NPR’s Alito retirement blunder raises eyebrows after reporter's ‘not plausible’ explanation stuns media world

The strange explanation surrounding NPR’s erroneous story about Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's retirement has raised more questions about the journalism debacle. 

NPR was forced to retract a story Tuesday by legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, who wrongly reported that Alito was retiring. NPR published the story headlined, "Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, retires," but quickly replaced it with an editor’s note insisting it was "erroneously published." 

NPR top editor Thomas Evans issued a statement calling the botched report a "misunderstanding" and said Totenberg would appear on "All Things Considered" to explain how the gaffe occurred. 

NPR RETRACTS FALSE REPORT CLAIMING JUSTICE SAMUEL ALITO IS RETIRING FROM THE SUPREME COURT

But NPR Public Editor Kelly McBride addressed the situation before Totenberg appeared on-air and wrote that Totenberg "misheard" an announcement by Chief Justice John Roberts and simply thought he said Alito was retiring. 

Totenberg then appeared on "All Things Considered" Tuesday and provided a different explanation for the "rookie mistake" that contradicted her own public editor. The 82-year-old Totenberg, who has been a working journalist for over five decades, read a letter she wrote to Alito apologizing for the mistake.

"Dear Justice Alito, there are no words to adequately apologize for today's error in reporting your retirement. It was entirely my fault," Totenberg said.

"I rushed out of the courtroom after the opinion announcements, and when I realized that the usual rush of folks after a few minutes had not happened, I asked somebody what was going on inside, to which the answer was, 'retirement announcements.' I didn't hear the 's' on 'announcements,' and I assumed, something no reporter should ever do, that you were retiring," Totenberg continued. "It was the worst professional mistake of my more than 50 years in journalism. I could go on, but I don't know what else to say, except that I am so, so sorry." 

NPR REVEALS HOW A MISHEARD ANNOUNCEMENT LED TO IT FALSELY CLAIMING JUSTICE ALITO WAS RETIRING

NPR was then forced to issue its second correction of the day, this time to McBride’s story about Totenberg’s misstep. McBride initially wrote that Totenberg misheard Justice Roberts, but the veteran reporter admitted on-air that she instead heard "somebody" say a retirement was being announced. 

"This story was updated to include Totenberg's description of her error, as broadcast on ATC. She did not personally hear the announcement from the chief justice," the correction stated. 

Alito's retirement would have massive implications if it happened, as President Donald Trump would be in position to have a fourth Supreme Court pick over his two terms.

Totenberg's puzzling explanation not only contradicted McBride but also stunned media observers from across the industry. CNN media reporter Brian Stelter posted her apology on X and was promptly met with confusion. 

Axios reporter Alex Thompson replied, "I don’t understand," to which Stelter added, "I don’t either." Others suggested that Totenberg might have jumped the gun on a looming announcement and many wondered why a veteran journalist would have published a pre-written bombshell without clear confirmation. 

SUPREME COURT'S LATEST IMMIGRATION RULING WILL CAUSE AMERICANS TO 'DIE AND SUFFER' ATTORNEY WARNS

Bethany Mandel added, "Her version of events is not plausible. She heard the word retirement and assumed Alito and published a whole story?" 

"That is not an explanation. It's either a lie or unforgivable incompetence for which she must be fired," journalist Miranda Devine responded. 

Former CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane wrote, "This is staggering. Just… gobsmacking."

"The Press Box" host Bryan Curtis added, "This is a different level of screw-up than a pre-write accidentally getting pubbed."

Many others took to X with thoughts:

NPR has said the process for posting breaking news will be reviewed. In the meantime, McBride blasted her colleague. 

"As Totenberg said on air later in the day, ‘It was a rookie mistake.’ But had a rookie made such a mistake, he or she would have been dismissed. To make such an assumption is inexplainable," McBride wrote. 

NPR did not immediately respond to a series of Fox News Digital questions, including whether Totenberg would be disciplined and how the process for posting breaking news will change.

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Alito, an appointee of then-President George W. Bush, has fueled speculation about his retirement because of two factors: his age and the length of his tenure on the bench. The 76-year-old justice has been part of the Court for more than 20 years. 

Republicans currently control the U.S. Senate and White House, so a hypothetical Trump nominee wouldn't need Democratic support to get confirmed.

Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf, Alec Schemmel and Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.

source https://www.foxnews.com/media/nprs-alito-retirement-blunder-raises-eyebrows-after-reporters-not-plausible-explanation-stuns-media-world

Florida woman tells police she knows nothing about drugs that allegedly fell out of her ‘jail purse’

How did that get there? That's what police in Florida say a woman asked over the weekend after the jail scanner picked up an abnormality in her "lower region" and a baggie of cocaine allegedly hit the floor while she was in a change out room.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office reported that Reagan Cox was arrested on charges of resisting an officer without violence during a traffic stop. There's not a mention of why she was stopped in the first place, but that's neither here nor there.

The story picked up after she was transported to jail and the scanner noticed something in what Sheriff Wayne Ivey described in a Facebook post about the alleged incident as her "Jail Purse."

CALLING 911 BECAUSE A BAR WON’T SERVE YOU A JELL-O SHOT IS WHAT POLICE REFER TO AS A MISUSE OF SERVICES

"Our Corrections Deputies moved Cox to a change out room where she was observed trying to cover her buttocks area with her hand," the sheriff wrote about what took place after the abnormality was picked up by the scanner. "After moving her hand, a baggie dropped to the floor containing approximately 3.8 grams of cocaine!!"

Cox is alleged to have said that "she knew nothing about the drugs." She then, according to Ivey, pointed the finger at someone who "must have put it in there during an 'intimate encounter!!'"

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The accuracy of that version of how the alleged baggie of drugs made its way into the jail will more than likely have to be decided during a court proceeding of some kind, because Cox picked up another charge.

On top of her resisting without violence charge, she was charged with introduction of contraband into a detention facility.

Ivey ended the Facebook post with some knowledge for the public to keep in mind as they're navigating their way through daily life.

He wrote, "Folks, if not realizing that someone left cocaine in your 'Jail Purse,' is not a good enough reminder to not do drugs, then I don’t know what is!!"

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-culture/florida-woman-tells-police-knows-nothing-drugs-allegedly-fell-jail-purse

Big Medicare change slashes weight-loss drug costs for eligible seniors

Millions of Medicare beneficiaries struggling with obesity could soon see the cost of weight-loss drugs plummet, as a new federal pilot program launching July 1 expands access to GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for eligible seniors.

Through a new trial called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, the federal government is now offering a selection of the brand-name medications to certain Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for $50 a month, The Associated Press reported.

The covered medications include drugmaker Eli Lilly’s Foundayo tablets and Zepbound KwikPens and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injections and tablets, all of which have been FDA-approved for weight loss, according to the report.

OZEMPIC USERS MAY BE MAKING A MAJOR WEIGHT-LOSS MISTAKE, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS

The temporary program is set to run until the end of 2027.

This is the first time GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) will be covered by insurance when used solely for weight loss.

Prior to this new Medicare pilot, seniors who wanted to access GLP-1s for obesity alone paid about $1,350-$1,650 per month for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy (semaglutide) and about $1,086 monthly for Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide). However, both manufacturers offered some cash-pay options that significantly reduced those prices for eligible patients.

GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS ARE RESHAPING THE BRIDAL INDUSTRY AS SHOPS RUSH ORDERS AND REQUIRE NEW WAIVERS

There are some parameters surrounding the coverage — older adults must have had a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher when they started GLP-1 therapy, or a BMI of 27 or higher alongside another health condition, such as a past heart attack or stroke or prediabetes.

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Those who already have insurance coverage for other diseases, such as diabetes and sleep apnea, are not eligible for the program.

There are more than 70 million Americans currently enrolled in Medicare, 10 million of whom are overweight or obese, according to Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the program on Medicare policy at the healthcare research nonprofit KFF.

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"For many older Americans living with obesity, this is a moment they and their families have been waiting for," Jamey Millar, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of U.S. operations, said in a press release.

"The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program offers a new, affordable path to an FDA-approved treatment that was previously not covered."

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said he hopes the program can help his agency collect data to potentially work toward longer-term coverage, while providing immediate relief to cash-strapped older Americans, AP reported.

"The sheer cost of these medications is a huge barrier to access," he said in a call with reporters. "That ends today."

Oz told reporters that CMS plans to "carefully track participation and outcomes" to see whether an extension of the Bridge program or another solution is the best way to move forward. He told AP a federal law permanently allowing the coverage is "not essential right now" but something "for Congress to debate amongst themselves."

"We can’t decide what’s going to happen long term with Bridge until we see some of the data," he said, adding that there are ongoing talks with drug companies to lower costs.

One potential concern is that older patients tend to have more adverse effects to medication in general , according to Dr. Micah Eimer, a clinical assistant professor of cardiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Specifically, in our research, older patients on blood pressure medications were more likely to experience hypotensive side effects, such as fainting and dizziness, after starting a GLP-1," he said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

source https://www.foxnews.com/health/big-medicare-change-slashes-weight-loss-drug-costs-eligible-seniors

Air Force reveals B-2's hidden ship killer capability as China threat grows

The Air Force revealed Monday that its flagship B-2 Spirit stealth bomber can now strike enemy warships with the long range anti-ship missile (LRASM), publicly unveiling the capability after a live-fire exercise in the Western Pacific.

The stealth bomber launched a long-range anti-ship missile during Exercise Valiant Shield 26, a U.S.-led multinational exercise involving American and allied forces across the Western Pacific, in a sinking exercise north of the Mariana Islands.

The announcement comes as the Pentagon increasingly focuses on preparing for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific, where China's rapidly expanding navy would present one of the U.S. military's biggest challenges. Publicly demonstrating the B-2's new maritime strike capability also serves as a signal that the stealth bomber could play a key role in holding high-value naval targets at risk.

"The B-2's impressive performance underscores the U.S. military’s commitment to adaptability and flexibility in the face of emerging security challenges," Gen. Kevin B. Schneider, commander of Pacific Air Forces, said in a statement.

TRUMP PLAN FOR FOREIGN SHIPBUILDERS COULD CREATE 540,000 JOBS AND EXPAND US FLEET

"By prioritizing counter-maritime strike operations, we can maintain a decisive edge over adversaries, protect our national interests and ensure the free and open Pacific that underpin our global security."

Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for details, but confirmed to The War Zone that the B-2 fired the anti-ship missile at a decommissioned amphibious warfare ship known as the USS Juneau during the exercise.

U.S. and partner-nation forces battered the decommissioned warship, which entered service in 1969, with coordinated air, surface and subsurface strikes June 27 and June 28, sending it to the bottom of the Philippine Sea more than 200 nautical miles off the coast of Guam, according to a Navy release. A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine delivered the final blow with a torpedo.

TIM SHEEHY EXPOSES A 'SCARY' SHIPBUILDING COLLAPSE THAT LEAVES THE US VULNERABLE TO CHINA

China continues to expand the world's largest navy and fields an array of long-range anti-ship missiles aimed at keeping U.S. forces at bay in the Western Pacific. The People's Liberation Army Navy will grow from more than 370 battle force ships to roughly 435 by 2030, according to Pentagon projections. U.S. Navy currently operates about 291 battle force ships.

But Beijing has yet to field its long-awaited H-20 stealth bomber, leaving the U.S. with an operational capability China has not yet publicly demonstrated: pairing a stealth bomber with a long-range anti-ship cruise missile capable of striking high-value naval targets in heavily defended airspace.

While long range anti-ship missile already is carried by the Air Force's B-1B Lancer and the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, integrating the missile onto the B-2 gives the Air Force a stealth platform capable of carrying the weapon.

The B-2 Spirit is the Air Force's only operational stealth bomber, designed to penetrate sophisticated enemy air defenses while carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. Most recently, B-2s flew from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to strike Iranian nuclear facilities during Operation Midnight Hammer, dropping 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs in the weapon's first combat use.

The demonstration could also foreshadow future missions for the B-21 Raider, the Air Force's next-generation stealth bomber, which eventually will replace the B-2. While the Air Force has not disclosed which anti-ship weapons the B-21 will carry, officials say it is being designed to employ a broad mix of stand-off and direct-attack conventional munitions. 

EUROPE'S $116B FIGHTER JET 'FAILURE' RAISES FRESH DOUBTS ABOUT ABILITY TO DEFEND ITSELF WITHOUT US

The B-21 is expected to begin entering operational service in 2027.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/air-force-reveals-b-2s-hidden-ship-killer-capability-china-threat-grows

Texas Rangers get the nod over Cleveland Guardians in tonight's MLB betting pick despite road struggles

I finally got off the slide last night and now have won three of the past four MLB games that I've played. I did catch a little bit of luck yesterday as the Diamondbacks scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. In fairness, they were winning until the top of the fifth. It was nice to be on the right side of it either way. Tonight, we head to the American League and look for a win.

If you're familiar with Greek mythology at all, you've probably heard about Sisyphus. For those who don't know, he was a guy who was condemned by the Greek gods to push a huge boulder up the hill, only for it to roll back down every time it got to the top. That's how I feel about the Texas Rangers. Every time they get close to looking like a winning team, they have a setback and go back under .500. They are over for the moment at 42-41, and perhaps, this is the time they get the boulder over and keep moving forward. However, I think they are what they are - an average team that needs to find a way to get on a roll.

Starting pitching really hasn't been the problem for the Rangers. It has been more about a lack of consistent offense. Today, they send out Jacob deGrom to do his work. We know that deGrom's arm was blessed by the gods early in his career, but even now, he is still turning in solid outings. He is 6-5 for the season with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. He has struggled on the road this year with a 4.60 road ERA. What is crazy is that he has three games where he allowed six earned runs. He faced Cleveland earlier this month and allowed no runs in six innings of work.

I'm not sure I have a mythological comparison for the Cleveland Guardians. All I can say about this team is that every year, they seem to be one of the better teams in baseball and find a way to win despite not having top-tier talent. Perhaps that is a lesson in roster construction for the rest of the league. The Guardians are three games over .500, and they are one game back of the White Sox, so you can once again count on them having a say on who wins the division.

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What the Guardians have always done a very good job of is finding reliable starting pitching. Tonight, they have Tanner Bibee taking the hill. Bibee is 2-8 for the season with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He is doing slightly better at home than on the road. However, he has allowed more homers at home than on the road. And, he has allowed identical earned runs on the road as at home this season; he just has one more start at home and roughly five more innings. Bibee also faced the Rangers earlier this month and turned in his best start of the year. He went eight scoreless innings and allowed three hits.

Bibee has good numbers against Rangers hitters in his career, with just 11 hits allowed in 56 at-bats. Jake Burger might be worth a look at for total bases or a homer, as he is 2-for-5 with two homers against him. I'm not sure I'll get involved in the player prop market for this game, though.

The play here is to take the Rangers. Call it a bit of a hunch, but if I'm backing either of these pitchers to replicate the performance from earlier in the month, I'm taking deGrom. He has struggled a bit on the road, but part of that is from the really bad games. Otherwise, he is pitching fairly well. Give me the Rangers on the moneyline tonight.

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

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/texas-rangers-get-nod-cleveland-guardians-tonights-mlb-betting-pick-despite-road-struggles

Wisconsin Badgers just added the perfect jersey sponsorship if there is such a thing

One of the most controversial things to happen in sports over the last five to seven years or so is the introduction of jersey ads.

Sure, they've been around in Europe and in the minor leagues forever, but now major league teams and even colleges are adding them.

But now and then, someone comes up with a perfect jersey ad, and that's what the Wisconsin Badgers have done.

It seems borderline sacrilegious to throw a corporate sponsorship on the Badgers' iconic cardinal red and white getups. Especially one that doesn't share those colors.

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But they may have found a solution: Butter burger-flippin', Concrete Mixer-slingin' fast-food chain, Culver's.

I feel like a significant portion of the Badgers fanbase was very angry when they heard they were slapping ads on their uniforms, but that subsided at least 20%, if not completely, when they saw it was Culver's.

They love Culver's there.

And I think this might be the answer to these jersey sponsorships. I don't totally hate the way they look, because I think they become part of the uniform. Think about motorsports, where the sponsor is the paint scheme or livery.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

But I think you can convince even more of the haters if you bring in a sponsor that has some ties to the region, and that's what Wisconsin has done.

More schools will be adding sponsors, so hopefully they will follow suit. Get a Texas school to partner with Buc-ee's or a Philly-area school to throw a Wawa patch on their uniforms (of course, it doesn't have to stay limited to regional convenience store chains, but there's a lot of pride in those).

Is it still fun to see corporate logos slapped on iconic uniforms? No.

But you've got to bring in that money somehow if you want to throw a competitive roster on the field.

And if that means slapping a burger chain's logo on the shoulder, go for it.

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/wisconsin-badgers-perfect-jersey-sponsorship

Taylor Swift's Alan Jackson tribute backfires as country crowd seemingly erupts in boos

Taylor Swift paid tribute to Alan Jackson with a heartfelt message celebrating the country icon's legendary career, but the emotional moment quickly became overshadowed after video appeared to capture a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd.

The reaction came during Jackson's "Last Call: One More for the Road — The Finale" concert, where Swift appeared in a prerecorded video tribute honoring the country legend rather than attending the show in person.

"It's Taylor," Swift began in the video. "I just want to say thank you for your decades of unbelievable songwriting and your performances and the way that means so much to us, the fans."

Swift praised Jackson for his song "Drive." Released in January 2002 as the second single from his album of the same name, Jackson wrote it as a tribute to his father, Eugene "Daddy Gene" Jackson, who died in 2000. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and remains one of his signature recordings.

ALAN JACKSON RETIRES FROM TOURING AFTER 30 YEARS ON THE ROAD

"In that song, you paint such a picture and let us into the details of your life," Swift explained. "I know that was an example that was so good for me to see at a young age, an artist who's really just letting fans into the details of his life."

"I appreciate you so much for the ways that you have just treated me and other artists and writers with… such support and encouragement over the years," she continued. "I am so excited for you doing this show and just appreciate you so much. Love you."

Swift's message was met with what appeared to be a mix of cheers and boos, according to a viral TikTok video. "Not the reaction they were expecting I'm assuming," the creator captioned the clip.

"Now do the video showing how they cheered so loudly," one user commented.

Another added, "There was applause, and later boo's [sic]. They booed longer so they can go viral."

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Others decided it was insulting, not just to Swift but to Jackson as well.

"imagine booing someone giving a tribute to the person you're AT THE CONCERT FOR they weren't disrespecting Taylor, they were disrespecting Alan."

"Absolutely insulting to her and especially to Alan Jackson," another said.

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Swift has long cited Jackson as one of the country artists she admired growing up, and the two have shared several notable moments over the years. One of the most memorable came in 2008, when Swift performed Jackson's emotional hit "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" as part of "CMT Giants: Alan Jackson," a television special honoring his career.

Swift also honored Jackson at the 2011 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony, performing his 9/11 anthem "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" as part of the tribute celebrating his songwriting achievements.

source https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/taylor-swifts-alan-jackson-tribute-backfires-country-crowd-seemingly-erupts-boos