While some people may be skeptical of hypnosis, experts say its a legitimate therapy that can help with a range of physical and mental challenges including, possibly, alcohol use disorder.Clinical hypnosis has shown to be effective in the treatment of pain, anxiety, stress, cancer treatment side effects, phobias and habit control problems, such as smoking and weight control, according to past randomized controlled trials."Hypnosis is the oldest Western form of psychotherapy, but it is underutilized," Dr. David Spiegel, associate chair of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine in California and a leading authority in the field of hypnosis, told Fox News Digital.YOUR FAVORITE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE COULD BE LINKED TO DEADLY FORM OF CANCER, STUDY FINDSHypnosis is not itself considered a therapy. Rather, it enhances other treatments by inducing a state of increased concentration while reducing peripheral awareness, experts say.The practice aims to put people in a deep state of relaxation so they can learn more easily.Shawn Criswell, Ph.D., a mental counselor practicing in Oregon, defines it as "a gentle way of shifting peoples focus to new ideas and perspectives that can help improve their lives."Added Criswell, "It does this in part by connecting them with their strengths and resources, empowering them in the process, and directly contradicting the old, tired myth that in hypnosis, youll give up control of yourself." He co-authored,together with Michael Yapko, Ph.D, the latest edition of "Trancework: An Introduction to the Practice of Clinical Hypnosis."WEIGHT-LOSS MEDICATIONS MAY ALSO BENEFIT COMMON MEDICAL PROBLEM, STUDY FINDSPast research suggests that hypnosis may alter brain activity related to attention and consciousness."The brain activation patterns during hypnosis such as for color, pain and sound are similar to those observed during actual experiences," Dr. Ryan Sultan, attending physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and director of the Mental Health Informatics Lab at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, told Fox News Digital.Some people may choose to practice self-hypnosis, which he described as the process of entering a trance-like state without the guidance of a hypnotist.Sultan compared it to entering a "controlled, simplified state" in which people may be more open to certain ideas and therapeutic suggestions.But the effects can be short-lived, he noted, and some individuals may find it difficult to maintain the hypnotic state without external cues.The treatment technique has been approved by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. To maximize its safety and effectiveness, Sultan recommended hypnosis by a qualified professional.Hypnosis may help support people with drinking problems by encouraging motivation, reducing cravings and helping to manage stress, according to Dr. Lama Bazzi, a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City.The expert emphasized, however, that hypnosis is not a standalone cure for problem drinking. Instead, it's part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes focused cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychiatric support and targeted medications when necessary."There is less evidence about alcohol problems, but I have had patients stop drinking by focusing on respecting and protecting their bodies," Spiegel noted."One of my patients thought about that concept in hypnosis, and said, You mean, the body is the temple of the soul?" he added.Hypnotherapy presents little risk, according to Spiegel."The worst thing that can happen is that it may not always work," he told Fox News Digital.Possible mild side effects include dizziness and emotional release. There is also a risk of false memories if used for memory recall, Sultan cautioned.The therapy is also not recommended for people with severe mental illness, such as psychosis, experts say.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTERMayo Clinic also notes that side effects are uncommon, but that some people may experience anxiety, sleepiness, headache and nausea."It is best to seek care from a psychiatrist or psychologist with specialized training in clinical hypnosis,"Bazzi told Fox News Digital."These professionals can objectively assess your susceptibility to hypnosis, determine whether it is an appropriate and potentially effective intervention for your specific concerns, and develop a comprehensive, multimodal treatment plan tailored to your needs," she added.For those seeking a hypnotist, experts recommend visiting the websites of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis or The International Society of Hypnosis, both of which offer directories of professionals who have expertise and often certification in the practice.Some 28 million Americans aged 18 and older are living with alcohol-use disorder, according to 2023 estimates from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.For more Health articles, visitwww.foxnews.com/healthPeople may be drinking excessively if they consume enough alcohol in one sitting to raise their blood alcohol level to greater than 0.08, or if they drink more than a certain number of drinks in one week, experts say.This generally equates to women having four or more drinks or men consuming five or more drinks at once or a weekly amount of eight or more drinks for women or 15 or more drinks for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs of an alcohol problem include experiencing a loss of control when drinking, continuing to drink despite adverse consequences, and experiencing compulsive cravings when not drinking often referred to as the "three Cs."Those who think they may have an alcohol-dependence problem and are interested in seeking alternative therapies should contact their doctor for recommendations.

The National Education Association (NEA), the nations largest teachers union, just held its annual convention in Portland, Oregon, and laid bare its transformation into a brazenly political organization. Far from prioritizing the education of Americas children, the NEAs agenda was a parade of partisan resolutions, misspelled attacks on political opponents, and a clear alignment with the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.The tone was set by Ashlie Crosson, the NEAs 2025 Teacher of the Year, who declared on July 4th that her job is "deeply political" and always has been. "Once I realized how deeply political our profession had always been, I knew I could no longer stay on the sidelines," Crosson said. The irony of this statement on Independence Day was not lost, as the NEA proved itself anything but independent. Instead, it revealed itself as a loyal foot soldier for progressive causes, far removed from the needs of students or the concerns of parents.The conventions resolutions which were leaked to me by an NEA conference attendee were a masterclass in political overreach. One business item called for the NEA to "defend against Trumps embrace of fascism by using the term facism [sic] in NEA materials to correctly characterize Donald Trumps program and actions." Yes, the union that claims to represent educators couldnt even spell "fascism" correctly in its official resolution attacking the president. The irony is almost too rich to parody.NATIONAL 'TEACHER OF THE YEAR' RECIPIENT FEELS JOB IS 'DEEPLY POLITICAL'The NEA didnt stop there. Another resolution labeled any move to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education as an "illegal, anti-democratic, and racist attempt to destroy public education and privatize it in the interests of the billionaires." Calling the abolition of a federal bureaucracy "racist" is absurd, especially when the Department of Educations track record has failed low-income minority students for decades. If anything, the departments one-size-fits-all approach has entrenched disparities, trapping kids in failing schools based on their ZIP codes.Immigration policy, another topic far afield from teaching math or reading, also took center stage. The NEA adopted a resolution to "defend birthright citizenship and oppose the attempt to revert to pre-civil rights movement Jim Crow legal concepts of states rights in order to deny citizenship to the children of immigrants." The union went further, supporting students "right to dissent and organize against Trumps policies" and "against ICE raids and deportations."The NEAs resolutions also took aim at parental rights. In response to the Supreme Courts Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling, which allows parents to opt their children out of gender ideology instruction, the NEA adopted a business item signaling its intent to keep pushing such content in classrooms. This defiance of parental choice shows a union more interested in indoctrination than education. Similarly, the NEA passed a resolution supporting "the mass democratic movement against Trumps authoritarianism and violations of human rights," further cementing its role as a political activist group rather than an advocate for teachers or students.DEMOCRATS SHOULD 'BREAK UP' WITH RANDI WEINGARTEN, EX-HARRIS CAMPAIGN AIDE ARGUESPerhaps most puzzling was the NEAs decision to "not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)," an organization founded to combat antisemitism. Why single out a group dedicated to fighting hate? This move raises serious questions about the unions priorities and sends a troubling message at a time when antisemitism is on the rise.The NEAs political bias is not new. Nearly all its political contributions go to Democrats every election cycle, making it less a union and more a money-laundering operation for the Democratic Party. With over $380 million in annual revenue, the NEA has plenty of resources to push its agenda. This one-sided partisanship is particularly galling given the NEAs unique status as the only union in the nation with a federal charter, granted over a century ago. This special privilege, bestowed by Congress, is no longer justified for an organization so blatantly partisan. Lawmakers should revoke this charter immediately.The NEAs priorities are so misaligned that in 2019, it rejected a resolution to "rededicate itself to the pursuit of increased student learning in every public school in America." Let that sink in: a teachers union explicitly refused to prioritize student learning. Instead, it has quadrupled down on its war on education, turning classrooms into activist training grounds.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThe NEAs actions echo the words of Horace Mann, the father of public education, who said, "We who are engaged in the sacred cause of education are entitled to look upon all parents as having given hostages to our cause." The NEA seems to agree, treating children as tools for its political projects rather than individuals deserving a quality education.TEACHERS UNION BOSSES SPLIT OVER SUPREME COURT RULING ON PARENTAL RIGHTS TO SHIELD KIDS FROM LGBTQ CONTENTThe consequences of this politicization are clear. Only about a quarter of American eighth graders are proficient in math, and reading scores are similarly dismal. Yet the NEA remains focused on partisan crusades rather than addressing these failures.This radical agenda is free advertising for school choice and homeschooling. Parents are rightly alarmed by a union that sees their children as "hostages" to its cause. Since 2019, there has been a mass exodus from union-controlled public schools, over a million families opting for charter schools, private schools or homeschooling. The NEAs Portland convention only accelerates this trend, as parents seek educational options that prioritize learning over politics.Teachers deserve a union that fights for their professional interests, not one that uses their dues to fund partisan agendas. Parents deserve schools that focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic, not activism. And students deserve an education that prepares them for life, not one that conscripts them into ideological battles.Until the NEA returns to its core mission, it will continue to lose members, credibility and public trust. Lawmakers should start by voting to revoke its federal charter, and parents should keep voting with their feet. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM COREY DeANGELIS

Lets talk about language. Because in politics, language isnt just what you say its what people hear. And if theres one thing Ive learned from decades of helping brands and campaigns get their words right, its this: the wrong message can kill even the best idea. Tesla CEO Elon Musks America Party is a case study in how not to build trust through language.Ive seen this movie before. I started my career on Ross Perots campaign, where we learned firsthand how the right words can electrify a movement and how quickly the wrong ones can turn hope into skepticism. Perots success was based on his ability to connect with voters using language that was clear, relatable and believable. He spent a lot of time talking about a broken system, but he did so in a way that made people believe change was possible.Musk, on the other hand, is using the language of disruption without understanding the language of trust. And thats why his America Party is likely to be just another blip in the long history of failed third-party efforts.LIZ PEEK: MUSK THROWS HIS OWN PARTY BECAUSE HES MAD AT PRESIDENT TRUMPLets break down Musks messaging. He says its "time for a new political party that actually cares about the people." He talks about "reducing government spending," dismantling regulatory bloat, and embracing AI-driven modernization. These are buzzwords, not beliefs. Theyre designed to provoke, not persuade.Heres the problem: Americans are already drowning in distrust. They dont believe politicians. They dont believe in institutions. And they certainly dont believe that this billionaire with a Twitter habit is suddenly going to care about the people. Musks words are meant to sound populist, but they just sound AI-generated.Slogans can help build trust but trust cannot be built on slogans alone. Its built on language that resonates, connects to peoples real concerns and is grounded in actions that create credibility. Perot was also a billionaire, but he understood how to speak the language of the average person and make it feel real. ELON MUSK CONNECTS WITH INDIE ANDREW YANG ON BILLIONAIRE FORMER TRUMP ALLY'S THIRD PARTY PUSHMusk, by contrast, is speaking at people, not to them.Musks messaging is heavy on tech jargon and light on empathy. AI-driven modernization might excite Silicon Valley, but its a scary prospect for many voters increasingly worried about their job, their healthcare or their kids future. Start-up language is sexy if youre a venture capitalist.But Musk doesnt understand that most Americans dont speak the language of technology. TRUMP DISMISSES MUSK'S POLITICAL AMBITIONS AS 'RIDICULOUS' IN SHARP REBUKEPerot was also a tech entrepreneur, but he left talk of mainframes out of his campaign. His version of reducing regulatory bloat was much simpler: "if you see a snake, just kill itdon't appoint a committee on snakes."We once had a client who wanted to test a campaign designed to show how much they cared about their customers. The slogan: "We care." As we expected, it bombed in testing. The companys actions did not support the message. The same is true for Musk. Musk says he wants a party that "actually cares about the people." But the language he uses doesnt show care it shows calculation. Its the language of someone who wants to be seen as a disruptor, not someone who wants to build trust.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWords like "disruption," "modernization," and "efficiency" are the language of business (and often of layoffs), not the language of belonging. They dont answer the fundamental question every voter is asking: "Do you understand me? Do you care about what I care about?" If you cant answer that in your messaging, youve already lost.ELON MUSK LAUNCHES AMERICA PARTY AFTER TRUMP SIGNS HISTORIC SPENDING BILL: 'WASTE & GRAFT'Its unclear if Musk is really serious about building something new or just tearing down something Trump. But if he wants to build a movement, he needs to do more than talk about whats wrong. Thats the easy part. Perot also said the system was broken. But he made the problem understandable and he made a solution seem achievable. He made the deficit real. He made government waste personal. He made it feel like we could all roll up our sleeves and fix it. Ultimately, he had his own issues, but at the peak of his campaign, 39% of the population said they planned to vote for him.So much has changed since 1992, but building a third party in America remains one of the hardest jobs in politics. The only way to even start to make it work is to find language that creates hope, engenders optimism and illuminates a path to overcoming challenges that a significant plurality of Americans care about. Ironically, in the same poll that showed Perot leading the race, 65% of the public said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who "made a fortune doing business with the federal government." So maybe less has changed than we think.

When Jeffrey Epstein took his own life on August 10, 2019, the circumstances were so bizarre that, instantly, conspiracy theories were hatched as to who had had him killed and why, along with how they made it into his cell and disguised the murder as a suicide.Because of that original enormous leap from known fact Epstein was dead to the unsubstantiated theory that he was murdered and all that followed from that ridiculous lead of logic, many millions of hours have been wasted in chat rooms and Reddit threads as well as on better-known podcasts.Now all the speculation and theorizing is reduced to ashes and wasted time, and many, many dealers in the conspiracy trade are going to be not only deeply disappointed, but also very likely to lose money.JEFFREY EPSTEIN DIED BY SUICIDE, DID NOT HAVE CLIENT LIST: DOJ MEMOThe internet first made it possible and then made it easy to monetize anger and conspiracy. Individuals with a family, friends or community deficit in their lives could and did find each other in the strangest places online. Bonds were formed. Alliances and friendships developed. And in some sectors, money was being made peddling Epstein theories.Unfortunately, many found themselves in far-off corners of the web where the similarly lonely or disconnected could find companionship, as well as food and drink for their own beliefs. Its a long known and often described phenomenon known as "confirmation bias.""Confirmation bias" is the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories. Facts and theories that conflict with dearly held beliefs are dismissed as false, erroneous or incomplete and sometimes even as proof positive of the original bias.This isnt new or novel. If theres a human alive who isnt subject to the mighty pull of confirmation bias, I havent met him or her.My own vulnerability is that I love seeing conspiracies debunked and rarely are they as thoroughly shattered as the idea that Jeffrey Epstein a monster for sure and one certain to have been convicted of many heinous crimes in the most humiliating of fashions kept a list of "clients" for whom he procured minors for intimate and criminal acts.Now the gavel has come down and Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have made the finding official: There is no "Epstein list." Further, Epstein wasnt murdered. He killed himself."After a thorough investigation, FBI investigators concluded that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City on August 10, 2019. This conclusion is consistent with previous findings," the July 7 memo from the Department of Justice and the FBI states.Thats it. There is no list. He took his own life. Period. End of the real story.There are almost certainly many relieved participants in Epsteins depravities who are walking with a lighter step this week than last, but it turns out the creep wasnt so stupid as to make a list and leave it for investigators to find down the road.That Epstein killed himself is also so much easier to believe than the theories adduced for his alleged murder by powerful, even shadowy figures who could not afford the "list" to come to light. Its actually much easier to understand the overwhelming guilt and disgrace driving Epstein to take his own life.Suicide counselors often are heard to tell the unstable that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, and they need to attack the problem not end the pain.That excellent advice would have very little impact, however, on so thorough a villain as Epstein. There was nothing but endless humiliation ahead of him. Suicide is never moral, but in very rare cases like Epsteins, it does make sense whereas in many cases it doesnt and shocks. Epstein taking his own life was never shocking to me or to most people. But it was a stumbling block to some. Into the rabbit holes they dove.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONWill the DOJ/FBI "final" finding end the small culture of the Epstein-obsessed and their continued search for new "smoking guns?"Of course not. Expecting a conspiracy-addicted and addled individual to suddenly emerge from the the caverns of the web with a public declaration, or even a private recognition, that they have wasted all that time and effort on a made-up scenario is a lot to ask. Even extremely well-adjusted folks have difficulty cutting loose what are known as "sunk costs.""Sunk costs" are investments of time or money, expenses of real or imagined value, that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered, regardless of future decisions."Sunk costs" ought to be irrelevant to future decision-making because they are unchangeable as in "sunk" but "ought" and "are" live in different universes.An investor riding a stock down, down, down until bankruptcy is made formal is one obvious example of an individual trapped by their old hopes and dreams for that original investment. So too is pining away for an old flame who has most definitely moved on. The list of examples of sunk costs is as long as the number of human beings.But rare is the opportunity to make a clean break with an unhealthy obsession. The findings about Epstein that there are no findings ought to be liberating for many: Time to move on! There really really! is nothing to see here. Spread the word if you know anyone afflicted with the malady: It is OK to walk away from the conspiracy.Hugh Hewitt is a Fox News contributor, and host of "The Hugh Hewitt Show," heard weekdays from 3 pm to 6 pm ET on the Salem Radio Network, and simulcast on Salem News Channel. Hugh drives America home on the East Coast and to lunch on the West Coast on over 400 affiliates nationwide, and on all the streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channels news roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a Professor of Law at Chapman Universitys Fowler School of Law since 1996 where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has frequently appeared on every major national news television network, hosted television shows for PBS and MSNBC, written for every major American paper, has authored a dozen books and moderated a score of Republican candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and his column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump over his 40 years in broadcast, and this column previews the lead story that will drive his radio/ TV show today.CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM HUGH HEWITT

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stood alone in dissent as the high court voted 8-1 to allow the Trump administrations planned mass layoffs in the federal government to move forward.Her scathing rebuke against lifting a lower courts injunction temporarily blocking the cuts drew sharp reactions, including from Fox News contributor and George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley."This is another shot across the bow to lower courts," Turley said on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday. "Theyve got to knock this off. They've got to stop with these injunctions."The layoffs are part of the Trump administrations Department of Government Efficiency agenda and the White Houses larger effort to downsize the federal government.SUPREME COURT LETS TRUMPS WRECKING BALL FEDERAL JOB CUTS PROCEED WHILE LEGAL FIGHT CONTINUESBARRETT EVISCERATES JACKSON, SOTOMAYOR TAKES ON A 'COMPLICIT' COURT IN CONTENTIOUS FINAL OPINIONSIn February, federal agencies were warned to prepare for large-scale job cuts. Later that month, a memo circulated calling the current federal workforce "costly, inefficient, and deeply in debt."Critics of the plan argued it could result in thousands of job losses and damage essential public services. Advocacy groups filed legal challenges and a lower court issued a temporary block on the layoffs, a move the Supreme Court has now reversed.Justice Jackson issued a biting dissent to the courts intervention."For some reason, this Court sees fit to step in now and release the Presidents wrecking ball at the outset of this litigation," she wrote. "In my view, this decision is not only truly unfortunate but also hubristic and senseless."TRUMP ADMIN ASKS SCOTUS TO ALLOW IT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANS TO SLASH FEDERAL WORKFORCETurley noted that disagreements among the liberal justices arent new, but Jacksons solo dissent stands out."On this occasion, Jackson is alone," he said. "She couldnt even get Justice Sotomayor to sign on to this dissent."APPEALS COURT RESTORES HOLD ON TRUMP ADMINS PLAN TO CUT GOVERNMENT AGENCY BY 90%While none of the liberal justices joined Jacksons dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor did not endorse the Trump administrations plan. She argued the court should wait to evaluate the layoffs when they are formally presented. Sotomayor agreed the case should move forward, so lower courts can decide first if the eventual layoffs break any laws set by Congress.Turley said the courts ruling sends a strong message to lower courts that delays to the Trump administrations plans not firmly grounded in legal standing wont be tolerated.FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS HALT TO TRUMP ADMIN'S CFPB TERMINATIONS"This is six months of delay. It could have been much longer," he said. "The court is signaling, Were going to be on you very quickly if you continue to do these kinds of orders."He added that the dissent from Jackson is part of a larger pattern in her judicial style.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"This is part of a signature of what's becoming a type of judicial abandon that Jackson has towards the power of these courts," Turley said.

Bill Nye "The Science Guy" said Wednesday that fossil fuel companies and U.S. Congress neglecting the climate crisis is a big reason the flooding in central Texas was so destructive.During the latest episode of CNNs "Inside Politics," Nye argued that one of the main ways to prevent what host Dana Bash reported was an increasing frequency of "once in 100-year" storms is to ban fossil fuels."So, 'What are we going to do about it?' is the ancient question. And it would be to stop burning fossil fuels. When youre in a hole, stop digging, and so on," he said.GOP LAWMAKERS MOVE TO ROLL BACK BIDEN-ERA ENERGY PROGRAMSMore than 100 people, including children and counselors at a girls' camp, were killed in central Texas in flash flooding that began last week.The National Weather Service (NWS) sent several flash flood warnings early Friday morning, followed by several flash flood emergency notices.Critics of President Donald Trump alleged that his federal staffing and budget cuts prevented the NWS from being adequately prepared for the disaster an accusation that the White House and Trump allies have rejected.Other liberals have called out their own side for politicizing the tragedy and said NWS cuts weren't a factor.TEXAS FLOOD SURVIVORS SHARE HARROWING STORIES, SEARCH CONTINUES FOR THOSE STILL MISSINGNye blamed the government as well, saying that it has been convinced by fossil fuel companies to ignore climate change, which he believes has made these disasters worse."But the fossil fuel industry has been very successful in getting organizations like the U.S. Congress to think that its really not happening," he said.The media personality claimed earlier in the segment that, because of climate change, these natural disasters are going to keep happening."This is exactly what was predicted. Its very difficult to tie any one weather event to climate change. However, the warm weather events are actually easier to tie to climate change," he said. "But it will happen again, to your point."CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURENye continued, noting that "warning systems" to alert people about these disasters exist and can be implemented successfully. However, the real issue, he claimed, was getting the U.S. to take climate change seriously.Bash followed up by noting the Trump administrations efforts to eliminate cuts to fossil fuel production in the U.S., suggesting that has contributed to the problem.Nye acknowledged her point, and said the federal government needs to reverse course."So, the opportunity still exists, but we do need to turn things around," he declared.

Though AJ McLean has had his share of public ups and downs, the Backstreet Boy star who has been open about his struggle with addiction throughout the years has proven that recovery is possible.In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, the proud father of two who stars as the host of Netflix's singing competition series, "Building The Band" got candid about the challenges he's faced within his sobriety journey, detailed the lessons he's learned along the way and explained why he doesn't have "another relapse" in him."I'm sober today. I can't tell you what's going to happen tomorrow. And I was sober yesterday. I stay in the now. I stay in the moment. I take everything in," McLean, who is gearing up to celebrate four years of sobriety this fall, said. "It is the age-old saying of stopping and smelling the roses. I actually physically stop and smell flowers. I have a different confidence not arrogance, not ego that I've never had. And it's a confidence that is empowering."BAYLEE LITTRELL SAYS BACKSTREET BOYS DAD TAUGHT HIM HOW TO STAY HUMBLE IN HOLLYWOOD"That is because of the work I've put in and continue to and will have to do the rest of my days in existence," he continued. "It doesn't stop when you stop doing the work, when you stop spreading your experience, strength and hope, reaching out to other addicts and other people in the world that may be suffering from whatever, if you stop doing that, is when s--- goes south. That's when the ego becomes the villain, and it takes over."In 2021, McLean referred to himself as a "chronic relapser" after recalling a moment in which he drank alcohol shortly after completing rehab."I can do short bursts and I'm OK. Because even when I would relapse, I wouldn't go on a bender," he told host Alexis Haines during an episode of the "Recovering from Reality" podcast. "I am a chronic relapser, but I've never gone for like a month straight of just drinking and partying. It's been like one night, and then I'm sober for a week or two. And then it's one night. It was always back and forth."The pop star, who has been in and out of sobriety for years, said he's "dodged more bullets" in his life than people think.WATCH: BACKSTREET BOYS' AJ MCLEAN DODGED MORE BULLETS THAN HE'D LIKE TO ADMIT IN HIS JOURNEY TO SOBRIETY"I don't have another relapse in me," he admitted to Fox News Digital. "It will not end the lucky way it has ended in the past when I've dodged bullets and never went to jail, never got a DUI. I'm pretty sure the last time I did drugs, there was fentanyl in there. I'm still here talking to you. I've dodged more bullets than I'd like to."While McLean who shares two daughters, Elliot, 12, and Lyric, 8, with his estranged wife, Rochelle knows that most of his past is public knowledge, he hopes to control the narrative by having honest and raw conversations with his children.BILLY IDOL NEARLY DIED FROM HEROIN OVERDOSE AT PEAK OF HIS MUSIC CAREER"My girls are very smart, and I've been able to be brutally honest, to a certain degree, about my past," he said. "I don't want to scare them I want them to know enough about their dad that when they're allowed social media, when they're allowed these things, they don't read it and get a different perception. I want them to hear it from the horse's mouth."As a member of one of the most popular boy bands in history, fame inevitably took a toll on McLean who lost sight of who he was somewhere along the way.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"That's really the root of the biggest problem," he said. "The drugs and alcohol, for me, that was a Band-Aid. I suffered from something my best friend calls Piece of s---ism.' I had no self-esteem. So you won't do esteemable things without self-esteem and the growth that has happened from that departure to now. You ask my bandmates, you ask my family, I am a different person. I am the person that's always been there. It just got kind of stifled.""I don't want to stifle that person anymore," he continued. "I know that AJ McLean is a member of a band, but it doesn't define me. I'm Alexander James. That is who I am. AJ is a character in a band that I play that I'm very grateful, has had a 32-year career and hopefully more. And I'm beyond grateful for that. But it doesn't make me who I am. It doesn't define me."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERKickstarting his career as a pop star at just 16 years old, McLean said he and "Building the Band" co-star Liam Payne shared many similarities both personally and professionally."We did share a lot of parallels, even though there's a huge age gap," he said of the late One Direction member, who tragically died at the age of 31 from falling off a hotel balcony in October.Though Payne, who served as a celebrity judge on the Netflix show, faced his own addiction battles throughout the years leading up to his death, McLean said he was fortunate enough to see the late singer at his "truest" self while on set."There were still a lot of similarities of the highs and lows, but I got to see him in his truest form, and he lit up any room he walked into," McLean said. "He was a gentleman. He was funny. He was super-talented, so well-spoken to of these bands, giving his feedback, could get his point across without ever sounding condescending or discouraging.""He always finished with a positive anecdote or a positive comment to keep these bands inspired and to not lose hope or get frustrated. And it takes a real stand-up person to do that. And that's what he was. He was an absolute stand-up individual, talented beyond talented."ONE DIRECTION MEMBERS DEVASTATED BY LIAM PAYNE'S DEATH, SAY THEY 'WILL MISS HIM TERRIBLY'The show, which also stars Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland and Pussycat Dolls' Nicole Scherzinger, will see gifted singers vie for a chance to form the next great music group sight unseen, leaving looks out of the equation."What I love so much about it, unlike other music competition shows, it's twofold," McLean said. "One, it's a cash prize. There's no getting stuck in a box with a major record deal and potentially getting shelved or being told what to wear and what kind of music to do and who's the frontman or frontwoman. These bands get to control their own destiny, and it gives the power back to the artist. So that's a huge plus for me.While McLean who is also gearing up for another Las Vegas residency with the Backstreet Boys this summer is grateful for his past, he's very much looking forward to the future."I can tell you, honestly, it has been an incredible journey," he said.

Microschooling institutions are growing in Indiana and are projected to expand within the state because parents are "upset" with the public school options in their school district, Gov. Mike Braun told Fox News Digital."I see it happening because while I'm here, we're going to make sure parents are in the driver's seat of their own kids' education," Braun said.Braun held a signing ceremony on Tuesday, celebrating education bills that boosted teacher pay and bolstered universal school choice in his state."Those are the parents most upset with the current offerings you got out there, but they may not want to do it themselves," Braun added.INDIANA GOVERNOR FREEZES COLLEGE TUITION, CITING 'BROKEN SYSTEM' IN NEED OF REFORMAn Indiana official sent Fox News Digital a report showing that there are an estimated140 micro-schools in Indiana.Microschooling is a hybrid of homeschooling and the traditional school model that could be privately run or held at public institutions.The Indiana Microschool Collaborative describes microschools as "a small learning space in your local community where each student has a personalized learning plan built around their needs, interests, and goals."Anexample of this is Purdue Polytechnic High School Lab School a private school in Indianapolis, which has about 20 students in either ninth or 10th grade, offering customized education. The Lab's classes are conducted in a Lutheran church in Indianapolis."The Lab School opened in the fall of 2023 with a model that school leaders describe as part one-room schoolhouse, part all-day advisory period," ChalkBeat Indiana reported.'BAD FOR PARENTS': SCHOOL CHOICE SUPPORTERS PROTEST EXCLUSION OF RELIGIOUS CHARTER IN SUPREME COURT CASENature Gifts Microschool, based in Indiana, will operate as a public charter school accepting students on a first-come, first-served basis.Charter schools are taxpayer-funded like public schools, yet independently run, allowing for innovation and new education models.Since Nature Gifts is a charter school, the taxpayer dollars will go directly to the students in microschools because of their administration model and smaller class sizes.Braun added that Indiana has been at the forefront of providing parents variety, options and competition in the education marketplace. "Microschools, to me, are just an innovation that says, 'Hey, I'm not happy with that public school system. Don't maybe like that charter option. We're going to put our own microschool together,'" Braun said.Rural families have been taking advantage of microschools since they have limited options. There has been an uptick in parents choosing to homeschool their children since the coronavirus pandemic, indicating a growing trend of parents overlooking public schools. While microschools are not a new concept, they operate similarly to homeschooling.Microschools are not only growing in Indiana, but also across the country. Some reporting shows an uptick in parents choosing this form of schooling since 2024.An Indiana official sent Fox News Digital an additional report showing that Indiana has the third-most microschools, behind Arizona and Florida.Corey DeAngelis of the American Culture Project told Fox News Digital that the growth of microschools is emblematic of a growing trend of states giving parents more options outside their neighborhood public school and parents being fed up with the traditional public school setting."When the government schools closed their doors and left families hanging, families tried to figure out homeschooling, and one way that they were able to economize on the process of homeschooling, was that they had to get five to ten children together in a household," DeAngelis said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Ever wondered why some texts just feel warmer and more engaging? The secret might be in those tiny, colorful emojis you sprinkle into your messages. Emojis aren't just playful add-ons; they're powerful tools for building stronger connections in our increasingly digital world.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, youll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join myCYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER.A recent study led by Eun Huh at The University of Texas at Austin put this idea to the test. Researchers asked 260 adults to read text conversations that were identical except for one thing: the presence of emojis. Participants then rated how responsive and engaged their conversation partner appeared to be.The results? Messages with emojis made people feel their partners were more attentive and emotionally engaged. This perceived responsiveness led to greater feelings of closeness, higher relationship satisfaction, and even increased likability. And it didn't matter whether the emoji was a smiley face or a simple object; what mattered was that it matched the tone of the message.Emojis act as digital body language. In face-to-face conversations, we rely on tone, facial expressions, and gestures to show we care. In texts, emojis fill that gap by adding emotional nuance and clarity. They can make your intentions clear, reduce misunderstandings, and help your messages feel more personal and warm.Interestingly, the type of emoji, whether a smiling face or a random object, didn't make a difference in how responsive the sender seemed. What matters most is that the emoji is emotionally consistent with your message. So, don't stress over picking the "perfect" emoji; just make sure it fits the mood of your text.While emojis can sometimes be ambiguous or misunderstood, especially in sarcastic or complex conversations, their overall impact is positive. They're a modern twist on age-old ways of adding nonverbal cues to written messages, like underlining or using exclamation marks. And with billions of emojis sent every day, they're clearly here to stay.In a world where so much of our communication happens through screens, finding ways to stay emotionally connected is more important than ever. Emojis offer a simple, effective way to show attentiveness and warmth, making your texts and your relationships stronger.Do you feel like you are missing out on deeper love and connection just because youre not sending enough emojis? Let us know by writing us atCyberguy.com/Contact.Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGet my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, youll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide - free when you join myCYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER.Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved.

One thousand hours outdoors? That's the ambitious goal of a homeschool mom of five. Michigan mom Ginny Yurich, M.Ed., spoke with Fox News Digital about her work in inspiring families to turn off the screens and spend more time outdoors and away from technology.Yurich is the founder of "1000 Hours Outside", advocating for families to aim for their children to spend approximately the equivalent of about six full weeks outside each year.Yurich said her work"is meant to bring back the balance between real life and virtual life, which is completely needed right now."REDUCE SCREEN TIME AND DITCH BIG TECHS GRIP"The average kid in America is outside for four to seven minutes a day, but on screens for four to seven hours," Yurich said.Her work began as a struggling mother with young children trying to make it through long days."A friend of mine told me about this woman named Charlotte Mason, who was actually from the 1800s, who said kids should be outside for four to six hours a day whenever the weather is tolerable, and it changed my life," Yurich recalled.Everything changed from that point."We went outside one time in September of 2011, from 9 in the morning till 1 in the afternoon. And the amount of peace that I felt in relief and joy, it was astronomical," she said. "I never felt like that before. It was the best day I've ever had. It was [the] first good day I had as a mom."Yurich spoke about the importance of children spending time outside on their overall development, saying it boosts everything from emotional regulation to physical strength, from mental cognition to spiritual growth.Yurich advocates for a variety of activities for children away from screens besides the outdoors."Do what you can to do as much hands-on living as you can during the day," she said. "Have friends over, bake food, have these long play dates that extend for all the meals. Go out in your neighborhood, go on a hike, get out all of the water toys, get out the hose, and you do all these things that kids love. And then what happens is, when the day closes, you've run out of time for screens."Yurich added that kids need more time outside now "more than ever.""At some point in our society, screen time was limited automatically. The screens turned off, the cartoons were over at noon on a Saturday, and so it's tricky because now the parent has to be the one that is in charge of that. The teacher has to be in charge of that, but it really is worthwhile," she observed.THIS SIMPLE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CAN IMPROVE AMERICANS' HEALTH, SAYS GOVERNORAccording to her website 1000hoursoutside.com, Yurich said she hopes families are inspired to match and hopefully surpass time on screens with time outdoors.Yurich also hosts "The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast" and is author of the book, "Homeschooling: You're Doing It Right Just By Doing it."In June, The Daily Mail shared a study that indicates more screen time among children results in smaller brains and lower intelligence.In the article, a study was done obtaining information from children regarding IQ, screen time and physical exercise using databases from across Europe.The researchers based in China discovered that from the research, excessive screen time has a negative impact on a child's brain development.'These findings highlight the critical need to manage and regulate children's media use while also promoting increased physical activity,' they wrote in the journal Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience.