The LeBron James era in Los Angeles is officially in the rearview mirror, and Luka Doncic wasted no time introducing himself as the new face of the city.
Ahead of Wednesday night's season opener against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers' superstar made an instant impression on everyday fans before even stepping onto the court.
Doncic bought out an entire parking lot outside Crypto.com Arena to give fans free parking and teamed up with Metro Bike Share to hand out free rides across Los Angeles all day long.
If you have ever tried driving into downtown Los Angeles on a game night, you know parking alone can feel like a shakedown.
Dropping 50 bucks just to leave your car on cracked asphalt for three hours is enough to ruin an evening before it even starts.
Anyone hoping Luka's generosity would carry over to the concession stands inside would be sorely disappointed. Free beer is definitely not on the menu, and you are still going to pay 20 dollars for a draft and 10 bucks for a soda once you clear security.
Taking a family of four to a ballgame is still a heavy hit on the bank account. Still, the gesture sends a clear message that this is Luka's team now.
For years, Lakers basketball was the LeBron show, complete with all the celebrity drama, roster turnover, and constant circus that came with it. With James gone, the keys to the most famous franchise in basketball belong entirely to Doncic.
Coming off a frustrating hamstring injury that cut his 2025-26 season short, he enters this fresh campaign with an enormous chip on his shoulder and the weight of 17 championship banners on his back.
Free parking and pedal bikes build quick goodwill, but hanging banner 18 is the only thing that truly matters. Wednesday night against Golden State is just the opening chapter of the Luka era.
Your phone buzzes. Another political text. This time, it's an urgent fundraising appeal claiming a campaign desperately needs your help before midnight. You delete it, block the number and get on with your day. Then tomorrow, another one arrives from a completely different number. Sound familiar? I've been there, and frankly, I'm fed up with it.
On The CyberGuy Report podcast, I sat down with George Weiner, founder of PACspam.org and head of the digital agency Whole Whale. George got so frustrated with the relentless political texts that he created a free tool to help people figure out who's sending them. Our conversation revealed why blocking numbers often gets you nowhere, how political fundraising has become a lucrative business and what you can do to fight back.
Join our upcoming CyberGuy LIVE class: 5 Ways to Travel Smarter and Save Money
In this free live online class, Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson will share five practical ways to protect your trip and your wallet this holiday travel season. You’ll learn how to secure your phone and personal information, find better travel deals, avoid common scams, save money on bookings and use technology to make your travels easier and less stressful. No technical experience is needed.
Join us Saturday, October 31, at 11 AM ET / 8 AM PT. Register free now at CyberGuyLive.com.
Why blocking political text messages doesn't work
You would think blocking a phone number would send a pretty clear message. Apparently, political texting operations don't always take the hint. I asked George why texts from the same political groups kept showing up after I blocked their numbers. "Well, you block one number and you've only blocked one number," Weiner explained.
He introduced me to a technique called snowshoeing, which allows an organization to spread its messages across multiple phone numbers. A single campaign or political action committee (PAC) may use many different numbers to reach the same people. So, even after you block one sender, another number can deliver the next fundraising appeal.
For George, this frustration became personal. As a father of three, he worries about missing an important call from his children's school. "That could be the school, right? That could be an emergency," he explained. Instead, his phone often interrupts him with another fundraising appeal. He tried replying STOP, reporting messages and registering for the National Do Not Call Registry. Yet the interruptions continued. "I have done it all and I still get these messages," Weiner said. That raises a question I've been asking for years. How did these organizations get our phone numbers in the first place?
How political campaigns get your phone number
You might assume a campaign needs your permission before adding your number to its texting list. Unfortunately, political outreach operates under rules that leave plenty of room for unsolicited messages. Weiner explained how phone numbers can circulate through political donor and voter databases. Campaigns may also combine registration information with commercially available data to identify potential supporters. Furthermore, organizations can purchase or exchange contact lists, allowing your information to reach groups you've never heard of.
Voter registration records vary by state, and phone numbers aren't necessarily public in those records. However, organizations can match voter information with other databases to build detailed contact profiles. Political donations can create additional exposure. As we've previously reported, federal political contribution records can reveal personal information, including your name and address when disclosure requirements apply. Once your number enters this fundraising network, tracking every organization that holds it becomes extremely difficult.
The money behind nonstop political fundraising texts
Here's something from my conversation with George that really caught my attention. There's a substantial amount of money flowing through the political texting business, and the people sending these messages have financial reasons to keep doing it. Weiner pointed to approximately $65 million spent on political texting services during the 2024 election cycle, based on his analysis of Federal Election Commission records. He also believes 2026 spending could exceed that amount, although a final election-cycle total isn't yet available.
George also highlighted how much money individual political messaging vendors receive. According to PACspam's analysis of FEC records covering December 2008 through May 2026, reported payments totaled $17 million for Switchboard, $14.4 million for Mothership Strategies and $10.6 million for Message Digital. These figures span multiple election cycles and reflect reported payments to political messaging vendors, which may include services beyond texting.
Why political fundraising texts keep coming
"There is money to be made," Weiner told me. He explained that fundraising operations can keep paying to send messages as long as the donations they generate justify the expense. Even a small percentage of people responding with money can make another round of texts financially worthwhile. Some appeals claim a donation deadline is approaching or suggest a candidate faces an immediate financial emergency. Others use provocative headlines designed to make you react before thinking.
Weiner also raised concerns about how much money some PACs actually direct toward candidates. He pointed to investigations suggesting that certain organizations spend heavily on fundraising while relatively little reaches the candidate being promoted. PACs operate under different rules, however, and not all are established to make direct candidate contributions. That's why it's important to investigate where your donation will go. And this problem crosses political lines. Weiner stressed that organizations associated with different political parties use these tactics. The repeated pleas for money, he believes, can end up alienating the very voters campaigns want to reach. That brings us to an interesting way to investigate who's behind the messages.
How PACspam helps identify who's sending political texts
George created PACspam.org to give people more information about the organizations filling their phones with unsolicited political messages. "Our phones don't have to live like this," Weiner said while explaining why he built the tool. The free service analyzes political fundraising texts and attempts to identify the committee behind them. It can examine fundraising links and use public campaign finance information to help trace the organization responsible. PACspam also helps document complaints and tracks repeat offenders using information connected to FEC-registered committees. Its public leaderboard focuses on texting behavior rather than political affiliation. Meanwhile, its FEC Texting-Spend Explorer lets visitors investigate campaign spending on texting services. In some cases, PACspam can also help identify the texting technology provider that delivered the message. That last part is particularly interesting because those technology companies may serve multiple political organizations.
Rather than contacting only the committee asking for money, Weiner suggests contacting the texting platform when it can be identified. "They do answer," Weiner told me when I asked whether these companies respond to complaints. He described receiving a response from the legal department of a texting provider. That company explained how he could request placement on its own do-not-contact list. The approach could be more useful than blocking one phone number because it targets a provider that may handle messages for multiple political organizations. Still, one company's removal list won't necessarily apply to competing platforms. Of course, results can vary. An organization may use another platform, and some messages don't contain enough information to identify the sender. Still, contacting a texting provider offers another avenue to pursue.
Getting started requires only a political text you've received. Here's what to do.
Visit PACspam.org.
Copy the unwanted political message from your phone. You can also upload a screenshot if you prefer.
Review the message or screenshot for personal details you don't want to share.
Paste the message into the site's lookup tool, or upload your screenshot.
Select Look up sender to analyze the message.
Review any identified committee, fundraising link or texting provider.
Use the generated complaint information to contact the relevant organization through available official channels. You can also review the site's reporting options.
PACspam can prepare complaint information and help document unwanted political messages, but it doesn't automatically send those complaints on your behalf. It also cannot guarantee that your number will disappear from political texting lists. I also asked George an important privacy question. What happens to the information people submit? "We're not collecting your number. I just want that message," he said. According to Weiner, you don't need an account to use PACspam. Whole Whale also says uploaded screenshots are processed and discarded, while personal messages aren't displayed publicly. Those are the service's stated privacy practices, so I still recommend removing identifying details before submitting anything.
Are unsolicited political text messages legal?
Here's where things get frustrating. The Federal Communications Commission treats political texts differently depending on how they're sent. Political messages sent through an automatic telephone dialing system generally require prior express consent before reaching your cellphone. However, messages sent manually through peer-to-peer texting systems can fall outside those restrictions. That helps explain why so many campaign texts can reach people who never specifically requested them.
The National Do Not Call Registry generally doesn't cover political outreach either. So, registering your number may reduce some telemarketing calls without stopping political fundraising appeals. The FCC also says political campaigns should honor opt-out requests when recipients reply STOP. For robotexts covered by federal consent rules, revocation requests must generally be honored within 10 business days. However, an opt-out from one sender won't necessarily remove your number from other political organizations' databases.
5 ways to block political text messages and protect yourself
You may not be able to eliminate every political text, but several steps can reduce the interruptions and help protect your information.
1. Reply STOP when you recognize the sender
If you receive a message from a legitimate political campaign or organization, replying STOP can unsubscribe you from that sender's messages. However, be selective. If the text looks suspicious or contains an unfamiliar fundraising link, avoid responding. Scammers sometimes impersonate political organizations, and engaging with suspicious messages may confirm that your number is active.
2. Turn on spam filtering on your phone
Your smartphone already has tools that can help move unwanted messages out of your main inbox. Here's where to find them.
On iPhone running iOS 27:
Open the Messages app.
Tap the Filters button.
Select Manage Filtering.
Turn on Screen Unknown Senders.
Make sure Filter Spam is enabled.
Unknown senders can move into a separate folder, reducing interruptions. If needed, tap Allow Notifications to choose which categories of unknown messages can still alert you. Availability varies by region.
On Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy using Google Messages:
Open Google Messages.
Tap your profile picture or icon.
Select Messages settings.
Tap Protection & safety.
Select Spam protection.
Turn on Enable spam protection, if available.
Google Messages can flag suspicious texts and move some of them into the Spam & blocked folder. Menu options may vary by device and app version. Remember to review your filtered messages occasionally so important texts don't get overlooked.
Blocking individual numbers can reduce messages from persistent senders, even though other numbers may still get through.
On an iPhone, open the unwanted conversation, tap the sender's icon, select Info and choose Block Contact. On an iPhone, reporting a message as spam doesn't automatically block the sender. You need to block the contact separately if you want messages from that number stopped.
On Google Messages, touch and hold the unwanted conversation, then tap Block. You can also select Report spam before confirming.
4. Report unwanted texts to your carrier and the FCC
You can forward unwanted political texts to 7726, which spells SPAM on a telephone keypad. This alerts your wireless carrier and can help its spam detection efforts. For suspected violations of federal calling or texting rules, you can also submit a complaint through the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. If the text appears to be a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov/. Keep a screenshot of the suspicious message if you may need it for your report.
5. Donate directly and limit your personal data exposure
One of George's strongest recommendations involves political donations. If you want to support a candidate, find that candidate's official website yourself rather than following a link in an unsolicited text. During our interview, George warned that donating through unfamiliar political fundraising texts can encourage additional solicitations. He described how a successful donation might lead organizations to think, "we got one, let's send twice as many messages." His recommendation was straightforward: Give through the candidate's official website instead of an unsolicited fundraising link. That helps you verify who is receiving your money. However, even donating directly can lead to additional campaign messages, so review the site's privacy disclosures and contact preferences.
Additionally, consider limiting how widely your phone number appears online. Data brokers can collect and resell personal information, and removing your details from covered sites may reduce future exposure. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com.
Keep in mind that commercial data removal services cannot erase legally required public campaign finance records. They also can't guarantee removal from every political organization's contact database.
Kurt's key takeaways
What struck me most about my conversation with George is how much money is being made from messages that so many of us desperately want to stop. We block numbers and ask to be removed, yet the texts keep coming. And the organizations making money from this system have little incentive to change it. I appreciate that George decided to do something about it. His PACspam tool offers a way to investigate who's behind these messages and push back through official complaint channels. I'd love to see political organizations become more accountable for how they use our personal information. After all, supporting a candidate shouldn't mean giving every fundraising operation unlimited access to your phone. Want to hear exactly how George is fighting back? Listen to my full interview with George Weiner on The CyberGuy Report podcast. We dig deeper into the political texting business, the companies behind it and what you can do when blocking numbers fails. And if you're ready to reduce even more unwanted messages, head to CyberGuyLive.com for my free Sick of Spam? class replay. You'll get practical advice for reducing robocalls, unwanted texts and junk email, along with a free spam-stopping checklist.
Should political campaigns have to get your permission before sending fundraising texts, and should the companies profiting from those messages face consequences when you repeatedly ask them to stop? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Newsletter
Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com –trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
Plus, you'll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.
"Law enforcement certainly needed to do a better job as to describing why these charges haven't been filed," says Jamie Copenhaver.
Copenhaver, a former sheriff's detective in Florida who worked with an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, is curious as to why law enforcement has been tight-lipped about the lack of charges in the horrific Kansas soccer field crash.
A mother walked away with no charges after investigators say she drove onto the active field at Stryker Sports Complex where children and families were present — killing two and injuring several others.
It happened on Saturday; Cole Adrian, 6, and Nicholas Schafer, 35, who were both from McPherson, were killed. The woman behind the wheel was released after being interviewed by investigators that day.
Wichita Police said she was released "pending the results of toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the vehicle."
Police said in a statement Tuesday that they have interviewed nearly 50 witnesses, with more interviews ongoing.
"Investigators are also inspecting the truck, analyzing available vehicle data and continuing investigative work at Stryker Sports Complex," police said. "They are working closely with the Regional Forensic Science Center and awaiting official, peer-reviewed toxicology results."
The driver remained at the scene and has been cooperative, they said.
"Based on the information available Sunday morning, and after consultation with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, investigators did not have probable cause to arrest the driver. She was released, and the investigation remains ongoing. Her release does not represent a final determination about whether criminal charges are appropriate."
"We know that this case has captured the attention of people all over the country, and many of those people have strong opinions about the incident even though they do not have direct knowledge of what occurred," Chief Joe Sullivan said. "We recognize that the decision the law and constitution required us to make on Sunday morning may not be popular. We swear an oath to support the laws of the State of Kansas and the Constitution of the United States and no one in the Wichita Police Department takes that oath for granted."
The driver had a valid driver’s license and no outstanding arrest warrants, police said.
They dispelled rumors circulating online, noting that the driver is not in the country illegally, has no documented criminal history, and no association with the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office or any other law enforcement agency.
Andrew Ford, a spokesperson for the Wichita Police Department, told TMZ that the driver was interviewed for several hours after the crash. He said she answered questions about what happened, according to the outlet.
Ford told TMZ that police are investigating all possibilities about why this happened, including whether speeding, mechanical failure, or drugs or alcohol played a factor.
Wichita police could not immediately be reached for comment.
Did the driver suffer a medical emergency?
No information on the driver's medical condition at the time of the crash has been released.
Copenhaver said it may be necessary for law enforcement to release information on the woman's physical health condition at the time of the incident to "prevent conspiracy theories."
"People need to know a little bit more transparency as to why this may have occurred," he said.
Did her vehicle malfunction?
Police said that the black pickup truck involved in the incident was going to undergo mechanical testing. Copenhaver said the black box will be able to give a better idea of whether something went mechanically wrong before the deadly crash.
He said the data will reveal possible "contributing factors" like speed, whether she hit the brakes, timing of the braking and how far the vehicle may have skidded.
"It doesn't take that long, in my opinion, to download that data, have one of their experts go over it," he said.
Copenhaver went on to say, "If there's an issue with that truck, that computer is going to alert the examiner or the expert that's looking at this data."
"If it's alcohol-related, they're going to know instantaneously," he said.
He added, "Once that blood draw is taken, once it's ran through the machines [investigators] will be able to tell you if an individual is under the influence of alcohol."
He said testing for other substances like hard drugs or medications can take significantly longer. Those require "specialty testing," he said.
There is also a possibility that the woman may have been taking prescription medication, which could have impacted her driving, he said.
Testing for that is "longer than that normal blood draw," he said.
In a statement sent to Fox News Digital, the Wichita Police Department shot down questions circulating on social media about whether there was a law enforcement connection.
"The Wichita Police Department is aware of false information circulating on social media regarding this investigation, including a rumor alleging that a Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office deputy was involved," the department said in part. "The Sheriff's Office has publicly addressed that allegation and identified it as false."
The department went on to say, "We ask everyone to be responsible with what they share, consider the harm misinformation can cause and allow investigators to do their work based on facts and evidence, not speculation."
When asked by Fox News Digital about allegations of the driver's possible connection to law enforcement, the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office referred questions to the Wichita Police Department.
Nicolas Cage looks a bit unrecognizable in the upcoming movie "Best Pancakes in the County."
Cage is one of the most recognizable faces in America, and he's had a crazy career in cinema. The man is responsible for mega-hits, such as "National Treasure," "The Rock," "Face/Off," "Con Air" and "Gone in 60 Seconds."
However, his career eventually took a dip amid financial issues before he was able to surge back.
That now includes a new film where his appearance might have people doing a double take.
Nicolas Cage displays new look in 'Best Pancakes in the County' preview
The preview for "Best Pancakes in the County" was released Monday, and the plot is described as, "After a botched FBI heist, a cunning criminal returns to a remote diner where rival assassins, corrupt agents and an underestimated waitress collide in a deadly confrontation."
Cage is joined in the cast by Justin Long, Shelley Hennig, Lauren German and Ravi Patel.
While the plot details are certainly interesting, it's Cage's appearance that might draw the most attention. It appears he's wearing a prosthetic nose and heavy face-altering makeup.
Check it out below, and let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
The top comment on the trailer on YouTube states, "Nic Cage just being Nic Cage is the BEST Nic Cage for the movies!"
That more or less sums it up. Nic Cage is at his best as an actor when you just cut him loose and let him lean into a wacky character.
Will it be good? Your guess is as good as mine, but there's no question Cage appears to be leaning into his old-school vibes. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.
Images show diplomat on the ground, damage to vehicle; IDF condemns 'severe' attack, says diplomatic delegation didn't coordinate Taybeh visit as police launch probe; settlers said to kill around 20 sheep in Palestinian village
Login
