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Why Iowa State star Audi Crooks is seemingly impossible to stop

Women’s college basketball is basketball has a bevy of prolific scorers including Vanderbilt Commodores guard Mikayla Blakes (25.7 points a game), Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo (25.9 points a game) and Florida Gators guard Liv McGill (27.3 points a game).

But who is the leading the nation? That would be Iowa State center Audi Crooks, who at 6-foot-3, averages 27.6 points a contest. She is proving hard to stop in her junior season for the No. 10 Cyclones (10-0), who face No. 12 Iowa (9-0) Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

The Algona, Iowa, native isn’t new to being a scoring threat. It’s how she introduced herself to the country. During the 2024 NCAA tournament, Iowa State gained national attention when the then-freshman posted 40 points against No. 10 Maryland in the first round.

Crooks, who ranks second in the country field goal percentage (73.2), has already eclipsed the 40-point mark twice this season, has eight games of 20 or more points and recently scored 30 points in 19 minutes against the Northern Illinois Huskies.

“It’s not something I’ve seen, really, maybe ever,” Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly said of Crooks.

Being in rare company is something Crooks has made a habit of. She currently holds the longest Division I active streak (77 consecutive games) for scoring at least 10 points or more and is on pace to join Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (2023-2024) as just the second player in Division I men’s or women’s college basketball, the NBA or WNBA to average at least one point or more per minute in a single season.

With production like that, the question becomes how to slow Crooks down. She’s efficient in her minutes and confident with her shot selection, rarely wasting movement. Crooks also has impeccable footwork that has improved each season she’s been with Iowa State, helping her to develop patience in the paint, while getting to her spots. Furthermore, her release, especially on her mid-range jump shot, is one of the smoothest in college basketball.

“They’re trying to do anything they can,” Fennelly said about Crooks. “And I told her, that’s what’s coming. You’re going to get triple-teamed. People are going to fall down and act like you fouled them. You’re going to have to play through contact because you’re not going to get a call.”

When Crooks takes the floor against Iowa on Wednesday, she’ll face her toughest test yet. The Hawkeyes have multiple players who can score and defend, including standout sophomore guard Ava Heiden, who currently leads the team in points (16.1) and rebounds (9.2). Adding fuel to the fire, Iowa State hasn’t beaten Iowa since December 2021. Still, Crooks’ teammates have confidence that they’ll get a long-awaited win against the Hawkeyes and their star center will do what she does best ― just hoop.’You throw the ball to her, and it’s going in,’  Iowa State guard Reagan Wilson said.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Democrat John Fetterman decries ‘dehumanizing’ attack against Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika

Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania condemned an attack against Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination shocked the world earlier this year.

‘It’s gross and dehumanizing to attack a widow with young children after just witnessing his public assassination,’ the senator noted in a post on X.

‘It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve,’ he added.

He made the comments when sharing a screenshot of a Fox News Digital article headline that read, ‘Liberal podcaster labels widow Erika Kirk a ‘grifter’ who should be ‘kicked to the curb.”

‘This woman should be kicked to the curb,’ Jennifer Welch said on her ‘I’ve Had It’ podcast. ‘She is an absolute grifter, just like Donald Trump, and just like her unrepentant, racist, homophobic husband was,’ she said of Erika Kirk.

GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who is running for governor, responded to Fetterman’s post by thanking the senator.

Fox News Channel political analyst Gianno Caldwell expressed full agreement with Fetterman’s comments.

Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University in September. He and his wife Erika had two children.

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US Chamber of Commerce accused of leading ‘woke corporate America’ as Trump dismantles DEI agenda

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is coming under fire for allegedly becoming ‘one of the biggest engines driving woke corporate America’ amid the Trump administration’s battle to strip diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the fabric of industry and government, a conservative watchdog alleges. 

‘Once a voice for small businesses and Main Street, the Chamber now advocates for DEI mandates, (environmental, social and governance) investment schemes, and radical climate policies that punish consumers,’ said Will Hild, the executive director of Consumers’ Research, a free-market-oriented nonprofit focused on consumer advocacy. 

ESG is an investing framework focused on prioritizing environmental, social and governance investments.

‘They have strayed far from their original mission of advocating for free markets in favor of a political agenda,’ he continued. ‘Now, that the Chamber has made itself a leader in pushing woke policies in corporate boardrooms, it should come as no surprise that they are also supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance, one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology. Consumers’ Research will continue to call out organizations like the Chamber for pushing a woke agenda.’ 

Hild’s comments come as Consumers’ Research published a ‘Woke Alert’ this week accusing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of being ‘totally woke, pushing DEI and a left-wing climate agenda.’

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a business association that represents and lobbies for the interests of local and national companies in Washington, D.C., and operates in a nonpartisan manner. The chamber has received praise and criticism from both Republicans and Democrats across the years for its various politically focused initiatives. 

Consumers’ Research, as part of its mission to strip ‘woke’ ideology from the fabric of American businesses, publishes ‘Woke Alerts’ sounding the alarm on practices the group views as harmful to consumers or serving ‘woke politicians.’ The latest alert focuses on the Chamber of Commerce’s promotion of DEI initiatives, as well as prioritizing ‘a radical climate agenda.’ 

The alert pointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website stating that ‘diversity is America’s strength’ in its mission to remove DEI initiatives, which conservatives argue promotes group-based preferences and ideological conformity over individual merit, free speech and equal treatment. 

‘Diversity is America’s strength, spurring the innovation and creativity that have made the U.S. economy the most vibrant and dynamic in history,’ the Chamber’s website declares. ‘When businesses recognize and embrace different perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees, and solve problems. By providing opportunities for everyone, businesses help lift communities and strengthen the health, prosperity, and competitiveness of our nation and our society.’ 

The Chamber’s push on DEI came as such race-based workplace initiatives were promoted from the highest echelons of industry down to grade school classrooms in the 2020 era, especially after the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when ‘defund the police’ and Black Lives Matter dominated the news cycle with protests and riots. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was among the flood of industries that heightened their promotion DEI policies, including the Chamber reporting in a 2021 video that Floyd’s death helped spark its launch of the ‘Equality of Opportunity Initiative.’ 

Fox News Digital reviewed archived links to the Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Equality of Opportunity Initiative’ and found that it focused on efforts to ‘develop real, sustainable solutions to help close race-based opportunity gaps in six key areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth.’

The link to the former website page redirects users to the chamber’s website homepage, with archived links showing the race-based URL was still active in January. The chamber launched the effort in June 2020, just days after Floyd’s death. 

‘This work is a priority for the chamber and our members because as we all know its not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic imperative,’ U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark said in 2021 during the 2nd Annual National Summit on Equality of Opportunity of DEI practices. 

Consumers’ Research also flagged the chamber’s 2022 impact report, which said it helped deliver $8.1 million in race-based grants to 1,414 Black-owned small businesses across 42 states. The alert also noted that the chamber has promoted reading materials such as a 2021 guide on DEI, and publicly supported the ‘Equality Act’ in 2021 — legislation Consumers’ Research described as ‘radical’ and claimed would ‘enshrine in federal law a right for males to participate in women’s sports and lead to the punishment of small business owners based on their religious beliefs.’

When asked about the Woke Alert, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took issue with Hild arguing that the business group is ‘supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance,’ which Hild said ‘is one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology.’ 

‘It is sad this organization has become a mouthpiece for trial lawyers whose tactics have imposed a stealth tax on American families who are paying up to $4,200 extra a year for insurance, food, clothing and other items as a result of sham lawsuits that only line the pockets of trial lawyers,’ Stephen Waguespack, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, said. ‘These lawyers, who donate overwhelmingly to progressive causes and candidates, and those who align with them, are undermining President Trump’s efforts to lower costs for American families.’

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports a Republican-introduced bill, the Litigation Transparency Act of 2025, which aims to ensure greater transparency in litigation by requiring parties receiving payment in lawsuits to disclose their identities. 

Consumers’ Research has used litigation finance in recent years to push back against ‘woke capitalism’ to counter ESG and DEI policies, Fox News Digital previously reported, with Hild saying that he views the legislation as an ‘attack’ on one of the ‘few tools Americans have to hold powerful, woke corporations accountable.’

The new criticisms land as President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office in January marked an end to DEI initiatives at the federal level and set off a sweeping effect on private industries as well.

Trump has moved to systematically unwind DEI programs across the federal government, signing a pair of executive orders in January that direct agencies to identify and shut down DEI offices, terminate equity-focused grants and contracts, and scrap long-standing affirmative action-style requirements for federal contractors in favor of what the White House calls ‘colorblind’ merit based rules.

While Consumers’ Research is now attacking the chamber from the right, the organization has previously faced scrutiny from Democrats as well. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., led the charge in a 2019 letter demanding the group ‘accept that human-caused climate change is real and warrants immediate action,’ claiming the chamber ‘marshaled considerable lobbying resources on behalf’ of companies working to ‘oppose congressional, executive, and judicial actions that would meaningfully address climate change,’ according to the letter.

The Chamber has been lauded by other prominent U.S. leaders, such as former President Barack Obama in 2011, when he thanked the group for pushing Congress on infrastructure investments. He said during an address focused on resetting relations with corporate America following the recession that had rocked the U.S. that the White House and the Chamber ‘must work together’ on the economy.

Consumers’ Research also knocked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its climate agenda, saying the group has paired its DEI push with aggressive environmental goals. A 2023 blog post on the chamber’s website titled ‘Fostering a Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Future’ promoted prioritizing and working with ‘diverse suppliers’ to strengthen businesses.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference earlier in 2025, which the Trump administration effectively boycotted by not sending a delegation to the annual conference. Instead, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom attended the event in the federal government’s absence, where he took shots at Trump for his environmental policies. 

‘Our climate is changing and humans are contributing to these changes. Inaction is simply not an option,’ the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website. ‘Combating climate change will require citizens, government, and business to work together. American businesses play a vital role in creating innovative solutions to protect our planet.’ 

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Judge blocks Trump National Guard deployment in Los Angeles

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles and ordered them returned to the control of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

The order, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, is a blow to the Trump administration, and comes six months after the president in June deployed thousands of federalized National Guard troops to the city in response to a wave of immigration protests.

Breyer on Wednesday rejected the Trump administration’s claim that the demonstrations in Los Angeles amount to a ‘rebellion’ sufficient to justify the president’s continued deployment of National Guard troops in the city under U.S.C. Section 12406, which allows a sitting president to call up or federalize National Guard troops during instances of a foreign invasion or in instances when the president is ‘unable to execute the law.’

Breyer said in the 35-page order that the deployment runs ‘contrary to law’ and risks ‘creating a national police force made up of state troops.’ 

‘The founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balance,’ Breyer said Wednesday. ‘Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one.’

White House officials told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that they looked forward to ‘ultimate victory’ on the issue, suggesting they are likely to appeal the order to a higher court for review. 

‘President Trump exercised his lawful authority to deploy National Guard troops to support federal officers and assets following violent riots that local leaders like ‘Newscum’ refused to stop,’ White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in response to the ruling. ‘We look forward to ultimate victory on the issue.’

Breyer, the brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, had issued a temporary restraining order in June blocking Trump’s National Guard deployment from immediately taking effect in California. 

That order was quickly stayed by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and Trump ultimately deployed roughly 5,000 troops in Los Angeles over the summer, as the protests continued, including 4,000 California National Guard troops and roughly 700 U.S. Marines.

‘Six months after they first federalized the California National Guard, Defendants still retain control of approximately 300 Guardsmen, despite no evidence that execution of federal law is impeded in any way—let alone significantly,’ Breyer said Wednesday.

In anticipation of another appeal, Breyer stayed the new preliminary injunction from taking force through Dec. 15.  

The new order comes as Trump’s National Guard deployment has sparked fierce backlash from officials from California and other Democratic-led states where Trump launched similar federalization efforts this year, including Oregon and Illinois. 

Newsom, who immediately sued to block the effort in his state, has continued to assail the effort as both unprecedented and illegal. 

Senior Trump administration officials have argued that the deployment is a necessary step to crack down on what they say is an uptick in violent crime and protect against threats from protesters, including anti-ICE demonstrations in many downtown areas, including Los Angeles.

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Is the fix in with Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua fight? Experts weigh in

The fight between Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua, set for Dec. 19 in Miami, has done more than generate public interest.

It has fueled skepticism, too.

Hasim Rahman, the retired heavyweight champion, captured the sentiment when he told USA TODAY Sports, ‘It should be an easy fight for Anthony Joshua. I mean, Jake Paul never fought anybody on that level in their prime or remotely useful.’

So, if Joshua fails win the eight-round heavyweight fight decisively? ‘We need some investigation going on,’ Rahman said.

Such talk is nothing new for Paul, who heard similar chatter before and after he beat 58-year-old Mike Tyson in 2024. Once again, the insinuations amount to nothing more than speculation, with no one having presented evidence of match-rigging. Also, Lou Durkin, president of the Association of Ringside Physicians, told USA TODAY Sports he thinks Paul has ‘real skills’ and there’s a good chance the fight with Joshua will go the distance.

But this time the dynamic is different.

Unlike Tyson, Joshua is 36 and still looks powerful and explosive.

Also, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) has entered each of his previous fights as the favorite. This time, he’ll be a significant underdog. Not to mention he’ll be facing a massive size disadvantage. (Paul is 6-1 and expects to weigh in at no more than 220 pounds. Joshua is 6-6 and will be allowed to weigh in at a maximum of 245 pounds.)

With the fight shaping up to be a mismatch, at least on paper, notable retired fighters Gerry Cooney and Ray Mercer made comments similar to those from Rahman.

‘A little bit of a joke’

Cooney fought Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title and The Ring heavyweight title in 1982 and fought Michael Spinks for The Ring heavyweight title 1987. He lost both bouts but did beat former champion Ken Norton and top contenders Ron Lyle and Jimmy Young.

Of Paul, Cooney said, ‘Obviously, Tyson could’ve ripped that kid apart in one round, right?’

Cooney, 69, then referred to Paul’s fight during the pandemic in 2020 on the undercard of Tyson’s exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. That night, Paul delivered one of the most electric moments with a brutal knockout of retired NBA player Nate Robinson.

‘Jake Paul was great,’ Cooney said. ‘He gave us entertainment. But now it’s becoming a little bit of a joke, I feel. I mean, Joshua’s going in there with him and…do whatever they want him to do, or maybe not.’

‘He can actually box’

Mercer won the WBO heavyweight title in 1991 and defended it with a victory over Tommy Morrison. He also fought the likes of Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.

Mercer, 64, commended Paul.

‘I think he can actually box, but just not on the level of the people that he’s boxing,’ Mercer. ‘You know what I’m saying? If he joined a tournament like the Golden Gloves or something like that, he might do good. But the people that he’s fighting, all the champions and all that, I mean, come on.’

On Paul’s X account, he has posted images of himself looking up at Joshua and Sylvester Stallone, playing Rocky, looking up at Ivan Drago, the fictional character who Rocky defeats in ‘Rocky IV.’ Drago reappears in ‘Creed II.’

‘You got Sly Stallone come out with movies, Creed and all that,’ Mercer said. ‘But it’s real people out there (in the fight between Paul and Joshua). I hope (Joshua) can just say to hell with it and knock his ass out.’

‘Should be an easy fight’

Rahman, 53, won the unified heavyweight title in 2001 and the WBC title for a second time in 2005.

He pointed out that Joshua won an Olympic gold medal (in 2012) and the unified heavyweight title twice. By contrast, Paul has fought professionally 13 times with no amateur career — beyond a victory over a YouTuber, that is.

Paul, 28, is eight years younger than Joshua. But the gulf in experience and achievement between the boxers is undeniable.

‘I don’t believe it should be a competitive fight. It should not,’ Rahman said. ‘I feel like if Anthony Joshua don’t go in there and manhandle (Paul) and maul him and get him out of there in one or two rounds, then we got some questions to be asked.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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2026 Olympics predictions for Team Sweden hockey roster

The 2026 Winter Olympics are almost upon us, and the participating teams will soon have to name their rosters for the tournament. That said, it’s always fun to speculate about what the Olympic rosters will look like.

Last week, we focused on Team Canada and Team USA. It’s now time to project Sweden’s men’s hockey roster.

The Swedes won’t be favorites to win the tournament, but they have the talent to win gold.

They’ll need their best players to come up big in clutch moments – we’re talking about Toronto Maple Leafs star right wing William Nylander, Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson – and their goaltending will need to be a strength for them.

Sweden has an excellent balance of young players and proven veterans. Their youngsters include Anaheim Ducks budding star Leo Carlsson, Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt. Some veterans are New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, Colorado Avalanche left winger Gabriel Landeskog and Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg.

There’s also more than enough competition for roster spots that some surprising names were left off our roster projection.

Don’t forget, this projection is based on this writer’s point of view. So let’s get straight to the projection for Team Sweden. Players with an asterisk were already named to the roster in June.

Forwards

Centers: Elias Pettersson, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Mika Zibanejad 

Wingers: William Nylander*, Adrian Kempe*, Jesper Bratt, Filip Forsberg, Gabriel Landeskog*, Lucas Raymond*, Rickard Rakell, Elias Lindholm, Marcus Johansson, Emil Heineman

The lowdown: Sweden’s forward group isn’t as deep as Canada’s or the United States’, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to like up front.

With centers Pettersson and Carlsson providing offense for the group, a defense-minded center like Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek can star on the penalty kill and match up against the other team’s top scorers.

On the wing, there’s no shortage of offense with Nylander, Kempe, Detroit’s Lucas Raymond, Pittsburgh’s Rickard Rakell and Nashville’s Forsberg providing speed and skill. And a veteran like Minnesota’s Marcus Johansson and the New York Islanders’ Emil Heineman have essentially played their way onto the roster with strong starts to the season.

In any case, the Swedes have more than enough high-end talent to keep them competitive in this tournament. But responsible performances at both ends of the ice will be mandatory if they’re to outlast the Canadian and U.S. squads.

Defensemen

Rasmus Dahlin*, Victor Hedman*, Hampus Lindholm, Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, Gustav Forsling, Jonas Brodin, Oliver Ekman-Larsson

The lowdown: Believe us when we tell you it was very tough leaving off Edmonton’s Mattias Ekholm from this group of eight Swedish blueliners, considering he was on the 4 Nations Face-Off roster.

But Boston’s Hampus Lindholm missed the 4 Nations with an injury, and the defensive specialist will play a crucial role on the penalty kill. And Toronto’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson can be an effective depth puck-mover, and he has experience playing on the right side despite being a lefty. Ekholm can play on the right side as well in specific situations, but this is mainly a case of which type of player we want as the seventh or eighth D-man.

Dahlin, Forsling, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson and Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin, who were all on the 4 Nations roster, can give the Swedes at least 20 minutes of solid two-way play without giving up anything at either end of the ice.

If there is an injury (Hedman left Tuesday’s game), we’d go with Ekholm in a limited role.

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom, Jesper Wallstedt, Filip Gustavsson

The lowdown: Speaking of players who’ve played their way onto Team Sweden, Wild youngster Jesper Wallstedt is having a terrific year for Minnesota, and teammate Filip Gustavsson has also earned a spot.

The final goalie spot came down to two veterans having a subpar season – New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom and Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark. And we chose Markstrom over Ullmark in a hunch. But if Ullmark outplays Markstrom in the next couple weeks, we’d be fine swapping the two.

Wallstedt is just beginning his journey as an elite netminder. But from what we’ve seen from him thus far this year, we’d give him the starter’s job to start the Olympics.

Gustavsson would be our second choice, and after that, Ullmark or Markstrom would be goaltending insurance, but Sweden’s goalies don’t have to steal them any games. If they give the Swedish forwards and defensemen a chance to win games, that’s all Swedish brass will care about.

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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DOJ cleared to release secret Jeffrey Epstein case grand jury materials

A federal judge has cleared the Justice Department to release secret grand jury transcripts from Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman reversed his earlier decision to keep the transcripts under wraps, citing Congress’s recent action on the Epstein files. Berman had previously warned that the contents of the roughly 70 pages of grandjury materials contain little new information.

The move comes just one day after Judge Paul Engelmayer granted the DOJ’s motion to unseal separate grand jury transcripts and exhibits in Maxwell’s criminal case. Last week, Judge Rodney Smith also moved to allow the DOJ to release transcripts from an abandoned federal grand jury probe from the 2000s.

Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking charges in December 2021, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Her attorney said that she took no position on the requested unsealing of records but noted that the release could harm Maxwell’s plan to file a habeas petition, according to The Associated Press.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires the DOJ ‘to publish (in a searchable and downloadable format) all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in DOJ’s possession that relate to the investigation and prosecution of Jeffrey Epstein.’

The act was passed in November and paves the way for the public to have more insight into the infamous cases against the late disgraced financier.

The law places a deadline for releasing files on Dec. 19.

The DOJ is reportedly working with survivors and their attorneys to redact records to protect survivors’ identities and prevent the dissemination of sexualized images, according to the AP.

Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

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Signing a 44-year old QB? Why the Colts are in too deep

The Indianapolis Colts signed 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad.
GM Chris Ballard recently traded two first-round picks for CB Sauce Gardner, signaling a ‘win-now’ approach.
The signing of Rivers highlights the team’s lack of a reliable backup quarterback after going all-in at the trade deadline.

I’m not a poker player. Spades and Hearts are my games − maybe Solitaire or Go Fish with the kids.

But I’ve seen “Rounders,” “Casino Royale” and enough coverage of games of chance and skill on ESPN and other outlets over the years to know that when you’re pot committed, you better not overplay your hand.

Unfortunately, the Indianapolis Colts’ decision to sign 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad Tuesday seems like a strong tell that the organization and longtime general manager Chris Ballard did exactly that.

On one level you have to feel for the Colts. Ballard seemed to inherit a full house when he took the job in 2017 – then-quarterback Andrew Luck worth three aces on his own. But Indy was dealt a terrible hand when oft-injured Luck shockingly retired two weeks before the 2019 season – Ballard and Co. chasing a better one ever since, the Colts languishing outside the playoffs since Rivers last led them there in 2020 in what was purportedly his 17th and final NFL campaign.

Expectations for the team entering the 2025 season seemed modest at best, Ballard diversifying his QB options between Anthony Richardson − the tantalizingly gifted but raw, inexperienced, inconsistent and occasionally immature talent he chose fourth overall in the 2023 draft − and reclamation project Daniel Jones, once viewed as the future of the New York Giants.

Yet Jones took command of the Indianapolis offense, took command of the locker room, and the Colts took command of the AFC South with a 7-1 start. That was enough to spur Ballard – typically a conservative roster architect who prefers a draft-develop-reward/re-sign approach – to effectively push his chips into the middle of the table at the league’s Nov. 4 trade deadline by dealing two first-round picks, tantamount to parting with the crown jewels given his historical reticence for pricey acquisitions, to obtain New York Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner.

And sure, maybe Ballard was on a warming seat nearly a decade into what’s been a disappointing tenure despite some key circumstances that had been beyond his control. But the big swing for Gardner also signaled Ballard’s belief that this team was championship caliber, and that his players should operate accordingly. And what a story it would be if the Colts could end what’s become nearly a two-decade championship drought just months after owner Jim Irsay’s stunning death.

Just one problem: Ballard didn’t account for a few of those chips, which apparently wound up under the table. After all, spending just a few more might have also given the Colts needed insurance at a quarterback position that’s been snakebit ever since Peyton Manning went under the knife 14 years ago. And Ballard has signed enough guys like Joe Flacco, Jacoby Brissett, Nick Foles and Gardner Minshew II to know you need reliable dudes like that around as fallbacks. He’s also drafted enough guys like Richardson, Sam Ehlinger and Jacob Eason to know nascent passers can’t be trusted or even expected to elevate the remainder of a roster.

But instead of anteing up for a Plan B QB at the trade deadline – current Giants third-stringer Russell Wilson, who’s on a one-year deal, would have been the obvious stopgap choice – Ballard decided to roll with Jones, rookie Riley Leonard and journeyman Brett Rypien, who resides on the practice squad. Not even Richardson, who’s been on injured reserve with an injured orbital bone for nearly two months, was an emergency option. The stratagem arguably veers into personnel malpractice given Jones had played on a fractured fibula in recent weeks before tearing his Achilles during Sunday’s loss at Jacksonville. Yet Ballard hadn’t brought in an experienced free agent like, say, Taylor Heinicke or poached a passer from another club’s practice squad in the interim.

Now, here we are – Rivers, a player-coach if there ever was one, back after nearly five years out of the league. Sure, he knows the organization. Sure, he knows head coach Shane Steichen and his playbook given all the years they spent together with the Chargers, and they’ve maintained their relationship since. Sure, Rivers is a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Sure, he’s 44 but – in some respects given his limited physical gifts – he’s been a 44-year-old quarterback for the past 24 years. Right? And, yeah, this is all a bit whimsical.

But it’s hardly fair or reasonable to expect Rivers to pick up where he left off and take the Colts back to the playoffs, which they’re not even projected to make given how things shook out after Sunday’s setback. Even if Rivers is forced into the lineup – though hopefully not against that nasty Seahawks defense in Seattle this weekend – and catches lightning in a bottle like Flacco did two years ago for the Cleveland Browns and gets Indy as far as Week 19, what then? You don’t think defensive-centric teams like the Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans or New England Patriots wouldn’t key on superstar back Jonathan Taylor and force a rusty guy born the year (1981) President Ronald Reagan took office to beat them?

Admittedly, there’s no major risk to signing Rivers. But there’s no legitimate upside, either. Even if he somehow won a playoff game, Ballard’s going to be in an unenviable position some time in January. And that means having a top-tier cornerback in a ground-and-pound division; one quarterback (Richardson) who seems ready for a fresh start; and another (Jones) rehabbing a serious injury but on the cusp of a free agency period that could bring a bidding war for his services – whether or not he’s ready to start the 2026 season. Oh, and no first-round pick as an alternative to remediate the quandary … next year or in 2027.

Poker is a cruel game. But by seemingly going with his heart of late, Ballard now has problems in spades … and could find himself in a solitary place, fishing for a new job soon enough.

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From AJ Styles to Randy Orton, we ranked John Cena’s greatest rivalries

John Cena had several feuds during his long WWE career, but some stand out more than others.
Most of John Cena’s best rivalries came during his meteoric rise and when he became the face of wrestling.
Notable rivals include AJ Styles, Kurt Angle and CM Punk.

More than 23 years is enough time to develop heated rivals in wrestling, and John Cena had plenty of them in WWE.

As the face of WWE for decades, Cena got to the top of the wrestling world thanks to the epic showdowns he had with other big-time stars. Whether it was the promos, matches or the stakes, some feuds stood out above the rest. They often helped raise the legacy of both Cena and his rival as they each brought the best out of each other, and those heated rivalries helped produce some of wrestling’s top moments in recent memory.

Of course, not all of them were top-tier quality, but there were rivalries that transcended the sport and helped shape what wrestling is today. Now, as Cena is set to end his WWE career, it’s time to look back on the best feuds that helped define his illustrious career.

10. Shawn Michaels

After some brief encounters early in his career, Cena entered a fantastic duel with Michaels in 2007. As they headed toward the WrestleMania 23 main event, they surprisingly won the World Tag Team Championship, but generated great heat while holding the titles. It culminated in an epic clash at WrestleMania, with prime Cena taking on Michaels, who had plenty of talent still left in his legendary career. The match delivered and Cena successfully defended his title in a thriller.

It wouldn’t be their most memorable bout. Less than a month later, they fought at a Monday Night Raw in London in a match that lasted nearly an hour. Regarded as one of the best bouts in Monday night history, Michaels won to even the score and cap off what was a sensational start of 2007 between the two.

9. Big Show

There are some Cena rivalries that reignited again and again, including his battles with the Big Show.

Cena’s rise in WWE is thanks to the Big Show, as the two feuded up to WrestleMania 20 in 2003, which included a hilarious rap battle between the two. At WrestleMania 20, the two started the event in a match for the United States Championship. It started with a bang and was capped off with the shot of Cena picking up the 500-pound Big Show for the Attitude Adjustment to win his first title in WWE and put him on the trajectory to stardom.

The two tangled several times afterward and even were tag team partners on occasion. Notable matches include the triple threat World Heavyweight title match at WrestleMania 25 and the monthslong battle that took place in 2009 after Big Show sent Cena through a light fixture with a chokeslam at Backlash. In 2012, the two met again with The Authority storyline.

Cena got in the ring with the Big Show for more than a decade, with their last match in 2015, a testament to their longevity.

8. JBL

In order for Cena to be WWE’s top guy, he needed to be the top champion. That happened with a fantastic battle with John Bradshaw Layfield in 2005. It was a sign of the times; JBL was the veteran, heel champion while Cena was the up-and-coming beloved star. The passion they displayed as Cena sought JBL’s title and the champion tried to silence the newbie was captivating and was main event worthy. They faced off at WrestleMania 21 for the title and Cena ended JBL’s nine-month reign to win the WWE Championship, his first world title.

It continued when they met again at Judgment Day in an ‘I Quit’ match, which produced the famous image of a bloodied-Cena. It showed Cena’s toughness as he retained the gold. The two would meet again in 2008 when they had another string of vicious battles.

JBL was the perfect person to turn Cena into a main event name. Cena likely would have become a superstar anyways, but the feud and match cemented Cena’s status and worthiness. JBL also gave Cena the great nickname of ‘Big Match John.’

7. Brock Lesnar

Cena and Lesnar came into WWE together, and their paths crossed several times as the two each rose to become major forces in the company. They first met on SmackDown in 2002 as rookies and battled throughout the next 23 years. With each meeting, the stage got bigger as their stardom grew. After last meeting in 2004, they faced off again in 2012 when Lesnar returned to WWE. At Extreme Rules, ‘Super Cena’ overcame the domination from Lesnar and defeated him in a bloody battle for his first win in the rivalry. They met again in 2014 when Lesnar’s domination continued, and it was capped off in their final meeting at WrestlePalooza 2025.

On paper, it wasn’t much of a rivalry because of Lesnar’s dominance. But it was an important one for both of their careers given they got to the top at similar times and met when they were big names. Cena was one of the few opponents to feel like they had a chance against Lesnar.

6. Kurt Angle

Why not go back to the very beginning? Cena introduced himself in a big way in his WWE debut against Angle, when he famously uttered ‘ruthless aggression’ before attacking the Olympic gold medalist. While Angle won, Cena let the wrestling world know this was no ordinary wrestler.

As Cena climbed his way to the top of WWE, it felt like Angle was always there. Angle challenged for the United States Championship; Cena beat him to get the WWE title match at WrestleMania 21; and after Cena won the championship, Angle eventually fought him for it. Then there was the first blood match in January 2006, when a bloodied Cena put Angle in the STF. The established star tested Cena at several key moments on his way to the top.

5. AJ Styles

It’s a shame we had to wait until 2016 to see these two icons lock up. But when they did, boy did they make up for it.

After Styles made a thunderous entrance to WWE, it wasn’t long before these two got tangled up in a rivalry. Styles attacked Cena and they had their dream match at Money in the Bank, which Styles won. It started a trilogy of incredible matches, as the two brought out the best of each other every time they squared off. Styles won again at SummerSlam and Royal Rumble 2017 is where they capped it off in tremendous fashion. It was a thriller where Cena beat Styles, and it came with the prize of being a record-tying 16-time WWE champion.

Just for good measure, we got to see the veterans wrestle again at Crown Jewel in October, and they stole the show and turned back the clock to deliver one of the best matches of the year.

Two of wrestling’s greatest didn’t have the most heat in a rivalry, but their mutual respect and stellar matches makes this one of the best in Cena’s time.

4. The Rock

Two faces of a generation. Two wrestling stars that made it to Hollywood and dominated the box office. It was must-see TV seeing these two collide.

When The Rock came back to WWE in 2011, the megastars instantly became intertwined as the two greats generated great distaste for each other. They delivered epic promos against one another for a year to build up the ‘Once in a Lifetime’ match at WrestleMania 28, which became the most anticipated bout in WWE history. The Rock emerged victorious, but it didn’t end there. Cena was fixated on getting a rematch for an entire year, and it happened in 2012 at WrestleMania 29. The heat didn’t waver and they had another big-time showdown, with Cena winning and The Rock officially passing the torch to his foe.

Even though they only wrestled each other twice, it didn’t end there. In the wild main event of WrestleMania 40, Cena surprised and helped Cody Rhodes against The Bloodline, which brought out The Rock for another epic face-off.

The two then joined forces for a shocking heel turn, but that storyline never developed and left a stain on their history. But given they’re the two biggest household wrestling names in the 21st century, it never got as star-studded as this.

3. CM Punk

Cena and Punk couldn’t be any more different; Cena was the prototypical superhero and Punk was the obscure, rebellious star. That’s what made it perfect.

The two drew very emotional reactions anytime they squared off, starting with the rivalry of the year in 2011. It catapulted itself into WWE lore in June 2011 when Punk interfered with Cena’s match and delivered the infamous pipe bomb promo detailing his frustrations with Cena’s stardom while blurring the lines of reality and fantasy. Then they had their title match at Money in the Bank in Punk’s hometown of Chicago, which had one of the best environments for a WWE show ever, with cheering for Punk and hostility for Cena. Punk won the WWE title in what was, at the time, his final night in the company, leaving with the top prize. A week later, Punk returned with ‘Cult of Personality’ and reignited the heat.

There were more battles over the next two years, and they were able to bring it back in June, when both stars showed they hadn’t skipped a beat with Cena delivering his own pipe bomb and each continuing the disses. When you call your opponent your ‘wrestling soulmate,’ it’s a sign of one of the best rivalries a wrestler can have.

2. Randy Orton

Perhaps no one has more ring history with Cena than Orton, as the two entered WWE together and embarked on a career-long rivalry that contained several big moments on the grandest of stages.

Cena and Orton first met in 2005 to kick-start a 20-year feud as they rose to the top of the business. Orton brought such a fiery passion to every rivalry matchup, but it was the greatest when Cena was opposite him. The rivalry took off in 2007 as they chased the WWE title, highlighted by arguably their best match at SummerSlam. A few months later, Orton defeated Cena and Triple H for the championship at WrestleMania 24. They put on several great stipulation matches afterward and culminated the feud at Backlash, where the one-time prodigies got to meet as WWE legends and reignite the heat one more time.

What helped was their constant battles to be at the top of the company. In total, Cena and Orton were in the ring together 23 times for a WWE title. At non-Royal Rumble premium live events, they were in the same match 23 times, with 11 of them being one-on-one battles. All together, no one has faced Cena more than Orton, and it created one of the best rivalries in the sport.

1. Edge

Was it not obvious? It’s clear there was no greater Cena rival than the ‘Rated R Superstar.’ You could argue Edge helped make Cena who he is, and the same could go with Cena for Edge. Both are correct, as the two stars had several epic clashes to forge one of the greatest rivalries in wrestling history.

It all started with one of the most shocking moments of the 2000s, when Edge cashed in the first Money in the Bank contract on a bloodied Cena at New Year’s Revolution in 2006. It was a stunning moment that started a heated clash between the two that lasted for years to come. That year alone, they faced off 11 times for the title; they battled 20 times in their career for gold. It felt like there was genuine hate for each other every time they faced off or traded words, and the stakes felt like there was more than just a title on the line. They truly defined the role of baby face and heel perfectly.

What’s remarkable is how great this duel was in short time; it lasted less than five years, with their last match against each other coming in September 2010. It’s a shame we never got to see them face off once more to bring back the fiery passion that made so many people fans. Regardless, they set the bar for what a true rivalry should look like.

Cena vs. Edge was one epic rivalry.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Politics

Nancy Mace vows to ‘fight like hell’ to rename old Black Lives Matter Plaza for Charlie Kirk

A new bill could see part of the national capital renamed after slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, introduced three months after his assassination.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is introducing legislation to rename the area that until recently had been known as ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza,’ she first told Fox News Digital.

‘Black Lives Matter is a terrorist organization that wants to defund the police and take your speech away,’ Mace argued. ‘And what I want to do on the three-month anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s political assassination is celebrate him and the First Amendment and freedom of speech by renaming the plaza after him.’

Black Lives Matter is a far-left activist group that gained traction after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a White police officer.

It is not designated as a terrorist organization, but people on the right and even some Democrats have criticized it for going too far with calls to ‘defund the police,’ while questions have also been raised in the past about how it spends its funding.

A two-block area of Washington, D.C., was renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza by the city’s government in June 2020 amid nationwide protests over Floyd’s killing.

It was marked by a massive mural depicting the words ‘Black Lives Matter’ in the middle of the street.

That was reversed in March of this year after pressure from Republicans, including President Donald Trump, amid a crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts across the country.

Mace suggested she was not optimistic that her bill would get a House-wide vote but said she would ‘fight like hell’ for it.

It comes three months after Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a college free-speech event in Utah. Both Republicans and Democrats have condemned the killing as a tragedy and an attack on free speech.

Prosecutors in Utah are seeking the death penalty against Tyler James Robinson, Kirk’s accused killer.

Mace’s bill is one of several pieces of legislation introduced to memorialize Kirk in the wake of his death.

‘I think members of Congress have done their part, rank-and-file members. But there’s still more to do yet. And we need to make sure that we continue his legacy forever,’ Mace said.

A resolution honoring Kirk passed the House of Representatives in September with support from all Republicans and 95 Democrats. Fifty-eight Democrats voted against it, while another 38 voted ‘present.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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