California leader signs foreign agreements as Trump questions his authority
President Donald Trump derided California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s international outreach as “inappropriate” Monday.
Trump’s warning was to British leaders against partnering with the Democratic governor after Newsom signed a clean energy agreement with the United Kingdom during a European diplomacy tour.
“The U.K.’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” Trump said in an interview with Politico, adding that it was “inappropriate for them to be dealing with him.”
The president’s remarks came after Newsom stepped onto the global stage at the Munich Security Conference, signing cooperation agreements with Ukraine and the United Kingdom while sharply criticizing the president’s foreign policy approach — moves likely to intensify speculation about the governor’s future presidential ambitions.
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Newsom has long been viewed by political strategists and analysts as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028. His appearances at global forums combined with high-profile criticism of Trump have only intensified that speculation.
The second-term Democrat used the high-profile security summit to position California as a “stable and reliable” alternative to the federal government, telling an international audience that the current administration is merely “temporary” and will be “gone in three years.”
“Donald Trump is on his knees for coal and Big Oil, selling out America’s future to China,” a Newsom spokesperson told Fox News Digital in response to the president’s criticisms. “Governor Newsom will continue to lead in his absence. Foreign leaders are rejecting Trump and choosing California’s vision for the future.”
But it was Newsom’s blunt assessment of world leaders’ attempts to work with the 47th president that drew the most attention. Addressing European heads of state and diplomats, Newsom claimed that foreign leaders “rolling over” for the White House make themselves “look pathetic on the world stage.”
The governor doubled down on a jab he first debuted at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, telling reporters he “should have brought a bunch of knee pads” for world leaders who he believes have bowed down to the president’s “transactional” diplomacy. Newsom specifically took aim at what he called the “complicity” of allies who have sought to appease the President following recent controversies over Arctic sovereignty and NATO funding.
“I can’t take this complicity of people rolling over,” Newsom said during a sideline appearance. “I mean, handing out crowns, the Nobel prizes that are being given away … it’s just pathetic.”
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Newsom’s diplomacy tour included the signing of a clean energy memorandum with U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, which the governor’s office said would facilitate nearly a billion dollars in new investment. That agreement followed a Saturday pact with the Lviv region of Ukraine, which Newsom said would involve California companies in the “rebuilding and resiliency” of the war-torn nation — specifically in defense, energy, and digital technologies.
The State Department historically has encouraged “subnational diplomacy,” particularly on trade, and governors from both parties routinely lead overseas economic missions. Such agreements are typically structured as nonbinding memoranda of understanding and do not carry the force of federal treaties.
However, Newsom’s appearance at the Munich Security Conference, a high-profile gathering of global defense and diplomatic leaders, paired with his direct criticism of Trump’s policies underscores how domestic political rivalries are increasingly spilling onto the global stage.
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Foreign policy traditionally has operated under the principle that the U.S. should speak with one voice in its dealings abroad. Newsom’s remarks, delivered before foreign heads of state while signing agreements of his own, presented an alternative vision of American leadership at a time when Washington is navigating disputes over NATO funding, Arctic sovereignty and the war in Ukraine.
’60 Minutes’ loses star correspondent Anderson Cooper after nearly 20 years
Anderson Cooper is leaving “60 Minutes” after nearly two decades on the long-running CBS News program.
Cooper, who is a primetime anchor on CNN, will reportedly keep all of his focus on the full-time cable gig going forward. Cooper joined “60 Minutes” as a rotating correspondent in 2007.
The exit was first reported by Breaker Media.
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According to the report, Cooper told the network weeks ago that he was declining the renewal offer being made to him.
“Being a correspondent at 60 Minutes has been one of the great honors of my career,” Cooper said in a statement to The Wrap. “I got to tell amazing stories, and work with some of the best producers, editors, and camera crews in the business. For nearly twenty years, I’ve been able to balance my jobs at CNN and CBS, but I have little kids now and I want to spend as much time with them as possible, while they still want to spend time with me.”
CBS News did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital‘s request for comment.
Cooper’s exit comes weeks after his “60 Minutes” colleague Sharyn Alfonsi clashed with their new boss, CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, over a report that Weiss deemed wasn’t ready for air.
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In December, Weiss pulled Alfonsi’s segment on the Center for Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) shortly before it was set to air. Alfonsi defiantly told colleagues she believed it was a political decision while Weiss sought to include voices from the Trump administration.
The segment ultimately aired in January, but Weiss and CBS News faced tense blowback from liberal critics.
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Iran shows off military might as tensions with US reach boiling point
Iran launched live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday in preparation for potential security and military threats in the strategic waterway, according to the country’s state-run IRNA news agency.
The drill, called “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz,” was led by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the supervision of IRGC Commander in Chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, according to Iran International.
State media said the exercise was organized to assess the readiness of operational units, review security plans and rehearse scenarios for responding to any security and military threats in the area.
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The exercises came within hours of renewed diplomatic efforts starting in Geneva between the U.S. and Iran that are aimed at reviving negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
“I am in Geneva with real ideas to achieve a fair and equitable deal,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Monday “What is not on the table: submission before threats,” he said.
President Donald Trump has ordered a buildup of U.S. military forces in the Middle East and has threatened to strike Iran if its leadership does not agree to a deal on its nuclear program.
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On Friday, Trump also offered an endorsement of regime change in Tehran and said it would be the “best thing that could happen” for Iran.
U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, went on to show U.S. military presence in the region Monday.
In a post on X, it shared images of EA-18G Growlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 133 and F-35C Lightning IIs from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 preparing for launch from the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.
“Operating in international waters in the Middle East, the aircraft carrier conducts around-the-clock flight operations in support of regional security,” the post said.
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The Pentagon has been building up what Trump has described as an “armada” in the region.
The USS Abraham Lincoln is present flanked by three warships equipped with Tomahawk missiles and is at the center of a broader U.S. naval buildup in the region.
Meanwhile, Tehran said the second round of talks would be held on Tuesday “with the mediation and good offices of Oman.”
Negotiations restarted in Muscat on Feb. 6, after previous talks collapsed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran in June that sparked a 12-day war and escalated tensions across the region.
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On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said there was “significant and legitimate doubt that the Iranians will ever agree to something that would cause them to lay down any ambitions of nuclear weaponry.”
Traveler’s violent rampage leaves trail of destruction at major airport
A shocking scene unfolded inside Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 1 on Monday when a man was seen pushing over check-in kiosks and trying to smash them with a metal pole.
Footage of the incident went viral and showed the man dressed in a black jumper, blue jeans, and wearing a cross-body bag striding toward a row of automated check-in kiosks in the departure area.
Without hesitation, he began forcefully pushing the machines over one by one.
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The kiosks toppled to the ground in quick succession, crashing loudly onto the terminal floor.
Not satisfied with knocking them down, the man then grabbed a nearby metal stanchion — one of the poles used to guide passengers in queue lines — and used it to smash the machines repeatedly.
Stunned travelers and airport staff were seen watching with no one intervening.
The rampage reportedly resulted in damage to around 10 kiosks, as well as metal barriers, nearby counters and even a glass panel.
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The South China Morning Post reported that the man was later identified as a 35-year-old British tourist who had been trying to buy a plane ticket before the violent episode began.
The exact trigger for his outburst was unclear.
Airport authority personnel and airport security responded by rushing to the scene and warning him to stop further vandalism.
Officers then arrested the traveler and launched an investigation into his airport meltdown, according to Viral Press.
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When the man was detained, officers reportedly found that he was carrying four Viagra pills without a prescription.
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“Airport Authority personnel and airport security immediately arrived at the scene, warned the man to stop further vandalism, and called the police. Officers then arrested him and are continuing their investigation,” an Airport Authority spokesperson said, according to the Telegraph.
Christian volleyball coach murdered during home invasion as family slept nearby
A Christian mother of two has been found dead in her home in Ohio as authorities launch a homicide investigation.
According to the Tripp County Police Department, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn was found dead following a reported burglary at a home in Tipp City, Ohio, and investigators are continuing to search for a suspect.
On Monday, officers were dispatched at about 2:30 a.m. to the 900 block of Cunningham Court on a report of a burglary in progress involving a resident who had been shot, the department said. When officers arrived, they met with Flynn’s husband and two children inside the residence. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
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Police immediately secured the home and surrounding area. Family members were notified and responded to assist with the care of the children and Flynn’s husband.
A perimeter was established around the neighborhood, and officers deployed police canines and drones to search for potential suspects. No suspects were located during the initial search, authorities said.
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Investigators and crime scene technicians from the Tipp City Police Department, along with agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, remained at the scene throughout the day collecting and processing evidence.
In a subsequent update, the department said it is working closely with the state investigative agency and using all available resources to examine what it called a “complex situation.”
Police urged anyone with information or video footage that could assist investigators to contact the Tipp City Police Department at 937-667-3112 or the Miami County Communications Center at 937-440-9911.
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Flynn was a Tipp City Schools substitute teacher and Tippecanoe Middle School volleyball coach.
“She was known for her beautiful smile, warmth, kindness and the positive impact she had on so many — both in and out of the classroom and on the court,” the school district said.
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Christian Life Center in Butler Township said Flynn was a beloved member of the church. In a statement from Pastor Jordan Hansen, he said that Flynn was “murdered in her home.”
“Ashley Flynn is with Jesus. Please pray for her husband and two daughters and extended family left behind. Please pray for [the] ongoing investigation. Please pray for God’s very presence to bring comfort to an unfathomable situation,” he said in a Facebook post. “We need Jesus and His grace in the ‘What now?'”
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Obama takes direct aim at California over ‘atrocity’ in state
Former President Barack Obama criticized the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, calling it an “atrocity” given the billions of dollars elected officials have thrown at the problem over the years.
Obama was speaking with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen when he touched on criticism local residents and business owners have voiced for years.
“I think it is morally — ethically speaking — it is an atrocity that in a country this wealthy, we have people just on the streets, and we should insist on policies that recognize their full humanity — people who are houseless — and be able to provide them with the help and resources that they need,” Obama said.
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“We should recognize that the average person doesn’t want to have to navigate around a tent city in the middle of downtown,” he added. “That’s a losing political strategy.”
Obama noted that building support for programs and resources to assist those living on the streets needs to come with some level of accountability for those being offered the help.
“We’re not going to be able to generate support for it if we simply say, ‘You know what, it’s not their fault and so they should be able to do whatever they want,’ because that’s a losing political strategy,” he said.
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“That doesn’t mean that we care less about those folks,” he added. “It means if we really care about them, then we got to try to figure out how do we gain majority support and be practical in terms of what we can get through at this moment in time and build on those victories,” he added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
California has spent billions to combat homelessness. In his State of the State address last month, California Gov. Gavin Newsom touted a 9% statewide drop in homelessness.
In January, he announced new investments to create more shelters and services.
“No one in this country should be without a place to call home. In California, we’re proving there is a solution,” Newsom said in January. “The strategies we’ve put in place are working, and they’re turning this crisis around — but we’re not done. We won’t stop until everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.”
Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos told Fox News Digital that the governor agrees with Obama and was working to create a model to combat the problem that should be replicated nationwide.
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“That’s why Governor Newsom is the first governor in California history to make addressing homelessness a statewide priority,” she said. “He is turning around a crisis that was decades in the making by building supports and systems of care to help people exit homelessness for good.”
“That’s also why, for the first time in decades, California saw a 9% decrease in unsheltered homelessness in 2025,” she added. “California is a creating a model that should be replicated nationwide — building more housing, reforming mental health systems, removing encampments, and creating stronger support and accountability.”
Flight upset involving family sparks fierce response about airline seat selection fees
A family seating mix-up on a recent flight has sparked online debate over whether airlines should guarantee that parents and young children sit together or not.
The dispute began after a passenger shared on X that his wife and two young children were automatically assigned seats in separate rows on a Southwest Airlines flight.
The family did not pay for seat selection, the post noted. Rather, the airline’s system assigned seats individually.
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The passenger said his 2-year-old child was placed in a different row from both his mother and sibling, despite indicating during booking that the couple was traveling with children.
The post drew attention, with many commenters criticizing the father for declining to purchase seat selection.
“If you’re so cheap that you refuse to not pay for seat selection, then why didn’t you put the 2-year-old as a lap child?” one user wrote.
“Next time, buy the seats together. It’s that easy,” another added.
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Some users also pointed out that separating families on planes can place pressure on other passengers to switch seats to accommodate others.
“I love kids, but I’d hate to be that passenger who has to move for your family to sit together,” a commenter said.
Others, however, argued that airlines should automatically seat young children next to a parent or guardian, particularly when a child’s age is provided during booking.
“All minors should be assigned next to an adult,” one user wrote.
Fox News Digital reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment about the incident.
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The situation comes amid changes at Southwest Airlines, which began transitioning to an assigned seating model in January.
Federal regulations do not currently require airlines to guarantee adjacent seating.
The carrier had long been known for its open seating policy, which allowed passengers to choose any available seat upon boarding.
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The U.S. Department of Transportation encourages airlines to seat young children next to a parent or accompanying adult at no additional charge, according to the agency’s website.
However, federal regulations do not currently require airlines to guarantee adjacent seating.
The department maintains an online dashboard that outlines which carriers commit to seating children age 13 and under next to an accompanying adult without an added fee.
The dashboard shows that Southwest Airlines does not commit to providing fee-free guaranteed adjacent seating.
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Other major carriers that do not commit to providing fee-free guaranteed adjacent seating include Delta, Spirit, Allegiant and United, according to the DOT dashboard.
Several airlines, however, state that they will seat children age 13 and under next to an accompanying adult at no additional cost under certain conditions.
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Those carriers include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue.
‘Law & Order’ star Angie Harmon reignites 35-year-old romance from teen years
Angie Harmon debuted a new love this Valentine’s Day.
The “Law & Order” star revealed she rekindled her relationship with model Tony Floyd. Harmon, who was previously married to NFL star Jason Sehorn, and Floyd shared their history in a joint post on Instagram.
The two first met in Italy at 18 and went their separate ways before finding their way back together.
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“We met in Italy at eighteen – two kids scrambling for work, chasing modeling dreams, trying to build a life without starving along the way,” Floyd recalled. “There was a spark between us even then… but the timing wasn’t right. In our twenties, we found ourselves in LA, both chasing acting. You were always better than me. But we were together. And we were in love.”
In a lengthy tribute, Floyd detailed how their relationship came full circle after years apart.
“You found your passion on the screen,” he added. “I found mine shaping surfboards in Costa Mesa. Still, the timing wasn’t ours. And then, after twenty-seven years, our paths crossed again – by chance, or maybe by fate.”
“Now the timing is right. Now is our time, my love,” Floyd continued. “My strength. My everything. My Angie. I love you beyond anything words can hold. You are still the same kind, loving, breathtaking, passionate fighter I met thirty-five years ago on that subway platform in Italy. Only now, we know who we are. And we know what we have. Let’s roll, my Valentine.”
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Harmon was married to Sehorn for 13 years. The two met on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and the New York Giants cornerback later proposed to the actress on the show.
The two share three daughters – Finley, Avery and Emery.
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Sehorn and Harmon’s divorce was linked to the couple’s differing schedules.
“A large part of it is when you spend five or six months a year away from your spouse, it gets really tough,” a source told US Weekly at the time.
“In the beginning, they really missed each other,” the source added, “but then they got into a groove where one person took over the main responsibilities of parenting while the other was working.”
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Stephen A Smith blames NBA superstar for ruining league’s once-iconic dunk contest
NBA All-Star Weekend drew mixed reviews from fans on social media, with many calling out the lack of entertainment in the Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday night.
It’s no secret the signature event of the pre-All-Star-Game festivities hasn’t been what it used to be, and the latest version on Saturday night at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles was more of the same.
Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson won the event, but the showing by all four contestants didn’t wow the crowd and those on social media.
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In turn, the debate about the event came to ESPN’s “First Take” where personality Stephen A. Smith actually pointed some blame in the direction of a non-participant — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
“I’m going to blame LeBron James,” Smith said to the panel. “Now, I’ve sat here for months and I’ve applauded his greatness and all the things he had done and he has meant to the NBA, but I’ve said it and I’m going to be very consistent…The person who really is the provocateur to ruin the slam dunk contest is him.”
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While Smith didn’t have any evidence as to why James ruined the contest, he’s simply saying that the all-time great never competing in the event is bad for it in general.
“He was a superstar who put on a dunk contest every night in the layup line, particularly when he knew there was momentum swelling for him to participate, and he never did. He even teased that he was going to participate one year.”
Perhaps Smith is implying James’ lack of participation has led other NBA superstars to steer clear of the event. Gone are the days when fans get iconic dunk battles with players like Zach Levine and Aaron Gordon.
Mac McClung, who is currently on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls, has been a big draw in recent seasons considering his show-stopping dunks that blew away the rest of the competition. He won three straight contests from 2023-25.
But the event on Saturday, which also featured James’ Lakers teammate, Jaxson Hayes, San Antonio Spurs’ Carter Bryant and Orland Magic’s Jase Richardson, the son of two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion Jason Richardson, was a hard watch.
“I didn’t think about the contest,” he said. “I want to applaud Keshad Johnson for winning. Pat Riley standing up and applauding him…but we all know it was terrible because there was no star power. The reality is that we are going to bring it home to where the GOATS can get it.”
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Of course, it’s not only James who could bring some big star power to the event. But what was once the event where Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Dwight Howard and many others had to compete, it has turned into one where players of lesser status in the league try to make a name for themselves.
The last notable NBA All-Star to win the event was Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, who was playing for the Utah Jazz in 2018 when he took home the victory.