Mortgage ratesrose again this week, with the average 30-year fixed rate climbing past 6.8%. Thats not just a post-pandemic hangover; its a warning sign. Behind the scenes, rising government debt is putting steady upward pressure on borrowing costs.If your mortgage, car loan, or credit card payments are more expensive than they were a few years ago, youre not alone and despite what you may have heard, its not just because of inflation or Federal Reserve policy. The surge in federal borrowing is helping inflate interest rates across the board.If government debt had stayed at 2015 levels, the typical family could be paying $222 less per month on their mortgage. Go back to 2005 debt levels and the number jumps to $536. Thats real money disappearing from household budgets not because of the jump in home prices, but because Washington cant stop borrowing.DAVID MARCUS: WHY NOBODY WANTS TO CUT THE NATIONAL DEBT DESPITE EVERYONE SAYING THEY SHOULDFor years, economists puzzled over why interest rates kept falling. Aging populations, slower productivity, and foreign demand for American debt were all cited as reasons. One result was that Uncle Sam took advantage and racked up larger deficits and debt. After all, refinancing was affordable at low rates. Another was that Americans got used to lower monthly mortgage payments, auto loans, and other interest rate-related expenses.Now, were grappling with interest rates that have surged and stayed stubbornly high. The change followed a torrent of unfunded federal spending in 2020 and especially 2021 which exploded the deficit, shook investor confidence in Americas long-term fiscal stability, and caused bond markets to react to policymakers fiscal bravado.Mynew researchfor the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, along with a growing body of economic literature, shows the debt itself is pushing up long-term interest rates and by more than some experts are willing to admit. While broader economic changes and policy decisions also play roles, this particular problem is too big to ignore.Over time, as trillions of dollars in debt compound, the Treasury shells out hundreds of billions more in interest payments. Its not just a problem for Washingtons balance sheet. Its a problem for yours.Economists have a term for whats happening: "crowding out." When the government borrows more, it competes with private borrowers for capital. And when two consumers want the same thing, the price usually goes up in this case, the price of borrowing (interest rates).All kinds of important things become more expensive: mortgage payments, car loans, student loans, credit card debt. These are not abstract concerns. They determine whether plenty of families can afford to buy a home, send someone to college or buy a new car or truck. They determine whether someone can start or expand a business and provide more people with jobs.Take housing. Mortgage rates are now hovering near their highest levels in over 20 years. Thats not because lumber or labor costs spiked, but because of the effects offederal borrowing.Student loan interest rates are tied to Treasury yields, which means college graduates are now repaying debt at the highest rates in almost two decades. Auto loan rates are rising too, pricing out lower-income consumers.For Americans with credit card debt (almost half of U.S. households carry a balance) the average interest rate is now around 20%, driven in part by the same upward pressure caused by growing federal debt.These debt-driven rate increases are an invisible tax on all of us. Families feel the squeeze every month. Businesses delay investments. Budding entrepreneurs face higher hurdles.Why arent more economists talking about the problem? Its complicated.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe Congressional Budget Office (CBO), for example, significantly underestimates the effect. Itslatest projectionsassume long-term interest rates will stabilize at lower levels even as government debt as a share of the economy grows. But if debt pushes rates up more than the CBO predicts as most empirical studies now show then its rosy forecasts wont reflect how much the federal government will pay just in interest.Beyond our own households, there are consequences for the whole economy and government. Higher interest costs mean less money for education, infrastructure, or tax relief. They increase the risk of a debt spiral in which interest payments themselves become the fastest-growing part of the budget.Most people understand that the federal governments borrowing binge cant go on forever, and that it will burden future generations of taxpayers. But if youre between the ages of 19 and 99, the tax is probably already hitting you in some way each and every month. The cost of inaction isnt just abstract and long-term, its concrete and already being felt.Just check your mortgage statement.

President Donald Trump is threatening 50% tariffs on all imports from the European Union if a trade deal cant be reached by July 9. The recent ruling from the Court of International Trade is unlikely to slow down Trumps efforts, given the multitude of loopholes and a possible Supreme Court reversal. The outcry from Europe is loud and multilingual and we need to ignore it. Early in my tenure as ambassador to the EU during Trumps first term, I invited members of the European Round Table to lunch. I asked these CEOs of the biggest companies in Europe if they owned property in the U.S. All said yes. "But how do you eat in America?" I asked. "What do you drive? Do you bring your cars and food with you?" They laughed and said that the reluctance for our products has nothing to do with U.S. food or manufacturing. That those closed doors are European protectionism. In short, our cars are reliable, our vegetables healthy, they just want to win.When it comes to trade, they have won for decades and that has to change. TRUMP'S TOUGH POLICIES PUSH UK, EU TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND TRADE AND DEFENSEWhen Trump spoke with EU chiefUrsula von der Leyenon May 25, she called her conversation with him, a "good call" and promised that "Europeis ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively," tacking on: "To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9."What the two in conversation means is that the U.S. is now asking them to dig deep into their red lines when it comes to us. Europe loves a show without a result. I know what its like to negotiate with them that they can move slower than a French escargot and the result is escargot-sized too. Its nice. Its cosmetic. Its meaningless.Weve gotten into trade talks many times before, with leaders like von der Leyen pleading for more time, promising theyll get serious. The reality is that they will have meetings but they will refuse to eliminate or even budge their red lines on trade for the United States. They have to.MUSK SAYS HE HOPES FOR 'ZERO TARIFFS,' FREEDOM OF TRADE ZONE BETWEEN US AND EUROPEAmerica deserves to be treated differently than any other trading partner, and this counts for our asks with respect to China as well. If we are going to take up the weapons, the EU needs to back us on sanctions. We want the EU to come down on the countries in their bloc that are operating in their self-interest as opposed to contributing to the alliances economic interests. We deserve reciprocity on trade with concessions that are deep and material.The U.S. trade deficit with the EU is ballooning. It has gone from $45 billion in 1999 to $235 billionin 2024.If we include services last year, the trade deficit only reducesto $161 billion.U.S. presidents from Clinton to Trump were slapped with significant trade resistance from the EU. Unwilling to concede, even under unilateral pressure, they cried out about what they perceived to be U.S. overreach and always chose multilateral solutions like reinforcing the WTO to find perceived stability and predictability.When Trump said recently, "Theyve treated us very badly over the years," he was spot on.SOME COUNTRIES TARGETED BY TRUMP TARIFFS SEEK NEGOTIATIONS, CHINA SAYS 'NO WINNERS IN TRADE WARS'In 1999, when President Bill Clinton was busy with the "banana wars," arguing that American fruit importers should have freer access to the EU market, the overall U.S. global trade deficit was at a then-record of nearly $170 billion, with over $43 billion coming from the EU. In 2002, George W. Bush imposed steel tariffs to protect domestic producers, during a year when our trade deficit with the EU had risen to $86 billion. During Trumps first term, our trade deficit went from $151 billion in 2017 to $182 billion in 2020. Now at $235 billion, you can understand why hes pissed off.Trump is not negotiating, hes deadly serious. He wants a fair share of their market and for the EU to treat us completely differently than any other trading partner because weve earned it. Not just from a decades-long trade imbalance, but from the security guarantee America has provided for just as long. They need to get over their stringent value-added tax, health and digital regulations and make choices that reflect our shared history.Trump is doing something stark and immediate as the EU gets ready to play rope-a-dope with us yet again. He is saying you can have all your regulations and juicy red European tomatoes, but you have to pay 50% tariffs. Is that really worth it?CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONEuropeans should be exposed to American products. Trump is not forcing anyone to buy them, just to have access. If the way Americans do things dont meet with European taste or sensibility, then let the market speak for itself. And vice versa. All were asking for is a fair shot.WHICH COUNTRIES IMPOSE THE HIGHEST TARIFFS ON THE US?I predict the EU will waltz us through their organic, manicured gardens again with no result. I think Trump predicts this too. July 9will roll in with no substantial concessions made by the EU, forcing the president to impose significant tariffs. They will cause extreme pain on both sides, but negotiations between us are like breaking a horse. Trump is bound and determined to not have them bend the knee, but rather to treat us differently than other trading partners. And when they do, Im sure we will listen. If Americans like European products better than ours, fine. American manufacturers will have to figure it out.Readjusting the trade imbalance is not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, but its a sign of gratitude and respect for what the U.S. has done in the last 80 years. Many Europeans still claim that the Marshall Plan was sponsored by the U.S. for Europes benefit and ours. Thats preposterous.Think of it this way. If two friends, one richer, one poorer, go out to dinner regularly and the richer one always pays, that makes sense. If the poorer friend needs surgery and the richer one offers to cover it, that still makes sense. Theirs is a valued meaningful friendship after all. But if one day, the poorer friend comes into wealth and has the opportunity to help the person who has supported him consistently for decades and then refuses, there is a major problem.The U.S. and the EU are those two friends. No one wants this relationship to crumble, and all eyes are on the EU, because the world knows how long the U.S. has been picking up the check. Were asking a friend a favor because its simply their turn to pay.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM GORDON SONDLAND

After a full pardon from President Donald Trump, Todd and Julie Chrisley are making a return to reality television.The Lifetime network previously greenlit a docuseries "The Untitled Chrisleys Project" on the family prior to Todd and Julie's release from prison.The project, which is set to premiere later this year, showcases how Savannah Chrisley, Chase Chrisley, Grayson Chrisley, Chloe Chrisley and Nanny Faye Chrisley have navigated the family hardship, as Todd and Julie were behind bars for bank fraud and tax evasion.The reality couple were not initially expected to be included in the show since they were in prison. However, Todd and Julie, best known for their larger-than-life personalities on "Chrisley Knows Best," walked free on Wednesday following Trumps presidential pardon.TRUMP PARDONS TODD, JULIE CHRISLEY: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT REALITY TV STARSTheir daughter, Savannah, confirmed that fans can expect to see everything unfold on camera while she was waiting for her father outside the Pensacola, Florida, federal prison on Wednesday."We have a new show coming out on Lifetime, and it will document all of these things," she told reporters."We're excited. We literally could not have done it. It's all God and President Trump at this point."WATCH: Todd and Julie Chrisley's daughter Savannah gets emotional awaiting parents' prison release after Trump pardonIn a press release obtained by Fox News Digital earlier this month, it stated that "[i]n the new series, the Chrisleys dont know best anymore, but theyre doing their best to be there for each other."Todd and Julies children, along with other family members, faced the challenges of "carrying on the Chrisley name and legacy on their own with only phone calls and brief visits with their incarcerated parents."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSWhile the elder couple faced time in prison, Savannah maintained custody of her younger siblings, Chloe and Grayson. She had been advocating for a presidential pardon for her parents since their sentencing."The show is still filming and will continue to, though the familys situation is evolving rapidly," a source told People."No one knew this pardon would happen and the goal is to cover their lives in real time, but things have significantly changed for them all and everyone in the family, as well as producers, are trying to figure it out and tell their authentic story."Todd and Julie were sentenced to 12 and seven years, respectively, for bank fraud and tax evasion in 2022.The couple were convicted of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans as well as tax evasion; their sentences were later reduced.Meanwhile, Todd and Julie were initially indicted in August 2019, and a new indictment was later filed. They were found guilty in June 2022 of not only bank fraud and tax evasion, but also conspiring to defraud the IRS.JULIE CHRISLEY MAKES FIRST PUBLIC OUTING AFTER TRUMP PARDONJulie was seen leaving a butcher shop in Nashville, Tennessee, just one day after being released from federal prison.The reality TV star, who was serving two and a half years at Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, was rocking her natural hair color while smiling outside the shop.WATCH: Chrisleys pardon from Trump will wipe away the case entirely, as if it never happened: lawyerOn Wednesday evening, Todd walked out of a federal prison in Pensacola after serving two and a half years in prison, according to his lawyer Alex Littles office.Savannah got emotional outside the federal prison awaiting her father's release earlier in the day.TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY RELEASED FROM PRISON FOLLOWING TRUMP'S PARDONWhen speaking to reporters, Savannah said, "Honestly, this process has been absolutely insane, and I am so grateful that I'm going to leave here with my dad."Savannah claimed that prosecutors had her father's head "on a dart board" before his prison sentence. She read Trump's pardon to the reporters, which stated an immediate release.Hours after Todd was released from federal prison, his daughter kept the mood light and shared a sneak peek of her dad's physique as the reunited pair traveled back home to Tennessee.Savannah took to social media to document their road trip, where fans got a glimpse of Todd after his prison release.In a video clip posted on Instagram, Savannah asked her dad, "What are you trying to get me to do?""Feel that muscle," Todd replied, while holding out his arm.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"Todd is jacked," Savannahs best friend and hair stylist Tyler Bishop could be heard saying in the background."Just wait," Savannah replied.While Savannah opted out of showing her dad's face, it was the first time fans had heard Todd's voice since before his prison stint.Todd and Julie, along with their children Savannah, Chase and Grayson, rose to fame after their popular reality series "Chrisley Knows Best" debuted. The show premiered in 2014 on the USA Network and quickly gained popularity due to its mix of humor, family drama and Todd's bold persona.Fox News Digital's Janelle Ash and Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

This is the season of President Donald Trump, the Republican Party, conservatism and the MAGA movement.The Democratic Party is in dire straits. They sit at 21% approval in some polls. They have reduced themselves to defending illegals, gang members and other forms of criminality and corruption.They present no new ideas, just obstructionism.DEM STRATEGY SESSION TO STOP HEMORRHAGING OF MALE VOTERS RIDICULEDAnd with each issue they embrace, such as opposing cuts in federal spending or defending the waste, fraud and abuse of USAID or other federal agencies, for that matter, only drives them further down in the polls.They are also the party of antisemitism, repellent to most Americans who cherish our longtime friendship with the Jewish state.They have no answers to the ills afflicting Americans.DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S IMAGE IN WEAKEST POSITION SINCE REAGAN-BUSH ERA, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST SAYSMeanwhile, Trump and his Republican Party have a corner on the marketplace of ideas.From the border to inflation, the GOP has it all over the Sad Sack Democrats.Democrats must hate getting up in the morning. The newspapers and cable television only bring them more bad news, from thenewcharges against Andrew Cuomo, former Democrat governor of New York,to fresh revelations about the scandal of COVID-19 and the alleged criminality ofDr.Anthony Fauci, former chief medical advisor to the president, toMinnesota Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omars complete indifference to the murder of two young Israelis in Washington at the Israeli Embassy.Democrats must be asking themselves, "What fresh hell is this?"Of course, the story with the most damaging, long-term effect is the cover-up of former President Joe Bidens incipient mental state. Were we a constitutional republic during his time? Or were we governed by a devious cabal armed with an autopen?MELISSA DEROSA: DEMOCRATS FACE A PAINFUL QUESTION: WHAT WENT WRONG?Even worse, the entire Democratic Party establishment was in on the cover-up and conspiracy of defending an emperor that not only had no clothes, but apparently wasnt even governing in the first place.The GOP is on offense, a good place to be in politics. Meanwhile, the Democrats are in a fox hole, fighting off incoming, completely on the defense.This all has long-term consequences.Just as President Abraham Lincoln kicked off a long period of Republican governance beginning in 1860, just as FDR and the Democrats initiated a long period of Democratic governance beginning in 1932, Trump could be kicking off a long period of Republican governance. Republicans are in motion. Trump is in motion. He knows politics is motion.DAVID MARCUS: TRUMP'S BIG WIN MEANS REPUBLICANS HAVE A REAL SHOT AT GENERATIONAL POWER. DONT SCREW IT UPDuring the Lincoln era,Republicans reminded voters of the "bloody shirt" to drive home to them it was Democrats, the party of slavery, who instigated the Civil War. Republicans will, in the future remind voters of the Biden cover-up by yelling, "Deceitful Democrats!"Watergate was indeed just a "third-rate burglary" compared to thisculturewide scheme to deceive.The tea leaves were already appearing before this earthshaking scandal surrounding Biden. Look at the facts: Hispanic men shifted in large numbers toward the Republicans in the last election. So too did African American males. So too did young voters. White Americans held firm in almost all categories.Democrats often delude themselves. Case in point is the growing vegetative state of Biden.And I am sorry, Minnesotas Caspar Milquetoast governor Tim Waltz is not the answer to recapturingthe male vote.TRUMP VICTORY SLAMS DEMOCRATS' WOKE WORLD VIEW. HERE'S WHAT'S NEXTThe irony is that the insider establishment told themselves an old, old, old man, who was on the wrong side of all the issues, could win until it became screamingly obvious he could not. They then told themselves a lightweight do-nothing vice president, chosen for her race and sex and not for her intellect, could win. Ironically, she was chosen as Bidens insurance plan meaning there would be no way anyone would turn to Kamala Harris if and when Biden faltered. Everybody knew she was completely unqualified to be president.Lord Acton once cynically said, "The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern." Maybe so, but the Democrats, as decided by the voters, are indeed unfit to govern.The GOP controls the majority of governorships. The GOP controls the majority of state legislatures. And, in 23 states, the GOP has total control. The other states are at best mixed.Conservatives control the Supreme Court.KEY BIDEN STAFFERS ASKED TO TESTIFY ON ALLEGED ROLE IN MENTAL DECLINE COVER-UPBeyond the growing powers of Trump are the issues that favor the GOP, abortion is now off the table as conservatives acted on their federalism instincts and the Supreme Court sent the matter back to the states where behavioral issues like marriage, adoption and the death penalty belong.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONAnybody who looks beyond the point of their own nose has to see this massive Biden cover-up is not only the greatest scandal in American history, but it will have significant ramifications for our future.Liberal historians credibility is shot. Jon Meacham, Michael Beschloss and others like themhave no more authority. This has a significant impact on the future. True journalists will not be turning to them for comment as they are seen simply as liberal lackeys, especially Meacham who authored Bidens "Nuremberg Speech,"denouncing half of America,one of the two worst speeches in presidential history, ranking with President Jimmy Carters now notorious "Malaise" speech.The liberal media, too, is headed for the ash heap of history.Where will CNNs and MSNBCs ratings be in a year? Their viewership may be higher in Beijing than in Peoria. And,ironically, CNN anchor Jake Tapper, just as his book is topping the charts, has destroyed his credibility by being part of the original cover-upas a Biden apologist.Vindicated are the very few reporters who asked tough questions about Bidens mental competency.No longer does two plus two equal five. Which means the future is very bleak for the Democratic Party. They are a pariah party for now and the foreseeable future.They have reaped the whirlwind.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM CRAIG SHIRLEY

Nearly a year before books about Joe Biden's cognitive decline made headlines, The Wall Street Journal was viciously attacked for its own bombshell reporting at a time when very few in the legacy media dared to broach the subject.In early June 2024, the Journal published a story titled, "Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping," a months-long investigation by reporters Annie Linskey and Siobhan Hughes involving more than 45 sources who were either directly involved or briefed on meetings with Biden, who they said "appears slower now, someone who has both good moments and bad ones."The report, which dropped just weeks before Biden's disastrous debate performance, was swiftly met with disdain and indignation, not just by the Biden White House, but by its allies in the media as well. CREDIBILITY CRISIS: MEDIA EMBRACED BIDEN WHITE HOUSE CHEAP FAKES NARRATIVE LEADING UP TO ILL-FATED DEBATEJake Tapper, the CNN anchor who co-authored "Original Sin," the new Biden bombshell book, framed his coverage of the Journal's report at the time on the White House's aggressive response to the "false claims" made by the paper and repeatedly told viewers the report was "mostly based on observations of Republicans." He had on top Biden surrogate Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who defended the president and attempted to discredit the reporting as agenda-driven.It wasn't until after the debate (which Tapper notably co-moderated) that he invited the two Wall Street Journal reporters who authored the report to discuss it on his program.Several CNN anchors stressed that the Journal's story heavily relied on Republican criticism of Biden and called out former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who gave the only on-the-record statement, for appearing to flip-flop on Biden's sharpness in previous comments, something that was later explained as a tactical PR move at the time for McCarthy to bolster cooperation with the Biden White House.CREDIBILITY CRISIS: PRESS DISMISSED HUR REPORT ON BIDEN'S MEMORY ISSUES LONG BEFORE CONCERNS BECAME UNDENIABLECNN's Boris Sanchez grilled Hughes over Democratic allegations that her story was "slanted," a question that would be unfathomable to a journalist covering Donald Trump.Oliver Darcy, CNN's then-media reporter, erupted at the Journal, insisting its reporting "suffers from glaring problems," lecturing the paper it "owes its readers and the public better.""It is difficult to imagine that the newspaper, or any outlet, would run a similar story declaring that Trump is slipping behind the scenes based on the word of top Democratic figures despite the fact that the Democratic leadership has demonstrated a much stronger relationship with the truth in recent years than their Republican counterparts," Darcy wrote."More broadly speaking, The Journals piece pointed to a continued problem roiling the news media as it covers the 2024 election. Trump is permitted to fall asleep in court and make nonsensical public statements on a routine basis without any serious questions raised about his mental acuity," the ex-CNN pundit continued. "Meanwhile, Biden is judged on an entirely different standard."CREDIBILITY CRISIS: WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS SPEAK OUT ON WHETHER BIDEN'S MENTAL DECLINE WAS DELIBERATELY HIDDENMSNBC's "Morning Joe" co-host Joe Scarborough declared the report a "Trump hit piece on Biden" as his co-host spouse Mika Brzezinski ridiculed the Republican sourcing."Why didn't they just ask Marjorie Taylor Greene to weigh in? And Lauren Boebert?" Brzezinski sarcastically asked."Deadline: White House" host Nicolle Wallace knocked the "highly-criticized" report that "faced blowback" from Democrats and sounded the alarm on how local TV stations owned by Sinclair Broadcasting Group were covering it, suggesting it was a "right-wing disinformation operation."Wallace's then-MSNBC colleague Joy Reid raised a similar panic about Sinclair's coverage of The Journal while swiping the paper's "dubious" and "highly problematic" report and suggesting it was "conservative propaganda." She argued that it's actually Donald Trump, not Biden, who should face scrutiny over mental acuity.CNN's Brian Stelter, then a Vanity Fair correspondent who appeared on Reid's program as a guest, told the MSNBC host that The Journal's report "had a lot of flaws" and appeared to agree with Reid's assertion that it's Trump who should be more scrutinized, knocking how the media "obsesses" over Biden's age.The New York Times elevated the criticism of CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert, who summarized The Journal's reporting as "old news." Liberal writer Brian Beutler complained on X the piece was an "egregious hit job."SHIELDING BIDEN: JOURNALISTS SHED LIGHT ON THE MEDIA'S COVER-UP OF A WEAKENED PRESIDENTJennifer Rubin, at the time a prominent columnist for The Washington Post, slammed the "shoddy front-page Wall Street Journal article," saying it was "essentially the promotion of a right-wing meme.""The Journals faceplant should lead to a much larger discussion: to what extent and in what way age matters to the performance of the chief executive. Frankly, it has nothing to do with the sort of factors Bidens critics obsess over (e.g., verbal slips, how fast he moves)," Rubin told readers. "Does he misspeak? Does he physically stumble? Focusing on such relatively superficial subjects has come to define political journalism.""A presidents gait, verbal tics and minor recall errors have virtually nothing to do with the job of being president. The White House occupant is not a "Jeopardy!" contestant, a stand-up comic, a talk-show host or guest; the president is the head of the executive branch and commander in chief," she later wrote.Left-wing advocacy group Media Matters For America scoffed at the Wall Street Journal's "comically weak" report."Republicans and their right-wing media propagandists have spent the last four years smearing President Joe Biden as mentally infirm. That argument keeps exploding in their faces when Biden appears before a national audience in debates and speeches, but the presidents mental acuity is a frequent subject of media attention, and polls show voters are concerned about Bidens age," Media Matters wrote. "The Journal is perhaps the most credulous of the major newspapers when it comes to the GOPs campaign to convince the public that Bidens stammer and occasional verbal stumbles indicate he has dementia."The journalism non-profit Poynter Institute attempted to tackle the question of whether the Journal's report was "fair or foul.""Is it a fairly reported story on a pertinent topic? Or is it a pointed piece based pretty much on quotes and opinions from those who dont want to see Biden elected to a second term? Id go with the latter considering the money quote is from McCarthy, another key anecdote was reported by current Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other tales suggesting Bidens decline are flimsy, at best," Poynter Institute's Tom Jones ruled.NYT, MSNBC, PBS JOURNALISTS PRESSED ON HOW THEY COVERED BIDEN'S AGE: WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO SOUL-SEARCHINGLittle did the media know that The Wall Street Journal only scratched the surface of Biden's cognitive decline, which was on full display at the presidential debate and led to his dramatic ousting from the 2024 race. The Journal stood by its report since it was published and its editor-in-chief Emma Tucker said she felt "very much" vindicated following the debate."The reporters took a lot of grief for covering a story that needed to be covered and that no other main stream publishers were willing to touch. I am very proud of them," Tucker told Semafor.Now Democrats and members of the media have been speaking more candidly about Biden since he left office. Some in the media are even singing the praises of the two Wall Street Journal reporters who were once the target of vitriol from their peers in the press."I remember when people worked hard to try to discredit these excellent reporters groundbreaking reporting on Bidens decline. And now everyone agrees they were right all along," CBS News reporter Jan Crawford wrote on X. "Kudos to [Annie Linskey] [Siobhane Hughes] and the @WSJ for never wavering."Crawford continued, "And shame on the @PulitzerPrizes for failing to properly honor the most courageous and deeply sourced original reporting of the past year (or years).""I said it last year before the election, and Ill say it again, the journalism you did was vital, and the smear campaign by Democrats against you two is disgraceful," Tapper told The Journal reporters on his CNN program earlier this month."You're heroic," Tapper told them.Fox News' Brian Flood and David Rutz contributed to this report.

Long-term cannabis use in any form has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease.In a new study, researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana.The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Cardiology on May 28.HEAVY CANNABIS USE COULD POSE THIS THREAT TO THE BRAINThe study included 55 people between 18 and 50 years of age who were "outwardly healthy."The participants were divided into three groups: those who regularly smoked marijuana, those who ate edibles containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and those who didnt use cannabis, according to a UCSF press release.The cannabis users had been consuming the substance at least three times weekly for at least one year.On average, the smokers had the habit for 10 years, while those consuming edibles had been doing so for five years, the release noted.In September 2024, the participants underwent testing to determine how well their blood vessels functioned and whether the cells lining the blood vessels were affected.DEMENTIA RISK CONNECTED TO CANNABIS-RELATED HOSPITAL VISITS, SAYS STUDYAll cannabis users were found to have "decreased vascular function," comparable to those who smoke tobacco.Their blood vessel function was roughly half compared to those who did not use cannabis.This side effect has been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions, the researchers noted.The participants who smoked marijuana were also found to have changes in their blood serum that harmed cells lining their blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, an effect that was not seen in those who ate edible cannabis.The researchers noted that while smoking marijuana and consuming edibles both affect vascular function, they likely do so for different reasons.SHINGLES VACCINE HAS UNEXPECTED EFFECT ON HEART HEALTH"Chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion were associated with endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the endothelial cells lining the inside of blood vessels] similar to that observed in tobacco smokers, although apparently occurring via distinct mechanisms," the researchers wrote."This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign."Dr. Bradley Serwer, a Maryland-based cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, said he was not surprised by the studys findings."We have known that the chronic use of THC-containing compounds can have negative health consequences this study just reaffirms those prior studies," Serwer, who was not involved in the UCSF research, told Fox News Digital.The study did have some limitations."Variability in cannabis strains complicates standardization," the researchers wrote. "Self-reported cannabis use may introduce recall bias; thus, participants were queried at multiple points: in the online survey, at the eligibility interview and before each visit."It was also challenging to determine whether blood vessel function could have also been affected by lifestyle factors like stress, caffeine and secondhand smoke exposure, they noted.Serwer pointed out that this was a "very small" study of only 55 people, all living in the San Francisco Bay area."The study did not allow for variability in the different strains of cannabis, and they used a self-reporting survey, which can be under- or over-reported," he told Fox News Digital."They looked for physiologic endpoints and not hard endpoints, such as heart attacks, strokes or death. We have to infer that the physiologic endpoints would result in cardiovascular events."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERThe cardiologist said he agreed, however, with the conclusion that cannabis use is "not benign.""Chronic use does have potential cardiovascular risks," he warned. "There are therapeutic uses of cannabis, and the decision to use or avoid it should be made with all benefits and risks in mind."In general, Serwer said he cautions all of his patients to avoid any unnecessary cardiac risks."As clinicians, we must weigh the benefits and the risks of a medicine/drug or intervention," he said. "If the risks outweigh the benefits, it should be avoided."For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/healthThe study was funded mainly by the National Institute on Drug Abuse; the California Department of Cannabis Control; the California Tobacco-Related Disease Program; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the FDA Center for Tobacco Products.Fox News Digital reached out to cannabis industry organizations requesting comment.

Mortgage ratesrose again this week, with the average 30-year fixed rate climbing past 6.8%. Thats not just a post-pandemic hangover; its a warning sign. Behind the scenes, rising government debt is putting steady upward pressure on borrowing costs.If your mortgage, car loan, or credit card payments are more expensive than they were a few years ago, youre not alone and despite what you may have heard, its not just because of inflation or Federal Reserve policy. The surge in federal borrowing is helping inflate interest rates across the board.If government debt had stayed at 2015 levels, the typical family could be paying $222 less per month on their mortgage. Go back to 2005 debt levels and the number jumps to $536. Thats real money disappearing from household budgets not because of the jump in home prices, but because Washington cant stop borrowing.DAVID MARCUS: WHY NOBODY WANTS TO CUT THE NATIONAL DEBT DESPITE EVERYONE SAYING THEY SHOULDFor years, economists puzzled over why interest rates kept falling. Aging populations, slower productivity, and foreign demand for American debt were all cited as reasons. One result was that Uncle Sam took advantage and racked up larger deficits and debt. After all, refinancing was affordable at low rates. Another was that Americans got used to lower monthly mortgage payments, auto loans, and other interest rate-related expenses.Now, were grappling with interest rates that have surged and stayed stubbornly high. The change followed a torrent of unfunded federal spending in 2020 and especially 2021 which exploded the deficit, shook investor confidence in Americas long-term fiscal stability, and caused bond markets to react to policymakers fiscal bravado.Mynew researchfor the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, along with a growing body of economic literature, shows the debt itself is pushing up long-term interest rates and by more than some experts are willing to admit. While broader economic changes and policy decisions also play roles, this particular problem is too big to ignore.Over time, as trillions of dollars in debt compound, the Treasury shells out hundreds of billions more in interest payments. Its not just a problem for Washingtons balance sheet. Its a problem for yours.Economists have a term for whats happening: "crowding out." When the government borrows more, it competes with private borrowers for capital. And when two consumers want the same thing, the price usually goes up in this case, the price of borrowing (interest rates).All kinds of important things become more expensive: mortgage payments, car loans, student loans, credit card debt. These are not abstract concerns. They determine whether plenty of families can afford to buy a home, send someone to college or buy a new car or truck. They determine whether someone can start or expand a business and provide more people with jobs.Take housing. Mortgage rates are now hovering near their highest levels in over 20 years. Thats not because lumber or labor costs spiked, but because of the effects offederal borrowing.Student loan interest rates are tied to Treasury yields, which means college graduates are now repaying debt at the highest rates in almost two decades. Auto loan rates are rising too, pricing out lower-income consumers.For Americans with credit card debt (almost half of U.S. households carry a balance) the average interest rate is now around 20%, driven in part by the same upward pressure caused by growing federal debt.These debt-driven rate increases are an invisible tax on all of us. Families feel the squeeze every month. Businesses delay investments. Budding entrepreneurs face higher hurdles.Why arent more economists talking about the problem? Its complicated.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe Congressional Budget Office (CBO), for example, significantly underestimates the effect. Itslatest projectionsassume long-term interest rates will stabilize at lower levels even as government debt as a share of the economy grows. But if debt pushes rates up more than the CBO predicts as most empirical studies now show then its rosy forecasts wont reflect how much the federal government will pay just in interest.Beyond our own households, there are consequences for the whole economy and government. Higher interest costs mean less money for education, infrastructure, or tax relief. They increase the risk of a debt spiral in which interest payments themselves become the fastest-growing part of the budget.Most people understand that the federal governments borrowing binge cant go on forever, and that it will burden future generations of taxpayers. But if youre between the ages of 19 and 99, the tax is probably already hitting you in some way each and every month. The cost of inaction isnt just abstract and long-term, its concrete and already being felt.Just check your mortgage statement.

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After nearly 30 years in the spotlight, Lindsay Lohan took a step back from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and uprooted her life from Los Angeles to Dubai in 2014. Since then, the "Mean Girls" actress, 38, has not only become a wife and a mother, she has found peace within herself.Lohan, who appears on the cover of Elles 2025 Summer Issue, opened up about her life overseas and what she's learned about herself, both personally and professionally, since making the move."Its hard in L.A. Even taking my son to the park in L.A., I get stressed. Im like, Are there cameras? In New York, theres no worry; no one bothers us," said Lohan, who shares 1-year-old son Luai with husband Bader Shammas. "Everyone has their own thing going on. Theres a different kind of energy in New York. Id rather have downtime in New York than I would in L.A."LINDSAY LOHAN DENIES PLASTIC SURGERY CLAIMS, SHARES SECRETS BEHIND HER DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION"But the nice thing about L.A. is, I like space [and you get that here]. But Im thinking as Im saying this, the funny thing is, in Dubai I get all of those things. I get the privacy, I get the peace, I get the space. I dont have to worry there. I feel safe."Lohan, who began working at age 3 and gained stardom with her first movie role in the 1998 remake of "The Parent Trap," was thrown into the thick of Hollywood. Often facing public scrutiny, the "Freaky Friday" star had enough and moved to Dubai in 2014."I feel like some of [my work] got overshadowed by paparazzi and all that kind of stuff when I was younger, and thats kind of annoying. I wish that part didnt happen," Lindsay toldBustle in 2024.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"I feel like that kind of took on a life of its own. So thats why I wanted to disappear. I was like, Unless theresnostory here, theyre not going to focus on just my work."In 2022, Lohan spoke about how she was taking control of her own narrative through social media."When I first started out in the business, none of us had a say in how to control our own narrative," she told Cosmopolitan. "There were paparazzi pictures, and then people ran with it. So I think its really good that, in this day and age, people can say who they are and who they want to be. And I admire and appreciate that. Im a little jealous because I didnt have that. But I think it moves really fast, and I just try to keep up as best I can. And I check everything before I post it. Ill send it to people, because you have to.""You have to take everything people say with a grain of salt and just be you and slow down because everyones so quick right now," she said. "People just dont stop. Youve got to chill."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSAfter moving to Dubai, Lohan quickly learned the power of saying "no" when it comes to picking and choosing professional projects."They teach you to say yes to everything, and thats not really what lifes all about," she told Bustle of her earlier years in the industry. "I was like, What if I never fall in love? What if this never happens?' And it took me just taking time for me for all those doors to open and the yeses to come, the things Iwantedto say 'yes' to."Since her return to the big screen, Lohan, who stars alongside Jamie Lee Curtis in "Freakier Friday," said she's found that prioritizing herself makes a huge difference in her overall well-being.LINDSAY LOHAN THRIVES IN PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL LIFE AS FATHER'S ARREST TOPS YEARS OF FAMILY TURMOIL"[Jamie and I] are both very family-oriented people. We always talk about that, and one of the other big things [shes taught me] is to always take care of yourself first," she told Elle. "Because without that, how can you do everything for everyone else?""I love having a routine, and I like schedules," she continued. "So, my morning routine: waking up, writing in my journal, sipping my green tea, breakfast with my son, and then Pilates, making sure I go."Despite her hectic schedule, Lohan said the "most important thing" in her life is family."I mean, its the most important thing: my husband, my son and me. Its all about balance and, as I said, routine. Especially when you have a kid, routine is the most important thing. And whatever their routine is, Ive got to live by that."Lohan is no stranger to criticism. With fame comes speculative curiosity, especially when it comes to her appearance.Elsewhere in the Elle interview, Lohan shut down rumors that she had a facelift. The star shared the secrets behind the skincare routine that she says has dramatically altered her look."Everyone does Botox," Lohan said. "I drink this juice every morning. Its like carrot, ginger, lemon, olive oil, apple. I also drink a lot of green tea, a lot of water. Im a big pickled beets person, so I put them in almost everything. My skincare is very specific. Im trying out some serums now that Im doing. Im testing them.""Also, Im a big believer in ice-cold water on your face when you wake up," the 38-year-old said. "I drink lemon juice a lot. I also put tons of chia seeds in my water. Eye patches I do every morning. Im into lasers.""I did Morpheus8 (a noninvasive radiofrequency microneedling treatment) once, and then I realized my skin is so thin that I cant be doing that," Lohan said."My skin changed after having my son. It got really sensitive. Thats what really made me change my whole routine and diet and everything. I did blood tests, and I was like, I want to know everything Im allergic to. So I cut everything out, and thats kind of when everything started to change for me."

Todd and Julie Chrisley walked out of prison this week, and this world leader appeared to be shoved in the face. Do you know the details?Test your news knowledge with this week's Fox News Digital News Quiz.Looking for more fun?Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called a U.S. demand "utter nonsense" in last week's News Quiz.Test yourself on country classics and patriotic practices in this week's American Culture Quiz.If you're looking to play even more, you can find all of our quizzes by clicking here.Check back next week for the latest News Quiz from Fox News Digital. Thanks for playing!