Marine veteran, a double amputee, stresses service to country 'in a different way'

One veteran is still fighting for America — and for himself.

Brandon Rumbaugh appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Sunday morning to share his story of staying fit after his military service — and after becoming a double amputee.

What's clear is that his toughness and strength are continuing to keep him healthy in every way — something others can do as well, no matter their circumstances, especially with him and others as inspiration.

FLORIDA SCHOOLS ARE HIRING MILITARY VETERANS TO FILL TEACHER VACANCIES IN CLASSROOMS

Rumbaugh lost both legs during his service in Afghanistan — he was actually at the hospital together with Johnny Joey Jones, Fox News contributor.

He said that the two of them have come so far in terms of their recovery and their fitness levels. That "makes me happy," he said.

CrossFit helped him with his journey to recovery, he said.

The Semper Fi & America's Fund "was created by a compassionate group of military spouses," its website says. 

"Those same women run The Fund today, alongside other spouses and retired service members from all service branches."

The group has helped over 28,000 veterans around the country, Rumbaugh emphasized.

He said, "It's crazy. There are vets [out there] today that don't know about us" — and they need to, he said, so that they can get the help and support they deserve.

He said that going to the group's website, TheFund.org, "is the easiest way to learn about us," he said. Anyone can donate as well to help America's vets.

"Being able to go to the gym and let out some of [the] frustration, some of that aggression … If you just put your mind to it and get in there and do it, we can accomplish anything," he added. 

He then ran through some key presses with kettlebells with the "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-hosts on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

They worked not only on muscle development, but also on their abs.

"Everything is circuit-based," he said about CrossFit. 

"Not only are we working on muscles, we're going to get our cardio up and our breathing up as well."

He said the key is to "keep moving, keep that heart rate up," he said.

"We served in the Marine Corps — we did our time," he said.

"But now we're serving our country, our people, in a different way — by showing people that we're not out of the fight. We're still here," he said. 

"These veterans around the country need support and help," Rumbaugh also said. 

"It's all about movement," he said, in terms of workouts and staying healthy.

"Semper Fi & America’s Fund cares for our nation’s critically wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and military families," the organization notes on its website. 

"Supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, we provide one-on-one case management, connection and lifetime support. Today. Tomorrow. Together."

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The group also says this: "Our promise is heartfelt and lifelong: The Fund ensures that service members and military families have the resources they need during their recovery and throughout transition back to their communities."

To learn more about the Semper Fi & America's Fund, watch the video at the top of this article, or click here to access it. 

Toomey rips Dems trotting out ‘pseudo celebrity’ Jon Stewart to ‘make up false accusations’ about veteran bill

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., on Sunday ripped Democrats for trotting out a "pseudo celebrity" like comedian Jon Stewart to "make up false accusations" about a veterans benefits bill that was blocked by Republicans last week.

During an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union," Toomey said he blocked the PACT Act, which would provide millions of veterans treatment for illnesses associated with their exposure to burn pits, because he wants an amendment added to prevent excessive spending in categories unrelated to veterans.

Toomey ripped Democrats for trying to paint him as anti-veteran for blocking the bill and Stewart, who has been at the forefront of the issue.

"First of all, this is the oldest trick in Washington," Toomey said. "People take a sympathetic group of Americans, and it could be children with an illness., it could be victims of crime, it could be veterans who have been exposed to toxic chemicals, craft a bill to address their problems, and then sneak in something completely unrelated that they know could never pass on its own and dare Republicans to do anything about it. Because they know they'll unleash their allies in the media and maybe a pseudo celebrity to make up false accusations to try to get us to just swallow what shouldn't be there."

BIDEN CONNECTS THROUGH FACETIME WITH VETERANS EXPOSED TO BURN PITS: THERE IS 'SACRED OBLIGATION' TO HELP THEM

"Let me be very clear," he said. "Republicans are not opposed to any of the substance of the PACT Act. My honest Democratic colleagues will fully acknowledge that my objection, and if I get my way, get my change, it will not change by one penny any spending on any veterans program. What I'm trying to do is change a government accounting methodology that is designed to allow our Democratic colleagues to go on an unrelated $400 billion spending spree that has nothing to do with veterans and that won't be in the veteran space."

SEN. PAT TOOMEY HOLDS UP FINAL APPROVAL OF BURN PIT VETERANS AID PACKAGE, CITING SPENDING CONCERNS

"They could have agreed to this a month ago and this bill would sail through at any point in time," he added. "When we strip out this completely unrelated provision worth $400 billion, I will vote for the bill."

The Senate voted 84-14 last month in favor of the PACT Act, with a majority vote in both the House and Senate. It represents the most comprehensive veterans health care reform to date, establishing a presumptive service connection for veterans made gravely ill after inhaling toxic fumes that hung over their bases overseas, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill went back to the House, which recently passed a revised version, but further passage has been delayed by Toomey, who argued that there already was $400 billion allocated in the discretionary spending budget, and that moving it to the mandatory spending budget would be nothing more than a "gimmick" to avoid spending caps.

Officials from Sen. Toomey’s office also cited a provision they said was added to the PACT Act right before the debate of the bill on the Senate floor, which stated that any discretionary budget funds related to burn pits could become classified as mandatory spending. They told Fox News his amendment focused only on preventing current discretionary spending — occurring regardless of the PACT Act — from being shifted over to the mandatory spending budget. Any new discretionary funding related to toxic burn pit exposure would still be able to be transferred to the mandatory budget.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, who appeared after Toomey on "State of the Union," said the senator’s amendment would lead to the rationing of health care for veterans.

"The ($400B) fund is in the bill so that we can ensure … that all this spending for this program is for the veterans exposed to these toxins," McDonough said. "And so he says it won't impact our programming – in good conscience, I don't see that to be the case. In fact, he puts a year-on-year cap on what we spend, and then at the end of 10 years, the fund goes away under his amendment. So the impact of that would be, if his estimations are wrong about what will spend in any given year, that means that we may have to ration care for veterans. And by the way, that's not something I’ll sign up to."

During an appearance on ABC News’ "This Week" Sunday, Stewart said Toomey’s stalling on the bill is "bananas."

"The Toomey amendment is really about capping the fund," Stewart argued. "It's about putting caps on it and giving it a sunset clause for 10 years. We've been through this, and what Toomey’s amendment wants to do is make sure that our sick and dying veterans have the pleasure that our 9/11 first responders at Ground Zero had of having to come back to Washington, hat in hand, riddled with cancer and march through the halls of the Hill begging for money."

"I mean, the whole thing has been, this is so bananas," he added. "Nothing changed, so I don't understand any of this."

Fox News’ Perry Chiaramonte contributed to this report.

Bill Russell Fast Facts

Read CNN's Fast Facts about Bill Russell to learn more about the Hall of Fame center who won 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics.

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NBA legend Bill Russell dies at 88

Eleven-time NBA champion and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell has died at age 88.

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A popular sunscreen is being recalled because it may contain a carcinogen

Sunscreen is marketed as helping protect against skin cancer — but now some batches of a popular brand are being voluntarily recalled because they may contain a carcinogen.

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Republicans argue Manchin and Schumer's energy, health care deal will raise taxes, citing nonpartisan data

Americans of all incomes would see their federal taxes rise under the climate and health care package that was negotiated last week between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, according to data from the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation released Saturday by Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee.

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Pro Bowler Ryan Kerrigan hangs up his cleats after 11 seasons in the NFL

Ryan Kerrigan, a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker who played for Washington and the Philadelphia Eagles during his 11-year career, called it quits on Friday.

Kerrigan, 33, played in 172 games between the then-Washington Redskins and Washington Football Team and the Eagles. He finished with 95.5 sacks – all with Washington – and retired as the franchise all-time leader in the stat category.

He signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the organization where he played 156 games.

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"I just want people to know that they got all of me," he said, via the Commanders’ website. "I don't have anymore, physically or emotionally, to give as a player. I put my whole life into being a football player."

Washington selected Kerrigan with the No. 16 pick of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Purdue. He immediately made an impact on the team, recording 64 tackles and 7.5 sacks in his first season.

He led the NFL with five forced fumbles in 2014 and had a career-high 13.5 sacks. In 2016, he led the NFL with 18 tackles for a loss. He had 11 sacks that season as well and earned his second Pro Bowl selection.

He played for Washington from 2011 to 2020 before signing with the Eagles ahead of the 2021 season.

SEAHAWKS, DK METCALF AGREE TO CONTRACT EXTENSION

"It’s a new era of football here in Washington, and I’m hoping that means a lot of wins in the future, some playoff wins – something that I unfortunately didn’t get to experience here," he said of the Commanders at a news conference Saturday. "I’m just hoping that means good things for the team moving forward and a good thing for the guys in the locker room."

Washington center Chase Roullier sang Kerrigan’s praises. Both players were on the Redskins and Washington Football Team as the team eventually rebranded as the Commanders.

"Obviously, Ryan spent most of his time here under the old name, but us honoring him as the Commanders I think just continues on the legacy of that name and our team as a whole and just shows that we are still the same group of guys, whether the name has changed or not," Roullier said. 

"There’s a lot of cultural changes, a lot of things that have changed, but we’re still able to honor Ryan as such an important part of this franchise and what he has done for us."

Kerrigan expressed optimism in the direction of the team upon his exit, punter Tress Way said.

"What’s really cool is Kerrigan comes out for one day and he’s talking about what he sees just with us and in the locker room, in the building, on the field, and he said the word ‘momentum,’" Way said. "I’m pretty biased because he’s one of my best friends, but I would argue the same thing. You just feel a certain momentum, so it’s just a matter of whether we can execute and win some games and keep that going."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

26 women allege sexual assault and 2 women claim rape by ​incarcerated men who ​allegedly bribed an Indiana jail officer for keys to their cells

Twenty-eight incarcerated women in Indiana have alleged in two separate federal lawsuits that they were ​threatened or sexually assaulted, including two who said they were raped, last year by ​men incarcerated at the same facility who, according to one of the lawsuits, bribed a corrections officer with $1,000 to obtain the keys to their jail cells.

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Shark sightings in Cape Cod waters ballooned again on Friday

Shark sightings ballooned off of Massachusetts' Cape Cod on Friday. 

Multiple sightings were reported off of Nauset Beach and North Beach Island, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app. 

The app recorded 25 sightings in the past two days and a White Shark Alert was issued Saturday morning after a shark was spotted off Nauset Beach about 75 yards off shore.

Dozens of white shark sightings have been reported in the area in the past week – some of them known to the conservancy.

MAINE BEACH REOPENS AFTER SHARK SIGHTINGS

A shark named Fruit Loops was detected at a buoy on Friday night and Dylan was detected on Saturday morning. 

Down the East Coast, shark sightings have become more common along Long Island shores. 

The sightings – and multiple bites – have forced beach closures.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul directed state agencies to increase shark surveillance

The Florida of Natural History and the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File (ISAF) reported only 12 unprovoked bites had been recorded in New York's history prior to this year, none of which were fatal. 

SHARK ATTACKS: EXPERT SHARES FACTS ABOUT THE OCEAN PREDATOR AMID UPTICK IN SIGHTINGS

It noted that there is a nursery for sand tiger sharks located off Fire Island, New York. 

Sand tiger, sandbar and dusky sharks are commonly found near shore.

Conservation efforts have led to a rebound in shark populations, as well as an increase in the seal population in New England waters.

Scientists also cite warming ocean temperatures and a resurgence of bunker fish for the increase in sightings. 

The risk of shark attacks remains very low.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chargers’ Joey Bosa says Derwin James ‘doing the right thing' by not practicing

Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. may be present at training camp practices, but he won't fully participate until the two-time Pro Bowler’s contract situation is settled. 

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley told reporters Wednesday that the two sides are working through James’ contract situation and that James won’t go "full speed" until it’s resolved. 

James, who is in the final year of his rookie deal and eligible for an extension, is scheduled to make a little over $9 million during the 2022 season. 

Chargers star defensive end Joey Bosa would undoubtedly love to have his teammate in the defensive backfield but also thinks James is making the right move by holding off on practice until he receives a new contract. 

CHIEFS’ PATRICK MAHOMES RESPONDS TO RECENT CRITICISM, KYLER MURRAY ‘INDEPENDENT STUDY’ CLAUSE 

"He’s, I think, doing the right thing," Bosa said, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. "He obviously deserves whatever he’s gonna get. He puts in 100% every single day. He’s just making the best decision for him right now.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, DK METCALF AGREE TO CONTRACT EXTENSION

"But the fact that he’s out here coaching the guys, fully involved, 100% locked in every day, it obviously means a lot to all of us. I’m sure the coaches see it and really appreciate it."

Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, who made his fifth Pro Bowl in 2021, didn’t seem concerned about the negotiations as Los Angeles began its training camp this week. 

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"I’m pretty sure they’ll get that handled," Allen said of negotiations between the Chargers and James’ representatives. "That’s a guy that we definitely need. He’s the heart of the defense, heart of the team pretty much."

James was selected by the Chargers with the 17th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, making the NFL All-Rookie Team and the Pro Bowl, and he was selected as a first-team All-Pro in his first NFL season. 

Injuries hampered James the next two seasons, but a bounce-back season in 2021 earned James his second Pro Bowl appearance. 

Marc Fogel: Family of American man detained in Russia begs Biden, Blinken to add him to Britney Griner deal

The family of a man being detained in Russia is pleading with the highest ranks of the United States government to include the beloved Pennsylvania schoolteacher in their deal with the Kremlin to have those in its custody safely returned to the U.S.

Marc Fogel, 60, is serving what attorneys have called an "exorbitant" 14-year sentence for being caught in Russia with medical marijuana that he used to treat a severe back injury. When news broke that the U.S. government was working on a deal to bring home Americans detained in Russia, his family and representatives had hoped Fogel would be on that list – and were devastated to learn otherwise. 

"[It] was heart-wrenching, hearing he wasn’t included," Fogel’s sister, Anne Fogel-Burchenal, told Fox News Digital on Friday. 

After staying quiet to avoid risking impeding Fogel’s case, his sisters and relatives are speaking out.

RUSSIAN OFFICIALS RESPOND TO US OFFER FOR BRITTNEY GRINER, PAUL WHELAN: 'NO AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED'

"Our strategy was to play it low-key and cool through his sentencing, because that was what we thought was the right thing to do. But maybe it wasn’t. Maybe we should’ve been screaming and hollering all along," Fogel-Burchenal said, when reached by phone. 

Fearing the worst, they have since changed their plans for navigating the unimaginable.

"We are going to yell as loudly as we can and continue to until he gets home," she went on. We aren’t going to let it rest." 

Fogel had worked as a teacher at school in Moscow for nearly ten years when he was stopped at an airport upon his return to Russia. He was in possession at the time of medical marijuana that his doctor recommended he take for "severe chronic pain" that was caused by years of spinal injuries and resulting surgeries. 

US OFFERS ‘SUBSTANTIAL PROPOSAL’ TO BRING BRITTNEY GRINER, PAUL WHELAN HOME FROM RUSSIA

According to The Washington Post, he had approximately half an ounce of medically-prescribed marijuana when he was detained in August 2021. In June of this year, he was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison after he was convicted of "large-scale drugs smuggling," according to reports.

Then, this week, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed that the U.S. had offered to make a deal with Russia in exchange for two Americans, WNBA athlete Brittney Griner – who was also detained at a Russian airport on drug-related charges – and Michigan security executive Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence for espionage charges that his family has completely rejected. 

But Fogel was not included in the deal.

JACK BARSKY: WHAT A RUSSIAN SPY'S JOB MIGHT LOOK LIKE NOW, FROM ONE OF THE KGB'S 'BEST-TRAINED' DOUBLE AGENTS

An attorney assisting Fogel’s family with his case told Fox News Digital in an email that Fogel "fully cooperated with the investigation and prosecution; submitted substantial proof of prior medical treatment, of debilitating health conditions, and of his doctor’s recommendation for medical marijuana."

His representatives shared dozens of references letters and evidence showing his lack of any criminal record.

"However, Marc’s exorbitant 14-year sentence, which is usually reserved to large-scale drug smugglers and murderers even in Russian courts, made it abundantly clear that Marc cannot obtain justice in Russia," the attorney wrote.

The family has asked the U.S. State Department to classify Fogel as "wrongfully detained." The designation, the attorney said, "which would commit additional US government resources to securing his release and move to the jurisdiction of the US government’s Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs."

"A request has been made for Marc’s Humanitarian Release due to his health conditions: given Marc’s age and health condition, a 14-year sentence in a Russian prison colony is, at best, a life sentence and, at worst, a death sentence," the attorney continued. "We strongly believe that Marc should be included in any exchange deal the U.S. and Russia are negotiating."

FAMILIES OF AMERICANS DETAINED IN RUSSIA AMID CONFLICT REMAIN HOPEFUL, DESPITE FEARS OF RUNNING OUT OF TIME

A State Department spokesperson said they were limited in what they could discuss because of privacy concerns, but said consular officers are working in many ways to help Fogel, whom they did not identify by name. The State Department is insisting that Russia continue to allow access to U.S. citizens detained there, and is urging the Russian government to ensure fair treatment and adequate medical care for detained Americans, the spokesperson said.

Ellen Keelan, Fogel’s niece, told Fox News Digital neither she nor her family has spoken directly to Fogel in "almost a year," and is instead limited to pre-screened and roughly translated letters that, in the end, don’t "even sound like him." And they don’t know what actually gets to him, and in what state their messages to him end up being, she said. 

"My understanding is he is okay … I don’t know if that is the right word," Keelan said. But "nobody has been granted a phone call. Nobody has heard from him or seen his face." 

She added: "It’s just been a black box in communication. Every time we think we are going to get an answer, we are sent down another path." 

In just weeks, he will have been detained in Russia for one year.

"A 14-year sentence being forced to do hard labor – it’s not like we’re going to see him when he is 75. He is simply not going to survive this. We are fighting for his life."

She said the situation has gone "from critical to dire."

"We are pleading with the Biden Administration to classify him as wrongfully detained," she added. "Remember this is a real person – a husband and father and an amazing teacher – and we can’t let this be the end of his story."

Fogel’s family has started a Change.org petition and is now trying to be as active as possible on social media. Keelan credited Griner’s case with "raising awareness" to Fogel’s story. 

His sister, Lisa Hyland, said she has been encouraged when she heard that Griner said to "bring all the wrongfully detained home." 

"This is above the State Department now," she said. "This is President Biden, Secretary Blinken, Jill Biden, even – she’s a teacher. They have to do what they can. Otherwise, we are never going to see him again."

White Sox's Tim Anderson bumps umpire after ejection: 'I didn’t see any contact that I know'

A rough night for the Chicago White Sox was headlined by Tim Anderson’s seventh-inning ejection after he seemed to bump an umpire after contesting a strike call. 

Anderson and manager Tony La Russa were thrown out of Friday night’s 7-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics after a heated argument following a strike call that appeared to be high. 

Anderson let home plate umpire Nick Mahrley know how he felt, prompting the ejection. But what followed next could lead to a lengthy suspension from Major League Baseball. 

WHITE SOX’S TIM ANDERSON SILENCES YANKEES FANS WITH HOME RUN: ‘TELL THEM TO SHUT THE F--- UP’ 

"I don’t think Tim cursed him or anything," La Russa explained after the game. "If you don’t allow a player to be emotional, (and) you have a bunch of robots out here playing, that’s not entertaining.

"That at-bat, I thought the pitches were questionable. He got upset," he continued. "I think you need to allow players to spark, as long as they don’t cross a line. And that thing escalated before Tim did anything. He’s fired up. That’s the way he plays. That’s the way you’re supposed to play."

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Mahrley seemed to motion that Anderson made contact with him during the verbal altercation, but La Russa saw it differently. 

"I know I think I saw the umpire moving forward quite a bit, which they’re taught not to do that," La Russa said. "I didn’t see any contact that I know."

Trailing 5-3 at the time, Chicago allowed two more runs and lost its second straight to fall below .500 (49-50).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Mega Millions jackpot winner can choose to remain anonymous

A ticketholder in Illinois won the $1.3 billion Mega Millions jackpot on Friday night, and has so far remained anonymous.

The winning ticket was sold at the Speedy Café Speedway gas station on East Touhy Avenue in Des Plaines, Illinois. The winning numbers were listed as 13, 36, 45, 57, 67 and the gold Mega ball was 14. The Megaplier was 2X.

"Congratulations to the Illinois Lottery for selling the winning ticket for the $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot," Ohio Lottery Director Pat McDonald said in a statement. 

MEGA MILLIONS LOTTERY DRAWING: IF YOU WIN, HERE'S HOW TO STAY SAFE AND SECURE

"We are thrilled to have witnessed one of the biggest jackpot wins in Mega Millions history. We’re eager to find out who won and look forward to congratulating the winner soon! Better still, this exciting jackpot run has had a significant positive impact on the revenues for good causes raised by our member lotteries."

MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT: HOW MUCH WILL WINNER OWE IN TAXES?

The identity of the freshly-minted billionaire may be released if the winner decides to come forward. However, Mega Millions allows winners to remain anonymous if they so choose — most often to afford negative attention or unwanted solicitations for money.

Individual states can have public disclosure laws that require the identity of winners to be published, but Illinois does not.

"If your prize is $250,000 or greater, you may request to keep your name and municipality of residence confidential by indicating that choice on the Illinois Lottery Winner Claim Form," according to Illinois Lottery rules. 

MEGA MILLIONS $1 BILLION-PLUS LOTTERY JACKPOT: WILL WINNING MAKE YOU HAPPIER OR NOT?

The regulations continue, "You must make this request at the time of claiming the prize. If you do not, to assure the public that prizes are won and awarded, the Illinois Lottery will routinely publish winner information, including the winner’s name, home city, and the amount won.

The Mega Millions lottery game is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is coordinated by state lotteries.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Recession ‘word churn’ from Democrats is not working, warns Washington Post columnist

Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle dismissed the semantics debate over whether the U.S. was officially in a recession and warned Democrats that such "word churn" about the state of the economy was not an effective political strategy. 

In her Friday piece, titled, "Enough with the ‘is this a recession?’ blather," McArdle began by asking, "Are we in a recession? Does it even matter?" She noted "that a preliminary Bureau of Economic Analysis report released Thursday shows that the economy contracted at an annualized pace of 0.9 percent in the second quarter, following a decrease of 1.6 percent in the first quarter." 

Two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth has traditionally been the technical definition of a recession. 

McArdle pointed out, "Thus, the pundit class launched into a quarrel over whether this really, truly constitutes a recession. As with everything else these days, the debate (mostly) split along partisan lines and became so fierce that Wikipedia had to close its entry on recessions to edits."

POLITICO, CNN, MSNBC JOURNALISTS BACK OFF RECESSION DEFINITION THEY PREVIOUSLY ESPOUSED

She defined both sides of the argument, "The right insists that, yes, obviously we’re in a recession. What part of ‘two quarters of negative GDP growth’ don’t you understand? The left points out that actually, the official U.S. metric relies on a considerably more complicated cocktail of indicators."

While McArdle suggested the spin coming from Democrats and the Biden White House was "not unreasonable," she also admitted "it is probably unreasonable to spend much time arguing about" the definition of a recession. 

"The Biden administration has spent a lot of energy trying to manage perceptions of the economy," the columnist observed. As an example, she reminded readers, "Remember when inflation was going to be ‘temporary?'"

McArdle examined how those talking points from the Biden administration didn’t protect President Biden from unpopularity: "Insisting that inflation was just a blip didn’t stop consumers from noticing that prices were rising. Nor did it protect Biden’s approval ratings, which dived even as the administration continued to insist that everything was fine."

COLBERT SKEWERS MSNBC, CNN FOR REDEFINING RECESSION, CLAIMS THEY’RE NOT ‘QUALIFIED’ TO SPEAK ON ISSUE

"In fairness, some would argue that when it comes to the economy, perceptions can become reality," she acknowledged. "Thus, the theory goes, if you can prevent the media from talking down the economy, we might all be better off."

However, McArdle threw cold water on that notion: "You can’t message people out of thinking their economic circumstances have gotten worse — or out of worrying that this portends ill for the future." She concluded, "So all the spin efforts are likely to come to naught."

The columnist added "it’s emblematic of a dangerous tendency on the left to believe they can control reality by controlling the words we use to describe it." She then elaborated on "the left’s full-time obsession" with semantics. 

"It is the left that has put us on a never-ending euphemism treadmill, transforming ‘illegal alien’ into ‘illegal immigrant’ and therefrom to ‘undocumented worker’ and so on," McArdle cited as one example. Referencing the findings of linguist Steven Pinker, she explained that, "this doesn’t work: The negative associations are attached to the underlying concept, not the vocabulary." 

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She warned, "Meanwhile, the constant word churn alienates people who find the neologisms alien and off-putting, especially less-educated voters that Democrats are now hemorrhaging." 

McArdle wrapped up the column by offering this advice to Democrats, "Sure, you can’t really blame the Biden administration for trying to put a positive spin on things. But the rest of us — and Democrats especially — would be better off if the left spent less time looking for better phrasing and more time finding solutions."

Tips for staying safe in flooding: Keep an ax in the attic

There is no more dangerous time for severe weather than after dark. You can't see the storm coming. You can't see the water rising. And, if it's late enough, you're not awake to hear the warnings.

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Slain UCLA student Brianna Kupfer's father is outraged over autopsy report leak

EXCLUSIVE: The heartbroken father of a UCLA graduate student brutally slaughtered in a random daylight attack in Los Angeles is outraged that the autopsy report containing graphic details of her savage murder was leaked to the press.

"You have people who don’t really care about humanity and, for whatever selfish gain or for whatever reason, they act without authority and without a conscience," Todd Kupfer told Fox News Digital. 

Brianna Kupfer, 24, was stabbed to death Jan. 13 while working at upscale furniture store Croft House by career criminal Shawn Laval Smith, who may have targeted her because she was alone in the store. 

"Everybody knows she was brutally murdered. I don’t know why people would need to know more than that. It's glorifying a horrible tragedy for entertainment," Kupfer said.

WHO IS BRIANNA KUPFER, THE LOS ANGELES STABBING VICTIM?

 A 34-page autopsy report issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner details her gruesome injuries – including that she had been stabbed 26 times with a gray-handled kitchen knife. Autopsy reports are not public. 

Kupfer said he and his family have intentionally avoided watching or reading any media coverage about the autopsy. "We don’t want to know that at this point. It’s too difficult and too triggering," he said. 

A Los Angeles assistant district attorney contacted him Thursday to inform him of the privacy breach and said officials are investigating.

Smith, 31, allegedly strolled into the Brianna Kupfer's store at about 2:30 p.m., and she immediately texted her manager to say the man was giving her a "bad vibe." Minutes later she was dead. Smith fled but was arrested six days later in Pasadena.

Smith has an extensive record spanning both coasts and had an active warrant for assaulting a cop at the time of the murder. Authorities are currently awaiting the results of Smith’s mental health evaluation to proceed to trial.

FATHER OF SLAIN UCLA GRAD STUDENT BLAMES POLITICIANS FOR CRIME SPIKE

Progressive prosecutors like Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón have come under fire for their soft-on-crime policies, as the murder rate has surged in many big cities.

Gascón faces a recall amid a soaring homicides rate that has spiked 35% so far this year compared to the same period in 2020, according to public data.

"Obviously the recall campaign right now is an important step," Kupfer told Fox News Digital. "People need to be accountable for their actions. People shouldn't have their right to safety taken away so others can have a free pass to commit crimes over and over again."

BRIANNA KUPFER SENT PAL OMINOUS TEXT BEFORE SHE WAS STABBED TO DEATH

He added of his daughter's killer, "He should have been in jail."

Kupfer grew up in the Pacific Palisades – about 3 miles north of Santa Monica – with her father, her mother Lori, her little sister Mikaela and her brothers Tucker and Brandon.

"She was a kind soul and always was trying to make herself better and everything around her better," Kupfer previously told Fox News Digital. "She cared about people."

The University of Miami graduate loved to sew and wanted to create her own clothing line. She was studying design at UCLA and had been working at Croft House on La Brea Ave. for about a year as a consultant. 

Todd Kupfer said the family is doing its best to cope with the immense loss of their beloved daughter.

"You can’t really move ahead, all you can do is move, so we're trying to move and honor her as much as we can every day with our actions and our voices," he said. " But the pain obviously doesn’t go away. It’s with you every day."

Smith faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder. The Los Angeles District Attorney and the medical examiner's office didn't immediately return requests for comment.

An entire North Carolina police department resigned after a Black woman town manager was hired

The mass exodus of an entire police department after the hiring of a Black town manager in North Carolina has opened a conversation about public safety and race relations in a small town of just over 1,500 residents.

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Kentucky children die during historic flooding after being swept away: Report

Four children in Kentucky are among the latest victims in the state's historic flooding, which has left some areas completely underwater.

Brittany Trejo told Kentucky.com that four of her young cousins died after being swept away into the floodwaters on Thursday.

She said the children, who were between the ages of 1 and 8, died after their parents struggled to hang on to them, according to the report. The children's bodies were recovered at about 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

According to Trejo, the bodies of Maddison Noble, 8; Riley Jr., 6; Nevaeh Noble, 4; and Chance Noble, 1, were all recovered.

KENTUCKY FLOODING DEATH TOLL REACHES 16 AND WILL 'GET A LOT HIGHER,' GOVERNOR SAYS

A spokesperson for the Kentucky State Police confirmed to the outlet that they have seen the report of four children missing, but didn't add any details.

The parents who survived the flood, according to a GoFundMe, have "lost everything."

KENTUCKY FLOODING: AT LEAST 3 DEAD, HUNDREDS OF HOMES COULD BE DESTROYED, GOV. BESHEAR SAYS

"They got on the roof and the entire underneath washed out with them and the children. They managed to get to a tree and ... held the children a few hours before a big tide came and wash them all away at the same time," Trejo said. "The mother and father was stranded in the tree for eight hours before anyone got there to help."

In a Friday briefing, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll as a result of the flooding has reached 16 people, and said that the number is expected to rise.

"Folks, that's gonna get a lot higher," Beshear said.

As of Friday afternoon, 21,684 customers are without power in Kentucky.

Fox News' Julia Musto contributed to this report.

Warnock puts pressure on Walker to agree to debate in Georgia Senate race

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia is turning up the heat on Herschel Walker, calling out his Republican opponent for so far refusing to agree to public debates before this fall's election.

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Mike Pompeo warns Brittney Griner trade offer 'sets a dangerous precedent' for US

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the Biden administration offering a malicious Russian prisoner in exchange for two American detainees is a dangerous path for U.S. foreign policy.

"He's a bad guy. He is a guy who wanted to kill Americans. It presents a real risk to the United States… There's a real reason the Russians want to get him home. To offer a trade like this is a dangerous precedent," Pompeo told "America's Newsroom."

"This is not a good trade, not the right path forward, and it'll likely lead to more."

Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the "Merchant of Death" whose weapons sales fueled deadly conflicts around the world, could be sent back to his motherland in exchange for WNBA star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan. 

WHO IS VIKTOR BOUT, RUSSIA'S 'MERCHANT OF DEATH' WHO COULD BE FREED IN PRISONER SWAP FOR BRITTNEY GRINER?

Russian officials have long pushed for the release of Bout, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence in U.S. prison after being convicted in 2011 of conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiracy to deliver anti-aircraft missiles, and aiding a terrorist organization.

He was nabbed in 2008 in a sting operation at a luxury hotel in Bangkok, Thailand, where he met with Drug Enforcement Administration informants who were posing as officials with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which has been classified by US officials as a narco-terrorist group.

Prosecutors said that Bout was prepared to provide the group with $20 million worth of "a breathtaking arsenal of weapons — including hundreds of surface-to-air missiles, machine guns and sniper rifles — 10 million rounds of ammunition and five tons of plastic explosives."

The Biden administration confirmed Wednesday that it has made a "substantial proposal" to help free Griner and Whelan. 

Griner was arrested at a Russian airport in mid-February after police said they found cannabis oil in her bags. She pleaded guilty this month to a drug smuggling charge and could face up to 10 years in prison, but she has said that her "intent" was not to violate Russian law.

Whelan was sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2020 on espionage charges, but he and his family have maintained his innocence, while the U.S. government has called the charges false. 
 

Following Pompeo's appearance on "America's Newsroom," Gen. Jack Keane remarked on "The Faulkner Focus" that swapping a prisoner that threatened the U.S. is "distubring."

"I agree with Secretary Pompeo," the Fox News senior strategic analyst said. "This is, as you pointed out, a Russian arms dealer who's trying to get arrested for attempting to kill Americans who is assisting terrorists around the world. That is the problem."

"I [have] great empathy for the families, and certainly they're hoping that something comes of this," he continued. "But this is the wrong choice the administration has made. The Department of Justice was opposed to this initially, and they were browbeat by Secretary Blinken and the president of the United States to agree. And I think the Department of Justice was right in the beginning and putting their hands up and saying, 'No, no, not this person. Let's find somebody else.'"

Fox News' Paul Best contributed to this report.

Tiny birth control stock soars following Roe v. Wade overturn

There's a saying on Wall Street that traders often sell the news. Well, that hasn't been the case with a tiny reproductive health company following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last month.

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American woman killed on Fiji honeymoon had 'horrific' injures that were no accident: lawyer

EXCLUSIVE DETAILS: The Tennessee pharmacist murdered in Fiji on her honeymoon had "horrific injuries" that could not have resulted from an accident, as her husband and suspected killer claimed through his defense lawyer, according to the attorney for her family.

Fiji police discovered Christe Chen, a Memphis 39-year-old, beaten to death in the bathroom of a luxurious room at the Turtle Island Resort on Nanuya Levu on July 9, according to authorities. They arrested her husband, Bradley Robert Dawson, 38, two days later on Nadi, the country’s main island, on suspicion of murder.

The medical examiner found "multiple blunt force injuries around head and face," Ronald Gordon, her family’s lawyer, told Fox News Digital. When her parents visited her in the morgue, he added, her mother "was inconsolable because of the injuries."

"It doesn’t look like it was an accidental pushing, and she fell and hit her head and something happened," he said. "We're of the view that she was repeatedly assaulted, but that remains something that will come out in the criminal proceedings."

AMERICAN NEWLYWED KILLED ON FIJI HONEYMOON SO BRUTALLY BEATEN SHE HAD TO BE CREMATED

Lacerations around her eyes were so deep, he said, that the hospital advised her family against embalming Chen in order to transfer her remains back to the U.S. The wounds were so severe the morgue attendant feared embalming fluid might leak out.

"They were compelled, unfortunately, to have her cremated here in Lautoka," he said.

But the island doesn't have a crematorium, Gordon said. They cremated her body on an open-wood funeral pyre.

Chen and Dawson married in February after just a few months of dating and were visiting the exclusive five-star resort, which costs more than $2,000 a night for its cheapest room, for their honeymoon.

Days into the trip, Dawson, an IT worker at a children’s nonprofit, took off under suspicious circumstances, according to police. He allegedly told a local man he’d had an argument with his wife and kayaked away from the resort.

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS LUXURY BEACHSIDE RESORT IN FIJI AT CENTER OF TENNESSEE WOMAN'S HONEYMOON MURDER

"He left his very sophisticated GPS watch outside the room and left his room with just his wallet and his passport, and so it just shows his intention was to flee the country," Gordon said. "We certainly think he's a flight risk and will be opposing the application for bail."

Additionally, Chen’s remains were not discovered for a full day, Gordon said.

"So the father doesn’t know if she was alive when he left her, if she could’ve been saved if someone had found her," he said. "He was quite concerned that Christe would have suffered."

Chen’s parents considered visiting Dawson in the Fiji jail, but their lawyer said he advised against it, and they ultimately agreed.

MISSING MASSACHUSETTS WOMAN FOUND DEAD, KNIFE-WIELDING EX KILLED IN CONFRONTATION WITH VERMONT POLICE

"She’s the only child. She had just finished her pharmacy qualifications, looking forward to commencing a new life as a pharmacist," he said. "The family is very, very distraught. They’ve lost an only child. And they keep asking us, and themselves as well, why? Why did he do this?"

Gordon said that wrongful death lawsuits could be filed both in Fiji and in the U.S., but the family’s immediate focus is on the pending criminal trial at the Lautoka High Court. Prosecutors there were given three weeks to file the Fiji version of an indictment, called the "information," he said.

Dawson’s next court date was set for August 18, but he is expected to appear before that as he applies for bail, which prosecutor Alvin Singh and Chen’s family have indicated they will oppose.

Dawson's lawyer Iqbal Khan did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.

Flash drought intensifies, causing agriculture concerns in the Plains and water shortages in the Northeast

Flash drought conditions intensified in the Northeast and across the southern Plains, causing agriculture concerns across the regions, according to the latest US Drought Monitor released Thursday morning.

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Trump asserts 'absolute immunity' in civil suits around Jan. 6 actions

Former President Donald Trump is claiming "absolute immunity" in all civil suits pertaining to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Trump's preliminary statement to the court has been released, in which the former president's legal team dismisses the possibility of civil suits against Trump entirely, citing presidential immunity.

"This appeal requires the adjudication of a simple but important constitutional issue regarding the separation of powers: whether the scope of the presidential absolute immunity continues to reach the outer perimeters of presidential responsibilities or whether the immunity can be undercut if the presidential act in question is unpopular among the judiciary," the statement read.

SEXTON SAYS DEMS ARE WAITING ON JUST ONE THING BEFORE DUMPING BIDEN — AND THAT'S TRUMP

Trump's legal team continued, "This question has already been answered by the Supreme Court, which held that the immunity is rooted in constitutional separation of powers, and it is especially important to the President because he deals with matters that are controversial and arouse intense feelings."

The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating the actions and correspondence of Trump in its investigation of his inner circle’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. 

In his preliminary statement, Trump claimed that a judiciary review of "executive function" would set a poor precedent for the future, allowing the three branches of government to interfere and meddle with one another on ideological grounds.

DONALD TRUMP ATTENDS LIV GOLF WELCOME PARTY WITH GREG NORMAN, DUSTIN JOHNSON AHEAD BEDMINSTER INVITATIONAL

"In an increasingly polarized political environment, it is critical that the judiciary draw bright lines that it will not cross regarding overstepping into the regulation of executive function," Trump's statement reads. "The underlying factual dispute regarding the January 6, 2021, violence at the Capitol arouses the passions of many Americans, including members of the bench and bar." 

The statement continues, "Consequently, it is especially important to avoid allowing the judicial department to pass judgment on the political statements and discourse of the President of the United States."

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the DOJ has, before a grand jury, asked witnesses about meetings Trump had in December 2020 and January 2021 as well as his pressure campaign on former Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election. 

Former Pence aide Marc Short confirmed to Fox News' "Special Report" host Bret Baier that he had been recently interviewed by a grand jury in Washington but would not specify the details of the questioning. 

Asked if indicting a former president would create further division in the country, Garland said the U.S. Justice Department will pursue justice "without fear or favor."

"We intend to hold everyone, anyone who was criminally responsible for the events surrounding Jan. 6, for any attempt to interfere with the lawful transfer of power from one administration to another, accountable," he said. "That's what we do."

Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report.

Guy Benson rips Biden admin's 'word games' on crises: 'I don't know who they think they're fooling'

Fox News contributor Guy Benson slammed the White House on "America's Newsroom" Wednesday for their "stupid word games" after Attorney General Merrick Garland stopped short of declaring a crime crisis in America.

NYC TEEN GIRLS ARRESTED ON HATE CRIME CHARGES FOR 'ANTI-WHITE ASSAULT'

GUY BENSON: Here we are playing very stupid word games again. On the border crisis… here's a "matter of concern" on the crime crisis… Recession, let's change the definition of that word… they won't even describe the problem accurately and I don't know who they think they're fooling.

…

We just saw the video of that individual beating up and trying to choke a cop, right? It turns out he was out on no bail from a previous crime, a robbery. Then there he is assaulting the cop. It is a vicious attack, and he gets released almost immediately after that. And so they can talk about their talk. I think most people who are affected by this, are concerned about this, say, "OK, fabulous. More words now."

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Family of teen killed in Burlington Coat Factory sues LAPD

The parents of Valentina Orellana Peralta, a 14-year-old girl who was shot and killed by police in a clothing store last year, are now suing the Los Angeles Police Department.

The deadly encounter took place at a Burlington store in North Hollywood, California, on Dec. 23, 2021. At the time, cops were responding to a disturbance at the store, when Officer William Dorsey Jones Jr., fired three shots, one of which went through the wall of the dressing room the girl and her mother were in.

Soledad Peralta "felt her daughter’s body go limp and watched helplessly as her daughter died while still in her arms," the lawsuit states.

Officers then told the mother to exit the dressing room, at which point she waited for "what seemed like an eternity." Meanwhile, no one even told her that Valentina was dead.

LOS ANGELES CLOTHING STORE SHOOTOUT LEAVES SUSPECT AND TEEN GIRL DEAD, POLICE SAY

Police were at the store in response to a 911 about another individual, Daniel Elena Lopez, who attacked two women. Officers entered, and Jones pushed to the front of the group, even though others repeatedly said to "slow down."

Bodycam footage showed that cops saw a woman crawling on the floor, with Lopez on the other side of the aisle. One officer yelled, "Hold up! Hold up!" right before Jones fired three times, resulting in the girl's death.

Lopez was also shot and killed at the scene.

The lawsuit, brought by parents Soledad Peralta and Juan Pablo Orellana Larenas, was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, names the LAPD, Jones, the city of Los Angeles, and Burlington Stores Inc. as defendants. 

Burlington said in a statement that "our customers’ safety and well-being is of paramount importance to us" but did not comment on the litigation.

LAPD RELEASES VIDEO OF MOMENTS LEADING UP TO FATAL SHOOTING OF SUSPECT, GIRL, 14, AT BURLINGTON STORE

The complaint claims that the LAPD is responsible because they allegedly "fostered an environment that allowed and permitted this shooting to occur," by not properly training and supervising the officers involved.

"Filing this lawsuit is the first step for Soledad and Juan Pablo in seeking the transparency and justice promised to them by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti following the fatal shooting of their daughter, Valentina," the family’s lawyer, Rahul Ravipudi, said in a statement. "It is their deepest hope that those responsible for her death will be held accountable and that changes will be made to LAPD policies, practices, and standards for using deadly force that will prevent yet another senseless tragedy at the hands of law enforcement."

On Tuesday, LAPD Chief Michael Moore called the incident "a point of grief" for the department.

"The loss of her life is tragic," he said.

Searing heat in the Pacific Northwest and the Southeast to continue through the week

Heat warnings and advisories are coating the Pacific Northwest as daily temperatures soar to record-breaking levels in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, stirring memories of the blistering heat wave that brought all-time records last year.

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After surviving abuse from their biological parents for years, 6 Turpin children were placed in a foster home 'of horrors,' attorney says

Six of the 13 Turpin children -- who were tortured for years by their biological parents -- were then placed in a foster home where they endured a "second bout" of abuse, including sexual, physical and emotional abuse, and their reports were ignored by the foster care agency, an attorney for two of the children told HLN.

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North Carolina's largest city's mayor wins election, will serve another term as Charlotte mayor

The mayor of North Carolina's largest city has won another term as mayor, while the top law enforcement officer in the state's largest county fell short in his reelection bid following a primary runoff.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles won a third term on Tuesday, as the Democrat defeated Republican rival Stephanie de Sarachaga-Bilbao by a more than 2-to-1 margin, according to unofficial results.

In Greensboro, the state's third-largest city, Mayor Nancy Vaughan led challenger Justin Outling by more than 400 votes in the officially nonpartisan race. The News & Record of Greensboro reported that Outling, a city council member, declined to concede late Tuesday, saying he wanted to wait for other votes to be counted. There are an unknown number of provisional and mail-in absentee ballots outstanding. About 15% of the mayoral votes counted by Tuesday were for write-in candidates.

Meanwhile, Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker lost handily to former deputy Willie Rowe in a runoff for the Democratic nomination. Rowe will now take on Republican Donnie Harrison — a former sheriff — in the November election.

NORTH CAROLINA ALLOWS FELONS TO VOTE FOLLOWING AN APPEALS COURT RULING

Rowe, who worked in the sheriff's office for 28 years, had finished ahead of Baker in the seven-candidate May 17 Democratic primary.

But he failed to exceed the 30% threshold to win outright, leading to a runoff against second-place finisher Baker, who was first elected in 2018 by defeating Harrison.

Among other duties, the Wake sheriff runs the county's jails, manages pistol permits, serves warrants and polices certain sections of the county.

NORTH CAROLINA POLICE RELEASE NEW INFO ABOUT KAREN BAKER'S ATM SLAYING

Issues in the primary included concerns about increased violence, Baker’s treatment of employees and how his office handled protests following the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported. Baker had defended his agency's use of tear gas against demonstrators in downtown Raleigh, saying at the time that it had received information that people wanted to set law enforcement and court buildings on fire.

Baker ran in 2018 primarily on his opposition to Wake’s longtime formal partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in which deputies enforce immigration laws in the jail. Once elected, he cut ties with the 287(g) program.

Voters in more than a dozen municipalities or counties had elections on Tuesday, either to elect new officials or pick party nominees.

NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN INJURED AFTER JUMPING OUT OF MOVING POLICE CAR

Municipal elections are usually held in odd-numbered years, but some were moved to this year because of 2020 census delays. Those results are needed to adjust district boundaries for population changes.

Dallas police release video of officer shooting woman who fired gun at Dallas airport

The Dallas Police Department released edited surveillance and body camera video of a woman who fired a gun at Dallas Love Field Airport Monday and was taken down by a police officer.

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Hours before Trump speaks, Pence outlines conservative 'agenda for future' and hints at 2024 bid

Former Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday delivered a speech outlining an "agenda for the future" in Washington -- just hours before a competing speech from Donald Trump during the former President's first visit to the nation's capital since January 2021.

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Biden stopping Pelosi's Taiwan visit would create a 'major foreign policy crisis,' Sen. Cotton says

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton urged Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to "go forward" with her scheduled trip to Taiwan despite growing threats from China over the island. On "America Reports" Tuesday, Cotton argued it is imperative the U.S. shows strength against Chinese threats or else risk increasing foreign policy crises.

TAIWAN HOLDS AIR RAID DRILLS AS CHINA DOUBLES DOWN AGAINST NANCY PELOSI VISIT

SEN. TOM COTTON: Speaker Pelosi should absolutely go forward with her trip to Taiwan. She might want to consider adding a prominent Republican like Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader, to show the bipartisan support that exists in this country for Taiwan. We cannot allow Chinese threats to deter a mere visit by a member of Congress to Taiwan. There's been a longstanding practice from presidents of both parties that executive branch officials don't visit Taiwan. But there's been an equally long-standing practice that members of Congress do visit it. I have, many of my colleagues have. Speaker Pelosi has before. We cannot back down in the face of these Chinese threats. If Joe Biden prevents Nancy Pelosi or any other member of Congress from traveling to Taiwan, it will create a major foreign policy crisis. Imagine what it will signal for the Chinese communists if they think they can threaten us into merely not traveling to Taiwan, it might in fact incite them and tempt them to go for the jugular in Taiwan. 

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Consumer confidence slips for third straight month

Americans grew even more pessimistic about the US economy over the past month, according to the latest survey on consumer attitudes, intentions and expectations from The Conference Board.

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Rick Scott torches Biden admin for redefining 'recession': 'This is a do-nothing president'

Florida Sen. Rick Scott countered the Biden administration's claim that America is not in a recession by noting that the state of the economy now meets the basic requirement. On "The Faulkner Focus" Tuesday, Scott called out President Biden for doing nothing to help Americans who are struggling with inflation, high taxes and the supply chain.

CNN PANEL REJECTS BIDEN WHITE HOUSE SPIN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE DEFINITION OF RECESSION: ‘YOU CAN’T FAKE THIS'

SEN. RICK SCOTT: If you go to Google and you put in "recession," and you look at the definition, I think it's two quarters of negative GDP. So I think it's pretty basic. But they don't want to acknowledge what's happening. By the way, when we have negative GDP, what's that mean? That means you make less money. That means people are going to get laid off. That means the value of things are going to go down, like your home. That's what's happening. And by the way, it's happening. And it's happening because the Biden agenda. They're not reducing taxes, they're increasing taxes. They're not reducing regulation, they're increasing regulation. We have the highest inflation in 40 years. I was in a roundtable with Florida businesspeople this weekend. They're all struggling. They're struggling with supply chains. Biden's done nothing on that. They're struggling with inflation. Biden's done nothing on that. They can't get workers. Biden's done nothing on that. This is a do-nothing president.

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China, Mexico take center stage in Senate hearing on spike in fentanyl deaths

China and Mexico took center stage Tuesday as Senators convened to discuss the deadly fentanyl crisis as deaths continue to spike, sparking partisan differences over border security.

Senators on the right and left from the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee highlighted the rise in fentanyl overdoses in each of their states, pointing to the largest increase in U.S. overdoses from the deadly drug in half a century. 

"In 2021 we saw the largest annual increase in opioid deaths in 50 years, and the 35 years between 1979 and 2016 600,000 Americans died due to overdose and 100,000 died last year," Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy said. 

WASHINGTON MEN ARRESTED AFTER 91,000 FENTANYL PILLS DISCOVERED HIDDEN INSIDE CHIP CONTAINERS

Democratic Sen. Patty Murry of Washington pointed out that "because fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, two milligrams can be a lethal dose."

"From April 2020 to 2021, synthetic opioids – mostly illicit fentanyl – were responsible for nearly two thirds of all overdose deaths," she added. 

However, while senators on both sides of the aisle agreed that the fentanyl crisis needs to be stopped, the partisan debate over border security once again presented itself. 

"We have to recognize that a policy at the border which has been feckless and ineffective as this administration has had, not just allows people to come here who are illegal. It allows drugs to come across as well," Cassidy said in his opening statement. "We've got to control that border."

Sen. Chris Murphy pushed back on GOP arguments that illegal drugs were crossing the borders through the same methods as migrants and pointed to testimony given by Senior Policy Advisor to the Director of National Drug Control Policy, Kemp Chester.

FENTANYL CRISIS: DEA OFFICIAL SAYS MEXICO NEEDS TO DO MORE TO STOP DRUG PRODUCTION, FLOW IN US

"The preponderance of the drugs do come to the existing ports of entry," Chester explained, adding that initiatives to bolster screening processes through the ports of entry would help crackdown on illicit drug transfers.

"A lot of our colleagues think that by putting up this wall on the border, you're going to stop fentanyl from coming into the country. The reality is that fentanyl is coming in through the ports," Murphy said. "So we can make investments but the idea that it's the unwalled portions of the border where the fentanyl is pouring in is just not what the facts bear out."

GOP Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas negated this argument and said, "It goes without saying with an open porous southern border the supply is abundant driving the street price down."

He then turned the discussion to China’s role in failing to catch underground labs operating in China and then smuggling drugs laced with fentanyl into Mexico or even into the U.S. under what Cassidy said were "glaring loopholes in our customs system." 

"Cartels will ship Chinese-made fentanyl into our country by mail, claiming the contents of the package is worth less than $800 which is the threshold for paying tariffs," Cassidy said. "Because if it's declared as less than $800, Customs and Border Protection does not inspect the package, and it passes through."

Some lawmakers expressed exasperation over China’s infamously overbearing government which has been apparently unable to effectively stop the flow of deadly drugs out of its country.

Chester told Cassidy that the U.S. is working with the People’s Republic of China to crack down on these underground labs, but acknowledged there has been "uneven progress."

'Daredevil: Born Again' is coming to Disney+

"Daredevil: Born Again" is coming to Disney+.

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Kate McKinnon reveals why she left 'SNL': 'All I ever wanted to do'

Kate McKinnon explained her decision to leave "Saturday Night Live" after a decade starring on the show. 

McKinnon revealed the decision wasn't easy and took a "very long time" during an interview last week on "Live with Kelly and Ryan."

"I thought about it for a very long time, and it was very, very hard," the comedian said.

"All I ever wanted to do in my whole life was be on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ So, I did, I loved it, I had the best decade, and then I was just like, my body was tired, and I felt like it was time."

‘SNL’ FINALE: PETE DAVIDSON SAYS GOODBYE TO HIS ‘HOME'; KATE MCKINNON ABDUCTED BY ALIENS

The "Ghostbusters" star also revealed how she plans to spend her future Saturday nights.

"I don’t know what I will do. I don’t know that I can watch the show yet because it’s too emo because I miss everyone so much," McKinnon said during the interview.

"It’s my family. It’s too emo. So, I think I’m just going to tape ‘The Bachelorette’ and watch it."

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McKinnon joined the "SNL" cast in 2012 and holds the record for longest-running female cast member of the variety sketch show.

She has earned nine Emmy nominations for her work on the show, with her most recent one being this year. Most recently, she was nominated for supporting actress in a comedy series for the upcoming Emmy awards. 

The award show will air in September.

McKinnon wasn't the only one to depart "Saturday Night Live" at the end of this past season.

Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant and Kyle Mooney also won't return for season 48.

Man taken into custody after reports of shots fired at multiple locations outside Vancouver with several victims

Several people were reportedly wounded in shootings early Monday at different places in the City and Township of Langley, near Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

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Olympic legend Michael Johnson 'accused of racism' for questioning times at world championships

Former U.S. track and field star Michael Johnson pushed back on accusations of racism after he questioned the accuracy of some finishing times at the World Athletics Championships.

Johnson’s skepticism came to light as Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan set a world record in 100-meter hurdles semifinals with a time of 12.12 seconds. She was even faster in the wind-aided finals. She had previously finished fourth at the Olympics last year and fourth at the world championships in 2019.

It was not exactly the record-breaking performance that raised eyebrows, but it was everyone else in race scoring personal bests, according to The New York Times.

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Johnson, who won four Olympic gold medals in the 200-meter, 400-meter and 4x400-meter relays over the course of his career, questioned whether the hurdle times were right.

"I don’t believe 100h times are correct. World record broken by .08! 12 PBs set. 5 National records set. And Cindy Sember quote after her PB/NR ‘I throughly I was running slow!’ All athletes looked shocked," he wrote. "Heat 2 we were first shown winning time of 12.53. Few seconds later it shows 12.43. Rounding down by .01 is normal. .10 is not."

Johnson was met with accusations he was being biased toward the Nigerian team.

WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS: JAMAICA SWEEPS THE 100 METERS AS SHELLY-ANN FRASER-PRYCE DOMINATES THE RACE

"As a commentator my job is to comment. In questioning the times of 28 athletes (not 1 athlete) by wondering if the timing system malfunctioned, I was attacked, accused of racism, and of questioning the talent of an athlete I respect and predicted to win. Unacceptable. I move on," he tweeted.

Amusan said after the race she did not expect to set a world record but believed in her abilities as a hurdler.

"I believe in my abilities, but I was not expecting a world record at these championships," she said. "The goal is always just to execute well and get the win."

The previous record was held by American Keni Harrison by .08 seconds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

'Nope' is Jordan Peele's latest No. 1 film at the box office

"Nope," Jordan Peele's third movie, opened to an estimated $44 million this weekend in North America, according to Universal Pictures.

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Inbox a mess? Here’s the surefire way to keep your email in check

I have a rule: If discussing something via email is going to take paragraphs and paragraphs, I pick up the phone instead. 

Another way I keep my inbox clean is by archiving all my messages at the start of the year. Who says you can’t do the same thing in summer? Tap or click for my quick and easy fix to get a clean slate. 

I recommend a smart email trick for every homeowner: Set up an email address just for your home. Tap or click to see why it’s just so useful. 

If you’re sick of wasting time searching endless or scrolling through your inbox, it’s time to up your email game. Every Gmail user should do this. 

PRIVACY TIP: 5 WAYS YOU'RE BEING TRACKED YOU MUST STOP RIGHT NOW 

How to use Gmail filters 

Think of filters as Gmail’s alternative to folders. Use them to apply a label to messages, archive, delete, star, or automatically forward your mail. 

If you're the victim of endless spam and other annoying messages, this is the perfect way to beat the spammers to the punch. You’ll banish the junk that gets through your spam filter with the right filters. 

RELATED: 5 hidden Google Assistant tricks you’ll use all the time 

Filters are also useful to move everything from, say, your aunt who never stops sending articles to one specific spot. Or filter messages from your HOA to easily find what you need. 

There are a couple of ways to set up filters in Gmail. One is right from your inbox.

Hit the Show search options icon in the search bar at the top. (It looks like three lines with slashes through them.) A filter menu will open immediately that allows to you create a filter with any of these parameters: 

The sender and recipient (if you have multiple addresses) 

The subject’s contents 

Keywords within the body of the email 

The size of the email 

The date it was sent or received 

Whether the email has an attachment 

Enter your search criteria. To check that your search worked correctly, see what emails show up by clicking Search. If all looks good, click Create filter at the bottom of the search window. 

Only new messages will be impacted when you create a filter. Another thing to keep in mind: When someone responds to a message you’ve filtered, the reply will only be filtered if it meets the same search criteria. 

GET SMART: Gmail tips and tricks: 10 buried settings and features to try 

How to create a Gmail filter within a message 

Another way to create a filter is from within an email you’ve already received. Here’s how: 

Open Gmail. 

Check the checkbox next to the email you want, and click More (it’s a three-dot menu). 

Click Filter messages like these. 

Enter any additional filter criteria. 

Click Create filter. 

How to edit or delete Gmail filters 

If you don’t like a filter you’ve set up, you can edit or delete it. Here’s how: 

Open Gmail. 

At the top right, click Settings (the cog icon) > See all settings. 

Click Filters and Blocked Addresses. 

Find the filter you’d like to change. 

Click Edit to change it or Delete to remove the filter. If you’re editing the filter, click Continue when you’re done editing. 

Click Update filter or OK. 

Pro tip: Gmail filter ideas 

What’s the best way to use Google filters? Aside from what I mentioned above, here are a few to consider. 

Prioritize messages from your most important colleagues. 

Save your receipts, bills, and payment confirmations in one place. 

Automatically Star important things to archive — order numbers, tracking numbers, and other things to reference later. 

Forward messages automatically or answer certain messages automatically with a custom, pre-written template. 

Send less important or annoying messages to one spot so you can read them at your leisure instead of letting them sit in your inbox. 

Chances are, your inbox is exhausting. Filters are one of the best solutions for productivity and peace of mind. 

Keep your tech smarts growing. Hit the link below for my latest podcast. 

HACKERS WANT GOOGLE ACCOUNTS; GIVE YOURS THIS SECURITY CHECK NOW

PODCAST PICK: RIP robocalls, no more nudes, FTC vs. fake reviews 

Listen for the latest tech news in just 30 minutes. Liars swear a product works, then it breaks when you use it. No refunds! The FTC will make your life easier by fining businesses that trick you like this. Plus, passwords are dead in the water and a new online dating trend will save you from the terror of random nudes. And the reason you aren't getting those pesky car warranty robocalls anymore. 

Find my podcast "Kim Komando Today" on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. 

Just search for my last name, "Komando." 

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Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com.

Woman on fishing boat off Florida coast stabbed by 100-pound fish

A 73-year-old woman was airlifted to a hospital after being stabbed by a 100-pound sailfish that an angler was trying to reel onto a boat off the Florida coast, officials said.

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Buttigieg rips Rubio for having 'time to fight against Disney' but not for protecting same-sex marriage

Biden's transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday lashed out at Republican Sen. Marco Rubio for having time to feud against Disney, while not backing a bill to codify same-sex marriage. 

During an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union," Buttigieg, who shares twins with his husband Chasten Buttigieg, was asked if he had any message to Senate Republicans, namely to Rubio, R-Fla., who remarked to a reporter that a vote to codify same-sex marriage was a "stupid waste of time."

"If he's got time to fight against Disney, I don't know why he wouldn't have time to help safeguard marriages like mine," Buttigieg told CNN host Jake Tapper. "Look, this is really, really important to a lot of people. It's certainly important to me."

"I started my day as I try to do on weekends, I try to give Chasten a little bit of a break and do breakfast with both of our twins. And that alone, that's no small thing as every parent of small kids knows," Buttigieg said. "It was one of those days where the tray table wasn't quite fitting into the highchair, and I'm trying to make sure that they're busy enough with their little cereal puffs to give me enough time to chop up the banana and get the formula ready – and that half hour of my morning had me thinking about how much I depend on and count on my spouse every day." 

RICK SCOTT BLASTS PETE BUTTIGIEG'S ‘OUT OF TOUCH’ PUSH FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES: AMERICANS ‘CAN’T AFFORD IT'

"And our marriage deserves to be treated equally," he said. "And I don't know why this would be hard for a senator or a congressman. I don't understand how such a majority of House Republicans voted no on our marriage on as recently as Tuesday, hours after I was in a room with a lot of them talking about transportation policy, what I thought were perfectly normal conversations with many of them on that subject, only for them to go around the corner and say that my marriage doesn't deserve to continue."

"If they don't want to spend a lot of time on this, they can vote yes and move on. And that would be really reassuring for a lot of families around America, including mine," he added. 

During a midterm election year, Democrats have been campaigning to codify federal protections for contraception and same-sex marriage after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. 

In his opinion overturning Roe last month, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should now review other precedents. He mentioned rulings that affirmed the rights of same-sex marriage in 2015, same-sex intimate relationships in 2003 and married couples' use of contraceptives in 1965.

The House voted Tuesday to codify federal protections for same-sex marriage, with 47 Republicans joining all Democrats in backing the measure. 157 Republicans voted no on the so-called "Respect for Marriage Act." 

At least 10 Republicans will need to back the measure in the Senate to skirt the filibuster.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Russian chess robot breaks child's finger during Moscow match

A chess robot broke a 7-year-old boy's finger during a match at the Moscow Chess Open last week.

Footage of the incident shows the robot, with its large mechanical arm, playing three simultaneous matches against various opponents. One opponent, the boy, reaches to move one of his pieces and the robot grabs his finger. The robot did not appear to make any severe twisting or other movements after grabbing the finger, however.

Several adults rushed forward soon after the incident and freed the boy's hand.

"The robot broke the child's finger," Moscow Chess Federation President Sergey Lazarev told Russian news outlets. "This is, of course, bad."

CHESS LEGEND MAGNUS CARLSEN UNMOTIVATED TO COMPETE IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: ‘I DON’T HAVE A LOT TO GAIN'

NEW JERSEY 12-YEAR-OLD IS WORLD'S YOUNGEST CHESS GRANDMASTER

"The robot was rented by us, it has been exhibited in many places, for a long time, with specialists. Apparently, the operators overlooked it. The child made a move, and after that we need to give time for the robot to answer, but the boy hurried, the robot grabbed him. We have nothing to do with the robot," Lazarev said.

It is unclear who manufactured the robot, and the boy's identity has not been released.