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Tag: Matt

  • Here’s why comedian Matt Rife traded glitzy city living for cozy Rhode Island suburbs

    Here’s why comedian Matt Rife traded glitzy city living for cozy Rhode Island suburbs

    Serhant founder and CEO Ryan Serhant reveals how those impacted by the California wildfires are managing evacuation and relocation on ‘The Claman Countdown.’

    Comedian Matt Rife is taking over the comedy scene – and – the Rhode Island suburbs in his latest real estate venture. 

    While appearing on the popular “Bad Friends” podcast last August, Rife revealed to fellow comedians and co-hosts Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino that he had recently purchased 80 acres of property in Rhode Island.

    According to Rife, Rhode Island originally “wasn’t even in the top 10” states he was looking to buy property in, but something specific drew him to the Ocean State.

    MATT RIFE FACES BACKLASH FOR ALLEGEDLY TELLING 6-YEAR-OLD HIS MOTHER BUYS HIS PRESENTS WITH ONLYFANS PROFITS

    Comedian Matt Rife pictured alongside an image of the Castle Hill Lighthouse in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The illustration comes on the heels of Rife’s recent real estate move to Rhode Island.  (Fox News / Fox News)

    Rife cited sky-high real estate costs as one of the main reasons he left Los Angeles’ notorious comedy scene. 

    The state of the U.S. real estate market is causing many long-time residents to leave for less expensive areas — including one of 2024’s highest grossing comedians like Matt Rife, according to Billboard. 

    CALIFORNIA HOUSING CRISIS TURNING MANY WORKING-CLASS TOWNS INTO ‘MILLION-DOLLAR CITIES’: REPORT

    “There were three things on my checklist. I wanted to get what I was actually f—ing paying for. ” Rife began. “There was this massive place that was probably the same price of a two-bedroom with no yard in L.A.”

    “I needed to have some kind of comedy scene, and Providence has the “Comedy Connection” out there, a great club. Boston is 45 minutes away, an amazing comedy scene, and also convenient for travel. Providence is like my Burbank Airport and Boston is like my LAX,” he joked. 

    THEO VON ATTENDS TRUMP’S ‘INSPIRING’ INAUGURATION, DECLARES IT’S ‘TIME TO PUT AMERICA FIRST’

    Rife went on to express gratitude for his “beautiful” new property, saying that although he has “never been a morning person,” he wakes up every single day “happy” in his home. 

    “I’m so happy I did that,” he said.

    matt rife california

    Comedian Matt Rife at the 82nd Annual Golden Globes pictured alongside a photo of California’s highways.  (Fox News / Fox News)

    THESE WERE THE MOST EXPENSIVE HOMES SOLD IN 2024, ACCORDING TO REDFIN

    The young star continued, hilariously revealing that he had purchased his current home while visiting Rhode Island for the first time before one of his shows in Connecticut.

    “I was performing at Mohegan Sun, five shows or something like that,” Rife playfully bragged. “[Mohegan Sun] was an hour away, and we were on, I don’t know, Zillow, and I was like, ‘oh I’ll peep this real quick.’ And we went and checked it out, and I was like, ‘this [costs] like one show at Mohegan Sun.’ So, awesome.”

    BH Group CEO and founder Isaac Toledano speaks to Fox News Digital about how Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory will fuel positive activity in real estate.

    In December, Billboard revealed their list of top ten highest-grossing comedy tours of the year, with Rife quickly climbing the list and earning the number two spot for 2024. 

    GOLDEN GLOBES HOST NIKKI GLASER MOCKS DIDDY, BEN AFFLECK IN OPENING MONOLOGUE

    Rife’s comedy tour grossed more than most of the biggest names in comedy last year, topping all but one comedian: Nate Bargatze, whose tour had a net gross of $82.2 million in 2024, selling over one million tickets.

    According to the Billboard study, throughout Rife’s 256 shows in 2024, the new Rhode Island resident grossed about $57.5 million, selling roughly 733,000 tickets.

    The 10-person list has a combined $396.7 million in gross-earnings for 2024, a 52% spike from 2023 — making comedians top earners in the entertainment industry.

    READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

  • MAGA candidate wins GOP primary in Florida race to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress

    MAGA candidate wins GOP primary in Florida race to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress

    The candidate endorsed by President Trump on Tuesday won the Republican primary in a special congressional election to replace former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz in Florida’s 1st Congressional District.

    The Associated Press projects that Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis will win the GOP nomination in the district, which is located in the northwest corner of the state in the Panhandle region.

    He will face gun safety advocate Gay Valimont, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

    Patronis, who was also endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, topped nine other Republican candidates in the crowded primary field. He will be considered the clear favorite in the April 1 general election to fill the congressional seat in the heavily red district.

    “A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me, and to MAGA,” Trump wrote in a social media post earlier this month.

    IT’S PRIMARY DAY IN PARTS OF THIS CRUCIAL STATE 

    Left: Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis; Right: President-elect Donald Trump rings the opening bell on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Dec. 12, 2024 in New York City.  (Left: Fox News Digital; Right: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

    Gaetz resigned from Congress abruptly late last year after Trump tapped him to be his attorney general, though Gaetz eventually withdrew himself from consideration amid growing Republican opposition.

    The congressman’s resignation also came as the House Ethics Committee had been preparing its report on allegations against Gaetz that included illicit drug use and sex with a minor, all of which he has denied.

    Among those who fell short to Patronis in the GOP primary was a former Navy veteran who challenged Gaetz last year with the backing of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

    Gaetz had triggered the congressional maneuver in 2023 that eventually led to McCarthy’s ouster from power after less than a year as House speaker.

    Gaetz speaks at RNC

    Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 17, 2024. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)

    Patronis – whose family runs a popular restaurant in Panama City – which is outside the district -was criticized for not living in the district.

    He twice won statewide elections as chief financial officer and, until Gaetz quit Congress, was seen as a potential candidate in Florida’s 2026 race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

    Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis

    Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis delivers remarks at a campaign event in Sarasota, Florida, on Nov. 6, 2022. (Tiffany Tompkins/Bradenton Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

    Republican and Democratic primaries were also being held Tuesday in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, in the special election to fill the seat left vacant after GOP Rep. Michael Waltz stepped down to serve as national security adviser in the second Trump administration. The general election in the red district is also scheduled for April 1.

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    With a fragile, razor-thin majority in the House, the likely reinforcements from Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Distircts will be welcome news to Republican leadership in the chamber as it tries to pass Trump’s agenda.

    Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. 

  • Republicans vie to replace Matt Gaetz in crowded 10-way special election primary

    Republicans vie to replace Matt Gaetz in crowded 10-way special election primary

    Weeks after the Republicans’ triumphant performances in the November elections, it is primary day once again in Northwest Florida.

    Voters in Florida’s 1st Congressional District will select a GOP candidate on Tuesday, who will likely succeed former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., in the House of Representatives.

    The district, which covers part of the Florida panhandle, is heavily Republican. President Donald Trump won the area in his last three elections, and Gaetz himself held the seat from January 2017 until he resigned late last year.

    TRUMP’S ‘BLACKLIST’: PRESIDENT-ELECT DESCRIBES THE TYPE OF PEOPLE HE DOESN’T WANT TO HIRE

    Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s seat is expected to be filled this spring. (Aaron Schwartz/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

    There are 10 Republicans running to replace Gaetz in the Tuesday primary.

    They include Aaron Dimmock, whom ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., backed last year in a bid to force Gaetz out of office.

    Gaetz had triggered the maneuver that eventually led to McCarthy’s ouster from power after less than a year as House speaker.

    However, the favorite going into the race is likely Jimmy Patronis, who has been endorsed by Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

    TRUMP’S LATEST HIRES AND FIRES RANKLE IRAN HAWKS AS NEW PRESIDENT SUGGESTS NUCLEAR DEAL

    Left: Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis; Right: President-elect Donald Trump

    President Donald Trump, right, has endorsed businessman Jimmy Patronis to replace former Rep. Matt Gaetz. (Left: Fox News Digital; Right: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

    “A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me, and to MAGA,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform earlier this month.

    “As your next Congressman, Jimmy will work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Secure our Border, Strengthen our Brave Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

    Tuesday is also bringing a special primary election for Florida’s 6th Congressional District to replace Trump’s new national security adviser, former Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla.

    Rep. Mike Waltz

    There will also be a special primary election for the seat vacated by President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, former Rep. Mike Waltz. (John Nacion/Getty Images)

    Both general elections, expected to be won by Republicans, will take place April 1.

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    Gaetz resigned from Congress abruptly last year after Trump tapped him to be his attorney general, though Gaetz eventually withdrew himself from consideration amid growing Republican opposition.

    It also came as the House Ethics Committee had been preparing its report on allegations against Gaetz that included illicit drug use and sex with a minor, all of which he has denied.

    Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

    Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]