Famed ex-Yankees pitcher Tommy John dead at 83 after sending farewell message to fans

Tommy John, the former MLB pitcher whose elbow surgery set the standard in baseball and helped lengthen the careers of countless players, has died. He was 83.

Mike Maguire, his agent, announced John’s death in a statement.

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"Thomas Edward ‘Tommy’ John Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood Ranch last night surrounded by his loving wife, Cheryl, and his sister-in-laws Judith Florentino and Karen Jordan," the statement read.

"A private celebration of life will be held in Florida."

John’s death comes about a week after he released a farewell message to fans on New York Yankees’ Old-Timers’ Day.

He said in his message he was "saying goodbye" as the team revealed he had been battling health issues.

"I want to thank the Yankees organization & the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends & fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career," John’s message read.

"Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching. That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today.

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"Thank you to all the fans who supported me & my teammates for 26 years. I will never forget you."

John had his famed surgery in 1974 and became a success story as he went on to win more than 160 games after the operation was completed. He missed the entire 1975 season and was a three-time All-Star after the surgery.

He finished his career as a four-time All-Star and played eight of his 26 seasons with the Yankees.

He also played for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics.

He had a career 3.34 ERA with 2,245 strikeouts.

"The day I left for my first job as a pitcher, my father looked at me & said, 'Good luck, Tommy. Just remember one thing: whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don't, you'll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana,'" his message added.

"I've never forgotten those words. Thank you & God Bless."

source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/famed-ex-yankees-pitcher-tommy-john-dead-83-farewell-message-fans

Bill Maher rips immigrants who refuse to adapt, says American values are ‘not negotiable’

Comedian Bill Maher argued Friday that immigrants must assimilate to American culture and accept certain fundamental values like gay rights, women's equality and free speech, saying those principles are "not White values," but liberal ones.

During his latest episode of HBO’s "Real Time," Maher blasted both sides of the political spectrum for their approach to immigration within the country — adding that there is "no doubt" that Democrats and Republicans "went to extremes."

"If you want the American dream, you have to take the American values," he said.

However, a public policy professor at Penn State University told Fox News Digital that Maher had it wrong. 

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"Biden's policy of open doors, and then Trump's policy of broken windows," Maher continued. "Now, I'm on the page of America doing what it used to do so well — stealing hard-working, talented immigrants from around the world and making them Americans."

He went on to point to his belief that "something has changed" in the attitude of those immigrating to the United States who may no longer believe they should adapt to western cultural standards.

"Now, most immigrants still want to assimilate, but some now have this other attitude of, ‘melting pot? F--- you, you melt," Maher said, while cracking a joke. "Look, you don’t have to love everything about America. We don’t. That’s why Yelp was invented."

"But, you know, if you do get past ICE, America’s actually pretty cool," he continued. "We say, ‘You do you.’ Eat the food your grandma cooked. Speak another language at home. Celebrate religious holidays. We welcome your food, your art, your fashion, your first ladies."

But according to Maher, the price of immigration comes with a cost.

"But you have to answer one question: Do you like Western civilization? Because that’s what we are. And that’s not negotiable," he said.

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"Honor killings, not letting women show their faces, polygamy, cousin f---ing, female genital mutilation — there’s lots of stuff we don’t do here, and it’s non-negotiable," Maher said. "And it’s not ‘White values.’ These are liberal values. People fought and died to establish them. And it’s not racist to say if you want to come here to help form a more perfect union, great. But some things are too fundamental to change."

But the framing itself drew pushback from Nicole Kreisberg, an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy and the Department of Sociology at Penn State, who told Fox News Digital that Maher had the country's history backward.

"In my view, Maher makes it seem as if America is built on a foundation of the 'melting pot,' rather than on 'assimilation,'" Kreisberg said. "To me, America is built on an attitude of 'assimilate or don't come.'"

Kreisberg said that immigrants from all countries have historically been expected to assimilate to American culture, with harsh cultural consequences for those who either fail or cannot manage to do so.

"Throughout history, the U.S. state has actually built up systems to discourage immigrants from pursuing this ‘melting pot’ strategy," Kreisberg told Fox News Digital. "Immigrants often face discrimination for speaking languages other than English in public; and for immigrants to advance in their U.S. careers, they often must speak English."

Kreisberg added that for over two centuries, immigrants who hailed from countries with a large European population fared better than those who arrived in the country as racial minorities.

"Immigrants past and present — such as Irish and Italians historically, or Chinese immigrants today — have sought to assimilate to avoid discrimination by changing their names to more ‘American’ ones, by adopting their food preferences for their children and by changing their political preferences," Kreisberg said, adding, "But unlike was the case with Irish or Italians, who eventually did manage to assimilate to become ‘White’ Americans, contemporary immigrants are struggling because of pivotal differences in how they are racialized."

"In other words, no matter how much they try to assimilate, they may continue to face discrimination based on their skin tone," she said.

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On Friday, Maher turned to the audience and asked if "gay rights is one of our values that’s non-negotiable?" — eliciting a round of applause from the crowd.

He pointed to congressional candidate Melissa Chaudhry, a progressive Democrat challenging longtime Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., and her failure to include LGBTQ+ rights as one of the causes she supports.

When she was previously asked why her website did not mention LGBTQ+ issues, Chaudhry reportedly said, "because a lot of Muslims do not feel that way, unfortunately," according to The Stranger.

Maher blasted this stance during his segment Friday, while condemning what he believes is a shift in progressive policy to see "everything as oppressor versus oppressed, but can’t see who actually does a lot of oppressing."

"So let me ask, is this the progressive policy now? Is Ms. Chaudhry right?" he said. "We throw gay people under the bus any time it clashes with what makes Muslims uncomfortable?"

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He then looked to dismantle a quote from activist Linda Sarsour, saying, "Our number one priority is our community. It is not to assimilate."

"OK, but that’s not really how immigration works," Maher said. "If I move to Japan, I don’t get to say, ‘OK, everybody. A couple of changes. First of all, shoes stay on in the house now. Also, no more tentacle porn, that’s gone.'"

Maher’s argument continued as he pointed out several cultural practices that are considered taboo in western civilization — adding that anyone who comes to America should not expect the country to compromise on such beliefs.

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However, Maher concluded his argument by contradicting Kreisberg’s stance, insisting that his belief that immigrants should respect American values has nothing to do with "Islamaphobia," but instead a basic belief that those living within the country should respect the fundamental rights it protects.

"Now, you can, and I’m sure some of you are screaming, ‘Islamophobia!’ But that’s just a bulls--- word to cow people into not talking about this," Maher said. "This has nothing to do with non-whites becoming the majority. I don’t give a s--- about that. I don’t give a s--- about colors. White people — they’re White, they’re not pandas. I care about liberal values being replaced by illiberal ones."

Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

source https://www.foxnews.com/media/bill-maher-rips-immigrants-refuse-adapt-says-american-values-not-negotiable

Air Force athletes chasing Olympic dreams in between serving the nation in a critical time

As U.S. airmen carry out combat operations in the war with Iran, a small group of service members is representing the Air Force in a different arena: elite international sports.

Through the World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP, Air Force athletes can train full-time while remaining on active duty. Their assignment is to compete at the highest level, promote the service and attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games. When their athletic careers end, they return to conventional military roles.

The program’s mission has taken on added weight since U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran on Feb. 28. An April 6 CENTCOM fact sheet said American forces had struck more than 13,000 targets using bombers, fighters, tankers, surveillance aircraft, electronic-warfare platforms and airlifters. The conflict remained unresolved in August.

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Against that backdrop, Airman First Class Anita Alvarez, 2nd Lt. Texas Tanner and 1st Lt. Wyatt Hendrickson are training toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Retired Air Force combat rescue officer Chad Senior offers an example of how an elite athlete’s experience can eventually translate into operational military service.

Their circumstances are not identical. Alvarez and Senior are Olympians, although Senior competed through the Army’s athlete program before joining the Air Force. Tanner and Hendrickson have not yet reached the Olympics, but both have won major national championships while serving.

Alvarez entered the Air Force as an established Olympic medalist. She had already competed in three Olympic Games and helped the United States win the artistic-swimming team silver medal in Paris in 2024.

She entered basic military training in November 2024 and graduated at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in January 2025. According to the Air Force, she became the first Olympic medalist specifically recruited into the Department of the Air Force’s WCAP program.

The Air Force did not produce her Olympic medal, but it has helped extend her career. Before enlisting, Alvarez said she balanced eight-hour training days with side jobs, school and uncertainty about what she would do after leaving her sport. WCAP allowed her to make training, recovery and mental preparation her full-time job.

"I can put everything not only into the physical training every day, but also into my mental performance, into my recovery," Alvarez said.

Her results since joining the service suggest the arrangement is working. World Aquatics records show that Alvarez won two World Cup bronze medals in team events in 2025. In 2026, she added a team acrobatic gold medal in Medellin, three silver medals in team and duet events, and two more bronze medals.

Alvarez is also completing her degree while considering a post-athletic Air Force career. She expressed interest in aerospace physiology, becoming an officer and possibly pursuing pilot training.

Listening to other airmen discuss deployments and operational missions has also changed how she views her athletic assignment.

"I’m grateful for the opportunities to be able to compete and travel and do all these things in my sport because of the military members and what they’re doing overseas," Alvarez said.

Tanner’s rise came through the Air Force Academy. The Sheridan, Wyoming, native completed one of the strongest throwing careers in Academy history before graduating and receiving his commission in 2026.

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During his final collegiate season, Tanner set American collegiate records in both the discus and hammer. He finished second in the hammer and fourth in the discus at the NCAA outdoor championships, ending his Academy career as a six-time All-American.

Only weeks after commissioning, Tanner won his first senior national championship. He threw 65.46 meters to capture the U.S. discus title in New York on July 25, winning by nearly a meter and a half. Two days earlier, he placed sixth in the hammer with a throw of 71.64 meters.

The performance moved Tanner closer to his goal of competing at the Los Angeles Games.

"It was to be a national champion," Tanner said. "Now that I’ve accomplished that, it’s to be the best in the world."

Tanner said military service is part of a family tradition that includes his father, aunt, uncle, cousin and grandfather. He did not enter the Academy expecting to become a professional athlete, but WCAP opened that path after he had already committed to military service.

When his throwing career ends, Tanner expects to enter Air Force contracting, helping acquire the goods and services needed to operate aircraft, installations and military units.

"To be able to serve my country in more ways than one is honestly just something that is a legacy through my family," Tanner said.

Hendrickson has produced one of WCAP’s most visible recent achievements. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 2024, he used his final season of college eligibility at Oklahoma State while serving on active duty through the program.

In March 2025, Hendrickson defeated Olympic champion Gable Steveson to win the NCAA heavyweight wrestling championship. He finished the season undefeated and received the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation’s outstanding college wrestler.

Hendrickson then won the 2025 Pan American championship and earned a place on the U.S. senior world team. He placed 17th at that year’s World Championships before returning in 2026 to win another Pan American title.

In June, Hendrickson defeated world medalist Mason Parris in two consecutive matches at Final X, securing the 125-kilogram position on the U.S. world team for the second straight year.

"If this were an Olympic year, I’d be an Olympian," Hendrickson said.

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His long-term goal is an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles. He said WCAP provides the command support and resources that make it possible for him to continue wrestling while remaining an active-duty officer.

"If it weren’t for WCAP, I would not be a wrestler today," Hendrickson said. "They are really the backbone of support while I’m trying to pursue an Olympic gold medal."

Hendrickson also acknowledged that other airmen are performing operational work he otherwise might be doing. After wrestling, he expects to serve as an acquisitions officer responsible for obtaining equipment and other resources for the Air Force.

"I really have to give more credit to the airmen that are kind of filling my role right now," he said. "Hopefully I can repay them by bringing back a gold medal for the United States of America."

Senior’s career shows what that transition from international competition to military operations can look like.

Senior competed in modern pentathlon through the Army’s World Class Athlete Program. He entered the 2000 Olympic year ranked No. 1 in the world, finished sixth at the Sydney Games and placed 13th at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Senior decided to leave elite competition and move into a more operational military role. He became an Air Force combat rescue officer and served with the 920th Rescue Wing and 308th Rescue Squadron.

Air Force and Army records credit him with two deployments to Afghanistan and one to Iraq. He later became the 308th Rescue Squadron’s director of operations and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring.

Senior now works as a contractor supporting the Air Force and helping plan contingency rescues for human-spaceflight crews.

He argues that WCAP’s value cannot be measured only by medals. Elite athletes arrive with years of experience in discipline, teamwork, failure and high-pressure performance. Those qualities, he said, can later strengthen operational military units.

Senior views the program as an investment serving three groups: athletes receive the opportunity to pursue world-class goals, the military gains future service members and recruiting ambassadors, and taxpayers gain personnel accustomed to performing under stress.

The real return, he said, comes after athletes leave competition and bring those habits back to the military.

For Alvarez, Tanner and Hendrickson, that test remains ahead. Their present assignment is not combat service, and none claimed that winning a medal was equivalent to carrying out a military mission.

Instead, they described their athletic careers as another form of representation — and as preparation for the work they will eventually perform outside the pool, throwing circle or wrestling arena.

Alvarez is pursuing a fourth Olympic appearance. Tanner is a national champion only months after receiving his commission. Hendrickson has earned consecutive positions on the U.S. world team.

Their immediate objective is Los Angeles. The Air Force’s longer wager is that the discipline required to reach the Olympics will remain valuable after the competition ends and a different kind of service begins.

source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/air-force-athletes-chasing-olympic-dreams-serving-nation-critical-time

10 House incumbent lawmakers who saw their 2026 re-election bids end in primary defeat

So far during the 2026 election season, 10 incumbent House lawmakers have lost primaries, including three Republicans and seven Democrats.

The three Republican incumbents who fell short include Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and Andy Ogles of Tennessee.

The seven incumbent House Democrats who lost include Al Green of Texas, Julie Johnson of Texas, Dan Goldman of New York, Adriano Espaillat of New York, Diana DeGette of Colorado, Shri Thanedar of Michigan, and John Larson of Connecticut.

The failed Texas and Tennessee U.S. House incumbents grappled with redistricting in their states that applied to this cycle.

Crenshaw, the only U.S. House Republican incumbent seeking re-election in Texas who did not get President Donald Trump's endorsement, lost the GOP primary for Texas' 2nd Congressional District to state Rep. Steve Toth.

While Trump did not endorse either of the men ahead of the primary, he has since endorsed Toth.

Crenshaw has served in the House since 2019.

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Massie lost the Republican primary for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL.

The race made history as the most expensive U.S. House primary contest ever, reports indicate.

Massie has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since late 2012.

Despite having Trump's endorsement, Ogles lost the GOP primary for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District to former state Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher.

Ogles has served in the House since 2023.

Trump backed Hatcher last week after he defeated Ogles in the primary.

"Last night was another good night for Endorsements, 8-1, and the 1 was a person who I remained loyal to even though he had virtually no chance of winning, and was running against a Great 'Trump' Candidate, and former Agricultural Commissioner of Tennessee, named Charlie Hatcher. Good luck Charlie! Run tough and hard. You have my Complete and Total Endorsement!" Trump declared in a Truth Social post.

DSA-BACKED CANDIDATE TOPPLES MILLIONAIRE DEM INCUMBENT

Thanedar, who has served as a lawmaker in the lower congressional chamber since 2023, lost the Democratic U.S. House primary in Michigan's 13th Congressional District this year to state Rep. Donavan McKinney, a Democratic socialist.

Thanedar declared in October 2023 that he was renouncing Democratic Socialists of America membership, though then-Detroit DSA co-chair Mikal Goodman declared at the time in a post on X that Thanedar "was expelled as a member on September 17th, by 91% of vote the general membership. He no longer had a membership to renounce."

Goldman, who took office in 2023, lost the Democratic U.S. House primary in New York's 10th Congressional District to former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

Big Apple Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, had backed Lander ahead of the primary contest.

"He’ll bring principled leadership to Washington and make sure Congress works for the many, not just the few," Mamdani wrote in part of a post on X.

MAMDANI-BACKED SOCIALIST WITH HISTORY OF ANTI-AMERICAN RHETORIC WINS VICIOUS DEM PRIMARY RACE

Espaillat lost the Democratic U.S. House primary for New York's 13th Congressional District to Democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who was also endorsed by Mamdani.

The congressman has served in the U.S. House chamber since 2017.

He is chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

DeGette lost the Democratic U.S. House primary for Colorado's 1st Congressional District to Democratic socialist Melat Kiros.

The congresswoman has served in the House for nearly two decades since taking office in 1997.

Green, who has served in the House since 2005, lost the Democratic U.S. House primary runoff for Texas' 18th Congressional District to U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee.

Johnson, who has only served in the House since last year, lost the Democratic U.S. House primary runoff for Texas' 33rd Congressional District to former Rep. Colin Allred.

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Larson, who has served in the House since 1999, lost the Democratic U.S. House primary in Connecticut's 1st Congressional District to former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/10-house-incumbent-lawmakers-who-saw-2026-re-election-bids-end-primary-defeat

Jewish Dem defections threaten El-Sayed in Michigan Senate race decided by razor-thin margins

Jewish voters could provide the decisive margin in Michigan’s November Senate election, particularly as some lifelong Democrats say they are prepared to cross party lines and vote for Republican Mike Rogers against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

Analysts point to Michigan’s last U.S. Senate race decided by just 19,006 votes. With estimates placing the state’s Jewish population between approximately 105,000 and 130,000 adults, those votes could tip the scales in favor of Rogers.

"Republicans made real gains in the most Jewish areas in 2024, and Michigan was no exception," Matthew Knee, a Republican pollster and consultant who serves as chief data officer of Pulse Decision Science, told Fox News Digital.

"Stevens massively outperformed in many Jewish precincts as well," Knee said, commenting on the primary. "Rogers and El-Sayed are both the kinds of candidates that will accelerate this trend. There are only 130,000 Jewish voters in Michigan, but in 2024, Rogers only lost by 19,006 votes, so that can make the difference in that kind of razor-thin environment."

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For generations, voting for the Democratic Party has been part of the identity of many Jewish families across the state, but since El-Sayed’s victory, some are moving toward the Republican Party.

In interviews with Fox News Digital, several Jewish Michigan voters said El-Sayed’s positions regarding Israel and Zionism have forced them to choose between the liberal values they have supported throughout their lives and what they view as the safety of their children and community.

For many, that prospective vote would not represent a wholesale rejection of the Democratic Party. It would be a break in this single race, a split-ticket vote they once considered unthinkable.

Steve Cohen, a lifelong Michigan resident and self-described "notorious ticket splitter," said the current political climate has made the Senate race especially consequential.

"We’ve had attacks on our synagogues and our school buildings where our kids go," Cohen said. "There’s a torrent of activity pushing anti-Israel and anti-Jewish things on our campuses, and that includes every part of the state of Michigan. So, right now, it’s a little bit scary to be a Jew here."

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"I now feel forced to choose between those liberal values and the safety of my children," said Benji, a lifelong Michigan resident and self-identified liberal whose last name Fox News Digital is withholding for security reasons.

"As a lifelong Jewish liberal, I have advocated for liberal values, including commonsense gun laws, LGBT rights, women’s reproductive healthcare, healthcare reform and Black Lives Matter," Benji said.

"El-Sayed may claim to love Jews and the Jewish people, but requiring Jews to be anti-Zionist is a racist purity test and makes his claim ring hollow," he added. "I believe in changing the system from within, but it is no longer safe inside that system for me or for my children."

Stacy, who also asked to withhold her last name, comes from a fifth-generation Democratic Jewish family and has lived in Michigan for 13 years. She has also never voted Republican. Her alienation from the Democratic Party intensified at its state convention in April, where she said she felt hostility toward anyone who openly supported Israel.

"I felt the hatred and hostility in the room toward me if I dared to be supportive of Israel," Stacy said. She recalled watching Stevens being booed and harassed and said she "could see the writing on the wall."

"I take no joy in feeling like my party has abandoned me, but I need to vote this way for self-preservation," she said.

Stacy also pointed to Rogers’ experience, calling him the more qualified candidate "if you look at it just on paper."

Mike Rogers is a former Army officer, FBI special agent, congressman and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

Jewish voters make up approximately 1.4% of Michigan’s electorate, representing an estimated 105,000 people statewide, according to the American Jewish Population Project at Brandeis University. Much of the community is concentrated in the politically significant Detroit suburbs.

"We hear constantly about the Muslim vote in Michigan, particularly in Dearborn, as a crucial political bloc. But the truth is that Jews in the Great Lakes State are a comparably sized religious minority and historically a much more important constituency for the Democratic Party," said Jesse Arm, Manhattan Institute vice president and pollster.

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Arm said Jewish voters turn out at high rates and have long provided Democratic candidates with votes and financial support. He said Jewish organizers and political fundraisers described "an unprecedented level of opposition to El-Sayed among Jewish Democrats."

"Some intend simply to withhold their votes and contributions," Arm said. "But many prominent Jewish Democratic families and donors are prepared to go further and directly support Mike Rogers."

Sam Markstein, national political director and spokesman for the Republican Jewish Coalition, told Fox News Digital those voters could provide the decisive margin in November.

Markstein said the RJC analyzed primary results in Oak Park, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield and Southfield, four Oakland County communities with sizable Jewish populations. According to the organization’s analysis, Stevens received approximately 37,000 votes across those communities, compared with about 20,000 for El-Sayed.

Her combined 17,000-vote advantage was greater than the statewide margin by which Rogers lost his 2024 Senate campaign to Democrat Elissa Slotkin.

"That’s a really big delta there that shows that Jewish voters do not like Abdul El-Sayed," Markstein said.

He called Michigan’s Jewish voters "not just a rounding error" and said Republicans have an opportunity to move more of them into their column in November.

Markstein also criticized El-Sayed’s response to the March terrorist attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. An armed attacker rammed a vehicle into the synagogue, where approximately 140 children were present, before opening fire. No children, congregants or staff members were physically harmed.

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El-Sayed initially condemned the attack as "heinous" but later faced criticism after discussing violence in the Middle East while reflecting on the attacker’s actions and saying "hurt people do hurt people."

El-Sayed has maintained that he condemns antisemitism and is committed to protecting Michigan’s Jewish community.

Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed’s campaign regarding the concerns raised by the Jewish voters who were interviewed but did not receive a response.

However, in a previous statement on concerns over antisemitism, El-Sayed stated in May, "I understand what it’s like to be discriminated against for how I pray. This is why I will always stand against antisemitism and stand with my Jewish brothers and sisters and their right to practice their faith safely, freely and unabashedly."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus for comment but did not receive a response. In a statement issued after the primary, however, the caucus congratulated El-Sayed on his victory while acknowledging "frustration, anxiety and deep disappointment" among Jewish Democrats and calling on the nominee to engage directly with Michigan’s Jewish community.

The caucus said El-Sayed must "address the harm caused during this campaign," arguing his repeated focus on organized Jewish political participation had "crossed an alarming line." At the same time, it urged concerned Jewish Democrats not to abandon the party, saying their place in the Democratic coalition remains "indispensable."

Arm cautioned that Rogers should not take the voting bloc for granted.

"Rogers shouldn’t assume he has it in the bag," Arm said. "El-Sayed is telegenic, disciplined and politically crafty, and he’ll spend the months between now and November looking for ways to present himself as more heterodox and less radical than the record suggests."

The Jewish Federation of Detroit directed Fox News Digital to a statement it released after the primary election result, while noting that, as a 501(c)(3), it "cannot and does not endorse or oppose candidates."

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"As an organization, we will continue to engage across the political spectrum to advocate for issues essential to our future, including standing against antisemitism, violence and bigotry, ensuring the safety and security of the Jewish community and houses of worship, and championing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state," the statement said.

Rabbi Aaron Starr of Congregation Shaarey Zedek in suburban Detroit said the concerns extend beyond any single candidate.

"American Jews have long rejected extremism, particularly within our political parties," Starr told Fox News Digital. "We reject extremism on the right, and we reject extremism on the left. 

"Right now, however, it feels as though extremism on the left is not only becoming louder, but increasingly normalized. That has created a frightening moment for American Jews and certainly for the Jewish community here in Michigan."

For Benji and Stacy, the possibility of voting Republican does not mean they have stopped believing in the causes they have supported for decades. It means that, for the first time, they believe their Democratic values and their safety as Jews have been placed in conflict.

Voting for a Republican was once unthinkable. Following El-Sayed’s nomination, they say it now feels unavoidable.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jewish-dem-defections-threaten-el-sayed-michigan-senate-race-decided-razor-thin-margins

Shake Shack customer hits 'no tip' at kiosk, then watches prices jump in viral video

The Utah man behind a viral video appearing to show prices increase at a Shake Shack kiosk after his wife declined to leave a tip says he initially didn't believe her when she told him what had happened.

Brian Powell, 45, told Fox News Digital that he and his wife were waiting to catch a flight out of Salt Lake City when she purchased three milkshakes from the airport's Shake Shack location.

"My wife came to me after buying some shakes and said, 'They charged me more after I didn't tip,'" Powell told Fox News Digital during a Zoom interview from London, where he was vacationing with his wife. "And I thought it was a little interesting."

NO TIPS, WORSE SERVICE? RESTAURANT OWNERS WARN TREND IS 'DEGRADING' DINING EXPERIENCE

Powell said he had visited the location several times before and had never noticed anything similar. Admitting that he was "a bit skeptical," Powell said he returned to the kiosk with his wife and recreated the order while recording the process on his phone.

"We basically went up and duplicated our order, and the same thing happened," Powell said.

The video shows two of the three shakes initially listed at $5.99 each. After "no tip" is selected, the kiosk displays a notice saying there has been a pricing update before the shakes appear at $6.49 each — an increase of 50 cents per drink.

Shake Shack told Fox News Digital the price change was caused by a technology error and that charging customers more for declining to tip is not company policy.

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"It is not Shake Shack policy, nor that of our licensees, to increase the price of menu items when no tip is added," a spokesperson for the company said.

The airport location is owned and operated by HMSHost, a Shake Shack licensee.

HMSHost investigated and "determined it was an error within their kiosk technology that they have informed us has since been resolved," according to Shake Shack.

"We'll continue working with all our licensed partners to make sure every guest is taken care of at Shake Shack," the spokesperson added.

Powell said that when he recorded the video, he didn't know whether the price change was deliberate or simply a glitch.

"Because I had been to that Shake Shack before, it felt fishy to me, but honestly, I did not know," Powell said. "I mean, the reality is, I've even tipped at that Shake Shack before. … I just thought it was peculiar that, all of a sudden, we were being charged when we pressed 'no tip.'"

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Powell said he never expected the video to attract so much attention. He edited and posted it while waiting for a delayed flight and watched its audience surge after taking off.

"The video has been overwhelming," Powell said, adding that the number of comments flooding his social media inbox made it "impossible" to read through all of them.

Powell's video shines a light on many Americans' larger frustration with tipping prompts at self-service businesses.

"I think my own personal opinion is maybe tipping culture's a little bit out of hand, based on this experience," Powell said.

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"The entire video was kind of generated by my frustration that, you know, here I was being charged for something I didn't necessarily feel like I should have been charged for."

Powell said he may revisit the kiosk when he returns to Salt Lake City to see if, in fact, the issue has been resolved.

source https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/shake-shack-customer-hits-no-tip-kiosk-watches-prices-jump-viral-video

Bron Breakker confronts the future on WWE Raw, Paul Heyman lays down a challenge

The vision for Bron Breakker was clear about a year ago.

He was set to become the new face of WWE to lead the company into the future and eventually hold the World Heavyweight Championship. But injuries, to himself and his stablemates, and the rise of the likes of Oba Femi have appeared to add to the massive chip on his shoulder. And it was presented again during the latest episode of "Monday Night Raw."

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Breakker destroyed Joe Hendry in their match last week and took more of his frustrations out on Akira Tozawa, following his loss to Austin Theory. Femi came down to confront Breakker and the two had a faceoff before cooler heads seemed to prevail.

Through all of that, Breakker sought Paul Heyman’s approval and seemed upset that Heyman agreed that Femi was the future of WWE – a designation that Brock Lesnar declared after his Hell in a Cell match against Femi at SummerSlam. Breakker asked Heyman if he thought Femi was the future of WWE.

"Truth be told, I respect Oba Femi. The man did everything he said he was going to do to Brock Lesnar and I have to respect that," Heyman told Breakker without actually answering the question.

Breakker pressed Heyman again.

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"I think you’re starting to think that Oba Femi is the future of WWE and that’s the problem," Heyman responded. "I’ll tell you what – I’m going to keep respecting Oba Femi until you show me why Oba Femi is not worthy of my respect."

Heyman gave Breakker something to chew on as he confronts "The Ruler" in the coming weeks.

Breakker has made a tremendous impact since he was called up to the main WWE roster. His devastating torpedo spears have made for viral moments, and he’s captured the intercontinental and tag team titles in his immediate stint on the roster.

Femi has shown that he’s not scared of anyone. He won the King of the Ring Tournament and dispatched Lesnar from the ring.

The fight for the future is clearly on, and it’s something that has seemingly been in Breakker’s mind for the last few weeks.

source https://www.foxnews.com/sports/bron-breakker-confronts-future-wwe-raw-paul-heyman-lays-down-challenge