Its hard enough to know what you want. Its even harder to know what others want. But what if what you want hinges on what somebody else wantsand they arent sure whattheywant?Hence the conundrum now facing Congressional Republicans as they try to approve the "big, beautiful bill."GOPers are waiting for President Trump to push for very specific items to be in the bill or fall by the wayside.Congressional Republicans are aligned closely with the President and willing to bend to his wishes. But it complicates things when Trump calls for what he termed a "tiny" tax increase for the super wealthy.TRUMP SAYS TAX RAISES ARE GOOD POLITICS, DISMISSING GOP CRITICS"People would love to do it. Rich people. I would love to do it, frankly. Giving us something up top in order to make people in the middle income and the lower income brackets [have] more. So, it's really a redistribution," said the president.First, President Trump suggested a form of rations, limiting how many pencils kids need or how many dolls a little girl should have. That puzzled free marketeers in the GOP.Now, to use his phrase, "redistribution."You understand how much heartburn this gives capitalists in Congress. But whats worse is the mixed messaging.When writing on Truth Social about creating a higher tax bracket for the wealthy, the president muddled his instructions for lawmakers:"Republicans should probably not do it, but Im OK if they do!!!" declared President Trump.CIVIL WAR THREATENS GOP OVER MILLIONAIRE TAX HIKES IN TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL'This exasperated Congressional Republicans who oppose raising any taxes a long-held tenet of the Republican Party.In another political universe, taxing the wealthy would be at best a trial balloon. So, most Congressional Republicans decided it was time for this to pop."No, we are not going to do tax increases," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., on Fox Business."We don't want to raise taxes on anybody. I mean, we're about lowering taxes on Americans," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Fox.But President Trumps Republican Party is very different from the Reagan Republican Party. The GOP shifts to where Trump wants it. Just consider the approach to tariffs compared to free trade.TRUMP PUSHES TAX HIKES FOR WEALTHY AS 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' DEADLINE LOOMSPresident Trump broadened the partys base in the last election. The GOP is no longer dominated by big business, titans of commerce and the well-to-do. Part of the presidents appeal was the blue-collar coalition he cobbled together. And his fundamental economic message on taxes resonated with millions of voters. Thats why his top advisers say Trump is sticking to campaign promises."President Trump has made it clear that he has his priorities, like no tax on tips. No tax on overtime. No tax on Social Security," said National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Fox.However, revenue generated from new taxes on the wealthy could help cover the cost of spending cuts."We need to see what we need to do with the math to make sure that we are doing the country well fiscally and that we don't just add to the debt," said Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb.But Republicans are frustrated after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., shrank the size of the tax cuts and spending reductions.The tax breaks were supposed to be around $4.5 trillion at one point. They dwindled to $4 trillion. They were angling to lock in $2 trillion in tax cuts. Theyre scaled back to $1.5 trillion.'HARD NO': MILLIONAIRE TAX HIKE PROPOSAL HAS HOUSE REPUBLICANS DIVIDED"Republicans talk a big game in campaigns," lamented House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas. "If we're not able to bend the curve on mandatory spending, then we will send a very bad signal to the bond markets."But regardless of whats in the package, the White House is expecting Congressional Republicans to ultimately vote yes on the "big, beautiful bill.""The president has great political instincts. That's why he's back in the Oval Office," said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.But thats what Congressional Republicans found so vexing. The president may have great political instincts. But the marching orders were far from clear.Trump conceded that a tax hike may be controversial politically.Congressional Republicans suffer from political PTSD. They remember another Republican President who made one of the most famous political promises of all time. And then broke it."No new taxes," intoned the late President George H.W. Bush in his address to a Joint Session of Congress in 1989.But Bush famously reversed himself as part of a 1990 budget pact. That was not necessarily the reason "Bush 41" lost reelection in 1992 to former President Clinton. And President Trump was sure enough to point that out on social media.TRUMP SLAMS REPUBLICAN GRANDSTANDERS OPPOSING BUDGET BILL, PREDICTS MASSIVE US TAX INCREASES IF IT FAILS"The Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, Read my lips, the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election. NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election!" wrote Trump.The "Perot Effect" certainly deprived George H.W. Bush of a second term more than breaking the "no new taxes" promise. But that doesnt mean that Republicans arent skittish about voting for tax increases.And regardless, the legislative product that emerged from the Ways and Means Committee markup this week lacked the type of tax hike dangled by President Trump.That said, Congressional Republicans certainly have their opinions about what they think of the developing "big, beautiful bill.""A growing number of us, we dont want smoke and mirrors. We want real cuts," said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. "$2 trillion (in cuts) is really a teardrop in the ocean.""Youve got front-loaded tax [cuts]. Backloaded spending restraint," groused Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas. "Medicaid reforms and work requirements dont kick in for four years.""Itll be ironic and sad in a way that conservatives will be voting for the largest increase in the debt ceiling," mused Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. "I have a feeling its going to be wimpy on the spending cuts and maybe a little wimpy on the taxes, too."So, at least some Republicans grasp what they want in the bill. And theyre willing to take direction from the president. Thats why clear direction from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will be key next week as the House tries to pass the measure.Members will say they cant vote for the bill because it has this or excludes that. But they just might be able to vote yea if President Trump knows what he wants and makes that clear to lawmakers.

While President Donald Trump focuses on the "big, beautiful bill," trade deals and foreign policy, the Democratic Party continues to rage against his second term.Despite the Left's outrage, Trump maintained he is "honored" by the continued "Trump Derangement Syndrome" during an exclusive interview aboard Air Force One on "Hannity.""I think you have a lot of [Democrats] that they don't know where they are right now. I think they don't know what to do, like men playing in women's sports," Trump said in an interview that aired Wednesday."They do suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome at a high level, and I guess I'm honored by that."DONALD TRUMP DETAILS MOST EXCITING PART OF CHINA TRADE AGREEMENTDemocrats have long united around their opposition to Trump, but the party has also been in the political wilderness since November's elections, struggling with a messaging problem and a leadership problem.Trump highlighted many Democrats' stance on transgender athletes competing in women's sports, arguing the issue is "991.""They always say it's 8020... A lot of these things are not 8020," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "In one way, I don't like talking about it because I don't want to talk them out of it because, you know, it would be harder to beat them if they were normal on things. It shows that they're almost insane."HOUSE PROGRESSIVE BACKS DOWN FROM TRUMP IMPEACHMENT PUSH AFTER PRESSURE FROM FELLOW DEMSCLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe president also directed criticism toward Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., when asked about emerging party voices like Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Trump argued the longtime New York Democrat is "afraid" to go against the progressive wing of the party."I think he's afraid. I watch him. He's lost his confidence, totally. Chuck Schumer I've known him so long, and he's in the other party, but I've know the guy so long he's totally lost his confidence," Trump said.Despite his observations, Trump bet Democratic lawmakers will "have to vote" in favor of the "big, beautiful bill." The president cited pharmaceutical and drug cuts as a major reason for potential Democratic support."I think a lot of Democrats are going to be forced to vote for the bill because you add this new element that, if this bill passes, you're going to get a 50% to 90% reduction in prescription drugs and pharmaceuticals," he said."When you add that in, how does a Democrat not vote? I don't think they can win an election if they don't vote for it."Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Scientists with the Field Museum of Chicago have discovered that a pigeon-sized Archaeopteryx fossil in its collection displays an array of features previously unknown when it comes to the earliest known birds, particularly a birds feathers, hands, feet and head.Reuters reported that the fossil is one of the best preserved and most complete of the 14 known fossils of the specimens identified since 1861.The first Archaeopteryx fossil, which showed reptile and bird-like features, supported Charles Darwins ideas on evolution and showed that birds evolved from dinosaurs.The new study was able to make out soft tissues in the Chicago fossil using UV light, while CT scans allowed scientists to see details still embedded in the rock. The study showed that 164 years after the first Archaeopteryx fossil was discovered, there is more to learn about the creature that took flight during the Jurassic period 150 million years ago.DISCOVERY OF PARTIALLY FOSSILIZED FACE BELONGS TO OLDEST HUMAN ANCESTOR IN WESTERN EUROPE, NEW STUDY SAYSThe anatomical traits showed that while Archaeopteryx was able to fly, it likely spent more time on the ground and may have been able to climb trees.Scientists noted that the fossil showed the presence of specialized feathers called tertials on both wings. The tertials are attached to the humerus bone in the upper arm and are also the innermost flight feathers, the scientist explained.Small-feathered dinosaurs, though, lacked tertials. Researchers said the discovery of the inner flight wings found in many birds today suggests the tertials evolved specifically for flight."To generate lift, the aerodynamic surface must be continuous with the body," Field Museum paleontologist Jingmai O'Connor said. "So, in order for flight using feathered wings to evolve, dinosaurs had to fill this gap, as we see in Archaeopteryx.ANCIENT DINOSAUR FOOTPRINT DATING BACK 100 MILLION YEARS DISCOVERED NEAR COASTAL TOWN"Although we have studied Archaeopteryx for over 160 years, so much basic information is still controversial. Is it a bird? Could it fly? The presence of tertials supports the interpretation that the answer to both these questions is 'yes,'" O'Connor added.When the fossil was unearthed, it was preserved three-dimensionally as opposed to being flat like many fossils. Scientists were able to prepare soft tissue remains while also protecting them, and when hit with ultraviolet light, the tissue glowed.The species also shows soft tissue on its hands, suggesting the first and third fingers were mobile and could be used for climbing. The soft tissue on its toe pads led scientists to believe the Archaeopteryx spent a lot of its life on the ground and had limited flight capability.'DINOSAUR HIGHWAY' FOOTPRINTS DATING BACK 166 MILLION YEARS DISCOVERED IN ENGLANDAnother feature scientists found was the palate, or roof of the mouth, confirming that the Archaeopteryxs skull was immobile, unlike many living birds. But there is evidence of the first stages in the evolution of a trait that allows the beak to move independently of the braincase, as seen in modern birds.The Chicago fossil possesses the only vertebral column of an Archaeopteryx, which includes two tiny vertebrae at the tip of the tail, showing there were a total of 24 vertebrae, one more than previously thought.The museum acquired the fossil last year and said it had been in the hands of a series of private collectors since being discovered sometime before 1990."This specimen is arguably the best Archaeopteryx ever found, and we're learning a ton of new things from it," O'Connor said.In March 2018, researchers suggested Archaeopteryx could probably fly, but in a different way from modern-day birds, in rapid, short bursts over short distances.Archaeopteryx possessed feathers, like a modern bird. However, it also possessed a "long, stiff, frond-feathered tail" and teeth, along with bones in its hands, shoulders and pelvis that were not fused.Of the 12 fossils of Archaeopteryx that have been found, the first was discovered in the late 19th century by famed German paleontologist Hermann von Meyer. The most recent was discovered by an amateur collector in 2010, announced in February 2014 and described scientifically in 2018.Reuters contributed to this report.

A forensic scientist from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab revealed during Karen Read's murder trial that evidence collected in red Solo cups was never tested in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe.Testimony Wednesday came from O'Keefe's niece, whom he was caring for after her parents died within months of one another, as well as forensic experts involved in the search for Read's Lexus SUV and crime lab testing.Maureen Hartnett of the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab testified she found broken glass, scratches and at least one dent on the back of Read's vehicle, as well as blood and debris recovered from O'Keefe's clothes.She also swabbed the evidence that Canton Police collected in red Solo cups, although she testified that it had never been tested. As a result, she couldn't even identify it as blood.KAREN READ'S DEFENSE OPENS DOOR FOR SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO BRING IN NEW EVIDENCE: COURT DOCSShe collected samples for additional testing but testified that she did not perform testing herself. That was someone else's responsibility.She also testified she could not rule out that any of the damage to Read's SUV happened before Jan. 29, 2022, the morning O'Keefe died.KAREN READ DEFENSE FLOATS THEORY THAT JEALOUS BRIAN HIGGINS FOUGHT JOHN O'KEEFE BEFORE DEATHThe red substance, described as "red-brown" by the time she saw it, was collected by Canton Police from the front lawn at 34 Fairview Road under a dusting of snow at the spot where investigators believed O'Keefe had been found."I think you test it anyway, even if there is no chain of custody, just to contextualize the case," said Paul Mauro, a retired NYPD investigator who is following the case. "If there was a fight inside the house, presumably O'Keefe would've fought back. If the blood in the snow came back to one of the Alberts or Higgins, if you're the defense, you're doing backflips."If the swabs still exist, however, the defense could ask for them to be tested today, he said.KAREN READ'S GOOGLE TIMELINE DERAILED AGAIN AS 2ND EXPERT DISPUTES DEFENSE CLAIMSBut police could also have done a better job collecting and documenting evidence, especially after a series of instances when officers had to defend making unusual decisions, including having someone else fill out the level of an evidence bag, using a grocery bag instead of an evidence bag and sending someone home to grab a leaf blower without sending anyone to the police station to get proper evidence-gathering containers.Other awkward moments included an evidence bag with the wrong number of broken taillight shards and a brief delay after a state police sergeant was asked to open a mislabeled evidence bag with one of the victim's sneakers inside."You don't have to be doing homicide investigations daily to know that if you gathered a bunch of stuff from a crime scene, preserve it and make sure it's logged into evidence so you can retrieve it later since you don't know where this is going," Mauro said."If they knew enough and cared enough to take samples from the scene, however imperfect they did it and they put each cup in a separate Stop and Shop bag, initialed it, closed it as good as they could in a blizzard. It is unorthodox. Not perfect, but defensible."GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUBDefense attorney Robert Alessi also asked Hartnett about two photos purported to show the same lone hair sample recovered from the back of the SUV."You could argue that the snow sealed it in there," Mauro said.Read faces charges of second-degree murder, drunk driving manslaughter and fleeing a deadly accident in O'Keefe's death.Prosecutors allege she reversed her Lexus SUV into O'Keefe and left him to die on the ground during a blizzard.She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and her lawyers say she never hit O'Keefe.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XSIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTERWhile prosecutors have shown photos of her broken taillight, and investigators have testified that it played a role in their allegations against Read, her lawyers played a close-up video of her appearing to back into O'Keefe's parked car before she and two other women found O'Keefe on the ground outside the Fairview Road house.A group of people had been there the night before for an after-party following a night out drinking.Read, speaking with reporters outside the courthouse, claimed she saw O'Keefe leave the party before she left.Other witnesses, testifying under oath, told jurors that he did not go inside.

The Fayette County Sheriff's Office has confirmed the discovery of what they believe are the human remains of missing one-year-old Kahleb Collins.After multiple searches of the familys property, police say they recovered what they believe to be remains of Kahleb Collins located in a burn pile at the family residence. The evidence has been sent to forensics for official identification.Police have been searching for the toddler since December, when mother Wendy Pamela Bailey, 22, was involvedin an accidentthat claimed the lives of Steven Bradley Collins, 40, and Ryleigh Collins, 2.ALABAMA MOTHER CHARGED WITH THE DEATH OF HER 2 CHILDREN, 1 YEAR OLD'S BODY STILL MISSING"The crash claimed the life of a two-year-old child, who was unrestrained, and critically injured the child's father, Steven Collins, who later succumbed to his injuries on Monday, December 9," a statement from the police said.Kahleb Rowan Collins, 1, was unaccounted for during the accident. It was only after responding to the accident that police learned he had not been seen since early September.SKELETAL REMAINS FOUND NEAR NEW HAMPSHIRE GOLF COURSE DAYS AFTER 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMAN'S DISAPPEARANCEIn April, Wendy Pamela Bailey and Johnn Elton Bailey were arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including domestic violence, abuse of a corpse, criminally negligent homicide, and aggravated child abuse.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who loved Kahleb," said Sheriff Byron Yerby. "While this discovery brings a measure of closure, it is also a solemn reminder of the responsibility we all share in protecting our children. We are committed to continuing the pursuit of justice in this case."

Crime rates aboard cruise ships leaving the U.S. have reached a two-year high, and one expert says this creates a "dark cloud" for travelers.According to data from the Department of Transportation, allegations of 48 crimes were reported onboard cruise ships from Jan. 1, 2025, to March 30, 2025. Twenty-three incidents were reported rapes, 10 were sexual assaults and seven were assaults, which all reportedly happened on cruise ships.Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service special agent and criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, told Fox News Digital crime negatively affects the cruise industry. McDonald has coordinated security for various dignitaries around the world.POPULAR CRUISES SUSPEND ISLAND STOP OVER ESCALATING GANG VIOLENCE: WHAT TO KNOW"Sometimes, the cruise lines don't want to report this information on the front end, depending upon, again, what type of crime it is, which brings unfortunate attention to them, just as it would when we have airplane situations or the delays in airplanes that we're having now," McDonald said."All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry, an industry that wants people to come to it and wants them to be comfortable spending their money."McDonald said cruises are more prone to crime because of the number of people packed in a tight area."I think anytime we get large numbers of people together, whether it's at a Super Bowl game or at a World Series game or an NBA Finals or graduations or whatnot, whenever we get people together, whenever there's alcohol involved, whenever there are people being able to let loose a little bit from their normal personality, I think that exacerbates the ability for numbers to rise in that regard," he said."Anytime we get together, those numbers are going to go up, whether that's at a resort, whether it's on a cruise ship."On March 21, two illegal immigrants were arrested after allegedly molesting a minor while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise that set sail from Miami.Jose Prudencio Diaz, 36, and Ricardo Daniel Mondragon Leal, 37, were charged with child molestation and exhibition after an incident on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas ship.CRUISE LINE BANS DOZENS AFTER MASSIVE BRAWL CAUGHT ON CAMERA BREAKS OUT AT TEXAS PORT: 'DO NOT SAIL LIST'The victim was identified as a 14-year-old boy who told police he was in the ship's sauna when Diaz and Leal allegedly began masturbating in front of him.According to records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Diaz and Leal forced the victim to touch them. Leal also allegedly forced the minor to perform a sex act.Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on X: "We WILL get these sickos out of our country."One recent incident involved dozens of Carnival Cruise Line passengers who got into a brawl while disembarking from a ship April 26. In a video posted to social media, several cruise passengers push through crowds in the Port of Galveston cruise terminal.During the fight, which happened in the cruise port, people can be seen punching and kicking others.Carnival Cruise Line placed 24 passengers on a "do not sail list," prohibiting them from getting aboard any of the company's ships. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line previously told Fox News Digital it doesn't tolerate violence."The matter was turned over to law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "We will not tolerate such behavior, and 24 people have been placed on our Do Not Sail list."Fox News Digital reached out to Carnival and Royal Caribbean for comment.Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

The Menendez brothers are one step closer to seeing life outside prison walls after a bombshell decision to reduce their life sentences, leaving the next hurdle in the hands of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.On Tuesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic slashed the original sentences for Erik and Lyle Menendez from life in prison to 50 years in prison with the possibility of parole. Jesic's decision to resentence the Menendez brothers opens the door for a parole hearing to determine whether they should be released."The question for the board is a simple one do Erik and Lyle Menendez, do they pose a current, what we call `unreasonable risk to public safety,'" Newsom previously said on his podcast, "This is Gavin Newsom."MENENDEZ BROTHERS 'RISK ASSESSMENT' ORDERED BY NEWSOM AHEAD OF RESENTENCING HEARINGIn October, Mark Geragos, the brothers' lawyer, filed clemency documents with Newsom after former Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascn asked a judge to reduce their sentences."I strongly support clemency for Erik and Lyle Menendez, who are currently serving sentences of life without possibility of parole," Gascn previously said. "They have respectively served 34 years and have continued their educations and worked to create new programs to support the rehabilitation of fellow inmates."In response to their request for clemency, Newsom directed the state parole board to conduct a "comprehensive risk assessment investigation" of the Menendez brothers.Newsom described the assessment as a "common procedure carried out by the state.""There's no guarantee of outcome here," Newsom previously said. "My office conducts dozens and dozens of these clemency reviews on a consistent basis, but this process simply provides more transparency, which I think is important in this case, as well as provides us more due diligence before I make any determination for clemency."MENENDEZ BROTHERS RESENTENCING: TIMELINE OF KILLERS FIGHT OVER FREEDOM IN PARENTS MURDERSFox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office, which referred to a news conference Wednesday in which he spoke briefly about the parole process for the Menendez brothers and said the process is still unfolding."We started a process, as you know, which was intended to help inform the judge in the resentencing of the risk assessment. We thought that would be prudent to do before any resentencing. That process has unfolded over the course of the last number of months, and forensic psychologists did an assessment of the risk of each individual brother," Newsom said.MENENDEZ BROTHERS ASK CALIFORNIA GOV. NEWSOM FOR CLEMENCYCertain details of those risk assessments, which have not been made public, were presented during part of Tuesday's resentencing hearing. The analysis from those reports typically includes what led a person to commit the crime, behavior in prison and the likelihood of recidivism.Both brothers admitted to killing their parents, Mary "Kitty" and Jose Menendez, in a gruesome 1989 shotgun massacre inside their Beverly Hills home. Until Tuesday's resentencing hearing, they had maintained that their actions were self-defense from a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse by their parents.Newsom's office explained that the legal standard in California for release on parole is whether an inmate poses an unreasonable risk to public safety, which has to be determined before the governor can make a decision on commutations.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X"This process doesnt mean theres any guaranteed outcome, but it shows were doing our due diligence, ensuring transparency, keeping public safety at the forefront, making sure the process is fair for everyone involved and getting closer to a conclusion," Newsom's office said.The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation told Fox News Digital it is "looking into the judges decision and next steps in the parole process.""When a court resentences a defendant, it issues the new judgment to CDCR. The department then processes the judgment as quickly as possible while complying with legal mandates," the department said.The department added that "if an incarcerated persons sentence is changed to allow the possibility of parole, CDCR would determine applicable parole-eligible dates."SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTERClemency from Newsom is also still a possibility."So, the question for the parole board is, will they reserve that as a more traditional parole process, or will they choose to have a separate pathway to an independent parole analysis?" Newsom asked."And that's a conversation that we're having to make that determination. So, it's conceivable to the point that on June 13 there could be a recommendation to me. I'm the ultimate arbiter and will have to review the parole board's recommendations and report. It's also conceivable that this will happen months and months later. So, that's a process that we're making that's been determined in real time."GET THE LATEST FROM THE FOX NEWS TRUE CRIME HUBNewsom's June 13 parole board hearings are planned to go on as scheduled, and the board will have the opportunity to free the brothers.No matter what happens with their clemency request, Newsom would still have the final say over whether they should go free.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFormer Assistant U.S. Attorney Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital Tuesday that Erik and Lyle Menendez "will likely be freed in a matter of months," adding he does not expect "the parole board or Gov. Newsom" to block their release.Even if the parole board approves their release, the governor has veto power and could issue a pardon on his own.Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

In her first interview since announcing her bid for Alaska governor, Bernadette Wilson, a former radio host and longtime conservative figure in Alaska, spoke to Fox News Digital about the issues in the race and working with the Trump administration on energy development.Wilson, a lifelong Alaskan who was born on the Kenai Peninsula and grew up in Anchorage, is a political outsider. Even so, politics does run in her family. Her great-uncle Wally Hickel served as governor, first in the 1960s as a Republican and again in the early 1990s as a member of the Alaska Independence Party.She noted she comes from a long line of business people, including her grandfather, who "built a good chunk" of the states largest city."I myself own a garbage company and we are celebrating our ninth year in business," she said. She added that her entrepreneurial experience and knowledge of state politics through her family history and own career in radio and activism is a good mix.RANKED CHOICE VOTING RANKLES ELECTION SEASONWilson opposes ranked choice voting, in which votes are tallied in a hierarchical manner through several rounds. Conservatives in the red state blamed ranked choice voting for the election of former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. Incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited."Ranked choice voting disenfranchises voters. We see that it is so confusing to them. We see people who don't understand the process, and it absolutely has got to go. That is mission-critical," she said.In other states, ranked choice voting has had mixed reviews. In Virginia, proponents on the right credited it with helping the state party select businessman Glenn Youngkin as its nominee for governor in 2021, which led to a major Republican upset that fall.ALASKA CAN BE CURE FOR NATION'S ILLS WITH HELP FROM TRUMP ADMIN: GOVERNOR SAYSEnergy is the most important economic topic for Alaska, and Wilson said she looks forward to working with the Trump administration on its stated plan for a domestic energy renaissance if she's elected."Energy is obviously huge for Alaska. Under the Biden administration, Alaska was sanctioned more times than the country of Iran," she said."We have the ability to lead the rest of the country [in this field]."Asked about another Trump-related topic, the ongoing tit-for-tat with Canada over claims to make it the 51st state and Ottawas bipartisan outrage at American tariffs, Wilson said, as governor, she would want to work on cross-border infrastructure projects.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Obviously, Canada sitting right along the border to Alaska has a huge impact for us. And so getting a railroad through Canada would definitely be a great No. 1 priority when it comes to our interaction with that particular country," she said.Wilson faces Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and State Sen. Click Bishop, R-Fairbanks, in the 2026 contest.

Cassie Ventura testified against Sean "Diddy" Combs for a second day and spent hours on the stand relaying experiences from her relationship with the fallen music mogul.Cassie, 38, appeared in a Manhattan federal court Wednesday wearing a black, long-sleeved dress. The singer was noticeably pregnant with her third child with husband Alex Fine.While the U.S. Attorney's Office is relying on her testimony as "Victim 1," legal experts told Fox News Digital her presence as a pregnant woman may sway the jury when deciding Diddy's fate.DIDDY TRIAL: CASSIE VENTURA'S 5 MOST EXPLOSIVE CLAIMS AGAINST RAPPER"Cassie being pregnant may make her an even more sympathetic figure on the stand," criminal defense lawyer Dan Rubin exclusively told Fox News Digital."It certainly invokes the maternal side of the singer, and that could really impact the way some members of the jury view her. They may find it interesting that even if it's not said out loud Cassie is looking at the dark events of what happened through the new lens of motherhood."Throughout the day, jurors heard emotional testimony from Cassie as she described allegedly being raped by Diddy after their breakup. She claimed to enter rehab and pursue trauma therapy in the beginning of 2023 after "horrible flashbacks" on the set of a music video.INSIDE THE DIDDY JURY ROOM: A LOOK AT WHO'S DECIDING THE RAPPER'S FATE"I can't carry this anymore. I can't carry the shame, the guilt what's right is right. What's wrong is wrong," Cassie told the court.Attorney Jo-Anna Nieves told Fox News Digital, "Cassie Venturas pregnancy brings a strong layer of visual and emotional impact that makes it harder for the defense to paint her as violent or dangerous."WATCH ON FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DO?"Jurors are human, and whether they realize it or not, they often associate pregnancy with vulnerability, nurturing and innocence. That image alone makes it a tough sell to argue that she was a real physical threat or equally responsible for the violence," Nieves said."Even if the defense introduces evidence of her alleged aggression, that version of events may not line up with what the jury sees in front of them. Its not just about the facts. It's about how those facts land and trying to position an attractive, visibly pregnant woman who also has her own celebrity status as abusive can easily flop with this jury and damage the defenses credibility."WATCH: SEAN DIDDY COMBS SEEMINGLY ASSAULTS CASSIE VENTURA IN 2016 LOS ANGELES HOTEL INCIDENTCassie's appearance as a pregnant woman "may not change the legal standard, but it can definitely shape how jurors perceive the story and that makes the defenses job a lot harder," Nieves said.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSWhile Cassie testified about a party at Princes house, one juror was looking in Diddys direction. As Cassie described a "bad fight" with Diddy, the juror was focused on the disgraced music mogul. One juror shook her head in agreement after Cassie explained in detail how she didn't want to tell her mother about Diddy's alleged abuse.Another female juror grimaced when the government introduced evidence showing Cassie's bruises. One juror strained his neck to get a better look. One juror was seen taking copious notes throughout the testimony.Jurors heard testimony Wednesday about Diddy's alleged violent behavior. Cassie claimed Diddy went through her phone at a "freak off" and found an email correspondence between Cassie and rapper Kid Cudi.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERCassie and Cudi, who's full name is Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, dated in 2011 when she was on a break in her relationship with Diddy. In the messages, Cassie allegedly relayed to Kid Cudi what toiletries she could leave at his house.Diddy became "upset" upon reading the messages, which she had kept a secret. Cassie testified she had a burner phone to keep Cudi a secret from Diddy. Cassie had already broken up with Cudi and was visiting Diddy in Arizona when he allegedly told her that he was going to blow up Cudi's car when he was out of the country.The trio Cassie, Diddy and Kid Cudi at one point allegedly met to discuss the relationship and agreed that they were no longer together. In a September memo sent to Judge Robyn Tarnofsky, prosecutors alleged Diddy's co-conspirator set fire to "individual-1's vehicle by slicing open the car's convertible top and dropping a Molotov cocktail inside the interior."On Wednesday, Cassie also disclosed she received a $20 million settlement 24 hours after filing a lawsuit against Diddy in November 2023.Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

Memorial Day weekend, which kicks off the summer, is set to break a new travel record this year.A massive 45.1 million Americans are set to travel at least 50 miles from their home during the long weekend, AAA announced.Of the millions of Americans traveling, AAA predicts 3.61 million will be flying to their destinations. That's a 2% increase from last year.FLIGHT PASSENGERS WARN OF REAL ID APOCALYPSE WHILE OTHERS ACKNOWLEDGE AMERICANS CAN STILL FLY"While this Memorial Day weekend isnt expected to set an air travel record (that was set back in 2005 with 3.64 million travelers), this years numbers are projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 12%," states the AAA press release.Travelers should arrive a minimum of two hours before their scheduled domestic flights and three hours before scheduled international flights, the TSA advised.The AAA release said the most popular destinations are Chicago, Seattle, Orlando, Denver and New York.Those visiting the New York area may want to rethink what airport they are flying into amid recent air disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).HIDDEN REAL ID HASSLES FACING AIRLINE TRAVELERS AND STATES TO AVOIDThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instituted yet another ground delay at EWR on Monday, just one day after the previous delay, with flyers' frustrations growing.Gary Leff, a Texas-basedtravel industryexpert and author of the blog "View From the Wing," told Fox News Digital that passengers should avoid New York airports for connecting flights."If you're connecting, it's often a good idea to avoidNew York airports.If you originate in New York, it really depends on where in the city you're based," he said.Brandon Blewett, the Texas-based author of "How to Avoid Strangerson Airplanes,"told Fox News Digital that travelers going to and from New York City should look at other airports.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"Id consider alternatives to EWR like LGA and JFK until the runway reopens and ATC staffing stabilizes," said Blewett."It may be more of a headache in traffic, but it seems youre less likely to be stranded for the time being."On May 7, theREAL ID requirementtook effect, requiring flyers to obtain the new identification with a star in the upper right corner in order to fly.Flyers have expressed worries about possible delays during the security process if they, or fellow travelers, are unable to present the proper identification.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERThose who do not have a compliant ID may receive additional screening, which would take more time.A TSA spokesperson told Fox News Digital the agency continues to urge passengers to get REAL IDs or bring other acceptable forms of ID for travel."Summer travel is upon us, and there is still time to get a REAL ID," said the spokesperson."Passengers who present a state-issued identification that is not REAL ID compliant at TSA checkpoints and who do not have another acceptable alternative form of ID will be notified of their non-compliance, may be directed to a separate area, and may receive additional screening," the spokesperson added.