An already grieving father was further enraged upon learning that the man accused of killing his daughter in a home burglary could have already been in prison for numerous other crimes had it not been for an apparent clerical error.Logan Federico, a 22-year-old aspiring teacher from Waxhaw, North Carolina, was visiting friends atthe University of South Carolina in Columbia and staying at a Cypress Street home when a "career criminal" broke in and shot her in the early morning hours of May 3.Suspect Alexander Dickey, a 30-year-old man with a lengthy rap sheet, entered the home in the early morning, stole several credit and debit cards and fatally shot Logan in what Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook described as a "random" crime during a May 5 press conference."The main cog in this whole problem was the processing system of a career criminal that eventually escalated to executing Logan Federico," Logan's father, Stephen Federico, told Fox News Digital. "And this wasn't just a random go-in-and-shoot-somebody. This was a guy that was a career criminal. And that's why I hate the word random being used. He wasn't a random criminal. He was a career criminal that came across my daughter and literally stuck a gun in her rib cage and pulled the trigger, for absolutely no reason."FATHER OF NC COLLEGE STUDENT 'FURIOUS' AFTER CAREER CRIMINAL ALLEGEDLY KILLS DAUGHTER IN USC HOUSE BURGLARYDickey has nearly 40 prior arrests across different North Carolina counties dating back more than a decade. He pleaded guilty to a first offense of third-degree burglary in 2023 and was sentenced to probation, despite having previously been convicted of second and third-degree burglary charges in 2014, asWIS first reported.Now, different South Carolina officials and agencies are pointing fingers at each other over what appear to have been two clerical errors that led to gaps in Dickey's record."There are so many things that I think have changed in the last 20 years where I think that Dickie actually has more rights than Logan did," Federico said. "[T]here are more people fighting for the rights of a career criminal than fighting for the right for my daughter to be safe. Really think about how horrible that is that somebody with 39 arrests, 25 felonies, was treated with more respect than Logan Federico."In August 2014, Dickey was charged with grand larceny. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) received his fingerprints associated with that arrest, and the charge and disposition appear on his criminal history, the agency told Fox News Digital.Dickey was served with four additional burglary and larceny warrants in August 2014, but those charges and dispositions do not appear on his criminal history, and SLED said it did not receive additional prints for that set of charges.NC COLLEGE STUDENT SHOT DEAD BY 'CAREER CRIMINAL' IN 'RANDOM' SC HOME INVASION: POLICEIn October 2014, authorities served three additional warrants on burglary and larceny charges. Those charges and dispositions do not appear on his criminal history, SLED said, adding that the agency did not receive additional prints for this set of charges.A first-degree burglary charge carries a minimum 15-year prison sentence, and a maximum life sentence. In November 2014, Dickey pleaded guilty to second-degree non-violent burglary and was sentenced to 10 years suspended, meaning he would not have to immediately serve any prison time.In March 2015, Dickey had one of his two other burglary charges from 2014 dropped and pleaded guilty to a first offense of third-degree burglary, which carries a lighter sentence than a second or third offense.ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HELD WITHOUT BAIL IN DEATH OF UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENTIn 2023, he again pleaded guilty to a first offense of third-degree burglary for a second time.WATCH:Rick Hubbard, Solicitor of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, told WIS he didnt know of Dickeys prior convictions, which ultimately impacted his sentencing in 2023. Hubbard alleged that Dickeys criminal record, or rap sheet, filed with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was incomplete.Fox News Digital reached out to Hubbards office for comment.EX-DUKE FOOTBALL PLAYER CONFESSES TO KILLING REAL ESTATE AGENT FRIEND IN HER UPSCALE TOWNHOME: POLICEFederico said that when he learned of the error in Dickey's rap sheet that could have kept him off the streets years ago, it was "the most horrendous thing other than" the phone call he received on the day his daughter was murdered."If hes not out on the street this meeting never happens," Federico said of Dickey's encounter with his daughter on May 3.SLED suggested the rap sheet was incomplete because the agency never got Dickeys fingerprints for the 2014 arrest for burglary, which should have come from the Lexington County Sheriffs Department.MAN ACCUSED IN NORTH CAROLINA VACATION TOWN ROAD RAGE SHOOTING THAT LEFT DAD OF 3 DEAD SEEKS RELEASE"The shooting that ended the life of Logan Federico was a senseless tragedy that left her family and friends in pain," Lexington County Sheriffs Office told Fox News Digital in a statement. "Their pain prompts us in law enforcement to help prosecutors forge a rock-solid case against Alexander Dickey when his day in court comes."But the sheriff's department added that Dickey's full record was readily available, even if his fingerprints were not included in his SLED rap sheet."Anyone in the criminal justice system who had a role in his numerous cases over the past decade could access his long criminal history and see a variety of charges, including 23 arrests in Lexington County alone," the department said. "His felony charges from April 2013 through April 2024 are on his rap sheet and also listed on the courts public website."The sheriffs office said Dickeys charges involving eight different law enforcement agencies led the Lexington County Sheriffs Department to book Dickey 11 times between 2013 and 2025."Dickey was held in [Lexington County Detention Center] from Aug. 13, 2014 until he was sent to state prison Nov. 21, 2014. His fingerprints were taken during the booking process on Aug. 13, 2014," the department said. "Concerns have been raised as to whether his fingerprints were transmitted according to protocol after he was served additional arrest warrants while still in LCDC later in August and October 2014. We have reviewed all of Dickeys bookings and we were unable to determine if his prints were taken at the time of those additional in-custody bookings in 2014. Its possible the lack of prints associated with those bookings were the result of human or machine error."The sheriffs department further added that it has "worked with state law enforcement and prosecutors in the weeks since Logan's death to ensure the information from Dickeys 11 bookings at LCDC is accurate.""Since his last arrest, we have provided Dickeys fingerprints to state police to complete the August and October 2014 booking files. Its important to note the cases in question were adjudicated and Dickey was sentenced on those charges in 2014 and 2015," the department said. "As the agency that apprehended and arrested Dickey following his most recent crime wave over multiple jurisdictions, we have a significant role in this case."Stephen Federico said he is grateful to law enforcement for solving his daughter's murder within 36 hours after she was found dead, but he is determined to expose problems within the criminal justice system that allowed Dickey to remain on the streets before he allegedly killed Logan."I am angry, and I'm trying to be very professional, very respectful, and I will never, ever downgrade what the law enforcement did for me and my family and Logan in 36 hours of solving this case. And it hasn't gone to the courts yet, but it will, and they keep accumulating evidence and evidence, and are doing a great, outstanding job. But that doesn't mean... that there aren't holes in the system," he said."We're going to get to the bottom of why it happened," he said. "I don't know what's going to come of that. The finger pointing everybody can finger point everywhere they want. But there is a process that's gonna lead us back to where it started and where it ended and who needs to be held responsible for it."Dickey is charged with murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, two counts of grand larceny, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, and three counts of financial transaction card theft.His next court appearance is scheduled for July 25. He faces life in prison for the charges filed against him in Lexington County.Dickey's attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

A remarkable medieval sword with rare symbols was recently put on display in a Dutch museum, over a year after it was found by construction workers unexpectedly.The discovery of the sword was announced by the Netherlands' National Museum of Antiquities (RMO) in Leiden on June 24.The artifact, named the Linschoten Sword, was found in March 2024 during "maintenance dredging activities," the museum said in a press release.RARE 1,200-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN CROSS FOUND IN FIELD BY METAL DETECTORISTConstruction workers were struck by a "long piece of iron" while cleaning a small river known as the Korte Linschoten, the statement noted.The discovery turned out to be a sword measuring over three feet in length, dating back between 1050 and 1150 A.D.Pictures show the sword with a long crossguard and a pommel shaped like a Brazil nut, the museum noted."The blade is sharp on both edges and inlaid with strips of gold-colored copper, forming circular motifs featuring a cross and an 'endless knot' flanked by three lines on each side," the RMO said.The sword was likely made with high-quality iron that was mined locally in the Veluwe hills. Experts believe it was deliberately deposited into the river, as there was no trace of a scabbard or sheath.The museum also noted that medieval swords were "deeply personal possessions."STRANGE VIKING GRAVE WITH 'CHRISTIAN OVERTONES' DISCOVERED BY PERPLEXED ARCHAEOLOGISTS: 'VERY UNUSUAL'"They were either buried with their owner or alternatively ritually deposited into water," the release noted. "In the latter case, they are often exceptionally well-preserved."RMO curator Annemarieke Willemsen told Fox News Digital that medieval swords are "rare finds.""When [swords are found], [they're] often well-preserved because they are made of top-quality steel," she explained.Many swords were "deposited in a river, where they rested for centuries under the water table, in an anaerobic environment," the curator added.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"We have a similar sword with the same shape and date in our collections with the name Ulfberht on the blade that was found in the river Schelde," she said. "We have [many] more swords from the Middle Ages more broadly."In its statement, the museum noted that, though the sword was "remarkably well-preserved," it's possible that some components have decayed after 1,000 years."Only the organic components such as the wooden grip and any leather wrappings have succumbed to time," the RMO's press release added.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"The iron is barely corroded due to the oxygen-poor environment of the wet soil. Traces of the wooden hilt are still visible on the preserved sword."The sword's remarkable preservation offers a rare connection to the 11th century, a period marked by frequent conflict in the Netherlands."During this period, the Bishop of Utrecht held authority in the region, although the Counts of Holland and Flanders were rising in power," the museum said."This era also saw a shift in military tactics and weaponry: vertical slashing from horseback gave way to horizontal thrusting between pieces of armor," the officials added."This sword, which could be wielded with one hand, embodies that transitional phase suited to both techniques."

Kate Middleton is said to be a quiet force behind palace doors, as she continues to keep busy and prioritize her health after skipping Royal Ascot."Princess Catherine has been recuperating behind the scenes," royal expert Neil Sean told Fox News Digital. "This includes a return to ballet with her daughter Princess Charlotte, a massive return to daily nature walks, as well as [keeping up with] her photography hobby.""An excellent source told me she is living in the moment and has no time for drama or difficult family members," Sean claimed. "She attended Trooping of the Colour and the Order of the Garter but felt it was too much to attend Royal Ascot. She felt exhausted. This is normal regarding her return after cancer."PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON QUIETLY BUILDING TRUSTED TEAM FOR INEVITABLE TRANSITION: EXPERTS"One thing that she also does every single day which she describes as the best therapy known to her is her return to playing the piano," Sean added.Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.On June 18, the Princess of Wales canceled her appearance at Royal Ascot at the last minute. While the mother of three was said to be disappointed not to be there, she is still trying to find the right balance as she returns to public-facing engagements following her cancer treatment.While some royal watchers were concerned about the 43-year-olds ongoing recovery, a source told Sean that shes immersing herself in her favorite hobbies and receiving support from other senior royals. She's also completing royal duties at her own pace."Behind the scenes, the Princess of Wales continues with various Zoom chats with her charities and dealing with an incredible amount of correspondence from all over the world. But as shes pointed out, its the simple things in life that have truly turned her life around.""A source tells me that one of her great comforts is having a very close friendship between herself and her daughter, Princess Charlotte," Sean shared."Last year, they went on a private visit to the Sadlers Wells ballet, which has [sparked] Charlottes interest in the world of dance, something that Catherine herself shared when she was younger."Sean claimed that mother and daughter share a mutual love of dance, an art form that Kates late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, was also passionate about.PRINCESS DIANA'S BALLET TEACHER RECALLS SURPRISE UPTOWN GIRL DANCE"As the source told me, One of the things that she thoroughly enjoys is the escapism and the relaxation of dance and the wonderful classical music from that particular genre," Sean claimed. "Its really helped her focus [on] whats important to her now.""Not only that I am told she spends at least one hour a day lost in the beauty of [the piano], playing everything from Kate Bush to Mendelssohn," Sean claimed, noting that William has been "enjoying" his wifes musical skills.British royals expert Hilary Fordwich also told Fox News Digital that Kate has received both the respect and admiration from palace aides."Those who work with her, and for her, share that shes disciplined, pragmatic, and a quiet, influential figure," Fordwich explained. "She divides her time meticulously between parenting, supporting Prince William, fulfilling her royal duties, all while maintaining a workout regimen supporting her physical and mental health.""Of particular note is her ability to balance tradition with a modern approach to family life, which is crucial for the monarchys relevance in an ever-changing world," said Fordwich. "Shes in lockstep with her generation."Fordwich said that in addition to William and the senior royals, Kates mother, Carole Middleton, as well as Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and her sister-in-law Alizee Thevenet "have been lovely sources of emotional strength. Alizee, in particular, has been a source of hope and optimism. The entire family's unity and support has been vital to Catherine."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERAn insider also claimed to Sean that both William and King Charles "have put zero pressure on Catherine to return to full-time royal duties.""Theyre [encouraging] her to enjoy these wonderful moments with her young family while recuperating," said Sean. "The princess knows how fortunate she is. She is tending to a brand-new family vegetable garden patch with both Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.""Catherines other passion has been returning her home cooking, particularly her chutney and her specialty honey from her beehive The princess told [the] source that these are great therapeutic things to do. You lose yourself in the art of cooking, and its something you can share with the children, family and friends while talking about all manner of things with zero pressure."WATCH: KATE MIDDLETON MAKES KEY DECISIONS FOR ROYALS AS FUTURE QUEEN: EXPERT"[Catherine] knows only too well how fortunate she is, but behind the scenes she is a rock to many others," Sean claimed. "Catherine told this source that we must remember to always enjoy the moments that we are in and not lose sight of the fact that life is a wonderful and precious thing."Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital that the Middleton family have been "the unsung heroes" during Kates journey through cancer. In January of this year, the princess announced that she was in remission from the disease."This has been a tremendously stressful period for Catherine, and she has been supported by a loving husband and the Middletons, who have been a tower of strength.""It is a considerable responsibility to bring up a family of three with the pressures she is under," said Fitzwilliams. "The word balance as her activities are planned, will be pivotal whilst she is in remission.""She has reportedly become more spiritual and has, as her videos have shown, drawn much inspiration from nature and the natural world. She will derive strength in the knowledge that the world wishes her well."People magazine reported that Kate returned to work after her absence at Royal Ascot. According to The Court Circular, the British royal familys official record of previous engagements, Kate and William received Melinda French Gates on June 25 at Windsor Castle.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSAccording to the outlet, the couple represented The Royal Foundation at the meeting. The charity focuses on the early childhood years and mental health, among other causes. The meeting didnt take them far from their home at Adelaide Cottage in the grounds of Windsor.Fordwich said Kate "is excited" about Wimbledon, which she typically attends every year, as well as the French state visit held at Windsor Castle beginning July 8. In addition, the royal family usually retreats to Balmoral Castle, their Scottish estate, in the summer."Princess Catherines approach to balancing duty and family, as well as [practicing] mindful self-care while being careful not to overextend herself, has rendered her as ever more vital, as well as a highly respected member of the royal family," said Fordwich."She embodies qualities admired by the British public [And she has] a quiet resilience thats essential to the monarchys future."

In less than a week, two former liberal cable news stars who were essentially discarded by their former networks this year floated conspiracy theories that President Donald Trump will rig next year's midterms.Ex-CNN anchor Jim Acosta and ex-MSNBC anchor Joy Reid, who were among the media's sharpest critics of Trump's refrain about not really losing the 2020 election, openly speculated next year's midterms won't be on the level."I dont think Trump intends to leave office," Reid told far-left writer Wajahat Ali on his Substack last week. "Ive been very clear about that. I think he intends to stay in office like Putin till he dies.""Whenever Democrats say to me, 'this is the reason we have to coalesce for 2026, I always add to the end of their sentence, Yeah, assuming we actually have free and fair elections,'" Reid also said in the segment. "I think its insane, honestly, to just assume were going to have normal elections next year."JOY REID FLOATS SPECULATION THAT HER RACE, 'ANXIETY' SURROUNDING TRUMP PLAYED ROLE IN MSNBC FIRINGReid, disparaging the Republican "big, beautiful bill" as a "bulls--t bill" in line with Democratic National Committee talking points, cited House Republicans who supported Trump's legislation in spite of their reservations about it. She claimed their behavior suggested they weren't worried about being re-elected next year."The way Trump is behaving, hes not acting like somebody who worries that his party will lose power or that even if somehow we had normal elections and Democrats took control of either the House or the Senate, hes not acting like somebody whos worried about the consequences of that," she said.Last Tuesday, Acosta wondered aloud to Democratic strategist James Carville if the 2026 midterms could be rigged by Trump or adviser Stephen Miller."In the short word, yes," Carville said in response to Acosta repeating a viewer of his Substack show asking whether they believe Trump will end up "tampering" with the midterm votes. "In the longer words, very."JAMES CARVILLE WARNS COUNTRY SHOULD BE ON 'HIGH ALERT' WHEN ASKED IF TRUMP MIGHT TRY TO RIG MIDTERMS"I dont put anything past him nothing to try to call the election off, to do anything he can," Carville added. "He can think of things like that, that that, you know, we cant because were not accustomed to thinking like that. We always assume theres going to be an election.""This is scary s--t," Acosta chimed in at one point."President Trump has taken more action to restore the integrity of our elections on behalf of the American people than any president in modern history. According to the Democrats, voter fraud doesnt exist but clearly they are already searching for copouts preparing to lose big again in the midterms," a White House spokesman told Fox News Digital in response.The far-left Reid was abruptly fired by MSNBC in February; in November 2022, she said only Democrats accept election results when they lose. Acosta quit CNN in January after he was asked to move from dayside programming to a midnight show. He once mocked Trump's 2020 election claims as "the big cry."Last month, former CNN host Don Lemon didn't dismiss comedian Kathy Griffin's suggestion that the 2024 election was also fixed."Im Kathy Griffin and I do not think Trump won in a free and fair election," Griffin said. "I believe there was tampering. I dont know if it was the Elon [Musk] connection. I dont know if it was just a few good old boys in the South who didnt do, you know, I mean what they accuse us of.""Youre not far off," Lemon said. "I mean I wont say that I disagree with you But Im an evidence person. Id like to see the evidence. I think something was off, and especially when someone said, oh, weve got this. And, you know, how do you know that? How do we know weve got this? How do you know, or I dont need your vote or anything like that. Its a little bit odd."In the past two midterms, the sitting president's party lost control of the House. In 2018, during Trump's first term, Democrats won back control of the chamber for the first time since the GOP Tea Party romp in 2010. In 2022, President Joe Biden's Democrats were widely seen as overperforming but nevertheless lost control of the House to the GOP.

Exercising first thing in the morning can be beneficial for mental and physical health.In terms of weight loss, previous research suggests that early morning may be the best time to exercise, according to the CDCs National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.The research, published in the journal Obesity, recorded the activity levels of 5,285 participants, taking into consideration the time of day they exercised.AFTERNOON NAPPING COULD HAVE SURPRISING IMPACT ON LONGEVITY, STUDY SUGGESTSThose who consistently engaged in morning activity, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., were found to have a lower risk of obesity than those who were most active in the midday or evening.The morning exercisers also had a lower average BMI (body mass index) and waist size.Certified fitness trainer Alissa Mosca with Planet Fitness in New York agreed that morning workouts are a "great way" to start the day."When the day begins with a morning workout routine, the body releases multiple different chemicals, which aid in our overall functionality," she told Fox News Digital.STUDY REVEALS EXERCISING EVERY DAY MAY NOT BE NECESSARY: 'BETTER THAN NONE'"This includes chemicals like endorphins and dopamine, which are the chemicals that make us feel good and help us move forward with positive energy. Additionally, we wake up our muscles, stimulate the brain and prepare to take on the day."Sleep and wellness expert Todd Anderson, co-founder of Dream Performance & Recovery in Nashville, Tennessee, emphasized the importance of striking a healthy balance between exercise and rest.22The first couple hours of exercise in a week are "insanely impactful," Anderson said and it doesnt have to be strenuous activity."Our bodies are meant to move," he said. "Getting two hours of movement or exercise in a week should be very high on the priority list."While it might seem that morning exercise is cutting into sleep time, Anderson pointed out that regular exercise could actually result in a higher quality of slumber."The sleep you're getting will be more impactful," he said.But for people who hit the gym daily and don't get sufficient shuteye, Anderson said he considers it a "no-brainer" to opt for adequate sleep over an early-morning workout."When it comes down to body composition and weight loss or just fitness in general, you'll probably have a better outcome from that hour of sleep when you're already at a pretty decent level of activity," he said."When you sleep, it allows you to respond effectively to the stress from the workouts."Mosca agreed that proper rest and recovery requires seven to eight hours of sleep, which allows the muscles to have the greatest amount of repair and growth."If someone is going to bed at 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. nightly and then trying to wake up for a 6 a.m. workout, the progress will stall and the effects of the hard work that is put in will take that much longer to come to light," she told Fox News Digital.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"Getting on a regular sleep schedule, unwinding earlier, putting the electronics down and focusing on calming the mind will allow someone to recover faster, have more energy in the morning, and release those happy brain chemicals that make us feel accomplished."The trainer stressed that morning workouts are not for everyone, and there are certain factors that can prevent success.For those considering a morning workout, Mosca recommends that they ask themselves the following questions."Did I get enough sleep the night before?""How was my nutritional intake?""Am I overly stressed?""Do I keep hitting snooze when the alarm goes off?""If we find that the answers to those questions [aren't] on the positive side, consider an afternoon mini-workout: 15 to 20 minutes after work or on break, to get the muscles moving and stimulated," Mosca suggested as an alternative."The body adjusts the more that it moves and the more it is in a consistent routine. Taking the right steps to change the routine is crucial, so we dont overload the body all at once."For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/healthMosca reiterated that sleep and recovery play a "crucial role" in fitness journey success."If we shorten the timeframe for our bodies to recover, they will constantly be trying to play catch-up, but never reaching that finish line," she said. "We want to set clear goals and reasonable expectations."

I was born and raised in a country where the government built public housing and converted private housing into communes; where the state managed grocery stores, controlled prices and expropriated the wealth of the "rich" in the name of social justice. Weapons were prohibited and "hate speech"which is, any criticism of powerwas punished by law.I lived in the dream that a lot of New Yorkers want for their city. And I had to flee to survive. Growing up in Venezuela meant being raised among ruins and nostalgia a country suspended in the memory of what it once was, all while enduring the wreckage of what it had become.VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION MEMBER DETAILS HARROWING 400-DAY CAPTIVITY AT UNAs a teenager, I would go to the grocery store with my mom in search of eggs or corn flour to make arepas, the most traditional breakfast in Venezuela. But time and time again, wed find the shelves completely empty. I cant tell you how many times that happened. And every time, she would remind me that years ago, this wasnt the case she used to have plenty of options, with multiple brands to choose from. But now, there was nothing. The country she remembered no longer existed.Venezuela was one of the most prosperous nations on the planet: in 1950 it had the fourth-highest GDP per capita in the world, with foreign investment and a rising middle class.How did Venezuela go from an oil power to having one of the highest inflations in the world? How does a country reach the point where my fatheran economist and owner of a small business and my mother who had doctorates in educationwould have to stop eating meat to be able to feed their children? Its quite simple. People embraced the same socialist ideas that are popular in New York City right now. US WARNS VENEZUELA NOW POSES 'HIGHEST RISK' FOR AMERICAN TRAVELERSBefore everything collapsed in Venezuela, I got to know the United States: I was amazed by the cars, the technology, and even the absurd variety of Oreos. I got to visit Disneyland at 6 years old. What I did not know at that time was that, 15 years later, my family and I would flee Venezuela after I was accused ofterrorism and obtained political asylum under the first Trump administration. That same year, I visited New Yorkthe city that I saw multiple times in movies. I was impressed. The skyscrapers, the infrastructure, walking through Times Square and seeing the number of brands... It was the symbol of individual progress. Today, that incredible city is flirting with the same ideas of the country that forced me to escape.Freezing rent prices? Building more public housing? Converting private properties into communes? Ive heard those ideas before. President Hugo Chvez did the same in Venezuela with his "Gran Misin Vivienda Venezuela" program: he promised to end market abuses, offered free housing and began to nationalize private properties. The result? Collapsed investment, poorly built homes, widespread corruption and millions living in terrible conditions.REP. CROCKETT CLAIMS AMERICANS CAN'T AFFORD A HOME OR GROCERIES DUE TO TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION POLICIESFree public transportation? I saw it. In Venezuela, Chvez did it: he declared transportation a "right" and fully subsidized it. The prices were so "low" that they didnt even cover basic operating costs. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWhat happened? The system collapsed. Without maintenance, the buses stopped circulating. Today, millions of people spend hours in line to get on one bus, if it arrives.Government grocery stores? In Venezuela, it was called Mercal: a state network that soon became synonymous with long lines, expired food, scarcity and smuggling handled by the regime. Only those loyal to the party ate. And the idea that billionaires shouldnt exist? Chvez said the same thing. He expropriated those who generated employment and progress, and, in the end, the only rich individuals were the politicians. I could continue listing each socialist promise made, and the result remains the same: Socialism always fails. It doesnt matter the country or who applies it. It brings scarcity, repression and ruin. But its not just a practical mistake. It is a perverse ideology that attacks freedom, property and human dignity.The United States was not built with imposed equality, but with freedom. We are not entitled to happiness, but have the right to pursue our own happiness. And for those of us who come from the darkness, thats all you need.I lived Mamdanis socialist dream, and I had to flee to survive.

At the frenetic pace of the Trump administration wins, its easy to lose sight of smaller but still important successes. The administration just terminated a contract, and let three others lapse, with Springer Nature. Springer Nature is an academic publishing company which includes a consortium of science publications. Funding such a thing may seem innocuous, but Springer is a behemoth in the scientific publishing world and prone to error and politicized decision-making.As Brian Flood reported at Fox News in late June, "The German-owned Springer Nature was forced to issue 2,923 retractions in 2024, according to Retraction Watch. The publishing giant has also been accused of significantly downplaying the COVID lab-leak theory and censoring content to appease the Chinese government. It also has a peer review process that critics believe is dominated by woke groupthink."TRUMP ADMIN ENDS CONTRACTS WITH PUBLISHING GIANT SPRINGER NATURE AMID BIAS, CHINA CONCERNSSpringer has long been considered a company dedicated to political goals and not scientific ones. Their journals had spent much of the pandemic downplaying the COVID-19 lab leak theory concluding in the journal Nature Medicine, as early as March 17, 2020, that, "since we observed all notable SARS-CoV-2 features, including the optimized RBD and polybasic cleavage site, in related coronaviruses in nature, we do not believe that any type of laboratory-based scenario is plausible." The paper was called "The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2" and its goal was to remove all discussion of the lab leak theory.A House Oversight committee, in July 2023, found that "Dr. Fauci and Dr. Collins tracked the paper through the review and publication process. And finally, Dr. Collins expressed dismay when Proximal Origin did not successfully kill the lab leak theory. He subsequently asked Dr. Fauci if there was anything more they could do. The next day, Dr. Fauci directly cited Proximal Origin from the White House podium."TRUMP BANS FEDERAL FUNDING FOR 'DANGEROUS' GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCHThe committee concluded, "Dr. Collins and Dr. Fauci used Proximal Origin to attempt to kill the lab leak theory. This is the anatomy of a cover-up." CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONIn 2017, Springer "confirmed that it is restricting access to hundreds of articles that cover topics deemed sensitive to Chinese authorities."The censorship isnt limited to Covid and China. Two years ago, Springer retracted a peer-reviewed paper on gender dysphoria after pressure from activists who did not approve of the findings. Michael Bailey, the author of the study, had never had an article retracted before. This is not science. This is a political point of view.Springer Nature also charges scientists exorbitant amounts to publish their work. One study found that in just three years, Springer collected $589.7 million in "article processing charges." The researcher on that study found the scientific publishing companies "reach between 30% and 40%, well above most industries."TRUMP FROZE FUNDING FOR HARVARD. MONEY TO THESE UNIVERSITIES MAY ALSO BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCKThis is not a company that should be receiving public funds and its exactly the sort of thing that would have gone unnoticed in previous Republican administrations. Why are we funding any private publishing company, much less a foreign one with a leftist political bent? The Trump administrations laser focus on cost-cutting, but also on making the cuts specifically to politicized, bloated, entities like Springer is worth celebrating. Transparency is also a focus of the administration. On July 1, National Institutes of Health head Jay Bhattacharya posted about a new NIH policy to release all research to the public as soon as it is published. "The American people should have immediate free access to the science that we so generously fund through the @NIH. Starting today, we do." The Trump administration cuts to Springer are around $20 million and, a source told Axios, billions more are being evaluated. Its a strong start. Most Americans will be asking why we ever funded a company like this in the first place. President Donald Trump gets to say: we dont anymore.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM KAROL MARKOWICZ

Neal McDonough is a "simple guy" who tries to take every day to better himself."Whatever you do in life, it's your mental state," the "Guns N Moses" star told Fox News Digital. "What do you want to be? What kind of person do you want to be for Him? What kind of person do you want to be for your wife, for your kids? So I always kind of pride myself on trying to be the best version, but you can't. We're all idiots at times, we're all sinners. We all do stupid stuff. But it's forgiving yourself. Once you start to forgive yourself for your flaws, you say, 'Okay, I've got some flaws.'"McDonough mentioned that once he quit drinking, he was able to pour that time back into himself."Years ago, I had a problem with alcohol. I had to stop drinking alcohol to actually fall in love with Neal McDonough again. Because once you stop drinking, and all that time of sitting in a bar, or all the time going to the store. All that, I just get tired of thinking about it, all that energy now is geared towards, Okay, 'I'm all by myself right now. I'm not leaning on the crutch that I usually do. This is a lot of extra time with me. I may not like me very much right now, but at some point, I'm gonna figure out how to fall in love with myself again.'"NEAL MCDONOUGH BREAKS HIS NO-KISSING RULE FOR 'THE LAST RODEO' SCENE"And that's what I did when I gave up drinking, I started to actually like me again. And I forgot how blessed I am and all the gifts that God has given me. I'm a great actor. I can't pound a nail. I can't tell a joke, but I'm a great actor. That's a gift from God. That doesn't make me special. That's just a gift that I figured out early on."So I'm going to keep running with that and do the best that I can and entertain as many people as possible. And hopefully, if they leave the theater or leave a TV show, if it says the McDonough Company on there, and it has our print on it, it's our job to make you feel a little bit better about your life or test you a little bit and think, okay, how can I be a little better myself?" he concluded.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSWATCH: Neal McDonough's decision to quit alcohol allowed him to 'fall in love' with himself againThe "Yellowstone" actor gave up alcohol in 2016. In August 2017, the actor took to Instagram to publicly thank his wife, Ruve, for helping him reach one year of sobriety.During his interview with Fox News Digital, the actor spoke about his latest project, "Guns N Moses." The movie follows a small-town rabbi who becomes a gunslinger after his community is violently attacked.McDonough explained that he's always drawn to scripts that are centered around faith, and "Guns N Moses" was no different."Whether I'm the good guy or the bad guy, I want to be a part of a story that talks about faith. And I thought, well, you know, we're talking about faith that America is really built on a Judeo-Christian belief and alignment and such. So I thought, well, there's so many things going on in the world that really aren't right and are kind of just unfair for everyone involved," he shared.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"I'm not the most political guy in the world, but I am a big believer in God. And I always say, 'since God made all of us as his children, and we're all brothers and sisters, we're one family.' The best families root for each other and if the families on earth rooted for each other a little bit more, we wouldn't have all these problems. We wouldn't have problems in the Middle East.WATCH: Neal McDonough on his latest project Guns N Moses"We wouldn't have problems in our own hometowns. We wouldn't have problems with fentanyl. We wouldn't have a problem with, you name it. There's so many problems that are going on right now," McDonough pointed out.The actor preached unity during times of conflict."And if everyone worked together as a team, if we really are the United States, let's lead with our chins and work hard to provide for, not just ourselves and our own lives, but lives of others who aren't as fortunate as ours are being born in the United States."Could you imagine being born in Israel, living in Israel, living in Kuwait, living in Iran, living in Iraq, living in any of these other places? It's hard. So my heart bleeds for people who haven't had the opportunities that my parents looked for as immigrants that came to the United States."They wanted to start something new. So there are lots of problems in the world, but I chose this film because it talks about the problems and how we can get through them," he concluded.McDonough emphasized that the world is "a massive mess" right now, mostly due to misunderstandings."Jews don't understand Muslims, Christians don't understand this, but the original core of every belief is to love each other, love your neighbor, enjoy your time on earth, be good and honor God, right? We're not really honoring God when we're killing each other. We're really not honoring God, when we are hating on each other," he said."Guns N Moses" also stars Mark Feuerstein, Dermot Mulroney, Mercedes Mason, Christopher Lloyd and Alona Tal."Guns N Moses" is out in theaters on July 18.

Whenradicalenvironmentalgroupsdenounce the United States use of fossil fuels, they often romanticize countries attempting to wean themselvesfromcoal, oil and natural gas as models for us to follow.But the reality is that these resources remain vital to Americasnationaland economicsecurity, and theonlyones more eager than greengroupsto end our countrys energy development are geopolitical rivals like Russia and China.For a world power like the United States, policies that restrict the production and use of our God-given natural resources would hand a strategic and economic advantage to authoritarian regimes. Unfortunately,environmentalzealots dont seem to understand this inherent problem with their agenda. Or worse, they simply dont care.Take, for example,Greenpeace, which was recentlyorderedto pay $667 million to the developer of the Dakota Access Pipeline following its campaign of deception and destruction.PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PURSUING ENERGY DOMINANCE CONGRESS SHOULDN'T GET IN THE WAYWhat Greenpeace and other extremistgroupsdont grasp is that their efforts to stop oil and natural gas development would weaken the United States, embolden rogue nations, hurt our economy and have very little, if any, impactonthe environment.Making the United States more dependentonrenewable energy would make the U.S. electricity grid less reliable and threaten the nations economy. Spain is a pertinent example.In April, thecountry braggedthat for the first time, it was runningon100% renewable energy. Later that month, a grid failure created a nationwide blackout that risked lives andcost the country nearly a half-billion dollars.Generating electricity solely through renewables makes electric grids more prone to collapse, and requires incredibly expensive upgrades to energy infrastructure that leads to higher electricity prices for consumers.THE PREDICTABLE OUTCOME OF CALIFORNIAS GREEN ENERGY POLICIES HAS ARRIVED AND IT'S A DISASTERTheInternational Energy Agency foundthat for every 10% increase in the portion of electricity generated by renewables, costs go up by more than 4 cents per kilowatt hour. As a result, countries like Germany pay more than 2.5 times the average electricity rate than the United States, and over four times higher than China.When countries like China or Russia can generate electricity more cheaply than their democratic rivals, they gain an important economic advantage. Chinas coal consumptionreached record highslast year, and its buildout of new coal power plants reached thehighest level of constructionin the last 10 years. Russia is theworlds second-largest exporter of natural gasand holds natural gas reserves that rival the U.S.When it comes to the environment, these countries are not extracting or using fossil fuels with the same care as American companies. In fact, thelargest carbon emitterin the world by a long shot is China. In 2020, Chinas emissionsexceeded those of all other developed nationscombined. As China and Russia continue to develop their fossil fuel resources, it will be essential that the United States do the same.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONGroupslike Greenpeace may continue their efforts to derail American fossil fuel projects, but policymakers should recognize that this agenda would have little impactonthe environment and a lasting and damaging impactonboth U.S.nationalsecurityand economic competitiveness.To protect the environment and preserve our democratic values, the United States must pursue an energy policy rooted in realism, not ideology. Whileenvironmentalactivism has a place in shaping a sustainable future,radicalefforts to dismantle fossil fuel development ignore a critical truth energysecurityisnationalsecurity.Abandoning domestic oil and gas production would not reduce global emissions, it wouldonly hand a strategic advantage to those who pollute more, care less and gain power when democracies self-sabotage.Groupslike Greenpeace may cloak themselves in the language ofenvironmentaljustice, but their actions serve to undermine the very stability andenvironmentalstewardship they claim to champion.America must remain energy-independent, competitive and strong because the worlds most polluting regimes wont sacrifice their energy dominance no matter what we decide to do.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM MIKE POMPEO

Paramount Global and CBS eight-figure settlement to PresidentDonald Trump has caused widespread outrage across the legal and journalism communities.Paramount Global and CBS agreed on Tuesday to settle Trumps $20 billion election interference lawsuit against the network.The lawsuit alleged CBS News deceitfully edited a "60 Minutes" interview last year with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in order to make her appear more articulate ahead of Election Day.Many legal experts and Paramounts own attorneys insisted the lawsuit was meritless, but CBS parent company settled it anyway. It is widely believed that Paramount's controlling shareholder Shari Redstonepushed for the settlement in hopes of paving the way for Trumps FCC to approve a long-planned merger with David Ellisons Skydance Media.CBS staffers are furious and there has been extensive backlash from media watchdogs, journalism advocacy groups, liberal journalists and even Democratic lawmakers.CBS STAFFERS REVOLT OVER PARAMOUNT'S 'SHAMEFUL' TRUMP SETTLEMENT, 'BETRAYAL' TO THE NETWORK'S JOURNALISTSSen.Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.,issued a scathing statement that said the settlement sets an "extremely dangerous precedent in terms of both the First Amendment and government extortion," while Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., accused Paramount of taking a "bribe" and threatened future federal charges.Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta said Paramount "paid a shameful bribe to the President of the United States in order to grease the skids for a media deal that, and there really is no other way to put this, stinks to high heaven."The American Civil Liberties Union believes Paramount and CBS "disgraced themselves" with the decision. "President Trump's lawsuit was frivolous. Paramount's capitulation was craven. We've never been more in need of a free and independent press as a check on abuses of power. Instead, Paramount and CBS have disgraced themselves and betrayed the core values of journalism," ACLU's Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project director Ben Wizner said in a statement.The Freedom of the Press Foundation called the settlement a "dark day" for press freedom."Paramounts spineless decision to settle Trumps baseless and patently unconstitutional lawsuit is an insult to the journalists of 60 Minutes and an invitation to Trump to continue targeting other news outlets. Each time a company cowers and surrenders to Trumps demands it only emboldens him to do it again," FPF director of advocacy Seth Stern wrote."It will be remembered as one of the most shameful capitulations by the press to a president in history," Stern continued. "But we are not done fighting."PARAMOUNT, CBS FORCED TO PAY EIGHT FIGURES, CHANGE EDITORIAL POLICY IN SETTLEMENT WITH PRESIDENT TRUMPThe FPF is a Paramount Global shareholder, and Stern is ready to make his voice heard."Weve already filed a shareholderinformation demandand are sending a second demand today to uncover information about this decision. With that information, we will continue to pursue our legal options to stop this affront to Paramount shareholders, CBS journalists, and the First Amendment. Paramount directors should be held accountable and we will do all we can to make that happen," Stern wrote.Famed First Amendment lawyerFloyd Abrams, who represented The New York Times during the Pentagon Papers case, told the FPF that Paramounts decision to settle "is an ominous blow to press freedom in our nation."The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a First Amendment advocacy organization, isnt pleased with CBS News parent company, either."Paramountmay have closed this case, but it opened the door to the idea that the government should be the medias editor-in-chief. Trump has a long history of filing frivolous lawsuits to intimidate critics, and his targets have a long history of capitulating to avoid legal headaches. And here, he had the added tactic of using the FCC and its review of the multi-billion-dollarParamount-Skydance merger to bring added pressure to bear," FIRE Chief Counsel Bob Corn-Revere said."Behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated," Corn-Revere continued. "This settlement will only embolden the president to continue his flurry of baseless lawsuits against the press and against the American peoples ability to hear the news free from government intrusion."BERNIE SANDERS BLASTS PARAMOUNT, SAYS LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT WILL FURTHER EMBOLDEN TRUMP TO ATTACK MEDIAPEN America, a group that bills itself as standing "at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide," suggested CBS isn't protecting it's journalists."Paramounts decision to settle a meritless lawsuit rather than stand behind its journalists at CBS News is a spineless capitulation," PEN America director Tim Richardson said."This was a moment to defend press freedom and support reporters targeted by a frivolous legal attack," Richardson added. "Instead,Paramountchose appeasement to bolster its finances, sending a dangerous message that media outlets can be pressured into submission if corporate parents find their profits at risk from government action in unrelated areas."Richardson noted ABC alsosettled a defamation lawsuitin December with then-President-elect Trump for $15 million, after anchor George Stephanopoulos repeatedly and incorrectly asserted Trump had been found "liable for rape" in a civil trial last year. ABC additionally paid $1 million for President Trumps legal fees."With two major network owners bowing to the president in quick succession, the danger is clear: emboldened politicians and powerful actors will feel more free than ever to weaponize lawsuits and bring regulatory pressure to bear to silence and censor independent journalism," Richardson said.'60 MINUTES' KAMALA HARRIS INTERVIEW AT CENTER OF TRUMP LAWSUIT RUNS AFOUL OF CRONKITE-ERA CBS GUIDELINESHeritage Foundation Media Fellow Tim Young sees it differently and is "glad" they settled but doesnt feel it will change the way news organizations cover Trump and other public figures they dont align with."This is one of the few times the media has been held accountable.They definitely wouldnt have settled had Trump not won the election, because Kamala, who they lied to make look good, would have protected them," Young told Fox News Digital."Id love to believe that this is a turning point in media accountability, but it wont be," Young continued."When you see the dramatic differences in coverage and continuous lies, legacy media networks are showing that they will continue this dishonest behavior."Paramount has defended the settlement."Companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable costs of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial or reputational damage, and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause. Settlement offers a negotiated resolution that allows companies to focus on their core objectives rather than being mired in uncertainty and distraction," a Paramount spokesperson told Fox News Digital.Fox News Digital has learned that the sum being paid to Trump could reach north of $30 million, with $16 million being paid upfront for his future presidential library, in addition to another eight-figure allocation set aside for advertisements, public service announcements, or other similar transmissions, in support of conservative causes by the network in the future.Current Paramount management disputes the additional allocation, and a source familiar with Paramount's current leadership told Fox New Digital only $16 million was sanctioned by the official mediator, and they have no knowledge of any deal Trump made with incoming owner, Skydance Media. However, the incoming ownership will be responsible for the additional allocation.Redstone recused herself from settlement negotiations in February.As part of the agreement, CBS News did not admit to any wrongdoing nor issue an apology. The network did agree to update its editorial standards by mandating the release of full, unedited transcripts of interviews with future presidential candidates.Trumps legal team took a victory lap after the settlement was announced."With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit. CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle.President Trump will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American People as he continues on his singular mission to Make America Great Again," a spokesperson for Trumps legal team toldFox News Digital.Fox News Digitals Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.