the public’s trust. In order to restore that trust, we are pumping the brakes on 14 programs that were created to help the most disadvantaged among us, yet have become the target of criminal activity.”

He added, “If you attempt to defraud our public programs and steal taxpayer dollars out from under the people who need them most – you will be stopped, and you will be held accountable.” 

Braun said Sunday that while waste and abuse exist across government, states that are willing to act can fix problems without waiting for Washington.

“We had some of this before Medicaid was even an issue, but as it’s grown to occupy more of all state budgets, you’ve got to run it better,” Braun said, adding that Indiana continues to find inefficiencies that could be “run better.”

He contrasted Indiana’s efforts with what he described as persistent federal gridlock, arguing that states are better positioned to deliver results.

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“The fraud and abuse that we found on health, education, labor and pensions when I was on committees that were looking for it – the federal government, for instance, would write 2% to 3% of their checks to the wrong payee or for the wrong amount or both. It’s rampant.”

Braun said Indiana’s reforms show what states can accomplish when leaders focus on accountability, adding, “Enterprising states will fix a lot of these problems, and we’ve just been doing it a year and already got a lot done.”

Proposed California wealth tax could drive Silicon Valley’s richest out of the state

Silicon Valley’s wealthiest residents are once again threatening to leave California, this time over a proposed state wealth tax that tech founders warn could fundamentally reshape where innovation — and capital — call home.

The proposal, backed by the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare Workers West, would impose a one-time 5% tax on the assets of California residents worth more than $1 billion. 

Supporters say the revenue could help offset federal funding cuts for healthcare.

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Even as the measure remains under consideration for the November statewide ballot, some of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures are warning it could trigger an exodus of founders and capital.

Palmer Luckey, cofounder of defense tech startup Anduril, said the tax would force “founders like me to sell huge chunks of our companies” to pay for what he described as “fraud, waste and political favors for the organizations pushing this ballot initiative.”

“I made my money from my first company, paid hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes on it, used the remainder to start a second company that employs six thousand people and now me and my cofounders have to somehow come up with billions of dollars in cash,” Luckey wrote on X.

Luckey’s comments come as billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel and Google co-founder Larry Page weigh whether to cut ties with “The Golden State” over the proposed ballot measure, according to a New York Times report.

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If the measure qualifies for the November ballot and is approved by voters, it would apply retroactively to anyone who lived in California as of Jan. 1, 2026.

In practical terms, a resident with $20 billion in assets on that date would owe a one-time tax of $1 billion, payable over five years.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman echoed those concerns, calling California “on a path to self-destruction” if the measure moves forward.

“Hollywood is already toast and now the most productive entrepreneurs will leave, taking their tax revenues and job creation elsewhere,” the Pershing Square chief wrote on X.

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Earlier this month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he opposed the proposed billionaire tax, while cautioning against panic over the measure.

“It’s not something to be panicked about, but it’s part of the broader concern and narrative that’s developed in this country of the haves and have-nots, not just income inequality, but wealth inequality,” Newsom told an audience at The New York Times DealBook conference.

Steelers make major money decision on DK Metcalf after 2-game suspension

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf was set to lose millions because of his two-game suspension for striking a Detroit Lions fan during a heated incident last week.

FOX NFL insider Jay Glazer said Sunday that the Steelers opted against voiding the star player’s contract guarantees.

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“Because he got suspended, the Steelers could have basically taken back all of his guarantees, “Glazer said on “FOX NFL Kickoff.” “They, however, have decided not to do that. They’re gonna stick with DK. They don’t want to do something like that. They kinda want to make a long-term commitment to DK Metcalf, even in situations like this.”

The star player signed a four-year, $132 million contract extension with the Steelers after he was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks. The deal included $60 million in guaranteed money between his signing bonus and 2025 and 2026 salaries, according to Spotrac.

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The suspension would have voided the rest of his salary for this season and $45 million in future guarantees, if the Steelers choose to do so, according to the NFL Network. He’s reportedly owed $25 million in fully guaranteed cash in 2026 and $20 million in injury guarantee.

He will, however, lose more than  $555,000 in Weeks 17 and 18 because of his suspension.

The NFL said Metcalf violated league policy, specifying that “players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day and … if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable.”

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It still remains a mystery about what was said between the fan and Metcalf. The fan said earlier in the week he hadn’t hurled a racial slur or made derogatory remarks toward the player.