The Indiana Hoosiers finished 11-2 and made an appearance in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history last season and are looking to build upon that success in 2025.The Hoosiers start the season with Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State before Big Ten Conference play begins against Illinois on Sept. 20. However, the Hoosiers schedule was the topic of conversation during Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti talked about why the school canceled a home-and-home series against the Virginia Cavaliers and took a swipe at the SEC in the process."That was a scheduling philosophy that began before I was hired. But I did sign off on it upon being hired, before our first season," he said, via On3 Sports. "Look, heres the bottom line we picked up an extra home game, and we play nine conference games."The two best conferences in college football any football guy thats objective will tell you is the Big Ten and the SEC. Twelve of the 16 SEC teams play three G5 (Group of 5) or an FCS game. Twelve of those teams play 36 games 29 G5 games and seven FCS games, and one less conference game. So we figured wed just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy. Some people dont like it. Im more focused in on those nine conference games."COLORADO'S DEION SANDERS ADMITS HE'S 'STILL GOING THROUGH SOMETHING' AS FOOTBALL SEASON APPROACHESCignetti continued to breakdown the scheduling in an effort to back Big Ten schools who may be worthy of an automatic qualifier for the expanded College Football Playoff."You want to put the best teams in the playoff? Give the best leagues the (automatic qualifiers), but make them earn it with play-in games," Cignetti added. "And we wouldnt be opposed to Big Ten-SEC regular season games every year."We need to standardize the schedule across the board if we want to have objective criteria for who should be in the playoffs and who shouldnt, and we need to take the decision-making off the committee to some degree."The Hoosiers are set to take the field with Fernando Mendoza under center. Omar Cooper Jr., who had 21.2 yards per reception, is set to return as well.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Somemovies perfectly capture the essence of summer, from the thrilling fun of a beachside adventure to the nostalgia of childhood friendships and family road trips. Watching classic (ornewly released) summer movies together is a fun way for the family to bond, especially on a rainy day.Whether you prefer comedies, horror, action flicks orrom-coms, movies can be a great way to break from the sun or entertain yourself during a staycation. So pull up a couch and grab the popcornHere are 10 classic summer movies that encapsulate the season's spirit and where you can stream them.Steven Spielberg'sJaws is the summer thriller that transformed beach vacations forever. Set in the fictional town of Amity Island, the film that spawned threesequels follows a police chief, a marine biologist and a shark hunter as they confront a menacing great white shark. Its suspenseful storytelling and iconic score have made it a timeless classic.The Sandlot is a heartwarming coming-of-age story that captures the innocence and adventures of childhood summers. Set in the 1960s, it follows a group of young boys who bond over baseball and navigate the challenges of growing up. You can also consider the hilarious Rodney Dangerfield-helmedLadybugs if you like the nostalgic sports theme.This cult comedy parodies the classic summer camp experience with absurd humor and an ensemble cast. Set on the last day of camp in 1981, it follows counselors as they try to complete unfinished business before the day ends. Its satirical take on camp tropes has earned it a dedicated fan base, much like another fan favorite,Troop Beverly Hills.NEW TV SHOWS AND MOVIES COMING IN 2025: WHERE TO WATCH AND CATCH UP ON PRIOR SEASONSSet in the summer of 1963,Dirty Dancing tells the story of Frances "Baby" Houseman, who falls in love with a dance instructor at a resort in the Catskills. The film's iconic dance scenes, music and romantic story have made it a perennial favorite for generations. While you're at it, do a Patrick Swayze binge movie marathon and stream favorites likeRoad House andGhost.Spike Lee'smasterpiece is set in a Brooklyn neighborhood on the hottest day of the year and explores racial tensions and community dynamics. Its powerful narrative and vibrant visuals offer a thought-provoking look at societal issues, making it a significant film in American cinema history.Adventureland follows a recent college graduate who takes a summer job at an amusement park, leading to unexpected friendships and life lessons. Set in the 1980s, the film combines humor and heartfelt moments, capturing the uncertainties of young adulthood. If you like this type of movie, considerSuperbad or the movie that made Keanu Reeves a household name,Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure, which is free to stream on Tubi.This classic family film features Hayley Mills in dual roles as identical twins separated at birth who meet at summer camp and scheme to reunite their divorced parents. Its charming story and catchy songs have delighted audiences for generations and even spawned aremake starring a young Lindsay Lohan.WHERE YOU CAN STREAM THE OSCAR-NOMINATED FILMS FOR BEST PICTUREInRoman Holiday, a classic 1953 rom-com, Audrey Hepburn stars as a princess who escapes her royal duties for a day of adventure in Rome with an American journalist, played by Gregory Peck. This romantic comedy captures the allure of spontaneous summer escapades and the beauty of the Eternal City. If you like romantic comedies, you might also consider(500)Days of SummerorMystic Pizza.A quintessential 1960s beach party movie,Beach Blanket Bingo features Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in a lighthearted tale of surfers, skydivers and musical numbers. Its campy fun and catchy tunes make it a nostalgic trip to the past, much like the cult-flickGrease and its sequelGrease 2.Set in Hawaii,this animated film tells the story of a young girl who adopts a mischievous alien, leading to adventures that emphasize the importance of family and acceptance. Its vibrant visuals and heartfelt message resonate with viewers of all ages. If youre wondering why youre seeing the characters everywhere again these days, its because its the films 20th anniversary and Disney celebrated with alive-action remake. If its tropical vibes youre after, you might also consider DisneysMoana.

Ukrainians are taking to the streets after the passage of a controversial bill threatening the autonomy of two anti-corruption agencies.The legislation gives the general prosecutor who is appointed by the president increased authority over the countrys National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO).Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now facing the largest protests since Russias 2022 invasion. Demonstrators gathered outside the presidential administration in Kyiv, while other protests took place in smaller cities across the country.UKRAINE'S ZELENSKYY NAMES NEW PRIME MINISTER FOR FIRST TIME SINCE RUSSIA'S WAR BEGANThe vote came one day after two NABU officials were arrested over alleged ties to Russia, according to Reuters. The outlet said that Ukraines domestic security agency, which carried out the arrests, also conducted background checks."I gathered all heads of Ukraines law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies, along with the Prosecutor General. It was a much-needed meeting a frank and constructive conversation that truly helps," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "We all share a common enemy: the Russian occupiers. And defending the Ukrainian state requires a strong enough law enforcement and anti-corruption system one that ensures a real sense of justice."SENATE MOVES TO REIN IN TRUMP ADMINISTRATIONS FLUCTUATING UKRAINE POLICY"In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor generals office," the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram, according to the Associated Press.European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote, saying "the dismantling of key safeguards protecting NABUs independence is a serious step back."Zelenskyy said in another X post, following a meeting that included NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, SAPO Prosecutor Oleksandr Klymenko, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk, that "anti-corruption infrastructure" needs to be "cleared" of "Russian influence."The Ukrainian governments latest move risks endangering its bid to join the European Union, as a crackdown on internal corruption is a requirement. Additionally, it could strain the warming relationship between Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump, who has accused the Ukrainian leader of being a "dictator without elections."Both the U.S. and the E.U. have backed activists in Ukraine demanding independent institutions be established and empowered to clean up corruption, according to Axios. However, the pressure dropped significantly after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Senate narrowly voted to move forward with considering the nomination of former Trump lawyer Emil Bove to a federal court of appeals on Tuesday.The 50-48 vote saw one Republican break ranks and vote against his nomination, while Democrats have done everything in their power to slow down the nomination. Bove, who currently works at the Justice Department, is nominated to serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.Democrats have argued that Bove, a former defense attorney for President Donald Trump, is unfit for the role, pointing to allegations that he proposed behind closed doors that the Trump administration could simply ignore judicial orders. Bove denies those allegations.Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted with Republicans to move forward but said in a statement that she will oppose Boves confirmation on a final vote. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the lone Republican to vote against moving forward with Bove's nomination.TRUMP CONSIDERS FORMER DEFENSE ATTORNEY EMIL BOVE FOR FEDERAL APPEALS COURT VACANCY"We have to have judges who will adhere to the rule of law and the Constitution and do so regardless of what their personal views may be," Collins said in a statement. "Mr. Boves political profile and some of the actions he has taken in his leadership roles at the Department of Justice cause me to conclude he would not serve as an impartial jurist."Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee stormed out of the meeting where the committee approved Bove last week.Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., attempted to push for more debate time, but Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, pushed forward with the vote."What are you afraid of?" Booker erupted, after Grassley tried to speak over him and hold the vote. "Debating this [nomination], putting things on the record Dear God," he said, "that's what we are here for.""What are they saying to you," he said, referring to the Trump administration, "that is making you do something to violate the decorum, the decency and the respect of this committee to at least hear each other out?"TRUMP'S REMARKS COULD COME BACK TO BITE HIM IN ABREGO GARCIA DEPORTATION BATTLEBooker ended the sharp exchange with Grassley by saying simply, "This is wrong, sir, and I join with my colleagues in leaving," before streaming out of the committee room.It comes as Trump administration officials have taken aim at "activist" judges they argue are blocking the president's agenda and preventing him from enacting his sweeping policy goals, including the administration's crackdown on border security and immigration.Fox News' Breanne Deppisch and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Efforts to overhaul the Coast Guard are gaining traction on Capitol Hill coinciding with the Trump administrations endeavor to revamp the service to address illegal migrant crossings and drug seizures.Multiple initiatives to update the Coast Guard are underway in both chambers of Congress, and within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). All seek to elevate the service so its on par with the other branches of the military that fall under the Department of Defense, and better equip it to tackle drug and immigration interdiction missions.House legislation authorizing funding for the service through 2029 recently cleared a committee vote and aims to empower the service to conduct these missions, according to Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., a co-sponsor of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025."The Coast Guard is very similar to law enforcement," Ezell told Fox News Digital July 16. "It's going to fight the narcotics epidemic that we have coming into the country. Our Coast Guard officers and men and women are going to really be able to go after that."INSIDE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S OVERHAUL OF THE COAST GUARD AMID BORDER SECURITY BLITZSuch missions are only increasing for the Coast Guard. DHS announced July 15 that the service had seized a total of 242,244 pounds of cocaine since President Donald Trump took office in January. That amounts to a more than 100% increase in seizures in comparison to the same timeframe in 2024 during the Biden administration, according to DHS.Ezell, along with Reps. Sam Graves, R-Mo., Rick Larsen, D-Wash., and Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., introduced the Coast Guard Authorization Act July 2, and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the measure July 15, paving the way for the measure to head to the House floor.One of the most significant provisions in the legislation would establish a civilian secretary of the Coast Guard to align more similarly with the other branches of the military that fall under the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard falls under the jurisdiction of DHS and does not have a top civilian leading the service.Installing a secretary of the service will "streamline some of this red tape that we've seen over the years thats slowed progress down" because he or she will report directly to the White House and Congress eliminating multiple layers of bureaucracy, according to Ezell."This person is going to be instrumental in getting things done," Ezell said.COAST GUARD RESCUES 4 PASSENGERS FROM CAPSIZED BOAT OFF FLORIDA COAST"Coming from my background as a sheriff and the chief of police, I know the importance of coordinating with other agencies to get the job done," Ezell said. "When you have one person that's a point of contact who will put all the information out from the president, from the DHS Secretary, it'll be so much simpler."Prior to being elected to the House, Ezell served as a law enforcement officer for over 40 years, including serving as sheriff of Jackson County, Mississippi.Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia introduced legislation in the Senate in April that would similarly establish a secretary for the Coast Guard."The establishment of a Secretary of the Coast Guard is an important step in ensuring our nations maritime security is led with the strength and efficiency it deserves to ensure it can fulfill its mission and adapt to any challenges," Scott said in an April statement."Its critical to have a dedicated Secretary for the U.S. Coast Guard working closely with President Trump, our military leaders, and the Department of Homeland Security for a coordinated, successful effort to keep the nation safe," Scott said.The efforts on Capitol Hill also align with initiatives underway at the Department of Homeland Security to reform the service. In April, the Coast Guard unveiled its new Force Design 2028 plan to revamp the services organizational structure, personnel, acquisitions, contracting and technology, in keeping with directives from Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.COAST GUARD AIRLIFTS CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER WHO HAD STROKES 300 MILES OFF HAWAII COASTThe proposal aims to beef up the Coast Guards force, which currently consists of roughly 43,000 active-duty personnel, and determine which specialties need reinforcement to expand training. The blueprint also calls for a series of changes to better align the Coast Guard with the Department of Defenses standards for physical fitness, body composition and grooming.The Coast Guard, unlike other military services, does not enforce fitness standards unless personnel are attached to boat crews of law enforcement teams.The initiative comes in response to the Trump administrations efforts to tackle illegal immigration and drug smuggling, a DHS official familiar with the plan told Fox News Digital in April."We've been making changes practically daily in the service to really keep moving forward," the official told Fox News Digital in April. "The goal of 2028 is that the transformation of the service will be complete by 2028."

FIRST ON FOX: The intelligence community did not have any direct information that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to help elect Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election, but, at the "unusual" direction of then-President Barack Obama, published "potentially biased" or "implausible" intelligence suggesting otherwise, the House Intelligence Committee found.Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard declassified a report prepared by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence back in 2020.OBAMA OFFICIALS ADMITTED THEY HAD NO 'EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE' OF TRUMP-RUSSIA COLLUSION: HOUSE INTEL TRANSCRIPTSThe report, which was based on an investigation launched by former House Intelligence Community Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., was dated Sept. 18, 2020. At the time of the publication of the report, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., was the chairman of the committee.The report has never before been released to the public, and instead, has remained highly classified within the intelligence community.Fox News Digital obtained the unredacted and fully-sourced limited-access investigation report that was drafted and stored in a limited-access vault at CIA Headquarters.The committee focused on the creation of the Intelligence Community Assessment of 2017, in which then-CIA Director John Brennan pushed for the inclusion of the now-discredited anti-Trump dossier, despite knowing it was based largely on "internet rumor," as Fox News Digital previously reported.According to the report, the ICA was a "high-profile product ordered by the President, directed by senior IC agency heads, and created by just five CIA analysts, using one principal drafter.""Production of the ICA was subject to unusual directives from the President and senior political appointees, and particularly DCIA," the report states. "The draft was not properly coordinated within CIA or the IC, ensuring it would be published without significant challenges to its conclusions."The committee found that the five CIA analysts and drafter "rushed" the ICAs production "in order to publish two weeks before President-elect Trump was sworn-in.""Hurried coordination and limited access to the draft reduced opportunities for the IC to discover misquoting of sources and other tradecraft concerns," the report states.FLASHBACK: HOUSE INTEL TRANSCRIPTS SHOW TOP OBAMA OFFICIALS HAD NO 'EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE' OF TRUMP-RUSSIA COLLUSIONThe report states that Brennan "ordered the post-election publication of 15 reports containing previously collected but unpublished intelligence, three of which were substandardcontaining information that was unclear, of uncertain origin, potentially biased, or implausibleand those became foundational sources for the ICA judgements that Putin preferred Trump over Clinton."READ THE REPORT APP USERS, CLICK HERE:"The ICA misrepresented these reports as reliable, without mentioning their significant underlying flaws," the committee found."One scant, unclear, and unverifiable fragment of a sentence from one of the substandard reports constitutes the only classified information cited to suggest Putin aspired to help Trump win," the report states, adding that the ICA "ignored or selectively quoted reliable intelligence reports that challenged-and in some cases underminedjudgments that Putin sought to elect Trump."The report also states that the ICA "failed to consider plausible alternative explanations of Putins intentions indicated by reliable intelligence and observed Russian actions."The committee also found that two senior CIA officers warned Brennan that "we dont have direct information that Putin wanted to get Trump elected."Despite those warnings, the Obama administration moved to publish the ICA.The ICA "did not cite any report where Putin directly indicated helping Trump win was the objective."OBAMA DENIES TRUMP'S 'BIZARRE ALLEGATIONS' THAT HE WAS RUSSIAGATE 'RINGLEADER' IN RARE STATEMENTThe ICA, according to the report, excluded "significant intelligence" and "ignored or selectively quoted" reliable intelligence in an effort to push the Russia narrative.The report also includes intelligence from a longtime Putin confidant who explained to investigators that "Putin told him he did not care who won the election," and that Putin "had often outlined the weaknesses of both major candidates."The report also states that the ICA committed context showing that the claim that Putin preferred Trump was "implausibleif not ridiculous."The committee also found that the ICA suppressed intelligence that showed that Russia was actually planning for a Hillary Clinton victory because "they knew where [she] stood" and believed Russia "could work with her."The committee also noted that the ICA "did not address why Putin chose not to leak more discrediting material on Clinton," even as polls tightened in the final weeks of the election."The committee also found that the ICA suppressed intelligence showing that Putin was "not only demonstrating a clear lack of concern for Trumps election fate," but also indicated "that he preferred to see Secretary Clinton elected, knowing she would be a more vulnerable President."The declassification of the report comes just days after Gabbard declassified and released documents that included "overwhelming evidence" that demonstrated how, after President Donald Trump won the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton, then-President Barack Obama and his national security team laid the groundwork for what would be the yearslong TrumpRussia collusion probe.Meanwhile, Fox News Digital, in 2020, exclusively obtained the declassified transcripts from Obama-era national security officials closed-door testimonies before the House Intelligence Committee, in which those officials testified that they had no"empirical evidence"of a conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election, but continued to publicly push the "narrative" of collusion.The House Intelligence Committee, in 2017, conducted depositions oftop Obama intelligence officials,including Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, among others.The officials responses in the transcripts of those interviews align with the results of former Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation which found no evidence of criminal coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia in 2016, while not reaching a determination on obstruction of justice.OBAMA ADMIN 'MANUFACTURED' INTELLIGENCE TO CREATE 2016 RUSSIAN ELECTION INTERFERENCE NARRATIVE, DOCUMENTS SHOWThe transcripts, from 2017 and 2018, revealed top Obama officials were questioned by House Intelligence Committee lawmakers and investigators about whether they had or had seen evidence of such collusion, coordination or conspiracy the issue that drove the FBI's initial case and later the special counsel probe."I never saw any direct empirical evidence that the Trump campaign or someone in it was plotting/conspiring with the Russians to meddle with the election," Clapper testified in 2017."Thats not to say that there werent concerns about the evidence we were seeing, anecdotal evidence.... But I do not recall any instance where I had direct evidence."Lynch also said she did "not recall that being briefed up to me.""I can't say that it existed or not," Lynch said, referring to evidence of collusion, conspiracy or coordination.But Clapper and Lynch, and Vice President Joe Biden, were present in the Oval Office on July 28, 2016, when Brennan briefed Obama and Comey on intelligence hed received from one ofHillary Clinton'scampaign foreign policy advisors "to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service.""Were getting additional insight into Russian activities from (REDACTED)," Brennans handwritten notes, exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital in October 2020, read. "CITE(summarizing) alleged approved by Hillary Clinton a proposal from one of her foreign policy advisers to vilify Donald Trump by stirring up a scandal claiming interference by the Russian security service."OBAMA OFFICIALS USED DOSSIER TO PROBE, BRIEF TRUMP DESPITE KNOWING IT WAS UNVERIFIED 'INTERNET RUMOR'Meanwhile, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, according to the transcript of her interview to the House Intelligence Committee, was asked whether she had or saw any evidence of collusion or conspiracy.Power replied: "I am not in possession of anything I am not in possession and didnt read or absorb information that came from out of the intelligence community."When asked again, she said:"I am not."Rice was asked the same question."To the best of my recollection, there wasnt anything smoking, but there were some things that gave me pause," she said, according to her transcribed interview, in response to whether she had any evidence of conspiracy. "I dont recall intelligence that I would consider evidence to that effect that I saw conspiracy prior to my departure."When asked whether she had any evidence of "coordination," Rice replied: "I dont recall any intelligence or evidence to that effect."When asked about collusion, Rice replied: "Same answer."Former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes was asked the same question during his House Intelligence interview."I wouldnt have received any information on any criminal or counterintelligence investigations into what the Trump campaign was doing, so I would not have seen that information," Rhodes said.When pressed again, he said: "I saw indications of potential coordination, but I did not see, you know, the specific evidence of the actions of the Trump campaign."FBI LAUNCHES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF JOHN BRENNAN, JAMES COMEY: DOJ SOURCESMeanwhile, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe was not asked that specific questionbut rather questions about the accuracy and legitimacy of the unverified anti-Trump dossier compiled by ex-British intelligence officer Christopher Steele.McCabe was asked during his interview in 2017 what was the most "damning or important piece of evidence in the dossier that" he "now knows is true."McCabe replied: "We have not been able to prove the accuracy of all the information.""You dont know if its true or not?" aHouse investigator asked, to which McCabe replied: "That's correct."After Trumps 2016 victory and during the presidential transition period, Comey briefed Trump on the now-infamous anti-Trump dossier, containing salacious allegations of purported coordination between Trump and the Russian government. Brennan was present for that briefing, which took place at Trump Tower in New York City in January 2017.The dossier was authored by Steele. It was funded by Clintons presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee through the law firm Perkins Coie.But Brennan and Comey knew of intelligence suggesting Clinton, during the campaign, was stirring up a plan to tie Trump to Russia, documents claim. It is unclear whether the intelligence community, at the time, knew that the dossier was paid for by Clinton and the DNC.Brennan and Comey are now under FBI criminal investigation related to their activities connected to the Russia probe, after a criminal referral was sent by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to FBI Director Kash Patel.FLASHBACK: NEWLY DECLASSIFIED INTEL DOCUMENT NOTED STEELE DOSSIER CLAIMS HAD 'LIMITED CORROBORATION'Gabbard also sent the DOJ criminal referrals for those involved in the effort to create "manufactured" and "politicized" intelligence that led to the spreading of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative.The Obama-era officials have been mum on the new revelations, but a spokesman for Obama on Tuesday made a rare public statement."Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response," Obama spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement. "But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one.""These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction," Obama's spokesman continued. "Nothing in the document issued last week undercuts the widely accepted conclusion that Russia worked to influence the 2016 presidential election but did not successfully manipulate any votes."He added: "These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio."

FIRST ON FOX: Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York will seek re-election in next year's midterms in his crucial battleground House district, which covers a large swath of New York City's northern suburbs.Lawler, who announced his news in an interview Wednesday morning on Fox News' "Fox and Friends," had been seriously mulling a bid for New York State governor."There's no question Kathy Hochul is the worst governor in America," Lawler told Fox News' Brian Kilmeade, before adding, "In 2026, she needs to be defeated. But after months of deliberating over this and really working through it, I've decided the right thing to do for me and my family and my district is to run for re-election."His news is seen as a major relief to the White House and congressional Republicans, who are defending their razor-thin House majority in the 2026 midterms.Top House Republicans as well as President Donald Trump had urged Lawler to seek re-election, and Fox News confirmed that Lawler met with Trump last week at the White House to discuss his 2026 plans and other issues.WHY MIKE LAWLER TOLD A HOUSE DEMOCRAT TO F---OFF"While I fundamentally believe I am best positioned to take on Kathy Hochul and offer New Yorkers a real choice for Governor, I have made the decision to run for re-election to the House and continue the important work Ive been doing over the past two and a half years," Lawler shared in a statement with Fox News Digital Wednesday morning.Lawler, who represents New York's 17th Congressional District, is currently one of only three House Republicans who represent seats carried by then-Vice President Kamala Harris in last year's presidential election.Democrats are targeting his district in the midterms as they aim to retake the House majority. Their job in flipping the seat would have been made easier if Lawler had decided to run for governor.TRUMP ALLY STEFANIK SIGNALS RUN FOR NEW YORK GOVERNORIf he had run for governor, Lawler would likely have faced off for the GOP nomination against Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents a district in northern New York. Stefanik, who is a top House Trump ally, is gearing up for her own campaign against Hochul, who Republicans consider vulnerable.Stefanik released a statement Wednesday morning as the news broke, calling Republicans "more unified than ever in our mission to fire the Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul in 2026" and Lawler a "great, effective, and hardworking Representative for New Yorks 17th Congressional District.""As I have previously stated, I am focused on supporting strong Republican local and county candidates on the ballot this November to lay the groundwork with a strong team for next year. I will make a final decision and announcement after this years November election which we are all focused on," Stefanik added.Trump in May endorsed Lawler's congressional re-election, in a move seen as a likely indicator of the president's support for a gubernatorial run by Stefanik, who represents a red-leaning House district.Lawler, a one-time Republican political strategist, won election in 2020 to the New York State Assembly by defeating a Democratic incumbent.He grabbed national attention in the 2022 midterm elections by narrowly defeating incumbent Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who at the time was chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.Democrats, who are both targeting his district and defending their New York governorship, were quick to criticize Lawler's decision Wednesday morning."Mike Lawler caving to Donald Trump before his campaign even starts proves hes too weak to take on Governor Hochul and he knows it," New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs said in a statement, arguing New York voters will reject Lawler "no matter where his name shows up on the ballot."And Democratic Governors Association (DGA) spokesperson, Kevin Donohoe, trolled Lawler on Wednesday morning, "Donald Trump has officially killed Mike Lawlers dream of becoming governor of New York and given the GOP gubernatorial nomination to his top D.C. ally Elise Stefanik. Our condolences."Hochul herself chimed in, writing on X, "This is the same Mike Lawler who caved to Trump the minute he asked to rip away New Yorkers healthcare. Of course he doesnt have the spine to face me," in reference to Medicaid reform included in Trump's "big, beautiful bill."

Former Miami Hurricanes womens basketball star Haley Cavinder shared a few photos of herself on social media on Tuesday following breast augmentation surgery.Cavinder, along with her twin sister Hanna, decided to have the surgeries done together as they continue their journey through their post-college basketball careers. The two basketball players played at Fresno State and Miami during their time in the NCAA.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHaley Cavinder received plenty of supportive comments on Instagram, including one from former LSU Tigers star gymnast Olivia Dunne."Bod is tea," Dunne wrote in the comments section of Cavinders Instagram page.OLIVIA DUNNE OPENS UP ABOUT ASTONISHING RUNWAY SPLIT DURING FASHION SHOWThe pictures came about three days after the operation was finished. The twins explained in an Instagram post that "with our active lifestyle, we wanted a natural look that gives a little shape under a tee."Haley Cavinder played college basketball from 2019 to 2025 between the Bulldogs and Hurricanes. She was named the 2021 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and was a three-time All-Mountain West Conference first team selection.She averaged 16.9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in college.Cavinder is currently dating Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson and will likely be on the sideline supporting him as he embarks on his fourth season with the NFC East team. Ferguson had 59 catches for 494 yards last season.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

From drone swarms to gene-edited soldiers, the United States and China are racing to integrate artificial intelligence into nearly every facet of their war machines and a potential conflict over Taiwan may be the worlds first real test of who holds the technological edge.For millennia, victory in war was determined by manpower, firepower and the grit of battlefield commanders. However, in this ongoing technological revolution, algorithms and autonomy may matter more than conventional arms."War will come down to who has the best AI," said Arnie Bellini, a tech entrepreneur and defense investor, in an interview with Fox News Digital.U.S. planners now consider Taiwan the likely locus of a 21st-century great power conflict. Though America doesnt formally ally with Taiwan, it has steadily armed the island and shifted its forces to focus on the Indo-Pacific.CHINA IS EXPLOITING OUR GOVERNMENT'S TECH WEAKNESS. WE NEED A RAPID REBOOTThe Pentagon is responding with urgency, and nowhere is that transformation more visible than in the U.S. Army's sweeping AI overhaul.Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the Army has launched a $36billion modernization initiative aimed directly at countering China in the Indo-Pacific.By 2026, each of its 10 active combat divisions will be equipped with roughly1,000 drones, dramatically shifting the battlefield from crewed helicopters to autonomous systems.Army leaders highlight that legacy weapons and bureaucratic lag are incompatible with future warfare. The new push includesAI-assisted command-and-control, real-world testing under challenging conditions in places like the Philippines and a rapid feedback model to keep doctrine updated.Beyond hardware, AI may prove most powerful in prevention. Bellini believes U.S. cyber espionage, combined with AI, could strike preemptively. "The United States is the very best at cyber espionage and cyber warfare once you combine [that] with AI, you can stop a war before it even happens."This could involve infiltrating Chinese naval systems via cyber-AI tools and neutralizing threats before ships ever set sail.AI isnt just about machines its changing biology too. The U.S. military is exploring AI-driven trauma care, synthetic blood and regenerative medicine to save lives.However, China may be pushing the envelope further. "China has been one of the more forward-leaning countries in using biotech within its military," defense strategist Jack Burnham said. "In military hospitals, there is significant research on gene editing some of this might be dual-use."Reports from intelligence chiefs and former DNI John Ratcliffe suggest China may be experimenting withgene-edited soldiers, raising alarms about the ethical gray zone of AI-biotech integration.HOUSE BIPARTISAN BILL DIRECTS NSA TO CREATE 'AI SECURITY PLAYBOOK' AMID CHINESE TECH RACE"The future of warfare is not going to be with people," Bellini predicted. "It's going to be robots. It's going to be drones. And it's the synchronization."Tesla is developing its "Optimus" robot, he noted, complete with an AI-optimized "brain" to complete chores that are "dangerous, repetitive and boring" in warehouses, homes and even hazardous facilities like nuclear plants.CEO Elon Musk has spoken out against using Optimus as a "killer robot," but still, foreign adversaries worry about the potential for dual use.China has imposed export restrictions on the rare-earth magnets needed for Optimus actuators, specifically requesting assurances that the units wont be used for military purposes.U.S. forces are already simulating this future in AI-enhanced war games. Through these exercises, commanders learn to operate at AI pace modeling logistics, battlefield flows, and adversaries at an unprecedented scale."AI is really good at modeling logistics visualizing and integrating vast quantities of data [creating] a more immersive experience at a much larger scale," Burnham said."These AI opponents are like intelligent enemies youre playing against in a war game," explained Dr. Randall Hill, executive director of the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. "Its important to train not just with AI but also about AI so soldiers understand where to trust it and where its limits are."Hills team is developing tools like PAL3, a personalized AI teaching assistant for military trainees that adapts to individual learning speeds. "Its about helping both humans and machines understand each others strengths and weaknesses," he said.The U.S. insists on a "human-in-the-loop" for lethal AI decisions but China may not, experts warn."Here in the U.S., we are focused on ethical and legal decisions on the battlefield our adversaries might not be as worried about keeping a human in the loop," said RJ Blake, a former defense official.Hill echoed this concern, emphasizing the need for AI systems to be interpretable and stress-tested rigorously."We need protocols aligned with American values," he said. "The AI must be explainable and capable of justifying its conclusions and humans must recognize when those systems are outside their trained boundaries."As AI redefines warfare from cyber and command systems to autonomous weapons and biotech its not just a war machine being built. Its asystem of systems, blending digital, physical and biological domains.Should Beijing move against Taiwan, the battlefield may no longer be measured in tanks or missiles but in algorithms, networks and gene sequences.

Staff at two of Tennessees most prominent universities Vanderbilt and the University of Tennessee were caught on undercover recordings admitting to rebranding their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in an effort to sidestep Republican-led bans.Despite state and federal orders aimed at dismantling DEI initiatives, school officials described a deliberate strategy to rename, repackage and quietly preserve these controversial programs under new labels like "access and engagement" and "belonging and community.""It's a chess game," Will Eakin, a coordinator for UT's "Access & Engagement" office, said in a recording obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital."We had to take our current programming and our future programming and make sure that it aligns so that we can do the work that we're trying to do, while also catering to the Department of Education, the federal," the staffer went on, adding, "The biggest thing is using language as a tool for protection."The staffers at UT also boasted about how good the school's government relations team is at helping guide staff and faculty on how to deal with anti-DEI legislation at the state and federal levels.FEDERAL JUDGE SLAPS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ON MISSISSIPPI DEI BAN"We have an incredible government relations team," Eakin said.He claimed that UT President Randy Boyd, "though he is a Republican, cares deeply about access and engagement, and he has been fully committed to the work of DEI and access and engagement, and he works very closely with government relations when they go to Nashville.""Because our government relations team is so good, they know which bills to be mindful of, how to best prepare and everything. And so here we are. These committees and task forces and offices were built back in 2020, and they're still up and running," said Eakin.The staffer added that a few years ago, when state officials were beginning to scrutinize universities' DEI practices, the government relations team and other university leaders took steps to "get ahead of the curve" to "make sure the access and engagement, which is DEI, could maintain itself.""So they changed the language so that the state government couldn't put a magnifying glass on us," the UT staffer added.DHS CANCELS $18.5 MILLION IN BIDEN-ERA GRANTS DESIGNATED TO FUND LGBTQ AND DEI PROGRAMSMeanwhile, at Vanderbilt, another major university in the state, an academic coach at the school's "Center for Student Wellbeing" said that though the names of their offices may have changed, their DEI missions have not. "At one point, you know, everybody, like different universities, were under investigation for their, like, DEI practices and stuff like that. So, that's why I think the naming has changed," said Ivie Carmouche, an academic coach in Vanderbilt's Center for Student Wellbeing."We're in the Center for Student Wellbeing like I said, we have things that clue people in and let people know that this is a safe space for everybody," she said, adding, "Belonging and Communities is like as close to that DEI work you can probably get. Previously, they were the Center for Social Justice and Identities."DEI-FUELED INVESTING IS IDEOLOGICAL COERCION OF SHAREHOLDERS, MISSOURI AG WARNS AMID NEW PROBEWhen asked whether the renamed university center was still doing DEI work, Carmouche responded, "Yeah.""The language will be different because we have to kind of be strategic. But there's a lot of collaborations with them, KC Potter House, Black Cultural Center, Women's Center, like even in the Women's Center, they're very open and welcoming to all gender identities.""When I say different, it just looks different now because the language has had to change. Students Center for Belonging Communities is kind of like the DEI," she added.Fox News Digital reached out to Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee for comment but did not immediately receive a response.