Nation’s most ‘stressful’ airport called out for poor check-in times, departure delays
A record 3.1 million travelers were screened by the TSA on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend.
Now, as Americans prepare to travel across the nation for the Christmas and holiday season, a new study is pinpointing the airport that ranks as “most stressful” of all.
The study, conducted by Australian travel insurance company iSelect, analyzed 50 major airports around the globe by looking at average departure delays, canceled flights, security checks, baggage claim issues and more.
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Coming in first place: Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, which scored an 18.46 out of a possible 100 — making it the “most stressful,” according to the study.
The airport is “a hot spot for travel stress, ranking with the worst check-in score [on] our list,” the study says.
The study also noted that Newark Liberty had “the second-worst score for ease of getting to the airport [on] our list.”
It was also reported to have an average departure delay time of 21.40 minutes. It scored as the third worst in baggage retrieval.
“The new system will meet an increasing number of travelers and deliver the airport experience they deserve.”
In October, construction on a new AirTrain Newark system began — a new $3.5 billion system, the airport says on its website, to replace the existing AirTrain, “which opened in 1996 and has become outdated, over capacity and unable to accommodate Newark Liberty’s rapid growth.”
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The airport is in the midst of ongoing redevelopment, the site says in detail.
“Newark Airport is the front door to our region — and modernizing the AirTrain system is part of our commitment to reimagining a world-class airport that is worthy of our state,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) in a release.
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“Building on the transformation of Terminal A, the new system will meet an increasing number of travelers and deliver the airport experience they deserve.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the airport for comment.
In second place was Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, Portugal, the study said.
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The airport earned a score of 22.39 in the “most stressful” index.
Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom came in third place, with a score of 23.10.
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Its baggage claim was ranked the lowest in the index at 69%. Security check wait times came in at 69%.
Coming in fourth and fifth, respectively, on the “most stressful” list: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City and Chicago O’Hare International.
Newark Airport was also called out in J.D. Power’s annual airport satisfaction survey, which ranked “mega” U.S. airports.
The survey looked at ease of travel, airport trust, terminal facilities, airport staff, food and retail options, plus the experience of arriving and departing at airports.
Newark came in last place, reflecting a year of ground delays and flight cancellations.
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Fox News Digital reached out to iSelect for further comment on the study.
On its website, the company said its “comprehensive list” was created to “help travelers identify and prepare in advance for stress-free travel.”
‘Mormon Wives’ strikes a nerve with LDS values and America can’t look away, experts say
Since its debut in 2024, “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has taken reality TV by storm. From landing high-profile TV appearances and major reality show roles to a Broadway opportunity and a best-selling book deal, the cast has ignited a fascination within pop culture, transforming their once-private lives into a full-blown cultural phenomenon.
According to PR experts, the draw comes down to two things: escapism and the clash between faith and fame.
“Reality television is nothing more than an escape from reality itself,” Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital of the series — which aired its explosive Season 3 reunion special on Thursday. “Also, the construct of the show is antithetical to our macro-understanding of Mormon culture. Strict adherence to LDS [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] teachings and practices couldn’t be further from what is being portrayed on the show.”
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“As such, there is both an element of escape — which most reality television viewers are looking for in the first place — as well as a curiosity about a group of ‘Mormon wives’ cutting against the proverbial grain, when it comes to traditional, conservative, ideology.”
Eldridge said the “counterintuitive ethos and angle” of the show’s premise is brilliant.
“After nearly 30 years of reality TV retreads, this one is somewhat unique, which is saying a lot,” he said.
“Mormons are not usually cast for reality programming, as the level of indulgence, opulence, and overt sexuality runs contra to their central beliefs,” he added.
Steve Honig, founder of The Honig Company, said the relatability in rebelling against social norms has viewers hooked.
“Viewers have been flocking to the show because it represents rebelling against an establishment,” Honig told Fox News Digital. “People often feel they have to live by certain rules or guidelines because of what society puts on them. These women choose to live their lives according to their own set of rules. Additionally, the show focuses on tension, conflict, scandal, drama and questionable behaviors; these are the ingredients of a successful reality show.”
“Mormons are not usually cast for reality programming, as the level of indulgence, opulence, and overt sexuality runs contra to their central beliefs.”
“The show is about the lives of real people who have to balance real-life things like marriage, parenting, religion and values that often conflict with social norms,” he added. “This makes the women relatable in a way that appeals to modern audiences. Viewers get to play-along with the women as they navigate myriad of situations and ups-and-downs.”
Since the show’s debut, Whitney Leavitt and Jen Affleck both competed on “Dancing With the Stars,” Taylor Frankie Paul became the next “Bachelorette,” Leavitt is now preparing to make her Broadway debut in “Chicago” and Mayci Neeley released a memoir. Additionally, the cast members’ social following has boomed.
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“These women have turned lifestyle into a booming brand and they’ve done that by falling back on their traditional roles as Mormon mothers and homemakers,” Diane Winston, a professor at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communications who specializes in media and religion, told The New York Times. “So it’s an interesting fusion of both feminism and anti-feminism.”
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But behind the scenes, fame and jealousy have torn friendships apart.
“It’s hard because this is a new thing that we’re trying to navigate, and with us navigating this new part of this dynamic and this relationship, there can be jealousy and comparison,” Leavitt, who was dubbed as the first season’s “villain” in Season 1 but has since become one of the show’s leading ladies, told Fox News Digital in May. “And I think, at least for me, I’m still trying to navigate that.”
“And shame as well from outside friendships or family members,” Miranda McWhorter, whose involvement with the swinging scandal came to light in Season 2, added. “There’s a level of embarrassment almost, I guess, for them too, which I can see where they’re coming from, but that can also be hurtful.”
“So it’s natural, I think, to have friendship fallouts or distance from family members or church leaders or so on, just because not everybody’s going to see eye to eye on what we’re doing here, and that’s totally fine, but that’s something that we obviously have to come to terms with, and the people that matter are there for us,” she added.
WATCH: ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ star confronts church backlash ahead of explosive second season
McWhorter also opened up about how the show has continuously challenged the social and religious norms of modern-day Mormon women.
“I don’t think it’s a secret that none of us depict the perfect, perfect stereotypical Mormon wife that is abiding by all the church rules and living exactly as they should, or they’re told to be, and living up to those expectations,” said McWhorter, whose past involvement with the swinging scandal came to light this season. “I think, yeah, there’s a lot of breaking social norms and religious norms within the church, and I think that I know it’s upsetting to some people.”
“And not all of us are still active,” she continued. “Some are ex-members. We really just have a group of women with similar backgrounds and foundations of the church, and all of our faith journeys are now very separate and very different. But I think showing how that background, whether it be present day or in our past, relates to us now in all of our different experiences and just life as a mother and as a wife. For some, it breaks down a lot of those social and religious norms, which is something that can be kind of taboo to talk about.”
As far as what’s in store for the show’s future?
Honig said the “longevity of the show will likely be determined by whether or not the storylines continue to mix the right ingredients together in such a way that audiences will still be interested.”
“Right now, the show has a winning formula that, if followed, will ensure the show continues to exist,” he said. “There also needs to be storylines and conflicts that have longevity and can carry over into new seasons. Viewers need to feel like they have a vested interest in the cast members and the show. The drama needs to grow organically and sprout new storylines that can continue the show’s position as a cultural force.”
“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was renewed for a fourth season on Hulu and will premiere in early 2026.
Prince Harry’s Trump dig sparks fury as royal experts predict deepening family feud
Prince Harry’s latest publicity blitz risks shattering any remaining chance of a royal reconciliation with his ailing father.
The claim was made by several royal experts who spoke to Fox News Digital after the Duke of Sussex joked that President Donald Trump is America’s “king” during a cameo appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The remarks came nearly three months after Trump visited the U.K. for a state visit where he met with the monarch, who is still undergoing cancer treatment.
“Harry’s jab at President Trump on Colbert wasn’t clever – it was reckless,” Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube’s “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered,” told Fox News Digital. “Honestly, how does he think he can hold on to a royal title while taking public swipes at the head of a foreign government?”
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“It’s also a slap in the face,” Schofield insisted. “Buckingham Palace put significant effort into a major state visit for President Trump to support diplomatic relations. And, frankly, it’s a slap to President Trump as well, considering he agreed to ease up on Harry’s immigration situation out of personal respect for King Charles.”
Joking about his desire to play the “Gingerbread Prince” in a fictional Hallmark Christmas movie, Harry told Colbert, “Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies, and you’re clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?”
“Hold on, I wouldn’t say we’re obsessed with royalty,” Colbert replied.
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“Really? I heard you elected a king,” Harry responded, as the audience booed.
Harry’s jab echoed anti-Trump sentiment from October’s “No Kings” protest, during which scores of liberals and Trump critics demonstrated nationwide to oppose the president’s second-term agenda.
Organizers of the protest said they were defending democracy from what they saw as Trump’s authoritarian rule.
“Harry did himself no favors,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “And to hear that decidedly left-leaning New York City audience boo him – he went from cheers and a standing ovation at first, to that. A few minutes’ summary, if you ask me, of his entire trajectory.”
“His ghastly, self-defeating swipe at both President Trump and his own royal family signaled yet again his terrible judgment,” said Fordwich.
“While he still trades on his title, he attacks the monarchy and chronically misreads public mood on both sides of the Atlantic. Instead of healing the wounds he caused, he scratches them open – all while claiming to want to heal.”
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Harry followed up by poking fun at Americans for electing “king” Trump after “making such a big deal about my great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, George III” – a reference to the American Revolution.
“Well, he was kind of a jerk,” Colbert shot back.
“OK, let it go,” Harry joked.
The prince continued, asking Colbert what else he needed to do to convince Americans to cast him in a Hallmark film.
“I’ll record a self-tape, I’ll fly myself to an audition, settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House – all the things you people on TV do,” he said.
WATCH: PRINCE HARRY POKES FUN AT AMERICANS FOR ELECTING KING TRUMP DURING COLBERT APPEARANCE
The line was meant as a dig at Colbert’s parent company, CBS, which settled with Trump earlier this year after the president sued the broadcaster for allegedly editing its interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election.
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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
In September, Trump opened a two-day visit to the U.K., calling his meeting with the king, 77, “one of the highest honors of my life.” During the trip, he made time for a quiet tribute at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb.
During his visit, Trump was welcomed with the largest guard of honor in living memory – featuring 120 horses and 1,300 troops – as well as carriage rides, an air show and a Windsor Castle state dinner. The 79-year-old also met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss trade, technology and geopolitical issues.
No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has received the honor of a second U.K. state visit. Trump’s first was in 2019, during his previous term.
“The Andrew saga has already left the royal family exposed, and the king is trying to manage those issues while carrying out daily duties and undergoing regular cancer treatment,” said Schofield, referring to the disgraced ex-Duke of York.
“For Harry to stir up more controversy connected to the family only accelerates internal discussions about removing his titles,” Schofield claimed. “If anything, this moment underscores that there is no path back for Harry. For those insisting he could still be a valuable asset, he just proved what a liability he is.”
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Schofield noted that before Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, Colbert jokingly linked her absence from public life to rumors of an alleged affair between her husband, Prince William, and Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. Colbert later expressed remorse for the jokes after Kate’s diagnosis became public, Vanity Fair reported.
“That was one of the hardest years of William’s life, and he’s acknowledged that publicly,” Schofield said. “Colbert’s nasty monologue deeply upset both the prince and princess, who were already under immense pressure as they quietly navigated Catherine’s cancer diagnosis while trying to protect their children from fear or confusion.”
“While they were living with that burden, Colbert and others used their platforms to push cruel theories, which William was regularly briefed on,” she continued. “It caused real pain. Rose was prepared to sue. And for Harry to run onto Colbert’s stage and crack jokes with him tells you everything about where that relationship stands. It’s irrevocably broken.”
The outlet reported that Hanbury’s lawyers sent a legal notice to CBS, stating the allegations were false.
Harry has been estranged from his family since 2020, when he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back as senior royals. They said the decision was driven by unbearable press intrusion and a lack of palace support.
After moving to California, they aired their grievances in interviews and documentaries. Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” further worsened his relationship with the royal family.
In May, Harry told the BBC: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
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Harry met his father before Trump’s state visit, sparking hope among royal watchers of a reconciliation between father and son. Sources previously told People magazine that the king wasn’t responding to Harry’s calls or letters.
But not everyone believes Harry’s late-night appearance was catastrophic.
“It was clunky, but not cancerous,” Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital.
“Objectively speaking, it was pretty benign – this was about visibility. As I’ve often said, Hollywood isn’t about talent; it’s about temperature. Visibility and popularity provide the match to light that fire in the first place. He might not have done well, but he still knew what he was doing.”
But for some, the wounds have already been inflicted.
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“After such a successful state visit, where his father hosted President Trump to bolster U.S.-U.K. ties, Harry is doing precisely what he shouldn’t – inserting himself into partisan politics, contrary to all traditional royal neutrality,” said Fordwich. “While we won’t have any public response from the royals at this point, past patterns indicate how this will have been received.”
“I guess Harry and Colbert have a lot in common – like the unemployment line,” Schofield quipped.
Trump admin slashes Christmas tree costs to $1 as families battle holiday inflation
FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum is rolling out a Christmas tree and firewood savings plan to “make Christmas affordable again.”
The Trump Department of the Interior announced a “holiday affordability effort” that it said would help families save money while enjoying public lands and supporting wildfire prevention during the 2025 and 2026 winter season.
Under the plan, the Bureau of Land Management is reducing firewood and Christmas tree permit fees through Jan. 31. Part of the plan includes a “one dollar, one tree” initiative that reduces Christmas tree permit fees by nearly 100%.
A Department of the Interior official told Fox News Digital that Christmas tree and firewood permit fees would be reduced to $1 per tree or cord. The official said that with the current average cost for an authentic 6- to 8-foot Christmas tree being $90, and the average cost for a cord of wood is $300, the new policy could help save American families at least $400 during the holiday season.
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The department is also opening up new cutting areas in overstocked woodlands, prioritizing locations near communities, military bases, tribal areas and rural counties that would benefit most from additional access.
Additionally, the department is increasing household limits to up to 10 cords of firewood and three Christmas trees, with flexibility to remove those caps in areas with particularly abundant resources.
The department believes the plan will provide “meaningful cost savings for families while promoting forest thinning and hazardous fuel reduction across millions of acres.”
A study by the House Committee on Natural Resources published in September found that approximately 117 million acres of federal land are at high or very high risk of wildfire, which is exacerbated by overstocked forests with hazardous dry fuels accumulated from decades of fire suppression, lack of thinking, prescribed burns and mechanical treatments.
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The study said that overstocking makes forests less resilient and seriously increases the risk of out-of-control fires.
The department cast its plan as in line with Trump’s mission to lower costs for Americans. It forecasted that the two savings programs would save American families a minimum of $10 million during the Christmas season, as well as expand opportunities for families to gather their own firewood and Christmas trees.
According to the Department of the Interior, state offices will be issuing notices with updated site information and coordinating with community organizations to spread the word.
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“American families deserve real relief and savings during the holidays, and at Interior, we are making certain that they can heat their homes while keeping their traditions alive,” Burgum said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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“The One Dollar, One Tree initiative is a powerful example of how our public lands can deliver lasting benefits for the American people, making this season brighter and more affordable for all,” he went on, adding, “Under President Trump, we are making Christmas affordable again.”
Cruise death mystery shifts as legal expert cites rare family dynamic ahead of hearing
As the federal investigation into 18-year-old Anna Kepner’s death nears one month with no updates, a defense attorney says there may be a reason for the silence: investigators are navigating a rare situation in which the victim’s relatives and the potential perpetrator’s relatives live under the same roof.
Criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Donna Rotunno said the lack of information may be a sign of extreme caution.
“It is odd we haven’t heard anything,” Rotunno told Fox News Digital. “But I think there’s a reason for it. When you’re dealing with essentially one family, authorities have to be careful about what they put out there. You don’t want to tip off what’s going on when your victim’s family and your perpetrator’s family are in the same house.”
At 9 a.m. Friday, Kepner’s father and stepmother – Christopher Kepner and Shauntel Kepner – are expected at the Moore Justice Center in Brevard County, Florida, for a custody hearing, along with Hudson’s ex-husband, Timothy Hudson.
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Rotunno said the dynamic is highly unusual and may be driving the tight-lipped posture of federal authorities. She added that investigators may also be grappling with the specifics of the cause of death, ruled as mechanical asphyxia.
“They may not know if they can prove what happened yet,” Rotunno said. “Mechanical asphyxia could be argued as accidental or something that went too far. Investigators may still be sorting out what the evidence supports.”
Friday morning’s family-court custody hearing may offer an update on the case. Rotunno said it may seem unusual that the public is learning key details through family court, but legally, the access is straightforward.
“Family courts, just like criminal courts, are open to the public,” she said. “So while it feels unusual, the courts are simply accessible. And right now, those filings are the only place we’re seeing developments.”
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Court records from an ongoing custody battle between Shauntel Kepner and Thomas Hudson have surfaced as key documents in the case. The filings identify Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother, who shared a cabin with her aboard the Carnival Horizon, as a “suspect” in her death. Federal authorities have not named or charged the teen.
“The sixteen-year-old child is now a suspect in the death of the stepchild during the cruise,” the filing states.
Thomas Hudson further alleges that his ex-wife’s choices have put the 16-year-old’s future “in jeopardy.”
Anna’s father, Christopher, was subpoenaed ahead of today’s hearing. However, according to a process server’s sworn statement filed ahead of a hearing scheduled for Friday in a contentious custody battle, Christopher was unreachable after he was ordered to testify.
Process server Leslie V. Kinsey wrote that Kepner’s SUV sat running in the driveway and the lights inside the Titusville home were on, but no one responded to repeated knocks or the doorbell.
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When asked whether Anna’s 16-year-old stepbrother might be called to the stand, Rotunno said it’s extremely unlikely.
“Any lawyer would advise him to remain silent,” she said. “If you’re the subject of a criminal investigation, you shouldn’t be giving statements anywhere. I think a judge would say ‘no way’ to putting him on the stand.”
A judge, she said, would be obligated to warn the teen of his Fifth Amendment rights and may even appoint a public defender to advise him.
Cowboys staring at 30-year title drought after controversial official calls in loss
The Detroit Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 44-30 on “Thursday Night Football,” cementing themselves as the top challenger for the final seed in the NFC playoffs.
Dallas entered the game riding a three-game winning streak to climb back into the playoff hunt. But the loss drops the Cowboys to 6-6 and into the 10th seed, two and a half games behind the San Francisco 49ers for the final NFC playoff spot.
Detroit improved to 8-5, putting the Lions firmly back into the race just one game behind San Francisco.
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Thursday’s game was also the subject of criticism against referees on social media.
Two calls in particular were widely scrutinized: when Prescott was seemingly tackled in his own end zone in the first quarter, but referees did not call a safety, and in the fourth quarter when offensive pass interference was called on Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson during a crucial red-zone third down — even as many argued Lions defender Alex Anzalone committed the infraction.
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Detroit’s running backs led the way in the red zone, as Jahmyr Gibbs scored three touchdowns and David Montgomery added another. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for 309 yards.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 376 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. His first interception ended Dallas’ opening possession of the second half and set up a Lions touchdown to extend the lead to 27-9. His second interception ended the Cowboys’ final drive as they attempted to rally late.
Prescott has now thrown eight interceptions this season. He was considered an MVP contender earlier in the year, but no player has ever won the award without reaching the postseason.
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Dallas now has just an estimated 8% chance of making the playoffs.
If the Cowboys fall short, it will mark their 30th consecutive season without a Super Bowl title.
‘Gold Rush’ star warns Americans fleeing to precious metals as national debt spirals
The stars of “Gold Rush” are digging up more than just treasure this season.
With prices surging to $3,800 an ounce — and miners pulling in nearly $100 million this season alone — Parker Schnabel told Fox News Digital that the frenzy isn’t about luck — it’s about a national wake-up call.
Schnabel, 31, one of the franchise’s most successful young moguls, said the gold boom is a direct reflection of Americans losing faith in the U.S. dollar.
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When asked what this gold rush says about today’s economy, Schnabel didn’t hold back. “About the American economy. I mean … it’s a direct vote against the people’s confidence in the U.S. dollar, right?” he said.
He pointed to Washington’s spending habits and lawmakers’ unwillingness to confront the country’s financial problems.
“You look at the amount of debt that the United States has and the complete lack of attention to it from anybody in Washington … there’s zero interest in dealing with the debt.”
“You look at the amount of debt that the United States has and the complete lack of attention to it from anybody in Washington … there’s zero interest in dealing with the debt.”
Schnabel believes that the government is essentially backed into a corner. “Which means the only option is to inflate it away, right, and reduce the value of the U.S. dollar,” he continued, adding that a weaker dollar inevitably pushes investors toward safer assets.
“Which is going to make other assets go up, like gold being the number-one hedge against that.”
Schnabel said the shift isn’t temporary — it’s the beginning of a long-term structural trend. “And so I think that we’re going to see a lot of very big structural support for gold prices, both from institutional traders, retail traders and central banks.”
With gold surging year-over-year and miners racing to pull every ounce from the ground before winter shuts them down, Schnabel said the frenzy mirrors the original 19th-century boom — but with a modern twist.
When Fox News Digital asked if Americans still have the same hunger for risk and reward that fueled the first gold rush, he didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, totally. I don’t think that that’s ever gone away,” he said, noting that Americans have always chased the next big breakthrough.
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He explained that while the tools and trends have shifted, the country’s appetite for high-stakes opportunity hasn’t changed. “I mean, you look at … the medium in which people pursue those kinds of things change, but that’s always been the backbone of America, right?”
Today, that pioneering spirit has simply moved from the mines to the tech world.
“I mean, right now … look at AI … look at the amount of money and talent that is going into … the next big thing,” he continued, pointing out how investors are pouring resources into whatever could reshape society.
WATCH: ‘GOLD RUSH’ STAR SAYS AMERICANS ARE ‘LOSING CONFIDENCE IN THE US DOLLAR’ AS GOLD PRICES SKYROCKET
According to Schnabel, every generation picks its own frontier.
“There’s always a huge amount of people and … capital that wants to go into whatever is a society-altering thing and 100 years ago that was … well, 150 years ago, like gold mining … the way to create wealth. And now it’s not,” he said.
Today’s gold rush looks different — but the ambition behind it hasn’t faded, the reality-TV miner added.
“Right now it is AI and robots … the medium changes, but the idea has stayed totally intact.”
As for the new season of the hit reality show, “Gold Rush” star Rick Ness told Fox News Digital it hits harder than ever because the stakes are brutal.
“After 16 seasons … there’s still things that we face that … are new,” he said. “People still think it’s amazing that … there is basically money in the dirt and you can dig it up but it’s yours … I still think that’s crazy.”
Schnabel noted that with gold prices exploding, every decision this year felt like life and death for their operations.
“It’s a very big season … we’re all dealing with this meteoric rise in gold prices … how much effort do you put into … short-term profit gain, right, with gold prices where they’re at?”
WATCH: ‘GOLD RUSH’ STARS ON CHASING THE ‘AMERICAN DREAM’
This year, the main operations collectively generated about $100 million in revenue — a jaw-dropping haul even by “Gold Rush” standards.
“That’s like changing money,” Schnabel told Fox News Digital, adding, “It’s a very good time to be a gold miner.”
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The youngest miner — Schnabel — has grown up in front of the cameras. He took over his grandfather’s mining operation at just 16, and now, 15 years later, he’s still chasing gold — and bigger stakes than ever.
Heading into “Gold Rush” Season 16, the miners face the most brutal challenge yet.
Miners have only weeks to move dirt before winter shuts them down, alliances fracture, tempers explode and fortunes hang by a thread.
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By the end of the season, the crews are set to pull in nearly $100 million — the biggest payday in franchise history.
Schnabel is burning $100,000 a day across a massive 60-machine operation to reclaim his massive prize while miner Tony Beets reels in $500,000 in a single week but battles family chaos and crew shake-ups.
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Ness — starting with no license, no claim and half a crew — bets everything on a risky new claim that could either resurrect his career or bury him.
“Gold Rush” airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on the Discovery Channel.
Pro Bowl defender considers leaving game after Super Bowl contender claims him
The Buffalo Bills claimed cornerback Darius Slay off waivers earlier this week in hopes of bolstering their secondary for the playoff stretch, but he appeared to be hesitant to continue his career.
Slay put off reporting to the Bills to take time to contemplate his future, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said on Thursday.
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“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Rosenhaus told The Associated Press.
Slay, 34, will be 35 on New Year’s Day. He spent the first part of the season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined Pittsburgh after helping the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title in 2024. He played 10 games for the Steelers before the two sides parted ways. Pittsburgh waived him to make room for wide receiver Adam Thielen.
He had 36 tackles, three deflections and a fumble recovery in those 10 games.
FORMER NFL DEFENSIVE LINEMAN SPICE ADAMS TALKS ABOUT GOOD FANTASY FOOTBALL PUNISHMENTS
Buffalo may have lost a player in the process if Slay doesn’t report. The team let defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram go to make room for Slay. The Houston Texans claimed Ingram on Thursday.
Slay would be added depth in the secondary with Tre’Davious White and rookie Maxwell Hairston having played most of the season opposite Christian Benford.
The cornerback was a standout at Mississippi State and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played seven years with the Lions, earning one All-Pro selection and three Pro Bowl nods.
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He then joined the Eagles in 2020 and played for them through the 2024 season, earning three more Pro Bowl nods.
Biden admin ‘sat on’ Capitol pipe bomb evidence for years, Patel says
FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday blasted the Biden administration for its handling of the investigation into who planted pipe bombs at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5, 2021.
Patel told “Fox News @ Night Now” host Trace Gallagher that the prior administration “sat on” evidence for four years and failed to make a breakthrough in the case, whereas the FBI under his leadership incorporated cell phone geolocation data to hunt for the suspect.
“We went back and looked at the cellphone tower data dumps. We went back and looked at the providers and what information they provided pursuant to search warrants at the time and asked questions such as why weren’t all the phone numbers scrubbed, why aren’t they connected and why wasn’t there any geolocational data done?” Patel said. “That is either sheer incompetence or complete intentional negligence — and neither of which is acceptable for this FBI.”
EVIDENCE AGAINST J6 PIPE BOMB SUSPECT WAS JUST ‘SITTING THERE’ FOR YEARS, DOJ SAYS
Patel was speaking just hours after the FBI arrested Brian Cole Jr., of Woodbridge, Va., for allegedly planting the two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committees’ headquarters around the same time that thousands of protesters a few blocks away began to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, over the 2020 election results.
Patel argued the bureau under Biden failed at basic law enforcement functions.
“This guy… planted bombs at the United States Capitol on camera,” Patel said. “And the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the prior four years couldn’t find him. Completely unacceptable.”
FBI RELEASES NEW SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF SUSPECT WHO PLACED PIPE BOMBS NEAR DNC, RNC OFFICES IN DC
Patel said investigators went back to “good cop basics” and combed through hundreds of tips and interviews to finally identify the suspect.
He said a key item in the investigation was the suspects’ Nike sneakers, of which only a limited amount were ever made in the U.S.
“We, the FBI, have the best cellphone capability tracking systems, and we use that to say who was around the area that matches the description, the height, the weight, the size, and who was wearing this sort of sneakers,” Patel said. “But on top of that, I can generally say that, you know, some of our biggest breakthroughs always come from cell phone analysis.”
Patel said that it was important for investigators to build evidence that will be usable in a court of law.
“We can arrest anyone we want. But we worked with our partners at the Department of Justice, the attorney general and the U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, to leverage countless subpoenas and legal processes before we ever decided to hit the House, like we did this morning,” Patel said. “And they hit the suspect’s place of business.”
Cole is charged with use of an explosive device, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday. The FBI arrested Cole in northern Virginia. He will make his first court appearance on Friday in Washington, D.C.
Bondi echoed Patel’s criticism of the prior administration and noted that the bombs Cole intended to use were real.
WATCH: Pam Bondi credits good, old-fashioned police work for DC pipe bomb suspects arrest
“This case languished. It sat there for four years collecting dust. No one did anything to solve this,” Bondi told “Fox & Friends” Friday. “Both bombs were real… and thankfully they didn’t detonate.”
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She praised Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino for reviving the case and keeping the new investigation under wraps until they were ready to make an arrest. She also stated that she expects more charges to be filed and did not reveal a motive.
“The entire investigation did not leak. It was kept quiet,” she said. “They are pouring through evidence… hundreds of agents are on this case.”
“They are poring through evidence. You saw hundreds of agents are on this case because this is a very dangerous person.”