The chaos engulfing France is a preview of what Democrats want for America, Sen. Eric Schmitt warned, contrasting the unrest with new manufacturing jobs and a federal crime crackdown in Missouri that he credits to cooperation with the Trump administration.

"You see what’s happening in France. That’s exactly what they want here, the DSA Democrats," the Missouri Republican told Fox News Digital.

His warning comes as riots, fires and looting have swept France after protests over rising living costs and strained public services turned violent, prompting curfews in parts of Paris and other cities.

"I think the Democrat Party at this point is sort of post-American and anti-Western civilization," Schmitt said.

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With control of the House "up for grabs," Schmitt argued, Republicans need to make the stakes clear while showing voters what they have delivered.

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Asked what a Democratic House would mean for Trump’s agenda, Schmitt accused Democrats of obstructing Republican efforts on immigration, permitting reform and regulations.

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He warned that Democratic control could jeopardize funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and revive what he described as the political weaponization of government under former President Joe Biden.

But Schmitt also argued Republicans need to give voters a reason to support them, pointing to jobs and public safety as areas where he says cooperation with the Trump administration is paying off.

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In Missouri, he highlighted Boeing’s selection to build the Air Force’s F-47 and the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter as a potentially transformative investment in American manufacturing.

Boeing secured the Navy contract in September after winning the Air Force program last year.

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Schmitt, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the programs would mean 7,000 direct jobs, with additional opportunities for suppliers and surrounding businesses.

"It means that the goal we’ve been fighting for, which is that St. Louis is the defense tech capital of the United States of America, is coming true," he said.

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Schmitt said he worked with Trump and administration officials to help land the programs, describing them as "generational opportunities" for Missouri workers.

"You think of the good-paying jobs that’s going to mean for generations to come, it’s just a game changer," he said.

He also tied the aircraft programs to the broader competition with China, saying the next generation of fighters would help meet military demands in the Pacific.

On public safety, Schmitt pointed to Operation Show Me Justice, an ATF-led enforcement surge that resulted in 435 arrests and the seizure of 166 firearms in St. Louis, according to the Justice Department.

Authorities also seized 81 kilograms of drugs and more than $1.25 million linked to suspected illegal gun and drug transactions during the operation, which officials announced had concluded Oct. 15.

Schmitt said his conversations with administration officials have carried a straightforward request for his hometown.

TRUMP’S LAW-AND-ORDER BLITZ MARKS ONE YEAR WITH EYE-POPPING HAUL OF SUSPECTS, GUNS IN BLUE CITY

"St. Louis, we need your help," he said.

The former Missouri attorney general described the toll of violence on families, including grandparents cleaning up broken glass and parents burying their children.

"We don’t need to accept this," he said. "We just don’t need to accept the idea that violent crime needs to be in the headlines every single day."

He pledged the effort would continue beyond the surge.

"This isn’t a one-and-done deal. There are more resources coming," Schmitt said.

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For families wanting to send children safely to school, visit a park or attend a Cardinals game downtown, he said the goal is a better quality of life.

"I think the message is help is on the way, and there are real tangible results now, not just rhetoric, not just empty promises," Schmitt said.

"We’re not letting up."

Schmitt’s third major priority is modernizing St. Louis Lambert International Airport, an effort he linked to the region’s aerospace growth and aviation history.

His Modern Skies Act would fund improvements to air traffic control technology, towers and airport terminals. He said midsize airports need help securing investments that larger hubs can more readily finance.

"St. Louis is the gateway to the West," he said. "It deserves a world-class airport."

The proposal remains a legislative push rather than a guaranteed funding award for Lambert. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said during an October visit that airport funding would be competitive.

For Schmitt, those priorities form part of the argument Republicans need to make as voters weigh control of Congress.

He cast the election as "common sense versus crazy," but cautioned that Republicans cannot assume their supporters will show up.

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"I just don’t think you can take anything for granted," Schmitt said. "I think we have to fight for every vote and tell an important story."

"I think if we do that, we’re gonna hold on to the Senate, and the House is up for grabs."

The NFL is perfectly comfortable with Steve Tisch continuing his duties as chairman of the New York Giants' board after reviewing his past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"Everything we've looked at we understand," commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday. "I think we're comfortable with him participating as the Giants suggest."

Goodell last January said the NFL would "look at all the facts" to determine whether an deep investigation of Tisch's relationship with Epstein was warranted.

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And since then Tisch has remained front and center in the Giants war room on NFL Draft day in April and at games. He was strolling the halls of the Manhattan hotel where owners and representatives from all 32 teams gathered for the fall league meeting this week.

Tisch and Giants president and chief executive officer John Mara represented the team in the meetings.

So the sordid and scandalous emails released by the Justice Department that showed Epstein connecting Tisch with numerous women passed NFL muster.

NFL RESTARTS SOCIAL JUSTICE MESSAGING WHILE BATTLING DOMESTIC ABUSE, DRUNK DRIVING AND PROSTITUTION ARRESTS

There is no telling if more emails naming Tisch exist or any other ties to the since-deceased Epstein will be uncovered. So Goodell said the league will keep its options open.

"I think always we'll look to see if there's any new information, we'll look at it and we'll evaluate that," Goodell said.

And this feels like the NFL is applying the Jedi mind trick on everyone regarding Tisch.

First, the league seemed concerned about Tisch's ties, which led to Goodell's search for information.

Then Tisch and his siblings (Laurie and Jonathan Tisch) requested to transfer their remaining 23.1% direct ownership stake in the Giants to their children's trusts in March, following prior partial trust transfers completed in 2023 and 2024.

The final transfer was completed by September.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT JED YORK'S ARREST IN A PROSTITUTION STING COME TO LIGHT AND BEGS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 49ERS

And that legal and financial maneuver was used by Goodell to make it seem as if Tisch was out.

"Steve, and John, and Laurie actually did some transactions as part of their estate planning and are no longer owners," Goodell said in March.

Except Tisch wasn't out. Isn't out.

He's very much in the owners' club, as proven by his attendance and participation in their meetings this week.

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And so Tisch's contrite statement in which he regretted his Epstein association seems not quite so meaningful anymore.

"We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy, and investments," Tisch said in that January statement.

"I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with."

All of this is, of course, a rough look for the NFL. It's bad optics.

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Powered by a clear favorability advantage, a large gender gap and voter discontent with both household finances and President Donald Trump, former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown has the edge over appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted in the Ohio Senate race.

A Fox News survey of likely Ohio voters finds Brown leads Husted, 52% to 47%.

Brown’s advantage is anchored by his stronger personal standing, with his favorability rating 2 points above water (50% favorable, 48% unfavorable), while Husted’s rating sits 13 points underwater (42% favorable, 55% unfavorable).

FOX NEWS POLL: COST-OF-LIVING CONCERNS WEIGH ON GOP IN MIDTERMS

More Brown supporters (88%) than Husted backers (83%) say they’re certain of their vote.

FOX NEWS POLL: IT’S A LONE STAR SENATE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TALARICO AND PAXTON

Economic unease creates another headwind for Husted, as about two and a half times as many voters say their financial situation is worse than two years ago rather than better (46% vs. 19%). Those who say things are worse favor Brown by 49 points, while those who say their finances are better or the same favor Husted by 51 and 24 points, respectively.

The president’s standing in Ohio adds to Husted’s difficulties. Trump won the Buckeye State with 55% of the vote in 2024, but just 43% now approve of his job performance. A 57% majority disapproves, with 46% saying they "strongly" disapprove.

Meanwhile, 52% express concern that Husted is too close to Trump, including 38% who are extremely concerned. Brown faces similar concerns about being too liberal, as 50% are worried, though fewer, 30%, are extremely concerned.

In the matchup, women favor Brown by 14 points, while men support Husted by 4, an 18-point gender gap. Brown also has advantages among voters under 35, voters with a college degree, union voters, and those living in urban and suburban areas. Husted relies on rural communities, non-college White men, married voters, and has a narrow edge among those ages 65 and up.

Partisan crossovers further tilt the field toward the challenger. While Husted receives 90% of Republicans, 9% cross over to back Brown. Some 97% of Democrats support Brown, while just 2% choose Husted — and Brown carries independents by nearly two to one.

Voters who view both Senate candidates unfavorably prefer Husted by nearly 20 points.

Brown is up by 9 points among those who are extremely interested in the election and leads by 29 points among the 15% of Ohioans who say they have already voted.

Legislative preference tilts toward the Democrats, with Ohioans dividing 50% for Democratic control of the U.S. Senate and 48% for Republican control.

In the governor's contest, likely voters favor Democrat Amy Acton over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy by 50% to 48%. Women favor Acton by 10 points, while men back Ramaswamy by 7, a nearly identical gender gap to the Senate race.

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE

Ticket splitting goes in both directions: 8% of Brown supporters cross over to Ramaswamy, while 6% of Husted supporters back Acton.

The survey was completed before a negative television ad from Ramaswamy’s campaign, featuring Acton’s estranged mother, became public.

Conducted October 15-19, 2026, under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 2,005 Ohio registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (219) and cellphones (1,306) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (480). Results based on the registered voter sample have a margin of sampling error of ±2 percentage points and for the subsample of 1,592 likely voters it is ±2 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Likely voters are based on a probabilistic statistical model that relies on past vote history, interest in the current election, intention to vote, age, education, race, ethnicity, and marital status. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. 

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

Texas hasn’t gone blue in a statewide race in more than 30 years, but that streak could face a serious test this year. A new Fox News poll finds that while Texas likely voters favor Republicans retaining control of the U.S. Senate and give incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott an edge in his re-election bid, the Senate race remains deadlocked.

The survey, released Wednesday, finds Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton tied at 49% each among Texas likely voters in the race to replace Sen. John Cornyn, who lost the GOP primary to President Trump-backed Paxton.

Last month, Talarico was up by 2 points among likely voters (51%-49%). The shift to a tie reflects Paxton consolidating support among conservatives, rural voters, suburban women and voters who backed Cornyn in the primary.

FOX NEWS POLL: TUREK, HINSON IN CLOSE IOWA SENATE RACE

Although Paxton is falling short of Trump’s 2024 margins, he has strengthened his support a tad among both men (+1) and women (+1) since September, while Talarico slightly lost support (-1 and -2, respectively).

Talarico leads by wide margins among Black voters (+65 points), urban voters (+29), those under age 30 (+28), and women with a college degree (+23). Paxton’s strongest groups include White evangelical Christians (+52), White men without a college degree (+32), rural voters (+21) and those age 65 and up (+18).

The survey finds Hispanic voters swinging back toward the Democrats. After backing former President Joe Biden by 25 points in 2020, they favored Trump by 1 point in 2024, according to the Texas Fox News Voter Analysis. This key voting bloc now favors Talarico by 30 points (64%-34%) and prefers Democratic control of the U.S. Senate by 29 points.

Overall, when it comes to Senate control, Texans choose Republicans by 4 points (51% to 47%), up from +1 point in September.

Talarico’s stronger party loyalty is another reason the race is close: 98% of Democrats support him, compared with 90% of Republicans supporting Paxton. Nearly 3 in 10 non-MAGA Republicans cross party lines to back Talarico.

FOX NEWS POLL: COST-OF-LIVING CONCERNS WEIGH ON GOP IN MIDTERMS

Democrats also retain an enthusiasm edge: 69% are extremely interested in this year’s election, compared with 61% of Republicans. Extremely interested voters back Talarico by 7 points.

"The race is going to come down to two basic questions," says Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps conduct the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. "Do disaffected Republicans show up and, if so, do they grit their teeth and vote for a candidate who they have serious reservations about?"

Views of Talarico are net positive, albeit by just 1 point (49% favorable, 48% unfavorable), while Paxton’s ratings are underwater by 17 (41% favorable, 58% unfavorable). Among "double haters," voters who view both candidates negatively, Paxton leads by 50 points.

Voters express similar levels of concern about both candidates: 53% worry Talarico’s positions are too liberal, while 50% are concerned Paxton is too close to Trump. The intensity of these concerns is nearly identical, with 36% extremely concerned about Talarico and 37% about Paxton.

In 2024, Trump won the Lone Star State by nearly 14 points, but his job rating is currently underwater by 9 points (45% approve, 54% disapprove). Still, Paxton draws support from 13% of voters who disapprove of Trump, while 6% of Trump approvers back Talarico.

When it comes to their personal finances, more than twice as many voters say they are worse off (43%) than better off (20%) compared with two years ago; 36% say they are about the same.

Voters who are worse off back Talarico by 45 points, while those who are better off (+49) or about the same (+26) favor Paxton.

The governor’s race gives Republicans more breathing room: Abbott edges his Democratic challenger, Gina Hinojosa, by 5 points (52% to 47%), unchanged since September.

Abbott has a positive job rating (50% approve, 48% disapprove), and nearly all who approve support him in the race, as do 9% of those who disapprove.

CLICK HERE FOR CROSSTABS AND TOPLINE

Abbott also benefits from slightly stronger party loyalty and more ticket-splitting among Talarico supporters: 7% support Abbott, compared with 2% of Paxton supporters who back Hinojosa.

Conducted October 15-19, 2026, under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 2,011 Texas registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (205) and cellphones (1,303) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (503). Results based on the registered voter sample have a margin of sampling error of ±2 percentage points, and for the subsample of 1,398 likely voters it is ±2.5 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling errors, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Likely voters are based on a probabilistic statistical model that relies on past vote history, interest in the current election, intention to vote, age, education, race, ethnicity and marital status. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100.

Vice President JD Vance sharply called out WNBA players in the league finals over skipping the national anthem during an interview Wednesday, calling them "disgraceful."

Players from both the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries have left the court during the national anthem before the first two games of the WNBA Finals, despite a rule in the league’s own rulebook specifically calling for players to stand and line up during the performance.

"I think it's disgraceful," Vance told host Raymond Arroyo on "Arroyo Grande." "I think that you should not express some criticism of a public policy of a given politician by disrespecting the country writ large. I mean, those women who play for the WNBA, think of the public safety, think of the incredible wealth and privilege, the amazing jobs that they have. They have a lot to be grateful to the United States for, and I think that if they had a bit more of a spirit of gratitude, they'd be happier people, and they wouldn't offend so many people as well."

Vance also appeared to cite Saint Augustine’s idea of Ordo Amoris, a concept from Catholic thought that Vance cited in 2025 to defend administration deportation policies.

NBA STAYS SILENT ON WNBA FINALS TEAMS SKIPPING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE GAMES 1 AND 2

"I've gotten some trouble talking about this, but I'll just talk about it again," Vance said. "One of the ways I understand the Catholic understanding is that we have various orders of duty, and you know, our closest and most immediate duty, of course, is to our family and to the people in our immediate circle. But we, of course, owe duties to the entire world. We owe duties to the stranger. But I also think a good and coherent understanding of the Christian self is that you are part of a national community."

He added, "Whether you were born in the United States or whether you came here by choice, this is your country. And I think that we're all meant to love it. We're all meant to try to make it the best version of itself. But fundamentally, I think, without love of country, I think that you're going to be a disordered human being."

Fox News Digital spoke to veteran GOP strategist Mary Marslender, who argued, like Vance, that the basketball players lack perspective on how great it is to live in the United States.

OUTKICK READERS BLAST WNBA PLAYERS FOR HIDING DURING FINALS NATIONAL ANTHEM

"The WNBA players are treating a country that has given them extraordinary privileges as if it were an oppressor, while ignoring that American women enjoy rights and opportunities that remain rare or nonexistent for most women elsewhere," she said. "They seem to forget that a league like the WNBA exists and its players can publicly dissent without fear of state reprisal solely because of these rights and opportunities. If these activists hate this country that much, they are free to leave it. The rest of us are done with this disrespect."

Fox News Digital reached out to the WNBA, as well as the Women's National Basketball Players Association, and did not receive an immediate reply.

OutKick's Dan Zaksheske contributed to this report.

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Retired NFL linebacker Brandon Spikes has had an interesting football journey.

The former five-star prospect from Shelby, North Carolina committed to Florida out of high school and was a part of the loaded 2006 recruiting class that featured himself as well as college football legends Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin.

After a decorated college career which included two All-American selections and two national championships, Spikes was drafted late in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, where he spent five of his seven seasons in the league.

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The dream for every young man growing up playing football is to ultimately hear their name called by the commissioner of the NFL on draft day, but Spikes claims he had to make some personal (and financial) sacrifices before going pro.

As a guest on the popular "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, the former Patriots linebacker revealed he wasn't exactly hurting for money while in college.

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"To be honest, I took a f—ing pay cut when I left 'Gainesvegas,'" Spikes said when asked about how much money he made while playing for the Gators.

Mind you, this was pre-NIL, so anything Spikes earned was all under the table at the time.

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While his response elicited a laugh from both Will Compton and Taylor Lewan, who were high-level college players in their own right, Spikes was mostly being tongue-in-cheek with his answer.

He did, however, reveal the numbers were a lot closer when factoring in Uncle Sam, referring to Massachusetts as "Taxachusetts" due to the high income taxes he incurred while playing for New England.

"You played in Foxborough," Spikes asked. "That check looks a little bit different when you walk up out of there."

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When asked by Compton whether he cleared seven-figures while wearing orange and blue, Spikes denied it, playing it coy before adding that the university found a way to move his mom down to Florida while he was playing for the Gators.

"Those same home-cooked meals I got my whole life, I got those right there in Gainesville," he joked.

If you are one of the few fans still believing kids weren't getting paid before the advent of NIL, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but players like Spikes were living large long before it was "legal" to do so.

Let's all give Spikes a hand for being so charitable to take a cut in pay to play for the Patriots.

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What a class act!

John Goodman is getting candid about what led him to lose weight.

During a recent interview with The New Yorker, the 74-year-old actor discussed his struggles with his weight and alcoholism, saying that he got sober in his 50s, but was trying to manage his weight before quitting.

"I’d lose sixty pounds in a summer, gain it all back. Seventy pounds, eighty pounds. And that got tiring," he said. "I took steps so I wouldn’t have to do that anymore. I was almost four hundred pounds. I was eating alcoholically after I stopped drinking."

He shared that to improve his health, he "had an operation on my stomach," but said he also became "anemic and lost a layer of fat under my skin."

'MIKE & MOLLY' STAR BILLY GARDELL REVEALS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY 'PROBABLY SAVED' HIS LIFE

When discussing his experience with alcoholism, the "Roseanne" star shared his struggles began in 1978 when his girlfriend at the time "put me on waivers, so my nights were free for the first time in five years."

He recalled going out to multiple bars until drinking became a "habit," noting, "I started gaining weight at an alarming rate." He pinpointed one bar in particular, Café Central, noting he "turned it into home—and got very used to drinking" in his pursuit to find "friends" and "people to hang around and laugh with."

"There’s a saying in the rooms: I got sick and tired of being sick and tired," he said about his decision to get sober. "The thing about instant gratification is you don’t really care what’s going to happen right after it—which always led to bigger hangovers or me getting the shakes, and having to drink to get rid of the shakes, and that vicious cycle. I was in a position, when I quit, where I had to be hospitalized one way or the other."

Goodman went on to say that he grew "tired of it" and wanted it to stop. He recalled "realizing how selfish it made me," noting he "had a lot of catching up to do" in terms of maturity, as he "was delaying my maturation by drinking."

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"I was overlooking real life," he said. "And it was great to see there was a life where I didn’t have to use anything to enjoy it."

The "The Big Lebowski" actor has spoken about his weight loss journey in the past, telling The Rolling Stone in 2023 that he began incorporating boxing and daily walks into his routine.

He shared at the time that his routine included "just an hour, hour and a half of hitting the mitts, hitting the bags, learning footwork."

"I dug it. Yeah. Nobody’s going to get hurt, but it’s just hitting the mitts and trying to learn," he told the outlet. "I never got good enough where I would trust myself to spar because once I get whacked in the face, I don’t know if I wouldn’t lose it."

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Goodman rose to fame playing the Conner family patriarch, Dan Conner, for nine seasons during the original run of "Roseanne." He later reprised the role in the 2018 reboot, and again in the spin-off show, "The Conners."

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The Trump administration has ordered non-emergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as deadly Houthi attacks intensify across the kingdom, raising the stakes as President Donald Trump weighs direct military action against the Iran-backed group.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed Wednesday that the mandatory departure order applies only to Saudi Arabia, pushing back on reports that Washington was preparing a broader evacuation of diplomatic personnel across the Gulf.

"The U.S. Department of State issued an ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government employees and their family members in Saudi Arabia only," Pigott said.

HOW SAUDI ARABIA'S DEFENSE VULNERABILITIES COULD BECOME TRUMP'S PROBLEM AMID HOUTHI ONSLAUGHT

The order comes amid a surge in Houthi missile and drone attacks that has left civilians dead, disrupted air travel and sent Saudi Arabia scrambling for additional missile defenses.

"Iranian-supported Houthis have increasingly engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions," Pigott added.

President Donald Trump is weighing whether to launch direct U.S. military strikes against the Houthis, whose expanding missile and drone campaign has increasingly threatened Saudi cities, airports and energy infrastructure.

Houthi strikes and attempted strikes on Saudi Arabia more than doubled in a single week this month, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, with airports in Riyadh, Jizan, Najran, Dammam and Abha targeted since Oct. 5.

The deadliest barrage struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing at least 13 people and wounding more than 300.

SAUDI ARABIA ON EDGE: ICONIC KINGDOM CENTRE SENDS WORKERS HOME AMID HOUTHI ATTACKS

The escalating attacks have prompted Saudi Arabia to seek additional military support from its allies. Britain announced Tuesday that it would deploy Typhoon fighter jets to help defend Saudi cities and critical infrastructure, while Egypt is assisting the kingdom and Israel has offered to help.

Riyadh has also asked Washington for additional missile interceptors, though U.S. officials have warned that global demand is straining available supplies.

"I also talked to Saudi Arabia today; they'd like interceptors. Israel would like interceptors. We would like interceptors. Every country in the world would like interceptors," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday.

Rubio described the weapons as "probably the most in-demand product right now in the defense field," acknowledging that the United States must balance requests from allies against its own military requirements.

The growing threat has exposed the difficulty of defending Saudi Arabia's vast territory against relatively inexpensive missiles and drones, even with some of the world's most sophisticated air defenses.

"Saudi Arabia is a huge geography to protect, and this speaks to a larger threat we're facing globally: a relatively small nonstate actor can pose a serious challenge to even a sophisticated and extremely expensive military," Farea Al-Muslimi, a research fellow at Chatham House, told Fox News Digital in an interview published Wednesday.

"The Houthis can impose enormous costs without having to spend very much themselves," he said.

Trump has left open the possibility of direct military intervention against the Houthis, telling reporters earlier this month that the U.S. could join Saudi strikes against the group.

"We may. We're gonna look at it," Trump said. "We'll make a decision. We move very quickly."

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The U.S. conducted a roughly two-month bombing campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen in 2025 before Trump halted the operation following an Oman-brokered agreement.

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The U.S. continues to provide intelligence and targeting support to Saudi Arabia as Trump weighs whether to launch another round of strikes against the Houthis.

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries left the court for the national anthem before the first two games of the WNBA Finals. Now Riley Gaines is arguing that those decisions should carry consequences when athletes seek to represent the United States internationally.

Gaines initially weighed in while sharing OutKick’s video of the Game 2 anthem absence.

"It’s my personal opinion that if you kneel for the flag and what it represents, you shouldn’t be able to represent the USA at the Olympics," Gaines wrote on X.

DREAM, VALKYRIES SKIP NATIONAL ANTHEM IN WNBA FINALS GAME 2 DESPITE RULEBOOK REQUIREMENT

In a statement to OutKick, Gaines expanded her argument to players who leave the court to avoid the anthem.

"The American flag and our national anthem do not represent whichever political party or administration happens to be in power. They represent the American people, our shared identity, the freedoms we enjoy, and the generations of men and women who fought, sacrificed and died to preserve those freedoms," Gaines said.

"Players who leave the court specifically to avoid the national anthem are making a deliberate statement. They are free to do so, of course. Free speech includes the freedom to withhold respect."

"But I’m of the mind that choice has consequences when the same athletes later seek the honor of representing the United States on the international stage."

Neither Finals team nor the WNBA has answered OutKick’s questions about the anthem absences. Nor has the NBA, whose commissioner, Adam Silver, is helping lead the search for the WNBA’s next commissioner.

NBA STAYS SILENT ON WNBA FINALS TEAMS SKIPPING NATIONAL ANTHEM IN GAMES 1 AND 2

Gaines said patriotism does not require blind allegiance to a political party or pretending America is without flaws. But she argued that athletes seeking to represent the country should be judged on how they treat its anthem.

"If an athlete treats standing for the anthem as optional or objectionable during the WNBA season, it is reasonable to question whether they are prepared to accept the full weight of representing the country when the spotlight is global," she said.

Former Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones called Tuesday for players from both teams to lose their eligibility to represent the United States in Olympic basketball.

Jones wrote that those players "should be ineligible to play on the U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team."

Atlanta’s Team USA connection includes Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard

Reese and Howard were both named to Team USA’s 2026 Women’s World Cup roster. The Dream announced their selections in August, noting that they became the first two players in franchise history selected together for the United States at a five-on-five Women’s World Cup or Olympics.

Golden State had no players on that U.S. World Cup roster, but Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase served as a U.S. assistant coach. Golden State star Gabby Williams represents France.

Both Reese and Howard stood for the national anthem while representing the United States at September’s FIBA Women’s World Cup.

AMERICA'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL EPIC REACHES CLIMAX WITH NATIONAL UNITY ON THE LINE IN FIBA WORLD CUP FINAL

But representing the United States internationally comes with an extra responsibility to show respect for the country at home.

And that responsibility doesn't disappear when the USA jersey comes off and the WNBA jersey goes on. Staying off the court while the anthem plays during the WNBA Finals falls short of the standard we should expect from athletes entrusted with representing this country.

Sage Steele warns anthem absences could drive fans away

Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele also criticized the league in a social media video.

Steele accused the WNBA’s players, coaches and leadership of disrespecting the country by leaving the court for the anthem.

"So are they free to express themselves the way they want? Absolutely. But there’s a cost to it," Steele said.

"And I just hope they realize that this constant lack of respect is going to turn fans away forever. They’re not going to come back, and it’s going to be their own fault," Steele added.

Players are free to express themselves, but as Steele noted, that freedom can come with a price. We're not calling for the players to be jailed.

The First Amendment limits the government’s power to restrict speech, but it doesn’t require fans to support those choices or critics to stay quiet. We have the right to express our disapproval, too.

WNBA rulebook calls for an anthem lineup

Both Finals teams were off the floor during the anthem before Saturday’s opener and Monday’s Game 2 at Chase Center. In both games, the players returned within seconds of the performance ending.

The WNBA’s 2026 official rulebook includes a provision calling for players, coaches and trainers to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or foul line during the national anthem.

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OutKick contacted the WNBA and both teams after Game 1, followed up Sunday and again Tuesday. The inquiries sought explanations for the absences, clarification of the league’s anthem requirements and the teams’ plans for Game 3 on Wednesday night in Atlanta.

Those questions remain unanswered.

For Gaines, the responsibility goes beyond a WNBA pregame routine.

"Wearing the USA jersey is not a private entitlement that comes with athletic success. It is a public responsibility," she said.

Shop the toys kids want for Christmas, from trending gifts to retro games and classic toys that have delighted generations. Find American Girl dolls, a new LEGO set and popular squish toys. Whether you're shopping for a nostalgic favorite or the next big thing, this list has something for every child.

Stocking stuffers

Shashibo shape-shifting box: $24.99
30-pack squishy toys: $8.99 (10% off)
Fidget spinners: $8.99
Water-activated 3-inch surprise toy: $9.99 (23% off)
Funko Harry Potter Sorting Hat mystery mini globe: $7.99

Trending gifts for kids

What kids actually want to see under the tree this year.

Needoh squish toy: $14.99

Squishy toys are all the rage, and the Needoh cube is one of the most popular of the bunch. Kids and adults alike love squishing and squeezing the fidget toy.

JellyCat Amuseables Sun: $35

Stuffed animals have always been a popular gift. This year, choose one of JellyCat's adorable offerings, like this bright sun. All of them are soft, huggable and feature a friendly smile.

KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Rumi fashion doll: $31.99

Rumi from KPop Demon Hunters is ready to sing, dance and fight demons with your little ones. She's wearing her signature outfit from the movie and holds her stunning sword that fans will surely love. 

Tech for kids

Fun meets function with cool gadgets that teach, play and wow.

Amazon Fire Kids Tablet: $94.99 (44% off)

Original price: $169.99

Amazon's Fire Kids Tablet blends fun and learning. With access to thousands of kid-friendly books, games and shows — all in a safe, ad-free environment — little ones can read, create and explore at their own pace. Tip: Be sure to add kids' headphones for the full experience.

Toniebox 2: $149.99

This interactive cube plays songs and tells stories to keep your child engaged without a screen. Simply place a Tonie figurine on top, and your child's attention is captured without a screen. There's a large selection of figurines for all ages — from favorite Disney characters to popular Netflix shows.

Bluey camera: $24.99

Budding photographers will love capturing their world with the Bluey Camera. With easy-to-use buttons, fun pretend play features and favorite Bluey characters, it sparks creativity, imagination and endless photo-worthy adventures.

Make-believe toys

Let their wildest dreams run the show with costumes, kitchens and kid-sized adventures.

Melissa & Doug doctor’s kit: $29.97

This 25-piece doctor’s kit gives preschoolers ages three to six a set of realistic essentials so they can examine and treat all their patients (or stuffed animals). All the pieces store neatly in a handy tote perfect for on-the-go house calls.

Princess costumes with accessories: $35.99

Every little royal will shine in this enchanting princess costume set. Complete with tiaras, shoes and sparkling accessories, these costumes are perfect for dress-up, playdates and imaginative play at home.

READ MORE: Get ahead on holiday gifting with these 29 Nordstrom deals — up to 64% off

Muscle chest costumes for boys: $29.99 (9% off)

Original price: $32.99

This set of costumes transforms kids into heroes — a firefighter, a police officer and two caped crusaders. Complete with accessories, they’re great for saving the day or patrolling the playroom.

Barbie Dreamhouse: $215.99

This Barbie Dreamhouse is designed with an open layout and includes 10 different play areas across three floors. Kids ages three and up will love all the special touches, such as a huge three-story spiral slide, pool, dedicated pet area with its own slide and a working elevator.

Toys for big kids

Bigger kids, bigger adventures – from high-speed rides to out-of-this-world builds.

LEGO Star Wars Spaceship set: $159.99

Star Wars fans ages 10 and up will love this 1,394-piece Lego set inspired by the Ahsoka series. You get to build and play with the Ghost and Phantom II starships that are loaded with features like a detachable turret and a working dual cockpit. You also get five minifigures to complete your crew.

Segway electric scooter for kids: $179.99

This electric scooter is designed specifically for young adventurers. With a kick-to-start throttle that prevents sudden takeoffs and three speed modes for growing confidence, it’s great for riders of all levels. Built with tough tires, multiple breaks and a water-resistant exterior, it’s ready for anything.

MAGNA-TILES space 32-piece construction set: $46 (10% off)

Original price: $49.99

This 32-piece magnetic building set lets them build all kinds of 3D structures with fun themed pieces like a space shuttle, a space capsule and a space figure. The shuttle has enough room to store all the other pieces inside when they're done playing.

Furby DJ: $69.99

The classic Furby toy gets an upgrade with this DJ version. Play over 20 songs and interact with your new fuzzy friend.

For more deals, visit www.foxnews.com/deals

Lite-Brite Color Pop Hello Kitty: $38.47

Lite-Brites are more advanced than ever. This "brite-by-numbers" version results in a colorful image of Hello Kitty that's nice enough to display on the wall.

Traditional children's toys

Classic toys that never go out of style – and still make kids smile.

Mr. Potato Head: $7.97 (11% off)

Original price: $8.99

Mr. Potato Head is a timeless classic. Kids can mix and match eyes, ears and accessories to build silly faces and unique characters while practicing fine motor skills, learning body parts and engaging in imaginative play.

Raggedy Ann or Andy Classic Doll: $25.95

Well-loved for over a century, Raggedy Ann and Andy are timeless cloth dolls that capture the innocence of childhood. With their soft bodies, red yarn hair and stitched hearts that say "I Love You," these sweet companions encourage nurturing play and have become keepsakes for generations.

Peter Rabbit book collection: $49.95

Step into the world of Peter Rabbit and friends with this 10-volume collection of beloved tales. From garden adventures to cozy woodland scenes, these beautifully illustrated classics capture the wonder of childhood and make perfect gifts for little readers.

READ MORE: Get the Anthropologie beauty advent calendar before it sells out, and 25 more popular calendars

American Girl 18-inch doll: $135

If you’re looking for a high-quality doll, the American Girl Truly Me 18-inch doll is a timeless pick. Known for their lifelike eyes and realistic hair that can be braided and styled, American Girl dolls are designed so that every girl can find a look that feels like her own.

Etch A Sketch: $24.99

This classic toy lets you create beautiful pictures by turning two knobs. When you're done, shake to erase and start over.

Mini troll dolls: $7.99

These '80s-inspired vintage troll dolls are perfect for kids and adult collectors alike. Add these lucky trolls to your collection and recreate scenes from the iconic movies.

Best toys for toddlers

Safe, silly and just the right size – these picks are made for tiny hands and big imaginations.

Little People school bus set: $34.97 (10% off)

Original price: $38.87

With this set, toddlers can role-play boarding, driving and riding the bus with the included Little People figurines, creating fun stories along the way. This imaginative play helps them explore social roles, build confidence and get comfortable with the idea of going to school.

Monopoly Junior Bluey edition: $19.99

This Monopoly Junior game is a great choice for kids ages five and older who love Bluey. It lets them travel all around the town and buy properties like the Nail Salon or The Dump. Players get to pick their favorite character — Bluey, Bingo Mum or Dad — to move around the board.

‘Let the Beet Drop’ farmstand DJ toy: $33.99

Music-loving children will love to play fresh ‘beets’ with this fruit and veggie-themed DJ set. Featuring a DJ bunny, fun tunes and soft textures, budding musicians can develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Fisher-Price Harley Davidson tricycle: $43.19

This trike for kids ages two to five is styled with cool Harley-Davidson colors and graphics, and it's built to last with a sturdy frame. The pedals are large, and the handlebars are easy to grip, plus durable tires with rugged treads are perfect for off-road adventures.

Fisher-Price Classics Retro Chatter Phone: $18.99

While rotary phones are a thing of the past, this adorable phone has rolling eyes, a chattering mouth and a fun ring for hours of playing pretend with your toddler.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today.

Natasha Lyonne sparked debate over her political views after appearing to express a preference for President Donald Trump over Vice President JD Vance.

The "Russian Doll" actress reacted to a video showing a protester interrupting Vance and calling for the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lyonne criticized Vance and said she preferred Trump to the vice president.

"Sketchy mofo - prefer trump - this s--- is even scarier - don’t really know how we arrived at this aesthetic as baseline normal, but c’est la dominoes, etc. Octavia Butler was a soothsayer. Grimey times," Lyonne wrote in response to the video.

NATASHA LYONNE JOKES HER PLANE REMOVAL WAS A ‘PERFORMANCE ART PIECE’ AFTER BIZARRE INCIDENT

The 47-year-old actress' remark that she would "prefer Trump" prompted questions about her political views, with some social media users interpreting the comment as support for Trump and others suggesting she was simply expressing a preference for him over Vance.

Lyonne fueled further speculation Tuesday when she reposted a message from Trump thanking Elon Musk for pledging to donate SpaceX stock to millions of American children through Trump Accounts. She added four emojis — a rocket, a saluting face, a sun and a smiling face with sunglasses — without offering a written explanation.

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"Natasha Lyonne going full MAGA is depressing as hell," one user wrote.

Another commenter mocked the backlash, posting: "Natasha Lyonne drops four emojis on a Trump post and the left is already planning her cancellation. Tolerance at its finest."

One person said, "Everyone prefers Trump - we all voted for him." Meanwhile, another added, "Why is this controversial? Do you say people supporting Dems is controversial?"

DEBRA MESSING SAYS COST OF LIVING, SUBWAY VIOLENCE PUSHED HER TO BACK TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICAN

The posts drew conflicting interpretations from social media users, with some questioning Lyonne's apparent preference for Trump and others cautioning against assuming her political views solely from her posts.

One user wrote, "'Prefer Trump'? Why? ..."

Others questioned why the post was being interpreted as support for the president.

"How … are y'all reading this like she actually likes trump."

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Another commenter defended Lyonne, writing, "Can people on this app be normal for like five minutes … this is crazy, I feel like I’m going insane. Is everyone okay?"

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One user asked, "So is Natasha Lyonne MAGA now or am I misreading her posts?"

Lyonne replied with two words: "Not maga."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Lyonne and the White House for comment.

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Modern Times Café, a Minneapolis restaurant that attempted to eliminate prices, has announced it will be closing for good by the end of the year.

"For the last six years, I’ve been trying to prove that Modern Times can continue to exist," owner Dylan Alverson wrote on social media Saturday. "I’ve exhausted every option without compromising the core fundamentals that make Modern Times what it is."

He added that he plans to spend the next two months celebrating the 16-year-old business and discussing ways for a business like his to continue.

MINNESOTA SENATE VOTES TO BAN ICE FROM WEARING MASKS, ALLOW RESIDENTS TO SUE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATIONS

"The only way for places like Modern Times to exist in the future is to actively challenge the reasons why it can no longer exist," Alverson wrote.

Alverson announced on Instagram in January that his business, which rebranded as Post Modern Times, would operate as a "free and donation-based restaurant" where everyone would be welcome "except ICE" in protest of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations happening in his state, partly in response to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

"We absolutely cannot go on as we have. I am sick of generating money for the soldiers in our streets and for a government that won't protect us — a government who is actively inflicting daily harm on its citizens," Alverson wrote. "Effective tomorrow we are done making money for the fascists that occupy our city."

The decision was made after Pretti was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents.

The Modern Times Café operated without prices for about six months until it briefly closed in July. The establishment returned to using prices once the store reopened in August but announced that it would continue serving 25 free meals per day.

By October, Alverson told The New York Times he was operating under a "zero profit margin," hoping that his place could be used as a model for other restaurants.

BELOVED LA RESTAURANT HIT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH AFTER OWNERS SPOKE POSITIVELY ABOUT TESLA

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"If I can create a fundraising mechanism that can raise money to provide hospitality, we can take that program and add restaurants to it," Alverson said.

However, he acknowledged that the process was taxing for his staff and led to customers waiting up to two hours for a meal, half of which would usually be given for free. Neighbors also expressed concerns that homeless and drug-addicted people would take advantage of the offer.

In a comment to Fox News Digital, Alverson stood by his remarks to The New York Times and suggested that the bigger issue was other restaurants that were struggling.

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"I think a bigger question right now is how many independent restaurants are close to collapse?" Alverson said.

Decker's latest family beach photo has fans noticing a striking family resemblance.

The 38-year-old country singer shared a series of photos from a Florida getaway with her husband, former NFL star Eric Decker, and their four children. But it was the family's matching athletic physiques that quickly caught followers' attention.

In one photo, Jessie posed in a patterned string bikini alongside her shirtless husband and their children on a white-sand beach beneath a bright blue sky.

JESSIE JAMES DECKER SHOWS OFF TONED BIKINI BODY AFTER MONTHS LONG FITNESS TRANSFORMATION

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Eric, wearing red swim trunks and sunglasses, held their youngest son, Denver, while their three older children, Vivianne, Eric Jr. and Forrest, gathered around them.

"Fall Break🍁🌊🏰☀️," Jessie captioned the joint Instagram post with her husband.

The family snapshot quickly drew a wave of playful comments from followers who couldn't help noticing the Deckers' defined abs.

"The entire family literally has washboard abs what the heck 😂🙌❤️," one person wrote.

KELSEA BALLERINI FLAUNTS HER ABS IN RED BIKINI AS SHE RINGS IN HER 33RD BIRTHDAY

"Geezus everyone in this picture has abs 😂😂 I'm very intimidated by your family loll😂," another commented.

One follower joked, "Oh look it's the Abdams Family. 😂 Beautiful family! 🥰"

Another chimed in, "Just passing out the abs like you're Oprah! 🔥"

Others wondered whether the family's athletic builds were simply a matter of genetics.

"Can I join the family just to get some of your genetics please 😂," one person asked.

HILARIA BALDWIN EXPLAINS HOW SHE STAYS FIT RAISING 7 KIDS WITH ‘BATHROOM WORKOUTS’ AND AN UNEXPECTED DIET

Jessie and Eric also posed for a few photos of their own during the beach getaway.

Jessie also shared a playful shot of herself wrapping her arms around Eric as they posed near the water.

The former NFL wide receiver wore bright red swim trunks while Jessie smiled in her patterned bikini and sunglasses.

Another image captured the couple sharing a kiss while sitting together on the beach at sunset.

The family also visited a Disney theme park, where Jessie and Eric posed for a photo with their four children.

Jessie wore a black athletic outfit with Minnie Mouse ears, while Eric kept things casual in a gray T-shirt and baseball cap.

The family getaway comes as Jessie promotes her latest cookbook, "The Secret Sauce," which she co-wrote with her mother and sister.

Earlier this month, the country singer spoke exclusively with Fox News Digital about the family traditions she prioritizes despite their busy schedules.

"Something that I'll always protect is sitting down at the dinner table all together and eating and just talking about our day," Jessie told Fox News Digital.

Jessie also revealed that she won over her husband with her cooking shortly after they began dating.

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"I mean, we all know he loves the jambalaya. That's how I sealed the deal and had him fall in love with me after one weekend," she said.

More than 13 years into their marriage, the couple continues to make family time a priority.

"Those moments will just always be my favorite, and no matter what life brings, we always find our way at that dinner table," Jessie said.

The singer recently released "The Secret Sauce," a family cookbook co-written with her mother, Karen Parker, and sister, Sydney Rae Bass.

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Eric also helped promote Jessie's latest cookbook, "The Secret Sauce," by posing in nude-colored underwear and making playful food jokes in an Instagram video. The former NFL star has done similar promotions for her previous cookbooks.

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Fox News Digital's Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.

Four-time Pro Bowl running back Cordarrelle Patterson was arrested over the weekend on charges stemming from an alleged domestic dispute with his wife that left her bruised.

Patterson's wife told police that the former return specialist grabbed her hair and left arm, leaving her fearing for her children's and her own safety, TMZ reported, citing an arrest warrant.

Officers came to the house and found bruising on her arm, TMZ said.

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The couple got married in 2024 and share three children. They have been together since 2014.

Patterson was taken to the Sevier County jail in Tennessee and was released on a $1,000 bond. He was smiling in his mugshot.

TJ WATT'S WIFE BREAKS RANKS WITH NFL MARCH TOWARD PARIS GAME QUESTIONING HOW PLAYING THERE MAKES SENSE

The 35-year-old was the 29th overall pick out of Tennessee in 2013 to the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent four seasons. He then spent time with the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Patterson is the all-time leader in kick returns for touchdowns with nine. He's led the NFL three times in yards per return and has been a First-team All-Pro returner four times, most recently in 2020 with the Bears.

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He was released by the Steelers during training camp in 2025 and has not signed anywhere since.

'Nightcaps' is a daily column that catches you up on the biggest sports, news, and culture stories you may have missed while pretending to do work at your desk. It runs Monday-Friday on OutKick.com.

Another October Hump Day is here, folks. This is No. 3 of the month, with just one left. Before you know it, we'll all be basting turkeys and hanging lights.

It goes fast. Soak it all in. Don't take a single day for granted, because we're in the final stages of the greatest month of the year.

World Series on deck. NBA is back. Midweek college football is hitting on all cylinders at the moment. Hockey in full swing. The NFL is currently sending teams to Paris for reasons I still can't figure out.

NFL MONITORS FRANCE STREET VIOLENCE BEFORE SAINTS-STEELERS GAME NEAR PARIS WITH A MAJOR DECISION LOOMING

Just an amazing time to be alive right now if you're a sports fan. It doesn't get much better than this.

Let's roll.

Welcome to a Hump Day Nightcaps — the one where the Neyland Stadium crowd last weekend had Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer seeing GHOSTS in the fourth quarter.

Goodness. Brutal look here for the head coach of the Crimson Tide. Saban would NEVER!

What else? I've got Danica Patrick back on the campaign trail, Tiffani Amber Thiessen gives her Halloween costume a test drive, and a hypothetical college football question worth your time today.

Sound good? Good!

OK, grab you your favorite Back to the Future movie to celebrate Back to the Future Day, and settle in for a Hump Day 'Cap!

It appears Neyland Stadium got to Kalen DeBoer

That's right. Today is the day any Back to the Future fan worth his or her salt knows like the back of their hand.

October 21 (2015). They thought we'd have flying cars back in the '80s when they made this movie, and, to be fair, we're getting closer.

Did y'all see what Elon cooked up over the weekend? The ROADSTER!

Yeah, we're not far off! About 11 years later than Doc McFly envisioned, but still, not bad.

As for the franchise itself ... I've said for years that Back to the Future is one of the greatest trilogies of all time. That's right — all time. It's also one of those rare ones where the middle movie is the best of the three. That's hard to do. It's rare. And BTTF pulled it off all those years ago.

Impressive. What a dynasty.

OK, let's get this class started with another dynasty that, sadly, feels a bit old in 2026: The Alabama Crimson Tide.

A hypothetical worth discussing

Amazing. Poor Kalen DeBoer. He looked just miserable last weekend in Knoxville, and that video — coupled with the apparent record the Vols broke — makes it even worse.

As for the decibel record itself ... Tennessee claims it now owns the highest on record at 130.3. Some folks on the internet aren't so sure. I've seen fans point to the LSU-'Bama game in 2022 at 133, and some random Nebraska game in 1992 at 133.6.

The Vols, however, maintain last Saturday's third-down sack tops 'em all. From the official release:

No crowd pops were louder than during a huge sequence in the third quarter with the Vols leading 19-10. Defensive end Tyree Weathersby recorded a sack on second down with 3:56 remaining in the stanza. The ensuing play, the Crimson Tide committed a delay of game penalty that made it third-and-16.

Neyland Stadium experienced 130.3 decibels (dBA peak) on field level for a noise event that lasted seven seconds during that sequence, which was the highest scientifically verified decibel crowd event in college football history. Alabama was called for a false start one play later. 

For what it's worth, the highest decibel level for any sporting event on record took place at a Monday Night Football game at Arrowhead Stadium back in 2014, according to the folks over at earpeace.com. True story.

Argue away!

And when you're done debating that, take a look at this little hypothetical question making the internet rounds today and tell me where you land:

Danica, Tiff Ann & Happy Anniversary to this legend!

So, for me, this one is insanely easy ...

It's Kirby Smart at Nebraska, right? Feel like Kirby would turn Nebraska into a powerhouse in Year 1. Two years tops. I don't even think Matt Rhule is a good coach, and he somehow has Nebraska at 5-2 right now (should be 6-1, maybe 7-0).

As for the others ...

Curt Cignetti at Missouri would be No. 2, followed by ... Marcus Freeman at Michigan? I don't know. The rest of that list looks like a disaster to me. Lincoln Riley at Texas would just be Sark 2.0. Ryan Day at Northwestern would be hilarious, and Deion Sanders at USC would be the most entertaining, but also the most combustible.

Anyway, let me know! Zach.Dean@OutKick.com.

OK, let's rapid-fire this Hump Day class into a big Hump Day night. First up? It's officially election SZN, which means Danica Patrick is back on the Trump Train.

Choo-choo!

"I wish you could all have just 5 minutes with @potus! He is so easy to talk to and SO fun to listen to! He’s a great story teller… funny and obviously interesting. He is also very curious what your opinion is pertaining to any topic. And of course he is really into sports, which I love!" Patrick said in her post, which included several pictures from the 2024 elections featuring Trump and the ex-NASCAR star.

Anyone else here beyond exhausted by all the election stuff? It's just brutal. I got 7 phone calls/texts this morning alone from candidates asking A) for money, or B) for me to "take a short survey" so they could see where things stand.

There are signs EVERYWHERE in my town right now. Everywhere. On every street corner. In front of every store. Below every stoplight.

And don't get me started on the commercials. Goodness gracious, the commercials. It's nonstop. If I have to see Byron Donalds shoot hoops with his kids one more time, I'm going to lose it.

You're gonna win Florida, Byron. I promise! Give us a break!!

Next? On the way out, I'd be remiss if I didn't take a minute and wish a happy 15-year anniversary to what I consider one of the pivotal moments in the history of college football ...

Pure cinema. Man, I miss the Pac-12 After Dark. What an amazing time that was. We had it all, and now it's basically reduced to nothing.

The fake ref in that video? He goes by Jacen Lankow — an Arizona alum who is now a household name in Tucson.

From Tucson.com, which chronicled the event in real time:

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With four seconds left before halftime and the Wildcats leading 42-7, Lankow — a UA senior — ran onto the field dressed as a game official, whistled a play dead, yelled "ball, ball, ball," attempted to grab the football from the umpire — and then bolted from midfield to the north end zone while simultaneously ripping his costume off to reveal a Speedo.

This was a Halloween prank from the then-senior. He bought a ref outfit from the costume store across the street. He counterfeited an all-access field pass using Microsoft Paint.

Microsoft Paint!

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The brawl, of course, had nothing to do with this prank. Nada. It was a completely separate event.

Those were the good old days.

OK, that's it for today. Good Hump Day, everyone. Let's keep going strong into the back-half of the week. Halloween ain't far off, you know?

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Speaking of ... let's end the day with Tiffani Amber giving us a little sneak peak of her costume.

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Well done.

Pope Leo XIV will need no further treatment for lung cancer after final tests confirmed the disease was localized, his doctors said Wednesday.

Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora announced the findings just over a week after surgeons removed a tumor from the pontiff’s right lung.

"The final histopathology and molecular testing reports on the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery were issued today," the doctors said in a statement.

POPE LEO WELCOMED BACK AS HE DELIVERS ANGELUS PRAYER DAYS AFTER LUNG CANCER SURGERY

"The results confirmed that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary."

Pope Leo underwent surgery Oct. 13 at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. The operation lasted about 90 minutes, with the pope spending approximately three hours in the operating room, according to the Holy See.

"The doctors said it was successful and there were no complications," the Holy See press office said after the procedure.

The pontiff awoke normally and returned to his hospital room following a brief observation period, Vatican News reported.

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He was discharged Saturday after blood tests and a chest X-ray confirmed he was well enough to return to the Vatican. Thousands of supporters gathered outside the hospital, shouting "Papa!" as he departed.

Before leaving, Leo visited the children’s oncology ward, where young patients had sent him letters during his hospital stay.

POPE LEO'S LUNG TUMOR RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CANCER RISK FOR NONSMOKERS

"Pope Leo, our prayers are for you," a girl named Eleonora wrote in a letter released by Vatican News.

"May God, the Most Holy Virgin, and the guardian angels always protect you," she added.

Eleonora’s mother told the pope her daughter was now healthy, according to the Vatican.

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"Faith moves mountains," Eleonora wrote. "God has heard our prayers."

Fox News Digital's Robert McGreevy contributed to this report.

We are just a couple of days away from the World Series starting. There are some great games ahead of us, and baseball has delivered some really enjoyable games this postseason. With the series beginning in a few days, it is worth taking a look at some of the futures markets and who we should wager on for MVP and the overall series.

Champion

It is really hard to bet against the Brewers. I'll be honest, I'm not a Brewers fan. Most of it is because I am a Cubs fan, and I have found the Brewers to be a bit insufferable without winning anything, so if they do win, it might just get worse. Personal issues aside, the Brewers are the best team in baseball, have been the best team in baseball, and have looked absolutely elite in the postseason. Can they be stopped?

RAYS PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO THE WORLD SERIES, TAKING DOWN GUARDIANS IN GAME 6 TO SET UP SERIES WITH BREWERS

The Tampa Bay Rays will look to do just that. It doesn't look good for them, though. They had the second-lowest OPS against 98 mph or faster pitches in baseball this season. They have struck out 66 times in the postseason, but that's actually five fewer in one less game than the Brewers. Still, the Rays will need to figure out a way to make contact against an elite pitching staff. Outside of Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers bullpen can fire pitches in there.

I think the Brewers probably do win the World Series. At -165, the price is a bit higher than worth it at the moment, and the value is on the Rays. Tampa does have a very good team. Brewers winning 4-2 is probably my favorite look at +360.

RAYS STAR FREDDY PERALTA ACHIEVES HISTORIC PITCHING FEAT ONLY ACCOMPLISHED TWICE SINCE 1913

MVP

The edge in the starting rotation probably does go to the Rays. Drew Rasmussen is a finesse pitcher, but he has been elite. Freddy Peralta used to pitch for Milwaukee, so I'm interested to see how he performs. Nick Martinez has been strong for them as well. They have a good bullpen, too. The Rays have a shot to win this game, but if they do, it will probably be because Rasmussen wins two games and likely is involved in a third at +2000.

For the Brewers, there are a number of guys who could've been selected for the NLCS MVP, but it went to Jake Bauers. It really wouldn't surprise me to see him get it in the World Series as well. William Contreras at +650 is my favorite look. He has had numerous big hits, and if he can call great games for the club, he could get a bit of an edge. Contreras had a good series the one time the teams played this season. The Brewers have so many good players it is hard to pick just one guy who will get the credit.

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Series Leader - Hits

I think betting on Contreras to get the most hits in the series at +850 is also a look. Most of it is the same logic as the MVP. I don't like anyone on the Rays to get this because the speed of the pitching might be hard for them to catch up to.

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For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024

This is about as one-sided of a fight as you're ever going to see. It's like the younger brother going after the older brother to see where he stands. It's Mike Tyson in his prime walking through opponents seconds into a bout.

The trail cam footage starts off with a spike, for reasons only he can answer, lunging towards a bigger buck in the woods and immediately finding out that doing so was a bad idea.

The young buck is lifted off the ground, ragdolled and tossed in the air like he weighs nothing. After being dominated in short order, the young buck impressively manages to land on his feet following the brief battle.

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Wisely, the smaller deer then decides he's had enough and makes a run for it with the bigger and stronger buck giving chase. Here's the fight. Don't blink, you might miss it.

Without knowing for sure if any insults were tossed around about the other deer's momma, I can only speculate that rutting season played a part in this fight. The young buck, possibly horned up, was stepping into the wrong territory.

He had to be shown who was boss, and that all the ladies in the area were spoken for. It's part of nature. A part that you really don’t want to get in the middle of.

TRAIL CAM CAPTURES BUCK WALKING AROUND WITH ANOTHER DEER'S ANTLERS DANGLING FROM ITS RACK

I'm no expert on deer by any means, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the spike is going to hit the gym, grab some supplements and work the heavy bag before he tries his luck with this buck again.

You have to turn being lifted off the ground and spun around in the air into a motivator. You can't have too many of those losses under your belt. Especially not in front of any doe.

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The best fighters get back up and dust themselves off. They learn from their mistakes and make the adjustment. Lunging at the bigger buck was a big mistake for this spike.

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico blamed Republican extremism for prompting some of his past controversial remarks during a new interview, including assertions that God is "nonbinary" and that there are six biological sexes, arguing that those weren't issues he ran for office to discuss.

Talarico said that culture war issues became more prominent in the 2021 Texas state legislature and suggested Republicans were responsible for the increased attention to those topics. Talarico, in 2021, opposed a bill to ban men from women’s sports and claimed that "God is non-binary" while on the Austin, Texas, House floor. 

Additionally, at a Texas House Committee on Public Education hearing in 2021, he stated, "Modern science obviously recognizes that there are many more than two biological sexes; in fact, there are six."

Talarico, who is running against Republican Ken Paxton in the state's closely watched U.S. Senate race, spoke to The New York Times' Michael Barbaro on the paper's "The Daily" podcast Tuesday. He said he felt compelled to fight what he described as Republican extremism at the time when asked about the comments.

JAMES TALARICO ADMITS PAST COMMENTS 'MISSED THE MARK' WHEN CONFRONTED ON CLAIMS LIKE GOD IS 'NON-BINARY'

"I was put in a position where I had to fight back against that extremism. So, you mentioned some of my comments on gender or on issues affecting trans people. It's not like I ran for the legislature to talk about these things. Again, if you go back to my first session, I wanted to talk about public education, which is why I ran in the first place," he said, pointing to other issues on which he ran.

"It's kind of ironic that they're clipping these things to make it sound like I'm the one who was talking about this when, in reality, it was the Republican extremists at the Capitol who were obsessed with talking about trans issues, obsessed with talking about people's private parts. That wasn't me. That was them that changed."

DEM SCRAMBLES TO CHANGE TUNE ON TRANS ATHLETES AS TRUMP TARGETS PAST RECORD: ‘ANNIE TRANNIE’

Talarico was asked whether some Democratic positions on cultural issues around 2020 had gone too far.

The Democratic Senate candidate said that, at the national level, the party may have gone too far. But at the state level, specifically in Texas, he believed certain bills were targeting and harming his constituents.

He pointed to Texas' abortion ban and legislation affecting the LGBTQ community.

"These bills targeting LGBTQ people have real ramifications in our state, especially when they're written to be overly broad," he said. "I'm all for if we want to figure out when it's appropriate for a trans athlete to play in a sport. That's a policy discussion that we should have and an issue we should solve.

"But the bill that they were trying to pass, the bill they ultimately did pass, was a blanket ban in all cases," he continued. "It treated tee-ball the same as varsity baseball. 

"And it's because their goal was to score political points off of the backs of a very small, vulnerable group of people in our state. And, so, you know, my values haven't changed, but I was put in a position because of the rise in Republican extremism to defend my constituents."

Barbaro asked Talarico if he subscribed to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and her assertion that so-called "Woke One" was "crazy" at a personal level.

Talarico said he regretted not articulating his position in a "more straightforward way" but had no regrets about defending his constituents.

JAMES TALARICO TORCHES BIDEN BORDER POLICIES IN STUNNING ATTACK AD AS PROGRESSIVE TRIES TO FLIP TEXAS BLUE

"So, there's a lot that is said and, when you pull out maybe the most inarticulate of those things to make an attack ad, you know, I certainly regret not articulating my position more clearly, in a more straightforward way to say what I actually mean. And that's going to be true, you know, probably for my entire time in public service. I'm not a perfect person. None of us are. And, so, I'm going to always keep trying to improve how I talk about things so that I'm getting my point across," he said.

"I wasn't making a large point about American politics or the Democratic Party. I'll leave those to the pundits and the commentators. All I was trying to say is that I've said things imperfectly, and I'm going to keep working on trying to communicate more clearly and effectively."

Inez Stepman, senior policy and legal analyst at Independent Women, criticized Talarico's remarks.

"The left is always pulling a bait and switch with cultural issues. They advanced policies that placed males on girls sports teams, in locker rooms, in women’s prisons, and tried to push anyone who objected to that insanity out of public life. Now, they say none of this ever existed or isn’t important. But they don’t change their policy or votes," Stepman told Fox News Digital in a statement.

"Not a single Democrat on the federal level voted for a bill to keep men out of women’s sports. If they don’t want to talk about these issues, they could easily put them behind us by ceasing their campaign, including passing laws and regulations that force us to accept men in women’s spaces. But they won’t do that. They merely want us to stop talking about the consequences of their ideas and policies on women and girls."

Talarico was recently confronted about some of his comments regarding cultural issues while participating in a "Jubilee"-style town hall, during which voters confronted him one-on-one. Talarico met with a fellow Christian from Texas who pressed him on his past statements.

"You've said some concerning things in the past kind of related to faith and social issues. Things such as God is nonbinary, questions about how many genders there really are and your justifications using the Bible for abortion," Sarah Gardner, a small business owner, said to Talarico.

EXPERT TEARS APART TALARICO'S VIRAL CLAIM HIS AGENDA IS BASED ON JESUS'S TEACHINGS: 'BUTCHERING THE BIBLE'

While explaining some of his comments, he drew a parallel to his own interpretation of Scripture to Charlie Kirk.

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"The first comment about God not being defined by gender, when I said that I was being provocative. And I want to admit that and come clean about that. But I think what I was saying is actually not controversial theologically. 

"The idea that we can't define God using human categories, not only did I say that, but the late Charlie Kirk said that, the late Pope Benedict said that. And so, yes, I was doing it, maybe in an annoying way, I can admit that," he said.

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Paxton's campaign did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

The sky appears to be falling in Austin, Texas, with the Longhorns having suffered back-to-back losses. With Arch Manning being the starting quarterback for a Texas offense that ranks in the bottom half of the league, many are pointing at him as the lead culprit of the messy situation, but one former head coach is pointing the blame elsewhere.

Just two weeks ago, Texas was the No. 1 team in the country and appeared to be a real threat to win a national title. Now, the Longhorns are just one loss away from virtually being eliminated from College Football Playoff contention, but the big picture of it all is that head coach Steve Sarkisian has simply not pushed Manning to take a step in the right direction.

To put it simply, Manning has been average so far this season. He's 10th among SEC quarterbacks in completion percentage (63.9), 12th in passing yards (1,295), and ninth in touchdown passes (11). He has not been able to elevate his team's offense as much as many expected him to in what is now his fourth year in Austin.

STEVE SARKISIAN VOWS TO 'EVALUATE EVERYTHING,' WON’T RULE OUT BENCHING ARCH MANNING AMID TEXAS' TWO-GAME SKID

In Brian Kelly's opinion, the offensive struggles seen at Texas this season fall on the shoulders of the man who calls the plays, Sarkisian.

"I think it’s on the play caller," Kelly told Danny Kanell on SiriusXM on Tuesday. "I think the play caller takes a lot of the responsibility. Look, he’s your quarterback. They’re not going back. I mean, they’re not going to bench him unless there’s just a total meltdown."

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Kelly, like the majority of others in and around college football, complimented Sarkisian's offensive mind, but claimed it may be time to make the game plan a bit simpler for Manning moving forward.

"Coach Sarkisian is an outstanding play caller. He understands the game. He’s proven, seasoned, but sometimes there has to be that sit-down conversation," Kelly continued.

"Say, ‘Look, we’re going to do what you can do and execute.’ And to your point, Danny, this is about accuracy and higher completion percentage. If we can run the ball with more effectiveness, if you add those two things to the Texas offense, they’re going to win the rest of their football games."

Manning was only asked to throw the football 20 times during Texas' loss at home to Florida a week ago. He completed 14 of his passes, threw for one score, and didn't throw an interception in his team's 27-24 loss.

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LANE KIFFIN IS ALREADY GETTING HIS EXCUSES READY FOR LSU'S DISAPPOINTING REGULAR SEASON

As Kelly alluded to, the Longhorns playing a more complementary style of offense could greatly benefit Manning. Texas rushed for just 99 yards against the Gators.

On the flip side of Kelly's opinion, if the recipe for success six games into the season is to dumb down the offense for Manning, the Longhorns could be in for a long second half of the year.

Texas takes on No. 7 Ole Miss this upcoming Saturday at home, with road contests against Missouri and LSU still looming as well.