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Circuit court puts final nail in the coffin for Biden’s $500M student loan forgiveness plan

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals put a final end to former President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan on Tuesday.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey originally sued the Biden administration over its $500 million effort to wipe away student loans, known as the SAVE plan. The court’s Tuesday ruling found that Biden’s secretary of education had “gone well beyond this authority by designing a plan where loans are largely forgiven rather than repaid.”

Bailey noted in a statement that the ruling has no active impact beyond blocking future presidents from attempting Biden’s maneuver.

“Though Joe Biden is out of office, this precedent is imperative to ensuring a President cannot force working Americans to foot the bill for someone else’s Ivy League debt,” Bailey said in a statement.

SENATE DEM IN KEY BATTLEGROUND RACE FLIP-FLOPPED ON STUDENT DEBT UNDER BIDEN: NO ‘MAGIC WAND’

Former President Joe Biden’s $500 million student loan forgiveness plan was smacked down for a final time in court on Tuesday. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court of the United States denied the Biden administration’s request to lift a block on the SAVE plan last year. A federal appeals court in Missouri had earlier blocked the entire SAVE program from being enforced while litigation over the merits continues in the lower courts. The Department of Justice, which is part of the Biden administration, most recently asked the high court for emergency relief.

DEM STAFFER BLASTED FOR SPENDING HABITS AFTER GOING VIRAL FOR THANKING BIDEN FOR ERASING $8K STUDENT DEBT

The Biden administration argued the court went too far when it issued a nationwide injunction, which effectively put a temporary freeze on the SAVE plan.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed numerous successful lawsuits against Biden’s student loan forgiveness efforts. (Getty Images)

FEDERAL COURT BACKS MISSOURI AG MOTION TO BLOCK BIDEN’S ‘ILLEGAL’ STUDENT LOAN HANDOUT PLAN

“Our Administration will continue to aggressively defend the SAVE Plan – which has helped over 8 million borrowers access lower monthly payments, including 4.5 million borrowers who have had a zero dollar payment each month,” a White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital at the time. “And, we won’t stop fighting against Republican elected officials’ efforts to raise costs on millions of their own constituents’ student loan payments.”

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked multiple efforts by President Biden to forgive student loans nationwide. (AP Photo)

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Biden introduced SAVE after the Supreme Court struck down his initial student loan forgiveness plan. The White House said that the SAVE plan could lower borrowers’ monthly payments to zero dollars, reduce monthly costs in half and save those who make payments at least $1,000 yearly. Additionally, borrowers with an original balance of $12,000 or less will receive forgiveness of any remaining balance after making 10 years of payments.

Fox News’ Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

Read the full 8th Circuit ruling here:

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.

February 18, 2025
DOGE puts DEI on chopping block with termination of over $370M in education department grants

In just 48 hours, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashed a whopping $370 million in taxpayer dollars being spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the Department of Education.

DOGE, the newly formed department led by Elon Musk to purge spending by the federal government, revealed in a post on X that they terminated 70 DEI training grants within the department.

According to DOGE, the grants totaled $373 million.

One grant was reportedly funding training for teachers to “engage in ongoing learning and self-reflection to confront their own biases and racism, and develop asset-based anti-racist mindsets,” the cost-cutting department said.

DOGE SLASHES OVER $100M IN DEI FUNDING AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: ‘WIN FOR EVERY STUDENT’

Elon Musk has been slashing costs at the Department of Education. (Getty Images)

Over the past several weeks, DOGE has announced the canceling of various streams of funding to DEI in education, including $9.7 million for UC Berkeley to develop “a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills.”

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WARNS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST REMOVE DEI POLICIES OR LOSE FEDERAL FUNDING

The latest spending sweep comes just days after DOGE announced the termination of another 89 DOE contracts totaling $881 million, which included more than $100 million in DEI grants.

The Department of Education building is seen on Aug. 21, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

“Hurrah” Heather Higgins, CEO of Independent Women’s Voice, wrote in a post on X in response to the latest DOGE cuts.

The Education Department has been cracking down on DEI practices in education, ordering all 50 state education departments last week to remove DEI policies within 14 days or risk losing federal funding.

President Donald Trump, right, speaks as Elon Musk listens in the Oval Office at the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Alex Brandon)

The letter said the “overt and covert racial discrimination that has become widespread in this nation’s educational institutions” will no longer be tolerated.

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“The law is clear: treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice, or equity is illegal under controlling Supreme Court precedent,” the letter reads.

Fox News’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.

Aubrie Spady is a Writer for Fox News Digital.

February 17, 2025
Homeland Security puts CISA employees on administrative leave, reviews misinformation board

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday that some Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) employees who worked on “mis-, dis-, and malinformation” were put on administrative leave.

In a statement to Scripps News, DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote CISA needs to “refocus on its mission,” starting with election security.

“The agency is undertaking an evaluation of how it has executed its election security mission with a particular focus on any work related to mis-, dis-, and malinformation,” according to the statement.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks to Senior Writer at Politico Magazine Ankush Khardori during Politico’s annual AI and Tech Summit on Sept. 17, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

SPEAKER JOHNSON RIPS ‘LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ IN BIDEN ADMIN’S HELENE RESPONSE: ‘ALARMED AND DISAPPOINTED’

As first reported by Fox News Digital, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified in April 2022 that the Department of Homeland Security was creating a “Disinformation Governance Board” to combat misinformation ahead of the 2022 midterm election.

During an appearance before the House Appropriations Subcommittee, Mayorkas said a “Disinformation Governance Board” was created to address misinformation campaigns targeting minority communities.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

MAYORKAS RIPS ‘POLITICIZED’ ATMOSPHERE OVER FEMA DISASTER RESPONSE AMID GOP CRITICISM’

While the agency conducts the assessment, personnel who worked on the alleged “mis-, dis-, and malinformation,” as well as foreign influence operations and disinformation, will remain on administrative leave, according to the statement.

The board was allegedly led by Undersecretary for Policy Rob Silvers, co-chair with principal deputy general counsel Jennifer Gaskill.

Nina Jankowicz, who previously served as a disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center, reportedly served as executive director, Politico reported.

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Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.

Alexandra Koch is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Prior to joining Fox News, Alexandra covered breaking news, crime, religion, and the military in the southeast.

February 12, 2025
Trader Joe’s puts cap on how many eggs shoppers can buy

National Restaurant Association president Michelle Korsmo unpacks the cost of eggs on ‘The Claman Countdown.’

Trader Joe’s is putting a cap on how many eggs its shoppers can purchase each day.

The company told FOX Business on Monday that it is “currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer, per day.”

That cap applies to eggs at every Trader Joe’s grocery store in the U.S., according to the company. It operates hundreds of stores nationwide.

Trader Joe’s cited “ongoing issues with the supply of eggs” as the reason for the daily limit.

The Trader Joe’s in Shoreview, Minnesota. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via / Getty Images)

WAFFLE HOUSE, OTHER COMPANIES ADD EGG SURCHARGE AMID SHORTAGE

Eggs have been in short supply in the U.S. due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), known as bird flu.

“We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s,” the grocer said.

Eggs have been in short supply in the U.S. due to outbreaks of bird flu. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

A report published by the Agriculture Department late last week said shell egg availability “remains limited and inconsistent in many retail markets with many affected grocers employing steps to limit consumer purchasing to stretch their existing supplies.” Actions grocers have been taking include curbing promotional activities on eggs, implementing caps on the number of eggs consumers can buy at a time, and “holding prices at record or near-record highs to dampen demand,” according to the report.

EGG SHORTAGES FORCE SOME GROCERY STORES TO IMPOSE LIMITS

Bird flu has contributed to high egg prices in grocery stores in addition to shortages.

In the U.S., a dozen large Grade A eggs averaged $4.15 in December, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed. That marked a 13.7 % jump from the previous month.

More than two-thirds of surveyed shoppers said they pick up eggs from retailers on a weekly basis. ( / iStock)

A Numerator survey released in late January found 71% of U.S. egg shoppers thought eggs were “somewhat or very” pricey. More than half have recently experienced their grocery stores having a shortage of eggs or being completely out of stock, it showed.

EGG PRICES AREN’T COMING DOWN ANYTIME SOON, EXPERTS SAY

More than one-third of surveyed egg shoppers said they pick up eggs from retailers on a weekly basis. The same percentage – 34% – reported buying them “every couple of weeks,” according to Numerator.

February 10, 2025
Federal prosecutor puts potential DOGE sabotage on notice with threat of ‘any and all legal action’

Newly-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin published a letter vowing to hold to account those who try to sabotage efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to clean the federal government of overspending and corruption.

“I recognize that some of the staff at DOGE have been targeted publicly,” Martin wrote to Elon Musk in a letter, which Martin posted to his X account Monday. “At this time, I ask that you utilize me and my staff to assist in protecting the DOGE work and the DOGE workers. Any threats, confrontations or other actions in any way that impact their work may break numerous laws.”

“Let me assure you of this: We will pursue any and all legal action against anyone who impedes your work or threatens your people,” he continued. “We will not act like the previous administration who looked the other way as the Antifa and BLM rioters as well as thugs with guns trashed our capital city. We will protect DOGE and other workers no matter what.”

Martin previously worked as a defense attorney, including representing three men charged in the Jan. 6 protests, when President Donald Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in 2021.

Trump granted clemency to more than 1,500 Jan. 6, 2021 criminal defendants upon taking office in January.

ELON MUSK DUNKS ON SEN CHUCK SCHUMER, DECLARING ‘HYSTERICAL REACTIONS’ DEMONSTRATE DOGE’S IMPORTANCE

Newly-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin, inset, published a letter vowing to hold to account those who try to sabotage efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. (Chesnot/Getty Images )

Trump appointed Martin the interim United States attorney for Washington, D.C., shortly following his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Martin’s letter comes as Musk takes a hatchet to government agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to rid the departments of what the administration has described as corruption and overspending.

RUBIO SAYS ‘NO CHOICE’ BUT TO BRING USAID ‘UNDER CONTROL’ AFTER AGENCY TAKEOVER: ‘RANK INSUBORDINATION’

News reports spread this week that Musk’s DOGE team includes a group of college-age engineers to help dismantle government overspending and reported corruption, which has sparked some on social media to attack the team, including threatening to dox them, according to a review of some reactions online.

News reports spread this week that the DOGE team, led by Elon Musk, includes a group of college-age engineers to help dismantle government overspending and reported corruption. ( Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Martin noted in his Monday public letter that he worked with the DOGE team “this weekend,” while warning that “we must keep all our American government employees safe and we must protect the American people’s property.”

“One last warning to you,” Martin wrote in the conclusion of his letter to Musk. “Late last week, we indicted an economist who worked for the Fed for economic espionage for the Communist Chinese. Please be very aware that there are those who are acting against our American people in every way. Refer to us any questionable conduct or details that you find or notice.”

USAID CLOSES HQ TO STAFFERS MONDAY AS MUSK SAYS TRUMP SUPPORTS SHUTTING AGENCY DOWN

USAID’s fate is hanging in the balance as Musk went on a warpath against the independent government agency as a “viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America.” On Monday morning, hundreds of USAID employees reported they were locked out of the agency’s computer system and that its headquarters in Washington, D.C., was closed.

Elon Musk, left, announced in an audio-only message on X overnight on Sunday that “we’re in the process” of “shutting down USAID” and that President Donald Trump reportedly agreed to shutter the agency. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

MUSK RIPS ‘FRAUDULENT’ TREASURY HANDOUTS AS REPORTS MOUNT DOGE HAS ACCESS TO FEDERAL PAYMENT SYSTEM

Musk announced in an audio-only message on X overnight on Sunday that “we’re in the process” of “shutting down USAID” and that Trump reportedly agreed to shutter the agency.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that he is now serving as acting director of the agency and outlined that its policies need to shift to fall in line with Trump’s “America First” mission.

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“USAID is not functioning. It has to be aligned with U.S. policy,” he told reporters while in El Salvador. “It needs to be aligned with the national interest of the U.S. They’re not a global charity. These are taxpayer dollars. People are asking simple questions. What are they doing with the money? We are spending taxpayers’ money. We owe the taxpayers assurances that it furthers our national interest.”

February 4, 2025
Expert puts onus on FAA for American Airlines, helicopter crash: ‘Bad management’ is ‘putting us at risk’

Boyd Group International President and aviation expert Mike Boyd discusses the FAA’s role in the plane crash near Reagan National Airport as the investigation transitions into a recovery mission.

As more than 60 people are feared dead following a tragic midair plane collision over Ronald Reagan National Airport, one aviation expert is sending a “wake-up call” to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“It’s our system that is bad and that’s what has to be looked at. To be honest with you… we need to take a bulldozer to the front of the FAA. This is bad management, and it’s putting us at risk,” Boyd Group International President Mike Boyd said in reaction on “Mornings with Maria,” Thursday.

“This is a problem we have with air traffic control. Mr. Duffy has to do something about this,” he continued. “We messed around with air traffic control for 30 years. Now we have deaths in the Potomac because of it. So this is a wake-up call for the new administration, which means, fix the FAA and fix it soon before more people die.”

An American Airlines plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter outside Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening. Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter and a massive search and recovery operation is now unfolding in the Potomac River.

AMERICAN AIRLINES C.E.O. SAYS COMPANY IS FOCUSED ON NEEDS OF PASSENGERS, FAMILIES AND CREW AFTER MIDAIR COLLISION

John Donnelly, chief of the District of Columbia Fire Department, said Thursday that “we don’t think there are any survivors from this accident,” adding that at least 27 bodies have been recovered.

A helicopter flies near the crash site of the American Airlines plane on the Potomac River after the plane crashed on approach to Reagan National Airport on January 30, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. (Getty Images)

The Army told Fox News Digital that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was “from Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir” and was conducting a “training flight.” They were a “fairly experienced” crew and reportedly had night vision googles aboard the helicopter.

As federal investigators prepare to review communications between the two aircraft, Boyd expanded on how the FAA holds the majority of responsibility for the crash.

“We had two flying machines run into each other over the Potomac. That is the FAA’s job to avoid those things,” he argued. “We have all kinds of human issues here. But the fact is, we’ve had near-miss after near-miss for the past 20 years. Now we’ve had a collision. The collision is the responsibility of the FAA and the air traffic control system. Somebody failed.”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy provides details during an update on the midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Helicopter.

“There was a major failure here, and that helicopter shouldn’t have been there. The airplane should have, but not the helicopter.”

Newly-appointed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in a Thursday morning press conference that both the American Airlines plane and Army helicopter were in a “standard flight pattern” when they collided in midair. Duffy also told reporters: “Do I think this was preventable? Absolutely.”

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Aviation expert Captain Mike Coffield breaks down the response process and investigation following a midair collision between a regional airline jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.

“Something was wrong with the system, and that means people died because of it. Which means Mr. Duffy has to turn around and say, ‘Something was really wrong here. We have to change it and change it right now,’” Boyd said.

“I fear he’s just going to warm that seat like his predecessors did. And I hope I’m real wrong. But he never even mentioned that at his hearings. He never said anything about the dangers in air traffic control or other things. So this is a wake-up call for the Trump administration.”

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Fox News staff contributed to this report.

January 30, 2025
Fox News Sports: Super Bowl rematch with Eagles puts Chiefs on the brink of history

A Wilson official Duke football with Super Bowl 59 LIX logo at the Super Bowl Host Committee Handoff press conference at the Super Bowl LVIII media center at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center on Feb. 12, 2024. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Welcome to the Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.

BRINK OF HISTORY – Patrick Mahomes shares his thoughts about the opportunity to make history, as the Kansas City Chiefs pursue an unprecedented three consecutive Super Bowl title. Continue reading …

TRAGEDY – A Philadelphia Eagles fan who celebrated the team’s NFC Championship win and Super Bowl LIX clinch, later died after sustaining injuries after falling from a light pole. Continue reading …

BIG GAME VIEWING GUIDE – Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX, with Kevin Burkhardt doing play-by-play and Tom Brady as the color commentator in his first Super Bowl as a broadcaster. Continue reading …

The Caesars Superdome is being prepared for Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome on January 16, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

THE SWIFT EFFECT – Former NFL star Julian Edelman discussed singer Taylor Swift, who has been a fixture at Kansas City Chiefs games over the past two seasons, during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”Continue reading …

SUSPENDED – A Colorado high school basketball coach was suspended after he was seen hanging up a Palestinian flag, and after he refused to shake hands with the opposing coach following a game against a Jewish school. Continue reading …

STAR ENDORSEMENT – Former tennis player Martina Navratilova publicly backed former British Olympic champion Sebastian Coe, who she hopes is eventually named the president of the International Olympics Committee (IOC). Continue reading …

STREAM TUBI – The entire Super Bowl LIX, including pre-game, Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, and post-game shows will be available to stream for free on Tubi. Fans just need to complete a hassle-free, no-cost registration. Continue reading …

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

FROM FOX SPORTS – Former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy became the latest person to withdraw from consideration for the New Orleans Saints vacancy. Continue reading …

FROM OUTKICK – The Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer, but team owner Jerry Jones flirted with the idea of bringing in Deion Sanders. The billionaire later shared details of the conversation he had with Sanders during the hiring process. Continue reading …

WATCH NOW – FOX Sports’ LeSean McCoy discusses whether this season’s Kansas City Chiefs squad is the best version of the reigning champs or not. Watch here …

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

January 29, 2025
Padres owner puts blame for not signing star pitcher Roki Sasaki on lawsuit by widow of deceased former owner

San Diego Padres owners Matthew and Robert Seidler, the brother of deceased former owner Peter Seidler, has responded to a lawsuit filed by Peter’s widow, Sheel Kamal Seidler, who is suing for ownership of the team.

Matthew and Robert’s attorney provided the response to Fox News Digital, and it suggests blame on Sheel’s lawsuit for the team’ inability to sign Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki this offseason. Sasaki signed with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers after reportedly engaging in heavy discussions with the Padres for weeks.

“During a crucial time when Padres management was in late negotiation stages with a star pitcher, Sheel’s lawsuit recklessly suggested that Matt and his brothers were plotting to relocate the Padres elsewhere,” the response, which was filed in the Texas Probate Court on Monday, read.

Sasaki himself said that one of the reason he chose to sign with the Dodgers was because of the organization’s stability, at his introductory press conference last week.

“The No. 1 thing that stood out [about the Dodgers] was the stability of the front office,” the pitcher said via a translator.

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) speaks during an introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

Sheel filed her lawsuit against her brothers-in-law in early January in attempt to seize control of the team from them for her children.

The widow alleged in her complaint that Peter, before his death, revealed his dying wish was for her to take control of the Padres, followed by their children, and that her children hold the largest stake in ownership. She adds that Peter’s two brothers, Matt and Bob, “are trying to erase Peter’s vision and legacy, as well as falsely cast themselves as Peter’s true heirs.”

The suit also alleges that Bob’s wife made multiple “racist, profane and hateful communications directed at Sheel—a woman of Indian descent—in communications.”

Matt and Robert’s response, they claim that Peter never designated Sheel as the successor to the team during his life.

“Peter could have chosen to (a) give Sheel the right to be, designate, or approve the individual that controls the Padres, (b) give Sheel direct ownership or control over the Trust’s interest in the Padres, (c) give Sheel the right to approve or veto any transactions by the Trustees, or (d) require the Trustee to make any principal distribution that Sheel demands,” the response read.

The response claims Peter amended his trust at least seven times after their marriage and never named Sheel a successor trustee in any version and that she was precluded from “ever serving as a successor trustee under any circumstance.”

The response also claims that Peter said during his life that he wanted his siblings and niece to take control of the team after his death.

METS GREAT DAVID WRIGHT OFFERS ADVICE TO PETE ALONSO AS THE FIRST BASEMAN REMAINS UNSIGNED IN FREE AGENCY

The San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler looks on prior to the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium on April 29, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

“Peter had numerous conversations with his siblings and others about successor Control Persons and consistently identified five Seidler family members as candidates: Bob, Matt, John, his brother Tom (who has a 30+ year career in baseball, including 12 years with the Padres), and his niece, Monica,” it read.

“In none of these conversations did Peter ever suggest or even imply that he wanted Sheel to run the Padres. As Peter told people close to him, he moved his family to Texas in 2021 in significant part because he wanted to ‘take pressure off Sheel and the kids’ and to ‘get Sheel out of the limelight.’ Peter knew all too well the potential effects of media attention, as well as the other pressures, stresses, and demands that come with owning a sports franchise.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to Sheel for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.

Peter died in November 2023 at the age of 63. He had been ill for months, though it has not been disclosed what exactly he’d been dealing with. Seidler is a cancer survivor who had health issues for quite some time.

He said in July 2023 that the Padres would stay within his family for generations after he passed away.

Peter was the founder of Seidler Equity Partners, which was a key piece of the group that purchased the Padres in 2012. Seidler’s uncle, also named Peter, and Ron Fowler were a part of the group, too.

The name of the group derives from Seidler’s grandfather, Walter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers from 1950, when they first relocated from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, until 1979. Fowler transferred the role of chairman to Seidler in 2020, and then Seidler purchased part of Fowler’s stake in the organization to become the team’s largest stakeholder.

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A general view during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 27, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images)

Prior to his death, he dealt out a series of high-cost contracts to superstar players in an effort to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West division and win a World Series.

These contracts include Manny Machado’s $350 million deal, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million deal, Xander Bogaertz $280 million deal, and Yu Darvish’s $108 million deal.

The team was never able to reach the World Series, but they did defeat the rival Dodgers in playoff series in 2021 and 2022.

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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.

January 28, 2025
Trump’s federal DEI purge puts hundreds on leave, nixes $420M in contracts

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s executive order terminating all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs has already sidelined 395 government bureaucrats, a senior administration official told Fox News Digital.

Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed up by Elon Musk, wrote on X Friday that approximately $420 million in current/impending contracts, mainly focused on DEI initiatives, had also been canceled.

After Trump signed the order on the day of his inauguration, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) notified heads of agencies and departments that they must begin taking steps to close all DEI offices by the end of the day Wednesday, and place government workers in those offices on paid leave. It is not yet clear when or if they will be terminated.

ATF ACCUSED OF ‘CIRCUMVENTING’ TRUMP ORDER TO PLACE DEI STAFF ON PAID LEAVE

President Trump’s executive order terminating all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government has left 395 workers on paid leave, a senior administration official told Fox News Digital on Saturday. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management Charles Ezell sent a memo to heads and acting heads of departments and agencies on Tuesday evening directing them that by the end of business on Jan. 22, they were to inform all agency employees of the DEI shutdown. In addition, they were instructed to tell workers directly involved in DEI they were being placed on paid leave immediately, take down all DEI-related websites and social media accounts, cancel any related contracts or training, and ask employees to report any efforts to disguise DEI programs by using coded or imprecise language.

The memo also directed the heads of agencies and departments that by noon on Jan. 23, they were to provide OPM with lists of all DEI offices, employees, and related contracts in effect as of Nov. 5, 2024.

By Friday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m., agency heads were required to submit to OPM a written plan for executing a reduction-in-force action regarding DEI employees and a list of all contract descriptions or personnel position descriptions that were changed since Nov. 5, 2024, to obscure their connection to DEI programs.

After Trump signed the order on the day of his inauguration, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) notified heads of agencies and departments that they must begin taking steps to close all DEI offices by the end of the day on Wednesday, and place government workers in those offices on paid leave. (Fox News Digital-Hannah Grossman)

3 IN 10 VOTERS THINK ENDING DEI PROGRAMS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, POLL SHOWS, AS FEDERAL DEADLINE LOOMS

The executive order was among dozens Trump signed on his first day in office, including the government only recognizing two genders and withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement.

He also issued two other executive actions on Tuesday targeting DEI – an executive order to end discrimination in the workplace and higher education through race and sex-based preferences under the guise of DEI and a memo to eliminate a Biden administration policy that prioritized DEI hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said it had canceled around $420 million in DEI-related contracts this week. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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Trump’s Monday executive order rescinded President Joe Biden’s one on promoting diversity initiatives, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” which he signed on his first day in office.

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Landon Mion contributed to this report.

January 26, 2025
PepsiCo puts out ‘viewpoint neutral’ media-buying and content policy on website

Panelists Jack Hough, Megan Leonhardt and Andrew Bary discuss quantum computing and top stock picks on ‘Barron’s Roundtable.’

PepsiCo, which also operates Frito Lay and Quaker Oats, has issued a policy on its site declaring viewpoint neutrality in its media-buying and content policies.

“PepsiCo’s media-buying and content policies are audience-centric, aiming to reach all consumers authentically, and are viewpoint neutral with respect to political or religious status or views,” the policy reads on the food and beverage giant’s website.

Ticker Security Last Change Change %

PEP PEPSICO INC. 148.62 +0.53 +0.36%

According to an email shared with Fox News Digital, PepsiCo added the language to its site after Alliance Defending Freedom filed a resolution on behalf of a shareholder at PepsiCo.

CONSERVATIVES REJOICE OVER ‘JAW DROPPING’ META CENSORSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT: ‘HUGE WIN FOR FREE SPEECH’

ADF had alleged in the shareholder resolution that through its time in Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM), PepsiCo “colluded with the world’s largest advertising buyers, agencies, industry associations and social media platforms in order to demonetize platforms, podcasts, news outlets and others who expressed unfavorable political and religious viewpoints.”

“This is a big win when it comes to shareholders engaging and trying to hold corporations accountable for censorship,” ADF SVP of Corporate Engagement Jeremy Tedesco told Fox News Digital.

GARM was formed by the World Federation of Advertisers in 2019 as a “global collaboration with agencies, media companies and platforms” to “improve digital safety.”

PepsiCo did not respond to requests for comment.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 08: Pepsi products are displayed for sale in a Target store on March 8, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images / Getty Images)

GARM was created under the guise of “brand and digital safety” to “address harmful and misleading media environments” and “identify actions that will better protect consumers online, working towards a media environment where hate speech, bullying and disinformation is challenged.”

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It was discontinued last year after an antitrust lawsuit against it that was led by X owner Elon Musk.

“GARM is a small, not-for-profit initiative, and recent allegations that unfortunately misconstrue its purpose and activities have caused a distraction and significantly drained its resources and finances. GARM therefore is making the difficult decision to discontinue its activities,” the WFA statement about the disbandment read.

January 24, 2025