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Trump reaffirms hard-line on Iran nuclear deal: ‘will not allow any enrichment of uranium’

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President Donald Trump on Monday evening looked to reaffirm his administration’s position when it comes to nuclear negotiations with Iran and said Tehran will not be allowed ‘any enrichment of uranium.’

His message, which surfaced on multiple social media platforms, appeared to be a direct response to a report by Axios which cited two sources with ‘direct knowledge’ of a secret proposal that Washington provided to Tehran, allegedly said the U.S. would agree to permit ‘limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil for a to-be-determined period of time.’

Fox News Digital could not independently verify the details of the proposal, but if the decision to grant Tehran some uranium enrichment were granted, it would directly contradict public comments issued by lead negotiator Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump.

Iran has repeatedly said it will not agree to a uranium enrichment ban, arguing it has the right to the process, which is also vital for nuclear energy. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Monday reiterated this point in a press conference from Egypt, and, according to the Tasnim News Agency, said he plans to respond to the U.S. proposal soon.

Araqchi did not comment on the specifics of the agreement but said his ‘response will be based on the principles of the Iranian nation.’ 

The proposal also reportedly included the notion that Iran could join a regional consortium for uranium enrichment, as a solution to its enrichment needs. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Monday reportedly argued that this was not a new solution, nor an adequate substitute. 

‘If some parties are proposing such a process, we welcome it and have no problem with participation either. But we emphasize that such an initiative cannot replace enrichment inside Iran,’ the spokesperson said. 

The White House has not said how long it will attempt to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program, as security officials have repeatedly warned that Iran could be playing for time as the threat of U.N. snapback sanctions is set to expire come October. 

Iran on Tuesday reiterated that it is not going to abandon negotiations but suggested it would not cave to Washington’s demands either. 

‘Iran won’t leave the negotiating table while protecting its national interests,’ a spokesperson for the Iranian government, Fatemeh Mohajerani, said, according to the Tasnim News Agency.

Though she added, ‘All scenarios are on the table. We are prepared for everything.’

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Trump criticizes Rand Paul over tax bill opposition: ‘Votes no on everything’

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday criticized Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., for opposing his ‘big, beautiful bill.’ 

‘Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting ‘NO’ on everything, he thinks it’s good politics, but it’s not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!’ Trump wrote on TRUTH Social. 

The president added, ‘Rand votes NO on everything, but never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can’t stand him. This is a BIG GROWTH BILL!’ 

Paul is among a group of at least four Republican senators who have expressed apprehension over Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ due to the budget package’s projected increase in the national debt. 

The White House has framed the bill as a solution to four years of failures under former President Joe Biden. Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida, and Mike Lee of Utah, three other Republicans in the upper chamber, have also shared concerns about the bill’s fiscal implications.

Paul told Breitbart News on Monday that while he believes the left is ‘adrift,’ most Republicans are shying away from intra-party debates on certain issues, similarly to how Democrats acted after former President Barack Obama’s re-election win. 

Paul reportedly said he supports ‘a lot’ of Trump’s budget package but disagrees with ‘the additional $5 trillion in debt’ the senator claims is attached to the bill. 

‘That’s a hard place for me as I support much of what’s in the bill, tax cuts, spending cuts, plus more spending cuts if we can get them. But I can’t reconcile myself to adding $5 trillion in debt, raising the debt ceiling,’ Paul said. 

The senator told Breitbart the debt is going to be $2.2 trillion this year and Republicans have largely continued Biden-era spending levels.

‘They’re anticipating $5 trillion in two years, and that means next year’s deficit that some people are saying it’s going to grow to over $3 trillion a year again,’ Paul said.

The senator separately expressed to the Associated Press that he told Trump this would be the first time in recent history that Republicans would ‘own’ the debt ceiling if an increase of the nation’s debt limit was included in the GOP’s sweeping tax and spending package. Paul reportedly added in the Breitbart interview that his opposition to portions of the ‘big, beautiful bill’ are meant to preserve the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s progress down the road. 

‘My fear is that when this bill passes that the ramifications a year out, two years out, will be, ‘My goodness, what happened to DOGE? What happened to the spending cuts? Why is the deficit so big still?’’ he said. ‘So I am working very hard to make sure there is still at least a part of the party — and it doesn’t have to be anti-Donald Trump because I’m for him in so many ways — but it also means people still have to stand up and present their own ideas of what they’re for.’ 

‘I do support President Trump and I support most of the bill,’ Rand also wrote on X, explaining his position. ‘I’m his biggest defender on foreign policy. But at the same time I want conservative government so I have to fight for what I believe in.’ 

Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, met at the White House at a critical moment Monday as senators returned to begin negotiations over the president’s big tax breaks and spending cuts package.

Thune said that GOP senators are ‘on track’ to have the package approved by their July 4 deadline. But Thune also acknowledged the long road ahead as senators grind through private talks over changes to put their own stamp on the House-passed bill. Thune told the Senate floor on Monday that Republicans’ priority is ‘extending tax relief for hardworking Americans and strengthening our border, energy, and national security.’

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., meanwhile, says Trump told him in a call he ‘wants to make sure’ the Senate doesn’t cut Medicaid benefits, according to the AP.

The Missouri Republican has been working to strip steep healthcare cuts from the House bill, beyond work requirements for some aid recipients.

Hawley said Trump told him the senators could instead raise revenue by closing the so-called carried interest tax loophole used by wealthy filers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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HHS ends Biden-era COVID-19 testing program that bled taxpayers years after pandemic

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The Department of Health and Human Services announced it is shuttering a nationwide program that offered free COVID-19 tests to community organizations, citing it bled taxpayer funds despite the pandemic’s end. 

‘With COVID-19 behaving more like the seasonal flu — rising and falling through the year — and tests widely available at retail stores nationwide, continued federal distribution is a significant waste of taxpayers’ dollars,’ HHS told Fox News Digital Tuesday. ‘The COVID-19 pandemic is over and HHS is prioritizing funding projects that will deliver on President Trump’s mandate to address the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again.’

The government had spent more than $1 billion on the program since it was established in 2021 under the Biden administration, Fox News Digital learned. 

The program deployed government-purchased COVID-19 tests to community partners across the country to deliver tests at no cost to the patient. HHS cited that testing for COVID-19 now mimics seasonal flu cases, with retail shops across the country stocking their shelves with COVID tests, meaning ‘continued federal distribution is a significant waste of taxpayers’ dollars.’

Americans who ordered tests through community partnership by 5 p.m. May 30 will still receive their order, according to HHS. 

HHS is in the midst of purchasing one million newer tests that are able to differentiate between the COVID-19 virus versus the flu, which will be deployed if there are any shortfalls or emergencies with the COVID testing, Fox Digital learned. 

State or local health departments, as well as community organizations that have a stockpile of tests and various local health centers may still provide free tests to Americans as the program shutters, according to HHS. 

The COVID-19 pandemic, which tore across the country in 2020, officially ended years ago. Then-President Joe Biden declared the pandemic was ‘over’ back in 2022, while the World Health Organization determined the pandemic officially ended by 2023. 

The announcement comes as the Trump administration’s top health department re-focuses its direction to addressing the nation’s spiraling chronic health issues, which come in the form of health issues such as rampant obesity, spikes in autism diagnoses and teenage depression. 

President Donald Trump‘s Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is chaired by HHS chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr, released its anticipated report assessing chronic diseases that have gripped U.S. youth in recent years May 22. 

The report’s findings include teenage depression nearly doubling from 2009 to 2019, more than one-in-five children over the age of six being considered obese, one-in-31 children diagnosed with autism by age 8 and childhood cancer spiking by 40% since 1975.  

‘Over 40% of the roughly 73 million children (aged 0-17) in the United States have at least one chronic health condition, according to the CDC, such as asthma, allergies, obesity, autoimmune diseases, or behavioral disorders,’ the report stated. ‘Although estimates vary depending on the conditions included, all studies show an alarming increase over time.’

Chronic diseases have a chilling effect on national security, commission members said in a Thursday morning phone call with the media. Roughly 75% of America’s youth aged 17–24 do not qualify to serve in the military due to obesity, asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases or behavioral disorders, they said. 

‘We now have the most obese, depressed, disabled, medicated population in the history of the world, and we cannot keep going down the same road,’ Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary said in the phone call with the media. ‘So this is an amazing day. I hope this marks the grand pivot from a system that is entirely reactionary to a system that will now be proactive.’ 

The MAHA report will be followed by a policy recommendation report for the federal government later this summer. 

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Lois Boisson smells success as French Open hope reaches quarters

PARIS — The last time Lois Boisson talked about getting a big sponsor it was a joke, but now France’s new tennis hope might actually land one.

In April, Boisson made headlines off the court when Britain’s Harriet Dart complained about her body odor during a match.

The 20-year-old responded with humor, posting a photoshopped image of herself mid-serve holding a deodorant can and tagging Dove for a ‘much-needed collab.’

Fast forward to Monday and Boisson is not just making memes, she’s making history.

The world No. 361 stunned third seed Jessica Pegula in front of a roaring home crowd at Roland Garros to book a place in the quarterfinals and secure at least $500,000 in prize money.

‘It’s already a big achievement to be in the quarters,’ Boisson said, still remarkably grounded in her post-match press conference.

‘My ranking will open doors to bigger tournaments, and that’s what will change my life.’

It marked only her second appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier – the first was a single training session four years ago during qualifying.

This time, though, she has looked perfectly at home in her first participation in the main draw of a Grand Slam.

‘When I came in, I didn’t feel any more pressure than usual. The more matches I play here, the better I feel,’ she said.

Boisson had won in three sets against compatriot Elsa Jacquemot in the third round to set up her clash with Pegula.

‘Of course, the last two matches were tense. I made a few mistakes because of the pressure, but in the end, it worked out – and that’s what counts,’ she added.

Boisson will next face sixth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva in what promises to be another electric showdown on the clay.

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Watch: Messi stars in new FIFA Club World Cup commercial

Lionel Messi has scored another Michelob Ultra commercial – this one timed to the FIFA Club World Cup.

If you are a fan of football or fútbol, you likely remember the Michelob Ultra commercial from 2024’s Super Bowl featuring the Argentina and Inter Miami superstar, Jason Sudeikis and NFL great Dan Marino in which Messi joins a game of beach soccer when the Michelob Ultra tap goes dry.

In this new commercial, titled ‘Superior Hotel,’ Messi competes in a one-on-one soccer match for the lone Michelob Ultra in the hotel bar refrigerator. The 30-second ad will appear on social media – including on YouTube – and air during broadcasts throughout the FIFA Club World Cup. The international tournament starts June 14 with Messi and Inter Miami taking on Egyptian club Al Alhy at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Messi is perfect fit for Michelob Ultra, said Ricardo Marques, senior vice president of marketing for Michelob Ultra.

‘A global soccer icon like Messi helps fuel the significant momentum and growth both soccer and Michelob Ultra have been experiencing across the U.S.,’ he said in a statement to USA TODAY. ‘Messi is the biggest soccer star of our time and is the perfect embodiment of our brand’s point of view and brings excitement to some of soccer’s most passionate fans during some of the sport’s most competitive tournaments.’

As the official beer sponsor of the FIFA Club World Cup, Michelob Ultra will also present the Superior Player of the Match Trophy, awarded after each game – the brand sponsored the award during last year’s Copa America 2024. Michelob Ultra will also sponsor the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Michelob Ultra pop-up beer gardens and pitchside clubs will be found at the 12 host stadiums, too. Fans can enter online to win a chance to sit in the Michelob Ultra Pitchside Club in New York City for the semifinals and final.

‘The FIFA Club World Cup is an opportunity to continue to make our brand synonymous with one of the world’s most beloved sports by elevating the fan experience this summer and into 2026,’ Marques said.

Mike Snider is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trending team. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at  mikegsnider  &  @mikegsnider.bsky.social  &  @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com

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Challenges posed by Trump and Putin push UK to adopt new NATO first defense policy

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The U.K. on Monday announced new plans to overhaul its defensive posture in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and potential challenges posed by President Donald Trump’s threat to withdraw U.S. troops from the continent.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would bring his country to ‘war-fighting readiness’ by investing dozens of billions of dollars in the building of 12 submarines, weapons and munitions manufacturing, AI and other tech, and most notably, a significant investment in nuclear deterrence. 

The announcement came after a Strategic Defense Review by an external board found several areas in the U.K. that need to improve in order to effectively deter aggressors like Russia, as well as North Korea, Iran and China. 

While the review heavily focused on changes that need to be made to the U.K.’s defense readiness, it also identified a need to bolster societal resilience and support.  

‘Our response cannot be confined to increasing defense spending,’ Starmer said in a statement from the report. ‘We also need to see the biggest shift in mindset in my lifetime: to put security and defense front and center—to make it the fundamental organizing principle of government.’

The 144-page plan released by the British government on Monday laid out a new defense strategy to tackle threats ‘more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War.’ 

However, the biggest investment the U.K. revealed in its defense overhaul is a near $20.3 billion commitment to its nuclear warhead program in a move to expand its deterrence level, which, the report said, ‘sends the ultimate warning to anyone who seeks to do us harm.’

The push has been described as a ‘NATO first’ policy that will heavily focus on the immediate threats posed by Russia to the European continent. However, the plan is not a ‘NATO only’ policy.

The U.K. plans to produce a new submarine every 18 months until it secures a fleet of up to 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines under the AUKUS program, which is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. – which focuses on security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the face of increased Chinese aggression in the region.

Defense Secretary John Healey said, ‘We are in a new era of threat, which demands a new era for U.K. defense.’

Starmer ordered the review last summer, shortly after he secured the top job.

Security experts have warned that the threat Russia poses as it advances its war machine is assessed to be a generational threat, and one that will likely out-live the war in Ukraine or even a Putin presidency, and European nations have been scrambling to react to the new reality. 

The re-election of Trump became another challenge European leaders have grappled with. 

Though Trump pushed NATO leaders to increase their defense spending during his first term, most nations did not meet their GDP defense spending commitments under NATO until after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now, just eight of the 32 NATO nations do not meet the 2% GDP spending commitments, while five nations, including the U.S. spend more than 3%. 

NATO nations have increasingly called for an increase in defense spending and a push to be less dependent on the U.S.’s military industrial base.

While the U.K. has pledged to spend 2.5% of its GDP on defense by 2027, with an increase to 3% by 2030, Trump has called for NATO nations to spend 5% — though the alliance has not yet agreed to such a plan, which the U.S. also falls short on, spending 3.38% according to figures released in 2024.

The U.K. is also looking to take more of a leadership role in NATO, particularly as the reliability of the U.S. has been called into question amid the war in Russia, and amid threats by Trump that he may drawdown troop numbers in Europe. 

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Four-time defending national champion ousted from WCWS: Highlights

Oklahoma softball nearly pulled off another late, magical moment against Texas Tech on Monday in the WCWS semifinals. The Red Raiders had other plans, though.

Down to their final strike in the top of the seventh inning, Sooners 9-hole hitter Abigale Dayton launched a game-tying two-run home run to even the score at 2-2. The moment was similar to Ella Parker’s walk-off home run against Tennessee in the opening round of the WCWS, showing the Sooners’ fight down the stretch.

Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady, who has pitched in every game for the Red Raiders during the NCAA tournament, was phenomenal as always, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts across seven innings of work. Canady’s performance subsequently ended Oklahoma’s streak of four consecutive national titles, one of the most dominant stretches in college sports history.

Now, Texas Tech looks forward to facing Texas in the national championship series, where one program will come away with its first national title in softball.

Here are the highlights from Texas Tech’s semifinal win over Oklahoma in the WCWS:

Oklahoma vs Texas Tech softball live score

Oklahoma vs Texas Tech softball live updates

Texas Tech walks it off

Texas Tech walks it off, as Lauren Allred’s flyout is deep enough to score Davis from third base.

The Red Raiders are heading to the national championship game, and end Oklahoma’s four-year national title streak in the process. What a game to set up Texas-Texas Tech for all the marbles.

Texas Tech doubles to put runners on second and third

Texas Tech’s Mihyia Davis ropes a single, before Hailey Toney nearly homers, but hits a double off the left-field wall to put runners on second and third with one out.

Red Raiders’ winning run is 60 feet from scoring.

Oklahoma ties it with clutch home run

Wow. Down to its final strike, Oklahoma 9-hole hitter Abigale Dayton launches a two-run home run to right field to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning.

What a moment. The Sooners just don’t go down without a fight. That was only Dayton’s third home run of the season.

Sydney Barker picks up 3rd hit of game

Sydney Barker hits a bloop single with one out, picking up her third hit of the game. Barker has three of the Sooners’ four hits against Texas Tech, bringing the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh inning.

Oklahoma on verge of first shutout since 2019

Oklahoma hasn’t been shutout in a game since losing to Alabama 1-0 in 2019. The Sooners are on the verge of losing that streak against one of the game’s all-time great pitchers in NiJaree Canady here.

Texas Tech 3 outs from national championship berth

Ella Parker hits a leadoff single, but Canady forces a flyout and strikes out two to get out of the sixth inning.

Oklahoma is down to its final three outs and is close to missing out on a national title berth for the first time since 2018.

Ella Parker with leadoff single

Ella Parker ropes a leadoff single into center field, giving the Sooners a baserunner with no outs for 3-hole hitter Gabbie Garcia.

Nice start to the inning for Oklahoma.

Sam Landry gets inning-ending double play

Sam Landry gets NiJaree Canady to groundout into a 6-4-3 double play to end the fifth inning, which fired up the Sooners a bit. Can that give Oklahoma some momentum offensively?

Landry has now thrown over 400 pitches at the WCWS.

NiJaree Canady works around leadoff single

Canady puts up another zero, but Oklahoma had a couple nice swings in the top of the fifth inning. Sydney Barker, who has both of the Sooners’ hits, hit a leadoff single before Abigaile Dayton flied out to the warning track in deep left field.

Oklahoma down to its final six outs.

Lauren Allred gets Texas Tech out of inning

NiJaree Canady’s dominance continues, but it’s first baseman Lauren Allred who fields a groundball and dives to first base to get an out to end end the inning.

Texas Tech still leads 2-0, as Oklahoma’s offense continues to struggle against Canady.

Sam Landry puts up zero

Landry works around a walk but forces a pair of flyouts and a groundout to get out of the bottom of the third inning. Texas Tech still leads 2-0 as Oklahoma’s bats head to the plate.

Oklahoma goes 1-2-3

NiJaree Canady continues her dominance, retiring the Sooners in order to start the third inning. Canady is up to four strikeouts so far, with her strikeout against Ella Parker marking her whopping 300th of the year.

Texas Tech still leads 2-0.

Patrick Mahomes watching Texas Tech softball

Three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes is tuned into Texas Tech softball, as he mentioned the team in a post on X during the game. Mahomes played quarterback at Texas Tech and also was drafted to MLB out of high school.

Texas Tech scores again

Bailey Lindemuth singles to center field, scoring Demi Elder from third base to give Texas Tech a 2-0 lead.

A two-run lead for NiJaree Canady has Texas Tech feeling good heading into the third inning.

Sam Landry honors Gerry Glasco’s daughter

Sam Landry, who played under Texas Tech coach Gerry Glasco at Louisiana, has ‘Geri Ann,’ Glasco’s daughter’s name, stitched on her glove.

Texas Tech takes 1-0 lead

Sam Landry walks Alana Johnson, who later scores from first after Demi Elder triples down the left-field line. That ball was smoked by Elder.

Oklahoma definitely doesn’t want to get down 2-0 against NiJaree Canady here.

Canady escapes jam

Oklahoma’s Isabela Emerling ropes a line drive, but it’s straight at Texas Tech shortstop Hailey Toney to end the inning. The Sooners fall short on the scoring chance.

Oklahoma puts runners on first and third

Cydney Sanders draws a walk before freshman Sydney Barker bloops a single into left field to put runners on first and third for Oklahoma with two outs.

Sooners with a chance at scoring a run on NiJaree Canady here.

Landry escapes first inning

Sam Landry needs 28 pitches to get out of the first inning but works around a walk to put up a zero. Oklahoma-Texas Tech tied at 1-1 through one inning.

Sam Landry connections to Texas Tech

Oklahoma pitcher Sam Landry, a first-team All-American in 2025, has plenty of connections to Texas Tech due to her time at Louisiana. Landry played for Red Raiders coach Gerry Glasco when Glasco was at Louisiana and has five former teammates on Texas Tech’s roster.

Mihyia Davis, Chloe Riassetto, Lauren Allred, Victoria Valdez and Alexa Langeliers all joined Glasco from Louisiana after Glasco was hired prior to the 2025 season.

Canady retires Oklahoma in order

The Sooners go down in order to start the first inning, as NiJaree Canady strikes out Kasidi Pickering and Gabbie Garcia.

Canady’s arsenal looks electric so far.

Canady fires a strike and we’re underway

NiJaree Canady fires a strike for Texas Tech, the home team, and we’re underway. A pair of first-team All-Americans start off the semifinal, as Canady faces Oklahoma leadoff hitter Kasidi Pickering.

NiJaree Canady starting for Texas Tech

NiJaree Canady, the former national player of the year, is getting the start for Texas Tech in the circle. Canady has started every game for the Red Raiders during their NCAA tournament run and leads the nation with a 0.86 ERA.

Texas Tech softball lineup vs Oklahoma

CF Mihyia Davis
SS Hailey Toney
1B Lauren Allred
P NiJaree Canady
2B Alexa Langeliers
RF Alana Johnson
LF Demi Elder
C Victoria Valdez
3B Bailey Lindemuth

Oklahoma softball lineup vs Texas Tech

LF Kasidi Pickering
DP Ella Parker
SS Gabbie Garcia
3B Nelly McEnroe-Marinas
1B Cydney Sanders
2B Ailani Agbayani
RF Sydney Barker
C Isabela Emerling
CF Abigale Dayton

Right-hander Sam Landry is in the circle for the Sooners.

What time does Oklahoma vs Texas Tech softball start?

Time: 7 p.m. ET
Date: Monday, June 2
Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)

Oklahoma-Texas Tech softball is set for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch on Monday night. If Oklahoma wins and forces an if-necessary game, the two teams will immediately play again, which is currently scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET.

What TV channel is Oklahoma vs Texas Tech softball on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app, ESPN+

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Revisiting Frank Ragnow’s fractured throat after Lions center retires

Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons on Monday. The 29-year-old enjoyed a quality career during which he was voted to the Pro Bowl four times and was thrice named an All-Pro second-teamer.

That said, many NFL fans will remember Ragnow for a gruesome-sounding injury he played through during the 2020 NFL season.

In the Lions’ Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers, Ragnow suffered a fractured throat bone, an uncommon injury often associated with trauma from strangulation, according to the Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery.

Ragnow did not leave the game because of the injury. He played all 67 offensive snaps for the Lions before missing the next two games due to the injury.

How Frank Ragnow played through fractured throat

Upon returning to the sidelines, Ragnow realized his voice sounded different. He compared it to the sound a dog toy makes when its squeaker is broken.

Nonetheless, Ragnow’s airway was unobstructed, which allowed him to play the rest of the game. There was just one issue: he was unable to talk and couldn’t make calls at the line of scrimmage.

As such, Ragnow relied on starting guards Oday Aboushi and Jonah Jackson to help him communicate adjustments at the line of scrimmage. He also delivered a message to then-Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford to make sure Detroit’s offense would continue to operate smoothly as he struggled to speak.

‘He came up to me early in the game and was very hoarse and kind of faint sounding and was like, ‘I can’t really talk right now. I can’t really talk, just to let you know. Just make sure you’re communicating with everybody up front even more so than (you) normally would,” Stafford told the Detroit Free Press. ‘So it was kind of crazy, but it was good. Didn’t have any communication issues the rest of the game, really.’

Ragnow helped the Lions remain competitive against the Packers, but Detroit still ended up losing the game 31-24.

Ragnow and the Lions realized the full extent of his injury after the game. The fracture didn’t require surgery, but the offensive lineman had to rest his voice to ensure his vocal cords would make a full recovery.

‘When you see the vocal cords and see how I guess bruised up they are, it’s just something that was very alarming, for sure,’ Ragnow explained.

Ragnow was able to bounce back quickly from the injury. He was able to play all 58 of Detroit’s offensive snaps in its final regular-season game just three weeks after suffering the fracture.

That said, he acknowledged his voice wasn’t fully back at the time and it was difficult to remain quiet while the injury healed.

‘You definitely get a whole new perspective on just kind of taking everything in,’ Ragnow said of his recovery. ‘But I guess it was good that if I ever did try to talk, my voice did not sound well so that very much urged me to stop talking, so that was the good part of it. But it’s definitely a unique perspective and it’s definitely something I don’t wish upon anyone, that’s for sure.’

Ragnow did not experience any further throat injuries during his NFL career. However, he was frequently banged up, dealing with foot, toe, knee, ankle, back and groin injuries over his seven seasons.

Ragnow acknowledged those injuries took a toll on him and influenced his decision to retire at the age of 29.

‘I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m feeling good but I’m not and it’s time to prioritize my health and my families future,’ Ragnow wrote in a statement announcing his retirement. ‘I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t. I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.’

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Belmont Stakes: Post position draw results for Sovereignty and Journalism

The stage for the final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown race is set.

Although there won’t be a Triple Crown winner in 2025, the 2025 Belmont Stakes will still be a highly-anticipated attraction with the rematch for the first jewels of the sport’s premier races. After not running in the Preakness Stakes, 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty makes his return to the track and faces Journalism, the winner of the Preakness. The two went down to the wire at Churchill Downs and they’ll meet again for another chance of glory.

The race will still be held at Saratoga Race Course as Belmont Park is still undergoing renovations, and as a result, the race will be contested at 1 ¼-mile instead of the traditional 1 ½-mile distance. Journalism and Sovereignty are the favorites, but could another thoroughbred spoil the rematch and take the title in New York?

2025 Belmont Stakes post positions

Here’s where each horse landed, as well as its trainer, jockey and current odds:

Hill Road

Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Odds: 10-1

Sovereignty

Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Odds: 2-1

Rodriguez

Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Odds: 6-1

Uncaged

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Luis Saez
Odds: 30-1

Crudo

Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Odds: 15-1

Baeza

Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Odds: 4-1

Journalism

Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Odds: 8-5

Heart of Honor

Trainer: Jamie Osborne
Jockey: Saffie Osborne
Odds: 30-1

When is the Belmont Stakes 2025?

The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes will be held Saturday, June 7. Post time is 6:50 p.m. ET.

Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
Time: 6:50 p.m. ET
TV: Fox
Stream: Fubo (free trial)
Location: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York)

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Politics

Trump DOJ investigating Biden-era pardons amid concerns over state of mind

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President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is reviewing the list of people that were granted pardons by former President Joe Biden, amid new concerns about his use of an AutoPen to automatically sign documents, as well as concerns about his state of mind in his final months in office.

Fox News was told Tuesday that Justice Department Pardon Attorney Ed Martin is reviewing a list of Biden-era pardons granted by the president during his final weeks in office.

It is unclear what individual pardons are being reviewed by Martin’s office, though Reuters reported this week that the office is planning to look at the preemptive pardons that Biden granted to his son, Hunter Biden, as well as more than 35 death row inmates whose sentences were changed to life in prison during Biden’s final days in office. 

DOJ officials did not respond to Fox News’s requests for comments on the email or the exact nature of the review

Former President Joe Biden used his final weeks as commander-in-chief to grant clemency and pardon more than 1,500 individuals, in what the White House described at the time as the largest single-day act of clemency by a U.S. president.

But critics took umbrage at the long list of names, noting that it included persons convicted of defrauding U.S. taxpayers of tens of millions of dollars. Many took aim at his use of preemptive pardons to family members and others in Biden’s inner circle.

This is a developing news story. Check back for updates.

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