FBI Director Kash Patel hinted at a "wave of transparency" on the horizon as the agency struggles to rebuild public trust, especially in the wake of longstanding controversy over alleged politicization and selective prosecution.Sitting alongside FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino for a "Sunday Morning Futures" exclusive interview, Patel pointed to the FBI's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation as an example of political bias and institutional failure. He claimed senior officials within the Department of Justice "hijacked" their constitutional responsibilities by selectively deciding which cases to pursue."You asked in the beginning how the FBI was weaponized," he said to host Maria Bartiromo. "Well, the FBI hijacked the constitutional responsibility of the Department of Justice and the Attorney General, and James Comey and others specifically decided what cases to prosecute and not prosecute. Don't believe me? Go to the videotape in the Hillary Clinton investigation."GRAHAM GRILLS FBI NOMINEE PATEL OVER 'DISGUSTING' AND 'CORRUPT' CROSSFIRE HURRICANE PROBE"We don't decide prosecutions, and neither does any agent or intel analyst. We have great partners under Attorney General [Pam] Bondi. We work with them and discuss the matter with them, but the prosecutorial decision is with them."Patel said that new agency leadership has uncovered additional details regarding the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into President Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia and are working with Congress to put out information surrounding the episode."That's how vindictive and vicious the former leadership structure here was. Not only did they bastardize the FISA process and lie to the American public, they withheld and hid documentation and put it in rooms where people weren't supposed to look," Patel said."It's a good thing we're here now to clean it up, and you're about to see a wave of transparency Just give us about a week or two."THE 6 BIGGEST FBI SCANDALS UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONPatel and Bongino's wide-ranging interview with Bartiromo centered on investments in homeland security, alleged corruption among past agency leadership and restoring public trust in the institution.In a pointed critique, Patel accused his FBI predecessors of "intentionally failing the American public" by putting on what he called the "biggest D.C. deception game" ever seen.He claimed the bureau's reputation as a storied law enforcement agency was damaged by the likes of leaders like James Comey, Andrew McCabe and Peter Strzok and accused them of weaponizing the FBI for political purposes, misleading both the courts and the American people."They said the FBI was the most storied institution for law enforcement, and it was, and it will be again very soon," Patel vowed, tossing in an allegation that the former leadership used taxpayer funds, potentially illegally, to run their operation and withheld key evidence from the court."That's what broke the FBI. And then, when they were caught, they lied about it and [few media personalities] were brave enough to cover it six, seven, eight years ago, and we're still talking about it today because Congress is working rigorously with us [and] the Crossfire Hurricane documents are coming fast and hard, and they're being sent there un-redacted so we can have full accountability.""That's how you restore the trust that was lost to the American public when it comes to the FBI," Patel said.

The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen took a major hit on Sunday as Major League Baseball announced that closer Jose Alvarado has been suspended for 80 games after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug.MLB said that Alvarado had tested positive for exogenous testosterone and violated the leagues drug policy.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"The Phillies fully support Major League Baseball's Joint Prevention and Treatment Program and are disappointed to hear today's news of Joses violation," the team said in a statement.Alvarado will be ineligible for the postseason should Philadelphia make it.The left-handed pitcher has been one of the best relievers in the league since he joined the Phillies from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. He lowered his ERA from 2021 to 2023 from 4.20 to 1.74. He had a 4.09 ERA in 66 appearances in 2024.ORIOLES PART WAYS WITH MANAGER BRANDON HYDE AFTER POOR START TO 2025 SEASONAlvarado appeared in 20 games for the Phillies this season. He had a 2.70 ERA with seven saves and 25 strikeouts. He went viral earlier this month when he wrote a sweet message to his mom on his hat for Mothers Day.Losing Alvarado is a major obstacle for the Phillies. The team will have to lean on Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering even more as the season wears on.Philadelphia were 27-18 and in second place in the National League East division as they entered Sunday.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Valerie Bertinelli is reflecting on her painful past.On Friday, the "One Day at a Time" star, 65, took to social media to detail an "emotionally excruciating" eight months of internal struggles and share the lessons she's learned along the way."I go back and forth and hesitate sharing vulnerable posts like I so often used to because I put the useless opinions of the minimal creepers above the many of you who have made this page so special," she began her lengthy Instagram post. "Those of you who understand and feel not so alone by sharing your own struggles too.""I started two jobs in different states and writing my new book all while going through some of the most emotionally excruciating eight months of my life," Bertinelli, who joined "The Drew Barrymore Show" as a lifestyle expert and began hosting the Game Show Network's "Bingo Blitz," said. "And I still got my exhausted, sleepless ass up in the morning, put on a good face, and showed up, when all I wanted to do was stay in bed and sob."VALERIE BERTINELLI ADMITS SHE FUMBLED RELATIONSHIP WITH EX-BOYFRIEND AS SHE OPENS UP ON SHAME"This is not to say I feel sorry for myself because I dont. Nobody has the market cornered on grief and heartache. People go through hard sh-- all the time. You just do what you have to do to get through what you have to get through," she continued. "And I dont know that I would change any of it. Ive learned so much more about my strength, my weaknesses, my patience, my resilience, and my worth. I still have more inner work left to do."Bertinelli offered some sound advice for her followers fighting similar feelings.VALERIE BERTINELLI CELEBRATES 65TH BIRTHDAY WITH LINGERIE PHOTO, ADMITS SHE'S BEEN TOLD SHE'S 'TOO MUCH'"If I could give you anything of value from my experience it would be this; dont let the challenging days make you forget how far youve actually come," she wrote. "No matter what, always believe in your core self. Do not allow the opinions of others or their experience with you, color what you think of yourself. You did your best with what you knew at the time.""Betrayal of your own self-worth is even worse than anothers betrayal. You deserve kindness, respect, and confidence that can be trusted. Especially and mostly from yourself. Were here on this little floating rock to learn and to love. Learn to love yourself. Even that damn shadow," Bertinelli continued."And if/when we fall or get pushed down again, we can either wallow, navel-gaze and be a victim or we can get our asses back up and live our big, beautiful life. Do that," the star concluded.VALERIE BERTINELLI ENCOURAGES FOLLOWERS TO 'BEGIN AGAIN' IN THE NEW YEARIn February, the former Food Network star who called it quits with ex-boyfriend Mike Goodnough in November after ten months of dating opened up about how her breakup has impacted her day-to-day."When you feel hurt and wronged and know you deserve an apology but are being stonewalled by your partner because theyre feeling shame, maybe this can shift your thinking," she began her lengthy post. "How are you bringing it up? Are you only pointing out what theyre doing wrong, being hypercritical, and expecting them to just fix it? That could be making things worse. Change, real change, never happens through criticism, shame, or pressure. They most likely already feel all that. (I know when I f--- up, oof, do I feel shame)."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"When feeling attacked, a natural reaction is to shut down and get defensive and feel overwhelmed about changing behavior that may be a coping mechanism since childhood,"she continued. "Theyll feel judged and feel like they cant get anything right and they wont really hear you.""If you stop focusing on what they did wrong and instead approach with empathy and understanding, everything can then start to shift," she added. "Instead of saying, You always do this! Maybe try, 'This is how I feel when this happens, can we figure this out together?' That one small change can make a difference."Bertinelli reminded her followers that it's important to work with your partner, not against them."And hello, Im not saying this is easy when youve been hurt and you want to lash out in anger (which is fear and/or grief and probably some of your own hidden childhood triggers). BUT, doing it differently may give you a better chance at getting the apology and amends that you deserve," she wrote.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"Looking for ways to show up for each other is a love language and it takes two to do it," she continued. "Even when you feel wronged and think they should just know and do better. I think we all just want to do better and feel awful when weve hurt someone we love and shame prevents us from thinking clearly. Wouldnt it be nice to relieve the one you love from shame so they can truly give you the amends youre looking for?""Then again, what do I know?" she concluded. "I have two failed marriages and fumbled the last true good man I met. Maybe dont take advice from me."

Top podcaster Joe Rogan said Christianity's explanation of the origin of the universe and the resurrection made more sense than the "Big Bang" theory, on the May 7 episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience.""Wouldnt it be crazy if there wasnt something at one time?" Rogan asked podcast host and content creator Cody Tucker. "That seems even crazier than if there has always been something....It couldnt be nothing and then all of a sudden, everything."Rogan paraphrased a quote from the late ethnobotanist and mystic, Terence McKenna, who said that the difference between science and religion is that science only asks you to believe in one miracle the Big Bang."It's a great line because it really is true," he continued. "People will be incredulous about the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but yet they're convinced that the entire universe was smaller than the head of a pin, and for no reason than anybody's ever adequately explained to me... instantaneously became everything?"WILL SMITH OPENS UP ABOUT HIS SPIRITUAL JOURNEY AND HOW THE 'MATERIAL WORLD' ONLY HAD SO MUCH TO OFFER"I'm sticking with Jesus on that one," Rogan said."Jesus makes more sense," he added, as he and Tucker discussed stories of people who allegedly died and came back to life.Later in the podcast, they revisited the topic while discussing archaeological finds and if they corroborate stories from ancient cultures such as accounts of a worldwide flood."I think when you apply that to all the other stories too, you should probably assume it wasnt fiction," Rogan said about the notion of a great flood."It might not be accurate because of people, but it's probably the echoes of a real story," he continued.WIKIPEDIA CO-FOUNDER LARRY SANGER ANNOUNCES CONVERSION FROM SKEPTIC TO CHRISTIANITY"Imagine if they figured out all these things thousands and thousands of years ago, then you have the flood, the impacts, society has to rebuild, and then youre telling these stories over and over after all this time that would kind of account for a lot of things. "nd one of them would be that God created the universe in six days," he continued."Maybe that is the Big Bang. Maybe youre literally talking about the birth of the universe," Rogan said. "In a very short period of time."Rogan, who hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world, has previously said he was raised Catholic but doesnt currently subscribe to any one religion.However, he has shown an increased interest in spirituality and religion in recent years on his show.ROSARY BEATS ROGAN: IS FAITH-BASED MEDIA BECOMING MAINSTREAM?Rogan told Kid Rock in an interview last year, "I think the concept of Jesus is absolutely amazing, and if Jesus came here and wanted to visit me, I would be psyched," according to The Christian Post.He also talked with actor and director Mel Gibson about his faith and discussed the evidence for the Bible with Christian apologist Wesley Huff in two interviews in January.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Sunday it was launching a "go-team" to the Brooklyn Bridge after a Mexican navy sailing ship crashed into the New York City landmark, killing at least two people aboard.The U.S. government agency tasked with investigating major transportation accidents did not initially offer more information about the "go-team" deploying to Saturday's bridge strike but said updates would soon follow.New York City Mayor Eric Adams, whose last update on the crash came around midnight, said the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtmoc "lost power and crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.""At this time, of the 277 on board, 19 sustained injuries, 2 of which remain in critical condition, and 2 more have sadly passed away from their injuries," the mayor wrote on X at 12:18 a.m.AT LEAST 2 DEAD AFTER MEXICAN NAVY SAILING SHIP COLLIDES WITH BROOKLYN BRIDGE IN DRAMATIC NYC CRASHAdams said at that time a preliminary investigation showed the bridge sustained "no damage" and that the landmark "is now open to the public.""We are praying for everyone on board and their families and are grateful to our first responders who quickly jumped into action, ensuring this accident wasnt much worse," he wrote early Sunday.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she regretted the passing of two crew members who "lost their lives in the unfortunate accident at the port of New York.""Our solidarity and support go out to their families," she wrote at 1:15 a.m. on X. "The Secretariat of the Navy, with the support of local authorities, is attending to the injured. The Ambassador of Mexico to the United States and staff from the Consulate General of Mexico in New York are assisting the Secretariat of the Navy."She also thanked Adams for his support.The Mexican navy said on Saturday the ship was an academy training vessell. The incident happened during the "departure maneuver" during an instructional cruise titled, "Bicentennial of the Consolidation of Independence at Sea."The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The ship was supposed to be leaving New York City on its way to Iceland at the time of the crash.In a scene captured in multiple eyewitness videos, the ship which was flying a large Mexican flag could be seen traveling swiftly in reverse toward the bridge near the Brooklyn side of the East River. Then, its three masts struck the bridge's span and snapped, one by one, as the ship kept moving. Videos showed heavy traffic on the span at the time of the 8:20 p.m. collision. No one on the bridge was reported injured.TRUMP SAYS MEXICAN PRESIDENT IS AFRAID OF CARTELS AFTER SHE REJECTED HIS OFFER TO SEND US TROOPS TO MEXICOSailors could be seen aloft in the rigging on the damaged masts but, remarkably, no one fell into the water, officials said.The Cuauhtmoc about 297 feet long and 40 feet wide, according to the Mexican navy sailed for the first time in 1982. The vessels main mast has a height of 160 feet, according to the Mexican government. Each year, the Cuauhtmoc sets out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets' training. This year, it left the Mexican port of Acapulco on the Pacific coast on April 6, according to the Mexican navy.It arrived in New York City on May 13, when visitors were welcome for several days, the Mexican consulate said. The ship was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 nations over 254 days, 170 of them at sea.It was unclear what caused the ship to veer off course. New York Police Department Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles said the ship had just left a Manhattan pier and was supposed to have been headed out to sea, not toward the bridge.He said an initial report was that the pilot of the ship had lost power due to a mechanical problem, though officials cautioned that information was preliminary. Videos show a tugboat that was close to the Cuauhtmoc at the time of the crash.The Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in 1883, has a nearly 1,600-foot main span supported by two masonry towers. More than 100,000 vehicles and an estimated 32,000 pedestrians cross every day, according to the citys transportation department. Its walkway is a major tourist attraction.Traffic was halted after the collision but was allowed to resume after an inspection, city officials said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAs midnight approached, the broken boat was moved slowly up the East River, going under and past the Manhattan Bridge, aided by a series of tugboats, before docking at a pier.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump's nominees consistently engage with Democrats who challenge them in increasingly viral hearing moments that analysts say are not intended as gifts to the media, but red meat for their base.The media understands Democrats have little power on a Republican-dominated Capitol Hill, according to Bill DAgostino, senior analyst for the Media Research Center."If you were to watch any given night on CNN or MSNBC evening shows, you'll find a couple of panel discussion segments that are basically just Democratic strategists and the host talking shop," he told Fox News Digital in a Thursday interview."The discussion has focused almost entirely on how can Democrats show their voters that they're trying to fight this, that they're trying to make a difference, that they're resisting the Trump administration."WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY DEFENDS TRUMP'S FIRING OF INSPECTORS GENERALPartisan politics has come to a point, DAgostino suggested, where constituents send Democrats to Washington to stop Trump at every turn, regardless of ideological alignment or differences."Obviously, as the minority party, there's not much action they can actually offer. So instead, their political futures basically rest on how hard they're trying to stop Trump."One of the most contentious exchanges occurred during FBI Director Kash Patels January confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., dug into granular language used by Patel after the Capitol riot in regard to a song released by inmates that featured Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.Patel told Schiff he stood by prior testimony that he had had nothing to do with the recording of the song, while the Burbank Democrat grilled him over a comment to former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon about "what we thought would be cool captur[ing] audio" for the song.Schiff asked why he said that, and Patel incredulously shot back "thats why it says, we [as opposed to I] as you highlighted." Patel denied participating in the digitizing of the song.The exchange was compared to former President Bill Clintons grammatical comments about the word "is" during the Monica Lewinsky affair.During Attorney General Pam Bondis confirmation, Schiff was at the fore again, demanding she disclose whether she might prosecute former special counsel Jack Smith over his Trump probe. Bondi repeatedly said she wouldnt answer hypothetical, and dinged Schiff in response for focusing on Smith while his own California is rife with violent crime.Bondi also snapped back at Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., after a grilling on the Fourteenth Amendment and citizenship, saying, "I'm not here to do your homework and study for you."During Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., delved into Hegseths multiple marriages and allegations of untoward behavior.Kaine said Hegseth had "casually cheated" on a former wife shortly after his daughter Gwendolyn was born. Hegseth countered that the situation had been investigated and that Kaines claims were "false charges.""You've admitted that you had sex at that hotel in October 2017. You said it was consensual, isn't that correct?" Kaine went on, probing further.BONDI ANNOUNCES ONE OF LARGEST FENTANYL SEIZURES IN US HISTORYHegseth also made headlines when he interrupted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., mid-sentence as she criticized the revolving door among military generals, Pentagon chiefs, and defense contractors."Im not a general, senator," he said, prompting laughter in the gallery.HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., also had several similar moments, including when Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., opened his remarks by speaking about the measles and telling the nominee bluntly, "You frighten people."Kennedy also rejected a line of questioning from Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., claiming that he had compared the Atlanta-based CDCs work to Nazi death camps.Outbursts and grilling continued in recent oversight hearings, including this past week when Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., got into a tiff with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem about Salvadoran deportee Kilmar Garcia. At one point, Swalwell informed Noem he has a "bull---t detector."Mark Bednar, a former top aide to ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was one of many "sherpas" tasked with guiding nominees through the confirmation process, including meetings with senators.Bednar assisted EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin through his process, which, by comparison to others, was mild.Zeldins hearing actually included some bipartisan joking like when Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., riffed that Zeldins cell phone rang unexpectedly because "the fossil fuel industry" was calling him after a line of questioning on the matter.SWALWELL WARNS NOEM HE HAS A BULLS--- DETECTOR DURING HEATED EXCHANGE ABOUT ABREGO GARCIABednar recounted a loud protester in the hall who remained for some time, offering conjecture that the disruptive woman hadnt yet crossed any legal lines like protesters actually inside hearing rooms like during Kennedy's confirmation.But Bednar said that many of the other nominees faced Democrats who would rather make a show than "be diplomatic and deliberative over policy.""I think that is a big indicator to me that the left has no substantive answers for rebuttals to President Trump's agenda or Republicans' agenda. And that, to me, is a sign that if you're a Republican, that that's encouraging -- the public's on your side, and the far left has been unable to formulate a rational, level-headed response, much less not even be able to articulate one."Fox News Digital reached out to other sherpas but did not hear back.Meanwhile, Bednar said that it has been interesting to watch the hearing disruptions evolve into larger scenes with similarly little substance or long-term gain.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"I thought I was very rich and pun intended, that Cory Booker delivered a record-breaking speech that the Democrats were basically just grasping for anything to kind of count as a win, even though it didn't really amount to anything," he said, after the New Jersey Democrat held an unofficial filibuster as there was no legislation being held up for more than a day.That speech, however, precipitated several fundraising emails from the left, Bednar said, which bolstered DAgostinos claim about playing to the base."If it's a session day in D.C., and Republicans are in charge, there's going to be liberal agitators protesting; as the sky is blue," Bednar quipped.Fox News Digital reached out to Schiff for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

The man authorities say is responsible for bombing a reproductive center in Palm Springs, Calif. on Saturday has been identified as Guy Edward Bartkus.The 25-year-old is from Twentynine Palms, Calif., authorities said during a news conference Sunday morning. He is described as a "pro-mortalist," the New York Post reported. The car bomb he allegedly set off killed him and injured four people.There was "no loss of any sensitive material" as a result of the bombing at the IVF clinic, an FBI Los Angeles assistant director in charge said, referring to embryos.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday defended the "aggressive" timetable he is pushing to advance President Donald Trumps "big, beautiful bill," saying the House remains on track to pass the "historic" legislative package by Memorial Day.The House Budget Committee will reconvene at 10 p.m. Sunday night after a vote to advance the more than 1,100-page "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" failed Friday, when five Republicans sided with committee Democrats to sink Trumps sweeping tax bill."Were on track, working around the clock to deliver this nation-shaping legislation for the American people as soon as possible," Johnson said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday" regarding ongoing negotiations. "All 11 of our committees have wrapped up their work, and they spent less and saved more than even weve projected initially. This really is a once in a generation opportunity that we have here."WH STUDY WARNS 9 MILLION AMERICANS COULD LOSE HEALTH INSURANCE IN 'MAJOR' RECESSION IF TRUMP BUDGET BILL FAILSAfter the bill advances through the budget committee, Johnson said the plan is to move the legislative package to the House Rules Committee by mid-week and then to the House floor by the end of the week "so we meet our initial, our original Memorial Day deadline.""Its very important for people to understand why were being so aggressive on the timetable and why this really is so important," Johnson said. "This is the vehicle through which we will deliver on the mandate the American people gave us during the last election. Youre going to have historic savings for the American people, historic tax relief for American workers, historic investments in border security."At the same time, were restoring American energy dominance, and were rebuilding the defense industrial base, and were ensuring that programs like Medicaid and SNAP are strengthened for U.S. citizens who need and deserve them and not being squandered away by illegal aliens and persons who are ineligible to receive them and are cheating the system," he added.Johnson reiterated that making Trumps 2017 tax cuts permanent by 2026 is critical and stressed that the package also eliminates taxes on overtime and tips a 2024 Trump campaign promise. He said it also includes new tax relief for seniors on Social Security and cuts taxes on "job creators, so that will help everybody across the country at the same time as incentivizing American-made production and manufacturing."HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS SINK TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' IN KEY HOUSE COMMITTEE"This is a big thing. We cannot fail, and well get it done for the American people," Johnson said.South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman and Texas Rep. Chip Roy are among critics from Johnsons own party who say the speaker is not serious about cutting spending. They want work requirements for able-bodied adult Medicaid recipients to be implemented sooner than 2029 a view Johnson told "Fox News Sunday" that he shares, but the speaker added there is concern over the ability of the states to "retool their systems and ensure the verification process" can be enforced."Were working through all those details, and well get it done, but Ill tell you what, this is the largest spending reduction in at least three decades, probably longer. Its historic," Johnson said, adding that the package has the support of Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, as well as "nearly 500 organizations across the conservative spectrum" including fiscally responsible groups who believe "that weve got to turn the tide in spending.""We are. This is our opportunity to do it. Its once in a generation, as Ive said, and we cant squander it," Johnson said.The speaker said that while he is confident he will be able to reach a compromise on the Medicaid work requirement to squash internal disputes, Republican leadership does not expect a single Democrat to vote for the bill."Which means that they will be on record apparently supporting the largest tax increase in U.S. history, which is what will happen by default after the end of this year if we do not get this job done. We have to accomplish this mission, and we will.," Johnson said.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway ended in controversy on Saturday as Corey Heim spun out while racing Layne Riggs on the final lap.Heim and Riggs raced hard in overtime. Heim was leading with Riggs on his bumper as they took the white flag. Heim claimed the high line as Riggs went low. Heim slid up the track and Riggs was right on his door as they went down the backstretch.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMAs the came around Turn 2, Heim spun out. Chandler Smith was able to maneuver around Riggs and took home the victory. Riggs finished in second place.Heim delivered a message to Riggs after the race."Calm down or else I'm going to take care of you," he said.Needless to say, Heim was upset with how Riggs raced him and confronted him about it once everyone was back on pit road. Heim called Riggs decision on the final lap "scum racing.""Just why? More than anything. He tried to do it to the 7 (Carson Hocevar) last week for the win, and mission accomplished for him," Heim said, via NASCAR.com. "I guess, this week and it cost him one, too. I dont know. Weve given up so many of them this year after dominating the race. The 38 (Smith) was the only other guy that was rightfully good.HOW TO WATCH 2025 NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE: SCHEDULE, START TIME, TV CHANNEL FOR NORTH WILKESBORO"I felt like he deserved to win over anyone else, not the 34 (Riggs). I got really loose into (Turn) 3. Just struggled being loose on the short runs, and he had an opportunity, and he wrecked me. Just disappointed."Riggs defended his "strong move.""If I have a reputation of going for wins, Im not going to regret that at all," Riggs said. "You know, I feel like I came from short-track racing, last-lap battles, and feel like thats what this kind of racing is made for. I feel like its not like weve seen at Martinsville in the past, and gotten upset. I feel like it was a strong move, and I thought it was going to pay off."But sadly, didnt get the win."Heim finished the race in 17th.Heim still leads the drivers standings with 450 points 47 more than Smith. Riggs moved up to eighth in the standings.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The release of audio recordings of former President Joe Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur have intensified criticism of the administration's use of an autopen on official presidential orders and pardons.The damning tapes, which bring Biden's alarming mental decline into sharp relief, were kept under wraps by Biden Attorney General Merrick Garland. Now that Biden's cognitive problems have been bared, some are calling for Garland to face prosecution for rejecting Congressional demands to release the tapes when he ran the Department of Justice (DOJ)."Key decisions made in the final days of the Biden presidency, including using autopens to issue blanket pardons for the Biden Crime Family, must be fully examined. There are serious concerns that President Biden lacked the mental capacity to authorize those actions," House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., posted to X on Saturday.Axios released hours of Biden's interview with the special counsel's office on Saturday a year and a half after the interviews were held across a two-day period in the fall of 2023. The recordings showed the former president tripping over his words, slurring sentences, taking long pauses between answers and struggling to remember key moments in his life, including the year his son Beau Biden died of cancer.The recordings have further bolstered conservative outrage stretching back years that Biden's mental acuity had cratered and that the Delaware Democrat who had served in the Senate for decades had become a "shadow" of himself and was unfit to lead the country as president.CRITICISMS MOUNT THAT BIDEN IS A 'SHADOW' OF HIMSELF AFTER DISASTROUS DEBATE: 'NOT THE SAME MAN' FROM VP ERAThe flurry of pardons Biden allegedly signed by autopen in the waning days of his administration included ones for his son Hunter Biden, his siblings and their spouses, retired Gen. Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and members and staff of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, told Fox News Digital in a phone interview on Sunday that he has long sounded the alarm over the validity of Biden's pardons, as many lacked specifically what charges an individual was protected against. Instead, many of the pardons outlined blanket protections, such as preemptively pardoning Milley and Fauci from potential prosecution and blanket pardons for unidentified members of Congress who served on the J6 select committee."I've been long of the position that the pardons, many of the pardons, are not valid based on the fact that they don't pardon anything. It's just a pardon for conduct that's unnamed it's further confirmation that the pardons are not valid," said Fitton, who had sued for the release of the audio recordings.WHAT IS AN AUTOPEN? THE SIGNING DEVICE AT THE HEART OF TRUMP'S ATTACKS ON BIDEN PARDONS"A competent president would say, How is it I could pardon someone for nothing?" he continued.Fitton added that "more importantly, Biden should still be prosecuted" after he was "mollycoddled" by the Biden DOJ during the investigation into the documents he possessed from his days in the Senate and when he served as vice president."The audio shows he was mollycoddled by the Justice Department, you know, because Hur was working for the Justice Department. There's an argument that the records he had as vice president, he could have. But that wasn't the position of Justice Department. But certainly he didn't have the right to have those records from his days of the Senate," Fitton said.President Donald Trump railed on Truth Social that the release of the audio recordings revealed a "bigger scandal" about the use of an autopen under the Biden White House."Whoever had control of the "AUTOPEN" is looking to be a bigger and bigger scandal by the moment," Trump posted to Truth Social on Friday.TRUMP CLAIMS BIDEN PARDONS ARE VOID, ALLEGING THEY WERE SIGNED VIA AUTOPENHe added: "THIS IS WHY THE UNSELECT COMMITTEE OF POLITICAL THUGS, WHO WERE GIVEN A FULL AND COMPLETE PARDON BY THE PERSON WHO WIELDED THE NOW ILLEGALLY USED AUTOPEN, DELETED AND DESTROYED ALL EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION FROM THEIR CORRUPT AND VICIOUS WITCH HUNT AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE, WHOSE LIVES WERE COMPLETELY SHATTERED AND DESTROYED BY THIS HISTORICALLY CRIMINAL EVENT."Autopen signatures are automatically produced by a machine, as opposed to an authentic, handwritten signature. The conservative Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project first investigated the Biden administration's use of an autopen earlier this year and found that the same signature was on a bevvy of executive orders and other official documents, while Bidens signature on the document announcing his departure from the 2024 race varied from the apparent machine-produced signature.The reports led to speculation that Biden aides had approved of executive orders and sweeping pardons, not the president.Hur led an investigation into Biden's handling of classified documents following his departure as vice president under the Obama administration. Hur announced in February 2024 that he would not recommend criminal charges against Biden for possessing classified materials after his vice presidency, citing that Biden is "a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory."Although a transcript was released, the White House asserted executive privilege over releasing recordings after Garland urged the administration not to release the recordings, according to a letter obtained by Fox News in May of last year.BIDEN'S 'AUTOPEN SIGNATURE' APPEARS ON MOST OFFICIAL DOCS, RAISING CONCERNS OVER WHO CONTROLLED THE WH: REPORT"The audio recordings of your interview and Mr. Zwonitzer's interview fall within the scope of executive privilege. Production of these recordings to the Committees would raise an unacceptable risk of undermining the Department's ability to conduct similar high-profile criminal investigations--in particular, investigations where the voluntary cooperation of White House officials is exceedingly important," Garland wrote in a letter to Biden last year, justifying why the recordings should not be released. PRESIDENT BIDEN PARDONS HIS SIBLINGS JUST MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING OFFICEComer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-OH, subpoenaed the Department of Justice in February 2024 for the recordings and other materials related to the interview and investigation, but to no avail. The House voted to hold Garland in contempt of Congress over the matter in June 2024.Comer announced on Friday that his committee will continue "its investigation into the cover-up of Bidens mental decline and use of autopen" and the use of the pen when Biden pardoned members of his family. "The American people deserve to know who was actually calling the shots in the Biden White House, because it wasnt Joe Biden. His mental decline was obvious to anyone paying attention. But instead of being honest, the Biden Administration, Democrats in Congress, and the legacy media lied and covered it up. They gaslit the American people while propping up a man who was unfit to lead," Comer said in a press release on Friday, noting that Garland "defied" a subpoena to release the recordings."Key decisions made in the final days of the Biden presidency, including using autopens to issue blanket pardons for the Biden Crime Family, must be fully examined. There are serious concerns that President Biden lacked the mental capacity to authorize those actions. The American people are done being lied to. Were going to bring the truth into the light, and starting next week, those involved in the cover-up will begin to be put on notice," Comer said in a statement on Friday.The recordings "demonstrate that Biden was completely out of it, and we already found documents that the Biden White House had changed the transcript, edited it to hide this. This is what they were hiding. There's got to be accountability. Garland should be prosecuted by the Attorney General over the contempt he had for Congress to hide this," Fitton said on Fox News last week.Fox News host Mark Levin said Garland "should be forced to testify before Congress under oath" over the alleged cover-up of Biden's health."Former Attorney General Garland heard these recordings and used lies and deceit to prevent them from being released to the American people before the Democrats nominated Biden. He should be forced to testify before Congress under oath and held to account for his grotesque abuse of power," Levin posted to X.HUNTER BIDEN PARDON: MEDIA TAKES LATEST BLOW TO CREDIBILITY WITH BOTCHED COVERAGE OF BROKEN PROMISEHours before Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, the White House announced pardons for both Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Less than a half an hour before Trump became president, Biden pardoned members of his family, including his brother James B. Biden, sister Valerie Biden Owens, brother-in-law John T. Owens and brother Francis W. Biden.The former president had previously issued a "full and unconditional pardon" to his adult son, Hunter Biden, after he was convicted in two separate federal cases last year. Hunter Biden's pardon covered a 10-year period, between 2014 to 2024, for any offenses he may have committed."I do think that the Biden pardons need some scrutiny, and they need scrutiny because we want pardons to matter and to be accepted and to be something that's used correctly. So, I do think we're going to take a hard look at how they went and what they did. And if they're null and void," Ed Martin said in his final press conference while serving as acting U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.Trump claimed on Truth Social in March that Biden's pardons were "void" due to the "fact that they were done by Autopen.""The 'Pardons' that Sleepy Joe Biden gave to the Unselect Committee of Political Thugs, and many others, are hereby declared VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT, because of the fact that they were done by Autopen," Trump claimed in a Truth Social post."In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime," Trump added.BIDEN STRUGGLES WITH WORDS, KEY MEMORIES IN LEAKED AUDIO FROM SPECIAL COUNSEL HUR INTERVIEWMartin, who will now lead the Department of Justice's "Weaponization Working Group" targeting political corruption within the federal law enforcement department, added in a media interview earlier this month that he had been investigating Biden's last-minute pardons."When [former President] Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, and it turned out that Marc Rich had paid a boatload of money to one of Clintons friends lawyers. Thats not corrupt, its not criminal, because the plenary power of the pardon. But in the case of Joe Biden and his pardons, they were so specific. Back 14 years, covering everything youve ever done. And when I say specific, they were broad, but they had time stuff on them," Martin said earlier this month, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation."And that at least leads to questions, because the plenary powers true. But the question is what is going on here, and I did get responses from some of them and those questions are ongoing," Martin continued.Conservative social media users have sounded off that the recordings show Biden lacked the cognitive ability to know about the pardons or executive orders he allegedly signed off on.HUR TRANSCRIPT CONFIRMS BIDEN MEMORY LAPSES, CONTRADICTS PRESIDENT'S CLAIM ABOUT EXCHANGE OVER SON'S DEATH"Joe Biden had no clue where he was for most of his presidency... Just listen to Robert Hur's interview with him... He's a complete mess. There's no way Biden knew about the pardons, executive orders and directives coming out of his office," conservative X commentator Tim Young posted to the platform."I'd say with the Hur tapes coming out, maybe those pardons can be challenged? Biden was CLEARLY mentally incapacitated," conservative podcast host Shawn Farash posted to X.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digital reached out to Biden's office for comment on the tapes and subsequent backlash on Sunday morning but did not immediately receive a reply.