AG James’ day goes from bad to worse after internet finds damning old tweets
New York Attorney General Letitia James faced an avalanche of criticism on social media Thursday following news she was indicted for mortgage fraud as many conservatives brought up past tweets of her taunting then presidential candidate Donald Trump for being indicted.
“Roses are red. Violets are blue. No one is above the law. Even when you think the rules don’t apply to you. Happy Valentine’s Day!” James posted on X in February 2024, days before Trump was barred from operating his business in New York for three years and was found liable for more than $350 million in damages in the civil fraud case brought against him, his family and the Trump Organization by James.
The trial was labeled by Trump and many conservatives as politically motivated, and on Wednesday, James herself was indicted for alleged mortgage fraud, prompting conservatives to mock the attorney general over her previous claims on social media that “no one is above the law.”
“This aged perfectly,” conservative influencer Benny Johnson posted on X.
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“If you didn’t complain about this blatant politicization and mocking of the justice system, then please spare me your complaints today,” Red State writer Bonchie posted on X.
“Life comes at you fast,” meteorologist Chris Martz posted on X.
“Roses are red. Violets are blue. If you commit mortgage fraud, a grand-jury will indict you!” Former GOP county executive candidate Chrissy Casilio posted on X.
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“According to the indictment, Tish James claimed this was a second residence, as opposed to an income property,” GOP Rep. Mike Lawler posted on X. “If true, then it would seem based on her own tweets, she believes that is a prosecutable offense as it resulted in a more favorable loan.”
“I totally agree!” Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz posted on X in response to a past James post. “No one is above the law!”
“No one is above the law and that includes NY’s criminal and failed attorney general Tish James – the most corrupt AG in the nation,” GOP Congresswoman Elise Stefanik posted on X.
“No one is above the law!” Outkick founder Clay Travis posted on X.
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A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted James on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan said James faces up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count and forfeiture if she’s convicted.
“No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust,” Halligan said. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”
In a statement, James said the charges were part of Trump’s effort to impose “political retribution at any cost.”
Charlie Kirk’s widow shares post 1 month after his assassination: ‘No linear blueprint’
Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) co-founder Charlie Kirk, addressed her grieving process for her late husband in a social media post one month after he was assassinated Sept. 10 during a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University.
“There is no linear blueprint for grief,” she wrote on Instagram Friday.
“One day you’re collapsed on the floor, crying out the name Jesus in between labored breaths.
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“The next, you’re playing with your children in the living room, surrounded by family photos, and feeling a rush of something you can only attempt to define as divinely planted and bittersweet joy as a smile breaks through on your face,” she added.
A video accompanying the post shows the couple and their children, with voice-overs by Charlie Kirk advocating for marriage and family values. It also shows his packed Sept. 21 memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Erika, who has since taken the helm at TPUSA, the nonprofit that advocates for conservative causes founded by her husband, said she carries “my Charlie in every breath, in every ache, and in every quiet act of day-to-day living as I attempt to relearn what that rhythm will be.”
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Kirk has said she forgives Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing her husband in Orem, Utah.
A video of the grieving widow weeping over her husband’s casket went viral. The couple met in 2018 and had two young daughters.
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“And what I’ve realized through these past 30 days is that the greater the suffering, the purer the love,” she wrote. “And I have never loved him more than I do now.”
US warns Americans about popular vacation spot as terror threat looms
The U.S. State Department issued a revised travel advisory pertaining to the Republic of the Maldives Oct. 7.
“Exercise increased caution in [the Maldives] due to terrorism,” the Level 2 travel warning notes.
The advisory indicates that “terrorist groups may attack with little or no warning.”
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Tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls and local government facilities are listed as possible targets.
Officials warn that attacks may also occur on remote islands, lengthening the response time of authorities in the event of an emergency.
Travelers who have trips planned are encouraged to monitor local and breaking news.
While in the Maldives, visitors should stay aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations and crowds, officials said.
Purchasing travel insurance is also strongly recommended.
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In 2024, over 2 million people visited the Maldives, according to that government’s database.
The island is in South Asia near the eastern Arabian Sea within the northern Indian Ocean.
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The Maldives is made up of 1,192 islands — only 200 are inhabited — that stretch along a length of over 500 miles, according to the location’s tourist site.
Iconic 169-year-old outdoor retailer set to shutter dozens of locations nationwide
The Orvis Company, one of the nation’s oldest outdoor retailers, plans to close more than two dozen stores by 2026 as part of a broader effort to shrink its retail footprint and streamline operations in response to rising tariffs.
Orvis President Simon Perkins said in a statement that 31 stores and five outlets will shutter as the company enters a “new chapter” aimed at a “more focused retail store portfolio” and leveraging its retail partners that sell its products.
Orvis works with more than 550 domestic independent dealers and several national outdoor retailers. The company’s roots date back to 1856 and its headquarters remains in Sunderland, Vermont.
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“Like many in retail, Orvis’ business model faced a sizable shift with the introduction of an unprecedented tariff landscape,” Perkins said, noting that in order for the company to “ensure a durable brand and model for decades to come, we are focusing on our core strengths and making the difficult but necessary decision to rescale the business by tightening our assortment and reducing our corporate store footprint.”
Perkins said this effort to streamline operations is more than just focusing on its products.
“It’s about ensuring Orvis continues to lead in innovation, serve our angling and upland communities, and protect the wild places we love.”
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The company will also invest in areas where it sees potential, such as gear, apparel, outdoor experiences, and conservation efforts, while phasing out older products.
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As part of this transition, Perkins said Orvis will offer special savings on “Last Release” styles that will not return once they are gone, along with substantial savings at closing store locations.
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Orvis is far from the only company forced to become leaner in the face of tariffs. Macy’s, which has been in the midst of closing underperforming stores to try and boost profitability as it faces cost pressures including tariffs. Macy’s executives said on its earnings call last month that it had to pay steep tariffs, as high as 145%, on certain imported items.
Women strip at Maine school board to protest trans students in girls’ locker rooms
Maine’s trans athlete conflict reignited this week with residents taking action at school board meetings.
During one meeting of the school board in the state’s capital of Augusta Wednesday, two women undressed to protest the state’s policies that allow biological males to compete in girls sports and use girls locker rooms.
The stunt came while local parent Nick Blanchard delivered a monologue condemning the school board for enforcing the state’s policies on the issue. Blanchard had spoken earlier in the meeting but returned to the lectern at the end of the meeting with the protesting women behind him to carry out the act.
“I’m about to show you guys how uncomfortable it is for young girls,” Blanchard declared to the board members. “You feel uncomfortable? Because that’s what these young girls feel like when a boy walks into their locker room and starts unchanging in front of them. Yeah, you feel uncomfortable, right? That’s what these young girls feel like every time a young boy changes in front of them.”
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The two women continued to remove garments as Blanchard’s speech continued.
“This is Maine’s capital. We should be setting an example for the rest of the state. You know what example you guys are setting? That we do not care about the young girls in the rest of the state,” he added.
A similar stunt occurred at a California school board meeting when local women’s rights activist Beth Bourne undressed during a speech at a Davis Joint Unified School Board meeting Sept. 18. Bourne was also protesting policies that allow males in girls locker rooms.
Both California and Maine’s state education agencies are being sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for their policies that allow trans athletes in girls sports.
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Multiple individual school districts in both states have passed their own resolutions to support compliance with President Donald Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, while Democrat leadership in those states have refused to comply.
Elswhere in Maine, the RSU 24 School Board adopted one such amendment this past week.
Republican gubernatorial candidate David Jones spoke at the meeting in support of the resolution.
“I don’t have anything against people who feel differently about what they are, but in my mind’s eye, and according to God, there is one man and one woman, not two different types of men, not two different types of women. Biology doesn’t lie,” Jones said.
“Don’t let us go backwards. Let’s do what we need to do to protect every single girl in the state of Maine and make sure that they are not hurt in any way shape or form.”
Maine has loosely allowed trans athletes to compete with girls since 2005, when the Maine Human Rights Act prohibited discrimination based on gender identity.
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The Maine Principals’ Association (MPA) updated its policies in 2024 to explicitly allow transgender students to compete on teams matching their gender identity.
The state, particularly its Democratic leadership led by Gov. Janet Mills, is doubling down to defy Trump and protect its trans athletes’ rights to compete against girls and share girls locker rooms.
Many residents, and now school districts, have taken steps to oppose Mills. There have been multiple protests across the state, including two at the state Capitol in August, by activists looking to protect girls from trans competitors.
A survey by the American Parents Coalition found that, out of about 600 registered Maine voters, 63% said that school sports participation should be based on biological sex, and 66% agreed it is “only fair to restrict women’s sports to biological women.”
The poll also found that 60% of residents would support a ballot measure limiting participation in women’s and girls sports to biological females. This included 64% of independents and 66% of parents with kids under age 18.
High school football team pepper sprayed after losing game they traveled 500 miles for
A high school football game ended in chaos after police deployed pepper spray in an effort to defuse verbal and physical altercations.
The Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School football team from St. Louis traveled nearly 500 miles to Massillon, Ohio, and it turned into a nightmare of a trip.
Cardinal Ritter fell to Massillon High School 28-14 in what was said to be a chippy, physical game all night.
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Tensions boiled over during the postgame handshake, when multiple players had to be separated, prompting the use of pepper spray.
Police said the officers involved “operated within our policies and procedures.”
“Our task was to ensure the safety and security of all those who enter the stadium, which includes fans, students and athletes alike. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the game brought with it multiple physical altercations on the field between both teams,” the police said in a release.
The release then explained why the pepper spray was used.
“Team staff members, coaches and Massillon police officers were forced to intervene and separate players during the post-game ‘hand-shake.’ Officers gave lawful orders on multiple occasions for Cardinal Ritter players to leave the field and head toward their locker room,” the release continued.
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“The verbal commands were an attempt to de-escalate the pushing and shoving occurring. Those commands were ignored. At one point during the incident, a Massillon player’s facemask was grabbed; he was surrounded, and then chased by Cardinal Ritter players. Officers once again ordered the visiting team off the field. All of this was transpiring while the Massillon marching band and cheerleaders were now on the field for the ceremonial post-game playing of the school’s alma mater. This factor concerned officers as they continued to order Ritter players off the field.
“The Ritter players again charged at Massillon players who were now near the band. This was an unfortunate and difficult situation for officers, who, during the entirety of the incident, attempted to restore order. Ultimately, two Massillon police officers deployed pepper spray, which was effective. We have thoroughly reviewed this incident and found they operated within our policies and procedures for the use-of-force action taken.”
Cardinal Ritter officials told Fox 8 in Cleveland they have contacted the Ohio High School Athletic Association to see what action they could take.
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“We are aware of the incident that occurred at the Massillon, OH, football game last week, and we were very troubled by a video of what happened,” Cardinal Ritter’s president Tamiko Armstead said in a statement.
Current Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams attended Cardinal Ritter. Paul Brown, the co-founder of the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, also attended Massillon.
Nina Dobrev shares swimsuit photo from Paris trip following engagement breakup
Nina Dobrev is giving fans a glimpse into her recent vacation.
In an Instagram post, the 36-year-old “Vampire Diaries” star posted photos from her trip to Paris for fashion week, featuring pictures of her with famous friends, including Sophia Bush, and seeing the sights and all the food she ate while in the City of Light.
“Not the main event, but the magic in between 💫,” she captioned the post.
One photo shows Dobrev in a black one-piece bathing suit. In the picture, the actress flashes a peace sign at the camera as she sits in what appears to be a sauna with her hair wrapped in a white towel.
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Fans were quick to flood the comments section with positive messages for the star, with one fan writing, “You look better without him.”
“She glowed up and started living right right after the breakup,” another fan wrote.
Another added, “You are stunning idk how all these men fumble you.”
A third fan compared Dobrev’s post-breakup Parisian adventures to the Season 3 plot of the Amazon Prime show “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
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“THIS IS GIVING TSITP. U BREAKING UP W SOMEONE AND THEN GOING TO PARIS,” the fan wrote in the comments section.
Dobrev announced her engagement to Olympic gold medal-winning skier Shaun White in October 2024 on Instagram. Nearly one year later, however, sources confirmed in September 2025 that the couple had called off their engagement and had gone their separate ways.
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“It was a mutual decision and wasn’t an easy one, but it was made with love and a deep respect for one another,” the source told People.
It’s unclear when the couple began dating, but rumors of their relationship began swirling in March 2020 after they met in late 2019. They eventually made their romance Instagram official in May 2020, with Dobrev posting a photo of herself cutting White’s hair.
They made their red carpet debut two years later in May 2022 at the premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick.”
Prior to breaking off the engagement, Dobrev told E! News the two were in no rush to plan their wedding, telling the outlet she wanted to enjoy that era of her life.
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“We’re just enjoying being engaged at this point and being in that sort of phase because a lot of your life isyou have a boyfriend for half of your life and then you have a husband for half of your life, but the fiancé period is very short,” she said. “I really want to enjoy it and not rush that process.”
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Rock singer known for hits that shaped the sound of the ’60s dies at 82
John Lodge, the legendary bassist and vocalist of The Moody Blues, has died. He was 82.
In a statement shared with Fox News Digital on Friday, Lodge’s family said that he died “suddenly and unexpectedly.” The family added that Lodge “peacefully slipped away surrounded by his loved ones and the sounds of The Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly.”
Birmingham-born Lodge joined The Moody Blues in 1966, two years after its formation, along with fellow singer Justin Hayward, following the departure of Denny Laine and Clint Warwick. He remained with the band until they stopped performing live in 2018.
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Lodge was a pivotal force behind the group’s groundbreaking fusion of orchestral rock and psychedelia.
His contributions to albums like 1967’sDays of Future Passed” and 1968’s “In Search of the Lost Chord” set the tone for the rock movement.
Lodge was also featured on the 1977 album “Octave,” which saw The Moody Blues embrace a more pop-oriented sound.
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His career with The Moody Blues was far from over when the band released their final studio album, “December,” a collection of Christmas songs, in 2003.
The band continued to take the stage until 2018 — the same year they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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“As John would always say at the end of the show, thank you for keeping the faith,” his family noted in their statement.
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Lodge is survived by his wife, Kirsten, whom he married in 1968. The couple had two children, Emily and Kristian, with the former being referred to on The Moody Blues song “Emily’s Song” from the 1971 album “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.”
Known for his deep faith, Lodge was also an Evangelical Christian, a belief he credited for helping him stay grounded throughout his long career in the rock world.
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Maine Gov Janet Mills briefly posts, then deletes, early Senate campaign launch video
Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills appeared to announce the launch of her campaign for the Senate on X on Friday, but then quickly deleted the post.
In a since-deleted announcement video, the 77-year-old Maine governor asked, “Folks, do you want Democrats to take back the Senate? Well, I’m Gov. Janet Mills, and I’m running to flip Maine’s Senate seat blue.”
In the video, Mills took aim at incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican, saying she has “sold out Maine and bowed down to special interests and to Donald Trump, but that ends now.”
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The video directed supporters to donate to an ActBlue page that has also since been deleted.
On the donation page, Mills touted her bona fides, saying, “I’ve spent my career standing up for Maine families as prosecutor, Attorney General, and Governor. I’ve taken on Big Pharma, expanded health care access, and took Donald Trump to court – and won.”
After the posts were deleted, reactions started to flood in online.
“In a now deleted tweet at 4:30pm on a Friday before a holiday weekend, Janet Mills confirms she is in fact running for Senate … Some poor digital staffer is about to get fired!” posted National Republican Senatorial Committee staffer Joanna Rodriguez.
A progressive political commentator named Jack Cocchiarella commented, “If you thought democratic politics was missing geriatric candidates with no charisma, wait until you meet 77 year old Janet Mills Chuck Schumer’s pick for Senate. She posted this launch video today then deleted it after two hours.”
Mills’ announcement has been long anticipated. She is seen as the favored candidate by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The top Democrat in the Senate urged Mills to run and sees her as the best candidate to defeat Collins, the only Republican senator up for re-election next year in a state the Democrats carried in the presidential election. A Collins defeat would be essential for the Democrats to have any chance of winning back the Senate majority.
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But before she reaches the general election, Mills first has to navigate a likely competitive and divisive primary among a crowded field of contenders that includes a much younger rising star on the left who’s backed by longtime progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Mills, a former elected county district attorney and former state lawmaker, made history serving as Maine’s first female attorney general.
She later won election in 2018 as Maine’s first female governor, and, in 2022, she comfortably defeated former Republican Gov. Paul LePage by double digits to win re-election.
While she will be considered the frontrunner for the Democratic Senate nomination, thanks in part to her vast name recognition in blue-leaning Maine, she could face a serious challenge from 41-year-old Graham Platner, a U.S. Marine, Army veteran and oyster farmer who launched his campaign in August.
Platner, who hauled in over $3 million in fundraising during the first six weeks after declaring his candidacy, is backed by Sanders, the two-time Democratic presidential nomination runner-up, who recently stopped in Maine to headline a campaign rally.
In a warning to Mills, Sanders said on social media last week that “Graham Platner is a great working class candidate for Senate in Maine who will defeat Susan Collins.”
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“It’s disappointing that some Democratic leaders are urging Governor Mills to run. We need to focus on winning that seat & not waste millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary,” Sanders added.
Other candidates vying for the Democratic Senate nomination include Dan Kleban, a co-founder of the Maine Beer Co., and former congressional staffer Jordan Wood, who raked in roughly $3 million during the July-September third quarter of fundraising.
Phil Rench, a former senior engineer for Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is running as an independent candidate.
Collins first won election to the Senate in 1996 and won comfortable double-digit re-elections in 2002, 2008 and 2014.
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She chairs the influential Senate Appropriations Committee.
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In her 2020 re-election, Collins faced off against Democratic State House Speaker Sara Gideon in a hotly contested race that became the most expensive in Maine history. While polls indicated Collins trailing her Democratic challenger, she ended up winning the election by more than eight points.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for comment but did not immediately receive a response.