Bill Maher admits he could vote for JD Vance, warns 'cowardly' Democrats face socialist takeover

Comedian and HBO host Bill Maher said Sunday that he could vote for Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election if Democrats nominate a candidate aligned with the party's socialist wing, calling Democrats "cowardly" and warning that radicals are taking over the party.

"Yes," Maher said when asked by ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl if Maher could see himself voting for Vance. "If this is the Democratic side, yes."

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Maher said his vote remained open because President Donald Trump cannot run again and rejected efforts to distinguish socialism from communism while discussing the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

"My vote is in play because it can’t be Trump running, so I’m not living in communist America," Maher said.

"I mean, I know the talking point is that it’s not communism, it’s socialism. OK, I’ve read the quotes from the DSA platform from their own mouths. Don’t tell me I’m not seeing what I am seeing," Maher said.

Maher also contrasted Republicans' willingness to appear on his HBO program, "Real Time with Bill Maher," with Democrats who declined invitations despite receiving his vote.

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"The Democrats don’t come, and yet they got my vote. What... it’s just odd, isn’t it? Why is that? So what is that all about?" Maher said. "Democrats are cowardly. They’re cowardly."

The HBO host warned that the Democratic Party was being overtaken by increasingly radical figures, recalling the criticism he received after refusing to embrace left-wing positions.

"Their party is being taken over now by, you know, every day I hear about a new very radical," Maher said.

"I feel very good about [it]. Like 10 years ago, like I did lose fans because, you know, I wasn’t going to go along with some of this crazy stuff on the left too," he said.

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Maher said he had not changed his views about Republicans but refused to overlook positions promoted by members of his own political camp.

"I didn’t change really on what I thought about the right, but just, I can’t sit and just not notice stuff which people seem to want to do because it’s all about my team or your team," Maher said.

"But you know there’s some crazy stuff. You know, when we’re cheering for the Intifada, I cut, I’m out," he said.

He also predicted Democrats would perform well in the 2026 midterms because the races would remain a referendum on Trump. He distinguished those contests from the next presidential election.

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"2028 is a different story because by then this wing of the party, this new wing with all the energy, and it’s not just a few people anymore," Maher said.

Maher cited candidates in Colorado and Wisconsin advocating the abolition of police and prisons as examples of the party's leftward movement.

"I read every day I read about a new person in some Colorado and Wisconsin, somebody who is saying some variation of not defund the police," Maher said. "Abolish the police. No prisons, no police. Like, what world do they think we could possibly live in under these conditions?"

The DSA’s 2026 program calls for public ownership of the largest corporations and essential industries, fully abolishing police and prisons and abolishing the Senate.

source https://www.foxnews.com/media/bill-maher-admits-could-vote-jd-vance-warns-cowardly-democrats-face-socialist-takeover

'Let's brew it in the United States': Teamsters target Modelo and Corona in push for Mexican beer tariffs

One of the nation's largest labor unions wants President Donald Trump to make one of America's favorite imports a lot more American.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters are urging the administration to impose significant tariffs on Mexican beer, arguing more of it should be brewed by U.S. workers instead of across the border.

The request comes as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative continues to assess whether certain countries’ policies have fueled unfair manufacturing advantages. 

The Teamsters argue Mexico has fueled its brewing industry through government-backed investment incentives, lower labor costs and export-focused policies that have expanded production and exports, helping imported beer capture a growing share of the U.S. market.

AMERICA'S FAVORITE BEERS — AND THE JOBS TIED TO THEM — ARE AT THE CENTER OF A BREWING TRADE FIGHT

The tariff push could have implications for some of America's best-known imported beer brands, including Modelo, Corona, Pacifico and Tecate, much of which is brewed in Mexico before being shipped to retailers across the U.S.

"We can brew Modelo beer. It's the same recipe. Let's brew it in the United States," Sean O'Brien, general president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, told Fox News Digital. "We are very good at producing goods and services in this country," he added.

In its filing, the union said Mexican beer production has increased 85% since 2014, with about 80% of the country's beer exports shipped to the United States. Meanwhile, capacity utilization at major U.S. breweries fell from 82% in 2013 to 65% in 2023, a trend the Teamsters say threatens thousands of well-paying union jobs.

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The union argues tariffs would help shift more beer production back to the U.S., supporting American breweries along with the farmers who grow barley and hops, aluminum manufacturers that produce cans and the truckers who move beer across the country.

"I'm pro-America, pro-American worker, pro American jobs. So if there's an opportunity to tariff Mexican beer in this situation, which is gonna provide opportunity for our current members, which we have tens of thousands in the brewery and distribution industry, then I'm all for tariffs and all for keeping American jobs in America," O'Brien added.

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The Teamsters say the threat to U.S. brewery jobs is growing as major brewers continue investing billions of dollars in Mexico.

According to the filing, breweries have announced plans to add another 19 million to 23 million hectoliters of production capacity over the next five years, an expansion the union attributes to export-focused tax incentives, lower labor costs and industrial policies aimed at boosting manufacturing for foreign markets.

The filing also cites Mexico's 2023 tax incentives for export-oriented manufacturers and its broader "Plan México" industrial strategy, arguing those policies have encouraged additional investment while suppressing wages and making it more difficult for U.S. producers to compete.

The Teamsters have publicly backed tariffs as high as 75% on Mexican beer imports, calling them one potential remedy to what they describe as an uneven playing field. In a separate submission to USTR, the union said continued pressure from imported beer could force more U.S. brewery slowdowns or closures, jeopardizing good-paying brewery jobs that have supported American families for generations.

The Teamsters' filing is one of several submitted as USTR weighs potential trade actions under its ongoing Section 301 investigation.

USTR did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/lets-brew-united-states-teamsters-target-modelo-corona-push-mexican-beer-tariffs

Historic nude beach in California is putting its clothes on when it opens later this month

Another historical clothing optional location in California is putting its clothes on. The San Gregorio Ranch State Beach, considered one of the first nude beaches in the state, is being added to the California State Parks.

The nonprofit land trust Peninsula Open Space Trust purchased the land last spring and has plans to donate it to the state park system later this year. The beach will open on July 29 and clothing will be required.

The day-to-day operations will be managed by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, KQED reported. Bonny Hawley, the Executive Director of the organization, said nudity isn't allowed at state parks.

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She added that the parks system will be educating the public about the beach no longer being a nude one. A sad day, I'm sure, for those who enjoy letting it all hangout while allowing sand easier access to their bodies.

"I’m not happy about it," Bob Morton told the Los Angeles Times. He's been to the beach and is confused by the state parks not allowing the swinging to and fro of body parts normally covered up in public.

"It seems counterintuitive," he added. "You go there to be one with nature."

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How in the world are you expected to be one with nature with your swimsuit on at the beach? You can be close to one with nature, but to some that isn't enough.

They require the sun and the ocean breeze covering their entire body. As if the rule changes at the historic beach weren't enough, they're not allowing dogs on the stretch of beach either.

They apparently are going after a dull beach experience. Swimsuits will be on every single person and nobody will have to dodge any piles of dog crap. Where's the sense of adventure that made California?

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-culture/historic-nude-beach-california-putting-clothes-opens-later-month

Caitlin Clark set to debut new colorway for Nike signature shoe Saturday against New York Liberty

After more than two years of anticipation, Nike unveiled Caitlin Clark's first signature basketball shoe, the Nike Caitlin 1, marking a major milestone for one of basketball's biggest stars. Clark became one of a select group of athletes to receive a signature sneaker from Nike, joining an elite roster of basketball icons.

On Saturday, after a historic 45-point performance against the Seattle Storm the day before, and setting a franchise record for points scored while becoming the first player in WNBA history to record a 40-plus-point 10-assist game, Clark unveiled a new colorway for the Nike Caitlin 1.

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Now that another colorway has been released, here are my favorites so far:

This bright royal blue upper (called racer blue on Nike’s website) accented by a white Nike Swoosh and neon volt details was the first colorway for the Caitlin 1 released. At first, this shoe was underwhelming, but it’s grown on me.

This white upper with a clear blue bottom is the most versatile of the four colorways revealed by Clark so far. It’s a clean look that will be seen on and off the court more than any other colorway, in my opinion.

The Nike Caitlin 1 is scheduled to release on Oct. 1, 2026. The shoe will retail for $140 for adults, with youth sizes priced at $115.

KEVIN DURANT'S MEDIA COMPANY SAYS CAITLIN CLARK IS THE THIRD MOST MARKETABLE WNBA PLAYER

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On the outsole of the shoe, the phrases "Shoot More Threes", "From Anywhere", and "It was never a long shot" are featured.

Clark's signature sneaker arrives after she signed a reported eight-year, $28 million endorsement deal with Nike following the 2024 WNBA Draft. During her first two WNBA seasons, Clark primarily wore Kobe Bryant player-exclusive sneakers while fans eagerly awaited her own signature model.

The Indiana Fever play at home against the New York Liberty on Saturday.

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/caitlin-clark-debut-new-color-way-nike-signature-shoe-saturday-new-york-liberty

Kentucky governor says he received 2 calls from agencies indicating McConnell had 'passed'

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said this week that he received two calls from agencies suggesting Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., died while he was in the hospital.

In an interview with Katie Couric uploaded to YouTube on Thursday, Beshear, a Democrat, did not specify which agencies allegedly called him with the news or when the calls were made.

"In fact, I'd gotten two calls from different agencies, not state agencies, suggesting he'd passed," said Beshear, who has served as governor since December 2019.

Fox News Digital reached out to Beshear and McConnell's offices for comment.

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After nearly a month of being hospitalized, McConnell's office released a lengthy statement on July 12 saying he was being treated for a fall he suffered in June. A picture of him in a hospital bed alongside his wife was also released.

Prior to the announcement, there was speculation about what had happened to McConnell, given that his office did not reveal why he was in the hospital for weeks.

Emergency dispatch audio from June 14, the day McConnell was hospitalized, revealed he was "unconscious" and may have suffered a heart attack.

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"My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion," McConnell said in the statement last weekend. "I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages."

Two days before the longtime GOP leader shared more about his condition, Beshear posted on social media demanding that McConnell be more transparent.

"I publicly and privately urged the last administration to address the public’s concerns with the former president’s health," Beshear wrote, seemingly a reference to former President Joe Biden. "I’m calling on Sen. McConnell to do the same and provide voters an update on his own health."

Beshear ended the post by urging McConnell to "end the crazy speculation" and "just tell us what's going on."

On July 8, Beshear also wrote a letter to the 84-year-old lawmaker requesting that he "fully update Kentuckians regarding the current status of your health."

McConnell's doctor said he "developed pneumonia" early in his hospitalization but "responded rapidly to antibiotic treatment."

McConnell said he intends to return to the Senate, but his office has given no timeline on when he'll be able to do so.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kentucky-governor-says-he-received-2-calls-from-agencies-indicating-mcconnell-had-passed

Battleground Democrat said traditionally White outdoor spaces 'will no longer be White'

A vulnerable Democrat seeking re-election in a battleground district repeatedly complained that outdoor recreation has long been dominated by White males and called for "equitable access" to those spaces, according to unearthed podcast appearances reviewed by Fox News Digital.

Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., who previously referred to New Mexico as "stolen land," praised national conservation organizations during a June 2020 appearance on the "Mountain & Prairie" podcast for adopting what he described as more "equitable" policies aimed at expanding access to the outdoors for people of color.

"People of color are getting outdoors," Vasquez said in remarks first reported by The Daily Wire. "There’s amazing organizations out there that are just promoting diversity amongst the outdoors and big national organizations that are slowly and finally starting to get it and actually promote policies that create more equitable access and opportunities."

"Spaces that have been traditionally White will no longer be White," Vasquez continued. "Secret spots will no longer be secret. And hunters and anglers and hikers and everybody in between will look different. And so, not only should you be OK with that, not only should you tolerate that, but you should embrace that."

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"It's up to us to be the change that we want to see," he said.

Later in the interview, the New Mexico Democrat criticized conservation groups that he said lacked diversity.

"Today, I think every single executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation up until today has been a White male," he said. "There’s no cultural connection, there’s no authentic desire to communicate or connect with Hispanic communities."

Vasquez in 2017 co-founded Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, a left-leaning organization devoted to making the outdoors more "equitable" and advancing environmental justice. He first won election to the House in 2022.

The remarks come as Republicans have pointed to Vasquez’s comments on race and previous criticism of law enforcement to cast him as out of step with his majority-Hispanic district, which President Donald Trump carried by two points in 2024.

Earlier this year, Vasquez voted against a GOP-authored resolution honoring law enforcement during National Police Week. The measure notably contained language criticizing the Defund the Police movement and sanctuary city policies.

"This DEI-fueled racism is the exact woke nonsense New Mexico's Second District rejected in 2024 when it elected President Donald Trump, and it will cost Vasquez at the ballot box in November as voters choose common sense over crazy," Republican National Committee spokesman Zach Kraft said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Vasquez campaign for comment.

In a 2020 interview, Vasquez argued that racism was ingrained into "just about every part of life," Fox News Digital previously reported. In the same interview, Vasquez, who was then serving as a Las Cruces city councilmember, voiced openness to licensed psychologists taking over some of the police’s responsibilities.

He also sharply criticized "White rich men" in a June 2020 tweet shortly after the death of George Floyd.

"Black lives matter. Until we deconstruct and rebuild the systems of oppression that keep Black people in perpetual harm, justice will not be served," he wrote. 

"That includes law enforcement, the economy, and the disgusting wealth inequality that keeps white rich men in power."

Vasquez also appeared to back rioting during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 in a since-deleted tweet, CNN’s KFile first reported.

UNEARTHED CLIP EXPOSES MORE ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AS EL-SAYED GETS GRILLED FOR DELETING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

His focus on race also extended into conversations about outdoor recreation.

In a June 2022 interview with "The Trail Ahead" podcast, Vasquez described Nuestra Tierra as "being led by people of color with an all-people-of-color board."

He told an anecdote where he claimed to have experienced racism and claimed White people received special treatment in conservation on the podcast.

"I have missed out on a whole lot of opportunities just because I've asked for compensation, and it shouldn't have to be that way," he said. "Because if I was a White consultant working with a major brand or a major nonprofit, and they were seeking a solution they would pay me for my services. They would pay me for my advice."

"But it's not the same the other way around," he added. "People just expect people of color … what you have to say and what your thoughts are not of monetary value."

Vasquez will face Republican Greg Cunningham, a Marine veteran and retired police officer, in November's general election. Cunningham is part of the National Republican Congressional Committee's flagship MAGA Majority program, which backs top recruits seeking to flip Democratic-held seats.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race in Vasquez’s favor from "Toss Up" to "Lean Democrat" in January, citing Trump’s declining poll numbers and Democrats’ election wins in 2025.

source https://www.foxnews.com/politics/battleground-democrat-said-traditionally-white-outdoor-spaces-will-no-longer-white

Max Verstappen keeps it blunt, yet cryptic when asked about future with Red Bull

Formula 1 is at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, a fan and driver favorite, for the Belgian Grand Prix. We’re in the midst of a great title battle between Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

However, much of the focus this weekend is on Red Bull's Max Verstappen. It's been a tough season for the four-time champ, who currently sits down in P7 in the standings, and that's because the rumor mill has been churning about his future with the team.

Verstappen has not committed to Red Bull for next season and was recently linked with a potential move to McLaren. On top of that, he himself has even floated the idea of stepping away from F1. He hasn't been a fan of the direction the series has taken with its current cars, and has recently done more sports car racing.

So, he was asked about all of this on Thursday during his driver press conference, and the Dutchman gave some answers that were both blunt and cryptic.

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"Is there any update you can give us?" a reporter asked.

"No," Verstappen said.

Verstappen was then asked about what he makes of all of the speculation about his future, to which he replied, "Nothing."

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

He was then asked whether he had a date in mind for providing an update on his plans.

"No, there's nothing to say from my side," he said.

"So, full commitment to Red Bull in 2027?" the reporter asked.

"I said there's nothing to say," Verstappen reiterated.

Now, Verstappen is known for handling press conferences like this, but, man, is that not going to keep the rumor mill from churning?

It is worth noting that while Red Bull's struggles have been well documented this season, Verstappen has said he has a good relationship with team boss Laurent Mekies, who took over partway through last season.

"It’s been really good. I get on very well with Laurent. We speak a lot on track, but also off track," he said, per the Associated Press. "I think the relationship that he has also within the team is great.

"Everything for me feels very positive, and I think it’s always nice when you can discuss a lot of things with your team boss. So from that sense, yeah, very happy. It’s all very open and transparent."

source https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/max-verstappen-keeps-blunt-cryptic-asked-future-red-bull