CEO says he was offered $20 million to organize anti-Trump protests
The CEO of an advocacy group said his organization turned down an offer that he said would have been worth around $20 million to help recruit for a national rally against President Donald Trump.
“Interests aligned with the organizers of the July 17th movement have approached us and, in fact, we rejected an offer that probably is worth around $20 million dollars,” Adam Swart, the CEO and founder of Crowds on Demand, told NewsNation’s Brian Entin in an interview that aired on Tuesday.
On Thursday, protests around the country are being planned against Trump, spearheaded by Good Trouble Lives On, a group that calls itself a peaceful and nonviolent protest and social change organization. They are planning to oppose Trump and what they call on their website “the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations.”
The protests planned for Thursday also take place on the fifth anniversary of the death of former Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a civil rights leader who routinely referred to protests as “good trouble.”
ASRA NOMANI: THE $2.1 BILLION MACHINE BEHIND ‘SPONTANEOUS’ ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTS
Swart said Crowds on Demand — a company based in California that specializes in providing on-demand crowds for protests — rejected the offer because they didn’t think protests like the ones Good Trouble Lives On is hosting on Thursday would be effective.
“I mean this is a nationwide thing, right? It’s not to say I would have made 20 million dollars personally, but the value of the contract would have been worth around that amount nationwide to organize huge demonstrations around the country,” Swart said.
“But personally, I just don’t think it’s effective,” he added. “So it’s not, I’m not trying to call myself virtuous for rejecting it. What I’m saying is, I’m saying I’m rejecting it, not because I don’t want to take the business, but because, frankly, this is going to be ineffective. It’s going to make us all look bad.”
ANTI-ICE RIOT FUNDING INVESTIGATED AFTER ‘NUMEROUS HIGH BUDGET REQUESTS’ FOR PAID AGITATORS WERE REPORTED
“President Trump’s America is so successful that blue-haired basement dwellers are paid to stage fake protests against the administration’s remarkable achievements,” Harrison Fields, special assistant to the President and principal deputy press secretary, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Paid agitators should find real jobs instead of selling out for gift cards and meager paychecks that aim to divide the nation and obstruct America’s greatest comeback. Nothing screams a party in disarray more than one that clearly lacks organic support and is forced to astroturf everything.”
Left-wing riots in Los Angeles resulting in violence, including the burning of the American flag and the assault of law enforcement officers, as well as the “No Kings Day” protests across the country, have recently made headlines.
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Fox News Digital reached out to Swart for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Former ESPN host fired after remarks about trans athletes in sports speaks out
Samantha Ponder has been quiet about her firing from ESPN, until now.
Ponder had been vocal about transgender athletes in women’s sports on social media back in 2023, which she said prompted a warning from ESPN executives.
Ponder told Sage Steele on the latter’s podcast that she shared Paula Scanlan’s “story” about swimming against Lia Thomas, but then, “one of the top, top, top” bosses reached out to both former ESPN employees.
“I didn’t really think that was going to get much of a response, but it did,” Ponder said. “They were uncomfortable with me talking about the trans women in women’s sports issue and that they weren’t going to allow me to misgender people.”
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Ponder then said she got a “detailed email” from execs that described “anything I had ever tweeted or favorite that they thought was offensive and warned me.”
“I knew then I was kind of on the clock, if you will,” Ponder said.
Ponder had kept quiet until last summer, even opting not to make a video about Riley Gaines when an ESPN initiative was for its female employees to record a video about an inspirational woman.
That is, until Imane Khelif caught her attention.
Ponder had shared her Olympic opponent Angela Carini’s quotes about having “enough” of Khelif in the ring. Khelif was previously barred from competing in another boxing tournament due to failed gender eligibility testing.
“ENOUGH is what all of us should be saying!! Proud of this woman,” Ponder posted at the time.
“And the next week, got a text that said, ‘Can you jump on a call with this person and this person in like an hour.’ And one of the bosses is someone I never hear from, and I was like, ‘This is it,'” Ponder said.
OLYMPIC MEDALIST DIES IN TRAGIC LIGHTNING STRIKE DURING TRIP
Ponder said that she believes other factors led to her eventual firing, including potential cheaper alternatives, while Ponder said she wanted to have a work-life balance with her family.
“But the timing of it almost certainly was,” Ponder, who revealed that top ESPN execs actually agreed with her on the issue, said.
Ponder then said getting let go was “one of the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I was on that hamster wheel, and I was not going to jump off on my own. I needed to get kicked off. As much as the part of the reasoning behind it I think is legit crazy, I feel no bitterness or even frankly sadness. I had a great career. I was 20 years in that business. I met some awesome people, and there are still some really great people there. Never thought this would kind of be the way out, but I should have spoken up a long time before. I should have been a lot more courageous when I knew what was right,” Ponder said.
Ponder questioned why she was essentially barred from discussing the issue.
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“You are not allowed to speak about any other issue [other than sports]. But I thought this was sports,” Ponder continued. “We’re talking about female collegiate athletes, Olympic athletes, and it’s wrong to shine a spotlight on that and give another voice, another opinion. I wasn’t against debate or healthy discussion. I just didn’t want anybody telling me, ‘No, no, no, you can’t talk about that.’ I wasn’t really giving my own opinions about it, as much as I was saying, ‘Listen to these girls, they’re in the locker rooms. Why do their opinions not deserve a platform when we’re giving awards for Women’s History Month to someone born male?’ I couldn’t understand it, I still don’t understand it.”
ESPN declined to comment.
Ponder is married to former NFL quarterback, Christian Ponder.
Joe Rogan reveals what changed his mind about interviewing Donald Trump
Podcaster Joe Rogan spoke candidly about how a series of political revelations persuaded him to interview then-candidate Donald Trump in the 11th hour of the 2024 election.
The 2024 presidential election was dubbed by some to be the “podcast election,” as many suggested that Trump’s appearances on numerous podcasts popular with young men swayed the outcome. The biggest example of all was Trump’s interview on the “Joe Rogan Experience” in late October, which currently has 59 million views.
In a newly released interview conducted earlier this year, “Ultimate Human” podcast host Gary Brecka noted how Rogan was initially hesitant to interview Trump on his show, and asked him what eventually changed his mind.
“Well, there was a bunch of things that happened,” Rogan said. “First of all, there was the lawfare. There was these lawsuits that they were trying to pin on him. They were trying to convict him and turn him into a felon, and they were doing it so blatantly and obviously. The case with the bookkeeping error or the bookkeeping, whatever it was. The misdemeanor that they had charged him with 34 felonies for, which isn’t even a felony. It’s a misdemeanor, and it’s also past the statute of limitations. None of it made any sense. And people were cheering it on. ‘He’s a convicted felon.’”
DEMOCRATS SEEKING TO BUY THE ‘NEXT JOE ROGAN’ OF THE LEFT AFTER 2024 ELECTION DEFEAT
“Hey, they can do that to you. Do you understand that?,” Rogan warned. “If they can do that to a former president, a former f—ing president who’s rich as s—, they can do that to him, they can do that to you, too. You can’t cheer this on. This is insane.”
The assassination attempt against Trump in Pennsylvania was another major factor that persuaded Rogan. He argued the incident could have been a “Lee Harvey Oswald 2.0.”
Another big influence, Rogan said, was the media bias against Trump. Because of the bias, he felt he needed to step up to provide a fair interview.
“There’s no real conversations with him where you’re just treating him like a human being. Like everything, he’s being grilled and then everything’s taken out of context and I’m seeing him being taken out of context on the campaign trail and like it was just gross. It was just so anti-American,” he said.
He added, “If you’re an American and you believe in our justice system and if you believe in our system of electing representatives, it should be [that] the best people should have this opportunity to express what their plan is, ‘This is what I want to do. This is where I stand on the issues. This is how I think I could pull it off.’ And then the American people are supposed to look at this person saying it and decide.”
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After he did the interview in late October, Rogan went on to officially endorse Trump on the eve of the election.
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Tehran warned to take new nuclear deadline ‘seriously’ after military strikes
Iran has until the end of August to agree to a nuclear deal with the United States and its allies, Fox News has learned.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom set the de facto deadline, according to three sources with knowledge of a call Wednesday among the officials.
If Tehran fails to agree to a deal, it would trigger the “snapback” mechanism that automatically reimposes all sanctions previously imposed by the United Nations Security Council.
IRAN’S LEADER THREATENS ‘EVEN BIGGER BLOW’ AGAINST US; TRUMP SAYS HE’S IN ‘NO RUSH’ TO TALK
The sanctions were lifted under the 2015 Iran deal.
The Trump administration has tried pressuring Iran to accept a deal to walk back its nuclear program after U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting nuclear sites.
United Against Nuclear Iran, a nonprofit that opposes Tehran’s effort to develop a nuclear weapon, applauded Wednesday’s news.
IRAN VOWS RETALIATION IF UN SECURITY COUNCIL ISSUES SNAPBACK SANCTIONS ON ANNIVERSARY OF NUCLEAR DEAL
“Tehran has learned that, for the Trump administration, a deadline means a deadline,” UANI Chairman and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace said in a joint statement.
“After failing to agree to a deal within 60 days of diplomacy, the United States and Israel undertook targeted military action against the regime in June. Consequently, Tehran should take this new deadline seriously.”
On Monday, Iran warned it would retaliate if the U.N. Security Council imposes the snapback sanctions.
“The threat to use the snapback mechanism lacks legal and political basis and will be met with an appropriate and proportionate response from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei claimed during a press conference, according to a Reuters report.
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Baghaei didn’t specify how Tehran would retaliate.
Brother blames officials for basketball star’s tearful exit: ‘This is on the reffing’
Colin Clark, the brother of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, suggested that WNBA officials were to blame for the sharpshooting guard’s injury, which she suffered on Tuesday night.
Clark left the game in the final minute after she came up lame following a bounce pass to Kelsey Mitchell. She walked gingerly down toward her own basket and banged her head against the padding in frustration. As she left the court, she was seen in tears.
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The two-time All-Star had missed several games due to injury and was working her way back to full health following a groin injury. The physicality had not turned down. It led to Colin Clark’s post on social media amid the concern about his sister.
“Make no mistake, this is on the reffing,” he wrote on X.
Colin Clark deleted the post afterward.
CAITLIN CLARK LEAVES FEVER’S WIN IN TEARS AS SHE APPEARS TO SUFFER INJURY
But the officiating had been under the microscope all season long. Players from the Fever and the Connecticut Sun got into a brawl earlier in the year as officials let competitive play turn into heated confrontations, which led to a bigger issue.
Fever head coach Stephanie White spoke about the physical play after Indiana’s win over Connecticut on Tuesday night.
“There’s a level of physicality that they’re able to play with against her. I knew it as an opponent, and I see it as her coach. I’m not exactly sure why. It just is what it is,” she said. “We’ve got to help her learn to adjust and use it against them in certain ways. We’ve got to find some ways to make it a little easier for her.”
Admittedly, White added that the WNBA as a whole has seen more physical play on the court than ever before.
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“The level of physicality overall in our league has been at a different level than it’s been for a long time.”
‘The View’ host flips stance on Epstein files as Trump supporters demand answers
“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin has appeared to change her tone on releasing files related to deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein amid outrage over the Trump administration’s declaration that there is no client list.
Hostin and her fellow co-hosts discussed the furor from the right on Monday, calling for the release of the supposed list and more information in general about Epstein’s case. That put Hostin on the side of some of the most right-wing elements of President Donald Trump’s base, who are angry that he’s sided with Attorney General Pam Bondi and derided his own supporters for being too invested in the dead man’s case.
Referring to Trump downplaying the controversy, she said, “So now he’s calling his supporters selfish, he’s trying to make this go away, yet in 2002, he told New York Magazine, ‘I have known Jeff for 15 years. He is a terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do and many of them are on the younger side.'”
“So he said that and then also what Pam Bondi didn’t release because it’s already been released. Trump’s name is on the passenger logs of Epstein’s aircraft at least seven times. That’s already been made public. I mean, of course, Trump is denying any and all allegations, but all of that information is out there. Why not just put it to rest and say, release the list?”
BONDI UNDER SIEGE AFTER DOJ REVEALS NO EPSTEIN CLIENT LIST
Trump’s supporters have called out the administration after the Department of Justice determined that Epstein committed suicide in 2019 and that there is no list detailing who allegedly took part in Epstein’s history of sexual deviancy. Bondi, as well as FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, had all called for Epstein’s sex-trafficking secrets to be made public long before the DOJ’s stunning about-face.
Hostin called for more information to be released, demanding Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell testify on whether the list exists or not. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and helping procure Epstein’s young victims.
Hostin’s attitude appeared to mark a significant shift in her thinking from just one year ago.
While discussing the unsealing of a set of Epstein files in January 2024, Hostin advised against repeating any names released in the files.
“I was very concerned about some of the coverage that I’ve seen. People were dying for this information,” Hostin said on “The View” at the time, in a clip first flagged on X by the account Maze.
“There was some sort of list that everybody thought would come out, and who’s on the list? Only some of the documents have been released, about 900 of them. They’ve been unsealed. The documents have identified numerous Epstein associates and figures mentioned in proceedings of the 2015 defamation lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell,” she continued.
DOJ BRASS VOWED FULL TRANSPARENCY ON EPSTEIN BEFORE TURNING UP EMPTY-HANDED
“What’s important for us to note is we shouldn’t be repeating names that are on the list, because just because your name has – not on the list but in the documents – just because your name is on the documents doesn’t mean that you have done anything criminally irresponsible or illegal or civilly irresponsible,” Hostin cautioned.
She went on to say that it was “extremely important” to note because “conspiracy theorists seem to not understand or enjoy facts.”
House Democrats have now called for a public hearing on the issue amid Republican back-and-forth over the DOJ’s announcement.
“I do think that this is not going away because of the severity of what could be in these files and because of the severity of the crimes,” Hostin said Tuesday. “Democrats are embracing the politics of the situation for a change. They’re actually taking it head-on.”
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Democratic senator arrested in black outfit wanted dad’s ashes, police say
The police bodycam footage showing a Minnesota state senator being arrested on suspicion of breaking into her stepmother’s home was shown at her trial on Wednesday.
Sen. Nicole Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools for the alleged break-in at around 4:45 a.m. on April 22, 2024.
Mitchell, a member of the state Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party who was elected in 2022, said she went to the Detroit Lakes home belonging to her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, who she said has Alzheimer’s, to retrieve some of her late father’s items.
MURDERED DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER’S HOME BROKEN INTO JUST DAYS AFTER FATAL SHOOTING
On Wednesday, prosecutors rested their case after showing police bodycam footage of officer responding to the home.
“She’s my stepdaughter,” Mitchell tells a responding officer. “She’s also a Minnesota senator.”
“She’s a senator?” the officer is heard asking.
“Yes, well was,” Mitchell responds to the officer before he asks whether she currently serves in office.
“Well, she is. I meant after this…” Mitchell said, referring to the arrest.
The footage shows Mitchell inside a police cruiser in handcuffs being questioned. She told an officer that she was “just trying to get some of my dad’s things” and added “clearly, I’m not good at this.”
NEARBY STATE ON ALERT AS SEARCH FOR MINNESOTA LAWMAKER SHOOTER CONTINUES
The criminal complaint states that Mitchell explained to police that her father had just died, and she wanted sentimental items her stepmother refused to give to her, Fox Minneapolis reported.
Mitchell said those include her father’s ashes, pictures, clothes and other sentimental items. Police found Mitchell in the home’s basement dressed in all black.
Officers say they also found a flashlight covered with a black sock on Mitchell. Officers searched for a black backpack that was stuck in a window and found two laptops, a cellphone, a driver’s license, Senate identification and Tupperware products, according to the complaint.
In the footage, Mitchell is seen lying on her stomach inside the home and being placed in handcuffs.
“I was just trying to get some of my dad’s things because she wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” she said.
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During the trial, prosecutors said Nicole Mitchell parked down the road from the home in a well-planned act. Defense attorneys have said that Mitchell was a concerned stepdaughter trying to help a loved one.
During her testimony, Carol Mitchell said she felt “extremely violated” following the alleged burglary.
Major retailers announce massive recall of popular deodorant brand
A recall is underway for tens of thousands of cases of Power Stick antiperspirant deodorant, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
An enforcement report published by the agency showed A.P. Deauville launched a recall for over 67,000 cases of “power fresh”-scented Power Stick for Her Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant, “spring fresh”-scented Power Stick Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant and Power Stick Original Nourishing Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant.
The company took that step July 10, according to the report.
BREAD SOLD AT WALMART, KROGER RECALLED DUE TO UNDECLARED POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGEN
The lot numbers of the recalled cases of Power Stick for Her Roll-On Antiperspirant Deodorant were 032026B011, 032226B031, 051626C241, 061526C882, 071226D371, 071226D381, 082526E341 and 082826E402, while the lot numbers for the affected Power Stick Invisible Protection Roll-On Antiperspirant included 031726A991, 041226B561, 062026C901, 062026C911, 071026D351, 071026D361, 071326D391 and 111626G231, the FDA enforcement report said.
For the third variety, the lot numbers 101225D781, 032926B281, 032826B221, 041126B531, 062226D011, 070626D301, 070626D333, 111026G051, 111326G091 and 111626G221 were among those recalled.
ABOUT 49K ELECTRIC CHAINSAWS, POLE SAWS RECALLED FOR SWITCH FAILURE LACERATION HAZARD
The enforcement report identified “cGMP deviations” as what prompted the recall, indicating it was related to the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations the FDA oversees.
A.P. Deauville says on its website it makes its antiperspirant deodorants at its “FDA-regulated” factory in Pennsylvania.
The cases of the recalled Power Stick deodorant were shipped nationwide, according to the FDA enforcement report. The deodorant is sold at Walmart, Dollar Tree and Amazon.
YOCRUNCH YOGURTS RECALLED FOR POSSIBLE PLASTIC PIECES IN TOPPERS
A.P. Deauville is based in Easton, a city in eastern Pennsylvania that sits near the state’s border with neighboring New Jersey.
In addition to deodorant, the company makes shampoos, conditioners, lotion, body washes and facial wipes, according to its website.
Country star Darius Rucker abruptly ends show mid-set, apologizes to fans
Darius Rucker abruptly ended his concert in New Jersey after losing his voice mid-performance.
On Saturday, the 59-year-old country music star suddenly paused after performing a few songs at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and told the crowd that he couldn’t continue with the show.
“Y’all, I can’t sing anymore,” the Hootie & the Blowfish frontman said in a video by a fan on Philly Burbs.
DARIUS RUCKER ‘DEVASTATED’ BY DEATH OF LONGTIME PRODUCTION MANAGER: ‘HE WAS OUR BROTHER’
He continued, “I’m going to play one more song. I promise you, we are going to figure this out. You’re going to get your money back.”
“I just can’t sing. I’ve never done this before,” Rucker added. “This never happened. I physically can’t sing, and I promise you on everything that I stand for I will make this up to you.”
Rucker went on to play his hit 2013 “Wagon Wheel” as the crowd sang along. The musician then apologized to the audience before exiting the stage.
“I promise you I will make this up to you,” he said. “I promise you, we will figure this out and I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
On Sunday, Rucker shared an update in a post on his Instagram Story. The singer once again apologized for ending the concert early and informed attendees that they would receive full refunds.
“Thank you so much for coming out Saturday night,” Rucker wrote, per Philly Burbs. “I feel awful and I’m so sorry — I have never lost my voice in all my years of performing.”
“We looked at every option to reschedule, but unfortunately, it’s just not possible this year, so we’re issuing full refunds,” the three-time Grammy Award winner added.
“Thank you so much for all your kind messages wishing me well. Love y’all and see you soon!”
Last Saturday’s show was the third stop on Rucker’s ongoing 45-date international tour. The tour kicked off on July 10 at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland.
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A representative for Rucker told Fox News Digital that “there is no further interruption in his touring schedule. “
“Following vocal rest, Darius has been cleared to resume shows,” Rucker’s spokesperson added.
Rucker is next scheduled to perform on Saturday, July 19, at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Resort in Hollywood, Florida.
The United States leg of Rucker’s tour will continue through September before the rocker heads across the pond for several shows in the United Kingdom. In October, Rucker will perform at two concerts in his home state of South Carolina before continuing his tour with shows in Canada. The tour will conclude on Dec. 13 at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, Florida.
In October 2023, Rucker released his seventh solo studio album, “Carolyn’s Boy.” Hootie & the Blowfish’s sixth studio album “Imperfect Circle” debuted in November 2019.
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In June, Rucker confirmed that he was working on new music and had been inspired by his move to London earlier this year.
“I’m working on my album, I’m sure my single’s going to be coming out here soon, you know, and I’m ready for people hear that,” Rucker told People magazine. “I’m looking forward to finishing my record and getting that out. I think it’s refreshing, it’s new. I think my fans are gonna be really, really excited.”
“I went to London to get just a different flavor.” he added. “And I think I did that. I think people are going to like what we did.”
After Rucker’s Hollywood Walk of Fame induction ceremony in 2023, the acclaimed musician exclusively told Fox News Digital that he didn’t feel as though he had reached the pinnacle of his career just yet.
“I think the thing that keeps me working so hard is I always feel like I haven’t done enough,” the singer said.
While he’s been singing and recording music for most of his life, there was one key moment when he knew he had hit a level of success.
Rucker realized he had truly made it as an artist when he was asked to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
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“That was really when I was like, ‘This is really working. This is happening. People get it.’ And that was pretty cool,” Rucker recalled.