U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., repeated the unsubstantiated argument that the Defending Women and Girls in Sports Act would have "unleashed" sexual predators on girls in the U.S.
Jeffries first made this argument the day the House voted on the bill Jan. 14, joining other prominent Democratic representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The argument prompted harsh backlash among some registered Democratic voters and was not repeated leading up to the Senate's vote of the bill Monday.
But Jeffries raised the argument again when asked about California Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent comments about transgender athletes in girls sports being "unfair."
"I haven't seen [Newsom's] comments. What Democrats opposed was unleashing sexual predators on girls throughout the United States of America," Jeffries told reporters Thursday.
When Jeffries and other House Democrats pushed the argument in January, it was not rooted in any language within the bill. Republicans insisted no genital inspection would ever be necessary and that proof of birth gender could simply be determined with a birth certificate.
The bill ended up passing in the House by a vote of 218-206. Two Democratic representatives, Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez, both of Texas, voted in favor of it despite Jeffries and others labeling the bill "The House Republican Child Predator Empowerment Act."
When the bill reached the Senate earlier this week, not a single Democrat voted in favor of it, and with 45 votes against it, were able to filibuster the bill despite 51 Republicans voting for it.
Multiple Democratic senators spoke about why they did not vote for the bill, Fox News Digital previously reported, offering a variety of reasons. However, almost none of them reiterated the argument that the bill would empower sexual predators to give genital examinations to young girls.
Those who expressed similar concerns were Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev,, and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"This blanket legislation would allow anyone to subject girls to invasive physical exams just because of the way they look. That is incredible government overreach and is putting young women at increased risk for abuse and harassment – something I’ve spent my career fighting against," Cortez Masto said in a statement.
Durbin added, "It’s that personal, it’s that important, and [because of Republicans], we’re going to vote to give someone unspecified the right to physically inspect a girl or a young woman if the other opposing team accuses them of being transgender. My goodness."
Shortly after the vote in the House in January, some Democratic voters left the party in response to the child predator argument by Jeffries.
Prominent Rutgers law professor Gary Francione and some of his Democratic peers in the field of education and law were among those who left the party..
"That just made me very upset because it screamed out lack of integrity, lack of honesty," Francione told Fox News Digital. "This is the way you fight battles? By trying to insult other people who oppose you and disagree with you and insinuate that they're child molesters or pedophiles? It seems to me you've lost the game. … I don't know how they're ever going to come back from this.
"I can say confidently of the people I know who are Democrats who I've spoken to, the vast majority of them are very unhappy about all of this stuff and feel that the party has lost its way. I know a couple who said they are going to [leave the party]."
President Donald Trump signed an executive order to ban trans athletes from women's and girls sports and vowed to withdraw federal funding from any state that doesn't comply. California, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Maine are already under investigation for not complying with it.
Trump reaffirmed his intent to punish states that continue to allow trans athletes to compete with girls during Tuesday night's address to a joint session of Congress.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Trump "won't back down" as he goes after these states.
"The president has made a commitment to ensure that states are being held accountable if they continue to allow men in women's sports, which he believes is an egregious violation of taxpayer dollars. And, so, that fight continues, and the president won't back down," Leavitt said.
"This is a commonsense policy. Eighty percent of the American people, including more than 60% of Democrats, do not want men in women's sports."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom came under fire Thursday over comments he made about transgender inclusion in women’s and girls sports on the debut episode of his podcast.
Newsom was asked by guest Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative who founded Turning Point USA, about the issue on the "This is Gavin Newsom" podcast.
"The young man who's about to win the state championship in the long jump in female sports, that shouldn't happen," Kirk said. "You, as the governor, should step out and say no. Would you do something like that? Would you say no men in female sports?"
"I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair," Newsom told Kirk. "I am not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you."
Kirk further pressed Newsom on whether he would condemn the recent victory of a transgender track athlete with a more than 40-foot jump at Jurupa Valley High School in Southern California. Newsom didn't directly address the win but said "it's a fairness issue."
"So, that's easy to call out the unfairness of that," he said. "There's also a humility and a grace. … These poor people are more likely to commit suicide, have anxiety and depression. And the way that people talk down to vulnerable communities is an issue that I have a hard time with as well.
"So, both things I can hold in my hand. How can we address this issue with the kind of decency that I think, you know, is inherent in you but not always expressed on the issue?"
Newsom, who agreed the issue was something the Democratic Party gets "crushed on," faced criticism from conservatives and liberals for his comments.
While Newsom said he agreed with Kirk on there being a "fairness" issue when it came to trans inclusion in women’s sports, California has resisted President Donald Trump’s "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order that bars biological males from girls and women’s sports.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) said last month it would continue to allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s and girls sports, citing state law.
"The CIF provides students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete in education-based experiences in compliance with California law [Education Code section 221.5. (f)] which permits students to participate in school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, consistent with the student’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the student’s records," a CIF statement said at the time.
Fox News Digital reacted out to the CIF for its reaction to Newsom’s latest comments.
Riley Gaines, the former NCAA athlete who hosts OutKick’s "Gaines for Girls" podcast and has championed fairness in women’s sports, was among the conservatives who spoke out.
Prominent LGBTQ advocates also took swipes at Newsom.
"Gavin Newsom knows that the trans youth in sports issue is a ridiculous, rightwing propaganda effort. He knows this is powered by anti-trans hatred, not reason," Charlotte Clymer wrote on X. "And yet, he still chose to endorse attacks on trans youth to bolster his national profile for a 2028 presidential run.
"He chose to treat trans youth as disposable bargaining chips in his effort to pander to anti-trans conservatives. He has decided that trans youth, one of the most vulnerable groups in the country, are fair game. And he did so in an interview with Charlie Kirk, who has spent his career dehumanizing trans people for sport. It is difficult to overstate how thoroughly cynical, self-serving, and cruel this is."
California Assemblymember Chris Ward and Sen. Caroline Menjivar also released a joint statement. They are the chair and vice chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
"Sometimes Gavin Newsom goes for the Profile in Courage, sometimes not. We woke up profoundly sickened and frustrated by these remarks," they said, via KCRA-TV. "All students deserve the academic and health benefits of sports activity, and until Donald Trump began obsessing about it, playing on a team consistent with one’s gender has not been a problem since the standard was passed in 2013."
Earlier this week, Senate Democrats blocked the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act from breaking a filibuster. The bill received 51 votes but needed 60 to clear a procedural hurdle.
Fox News' Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.
Tyler Naquin, who played in the outfield during his eight major league seasons, has signed a minor league deal with the Guardians to try his hand at pitching.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly made a trade with the Houston Texans, sending veteran wide receiver Christian Kirk to their AFC South rival.
Houston gets a 2026 seventh-round pick, which originally belonged to the Los Angeles Rams, in exchange for Kirk, according to The Athletic.
The trade comes one day after news broke that the Jaguars planned to release Kirk, who missed the final nine games of the 2024 season due to a broken collarbone.
That move would have saved Jacksonville $10.7 million against their salary cap, according to Spotrac. The trade does the same thing while adding a draft pick.
Kirk was going to have the team’s highest cap hit this season at $24.4 million while being paid a $15.5 million salary, according to Spotrac. But new general manager James Gladstone, who joined the new Jags regime Feb. 21 to be paired with head coach Liam Coen, is clearly showing he’s not afraid to make moves already, even with a divisional rival.
Kirk quickly developed a rapport with quarterback Trevor Lawrence after being signed to a four-year, $72 million deal in 2022, registering career highs in catches (84), yards (1,108) and touchdowns (eight) in that campaign.
However, an abdominal injury cost him five games in 2023, and his collarbone fracture limited him to eight games in the third year of his deal.
The emergence of rookie Brian Thomas Jr. as a clear top receiver to build the pass game around, as well as Parker Washington playing well out of the slot in Kirk’s absence, leaves the Jaguars in a good place despite a veteran of seven years moving to a different team.
For the Texans, Kirk’s addition makes sense considering Tank Dell, their speedy, young receiver, is likely to miss the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL, MCL and LCL and dislocating his kneecap in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in December.
Kirk could miss time due to his own recovery from his collarbone injury, but he isn’t expected to be out the entire 2025 campaign.
The Texans could still add to their pass game because Stefon Diggs, who built great chemistry with quarterback C.J. Stroud before an injury ended his season, is a free agent on the market this offseason.
Through seven seasons, four with the Arizona Cardinals, who took him 47th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Kirk has 236 receptions for 2,902 yards and 17 receiving touchdowns in 56 career games.
With playoff races heating up in the NHL, we have a new "Save of the Year" leader in the clubhouse.
The Anaheim Ducks paid a visit to the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night, and despite a tough loss, fans were treated to quite a spectacular stop with the glove earlier in the game.
In the first period, Brock Boeser attempted to score off a pass from a teammate near the crease, and John Gibson got a good chunk of it.
However, the puck stayed in the air and appeared to be heading toward the back of the net.
So, Gibson did his best "Pistol Pete" impression and went behind-the-back with his glove to make the miraculous save.
The puck actually came out of the glove, but the refs blew it dead; and at the very least, the puck is better off in front of the net than in the back of it.
It wasn't all fun and games for Gibson, though, as he wound up leaving the game later on with a lower body injury.
Canucks winger Drew O’Connor crashed into him in the crease. Both players tumbled awkwardly into the net, with Gibson staying down on the ice for several minutes before getting up slowly and leaving the ice with help. O’Connor was given a goaltender interference penalty, and Lukas Dostal came on in relief of Gibson.
Gibson stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced before leaving and Dostal made 14 saves. The Ducks trailed 3-1 early in the third period, but were unable to connect on a potential equalizer.
Anaheim was coming off an impressive 6-2 victory over the reigning Western Conference champions, but their playoff hopes took a hit with the loss. Vancouver, too, is fighting for a playoff spot, and earned the much-needed win.
Saquon Barkley's record-breaking contract with the Philadelphia Eagles has some fine print that Travis Kelce isn't glossing over.
During this week's episode of Kelce's podcast "New Heights" with his brother Jason, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end called out the Eagles for the many incentives included in Barkley's contract.
Barkley's two-year, $41.2 million deal, with a $20.6 million per year salary, made him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
However, only $36 million of that deal is guaranteed, while Barkley can earn an additional $15 million if he fulfills certain incentives.
"Eww," Kelce said in response to the incentive aspect of Barkley's deal. "I don't like that one bit.... Does he have to get a 2,000-yard season every year?"
The incentive clauses in Barkley's new contract are unknown at this time. His previous contract, which he signed with the Eagles last offseason, included incentives for earning first-team All-Pro honors, rushing for at least 1,000 and then 1,500 yards, and victories in each round of the playoffs.
Barkley ended up cashing in on all of those, with 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries with 13 rushing scores while catching 33 passes for 278 yards with two more touchdowns. He was then the centerpiece on their playoff run to Super Bowl LIX, where they beat Kelce's Chiefs.
And now, Kelce doesn't approve of the incentives in Barkley's deal, especially the ones that are based on team success, like playoff wins.
"So you have to rely on someone's vote to get your incentive?" Travis Kelce asked. "That's f---ed up."
Shohei Ohtani’s greatness can’t be overstated enough, but another all-time great hitter in baseball thinks the game is a bit easier for the Los Angeles Dodgers star compared to his time in MLB.
Barry Bonds, arguably the greatest hitter of all time, appeared on the "All The Smoke" podcast where he shared his belief that ballplayers have it easier in the batter’s box compared to his time in the league from 1986-2007.
"The game has just changed," Bonds said. "The game is way different than it was when I played. The same way Michael (Jordan) talks about it or anybody does. Ohtani is not gonna hit two home runs without seeing one go (by his ear) in my generation. I don't care what he does. He's not gonna steal two bases without someone decapitating his kneecap to slow him down. It's a different game back then."
Bonds has a point regarding intentional pitches thrown up and in on batters to give them a scare – the game has regressed in that aspect on the pitcher’s mound.
However, Bonds isn’t trying to take away what Ohtani has been able to accomplish since Ohtani came over to the States from Japan.
"The pitching and hitting have been outstanding for what he's done," Bonds said of Ohtani. "Baserunning. He's a complete player. There's no doubt about the type of player he is and what he's accomplished in his career."
But the point still stands in Bonds’ eyes: In a game where celebrating home runs is encouraged now instead of frowned upon, Ohtani doesn’t have to worry about retaliation – at least not like he would have in the past.
"They should be better than us hitting-wise, because they can hit a home run, throw their bat up in the air, run around, get a taco, come back down and have a limo drive them around," Bonds said, jokingly. "All these antics that we weren't allowed to do.
"If I did anything like that, I'm gonna see a star. I'm gonna see a hospital, but I ain't gonna see baseball that day."
Bonds, of course, is a polarizing former star within the game of baseball, owning the most home runs ever, breaking Hank Aaron’s record with his own 762 over his illustrious career.
Despite being considered arguably the greatest hitter of all time, Bonds remains out of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York due to being a central figure in MLB’s steroids scandal.
Bonds was indicted in 2007 on perjury charges as well as obstruction of justice for allegedly lying in front of a grand jury during the government’s investigation into BALCO, a main manufacturer of an undetectable steroid that was running rampant in the league.
The perjury charges were eventually dropped, but Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2011. He had to fight until he was exonerated on appeal in 2015.
During that time, Bonds’ 10 years of eligibility on the Hall of Fame ballot didn’t see voters giving him the 75% acceptance rate to be an inductee, some of which stating they wouldn’t vote for him due to the belief he used PEDs.
Ohtani was caught up in his own scandal this past offseason, though he was the victim rather than the culprit.
Ohtani’s former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, was found to be stealing millions from the Dodgers star’s bank account to cover gambling losses. Federal prosecutors asked for a 57-month prison sentence while also asking Mizuhara to pay $16.9 million of restitution to Ohtani and another $1.1 million to the IRS.
After Pat McAfee called Canada a "terrible" country for booing "The Star-Spangled Banner" ahead of a WWE event in Toronto, he got ugly messages in an Instagram direct message.
Elizabeth Irving performed the U.S. national anthem as a chorus of boos rained down at the Elimination Chamber. Irving also sings the national anthem ahead of Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Whitecaps games.
McAfee loudly lambasted the Canadian fans, and the country as a whole, for the booing during the Peacock broadcast.
"It kind of sucks that it's in the terrible country of Canada that booed our national anthem to start this entire thing," McAfee shouted at the broadcast table. Boos had occurred in the country since the beginning of February in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs and "51st state" cracks.
McAfee defended his comments earlier this week, and it came at a cost on social media.
McAfee wound up sharing Instagram direct messages he got that called him "f---ing pathetic," a "p----," and wishing death upon himself and his daughter.
"i hope that little brat f---ing dies." one message said.
"if you want to s--- on free speech you better be ready to die," another wrote.
"Good morning beautiful people... Standard Wednesday over here… just some random wishing death upon me & my daughter... Hope you all have a great day," McAfee shared.
McAfee addressed some of the backlash he received earlier this week.
"I’m very proud and thankful that I’m from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States of America… Canadians have a lot of passion for their country and I understand it…You booed our country and I said you’re terrible.." McAfee wrote in a post.
After Canada defeated USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted to X, "You can't take our game – and you can't take our country."
NASCAR is accusing 23XI Racing of "willfully" violating antitrust laws, court documents show. The company is co-owned by six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan.
A contentious two-year negotiation period on new charter agreements led to the lawsuit. Charters are NASCAR's equivalent of a franchise model. Teams that have charters receive a minimum of 36 spots on every race weekend.
A 30-page lawsuit filed in the Western District of North Carolina argued that Jordan's entity, more specifically business manager Curtis Polk, circumvented antitrust laws by orchestrating anticompetitive collective conduct in connection with the most recent charter agreements. Polk is listed as a defendant in the filing.
Front Row Motorsports also declined to sign the new agreements, which were presented to the teams last September shortly before the start of NASCAR's playoffs. Restaurant entrepreneur Bob Jenkins owns Front Row Motorsports. In addition to Jordan, Polk and driver Denny Hamlin are co-owners of 23XI Racing.
The charters were fought for by the teams ahead of the 2016 season and have twice been extended. The latest extension is for seven years to match the current media rights deal. 23XI and Front Row refused to sign and sued, alleging that NASCAR and the France family, who own the stock car series, are a monopoly.
NASCAR was defeated in round one in court. The two teams have been recognized as chartered organizations for the 2025 season as the legal dispute winds through the courts. NASCAR has also appealed a decision to have the case dismissed.
"Today’s counterclaim by NASCAR is a meritless distraction and a desperate attempt to shift attention away from its own unlawful, monopolistic actions," attorney Jeffrey Kessler, who is representing 23XI and Front Row, said in a statement.
"NASCAR agreed to the joint negotiations that they now attack. When those joint negotiations failed, they used individual negotiations to impose their charter terms, which most of the teams decided they had no choice but to accept."
The counterclaim suggested that Polk was the ringleader in the fight against the current charter proposals. NASCAR attorney Christopher Yates told the Associated Press that Polk lacks a complete understanding of NASCAR's business model.
"Curtis Polk basically orchestrated and threatened a boycott of one of the qualifying races for a major event, and others did not go along with him," Yates said. "He got other teams to boycott a meeting that was required by the charter. When you have a threatened boycott of qualifying races that are covered by media, that’s not a good thing for other race teams, not a good thing when you are trying to collectively grow the sport."
The qualifying race in question was last year's pair of 150-mile duels that set the field for the Daytona 500.
"I don’t think Mr. Polk really understands the sport," Yates added. "I think he came into it, and his view is it should be much more like the NBA or other league sports. But it’s not. No motorsport is like that. He’s done a lot of things that might work in the NBA or might be OK in the NBA but just are not appropriate in NASCAR."
Meanwhile, Jordan has previously stated that he is suing NASCAR on behalf of all the teams so everyone can be on equal footing in terms of benefits as a participant in the top motorsports league in the U.S.
Just over three months after winning the franchise's first NWSL Championship, the Orlando Pride enters 2025 in the unfamiliar position of league favorite.
