HBO host Bill Maher is taking aim at young Democrats, accusing them of supporting anti-Israel movements and sympathizing with Hamas."Liberals are weak and woke, especially the white ones, and they indulge all sorts of nonsense from their kids," Maher said on a recent episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher.""So talk to your children and remind them you don't really want to live like your heroes in Hamas."Maher criticized young progressives for what he sees as a misguided admiration of extremist groups, hosting Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile on his panel.BILL MAHER SAYS DEMS ARE DOOMED IF THEY WONT STAND UP TO RADICAL ANTI-ISRAEL PROPAGANDA FROM THE YOUNGLawler said on "America Reports" that Maher's commentary "hit the nail on the head" and the left must change course."America is a beacon of hope, of freedom, of opportunity. And yet, they are embracing some of the worst actors on the stage, whether it be Hamas, China, or other countries around the globe that certainly do not provide for freedom of expression or speech in their countries."Maher's comments come amid a wave of renewed anti-Israel protests on college campuses. In early May, dozens of protesters were arrested at Columbia University after occupying the schools library. At least 80 people, mostly women, were detained."Here is the dilemma for Democrats: Their young people, their key constituency, not only don't like their own civilization, they like the wrong one," he said. "They actually think Hamas is a liberation movement."COLUMBIA STUDENTS DESCRIBE SHOCKING LIBRARY TAKEOVER AFTER MASKED PROTESTERS CHANTED PRO-HAMAS SLOGANSHe warned that this growing attitude among younger Democrats is hurting the partys image and eroding a sense of patriotism. Maher has taken an increasingly critical stance toward his own political side, frequently denouncing what he calls "woke" culture.His latest remarks referenced Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., who recently urged her party to reclaim patriotic symbols, including the American flag. Slotkin used the phrase "weak and woke" in her own criticism of the partys direction during a speech reported by Politico."If the thought leaders in the Democratic Party keep encouraging and not rebuking the idea that America is cringe and the people who run Gaza are great, the Democrats are doomed," Maher said, responding to Slotkins comments on his show.Maher also pointed to a rally in Idaho hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., where a Palestinian flag was draped over an American flag. The gesture was met with applause from the crowd.BILL MAHER OFFERS OPEN LETTER TO POP STAR CHAPPELL ROAN ON ISRAEL: YOU DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORYMAHER WARNS DEMS' REFUSAL TO DITCH UNPOPULAR 'WOKE' ISSUES MAY MAKE THEM AN 'IRRELEVANT PARTY'"What should have happened after that is one of the adults on stage should have told their young loyal followers, 'this is not a symbol of freedom," Maher said, before asserting the American flag is the true symbol of freedom. Lawler argued that far-left activism has alienated many voters and helped Republicans regain power in Washington this past November."The fact is, you don't see them marching in the streets or storming buildings in support of Laken Riley, who was murdered by an illegal immigrant, or for Edan Alexander, who is now rescued from captivity," Lawler said."You see them supporting the actions of terrorists. And it really is disturbing on so many levels."

President Donald Trump met with Syrias interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Riyadh on Wednesday, a day after lifting all sanctions on Syria, marking a major shift in policy.The last time a meeting between the two countries' leadership was with former President Bill Clinton in 2000.Trump met with al-Sharaa for an informal chat on the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where he was set to address leaders as part of his four-day regional tour.TRUMP SAYS HE'LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONSTrump stated at the summit this was a step toward peace and rebuilding relations with Syrias government."We are currently exploring normalizing relations with Syrias new government, as you know, beginning with my meeting with President Ahmed Al-Shara and Secretary Rubio's meeting with the Syrian Foreign Minister in Turkey after discussing the situation with Crown Prince Mohammed," Trump said at the broader summit."I'm also ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria to give them a fresh start. It gives them a chance for greatness. The sanctions were really crippling, very powerful," he said.Syrians were seen and heard celebrating the announcement by Trump that he would move to lift sanctions on the beleaguered Middle Eastern nation.TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST TOUR BEGINS WITH SYRIA LOOMING AS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITYA statement from Syrias Foreign Ministry called the announcement "a pivotal turning point for the Syrian people as we seek to emerge from a long and painful chapter of war."Trump says he feels strongly that this new endeavor will give Syria a great chance at a fresh start."I felt very strongly that this would give them a chance," said the president. "It's not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good, strong chance. And it was my honor to do so, so we will be dropping all of the sanctions on Syria, which I think really is going to be a good thing."U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also scheduled to meet with his Syrian counterpart later in the week.

President Donald Trump, speaking at the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh on Wednesday, reiterated his desire to make a deal with Iran and called for building upon the progress of the Abraham Accords by adding more countries to the historic agreement.Trump made the comments while addressing leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council as part of his four-day visit to the region."I want to make a deal with Iran. I want to do something if possible. But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons. They cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.TRUMP SAYS HE'LL DROP SANCTIONS ON SYRIA IN MOVE TO NORMALIZE RELATIONSTrump praised the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for "their vision and courage in signing the historic Abraham Accords," an agreement brokered by the U.S. in 2020. As part of the agreements, the UAE and Bahrain recognized Israels sovereignty and established full diplomatic relations. It marked the first time Israel had established peace with an Arab country since 1994, with the Israel-Jordan peace treaty."In the future, well continue that progress by adding more countries to the Abraham Accords," Trump said.The remarks, made just moments after Trump met with Syrias Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines, came a day after Trump announced his administration was lifting sanctions on Syria.Trump also said that Lebanon had a "new chance for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists if the new president and prime minister can rebuild an effective Lebanese state."TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST TOUR BEGINS WITH SYRIA LOOMING AS STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to forge a Lebanon that is prosperous and at peace with its neighbors," Trump said.At the end of his remarks, Trump appealed to the entire region more broadly, saying: "Were going to forge a Middle East that will be a thriving commercial, diplomatic and cultural crossroads at the geographic center of the world. Its what it is, its the center of the world."Trump will head to Qatar later Wednesday for his second stop on the four-day Middle East tour.Fox News Digitals Emma Colton contributed to this report.

The cognitive decline of former President Joe Biden has been described as one of the biggest cover-ups in American history. Now, one journalist who claims to be getting to the bottom of the scandal in a new book is facing criticism for his participation in it.CNN anchor Jake Tapper has co-authored a new book, "Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again," set to be released next week."As viewers of The Lead know, Ive been covering the concerns about President Biden's age and health for years," Tapper told CNN viewers when announcing the book in February. "I literally asked him about it in October 2022, and weve challenged Democrats and White House officials about it."Conservative critics have taken aim at Tapper since the announcement, alleging he was part of the cover-up and "trying to re-write history" with his book. SHIELDING BIDEN: JOURNALISTS SHED LIGHT ON THE MEDIA'S COVER-UP OF A WEAKENED PRESIDENTThe book's co-author is Alex Thompson, an Axios correspondent who made a name for himself as one of the few members of the legacy media whose reporting scratched the surface of Biden's mental acuity long before the now-infamous CNN presidential debate (which Tapper co-moderated) that led to the president's ouster from the 2024 race.Concerns over Biden's age and stamina go as far back as 2019 as he ran in the Democratic primary. The subject wasn't just raised by conservatives at the time, it was used as a cudgel by Democratic rivals Julin Castro and Cory Booker, who both cast doubt on the former VP's sharpness.Once Biden clinched the nomination in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, he ran what many dubbed the "basement campaign," a name meant to signify Biden's limited public appearances on the campaign trail. Biden frequently went viral for incoherent word jumbles during various events. His campaign repeatedly claimed that his various verbal stumbles stemmed from Biden's lifelong battle of overcoming a stutter.In October 2020, Tapper touted the Biden talking point, even showing a clip from the DNC convention of a 13-year-old Biden supporter with a severe stutter who turned to the Democratic nominee for inspiration, during a tense exchange with then-Trump 2020 campaign advisor Lara Trump (now a Fox News host), who drew attention to Biden's cognitive decline at a campaign event.EX-CNN JOURNALIST SPEAKS OUT ON BIDEN COVER-UP, SAYS WHITE HOUSE AIDES MADE IT DIFFICULT ON PRESS"How do you think it makes little kids with stutters feel when they see you make a comment like that?" Tapper asked indignantly after showing a clip of Lara Trump commenting on Biden struggling for words."First and foremost, I had no idea that Joe Biden ever suffered from a stutter," Lara Trump responded. "I think what we see on stage with Joe Biden, Jake, is very clearly a cognitive decline-""Ok," Tapper quickly interrupted while talking over her. "It's so amazing to me- a cognitive decline. I think you were mocking his stutter. Yeah. I think you were mocking his stutter and I think you have absolutely no standing to diagnose somebody's cognitive decline. I would think somebody in the Trump family would be more sensitive to people who do not have medical licenses diagnosing politicians from afar."After Lara Trump insisted Biden's cognitive decline was "very concerning," Tapper cut the interview short."Thank you, Lara. I'm sure it's from a place of concern. We all believe that," Tapper sarcastically told her before ending the interview.Tapper did press Biden in a September 2020 interview about whether he would pledge to be transparent about his health if elected, to which Biden firmly responded yes.Fox News Digital reviewed Grabien transcript search results of Tapper's coverage of Biden's decline throughout his presidency.His most aggressive coverage took place in February 2024 in the wake of Biden's press conference responding in outrage to the Hur report. Special Counsel Robert Hur declined to bring charges against Biden in the classified documents case because he determined a jury would not convict someone perceived as an "elderly man with a poor memory," based on his interview with investigators.In a tense exchange with former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield, Tapper hammered Biden for mixing up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt in the press conference as well as confusing French President Emmanuel Macron with the late French President Francois Mitterrand, who had been dead for nearly 30 years, earlier in the week."It's about faculty and memory and whether or not somebody [voters] perceive is competent," Tapper said as Bedingfield shrugged off the leader mix-ups.Tapper also challenged then-Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., over his party's outrage towards Hur, asking him what the special counsel said about Biden that wasn't accurate.Shortly after the release of the Hur report, Tapper drew attention to the decision by the Biden White House to skip the traditional pre-Super Bowl interview two years in a row."Isn't the White House signaling with that decision, like, 'We're afraid of putting him out there?'" Tapper asked during a panel discussion.CBS REPORTER SAYS MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY IN 2024 WAS BIDEN'S OBVIOUS COGNITIVE DECLINEAs he alluded to in his book announcement, Tapper did broach the subject of Biden's age in an October 2022 interview with the president, albeit ever so gently."You're about to turn 80 next month. Happy birthday ahead of time," Tapper told Biden. "Whenever anyone raises concerns about your age- you're the oldest president in the history of the United States- you always say, Watch me. Voters have been watching you. Democratic voters approve of the job you're doing. Democratic voters overwhelmingly like you, but one poll shows that almost two-thirds of Democratic voters want a new nominee in 2024 and the top reason they gave was your age. So what's your message to Democrats who like you, who like what you've done but are concerned about your age and the demands of the job?"Notably, Tapper offered Biden an assist during his response to the question when the president was at a loss for words."We've had, you know, dealing with, you know, making sure that veterans get compensated for the, for-" Biden struggled to finish his thought."Burn pits," Tapper chimed in."The burn pits," Biden repeated before listing other things on his agenda.Tapper, however, pumped the brakes on covering Biden's cognitive decline in the heat of the 2024 election cycle.In March 2024, following Biden's high-energy State of the Union address filled with shouting and attacking Republicans, Tapper took a swipe at the president's conservative critics who previously accused him of being "weak" and "senile.""He certainly seemed like an 81-year-old, but he didn't seem incapable of doing the job," Tapper told his panel before dismissing "Weekend at Bernie's" comparisons from the right.JEN PSAKI INSISTS SHE NEVER SAW DIMINISHED BIDEN WHILE WORKING AS PRESS SECRETARYLater in the year, Biden had a string of incidents that fueled questions about his acuity, like when he stepped away from other world leaders at the G-7 Summit to give a thumbs up to parachutists off-camera, prompting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to corral him back to the group for a photo-op.There was also when Biden appeared frozen as others around him danced and swayed to a concert held on the White House lawn commemorating Juneteenth and when he stood still at his star-studded LA fundraiser until former President Obama grabbed his wrist and guided him off the stage with his hand behind Biden's back. Biden's White House and allies in the media insisted each of the viral moments, which occurred within the span of a few days in June 2024, were "cheap fakes."The CNN anchor avoided covering all three incidents, according to transcripts. In fact, it wasn't until after George Clooney wrote a scathing New York Times op-ed about Biden's behavior at the LA fundraiser and urged the president to step aside that Tapper acknowledged the freezing incident."This was the same event, we should note, that Republicans later circulated cellphone video that seemed to show President Biden freezing on stage for about seven seconds before being led offstage by former President Obama," Tapper told viewers July 10.Tapper similarly ignored Biden's "Where's Jackie?" gaffe from September 2022 when he called out for the late Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., at an event honoring her memory after she died in a tragic car accident weeks prior.Fast-forward to September 2023, when Tapper asserted that Biden was mentally "sharp" while discussing Nikki Haley demanding cognitive tests for older politicians, suggesting that questions swirling around the president were only about whether he was "physically" able to do the job.The CNN anchor also has a mixed record of putting a spotlight on Biden's physical stumbles. His program covered Biden tripping up the stairs of Air Force One in March 2021, and his nasty spill at the June 2023 Air Force Academy commencement ceremony, but avoided the viral moment when Biden fell from his bike in June 2022.In June 2024, weeks before the debate that exposed Biden's cognitive decline on the world stage, Tapper addressed the Wall Street Journal's bombshell report on Biden showing "signs of slipping," which at the time faced intense backlash from Democrats and the liberal media. Tapper kept his focus on the White House's aggressive response to the "false" claims made in the report and repeatedly told viewers the report was "mostly based on observations of Republicans." He had a top Biden surrogate, Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, on to defend the president and attempt to discredit the reporting as agenda-driven.CNN'S JAKE TAPPER INSISTS HE WON'T SHY AWAY FROM COVERING HUNTER BIDEN AFTER AVOIDING LAPTOP SCANDAL IN 2020Earlier this month, Tapper's book publisher Penguin Press released a montage, perhaps to combat critics who accused the CNN anchor of not covering Biden's cognitive decline, of clips showing him and Thompson discussing the now-former president's age on-air. Notably, the vast majority of Tapper's comments featured in the video pertained to polls showing Americans believed Biden was too old to seek a second term.While promoting his book on CNN, Tapper suggested that Biden's White House was solely responsible for the cover-up versus Democrats and the media broadly."Well, Alex Thompson and I were on the case, as were lots of other reporters trying to figure out what was going on behind the scenes. But the bottom line is the White House was lying, not only to the press, not only to the public, but they were lying to members of their own Cabinet, they were lying to White House staffers, they were lying to Democratic members of Congress, to donors about how bad things had gotten," Tapper said Tuesday, adding that their Democratic sources refused to speak candidly about Biden until after the 2024 election.A spokesperson for CNN strongly pushed back at the notion that Tapper offered insufficient coverage of the Biden scandal before the debate."Jake Tapper is a veteran journalist whose tenacious and thorough reporting has held those in power to account on both sides of the aisle for decades," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "He fairly and accurately covered Senator, Vice President and President Biden through years of dogged Washington reporting, hitting every high and low of the former presidents political career. From the campaign in 2020 to 2024 when he dropped out, Jake raised concerns about President Bidens mental stamina on his shows, questioned Biden officials directly about his health on air, and consistently encouraged open discussion and debate on the issue.""Despite bad faith allegations otherwise, the record clearly shows Jake covered the Clooney op-ed, the Hur report, and Biden physical limitations. As noted, Jake also covered Biden's physical falls multiple times, and he happened to be on assignment in Chicago off air the day after his bike fall in June 2022," the spokesperson added.

Weight-loss medications and bariatric surgery have both been found effective at helping people shed excess pounds and now a new study explores their link to obesity-related cancer (ORC) risk.Obesity is a known risk factor for certain types of cancers, and has also been shown to impact cancer survival.Obesity-related cancers include multiple myeloma, meningioma, adenocarcinoma of esophagus; stomach, colorectal, liver or bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas, uterus, ovary, renal-cell kidney, thyroid, and postmenopausal breast cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).SEMAGLUTIDE FOUND TO HAVE SHOCKING BENEFIT FOR LIVER DISEASE PATIENTS IN NEW STUDYResearchers at Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv, Israel, conducted an observational study of the medical records of 6,356 participants aged 24 and older who had obesity and diabetes, with no history of obesity-related cancer.Between 2010 and 2018, half of the participants took GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) injectable medications for obesity and type 2 diabetes with at leastsix drug purchases within 12 months. The other half underwent bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS).After adjusting for other factors, the researchers determined that ORC occurred in 5.62 cases per 1,000 person-years in those who had the surgery, and in 5.89 cases per 1,000 person-years among those who took GLP-1s.Overall, the study determined that "the direct effect of GLP1-RAs compared to BMS on the risk for ORC beyond their effects on weight-loss is estimated as 41% relative risk reduction."HERE'S WHY BELLY FAT IS MORE COMMON AS WE AGE, AND 3 WAYS TO PREVENT ITThe findings were published in the journal eClinicalMedicine."The results point at the existence of additional pathways beyond weight loss in which GLP-1RAs contribute to the decreased risk for obesity-related cancer," lead study author Yael Wolff Sagy, PhD, head of research at Clalit Health Services, told Fox News Digital.Niketa Patel, professor of molecular medicine with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, Florida, noted that obesity is associated with chronic inflammation."GLP1-RAs are shown to reduce inflammation and thus decrease the risk of developing ORC," she told Fox News Digital. (Patel was not involved in the study.)"Bottom line: Obesity can cause certain cancers, and treatment of obesity with GLP1-RA reduces the risk of only obesity-related cancers."Dr. Britta Reierson, MD, medical director of knownwell, a provider of metabolic health services, said there are several ways in which GLP-1 RAs could have cancer mitigation properties."First, the anti-inflammatory properties of these medications address a known risk factor for various cancers," the Minnesota-based doctor, who also was not part of the research, told Fox News Digital."Second, the metabolic regulation and improvement in metabolic health from these medications, including lowering blood glucose levels and decreasing insulin resistance, can reduce cancer risk."Emerging evidence also suggests that GLP-1 RAs may have direct anti-tumor effects, Reierson noted "potentially through modulation of immune responses and epigenetic changes (changes that occur to gene expression and are passed down to future generations)."FIRST GLP-1 PILL FOR WEIGHT LOSS, DIABETES SHOWS SUCCESS IN LATE-PHASE TRIALResearch suggests that GLP-1 medications help reduce inflammation not just through weight loss, but also in other organs of the body, such as the heart, according to Dr. Susan Savery, MD, a board-certified obesity medicine and primary care physician with PlushCare, a virtual health platform offering primary care, therapy and weight management services."Over time, chronic inflammation can be a risk factor for cancer development, as it may damage cell DNA," San Francisco-based Savery, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital."Our fat cells (adipose tissue) naturally produce inflammatory cells, and GLP-1 medications, similar to bariatric surgery, help reduce this inflammation by decreasing the amount of adipose tissue through weight loss."The study did have some limitations, the researchers acknowledged."First, it is an observational study. It means that our comparison groups (persons who had surgery versus those who received GLP1-RAs) may still have some residual differences, despite our methodological efforts," Sagy told Fox News Digital."However, only this type of real-life observational study can provide the long follow-up period that is necessary to evaluate the risk of developing cancer, which often has very long latency periods."Another limitation is that the primary drug included in the study was liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza), with smaller numbers of people taking exenatide (Byetta) and dulaglutide (Trulicity)."It will be important to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the newer GLP1-RA drugs, which are expected to have a larger effect," Sagy said."Although the direction of the results is promising, we should wait and see if and how clinical guidelines will consider it."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERReierson agreed that much more research is needed before GLP-1 RAs could ever be considered as cancer prevention options."Larger, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to confirm the observed effects and better understand the underlying mechanisms," she said."It will also be important to investigate the impact of GLP-1 RAs on different types of cancer and assess the long-term safety and potential side effects of using GLP-1 RAs as a cancer therapy."Savery agrees that its likely too early to predict FDA approval for cancer therapy, but noted that "weight reduction plays an important role in cancer prevention, and GLP-1s seem to offer an additional benefit through inflammation reduction."For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/healthWhile GLP-1 RAs are "wonderful tools" that can support people on weight-loss journeys, Savery pointed out that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through nutritious eating and regular physical activity is "the foundation for cancer prevention and better overall health."

I was one of the army of commentators who confidently asserted that no American would be elected pope.Relying on the common wisdom, I told numerous journalists and broadcasters that until the United States was no longer a superpower, the cardinals would never hand governance of the universal Church to a citizen of the USA.Well, the electors and the Holy Spirit proved all of us rather dramatically wrong. When the white smoke occurred much earlier than any of us expected, I assumed that the frontrunner, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, had been chosen; so, my astonishment knew no limits when the nameRobertFrancis Prevost was announcedfromthe front loggia of St. Peters Basilica.And Prevost was not only an American; he was a Chicagoan, raised about a 25-minute drivefrommy hometown. All of it seemed surreal, impossible.Finally, he appeared on the balcony, garbed in the white cassock of the pope, but also wearing the formal mozetta (elaborate shoulder cape) and embroidered stole, traditional adornments that Pope Francis famously eschewed when he first presented himself.POPE LEO XIV'S GREATEST CHALLENGE IS ALREADY CHANGING THE WORLDIt was an indication that this new Holy Father would be his own man and a conciliatory gesture to more conservative Catholics who had sometimes felt marginalized by the Francis papacy. And the regnal name that he chose, Leo XIV, had beautiful and powerful resonance for anyone familiar with the history of the Church.The new pope was hearkening back to his predecessor Leo XIII, a pivotal figure who ruled the Catholic Churchfrom1878 to 1903. If Cardinal Prevost had chosen for his name Francis II, or John Paul III, or John XXIV, it would have been easy enough to pigeonhole him ideologically.But by referencing Leo XIII, he was signaling that he would not be so facilely characterized.The initial reaction of the Catholic Church to the political revolutions of the 18thcentury and the philosophical innovations of the 19thcentury, especially Marxism, was one-sidedly negative.This was, to be fair, understandable enough, given the brutal way that the Church had been persecuted by many of the cultural and political revolutionaries of that era.But Leo XIII adopted a nuanced, intellectually sophisticated stance of creative engagement with modernity, neither saying simply no or simply yes to it. The very best example of the Leonine style is his groundbreaking encyclical letterRerum Novarum,which inaugurated the modern social teaching tradition of the Church.THE LEGACY OF POPE FRANCISConservatives find much to love in this letter, including an uncompromising critique of socialism and a vigorous defense of private property. But liberals reverence Leos stress on "the universal destination of goods," the idea that since all of creation belongs ultimately to God, how we use our private property should be governed, first, by a concern for the common good.Here is a breathtaking linefromRerum Novarum: "Once the demands of necessity and propriety have been met, the rest of what one owns belongs to the poor."Moreover, the same Leo XIII who defended the rights of workers had some pretty sharp critiques of liberal democracy.To me, in adopting the name of this subtle-minded figure, Leo XIV is indicating that he will say both yes and no to the modern world.But I want to reach to a place deeper than politics or cultural engagement.In his moving addressfromthe loggia, Leo XIV described himself as a "son of St. Augustine," and his first words to the crowds concerned the peace of the risen Christ.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONA member of the Augustinian order,RobertPrevost was shaped profoundly by the thought and practice of the great 5thcenturybishopof Hippo.Certainly one of the two or three greatest intellectuals in the history of the Church, St. Augustine was also a man of tremendous passion and heart.Perhaps the most famous line in thisConfessionsis this:"Lord, you have made us for yourself; therefore, our heart is restless until it rests in you."This speaks so eloquently of the longing for God within the soul of every person and accordingly of the Churchs mission to evangelize, to offer the food of the Gospel to the hungry human heart.And this is precisely what the good Augustinian Pope Leo XIV insisted is his first preoccupation.And finally, that offer of peacefromthe risen Jesus.The pope is teacher, preacher, administrator, director of personnel, manager of the Vatican bureaucracy, etc.But his first role is evangelist, which is to say, someone who declares in a convincing way the resurrection of Jesusfromthe dead.I frankly have no idea what kind of administrator or manager St. Peter was, but I know that he preached the resurrection until they crucified him upside-down for his troubles. Leo XIV is the successor Peter, and he knows well that his task is the same as Peters.Ad multo annos, Papa Leo!CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM BISHOP ROBERT BARRON

President Donald Trump's vow to slap tariffs on movies being made in foreign countries was met with a mixed reaction from Americans speaking with Fox News Digital this week.Trump announced last week his plans to institute a tariff are in the works, and he authorized the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative "to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands."In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that the "Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death" and Hollywood was being "devastated" by other countries luring filmmakers and studios out of the country.Fox News Digital asked everyday Americans whether they thought such a move would help film jobs in the United States.TOM CRUISE SHUTS DOWN TRUMP MOVIE TARIFF QUESTION WHILE PROMOTING 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE'"I know that they do a lot of film in here in the United States, so anything that would boost the economy, because we need help right now, it's going to be some rocky roads, but there's no question about it, if it's going to help America, I'm pro-America," said Josh, a Bostonian vising New York City.More skeptical was Bill, a Californian visiting Washington, D.C., who said, "As far as I knew, we were the film capital of the world, so I'm not exactly sure what that's meant to achieve.""I don't think it's going to make a big difference," said Zharko in Birmingham, Mich. "I think it's going to be better for us to tell you the truth, and even for them, because they're going to step up."Tamara, in Washington, D.C., said it would "absolutely not" help boost American film jobs, "not during his term anyway."Mark, an American living in Germany who was visiting the nation's capital again, said he thought Trump was on the right track.TEAMSTERS BOSS PRAISES TRUMP FOREIGN FILM TARIFF, CONDEMNS HOLLYWOOD'S 'UN-AMERICAN ADDICTION TO OUTSOURCING'"Needs that little push to start making films back here in the States, so I think that's a good idea, at least temporarily, and see what happens," he told Fox News Digital. "You can always adjust them."Brissa noted her town of Austin, Texas, had become "film city" so it could help a place like that."I think it could potentially, but I don't know, it's hard to say," she said.Catherine, speaking in Birmingham, Mich., had another suggestion for Trump."I think he should be doing what would generate activity in business and commerce in the U.S. That seems like that would be prohibitive, adding a tariff of that nature, but I wouldn't support it if it was creating another barrier," she said."I think his focus really is to bring more jobs back to America and to make sure that America is wealthy and prosperous," said Jay in Knoxville, Tenn. "Because we've kind of faded from that era, and he's trying to get us back."

Carnie Wilson will not be turning to Ozempic for weight loss anytime soon.During an interview with Fox News Digital, Wilson, who previously lost more than 100 pounds with gastric bypass and lap band surgeries, explained her stance on the weight-loss medication."That scares me. I won't do it. I just had a friend who was hospitalized, so it's not going to happen for me," Wilson said.Instead, Wilson focuses on making healthy choices in her day-to-day life.REBEL WILSON TRIED OZEMPIC ON WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY: THOSE DRUGS CAN BE GOOD"It's a balance every day. It's not perfect. I'm just trying not to eat sugar. I have a little tiny bit, like in a granola bar, maybe, but I find that it affects my mood. It affects my energy level."So, eating healthier. It's all about taking care of myself and I think that it's connected, you know? What I put in my mouth makes a big difference. If I eat an apple, I feel better. If I eat sugar, I don't feel good. So it really makes a difference. It's how I take care of myself," she told Fox News Digital.Wilson told Fox News Digital in 2024 that her gastric bypass and lap band surgeries helped her go from 310 pounds to 200 pounds.WATCH: CARNIE WILSON SAYS OZEMPIC SCARES HER"Thats fricking amazing," she said. "I am so thrilled about that, you know what I mean? Im not skinny, Im not perfect, but Im so much healthier than I was. And I just want people to be healthy. So, if you take Ozempic or Mounjaro or whatever you do, and it works for you, great. Get healthier. There shouldnt be a stigma around any of this. Its to improve our health."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSWilson is now focusing her efforts on mental health awareness and her partnership with Ingrezza.The Grammy-nominated singer is using her platform to spread awareness about tardive dyskinesia (TD) through her "Connecting with Carnie" initiative that debuted on May 6.TD is an involuntary movement disorder associated with the use of certain mental health medications.WATCH: CARNIE WILSON SAYS HER HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS A BALANCEWilson told Fox News Digital that she began having mental health issues when she was 5 but didn't realize it until she was about 18 or 19.She explained that depression runs in her family, including her famous dad, Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson. She believes part of her mental health struggles are genetic, explaining, "I was born an addict. I was probably born with some depression, and it will always be [a] challenge for me. And its something that I'm proud to face. I'm not ashamed of it.""Every day is different. So, you know, some days are better than others. Some days are more challenging. Things can be more daunting. I can feel anxiety creep up, but the very, the very best thing is just to talk about it," Wilson said about her own mental health.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"There's still such a stigma with mental health. It's a very delicate thing. We're just humans, you know, we're just human, aren't we? We have a range of emotions. We have physical pain. I mean, there's so much that we can go through, but I just think, I just try to stay positive every day and know that if I've connected with someone, I feel better."Wilson talked about her new initiative, "Connecting with Carnie," and her goal of creating a community.WATCH: CARNIE WILSON SAYS CONNECTION IS KEY TO HER MENTAL HEALTH"That's why it's called Connecting with Carnie, because I want to encourage other people to connect, too. But you have to be brave, you have to be willing and honest with yourself first and then speak up and out. And that's why I had to get honest," she said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Pope Leo XIV has been hailed as a major contrast to President Donald Trump by some in the press after the American-born cardinal was chosen to be the next leader of the Catholic Church on Thursday, with several liberal media figures wondering if he will serve as a counterbalance to the president and his policies."I think its so timely that we have an American pope because we are going through things in this country, and it is good to show the world that not all American leaders are the same. Its good to have an American that can denounce the things happening against immigrants here," said "The View" co-host Ana Navarro on Monday."People are being dragged into the streets. Mothers are being separated from their children as theyre breastfeeding. The things that are happening in this country are horrible, and I love that there's going to be someone who can call it out in English," she added.After being selected as the first pontiff from the United States to lead the Church, Pope Leo presided over his first mass on Friday.SUNNY HOSTIN CHANGES TUNE ON POPE LEO XIV AFTER LEARNING OF HAITIAN ROOTS, DECLARES WE HAVE A BLACK POPEABC News host Martha Raddataz spoke to Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, on Sunday and asked if the new pope would be a "counterbalance" to Trump."Pope Francis cared so much about the poor and migrants. Pope Leo does as well. In some ways, will he be a counterbalance for whats happening in American politics right now and President Trump?" she said.Cupich responded, "I think hes going to help complete and complement our political agenda. Hell talk a lot about the immigrants as well, because he knows about the sufferings of people and the real needs that they have for a better life."Raddatz posed the same question to her ABC panel, and ABC's Terry Moran argued it was likely inevitable that they would clash."Reluctantly. Right?" ABC's Terry Moran responded. "They are the two most famous Americans in the world right now. And arguably, Pope Leo might be even more famous than President Trump and whether the pope wants it or not, because I think he wants to preach the Gospel and do the good work of the Church. They have different approaches naturally in some ways, and I think that is going to come out."Moran continued, "He will be a voice for the teachings of Jesus, which, in many ways, many Catholics believe are not consistent with some of the president's policies. That will happen. I don't think he's going to go look for a fight, but it will happen."PELOSI SAYS CATHOLIC CHURCH COULD HAVE FEMALE PRIESTS IN HER GRANDCHILDREN'S LIFETIMESeveral headlines from Time Magazine, NPR and more suggested the selection of Leo would lead to a clash with Trump on certain policies. NPR's headline read, "Pope Leo XIV may help Vatican explore the 'great uncertainty' that is Trump's America." Time Magazine published a headline that read, "In Pope Leo XIV, Donald Trump Finds a New Foil."Politico Europe reported, "when the 133 cardinal voters sequestered themselves in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to elect the leader of the worlds 1.4 billion Catholics, they settled on not just an American but one who could, plausibly, act as a counterweight against the impulsive U.S. president.""This was not wholly by chance. When the cardinals eventually found unity on a new pontiff, the progressives among them were aware that Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old former missionary with a mixed heritage, was a leader who could provide an alternative voice to Trump," the report continued, citing two cardinals who remained anonymous.FIRST AMERICAN-BORN POPE INSPIRES FAITH LEADERS ACROSS THE NATIONMSNBC's Chris Jansing asked former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi if Pope Leo would be a "moral" voice to counter Trump's immigration policies, citing social media posts written by Leo prior to becoming the pope."Do you think that at this moment, when so many people are looking to him, he could be impactful as a moral and ethical voice on that issue that were dealing with, when so many people are being deported or fear it?" Jansing asked.Pelosi responded, "I certainly hope so."MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell asked Sister Simone Campbell on Thursday if Leo was among the cardinals who stand in opposition to Trump."We have seen some American cardinals who, I guess the way I would put it, are surprisingly sympathetic to Donald Trump. They try not to be overtly political, but you can tell that theres a certain chumminess and sense of support of Donald Trump by some of them. And we also have many American cardinals who stand in opposition to so much of what Donald Trump stands for. Can we place the new pope somewhere in that mix? Do we know enough?" O'Donnell asked.Campbell pointed to Leo's social media posts and said he stood with the migrants.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREMSNBC's Ayman Mohyeldin posed a question to Princeton professor Eddie Glaude Jr. about the selection of Pope Leo XIV amid Trump's presidency."Im curious to get your thoughts on the fact that this is an American pope at a time when Americas moral standing in the world has plummeted. We were speaking to Father Robert Hagen earlier this evening, and he said this was a pope for the time that we find ourselves in," Mohyeldin began."And Im just thinking about the time that we do find ourselves in, with America having this moral reckoning internally, and now this pope who, in real time, the MAGA world found out was maybe not an America-first pope that they would have hoped for. Steve Bannon has said that theres going to be friction between the new pope and Donald Trump," he continued.Glaude said it was historical, but said he was more interested in Leo's theology."How theologically he can respond to where the country is, the way hes interpreting or understanding the role of Christ in our lives, the importance of love in relation to the most vulnerable among us," he said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPDuring Leo's first meeting with journalists on Monday, the pope called for the release of imprisoned journalists and affirmed the "precious gift of free speech and the press." He also told the journalists they must act responsibly in using artificial intelligence in their work, asking them to "ensure that it can be used for the good of all, so that it can benefit all of humanity."

The Trump administration has the right perhaps even the obligation to ensure that the government runs as efficiently as possible. Americans, likewise, are right to expect it.I fully support the presidents stated goals of rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. However, in dispatching Elon Musk and his DOGE team, he sent the proverbial bull into a china shop, wreaking havoc on a civil service that has worked effectively for the American people since 1883. There has been no method to Musks madness and little to show for his efforts.Musk recently conceded that his group has only identified $160 billion in savings, far lower than his recently stated $1 trillion target which itself is half of DOGEs original goal of $2 trillion.TRUMP CONSIDERS TAX HIKE ON AMERICANS MAKING $2.5 MILLION OR MORE PER YEARConsidering the damage being wrought for minimal impact, it is little surprise that a new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found the vast majority of Americans disapprove of the way Musk is handling his job. Most also say they are concerned that Trump will do too much to reduce the size and role of our government.A lot of damage, unfortunately, is done. Tens of thousands of federal employees lives have been shattered by DOGE and Musk, who mercifully announced he will be scaling his government role as profits at his electric car company plummet slinking away from the mess he created.The administrationsdangerous cuts to mission-critical, common-sense jobs and programs like lifesaving medical research, veterans services andFederal Aviation Administration jobsjeopardize programs that Americans expect and deserve for their hard-earned tax dollars. They may very well also put real lives in jeopardy.It need not be this way. We can make our government more efficient without the havoc we have seen underDOGE and Musk. In fact, I have already proven it is possible. Prior to joining the House of Representatives, I was the chief executive of Baltimore County a $5 billion government enterprise representing over 850,000 Marylanders.In taking on that role, I inherited an antiquated bureaucracy that was firmly stuck in the 20th century. So, we did something about it, conducting a comprehensiveefficiencyreview of both the county government and our local school system the 25th largest in the United States.We brought in trained experts who led a detailed and methodical audit of each county agency. We compared our data with that of similarly sized communities around the country. We conducted detailed site visits. We conducted extensive staff surveys. And we solicited input from the very public we served.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe result: two reports one forBaltimore County governmentand another for theBaltimore County Public School System including more than 1,000 pages and hundreds of recommendations that identified as much as $771 million in possible savings over a five-year period.In practice, the solutions were as straightforward as making double-sided printing the new default to save on paper and ink. They were as common sense as pre-treating roads before winter storms; coupled with the installation of "smart" salt spreaders, we saved millions annually while also being better for the environment. Elon Musk, President Donald Trump and DOGE think savings come by taking a chainsaw to the federal government. We proved that a systematic, deliberate and caring approach is the better way to achieve real savings and to create meaningful and lastingefficiency without compromising service quality.The savings in Baltimore County were achieved by recognizing and relying on our most valuable resource: our employees. The review included over 300 interviews conversations with not only top leadership, but also frontline employees to ensure we took the advice of those actually doing the work. Efficiencies cannot be made without appropriate context, and they definitely can't be realized by ignoring those most qualified to identify what those opportunities might be.Unfortunately, efforts by DOGE are collectively turning "efficiency" into a dirty phrase. It doesnt have to be this way. True governmentefficiencyat the local, state and federal level is desperately needed. And its absolutely possible.Elon Musk is heading back to Tesla. If President Trump wants to learn how to do this right, my door is open.