On a recent morning, Centreville High School teacher Zenaida Perez had a surprise visitor at the northern Virginia school where she teaches English as a second language: a high-powered lawyer investigating allegations that Perezhad made public that a school social worker coaxed and funded a students 2021 abortion.The Clifton school districts superintendent, Michelle Reid,responded to the allegations the next day, claiming the school system had just "learned yesterday" about the potential scandal. Last Thursday, Reid emailed Centreville High School parents, again claiming that the district had taken "immediate action to engage an external independent investigator to get all the facts."VIRGINIA SCHOOL SYSTEM INVESTIGATING CLAIMS STAFF ARRANGED STUDENTS' ABORTIONS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENTPerez's visitor was Mary McGowan, a retired lawyer from Blankingship & Keith, a longtime go-to firm for Fairfax County Public Schools. In a nearly three-hour interview, Perez told McGowan how she had blown the whistle seven times about the abortion scandal since May 2022, only to be ignored and then retaliated against.School district officials were "covering up" the alleged abortion scandal, Perez said she told McGowan. in the interview."Your recollection is outstanding," McGowan acknowledged at one point, according to Perez. Indeed, a detailed review of hundreds of pages of documents, emails and records confirm Perezs timeline.Perez told McGowan that she issued her first warning on May 5, 2022, in a meeting with then-principal, Chad Lehman, and an assistant principal. She said that a school social worker had allegedly facilitated and financed a 17-year-old students abortion the year before, without her guardians knowledge.Perez said she raised her concerns a second time ina letter sent on May 13, 2022, and she met again with Lehman in November 2022 to revisit the issue a third time, confirmed by an audio recording of the meeting.FCPS policy states that "every effort shall be made to encourage and support students suspecting pregnancy to discuss their concerns with their parents or guardians." However, it does not say FCPS employees should inform parents about those conversations."As this is an ongoing personnel matter, we are not able to comment at this time," a spokesman for Fairfax County Public Schools said when asked about Perez's account.Born in Cuba, Perez migrated to the U.S. in 1990 after earning a masters degree in teaching English as a second language, often called "ESOL." After teaching at Sarasota Public Schools in Florida, she moved to Virginia, ultimately landing a coveted job as a teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools.The high school is "majority-minority." Almost 20% of students are learning to speak English, according toschool demographic data. About one in four students live in low-income homes and qualify for free or reduced-fee meals.In the spring of 2022, Perez told the school board investigator she was blindsided when Lehman asked her if shed given a pregnancy test to a student. She hadnt, but she did learn that a teen student from Guatemala told her that the school social worker had made an appointment for the student to get an abortion at a Falls Church, Va., clinic in November 2021, and paid the expenses.In astatement written later that fall, the student detailed what allegedly happened when she saw the social worker. "She helped me with a pregnancy termination, or abortion," she wrote, according to a translation from its original Spanish. "[She] made the appointment for me at the abortion clinic in Fairfax. She paid for the procedure and kept quiet about it, not letting my family know. I was worried that my family would react very badly if they knew about my pregnancy and the abortion.""When the abortion was performed, I was only 17 years old," she concluded. The student and her guardian couldnt be reached for comment.Perez told Fox News Digital the students guardian, an uncle, didnt know about the abortion and was "livid."VIRGINIA SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCUSED OF RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION IN TRANSGENDER LOCKER ROOM CASEA week after the May 2022 meeting with Lehman, Perez says she sent the then-principal a follow-up email, dated May 13, 2022, reiterating that the school social worker had allegedly helped the student "solve the pregnancy issue."Perez had another meeting with Lehman in November, a recording of which she shared with Fox News Digital. Perez asked what he had meant when he had previously told her the abortion allegations were "concerning." Lehman responded: "I dont remember the statement or the context of it, so I couldnt answer that question with you right now. I dont remember there being a conversation about that specifically."She reminded the principal she had repeated her concerns in a letter. When she raised her concerns again about Diaz facilitating an abortion, Lehman responded that he didn't believe the social worker in question would have arranged an abortion for a student.Julie Perry, a teacher at Centreville High School, recalled how she met Perez for the first time that fall, as Perry stood outside Room 222A on the schools second floor. It was about 7:45 a.m., as students scurried into classrooms for their first period. Perry had just run on the Republican ticket for state House of Delegates, losing in a district that is majority Democratic."God bless Zenaida for fighting through this," said Perry. "Whats so sad are the higher-ups. Theyre not concerned about the truth. Theyre concerned about keeping silent about these abortions."On March 7, Perez told McGowan that she raised her concerns again now, for a sixth time in a Zoom call with Heidi Siegmund, an attorney at McGuireWoods, a law firm based in Richmond, Va., investigating a separate issue of alleged workplace harassment at the school.On March 19, Siegmundwrote to Perez and said: "We will also make sure the Division Counsels office is aware of your concerns," according to a copy of the email.The division counsels office has for years hired lawyers from Blankingship & Keith as outside counsel.In May, Perez says she learned more shocking news: A teen told her that the social worker had offered to help her get an abortion when she was five months pregnant. The teen didnt have an abortion and is now a young mother, Perez said.The young mother wrote a statement about her experience, according to a copy of the letter, written in Spanish, saying a school health provider "gave me the option to have an abortion." Perez said the student told her the same social worker had given her the advice.Last week, as news of her allegations spread, Perez watched in disbelief as the school superintendent, Reid, claimed that school district officials had just learned about the concerns Perez had raised three years earlier and many times over.Early Monday morning, Perez returned to Centreville High School from summer break, armed with new resolve now that her warnings have been heard beyond Fairfax County Public Schools."I feel strong. I have truth and God on my side," she said.

President Donald Trump brushed off a question about building a "big, beautiful briefing room" during a crowded White House press event Monday, joking that he had no interest in making life more comfortable for the media.The quip came after Trump recently announced that he and private donors will fund the estimated $200 million cost of a new ballroom at the White House.The exchange took place during a packed White House briefing where Trump addressed multiple issues, including his mobilization of approximately 800 National Guard troops to help the Metropolitan Police Department to tackle crime in the nations capital.The room, filled wall-to-wall with reporters, prompted one journalist to note, "This is the most people weve ever seen in this briefing room."TRUMP JABS MEDIA DURING DC CRIME PRESS CONFERENCE: YOU'RE LIBERAL BUT DON'T WANT TO BE MUGGED AND KILLEDTrump agreed and turned to his "superstar," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, asking, "Is this the largest crowd that youve ever seen?""This is definitely the most packed briefing, and I think all of you would agree," the White House spokeswoman answered. "I think thats why we need to build a ballroom."Brian Glenn, correspondent for Real Americas Voice, piggybacked on her comment, asking Trump, "Youre building a big, beautiful ballroom. Could we build a big, beautiful briefing room? Updated with technology, more seats!""No, I dont want to do that. I dont want you to be comfortable," Trump joked, sparking laughter in the crowd of reporters. "No, I dont want to make life comfortable."CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe ballroom project is intended to provide a dedicated space for hosting official events, state dinners and large ceremonial gatherings."The White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders in other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building's entrance," Leavitt said last month, adding the new ballroom will be "a much-needed and exquisite addition."The planned 90,000-square-foot addition will accommodate approximately 650 seated guests and will stay true to the classical design of the White House.

He is accused of killing the CEO of a major U.S. health insurer in order to terrorize the industry, according to prosecutors but now details of his own personal insurance plan have become a flashpoint in the case against him.Luigi Mangione, a 27-year-old alumnus of the Ivy League's University of Pennsylvania, took his business to Aetna, which may have inadvertently given too much information to New York prosecutors in response to a subpoena following the alleged assassination of 51-year-old UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.Mangione allegedly shot the father of two from behind outside a shareholder conference in New York City last fall.FEDERAL JUDGE GRANTS MANGIONE ACCESS TO LAPTOP IN JAIL AHEAD OF MURDER TRIALManhattan prosecutors in a court filing Friday denied that they violated a federal law protecting private healthcare information when they subpoenaed information from his health insurance provider.Mangione's defense last month accused the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, led by Alvin Bragg, of flagrantly violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, better known as HIPAA, with a "false and fraudulent" subpoena and asked for prosecutors to face sanctions and for the judge to toss the case.Prosecutors denied all allegations that "something secretive or nefarious" was afoot and countered that they made a "lawful" request for basic information.LUIGI MANGIONES LAWYERS SLAM VAGUE ALLEGATIONS, DEMAND FEDS SHOW THEIR HAND IN BAREBONES CEO MURDER CASERead the latest court filing:They asked for his account number and the time period he received coverage, but unexpectedly received extra materials that they turned over to the court, according to the latest filing."The defense...seeks to punish the People for the administrative mistakes of others, claiming that the People have perpetrated a 'lie and a fraud' against defendantan inflammatory and dubious accusation without any basis," prosecutors wrote in a letter to the judge.In fact, prosecutors argued, it wasn't just Aetna that inadvertently sent additional information to Bragg's office. The defense did too when one of the former Ivy Leaguer's lawyers sent a copy of the same healthcare information to prosecutors in an email.LUIGI MANGIONE MUSICAL SELLS OUT IN SAN FRANCISCO, PRODUCERS EYE NATIONAL TOUR AFTER SMASH DEBUTBragg's office also notified Aetna, which re-submitted its subpoena response without the additional, unrequested details.When asked about the legal back-and-forth, Aetna provided a brief statement:"Aetna received a subpoena for certain medical records, and we provided them," a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.Prosecutors said they initially learned of his Aetna coverage from a search warrant served on his Apple iCloud account. The filing does not make clear why they were seeking information from the insurer, but the requested details could be used to establish a timeline or build out the apparent motive.UNITEDHEALTHCARE SUES THE GUARDIAN FOR DEFAMATION AFTER EXPLOSIVE NURSING HOME STORYInvestigators recovered writings from Mangione where he blasted the healthcare industry and allegedly referenced both UnitedHealthcare and the 2024 shareholder conference that was supposed to begin hours after the murder of Thompson. He also allegedly wrote messages on bullet casings found at the scene.Mangione allegedly stalked Thompson and shot him in the back outside the hotel where the conference was taking place.Surveillance video from the hotel shows a masked man sneak behind Thompson and fire multiple shots. At least one eyewitness ran off the opposite direction of the suspect.LUIGI MANGIONE'S TEAM ASKS COURT TO REMOVE 'SHACKLES,' BULLETPROOF VEST ON UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO MURDER SUSPECTMangione has pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges in connection with the slaying, including murder and terrorism charges in New York and murder through use of a firearm in federal court. He is being held without bail at a federal jail in Brooklyn.He is also facing prosecution in Pennsylvania, where police arrested him, allegedly in possession of a "ghost gun" and 3D-printed silencer.He could face life imprisonment at the state level or the federal death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges.His next appearance in the New York Supreme Criminal Court in Manhattan is scheduled for Sept. 16.

Sydney Sweeney is channeling Dolly Parton in her new Western heist movie "Americana," set to be released on the heels of the actress's American Eagle "Good Jeans" ad.In the film, debuting in theaters Aug. 15, Sweeney, 27, stars as Penny Jo Poplin, a small-town diner waitress who is obsessed with the country icon and dreams of following in her footsteps."Dolly is definitely her biggest aspirational role model," Sweeney said of her character during a June interview with Entertainment Weekly.She continued, "Dolly is almost like a godlike figure to Penny Jo, and I really wanted to make sure that we had the aspirations of being Dolly, but then, she doesn't have the resources."SYDNEY SWEENEY'S BROTHER MAKES CHEEKY 'GOOD JEANS' JOKE AFTER HIS AIR FORCE PROMOTION"It's trying to find that in-between place of who Penny is and what she has," Sweeney added. "But then also who she wants to be. Penny Jo dreams of being able to have Dolly's outlook on life because her world feels so gray, dark, and trapped. [Dolly has] this beautiful big personality and energy that makes everything have color again, and that's what she wants."In "Americana," Penny Jo, who is also an aspiring country music singer-songwriter, joins forces with lovelorn military veteran and ranch-hand Lefty Ledbetter (Paul Walter Hauser) to procure a rare Native American artifact a Lakota Ghost Shirt after it lands on the black market in their South Dakota town.However, Penny Jo and Lefty's pursuit of the valuable artifact "puts them in the crosshairs of a ruthless criminal working for a Western antiquities dealer, and soon, others, including the leader of an Indigenous group and a woman fleeing a mysterious past, join the battle for the Ghost Shirt," according to a plot synopsis for the movie."She finally sees something that can be her ticket to Nashville," Sweeney told Entertainment Weekly. "It's her ticket to be able to go and chase her dreams. And she's past the point of waiting for it to happen.""Americana" marks the directorial debut of screenwriter Tony Tost, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie also stars pop singer Halsey, Eric Dane, Zahn McClarnon and Simon Rex.Though "Americana" originally premiered at the 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival, the movie's worldwide release date comes as drama continues to swirl over Sweeney's July American Eagle ad campaign.However, PR expert Eric Schiffer shared his view that Sweeney's character will be a big draw for audiences, and the timing of the release will prove to be serendipitous for the production."She plays Penny Jo, a waitress who worships Dolly; that disarming sweetness offsets the AE edge and broadens demo reach," the Reputation Management Consultants CEO told Fox News Digital.He continued, "Country-curious teens and red-state moms will test-drive the movie; coastal critics bring pitiless scrutiny perfect storm for sales."Last month, the clothing retailer debuted their ad campaign titled "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans," which received a mixed response on social media.Some dubbed the campaign as "tone-deaf" due to the alleged racial undertones, others have praised Sweeney for killing "woke" advertising.In a promo video posted to the brand's Instagram, Sweeney was seen walking toward an AE billboard featuring her and the tagline "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Genes." Sweeney crossed out "Genes" and replaced it with "Jeans" before walking away.In a second ad, Sweeney was seen laying down and fastening her jeans while saying, "Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color." The camera then panned up to her blue eyes. "My jeans are blue."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSThe ad's detractors have suggested that it has shades of "eugenics" and "White supremacy." According to Salon, the term "great genes" was historically used to "celebrate whiteness, thinness and attractiveness."American Eagle released a statement on its social media on Aug. 1, which read, "Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. Well continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone."Sweeney has yet to publicly comment on the ad or its reception.While speaking with Fox News Digital, Schiffer explained how controversy could potentially turbocharge the actress's career along with her net worth."The AE firestorm shoved Sweeney into toxic culture-war crosshairs exactly where attention monetizes fastest," he said. "Backlash may spook a few safe brands, but risk-tolerant studios will ruthlessly overpay for her heat."American Eagles denim blitz could jam an outrage cocktail of $5 million more in Sweeneys wallet before Labor Day," Schiffer added. "The viral jeans spot is a ruthless napalm-grade cash cannon every click fires fresh royalty checks at her $40 million pile. Critics rant, but controversy drives denim sales shes riding a volatile tornado straight to the bank."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERSchiffer also explained that the backlash the actress has received could lead to an influx of career opportunities for her."Outrage addicts labeled the ad eugenics but Hollywood execs smell radioactive buzz and cast her faster," he said. "Hollywood forgives denim puns; it rewards controversial cash."Schiffer continued, "She proved she can take heat and directors love an actress with fierce armor. Her blend of bombshell and backlash is near lethal catnip for producers. Hollywood loves a polarizing star with a merciless marketing punch that sells."However, PR expert Steve Honig voiced his opinion that the backlash was unlikely to affect Sweeney's career."Regardless of which side you are on, the ads have undeniably gotten the actress, and the company, more attention and publicity than they have ever had. Judging by the publics split opinion, I dont think this will have much, if any, impact on Sweeneys career or upcoming projects," he said. "She is a popular, up-and-coming talent with a bright future ahead of her."Honig went on to cite other ad campaigns that saw great success by courting controversy.AMERICAN EAGLE FIRES BACK AT CRITICS AFTER SYDNEY SWEENEY CAMPAIGN SPARKS ONLINE BACKLASH"Historically, ads for jeans have been provocative," he noted. "Look back to Calvin Kleins advertising campaign in the early 1980s featuring Brooke Shields; there was a lot of criticism about how a 15-year-old girl was being portrayed. The ads turned out to have a positive result for both Klein and Shields, and in many ways put the actress/model on the map."Honig continued, "As far as the Sweeney ads being too sexual or aimed at male gazing, I would point to the highly successful Pepsi ad campaign with Cindy Crawford, which was recently rebooted. Gloria Vanderbilts advertising campaign was all about her name being on a womans backside.""The bottom line here is that American Eagle decided to push the envelope in much the same way Klein and Vanderbilt did," he added. "Like it or not, the campaign is sparking discussion and getting a lot of notice, which is likely what they set out to do."In addition to "Americana," Sweeney also has several other projects in the works. The actress is set to return for the third season of the hit HBO series "Euphoria," which is aiming for a 2026 release, according to Deadline.Sweeney is also starring as real-life former professional boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming biographical sports drama "Christy." The Washington native produced the film through her company, Fifty-Fifty Films, along with several other production companies, including Anonymous Content, Yoki, Inc., Votiv and Black Bear Pictures.The actress will next be seen starring alongside Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, and Michele Morrone in Paul Feig's upcoming film "The Housemaid," which is based on Freida McFadden's 2022 novel. "The Housemaid" will be released in theaters on Dec. 25.Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash contributed to this report.

Hostility toward churches across the U.S. remains alarmingly high, according to a new study from a Christian organization that has tracked such incidents since 2018.In its annual "Hostility Against Churches" report released Monday, the Family Research Council documented at least 415 hostile acts targeting 383 churches across 43 states in 2024.While that figure reflects a decline from the 485 incidents tracked in 2023, it is still more than double the number of attacks reported in 2022, and nearly equal to the 420 total incidents the group discovered in its first report, which spanned a 57-month period.The report relied on publicly available data and found a cumulative total of 1,384 acts of hostility against churches from January 2018 through December 2024. The group acknowledged that this figure is likely higher due to cases unreported to law enforcement or by the media.NEW POLL FINDS DECLINE OF CHRISTIANITY HAS LEVELED OFF IN AMERICAVandalism was the leading offense against churches (284), followed by arson (55), gun-related incidents (28), bomb threats (14), and other incidents of assault, threats or disruptions (47). On average, there were 35 attacks against U.S. churches each month in 2024.The report highlighted several instances where churches were targeted by repeated vandalism or acts of arson that caused devastating financial losses. In southern Ohio, four churches in two adjacent counties were targeted by arson and completely destroyed.Gun-related incidents were the only category to see a notable increase in 2024, more than doubling compared to the prior year. Pro-abortion-motivated incidents fell from 59 in 2022 when some churches faced attacks due to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade to just two in 2024.Anti-LGBTQ-related acts also declined but remained relatively high at 33 cases, most commonly involving the theft of Pride flags.TRUMP ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE ORDER CREATING TASK FORCE TO ERADICATE ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIASThe report's authors clarified that anti-Christian hostility wasn't always the motivating factor behind violence. But the report suggested that declining church attendance and cultural shifts away from Christianity may be contributing to an environment where attacks on churches are more tolerated.U.S. church attendance fell from 42% to 30% over the past two decades, according to Gallup. Additionally, about 80 percent of adults in the U.S. think religion is losing its influence on American life."With Christianity seemingly losing influence and respect in American life and fewer people feeling emotionally or spiritually connected to churches, there may be less societal pressure to discourage would-be criminals from targeting churches," the FRC report said.In February, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias" that created a task force to investigate and halt discrimination against Christians by the federal government."The existence of such an order shows that even the federal government has taken notice of the growing trend of hostility against U.S. churches," the FRC report said.The Trump administration's Office of Personnel Management also sent a memo to federal agencies in July enforcing religious protections for federal workers in the workplace.Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who served as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom during President Trumps first term, said in a statement to Fox News Digital:"Religious freedom is seldom handed to the passive; it is claimed by those who exercise it even when a hostile culture says they may not.This report clearly shows religious freedom faces substantial threats here at home. The American woke Left has been intentional in spreading its hostility toward the Christian faith throughout every corner of America. We applaud the efforts of the Trump administration, but efforts must be taken at every level of government to protect and promote this fundamental human right. Christians must expect and demand more from their government leaders when it comes to prosecuting and preventing criminal acts targeting religious freedom."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

A seventh suspect has been arrested for his alleged role in the brutal downtown Cincinnati beatdown that left six people injured in late-July.Gregory Wright, 32, is charged with alleged aggravated riot and aggravated assault, according to the Hamilton County Jail. Wright was booked into jail at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Monday, jail records show.He was set to make his first court appearance at 9 a.m. Tuesday.CINCINNATI VIRAL BEATING BODYCAM RELEASED AS SUSPECTS FACE NEW CHARGES IN GRAND JURY INDICTMENTPolice allege Wright"did by force rip the necklace off the victim while he was being assaulted by four or more co-defendants attempting to cause serious physical harm," according to a criminal complaint obtained by Fox 19.Wright allegedly snatched the victims necklace during the beating before proceeding "to film the rest of the events," the outlet reported.Wright is the seventh arrest to stem from the violent assault that broke out in the early morning hours of July 26 on the corner of Fourth and Elm streets, and captured the nations attention after footage of the attack went viral.CINCINNATI BRAWL TIMELINE: BRUTAL ASSAULT SPIRALS INTO NATIONAL FIRESTORMLast week, the first six defendants were indicted by a grand jury for their alleged roles in the beatdown.Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, Dominique Kittle, 37, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, are each charged with three counts of alleged felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting, the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital.CINCINNATI RESIDENTS ON EDGE AFTER VIRAL BEATDOWN SPARKS CRIME CONCERNS: 'WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT?'"What I saw on video is not the Cincinnati I know and love," Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said. "These charges hold those involved in the attack accountable."The Cincinnati Police Department and Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

FIRST ON FOX:Unearthed emails as part of a FOIA request show Biden administration agencies scrapping a plan to visit a vessel at an event because it would have required then-President Joe Biden to take too many steps.Records show, as part of a FOIA request byProtect the Publics Trust obtained by Fox News Digital, that Biden was set to visit aNational Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) while touring a Philadelphia shipyard in July 2023.However, according to the emails, that visit to the vessel was scrapped because of "how many steps were involved to get on the ship."The emails show that the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) was engaged in a major project at the Philadelphia shipyard at the time that Biden was planning to visit to tout offshore wind and clean energy jobs.WATCHDOG FINDS 'NO EVIDENCE' BIDEN KNEW OF CRUCIAL CLIMATE EOS, DEMANDS ANSWERS ON WHO SIGNED AUTOPENA MARAD official emailed members of the Office of Secure Transportation, with the Department of Transportation CCd, on July 17, 2023 that said, "No visit to the NSMV vessel is planned after the WH realized how many steps were involved to get on the ship. {True lots of steps on grating}."The email exchanges also show a lack of coordination between the White House and MARAD, an agency of the DOT, as the next day an email between DOT officials said, "MARAD hasnt had anyone reach out to them from WH. All info they have received has been from Philly shipyard. S2 team reached out to WH Advance, and that is how we confirmed the visit was scheduled. Nothing else heard and no further call made or received on this event that I am aware of."'RINGS HOLLOW': BIDEN RIPPED FOR WARNING OF OLIGARCHY 'TAKING SHAPE' IN US DESPITE DEEP TIES TO BILLIONAIRESThe decision to skip visiting the vessel in the shipyard came a little more than a month after Biden faced questions over his mental and physical sharpness when hestumbled and fell on stage at an Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on June 1, 2023.The White House said at the time that the president tripped over a sandbag and that he was not injured by the fall.Around the same time, White House officials were rejecting concerns from conservatives about Bidens health and insisting he was able to perform his duties at a high level.Roughly a week after the event in Philadelphia, then-White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierrebristled at a question about Bidens age and whether the White House could assure people there was nothing to be concerned about by outlining the presidents accomplishments."Look, weve been asked this question multiple times," Jean-Pierre said. "And you have a president who I just went through his Unity Agenda what weve been able to do in a bipartisan way as it relates to issues that really matter to the American people right? the Cancer Moonshot, which is actually going to make a difference with people and family fam- Americans who have family members dealing with cancer. That is something that this President has been able to do."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digital reached out to Bidens office and the Philadelphia shipyard for comment."There's an awful lot wrong here, beginning with the White House planning a presidential visit to one of the most important shipyards in the nation without bothering to give a heads-up to the Department of Transportation, which has major ongoing projects there," Protect the Publics Trust Director Michael Chamberlain told Fox News Digital."That's amateurish. Second and far more critical, the president's staff was proscribing events he couldn't physically handle more than a year before he dropped out of the reelection race, all while lambasting anyone who claimed he wasn't fit enough to complete the Ironman Competition. I realize there's an elevator down to the White House Situation Room, but most voters would like to think they're pulling the lever for a president who could take the stairs in an emergency."A former Biden aide pushed back on that narrative, saying that it is "ironic that an organization called 'Protect the Public Trust' is more interested in how many steps the former President took than the current President's cost-raising agenda and close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.""The group is presenting a deceptive story with this 'don't look at Epstein' bait based on a single email with no context and they know it."A former Biden administration official reached by Fox News Digital referenced the massive size of the shipyard and that the size would be considered when planning events like this, adding that the email references steps and not stairs specifically.The former official also pushed back on the person sending the email not having spoken directly with someone at the White House and explained that several teams are involved in arranging events like the one at the shipyard, considering factors like accessibility, security risks, visuals, and other factors.

Teddi Mellencamp opened up about the toll cancer has taken not just on her body, but on her ability to speak.The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, 44, revealed that her treatment for stage 4 cancer has left her struggling with her speech."I feel like my words are a little stuttery sometimes, and it doesn't mean I'm telling a lie," Mellencamp said in a sneak peek of her appearance on the "Jamie Kern Lima Show" podcast, obtained by People.TEDDI MELLENCAMP WARNS ABOUT CRITICAL MEDICAL OVERSIGHT IN HER CANCER JOURNEY"Some people have to relearn to talk after having these surgeries that I had. The fact that I can do as much as I can do, I'm so blessed for. But it still happens to me, and some days are very bad."The Bravo alum admitted shes concerned about how she might be perceived if she were to return to television."Some days, I'm just stumbling word over word," she explained. "And I would hate to be on a show like that and have somebody think that I was not being honest and really I was just struggling. And then get the heat for it, because how could you do that to someone that has cancer?"While the reality television veteran isnt ruling out future appearances, she explained shes hitting pause.TEDDI MELLENCAMP WONDERS IF CANCER WAS HER 'PAYBACK' FOR ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH HORSE TRAINER"I don't think it would be the best for the cast, and it wouldn't be the best for me right now."WATCH: KYLE RICHARDS CALLS TEDDI MELLENCAMP INCREDIBLY STRONG DURING CANCER BATTLEMellencamp was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer earlier this year after her melanoma metastasized in her brain and lungs. She underwent surgery to remove several masses and has been receiving immunotherapy and radiation.During her podcast appearance, the "Real Housewives" star also candidly spoke out about what shes "most fearful" of during her battle with cancer, with the most obvious answer being death.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERBut when reflecting on what truly weighs on her, she said, "Im fearful of feeling alone."She continued to call it "an irrational fear," acknowledging that she has so "many friends and family" around her.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSHer vulnerable admission comes as Mellencamp navigates a divorce from husband Edwin Arroyave.The estranged couple put a pause to their separation as Mellencamp continues her cancer treatment."I always knew he'd do the right thing by me," Mellencamp said during a previous episode of the podcast. "If he wanted to, he could still be filing and finishing this divorce off right now. But, my dad [singer John Mellencamp] and family just said like, 'I don't think this is the right thing for her to be able to try to navigate right now or figure out.' It was like, 'Yeah, of course. No, we'll wait. We'll wait until she's better, and then well figure it out.'""To this day, I don't hate Edwin," she said. "I just want him to be happy, and I want our kids to be happy, and I want us to be able to have a good friendship and relationship, and I don't want to do anything to hurt him. I kind of know how our marriage works."Mellencamp filed for divorce from Arroyave in November 2024 after 13 years of marriage.The pair share three children daughters Slate and Dove, and son Cruz.

Former NBC host Chuck Todd argued that America is heading towards a "cold civil war" on "The Chuck Toddcast" on Tuesday as redistricting battles in states like Texas and California continue to rage.Todd contended that the ongoing redistricting battles are "just the latest skirmish between what is turning into a cold civil war," and that it is President Donald Trump and the Republican Party who are "creating this unprecedented challenge to our constitutional republic.""I hate using that rhetoric. I hate using those words, but what else are you going to describe it? We are literally having a redistricting war between the states right now, and we have governors who have decided they don't care about the minority rights in their own states," Todd argued. "Greg Abbott doesn't care. If you don't agree with Greg Abbott, he is going to force his will upon you in the state of Texas. And if you don't agree with Gavin Newsom and how they're going he's going to force his will upon you."FORMER DEMOCRATIC ADVISOR SAYS PARTY'S RHETORIC ON REDISTRICTING IS GETTING 'A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL'The former NBC host stated that "this is not what the founders intended," placing blame on both sides of the aisle, but focusing in on Trump as the primary catalyst for what he describes as a "cold civil war.""This is not a policy fight. This isn't the usual partisan back and forth. It is a direct stress test of whether our constitutional system actually works when a president and his party decide they don't have to care about the limits that are written down on paper," he asserted. "Trump has spent years parts of his first term and much so far of these first 200-plus days bending and breaking the guard rails of the republic."While Todd criticized the Trump administration's use of federal power and Texas Governor Greg Abbott's redistricting efforts, he also took issue with the Democrats' 'fight fire with fire' approach to these perceived problems."The Democratic response is pretty troubling because, right now as a party, okay, as an official party apparatus, they've decided to frame this moment as a war, right? Okay, you got to fight fire with fire. This is an unprecedented moment, so they're framing this as a war," he stated. "And when you tell yourself you're in a war, you start rationalizing things you'd normally not do that you would say is immoral or wrong or unprincipled. But hey, it's war and all is fair in war, right?"CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST MEDIA AND CULTURE NEWSTodd noted that Democrats have championed independent commissions and wanted competitive district mapping for years, but now with Republicans "openly wanting to break the rules like they're doing in Texas," Democrats are also looking to "break the rules" with their own redistricting efforts."And if you criticize that decision, as I've been doing, I've been told I'm naive, that I don't understand the stakes, that you are not taking this threat seriously," he railed. "Au contraire, my friend, I do god---- understand the stakes, and we are not replacing one unprincipled, unconstitutional set of leaders with another set of unprincipled, unconstitutional set of leaders."In closing, Todd called on Republican members of Congress to "check" Trump's power and use the tools afforded to them by the Constitution to hold him accountable for the "unconstitutional" actions he has taken while in office."They've not lifted one finger of oversight. Not one You couldn't even say there've been a weak check on Trump. It has been no check on him at all," he asserted. "Guess what? The Constitution can't enforce itself without people willing to wield those checks. All we have are words on yellowing parchment paper."

CNN anchor Dana Bash drew fire from social media users on Monday after claiming the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was the "most violent moment in recent history" in Washington D.C. while reporting on President Donald Trumps federal efforts to combat crime in the nation's capitol.Trump announced earlier that day that he would be federalizing officers in Washington, D.C. and deploying the National Guard into the nations capital to combat high crime rates.After hosting a panel on Trump's White House announcement of the plan, Bash referenced the Capitol protest before going to commercial."Just as we go to break, I should note that the most violent moment in recent history in D.C. was January 6th, and it was an attack on the United States Capitol by a lot of people who were doing it in the name of Donald Trump," Bash said. "And it included the people who were hurt, included members of law enforcement."TRUMP JABS MEDIA DURING DC CRIME PRESS CONFERENCE: YOU'RE LIBERAL BUT DON'T WANT TO BE MUGGED AND KILLEDThe comment was attacked across X for suggesting the Jan. 6 Capitol riots were more violent than recent years in D.C."Beyond parody -- genuinely an insult to viewers," The Federalist senior contributor Benjamin Weingarten wrote.Radio host Ryan Schuiling reported, "There was a 20-year high 274 homicides in calendar year 2023. The only person who died on January 6th, 2021 at the Capitol, as a direct result of that day's events, was Ashli Babbitt. Brian Sicknick was not pummeled with a fire extinguisher, he died of a stroke the next day.""Ummm, @DanaBashCNN-- BLM literally set the D.C. streets on fire during the May 2020 riots. And they attacked the White House," reporter Jim Stinson wrote, adding screenshots of news reports on the riots.NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck commented, "The only time CNN's Dana Bash got particularly forceful in denouncing Washington D.C. crime was....when she invoked January 6.""There have been 14 homicides in Washington D.C. in the last month alone. CNN is a JOKE," Ohio journalist Walter Curt exclaimed.CNN SPENT THREE TIMES MORE COVERAGE ON JAN. 6 THAN INFLATION NEWS: STUDYFox News Digital reached out to CNN for comment.NBC reporter Jonathan Allen made similar comments on a panel for MSNBCs "Ana Cabrera Reports" the same day."The most violent moment in my life in Washington, D.C., the greatest cause of a threat, not only physical threat, but a bigger threat to the country, certainly to law enforcement officers, was January 6th, 2021, when Donald Trumps supporters, his allies, some people who currently work for him, charged into the Capitol, beat cops, screamed profanities at them, yelled kill the cops, said they wanted to hang the Vice President of the United States," Allen said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPHe continued, "And Donald Trumps response to that here in the nations capital, at the Capitol building, was to pardon everyone who was involved and, in some cases, rehire them into his government. So watching this play out in the White House briefing room, without any mention of the violent crime that was committed on his behalf in Washington, D.C., is a little unusual."