CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings laughed at fellow network commentator Ana Navarro Thursday night after she insisted former President Joe Biden doesn't "tell many lies."The conservative commentator burst out laughing at Navarro also a co-host on ABCs "The View" after she denied reporting that Biden had told former Vice President Kamala Harris to leave "no daylight" between their agendas while she campaigned for president last year.Navarro recounted that Biden denied the "daylight" comment during a live interview on "The View" earlier in the day and said she believed him, adding that she doesn't think he lies often.Jennings asked her of Biden, "You think hes ever told a lie?" Navarro replied, "I dont think he tells many lies," prompting Jennings to bend over laughing.JEN PSAKI RECALLS REACTION TO BIDEN'S DEBATE, HEARTBREAKING SUMMER BEFORE 2024 EXIT: I WAS LIKE, IS HE OK?The clash came several hours after Navarro and her "View" co-hosts spoke to Joe and Jill Biden on the set of the ABC talk show Thursday morning, asking him about claims made in a new book that he requested that Harris leave "no daylight" between them."Well, look, first of all, I did not advise her to say that, number one. Like I said, I was vice president. I understand the role, number one," he said. "Number two, I think it was, I think she was talking about, she wouldnt have changed the successes we had, not opposed to, we wouldnt change anything at all. She has to be her own person, and she was."Bidens response conflicted with reporting in "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House," the book written by reporters Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen in the aftermath of the 2024 election.Bidens alleged request to his then-vice president was seen as one of the contributing reasons for her loss. Critics have claimed Harris didnt do enough to separate herself from her ex-bosss unpopular presidency.Jennings confronted Navarro over the answer she received from Biden on her other show, suggesting shed rather believe Bidens statements over Parnes and Allens reporting."Its been reported. He told [Harris] point-blank he told her point-blank, No daylight, kid. No daylight," the conservative said, as Navarro tried to speak over him.BIDEN TELLS THE VIEW HE WASN'T SURPRISED HARRIS LOST, BLAMES SEXISM, RACISM"The View" co-host shot back that Jennings, a media critic, was buying the journalists claims without much skepticism."Oh, because reporting can never be wrong?" she asked."Are you attacking the journalism around it?," he replied."You think reporting can never be wrong? You come in and you come on here and you attack reporting every night! We actually asked him the question directly," Navarro responded, referencing her interview with Biden.Jennings rejected Bidens response, saying, "Theres critical reporting about this guy, and he told her point-blank, No daylight.'"After Jennings laughed at her denial that Biden wasn't being honest, Navarro hit back, "No. You know why you dont get to laugh like that? Because you support a guy who lies every freaking day and lies continuously. You support a guy who cannot acknowledge that he lost the 2020 election, and that lies about it."By this point in the discussion, the two were almost yelling at each other, prompting CNN anchor Abby Phillip to end the segment.CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTUREFollowing the interview, Jennings continued defending his point on X, sharing the image of Allens headline mentioning Bidens alleged "daylight" claim.In the post, the CNN commentator invited the authors of the Biden book to refute Navarro and Bidens statements, writing, "Care to weigh in, @amieparnes and @jonallendc? Youve been called liars here on the no daylight kid moment - but my bet is youve got it right and Joe Biden cant remember what he had for breakfast yesterday. This will not age well."Allen replied to Jennings on Friday morning, declaring "We stand by our reporting, which @TheView noted was deeply sourced."In a follow-up post, Allen even argued that Biden had not even denied the "daylight" claim specifically.He wrote, "Also, Biden was asked a two-part question. 1) Harris saying theres not a thing that comes to mind on The View. 2) that he encouraged her to have no daylight from him. He answered the first I did not advise her to say that and ignored the second. Roll tape."

While President Donald Trump wants to gut the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are seeking to elevate FEMA to a Cabinet-level agency.FEMA is currently housed under the Department of Homeland Security, but the House effort would solidify FEMA as its own separate agency, according to a discussion draft of the legislation released Thursday.House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and committee ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., are spearheading the legislation.Other proposals included in the draft legislation are instructing the Office of Management and Budget to create a centralized website tracking disaster assistance recovery across the federal government, and allowing FEMA to foot the bill for repairs to homes suffering damage in disasters.Currently, FEMA only covers expenses that make a home livable following disasters.FEMA IS NOT GOOD: TRUMP ANNOUNCES AGENCY OVERHAUL DURING VISIT TO NORTH CAROLINA"By releasing this discussion draft legislation, we hope to engage our colleagues and stakeholders on comprehensive FEMA reform," Graves said in a Thursday statement. "This draft bill includes substantive changes that will transform FEMA and our emergency programs to be much more state and locally driven not micro-managed into ineffectiveness by the federal government."While Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have voiced support for eradicating FEMA, the former acting administrator of FEMA, Cameron Hamilton, warned against gutting the agency on Wednesday."I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton told lawmakers on the House Appropriations committee on Wednesday."Having said that, Im not in a position to make a decision," Hamilton said. "That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body."However, Hamilton, who previously served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 8 and started leading FEMA in January, was ousted from his post Thursday.ACTING FEMA ADMINISTRATOR OUT AFTER PUSHING BACK AGAINST TRUMP'S AGENCY PLANSFEMA confirmed to Fox News Digital Thursday that Hamilton was no longer with the agency.Days after his inauguration in January, Trump visited North Carolina to oversee the state's efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. On the trip, Trump floated plans to gut FEMA, which oversaw the disaster relief efforts."I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good."The executive order established a review council to evaluate potential reforms to FEMA, including whether the agencys bureaucracy restricts its ability to appropriately respond to disasters. Likewise, Trumps budget proposal includes plans to slash nearly $650 million in FEMA grants.On Tuesday, Noem told lawmakers that Trump stands by his statements that FEMAs current setup should be quashed."He believes that FEMA and its response in many, many circumstances has failed the American people, and that FEMA as it exists today should be eliminated," Noem said.

Transgender troops have between 30 and 60 days to self-separate from the military after a court order allowed the ban on their service to move forward, according to a Thursday memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth."After a SCOTUS victory for@POTUS, TRANS is out at the DOD," Hegseth wrote on X, along with a video announcing the new deadline.Approximately 1,000 service members have selfidentified as having gender dysphoria and will begin the voluntary separation process, according to the Pentagon.Active duty service members have until June 6, one month after the courts ruling, to leave the military. Reservists have until July 7.SUPREME COURT STAYS LOWER COURT RULING, ALLOWING TRUMP TRANSGENDER BAN TO PROCEED"The Secretary is encouraged by the Supreme Court's order staying the lower court's injunction, allowing the Department of Defense to carry out its policies associated with Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness," Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement celebrating the ruling and announcing the new timeline."In accordance with policy now reinstated, service members who have a current diagnosis or history of or exhibit symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria may elect to separate voluntarily," Hegseth said, adding that if they chose not to do so by the deadline, they would be removed "involuntarily, if necessary."HEGSETH SAYS HE'S SIGNING MEMO ON COMBAT ARMS STANDARDS FOR MEN AND WOMENThe high court ruling was a victory for the White House, even as the justices did not address the underlying merits of the case or PresidentDonald Trump's Jan. 27 executive order banning transgender service members from the U.S. military.A lower court had issued an injunction on the policy. The Trump administration argued that delaying the policy could pose a threat to U.S. military readiness.Trump officials have argued that the transgender military policy "furthers the governments important interests in military readiness, unit cohesion, good order and discipline, and avoiding disproportionate costs."An executive order signed by Trump in January ordered Hegseth to update medical standards to ensure they "prioritize readiness and lethality" and take action to "end the use of invented and identification-based pronouns" within the DOD.It says that expressing a "gender identity" different from an individuals sex at birth does not meet military standards.A categorical ban on transgender service members was lifted in 2014 under then-PresidentBarack Obama.Between Jan. 1, 2016, and May 14, 2021, the DOD reportedly spent approximately $15 million on providing transgender treatments (surgical and nonsurgical) to 1,892 active-duty service members, according to the Congressional Research Service.The transgender ban is part of a broader push by the new Pentagon leadership to root out any policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).Last month, Hegseth announced that "99.9%" of DEI-related policies had been eliminated at the Defense Department, as he raised standards for fitness tests and moved to ensure the combat fitness test held men and women to the same standards.Fox News' Breanne Deppisch and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.

A 2018 deal between the Vatican and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secured by Cardinal Pietro Parolin is once again under scrutiny as questions remain over how newly appointed Pope Leo XIV will take on the CCP.The Parolin-brokered deal was and remains a controversial agreement between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the CCP, which has long oppressed Catholics across China.While the agreement was championed by the late Pope Francis and his secretary of state, Parolin the Vaticans top diplomat as a step toward "normalizing" Catholicism in the communist nation, experts argue it has brought dangerous consequences for the faithful.WORLD LEADERS CONGRATULATE POPE LEO XIV, FIRST AMERICAN PONTIFF"It erodes papal authority to appoint bishops, the leadership of the Catholic Church in China," Nina Shea, senior fellow and director of the Center for Religious Freedom at Hudson Institute, told Fox News Digital."A principal responsibility of a bishop is to train and ordain priests," she explained. "Therefore, the CCP has been given control in determining the chain of authority in the hierarchical church."Under this agreement, all Catholic clergy are required to register with the CCPs Patriotic Association which was created in 1957 and was long rejected by the Catholic Church as illegitimate because it required that all clergy reject foreign influence, including that of the pope.Parolin in 2019 said the aim of this agreement was "to advance religious freedom in the sense of finding normalization for the Catholic community."Details of the deal remain unclear because it has been kept secret, explained Shea.While the agreement reportedly looked to end the decades-long negative ties between the Vatican and the CCP by allowing China to have more influence over bishop appointments, experts have argued for years it gave too much authority to the oppressive government.But there is an even greater problem when it comes to the Vatican seeming to have capitulated to the CCP.FIRST AMERICAN ELECTED PONTIFF, GET TO KNOW POPE LEO XIVFollowing the agreement, the Vatican additionally agreed to drop its support for the underground Catholic network, which has existed in China for decades and has supported millions of Catholics in the country. According to Shea, the CCP essentially "tricked" the Vatican because it simultaneously, in what she believes was an unbeknownst move to Parolin, banned children from being allowed in the Catholic Church this ban included important sacraments of the church like baptisms, holy communion and confirmations.The ban effectively blocks the continuation of the Catholic Church in China."The underground, even during the harshest period under Mao, carried out this education and evangelization," Shea said. "Without being able to perpetuate itself, the Catholic Church in China could die out in a couple generations.""Its a campaign to create an atheist society," she added.The Vatican did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals questions over whether Pope Leo will adhere to the agreement with the CCP or look to forge a new one.TAIWAN EYES VATICAN-CHINA TIES AFTER POPE FRANCIS' DEATHBut in his first homily on Friday since being made leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo highlighted the churchs fight against rising atheism."There are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism," he said. "These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied."The pope said, for this reason, "missionary outreach is desperately needed."Pope Leo warned that a "lack of faith" has led to not only a "loss of meaning in life" for many, but also "the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society."While congratulatory messages were issued by leaders of Catholic and non-Catholic nations alike, China did not issue a similar message upon the popes appointment on Thursday.In a Friday press conference, when asked about the Churchs new leader, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, "We hope that under the leadership of the new pope, the Vatican will continue to have dialogue with China in a constructive spirit, have in-depth communication on international issues of mutual interest, jointly advance the continuous improvement of the China-Vatican relations and make contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity."

A high school lacrosse player from Ohio died this week at the age of 16 after a freak accident during a game.Dylan Veselic, a sophomore at Bay Village High School, died Thursday after taking a ball to the head two days prior.Veselic was injured after a shot from an opponent struck the back of his head underneath his helmet. He underwent surgery on Wednesday, but it was not enough.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"We are deeply touched by the overwhelming support and kindness shown by our community and beyond. We ask that you continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," the family said in a statement."Dylan was a dedicated student and athlete, and we are heartbroken by this loss," Bay Village Schools Superintendent Scot Prebles said in a statement, via Cleveland.com. "Counseling services are available at Bay High School for students, staff and family who need support."A fundraiser in honor of Veselic has raised over $80,000; its goal was just $500.Those in the community have left both lacrosse and hockey sticks and soccer balls on their porches and lawns in support.COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE LINEMAN BEN CHRISTMAN DIED OF IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT, CORONER SAYS"Dylan was an amazing student, always wearing a smile on his face while supporting his fellow teammates," added Bay Village athletic director Matt Spellman said."He was kind, hardworking and dedicated, consistently showing leadership, empathy and a positive attitude both on the field and in the classroom."Veselic was listed as a captain of the team on MaxPreps.This was his second season on varsity, playing for the varsity team as a freshman, as well. He played in 25 high school games.The team canceled a game on Thursday, the day he died, for a prayer service. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider left Los Angeles for the "open roads" of North Carolina years ago and never looked back.Snider, now 70, and his wife chose to uproot their family for a life they never had after moving to Los Angeles in 2015."We moved out to LA 10 years ago, the whole family. A couple of years ago, everybody was sitting around saying, you know, it's time to get back to a calmer life, not 'back to' to a life we never had," Snider explained to WFMY News."We literally looked from the West Coast to the East Coast and slowly started dialing in," he added. "And North Carolina took the number one spot ... You've got to come for the state. So the entire family came out, this is true, and we started on the west end of the state, and we just visited towns. We traveled all the way to the shoreline. And people were amazing, and that's ultimately what it came down to."MODERN FAMILY STAR ARIEL WINTER FLED LA TO ESCAPE TRAUMA FROM CHILDHOOD STARDOMThe rock legend found the North Carolinians to be "welcoming and lovely," quickly deciding that's where they wanted to live."We're all here, by the way my four grown kids, six grandkids, we all live in North Carolina, this is our home."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSSnider married his wife, Suzette Snider, in 1981. The two met at a bar after Suzette used a fake ID to gain entry."She turned up to our show on her cousin's ID and thought she was seeing a girl band," the singer previously told The Sydney Morning Herald. "I saw her and flipped. She was this hot Italian beauty. I told her I'd be famous one day. We've been together ever since."Suzette became the band's costume designer and even designed their logo. The two share four kids together; Jesse, 42, Shane, 37, and Cody, 35, and Cheyenne, 28.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERSnider has found the best part of North Carolina's rural lifestyle is the "open roads.""I like cars. The roads here are great. I'm also a motorcycle rider," he told the local North Carolina station. "So, I mean, in LA or New York, where I'm from originally, it's just defensive riding 'don't hit me!' But here, you can get up, and you can just get out on the open roads and just really enjoy the beauty of the state and enjoy riding and driving.""You notice I'm limping it's because I was bike trail riding and the trail won the other day. I took a spill. Sometimes the trail wins."

Several prominent U.S. Catholic bishops and cardinals recalled the spiritual process of electing Pope Leo XIV this week, with Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York hailing the new pontiff as a "citizen of the world" who will seek to build bridges with President Donald Trump and other global leaders.The six clergymen gave some insights into how they see the Pope Leo XIV papacy and said the quick conclave showed unity among the cardinals. They were speaking at the U.S.ConferenceofCatholicBishopsat the Pontifical North American College in Rome on Friday."It should not startle us that we would look to Pope Leo as a bridge builder. That's what the Latin word pontiff means, he's a bridge builder," Dolan said after being asked by a reporter if the pontiff would be a "counterweight" to Trump.POPE LEO XIV, VILLANOVA GRAD, INTRODUCES HIMSELF ADORNED IN SYMBOLISM, PROVERBIAL RELIGIOUS DEVOTION"Will he want to build bridges to Donald Trump? I suppose, but he would want to build bridges with the leader of every nation. So I don't think at all my brother Cardinals would have thought of him as a counterweight to any one person."Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American pope, and much emphasis has been made of his Chicago roots, with speakers blasting songs including "Born in the U.S.A." and "American Pie" as the cardinal electors gathered on stage. The stage was also decorated with Old Glory and a Vatican flag.Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop emeritusofGalveston-Houston, conveyed his pride that they elected an American pope, the first in history."[Pope XIV] is really a citizen of the entire world, since he has spent so much of his ministry missionary work and zeal for Christ in South America in life in missionary work and zeal for work," DiNardo said. "Yes, hes American and yes, he represents the big picture of the church."Dolan agreed, noting the new pontiff is also a citizen of Peru, having spent three decades there as a missionary."He's a citizen of the world. He reminds us that we all have our true citizenship in heaven. As St. Paul taught us, and that is his role as universal pastor, where he comes from is sort of now a thing of the past," he said.Several bishops likened Pope Leo XIV to a fusion of Popes Francis and Benedict, noting his blend of intellectual rigor and pastoral warmth while highlighting his Augustinian background and canon law expertise.POPE LEO XIV GIVES 1ST HOMILY AS AMERICAN PONTIFF, SAYS LOSS IN FAITH HAS LED TO CRISIS IN HUMANITYHis choice of the name "Leo" was seen as significant, referencing both Pope Leo the Great and Leo XIII, signaling an intent to emphasize both strong leadership and social teaching.DiNardo said that Leo the Great was pope in the fifth century when the church was "truly a mess" but he managed to save the city of Rome."He preached Christ crucified, and he preached him as truly Son of God," DiNardo said. "I think Pope Leo [XIV] is a wise, wise man, and he picks up one whose name has multiple figures from Leo the Great to Leo the 13th, all of whom can speak to us both on terms of social doctrine and in terms of doctrine of who Jesus is."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe bishops emphasized the spiritual, emotional and symbolic significance of the conclave. They described it as a deeply prayerful and unifying experience. The U.S. had 10 voting cardinals in the conclave, the second-highest number of any country.Other speakers included: Cardinal Joseph Tobin, ArchbishopofNewark; Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishopof Chicago; Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop EmeritusofWashington; Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington; and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S.A.Asked about the reported simplicity of the meals the cardinals were served during the conclave, Dolan joked: "Let's just say it was a good, good, good impetus to get this over with."

Sparks are flying over taxes that primarily affect Republicans representing districts in Democrat-controlled states, sending tensions skyrocketing as GOP lawmakers negotiate President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill."The fight more specifically is about state and local tax deductions, colloquially known as SALT.Republican lawmakers representing high-cost-of-living areas outside big cities had been pushing leaders to raise the current cap on SALT deductions $10,000 for both single filers and married couples in Trump's bill.However, on Thursday night, leaders of the House's SALT Caucus emphatically rejected what they said was an offer from GOP leaders to raise that deduction to $30,000.SCOOP: REPUBLICANS DISCUSS DEFUNDING 'BIG ABORTION' LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN TRUMP AGENDA BILL"We've negotiated in good faith on SALT from the start fighting for the taxpayers we represent in New York. Yet with no notice or agreement, the Speaker and the House Ways and Means Committee unilaterally proposed a flat $30,000 SALT cap an amount they already knew would fall short of earning our support," the statement said."It's not just insulting it risks derailing President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. New Yorkers already send far more to Washington than we get back unlike many so-called low-tax states that depend heavily on federal largesse. A higher SALT cap isn't a luxury. It's a matter of fairness. We reject this offer."The statement was signed by Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y.However, not all of their delegation is on board.Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., whose district spans a sliver of south Brooklyn and all of Staten Island, told Fox News Digital first that she could support a $30,000 cap."Everyone needs to advocate for the needs of their district. Tripling the deduction to $30,000 will provide much-needed relief for the middle-class and cover 98% of the families in my district," she said.However, a spokesperson for Johnson pointed out that there was no commitment made on any number.Press secretary Athina Lawson wrote on X alongside a report that Johnson "acknowledged" the $30,000 number, "To add vital, missing context: What the Speaker actually said is this is one number among others in ongoing discussions amongst members."She referenced comments Johnson made to reporters on Thursday when asked about the figure. "Ive heard that number, and Ive heard others as well.""Its still an ongoing discussion amongst the members," Johnson said. "Im not going to handicap it because Im not sure exactly what that is, but theres a lot of analysis thats going into it."The Republican majorities in the House and Senate are working on advancing Trump's agenda via the budget reconciliation process, which allows the party in power to move a massive piece of legislation without the opposing party's input, provided it deals with budgetary and other fiscal matters.It is a massive effort across multiple committees of jurisdiction.The Ways & Means Committee, the House's tax-writing panel, is expected to unveil its portion of the bill within days.BROWN UNIVERSITY IN GOP CROSSHAIRS AFTER STUDENT'S DOGE-LIKE EMAIL KICKS OFF FRENZYA meeting to advance that legislation is expected Tuesday afternoon, people familiar with the planning told Fox News Digital.Malliotakis is the only member of the committee who is also a member of the SALT Caucus.Republicans in California, New York and New Jersey have been pushing for the reconciliation bill to lift the SALT deduction cap, which was first implemented in Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.Some lawmakers have proposed lifting the cap to as high as $100,000, which Republicans in other areas have largely rejected.The blue state Republicans pushing for a larger deduction have argued the issue is critical for their constituents.They are also the most vulnerable lawmakers in the House GOP Conference, and their seats are key to Republicans holding onto their slim majority.Republicans in favor of raising the SALT deduction have also pointed out that while it benefits people in high-cost-of-living areas outside big cities, it is those states that send more tax dollars back to Washington for programs that ultimately benefit the entire country.However, others in conservative circles have pushed back on their efforts."The Republican margin is so small in the House that a handful of New England Republicans have a lot of sway over this bill and are pushing to raise that deduction," said Marc Short, an alumnus of Trump's first administration who played a key role in the 2017 tax negotiations."I think from a tax perspective, what's unfair about that is you're basically taking much of middle America that live in states that are better governed and asking them to subsidize the residents in states that are poorly managed and continue to generate huge deficits."

For years now, we have been lectured about the pernicious stereotype of the angry Black woman and its negative effects on society, so imagine my shock when I learned that a 12-foot bronze statue of an angry Black woman had been erected in Times Square.My first thought was, "did white supremacists do this?"The answer is no, but this sculpture is a physical representation of the knots that wokeness has tied the left into, an example of how when one makes race or gender or sexuality their whole identity then without even knowing it a social gravity turns them into the very stereotypes they reject.The statue is called "Grounded in the Stars" by the artist Thomas J Price, and it depicts a heavyset Black woman with braids whose facial expression seems to say, "You are working my very last nerve."TIMES SQUARE TOUTS NEW STATUE OF 12-FOOT TALL BLACK WOMAN AS STARK CONTRAST TO STATUES OF WHITE MENThe first question on many minds was, naturally, why is there a giant statue of an annoyed generic Black woman in Times Square? Are there no notable Black women who actually exist to celebrate? How about a giant Condoleezza Rice, or a somewhat more diminutive Simone Biles?The answer would seem to be that this statue represents the Black everywoman. But if that is the case, why is she wearing the exact dour and dismissive facial expression we are told is a dangerous stereotype?One person who can give us a clue as to how to try to square this circle is none other than first lady-turned podcaster Michelle Obama, who made news recently on the very subject of Black womens anger."The first label they put on us as Black women is that we are angry, and the irony is, like, yeah, I am probably less light than many of my white female friends," said the multi-millionaire graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law, who has graced the cover of countless magazines.Notice the first thing Mrs. Obama says here is that the angry label is "put on us," presumably by White people, but in this case, anger is being put on the face of Black women quite literally by a sculptor who is a Black man, and presumably does not want to perpetuate harmful stereotypes.So why would he present Black women this way? That gets to the second part of Michelle Obamas answer, the part where she says that, indeed, being a Black woman does make her angrier or "less light," than her White friends.What is the statue supposed to say to the person looking at it? It depends on who you are. If you are a Black woman, you are meant to see your own suffering and frustration. If you are not, you are meant to face your complicity in that suffering and frustration.There are precedents for groups claiming negative stereotypes or names as their own in defiance, the classic example being the gay rights movements adoption of "queer." But in this case, the purpose isnt to neuter or disarm the stereotype, but to inflame it.If you took your kid to see the sculpture, they might ask, "Why is she so annoyed?" What are we supposed to say, "Because shes a Black woman?"That sounds ridiculous and offensive, but it's exactly what we are being asked to do when we take in this divisive work of art.In 2022, the Museum of Natural History removed a statue of Teddy Roosevelt from outside its entrance. The problem, we were told, was the depiction of the Indian and the Black man walking beside the Rough Riders horse.Both of the men depicted next to Roosevelt were guides to him. They were proud, erect figures, they were even armed, and neither of had expressions on their faces that make them look like they work at the DMV.Those statues, of proud men of color leading America to the future were deemed offensive and belittling, but somehow an out-of-shape Black woman who looks like she's upset that her fries came out cold is a great celebration of the contributions of her people.Ultimately, this sculpture is a physical representation of the knots that wokeness has tied the Left into. When one makes race or gender or sexuality their whole identity, then, without even knowing it, a social gravity turns them into the very stereotypes they reject.CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONThere is something to be said for public art being inspirational, carrying the tale of a great man or woman, celebrating natural beauty or the history of the area, but what could this sculpture possibly make us aspire to?Public art can also serve a purpose of reminding us of great tragedies. Many great works of art such as Pablo Picassos "Guernica" depict intense suffering, but if there is such a message here, it really doesnt belong under the glittering lights of the crossroads of the world.Times Square is where tourists go for fun, for shows and dinner, not to be reminded that lots of Black women are supposedly very angry for vague reasons that have something to do with privilege and systemic racism.Enough. This hyper-focus on race and stereotypes has proven for two decades now that it does not improve race relations, it makes them much worse.Im not one to demand that statues come down. Quite the opposite, in fact, and I wont now. But, if we have to have the angry Black lady, can we at least have Teddy Roosevelt back?CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS

Jordon Hudson is not going anywhere any time soon.A report earlier Friday circulated that UNC athletic staff had barred Hudson, the 24-year-old girlfriend of head coach Bill Belichick, from both the facility and the field.However, the university refuted that, regarding "false" reports of her role.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities. Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichicks personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University," the unversity's athletic program said in a statement.The report came from ex-ESPN employee Pablo Torre, who also said he had heard from sources in the Belichick family that there is a "deep worry" that Hudson could be "detrimental" to his legacy, and they were even "digging" up on her.Shortly after UNC's statement, though, Torre released a statement of his own, backing up his reporting on Hudson being banned from the facility."The University of North Carolina can choose to describe or change its position on Jordon Hudsons involvement however it wishes, following the publication of our episode. We requested comment and filed dozens of FOIA requests that were not satisfied. And we stand by the specific reporting in our episode, which came from the highest levels of the football program," he said.GIANTS ROOKIE ABDUL CARTER SETTLES ON JERSEY NUMBER AFTER LAWRENCE TAYLOR, PHIL SIMMS FIASCOHudson has reportedly been heavily involved in Belichick's professional life since he was hired to be UNC's football coach in December. One report said she struck down the idea of the Tar Heels program being featured in "Hard Knocks."She and Belichick both reportedly expressed concern about fan vitriol, particularly about their relationship, if UNC were to underperform.Apparently, Belichick had asked UNC staff to include Hudson in all emails moving forward.The 73-year-old and 24-year-old made their relationship public last year, which prompted plenty of eyeballs as it is. However, in recent weeks, Hudson gained more notoriety last month when she interrupted a CBS interview with Belichick, resulting in back-and-forth statements between the two parties.

A Jewish Columbia University student alleged that he and his friends were shoved and he was elbowed in the ribs after a violent anti-Israel mob took over a library on campus Wednesday."It felt like a stampede. My friends and I were shoved, it wasnt clear if it was because we were Jewish, or it was just a mob action. Later, when I was in the lobby of the library, a supporter of the demonstrators walked past me and elbowed me in the ribs. It was surreal," a Columbia Ph.D. student originally from Israel told Fox News Digital.He said that the demonstration inside Columbias Butler Library in which hundreds of masked agitators swarmed the building, pushing public safety officers as they forced their way inside kept him stranded inside for three hours in an "extremely hostile environment" while he was trying to research.The Ph.D. student said that public safety officers were able to put the room on lockdown after 10 or 15 minutes, but that swarms of demonstrators attempted to push their way past them from both directions.COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR SHARES HOW PROTESTERS 'CONQUERED' CLASS AND DISTRIBUTED ANTISEMITIC PROPAGANDA"Theres this mass rush of people swept in, they were all wearing masks, the keffiyehs came out, the masks came out. There was a lot of shoving, the mob inside was really just trying to ram through the security," he told Fox News Digital.Eventually, public safety officials escorted him outside the main room of the library into the lobby. The student, who was wearing a yarmulke, claimed that at that time a woman walked past him and elbowed him in the ribs.The Ph.D. student told Fox News Digital that he was also subject to antisemitic verbal abuse by the unruly mob, and that this was far from the first time."I was called a genocider, I was called a perpetual victim. That was just yesterday," he said.Columbia acting president Claire Shipman condemned the demonstration as "utterly unacceptable."The rabble-rousers were seen putting stickers over security cameras, vandalizing desks and bookshelves in the library, chanting, "Long live the intifada!" and pounding on drums and screaming through bullhorns as frustrated undergrads attempted to study for their upcoming finals, according to students present at the time.The words "Columbia will burn 4 the martyrs" were scrawled across a library display case, according to the Columbia Jewish and Israeli Students social media account.Another social media account showed a demonstrator yelling, "Dont let this guy in, hes a fking Zionist," when a Jewish student attempted to enter the library.COLUMBIA ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTER MAHMOUD KHALIL CAN BE DEPORTED, JUDGE RULES"I was in shock. I couldnt believe what was happening," Columbia sophomore Josh Segal told Fox News Digital.Segal, who had just left the library to grab a coffee when the commotion started, said he heard demonstrators who were prevented from entering the library chanting for Hamas Al Qassam brigades. The Al Qassam brigades are the Hamas military troops who perpetrated the Oct. 7 terrorist attack which saw nearly 1,200 people killed, thousands wounded and over 250 kidnapped."It was utter pandemonium. There were hundreds of students studying and doing work. Everyone was in utter shock. The students who were doing work were forced to leave," said Columbia senior Eden Yadegar."Its finals, and Im already far behind. I couldnt do work the whole day because my stuff is stuck there. They chanted, The worst terrorists are American imperialists. Personally, I think Hamas is up there," Segal said.There were 80 arrests after the incident, police sources told Fox News Digital, which Yadegar praised as a "step in the right direction" for the university, which has become a lightning rod for antisemitism following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.Yadegar, who double majors in Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies, claims the protesters are misrepresenting their treatment by the public safety officers at the scene."The protesters are trying to spin this narrative that they were brutalized by public safety, that they held them hostage in the building. Public safety did everything they could to keep students safe, and encouraged them to leave the building. All they had to do was show their IDs to leave. They refused to do that because theyre hiding their identities like the terrorists they dress up as and emulate," she said.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPYadegar said she hopes the university suspends or expels the "violent, entitled, self-centered" demonstrators."Theyre disrupting the university, theyre spewing vile antisemitic things. making a mockery of a very real war, and the fact that theres American hostages being held hostage by a terrorist organization," she said.

CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings laughed at fellow network commentator Ana Navarro after she insisted former President Joe Biden doesn't "tell many lies."