Former NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr., who resigned Thursday, reportedly charged the union for two visits to strip clubs.Howell, 59, was picked up in a car from Fort Lauderdale International Airport Nov. 2, 2023, and stopped at a nearby Miami Gardens address. A union finance worker looked up the address and discovered it was Tootsies Cabaret, according to ESPNs report.Tootsie's Cabaret brands itself as the "Full Nude #1 rated Miami Strip Club."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe driver who dropped Howell off was hired to wait while Howell was inside the strip club. The driver waited seven hours outside before eventually dropping off Howell at his luxury condominium in Sunny Isles Beach around 6 a.m., according to the receipt ESPN obtained.During this years NFLPA summit, Howell and two union employees went to Magic City, another strip club, according to the report. The trip cost $2,426 after they used two "VIP rooms" with multiple cash withdrawals from $200-$525, according to the report.COLTS' ANTHONY RICHARDSON RECOVERS FROM INJURY SETBACK AS QB COMPETITION WITH DANIEL JONES HEATS UP: REPORTIn the expense report, Howells trip to the strip club was labeled as "Player Engagement Event to support & grow our Union," according to the report.The NFLPA told Fox News Digital it had no comment on ESPN's report."It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day," Howell said in his resignation statement on Thursday, according to ESPN."For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season."Howell did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.Howell was elected union president in 2024, and he resigned on his own, according to ESPNs report.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Karen Bass, a critic of President Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, is being mocked for pushing a story about an LA woman being kidnapped by ICE that ended up allegedly being an elaborate hoax.The Department of Homeland Security posted on its official X account on Friday, "Mayor, you pushed a HOAX. There is still time to delete this."This comes after Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, a 41-year-old Mexican illegal alien living in Los Angeles, was charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers, according to the DOJ.On July 1, Bass posted a link to a local news story about Calderons supposed kidnapping, commenting, "Shes a mother from L.A. taken out of her car on her way to work, and then held in a warehouse as officers hoped she would self-deport."No hearing. Just fear," Bass added. "This doesn't make anyone safer."TRUMP'S IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN LA IGNITES 'SAME EMOTIONAL NOTES' FOR DEMS, TOP LOCAL GOP LEADER SAYSAfter the charges went public, DHS slammed Bass for her comments, saying, "Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon was NEVER arrested or kidnapped by ICE or bounty huntersthis criminal illegal alien scammed innocent Americans for money and diverted limited DHS resources from Los Angeles."RNC Research, a page run by the Republican National Committee, also chimed in, commenting on X that "Karen Bass spreads a false story demonizing ICE agents."According to the Justice Department, Calderon claimed to have been kidnapped by masked, uniformed men in unmarked cars at a Jack in the Box parking lot June 25. She claimed to have been forcibly taken to the border and presented to an ICE staffer who demanded she sign self-deportation papers. Calderon said that when she refused to sign the document, she was taken to a warehouse to be held indefinitely.The Los Angeles Police Department launched a missing person investigation and notified DHS, which, after determining Calderon was not in its custody, launched its own investigation.NEWSOM SAYS ITS TIME FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP TO GROW UP IN REBUKE OVER NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENTDuring the investigation, HSI noticed several irregularities, including that the phone calls to loved ones that Calderon had supposedly made via borrowed phones were made from her cell phone, intentionally masked to appear as an unknown number.According to the affidavit, video surveillance of Calderons alleged forced abduction further showed her calmly leaving the Jack in the Box parking lot and getting into a nearby sedan. Despite the video showing a marked LAPD car in the vicinity, Calderon did not make any attempts to alert officers that she was in danger.The affidavit states that "when confronted with true information that contradicted their kidnapping story," Calderon and others lied to federal agents and "attempted to thwart law enforcement efforts" by keeping her whereabouts from law enforcement.According to a DOJ statement, HSI agents tracked Calderon down July 5 at a shopping plaza parking lot in Bakersfield, California. The statement said Calderon continued to claim she was taken by masked men and held in custody with others.ILLEGAL ALIEN WHO RAPED, IMPREGNATED HIS OWN DAUGHTER AT GOVERNMENT-RUN SHELTER LEARNS PRISON SENTENCECalderon's daughter also attempted to raise money from Calderon's alleged kidnapping by creating a GoFundMe page.A spokesperson for GoFundMe told Fox News Digital the page was removed and that the family did not access any of the money raised.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPCalderon is in U.S. immigration custody and is facing a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for conspiracy and up to five years for false statements if convicted of the charges.Fox News Digital reached out to Bass office for comment but did not receive a response before publication.

Pandemonium broke out on a CNN panel Thursday night after one guest implied that President Donald Trump wasnt shot at the Butler campaign rally just over a year ago.During a CNN panel discussion about the White House's transparency on Trumps health, leftist podcast host Tour suggested that Trump wasnt shot in the ear on camera in front of a large crowd in Pennsylvania by a would-be assassin last year. The statement threw the CNN "NewsNight" panel into chaos."He supposedly got shot in the ear. We never heard from his doctors about that," Tour said, triggering CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings who demanded that host Abby Phillip step in to correct the record."Whoa, whoa, whoa! Uh-uh!" Scott replied, waving his hands. "Did you say supposedly? Abby, Abby," he said, turning to the host.FLASHBACK: KARINE JEAN-PIERRE DECLARED 'THERE IS NO COVER-UP' OF BIDEN'S HEALTH AFTER HE DROPPED OUT OF RACEAs Jennings sought the moderator, Tour raised his voice and continued to press his point."When did we hear from his doctors? When did we hear from his doctors?" he asked.Phillip tried to calm the clash, stating, "Hold on. If you all stop screaming at the table, maybe I can actually respond."Days after the would-be assassin Thomas Crooks took shots at Trump at the July 13 rally, former White House doctor and former Trump physician Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, revealed he was monitoring the-then candidates health and declared there was "absolutely no evidence" he was hit with "anything other than a bullet."As members of the panel which included former Harris campaign spokesperson Adrienne Elrod and conservative commentator Ben Freguson attempted to press their points again, Phillip held them off."Hold on a second! Hold on a second," she said, putting her hands up. "Tour, he was shot in the ear."WHITE HOUSE SAYS TRUMP 'TRUSTS HIS PHYSICIANS' FOLLOWING BIDEN'S CANCER ANNOUNCEMENTStill, Tour wasnt satisfied."But can we hear from the doctors? We would always hear from his doctors when he gets shot?" he asked.Phillip punted the question to Jennings. The commentator replied, "I mean, all I know is, I went to the Republican National Convention and he had a bandage on his ear."As the pundit spoke, Tour kept interjecting, "That would be no. That would be no. That would be no."Meanwhile, Ferguson tried to get words in before Phillip had to shut down the conversation.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREThe topic started with Elrod talking about the White House releasing a statement on Trumps health after recent photos showed discoloration on his hands and swollen ankles."The president underwent a comprehensive examination, including diagnostic vascular studies, bilateral lower extremity venous Doppler ultrasounds were performed and revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a benign and common condition, particularly in individuals over the age of 70," Leavitt said in a press conference Thursday.Elrod remarked that the White House showed transparency on this topic but alleged they sometimes do not regarding Trumps health.

Six months after California's most devastating wildfire, a recovery is underway. Land is changing hands, developers are coming in, permits are being approved, homes are under construction. Yet, for many, the process is still moving slowly."This process is going to take time, money and patience," said real estate agent Laura Alfano, who specializes in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades properties. "And that will lead to a combination of developers, investors and then families who have legacy wealth. And thats what were seeing in terms of purchases. Not only smoke-damaged homes, but of the actual lots themselves."LOS ANGELES POLICE HOPE TO REUNITE FIREARM OWNERS WITH GUNS AFTER DEVASTATING PALISADES FIREOf the 123 lots sold in the Palisades since the fire, about half have been bought by corporations, the other 50% by individuals. Whereas northeast of L.A. in Altadena, many homes are being snapped up by investors. One company bought 16 properties, another 13."I don't want an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). Id rather die," says Terry Kilgore, 70, who is living out of an RV on his Altadena lot, waiting for an insurance settlement. "What the hell, I don't like RVs. I don't want to live in one, but at this point in time, its a godsend."Many homeowners now realize they were underinsured. They cant afford to pay off the old mortgage of the destroyed home, two years of rent in a tight market and have enough money left over for a rebuild.In Altadena, each month, more vacant lots are coming on the market, depressing prices by as much as $100,000 on a $1 million lot.In the Palisades, its the opposite. The number of properties coming on the market is going down, helping fire victims wanting to cash out. The average price is $2.2 million for a vacant lot."Construction time, as I'm hearing, could be a year, year and a half, so I think you're going to see six months from now framing," said Larry Vein, head of Pali Strong, a citizen group formed after thefires.MANDY MOORE SLAMS LA COUNTY FOR 'NONSENSICAL' RED TAPE PREVENTING THE CITY'S REBUILD AFTER FIRES"The trauma has been really tough. A lot of people are still really confused about it. They don't know what to do. A lot of people are moving forward with their plans. A lot a people are just kind of on hold," said contractor Michael Shirley.Right now, about 50 homes are under construction in the Palisades. More are in the pipeline. Of roughly 900 permit applications submitted to the city and county of Los Angeles officials approved 274 to begin construction. Between the two, about 13,000 homes were destroyed. Both entities say theyre approving permits in under 2 months down from 8 to 18 months before the fires.Yet on more complicates sites and larger homes, experts say homeowners are looking at a year or more to get approval. To speed up the rebuilding process, Governor Newson extended executive orders to suspend theCalifornia Coastal Actas the primary agent in granting permits. This suspension lasts through at least Oct. 1. With the order still in place, homeowners looking to rebuild can start construction with up to 10% increase in size. However, for those looking to expand beyond 10%, they face a $11,579 base fee and a 12-24 month process.SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY MEMBERS RETURN FOR FIRST TIME TO SITE WHERE CHURCH BURNED DOWN AHEAD OF EASTERRoss Greenberg lost his home in the Palisades fire. And although his rebuilding permits were approved in early June, Los Angeles County still isnt letting him break ground."Ive paid over $12,000 in my permit fees right now just to get my process moving," Greenberg said.Besides battling with regulations, many residents are more focused on their fight with insurance companies.Before the fires spread across southern California, State Farmdropped 1,600 policiesin the Palisades last July. The insurance company faces lawsuits from homeowners who claim they were left "grossly underinsured." With poor support by insurance providers, many residents solely rely on the California FAIR Plan, which may barely cover the cost of foundational and septic tank development in places like Malibu, which lost 600 homes in the fire, including 300 along the beach.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"Youre going to spend two to three million dollars on just your foundation, your septic system and your seawall," said Don Schmitz, president and principal planner of real estate consulting company Schmitz & Associates. "And thats before you put up the very first stick to build the actual house."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Friday it plans to reduce its workforce by 23% and close its research and development office.The loss of more than 3,000 employees comes after layoffs and incentives to leave the agency amid the Trump administrations broad effort to streamline the federal government."Under President Trump's leadership, EPA has taken a close look at our operations to ensure the agency is better equipped than ever to deliver on our core mission of protecting human health and the environment while Powering the Great American Comeback," EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in a statement.USDA FIRES FOREIGN WORKERS FORM ADVERSARIAL COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CHINA, IN NATIONAL SECURITY PROTECTION MOVE"This reduction in force will ensure we can better fulfill that mission while being responsible stewards of your hard-earned tax dollars."The EPA said the cuts will save the government $748.8 million.As part of the restructuring, the EPA said it plans to open a new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions to replace the Office of Research and Development, saying the new office would allow it to focus on research "more than ever before."This comes a week after the Supreme Court issued a ruling clearing the way for the administration to conduct mass layoffs.Justin Chen, president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 238, which represents thousands of EPA employees, called the research and development office the "heart and brain of the EPA."STATE DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN MASS LAYOFFS OF ABOUT 1,800 EMPLOYEES IN COMING DAYS"Without it, we dont have the means to assess impacts upon human health and the environment,'' Chen said. "Its destruction will devastate public health in our country."Fox News Digital has reached out to the EPA for comment.This announcement also comes two weeks after 139 employees signed a "declaration of dissent" claiming the Trump administration was hurting the agencys mission.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe administration claimed the employees were "unlawfully undermining" the presidents agenda.Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

An attorney representing a woman who sued NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN star Shannon Sharpe for alleged sexual assault announced Friday the lawsuit has been settled.The attorney, Tony Buzbee, made the announcement in a post on X."On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client. Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, Im pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution," Buzbee wrote.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice."Sharpe initially called the allegations "false and disruptive" when the lawsuit was filed in April. The woman alleged Sharpe engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress and later assaulted her twice, once in October 2024 and in January 2025.Sharpe stepped away from his duties at ESPN April 24 but pledged to return by the NFL preseason. He also called the lawsuit a "shakedown" and a "blatantset-up" by Buzbee and the accuser.NFL HALL OF FAMER SHANNON SHARPE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, BATTERY IN $50 MILLION LAWSUITSharpe's attorney, Lanny J. Davis, previously revealed a string of text messages that were allegedly from the plaintiff, which he says showed a consensual relationship. Davis claims the relationship involved "fantasy" and "role-playing."Davis released a lengthy statement, which Sharpe shared on his social media accounts. In the message, Davis shared the sexually explicit messages.Sharpe also released a video on X prior to Davis news conference in which he called the accusers legal action a "shakedown." He also mentioned that Buzbee planned to release an edited sex tape to support his clients claims."This is a shakedown. Im going to be open, transparent and defend myself because this isnt right. This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee," Sharpe said. "Tony Buzbee targets Black men, and I believe he is going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty and play into every stereotype you could possibly imagine."Buzbee released a statement after Sharpes video message and Davis press conference, confirming the latters remarks about the previous proposed settlement. He also denied that any video of the plaintiff was altered, saying Sharpes claim was "demonstrably false, but also desperate.""An incredibly damning video does indeed exist," Buzbee added in his statement. "The contents of that video speak volumes about Mr. Sharpe and his behavior. That video, which will be played to the jury, is extremely problematic for Mr. Sharpe. Sharpe's team, as I anticipated, disclosed the existence of this video in an effort to try and get ahead of it. That effort will fall flat."Buzbee is well known for negotiating settlements for the women who accused Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A Belgian man who drove nearly 500 miles to meet his future wife was stunned to find out the French model, and her husband, had no idea who he was.After driving 472 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud at her home, the man, who identified himself as Michel, was met by the 38-year-old's husband, Fabien Boutamine."I have to film because there's a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says 'I'm the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud'," Boutamine said in a video he filmed during the get together. "Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation."HOW SIM SWAPPING LED TO A $1.8M CYBER FRAUD CASEAfter some cringeworthy back and forth, Michel admitted to Boutamine something might be "wrong.""I think she played a dirty trick on me," Michel could be heard saying in the distance."My wife, no, it's the fake accounts," Boutamine replied. "You have to be very careful."FAKE VENMO ACCOUNTS ARE STEALING DONATIONS FROM REAL CHARITIESMichel explained he had sent $35,000 to someone posing online as Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 first runner-up.A bewildered and emotional Michel added that the scammer told him she had been pregnant, but later lost her baby."No she's still there, luckily for us," Boutamine said. "I'm sorry sir but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt."ELON MUSK SCAM TRICKS VICTIMS ON FACEBOOK WITH TESLA HOAXVouzelaud later joined the men to clear up the heartbreaking misunderstanding, saying "this hurts my heart.""You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police," she cautioned Michel.It is unclear if a police report was filed following the romance scam, though Boutamine's video, which he posted to social media, garnered nearly 11,000 likes on Instagram."I feel so sorry for this man," Boutamine wrote in the caption. "Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself."Boutamine and Vouzelaud did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.

New York Citys leading mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, is raising eyebrows once again for appearing to suggest prisons are not important in a recently resurfaced video.Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and the Democratic nominee for mayor, made the comments in a 2020 interview while running for state office.Asked whether he thought prisons were obsolete, Mamdani responded, "I think that frankly I mean what purpose do they serve? I think that we have to ask ourselves that."MAMDANI SPARKS FIRESTORM WITH RESURFACED COMMENT ON ABOLISHING PRIVATE PROPERTY: 'HE'S A COMMUNIST'The Democratic mayoral candidate added, "I think a lot of people who defend the carceral state, they defend the idea of it and the way it makes them feel. Theyre not defending the reality of it and the practices that are part and parcel of it."Because if you actually break it down and ask people how many people come out of the prison system better than they went into the prison system, how much harm is actually being prevented versus created, I think when you ask these kinds of questions, people dont always have clear answers."Mamdani added that, when discussing the prison system, "What they always want to pivot to is, What are you going to do about murderers? What are you going to do about rapists?'DEMOCRATS HIT ROCK BOTTOM AS PARTY PLUMMETS TO ALL-TIME LOW: POLL"Sometimes you have to ask them, What are you doing about them right now?" he added. "We need a system of justice that will repair the harm that has been caused and address it in a serious way because right now we dont have it, and it makes everyone more unsafe."Mamdani also claimed "the power of the executive is almost limitless here in New York State" and criticized then-New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo for refusing to "let people out and letting people go home."Mamdani, who has promised to overhaul New York City and launch massive new government programs, has been endorsed by progressive politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.NEW YORK LEADERS REPORTEDLY HESITANT TO ENDORSE ZOHRAN MAMDANI FOR MAYORAs the Democratic nominee in heavily blue New York City, Mamdani is the likely frontrunner to unseat the current mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, who is running for re-election as an independent. Mamdani is also facing off against Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and activist Curtis Sliwa, who is the Republican Party nominee.Mamdani is seen by many as a controversial candidate, partially due to his socialist policy proposals and heavy criticism of the state of Israel. He has declined to say whether Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state and initially refused to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada." However, he recently began distancing himself from the phrase.Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign but did not receive a response.

In a landmark nomination that reshapes nearly two centuries of tradition, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte has been tapped to serve as the next superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.If confirmed by the Senate, he will become the first Marine to hold the top post in the Academys 180-year history.The move was announced Friday by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as part of a broader slate of military leadership nominations. Borgschulte currently serves as the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs at Marine Corps Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. He is a 1991 graduate of the Naval Academy.The nomination comes amid an unexpected leadership shuffle. Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, who assumed command of the academy last year, has been nominated for reappointment and reassignment to the Pentagon. She is slated to become the deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, strategy, and warfighting development (N3/N5/N7), pending Senate approval and a congressional waiver.HEGSETH ANNOUNCES NAVY OIL TANKER NAMED AFTER GAY RIGHTS LEADER RENAMED AFTER MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER"Im honored to be nominated," Davids said in a statement. "I look forward to continuing to serve alongside Americas strongest warfighters."Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan praised both officers. He called Borgschulte a "decorated combat leader" with "strategic insight" and commended Davids for her "strategic vision" and "operational depth."Phelan also noted the significance of the nomination, calling it a powerful signal of "naval integration" as a Marine prepares to lead the Navys flagship officer training institution.s, founded in 1845, has long been led exclusively by Navy officers. The nomination of a Marine marks a sharp departure and a signal of evolving priorities in joint leadership and force development.Phelan described the Academy as one of the most "consequential institutions in American public life" and said Borgschultes leadership will help shape officers "for an increasingly contested world."TRUMP NOMINATES SEASONED MILITARY LEADERS TO HEAD VITAL GLOBAL COMMANDSBorgschulte was commissioned in 1991 after graduating from the Naval Academy and has held multiple command and combat roles throughout his career. In his current position, he oversees the personnel policies, readiness and force structure of the Marines.Davids, a 1989 graduate of the Naval Academy, made history as the first woman and the first Hispanic to serve as superintendent. Her tenure at the academy appears to be ending prematurely.Superintendents are traditionally expected to serve three-year terms and then retire. A Department of Defense (DOD) news release did not provide an explanation for the sudden change, and her next assignment requires a waiver from Congress. Her next role would typically require a post-retirement transition, which she has not yet completed.Davids husband, Rear Adm. Keith Davids, retired last year as commander of Naval Special Warfare. The couple met at the Academy while they were both plebes.Fox News Digital has reached out to the Navy regarding the timeline of the leadership transition. The nomination is now in the hands of the Senate with no official date yet for confirmation or change of command.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPBorgschultes nomination is part of a broader DOD leadership shake-up that includes nominations for new service vice chiefs and combatant command heads across the military.The Navy referred Fox News Digital to the DOD release on the matter when asked for further comment.

A new report is putting a spotlight on the finances of "The Late Show" as critics speculate the CBS cancellation was a political move to silence its anti-Trump host Stephen Colbert.Puck News' Matt Belloni reported the late-night show "has been losing more than $40 million a year" for CBS and that it had a budget of "more than $100 million per season," contrasting it with network's daytime and primetime programming, which he noted were "still profitable.""'Late Show,' with its topical humor and celebrity interviews pegged to specific projects, has struggled on Paramount+. And of the three network late-night shows, Late Show has by far the smallest digital footprint on YouTube and other platforms," Belloni wrote. "So from a business perspective, the cancellation makes sense."CBS CANCELS THE LATE SHOW, STEPHEN COLBERT TO END PROGRAM IN MAY 2026Belloni said the sources he spoke with at CBS and Skydance Media, the company that is set to buy the network's parent company Paramount Global as part of an $8 billion merger, insist Colbert's cancellation was "based on economics, not politics," pointing to the decision to give his show a 10-month extension to May 2026 instead of pulling the plug immediately as evidence."Still, two other people with deep ties to CBS and Late Show suspect otherwise," Belloni said. "After all, when a network decides that a show is too expensive, executives typically go to the key talent and ask them to take pay cuts, fire people, or otherwise slash costs. That didnt happen herethough with Colbert said to be making between $15 million and $20 million per year, a pay cut wouldnt have solved the problem on its own."The veteran entertainment journalist went on to suggest that political motivations could be in play if Paramount goes on to also cancel "The Daily Show," which airs on CBS' sister cable network Comedy Central, but stressed, "for now, I cautiously (and skeptically) believe that this was mostly an economic decision."SCHIFF, WARREN DEMAND TO KNOW IF CBS IS ENDING STEPHEN COLBERT'S LATE SHOW FOR POLITICAL REASONSThat said, Belloni asked whether this was "the dam bursting" in late night on broadcast television, suggesting that Jimmy Kimmel at ABC as well as Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers at NBC could be next."Ive sensed that the networks have all been reluctant to be the first to pull the trigger on a cancellation in the historic time slot. CBS has now fired the opening shot, and its reasonable to suspect that NBC and ABC will follow," Belloni wrote. "So no, I wouldnt sleep well tonight if I were Kimmel or Fallon, though both have larger digital footprints and do a lot more for their respective networks. Fallon and Meyers have also been protected by Lorne Michaels, who produces both their shows, though I wonder if even Lorne might recognize that the 12:30 slot is increasingly not viable, and the sacred cows of television are being slaughtered, one by one."President Donald Trump speculated about the future of the other late-night hosts in his Truth Social post celebrating "The Late Show" cancellation."I absolutely love that Colbert got fired," he said. "His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show."CBS said in its statement Thursday announcing the cancellation that it was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night," adding, "It is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."In a somber message breaking the news to his studio audience, Colbert said, "The folks at CBS have been great partners."However, he struck a vastly different tone on Monday while slamming Paramount's recent settlement with Trump."I believe this kind of complicated financial sentiment with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. Its big fat bribe,'" Colbert said. "Because it all comes as Paramounts owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner, Skydance!"There had been concerns within Paramount that not settling Trump's lawsuit would halt its Skydance merger, which needs the approval of the FCC.Skydance Media CEO David Ellison, who would control CBS after the planned merger, is believed to desire a less-partisan operation.Liberal critics, including several top Democrats, have expressed outrage towards CBS, insisting Colbert's show was canceled for political reasons.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPParamount did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.