Graphic content warningTwenty years have passed since 18-year-old Natalee Holloway of Alabama disappeared on May 30, 2005, during a senior trip to Aruba with her high school friends, but the Holloway family's private investigator says there are still many unanswered questions in the case.In 2023, 36-year-old Dutch national Joran van der Sloot, the primary suspect in Holloway's disappearance and murder, confessed to bashing the teenager's head with a brick and dumping her body in the ocean after she refused his advances."I smash her head in with it completely," van der Sloot said in an Oct. 3, 2023, interview with federal authorities. "Her face basically, you know, collapses in. Even though it's dark, I can see her face is collapsed in."TJ Ward, a private investigator hired by Holloway's family in 2005 and again in 2010, does not believe he acted alone.LESSONS LEARNED IN NATALEE HOLLOWAY DISAPPEARANCE APPLY TO SUDIKSHA KONANKI CASE: RETIRED FBI AGENT"Twenty years, can you believe that?" he told Fox News Digital in an interview this week, marking two decades since the 18-year-old graduate vanished from Carlos'n Charlie's, a restaurant and nightclub in Oranjestad, Aruba. "She had a bright future. She got a scholarship to go to college for medical school ubelievable."Ward does work for a voice analysis company based in Israel, which paid the private investigator to travel to Aruba after Holloway disappeared. There, he met with her parents as well as the FBI and Aruba authorities. Ward said he used the voice analysis technology on van de Sloot's existing interviews at the time and determined that he was lying to authorities and to the public.BETH HOLLOWAY ADDRESSES MISSING AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT, URGES 'FULL CIRCLE' SAFETY PLAN"We knew numerous times along the course of the investigation [and] over the last few years that Joran van der Sloot was not telling the truth," Ward said. "Thereafter, we started locating witnesses and talking and finding information that was going on with the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, and we knew a lot of the information that Van der Sloot was communicating was not true."Holloway was last seen leaving Carlos'n Charlie's with van der Sloot and two other men, brothers Satish and Deepak Kalpoe, on the evening of May 30, two decades ago as of Friday. The three men were considered early suspects in the case.NEWS ANCHOR'S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE WAS CRIME OF 'JEALOUSY': PRIVATE INVESTIGATORPolice arrested van der Sloot but eventually released him due to a lack of evidence. Authorities eyed the same suspects again in 2007 after uncovering "new facts" but wound up releasing them once more.Holloways remains have never been found.TIMELINE OF ALABAMA TEEN NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S DEATHFive years to the day after Holloway's disappearance, van der Sloot killed 21-year-old Stephany Flores, a business student from a wealthy Peruvian family who crossed paths with the killer on May 30, 2010.Van der Sloot later confessed to killing her in a fit of anger after she learned about his connection to Holloway's disappearance. They had met earlier in her father's casino in Lima, and he beat her to death in his hotel room the following morning.JORAN VAN DER SLOOT HAS CONFESSED TO KILLING NATALEE HOLLOWAYIn June 2010, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Alabama announced an indictment on extortion and wire fraud charges against Van der Sloot for allegedly trying to sell information about the whereabouts of her body to her family."Joran contacted Natalie's mother and Natalie's attorney, John Q. Kelly, in New York and said that for $250,000 he would tell Beth exactly what happened to his daughter," Ward said. "So John Q. Kelly, along with the FBI, arranged to set up a room in the Marriott with the Aruban authorities and Joran van der Sloot came in and started telling Beth and John Q. Kelly that Natalie was buried under a house in the concrete. Well, they in turn gave him $25,000 cash, on film, and he then departed. He should have been arrested right then and there for the FBI for trying to extort Natalie's mother."PERU ALLOWS NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S KILLER MULTIPLE CONJUGAL VISITS FOR HIS MENTAL HEALTH, REHABILITATIONHe then left the United States and later told Beth Holloway and Kelly that he lied.Van der Sloot is currently serving prison time in Peru for Flores' murder. He is expected to be released in 2036, at which point Peruvian authorities will extradite him back to the United States to serve his concurrent 20-year sentence for Holloway's murder.AUDIO: LISTEN TO JORAN VAN DER SLOOT'S CONFESSION"You have brutally murdered, in separate incidents, years apart, two young women who refused your sexual advances," Judge Anna Manasco told van der Sloot in court in 2023, referencing Flores' murder.JORAN VAN DER SLOOT'S WHIRLWIND PLEA DEAL: 'HE WON THE GAME,' BUT FAMILY ACCEPTS CLOSUREManasco called the extortion and fraud charges "heinous" because the killer knew the information he was selling was a lie to make a profit. However, as part of the deal, she said federal prosecutors have agreed not to use his confession against him for any other purposes."After 18 years, Natalees case has been solved," Beth Holloway told reporters outside the courthouse immediately after van der Sloot's 2023 sentencing hearing in Holloway's death. "Joran van der Sloot is the killer."In a victim-impact statement during the hearing, Holloway's mother tore into van der Sloot, saying he taunted her family and caused indescribable pain before turning to him and saying, "You look like hell."Ward told Fox News Digital this week that Beth Holloway feels "kind of satisfied with the fact that he is in prison, and now he's gotten jail time in the United States, which he's going to have to do concurrent to the charges in Peru of the 20 years in the United States in the federal penitentiary. "CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWSThe private investigator added that he continues to stay in touch with Dave Holloway to this day and that they have not reached "a finalization of what happened.""Even though Joran van der Sloot confessed in 2023, we're not convinced that he was alone with what transpired with Natalee Halloway," Ward said. "But again, our conclusion, as of today, Dave Holloway and I are still looking and trying to gather information, which we believe that there's other people involved with Joran van der Sloot when she was on the beach in May 30, 2005."Ward said he does not believe van der Sloot acted alone, and he is still working to determine if others were involved.Fox News' Michael Ruiz and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

A former assistant of Sean "Diddy" Combs testified Thursday to multiple instances of alleged abuse she faced over an eight-year period of working for the disgraced music mogul.Using the moniker "Mia" to testify anonymously, the ex-associate became emotional on the stand as she claimed to feel powerless after Diddy raped her, once at his Los Angeles home and another time in New York during his 40th birthday celebrations.Her words on the 12th day of testimony may have a huge impact on a jury's decision when it comes to sentencing the "Last Night" rapper, who faces anywhere from 15 years to life in prison if convicted on numerous federal charges, according to a legal expert.Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital that Mia's testimony as the fourth Diddy assistant to take the stand "was the best because she corroborated the prior testimony and was a victim of her own."DIDDY EX-ASSISTANT CAPRICORN CLARK DELIVERS MOST EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY YET IN RAPPER'S FEDERAL TRIALMia worked for Diddy as his personal assistant and as a director at Revolt films. She described the work environment as "chaotic, toxic ... the highs were really high, and the lows were really low." According to Mia, Diddys mood determined the environment."Diddy was violent with her.He threw an ice bucket, bowl spaghetti, turkey meat, computer and phone at her, threw her against doors and walls, and threw her into a pool," Rahmani said of the allegations made in court on Thursday. "She was paid $50K to start and worked days straight with little to no sleep. She had to take Adderall to stay awake.This is forced labor for racketeering."USHER, OBAMA NAME-DROPPED IN DIDDY'S TRIAL AS SEX TRAFFICKING CASE HEATS UPHe added, "There was graphic testimony about the time Combs slammed Cassie Venturas head on the corner of the bed and 'cracked her head open.'After the attack, Combs told her to contact a plastic surgeon and say Ventura fell because she was drunk.This is obstruction of justice and witness tampering."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERMia also testified that not only did she witness the Bad Boy Records founder getting violent with Cassie Ventura, but he was also physically violent with her. She claimed he once slammed her arm in a bathroom door after allegedly stealing her cellphone. During another alleged incident, Mia claimed Diddy threw a computer at her head while on set in Los Angeles.The former employee told the court that Diddy had control over her."I couldnt tell him, no I couldnt tell him no about anything," she said during her testimony."I knew his power control over me. I didnt want to lose anything I worked so hard for."Rahmani added, "Combs gave her MDMA and ketamine and told her she was 'now part of the breakfast club.'So now we have drug trafficking along with sex trafficking.This shows a criminal enterprise with Combs in control."Albany-based attorney Paul DerOhannesian agreed that Mia's testimony "directly assists the prosecution in establishing the elements of theforced labor charge through physical force and threats which is part of the racketeering conspiracy charge."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS"Mia also corroborates Cassie Ventura's testimony concerning the freak offs, and the violence against Ventura, suggesting the sexual acts were not consensual," DerOhannesian said."More broadly, Mia's testimony provides a broad stroke in the prosecution's painting depicting Combs as a controlling, serial, terrorizing and violent abuser of women the framework by which the prosecution wishes the jury to view the trial testimony."In a federal indictment unsealed on Sept. 17, Diddy was charged with racketeering conspiracy (RICO); sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution. If found guilty, he faces a minimum of 15 years behind bars or a maximum sentence of life in prison.He has maintained his innocence.Testimony in the Bad Boy Records founder's trial began May 12, and jurors heard from his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, Regina Ventura, who is Cassie's mother, Kid Cudi and Cassie's former best friend, Kerry Morgan.Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz and Maria Paronich contributed to this report.

A 1,600-year-old Byzantine-era mosaic from a Christian monastery was recently put on public display for the first time, giving a glimpse into life during ancient times.The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement about the unveiling of the Beer Shema mosaic earlier this week. The mosaic was officially opened to the public at the Merhavim Regional Council complex in the Southern District of Israel on Sunday.The ministry described the art piece as "one of the most impressive mosaics discovered in the south of the country."ANCIENT JEWISH RITUAL BATH, OLDEST OF ITS KIND IN EUROPE, UNCOVERED BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS"The approximately 1,600-year-old colorful mosaic presents 55 medallions decorated with hunting scenes, animals and scenes of everyday life," the statement also noted.The mosaic has 55 medallions, with each telling its own story. Archaeologist Shaike Lender said the scenes depict "mythological characters, baskets of fruit, exotic animals, scenes from everyday life, hunting scenes and more.""The mosaic was clearly made by the hand of a true artist," Lender added."It is comprised of small mosaic stones in a variety of colors, combined with glass and pottery to infuse it with variety."ANCIENT CHRISTIAN FIGURINES DISCOVERED IN 1,500-YEAR-OLD DESERT GRAVESThe Beer Shema mosaic was found in 1990 during an excavation in Kibbutz Urim.Archaeologists don't know its exact age, but they dated it to the Byzantine period of Israeli history, which lasted from 324 A.D. to 638 A.D.The mosaic was a feature within a monastery that also doubled as a winery to "earn its sustenance," according to Israeli officials.For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle"The excavation of the complex uncovered a large winepress and warehouses with storage jugs, which were produced on site," the statement said.The monastery was built near an ancient spice trail road that connected the historic city of Elusa with the port of Gaza."It seems that the ancient road upon which this settlement was sited served as a kind of border between the desert and the inhabited part of the country during the Byzantine period, and perhaps serving as such even earlier, during the Roman period," officials said.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERArchaeologists also discovered the monastery was part of a large settlement, comprised of several hundred dunams. A dunam, a historic unit of measurement still used in Israel today, is 1,000 square meters each."[The settlement] served travelers needing a safe place to spend the night, offering protection from potential attacks by raiders from the local Bedouin tribes," the statement noted.The mosaic was extensively preserved by archaeologists over the past few months.They treated the mosaic for damage and re-strengthened the tiles. Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) director Eli Escusido applauded the mosaic's opening, saying its site "will serve the public as an open archaeological garden."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"I now invite the public to enjoy and to form their own impressions of one of the most beautiful mosaics ever seen here in Israels South, here in the northwestern Negev," he said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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