Musk calls out violence and chaos in blue city — compares it to scene out of famous movie
Elon Musk condemned an illegal street takeover in Philadelphia, which authorities said was sparked by a series of aggressive street racing incidents over the weekend.
The incidents happened across multiple locations in the city from 9:30 p.m. Saturday night to 5 a.m. Sunday morning, Philadelphia police said, adding that large crowds and 50 to 200 vehicles gathered at each location.
Videos from the incidents showed cars drifting in circles as people set off fireworks and started trash fires. Some clips showed mobs vandalizing police vehicles, including one where people swarmed and stomped on a police cruiser.
ALABAMA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WORRIED HER TOWN COULD BE THE NEXT SPRINGFIELD, OHIO
“Pretty sure I saw this scene in The Joker,” Musk said on X in response to a video of a police car being surrounded by a massive mob posted by the Republican House Judiciary.
“You’re not safe in Democrat-run Philadelphia,” the House Judiciary GOP account said.
In the 2019 film “Joker,” the Joker is shown riding in the back of a police car as riots breakout and chaos descends upon Gotham City. He later stands on the crashed police car and is surrounded by a cheering crowd.
Conservative X influencer Joey Mannarino made another debaucherous pop culture reference.
“Philadelphia basically looks like a game of Grand Theft Auto now. It is just sad that we’ve allowed the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed to become this,” he said.
ELON MUSK SLAMS NEW YORK TIMES WRITER FOR CALLING THE CONSTITUTION ‘DANGEROUS’
“They physically went after some of our officers,” Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Mike Cram told reporters during a news conference on Monday, noting the “aggressiveness” of the mob.
“There’s officers in the car, they’re jumping on the windshield. They’re physically doing damage,” said Cram. “They don’t care about your safety, their own safety. If you’ve all seen the videos with their behavior, they really don’t care. It’s just about how much chaos can we cause?”
Cram described the officers as being “trapped” inside the car as the mob swarmed the patrol unit, adding that police were “definitely targeted” during the overnight incidents.
Police said five Philadelphia police vehicles sustained damage ranging from broken windshields to flat tires. One officer suffered minor injuries at one scene after a vehicle struck his patrol car and fled.
“This isn’t a third world country. This is PHILADELPHIA,” podcaster Graham Allen said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Halloween store forced to remove costume accessory after customer backlash
Pop-up Halloween retailer Spirit Halloween has endured controversy after a holiday product angered some customers.
According to Norfolk, Virginia-based WAVY TV, customers complained about the retailer selling a punk rock “bullet belt” accessory as part of a “prep school” costume online and in stores as recently as last week. A spiked bracelet, plaid school girl tie, and other accessories were on the same display in a photo taken by WAVY reporter Keagan Hughes at one of Spirit Halloween’s Virginia Beach locations.
A gold bullet belt was selling for $9.99, while the punk rock bullet belt was selling for $14.99 online, the outlet reported.
Some shoppers felt the product was distasteful because it was marketed as part of a student costume, in light of school shootings across the country.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS UNLEASHES FIRST ALL-FEMALE HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE TO COUNTER ‘MALE-CENTRIC’ GENRE
“I don’t like it,” one shopper told WAVY. “I have three children that go to school, and I just heard about the shooting that just happened. And it’s scary, even though it’s a costume. Regardless, that’s just not [it]. They shouldn’t be making fun of these shootings and guns and stuff. It is a big deal.”
Another mother named Vanessa said she didn’t feel like it was an overreaction to be upset about the costume accessory.
“I know people always say everyone’s so sensitive,” she said, “but it’s really not, because a lot of children are dying because of the school shootings, and you’re putting it where the school-like outfits are at. Like, that’s just wild to me.”
Four people were shot and killed by a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia, earlier this month.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Spirit Halloween did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The retailer told WAVY’s 10 On Your Side that the costume was only meant to be a punk rock accessory.
“It was not our intention for this product or its placement in the store to be viewed in any way other than a punk rock accessory. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention.”
The product appears to have been pulled from the retailer’s website. It no longer shows up under searches for “bullet belt,” “punk rock” or “belt.”
Rapper addresses Diddy drama taking over Hollywood as most stars remain quiet
Ice Cube is making it clear he has no affiliation with Sean “Diddy” Combs after the disgraced mogul’s arrest earlier this month.
The rapper was performing for a crowd in Las Vegas Sunday, where he denied ever attending a party hosted by Combs.
“Almost 40 years rocking the mic, and I’m gonna tell you right now, me and [rapper] W.C. ain’t never been to a Diddy party,” he told the audience in a video shared on social media.
The audience cheered, and someone yelled, “Thank God.”
WATCH ON FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DO?
“You ain’t gotta worry about us on them mother—-ing tapes,” the rapper added.
Representatives for Ice Cube did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
WARNING: VIDEO LINK CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE
Combs was arrested Sept. 17, charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars and a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.
The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court, where he was denied the proposed $50 million bail and sent to jail immediately after the hearing.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Authorities claimed Diddy ran a criminal enterprise through his businesses, including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used “violence, use of firearms, threats of violence, coercion, and verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse” to fulfill his sexual desires, according to an unsealed indictment obtained by Fox News Digital.
In the indictment, Combs is alleged to have recorded “freak offs,” described by authorities as “elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.
“Almost 40 years rocking the mic, and I’m gonna tell you right now, me and W.C. ain’t never been to a Diddy party.”
“Combs also used the sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating recordings that he made during Freak Offs as collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims,” according to the indictment.
Ice Cube is one of a small handful of celebrities speaking out against Combs after Combs’ arrest.
WATCH: US ATTORNEY GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE ON DIDDY’S SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGES
DIDDY SEX TRAFFICKING PROBE: HOLLYWOOD STARS ARE ‘SCARED TO DEATH’ TO SPEAK OUT, EXPERTS SAY
Aubrey O’Day, 50 Cent, Shyne, Kesha and Mary J. Blige have all commented on the allegations against Combs in one form or another.
“Given the severity of the charges, the detailed allegations in the indictment and the long-standing rumors surrounding Combs, there’s no shortage of reasons why celebrities would choose to remain silent for the time being,” Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital.
Interviews with Combs have also recently resurfaced in which the “Bad Boy for Life” rapper talks about his parties.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
In a 1999 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Combs said, “You’re gonna hear about my parties. They’re going to be shutting them down. They’re probably going to be arresting me doing all types of crazy things just because we want to have a good time, you know?”
Combs also explained the “ingredients” for a “killer party” in a 2002 interview on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”
“Women, beautiful women, of course,” Combs shared with O’Brien. “Beautiful men for the ladies, of course.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He continued to say that “alcohol” is a requirement at the party, in addition to water.
“A lot of ladies drink water at parties. So, if you don’t have what they need, they’re going to leave. Got to keep them there. You need locks on the doors. It’s a little kinky.”
Top US cardinal reacts to Harris snub with reminder about the last candidate that did the same
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, said he is “disappointed” that Kamala Harris has chosen to skip the historic Al Smith dinner, telling reporters that “we don’t know how to handle it” since it’s been 40 years since a presidential nominee has turned down the invitation.
“We’re disappointed,” Dolan said during a press briefing at the Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center in Yonkers on Monday. “We were looking forward to giving the vice president an enthusiastic welcome, and we were confident that she would find this – you know, she speaks very much about high ideals and how it’s good to get away from division and come together in unity and all. That’s what the Al Smith dinner is all about.
KAMALA HARRIS PLANS TO SKIP HISTORIC AL SMITH DINNER DESPITE LONG-STANDING TRADITION
“We’re not used to this. We don’t know how to handle it,” he continued. “This hasn’t happened in 40 years, since Walter Mondale turned down the invitation. And remember, he lost 49 out of 50 states. I don’t want to say there’s a direct connection there, but … we’re not giving up.”
Dolan is hosting the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner on Oct. 17. It is traditionally held in New York City to benefit Catholic Charities.
Every presidential election year, the Republican and Democrat candidates typically come together to roast each other in good-humored speeches at the dinner. The tradition began when John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon spoke at the event in 1960.
Harris’ campaign told event organizers she would not be in attendance and is instead planning to campaign in an unspecified battleground state.
‘IT’S A ‘REAL SHAME’ THAT KAMALA HARRIS IS SKIPPING THE AL SMITH DINNER: ANITA VOGEL
Former President Trump confirmed that he plans to attend and speak at the dinner in a post on Truth Social on Monday, writing that it is “sad, but not surprising” that Harris had chosen not to skip the charity event.
The last time a Democrat candidate opted out of the event while a Republican nominee attended was in 1984, when President Ronald Reagan gave a speech without Walter Mondale in the audience, as referenced by Dolan.
In 2020, both then-President Trump and Democrat nominee Joe Biden appeared at the dinner. Neither candidate took shots at the other despite the intensity of the race.
Dolan said he is still holding out hope that Harris will change her mind, crediting Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for “working hard” to “convince her to come.”
“We’re not giving up, we hope she’s here,” Dolan said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Harris campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital‘s request for comment.
Popular tourist destination overrun with venomous creatures washing ashore
Venomous creatures were spotted washing up on the beaches of the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and the National Park Service sent out a warning about the punch these slugs pack.
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore posted on Facebook that Blue Sea Dragons (Glaucus atlanticus) have been spotted on the beaches.
“This venomous sea slug lives in the open ocean and occasionally gets stranded on land following strong winds,” officials from the National Seashore posted to Facebook. “They may only grow to about an inch long, but don’t let their size fool you. They pack a punch!”
According to Oceana.org, Blue Sea Dragons go by other names like sea swallow or blue angel and can grow to about 1.3 inches.
12 OF THE OCEAN’S CREEPIEST CREATURES THAT ARE SURE TO MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL
They are often found throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans in tropical and subtropical waters.
The specimen is considered a sea slug and spends most of its life floating upside-down at the surface and staying afloat by storing air bubbles in its stomach, the organization wrote.
MONTANTA 12-YEAR-OLD STUNNED AS HE REELS IN RECORD-BREAKING FISH: ‘I’M IN DISBELIEF’
Cape Hatteras National Seashore officials say Blue Sea Dragons move through ocean currents feeding on their meal of choice: the Portuguese man o’ war.
“Because their meals consist of such a venomous creature, they are capable of storing that venom for their own defense,” the park service wrote. “They concentrate that ingested venom and deliver a sting that is even more powerful! Talk about a fiery bite for such a small dragon.”
HOUSE ON NORTH CAROLINA’S OUTER BANKS COLLAPSES INTO OCEAN
Since these tiny slugs carry such a strong toxin, park officials advise anyone who comes across one of these blue beauties to admire it from a safe distance and be cautious of others nearby.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Blue Sea Dragons can travel in groups known as ‘Blue Fleets,’” the post read. “If they are discovered, dead or alive, they remain venomous. Please enjoy this fascinating organism without touching it.”
Player that gave Caitlin Clark a black eye during game speaks out after criticism
Connecticut Sun guard DiJonai Carrington stuck her long fingernail in Caitlin Clark’s eye during the Sun’s 93-69 win over the Indiana Fever Sunday in the WNBA playoffs.
Carrington struck Clark while trying to block a pass from Clark in the first quarter. Slow-motion footage showed Carrington bending her hand while coming down from the block attempt, pointing her nails in Clark’s face. No foul was called on the play.
Carrington denied intentionally trying to give Clark a black eye while talking to reporters Tuesday.
“I don’t even know why I would intend to hit anybody in the eye,” Carrington said. “That doesn’t even make sense to me. But, no, I didn’t. I didn’t know I hit her, actually. I was trying to make a play on the ball, and I guess I followed through, and I hit her. So, obviously, it’s never intentional. That’s not even like the type of player that I am.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Later on in the game, Carrington was seen laughing with Sun teammate Marina Mabrey. Carrington said they were not laughing about giving Clark the black eye.
“I can’t laugh about something I didn’t know happened,” Carrington said.
Clark agreed she didn’t believe Carrington purposely hit her in the eye while talking to reporters Tuesday.
“It wasn’t intentional by any means. You just watched the play. It wasn’t intentional,” Clark said.
Carrington has a history of antagonizing Clark and her fans in the past. During a game in June, Carrington fouled Clark after Clark received an inbound pass from teammate Kristy Wallace. Clark caught the pass and started toward the basket. Carrington was late getting to Clark due to a screen by Aliyah Boston, and she bumped Clark.
Carrington didn’t like the call and thought Clark exaggerated the foul and started mocking the Fever rookie, eliciting a barrage of boos from her own home crowd while making the gesture.
After the game, Carrington wrote a hostile message on X that said, “But I’m a racist, jealous, c—, monkey, hatin a– b—- who needs to go back to Africa when I do it huh? plssss. Like I said, this is basketball.”
Carrington then responded to a random X user who wrote, “If races were reversed, Carrington would’ve been ejected.” The WNBA player wrote “BFFR (be f—ing for real) Paul.”
Later that month, Carrington made another post on X saying Clark should do more to speak out about people using her name for “racism” and other forms of prejudice.
FEVER’S CAITLIN CLARK FINISHES 4TH IN WNBA MVP VOTING
“Dawg. How one can not be bothered by their name being used to justify racism, bigotry, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia & the intersectionalities of them all is nuts,” Carrington wrote. “We all see the [s—]. We all have a platform. We all have a voice & they all hold weight. Silence is a luxury.”
On Aug. 28, after the Fever defeated the Sun 84-80 in Indiana, Carrington posted on X, criticizing the Indiana fans.
“The indiana fever have the nastiest fans in the W. ew,” Carrington wrote.
Carrington’s eye poking was the latest controversial physical incident involving Clark and WNBA opponents this year.
Chicago Sky player Diamond DeShields sent Clark flying across the floor for a foul that was later upgraded to a flagrant foul Aug. 30. After the game, DeShields posted a screenshot of her notifications list on Instagram, which included a string of hateful comments.
Clark took an infamous illegal hip check from Sky forward Chennedy Carter June 1. Carter refused to answer questions about the incident at a postgame press conference but used her social media to criticize Clark.
Angel Reese, a Sky rookie and Clark’s longtime college rival, struck Clark in the head with her arm while trying to block a pass during a game June 16. Reese has said Clark’s fans have leveled racist attacks against her and even sent explicit AI images of her.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Former NBA All-Star Joakim Noah suggested the Fever look to address the issue by signing a player who can dish punishment back at opponents who are too physical with Clark.
“If I was the owner of the Indiana Fever, I would get a real enforcer in there to protect her,” Noah told Fox News Digital earlier this month. “Sometimes I feel like she is getting hit because she is a very talented person.
“But, at the end of the day, we’re in the business of winning games. So, if I’m the owner [of the Indiana Fever], I’m getting a real enforcer in there.”
The Fever and Sun meet for Game 2 of their three-game opening-round playoff series Wednesday, and Clark and company are one loss away from their season ending.
“We can win,” Clark said. “It’s not anything about the building. It’s not about the gym. It’s not about the hoops. I have all the confidence in the world in this team, and everybody in the locker room does. And I know we’ll be a lot better on Wednesday.”
Republican dismantles controversial SEC chair after he bows out of Senate hearing
Lawmakers want the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) chair to be required to testify on Capitol Hill on a semi-annual basis.
That’s according to Senate Republicans, who introduced new legislation on Tuesday that would extend oversight from provisions authorized under the Dodd-Frank Act, and in-turn mandate a biannual appearance before Congress to increase “transparency and accountability.”
The legislation, titled the Empowering Main Street in America Act, was introduced just hours before an announcement that a scheduled Wednesday hearing in the Senate Banking Committee with current SEC Chair Gary Gensler was postponed.
The hearing postponement comes as Gensler appeared separately Tuesday on Capitol Hill before the House Financial Services Committee, where the Chairman received criticism from both sides of the aisle.
DOJ SUES VISA OVER DEBIT CARD MARKET MONOPOLY
Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott, R-SC, bashed the postponement in a statement to FOX Business, remarking, “A last-minute cancellation while still testifying before the House underscores what’s wrong with the SEC under Gensler’s leadership.”
Scott went on to condemn Gensler’s record at the Commission, declaring that Gensler’s approach during his three-year term has been harmful to businesses.
“As SEC Chair Gensler’s aggressive regulatory agenda threatens the U.S. economy – burying businesses in paperwork, reducing access to capital, and harming American retirement savers – the Senate Banking Committee deserves the opportunity to hold him accountable for his actions,” the South Carolina senator added.
The postponement was ultimately a decision made in consultation with Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-OH, according to sources familiar with the matter. A new time and date will be determined in the near future, according to a message on the Banking Committee’s website.
JPMORGAN CEO BACKS MUSK GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMISSION PROPOSAL
A separate source in the Senate said that the reason for the postponement was due to scheduling issues.
Bank regulators are currently required under law to testify before Congress, in accordance with the Dodd-Frank Act that was instituted after the 2007-2008 financial crisis. The SEC is not included under those parameters, however.
Scott and nine other Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee say they would like that to change.
The senators say that their proposed legislation would return the SEC to “its primary focus on ensuring the engines of the U.S. capital markets system are primed to fuel the next chapter of American exceptionalism, instead of putting up new and burdensome hurdles that limit opportunity, drive new investors out of markets, and chill innovation and competition.”
The Republicans go on to say that more oversight is a necessity at the watchdog, in order for it to uphold its three-part mission of facilitating capital formation, protecting investors, and maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS
That is not happening though, the legislation claims, saying the agency has created an “increasingly hostile regulator environment” for investors and businesses.
“This is exactly why we need to pass my Empowering Main Street in America Act to mandate the SEC Chair to testify on a semi-annual basis,” Scott concluded to FOX Business.