Breaking
Wealth World News
Archive

2025

Browsing
Politics

‘Dear God’: Democrats storm out of vote on controversial Trump nominee

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee stormed out of an executive committee meeting Thursday moments before the panel voted to advance President Donald Trump’s judicial nominee, Emil Bove, to the full Senate floor for a vote.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., urged Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, before the vote to allow them to consider the allegations against Bove made by a former Justice Department attorney, Erez Reuveni, in a whistleblower report.

Booker invoked Rule 4 of the committee rules in trying to push for additional debate time, which Grassley declined to acknowledge before ordering the vote — prompting the Democrat members of the panel to abruptly exit the hearing room.

Shortly before walking out, Booker took aim at Grassley. ‘What are you afraid of?’ he erupted, after Grassley tried to speak over him and hold the vote. ‘Debating this [nomination], putting things on the record — Dear God,’ he said, ‘that’s what we are here for.’

‘This lacks decency, this lacks decorum, it shows that you will not hear from your colleagues,’ Booker said to Grassley in another attempt. ‘You are a decent man,’ he said, imploring him to allow a small window of additional time for the panel to debate before pushing through with the committee vote. 

‘Why are you doing this?’ Booker pressed again. 

 ‘What are they saying to you,’ he said, referring to the Trump administration, ‘that is making you do something to violate the decorum, the decency and the respect of this committee to at least hear each other out?’ 

The nearly hour-long debate held prior to Bove’s confirmation vote was unsuccessful, and Trump’s nominee cleared the committee in a party-line vote.

Still, there were sharp objections made by other Democrats on the panel, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-NY, who joined Booker in upbraiding their Republican colleagues on the panel for what they described as a lack of candor and their refusal to consider the allegations made by Reuveni. 

They also noted the dozens of former federal and state judges, and hundreds of former federal prosecutors, who had the panel to reject Bove’s nomination to a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.

Whitehouse, for his part, invoked Shakespeare: ‘There’s something rotten in Denmark,’ he said in voicing his opposition to the decision to push through with the confirmation vote. 

Booker ended the sharp exchange with Grassley by saying simply, ‘This is wrong, sir, and I join with my colleagues in leaving,’ before streaming out of the committe room.

Trump announced earlier this year the nomination of senior Justice Department official and his former defense attorney, Emil Bove, to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Bove’s nomination immediately sparked intense pushback and opposition from some lawmakers, and from the former prosecutors and judges. 

It comes as Trump administration officials have taken aim at the so-called ‘activist’ judges they argue are blocking the president’s agenda and preventing him from enacting his sweeping policy goals, including the administration’s crackdown on border security and immigration.

Bove’s path to confirmation in the full Senate chamber remains rocky, and comes amid mounting concerns over the allegations made in the whistleblower report.

Speaking to reporters after leaving the committee room on Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT, described the decision by Republicans to push through with the vote without considering the whistleblower allegations in a separate hearing, and despite the state objections of Democrats on the panel as a ‘blatant violation of the rules of committee.’

‘I haven’t seen anything like it in 15 years in the U.S. Senate,’ he told reporters. ‘Just overriding, roughshod, the rules of the committee to silence members [on concerns involving] the nominees for lifetime appointments’ on the federal bench, he said. 

‘We can disagree about whether they should be on the court, but not about the rules that put them there.’ 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Karine Jean-Pierre, more top Biden aides to appear in House cover-up probe

Former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is expected to sit down with House Oversight Committee investigators behind closed doors in September, Fox News Digital has learned.

A House Oversight Committee aide told Fox News Digital that she’s one of four high-profile former Biden officials who have scheduled interviews with the panel.

Also expected to appear in the coming weeks are Ian Sams, former special assistant to the president and senior advisor in the White House Counsel’s Office; Andrew Bates, former deputy assistant to the president and senior deputy press secretary; and Jeff Zients, former White House chief of staff, the aide said. 

Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is investigating allegations that Biden’s former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president’s full knowledge. Biden allies have pushed back against those claims.

In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, Biden affirmed he ‘made every decision’ on his own.

All four new witnesses are scheduled to appear for voluntary transcribed interviews, the Oversight aide said.

Jean-Pierre is expected on Sept. 12, Sams on Aug. 21, Bates on Sept. 5, and Zeints on Sept. 18, Fox News Digital was told.

With Zeints’ appearance, both former Biden chiefs of staff will have met with House investigators.

Ronald Klain, who led Biden’s White House staff during the earlier part of his term, is due to sit down for a voluntary transcribed interview later this month.

Comer has so far spoken with four ex-Biden aides, including two under subpoena – ex-White House physician Kevin O’Connor and Anthony Bernal, a longtime aide to ex-first lady Jill Biden.

Both Bernal and O’Connor pleaded the Fifth Amendment but denied it was an admission of guilt.

Former deputy White House chief of staff Annie Tomasini was initially expected to appear for a transcribed interview on Friday but was subpoenaed earlier this week at her counsel’s request.

The interviews and depositions are largely expected to be staff-led, with the exception of appearances by Comer and occasionally other members of the House Oversight Committee.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has made surprise appearances at each of the last three sit-downs.

Meanwhile, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., publicly called for Comer to subpoena Jill Biden after Bernal’s deposition on Wednesday.

A source familiar with the Biden team’s thinking called Republicans’ probe ‘dangerous’ and ‘an attempt to smear and embarrass.’

‘And their hope is for just one tiny inconsistency between witnesses to appear so that Trump’s DOJ prosecute his political opponents and continue his campaign of revenge,’ the source said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Russia threatens West with ‘preemptive strikes’ as NATO looks to deliver Patriots ‘as quickly as possible’

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow should consider launching ‘preemptive strikes’ against the West as the U.S. and its NATO allies ratchet up defensive support for Ukraine.

‘The statements of Western politicians on this topic are complete nonsense,’ Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s security council, said in an interview with state media outlet Tass, according to Reuters reporting. 

‘We need to act accordingly. To respond in full. And if necessary, launch preemptive strikes,’ he added. 

Medvedev’s comments come just two days after President Donald Trump announced secondary tariffs on Moscow by slapping 100% tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil if the Kremlin does not enter into a peace agreement with Ukraine within the next 50 days. 

Reports also surfaced this week claiming that Trump had mulled the possibility of Ukraine hitting the Russian capital while in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this month. Kyiv would not comment on the issue and the White House said the question was taken ‘out of context’ and was not an attempt at ‘encouraging further killing.’

Trump this week said the U.S. would be sending Patriot missiles to NATO nations that would then be routed to Ukraine, and on Wednesday he suggested the sophisticated weaponry was already en route to Germany.

‘They’re already being shipped,’ Trump told reporters from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. ‘They’re coming in from Germany and then replaced by Germany. And in all cases, the United States gets paid back in full.’

But the timing of the weapons delivery systems and where exactly they are being routed to remains unclear as a spokesman for Germany’s defense ministry on Thursday told reporters he had no knowledge of such an incoming shipment. 

‘I cannot confirm that anything is currently on the way. That is not known to me,’ the spokesman reportedly told Swiss broadcasting outlet SRF, before noting that a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will be held on Monday, when delivery specifications of U.S. Patriot systems will be hashed out. 

But the quick delivery of the U.S. missile systems appears to be a top priority for Washington and NATO as Switzerland, which is not a NATO nation, also announced on Thursday that its anticipated receipt of five Patriot batteries, purchased from the U.S. in 2022 with a pledged delivery date to begin in 2026, had been delayed. 

‘The United States Department of Defense has informed the (Swiss Defense Ministry) that it will reprioritize the delivery of Patriot systems to support Ukraine, focusing on ground-based air defense,’ the ministry said in a statement.

‘No statement can be made at this stage regarding the exact timing and any further implications for Switzerland,’ the ministry added. ‘Clarifications are ongoing.’

Medvedev on Thursday said the action by NATO amounted to a full-blown war against Russia by the West.

‘What is happening today is a proxy war, but in essence it is a full-scale war (launches of Western missiles, satellite intelligence, etc.), sanctions packages, loud statements about the militarization of Europe,’ he told the Russian media outlet. 

Though the push to send Patriot systems and threats to sanction Moscow are significant as it is the first time since Trump entered office that he has looked to start actively countering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war effort, not everyone is convinced it is strong enough. 

EU leaders earlier in the week commented on the length of time the president allotted for Putin despite months of diplomacy failing to yield real action on the battlefield. 

And Zelenskyy noted that 50 days of waiting means another 50 days of death for Ukrainian citizens. 

‘Fifty days, for us, is just – every day is scary,’ Zelenskyy said in an interview with the New York Post released on Thursday.

‘Putin has wasted President Trump’s time,’ he added. ‘I would very much like to see the United States, the Congress and the president put some pressure on this situation with sanctions and so the sooner, the faster it can be done, the better.’

‘We would certainly like to speed up this process,’ Zelenskyy added. ‘We, for our part, will work to provide more information [to Trump], more arguments for strong sanctions against Russia.’

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the Pentagon or Germany’s Defense Ministry for comment. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Azzi Fudd partners with Steph Curry for iHeart Women’s Sports podcast

Azzi Fudd, a star player for the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team, 2025 NCAA champions, joins the iHeart Women’s Sports podcast and will launch her own podcast titled ‘Fudd Around and Find Out.’

iHeart Women’s Sports is the first-ever audio platform dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, offering a unique perspective and insights. They have partnered with Fudd to co-produce a podcast in collaboration with Stephen Curry and Erick Peyton’s Unanimous Media, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the platform. iHeart Women’s Sports, with its unique focus, averages 89 million monthly listeners across nearly 500 broadcast radio stations.

“I think we can safely say that women’s sports is not just having a moment, but rather is on a now-undeniable trajectory that has been building for years. One year ago we launched iHeart Women’s Sports knowing that fans were eager to feel more connected to their favorite players, teams and even other fans, and we are continuing to drive that progress forward,” said Jessie Katz, Head of iHeart Women’s Sports said in a press release. “We’re excited to celebrate this incredible milestone and introduce even more shows to our roster this year.”

Fudd, with her unique perspective as a star player and a woman in sports, will host the podcast herself. She has expressed her hope to inspire listeners while providing a platform for underrepresented voices in the sports world.

‘I’m beyond excited to deepen my relationship with Stephen Curry and Unanimous Media as we launch ‘Fudd Around And Find Out’ with iHeart Women’s Sports,” Azzi Fudd said in a press release. “This podcast is a space where I can bring my full self—athlete, storyteller, budding entrepreneur and fan of the game—and highlight the voices that deserve to be heard. Whether we’re talking hoops, culture, business or life beyond the court, I want every episode to feel real and empowering. This has been a dream in the making and I truly can’t wait for the world to… ‘Fudd Around And Find Out.”

The first episode of ‘Fudd Around And Find Out’ is set to be released in early August.

Who is Azzi Fudd?

Azzi Fudd is a senior on the UConn women’s basketball team and was part of the 2025 national championship team. Throughout her time at UConn, Fudd has faced several injuries that sidelined her, including an ACL injury during her junior year that ended her season. Fudd made a strong comeback in her senior year, averaging 13.6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. Her outstanding performance helped UConn defeat South Carolina for the title, earning her the NCAA Women’s Basketball Most Outstanding Player award.

Fudd announced earlier this year that she will return to UConn for a final season to allow her to ‘work on everything I need to work on’ and elevate her game to the next level.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

MLB power rankings: Red Sox take big winning streak into second half

The team that made one of the strangest early-season moves in recent baseball history is roaring into the second half hotter than anybody.

The Boston Red Sox, who traded $313 million slugger Rafael Devers in mid-June, will take a 10-game winning streak into the second half, climbing within a game of the New York Yankees and lurking within striking distance of the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in a once-again rugged American League East.

And they’ve zoomed up six more spots to 10th in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.

Boston is coming off a four-game sweep of Tampa Bay and opens the second half with a showdown at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. A pitching staff once strafed by injury and poor performance now has two right-handers, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello, performing like reliable near-aces. Its lineup, bereft of Devers, has benefited from the quiet and focused rise of super rookie Roman Anthony, the recent activation of All-Star Alex Bregman and the star turn of center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.

Over his last 21 games, Rafaela has batted .347 with a 1.152 OPS, 10 doubles and eight home runs. Little wonder Boston has won 11 of 12 in July – and is continuing to rise as the trade deadline comes into sight.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Detroit Tigers (-)

From a roar to a whimper as they’re swept to end the first half.

2. Chicago Cubs (+2)

They take a series at Yankee Stadium to barely keep control of NL Central.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

Shohei Ohtani is up to three innings a start, and looking better every time out.

4. Houston Astros (-2)

From red-hot to dropping five of six.

5. Toronto Blue Jays (+2)

An ascendant farm system adds perhaps the best prep shortstop in JoJo Parker.

6. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

Can’t stop the Jacob Misiorowski hype train. Ready for a pennant race, kid?

7. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

Kyle Schwarber probably the phans’ phavorite Phillie and now he’s the NL’s, too.

8. New York Mets (-)

Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga will make this an entirely different team.

9. New York Yankees (-)

Aaron Judge seemed strangely invisible at the All-Star Game.

10. Boston Red Sox (+6)

In addition to his offensive exploits, rookie Carlos Narvaez leads the majors with 20 runners caught stealing.

11. San Diego Padres (-)

A 10-game road trip to tip off the second half may yet determine their fate.

12. Seattle Mariners (+2)

The Summer of Dumper resumes. Next stop: 40 home runs?

13. San Francisco Giants (-)

With Matt Chapman back, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers should thrive in second half.

14. Tampa Bay Rays (-4)

Have they played their way into a neutral actor at the trade deadline?

15. St. Louis Cardinals (-3)

In a packed NL Central race, they’re the ‘why not us?’ entry.

16. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

Terry Francona reaches 2,000 career wins.

17. Texas Rangers (-)

Nearly reaching .500 by the All-Star break is a significant feat.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

The last days of Eugenio Suárez? Say it ain’t so.

19. Los Angeles Angels (-)

Shocked the world by drafting Tyler Bremner second overall.

20. Minnesota Twins (-)

Rob Manfred insists they’ll be sold soon.

21. Kansas City Royals (+1)

Seth Lugo would be significantly attractive on the trade market.

22. Cleveland Guardians (+1)

Paul Sewald hits IL again with sore shoulder.

23. Miami Marlins (+2)

What a week for Kyle Stowers: Three-homer game vs. his old team, and a swing-off bomb.

24. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

Had a chance to make sure Bryan Baker deal wasn’t beginning of end. Then get swept by Miami.

25. Atlanta Braves (-1)

A nice pop for Brian Snitker during All-Star Game introductions.

26. Pittsburgh Pirates (-)

Paul Skenes impresses Clayton Kershaw with workout routine.

27. Athletics (+1)

All Brent Rooker does is hit bombs in All-Star Games. They should try to bring one to Yolo County.

28. Washington Nationals (-1)

What will the franchise look like by the time 17-year-old Eli Willits gets to the bigs?

29. Chicago White Sox (-)

Yep, even Shane Smith got into the All-Star Game – for 10 pitches.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

Ethan Holliday is a nice bit of hope to sell, at least for a while.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

Team Clark vs. Team Collier: Breaking down the WNBA All-Star rosters

The 2025 WNBA All-Star weekend will be held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Fever, Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 3-point shooting contest and skills challenge will be Friday. The All-Star Game, featuring 22 of the league’s best, will tipoff at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday (ABC).

Top All-Star vote-getters Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier picked their rosters on July 8. Here’s a look at the players and what we can expect.

WNBA All-Star roster: Team Caitlin Clark

When Clark drafted her team, there seemed to be no clear strategy. ‘I’m going on vibes. I’m picking whatever comes to mind. We’re just having fun,’ she said. However, given Clark’s next-level basketball IQ, there does appear to be one common theme: shooting – and lots of it.

Starters

Caitlin Clark, G, Indiana Fever, second All-Star Game (captain)

Clark was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA draft. During her first season as pro, she set rookie records for points and assists and stacked up honors and awards, including Rookie of the Year and All-WNBA first team. The former Iowa Hawkeye is currently second in the WNBA in assists per game with 8.6 per matchup.

Aliyah Boston, C, Indiana Fever, third All-Star Game

Boston was selected with the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever during the 2023 WNBA draft. Upon entering the league, the former South Carolina Gamecock became the 2023 Rookie of the Year and also made the All-Rookie team. Boston is averaging career highs in field goal percentage (59.7) and assists per game (3.5) this season.

Sabrina Ionescu, G, New York Liberty, fourth All-Star Game

The New York Liberty drafted Ionescu No. 1 overall in the 2020 WNBA draft. The former Oregon Duck won her first WNBA championship in 2024, adding to a résumé that includes three second-team All-WNBA nods and several WNBA records, including becoming the first player in league history to record 500-plus points, 200-plus rebounds and 200-plus assists in a single season.

A’ja Wilson, F, Las Vegas Aces, seventh All-Star Game

The Las Vegas Aces drafted Wilson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft. The eight-year pro is a two-time WNBA champion, the 2023 Finals MVP, three-time regular season MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year. In 2024, Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to score 1,000 points in a single season.

Satou Sabally, F, Phoenix Mercury, third All-Star Game

Sabally was originally drafted in 2020 by the Dallas Wings with the second overall pick out of Oregon. Before joining the Phoenix Mercury in 2025, the German native spent five seasons in Dallas, where she made the 2020 All-Rookie team, took home All-WNBA honors and won the Most Improved Player award in 2023.

Reserves

Kelsey Mitchell, G, Indiana Fever, third All-Star Game

The Indiana Fever selected Mitchell with the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft out of Ohio State. Mitchell made the All-Rookie team in her first season and was the lone rookie to participate in the 2018 WNBA All-Star 3-point shooting contest. Mitchell is averaging 19.3 points a game this season, the most in her career.

Gabby Williams, F, Seattle Storm, first All-Star Game

The Chicago Sky originally selected Williams with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft. Williams spent three seasons with the organization before several stints with the Seattle Storm. The former UConn Husky was on the 2022 WNBA All-Defensive second team and, as a member of the French National team, earned two Olympic medals.

Sonia Citron, G, Washington Mystics, first All-Star game

Citron was drafted by the Washington Mystics at No. 3 overall during the 2025 WNBA draft. Before joining the league, she won gold as a member of Team USA U19 at the 2021 FIBA World Cup and was ACC Freshman of the Year during her time with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Citron also earned All-ACC first- and second-team and All-ACC Defensive team honors while in college.

Kiki Iriafen, F, Washington Mystics, first All-Star Game

The Washington Mystics drafted Iriafen with the fourth pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. Before joining the WNBA and winning Rookie of the Month in May, the former Stanford Cardinal won the Pac-12 Most Improved Player award during her junior season and earned the 2024 Katrina McClain Award, presented to the nation’s best power forward.

Jackie Young, G, Las Vegas Aces, fourth All-Star Game

In 2019, the Las Vegas Aces selected Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft out of Notre Dame. Young is a two-time WNBA champion and has also taken home several honors during her time in Las Vegas, including a 2023 All-WNBA second team recognition, the 2022 Most Improved Player award and an All-Rookie team nod in 2019.

Kayla Thornton, F, Golden State Valkyries, first All-Star Game

Thornton went undrafted to begin her career but completed stints with the Washington Mystics, the Dallas Wings and the New York Liberty before joining the Golden State Valkyries. With the Liberty, the former University of Texas-El Paso product won her first WNBA championship last season. In 2025, Thornton is averaging career highs in points (15.2) and rebounds (7.2).

WNBA All-Star roster: Team Napheesa Collier

Collier’s central draft strategy was evident – target as many current and former teammates as possible. ‘I feel like got to try to get some of my (Unrivaled) Owls girls on here and got to try to get some of my (UConn) Huskies girls on here. So, I’ve got an agenda coming into today,’ Collier explained.

Starters

Napheesa Collier, F, Minnesota Lynx, fifth All-Star Game (captain)

The Minnesota Lynx drafted the former UConn Huskies forward with the sixth pick in the 2019 WNBA draft. Collier’s time as a pro boasts several accolades, including 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, three All-WNBA nods, three All-Defensive team honors and the 2019 Rookie of the Year award.

Breanna Stewart, F, New York Liberty, seventh All-Star Game

Stewart was drafted by the New York Liberty as the first overall pick in the 2016 WNBA draft after winning four consecutive NCAA national championships at UConn. The forward has amassed numerous awards and championships, including three WNBA championships, two WNBA Finals MVPs, two regular-season MVPs, six All-WNBA first-team honors and Rookie of the Year.

Allisha Gray, G, Atlanta Dream, third All-Star Game

Gray was drafted by the Dallas Wings with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft. She spent six seasons with the Wings before being traded to the Atlanta Dream in 2023. The former South Carolina Gamecocks product was the Rookie of the Year in 2017 and made the All-Rookie team the same season.

Nneka Ogwumike, F, Seattle Storm, 10th All-Star Game

Ogwumike was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the first overall pick in the 2012 WNBA draft. The former Stanford Cardinal spent 12 seasons with Los Angeles before joining the Seattle Storm in 2024. Her career accolades include a WNBA championship and MVP trophy in 2016, six All-WNBA first-team selections, seven All-Defensive team nods and Rookie of the Year in 2012.

Paige Bueckers, G, Dallas Wings, first All-Star Game

Bueckers was drafted by the Dallas Wings with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft. Before joining the league, the former UConn Huskies guard won an NCAA championship and a host of honors, including two Nancy Liberman awards (given to the nation’s top point guard), the John R. Wooden award (presented to the most outstanding player) and the 2021 Naismith College Player of the Year award.

Reserves

Courtney Williams, G, Minnesota Lynx, second All-Star Game

In 2016, the South Georgia native was drafted eighth overall by the Phoenix Mercury. Before joining the Minnesota Lynx in 2024, Williams spent time with the Connecticut Sun, Atlanta Dream and Chicago Sky. Williams is currently ranked fifth in the WNBA in assists per game with 5.9 per contest.

Skylar Diggins, G, Seattle Storm, seventh All-Star Game

Diggins was drafted by the Tulsa Shock (now Dallas Wings) as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 WNBA draft. The former Notre Dame guard’s résumé includes four All-WNBA first-team selections and two All-WNBA second-team honors. She was also named 2014 Most Improved Player and was an All-Rookie team nod.

Angel Reese, F, Chicago Sky, second All-Star Game

Reese was selected by the Chicago Sky with the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. The former LSU Tiger made the 2024 All-Rookie team and quickly became the all-time league leader in consecutive double-doubles. Reese recently made WNBA history by being the first player to have 15 or more rebounds in six consecutive games.

Alyssa Thomas, F, Phoenix Mercury, sixth All-Star Game

Thomas was drafted by the New York Liberty with the fourth overall pick in 2014 before being traded to the Connecticut Sun. During her 11 seasons in Connecticut, the former Maryland Terrapins forward had three All-WNBA team selections before joining the Phoenix Mercury in 2025. Thomas currently holds the record for the most triple-doubles in WNBA history with 16.

Kelsey Plum, G, Los Angeles Sparks, fourth All-Star Game

Plum was drafted by the San Antonio Stars (now Las Vegas Aces) with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft. Before joining the Los Angeles Sparks in 2025, the former Washington Huskies guard spent seven seasons with Las Vegas, where she won two WNBA championships and the 2021 Sixth Player of the Year award. Plum also made the 2022 All-WNBA team and All-Rookie team in 2017.

Kayla McBride, G, Minnesota Lynx, fifth All-Star Game

The San Antonio Silver Stars (now Las Vegas Aces) drafted McBride with the third overall pick of the 2014 WNBA draft. The former Notre Dame guard made the WNBA All-Rookie team during her first season and is currently ranked 27th all-time on the WNBA scoring leaderboard, surpassing Tangela Smith with 5,103 points (and counting).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Sports

ESPYS 2025: Award winners and highlights from show

LOS ANGELES — For one night at the 2025 ESPY Awards, the entire sports world united to celebrate all of the remarkable moments and athletes who captivated the world in the past year.

People that have made significant contributions to their sport and community were also honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, the Pat Tillman Award for Service and the Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award.

Best team: Philadelphia Eagles

The final honor of the night goes to the Super Bowl champions. Nick Sirianni and a few players accept the award. Jordan Maliata shouts out the trainers and families for being the reason for the team’s success.

Best record-breaking performance: Alexander Ovechkin

The NHL’s all-time leading scorer wins the award. While he’s not in attendance, he sent a video message accepting the award.

Other awards announced

Best women’s college athlete: JuJu Watkins

Best athlete, men’s sports: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Add another award for the reigning NBA MVP, coming off winning a title for Oklahoma City.

During his speech, Gilgeous-Alexander messed up and even dropped an expletive.

Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Oscar Robertson

Considered one of the greatest basketball players ever, Robertson was honored for leading the fight for free agency.

Robertson recalled the battle with NBA owners and how his character was attacked. Despite the years-long legal challenge it was, he said he would do it again.

“It’s important to do the right thing, even if it comes at a personal sacrifice,” Robertson said.

Sports figures we lost

Athletes that died in the past year are honored with a musical performance by Tobe Nwigwe and David Michael Wyatt.

Best comeback athlete: Suni Lee

Lee battled back from kidney disease to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she was part of the gold medal-winning all-around women’s gymnastics team. She also won bronze in the individual all-around and uneven bars.

Gatorade Player of the Year: Jane Hedengren and Cameron Boozer

The girls’ cross country and track and field athlete from Utah and boys’ basketball player are given the prestigious high school award.

Pat Tillman Award for Service: Greater Los Angeles first responders David Walters and Erin Regan

The honor went to two former college athletes who are firefighters that responded to the wildfires in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Walters was a swimmer at Texas and Regan played soccer at Wake Forest.

Both recipients acknowledged their family and friends, and gave credit to the other first responders during the deadly wildfires.

“We recognize this is not an individual award,” Regan said. “It’s a team award.”

Best WNBA player: Caitlin Clark

The 2024 Rookie of the Year gets the award.

Best athlete, women’s sports: Simone Biles

Biles takes home her second award of the night after she won best championship performance.

Icon Award: Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan

The two legendary stars are recognized for their decorated careers after they both just retired.

Morgan and Taurasi each complimented each other, and they both acknowledged those that paved the way for their respective sports.

“Because of you, we were able to be Olympians and businesswomen and moms,” Morgan said.

Taurasi encourages the next generation to keep going and “bring that damn fire.”

Capital One Cup winners: Ohio State men and North Carolina women

The two schools had the top athletic programs in men’s and women’s sports. North Carolina’s women won titles in lacrosse and soccer, and Ohio State’s men won the College Football Playoff national championship.

Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Katie Schumacher-Cawley

The Penn State women’s volleyball coach is honored for leading her team to a national championship while battling breast cancer. She became the first woman to coach a volleyball team to the Division I national title.

Schumacher-Cawley thanked the doctors that helped her battle cancer, her family for supporting her and her team for inspiring her to continue the battle. She also echos the words of Jim Valvano’s famous “don’t give up” speech.

‘College GameDay’ crew honors Lee Corso

Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee recognize the star of the college football show. Corso will have his last show during the season opener between Texas and Ohio State in August.

Corso said he hopes he was able to put a smile on people’s faces and he loved his job.

The crew gives him a proper celebration with the Southern California marching band coming on stage, and people bring out signs like the show. Of course, he also gets a Trojan head piece.

Best breakthrough athlete: Ilona Maher

The U.S. women’s rugby player became a national star at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the team won bronze.

Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award: Sloane Stevens

Stevens receives the award for her foundations work in Compton, California, to teach tennis to kids.

Best play: Saquon Barkley hurdle

Shane Gillis jokes about ‘tush push’

Who came up with the infamous play? Gillis shows a parody movie trailer about how the ‘tush push’ came about.

Best championship performance: Simone Biles

The seven-time Olympic gold medalist takes the award for her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Awards not announced during show

Best NBA player: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Best men’s college athlete: Cooper Flagg
Best women’s college athlete: JuJu Watkins
Best athlete with a disability: Noah Elliott
Best NFL player: Saquon Barkley
Best MLB player: Shohei Ohtani
Best NHL player: Leon Draisaitl
Best driver: Max Verstappen
Best UFC fighter: Merab Dvalishvili
Best boxer: Katie Taylor
Best soccer player: Christian Pulisic
Best golfer: Scottie Scheffler
Best tennis player: Coco Gauff

Shane Gillis monologue

The comedian holds nothing back to start the show, rolling with jokes about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander getting fouled, Caitlin Clark and the WNBA, the betting scandal with Shohei Ohtani and Bill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson.

Gillis makes several jokes about President Donald Trump. He said he doesn’t know sports and told a story of meeting him at the Super Bowl.

What time are 2025 ESPY Awards?

Attendees will hit the red carpet at 5:30 p.m. ET and the show begins at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Wednesday, July 16.

How to watch the ESPYs: TV channel, streaming

Date: Wednesday, July 16
Time: 8 p.m. ET (airs at 8 p.m. PT)
Location: The Dolby Theatre (Los Angeles)
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN+

Watch the 2025 ESPY Awards on ESPN+

Who are 2025 ESPYS nominees?

Shohei Ohtani, Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Rory McIlroy and the Philadelphia Eagles are just some of the high-profile names up for awards. The full list of awards and nominees can be found here.

Who are ESPYs special honorees this year?

Arthur Ashe Award for Courage: Oscar Robertson
Jimmy V Award for Perseverance: Katie Schumacher-Cawley
Pat Tillman Award for Service: Greater Los Angeles first responders, David Walters and Erin Regan
Icon Award: Diana Taurasi and Alex Morgan

Who will be at 2025 ESPY Awards?

Celebrities who will present awards include Billie Jean King, Angela Bassett, Leslie Jones, Druski and Anthony Ramos. Russell Wilson, Lindsey Vonn, Matthew Stafford, Trinity Rodman and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone are among the athletes who will also present awards.

In attendance will be athletes such as Simone Biles, Ilona Maher, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lamar Jackson, with several other notable sports figures also at the show. There will also be musical performances from Busta Rhymes, Clipse and Gelo.  

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Civil rights group declares ‘state of emergency,’ pointing at Trump admin

The National Urban League is sounding the alarm, asserting that there is a ‘state of emergency’ in the country.

The organization’s ‘State of Black America’ report for 2025 titled ‘State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights, and Progress Under Attack,’ takes aim at the Trump administration.

‘Almost daily, since January 20, 2025, the federal government, at the direction of the White House, has set fire to policies and entire departments dedicated to protecting civil and human rights, providing access to an equal education, fair housing, safe and effective healthcare, and ensuring that our democratic process is adhered to across the nation,’ the report claims.

White House spokesman Harrison Fields pushed back in a statement to Fox News Digital.

‘These so-called civil rights groups aren’t advancing anything but hate and division, while the President is focused on uniting our country, improving our economy, securing our borders, and establishing peace across the globe,’ Fields said in the statement. ‘This is the same vision for America that a record number of Black Americans supported in the resounding reelection of President Trump. The Democrats have sold out Black voters to appease their base, which consists of illegals, the pronoun police, purple-haired lunatics, and radical anti-Semites.’

National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial declared in the report, ‘The notion that we are living through a ‘state of emergency’ is not rhetorical flourish. It is an honest reckoning with a government increasingly determined to sacrifice its founding principles—equality, liberty, and justice—rather than accept the truth of a diversifying nation and deliver equitable opportunity to all.’

The report claims that the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department has been twisted ‘into a tool for political retribution.’

‘Under its new leadership, the Civil Rights Division has been hollowed out and repurposed— transforming from a guardian of justice into a tool for political retribution,’ the report asserts. ‘The radicalization of the DOJ is more than bureaucratic rot—it is an existential threat to civil rights enforcement, allowing discrimination to flourish unchecked under the false guise of ‘reverse racism.’’

The report, which includes House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. and several other U.S. lawmakers among the list of contributors, speaks favorably about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

‘In short, DEI policies don’t just level the playing field in education and employment; they fortify democracy itself. By expanding opportunities, ensuring equitable access to information, and creating leadership pipelines, DEI helps guarantee that every American—not just the privileged few— can contribute to the nation’s future,’ the report declares.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Politics

SCOOP: House fiscal hawks warily accept Senate’s $9B Trump spending cuts package

Some House fiscal hawks are cautiously readying to accept the $9 billion spending cuts package passed by the Senate overnight.

The House of Representatives must pass the bill, called a rescissions package, by Friday.

Rescissions packages are spending cuts requested by the White House of funds that Congress already appropriated for that fiscal year. 

It’s a process that lets Republicans sideline Democrats by lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, but the request must be considered within 45 days. If that window passes, the funds must be re-obligated.

As of Thursday morning, at least three conservatives – Reps. Chip Roy, R-Texas, Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C. – signaled to Fox News Digital that they are leaning toward supporting it.

It’s good news for House GOP leaders who are dealing with a razor-thin, three-vote margin. 

A group of House conservatives wrote to the Senate earlier this week warning them not to change any part of the original $9.4 billion spending cuts package – though they stopped short of threatening to vote against it.

The Senate version of the bill rolled back a spending cut for an HIV/AIDS research program in Africa after concerns were raised by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, and others.

It wound up passing 51-48 after 2 a.m. on Thursday, with Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voting against the bill.

It’s highly unlikely the minimal change will stir a significant rebellion, particularly after the White House green-lit the change. But leaders can afford few missteps.

Like the House, the Senate GOP’s majority is just three votes – and with all Democrats in both chambers prepared to vote against the legislation, Republicans are counting every vote.

Roy told Fox News Digital he would support the bill on the House floor ‘if I understand what [the] Senate passed correctly.’

Burchett said, ‘I think so,’ when asked if he would vote for the bill, and Norman responded, ‘yes,’ when asked as well.

Of the three, just Norman signed conservatives’ letter warning, ‘In order to facilitate President Trump’s voter mandate, the Senate must pass the entire $9.4 billion of spending cuts in the rescission bill. Weakening any of these provisions would undermine both his leadership and the discipline our budget urgently demands.’

The bill would cut roughly $8 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which deals federal grants to NPR and PBS.

It’s expected to come before the House Rules Committee sometime Thursday, the final gatekeeper before a chamber-wide vote.

If the House passes it on Thursday or Friday, it heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for a signature.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By
Politics

Two Republicans vote against Trump’s $9 billion clawback of foreign aid, NPR funding

Though Senate Republicans were successful in their mission to pass President Donald Trump’s clawback package, not every member of the conference was on board.

Only two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, joined with every Senate Democrat to vote against the $9 billion package geared toward clawing back foreign aid and public broadcasting funding.

Senate Republican leaders had hoped that stripping $400 million in cuts to Bush-era international AIDS and HIV prevention funding could win over all the holdouts, both public and private. But the lawmakers who voted against the bill had deeper concerns about the level of transparency during the process and the impact successful rescissions could have on Congress’ power of the purse.  

Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she agreed with rescissions in general and supports them during the appropriations process, but couldn’t get behind the White House’s push because of a lack of clarity from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) about exactly what would be cut and how.

She said that ‘the sparse text’ sent to lawmakers included little detail and did not give a specific accounting of programs that would be cut to hit the original $9.4 billion target.

‘For example, there are $2.5 billion in cuts to the Development Assistance account, which covers everything from basic education, to water and sanitation, to food security — but we don’t know how those programs will be affected,’ she said.

Murkowski demanded a return to legislating and appeared to warn that lawmakers were just taking marching orders from the White House rather than doing their own work. 

Both Murkowski and Collins were also concerned about the cuts to public broadcasting, particularly to rural radio stations. Both attempted to make changes to the bill during the vote-a-rama. Collins’ ultimately decided not to bring her amendment, which would have reduced the total amount of cuts in the bill to north of $6 billion, to the floor. However, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., still brought the change for a vote. And Murkowski offered an amendment that would have drastically reduced the cuts to public broadcasting. 

The climactic vote for the bill came hours after tsunami warnings rippled through Alaska, and Murkowski argued that federal warnings were relayed through local public broadcasting. 

‘The tsunami warnings are now thankfully canceled, but the warning to the U.S. Senate remains in effect,’ she said. ‘Today of all days, we should vote down these misguided cuts to public broadcasting.’

Still, both attempts to modify the bill failed to pass muster. 

Their decision to go against the package left some scratching their heads. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., argued that the cuts amounted to less than a tenth of a percent of the federal government’s entire budget.

‘This should be a chip shot, OK? I have faith in [OMB Director] Russ Vought,’ he said. ‘I have faith in the Trump administration. They’re not going to cut things that are important spending.’

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., who is leading the bill in the Senate, rebuked the duo’s arguments and said that lawmakers weighing in on the rescissions package was in line with their legislative duties.

‘That’s exactly what we’re doing,’ the Missouri Republican said. ‘I would hope that maybe what this will also do is highlight some of the wasteful spending, so when we get into the appropriations process in the next few months that we would be more keen to be focused on saving people money.’

Trump’s bill, which would cancel unspent congressionally approved funding, would slash just shy of $8 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and over $1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the government-backed funding arm for NPR and PBS.

Some lawmakers, like Sen. Thom Tillis, who earlier this month voted against Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ over cuts to Medicaid funding, understood where the pair were coming from.

The North Carolina Republican told Fox News Digital that Collins, in particular, would be leading negotiations for an end-of-year bipartisan funding deal with Senate Democrats, and to vote in favor of canceling congressionally approved funding could hurt her ability to find a solution to keep the government funded.

‘I don’t think people really understand the value of your word and your consistency and your living up to commitments and how important that is to getting things done,’ Tillis said. ‘And this, I think, that’s what Susan’s looking at, I think Murkowski is as well, and I respect them for that.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
Keep Reading
By