Happy New Year 2025

Tag: media

  • Yankees star breaks team’s facial hair policy, prompting social media reaction

    Yankees star breaks team’s facial hair policy, prompting social media reaction

    When Devin Williams was traded to the New York Yankees, he needed to bust out the razor.

    The Yanks, of course, have had a long-withstanding policy since George Steinbrenner owned the team that players must not don facial hair below their lower lip.

    So, the lights out closer needed to get rid of his healthy beard, prompting an entirely different look.

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    Devin Williams is stretching the Yankees’ facial hair rule. (IMAGN)

    However, after just one week in Tampa, Williams appeared to have forgotten to shave Tuesday morning, as he rocked some peach fuzz.

    Naturally, it drew the ire of lots of Yankee fans on social media.

    Newcomer Paul Goldschmidt also needed to shave, which left him looking like he “added 30 years on his life,” said one more account.

    Devin Williams on mound

    New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

    YANKEES’ AARON JUDGE DISAGREES WITH JUAN SOTO’S BELIEF THAT METS GIVE HIM BEST CHANCE TO WIN TITLE

    When Williams was asked about being clean-shaven, he replied simply, “It is what it is.” It was the first time he shaved his beard in six years. In fact, he actually arrived to camp unshaven.

    Plenty of Yankee stars have rocked mustaches, most notably Don Mattingly and Goose Gossage, but beards have been a topic of conversation, and sometimes controversy. CC Sabathia was rather irked a few years ago when former top prospect Clint Frazier rocked long hair from his head, which also must be maintained. So Sabathia retaliated by rocking a slight beard.

    The Hall of Famer has rocked a beard ever since he retired, and even Derek Jeter has some facial hair now. Plenty of Yankees grow facial hair in the offseason and if they join another team.

    Devin Williams pitching

    New York Yankees relief pitcher Devin Williams (38) participates in spring training workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field.  (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

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    The policy led to a makeover for Johnny Damon in 2005, and general manager Brian Cashman ruled out closer Brian Wilson over a decade ago because he said Wilson refused to shave his patented beard.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

  • Social media giants come together to support safeguards for children

    Social media giants come together to support safeguards for children

    Mark SooHoo, an advocate for Wait Until 8th, joins ‘Fox News Live’ to discuss Australia banning social media for children under 16 and the Wait Until 8th pledge. 

    Meta, X, and Snap Inc. are signaling support for a South Dakota bill requiring age verification for users attempting to download applications onto their phones, tablets, and computers.

    The South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee is set to hear several age verification measures on Tuesday, including Senate Bill 180, which will “require age verification before an individual may access an application from an online application store.”

    In a joint letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Meta, Snap Inc., and X told the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee members, chair, and vice chair that the bill is the “best solution to support families.”

    META ANNOUNCES ‘WORLD’S LONGEST SUBSEA CABLE PROJECT,’ SAYS IT WILL BE LONGER THAN THE GLOBE’S CIRCUMFERENCE

    An age-verification login screen is seen on a mobile device in this illustration photo. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    “Parents want a simple, manageable way to verify their child’s age and review the apps their teens want to download. The most sensible and effective place for age verification is at the OS/app store level,” the letter states.

    The three companies suggest that the bill would simplify the age verification process for parents, ensure privacy and security, and be “supportive of teens.”

    Rather than forcing parents to complete “cumbersome and repetitive” age verification steps across apps, the app store can serve as a hub for verifying their kids, according to the letter.

    INSTAGRAM RELEASES TEEN ACCOUNTS WITH BUILT-IN PRIVACY, PARENTAL CONTROLS

    Meta logo

    The Meta logo is seen at the Vivatech show in Paris, France, June 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus / AP Newsroom)

    Meta, Snap Inc. and X also claim that requiring an age check in one secure location limits the number of times and places a user has to share personal information, such as an ID or credit card, thereby reducing privacy risks, including identity theft and phishing scams.

    “We all want young people to be supported and protected online,” the letter continues. “Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child’s age before they download apps. The best way to achieve this is for policymakers in South Dakota to require a simple, secure, industry-wide solution at the OS/app store level that puts parents in charge.”

    Nicole Lopez, Meta’s Director of Youth Safety Policy, will testify before the South Dakota Senate Judiciary hearing and vocalize support for Senate Bill 180. In October, she previously testified before the state’s Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Regulation of Internet Access by Minors.

    US SURGEON GENERAL CALLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO DISPLAY MENTAL HEALTH WARNINGS

    Letter from Meta Snap and X

    A joint letter on SB 180 sent by Meta, X and Snap Inc. 

    A month earlier, Meta introduced Instagram Teen Accounts, a system with built-in protections that allows parents to limit who can contact teens and the content they see. Teens under 16 need a parent’s permission to change any settings that may decrease content restrictions.

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    These moves came after the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap, and Discord testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a January 2024 hearing on Capitol Hill. The hearing centered around the question of what liability and responsibility the platforms should bear if they knowingly or unknowingly host harmful content, specifically targeting or exploiting minors.

    Since then, several states, including Florida, have passed laws related to age verification, while others have been shot down over First Amendment violation concerns. 

    Australia also recently outright banned teens under 16 from using social media apps. 

    READ MORE FROM FOX BUSINESS

  • Swalwell faces social media backlash for post tying Trump to Georgia small plane crash

    Swalwell faces social media backlash for post tying Trump to Georgia small plane crash

    Rep. Eric Swallwell, D-Calif., is facing backlash online after suggesting President Donald Trump is to blame for a small plane crash in Georgia this weekend.

    Swallwell took to social media Monday morning to declare that Trump has had “more planes crash” in his first month in office than any other U.S. president. The lawmaker made the comment in reaction to a small private plane crash that took place this weekend in Covington, Georgia, which left two people dead.

    Social media users began to pile on immediately, calling out Swallwell for what they saw as an unfair connection to Trump.

    “Are you suggesting the catalysts for those crashes were all caused by policies changed in the last month?” one user wrote.

    HARROWING VIDEO FROM MILITARY BASE SHOWS NEW ANGLE OF MIDAIR CRASH CATASTROPHE

    “You really do have TDS. Grab some coffee and take a walk,” wrote another user who goes by the name of SouthernRepublicanMomma.

    Swallwell’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

    FAA, NTSB TO BRIEF SENATORS ON WASHINGTON, DC, MIDAIR COLLISION

    Georgia’s crash saw a single-engine airplane take off from the Covington Municipal Airport at 11 p.m. on Saturday. Ground control lost communication with the plane roughly 20 minutes later, at which point police officers located the plane crashed near the runway.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has addressed the public multiple times regarding recent plane crashes in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and elsewhere. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

    The plane’s two occupants were immediately announced dead at the scene.

    “On February 15, 2025, the Covington Police Department officers responded to the Covington Municipal Airport at approximately 11:21 p.m. after receiving a call from the FAA in reference to a single-engine aircraft that had taken off at approximately 11:00 p.m. There was no further communication from the aircraft after takeoff,” the Covington Police Department said in a statement.

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has confirmed they are investigating the crash.

    DC plane crash site

    Wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, on Thursday, Jan. 30.  (Petty Officer 1st Class Brandon Giles, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)

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    The incident comes in the wake of multiple other plane crashes in recent weeks, the most dramatic being the collision of a helicopter and a commercial airliner in the skies over Washington, D.C. last month.

    Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.

  • US citizen carrying cannabis gummies detained in Moscow, charged with narcotics smuggling: Russia media

    US citizen carrying cannabis gummies detained in Moscow, charged with narcotics smuggling: Russia media

    A U.S. citizen who was allegedly carrying cannabis gummies has been detained at an airport in Moscow, Russian media reported. 

    The 28-year-old American was detained at the Vnukovo Airport Feb. 7 after a K-9 with the Russian Federal Customs Service detected something in his luggage, Russia’s TASS news agency said. 

    He had arrived in Russia via Istanbul. 

    The U.S. State Department told Fox News Digital it is aware of reports of a citizen being detained and had no further comment. 

    FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL LANDS IN US AFTER YEARS IN RUSSIAN CAPTIVITY

    A U.S. citizen who was allegedly carrying cannabis gummies has been detained at an airport in Moscow, Russian media has reported.  (Contributor/Getty Images)

    “A chemical analysis revealed the presence of narcotic substances from the cannabinoid group,” the customs service reported, according to TASS, adding the man claimed his U.S. doctor had prescribed the gummies. 

    He has been charged with smuggling narcotic drugs into the country and could face five up to 10 years in prison, TASS reported. 

    Marc Fogel, a U.S. citizen who was detained on drug charges in Russia four years ago, was released on Tuesday in exchange for Russian prisoner Alexander Vinnik, who had been detained by the U.S. government on cryptocurrency fraud charges. 

    Marc Fogel

    Released American schoolteacher Marc Fogel reacts during an event held by President Donald Trump to welcome back Fogel, who had been held in Russia since 2021, at the White House Feb. 11, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

    Vogel’s plane landed safely in the U.S. Tuesday night. 

    Fogel, a history teacher from Pennsylvania, was serving a 14-year prison sentence after his arrest in August 2021 at a Russian airport for being in possession of drugs, which his family and supporters said were medically prescribed marijuana. 

    In 2022, WNBA player Brittney Griner was released from Russia after she spent eight months in detainment for having vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis. 

    MOTHER OF FREED AMERICAN HOSTAGE MARC FOGEL THANKS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: ‘HE KEPT HIS PROMISE’

    Brittney Griner testifies on her behalf

    WNBA player Brittney Griner was released from Russia in 2022 after she spent eight months in detainment for having vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis.  (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

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    She was also detained at a Moscow airport as she returned to the country to play in a basketball league there. 

  • ‘Try and save face’: Top CFPB officials dismissed despite telling media they resigned, agency says

    ‘Try and save face’: Top CFPB officials dismissed despite telling media they resigned, agency says

    Three leaders at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) were placed on administrative leave Tuesday, Fox News Digital confirmed. 

    The Office of Management and Budget’s Chief Legal Officer Mark Paoletta placed Lorelei Salas, the CFPB’s supervision director, and Eric Halperin, the agency’s enforcement chief, and Zixta Martinez, the agency’s deputy director, on administrative leave, a CFPB spokesperson told Fox News Digital Tuesday. 

    The resignations come after acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, told employees of CFPB on Monday to not report to work and to “get approval in writing before performing any work tasks.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent briefly served as acting CFPB director before Vought earlier in February, and had also told staffers to halt their work “unless expressly approved by the Acting Director or required by law.”

    The CFPB spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Halperin defied Bessent’s order and resigned in response to being placed on leave Tuesday. Halperin was made aware of his leave via an email and responded six minutes later that he was resigning, the New York Post reported earlier Tuesday. 

    RUSS VOUGHT, TAPPED AS CFPB’S ACTING DIRECTOR, DIRECTS BUREAU TO ISSUE NO NEW RULES, STOP NEW INVESTIGATIONS

    A view of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) headquarters building in Washington, DC, on Feb. 10, 2025.   (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

    “I write to provide notice of my resignation… Since the building is closed, please provide instructions on how to return my equipment,” Halperin reportedly responded to the email. “Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It was an honor.”

    Salas also “sent out an email blast” in response to the notification she also was placed on leave, but did not officially file her resignation, the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

    RUSSELL VOUGHT CONFIRMED TO HEAD GOVERNMENT’S LEADING BUDGET OFFICE AFTER DEMS HOLD 30-HOUR PROTEST

    The pair is claiming to reporters that they resigned, as opposed to being placed on leave, to “try and save face,” the spox added. 

    When approached for comment, a spokesperson for Salas told Fox Digital that the Trump administration was working to “sideline” government employees. 

    “As we’ve seen many times already, Trump and Musk are trying to sideline dedicated public servants who won’t go along with their plans to break the law,” the spokesperson said. “CFPB staff have a responsibility to protect consumers, and that includes upholding longstanding laws on the books.” 

    Fox News Digital attempted to reach Halperin via social media on Tuesday evening for comment, but did not immediately receive a reply. 

    CFPB office

    Three leaders at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) were placed on administrative leave Tuesday, Fox News Digital confirmed.  (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

    Both Halperin and Salas have ties to left-wing billionaire George Soros’ nonprofit, the Open Society Foundation, a CFPB press release from 2021 shows. Halperin served as a senior advisor to Open Society Foundations’ U.S. Program, his biography in a CFPB press release states, while Salas received a government fellowship from the Open Society Foundations. 

    FEDERAL WORKERS’ UNION FILES LAWSUITS TO STOP VOUGHT, DOGE ACTIVITY AT CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU

    The CFPB is an independent government agency charged with protecting consumers from unfair financial practices in the private sector. It was created in 2010 under the Obama administration following the financial crash in 2008. 

    Elon Musk at Congress

    Elon Musk is leading the Department of Government Efficiency. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

    The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has been investigating various federal agencies in February in search of finding and eliminating government overspending, fraud and corruption.

    On Friday, Musk posted a message on X, reading, “CFPB RIP,” building anticipation that the agency was the next to face investigation. 

    Protests have since been staged outside of the of CFPB headquarters in Washington, including Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who originally proposed the agency, declaring on the streets, “We are here to fight back.”

    Sen. Warren outside CFPB

    Protests have since been staged outside of the of CFPB headquarters in Washington, including Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who originally proposed the agency, declaring on the streets, “We are here to fight back.” (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for MoveOn)

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    “This is like a bank robber trying to fire the cops and turn off the alarm just before he strolls into the lobby,” Warren told the crowd on Monday. 

    “The financial cops, the CFPB, are there to make sure that Elon’s new project can’t scam you or steal your sensitive personal data,” Warren said. “So Elon’s solution, get rid of the cops, kill the CFPB.”

  • Reset what you see on social media

    Reset what you see on social media

    You went down a rabbit hole and now gardening (or hot rod or political) posts are all you see online. Algorithms are smart, but they don’t know when you’re ready to get back to your regularly scheduled programming. 

    It’s time to reset your feed and take control of what you see.

    Win an iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence ($999 value). 

    No purchase necessary. Enter to win now!

    5-MINUTE CLEANUP FOR YOUR PHONE AND COMPUTER

    Start with Facebook

    Goodbye, annoying ads. It only takes a minute to kick out the things you no longer want to see.

    The fix: Filter your advertising topics by going to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Account Center > Ad Preferences > Customize ads.

    Random Facebook requests can end badly. This one lost a widow $40K.

    The Facebook logo is pictured at the Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California. (Reuters)

    Now, on to YouTube

    Say your family is staying with you for the holidays and your niece is watching cartoons on your YouTube account all day long. Now that’s all YouTube recommends. Delete your search history to get things back to normal. 

    The fix: On the YouTube app, tap You to bring up your History. Tap the cog icon > Settings > Manage All History. At the bottom, you’ll see DELETE with a blue down arrow. Tap from the dropdown menu to delete videos from today, a custom range or all time. Click X to remove items individually, if you prefer.

    10 TECH UPGRADES TO SAVE YOUR TIME, PRIVACY AND MONEY THIS YEAR

    Going forward, turn off your viewing history any time you don’t want those vids in your algorithm. You can set your video and search histories to autodelete, too. Now your YouTube is back to how you like it, with my video podcast at the very top. You’ll love it!

    TikTok tracks your habits 

    TikTok’s algorithm is built to keep you on the app. Every time you like, follow or comment on something, it tells the algorithm you’re interested in a video, and more videos like it will pop up on your For You page. Disliking a video or writing a nasty comment doesn’t matter, by the way; you still kept watching.

    An iPhone screen with the TikTok app.

    TikTok is pictured on a smartphone. (iStock)

    The fix: Reset your feed. Open your Profile in the bottom right corner then press the three lines at the top right > Settings and Privacy > Content Preferences > Refresh Your For You Feed > Continue. 

    Fine-tune Instagram 

    Watch Instagram Reels instead? There’s no way to reset them, but you can nudge the algorithm in the right direction.

    The fix: Tap the three dots in the upper right corner. From here, you can adjust:

    • Posts: Select Hide to move them to the bottom of your feed.
    • Stories: Tap Mute so you’ll no longer see them.
    • Accounts: Choose either Restrict, which limits if an account can interact with you, or Block.

    I’M A TECH EXPERT: 10 AI PROMPTS YOU’LL USE ALL THE TIME

    Here’s the giveaway that an email from Instagram about your security is fake.

    Most apps have this option

    On just about every social platform, you can hide or see less of certain things. The more you take this action, the more you steer the algorithm.

    The fix: Next to a post, video or anything else, look for the three-dot or three-line menu that opens more options. On YouTube, for example, tap the three dots next to a video and choose Don’t recommend channel or Not interested.

    POLAND - 2023/07/13: In this photo illustration a YouTube logo seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    In this photo illustration, a YouTube logo is seen displayed on a smartphone. (Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

    Feeling inspired to clean more of your digital traces? Wipe your browser history while you’re at it. Here’s how.

    Final piece of advice

    Your social media feed is carefully curated based on who you follow, who follows you and, most importantly, what you do online. Sure, you can reset your algorithm, but don’t be fooled. Every post you linger on, like, comment on or share gets tracked and used to shape what you see next. Even just scrolling tells the platform what grabs your attention. 

    Before your next deep dive, remember: Big Tech is always watching, and your every move fine-tunes what pops up next.

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    Get tech-smarter on your schedule

    Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.

    Copyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. 

  • Neil deGrasse Tyson catches flak on social media over ‘curious’ post about athletes praising God

    Neil deGrasse Tyson catches flak on social media over ‘curious’ post about athletes praising God

    Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson took flak on social media over a post about professional athletes thanking God when they win a major sporting event.

    Athletes have routinely spoken openly about their faith and beliefs in God and Jesus. NFL players like C.J. Stroud, Jayden Daniels, Harrison Butker, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and others have credited their abilities and winning ways to their faith.

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, an executive producer for “Shot in the Arm,” poses on the red carpet before the world premiere for “80 For Brady” during the Palm Springs International Film Festival in Palm Springs, California, on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023. (Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK)

    “Curious that talented athletes frequently credit God when they win, but we rarely see them blame God when they lose,” Tyson wrote on X.

    Tyson’s curiosity drew backlash on social media. One person pointed to Texas Longhorns cornerback Jahdae Barron’s speech about the trust in his faith as a counterpoint to Tyson’s post.

    Hurts, Darius Slay and head coach Nick Sirianni both spoke about faith following their win.

    “God’s blessed us very much,” Sirianni told FOX’s Tom Rinaldi. “He gave us all the talents to be able to get here, so first and foremost, thanks to Him. … Thank God, thank you Jesus.” 

    EAGLES’ JALEN HURTS, NICK SIRIANNI PRAISE GOD AFTER WINNING SUPER BOWL LIX: ‘THANKS TO HIM’

    Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2018

    Neil deGrasse Tyson during the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Jan. 28, 2018. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)

    During the trophy presentation, he said to Terry Bradshaw, “All glory to God.” 

    Slay thanked his “Lord and Savior” when speaking with the NFL Network after the game.

    In speaking with Erin Andrews, Jalen Hurts, the game’s MVP, said, “God is good. He’s greater than all the highs and the lows.”

    Stroud, the Houston Texans’ quarterback, revealed his faith-based answer when asked about his goals for 2025.

    “Lock it back in with the Lord. Kinda in the lukewarm season – one foot in, one foot out. The Lord has helped me get outta that,” he said. “So, that’s really my 2025 goal is to be locked in with the Lord as much as possible.

    Steelers and Ravens players pray

    Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers players kneel to pray on the field after an AFC wild card game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Jan. 11, 2025. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images)

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    “You know, fasting and praying, being part of a church here in Houston. That’s my 2025 goal, being closer to the Lord.”

    Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

  • Vance created a social media frenzy on Sunday for supporting Trump’s executive authority.

    Vance created a social media frenzy on Sunday for supporting Trump’s executive authority.

    Judges across the country have taken action to block President Donald Trump’s agenda since he took office in January. Vice President JD Vance triggered a social media frenzy on Sunday by affirming his support for Trump’s executive authority. 

    “If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal,” Vance posted on X. “If a judge tried to command the attorney general in how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, that’s also illegal. Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”

    Vance’s comments followed a ruling that blocked the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing personal data. Judges in New Hampshire, Seattle and Maryland have blocked Trump’s executive order ending birthright citizenship. New York Attorney General Leitita James advised hospitals to ignore Trump’s executive order ending sex change procedures for minors. 

    Democrats were quick to lash out at Vance on social media on Sunday, equating his comments to “tyranny” and “lawlessness.” Illinois Gov. JV Pritzker, a potential 2028 presidential contender, said Vance’s comments mean “the Trump administration intends to break the law.”

    TRUMP DOJ CALLS JUDGE’S DOGE ORDER ‘ANTI-CONSTITUTIONAL’

    Vice President JD Vance will attend an AI summit in Paris, a French official said anonymously. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

    “JD Vance is saying the quiet part out loud: the Trump administration intends to break the law. America is a nation of laws. The courts make sure we follow the laws. The VP doesn’t control the courts, and the President cannot ignore the Constitution. No one is above the law,” Pritzker said.

    TRUMP’S KEY TO CABINET CONFIRMATIONS: SENATOR-TURNED-VP VANCE’S GIFT OF GAB

    Pete Buttigieg, former Transportation secretary and a 2020 presidential candidate, said the vice president does not decide what is legal. 

    “In America, decisions about what is legal and illegal are made by courts of law. Not by the Vice President,” Buttigieg said. 

    Schiff/Vance/Cheney

    Sen. Adam Schiff and former Rep. Liz Cheney slammed Vice President JD Vance for defending President Donald Trump’s executive authority. (AP/Getty)

    Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman who led the Jan. 6 Select Committee and campaigned for former Vice President Kamala Harris, accused Vance of tyranny. 

    David Hogg, the first Gen Z vice chair of the Democratic Party, said Vance’s comments are a power grab by the executive branch.

    “He’s saying this to normalize a power grab by the executive to consolidate the power of the president and make him a king,” Hogg said. “If liberals ever said this, conservatives would (rightfully) lose their godd— minds.”

    Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy called Vance’s comments the “meat” of the current “constitutional crisis.”

    “For those of us who believe we are in the middle of a constitutional crisis, this is the meat of it,” Murphy said on X. “Trump and Vance are laying the groundwork to ignore the courts – democracy’s last line of defense against unchecked executive power.”

    David Hogg

    David Hogg speaks onstage during the Fast Company Innovation Festival on Sept. 17, 2024, in New York City. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company)

    Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the first-term senator whom Trump nicknamed “Schifty Schiff” on the campaign trail, said Vance’s comment “puts us on a dangerous path to lawlessness.”

    “JD, we both went to law school. But we don’t have to be lawyers to know that ignoring court decisions we don’t like puts us on a dangerous path to lawlessness. We just have to swear an oath to the constitution. And mean it,” Sen. Adam Schiff, D-CA, responded. 

    Some conservatives fired back at the onslaught of comments. Columnist Kurt Schlichter jumped into the conversation, implying Schiff is a bad lawyer. 

    Jed Rubenfeld, a Yale Law School professor, lawyer and constitutional scholar, said he agreed with Vance that judges cannot “constitutionally interfere.”

    “JD is correct about this, and his examples are exactly right,” Rubenfeld said. “Where the Executive has sole and plenary power under the Constitution – as in commanding military operations or exercising prosecutorial discretion – judges cannot constitutionally interfere.”

    Biden and Trump chat

    President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP)

    More X users, who joined the debate, said Vance and his supporters’ comments are ironic. AJ Delgado, a self-described “MAGA original but now proudly anti-Trump,” said those attacking Vance lacked principle. 

    “Weren’t you all cheering when a federal judge halted Biden’s student loan forgiveness? You have ZERO principles,” she wrote on X. 

    When the Supreme Court ruled against President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, he did not waver in his commitment to relieving student debt, vowing “to keep going” despite the court’s order. 

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., during a February 2024 episode of “Pod Save America,” gave credit to Biden for finding alternative ways to alleviate student loan debt.

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    “Whatever tools he’s got, he’s sharpening and building some new tools through his Department of Education. We are now at about just a little shy of 4 million people who have had their student loan debt canceled. Joe Biden is just staying after it,” Warren said.

    Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital. 

  • Serena Williams sparks social media meltdown dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ amid history with Drake

    Serena Williams sparks social media meltdown dancing to Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ amid history with Drake

    Trump honors America at the Super Bowl

    ‘The Big Weekend Show’ brings exclusive analysis of President Donald Trump at the Super Bowl and discusses him revoking former President Joe Biden’s security clearances. 

    Serena Williams danced on Drake’s grave at Super Bowl LIX. 

    The women’s tennis legend danced happily during Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show performance, including during the biggest song of the night. 

    Williams showed no hesitation in dancing to Lamar’s hit diss track, “Not Like Us,” which famously took aim at fellow star rapper Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham. 

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

    Serena Williams dances off-stage during halftime of the Super Bowl LIX game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

    The song became so popular, and just as controversial, so much so that it has prompted Graham to file a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over the song and its content. 

    The lawsuit said the allegations in the song and UMG’s decision to promote it led to “real world consequences” for Graham. On May 7, an armed group drove to Drake’s Toronto home, and at least one gunman opened fire, wounding a security guard, the suit alleges. 

    However, Graham’s complaint did nothing to deter Williams from jamming out while Lamar played the game in front of a crowd of thousands and a TV audience of millions. 

    Serena Williams dances on stage

    Serena Williams dances on stage during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl LIX game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

    Williams danced to the song amid a rumored history with Graham. 

    SUPER BOWL LIX SECURITY TACKLES PERSON WITH FLAG SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS, SUDANESE DURING HALFTIME SHOW

    Kendrick Lamar performs

    Recording artist Kendrick Lamar performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

    Graham once implied he wrote his 2016 single “Too Good” for Williams when he shared footage of himself discussing the song’s inspiration with his mother, Sandi Graham.

    “I get heavy on a couple joints, but this is more about me and Serena,” Graham said.

    Graham and Williams were seen kissing in August 2015, in photos obtained by TMZ.

    Now, the image of Williams dancing to the song that mocks Graham has ignited widespread conversation on social media.

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    Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.