Medicare is a tempting prize for scammers. Because it's a public program funded by taxpayers, it has a huge budget to distribute and that's what attracts scammers. In 2024, improper payments added up to $54 billion. Some scams involve setting up fake companies to file bogus claims, while others target beneficiaries directly, stealing their personal information and denying them their right to treatment.If you fall victim to such a scam, the consequences can range from small financial losses to actual health risks. Scammers may trick you into paying fake fees, premiums or "copays" over the phone or online. They may also go after your personal information or Medicare number to bill for services or equipment you never requested, which could leave you with less coverage when you actually need treatment.It's better to know what you're up against so you don't accidentally lose your Medicare benefits.FBI WARNS SENIORS ABOUT BILLION-DOLLAR SCAM DRAINING RETIREMENT FUNDS, EXPERT SAYS AI DRIVING ITSign 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 my CyberGuy.com newsletterScammers are getting more and more professional these days. With Medicare scams, fraudsters may use spoofed phone numbers, emails and websites to make their schemes seem more believable. Luckily, there are still some telltale signs to look out for.Regardless of the communication method, phone, email, mail or in person, scammers will try to:Some scammers use spoofed phone numbers to impersonate Medicare representatives. They may try to trick you into paying fake fees or buying unnecessary products.These often include:Remember: Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to, and they will never ask for money.If you ever owe Medicare fees, you will be contacted by mail, not by phone. Furthermore, Medicare insurance itself is free, and you will never be asked to pay fees just to keep it active.You may only be required to pay in certain circumstances, such as a portion of the cost for a treatment or prescription drugs, but these bills will always be sent to you by mail, never via phone calls or online forms.Scammers may try calling you in Medicare's name to ask for your Medicare number or card details.Money isn't the only thing scammers are after; your Medicare number can be just as valuable, if not more so.This scam follows a similar scheme: fraudsters call you pretending to be Medicare employees and ask you to provide your Medicare number for fake reasons, such as:Let me be clear: Medicare will never call you, whether it's about paying fees, updating your account or anything else.Scammers want your Medicare information so they can impersonate you and obtain medical supplies, prescription drugs or treatments in your name.REMOVE YOUR DATA TO PROTECT YOUR RETIREMENT FROM SCAMMERSYour Social Security number (SSN) can be the final piece scammers need to impersonate you. During these calls, fraudsters may ask not only for your Medicare details but also for other personal information, such as your SSN, date of birth or similar data.They often use the same excuses as when trying to obtain Medicare information, such as:Let me emphasize this again: Medicare will never call you for these reasons.Even if the phone number looks legitimate and the caller sounds professional, the moment you're asked for personal details or payments, you know it's a scam.If it's a phone call, just hang up.You don't need to explain yourself or engage in a conversation with scammers. If they threaten you with consequences, do not believe them; scammers use fear to pressure you into making poor decisions.Remember: If Medicare or its service providers had important information to communicate, they would do so by mail, not by phone.Apart from not letting scammers take advantage of you, you can also help others by:You don't have to sit tight and hope that scammers won't target you. Instead, you can take some active measures to make such attempts less likely.To target you, scammers first need to gather some basic information about you, like your phone number. That information and much more can be easily looked up on people search sites, platforms operated by data brokers that let people search for others. The good news is that you can opt out of these platforms. You can do it manually by visiting each website and filling out the opt-out forms or you can automate the process.Data removal services work on your behalf to erase personal details like your phone number, address and email from people-search sites and data broker databases. By reducing the amount of information available online, these services make it harder for scammers to find and target you. Many of them also monitor whether your data reappears, so you stay protected over time without having to constantly check dozens of sites yourself.While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice.They arent cheap, and neither is your privacy.These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It's what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to come after you.Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visitingCyberGuy.com.Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web:CyberGuy.com.Always review your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) or Explanation of Benefits (EOBs). These statements show what services have been billed in your name. If you see charges for services, equipment or prescriptions you never received, report it right away. Quick action can stop fraud before it impacts your care.Identity theft protection tools can alert you if your Social Security number, Medicare number or other sensitive details show up on the dark web or are used to open new accounts. These services can also guide you through recovery if scammers misuse your information.See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft atCyberGuy.com.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMedicare scams are designed to exploit fear, urgency and confusion. By recognizing the warning signs and knowing what Medicare will and will not do, you can stay one step ahead of fraudsters. Protecting your personal information and reducing your online exposure are key to keeping your coverage safe. With a few smart habits, you can make yourself a less appealing target and help others by reporting scams when you see them.Have you or someone you know ever been targeted by a Medicare scam, and how did you handle it?Let us know by writing to us atCyberGuy.com.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.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., clashed with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former CDC Director Susan Monarez over recommending vaccines for infants on Wednesday.The back-and-forth arose during a Senate hearing on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to oust Monarez last month. Monarez claims she was forced out for refusing to fire individuals responsible for the CDC's vaccine recommendations, arguing there is no scientific support for removing certain vaccines from the list.Paul sought to turn the tables on the former official during his questioning."When we're discussing the science here, we have to discuss what is the science in favor of giving the vaccine to a 6-month-old, and what are the benefits from that? And there is no benefit of hospitalization or death. And then what would the risks of that vaccine be? We have large population studies of the risks of the vaccine in younger people," Paul said.WHY BERNIE SANDERS IS CALLING ON RFK JR. TO RESIGN"You won't fire the people who are saying we have to vaccinate our kids at 6 months of age. That's who you refused to fire," he pressed."That assertion is not commensurate with the experience that I had with the individuals who were identified to be fired," Monarez replied as Paul cut her off."Did any of the people you refused to fire," Paul began before Sanders then interjected himself: "She's about to answer the question."BIPARTISAN FURY AT CDC: SENATORS DEMAND PROBE, REJECT VACCINE GUIDANCE AS ILLEGITIMATEPaul then argued that "we should" remove recommendations that infants receive the COVID-19 vaccine and others that he said are not relevant for children."What is the medical reason to give a Hepatitis-B vaccine to a newborn whose mom has no Hepatitis?" Paul asked.Sanders then interjected again as Paul spoke over Monarez, who did not directly answer the question.CDC DIRECTOR SUSAN MONAREZ REFUSES TO BE FIRED AS OTHER OFFICIALS CALL IT QUITS"You had your time Bernie, I've got mine," Paul said testily before turning back to Monarez. "What is the medical, scientific reason and proof for giving a newborn a Hepatitis-B vaccine if the mom is Hep-B negative?"Monarez again refused to answer the question directly, and Paul argued that "the burden should be on you" to prove that vaccines recommended for infants are actually helpful."You want to make all kids take this? The burden is upon you," he said.

OREM, Utah While a large American flag drapes where conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Utah Valley University's campus, students told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that campus feels "scary" and "somber.""This is somewhere that we go to further our lives, and it could also be the place where it ends our lives," said James Whitney, a UVU student who told Fox News Digital that authorities "found the gun in my parents' backyard."According to suspect Tyler Robinson's charging documents, investigators found a "bolt-action rifle wrapped in a towel" in a wooded area on the northeast end of campus, but authorities have not confirmed the exact location.One week after Kirk was shot while taking questions from UVU students, classes on the Orem campus resumed Wednesday. As students return to campus to pay their respects to Kirk and go back to class, many are still processing what they describe as an "extremely traumatic" incident.CHARLIE KIRK'S KILLING AT UTAH UNIVERSITY PROMPTS SCRUTINY OF SECURITY MEASURESAfton Miller, a UVU student who said she was 5 to 10 feet away from Kirk when he was shot, said to Fox News Digital as she was returning to the assassination site for the first time: "No one should ever be able to say I've witnessed a school shooting, let alone the assassination of one of your greatest heroes."Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking to UVU students last Wednesday, Sept. 10. After a 33-hour manhunt, 22-year-old Robinson was arrested. Gray outlined the formal charges against Robinson during a press conference on Tuesday, which was followed by the suspect's first court appearance.UTAH LEADERS URGE UNITY FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION: 'TURNING POINT FOR AMERICA'A memorial that began in the days following the shooting with sparse bouquets and a few signs honoring Kirk outside campus has now filled an entire patch of grass outside campus. And inside campus, just steps from where Kirk was shot, more tributes have grown by the day as students and locals walk solemnly through the courtyard to pay their respects.UVU student Jessie Ball told Fox News Digital that she has witnessed her friends and classmates, including those who are atheists, return to prayer in the days following the assassination. UVU is hosting a campus and community-wide vigil on Friday to "come together in remembering, healing, and reaffirming shared values.""A lot of people like myself, who are kind of afraid of speaking up, we've gotten over that a little because we think that his messages were important to hear," Ball said of Kirk as she held back tears.Ryder Warner, a UVU student who was on campus when Kirk was shot, said "just being on campus is hard for everybody.""I think it's especially hard because some people were cheering, and it just really brings your mood down," he said. "You lose confidence in this country.""I don't think anybody should be killed over their opinion," Warner added.When asked his opinion of Kirk's politics, a source of much debate since last Wednesday, Whitney told Fox News Digital that he tries to stay out of politics because "this is usually what ends up happening."He said he opts to keep his political views to himself because political violence is "becoming normalized," and when people don't agree, "they try to take it out on everybody else."Trae Stevens, who grew up in Spanish Fork, which is about a one-hour drive south of campus, visited on Tuesday to pay his respects, because "to see that this could happen so close to home is really scary.""Like Charlie said, silence creates violence," Stevens said. "I think it's important to address emotions before we address dialogue and policies because, ultimately, that's what drives things like this emotions."Miller, who said Kirk was one of her heroes, said that through this tragedy, "we have to get closer to God and each other.""There's a reason we were brought to this point, and there's a reason we're going to continue forward," she said.

A Florida nurse has been sentenced to two years in prison after her husband caught her having sex with his son last year.Alexis Von Yates was on a sofa with her then-15-year-old stepson late at night after they had watched a horror movie together. His father opened the front door while returning home from work and caught them in the act, according to court documents.She appeared in court on Monday and agreed to a no-contest plea to lewd or lascivious battery on a child between 12 and 16 a lesser charge that had been reduced from sexual battery by a person in familial authority, a first-degree felony that carries up to life in prison.NEW JERSEY TEACHER, 37, PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 2 STUDENTSThe victims mother spoke during Von Yates sentencing, calling her an "incestuous pedophile" who groomed and violated her son, according toCourt TV. The victims mother also said that Alexis Von Yates showed no remorse for her "despicable actions," calling her a "coward."Von Yates will serve two years in state prison, followed by two years of community control and 10 years of sex offender probation for the incident, which took place on July 26, 2024.The incident was reported via an anonymous tip four days later, triggering a police investigation.The victim told investigators Alexis Von Yates had been making sexual remarks for a week leading up to the incident, according to court documents. The teen and his siblings were staying with the couple for the summer.COLORADO DENTIST FLEW TO FLORIDA TO ARRANGE SEX WITH A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER, 8: PROSECUTORSOn the night of the incident, the father was working a late shift as a lineman, while Alexis Von Yates and her stepson stayed up together after his siblings went to bed, according to an affidavit.They smoked a THC cartridge, played video games and watched a horror movie. As they sat close on the couch, Alexis Von Yates allegedly told the boy she was "horny," hadn't had sex in two weeks and had been making sexual jokes for days, which escalated before the father came home, according to court documents.They heard a noise in the garage but continued on before the father barged in.The father, Frank Von Yates, roared at his wife, calling her a "ct" and "child predator" while his son ran into the bathroom, according to court documents.After the incident, the father told his son to gather his belongings and drove him to the grandparents house.Florida Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Timothy McCourt said he accepted the plea deal because the victim's family agreed to it, per Court TV.The victims mother told the judge that his father has not spoken to his son since the incident, Court TV reported.Alexis Von Yates was arrested on Nov. 6, 2024, at her residence. As part of her plea deal, she will also be required to complete 200 hours of community service and pay fines and court fees.The Florida Department of Health suspended her nursing license shortly after her arrest.

Christian singer Forrest Frank debuted a new song after revealing that he lost tens of thousands of Instagram followers after speaking out last week about Charlie Kirk's assassination.On Tuesday, the 30-year-old shared a video of himself sitting on a bed while singing and playing a keyboard as he performed a clip from an unreleased song."JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON," Frank wrote in the caption of the video, which displayed the song's lyrics on screen as he performed.CHRISTIAN SINGER FORREST FRANK LOSES 30,000 FOLLOWERS AFTER SPEAKING OUT ON CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION"Get a house just to lay in a bed so we can scroll a phone till we're sick in the head / We're all throwing stones till somebody is dead," Frank sang at the beginning of the video.He continued, "But I wonder what we'd do if we knew / That something shifted in the air / We all felt it together everywhere / So many years we just sat back and stared / But I wonder what we'd do if we knew / Jesus is coming back soon.""Jesus is coming back soon," Frank repeated, holding the last note."I can feel it in my bones / The day is coming close / Tell the world that they gotta know / Jesus is coming back soon," he concluded his emotional performance.The "Lemonade" singer did not elaborate on the song's inspiration. However, some of the song's lyrics echoed comments that Frank had made in a previous video about Kirk.LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSIn the original video he shared on the topic, Frank became emotional and started to cry while explaining that he didn't feel comfortable continuing to post his music without first addressing the conservative activist's assassination.While his message earned a lot of positive feedback, he shared in an update that others didn't seem to appreciate what he had to say."30,000 people unfollowed me because I posted about Charlie Kirk and I said Jesus Christ is Lord. Good. I don't want you to follow me," Frank stated.He continued, "I don't want you to track my music. I don't want you to come to my shows. I don't want you to do any of that if you don't do this one thing, and that is, follow Jesus Christ, the King of all kings, the Lord of all lords, the one who is, the one who is to come.""He is coming back real soon. So if you have not gotten your heart right with Him and dropped down on your knees and repented to Him, today is the day," he added. "The hour is at hand."Frank explained that he had felt a change within himself and in the world following Kirk's death.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"I don't know if you can feel it too. There's a heaviness, something shifted and I don't care. I just want you to know that Jesus Christ is here and he loves you," he said.Frank elaborated further in the caption of his video, which read, "i dont care if you follow me, but i do care if you follow Jesus. i have nothing else to share but this one message and i repent for ways ive allowed my platform to be a lukewarm highlight real. From here on out im using as much energy as i can to let people know about the only thing that matters."Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and father of two, was hosting an event at Utah Valley University Sept. 10 when he was assassinated.On Tuesday, Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of fatally shooting Kirk, was formally charged with aggravated murder and felony discharge of a firearm causing bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and one count of committing a violent offense in front of children.Robinson, who was arrested Sept. 12 in Utah, will remain in custody without bail. Prosecutors have confirmed they will seek the death penalty in the case.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who rejected a push by President Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in the key southeastern battleground state, launched a 2026 Republican bid for governor.Raffensperger's announcement on Wednesday adds more drama to an already combustible GOP gubernatorial primary between Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and state Attorney General Chris Carr.And while Raffensperger has a long track record as a conservative Republican, he'll likely once again face the scorn of Trump, who last month endorsed Jones for governor."Im a conservative Republican, and Im prepared to make the tough decisions. I follow the law and the Constitution, and Ill always do the right thing for Georgia no matter what," Raffensperger said in a campaign launch video. "As governor, I'll deliver a bold conservative agenda, and build Georgia even stronger."REPUBLICAN-TURNED-DEMOCRAT LAUNCHES GEORGIA GOVERNOR BIDRaffensperger's agenda includes a push to eliminate the state income tax, capping property taxes for seniors, repealing taxes and fees on closing costs for homebuyers, expanding tax credits for parental school choice, banning drugs that block puberty from gender-affirming care and purging "woke curriculums" from schools.A statement from his campaign also highlighted that Raffensperger pledged "to work alongside President Donald Trump and congressional leaders to bring jobs back to Georgia, deport criminal aliens, and restore law and order in communities across the state."The now-70-year-old engineering entrepreneur, along with Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, refused to aid Trump as the president tried to reverse now-former President Joe Biden's razor-thin 2020 election victory in Georgia.THE MOST VULNERABLE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN 2026 LAUNCHES RE-ELECTION BIDTrump appeared to pressure Raffensperger in an early January 2020 call when the president urged Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to upend Biden'svictory. Raffensperger told Trump at the time that his data was wrong and that "we believe our numbers are right."That earned Trump's scorn, and he backed Republican primary challenges against Kemp and Raffensperger when they both ran for re-election in 2022.But Kemp and Raffensperger ended up easily defeating the Trump-supported primary challengers en route to general election victories.The Democratic Governors Association's Kevin Donohoe, pointing to Raffensperger's 2026 campaign launch, argued that it "injects a new level of chaos into what was already a messy primary and is bad news for Burt Jones and Chris Carr."Raffensperger's announcement came the day after former Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan launched a Democratic campaign for Georgia governor, in the race to succeed Kemp, who is term-limited.Duncan, who as lieutenant governor was also a vocal GOP critic of Trump's repeated efforts to overturn his 2020 loss in Georgia, decided against seeking re-election in 2022.Duncan endorsed Biden in the 2024 presidential race and later supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris after she replaced Biden at the top of the Democrats' 2024 ticket. Duncan spoke in a high-profile speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last summer. Earlier this summer he announced he had switched parties and become a Democrat.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPDuncan joined a Democratic primary field that already includes former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former DeKalb County CEO Mike Thurmond and former State Sen. Jason Esteves.While Georgia was once right-leaning, it has become a key general election battleground. But Republicans have won every gubernatorial contest in the state since 2002.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sparred with CNN host Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday over Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter, as the GOP lawmaker said the network should not be engaged in "misinformation.""We dont have a motive yet. We dont know yet. Were waiting. Obviously, weve heard what the governor has had to say, what the FBI director had to say today," Collins said during her show "The Source.""Of course we know. Come on, we dont have a motive yet? We don't have a motive yet, really? That's CNN's position? He just happened to fire the gun in celebration. You can't tell the motive here?" Cruz responded.Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. Both FBI officials and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that the suspect, Tyler Robinson, held a "leftist ideology" and was increasingly radicalized in recent years.Newly disclosed texts showed Robinson appearing to admit to the killing and say he "had enough of his hatred."CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: AUTHORITIES COLLECT HOME SURVEILLANCE VIDEO THAT MAY SHOW KILLER FLEEING SCENECollins pushed back, saying that wasnt what she said, and added that law enforcement had not laid out a direct motive but had presented several pieces of evidence."I'm not arguing with you politically. I'm saying that law enforcement has not put a specific motive. You know that there's a difference of what they're pointing in a legal argument than what you're talking about," Collins said."What you are saying is objectively false, and CNN should not be engaged in misinformation," Cruz said as the two spoke over one another. Collins insisted it was "not misinformation" and that she had laid out the facts.Collins went on to ask Cruz if he wanted to see "right-wing groups" looked into and prosecuted, pointing to his remarks about investigating left-wing groups and their financing for protests."I believe anyone engaged in acts of violence should be prosecuted and go to jail," Cruz responded. "There has been an enormous amount and CNN has been guilty of this of bothsidesism, of saying, gosh, both sides are violent, and understand, yes, there is some violence on both sides, but it is the left that overwhelmingly celebrates this. It is leftists that have been celebrating. You look at Bluesky, and it is a cesspool of leftists celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk."CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN'S MOTIVES REMAIN 'ELUSIVE,' CBS NEWS ANCHOR CLAIMSCollins said she didn't believe anyone should celebrate the assassination of Kirk before concluding the interview.FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Monday that investigators are probing whether Kirks alleged assassin acted alone or as part of a broader plot, while also revealing troubling signs that the suspect had been "taken over" by ideology leading up to the shooting.Family and coworkers told investigators the suspect had grown more political and withdrawn in the time leading up to Kirk's killing, Bongino revealed."It appears from the data weve accumulated that this ideology had infected him and had taken over," Bongino said. "He was intent on making Charlie his target and people may have known in advance."CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREFBI Director Kash Patel shared details about the shooter on Monday during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity."The evidence and information will come out. I wont stylize the evidence, but I will say what was found in terms of information was a text message exchange where he, the suspect, specifically stated that he had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and he was going to do that."When pressed on the suspect's motive, Patel noted words attributed to him: "And when he was asked why, he said some hatred cannot be negotiated with."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFox News Digital reached out to CNN for comment.Fox News' Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.

EXCLUSIVE: The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday identified what it called dangerous political rhetoric targeting immigration enforcement in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirks assassination, warning that such language is fueling violence against officers."This hateful rhetoric is contributing to political violence in our country and a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against our brave ICE law enforcement," the department told Fox News Digital."Following the evil act of political violence in the country and two brutal assaults on our brave ICE law enforcement last week, we are once again calling on the media and the far left to stop the hateful rhetoric directed at President Trump, those who support him, and our brave DHS law enforcement," added Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.McLaughlin said such "demonization" is inspiring violence nationwide:NOEM SAYS ICE AGENTS ARE FACING '1000% INCREASE IN ASSAULTS'"We have to turn down the temperature before someone else is killed," she said.In examples provided to Fox News Digital, DHS cited the "evil act of political violence witnessed last week" when Kirk was murdered in Utah, plus two incidents during attempted capture of immigration suspects that led to severe injuries to officers."DHS is calling on the media, leftist groups, and sanctuary politicians to end their demonizing DHS law enforcement," the department said.In a set of examples provided to Fox News Digital of such inflammatory political rhetoric, the department led off with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who told MSNBC earlier this month that immigration enforcement officers are akin to slave catchers."As someone who understands history, when I see ICE, I see slave patrols," Crockett said Saturday.DHS also flagged Minnesota Gov. Tim Walzs comments during a commencement speech at the University of Minnesota when he called ICE the "modern-day Gestapo" a direct reference to the Geheime Staatspolizei who enforced authoritarian law in Nazi Germany.Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has also been vocal in his criticisms of President Donald Trumps immigration enforcement operations, and DHS cited his recent remarks characterizing the U.S. as "essentially" becoming a country akin to Nazi Germany where people had to carry around "papers" to "prove [they] belong."UNION BOSS COMPARES ICE TO AL PACINO MOBSTER AS MORE DEMS PILE ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENTThe department also condemned comments from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu in June:"I dont know of any police department that routinely wears mask We know that there are other groups that routinely wear masks. NSC-131 routinely wears masks," she said, referring to a Massachusetts-based "National Socialist Club" tied to neo-Nazism.DHS also condemned House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., for pledging to fight against Trumps agenda "in the streets," suggesting it is fomenting violence.It also cited Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., who was pictured in August screaming during a press availability that immigration enforcement is acting like the "S.S." (Nazi secret police) and "Gestapo.""This is not Germany. Thats the SS and the Gestapo. This is the United States of America. Unmask yourselves," Larson shouted at an event in Newington.Larson added it is a good time to "rise up," after federal immigration enforcement raided a car wash in the New England community.Further cataloging physical violence against ICE and DHS officers, the department provided to Fox News Digital an accounting of the most egregious attacks, including a group of armed men who staked out a facility in Texas earlier this year.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPA separate Texas incident cited involved a gunman opening fire at a Border Patrol annex in McAllen near the Mexican border."The suspect was neutralized by law enforcement who acted heroically to stop the shooter before there was any loss of life. However, three were injured," the department said.On Aug. 29, a woman in Maine allegedly tried to run over a federal agent with her car as he was making an arrest.The department also cited several instances of suspects causing harm to officers or damage to property.

Joe Burrow is the latest victim of turf toe, and when watching from home, it's easy to say one should not be bothered much by a toe injury.However, the Cincinnati Bengals quickly announced their franchise quarterback will miss a minimum of three months, putting the rest of his 2025 season in jeopardy after playing in less than a game and a half.Fantasy football players and football fans have constantly been left in limbo about players' return statuses for a turf-toe injury, often not really understanding what it is.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMHowever, when one goes in-depth on the injury, it is easy to see why Burrow won't return until the holidays, at best."It's a disruption, or an injury, with the tissues on the underside of the big toe. And that's really, really critical, because whenever we walk, run, throw, swing a baseball bat, whatever it is, the last point of contact with the foot and the ground is the big toe," Tom Christ, a doctor of physical therapy who also founded his own website, Fantasy Injury Team, said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. "And no matter what of those activities I just named you're doing, the power comes from the ground up through the arm. So you need to be able to power off the foot and, especially the big toe with running, even just basic walking."Turf toe is a disruption to those tissues to where they are no longer restraining the toe from just extending all the way upwards, and therefore, they're no longer providing a firm base of push-off. So right now, if you went and tried to run off that big toe, one, it would hurt too bad for him to do it, but let's just say that pain wasn't the problem here, his toe would just continue to extend all the way into the rest of his foot, so he wouldn't have a solid base of anything to push off."RASHEE RICE CRASH VICTIM'S LAWYER SLAMS TRAVIS KELCE FOR WEARING T-SHIRT IN TEAMMATE'S HONORChrist jokingly admitted he was "kind of" offended by such a seemingly non-serious name for a serious injury, but there is a reason why turf toe received its name."The thing is, the artificial turf doesnt have the same give. Traditional grass, underneath it is dirt or mud, depending on what the weathers been like. So if you watch this video, you literally see his left toe, the cleat gets caught in the turf. And since the turf can't give the way grass does, it's very plausible to say that he wouldn't have such a significant injury if he was playing on grass. So that's how it got its name, is because these injuries started to become more and more prevalent as artificial turf became more popular," Christ said.Christ said that a potential three-month return would be "aggressive" but "not impossible," adding that the Bengals could have a rather optimistic timeline because it's his left toe, not his right, given he will be able to push off just fine with his right foot. His position, too, also helps the case."Out of any position in football, a quarterback is the position that probably could return the fastest with his injury. " he said. "Being a position that does the least amount of sprinting - of course he has to be mobile in the pocket, so Burrow could play at, like, half his mobility. Just, that offensive line, I mean, it might not go so well, but it could be done."So 12 weeks is aggressive, but it's not completely out of question."Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

EXCLUSIVE: A moderate House Democrat said he believes both Republicans and his own party have fallen short in their responses to the assassination of Charlie Kirk."I'm disappointed. I wish that there was more effort as a group, Democrats and Republicans, to express condolences for his family and for him, and to express the real sadness that it engenders," Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., told Fox News Digital in an interview.He warned later, "Punch, counter-punch is the natural reaction of most human beings. But we can't just keep on doing this. It's very destructive, and it's a road to ruin."Suozzi said he believed leaders, in particular, on both sides of the aisle needed to do more.ABC REPORTER CALLS CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN'S TEXT MESSAGES WITH TRANSGENDER PARTNER VERY TOUCHING"I don't think there's been enough of an effort to try and bring us together," he said.The New York lawmaker was one of a handful of Democrats who attended a memorial vigil in Kirk's honor called by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., at the U.S. Capitol on Monday.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told reporters that he did not attend because he "had a meeting."But Suozzi said he spoke with several House Democrats who said they simply were not aware it was happening."I'm not casting blame on anybody, Democrats or Republicans. I don't know the facts as far as what kind of outreach was made," Suozzi said.SCRUTINY INTENSIFIES OVER SECURITY LAPSES SURROUNDING THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING"I do know that I spoke to several members, you know, [Democrats] that I know that attend the bipartisan prayer breakfast, for example. And they said, 'Oh, I didn't even know about it.'"Both Jeffries and Johnson have made calls for unity in the wake of Kirk's killing last week, and lawmakers have expressed bipartisan condemnation of political violence.But partisan tensions have erupted since then, with Republicans blaming Democrats for their anti-GOP rhetoric and for fomenting the political tension that led to Kirk's death.Democrats, in turn, have accused Republicans of similarly inflaming tensions both before and after the assassination.In the House, scrutiny has been centered on Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., after an interview with progressive news outlet Zeteo, where conservatives have accused her of disparaging Kirk's legacy days after his death."There are a lot of people who are out there talking about him just wanting to have a civil debate," Omar said. "There is nothing more effed up, you know, like, than to completely pretend that, you know, his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so."The Minnesota progressive also called Kirk's death "mortifying" and expressed condolences for his wife and young children.Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is now moving to force a vote to censure Omar for her comments, a move Suozzi called "very unhelpful."When asked about Omar's remarks, Suozzi did not mention her directly but said, "I just don't think that this is the time to be trying to incite more anger for people."If he was able to give remarks at Kirk's vigil, for example, Suozzi said, "I would say I didn't really know Charlie Kirk or much about him before this incident. But like everybody, I've been seeing all the media reports since his assassination, and I saw a couple different times people would ask, What, what would you want to be remembered for? And he said, I want to be remembered for having the courage to live my faith.""One of the most difficult concepts that Jesus ever had was to love your enemies," Suozzi said. "And that's what we need to be doing right now."Suozzi also blamed the current social media environment for fueling divisions.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"We have to understand that there are very strong forces working against us right now. Social media is, you know, being corrupted, I think, not only by our foreign adversaries, but also by people trying to get political or financial gain," he said."I think that we have to be very conscious of the fact that there are people that use our freedom of speech and use our social media that are just lying and putting up doctored videos and explosive commentary to get us to hate each other."

American tennis star Taylor Townsend posted an apology video on social media after she faced fierce backlash over her comments criticizing the cuisine inChina ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen.In a video posted on her Instagram Stories Tuesday, thetop-ranked doubles player addressed the controversy, which began when she made disparaging remarks about a dinner buffet in a series of earlier posts on the social media platform."I just wanted to come on here and apologize sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I understand that I am so privileged as a professional athlete to be able to travel all around the world and experience cultural differences, which is one of the things I love so much about what I do," she began.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"I have had nothing but the most amazing experience and time here, and the tournament and everyone has been so kind and so gracious, and things that I said were not representative of that at all, and I just truly wanted to apologize."Theres no excuse, theres no words, and for me I will be better," she continued. "Im really, really thankful to my country to be able to represent them and to be better, and thats all that I can do. So, I just truly apologize."Townsend, 29, posted videos of local dishes including bullfrogs and turtles and joked she would need to "talk to HR" about the quality of the food.RUSSIAN TENNIS STAR ANNA KALINSKAYA NAME DROPS PLAYER WHO MESSAGED HER '10 TIMES' FOR DATETownsend is the No. 1 ranked doubles player and has won two Grand Slam titles in doubles, at theAustralian Open in January and at Wimbledon in 2024.In 2021, wrestler and actorJohn Cena issued a similar apology after he faced criticism in China for calling Taiwan a country while promoting a film on a Taiwanese broadcaster.His comments sparked an immediate backlash in China, prompting him to take to the Chinese social media site Weibo and issue an apology in Mandarin. He then shared the same video onX (formerly Twitter).Townsend is in China for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen. The U.S. is scheduled to play Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals on Thursday.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Dabo Swinney, the winningest coach in Clemson football history, delivered a fiery message to those who have expressed criticism about the direction of the football program in the midst of a 1-2 start to the season.This year's Clemson team was tasked with meeting the high expectations fans and supporters had grown accustomed to in the Swinney era.However, a 17-10 loss to LSU in their season opener quickly tempered at least some of those expectations. Clemson did bounce back in Week 2 with a come-from-behind win over Troy. But this past Saturday's heartbreaking loss to Georgia Tech sparked criticism once again.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMDuring Tuesday's media availability, Swinney addressed concerns about Clemson's 1-2 start by pointing to the track record since he was named head coach in 2009."Listen, I know everyone is frustrated, but 17 years we have had one bad season. The worst season weve had in 14 years is nine wins and it happened one time. Its not that we havent had bad moments. Id say this is a low and a bad moment. Weve been in this situation many times. Were a great program because we have always responded. How many ADs would sign up for the worst season in 14 years being 9-4?"CHRIS 'THE BEAR' FALLICA'S TOP 10 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS: WEEK 4 EDITION"This season isnt written yet. Whats so bad about our program? How many programs in college football would sign up to have nine wins as their worst season in 14 years? We may suck this year and lay a freaking egg, but I dont think so. The reason I think were the best program in college football is because weve always battled and responded. We have a consistency and a will to win and a fight. Were the model in all of college football. Our players fight to the end. Thats why were here. Were not perfect. Weve had lots of adversity. Ive got faith because Ive lived it and seen us pull through. Ive got faith in the storm."The lone lackluster season Swinney mentioned was likely a reference to the 2010 campaign, when the Tigers finished with a 6-7 record. Clemson has won at least 10 games in 13 of the past 14 seasons.Clemson will have an opportunity to rebound from their latest defeat when they return home to host Syracuse on Sept. 20. The Tigers are overwhelming favorites in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference tilt.While Swinney acknowledged the criticism surrounding his coaching job, he also noted that he has faced more difficult situations throughout his life."Why would I not have faith? This aint the worst thing thats happened to me in my life and it wont be. Criticism and all that I get it. And its warranted because people care. I get all that. I spent 13 years at Alabama. I had thick skin when I showed up here from Alabama. No one wants to win more than we do. But no, it doesnt affect me. Its just part of it. At the end of the day, man, when you have a lot of success, people want to tear you down and see you fail to make themselves look better or promote some narrative. I love it all the good and bad.""As a Christian, I love the Lord. My identity is not the scoreboard or a football coach. I may not always be happy but I always have my joy. Ive had enough praise and hate to last three lifetimes. My life is built on a foundation of Christ. Thats where my peace comes from. If you dont have that, its hard to understand that. Thats just how Im built. I just know that adversity is a part of life. Ive always chosen to turn the pain into purpose. Everything goes back to my purpose in life. I dont work to a record and my identity isnt tied to a scoreboard. Weve had a lot of success here, though. And it hasnt always been perfect."Tuesday is not the first time Swinney has been forced to fend off questions about the state of the football program. Swinney has routinely faced criticism since 2020, the last year Clemson advanced to the College Football Playoff.Swinney coached Clemson to two national championships in three years in 2016 and 2018. Clemson will enter this coming Saturday's matchup with Troy outside the Top 25 rankings.Follow Fox News Digitals sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.