Conservative activist slams Cracker Barrel; company left reeling after logo redesign

Anti-woke crusader Robby Starbuck released a devastating video takedown of Cracker Barrel's leadership, making the case that the restaurant's logo and decor change are the culmination of a years-long campaign to cater to the far Left and abandon the values of its middle-America customer base.

Starbuck, who has brought major companies including John Deere, Target, and Harley-Davidson to heel by exposing their woke policies, described Cracker Barrel’s logo makeover as going from "old American nostalgia" to something "cold, dead, lifeless and modern" in a 15-minute video. He said that, while the Cracker Barrel brand is often associated with American tradition, the company is "infested with left-wing activists who are more interested in safe spaces, pronouns and virtue signaling than they are in their customers."

In his video, Starbuck highlights Cracker Barrel’s support for LGBTQ+ organizations and events, such as Nashville Pride, River City Pride and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

CRACKER BARREL CEO SERVES UP LEFTOVER CORPORATE BRANDING TO UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS

He also noted that the company displayed rocking chairs with rainbow colors and LGBTQ+ insignia. The company even went so far as to place one in its Tennessee corporate office. Rocking chairs are practically synonymous with Cracker Barrel, with the restaurant’s long porches lined with them at locations nationwide.

"The fact that it's located there is important to this story because what's happened here is a microcosm of the parasitic operating procedure of left-wing activists," Starbuck said. "They don't just wanna force their soulless, godless, hedonistic vision of the future onto blue hellscapes that their party controls. 

"No, it's much more important to them that they shove it down into your towns, into your kids' schools and into your way of life. So, sticking a pro-trans rocking chair into their headquarters in a predominantly conservative town is exactly the type of thing they revel in doing."

Starbuck then pointed to the company’s involvement with HRC and participation in the Out and Equal Workplace Summit. For the Out and Equal conference, Cracker Barrel made rocking chairs in every color of the rainbow, representing the LGBTQ+ flag. Out and Equal even gave Cracker Barrel an award for having 2018’s top LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group (ERG).

CRACKER BARREL DISMISSES CRITICS AS 'VOCAL MINORITY' WHILE RIVAL RESTAURANT ADDS TO BACKLASH

The restaurant chain previously participated in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, which measures "corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees," according to the organization’s website. A company’s score on the index is determined by how inclusive HRC judged it to be toward LGBTQ+ employees.

Cracker Barrel told Fox News Digital on Friday that it "has not participated in the Human Rights Campaign Index or had any affiliation with HRC in several years."

Two Cracker Barrel employees are called out by name in Starbuck’s video, Steve Smotherman and Rachel CampBell. 

Smotherman was the head of management training and development at Cracker Barrel for 15 years, Starbuck asserted, showing a screenshot that appeared to be from LinkedIn. Smotherman, who eventually left Cracker Barrel for Out and Equal, serves on HRC's Business Advisory Council in Washington, D.C. 

DEMOCRATIC PARTY, GAVIN NEWSOM JOIN ONLINE ROASTING OF NEW CRACKER BARREL LOGO

Starbuck describes Smotherman as "the archetype activist employee that fueled the rise of DEI in corporate America." He also slammed CampBell, a manager of training and development at Cracker Barrel, for publicly expressing excitement over the company’s rainbow pride rocking chairs.

"And it’s important to note all of this because these types of employees play a critical role in turning companies away from the values of their customers and moving the companies toward wokeness," Starbuck said.

CRACKER BARREL EXECUTIVE INSISTS RESTAURANT REMODELS ARE 'WHAT THE GUESTS ASKED FOR'

Gilbert Dávila, a member of Cracker Barrel’s board of directors, was also referenced in Starbuck’s video. Dávila, who joined Cracker Barrel’s board in 2020, has worked at several major companies, including Disney, Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble. He’s also the co-CEO of DMI Consulting, which looks to "infuse cultural relevance and creativity into every solution."  Starbuck asserted that Dávila, and others like him are responsible for the "woke advertising push" seen over the last few years.

In the end, Starbuck emphasizes that the controversy around Cracker Barrel’s logo change is about more than the removal of a man in his chair leaning on a barrel.

"It's very, very important to understand that the Cracker Barrel story is not about a logo. It's not at all about a logo, it is about a country, it is our heritage, and it is a culture. It's about a power structure built to tell us that we are somehow backwards, embarrassing or bigoted," Starbuck said.

"A conservative can't give their money to Cracker Barrel. A Christian cannot give their money to Cracker Barrel, and so we won't," he added.

As Starbuck sees it, the Cracker Barrel debacle is a win-win for conservatives, saying that the company will either have to double down and lose customers or revert back to its 1977 logo to retain its customer base.

Fox News Digital’s Brian Flood and Nikolas Lanum contributed to this report.

Cracker Barrel did not respond Fox News Digital's request for comment in time for publication. 

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Patriots coach Mike Vrabel seeks out 'rats' after leaked injury report: 'We’ll figure that out'

It’s hunting season for the New England Patriots, and head coach Mike Vrabel is on the lookout for "rats." 

Speaking to the media Thursday, Vrabel was asked about reports that second-year receiver Ja'Lynn Polk would miss the entire season with a shoulder injury that requires surgery. 

Vrabel initially declined to add anything to the rumors before taking a swipe at reporters and their "sources."

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"No, other than I’d like to find out where some of these come from," Vrabel said. "You know, some of these rats around here. So, we’ll figure that out." 

Polk, a second-round pick in 2024, was injured during the Patriots' preseason opener when he was tackled on a short run by Washington Commanders defensive back Noah Igbinoghene, ESPN reported. 

PATRIOTS COACH MIKE VRABEL CLASHES WITH MEDIA OVER STEFON DIGGS' UNCERTAIN SEASON OPENER STATUS

Polk left the game bracing his right arm and has been sidelined since. 

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday that after seeing multiple specialists, it was determined that Polk would have to undergo surgery and was expected to miss the entire 2025 season. 

Sources told ESPN the length of Polk’s absence would be determined after surgery. 

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Trump hints at federal crackdown in Chicago amid anti-crime push in DC

President Donald Trump seemed to hint at the possibility of taking his D.C. crime crackdown to Chicago.

"After we do this will go to another location, and we'll make it safe, also. We're going to make our country very safe," he said when speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. "We're going to make our cities very, very safe. Chicago's a mess."

CHRIS CHRISTIE PRAISES TRUMP'S 'LONG OVERDUE' DC CRIME CRACKDOWN

Trump called Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson "grossly incompetent" and said his administration would handle the windy city next. He also said the people of Chicago were "screaming" for federal assistance in cutting down the crime rate.

"We'll straighten that one out probably next," he added. "That'll be our next one after this and it won't even be tough."

While he said Chicago would be next, the windy city wasn't the only place the president called out. He also said the federal crackdown could come to his hometown, New York City.

BLUE CITIES IN TRUMP’S CROSSHAIRS AFTER DC POLICE TAKEOVER

Last week, in an unprecedented move, Trump implemented a federal crime crackdown in D.C. and brought in additional law enforcement resources to clean up the nation's capital. His approach appears to be working, as Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital on Thursday that there has not been a homicide in the city in more than a week, coinciding with the takeover.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump threatened to federalize D.C. because of the city's struggle to control crime. The Aug. 3 attempted carjacking and brutal beating of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer brought the issue back to the spotlight, sparking national debate. The following week, on Aug. 11, Trump declared a crime emergency in D.C., sparking the federal takeover.

"The city government’s failure to maintain public order and safety has had a dire impact on the federal government’s ability to operate efficiently to address the nation’s broader interests without fear of our workers being subjected to rampant violence," Trump's executive order read.

On Friday, Trump declared on Truth Social that D.C. was "safe again" and that it would soon "be great again." He also praised law enforcement personnel for "doing a fantastic job."

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NFL boosts security at league offices following deadly shooting at New York headquarters

The NFL has increased security at its offices after a lone gunman opened fire at the league's headquarters in New York City last month, killing four people and injuring one league employee. 

NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Miller confirmed the new security measures to OutKick, adding that the league is "working with the building and tenants within the building on building security." 

"We're very lucky that our security chief, Cathy Lanier, the former police chief in Washington, D.C., has tremendous experience in this space and that we have terrific partners in the building as we look for ways to make it even more secure than it was before."

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Four people were killed, and a fifth was wounded inside the 345 Park Avenue building on July 28 when investigators say Shane Tamura, 27, of Las Vegas, opened fire while trying to get to the NFL offices. The building also houses the headquarters of Blackstone. 

One NFL employee was reportedly shot in the lobby during the attack. He attempted to contact co-workers to warn them of the active shooter before calling 911. 

"The NFL is deeply grateful for the global outpouring of support following the tragic act of violence at the New York City building that houses our league office among other organizations," the league said in its first statement regarding the attack. 

NFL ADVISES TEAMS TO ENHANCE SECURITY AFTER DEADLY MIDTOWN OFFICE SHOOTING: REPORT

"We honor the four innocent lives lost, including NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, whose heroism will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with the survivors as they begin the difficult journey of physical and emotional recovery."

Earlier this month, the NFL reportedly sent a memo to all 32 teams advising them to enhance security following the deadly shooting. 

Among the recommendations was the proposal to have armed law enforcement or security officers at team and league buildings when players or staff are present. Another recommendation was weapons screenings at those locations.

"The Committee recognizes that these changes will affect day-to-day operations and require an investment of time, coordination, and resources," the memo said, according to ESPN. "However, there is no higher priority than the safety and the sense of security of our players, coaches, staff, and everyone who works in and around our facilities.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace contributed to this report. 

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Navy pilot rescued from Virginia waters as F/A-18 fleet faces string of recent mishaps

A Navy pilot was rescued from the waters off Virginia on Wednesday after an F/A-18 Super Hornet went down during a routine training flight.

The crash happened around 10 a.m. ET, according to Lt. Jackie Parashar, a spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic. The pilot, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83 in Virginia Beach, was found by search and rescue crews at 11:21 a.m. and taken to a local hospital. The jet remains in the water as the Navy investigates the cause.

Once the investigation is complete, the Navy will decide whether to order a safety stand-down, a pause in operations to focus on safety training and risk reduction.

The incident is the latest in a string of F/A-18 mishaps. In May, a Super Hornet slid into the Red Sea after failing to land on the USS Harry S. Truman. Both pilots ejected safely. A week earlier, another jet rolled off the Truman’s deck during a towing operation.

NAVY CONFIRMS F-35 FIGHTER JET WENT DOWN NEAR CALIFORNIA BASE, PILOT SAFELY EJECTED

In December, a Super Hornet from the "Red Rippers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 11 at Naval Air Station Oceana was shot down in a friendly fire incident over the Red Sea.

Each F/A-18 costs about $67 million, according to Naval Air Systems Command.

One former senior defense official told Fox News Digital the recent mishaps "deserve to be examined — especially in light of all the other extreme challenges the Navy is facing."

 \The official added, "It’s interesting to me that the F-35 and V-22 receive extensive scrutiny from the press when a mishap occurs, yet the rates of those aircraft stand up well compared to the Navy’s Super Hornets, which somehow get a pass."

MILITARY JET'S MYSTERIOUS COLLISION RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT ADVANCED UFOS IN US AIRSPACE: 'BEEN HERE ALL ALONG'

Another source familiar with Navy procurement said the recent accidents were not unexpected, which was one reason the service agreed to buy 17 more Super Hornets in 2024.

Since fiscal year 2015, the F/A-18 and its variants — F/A-18E, F/A-18F, and EA-18G — have been involved in 42 Class A flight mishaps, the most serious category, covering accidents that result in death, a destroyed aircraft or more than $2.5 million in damage. 

That averages out to about 4.2 Class A mishaps a year, or 2.18 per 100,000 flight hours, according to data provided to Fox News Digital by Naval Safety Command.

Across all manned Navy aircraft, the average Class A mishap rate was 2.29 per 100,000 flight hours.

In 2023 and 2024, the Navy recorded seven Class A flight mishaps each year. As of August 2025, there have been seven Class A flight mishaps, three involving F/A-18s.

The F/A-18 fleet has also experienced 82 Class B mishaps, accidents involving permanent partial disability, the hospitalization of three or more crew or $600,000 to $2.5 million in damage and 307 Class C mishaps, which involve injuries resulting in missed work or $60,000 to $600,000 in aircraft damage, over the past decade.

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NYC public defender terminated over antisemitic social media post targeting Israelis

A public defender with Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS) was fired over a social media post in which he appeared to call for violence against Israelis. Despite sharing the same acronym as the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, Brooklyn Defender Services is a New York City public defense organization with no affiliation to it.

Lucas Gomez, a public defender, recently responded to a post in which someone asked, "What everyone needs to start asking is ‘who will take 7 million Israelis in?’" Gomez wrote in response ,"No one needs to ask this question when firing squads exist," according to screenshots posted on X by the watchdog group StopAntisemitism.

"An employee from Gomez’s own office alerted us to his vile post calling for ‘firing squads,’" a spokesperson for StopAntisemitism told Fox News Digital, adding that "it is beyond alarming that an attorney entrusted with upholding the law would engage in such violent rhetoric." 

The organization argued that Gomez’s law license should be revoked.

In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Gomez apologized for the post and said the "indefensible" comment came from "misplaced emotions" about the war in Gaza.

"I want to sincerely apologize for my post. It was not only inappropriate but distasteful and offensive. The post came from misplaced emotions related to the ongoing genocide in Palestine and seeing footage of that every day," Gomez told Fox News Digital. "The post was awful, indefensible, and a lapse of judgment. It was not a representation of my character or who I am as a person. It was also not a representation of Brooklyn Defender [Services]."

OPINION: FROM MEMES TO MISINFORMATION: GEN Z CREATORS FIGHT BACK AGAINST ANTISEMITISM ONLINE

BDS condemned Gomez’s online comment as "hateful," and announced his termination in a public statement.

"In his recent post on X, Lucas Gomez made a hateful statement that is antithetical to everything BDS stands for and what we unequivocally expect from our employees," BDS Executive Director Lisa Schreibersdorf said. "In addition to advocating violence and antisemitism, Lucas Gomez tarnished the reputation of Brooklyn Defender [Services] and of each of our dedicated public defenders."

Schreibersdorf also said that BDS works to "uplift the humanity of all people and to seek kindness, justice and mercy in our courts and in our society," adding that Gomez’s post was "an affront" to the organization’s work.

ANTISEMITIC GRAFFITI PROMPTS HATE CRIME PROBE AT ISRAELI-AMERICAN COUNCIL HQ IN LOS ANGELES

The StopAntisemitism spokesperson noted that since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, antisemitism has been "rampant" online.

"What we are seeing now is not new, but it has become shockingly open and normalized in ways we can no longer ignore. That is why it’s more critical than ever to call it out and expose Jew-hatred that is simmering in our society," the spokesperson said.

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StopAntisemitism noted in a thread following the screenshots of Gomez’s post, that it had previously featured another New York City public defender on its platform. 

In November 2023, Victoria Ruiz, who was affiliated with New York County Defender Services (NYCDS), was caught tearing down hostage posters. A representative confirmed Ruiz’s identity to Fox News Digital at the time. In a statement to Fox News Digital, NYCDS said Ruiz resigned "effective immediately." NYCDS condemned Ruiz’s "highly insensitive actions."

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

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Trump admin bans federal work-study funds from supporting political activism on college campuses

The Trump administration on Tuesday banned former President Biden-era guidance that allowed taxpayer-funded federal programs to pay students to engage in certain political activities on college campuses.

The Education Department released updated guidance in a news release that stated Federal Work Study (FWS) funds "should focus on jobs that provide real-world work experience instead of political activities."

"Federal Work Study is meant to provide students opportunities to gain real-world experience that prepares them to succeed in the workforce, not as a way to fund political activism on our college and university campuses," Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a written statement. 

Kent said that American taxpayers will no longer fund poll workers, voter hotlines or political rallies on campus – and will not require schools to ask students to register to vote if they know the students are ineligible, like foreign students.

TRUMP ANNOUNCES HE'LL HELM MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE MAIL-IN VOTING AND VOTING MACHINES: 'FIGHT LIKE HELL'

The department further requested that educational institutions remind students of federal voting laws, including: only U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections; voting more than once or in multiple states is illegal; falsifying registration information is a federal crime; and voters can only register in the place where they are legally domiciled.

The updated guidance comes in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order titled, "Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." 

DOJ TARGETS NONCITIZENS ON VOTER ROLLS AS PART OF TRUMP ELECTION INTEGRITY PUSH

Trump has since pushed to eliminate what he called "controversial" methods of voting, specifically the use of mail-in voting and voting machines in U.S. elections.

In a lengthy Truth Social post on Monday, Trump asserted, "I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS" as well as "Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES."

He said he would sign another related executive order in advance of the 2026 midterm elections.  

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

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FBI's Kash Patel vows agency won't stop combating DC crime until 'every community is safe' after 550 arrests

EXCLUSIVE: FBI Director Kash Patel said that his agency will continue pouring resources into combating crime in Washington, D.C., until "every community is safe."

Patel said in a Wednesday post on X that 550 people have been arrested in Washington, D.C., since President Donald Trump moved to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department. Of those arrests, 66 were on Tuesday.

Patel said the FBI was involved in 41 of the arrests on Tuesday night, with eight drug seizures and six illegal firearms recovered.

MS-13 GANG MEMBER ARRESTED IN DC AS BONDI TOUTS ADMIN'S 'EXTRAORDINARY' CRIME CRACKDOWN

"The men and women of the FBI, working side by side with our local law enforcement partners, have taken hundreds of dangerous criminals off the streets of Washington, D.C. This is proof of what happens when good cops are empowered to do their jobs the right way. Under President Trump’s leadership, we’re bringing historic resources to this fight because crime in our nation’s capital is unacceptable – and we will continue until every community is safe," Patel said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

A White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Tuesday night's efforts by law enforcement yielded 91 arrests, including 25 illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants arrested on Tuesday night had criminal backgrounds, including burglary, threat to injure or kidnap a person, destruction of property and more.

HUNDREDS ARRESTED AS TRUMP’S WASHINGTON, DC, CRIME CRACKDOWN HITS FULL STRIDE

An MS-13 member previously convicted of drug possession and driving while intoxicated was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Monday night, Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X.

"At the direction of [President Donald Trump], our nation’s capital is a SAFER place—and we are just getting started. 52 arrests were made last night, including an MS-13 gang member, and 9 firearms were taken off the streets," Bondi wrote. "Since our mission began, there have been a total of 465 arrests, 68 guns seized, and charges for homicide, narcotics, and firearm offenses. Nearly half of these arrests occurred in the high-crime areas of DC. Residents and tourists alike appreciate this extraordinary effort by our DC and Federal law enforcement partners."

The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday it's investigating whether crime data was manipulated by police in Washington, D.C., In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: "D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety."

The FBI on Wednesday announced the agency will publish reported crime data monthly, instead of less-frequent updates.

When addressing Trump's federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department during a town hall on Aug. 12, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser said the president's actions highlight the need for a Democratic House majority.

"This is a time where community needs to jump in. We all need to, to do what we can in our space, in our lane, to protect our city and to protect our autonomy, to protect our home rule, and get to the other side of this guy, and make sure we elect a Democratic House so that we have a backstop to this authoritarian push," Bowser said.

Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca and Emma Colton contributed to this report.

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Kim Jong Un calls for rapid ‘upgrade’ to nuclear arsenal amid claims the US is trying to ‘provoke war’

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called for the rapid buildup of his nation's nuclear arsenal on Tuesday, reacting to joint military operations by the U.S. and South Korea.

Kim called the military exercises an "obvious expression of their will to provoke war," according to North Korean state media. The U.S. and South Korea began their annual military drills, dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield, this week and operations will continue sporadically through September.

The North Korean leader argued the drills show the intent by the U.S. and South Korea to "remain most hostile and confrontational," and that North Korea must therefore "rapidly expand" its nuclear arsenal.

"Through this move, North Korea is demonstrating its refusal to accept denuclearization and the will to irreversibly upgrade nuclear weapons," Hong Min, a North Korea analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told Reuters. 

KIM JONG UN LEFT FUMING AFTER NORTH KOREA’S NEW DESTROYER DAMAGED IN FAILED LAUNCH

The rise in tensions comes just days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced plans to end some military activities along its border with North Korea, as well as restore a 2018 military agreement with its neighbor.

WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO 'ROCKET MAN' AND NORTH KOREA'S THREATS OVER DENUCLEARIZATION

The agreement ended some military activities at the border between the two countries, including creating buffer zones on land and sea and no-fly zones above the border to prevent fighting. It also ended military drills near the border and removed some guard posts along the Demilitarized Zone.

The deal was signed at an inter-Korean summit in 2018, but it eventually fell apart as cross-border tensions ensued.

NORTH KOREAN AVOIDS LAND MINES TO CROSS DMZ INTO SOUTH KOREA AS SEOUL SOFTENS STANCE ON PYONGYANG

South Korea also dismantled its speakers along the border that had broadcast anti-North Korea messaging for years, a move Pyongyang reciprocated.

Lee said his government would continue to make "gradual steps to restore the September 19 Military Agreement."

"I hope that North Korea will reciprocate our efforts to restore trust and revive dialogue," he added.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Utah police officers killed during domestic disturbance response were husbands, fathers: 'Definitely heroes'

Two Utah police officers who were killed in a shooting while responding to a domestic disturbance call on Sunday night have been identified.

Sgt. Lee Sorensen, 56, and Officer Eric Estrada, 31, of the Tremonton Garland Police Department were both killed at a home in a Tremonton neighborhood, the department said.

"These officers are definitely heroes," Police Chief Chad Reyes in neighboring Brigham City, which is the agency leading the investigation, said at a news conference Monday morning.

Police received multiple 911 hang-up calls around 9:30 p.m. from a home in Tremonton. One Tremonton Garland officer arrived first and began speaking to someone at the home when an armed man came out with a gun, authorities said.

KANSAS DEPUTY FATALLY SHOT BY SUSPECT BARRICADED IN HOUSE: SHERIFF

The man opened fire on the officer, striking and killing him. A second Tremonton Garland officer who rushed to help the first officer "was immediately fired upon by the same male suspect" and was killed, the Brigham City Police Department said in a news release.

Sorensen served in law enforcement for 17 years, 16 of which were in the Garland Police Department. He has received multiple honors for his distinguished service and impact, and was recently promoted to sergeant, with a swearing-in ceremony planned for Friday.

He is survived by his wife, Lanette, and their children.

Estrada began his law enforcement career in 2017, serving with the Logan Police Department before joining the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the Tremonton Police Department earlier this year.

Police described Estrada as "a dedicated father and husband, deeply loving and cherishing his family." The news release said "he loved interacting with people and engaging with the community" while on patrol.

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPUTY SHOT AND KILLED IN AMBUSH, SHERIFF SAYS

The 31-year-old officer is survived by his wife, Brittney, and their two children, Cienna and Luka.

A deputy from the Box Elder County Sheriff's Office also responded and was fired upon while still inside his vehicle with his service dog. The wounded deputy was released from the hospital Monday, and the dog was hospitalized in fair condition, police said.

After the officers were shot, bystanders persuaded the man to put down his weapon, police said. Up to 50 officers from multiple agencies responded. SWAT teams arrived to clear the home and verify that there was no further threat, police said.

The male suspect surrendered to authorities and was taken into custody. He was charged with aggravated murder, police said.

Authorities did not immediately release the name of the suspect. 

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox called the shooting "a terrible and tragic night." He wrote in a post online that the state will mourn the loss "of these courageous law enforcement officers" and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in their honor.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Doctors divided over new diet trend that has babies licking butter and gumming ribeye steak

Some parents are swapping puréed fruits and vegetables, oatmeal and yogurt for butter, bone broth, sardines and chicken liver as part of a controversial new "carnivore baby" trend – but experts are urging caution.

As carnivore and protein-packed diets gain popularity among adults, many of whom are rejecting ultra-processed foods, some are passing them on to their kids. Some doctors are even sharing that they feed their babies meat-forward meals, The Wall Street Journal recently reported.

Facebook groups are catering to carnivore families and parents are sharing tips on school lunches – rotisserie chicken, pork rinds and hard-boiled eggs among them. Meanwhile, others seek insight on trying to conceive while eating only meat.

THE GREAT EGG DEBATE IS OVER AS SCIENCE WEIGHS IN ABOUT THE FOOD CHOLESTEROL IMPACT

Dariya Quenneville, a mother in Ontario, Canada, told the publication that she started feeding her daughter raw egg yolks and puréed chicken liver as soon as she could eat solid foods and then moved on to sardines, bone broth ice pops, leg of lamb, beef heart and tongue.

Lorraine Bonkowski, a registered dietitian from Michigan, and her one-year-old daughter are both on carnivore diets, Bonkowski told The Wall Street Journal.

 The little girl licks butter off a spoon, gets a bottle full of bone broth and uses her four teeth to gum ribeye steak.

Bonkowski said she introduced fruit to her daughter's diet because her baby was getting constipated from all the meat.

GUT HEALTH AT STAKE AS RESEARCHERS PUT BEEF AND CHICKEN TO THE TEST

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends feeding children over 12 months a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins and dairy products.

While the carnivore trend has been firing up – U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently shared that he follows it – others have been pushing it for years.

STUDY CLAIMS VEGETARIANS MORE 'AMBITIOUS' AS MEAT EATERS CALL OUT 'OVERSIMPLIFICATION'

In 2021, Dr. Robert Cywes, a Florida-based pediatrician, and his wife, Janae, said in a YouTube video that they started giving their son meat at 4 months old. 

His first real meal, they said, was a ribeye steak.

"From a functional perspective, from a milestone perspective, he's right on target," Cywes claimed at the time.

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Dr. Shawn Baker, the Washington-based author of the book "The Carnivore Diet," boasted in a YouTube video last year that his baby ate a carnivore diet for six months, was walking at 10 months old and grew to be "strong and tall."

Some doctors claim the practice has been used for centuries.

"This is actually the original way that humans fed their babies 100 years ago, 500 years ago, 5,000 years ago," Dr. Ken Berry, a family physician in Tennessee, told Fox News' Dana Perino on "America's Newsroom."

"The first food for a baby, when it was ready to wean off the breast, was meat … gnawing on a bone," Berry said.

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Meat ensures that babies get certain nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids, he added, slamming puffs and other kids' snacks as "junk."

However, Berry did recommend moderation by pairing meat with whole foods like berries.

Fox News' senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel said introducing kids to meat gets them plenty of protein and iron, yet without fruits and vegetables, the diet can become an "addiction."

"It's a high-inflammation diet, which means later on, when you get to be an adult, you end up with heart disease, you end up with cancer, you end up with diabetes and you end up with obesity," Siegel said on "The Faulkner Focus." 

"This is a very bad diet to get addicted to as a kid," he said.

Lauren Manaker, a registered dietitian nutritionist and mom in South Carolina, told Fox News Digital that while the carnivore diet provides "many options" that are "fantastic for babies," she said it "isn't ideal for little ones."

"Babies need a variety of nutrients to grow and thrive, and a diet that cuts out or limits plant-based foods like fruits, veggies and grains can leave some big nutritional gaps," she cautioned.

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Former Vice President Mike Pence defends Trump's crime crackdown in DC

Former Vice President Mike Pence said he supported President Donald Trump’s action to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., when asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday.

During an appearance on "State of the Union," Pence was asked what he thought about Trump sending hundreds of National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, after Trump faced criticism for how he responded to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

"Here in Washington, D.C., President Trump has deployed the National Guard and other federal troops, ostensibly in response to emergency of lawlessness and high crime in D.C.," Tapper began in his question to Pence.

"I am curious what goes through your mind when you see the president aggressively pushing out the National Guard when he didn‘t do so on January 6th, 2021, as the Capitol was under attack, a mob was trying to lynch you and your family was in danger?" Tapper asked.

CNN’S DANA BASH ROASTED FOR CALLING JAN. 6 ‘MOST VIOLENT MOMENT IN RECENT HISTORY’ AFTER TRUMP CRIME PRESSER

Pence called January 6 "a tragic day," before praising Trump’s efforts to combat crime in the city. 

He defended the president temporarily taking control of D.C.'s police force as an "important" step to tackle the city's high homicide rate.

"Well, January 6th was a tragic day. But I know we did our duty that day, and I wish the president would have done more. But I welcome his decision to deploy the National Guard and essentially federalize the D.C. police department," Pence said. "I know that it‘s all now working in a very cooperative way."

FORMER CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF SAYS CRIME BY ‘GANGS OF YOUTH’ IN DC HAS SPIKED, ESCAPED ‘CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS’

"Jake, if the District of Columbia was actually a state, it would have the highest homicide rate in the country," he added. "And this is where our national government has to operate, where tens of thousands of people, you included, work every day. I think it’s important what the president is doing. I fully support it. And I think the American people welcome the president taking decisive action to ensure the streets of our nation’s capital are safe and also continue to provide resources across the country to make all of our cities and towns and communities safe."

Top Democrats across the country have pushed back on Trump’s actions, claiming that violent crime is at a 30-year-low, a statistic challenged by some law enforcement experts.

"Violent crime in Washington, D.C., is at a thirty-year low," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said on Monday. "Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost." 

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During a press conference on Monday, President Trump claimed the homicide rate in D.C. is higher than that in notoriously violent cities in nations across the world.

"The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogota, Colombia, Mexico City, some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on Earth, much higher," Trump said Monday. 

"This is much higher. The number of car thefts has doubled over the past five years, and the number of carjackings has more than tripled. Murders in 2023 reached the highest rate, probably ever. They say 25 years, but they don't know what that means because it just goes back 25 years can't be worse," he added. 

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With Rush Week back in the spotlight, here is the real price tag of joining a sorority

The price of joining a college sorority is climbing nationwide, with some recruits paying tens of thousands of dollars for coaching, outfits, registration fees and housing to vie for spots in the country's most coveted chapters.

As Rush Week kicked off this month, the recruitment process is drawing renewed attention, fueled by the viral "RushTok" trend on TikTok and pop culture portrayals of Greek life, including the HBO documentary "Bama Rush" and Lifetime’s "A Sorority Mom’s Guide to Rush!"

"Costs and expectations have increased with the viral exposure coming from TikTok, TV shows, and documentaries," said Michael Ayalon, CEO and founder of Greek University, a Tennessee-based speaking and consulting business for fraternities and sororities.

SORORITY GIRLS PUT THROUGH 'PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE' IN BAMA RUSH RECRUITMENT: COACH

"On the one hand, it has made recruitment more transparent and even accessible," Ayalon told Fox News Digital. "Potential new members at any school can learn tips and demystify the process by watching others’ experiences. On the other hand, what people see online is a ‘highlight reel’ that emphasizes aesthetics over substance," he added.

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the governing body for 26 national women’s sororities, including most of the big-name Greek chapters at U.S. colleges, like Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Gamma. 

To rush a NPC sorority, hopefuls pay non-refundable registration fees, according to university and National Panhellenic Conference websites. At the University of Alabama, it costs $375; at the University of Arkansas, $330; and at the University of South Carolina, $185.

BAMA RUSH: 5 SORORITY RECRUITMENT TIKTOK TRENDS GOING VIRAL

If accepted, students must then pay new member dues, according to university websites. At Alabama, active-member dues can be more than $5,000 per semester. Louisiana State University lists new member dues averaging $2,200 — and up to $3,270 for some chapters, according to the school's website.

 Clemson University has new member costs of about $820. Lehigh University in Pennsylvania has new member fees of more than $1,600. UCLA has new member dues as high as $1,700.

The average new-member cost at the University of Oklahoma is $4,605, up nearly 25% from 2021, The Oklahoman recently reported.

BAMA RUSH: INSIDE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA'S WILD AND ‘CUTTHROAT' SORORITY RECRUITMENT PROCESS

The numbers continue to rise with the addition of housing and yearly dues. At University of Oklahoma, the average cost of living in the sorority house is over $12,200. At Alabama, it can cost upwards of $15,000 to dorm in the sorority house.

Recruitment preparation has become its own industry with coaches, stylists, and social media strategists charging up to $5,500, The Cut recently reported. TikTok "outfit of the day" videos reveal wardrobes that can top $10,000, with girls sporting luxury brands like LoveShackFancy, where a frilly, pastel-colored dress can cost nearly $500, and Golden Goose, where sneakers can cost more than $600.

Extra costs can run up the bill another $1,000. If girls arrive on campus early, they might have to pay early move-in fees clocking of $180 per week. They are also recommended to bring emergency kits filled with items like personal fans, blotting powder, compact mirrors, deodorant and electrolyte powder, which can tack on $100.

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"Sorority rush is downright cruel," said Daniel Karon, an Ohio-based attorney who serves as a chapter advisor for a fraternity, was a member himself, and whose son and daughter both graduated from Greek organizations.

"It can involve dances, skits, dressing a certain way, interviews, resumes, recommendation letters, touring each sorority house, and suffering through a mutual selection [ranking] process," he told Fox News Digital.

"It’s a punishing, unnecessary, and twisted process that does nothing to foster the mental health that’s so essential to freshmen women," Karon said, adding that national organizations should tamp down on the outlandish requirements.

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Ayalon warned that unchecked costs can make sororities more socioeconomically exclusive, fostering status-driven cultures linked to hazing and unhealthy environments.

Despite the demands, many say Greek life is worth the investment, paving the way for leadership opportunities, alumni networking, community service, and lifelong friendships.

"Affiliated women tend to have higher retention and graduation rates," Ayalon added. 

For those deterred by price, there are more affordable paths. Some organizations offer scholarships, grants, payment plans, and lower-cost options like Continuous Open Bidding, which skips rush-week wardrobes and early move-in fees, Ayalon said. 

Others limit decorations and event spending through "No-Frills Recruitment" or offer shared wardrobes and clothing swaps.

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Legendary surfer Dale Webster, who surfed every day for 40 years straight, dead at 76

Surfing icon Dale Webster, a California native who set the record for most consecutive days surfing, has died.

Webster, also known as the "Daily Wavester" because of the incredible feat, passed away in Rohnert Park, Calif, his family confirmed to the New York Times and other outlets. 

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No cause of death was confirmed, but Webster’s brother told the outlet that the surfer had been dealing with a decline in health in recent years. 

Webster was best known for setting the world record in February 2004 when he hit 10,407 consecutive days of surfing. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, that mark consisted of him surfing at least three waves to shore every day. 

In an interview with SURFER in 2015, Webster told the magazine that the idea for surfing came about from a friend after he had already been on the board every day for more than two months. 

PRO SURFER MAKAI MCNAMARA PLACED IN MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA FOLLOWING TERRIFYING WIPEOUT

"There was a solid south swell in September, and I surfed every day during the swell," Webster said at the time. "Each day the waves got better and better. After surfing 85 days straight, my friend said, ‘You should try to surf for 100 consecutive days.’ When I got to 100, the story was in the local newspaper. That publicity gave me a little pat on the back to make it to a year. So then the challenge became a year. And so forth."

Webster began his journey on Sept. 3, 1975, in Bodega Bay, California. By the time he finished, he had surfed 14,642 days consecutively before having to break the record because of a minor medical procedure. That time totaled over 40 years of consecutive surfing. 

"He was a surfer, that was his main thing, that was his life ambition. I don’t think he ever second guessed it," William Beal, a close friend of Webster’s, told the SFGate following the news of his passing. "I know he had a lot of good years here when it was not that crowded. I think he had a pretty well-lived life."

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Hawley opens probe into Meta after reports of AI romantic exchanges with minors

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is launching an investigation into Meta after reports found that the company green-lit internal rules that allowed AI chatbots to have "romantic" and "sensual" exchanges with children. 

Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, wrote in a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg that his committee will dive into whether Meta's generative-Al products enabled exploitation, deception or other criminal harms to children. Further, the probe will look at whether Meta misled the public or regulators about its safeguards on AI.

REPUBLICANS SCRAP DEAL IN 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' TO LOWER RESTRICTIONS ON STATES' AI REGULATIONS

"I already have an ongoing investigation into Meta's stunning complicity with China — but Zuckerberg siccing his company's AI chatbots on our kids called for another one," Hawley told Fox News Digital. "Big Tech will know no boundaries until Congress holds social media outlets accountable. And I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can agree that exploiting children’s innocence is a new low."

Hawley demanded that the company must produce a trove of materials related to internal policies on the chatbots, communications and more to the panel by Sept. 19.

His announcement on Friday comes after Reuters first reported that Meta, which is the parent company to Facebook, had given the go-ahead to policies on chatbot behavior that allowed the AI to "engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual."

SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT HIT WITH SCATHING AD CAMPAIGN AMID ANGER OVER AI CHATBOTS SEXUALLY EXPLOITING KIDS

Hawley noted that Meta acknowledged the reports and charged that the company "made retractions only after this alarming content came to light" in his letter to Zuckerberg.

"To take but one example, your internal rules purportedly permit an Al chatbot to comment that an 8-year-old's body is ‘a work of art" of which ’every inch... is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply,’" he wrote.

"Similar conduct outlined in these reports is reprehensible and outrageous and demonstrates a cavalier attitude when it comes to the real risks that generative Al presents to youth development absent strong guardrails," Hawley continued. "Parents deserve the truth, and kids deserve protection."

A spokesperson for Meta confirmed to Fox News Digital that the document reviewed by Reuters was real but countered that "it does not accurately reflect our policies." 

SCHUMER CLAIMS TRUMP ADMIN WITHHOLDING EPSTEIN FILES, THREATENS TO SUE

"We have clear policies on what kind of responses AI characters can offer, and those policies prohibit content that sexualizes children and sexualized role play between adults and minors," the spokesperson said. "Separate from the policies, there are hundreds of examples, notes, and annotations that reflect teams grappling with different hypothetical scenarios. The examples and notes in question were and are erroneous and inconsistent with our policies, and have been removed."

The document in question, known as the "GenAI: Content Risk Standards," included over 200 pages of rules that outlined what workers at Meta should consider as acceptable behavior when building and training chatbots and other AI-generative products for the company.

Hawley demanded that the company produce all iterations of the GenAI: Content Risk Standards, all products that fall under the scope of the guidelines, how the guidelines are enforced, risk reviews and incident reports that reference minors, sexual or romantic role-play, in-person meetups, medical advice, self-harm, or criminal exploitation, communications with regulators and a paper trail on who decided and when to revise the standards and what changes were actually made. 

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NCAA hammers Michigan with hefty fines, suspensions over sign-stealing scheme

The NCAA has handed the Michigan football program hefty fines and suspensions for their sign-stealing scandal.

Michigan will receive a fine that is expected to be more than $20 million, including the loss of postseason football revenue for the next two seasons, according to ESPN’s report. 

Michigan’s head coach, Sherrone Moore, will also have a game added to his already-existing self-imposed two-game suspension that he will serve this upcoming season. 

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"Over the course of three seasons, the Michigan football program committed violations involving an off-campus, in-person scouting scheme, impermissible recruiting inducements and communications, head coach responsibility rules, individuals’ failure to cooperate and Michigan’s failure to monitor, according to a decision released by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel," The NCAA said in a press release. 

The NCAA said that the majority of violations in this case stem from former Michigan football staff member Connor Stalions' impermissible scouting schemes in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons. 

Stalions arranged for interns and other staff members to do off-campus, in-person scouting for future opponents. Those sent on the trip filmed and recorded their upcoming opponents' signs, which Stalions then deciphered. 

JOHNNY MANZIEL WISHES 'NOTHING BUT THE BEST' FOR ARCH MANNING — EXCEPT FOR 1 GAME DURING TEXAS' 2025 SEASON

"In total, 56 instances of off-campus, in-person scouting of 13 future regular-season opponents occurred across 52 contests. Stalions' conduct resulted in a collective Level I violation of the impermissible scouting rule that expressly prohibits off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents," The NCAA said.

Stalions and other individuals deliberately destroyed and withheld information regarding the investigation. The panel said that the "true scope and scale of the scheme" will never be known because of the destruction of evidence. 

The NCAA also said that former head coach Jim Harbaugh, then assistant coach and now current head coach Moore, and former director of player personnel Denard Robinson all failed to meet the membership’s expectation of cooperation. 

"Their conduct ranged from destroying relevant materials to providing false and misleading information during interviews — including Stalions instructing an intern to ‘clear out’ emails, photos, texts and videos related to the scouting scheme," the NCAA said. 

Below are the penalties the NCAA doled out:

"The prescribed penalties for the parties who contested their violations in this case are as follows: 

A show-cause order deems that any school that wants to hire a person must show cause to the Committee on Infractions that it must accept the restrictions tied to the individual. 

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Transform your bathroom into an at-home spa with these self-care items

Designing an at-home spa experience in your own space transforms everyday routines into serene self-care rituals. The right tools — think scented candles and diffusers, plush bath robes and calming music — engage the senses and encourage intentional downtime. These 10 items help create a sanctuary that reduces stress and promotes relaxation. 

This citrus‑eucalyptus-scented candle releases a spa-worthy herbal fragrance perfect for relaxation or meditation. Its clean, soy-based wax and fresh scent create a calming and crisp ambiance in any bathroom without overwhelming the senses.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Original price: $39.99

This smart diffuser puts you in control. Connect it to Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant to schedule scents and light colors with your phone or voice. It has two mist modes and an adjustable LED light for a custom spa ambiance. Don’t forget to pick up this set of essential oils so you have lots of options to go with it. 

This colorful bath bomb set includes scents like lavender, eucalyptus and chamomile, releasing soothing essential oils, fizzing action and vibrant color into warm bathwater. Each individually labeled to target specific concerns like detox and muscle relief, these enhance sensory bathing with aromatherapy and hydration, leaving skin soft and senses revived. Adding magnesium bath flakes is also a good choice if you’re looking to quell muscle soreness and promote better sleep.  

This natural-bristle dry brush gently exfoliates skin before soaking, stimulating circulation and encouraging smooth, glowing skin. Repeated use promotes lymphatic drainage and softens rough areas like elbows and heels. Integrating this into your skincare prep enhances oil absorption afterward — whether you use body oil or lotion — elevating your self-care ritual with detoxifying, invigorating touch. 

WATERPROOF MAKEUP THAT STAYS PUT THROUGH SWEATING AND SWIMMING

Available in elegant glass containers and designed to burn cleanly and evenly, Nest candles elevate both scent and aesthetic. The high-end vessels can double as décor and the long burn times ensure a consistent ambiance for at-home spa sessions. If you prefer to scent your home with something that doesn’t involve fire, try the brand’s reed diffusers.

Original price: $299.95

Hotel Collection’s scent diffuser infuses subtle fragrances throughout your space without flames. Using cold-air diffusion technology, this compact device converts fragrance oil into a dry mist that covers up to 600 feet, emulating that hotel spa ambiance in your home. You can also get the same relaxing scents in a room spray version. 

Epsom salt is an age-old remedy to bring soothing magnesium and calming aromatics to warm baths. This lavender version relieves muscle tension, soothes aches and softens skin while relaxing your mind in fragrant floral steam. These salts transform a regular bath into an immersive spa, promoting detox and calm with minimal effort. Plus, the three-pound bag should last you up to 12 baths.

This set of natural loofah sponges gently exfoliates skin, stimulates circulation, improves lotion absorption and leaves skin soft and polished. For an intensive foot treatment, try these foot masks, which use disposable booties filled with hydrating lotion to leave feet soft after 20 minutes.

PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM HEAD TO TOE WITH THESE TOP SUNSCREENS

These Peach & Lily face masks are designed to pull out impurities while hydrating and firming the skin. For a simple, mess-free application, just unwrap the sheet and place it on your face. You can also try this Cryo Chill face mask, which you store in the fridge or freezer and apply as needed for instant de-puffing.

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Get the authentic hotel spa experience at home with this Marriott Hotel collection terry velour spa robe. Made from soft, breathable cotton and designed in a relaxed fit, the plush robe delivers spa comfort in your own home. While you’re relaxing in your robe, pop on this electric back and neck massager and drift off into relaxation.

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Todd Chrisley admits he refused to work during his prison stint while wife Julie did hard time

Todd Chrisley only did time in prison, not work.

Todd, 56, revealed he didn't have a job while serving time for fraud before being pardoned by President Donald Trump. However, his wife, Julie Chrisley, had a different experience behind bars.

"I did hard time," Julie said during an episode of the couple's podcast, "Chrisley Confessions 2.0". "I adhered to the rules. Keep in mind, I was in a place where there was no air conditioning."

TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY'S CHILDREN ACCUSE FAMILY MEMBERS OF BETRAYAL, ‘LOSE OUR LAST NAME’

"I did work, he didn't," Julie told their guest, "Real Housewives" alum Kandi Burress.

"I refused," Todd quipped, saying, "I ran my block."

Julie explained she took a job in the prison's commissary, a general store.

"I wanted to make sure I could order my shampoo and body wash and makeup," the "Chrisley Knows Best" star noted. "I mean, it wasn't MAC, but we could get the CoverGirl, the Maybelline, the Wet N’ Wild. So, we went back to the Wet N’ Wild."

"You would walk down the hall and somebody would have on fake lashes, fake hair, there was more weave in there," she continued.

The only part of her beauty routine Julie didn't have access to was bleach to keep her blonde locks.

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The reality TV couple previously confessed that life on the outside is more difficult than the lives they led behind bars. 

"I’ve actually talked to a few of the women that I was in prison with that they’re already home," Julie said on the podcast.

"We all have this general consensus that – it’s kind of weird to even say it," Julie continued. Todd added, "No, it’s not weird. Life is rougher than prison life."

"It is so horrific, the conditions that you’re there for, but that’s from a physical standpoint," he explained. "But from an emotional and psychological standpoint, it is harder dealing with day to day."

WATCH: TODD CHRISLEY: WE'RE COMING BACK TO TELEVISION

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Todd and Julie were both pardoned by Trump in May after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud and tax evasion. They were sentenced to a combined 19 years behind bars. The couple walked out of prison after serving two and a half years, and have always maintained their innocence.

Cameras have been filming the Chrisley family for the past three years as the story of their time behind bars unfolded. 

"The Chrisleys: Back to Reality" will premiere over the span of two days on Sept. 1 and 2. The finale will hit screens on Sept. 16.

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Newsom unveiling California redistricting effort to counter Trump-backed push in Texas

California is center stage on Thursday in the national battle over congressional redistricting ahead of next year's midterm elections.

Two-term Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will team up with congressional Democrats and legislative leaders in the heavily blue state at an event in Los Angeles.

That's where they're expected to unveil their game plan to counter the push by President Donald Trump and Republicans to create up to five GOP-friendly congressional districts at the expense of currently Democrat-controlled seats.

"If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states," Newsom said in a recent letter to the president.

NEWSOM VOWS TO FIGHT ‘FIRE WITH FIRE’ IN CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING BATTLE

And he argued that Trump was "playing with fire" with his push for rare—but not unheard of—mid-decade redistricting.

Newsom says Trump missed a deadline to stand down on his push to redistrict in Texas.

"DONALD ‘TACO’ TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, ‘MISSED’ THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE ‘BEAUTIFUL MAPS,’ THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!)," Newsom wrote earlier this week in a social media post posted by his press office, which was meant to mock how Trump writes his own social media posts.

"BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR ‘MAGA.’ THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GN," he added. 

The Republican push in Texas, which comes at Trump's urging, is part of a broader effort by the GOP across the country to pad their razor-thin House majority to keep control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats.

NEWSOM DEMANDS TRUMP GIVE UP TEXAS REDISTRICTING PUSH

Trump and his political team are aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House, when Democrats stormed back to grab the House majority in the 2018 midterms. 

But while the Republican push in Texas to upend the current congressional maps doesn't face constitutional constraints, Newsom's path in California is much more complicated.

In Texas, Republicans plan to enact the new maps they drew up once enough state Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to prevent the legislature from passing the measure return to Texas.

The governor is moving to hold a special election this year, to obtain voter approval to undo the constitutional amendments that created the non-partisan redistricting commission. A two-thirds majority vote in the Democrat-dominated California legislature would be needed to hold the referendum.

Democratic Party leaders are confident they'll have the votes to push the constitutional amendment and the new proposed congressional maps through the legislature.

Thursday's news conference by Newsom, who is considered a likely contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, will also serve as a fundraising kickoff to raise massive amounts of campaign cash needed to sell the redistricting push statewide in California. 

SCHWARZENEGGER'S NEW STARING ROLE: PUSHING BACK AGAINST NEWSOM'S REDISTRICTING DRIVE

The non-partisan redistricting commission, created over 15 years ago, remains popular with most Californians, according to public opinion polling.

That's why Newsom and California Democratic lawmakers are promising not to scrap the commission entirely, but rather replace it temporarily by the legislature for the next three election cycles.

But their efforts are opposed by a number of coalition of figures supportive of the non-partisan commission.

Among the most visible members is former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the last Republican elected governor in Democrat-dominated California.

Schwarzenegger, during his tenure as governor, had a starring role in the passage of constitutional amendments in California in 2008 and 2010 that took the power to draw state legislative and congressional districts away from politicians and place it in the hands of an independent commission.

"Most people don't really think about an independent commission much, one way or another. And that's both an opportunity and a challenge for Newsom," Jack Pitney, an American politics professor at California's Claremont McKenna College, told Fox News.

But he added that "it's going to take a lot of effort and money to energize Democrats and motivate them to show up at the polls" and that Newsom's effort "is all about motivating people who don't like Trump."

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President Trump shakes up Hollywood with revamped Kennedy Center awards list

The Kennedy Center Honors are heating up this year — and Hollywood celebrities are at the heart of the buzz.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the stars set to be honored at the highly anticipated ceremony in December. 

The honorees this year are country legend George Strait, Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone, rock band KISS, English actor Michael Crawford and iconic singer Gloria Gaynor, known for her hits, including "I Will Surive" and "The Eye of the Tiger."

TRUMP AND MELANIA TO HEADLINE POWER-PLAYER PACKED KENNEDY CENTER OPENING NIGHT

Trump, now chairman of the Kennedy Center, ramps up efforts to reshape the honors program — pushing for a glitzier, star-studded celebration.

"The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people, incredible, we can't wait… in a few short months since I became chairman of the board, the Kennedy Center, we've completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution," he said in his speech. 

When reporters asked Trump how involved he was in selecting the 2025 honorees, he didn’t hold back.

"I was about 98% involved… they all came through me," he said. 

Trump explained he personally greenlit each honoree, and made it known that some didn’t make the cut.

"I turned down plenty, they were too woke… I had a couple of wokesters. No, we have great people. This is very different than it used to be."

While taking aim at the state of Hollywood awards shows, Trump didn’t miss the chance to swipe at the Oscars.

"Look at the Academy Awards — it gets lousy ratings now, it’s all woke. All they do is talk about how much they hate Trump, but nobody likes that. They don’t watch anymore..."

Trump ended his "very long answer" by saying he "was very involved" in the selection of the Kennedy Center Honorees.

Fans hoping to check out the Kennedy Center website Wednesday afternoon were met with an unexpected message: "You are currently in a temporary waiting room."

After President Trump revealed the blockbuster list of Kennedy Center Honorees, the Center’s official website was flooded.

"We are experiencing high traffic. You are currently in a temporary waiting room to enter the Kennedy Center website."

The waiting room page also explained that the feature was "in place to manage traffic," and users would be redirected to the main site as demand eased.

At the time of publication, the number of users "in line ahead of you" was listed at more than 300.

HOUSE REPUBLICAN APPROVE RENAMING THE KENNEDY CENTER OPERA HOUSE AFTER MELANIA TRUMP

The president previously told Fox News Digital, "The Kennedy Center is coming back. It was not properly taken care of and we are taking it back and we are going to turn it back into something great." 

Sources told Fox News Digital that the president is committed to revitalizing the Kennedy Center, with some suggesting it should eventually be renamed "the Trump–Kennedy Center." 

The Kennedy Center has two affiliates — the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. The new leadership team is currently working on business plans with its affiliates to ensure the Kennedy Center has larger endowments and "greater sustainability."

Earlier this year, on February 12, Trump appointed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center and fired multiple board members.

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At the time, he said that he and then-chair David Rubenstein "do not share [the same] Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture," according to the announcement on Truth Social.

"Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP," Trump wrote in the post. 

The opera house in the Kennedy Center is the second-largest theater in the center, with 2,347 seats.

The opera house also serves as the site for the annual Kennedy Center Honors, the nation's highest award for lifetime achievement in the arts.

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

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Clay Travis, Stephen A Smith set for debate at Front Office Sports' media summit

OutKick founder Clay Travis and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith are set to take the stage together for a debate during Front Office Sports' Tuned In sports summit this September in New York City.

Travis and Smith will be among the 14 total sports figures and commentators who will drive moderated discussions on the world of sports and the media space as a whole. 

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, as well as ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro, are among other notable names set to speak at the summit, which will take place in The Times Center on September 16.

The undoubtedly entertaining and insightful back-and-forth between Travis and Smith is set for the afternoon wave of the day's jam-packed programming. 

The pair will debate contemporary issues where politics has bled into sports and how that has had an impact on both themselves and the sports business world that they have occupied for years.

Smith and Travis have each welcomed one another on their respective shows in the past, with the ESPN personality having Travis on his to discuss sports, politics, and culture in April 2023. 

Travis then welcomed Smith on "OutKick The Show" that December, and the pair discussed how Smith got his start in the sports industry, family life, woke culture in sports, and even the secrets of success, among other things.

Be sure to tune into "OutKick The Show with Clay Travis'"here. You can also listen to the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Trump and Newsom fight over National Guard heads to trial in California

The fight between President Donald Trump and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over the National Guard's presence in California is coming to a head on Monday in the start of a three-day trial.

Government attorneys are set to argue that Trump had legal authority to deploy roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles in June to assist with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests and riots.

While most of the National Guard members have since been demobilized, the trial could set the stage for more fights across the country as Trump federalizes guard members in Washington, D.C., and threatens to do so elsewhere in response to high crime rates in blue cities.

Judge Charles Breyer, a Clinton appointee and brother of retired liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, is presiding over the case.

TRUMP AND NEWSOM ON COLLISION COURSE AS FIGHT OVER NATIONAL GUARD INTENSIFIES IN COURT

Breyer previously granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Newsom, saying Trump's decision to mobilize the National Guard was illegal because it infringed on California's authority. One of the conditions required under the law Trump cited to federalize the National Guard is that a rebellion must be underway, and Breyer said the riots in California fell far short of that scenario.

But Breyer's decision was quickly reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A three-judge panel for the appellate court unanimously found that the courts have limited ability to review whether a president has properly invoked the law to federalize the National Guard.

"We are persuaded that, under longstanding precedent interpreting the statutory predecessor to §12406, our review of that decision must be highly deferential," the panel wrote. "Affording the President that deference, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority under §12406(3), which authorizes federalization of the National Guard when ‘the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.’"

The panel paused Breyer's initial order indefinitely, but Monday's trial is the next step in the court process as the judge weighs the merits of the case.

While little is left on the ground in California for the judge to resolve – Newsom recently announced that about 300 of Trump's deployed National Guard members remain active in the state – legal questions surrounding Trump's actions persist.

As part of the trial, Breyer will examine the 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from being used for civil matters. Newsom has argued Trump violated that law and plans to call military officials as witnesses during the trial to testify about the directions the National Guard and a few hundred Marines received.

Newsom has said they were illegally engaged in law enforcement activities, while government attorneys argue they were protecting federal personnel and federal properties.

APPEALS COURT APPEARS SKEPTICAL OF NEWSOM'S CLAIM THAT TRUMP ILLEGALLY DEPLOYED NATIONAL GUARD

While Newsom also argued that Trump's unusual decision to bring the National Guard into a state without the governor's consent was illegal and required the governor's permission, the three-judge panel has already leaned in favor of Trump on that point.

The panel found that while the law's language, which states that Trump must go "through" the governor, could mean the president committed a "procedural" violation, it did not warrant restricting Trump's use of the military.

Newsom has claimed more broadly that militarizing California was unnecessary and caused the unrest in Los Angeles to intensify.

State and local law enforcement officers made about seven riot-related arrests prior to Trump's announcement about the National Guard on June 7, but they made about a thousand arrests during the subsequent 10 days, California attorneys said in court filings.

An ICE official said in an affidavit that National Guard members were "essential" to providing reinforcements around the 300 North Los Angeles Federal Building, which was the site of protests during the controversial immigration raids.

"Prior to the National Guard's deployment, rioters and protestors assaulted federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with rocks, fireworks, and other objects. They also damaged federal property by spray painting death threats to federal law enforcement officers," the ICE official wrote.

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