NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will not testify before Congress amid scrutiny of past testimonies

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, invited earlier this week to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing that will examine whether the Sports Broadcasting Act has been used "to harm consumers," is declining the invitation.

And that's probably a wise choice by the commissioner given his past history testifying before Congress.

ROGER GOODELL ASKED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ON NFL ANTITRUST EXEMPTION

Goodell declined the invitation to appear at the June 10 hearing "due to ongoing litigation related to the topic of the hearing," NFL general counsel Ted Ullyot wrote in a letter Wednesday to Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)Jim Jordan, (R-Ohio).

The ongoing litigation Ullyot was referring to is likely the NFL's Sunday Ticket antitrust case, which remains in post-trial and appellate proceedings.

All of this is tied to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that provides limited antitrust exemption for the collective sale of over-the-air broadcast rights. The SBA does not clearly protect cable, satellite, streaming or subscription products, the rising cost of which has incited consumer complaints and government scrutiny.

According to the Associated Press, Ullyot repeated in his letter the well-chronicled NFL narrative that 87 percent of its games will be available over the air this season, and that every game in the competing teams' home markets is on broadcast television.

WATCHING THE NFL WILL COST MORE, REQUIRE MORE STREAMING SERVICES THAN EVER THIS SEASON

"The NFL’s decision to license a few more games to widely adopted streaming services is simply a reflection that those platforms now offer significantly more reach than the current pay TV ecosystem and that broadcast television remains the foundation of our media distribution," Ullyot wrote.

The NFL's stated reasoning for not putting Goodell in front of Congress is legitimate but league counsel almost surely took Goodell's past performances before lawmakers into account. The NFL has declined to comment on Goodell's decision despite multiple requests by OutKick and Fox News.

And how has Goodell fared before Congress in the past? "Debacle," was the word one congressional source used to describe it.

That's obviously someone's opinion that is up for debate, but it is fair to say that when Goodell has appeared on Capitol Hill, it has not been a smooth ride. His appearances have historically served as platforms where lawmakers aggressively targeted the league's multi-billion-dollar business models, safety protocols and accountability.

Goodell has testified before Congress on two previous occasions: in October 2009 on the league's concussion crisis of that time, and in June 2022 on the Washington Commanders workplace investigation.

In 2009, the House Judiciary Committee called a hearing titled "Legal Issues Relating to Football Head Injuries" following independent research and media reports linking repeated football head trauma to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

COURT RULES BRIAN FLORES' DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST NFL WILL PROCEED IN OPEN COURT INSTEAD OF ARBITRATION

Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA) excoriated Goodell for the league’s refusal to acknowledge independent medical data. She famously compared the NFL’s stance to Big Tobacco executives denying the link between smoking and lung cancer in the 1990s. Goodell sat in silence as she blasted the league’s "blanket denial."

Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) pressed Goodell with a simple question: "Does a medical link exist between playing football and long-term brain damage?"

Goodell refused to say "yes." Instead, he deflected by saying, "I’m not a medical expert."

In 2022, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing called "Tackling Toxic Workplaces," investigating decades of rampant sexual harassment, verbal abuse and structural misconduct within the Washington Commanders organization under former owner Dan Snyder.

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Goodell testified via Zoom but the virtual format didn't shield him.

Lawmakers hammered Goodell over the NFL's refusal to release a report authored by attorney Beth Wilkinson's independent investigation into the Commanders. Members of Congress and former employees pointed out the NFL released a 200-plus-page public report when investigating whether Tom Brady deflated footballs, but chose to keep the findings of a 20-year sexual harassment culture secret, delivering only an "oral report" to Goodell.

Goodell’s defense — that they withheld the written report to protect the privacy of the victims — was dismissed by some committee members as a hollow excuse to protect Snyder.

Goodell tried to paint the NFL as both powerless and an ally that had successfully "held Snyder accountable," which obviously didn't fly.

He pointed out the league levied a $10 million fine and forced Snyder to cede day-to-day operations but also repeated, "I don't have the authority to remove [Snyder]," which frustrated was panned by the lawmakers.

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source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-wont-testify-congress-may-smart-based-past-performances

Canada's Carney pledges action on antisemitism amid backlash over new anti-hate council members

Prime Minister Mark Carney warned this week that Jewish Canadians are being "brutally targeted," while also announcing a new anti-racism council that reportedly includes two members with troubling views on the Jewish state.

Following Carney's speech on antisemitism, critics reacted with anger at the makeup of the council and questioned how a body meant to fight hate and antisemitism includes two members who are reportedly hostile to the concerns of the Jewish community.

Omar Alghabra, a former Liberal party cabinet minister and Member of Parliament, has faced criticism for publicly mourning former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The former leader of the PLO was described by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as "the father of modern terrorism." In the days following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, he declined a request to condemn them, when asked by Canada's Rebel News. 

Alghabra has also faced scrutiny over past comments regarding Israel. In 2005, he criticized Toronto's police chief for participating in and leading a "Walk with Israel" event, according to The Jerusalem Post. He described the event as "a show of solidarity for a foreign state currently in the midst of an unresolved conflict" and referred to Israel as "a country that is conducting a brutal and the longest contemporary military occupation in the world."

CANADA’S CARNEY UNDER PRESSURE TO ACT AFTER SYNAGOGUES SHOT AT IN LATEST ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS

Canada's opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, pointed to a separate encounter with him involving a terrorist organization. "I remember Mr. Alghabra lobbying me before he was in politics to keep Hezbollah legal, so I'm not sure that he's the right guy to combat antisemitism," he told reporters. 

Howeer, the Jerusalem Post reported that Alghabra had described Hamas as a terrorist organization during a 2016 parliamentary debate.

The other controversial member of the council, Avnish Nanda, represented efforts to keep a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Alberta in place. Critics of the encampment argued it created a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students following Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. 

In April, B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights released a report showing that 6,800 antisemitic incidents took place in the country in 2025, representing a 9.4% increase over 2024. On average, this represented 18.6 incidents a day and was the "highest volume" the group has recorded since it began tracking incidents.

"I'm a Canadian-born Jew serving as rabbi of the vibrant Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem community in Montreal, and I was truly shocked to learn that among the people chosen to sit on Prime Minister Carney's newest council is Omar Alghabra, who publicly mourned the death of Yasser Arafat and remained silent when asked to condemn the attacks of October 7th," Rabbi Zolly Claman of Montreal's Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation told Fox News Digital.

"Canadian Jews are struggling to understand how our prime minister believed this would be a constructive appointment," Claman said.

When announcing the new Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, Carney stated, "The council has a clear mission to combat racism and hate in all their forms and to guide the Government of Canada as part of our efforts to build a fairer, more just, more inclusive society," He also said that, "The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it’s severe, and it demands a targeted response. And that is what our government is fully committed to," Reuters reported.

FROM AUSCHWITZ, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER RISING ANTISEMITISM IN CANADA

When asked about Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement, B'nai Brith Canada, one of the country's leading Jewish advocacy organizations said that while it welcomed the prime minister's acknowledgment of rising antisemitism, it believes additional action is needed to address what it views as a growing crisis facing Canada's Jewish community.

"B'nai Brith Canada acknowledges the Prime Minister's solidarity with the Jewish community," Simon Wolle, the organization's chief executive officer, told Fox News Digital. "He was right to mandate that the Special Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion prioritize researching and combating antisemitism."

At the same time, Wolle questioned whether the newly announced council has the authority and scope necessary to effectively address the problem.

"But we are concerned because the council does not have the power or scale to address this crisis in an appropriate and meaningful manner," he said. "It is an important aspect of the government's approach to combating antisemitism, but it is not sufficient."

Wolle added that B'nai Brith Canada will "continue to call on the government to establish a National Emergency Task Force on Antisemitism, among other initiatives, because the Jewish community needs immediate action, not just words during this time of violence, hate, and threats to our right to exist and participate in Canadian society," he said. Wolle did not offer comment on either Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda appointments.

NON-JEWISH PROFESSOR SAYS HE WAS FIRED FOR CALLING OUT HAMAS SUPPORTERS IN ONLINE POST

Canadian Jewish activist Ariella Kimmel also questioned the effectiveness of the newly announced council.

"The Jewish community makes up just 1.2% of Canada's population, yet is the target of 75% of hate crimes, which is astoundingly disproportionate. Canada does not have a hate problem; it has a Jew-hatred problem. There is a very specific virus spreading rapidly across this country, and our prime minister is administering a broad catch-all antibiotic that will not help."

Kimmel said his speech lacked concrete solutions and failed to address what she described as growing hostility toward Jewish communities.

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"There was nothing on the vile chants we hear on the streets, nothing about the mobs that target Jewish neighborhoods, nothing calling for police to enforce the laws that already exist," she said.

"What Canada doesn't need is another special council on racism. We need to address the real elephant in the room, the targeting of Jews using 'Zionism' as an excusable reason, led by radicalized progressives and Islamist fundamentalists."

Fox News Digital reached out to Carney’s office and Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/world/canadas-carney-pledges-action-antisemitism-amid-backlash-over-new-anti-hate-council-members

Man found with zip ties and duct tape charged with assaulting five women on UCLA campus in under an hour

A man found with zip ties and duct tape has been charged with assaulting five women in less than an hour on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus last week.

Olumuyiwa Akindahunsi, 29, allegedly sexually assaulted two women and tried to sexually assault a third at UCLA, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. He allegedly physically assaulted two other women. Four of the women are students.

Akindahunsi, who is not a student at the university, is charged with one felony count of attempted kidnapping to commit a forcible rape, three felony counts of assault with the intent to commit a forcible rape during the commission of a first-degree burglary, and two felony counts of assault likely to produce great bodily injury.

"These disturbing attacks strike at the core of campus safety, traumatizing five victims and unsettling campus life," Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. "We are working closely with the UCLA Police Department to bring the attacker to justice and ensure that he will be held fully accountable for his actions."

FORMER UCLA GYNECOLOGIST SENTENCED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO SEXUALLY ASSAULTING PATIENTS AT SCHOOL

"Our swift actions should send a powerful deterrent message to anyone thinking of coming onto a college campus to harm anyone: they will be arrested, prosecuted, and punished," he added. "Our university campuses need to be safe and protected spaces for our students, faculty, staff, and community, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that this happens."

Akindahunsi's alleged spree began at 11:30 p.m. on May 28 when he attacked a woman on Bruin Walk, a main campus walkway, and fled with her phone, authorities said.

Minutes later, he slipped behind two women into their dorm building and followed them to their room, prosecutors said. He allegedly sexually assaulted one of the women and assaulted the other. Both women managed to escape.

STUDENTS AT TOP PARTY COLLEGE ON EDGE AFTER RAPE, STRANGULATION REPORTED IN CAMPUS HOUSING

Afterward, Akindahunsi entered a different dorm building and attempted to kidnap a woman walking down a hallway, authorities said. She broke free and fled.

Authorities said that shortly after, Akindahunsi sexually assaulted a woman in the hallway of her dorm, when a resident intervened and Akindahunsi fled the scene.

He was arrested by campus police minutes later near a parking structure after officers were flagged down by witnesses, the UCLA Police Department said.

Multiple witnesses identified Akindahunsi as the attacker, police said. He was found with zip ties, duct tape, and paracord, authorities said.

Akindahunsi is being held in the Los Angeles County Jail with no bail, according to jail records. His citizenship status was not immediately clear.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the university, as well as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

source https://www.foxnews.com/us/man-found-zip-ties-duct-tape-charged-assaulting-five-women-ucla-campus-hour

Family whose children were killed by World Series champion's former lover awarded $176 million

The family of two Los Angeles children who were killed by a city socialite was awarded $176 million by a jury.

Rebecca Grossman, the estranged wife of prominent Dr. Peter Grossman, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, respectively, after striking them with her vehicle at nearly 80 mph in September 2020.

Grossman had prescription drugs and alcohol in her system at the time of the 2020 crash, prosecutors told Fox News Digital.

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Although she was married to a prominent Los Angeles surgeon, Dr. Peter Grossman, she was racing her boyfriend, former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson, home from a restaurant. Each of them was driving Mercedes-Benz SUVs above 70 mph, and Grossman fled from the scene.

Both were found negligent in the crash.

The boys were walking with their youngest brother and mother, who both avoided the crash. The mother said she grabbed the youngest son and dove out of the way of Erickson's car.

Erickson started 364 of his 389 games pitched, pitching to a 4.59 ERA with a 142-136 record. He pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

Erickson made a name for himself with the Twins, winning the World Series with them in 1991 and finishing in second place in Cy Young Award voting that season, falling short of Roger Clemens. Erickson spent six seasons with the Twins and seven with the O's before abbreviated stints with the others.

Grossman was sentenced to 15 years to life in 2024.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino rejected a request from prosecutors that Grossman be sentenced to 34 years to life, saying such a lengthy term is "just not warranted here," Fox Los Angeles reported. He said the children's deaths were an "unimaginable loss," but he noted Grossman's lack of a criminal record and philanthropic history. 

Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

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source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/family-whose-children-killed-world-series-champions-former-lover-awarded-176-million

Mullin tells Congress primary border wall will be done by June 2027, secondary wall by summer 2028

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on Wednesday the administration is on track to have the primary border wall, from the Pacific to the Gulf of America, completed by June 2027.

He added all contracts will be out by the end of this month, noting the department is making "great progress."

Mullin's comments came as he testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about his department's 2027 fiscal year budget. He testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday.

BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION SURGES AHEAD AS ILLEGAL CROSSINGS PLUMMET TO HISTORIC LOWS

However, Mullin clarified the primary wall is separate from the secondary wall.

"The primary wall is the first wall up because of the way the cartels adjust... they're thugs and they're terrorists," Mullin said. "We have to push out a secondary wall because they've been going in and cutting the wall, and before we can respond to some of these remote areas, they've been able to get through."

He said that every mile of fencing the department puts up, "the smaller the choke point gets for criminals to cross."

THE NEW HIGH-TECH TOOL TRUMP IS USING TO SECURE OUR BORDER

To combat the potential break-ins, Mullin said the secondary 150-foot walls will be placed in certain locations, in addition to a smart wall, which will tell the department how many people are there.

"The smart wall is pretty impressive and we can put a drone in the sky and immediately keep eyes on them," he said. "We're well within track. The secondary wall — we feel like if we can continue to have the progress we have and the partnerships we're having, we will probably complete that in the summer of 2028. All of it will be fully completed."

Mullin noted he has made multiple trips to oversee the wall construction and used aircraft to fly over "a tremendous amount of it."

"We have some Democrat members that [have] had some concerns — some Democrat senators, congressmen — every one we try to address immediately," he said.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mullin-tells-congress-primary-border-wall-done-june-2027-secondary-wall-summer-2028

Popular amusement park bans guest for life after roller coaster stunt viral video

A YouTuber has been banned for life from visiting all Six Flags parks after posting a viral video that appeared to show him eating chicken nuggets while riding one of the country's most famous roller coasters.

The video, uploaded in May by content creator Allen Ferrell, shows him attempting to eat McDonald's chicken nuggets while riding Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

The stunt quickly gained attention online, generating hundreds of thousands of views and prompting a response from park officials.

MCDONALD'S MCNUGGET CAVIAR SELLS OUT IN MINUTES AS CONTENT CREATOR CALLS COMBO 'RIDICULOUS, BUT IT WORKS'

Six Flags confirmed to Fox News Digital that Ferrell has been permanently banned from all Six Flags properties.

The company said food and other loose items are prohibited on rides because they can create safety hazards.

"Safety is a cornerstone of our business, and we have zero tolerance for inappropriate and unsafe behavior," a Six Flags spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

"Guests who violate our Code of Conduct are not welcome in our parks, and this guest has been banned from all Six Flags parks for life."

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Ferrell has more than 1.8 million YouTube subscribers. He is known for posting challenge videos in which he attempts unusual dares and stunts.

In the roller coaster video, he is seen concealing a box of chicken nuggets before entering the park and later boarding Millennium Force.

Once seated, Ferrell can be seen beginning to eat as the ride climbs and descends its first hill. 

At one point during the ride, he calls for dipping sauce, which is handed to him by a friend seated nearby.

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After the ride ended, Ferrell said he managed to eat seven of the 10 nuggets.

The video sparked a wave of reactions online, with many viewers laughing at the unusual challenge.

"Somebody 100% got hit in the face with that sauce," one commenter wrote.

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"Enjoy that lifetime ban!" one user wrote.

Yet another person added, "How to get banned 101."

The viral clip was not the first time Ferrell posted footage of himself eating on Millennium Force.

A separate video uploaded in 2023 showed him eating a McDonald's sandwich while riding the roller coaster. 

It has since amassed more than 5 million views.

Fox News Digital reached out to Ferrell for further comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/travel/popular-amusement-park-bans-guest-life-roller-coaster-stunt-viral-video

Biden crashes Jill’s book tour with awkward ‘love’ question that leaves viewers cringing

Former first lady Jill Biden was interrupted by a surprise appearance from former President Joe Biden during a New York stop promoting her memoir Tuesday, leading to an awkward exchange with moderator Whoopi Goldberg that quickly drew reaction online.

"Joe has a question. Like you couldn't ask it later," joked Jill Biden as the former president emerged from the audience.

"Who do you love most in the whole world?" asked Joe Biden.

 "Whoopi," the former first lady responded, laughing. 

JOE AND JILL BIDEN RUN TO FRIENDLY SHOW FOR FIRST POST-WHITE HOUSE INTERVIEW. YES, IT'S 'THE VIEW'

The former president was seen shrugging after his wife's quip. 

Jill Biden has been touring the country to promote her memoir, "View from the East Wing," revealing new details about her relationship with her husband. 

The former first lady is striking a markedly different tone from her previous staunch defense of her husband during his disastrous 2024 re-election run, recently saying during the book tour that she feared he was suffering from a medical issue during his June 2024 debate against President Donald Trump. 

"I wasn’t horrified, I was frightened," Jill Biden recalled. "I had never, ever seen Joe like that before or since. I don’t know what happened. As I watched it, I said, ‘Oh my God, he’s having a stroke.’ It scared me to death," she said.

NYT WRITERS RIDICULED FOR SAYING DISASTROUS BIDEN DEBATE ENDED IN 'DRAW' AS JILL BIDEN FEARED HE HAD A STROKE

Social media users quickly lambasted the Bidens for the awkward exchange with Whoopi Goldberg, weighing in on the couple’s relationship and sharing their thoughts on the former president’s health.

"Staged and still sad," said one user on X.

"So painful to watch," wrote a user.

"The dementia is kicking in hard," a user jabbed.

"The man ran the free world for four years and still needs verbal reassurance at a book signing," wrote one person.

"I'd like to think that he just wandered in and wasn't actually invited to the event," poked a user.

"How embarrassing," commented an X user.

JILL BIDEN SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER FOR 'COVER UP' OF FORMER PRESIDENT'S DECLINE, WHITE HOUSE SAYS

The veteran lawmaker served in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before becoming vice president under President Barack Obama, serving two consecutive terms.

His political career came to an abrupt end at the height of his re-election campaign when he suspended his bid following intensified scrutiny of a series of verbal missteps and public gaffes.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Office of Jill and Joe Biden for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-crashes-jills-book-tour-awkward-love-question-leaves-viewers-cringing