After winning his first Stanley Cup in 2024, Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, admittedly, lacked some motivation to get back on the ice."That was my biggest dream in this game of hockey. So, of course, I got that feeling," the 2013 second-overall pick said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "When I thought, OK, it's time to start training again, it was really, really hard. Like, it's just really hard to get up and go somewhere for a run or for a lift or something like that."But then, he thought about the "big picture" and remembered that lifting the Stanley Cup is "the best feeling in hockey."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMNow, the Panthers have a chance to do something not accomplished since the early 1980s win three consecutive Stanley Cups, and Barkov already "is thinking about next year.""To get that celebration again, to enjoy the season again with the team, go through the ups and downs and write another story and achieve that. So that kind of got me going. And we achieved it again. It wasn't easy at all. Mentally, it was really hard all year, but we did our best, we tried our best, and it was enough this year. But now, I have a better feeling about it. I cant wait to get going again."Perhaps his Celsius partnership fueled him in the middle of the season. The energy drink's 200 milligrams of caffeine helped Barkov get through those grueling days during the hockey year. For him, it's also a partnership that hits close to him the headquarters are in nearby Boca Raton (the Panthers play in Sunrise), and he said Celsius is becoming a hit in his home country of Finland."Thats how I'm trying to live as an athlete. I'm trying to eat the right way. I'm trying to sleep the right way, recover, practice, train, whatever I do, I'm thinking about becoming a better athlete for the next day, for the next game," he said. "So I think Celsius fits that really well, because they have everything I need in one drink. It tastes really good as well, so I don't have to force it into myself. It keeps me awake when I need it the most, all the vitamins that I need throughout the day are there. So it's just a total package in one drink."BRUINS EYEING SHOCKING REUNION WITH FRANCHISE LEGEND AFTER STANLEY CUP SUCCESS: REPORTSome extra motivation? Maybe the fact that he needs to come up with new ideas on how to celebrate with the Stanley Cup (he said 48 consecutive hours of celebration was his max)."We get to spend one day individually with the Cup, so that will be a challenge. I did everything I needed to do last year. I showed it to literally everyone I needed to show. So this year, probably taking a little easier and maybe spend more time just me and the Cup," Barkov joked.One idea, obviously, is to "pour a Celsius into it and just sip on it." He did also bring it to his neighbors' houses in the wee hours of the morning.But first, it will be another 82-game season, and then needing to win 16 more games in the postseason to lift the best trophy in sports again."For me, I feel better right now to continue working, to continue getting better," Barkov said. "Because, well, last year, first time winning, it feels like, OK, now I've done everything I wanted, I dreamed about. Now, after doing it a second time, it's the best feeling in hockey. You go through the long season, tough season with your team, and you battle through everything, and then you get to lift the Cup. And for us to have a chance to do it three times in a row, that's already a big motivation, because not too many teams have done it in such a long history."Obviously, we just won, so well celebrate this one a little bit, but already thinking about next year, how big of a chance we have to make even bigger history. And that's what already drives me forward."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

NHL players will be permitted to play in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games after a deal was reached Wednesday.The NHL, NHLPA, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee confirmed NHL players will be allowed, which was negotiated initially last year.This confirmation will now allow NHL players to participate for their countries in the Olympics for the first time since 2014.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Olympic participation will showcase the skill and talent of NHL players on an international stage. We are proud to collaborate with the IIHF, NHLPA and IOC to bring the best hockey players in the world to the Olympics and make this happen in a way that benefits the game globally," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.Marty Walsh, the executive director of the NHLPA, added, "Best-on-best international tournaments like the Olympics provide the opportunity to create extraordinary moments for our players and fans alike. The return to the Olympics marks a monumental moment for hockey, and we thank our partners the NHL, IOC and IIHF for this collaborative process."The skill and passion on display in Milano Cortina will build off the excitement of the 4 Nations Face-Off and continue our game's global growth."IOC UPHOLDS BAN ON RUSSIAN TEAMS AHEAD OF 2026 WINTER OLYMPICSSome may have had doubts about a deal going through because it took so long to put pen to paper.But this deal will also allow NHL player participation in the 2030 Games in the French Alps.The 2026 mens hockey tournament will begin Feb. 11 and run through Feb. 22.Hockey fans got a taste of whats to come in Milano Cortina during the 4 Nations Face-Off, which featured NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.There was particular tension between Canada and the U.S., fueled in part by President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus rift off the ice. Fans booed during the countries' national anthems during games. On the ice, a brawl broke out in Montreal before the U.S. defeated Canada.However, when the 4 Nations Face-Off Final reached the TD Garden in Boston, it was Canada getting an overtime victory.There will be 12 participating countries in next years hockey tournament: Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, France, Czechia, Canada, United States, Latvia, Germany and Denmark.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

EXCLUSIVE: Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom's press office made a social media post mocking the latest announcement by the U.S. Department of Education that the state had violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes in women's sports.Newsom's press office X account mocked U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon with an old clip of her being body-slammed during a WWE skit. The clip was of current Knox County Mayor Glenn Thomas Jacobs, also known as "Kane," hitting McMahon with move known as the "tombstone piledriver" during an episode of "Monday Night Raw" in the early 2000s.The post incited mass backlash by Californians and women's rights activists across the nation. Now McMahon has responded to the controversial social media post.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"I think what that said is that Gavin Newsom doesnt really take this seriously at all. And I was surprised that that was the clip that he used," McMahon told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "He was trying to be funny on a very serious matter. We have women who are training to compete in these sports who lose scholarship and sponsorship opportunities, who get injured, who are compelled to be in dressing rooms or their intimate spaces with men, and that is absolutely unfair."McMahon pointed out that her office also used a clip of Newsom, but a more recent one of the governor saying on his podcast that he believes letting trans athletes compete in women's and girls sports is "deeply unfair.""Here's what was so funny: We also put online the actual footage of Gavin Newsom saying it was unfair on his own podcast. So I had sent him a letter. I said, basically, Put your money where your mouth is, because you talk about how this is unfair, but you dont do anything to change," McMahon said.WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN PROBE OF SJSU TRANS ATHLETE ALLEGEDLY CONSPIRING TO HARM TEAMMATEMcMahon said in an appearance on "Fox & Friends" last Wednesday that California would be at risk of losing its federal funding for its K-12 schools if the requirements are not met.A press release by the U.S. Department of Education states that California's high school sports league, the CIF and the California Department of Education (CDE) have 10 days (from last Wednesday) to amend their policy or risk referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.Newsom's office responded to the Education Department's announcement later last Wednesday."It wouldnt be a day ending in Y without the Trump Administration threatening to defund California. Now Secretary McMahon is confusing government with her WrestleMania days dramatic, fake, and completely divorced from reality. This wont stick," Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told Fox News Digital.The Department of Education and other branches of President Donald Trump's administration are fighting the issue on multiple fronts, with an active lawsuit against the state of Maine for refusing to comply with Trump's mandate on the issue. The administration is also in a standoff with Minnesota over the issue.McMahon, the DOE and the Trump administration as a whole took a big step forward in their campaign to combat trans athletes in women's and girls sports on Tuesday, announcing an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania.The agreement ensured UPenn apologizes to all women's swimmers who were affected by the inclusion of trans swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season, all of Thomas' program accolades are rescinded, and the school will adopt biology-based definitions for the words "male" and "female."McMahon hopes UPenn's agreement sends a message to states that are defying Trump."Our sincere hope is that they absolutely recognize what they're going to have to do relative to comply with Title IX. It is the law," McMahon said. "There are federal funds that have been withheld and withdrawn, so there's penalties involved in this. But it's actually just the right thing to do. It's common sense to do, that men should not compete in women's sports."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A trans-identifying athlete won a women's cycling event that was officially sanctioned by USA Cycling on Tuesday, prompting female opponents to protest and speak out.The trans athlete, Kate Phillips, won first place at the Lyons Masters National Championships in Wisconsin on Tuesday. Phillips beat out veteran women's cyclist Julie Peterson for the gold, and Peterson then refused to take the podium at the medal ceremony in protest."You could clearly see the power that he had," Peterson told Fox News Digital about Phillips.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMPeterson said she wasn't even aware that Phillips had registered for the event until she had already registered herself and even argued with officials about the situation."If I had known, I wouldn't have spent thousands of dollars in travel and time off work to come and do a race," Peterson said."I said, 'I don't want to race against a man,' and they quickly scolded me and said Oh, you cant call him a man,' and I'm like Well, he is a man, so I was quickly scolded and corrected that it is a woman and I don't even know what to say."Veteran women's cyclist Debbie Milne competed in the Tuesday event, finishing in seventh place. Milne also spoke out against USA Cycling for allowing Phillips to compete."To be fair to all humans, if we want to say him or her, he was born a biological male, that is a fact," Milne told Fox News Digital. "And that is the thing that makes it an unfair advantage. Whatever has happened after that is a whole different topic."I've raced for 25 years in conditions that only women can understand. There's a lot that only a born female woman goes through because of the cycles that we have. Even that alone is something that a man-born biological male can never experience. There's nothing that can stimulate that, when you show up to the race and you are at the worst point of the monthly cycle and you know you're at a disadvantage."Milne also said she wasn't aware of the trans athlete's participation ahead of the race.FORMER STAR GYMNAST SLAMS USA GYMNASTICS FOR TRANS ATHLETE POLICY HANDLING"I totally did not expect this, to drive 13 hours, to come and do a national championship," Milne said. "I had no idea, I'd like to have known that's what the terms were if I came. But that wasn't even made known to me."Fellow veteran women's cyclist Kristina Gray, who did not compete against Phillips on Tuesday, wanted to speak out in support of her female peers because she said she's also had to compete against trans athletes in cycling as an Oregon native."I have in my last 10 years of racing, I've had to race against biological males, I've been forced to be on the podium with many of them, more recently the last five years," Gray said. "In Oregon, every almost weekend, there is a biological male in our races, every weekend, practically."Fox News Digital has reached out to USA Cycling and Phillips for comment.The USA Cycling transgender eligibility policy allows for biological males to compete in the women's category under certain conditions:Several other Team USA national governing bodies have come under scrutiny for their transgender eligibility policies over the last year.USA Gymnastics removed its transgender eligibility policy this year, and is currently assessing it."In May, USAG removed its policy to assess compliance with the current legal landscape," read a USA Gymnastics statement provided to Fox News Digital.USA Fencing announced in April that it is preparing to change its gender-eligibility policy, after a viral protest by women's fencer Stephanie Turner sparked mass backlash and federal intervention by protesting a trans opponent.The organization said it is preparing to amend its current policies that allow biological males to compete with women and girls in the event that it is "forced" to change them.USA Track and Field (USATF) official transgender eligibility policy now references the World Athletics guidelines on its official webpage. USATF previously referenced the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s policy, as seen in an archive via Wayback Machine.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

President Donald Trumps permanent tax cut will change the world.The"big, beautiful bill" is the capstone of years of work to create a pro-growth tax policy that will make the American economy so strong we will leave Europein the dust and convince China they cannot compete with us militarily or economically.The big bill provides lower tax rates for all. Permanent, immediate expensing of business investment. Tax simplification. America competing in the world economy with lower taxes, not lower wages.And the largest spending cut of any budget resolution in history.TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' CLEARS FINAL HURDLE BEFORE HOUSE-WIDE VOTEThe "big, beautiful bill" makes all the temporary parts of the original Trump tax cuts permanent: the doubling of the child tax credit and standard deduction, the lower, across-the-boardpersonal income tax rates for all Americans, and the powerful pro-growth immediate business expensing provisions.The importance of permanent 100% business expensing cannot be overstated. This is an achievement pursued by the taxpayer movement for the past five decades.Thanks to the bill, individuals and companies willknow how to plan for the future.They can purchase and immediately deduct the cost of plant and equipment. They can place a new factory into service and deduct 100% of the cost.SENATE PASSES TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' AFTER MARATHON VOTE-A-RAMADemocrats will not be able to claw back such widespread and successful tax reductions. Republicans will not have to "buy" extensions of tax rate reductions as they did in defending the previous Bush tax rate reductions.Following the Trump 2017 tax cuts with its temporary expensing provisions,Americans for Tax Reformcompiled over1,200 testimonialsand newspaper reports documentingnew investment and higherwages and benefits.The stories flowed in from all 50 states.Now again--without thepandemic White House economistKevinHassettfoundthatthepermanence of individual and corporate tax reduction will increaseeconomic growthto the point that revenue will rise $4 trillion over the next decade.Growth will increase wages and manufacturing jobs. Growth will reduce the size ofthedeficit and debt as a percentage of our economy. We willmoveforward away from thedebt as we did afterWorld War IIwhen the debt fell from 100% of GDP to 20% ofGDP. TAX CUTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS AND ASYLUM FEES: HERE'S WHAT'S INSIDE THE SENATE'S VERSION OF TRUMP'S BILLEvery Democrat opposes the bill. Theyll have to explain to their constituents why they voted against across-the-board tax cuts, against no tax on tips and overtime and Social Security, against an expansion of the per child tax credit.The Democrats "NO" vote is a vote for an across-the-board tax increase. Democrats wantpersonal income tax ratestosnap back toBarackObama levels. Highertax rateson every taxpayerandsmall businessand thechild tax creditand standard deduction cut inhalf.The economy responded to passage of the2017 Trump tax cutswith massive new investment in the United States.Before the Trump taxcutsmany companies were "inverting." They werebought by foreign companies because the American firms were worth more if owned by Canada or a European companytheir tax laws were saner than Americasin the time before Trump.LOEFFLER: TRUMPS ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL COULD CEMENT ECONOMIC LEGACY FOR DECADESObama called companies shanghaied by overseas purchases disloyal and "Benedict Arnold" companies. In fact, U.S. policy continued by Obama damaged American competitiveness. The Trump tax cut fixed this andno significant companies have moved overseas since the Trump tax cut was enacted.The take-home pay of the median family increased in 2019 by 6.8%. That was growth that was driven by the original tax reform that is now being made permanent.But one notes that the growth cameafterRepublicans lost40House seats because the growthdidnot become evident in time to win votes for the 2018 congressional elections.This time,Trump and the Republican leaders are determined to avoid this fatal delay. The goal isenactment byJuly 4. Thepresident signed the 2017 bill on December 22, 2017 and it did not take effect until 2018.Trump and the Republican Congress ensured that this legislation will take effect for new investments as early as six months ago on January 19,the day beforeTrumps inauguration. No business needs to wait to invest in job-creating, productivity-enhancing plant and equipment that will make employees more productive and therefore more highly compensated.And yes, the legislation includes President Donald Trumps promised "No Tax on Tips" and "No tax on overtime pay" andprovides tax cuts for seniors on Social Security.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThere are many other conservative wins in the bill. Here are some of the highlights: Taxpayers urge the House to pass the big beautiful bill now in order to get it to President Trumps desk by July 4. With his signature, Americanswillkeep more of what they earn.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM GROVER NORQUIST

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently signed an agreement with a Georgia university to supercharge its air traffic controller hiring pipeline.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Wednesday the FAA has partnered with Middle Georgia State University to become the next school for the FAA's Enhanced Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI), allowing more people to get into air traffic facilities and on the job faster.The FAA has a nationwide shortage of roughly 3,000 air traffic controllers.TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT DEPLOYING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SPOT AIR TRAFFIC DANGERS, DUFFY SAYSFAA officials authorized eight programs at seven schools to provide the same thorough curriculum and advanced training technology offered at the FAAs Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City.Middle Georgia State University will be home to the first program authorized in Georgia. "We need more of the best and brightest in our towers to make our nations air traffic system the envy of the world," Duffy wrote in a news release. "Enhanced AT-CTI programs like the one at Middle Georgia State University are key to building a next-generation workforce, reducing delays, unlocking the future of aviation."TRUMP ADMIN PROPOSES BRAND NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM TO ENHANCE SAFETY, 'UNLOCK THE FUTURE OF AIR TRAVEL'The AT-CTI initiative is one of the efforts to fuel the air traffic controller hiring pipeline, which has already qualified and referred more than 8,320 candidates to the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA).Duffy also announced a package to boost the controller workforce, including financial incentives for graduates and new hires who complete initial training milestones, and those who are assigned to hard-to-staff facilities."As Georgia's flagship aviation school, we take seriously the responsibility of equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and credentials needed for safe and efficient air travel," said Christopher Blake, Middle Georgia State University president. "Our commitment to our core value of adaptability ensures our programs stay current with technological advances and industry changes, preparing graduates who can thrive in dynamic aviation environments."FROM FLOPPY DISKS TO FLIGHT DELAYS: TOP LAWMAKER WARNS US AIR SYSTEM IS DUE FOR A REBOOTEnhanced AT-CTI school students must pass the ATSA, meet the FAAs medical and security requirements, and pass performance verifications to receive an official endorsement certificate.After meeting the requirements, graduates report directly to an FAA facility to begin their training. In the Standard AT-CTI, graduates attend the FAA Academy, but can bypass the introductory Air Traffic Basics Course.The FAA also has a year-round hiring opportunity for experienced controllers from the military and private industry, and is enhancing training with modernized simulators to move new hires through training more efficiently, according to the release."The FAA will continue to take aggressive action to get the best and brightest to join our team and increase our controller workforce," FAA officials said. "Controllers work is critical to meeting our safety mission, and weve made the hiring process more efficient than ever."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey played a leading role on the eight-member team that prosecuted rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs in a sex trafficking and racketeering trial that came to a close Wednesday with mixed results.The daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, Maurene Comey faced a setback when the jury found the performer not guilty of some of the most serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. However, the jury did side with prosecutors on two counts, finding Combs guilty of violating the Mann Act of 1910 by transporting women across state lines for prostitution.MISSING KEY WITNESS CRIPPLES DIDDY PROSECUTION AS TRIAL HITS ROADBLOCKS BEFORE IT BEGINS: EXPERTMaurene Comey was a prosecutor in the Jeffrey Epstein trial prior to his death in prison and also had a lead role in Ghislaine Maxwells trial.She leads the violent and organized crime unit in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).DIDDY JURORS FACE 'BATTLEGROUND' AS DELIBERATIONS BEGIN IN RAPPER'S FEDERAL TRIAL: EXPERTSDNY is the same stepping stone her father, James Comey, used to catapult himself to national prominence.The ex-FBI director and prominent Trump foe worked similarly as a federal prosecutor there in the 1980s, when noted Trump ally Rudolph Giuliani was the Reagan-appointed U.S. attorney.He returned to Manhattan in the 2000s after former President George W. Bush appointed him to the role once held by "Americas Mayor."Lately, the elder Comey received blowback for posting a photo of stones on a beach in the shape of "86 47," which many observers considered to be a wish for President Donald Trump's death with "86" being a cipher for "kill" and "47" denoting Trump as the 47th president.DIDDY PROSECUTORS ARGUE RAPPER USED INNER CIRCLE, MONEY TO COVER UP ALLEGED SEX CRIMES IN CLOSING ARGUMENTSIn court, Maurene Comey offered the prosecutions rebuttal prior to the jury being sent off to deliberate the charges against Combs.Maurene Comey argued from the dais that Combs "never thought the women he abused would have the courage to speak out loud what he had done to them," and suggested the rapper believed he was "untouchable."She also offered arguments that Combs had been involved in firebombing a Porsche owned by rapper Scott "Kid Cudi" Mescudi, according to TMZ.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAt the close of the trial, Maurene Comey argued to Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs should be denied the bond requested by defense attorney Marc Agnifilo."There is serious relevant conduct here that will merit a lengthy period of incarceration," she said, according to the New York Post.While occupationally a proverbial chip off the old block, Maurene Comey has remained largely silent during James Comeys recurring controversies, from his "86 47" post that drew demands for investigation by the Secret Service to his rhetorical battles with Trump.

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here's what's happening- Trump to begin enforcing birthright citizenship order as early as this month, DOJ says- Trump could arm Israel with US' most effective weapons against Iran's nuclear threat under new proposal- Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans 'Project 2029' while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primaryPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday visited "Alligator Alcatraz" the newest illegal immigrant detention facility in the nation that's located in the Florida Everglades and surrounded by swamplands teeming with alligators and pythons."It's known as Alligator Alcatraz, which is very appropriate because I looked outside, and that's not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon," Trump said Tuesday during his tour. "But very soon this facility will have some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people on the planet.""We're surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation," the president added. "And a lot of these people are self-deporting back to their country where they came from" READ MORE.CLOCK STARTS NOW: Trump to begin enforcing birthright citizenship order as early as this month, DOJ says'LOT OF RESPECT': Trump says his relationship with one-time rival DeSantis now a '9.9'EXCEEDS AUTHORITY: Judge strikes down Trump order preventing asylum requests, protections for illegal immigrants'TRADECRAFT CONCERNS': Ex-Obama intel boss wanted anti-Trump dossier included in 'atypical' 2016 assessment despite pushback'CREDIT IS DUE': Elon takes a break from slamming BBB, doles out praise for Trump amid Israel ceasefire announcementNUCLEAR DETERRENCE: Trump could arm Israel with US' most effective weapons against Iran's nuclear threat under new proposalGREEN LIGHT: Pentagon's weapons pause to Ukraine could encourage and escalate Putins war ambitions: security experts'DANGEROUS PRECEDENT: Bernie Sanders blasts Paramount, says lawsuit settlement will further embolden Trump to attack media'ENCOURAGING': Blue state GOP lawmaker says major sanctuary city lawsuit is 'encouraging,' but urges further crackdown'GO HOME': ICE flips script on Los Angeles mayor after telling authorities to 'go home'$100M DECISION: Wisconsin Supreme Court decides abortion case that prompted most expensive judicial election in US historyWHITE HOUSE APPROVED: Colorado Capitol replaces 'distorted' Trump portrait following monthslong backlashPOTUS PROMISE: Trump vows to 'save New York City' from Zohran Mamdani: 'I hold all the levers'DEMOLITION PLAN: Dems at a crossroads as establishment plans 'Project 2029' while socialist candidate wins NYC mayoral primaryPOWER PLAY ESCALATES: New York Democrats unite in defense of socialist NYC mayoral nominee after Trump threatened his arrest'READY TO SWEEP?': Dont Maryland my Virginia: Youngkin, 2025 GOP ticket rallies together for first time ahead of key electionGet the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Beyond diabetes control and weight management, GLP-1s could have yet another benefit: helping with migraines.In a small study, a GLP-1 drug shrank the number of days people spent with a migraine by almost half in a given month.Presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress in Helinski, Finland, on June 21, the results suggest promising future uses of the popular obesity and diabetes drugs.WHO SHOULD BE TAKING WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS? DOCTORS SHARE BEST CANDIDATESNearly 40 million Americans deal with migraines, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and for many, theyre more than just a headache.Migraines are the second-leading cause of disability worldwide, the above agency states, with symptoms including severe headaches, nausea and sensitivity to light often disrupting daily activities.Previous studies have shown that GLP-1s can reduce pressure inside the skull, which is a possible cause of migraines, according to multiple health organizations.Neurologist and study lead Simone Braca of the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, along with his colleagues, explored whether liraglutide, an earlier version of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), could help migraine sufferers.Thirty-one adults, 26 of them women, got daily injections of liraglutide for 12 weeks. The participants, who all met the criteria for obesity, also continued to take their current migraine medications.At the start of the experiment, participants reported headaches about 20 days out of a month. After 12 weeks of liraglutide, the average number dropped to about 11 days."Most patients felt better within the first two weeks and reported quality of life improved significantly," said Braca in a press release for the study, which was published in the journal Headache last month.The relief from migraines lasted for the full three-month observation period, the researcher noted, although weight loss was "modest and statistically non-significant."Participants weight stayed about the same during the trial, suggesting that the headache reductions werent tied to weight loss.WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS MAY ALSO BENEFIT COMMON MEDICAL PROBLEM, STUDY FINDS"Liraglutide is a middle-aged GLP-1, with Ozempic and Mounjaro being newer," Dr. Sue Decotiis, a triple board-certified weight loss specialist in New York City, told Fox News Digital.Decotiis, who was not involved in the study, said that liraglutide is not as effective as its newer cousins for weight loss or diabetes, and is not frequently used for these purposes."Many pharmacies are not even stocking it due to declining demand, yet it gets into the brain well enough to reduce migraines," she noted.The trial didnt include a comparison group, and participants and researchers all knew that everyone received liraglutide, the researchers noted.Mild gastrointestinal side effects (mainly nausea and constipation) occurred in 38% of participants, but did not lead to treatment discontinuation.Further research may include other groups, such as control groups and people without obesity, to compare the drug's effects."The study was very small," Decotiis confirmed to Fox News Digital.Given its size and brief duration, the findings could be limited until further research is conducted, according to the expert.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERThe researchers also tested only one drug, liraglutide, "which is not used as frequently in the general population as semaglutide or tirzepatide are," Decotiis added.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/healthNext, the team is planning a randomized, double-blind trial that will also measure pressure inside the skull."We also want to determine whether other GLP-1 drugs can deliver the same relief, possibly with even fewer gastrointestinal side effects," Braca said in the same press release.

George Kittle and Caitlin Clark have something pretty important in common.They are both University of Iowa alums. Kittle left the university in 2017 to go on and play in the NFL, and Clark moved on last year to become the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.Kittle and Clark have met before to share their Hawkeye memories, and in discussing the upcoming American Century Classic golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, the star tight end praised her even more.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"Caitlin's a dog.She couldn't be any nicer of a person.And she is just always nice, takes her time for everybody. I think when you go from being a college student to being one of the most popular people on the planet, I think she handles it incredibly well.She always has.She's an ultimate competitor," Kittle said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.As for her treatment on the court, notably some hard fouls and what many fans believe is jealousy, Kittle sidestepped a tad, but admitted that Clark "handles whatever is thrown her way incredibly well and with the highest grace.""Just always proud of her and proud to say that she's a Hawkeye," Kittle said.CAITLIN CLARK SAYS WNBA IS 'SICK' OVER FEVER'S COMMISSIONER'S CUP TITLEKittle will be on the course later this month for the famed tournament, saying his "anxiety couldn't be any higher" despite being a tremendous underdog to win.Kittle described his first interaction with Clark in an interview with Fox News Digital last year."We were hanging out in the training room after the game just to get away from the crowd a little bit," he recalled. "She comes in, hugs all the athletic trainers, talks to everybody, talks to us a little bit, and you just see how much people care for her. She has this incredible reputation that she's built day in and day out. So, she's done that, and just so excited for her.""You see how she is on the court. She has this competitiveness. She's got this fire in her," he continued. "But as soon as she gets off the court, there's this flip of the switch. She's just Caitlin Clark. To be able to go back and forth between all that, you have to be very good to be able to do that, and she does that flawlessly."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.