Malin Akerman's latest role in "The Hunting Wives" was a dramatic turn from roles the actress typically takes on.The Netflix series follows housewives in East Texas who welcome in a newcomer from Boston. The show is full of deception, raunchy scenes, secrets and murder. Akerman stars as Margo Banks and is married to oil tycoon-turned-politician hopeful Jed Banks (Dermot Mulroney). The star-studded cast also includes Brittany Snow, Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman and Katie Lowes.Prior to "The Hunting Wives," Akerman was best known for her role as the wife of a hedge fund manager in "Billions." The seven-season series centered around "power politics in the world of New York high finance," per IMDb.She was also typically cast in rom-com movies, such as "27 Dresses," "Couples Retreat," and "The Proposal."MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY FACE PITIFUL PLUMMET IN POPULARITY AS THEY REPORTEDLY LOSE NETFLIX DEAL: EXPERTTaking on the role of Margo, a seductive housewife that's full of secrets, was easy for Akerman. She told People that she "fell in love" with the character immediately and read all eight episodes right when she was sent the script."I got to see her whole arc and see where she begins and where she came from and where she ends up, and it's just such a meaty role."She's a master manipulator, she's vibrant, she's sexy...she's all these things that are fun to play. There was just so much to work with there. There was no way I could say no to it," Akerman told the outlet.Akerman also discussed her on-screen husband, Jed Banks."I love Dermot so much. He's one of the loveliest humans. I mean, it's one of those things you go into it, and it's Dermot Mulroney, the heartthrob from 'My Best Friend's Wedding.' He is just an incredible human being," she told People.Throughout the seasons, viewers learn that Jed and Margo have an interesting marriage. Both parties are allowed to sleep with other women, but Margo is not allowed to sleep with other men.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"Margo and Jed are really interesting because at first you just think she's this trophy wife, and she's living the life. But then, there are some scenes that get pretty complex where we see who is boss."She needs to make sure that she doesn't step on his toes because if she's out, then she's got nothing. It's life or death for her, this relationship with Jed," Akerman said.Akerman's character Margo also changed after Jed announced his plans to run for governor of Texas."You see her kind of shift and go, 'All right, I've overstepped my boundaries.' So, she does have boundaries, which is interesting. As long as she's playful and sexy, though, she can stay. So, she's become a master manipulator, and that was really fun to play with Dermot. He's just such a great acting partner. We had a really good time," Akerman said.She also mentioned her relationship with Sophie (Brittany Snow), the new girl from Boston. Their friendship sees them drinking and hunting, but it also turns romantic in the series."We ended up just loving each other so much. I was so thankful to have her as my partner in crime. We just felt really comfortable with each other," Akerman said.Even during their intimate scenes, Snow and Akerman were able to keep their friendship lighthearted.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"They'd call cut, and we'd giggle and we'd be silly together after because you're just like, Oh my God, this is crazy. It was just two girlfriends just doing the craziest things and having a blast together," she told People.Akerman discussed her role with Elle and explained that although Margo is calculating and manipulative, she's hard to not watch."Whether its controlling, hypocritical or whatever, theres a freedom to her that I loved. Im such a people pleaser, and sometimes I just want to go, F--- it, stop. Just be free. Be wild. Margos on another level. That really stuck with me," she told the outlet.Akerman is optimistic that Netflix will renew the series for a second season, especially with the show's shocking finale that "got everyone gasping," according to the star."Shes just too fun," she said of Margo. "Its just fun to be taken on a rideand thats what this show is for."

Call it Jean theory.Sydney Sweeneys American Eagle ad sent shockwaves through the advertising world, winning immense praise and triggering fierce backlash as well but experts are saying that the ad represents a profound cultural shift. Industry analysts are saying that the ad represents a cultural turning point away from hyper-wokeism and towards more traditional forms of advertising."The Sydney Sweeney ad is not just selling a product; it is signaling a cultural turning point. For years, brands have bent over backwards to appease a small but loud activist class, producing ads that felt forced, joyless, and polarizing. Instead of speaking to consumers, they pandered to an ideology that policed language, celebrated grievance, and punished anything deemed insufficiently progressive. This ad does the opposite. It is confident, fun, and refuses to apologize for appealing to mainstream sensibilities," psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert told Fox News Digital.BROADCAST BIAS: ABC COMPARES SYDNEY SWEENEY AD TO NAZIS AS NETWORKS GO NUTS ABOUT HER GENESThe "Euphoria" stars American Eagle sultry ad, which featured her decked out in a denim jacket and jeans with the tagline "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," has been celebrated for its unapologetic embrace of a conventionally attractive spokesmodel and panned as an endorsement of "eugenics" by woke critics."Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality, and even eye color," Sweeney says in the ad. "My jeans are blue."The jeans/genes pun left many hyper-left viewers incensed, with many going so far as to compare the ad for pants to full-blown Nazism."Oh cute shes in her Nazi propaganda era," one social media user wrote."Maybe I'm too woke. But getting a blue-eyed, blonde, white woman and focusing your campaign around her having perfect genetics feels weird," an X user wrote.SYDNEY SWEENEYS IMAGE IS FORTIFIED BUNKER DESPITE AMERICAN EAGLE AD, MAGA-STYLE HAT UPROAR: EXPERTBut others celebrated the ad, with Sen. Ted Cruz accused the "crazy Left" of coming out against beautiful women in a post on X. President Trump has also praised the ad after finding out that Sweeney is a registered Republican."Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Its for American Eagle, and the jeans are flying off the shelves. Go get em Sydney!' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.The American Eagle ad comes in the wake of several high-profile woke advertisements that spelled disaster for major American brands. Bud Light sparked a national outcry and saw a steep drop in sales after the enlisted transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a brand partnership. Jaguar sparked major backlash after they released a 2024 ad featuring androgynous models wearing futuristic clothing that many viewers branded as woke. The luxury automakers CEO Adrian Mardell announced Thursday that he is retiring, just months after the ad debuted."The Sydney Sweeney ad campaign is striking a cultural nerve because it signals a return to traditional branding strategies: sex appeal, simplicity, and star power. What makes it stand out isnt just the creative - its the backlash to the backlash. For years, brands have chased ideological alignment with woke values, but consumer fatigue is setting in. This ad leans into mass appeal rather than moral signaling, and its working," business and entertainment podcaster Shawn French told Fox News Digital.American Eagle refused to back down in light of the controversy, and released a statement saying the ad "is and always was about the jeans," in an implicit rebuke to the eugenics comparisons."Sydney SweeneyHas Great Jeans' is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We'll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way," the statement read. "Great jeans look good on everyone."Juda Engelmayer, a crisis PR expert who reps high-profile clients such as Harvey Weinstein, says that while woke may not be completely dead yet, the ad is benefitting from an environment in which wokeness is in retreat. In previous years, woke activists could engage in cancel culture tactics that could severely hurt a brand for not hewing the party line, but the energy to fight over trivial cultural issues appears to have waned, Engelmayer said."It's not resonating as much. You're not seeing them screaming in protest as they did on other issues. Even people who are more on the woke side are rolling their eyes," he told Fox News Digital.

In a recent panel of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), leaders discussed how they have been closely collaborating with New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and how he has the organization positioned to "seize state power."During a July panel discussion titled "United Struggles: Resistance to Bodily Autonomy Restrictions," DSA organizer Daniel Goulden claimed the organization has been intimately involved in Mamdanis campaign, even helping to write portions of his platform.The clips were first unearthed by the Manhattan Institutes Stu Smith."With Zohran, we're in basically the best possible position to seize state power that we can be in because, you know, we're like this," Goulden said, indicating with his fingers that the campaign and organization are very close.Goulden went on to suggest that "one of the things that made Zohran really successful with his policy rollouts is specifically relying on DSA."YOUNG PROGRESSIVES LOOK TO ZOHRAN MAMDANI, AOC AS FUTURE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY UNDER ONE CONDITION"DSA has regular meetings with him, let alone his team. His policy director is my friend. I've been working with his campaign manager for well over a year. You know? I have friends who are his staff," he said.Goulden claimed DSA worked especially closely with Mamdani on his "trans rights" platform to use city resources to give free transgender treatments to people across the country."We wrote the platform with him. The team was so happy to work with us on this," he explained. "What we explicitly wanted to do was use the power of New York City to provide free gender-affirming care and I say free in case insurance companies decide to boot us off free gender-affirming care, not just to people in New York City, but across the country."Goulden suggested New York City could use its resources to not only provide transgender treatments to New Yorkers, but to people from other cities and states, even where such treatments are illegal.'DAMAGE CONTROL': MAMDANI'S 'BLATANT FLIP-FLOP' ON DEFUNDING POLICE RIPPED AS 'POLITICAL THEATRE'"There's no reason at all that we can't use telehealth and mailing prescriptions to people across the whole country to undermine state bans," he said."The Zohran [Mamdani] campaign was always eager to work with us. You know, we're like that," he said, indicating with his fingers.According to Mamdanis campaign website, his administration would move to "make NYC an LGBTQIA+ Sanctuary City" and devote a total of $65 million in city funds to expand access to "gender affirming care."FLASHBACK: ZOHRAN MAMDANI SAYS ISRAEL IS NOT A PLACE AND NOT A COUNTRYThe website states that he would direct $57 million to public hospitals, community clinics, federally qualified health centers and nonprofits that provide transgender treatments. Additionally, the website states that "in the face of the Trump administrations proposed elimination" of federal transgender treatments, his administration would devote $8 million to pro-transgender treatment groups for both adults and children.Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

1. California governor threatens to 'punch back' at Texas in heated redistricting battle2. Israeli official says 'decision has been made' on Gaza's future3. DOJ launching grand jury investigation into Russiagate conspiracy allegationsCLEARED TO TEACH Accused Devils Den killer passed background checks and entered classrooms full of kids. Continue reading PARADISE BEHIND BARS Fugitive murder suspect flaunted vodka, video games in cell before alleged killing spree. Continue reading VIOLENT AFTERMATH Cincinnati beatdown suspect arrested in Georgia as victim continues recovery. Continue reading UNCERTAIN RECOVERY Wife speaks out after husband doused with gasoline in workplace assault. Continue reading NO ESCAPE Hikers rescued by helicopter from remote beach after rising tides cut off their only way out. Continue reading --AMERICA LAST White House condemns 'despicable' comments from lawmakers at anti-US conference. Continue reading SPACE RACE Trump admin fast-tracks lunar nuclear project as rivals threaten keep-out zone. Continue reading TAXPAYER WATCHDOGS DeSantis deploys DOGE teams to scrutinize spending in Broward and Gainesville governments. Continue reading FOREIGN INVASION Trump admin urged to tackle 'urgent threat' from illegal Chinese nicotine. Continue reading Click here for more cartoons'HAUNTS ME' Chuck Todd says Democrats narrow losses have delayed needed debate on party direction. Continue reading TRUST SHATTERED Comedian who voted for Trump lashes out over 'flip-flopped' IVF campaign pledge. Continue reading MEDIA SPAT Radio host fires back after Trump calls him 'racist sleazebag' in heated exchange. Continue reading DOWNWARD DECLINE Democratic pride in America hits new low amid partys shift further left. Continue reading SEN. TIM SCOTT The secret behind Apollo 8's broadcast is a favorite story of Christian courage. Continue reading WILLIAM SHIPLEY What the Durham Annex tells us about the Russiagate hoax. Continue reading --VIRAL THREAT Highly contagious disease surges in some U.S. states. Continue reading SILENT KILLER Deadly drug stronger than fentanyl spreads rapidly across the Americas, experts warn. Continue reading AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ Test yourself on boardwalk beginnings and meteoric magic. Take the quiz here SUBURBAN VALUE Northeast suburb beats out entire country for hottest housing market in 2025 ranking. Continue reading BARNYARD BREAKOUT Officers had a noisy runaway on their hands. See video KRISTEN GAFFNEY Dems are unhinged about Sydney Sweeney. See video BO LOUDON America is back thanks to President Trump. See video Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST for today's in-depth reporting on the news that impacts you. Check it out ...Whats it looking like in your neighborhood?Continue readingFacebookInstagramYouTubeTwitterLinkedInFox News FirstFox News OpinionFox News LifestyleFox News Entertainment (FOX411)Fox News Sports HuddleFox BusinessFox WeatherFox SportsTubiFox News GoThank you for making us your first choice in the morning! Well see you in your inbox first thing Wednesday.

As summer draws to a close, its time to prepare for your gardens harvest. Gathering herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables is a lot easier when you have the right tools available.A harvesting basket, some shears and a kneeling pad can help make harvesting fast and easy. Additionally, gardening gloves, gardening knives and other gardening tools are also convenient to have when harvesting.Original price: $12.99Gardening gloves make it easier to dig in the dirt, keeping your hands safe from bugs, thorns and rocks. You can choose between different fabrics, depending on your personal preferences. Bamllum leather gardening gloves are a durable option that come in a variety of floral prints. Walmart also has a four-pack of gardening gloves. They come in four different floral prints and are more lightweight than leather.If youre anAmazon Prime member,you can get these gardening items sent to your door ASAP. You canjoin or start a 30-day free trialto start your shopping today.Original price: $11.98A quick and easy way to cut fruits and veggies from their stems and vines is by using fruit and veggie thumb knives. These mini knives are attached to thimbles you slide over your thumb and pointer fingers. When youre wearing them, just pinch your fingers together and fruit and veggies easily detach from their stems.Original price: $35.79Gardening knives are a great all-around tool, but theyre especially helpful when it comes time to harvest. Whether youre harvesting root veggies like potatoes, radishes or ginger or cutting veggies from their stems, garden knives get the job done. This Hori Hori garden knife has a blade on the side for cutting and it slightly bent, which is ideal for digging.MAKE GARDEN UPKEEP EASIER WITH THESE 7 GARDEN ACCESSORIESOriginal price: $19Pruning shears help you upkeep your garden, but they also work to cut fruits and veggies from their stems. This set of pruning shears from Amazon is made from titanium steel and coated in an anti-rust oil. The non-slip grip is perfect for thicker branches or stems on flowers and herbs youre harvesting.When youre cutting more delicate herbs, veggies and flowers, a pair of garden scissors is especially helpful. These sharp, durable scissors can handle all your plants with ease. Miracle-Gro garden scissors are made from steel and are equipped with non-slip grips for easy use. BareBones makes a pair of garden scissors with wide handles that are easy to use with or without gloves. Theyre thinner scissors that are ideal for harvesting leafy greens and herbs.Original price: $13.99Dig up potatoes, garlic, ginger and other in-ground plants and vegetables with a garden trowel. Get a heavy duty trowel from Amazon, or get a garden tool set with a trowel, cultivator and transplanter. The transplanter has measurements on the side, making planting easier when spring comes.10 AFFORDABLE GARDEN SHEDS FOR YOUR BACKYARDIdeal for smaller harvests, these aprons are comfortable to wear and make harvesting even easier. An UpBloom harvesting apron fits around your waist and is made from a durable canvas material. Its machine-washable, so you can clean it between harvests.Anthropologie also makes a fashionable harvesting and garden apron that has spots for your gardening tools and your harvest. Duluth Trading Co. makes a dual garden and harvesting smock that comes in a light sage green or a floral pattern. The bottom of the smock zips up into a pocket for harvesting.For more deals, visitwww.foxnews.com/dealsOriginal price: $28.99If you have to kneel to dig root veggies out of the ground or cut herbs, this can take a toll on your knees. A kneeling pad helps relieve the pressure on your joints. You can go as simple as this kneeling pad from Amazon, which comes in a variety of colors and is a lightweight, easy-to-store option. There are also kneeling benches that pop up and have handles that make it easier to get up and down. These benches also come with storage for gardening tools for easy reach.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has ripped his Democratic mayoral opponent Zohran Mamdani for attending the funeral of slain NYPD officer Didarul Islam last week but skipping services for other fallen officers killed during his time in the state Assembly and never publicly acknowledging their deaths.Adams, a former NYPD captain, suggested Mamdani's presence at Islam's funeral was politically motivated and inconsistent with his prior stance on policing which included calls to defund the agency and slamming it as racist. Mamdani has since walked back those statements."We lost officers before he was running for mayor. Where was he? Did he feel those officers deserve to be lifted up as he lifted up now Officer Islam during the election? We need to ask, where was he?" Adams told reporters at City Hall on Monday, per the New York Post."You should lift up officers when youre not running for mayor. He could have lifted them up when he was an assemblyman. He could have done it over the years when he was in Albany."MAMDANI'S PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' STANCE RESURFACES AFTER DEADLY MANHATTAN SHOOTINGMamdani, a socialist who has served in the New York State Assembly since January, did not attend the funerals of six of NYPD's finest who died in the line of duty from 2022 through March of this year, Adams said."Not one time has [Mamdani] said something in response to a police officer whos been shot or killed," Adams said, pointing out the 2022 killing of officers Wilbert Mora, Jason Rivera. "We cannot find one tweet that he made, or one comment that he made when that happened."As well as Mora and Rivera, the NYPDs Jonathan Diller, Troy D. Patterson, Lawrence Bromm and crossing guard Krystyna Naprawawere all killed during that time period.Mamdani cut short his recent trip to Uganda and returned early to attend Islams funeral. He first went directly to the familys home and stayed with them for two hours, per reports.AOC-BACKED SOCIALIST MAYORAL CANDIDATE BACKTRACKS AFTER CALLING TO 'DISMANTLE' POLICE IN 2020Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdanis team for comment but did not immediately receive a response.Islam was gunned down by alleged shooterShane Tamuraof Las Vegas last week inside the lobby of office tower at 345 Park Avenue in Manhattan. Tamura is alleged to have killed three other people in the rampage before turning the gun on himself.Mamdani initially took to X to share his condolences on the passing of Islam."I'm heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in Midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts. Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground," Mamdani posted to X.But the Ugandan-born lawmaker has been a vocal critic of the NYPD in the past.In a June 8, 2020, post, Mamdani wrote, "No, we want to defund the police," and he wrote that "queer liberation means defund the police" in a Nov. 5, 2020, post."We don't need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. But your deal with [New York City mayor] uses budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts - defund the police," he posted on June 28, 2020.In December of the same year, he also called for it to be "dismantled.""All this misery. All for money. In the last budget, the City Council tried to make the NYPD reduce its overtime budget by half. They simply refused. There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence," he wrote.However, he sang a different tune during amayoral debatein his primary."I will not defund the police. I will work with the police because I believe the police have a critical role to play in public service, public safety," he said.On his campaign website, he calls for the creation of a Department of Public Safety."Police have a critical role to play. But right now, were relying on them to deal with the failures of our social safety netwhich prevents them from doing their actual jobs. Through this new city agency and whole-of-government approach, community safety will be prioritized like never before in NYC," the website states.Fox News Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.

Shedeur Sanders isnt ready for his Hall of Fame father to visit theCleveland Browns training camp just yet.While speaking to the media Monday after missing Saturdays practice with arm soreness, the rookie quarterback was asked why he told his dad,Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, not to visit training camp just yet."I don't want him coming to see me right now because I want to get to where I want to go, then for him to see me," Sanders said.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEW.COM"I don't want him to see me get a couple reps, and he's cheering like a good dad. Like, nah, you can't be proud of me right now. I've got to get to where I'm going, and I know it's a lot I've got to do to get there."Sanders added that he intends to "focus on this time, I dont want no distractions," noting that having an NFL legend as a father is both "a gift and a curse.""We know how everybody would take it, as taking away from the team, with my own dad showing up. Its a gift and a curse at the same time."BROWNS' SHEDEUR SANDERS REVEALS ADVICE FATHER DEION SANDERS GAVE HIM AMID CANCER BATTLESanders is currently listed as the fourth-string quarterback on the Browns' depth chart, although his official designation has not been made. He has yet to have any snaps with the first-team offense, but he has faced the first-team defense while taking snaps with the second and third-team offense.Sanders told reporters that he hopes Fridays preseason game against theCarolina Panthers gives him the opportunity to show off his skill set."Truthfully, I dont care what O-line I go out there with. It could be ones, twos, threes, whatever the situation is. And I know Friday when the game is, if Im with twos, if Im with threes. It dont matter to me. Im just ready to get down and get to doing what I could."The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A new poll shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill leading six points ahead of Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor's race.The November gubernatorial election is among those considered a bellwether for the 2026 midterm elections. Congressional Republicans currently cling onto a razor-thin majority nearly eight months into President Donald Trump's second term.With just three months until the general election, Sherrill has 48% support and Ciattarelli has 42% support, according to a StimSight Research Poll for InsiderNJ released Monday.Just 32% of respondents said they were definite about voting for Sherrill and 31% said they were definite about Ciattarelli, suggesting there's room for movement on either side.FIGHTER JETS SCRAMBLED AFTER CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT VIOLATES TRUMP AIRSPACE AT NEW JERSEY BEDMINSTERThe survey conducted July 18-24 had 1% of probable voters saying that they would vote for a third party. Nine percent of respondents were undecided.New Jersey voters consider affordability and taxes the top issues in this contest. The poll had 53% of respondents say affordability was the top issue and 43% said it was taxes.Out of those who answered affordability as their main concern, 36% said Sherrill and 34% said Ciattarelli when asked which candidate would best address the problem.The Republican candidate was overwhelmingly seen as the best candidate to lower taxes: 50% answered Ciattarelli, while 15% said Sherrill.The poll showed 54% believed Sherrill would be able to provide economic opportunities for New Jersey families, while 49% said the same of Ciattarelli.Protecting Social Security and Medicare remains a top concern among New Jersey voters, with 30% citing it as part of the broader affordability crisis gripping the state. Just 36% of respondents said they support Trump's "big, beautiful bill," while a majority 51% of respondents said they believe it would hurt New Jersey families. Coming in fourth place, "stand up to Trump" was considered the top issue in November's contest by 27% of respondents.TRUMP EXPLOITS LOOPHOLES TO KEEP ALINA HABBA IN US ATTORNEY ROLE, TRIGGERING COURT CLASHTrump and incumbent Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy received near-identical job approval ratings from Garden State voters, at 44% and 45% respectively, according to the poll. As for whos to blame for the states current challenges, opinions are split: 37% of respondents pointed to state leadership in Trenton, 27% blamed the federal government in Washington, and 34% say both are at fault."The Murphy and Trump numbers are basically a wash. That suggests voters are looking for someone they can trust to address their economic worries, and not someone who just takes swings at the leadership of the opposite party," Patrick Murray, of StimSight Research, said in a statement.The poll showed 54% of respondents strongly agree and 12% somewhat agree when asked whether the Republican Party today seems too concerned with catering to Trump.The poll was commissioned by InsiderNJ, which lists Democratic National Committeeman John F.X. Graham as the publisher.Sherrill, a sitting U.S. congresswoman representing New Jerseys 11th district, leveraged criticism of Trump and former Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk to emerge from a field of five experienced rivals in the June primary. She is a former Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor and has held her House seat since 2019.Ciattarelli, a Trump-endorsed former state lawmaker and businessman, defeated four rivals to earn the Republican nomination. He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2021.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, was cruising towards re-election earlier this year in the heavily blue city in the Pacific Northwest, hoping to become Seattle's first mayor to win re-election in two decades.However, Harrell's path to securing a second term became much steeper after longtime progressive organizer Katie Wilson jumped into the race in March.Wilson, who political pundits have compared to New York City's Zohran Mamdani, soon became the frontrunner among the mayor's many challengers.PROGRESSIVE CHAMPION WARREN SAYS MAMDANI WALKS THE WALKTuesday's primary will whittle the current nine-candidate field down to two for November's general election."My re-election is supported by 100+ current and former elected officials, labor, as well as affordable housing, environmental, community, and transportation leaders," Harrell wrote on social media last week. "Im proud of the broad and diverse coalition weve built to keep Seattle moving forward."Harrell was elected in 2021, as Seattle was starting to recover from the COVID pandemic and the violent protests and riots that rocked the city following the murder of George Floyd.He has worked during his tenure as mayor to improve public safety, tackle homelessness and help struggling businesses recover. The mayor has highlighted the decrease in citywide crime since he took office.However, Wilson, a transit activist and co-founder of the Transit Riders Union, has criticized Harrell, arguing that he's focused more on dismantling homeless encampments than boosting shelters. Wilson claims that Harrell, who served three terms on the city council before winning election as mayor, is part of the political status quo that has allowed the city's cost of living to skyrocket.TOP DEM SENATOR REVEALS SOCIALIST MAMDANI IS WHAT HER PARTY SHOULD LOOK LIKE: YOU BETSimilar to democratic socialist Mamdani, who rocked the nation's political world by topping former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in late June to win New York City's Democratic Party mayoral primary, Wilson is spotlighting affordability."Housing costs have doubled since Bruce Harrell first took office," she highlights in a social media post.However, unlike Mamdani, Wilson does not identify as a democratic socialist.Wilson has stayed competitive with the incumbent mayor in the battle for campaign cash. The most recent polling in the race indicated a close contest between Harrell and Wilson, with former T-Mobile executive and 2009 mayoral candidate Joe Mallahan a very distant third.Ry Armstrong, an actor and environmental nonprofit executive director who is running a progressive campaign, and five other candidates on the ballot, barely registered in recent polling.

A woman's in-laws criticized her for "giving in" to her toddler to avoid a meltdown at a restaurant and internet readers are divided over the family drama.The mother took to a popular Reddit channel last week to seek input on whether she made the wrong move during the dinner with her young daughter, her husband, his parents and his sister."My 3-year-old was getting cranky, and I could already feel a meltdown brewing," the mom wrote. "I tried crayons, snacks, everything. Nothing worked."FAMILY VACATION DRAMA ERUPTS OVER GRANDMOTHER'S REQUEST FOR DINNER WITH HER GROWN KIDS ONLYFinally, she gave the girl an iPad to watch cartoons on a low volume."She immediately calmed down and started eating," the mom said, adding that it "felt like a win."But her husband's family disagreed.The woman said her mother-in-law passive-aggressively remarked, "Kids these days don't know how to behave at the table anymore."The woman's sister-in-law said, "Back in our day, we didn't need screens to sit still."FED-UP WOMAN REFUSES TO BE BREAKFAST CHEF FOR SISTER'S CHILDREN: 'GO ASK YOUR MOM'After dinner, the woman's husband said she could have "at least tried harder before giving in to screens."The post garnered nearly 2,000 comments, with many Redditors slamming the mom for resorting to the device."Your mother-in-law was right," one person said."You should not give kids screen time when at a family meal," another person commented. "They need to learn to sit and chill This is promoting bad habits."Someone else wrote, "The dopamine hit and dependence on screen time isn't ideal for developing brains."Michael G. Wetter, a pediatric psychologist from Los Angeles, said that screen time won't derail a child's development but it shouldn't become the default.WOMAN DRINKING WINE TEACHES PUSHY MOTHER A LESSON AFTER FAMILY TRIES TO INTERVENE"If screens are used routinely to pacify or distract, toddlers may come to rely on external stimulation instead of building internal coping mechanisms," Wetter told Fox News Digital. "This can contribute to difficulties with attention, frustration tolerance and emotional regulation as they get older."The American Academy of Pediatrics urges zero screen time except for video chatting for children under age 2 and no more than an hour a day of high-quality, educational programming for kids 2 to 5 years old, Wetter noted.Some internet users suggested taking the child for a walk and having books or toys on hand."If the child acts up, you remove the child from the restaurant," one of them said. "That's called parenting."Wetter recommended keeping a "calm kit" with small toys and books.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"Toddlers are naturally distractible," he said. "Use that to your advantage."He also said he prefers "connection over correction.""Physical closeness, a calm tone or a silly game can shift the emotional climate," he said.Many people drew the line at cartoons playing on a screen in a restaurant."No one wants to hear a kids' show while they're eating," one person wrote.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleBut others did not blame the mother alone, instead criticizing the husband and even the child's aunt and grandparents for not stepping in."Why wasn't your husband dealing with the impending meltdown, since he has so much to say about the matter?" someone asked."Your husband, as well as the other adults at the table to a lesser extent, are [wrong] for not jumping in and trying to engage with your daughter," another Redditor said."Your parents-in-law shouldn't be judging you. They should be supporting you," one offered."You shouldn't have given [the girl] the iPad, and they should have kept their snark to themselves," another commenter said."Shaming a parent, especially publicly or in moments of stress, can be deeply damaging," Wetter warned, adding that it can cause anxiety, depression and burnout.Fox News Digital reached out to the original poster for comment.