Ahead of high-stakes US-Iran nuclear talks, new report has serious warning
JERUSALEM — A leading U.S. research institute devoted to monitoring Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons program published an alarming report ahead of this weekend’s U.S.-Iran talks, declaring Tehran’s atomic weapons system has reached an extremely dangerous stage.
The Washington, D.C.-based Institute for Science and International Security titled its shocking new report, “The Iran Threat Geiger Counter: Extreme Danger Grows.”
According to the study, “Since February 2024, the date of its last report, the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program has worsened significantly. Major negative factors include Iran’s greater nuclear weapon capabilities, its shorter time frames to build nuclear weapons, and the growing normalization of internal Iranian discussions favoring building nuclear weapons.
TRUMP VINDICATED AS EXPLOSIVE REPORT CONFIRMS IRAN SUPERVISES HOUTHI ‘POLITICAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS’
“The possibility of Iran deciding to build nuclear weapons has been increased by the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East, pitting Iran and its proxy forces against Israel and its allies, a conflict Iran is losing. The volatile security situation is now combined with the perception, if not the reality, that Iran is preparing to build nuclear weapons.”
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said, “We have a little time, but we don’t have much time, because we’re not going to let them have a nuclear weapon. We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.” He added “I’m not asking for much. I just — I don’t — they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
When asked about the potential for military action if Iran does not make a deal on their nuclear weapons, Trump said, “Absolutely.”
“If it requires military, we’re going to have military,” the president told reporters at the White House. “Israel will obviously be very much involved in that. They’ll be the leader of that. But nobody leads us. We do what we want to do.”
Trump withdrew from the Obama-era Iran nuclear deal—the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—in 2018 because, he argued, that the accord did not stop Tehran’s drive to build a nuclear weapons device.
TRUMP SAYS US WILL DEAL ‘DIRECTLY’ WITH IRAN IN HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON SATURDAY
A state-controlled Iranian news outlet claimed on Monday that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s alleged fatwa against nuclear weapons does not outlaw their production but bans their use. Fox News Digital sought to obtain a copy of the alleged religious fatwa from Iran, but the regime has so far refused to provide the document. Iran experts have claimed that the fatwa is non-existent.
The Institute for Science and International Security report also warned that “Iran still possesses military capabilities that threaten the region. It has large stockpiles of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles that it can employ against Israel and its allies. Iran also continues to be a major player in the Ukraine war, backing Russia with vast arms transfers, including drones and missiles.”
The mouthpiece of Iran’s Khamenei—the anti-American paper Kayhan—just urged the assassination of Trump.
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A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “Threatening language from the Iranian regime or its mouthpiece against the President, or any American, is unwise.”
Iran’s regime has sought to assassinate Iranian American dissidents on American soil.
Man who threatened ICE agents, DHS Secretary Noem seen in tears after judge’s ruling
A Texas man charged with making online threats against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was ordered by a judge on Wednesday to remain in jail.
Robert King, 35, who was charged with transmitting interstate threats in federal court on Monday, was ordered to stay in detention by U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver after a hearing in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon, Fox News confirmed.
Toliver said King is a flight risk and a risk to the community, which solidified her ruling, despite his attorney arguing that he had no prior charges, no weapons and had been seeking treatment for mental health issues, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
King was upset by the ruling and was seen crying as he left the courtroom.
TEXAS MAN WHO VOWED TO SHOOT, KILL ICE AGENTS, SAID NOEM SHOULD BE IN ‘GULAG,’ CHARGED IN FEDERAL COURT: DOJ
King was arrested in McKinney, Texas, on March 29 after he allegedly posted threats on Facebook towards ICE agents and Noem.
In the first post, King shared a PBS NewsHour article and wrote: “I truly hope, and I mean this with all my heart, that Kristi Noem meets a horrible and agonizing demise I hope she is tried in a war criminal court with the rest of the Nazis when this is all over and I hope she is ripped apart in a gulag. Nothing less for a Nazi scum. This is America now a Nazi fascist state. Disgusting.”
He then threatened to kill ICE agents in a second post, where he described them as “a secret police force with no real legal authority,” adding that he is “opening fire” on them if he sees agents in his neighborhood. A few days later, he doubled down on the threat.
MAN CHARGED WITH MAKING THREATS AGAINST ICE AGENTS, DHS SEC KRISTI NOEM IN ‘ALARMING’ SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
“Just wanna double down on what I said the other day: if ICE comes to your neighborhood, f—— shoot them and kill them. No mercy for the Gestapo,” King wrote, according to federal prosecutors.
During his Wednesday hearing, a government attorney said King’s social media threats came to light through the national FBI tip line.
King was also living with his sister and brother-in-law, who is currently a police officer and a former Customs and Border Protection agent, when he allegedly made the threats, which resulted in him being thrown out of the house.
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King will remain in Kaufman County detention, though his attorney wants to transfer him elsewhere so he has access to mental health and other medications.
Dems fight bill to stop illegal immigrant voting despite polls showing voter support
The House passed the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on Thursday, with 208 Democrats voting against the President Donald Trump-backed measure that would crack down on noncitizen voting.
The SAVE Act, which passed 220-208, now heads to the Senate, where it will need the support of some Democrats to meet the 60-vote threshold for advancement. Democrats have rejected the bill, despite polling indicating bipartisan support for voter ID requirements.
A Gallup Poll released ahead of the 2024 election found that 84% of respondents favor requiring a photo ID to vote, and 83% support requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote for the first time.
If passed in the Senate and signed into law by Trump, the SAVE Act by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, would require voters to obtain proof of citizenship in person before they register for a federal election, and it would remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
TRUMP-BACKED BILLS ON ACTIVIST JUDGES, NONCITIZEN VOTING HEADING FOR HOUSE-WIDE VOTES
“After four years of mass illegal immigration facilitated by the Biden administration, it is more important now than ever to ensure only American citizens are voting in American elections. By passing the SAVE Act, House Republicans are once again proving our commitment to defending the will of the American people,” House GOP Majority Whip Tom Emmer told Fox News Digital.
VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT TO VOTE, NEW POLL SAYS
Meanwhile, Democrats have rejected the implication that illegal immigrants are voting in U.S. elections. Nineteen Democrat-led states and Democrat leaders sued the Trump administration’s election integrity executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote in American elections.
“Noncitizens attempting to register to vote is exceedingly rare, and if they do, they face severe consequences, including fines up to five years in prison, and deportation,” Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said on the House floor, urging her colleagues to reject the SAVE Act.
Coupled with President Trump’s recent anti-voter election executive order, the SAVE Act would end the voter registration process for all Americans as they know it. Republicans have repeatedly failed to present any evidence that noncitizen voting at a federal level has ever affected the outcome of any election,” Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., added in opposition to what he called the “extremist anti-voter SAVE Act.”
The SAVE Act passed a procedural hurdle known as a “rule vote” on Wednesday. A simple majority of House lawmakers was needed to pass the “rule” to allow for debate and eventual House-wide votes on the legislation.
It was first introduced in July 2024 under former President Joe Biden’s administration and failed to pass through the Democrat majority in the Senate. Roy reintroduced the bill in January as the bill was more likely to pass under a Republican-controlled House, Senate and White House.
“The American people have spoken very clearly that they believe only American citizens should vote in American elections. There’s nothing controversial about that,” Roy said on the House floor ahead of the votes.
“This legislation is designed to restore that faith, to save our elections, to save election integrity. I’m proud to have worked on this bill with my friend, the Chairman, with my colleagues on this side of the aisle, and I would note that five of my Democrat colleagues joined us last summer to vote for this bill. Hardly a partisan exercise to say that we should protect the elections of the American people,” he added.
The bill made headway during the 2024 presidential election as the Republican National Committee (RNC) led voter integrity efforts in battleground states across the country. Trump has long supported the legislation and held a Mar-a-Lago press conference last summer with House Speaker Mike Johnson affirming Republican support for the bill.
Voter registration is handled on the state level, so rules requiring proof of citizenship or photo ID differ by state. Thirty-six states request or require identification to vote. The SAVE Act would federalize the issue, requiring proof of citizenship to vote and removing non-citizens from voter rolls.
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When Virginia, led by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, attempted to remove non-citizens from the state’s voter rolls, Biden’s Justice Department rejected the program and tried to restore the canceled voter registrations. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority upheld Virginia’s removal of about 1,600 people from the voter rolls.
Voters choose their champion to challenge blue battleground governor
The 2024 presidential election is just five months in the rearview, but the country is already trudging toward the 2026 midterms — at least at the annual Pennsylvania Leadership Conference.
In a straw poll of 267 conference participants from eight states, including Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania state Treasurer Stacy Garrity was the clear favorite to win the Republican primary for its 2026 gubernatorial election. She received 41% of the vote, as Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Penn., came in a distant second at 9%.
While 2026 is still long down the road, and neither Pennsylvania politician has formally announced a run, both Republicans embraced the opportunity to tease their potential bids.
“Appreciate the support from conservatives across Pennsylvania. No decisions made yet—but I’m listening and focused on doing whatever it takes to help Republicans win in 2025 and beyond,” Garrity said following her straw poll win at the leadership conference.
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Garrity made history in 2024 by receiving the most votes in a Pennsylvania state election – crushing Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2022 record by half a million votes. Garrity campaigned for re-election alongside Sen. Dave McCormick, who unseated longtime Democrat Sen. Bob Casey.
DEM GOVERNORS REVOLT AGAINST TRUMP’S ‘LIBERATION DAY’ TARIFFS
Shapiro wasn’t up for re-election in 2024, though his name was floated as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris. But 2026 presents an opportunity for Republicans to gain control of the state’s highest office. Speeches at the leadership conference prove that big Republican wins in 2024 have invigorated the party’s base in the traditionally competitive battleground state.
“We as a party are here as winners. The Keystone State sent President Trump back to the White House, sent Bob Casey back to Scranton, elected a Republican Attorney General for the first time in over a decade. And next November, the Keystone State will send a Republican to the Governor’s Mansion,” Garrity said during her remarks.
Garrity emerged as the frontrunner in a hypothetical matchup against Meuser, 2022 GOP nominee Doug Mastriano, and state Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill and Scott Martin. If Garrity, a President Donald Trump ally, and Meuser decide to throw their names into the gubernatorial race, it could tee up a competitive primary. Both Pennsylvanian politicians have indicated announcements could come as early as this summer.
Garrity told the Pennsylvania Capital-Star on Saturday a decision on her gubernatorial bid is coming “probably in the summer.” Meuser, who also spoke at the conference, confirmed to Fox News Digital that his own decision will come by mid-summer or sooner.
“I’ve been encouraged by the strong support I’ve received from people all across Pennsylvania urging me to consider a run for governor. Right now, I’m doing my due diligence, meeting with stakeholders, and seriously evaluating how I can best serve the Commonwealth.
“I expect to make a decision by mid-summer, or sooner if appropriate. In the meantime, I’m staying focused on advancing President Trump’s America-First Agenda in Congress — growing our economy, securing the border, and unleashing American energy dominance,” Meuser told Fox News Digital.
As Garrity and Meuser continue representing Pennsylvania as they mull 2026 gubernatorial campaigns, the Republican Party of Pennsylvania told Fox News Digital they are “excited to have strong potential candidates” for governor.
“There is no question that Pennsylvanians are NOT better off with Josh Shapiro as our Governor, and they will be ready to make a change in November 2026. Shapiro’s scandal-ridden administration, combined with his recent use of $5 million of taxpayer money to promote antisemitism, have set the stage for a GOP victory. Republicans are excited to have strong potential candidates to be our next Governor,” the Republican Party of Pennsylvania said in a statement.
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The Republican Party of Pennsylvania’s accusations relate to Shapiro’s $5 million donation to a Philadelphia Muslim community center. Front Page Magazine reported that an imam at the Al-Aqsa Islamic Society once said, “Jews are the vilest people.” Shapiro himself is Jewish.
Speaking on a Philadelphia stage after Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., was announced as Harris’ running mate in 2024, Shapiro assured the crowd, “I am proud of my faith,” following accusations Shapiro was snubbed for the job because of his support for Israel amid Democrat discontent over the war in Gaza.
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The Republican Governor’s Association, Garrity and Shapiro did not immediately provide comment to Fox News Digital.
Why China can’t just pick up the phone and negotiate with Trump — according to an expert
Chinese President Xi Jinping is navigating a political tightrope, where picking up the phone to call President Trump and discuss his country’s ongoing trade war with the U.S. could draw fire from fellow Communist Party leaders, China expert Gordon Chang told FOX Business on Thursday.
“Picking up the phone and calling President Trump would be the economically rational thing to do… but Xi Jinping has configured the Chinese political system so that only the most hostile answers are considered to be acceptable, which means he’s boxed himself in,” Chang said on “Mornings with Maria.”
“He can’t do that, because if he does, his Communist Party fellow leaders, they’re going to criticize him, so right now, China’s in a position where it can’t do what it absolutely needs to do.”
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The “Plan Red: China’s Project to Destroy America” author sided with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who blasted China’s Wednesday trade war escalation as a “loser” move.
“They are the surplus country,” Bessent said Wednesday. “Their exports to the U.S. are five times our exports to China. They can raise their tariffs, but so what?”
On that note, Chang said China “doesn’t have any cards in this” game, adding that, while the Chinese are “holding a pair of twos,” Trump has a “royal straight flush.”
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“The point here is that the Chinese think, ‘We can intimidate Trump, we can coerce him into surrendering preemptively,’ and Trump yesterday said, ‘[Here’s] 125% tariffs. I’m not being coerced. I’m not being intimidated. You, China, you’re the ones who have to back down,'” he added.
China increased tariffs on U.S. imports from 34% to 84% in response to President Trump hiking tariffs against the country to 104% at midnight on Wednesday, with Chinese officials vowing to fight “to the end” amid the ongoing trade war.
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Trump retaliated with another hike on Chinese imports the same day, bringing the percentage to 125%.
China’s 84% tariff took effect Thursday.
Former Trump AG torches veracity of red state’s billions in lawsuits against Big Oil
FIRST ON FOX: Former Attorney General William Barr fired off a letter Thursday to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, warning her against backing dozens of multimillion-dollar lawsuits targeting oil companies like Chevron – which was recently ordered to pay a coastal parish $745 million for decades-old actions by a now-defunct subsidiary.
In his letter to Murrill, Barr referenced Republican Gov. Jeff Landry’s reported support for several lawsuits in which parishes – Louisiana’s version of counties – and powerful attorneys are seeking tens of billions in culpability tied to land loss.
“As you know, the Trump administration is committed to unleashing America’s domestic energy production,” Barr wrote, citing President Donald Trump’s executive order “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.”
The recent case in Plaquemines Parish against Chevron, Barr argued, is the first example of Louisiana “subjecting energy producers to arbitrary or excessive fines through retroactive penalties cast as damages for alleged environmental harm.”
$3B LA LAWSUIT COULD ‘DESTROY’ GULF ENERGY INDUSTRY, CRITICS WARN, AS STATE’S POSITION QUESTIONED
That case focused on allegations that Texaco – which was dissolved into Chevron around the turn of the century – was culpable for the effects of coastal erosion due to its pre-1980s energy development projects.
“We are concerned Louisiana is in the process of doing just this by its acquiescence to the wave of 43 lawsuits devised by prominent plaintiff’s lawyers against American oil and gas companies on behalf of Louisiana’s coastal parishes,” Barr said.
After the ruling, Chevron lead trial attorney Mike Phillips told Fox News Digital the company plans to appeal the verdict to address “numerous legal errors that led to this unjust result.”
“This verdict is just one step in the process to establish that the 1980 law does not apply to conduct that occurred decades before the law was enacted. Chevron is not the cause of the land loss occurring in Breton Sound,” Phillips said.
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“[T]he state seems to have largely ceded control of the litigation to the private plaintiff’s lawyers and deferred to their legal positions,” the letter reads, adding that plaintiffs’ claims run “clearly contrary” to the 1978 law, and are “devoid of legal merit.”
In his letter to Murrill, Barr said he was deeply concerned by agreements made with Landry in relation to the lawsuits. Landry had been criticized by the state-based Pelican Institute and other sources for his apparent closeness to plaintiffs’ attorney John Carmouche – a donor who he recently named to the Louisiana State University board.
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Barr went on to argue that pre-1980 damages do not qualify for grandfathering under a relevant 1978 natural resources law and that “serious constitutional issues of retroactivity due process and takings” exist in Louisiana’s arguments.
Instead, he said, Louisiana should consider whether the federal government is responsible for the “vast majority” of the land-loss phenomenon that attorneys are trying to blame on energy companies.
Barr wrote the letter on behalf of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, the American Energy Institute, the United States Energy Association and First Principles.
“We are concerned these suits, if they continue, will impact critical current LNG plants and operations in the coastal zone, curtail new energy investments in Louisiana, constrain funding available for new production in the Gulf of America, and undermine President Trump’s efforts to re-establish American energy dominance,” Barr said.
Neither Carmouche nor Landry responded to requests for comment on the original lawsuit.
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Attorney Jimmy Faircloth, representing state agencies in the suit, told the Times-Picayune that the Landry administration supports the energy industry and its positive impact on jobs.
Faircloth reportedly said the case is more about Texaco’s alleged “sins of the past” and failure to enforce regulations in past decades.
What went Bryan Kohberger’s way – and what didn’t – at evidence motions hearing
Bryan Kohberger’s defense struggled with prosecutors over what evidence should and shouldn’t be allowed in his upcoming quadruple murder trial at a full-day hearing in front of Judge Steven Hippler in Boise on Wednesday.
Kohberger, 30, faces four charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. He also faces a felony burglary count.
Hippler decided some motions from the bench but said he would announce other orders later in writing – including his findings on defense motions to strike the death penalty as a potential punishment due to Kohberger’s diagnosis of autism and defense claims the prosecutors have missed key discovery deadlines.
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Defense attorney Anne Taylor cited the recent Lori Vallow case, in which the court threw out the death penalty over missed deadlines. Kohberger, however, has waived his right to a speedy trial, and Hippler asked Taylor why she hadn’t raised the issue months ago or requested more resources, like a half-dozen additional paralegals to help her go through discovery.
Deputy Latah County Prosecutor Ashley Jennings also flat out denied Taylor’s accusations that prosecutors were slow-walking discovery and said everything the defense has asked for has been provided, a point that Taylor conceded in front of the judge.
READ BRYAN KOHBERGER’S COLLEGE ESSAY ON HANDLING A CRIME SCENE
[It’s] all incriminating evidence, that’s why the state is offering it.
“This motion is not about withheld discovery,” she said. It was instead about a vast amount of data, dozens of terabytes, that she said will take years to go through. Hippler told her he expects most of it is irrelevant surveillance video that doesn’t need to be gone through, but he said he would likely require the prosecution to certify that it has disclosed all potentially exculpatory evidence that it is aware of and that the defense has not already flagged.
He said he would issue a written order later.
After arguments over Kohberger’s alibi, which prosecutors say cannot be corroborated by anyone other than the defendant himself, the judge and both sides appeared to agree that defense expert Sy Ray could testify about Kohberger’s whereabouts at the time his phone was shut off, more than an hour before the murders. But Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson made clear that is not an alibi.
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“Who is gonna say he was out driving around looking at the stars?” Hippler asked Taylor.
She said her client has a right to remain silent.
“The question is whether you have a witness who is going to testify to that,” Hippler said.
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Hippler partially agreed to a defense motion to block prosecutors from using the words “murderer,” “psychopath” and “sociopath” in the trial, but noted that what the defense had asked for amounted to issuing “an order that says the state shall not commit prosecutorial misconduct.”
He said he expected the rules to be followed, that the term murderer could potentially be used during closing arguments, and that the words psycho- and sociopath could not be used unless an expert evaluation determined they accurately apply to Kohberger, something that has not happened as of Thursday.
As for “inflammatory evidence” that the defense wants kept out of trial, like overuse of gruesome crime scene photos, Hippler said the murders were “brutal and horrific” and he expected the evidence to reflect that.
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In one key moment, Taylor claimed that the defense had uncovered a new lead regarding a potential alternate suspect and was investigating. In another, she said there are a hundred hours of interviews with people who knew Kohberger from Washington State University – and many of them had “unkind things to say about him.”
He was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology there. The campus is about 10 miles from the University of Idaho crime scene.
Prosecutors revealed that they do not expect any of the inconclusive DNA samples under Mogen’s fingernails to belong to Kohberger – because they believe the attacker wore clothes to sufficiently cover himself up. The defense sought unsuccessfully to have a 2020 college essay Kohberger wrote about crime scene handling for DeSales University, where he studied for a master’s degree in criminal justice, excluded from the trial.
Judge Hippler also took issue with a defense expert witness who he said accused prosecutors of severe misconduct involving discovery materials regarding Kohberger’s phone tracking records without evidence.
“I don’t want theatrics,” he told Kohberger’s defense. “I don’t want accusations that aren’t supported.”
BRYAN KOHBERGER DOESN’T WANT AMAZON SHOPPING LIST REVEALED AT TRIAL
At issue are timing advance records, detailed location data from a phone that is only preserved for seven days. The prosecution’s initial search warrant sought this information in November. Kohberger wasn’t identified as a suspect until Dec. 19. Jennings said she did not have the records. Hippler asked Taylor what evidence she had that they even exist.
The hearing touched on other issues, such as whether Kohberger’s immediate family has a right to courtroom seating. Prosecutors noted that some relatives will be on the witness list, and as such, shouldn’t be allowed to observe testimony in the case prior to taking the stand themselves.
While Kohberger’s defense attorney Elisa Massoth said the family has “no interest in helping” the prosecution and predicted that prosecutors would only call one relative, “at best,” Jennings revealed that prosecutors intend to call “a few.”
The defense wanted the 911 audio blocked from being played before the jury. Hippler said he would likely allow it but redact some statements that could be considered hearsay. Similarly, he said he would consider redacting portions of a traffic stop in which Kohberger had a back-and-forth with the officer in the months before the murders. Prosecutors said they intended to use it to show his ownership of the white Hyundai Elantra.
Massoth took issue with referring to Kohberger’s car as the suspect vehicle.
“You don’t get to, and I don’t get to, tell the state how to try their case unless they’re violating the rules of evidence,” Hippler said.
Hippler appeared unsympathetic to the defense’s opposition to including Kohberger’s Amazon records, which show the purchase of a Ka-Bar knife and sheath set before the murders as well as searching the app for the same items after the murders.
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“Maybe I’m completely out to lunch, but as I understand it, to buy something on Amazon, you gotta put it in your shopping cart and hit purchase,” the judge said.
Hippler said he would take a defense motion to block surviving roommate “DM” from using the phrase “bushy eyebrows” during her testimony. Taylor also revealed that in addition to DM’s text messages and phone history that were released last month, the roommate’s phone data shows she was also editing photos, saving new contacts, using social media and “a whole lot more.”
Hippler said that while older adults may pick up the phone and call someone, younger people are just as likely to reach out over social media.
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“I’ll be interested to hear the testimony of the two young ladies,” he said, referring to DM and the other surviving roommate, identified in court documents as BF.
Kohberger could face the death penalty if convicted, unless Hippler rules in his favor on one of the motions to strike it. A judge entered not guilty pleas on his behalf in May 2023.
The trial is expected to begin on Aug. 11.
Man’s best friend given new role to help kids ‘overcome barriers’
Having a furry friend can add fun and companionship for anyone — but for children with autism, it can be life-changing.
A recent study from the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine evaluated the impact of service dogs on autistic children and their caregivers in 75 families.
Working with nonprofit service dog provider Canine Companions, the researchers found that having a service dog was associated with “significantly better child sleep behaviors,” including less sleep anxiety and better sleep initiation and duration.
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In an interview with Fox News Digital, lead researcher Dr. Maggie O’Haire, associate dean of research at the university, said the research was sparked by the growing number of programs that pair service dogs with autistic children.
The sleep improvements are particularly important for the child and the entire family, O’Haire said.
Children were able to sleep in their room more independently when the dog was present, the researchers found.
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“The dog provides that source of calm and comfort, which probably reduces the anxiety,” she said. “And also, if they wake up a little bit in the night and their service dog is there, they’re probably more easily able to fall back to sleep on their own.”
Families also reported experiencing less stigma and judgment and making more positive social connections when out in public with a service dog, according to O’Haire.
Making a ‘huge difference’
Washington mom Amanda Harpell-Franz shared that her son, Evan, who has autism, has also enjoyed the many benefits of having a service dog.
“Evan is vibrant, curious, compassionate — he just lights up our lives,” Harpell-Franz described her 7-year-old son in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Most people who meet him say there’s something about him that is just so endearing and engaging.”
“He’s very active, loves being outside, loves connecting with his friends,” she said. “He loves to swim … He’s just a life-giving kid. He notices things other people don’t notice. Very empathetic, sweet kid.”
Evan was born a week early and experienced seizures, which have since stabilized, but left him with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
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Harpell-Franz later noticed signs of severe anxiety, difficulty understanding social cues, and regressed speech, ultimately leading to his autism diagnosis.
“It definitely shapes how Evan sees this world and how he takes in this world,” she said. “We definitely do not see it as a deficit or something bad, but it does have its challenges.”
Evan struggled in social settings before he was placed with his service dog, Kalvin, through Canine Companions.
Harpell-Franz, who is a previous foster parent and longtime dog owner, spoke of the “huge difference” that Kalvin — a lab and golden retriever mix — has made for her son and his relationships.
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Evan has also slept better since receiving his own service dog, his mother said. Kalvin sleeps next to him every night, the physical pressure helping the boy get better rest.
“Evan and Calvin sleep back-to-back,” said Harpell-Franz. “Evan will reach over and lay his head on Kalvin. Kalvin puts his arm on Evan.”
Since Kalvin joined their family, Harpell-Franz said Evan has been attending school and extracurricular activities consistently and without struggle.
Kalvin also takes some of the attention off Evan in social spaces, she added, which can relieve social pressure.
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Kalvin is trained to apply deep pressure when needed, even while Evan is sitting in a chair, with either a paw or his whole body.
“Kalvin lying across his body, it actually really calms him,” Harpell-Franz said. “It’s honestly been beautiful seeing that happen so naturally — it was one of the things we hoped for.”
Overcoming barriers
Theadora Block, research program manager at Canine Companions in California, shared with Fox News Digital how service dogs are specially trained to calm and protect their owners and are placed to suit a family’s specific needs.
The dogs — which are mostly labs, golden retrievers or a combination — are “mellow, really stable, love interacting with humans, and genuinely love doing their jobs,” she said.
As the wait for service dog placement can sometimes be up to two years, Block encouraged people to sign up if there is any interest for the future.
O’Haire emphasized the need for more research into how service dogs can better accommodate families.
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“We’ve seen anecdotes over the years of many incredible changes for children with autism and their families,” she said.
“We’ve seen barriers they’ve faced in terms of access policy and insurance support, and those changes are going to require evidence.”