A federal appeals court ruled that Alabama prosecutors violated the constitutional rights of a Black man who was sentenced to death in 1990, noting that Black people were rejected from the jury during his trial.Michael Sockwell, 62, is now eligible for a retrial after ruling on Monday by a three-judge panel on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was convicted of killing former Montgomery County Sheriff Isaiah Harris in 1988 when he was 26-years-old.In a 2-1 opinion, the panel ruled that Alabama prosecutors violated Sockwell's 14th Amendment rights by "repeatedly and purposefully" rejecting potential Black jurors who were believed to be more sympathetic since they shared the same race.Prosecutors argued that Harris' wife hired Sockwell to kill Harris because she wanted to cover up an affair she was having and collect her husband's insurance money.'MORBIDLY OBESE' FLORIDA MAN WHO ADMITTED TO KILLING MIAMI HERALD EMPLOYEE EXECUTED TUESDAYThere were no witnesses to the shooting and Sockwell initially told officials in a videotaped confession that he killed Harris. During his trial, Sockwell testified that officers threatened to beat and kill him before his confession and that they deprived him of food and water.Sockwell then testified that the man who was having an affair with Harris' wife killed the former sheriff. Sockwell also denied ever receiving money to kill Harris.Attorneys for Sockwell say he has a low IQ that disqualifies him from the death penalty.FLORIDA EXECUTES CONVICTED MURDERER, CHILD RAPIST BY LETHAL INJECTION AFTER SCOTUS DENIES APPEALSThe jury voted 7-5 to sentence Sockwell to life in prison, but the judge overruled the decision and sentenced him to death. Alabama no longer allows a judge to override a jurys sentence in capital cases.Sockwell's attorneys appealed the decision, arguing that the prosecutors unconstitutionally used race as the basis for jury selection and rejected 80% of the potential Black jurors who were eligible for his trial, compared to only 20% of White jurors who were rejected. The appeal pointed to notes from the prosecutor that rejected one juror who she described as "a Black male, approximately twenty-three years of age, which would put him very close to the same race, sex, and age of" Sockwell.Judge Robert J. Luck, an appointee of President Donald Trump, dissented, arguing that the prosecutor noted the race of potential White jurors too, which the judge said indicated race was not a disqualifying factor for jurors in Sockwells case.The opinion written by Judge Charles Wilson, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, also cited four other cases in the years leading up to Sockwell's case, in which the state prosecutor appeared to have illegally rejected Black jurors based solely on their race, demonstrating a "pattern" of choosing juries with "discriminatory intent."Luck pushed back on the claim that the prosecutor had a pattern of discrimination, saying 17% of the jury in Sockwell's trial was Black out of a jury pool that was 24% Black to begin with.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A fireworks facility in Yolo County, California caught fire and exploded on Tuesday, according to fire officials.Fire crews responded to the blaze along County Road 23 and County Road 86A in Esparto, California, shortly before 6 p.m.Evacuations were ordered in the area as crews continued to battle the blaze. It was still actively burning late Tuesday night. A one-mile evacuation area has been placed around the scene, the Yolo County Sheriff's Office said.CHILLING IMAGE SHOWS IDAHO FIREFIGHTER AMBUSH SUSPECT IN WAR PAINT BEFORE DEADLY ATTACK"We strongly urge everyone to continue avoiding the area for the next several days so that fire crews, law enforcement, and emergency personnel can do their jobs safely and effectively," the sheriff's office said.The fire burned more than 70 acres as of late Tuesday night, according to Cal Fire.An outbuilding was destroyed in the fire, but no homes were lost, Cal Fire said.A large plume of black smoke was seen at the facility, where multiple explosions happened. Fireworks could be seen going off in the blaze.CALIFORNIA POLICE MAKE GRUESOME FELINE DISCOVERY IN U-HAUL VAN; OWNER FACES ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGESThe State Fire Marshal has sent an arson and bomb investigation team to the area, according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.Esparto Fire Protection District Chief Curtis Lawrence said at a news briefing just after 9 p.m. that crews would maintain a safe perimeter around the main fire throughout the night, as they put out spot fires around the area, according to KCRA.No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.

A Florida teen is behind bars after threatening to shoot up a McDonalds for messing up his order, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Department.Dayton Schaffer, 18, is charged with a false report concerning the use of a firearm against a person(s) and misuse of a two-way communication device, according to the sheriff's office.Schaffer was arrested after the manager of a north Lakeland McDonald's called the police to report that someone had called threatening to shoot up the restaurant for getting his order wrong, according to the PCSD.FLORIDA MAN SHOT AFTER POINTING BB GUN THAT RESEMBLED 'REALISTIC-LOOKING' RIFLE AT OFFICERS: POLICEThe person, later identified as Schaffer, allegedly made three calls to the location at around 11:30 p.m. on June 30.According to the post on X, Schaffer admitted to the officers that he had made the phone calls. When asked why, he allegedly told police it was because McDonald's messed up his $5 meal deal.FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED AFTER SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE CAPTURES DAYLIGHT ROAD RAGE SHOOTOUTSchaffer claimed that it was a joke, but the Polk County Sheriffs Department said on X that they didnt get the punchline.He was ultimately arrested by Polk County deputies.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAccording to the official Florida Legislature website, a false report can carry a second-degree felony charge. The misuse of a two-way communication device can carry a third-degree felony charge.

Theres a phrase I keep hearing these days: TAKE THE WIN.It can be applied to anyone Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, AOC who notches a victory and then insists on demanding more, however unrealistic that might be.What brings this to mind is an extraordinary essay by Andrew Sullivan in the New York Times.GAY JOURNALIST SAYS LGBTQ MOVEMENT HAS GONE FROM CIVIL RIGHTS SUCCESS TO 'MADNESS'It was Sullivan a gay, British conservative Catholic running the New Republic who first made the case for gay marriage back in 1989."As it has become more acceptable for gay people to acknowledge their loves publicly, more and more have committed themselves to one another for life in full view of their families and their friends. A law institutionalizing gay marriage would merely reinforce a healthy social trend."The cover story was wildly unpopular and viewed as extremist. Despite his optimism, many gays remained closeted, including in the media, for fear of repercussions.Gays in the military, before Bill Clinton, were subject to discharge or court-martial. So Sullivans dream was seen as a faraway fantasy.Christian conservative Gary Bauer, on "Crossfire," said "this is the loopiest idea ever to come down the pike. Why are we even discussing it?"In the spring of 1996, Andrew came to me and asked me to break the story that he had AIDS, and, in part, thats why he was resigning as the New Republics editor. He said hed known he had the disease for three years but was in good health."Its an awful burden being lifted," he told me. "Its hard enough to battle the disease, but when theres a secret about it, you cant help but tap into feelings of shame and guilt that just destroy you."NATION'S LARGEST PROTESTANT DENOMINATION CALLS FOR OVERTURNING SUPREME COURT DECISION LEGALIZING GAY MARRIAGEIt was not until 2015, after 37 states had already acted (with some overturned), that the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage the law of the land. And when straight couples realized their own marriages were unaffected, it gradually faded as a hot political issue.Polls now show that seven in 10 Americans support gay marriage. Gays now serve openly in the Cabinet and in state houses."As civil rights victories go," Sullivan, still in generally good health, writes in the Times, "it doesnt get more decisive or comprehensive than this."The issue is getting plenty of media play because its the 10th anniversary of the SCOTUS ruling.But now comes the overreach.Rather than declare victory and close up shop, the movement lurched in a dangerous new direction.Sullivan says he always supported civil rights for transgender people. And I feel the same way.But gay rights groups, with money pouring in, tried to replace the distinction between men and women with "gender identity" and that meant an embrace of gender-altering surgery for minors. That is an issue opposed by roughly 80 percent of the country.LAWYER LEADING SJSU TRANSGENDER LAWSUIT REACTS TO CONTROVERSIAL PROBE INTO TRANS ATHLETE'S ALLEGED MISCONDUCTAlong with an obsession with pronouns, the movement also backed letting trans women compete in womens sports, another issue that most people find unfair, viewing them as men.The new mantra, according to Sullivan: "TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN. TRANS MEN ARE MEN." President Trump has ordered trans military members booted from the service.Sullivan, no fan of the president, says some activists reflexively oppose whatever Trump supports."Dissenters from gender ideology are routinely unfriended, shunned and shamed. Almost all of the gay men, trans people and lesbians who have confided in me [say] that they dont agree with this"Leave children out of it. We knew very well that any overreach there could provoke the most ancient libel against us: that we groom and abuse kids."SUBSCRIBE TO HOWIE'S MEDIA BUZZMETER PODCAST, A RIFF ON THE DAY'S HOTTEST STORIESThis is one mans opinion; Sullivan allows he may be "just another old fart."As if to underscore his point about intolerance, a poster on Reddit called the piece an "incoherent mishmash" and says Sullivan is "blaming trans and LGBTQ+ activists for conservative attacks on the trans community." This from "an aging gay man whose brain is soaked in prejudice and fear."Plenty of people may disagree with Andrew Sullivans analysis; Republican support for same-sex unions falls below 50 percent. But as the first man to crusade for gay marriage 36 years ago, and openly discuss his battle with HIV, Id say hes earned the right to be heard.

The Department of Homeland Security is pulling back the curtain on widespread abuse and exploitation of unaccompanied minors who crossed the U.S. border during the last administration and were placed with unvetted sponsors.DHS launched a national child welfare initiative in February to identify and locate at-risk kids who may have been placed with improperly vetted or unvetted sponsors some of whom had been paid off by smugglers when they came to the United States."Childrens safety and security is non-negotiable," ICE spokesperson Laszlo Baksay said in a statement. "The previous administrations failure to implement meaningful safeguards has allowed vulnerable kids to fall into the hands of criminals. Our special agents are working tirelessly to locate these alien children, ensure their protection, and hold accountable those who have abused the system."DHS added that since the agency launched its child welfare initiative, officials have discovered sponsors in possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), sponsors who forced minors into labor, and sponsors who subjected children to neglectful living conditions.WHISTLEBLOWER ACCUSES BIDEN ADMIN OF LEAVING THOUSANDS OF MIGRANT CHILD TRAFFICKING REPORTS UNINVESTIGATEDIn addition, officials also traced the records of sponsors previously convicted of serious crimes ranging from hit-and-runs and attempted murder to prostitution and drug trafficking.In some of "the most disturbing cases," sponsors falsely claiming to be the family members of unaccompanied minor girls impregnated those girls when they were placed in their sponsors' care, according to DHS and Chris Clem, former U.S. Border Patrol chief at the Yuma, Arizona, sector. Clem helped advise the Trump administration's Health and Human Services Department on solutions for unaccompanied minors during the president's first 100 days in office."While that had begun on Inauguration Day, because of the backlog of cases, the information was poor at best in so many of these instances," Clem said of the child welfare initiative. "It was taking more time. And so we put a lot of things in place that everything is lining up. There should be zero controversy regarding protecting the children. Regardless of the ideologues that are out there, accounting for these children is critical."TRUMP IMMIGRATION ADVISOR TARGETS CRIMINALS EXPLOITING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS WHO ENTERED US UNDER BIDENClem added that as a former Border Patrol agent and chief, he knew there were issues "that were not being addressed" regarding unaccompanied minors during the last administration, when millions of illegal immigrants entered the country from the southern border.The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which argues for lower levels of immigration overall, estimates that as of March 2025, there were approximately 18.6 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S., representing a population that has grown by approximately 28.2% or 4.1 million since December 2020.FEDS LOST TRACK OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN AFTER RELEASE: DHS OIG REPORTThis week, new Border Patrol data revealed that zero migrants were released into the United States in May, signaling an overwhelming turnaround since 62,000 were released into the country under the Biden administration at the same time last year."We knew from a law enforcement perspective, our job was to do the immediate safety check, and then we had to process the kids and place them in custody of Office of Refugee [Resettlement]. Now, what happened from there, we didn't have specifics, but we knew it was government. We knew there [were] probably problems the vetting and being able to ask questions to the kids was never something we were really allowed to do."DHS SETS RECORD STRAIGHT AFTER VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMS CHILDREN OF TDA GANG MEMBERS WERE 'KIDNAPPED'Clem said the "expectation of the American public that our government is serving the kids in the best interest was absolutely necessary.""So that's why it's important to me, because it's protecting children, and it's doing what the majority of Americans expect us to do as a government and that's, at the very least, take care of these children," the former Border Patrol chief said.DHS PUSHES BACK AGAINST CLAIMS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents have been conducting welfare checks on migrant children who crossed the border unaccompanied. The welfare checks are designed to assess the children's situations and ensure they are receiving appropriate care and not being abused or trafficked, according to DHS."Our agents are doing what shouldve been done all along: protecting children, not pushing them into the shadows," Baksay said. "This is the responsibility of any government, Republican or Democrat, but it was the Trump administration that insisted on rigorous sponsor screening and biometric verification. Those guardrails were dismantled, and were now seeing the consequences."If an ICE HSI officer encounters adults living in the United States illegally, they will take those people into custody and process them for removal, while unaccompanied children living in the United States illegally are transferred to Office of Refugee Resettlement custody, DHS said.Fox News Digital's Taylor Penley contributed to this report.

Archaeologists in a historic city recently came across the remnants of an expansive medieval hospital.The discovery was announced by the City of York Council on June 9. The ancient remains were found in a "void," or sinkhole, that had recently opened on the street of St Leonard's Place in York in the United Kingdom."The archaeological find was discovered as work was taking place to repair the sinkhole on St Leonards Place," the council said in a statement.ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER 'SENSATIONAL' ARTIFACTS UNDER HISTORIC MONASTERY'S FLOOR"The void, which is in the middle of the road outside York Theatre Royal, was made safe before contractors and archaeology teams began investigation works."The find is believed to be the remnants of St. Leonard's Hospital built between the 12th and 13th centuries.Pictures show ancient bricks hiding several inches beneath the street.The hospital was "one of the largest" in Northern England during the Middle Ages, the council said.HISTORY BUFF UNCOVERS LOST MEDIEVAL MONASTERY THANKS TO STRANGE MAP SYMBOLThe property originally stretched from York's Museum Gardens to the city's Theatre Royal, the council's statement noted.After the English Reformation, the area was used as a royal mint earning the name "Mint Yard.""Mint Yard [was] demolished several hundred years ago and a road made on top of it," the statement added.By the 19th century, the city council said, the Mint Yard buildings were "a warren of residencies, yards and stables and were demolished to make way [for] the new Georgian streetscape in 1836, as it became one of the most fashionable parts of the city at the time."The council added, "The demolished parts of the city walls were then used to create a base for their new road, which we now know as St Leonards Place."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERKate Ravilious, a member of the City of York Council, thanked the public for their patience during the archaeological work."We knew that there is a lot of complex archaeology in the area dating back to the Roman legionary fortress," Ravilious said in a statement.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"Throughout the works, we have been [alert] to this while doing all we can to get off site as quickly as possible. However, these finds, while fascinating, have set our timescales back a bit."The discovery comes over a month after experts found proof of a gladiatorial fight with a lion in the same English city.The findings came after experts analyzed a skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York. Experts said that gladiators' remains presented "unusual lesions."Fox News Digital reached out to the City of York Council, but did not immediately hear back.

Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger is expected to plead guilty Wednesday when he returns to court after accepting a deal earlier this week in a move that has been slammed by some of the victims' family members.Kohberger, 30, is accused of killing University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, in a 4 a.m. home invasion attack Nov. 13, 2022.He may not have to explain the crime as part of the plea agreement, a source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise at 11 a.m."By taking a plea deal, Bryan Kohberger has insulated himself from a sentence that would require his execution," Idaho defense lawyer Edwina Elcox, who has had cases in front of Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler, told Fox News Digital. "Only a jury can sentence him to death. Regardless, he will likely spend the rest of his life in prison, without the possibility of ever being in society again."FAMILY OF VICTIM IN BRYAN KOHBERGER CASE SAY THEY WERE SENT INTO 'PANIC MODE' AFTER PLEA DEALTwo sources confirmed Kohberger's intent to accept a plea deal to Fox News Digital Monday, just weeks before jury selection was slated to begin for his trial in August.Hippler will now decide at Wednesday's hearing whether to accept or deny Kohberher's plea."Hopefully, this will bring the families some peace, if that is even possible after such a horrifying crime," Elcox said. "They will not have to go through the stress of a trial and the virtually guaranteed appeal process, in the event Kohberger was convicted at trial. The judge will take his guilty plea and then set a hearing for Kohberger to be sentenced. He can absolutely expect to spend the rest of his life behind bars."BRYAN KOHBERGER ACCEPTS PLEA DEAL IN IDAHO STUDENT MURDERS CASEThe Idaho defense lawyer further described the decision as "a good deal" for Kohberger, who could have faced execution by firing squad in Idaho if convicted of the four murders."[I]f death is off the table, this is a good deal. From all the information that came out, it was becoming an insurmountable task to mount a defense. I would expect that Judge Hippler will make him allocute to the crimes though," Elcox said before more details of Kohberger's deal emerged.BRYAN KOHBERGER COULD ESCAPE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE OF LEAKED EVIDENCE AIRED DURING TV EPISODE: FMR PROSECUTORFormer NYPD inspector and Fox News contributor Paul Mauro said he was shocked by Kohberger's decision to accept a plea deal."At this stage, we're going right into jury selection. We're a couple of weeks out from the beginning of this thing. You've had a change of venue. The defense has lost every motion. The prosecution could not have looked more like they were in the driver's seat on this thing. And, all of a sudden, you get a deal that looks like the prosecution almost dealt from weakness," Mauro said.Mauro noted that the Idaho Victims Rights Act requires prosecutors to confer with victims' families prior to this type of decision, but the Goncalves family said in statements Monday they received an email with a letter attached about the plea deal, rather than a phone call."It's almost like snatching a defeat from the jaws of victory," Mauro said.JUDGE RULES DEATH PENALTY TO REMAIN AS POSSIBLE PUNISHMENT AMID BRYAN KOHBERGER AUTISM DIAGNOSISShanon Gray, an attorney for the Goncalves family, said in a statement the "death penalty is merely an illusion in the criminal justice system.""When available, it serves as a bargaining tool for the state, and when rarely applied, its never enforced due to a highly inefficient appellate process," Gray said. "The notion that someone can plead guilty to a crime and still face years of appellate delays reveals a systemic failure.BRYAN KOHBERGER CASE: SURVIVING ROOMMATE SAW XANA KERNODLE ON FLOOR AFTER ENCOUNTER WITH MASKED INTRUDER"We werent even called about the plea; we received an email with a letter attached," the statement continued. "Thats how Latah Countys Prosecutors Office treats murder victims families. Adding insult to injury, theyre rushing the plea, giving families just one day to coordinate and appear at the courthouse for a plea on July 2."Steve Goncalves told NewsNation Monday the plea deal decision is "anything but justice." He further commended law enforcement for their work in investigating the case, noting that "the failure was at the court level.""The fault is in leadership and the people that you place this evidence upon. They were weak," Goncalves said.Goncalves added that he met with prosecutors regularly, but no one called him about Kohberger's decision to accept a plea deal.Gray told NewsNation he expected Hippler to accept Kohberger's plea Wednesday and move on to his sentencing in the next "few weeks," when victims will be able to give victim impact statements in court.Ethan Chapin was a triplet. His two siblings recalled the moment they found out from a friend what had happened to the 20-year-old and his girlfriend, Kernodle, in their home off the University of Idaho campus Nov. 13, 2022, in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America" recorded before news of the plea deal emerged."I was like, 'Where's Ethan and Xana?'" Hunter Chapin, Ethan's brother, said of that morning, when he walked to the house where Ethan was staying after hearing there were police outside. "And [a friend was] like, 'They're not here anymore.' It's like, 'What do you mean they're not here anymore?' He's like, 'I think they were murdered last night.'"Stacy Chapin, Ethan's mother, told GMA she was in a grocery store when she received a call from Hunter, who repeatedly said, "He's not here anymore," to which he responded, "'Well, go get him. Go find him.'"And he just kept saying it," Stacy Chapin said. "And he goes, 'No, Mom. You don't understand. Ethan and Xana,' I think he said, 'are not on this earth anymore.'"She said that within hours of receiving the news about Ethan, she made a commitment to keep her family intact."The first thing that I told these kids was, 'I do not know what in the hell has just happened to our family right now, but this isn't gonna sink us. We will carry on,'" Stacy Chapin told GMA. "It will look different, it's gonna feel different. But we will do it."These two deserve a lifetime of happiness. I mean, they have seen the very bottom," she told GMA. "I'd do anything for them."

President Donald Trumps latest crusade against the media has focused on CNN and The New York Times, but journalists say theyre unfazed despite legal threats from the commander-in-chief.Trump, who has a decades-long history of litigation that long predates his time in politics, has launched major lawsuits in the past year against CBS News, ABC News, TheDes Moines Register, and thePulitzer Prize board, while threatening other news organizations and suggesting reporters will be pressured to reveal their sources on stories about the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities."These days, threats from the president have become business as usual for journalists. It wont stop us from doing our jobs," New York Times White House correspondent Peter Baker told Fox News Digital.TRUMP GOES AFTER CNN, NY TIMES FOR FAKE NEWS ABOUTSTRIKES ON IRANIAN NUCLEAR FACILITIESTrump repeatedly criticizedCNN and The New York Times in recent days for reporting what he called "fake news" about the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, with reports from both outlets suggesting they did not effectively destroy the countrys nuclear programs. A personal attorney forthe presidentcalled the Times reporting "false," "defamatory" and "unpatriotic," while threatening legal action. He also threatened to sue CNN over its reporting."Its not affecting my day at all," a CNN journalist told Fox News Digital.While Trump told "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo that he wants to see people prosecuted for the leak of a classified early U.S. intelligence assessment used by CNN and the Times, Baker believes covering the strike on Iran was critical."Its hard to think of anything more central to our journalistic mission than to report on the effects of a war involving a nuclear program," Baker added, directing Fox News Digital to a letter Times senior vice president David McCraw, who serves as the papers lead newsroom attorney, penned last week.NEW YORK TIMES ATTORNEY TELLS TRUMP NO APOLOGY COMING FOR COVERAGE OF IRAN STRIKES"Its a pretty good summation of our view," Baker said.McCraw shot down the notion that any apology or retraction is on the horizon and said that Americans deserve to know whether the attack on Iran was a success."We rely on our intelligence services to provide the kind of impartial assessment that we all need in a democracy to judge our countrys foreign policy and the quality of our leaders decisions. It would be irresponsible for a news organization to suppress that information and deny the public the right to hear it," McCraw wrote."We told the truth to the best of our ability. We will continue to do so."Meanwhile, Trump scored a victory in his lawsuit against CBS News late Tuesday night, as Paramount Global settled to the tune of $16 million. That amount will cover legal fees, costs of the case, and contributions to his library or charitable causes, to be determined at Trumps discretion. There is an expectation that there will be another allocation in the mid-eight figures set aside for advertisements, public service announcements, or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes by the network, Fox News Digital has learned. CBS CORRESPONDENT SCOTT PELLEY HITS TRUMP FOR SUING JOURNALISTS FOR NOTHING IN FIERY COMMENCEMENT SPEECH"60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley previously said a settlement would be "very damaging to CBS, to Paramount, to the reputation of those companies." Other high-profile CBS journalists, such as Lesley Stahl, were vehemently against a settlement."The unanimous view at 60 Minutes is that there should be no settlement, and no money paid, because the lawsuit is complete bulls---," one veteran "60 Minutes" producer told Fox News Digital last month.However, Shari Redstone, Paramount's controlling shareholder who recused herself from settlement discussions in February, made clear that she wanted to settle Trump's lawsuit in hopes of clearing the pathway for Paramount's multibillion-dollar planned merger with Skydance Media, which needs approval from the Trump administration's FCC.Trump also received $15 million from ABC last year to settle a defamation lawsuit brought when its top anchor, George Stephanopoulos, falsely asserted that he was found "liable for rape" in a civil case during a contentious interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., in March.In 2018, USA Today investigative reporter Nick Penzenstadler examined what he called Trumps "Ill sue you" effect."The threats can be effective," Penzenstadler wrote at the time. "Even the possibility of a lawsuit by a rich, powerful opponent raises the specter of years of expensive and time-consuming litigation."'60 MINUTES' PRODUCERS RAIL AGAINST TRUMP'S 'BULLS---' LAWSUIT, DREAD PROSPECTS OF PARAMOUNT MAKING SETTLEMENTA longtime media industry executive with a history of overseeing newsrooms feels "Trump has shown that theres actually bark to his bite" over the past few years, and it would be wise for news organizations to attempt fairness when covering the administration."He will go after these media companies that have never been held accountable before for bias. He files the lawsuits in the south, where the New York media organizations are at a disadvantage," the media executive told Fox News Digital."ABC and CBS were easy marks because their parent companies had more important business with Trump than coddling the egos of George Stephanopoulos and Scott Pelley. In the case of the Times and CNN, however, especially with CNN being spun off, these smaller news organizations may be willing to fight harder and longer," they continued. "But they should gear up for a drawn-out, ugly battle in a southern courtroom with embarrassing discovery processes and unsympathetic judges and juries."The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Trump also nodded along on Tuesday as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she was working with the Justice Department to see if CNN can be "prosecuted" for a recent segment about an app that tracks the location of ICE agents. CNN has said there is "nothing illegal" about reporting on the existence of an app.CNN has also stood by its reporting on the Iran strike."CNN stands by our thorough reporting on an early intelligence assessment of the recent strikes on Irans nuclear facilities, which has since been confirmed by other news organizations. The White House has acknowledged the existence of the assessment, and their statement is included in our story," a CNN spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

When you think of quintessential American pastimes, right up there with apple pie and Little League Baseball are fundamentally wrong hot takes following closely watched political campaigns. Much ink has already been spilled covering Tuesdays Democratic primary election in the Big Apple which saw Zohran Mamdanis convincing win over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.At one point during the race, Cuomo enjoyed a 30-point lead in the polls, but over the last few months, Mamdani was able to close the gap and ultimately overtake the former governor due in large part to an aggressive social media and field effort fueled by popular progressive views and endorsements that included Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.Mamdani won because he ran a spirited, engaging campaign that spoke to the frustrations of so many New Yorkers when it came to the high cost of living. It didnt hurt that the race also became a choice between a fresh newcomer and a scandal-plagued, establishment figure who appeared to resent the very notion of campaigning.Within minutes of the race being called, leading conservatives declared Mamdani as the de-facto leader of the Democratic Party, practically salivating at the opportunity to tie national Democrats to the 33-year-old democratic socialist. Democrats should not take the bait.NYC'S SHOCKING SOCIALIST VICTORY IS A DIRE WARNING FOR THE RIGHTRather, I would argue that the two de-facto leaders of my party in 2025 are two pragmatic, center-left women from Congress who also happen to be the nominees for governor in New Jersey and Virginia.On June 10, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., decisively won her primary in the Garden State by 15 points, besting five other well-known and well-funded candidates. Just one week later, former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., having already done the hard work of clearing the field, made it official by running up the score in Virginias primary election.Both women were elected to Congress in 2018, flipping competitive GOP-held districts. In Sherrills case, she replaced a Republican who had been there for nearly 25 years, winning and keeping one of the toughest districts in the state by leaning into her experience as a bridge-building, no-nonsense U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and former federal prosecutor.LIZ PEEK: NEW YORK'S SOCIALIST NIGHTMARE IS JUST BEGINNING BUT THERE'S STILL A WAY OUTSpanberger is cut from the same cloth, having served previously as a CIA officer and counter-terrorism professional re-elected to the same congressional district that voted for Virginias Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021 and President Trump before that.Sherrill and Spanberger arent social media stars. They dont lean into performative politics, and theyre not interested in courting controversy. Like their careers in national security before government, theyre doing the actual work of listening, coalition building and legislating.Ideology tests may win primaries in deeply blue districts, but both women understand that persuasion not purity is what wins general elections and builds durable Democratic majorities in the years to come.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONTo be clear, this isnt about silencing progressive voices. Believe me, I want a tent as big as possible and party activists who push the envelope and raise awareness of injustices in our society and government plays an important role. But activism alone is not the same as governing, and passing legislation isnt achieved through catchy slogans or TikTok memes but rather through the hard work of consensus building.During the primary in Virginia, Spanberger crisscrossed the commonwealth talking about kitchen-table economics, supporting the federal workforce and public safety. Similarly, Sherrill focused relentlessly on affordability, infrastructure and defending individual freedoms without veering into ideological dogma in the Garden State.Its also important to point out that both women won without compromising on core Democratic values. Both are pro-democracy, pro-choice and pro-growth candidates that are grounded and mission-driven.Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger are showing Democrats the way forward and will win in November. We should follow their lead.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM KEVIN WALLING

The prosecution has rested its case against Sean "Diddy" Combs, and now the wait begins.After several weeks of testimony from 34 witnesses, well soon learn whether the music mogul will be found guilty of the sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges against him.The prosecution built a case around coercion, while the defense upholds its stance of consent.Although Combs has pleaded not guilty on all counts and denied all allegations, many of the witnesses testimonies will be difficult for jurors to overlook.DIDDY PROSECUTORS ABANDON MULTIPLE CHARGES AGAINST RAPPER DAYS BEFORE TRIAL'S ENDCassie Ventura, musicianAmong the most compelling testimony was from Cassie Ventura, who dated Combs on-and-off for nearly a decade. Prior to these charges, she filed a lawsuit with accusations of rape and physical and emotional abuse against Combs, which was quickly settled.At the time, the amount was not disclosed, though during the current case proceedings, it was revealed that the amount was $20 million. She detailed multiple instances of abuse by Combs, which was corroborated by others who testified at the trial.Dawn Richard, former Danity Kane memberAs a former member of Danity Kane, a famous girl group that Combs formed, Richard testified that she witnessed Combs assaulting Ventura on several different occasions.CAN DIDDY PROSECUTORS MAKE THEIR CASE? MUSIC MOGUL TRIAL POSES MAJOR CHALLENGESOn the stand, she detailed a specific outburst of Combs yelling at Ventura about eggs and grabbing the skillet to try and hit her over the head, causing Ventura to fall to the ground. Other first-hand accounts included several instances of Combs hitting Ventura with a closed fist on the face and in the stomach.Personal Assistants and Hotel ManagersSeveral of Combs former personal assistants also testified in regards to the infamous "freak-offs" Combs allegedly hosted. Also called to the witness stand were several hotel managers, including Frederic Zemmour, general manager of the LErmitage in Beverly Hills. He testified in the guest profile notes for Combs, which included mentions of candle wax on everything and an excessive amount of oil, which caused a need for deep cleaning of the suite.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONFederal AgentsIn addition to first-hand experiences and witness accounts, prosecutors also relied on testimony from U.S. Attorney's Office Special Agent DeLeassa Penland to show evidence, such as paying hotel bills and airline tickets, that Combs used his business empire to covertly run a criminal enterprise.Penlands testimony was also important to show the jury portion of videos Combs took of the alleged "freak-offs," where he coerced women into sex and used the video footage against them. Defense lawyers for Combs dont deny activities but rather argue that the videos show consensual acts among the participating adults.Combs is charged with crimes that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 15 years for sex trafficking, if convicted. He has pleaded not guilty to the crimes since the beginning and previously rejected a plea deal which could have reduced his sentence.The jury is tasked with deciding if Combs is guilty of the specific crimes he is charged with, nothing more, nothing less. The question is: Did the prosecution make their case that Combs acts were abusive and coerced or forced, or will he walk free?CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM KELLY HYMAN