The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix will take place at Circuit of the Americas in Austin on Sunday, and a sports figure will be on-hand to deliver the pre-race invocation.
Riley Gaines will be in Austin to deliver the prayer before drivers go 95 laps around the road track.
"It's a surreal honor to deliver the pre-race invocation for Sunday's race at Circuit of the Americas. I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this moment of prayer to our Heavenly Father, asking for safety, sportsmanship, and a spirit of unity for everyone — the drivers, teams, and fans alike," Gaines said to OutKick, where she hosts the "Gaines for Girls" podcast.
"Only a few women have ever been given this distinct honor, one of those women being a role model of mine, Sage Steele. I’m looking forward to an exciting day of racing and the way this sport brings people together with passion and love for our country."
Steele gave the invocation at the same race two years ago.
Gaines has been an outspoken advocate of keeping transgender athletes out of girls' and women's sports ever since she competed against Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer who went on to win an NCAA Division I title.
Gaines was recently on-hand at the White House to see President Donald Trump sign an executive order that aims to keep biological males from competing against the opposite sex. However, several states have not complied with the order, leading to at least three Title IX investigations.
It's the third official race of the NASCAR season, which opened with William Byron's second consecutive win at the Daytona 500. Christopher Bell took home the checkered flag at last week's Ambetter Health 400 in Atlanta.
Sunday's race will be 228 miles; it was won by Byron last year.
While it has been faint, playful sports banter in the past, things took a serious turn last month amid political tensions between the two countries.
It began at an Ottawa Senators game on Feb. 1, when the fans booed the "Star-Spangled Banner" upon the Minnesota Wild's visit. The next day, Toronto Raptors fans booed the anthem when the Los Angeles Clippers came to town.
The boos reached new heights during the highly contested 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which Canada eventually won over the U.S., but when the Toronto Maple Leafs visited Madison Square Garden on Friday night, the boos still rang.
New York Rangers fans booed the singing of "O, Canada" before their 3-2 loss to the team from up north.
In a sense of irony, Team USA captain Auston Matthews was on the opposing end of the boos Friday night, considering he is a superstar for the Leafs.
The initial boos came on the same day that President Donald Trump signed an executive order consisting of a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on imports from China. Trump also has stated that Canada could become the "51st state." The Canadian tariffs were eventually held off.
After Canada defeated USA in an overtime thriller for the 4 Nations title, Prime Minister Justin Trudueau, who had announced his impending resignation, took a parting shot at Trump.
"You can't take our country - and you can't take our game," he posted on X.
As for the Blueshirts, it was a tough loss as they continue to try to squeak into the playoffs. The Leafs' 76 points are currently the second-best in the Eastern Conference, and the team leads the Atlantic Division.
After initially being barred from competing for a fourth-straight high school wrestling title, Anthony Knox is set to vie for a four-peat after all.
The New Jersey wrestler was originally disqualified from the state tournament after getting involved in a brawl that ended with him and his dad arrested.
The incident happened at the NJ District 25 Wrestling Tournament at Collingswood High School, according to NJ.com, and Knox is accused of sprinting into the stands, where a brawl began between his father, Anthony Knox Sr., and fans watching the tournament.
However, Mercer County Superior Court Judge Patrick Bartels granted Knox Jr. a temporary restraining order from his ban on Friday, which, at the moment, allows him to compete.
The New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, which Knox Jr. filed a lawsuit against, said they planned to appeal the court's decision that they "strongly disagree" with.
Videos appearing online showed the fight breaking out and working its way down the bleachers.
After the dust settled, Jersey Sports Zone reported that both Knox Sr. and Knox Jr. were detained by police after the brawl, which occurred after the 190-pound final. This came after Knox had won his latest 126-pound district title.
Knox Jr., a Cornell commit, is the top-ranked 126-pound wrestler in the United States with, through last weekend, a career 136-1 record and 123 straight wins, including his district title.
His alleged involvement in the brawl did not affect his status on the college team.
The St. John Vianney senior is now competing for the Region 7 tournament this weekend. He weighed in at the tournament less than an hour after the court's decision.
The state championships will take place next weekend, where Knox Jr. is now, once again, the heavy favorite after winning each of his first three years at SJV.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
Cam Ward may just be the No. 1 overall pick next month, and all it’s taken is two things, according to him.
The Miami quarterback will be flying off the board early in April; at this point, it’s just a matter of whether he’ll be first, second or maybe even third.
It would be a stunner to see him fall beyond No. 3, considering who currently sits at the top of the draft (Titans, Browns, Giants, in that order).
After a legendary career in which he became the FBS’ all-time passing touchdowns leader, he told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine how he got to where he is today. And it’s quite simple.
"All you have to do is believe in God and work," he said. "Those two things will take care of everything."
Ward was not considered a star coming out of high school, but after turning Miami into a threat once again (they narrowly missed out on the College Football Playoff), the scouts have turned their heads with Ward.
"I just put my head down and work every day," Ward said. "I've prayed about it. I've been praying for this moment since I was six. I'm blessed to be here."
Ward and Shedeur Sanders are the top-two quarterback prospects in this class, with most experts having Jaxson Dart being a relatively distant third.
The Titans drafted Will Levis in the second round of 2023, which was a stunning fall for the Kentucky alum on draft night. However, they have not seemed too inclined to select a quarterback; many mock drafts have them even selecting Penn State’s Abdul Carter, which would hardly be a mistake.
But with other teams inside the top 10 needing a quarterback (namely the Raiders and Jets), it should not surprise anyone if we see some movement to jump up and get Ward, even though this year’s class may not be comparable to the ones it’s sandwiched between.
Ahead of a "March Against Mills" on Saturday, an online petition to recall the governor of Maine has received over 22,000 signatures.
Janet Mills and President Donald Trump got into a heated debate last week after the two clashed about Trump's executive order that aims to keep transgender athletes out of girls' and women's sports.
Last week, Trump told her at the White House that she must follow his executive order, or "you're not going to get any federal funding," to which she replied, "We’ll see you in court."
"I'm complying with state and federal laws," Mills said, before Trump said, "Well, we are the federal law," and "you better do it, you better do it, because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't.
Trump later issued a Title IX investigation against the state, along with California and Minnesota.
Melissa Moulton is listed as the "petition starter" on change.org. She is also the "host" of the "March Against Mills" event on Facebook.
"I am standing among many Maine citizens who are deeply dissatisfied with the policies introduced by our Governor, Janet Mills. I believe strongly that her policies are not in alignment with the wishes and values of the majority of Mainers," Moulton wrote. "The feeling of disconnect between the populace and leadership is palpable and widespread. Various statistics underline rural-urban divide that has been exacerbated by the Governor's decisions. Additionally, several of her policies contradict the economic growth and prosperity that should be our government's priority. I am yet another citizen calling for change and improvement for our beloved state of Maine. It is imperative that we hold our elected officials accountable. I implore you to sign this petition to voice our collective dissent and to initiate the recall of Governor Janet Mills. Together we can work to ensure our government truly represents us all."
Facebook indicates that roughly 350 people will attend Saturday's march; another 2,300 are "interested" in the two-hour event, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. ET at the Maine State House.
President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post late Friday night that he will "be signing a complete pardon" of MLB's all-time hit king, Pete Rose.
Rose died last year before ever seeing himself make the Hall of Fame; writers have never been given the option to vote for him, as the Baseball Writers Association of America and Hall of Fame followed suit with MLB's lifetime ban of Rose in 1989 for gambling.
"Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as ‘Charlie Hustle,’ into the Baseball Hall of fame. Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!" Trump posted.
"Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING. He never betted against himself, or the other team. He had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history. Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy a--, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!"
Major League Baseball itself does not control who gets into the Hall of Fame; the baseball writers vote initially, while other committees to get players in further down the road are made by the Hall itself, not the league.
Rose died last September at the age of 83 from hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Rose broke out with his hometown Cincinnati Reds, the team he played 19 of his 24 seasons with, three of which he also served as acting manager, in 1963, and he went on to make league history, while securing three World Series titles along the way.
Nicknamed "Charlie Hustle" for his relentless drive when on the diamond, Rose was league MVP in 1973, a 17-time All-Star, three-time batting title winner, Rookie of the Year and World Series MVP.
Despite his 4,256 career hits, he became a polarizing figure when the news of his gambling on baseball rocked the sports world.
Rose tried to apply for reinstatement to Major League Baseball on several occasions but was always denied. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred denied one in 2015, saying that Rose did not take responsibility for his actions and didn’t understand the damage he had caused while betting on the game.
Rose applied for reinstatement in 2020 and 2022, especially with legalized sports betting happening across the country. However, Manfred denied both requests, pointing to the Veteran’s Committee for any Hall of Fame discussions regarding Rose. Manfred also shot down any speculation about Rose’s reinstatement in 2023, as the league had partnerships with sportsbooks.
Though he isn't in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Reds inducted Rose into their own hall of fame in 2016, retiring his No. 14. He made several appearances in MLB ballparks in recent years before his death.
Fox News' Scott Thompson contributed to this report.
Joel Embiid's stellar 2022-23 season, which culminated with the Philadelphia 76ers center receiving NBA MVP honors, seems like a distant memory. The 7-footer's pro basketball career has been hampered by injuries, with knee issues contributing to his latest setback.
On Friday, the Sixers announced the seven-time NBA All-Star would be forced to watch games from the sideline for the rest of the season due to a left knee injury. He underwent a procedure to address the knee problems last February, but never seemed to return to form. Emiid and the Sixers tried to manage the pain and swelling in the knee this season prior to shutting him down.
The 76ers said the decision to shut down Embiid through the stretch of the 2024-25 campaign was made once it was determined he was "medically unable to play."
"The Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid have been consulting with top specialists regarding ongoing issues with his left knee. After further evaluation, it has been determined that he is medically unable to play and will miss the remainder of the season to focus on treatment and rehabilitation," the team said in a statement.
"We are working with medical experts to determine the exact treatment plan and will update media when we have more information. The team and specialists will continue working with Joel to ensure the best path forward for his long-term health and performance."
Counting the 164 games he missed his first two seasons after he was the third overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and what's left of this season, Embiid will have played in 452 of 883 76ers' games by the end of this season — missing nearly 50% of the regular season.
The 76ers are 8-11 with Embiid this season, and 12-27 without him.
Embiid has been hobbled by injuries all season, and served a three-game suspension for shoving a member of the media. He’s averaged 23.8 points — he averaged at least 30 and won two scoring titles the last three seasons — and scored only 29 points combined in his last two games.
Embiid acknowledged earlier this month he may have to undergo another surgery on the left knee.
"I think the straightforward answer is that when you’ve got something that’s inconsistent, at some point, you’ve got to do something about it," Embiid said. "We don’t know what it is. We’re looking into every option."
He played just 39 games last season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee. Embiid did win a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team last year at the Paris Games.
He has played only 58 regular-season games and seven play-in tournament and playoff games since he earned league MVP honors.
Embiid signed a $193 million contract extension ahead of the season and has banked nearly $266 million in career earnings.
Philadelphia entered this season as one of the favorites to contend for an NBA title, but the team is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. The Sixers entered Friday in the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
An accused accomplice in a $1 billion drug ring allegedly led by former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding has been brought to the U.S. from Mexico to face federal charges, the U.S. Justice Department announced Friday in a release provided to Fox News Digital.
Andrew Clark, 34, a Canadian citizen who was living in Mexico, was arrested by Mexican authorities in October 2024 and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in Arizona.
"The defendant, as described in the superseding indictment, played a key role in running a violent, international drug trafficking organization that was responsible for multiple murders," Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally said in Friday's announcement.
"We are grateful to have him in the United States where he will face justice. When law enforcement officials around the globe work together, there is nowhere criminals can hide."
Clark's aliases include "The Dictator," and he allegedly controlled a $1 billion drug enterprise with supply routes that transported tons of cocaine from Colombia to Canada by way of Mexico and Southern California.
Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City for Canada, faces drug trafficking charges in Canada that date back to 2015, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said.
Wedding was previously convicted in the U.S. of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and he was sentenced to prison in 2010, according to federal records.
According to the superseding indictment, Wedding and Clark allegedly directed the murders of two individuals and the attempted murder of a third victim in Ontario, Canada, in November 2023. Wedding and Clark also allegedly ordered the murder of a fourth individual in May 2024.
Clark and another co-defendant are also charged with the murder of a fifth individual in Ontario, Canada, in April 2024.
From March 2024 to August 2024, Wedding and Clark allegedly conspired with others to distribute more than 1,800 kilograms of cocaine. Wedding, Clark, and their co-conspirators also allegedly transferred approximately a quarter of a billion dollars from April 2024 to September 2024. Investigators seized more than $3 million from one cryptocurrency wallet in a single day.
Clark is the second named defendant in the superseding indictment that charges a total of 16 defendants. With Clark’s expected court appearance, a total of eight defendants will have been arraigned in this case. The trial of Clark’s alleged co-conspirators is scheduled to begin May 6.
Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe said he was fired from his job as a California high school football coach after a speech at a city council meeting in which he called MAGA a "Nazi movement."
"Just got fired from being a freshman football coach, if you want to know what MAGA does to communities," Kluwe wrote on BlueSky Thursday. "They don’t care about what helps people, because the school is certainly not going to find an ex-NFL player willing to coach there at that level, they only care about trying to hurt people."
Kluwe later told CNN the school fired him because the incident was "getting too much attention."
Kluwe was arrested at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting last week when he was protesting Huntington Beach’s decision to display a plaque at a public library. The plaque used the words magical, alluring, galvanizing and adventurous, and their initials spelled MAGA.
A video from the meeting shows Kluwe criticizing the MAGA movement, calling it "a Nazi movement" and saying he would engage in civil disobedience. Kluwe later went to the front of the meeting, and police handcuffed him and led him out.
Days later, Kluwe made an appearance on CNN, and he did not back down from his stance.
"I believe we’re on the path that Nazi Germany went down under Hitler," he said. "And I say that as a political science and history major, as someone who has studied history. And the parallels are very, very clear."
Kluwe, 43, took issue with the Trump administration’s stance on transgender athletes competing in girls and women’s sports, among other issues.
"This administration is trying to put obedience over duty to the country. This administration is trying to thrust our country into turmoil in order to reap power for themselves. And I think regardless of political affiliation, all of us as Americans should be able to agree — no kings, no tyrants, not now, not ever," Kluwe said.
Kluwe addressed the election and those who voted for President Donald Trump, claiming "Hitler was elected too."
"There were a lot of very good Germans who believed that Hitler was going to have their best interests in mind. And I think there are a lot of good Americans that think that Trump has their best interests in mind. But I am very confident that what this administration has shown — has already shown — that Trump does not have their best interests in mind."
On Wednesday, Kluwe said he wants other officials to "start engaging in civil disobedience."
"I want our elected Democratic officials to start engaging in civil disobedience," he told the Daily Pilot. "People need to be aware that what’s going on with this administration is leading us down a really dark path. Right now, no one is willing to step up and do that. So, if I want to ask them to do it, then I have to be willing to do it too."
Kluwe also told TMZ he would consider running for public office.
Kluwe punted for the Minnesota Vikings from 2005-12.
A.J. Brown's sixth season in the NFL was likely his most memorable. The All-Pro wide receiver delivered a third consecutive 1,000-yard season and was a key part of the Philadelphia Eagles' run to a Super Bowl title.
Before making the leap to the NFL, Brown finished with just under 3,000 receiving yards with the Ole Miss Rebels during his time as a college football star.
While Brown has become one of the best players in his sport, there was a time when he contemplated a different path.
The three-time Pro Bowler excelled at football and baseball at Starkville High in Mississippi. He also played in the 2015 Under Armour High School All-America Baseball Game.
Brown admitted he was alarmed by the hard-throwing abilities of pitchers competing in that game, which led to his decision to pursue football.
"I’ll tell you when I made the decision to play football. I’m in right field. I’m in the All-America game in Chicago. The first was like 97 (mph) — 97 off the rip? I’m usually facing like 85," Brown explained during a recent appearance on the "Million Dollaz Worth of Game" podcast.
"We still in high school, though. So, these are all high school players, and these guys are probably gonna go first round. I see him throwing an off-speed pitch, and it’s like a 90-mph breaking ball. I’m gonna see if I can go over here and hit this."
Brown did draw interest from MLB teams, and the San Diego Padres drafted him in one of the later rounds in 2016. Brown, however, elected to attend college in his native Mississippi and take the football route. Brown earned first-team All-SEC honors twice during his standout career at Ole Miss.
Earlier this month, Padres area scout Stephen Moritz recalled scouting Brown a decade ago and seeing his elite athleticism.
"You're never certain," Moritz told MLB.com. "As scouts, you're wrong more often than you're right. But I was as certain as I could be [that] he was going to be a good outfielder. He was going to be great in the outfield. There was too much athleticism. There was natural ability. You add all his tools together, that was the one thing I was pretty confident in. This dude is going to be a good outfielder in the big leagues."
In 2020, Brown detailed how baseball helped mold him into the football player he is today.
"You catch the ball with your eyes," Brown told ESPN. "Baseball really helped me out with that for football. When you're tracking a ball, especially a deep ball, it helped me a lot. I played center field in baseball. On a deep pass in football, you judge it and track it just like a center fielder."
The Tennessee Titans selected Brown in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and traded him to the Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft.
Former Minnesota Vikings and University of Minnesota football player Jack Brewer will be joining conservative activist Riley Gaines for a rally in his home state Monday to lobby for a bill to ban transgender athletes in women's sports.
The "Preserving Girls' Sports Act" passed in the state's House Education Policy Committee Feb. 20 and will be voted on in the House of Representatives Monday. If it passes there, it will go to Gov. Tim Walz's desk, where it is expected to get vetoed because Walz is a strong advocate for transgender rights.
Brewer, the founder of the Jack Brewer Foundation, told Fox News Digital he finds Walz's pro-trans stances "disgusting," especially considering Walz was a high school football coach at Mankato West High School in the 1990s.
"It's absolutely disgusting, and it's why, when you see him and you see his mannerisms and the way he carries himself, you know this guy doesn't appeal to real men and boys who have battled it out on the gridiron, man. I have nothing in common with this guy," Brewer said.
"I think he's a disgrace to the football world to be honest."
In April 2023, Walz signed the "Trans Refuge" bill that shields people seeking and providing gender-affirming care in the state. Recently, Minnesota has come under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for defying President Donald Trump's recent "No Men in Women's Sports" executive order because Minnesota has continued to allow trans athletes to compete against girls in high school.
Walz's daughter, Hope Walz, recently went viral for a series of TikTok videos in which she spoke out against Trump's executive order and in defense of transgender athletes.
Brewer hopes to have a conversation with the governor about this issue.
"When I get there on Monday, if he would invite me in his office and have a conversation about this, I would respectfully accept it," Brewer said. "I would tell him that I know that deep down in his heart he doesn't believe in it.
"I think deep down in his heart he knows it's wrong. I think he's trying to appeal to a far-left liberal base … and raise money. These LGBTQ groups donate a lot of money, particularly in Minnesota. So, the money and power they have is really pushing this legislation."
Brewer does not expect Walz to sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.
"You know he's not going to do it because it's just who he has continued to be," Brewer said. "I pray that he has a change of heart and an awakening, but I'm sure if he does sign it, it will just be because the money train has ended."
Gaines also told Fox News Digital she doesn't expect Walz to sign the bill.
"I'm fairly certain Gov. Walz would veto this bill," Gaines said. "But even if it doesn't have the best possibility of being signed into law, it is so, so important that we have these members, these representatives, these senators, on the record. Do they stand with women or do they not?"
Walz's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment before publication.
Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, the university revealed on Friday.
Due to early detection, doctors believe Freeze's cancer "is very treatable and curable," according to a statement from the school. The 55-year-old is expected to maintain his football coaching schedule as he fulfills his job duties during his treatment.
The Tigers are scheduled to start spring practice in late March.
"Recently, Coach Freeze was diagnosed with an early form of prostate cancer," the statement said. "Thankfully, it was detected early and his doctors have advised that it is very treatable and curable. He will continue his normal coaching duties and responsibilities, and with forthcoming proper treatment, is expected to make a full recovery."
Auburn officials also shared Freeze's hope that his health battle serves as a reminder of undergoing health screenings annually.
"Coach Freeze is incredibly appreciative of our medical professionals and has asked that we use his experience as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing and scheduling annual health screenings," the statement said.
Auburn finished with a 6-6 regular-season record under Freeze in 2023, before losing in the Music City Bowl. The Tigers did not show much improvement in Freeze's second season at the helm, finishing with a 5-7 record.
Auburn did bolster its roster via the transfer portal this offseason, which could help the team become contenders in the Southeastern Conference in 2025.
Freeze previously managed to coach while dealing with health issues in the past.
In 2019, he suffered a herniated disk in his back and a staph infection. Freeze continued to coach the Liberty Flames football team from a hospital bed which was temporarily relocated to the stadium's coaches' box for the team's Aug. 31, 2019, game.
"They will be [invited]. We haven't yet, but we will be," Trump said. "I thought it was a great performance by them. Absolutely, they'll be extended an invitation. We'll do it right away. We'll do it some time today. They deserve to be down here, and we hope to see them."
The day after the Super Bowl, veteran offensive lineman Lane Johnson said it would be a "team decision" to make a White House visit. Johnson was a part of the 2018 Super Bowl team that had its invitation rescinded by Trump after some players refused to visit the White House due to Trump’s criticism of those who knelt or raised fists during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice and police brutality.
Trump released a statement at the time about canceling his invitation, saying "the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better."
"They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country," Trump’s statement from seven years ago said.
As the national debate over trans inclusion in girls' and women's sports has reached a boiling point in recent weeks, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has been uncharacteristically quiet on the issue. Now, conservative influencer Riley Gaines has extended an invitation to the congresswomen to join the other side of the issue.
"I absolutely believe that AOC, of course she has a platform, she's in a position of influence and power, and I believe she could influence the Democratic members to cross the line and return to sanity. I do believe there is an obligatory responsibility from every member of congress," Gaines told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.
Gaines believes that if Ocasio-Cortez were to suddenly take a stand against trans inclusion in girls' and women's sports that it would be "performative" but that it would still benefit the congresswoman's political reputation.
"While I don't agree with many other things outside of this issue that AOC stands for, I would certainly applaud her or any Democrat [for speaking out against trans inclusion]," Gaines said.
"I don't believe AOC is out of contention for running for president in 2028, and if that's the case, [trans inclusion in women's sports] is certainly something she would want to distance herself from."
Ocasio-Cortez last spoke out on the issue directly when the House of Representatives voted on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act on Jan. 14. That day, she gave an impassioned, controversial speech on the House floor, where she claimed that the bill would empower child sexual predators and that "trans girls are girls."
The speech ignited immense backlash and mockery, including by Democrats, one of whom told Fox News Digital they and others were unregistering from the party in response.
Since then, President Donald Trump has passed an executive order banning trans inclusion in women's and girls' sports nationally, and the NCAA has amended its gender eligibility to comply with the order. Meanwhile, multiple Democrat states have openly defied Trump, prompting federal investigations against those states and potentially cuts to funding in response.
On Monday, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will get a vote on the Senate floor.
Ocasio-Cortez has not weighed in on the issue, despite being a notable advocate for trans inclusion in the past. She has only referenced a recent exchange between Trump and Maine Governor Janet Mills on the issue with a Bluesky post that says, "that's how it's done." However, she hasn't addressed Trump's order or the issue of trans inclusion as whole in detail.
During a virtual town hall hosted by Ocasio-Cortez on Feb. 21, she did not address the issue despite Fox News Digital submitting a question on it. Ocasio-Cortez's office has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the issue by Fox News Digital over email.
"When we allow ourselves to constantly be distracted by these culture wars around trans people, it's a new thing every day, and the answer isn't that we just let those people be attacked, it's that we say, ‘What are you doing, man?’ I think we need to make standing up for those folks just such an afterthought that it's not even a debate," Ocasio-Cortez said.
"Like, we need to understand and see the bait for what it is, but we don’t take the bait by letting those rights just erode and go by the wayside."
But Gaines is not surprised by Ocasion-Cortez's, and other Democrats', sudden distance from the issue of trans inclusion in girls' sports.
"We shouldn't be surprised this is the position AOC is taking," Gaines said. "Number one, cancel culture is losing its grip, and number two, it means they're trying to distance themselves from their voting records or whatever that may be, because they know that this is a losing issue. And it shows they just have no conviction. From the inception, this issue has been a farce."
Ocasio-Cortez has previously voted in favor of multiple bills that would enable trans athletes to play in women's and girls' sports nationwide, including the Equality Act and the Transgender Bill of Rights. The congresswomen previously suggested that the Green Party was "predatory" in an X post responding to 2024 Green Party VP nominee Butch Ware speaking out against trans inclusion in women's sports.
Before that, Ocasio-Cortez even criticized former President Joe Biden, who made multiple efforts to enable trans inclusion, for not doing enough to enable it.
In April 2023, when Biden proposed a Title IX change that would outlaw bans on trans athletes in girls' sports but would allow for bans on students "based on a set of sex-related criteria unique to their community," Ocasio-Cortez called it a "disgrace."
"Absolutely no reason for the Biden admin to do this. It is indefensible and embarrassing," she wrote on X that month. "The admin can still walk this back, and they should. It’s a disgrace."
However, the issue of trans inclusion in women's and girls' sports has become a widely opposed issue over the last year, and data suggests that it even affected the outcome of the 2024 election.
A recent New York Times/Ipsos survey found that the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports.
"Thinking about transgender female athletes — meaning athletes who were male at birth but who currently identify as female — do you think they should or should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports?" the survey asked.
Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete with women.
A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them.
Additionally, 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."
There is plenty of movement to ban one of the many keys to the Philadelphia Eagles' success, but President Donald Trump is not among those who want it out.
Trump saw it first-hand when he attended the Birds' Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month. Jalen Hurts scored the first touchdown of the game with it.
The Spectator asked Trump for his feelings on the play that has garnered controversy, and it doesn't sound like there will be an executive order to get rid of it any time soon.
The Eagles have used the play constantly since Hurts became the full-time quarterback, and over the last three years, it's hit at a roughly 90% clip. And while other teams have adopted it, nobody has come close to mastering it like Philly has.
"First of all, it’s the opposite of football. Second of all, it’s actually more dangerous, because you’re actually going into each other without any defense or anything," Trump said. "It’s much more dangerous. It is so terrible. You know, when in football, when the ball moves, you’re supposed to be moving. This ball is up in the air, and they’re all saying it is so horrible to watch that. And I told that to Roger Goodell."
The Green Bay Packers issued a proposal to ban the tush push, and Falcons head coach Raheem Morris added earlier this week that it "should have been illegal three years ago."
The new kickoff rule was implemented ahead of this past season, and Trump has not been a fan, from day one.
Trump has said he would invite the Eagles to the White House to commemorate their Super Bowl win.
The star quarterback and the Los Angeles Rams agreed to a restructured deal Friday that will keep Stafford in California, the team announced.
The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants were in trade talks with Stafford’s camp, but the quarterback ended up taking less to stay with the Rams, according to the NFL Network.
Stafford and the Rams were one play away from knocking off the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC divisional round before falling short.
In that loss, Stafford completed nearly 60% of his passes while throwing for 324 yards and two touchdowns despite less-than-ideal weather conditions.
The Rams won the NFC West last season, going 10-7 and defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round before eventually losing to the Eagles.
Stafford, 37, was good last season. The Rams were 10-6 in his starts (Stafford rested in Week 18), and Stafford completed nearly 66% of his passes for 3,762 yards, while throwing 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
While Stafford will be back with the Rams, Cooper Kupp likely will not be. The team is looking to trade him.
Despite potentially losing Kupp, Stafford still has Puka Nacua, a 2023 fifth-round pick who has developed into a star, to throw to.
Stafford won a Super Bowl with the Rams in his first season with the team after being traded from the Detroit Lions prior to the 2021 season and will hope to bring another to Los Angeles with his return.
The Raiders and the Giants now figure to look to free agency or the NFL Draft to solve their quarterback woes.
"Hard Knocks" is reportedly turning to the college ranks, but not necessarily by choice.
Front Office Sports (FOS) reported Friday that the HBO series' offseason edition will highlight Bill Belichick and his new gig with the University of North Carolina.
It is certainly an intriguing storyline, but it apparently comes after the network could not find an NFL team to be featured following the backlash the New York Giants have gotten because of it.
The G-Men were the first team to be featured in the new offseason edition of the show, and cameras captured Joe Schoen, now infamously being quite at ease with Saquon Barkley not returning to the team.
Barkley, of course, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, a move that John Mara said on the show that would give him a "tough time sleeping." Barkley then went on to have maybe the best season ever for a running back.
He became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, set the record for most rushing yards in one year, including the playoffs, and was named the Offensive Player of the Year. To put the icing on the cake, he also won the Super Bowl.
While Barkley found immense success in Philly, the Giants had arguably their worst season in franchise history, going 3-14 with four different starting quarterbacks. They also missed out on the first overall pick after winning their Week 17 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
FOS said the "Joe Schoen debacle" deterred teams from being featured. Unlike the training camp edition, there are no "requirements" to bring features in either the offseason or regular season versions of the show, so teams have more freedom to be featured.
Belichick was off the NFL sidelines last year for the first time in nearly five decades, but he signed on to join UNC in December. He interviewed for at least two NFL jobs last offseason, but was not selected.
Despite the highly-publicized (hindsight 20/20) mistake, Mara opted to keep both Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
Canadian driver Amber Balcaen may not have been racing in the Daytona 500, but she still felt President Donald Trump's energy when he arrived at Daytona International Speedway.
"I’m Canadian, but I’ve never experienced anything like that. You could feel the energy and even still talking about it, it gives me chills. It was really neat," Balcaen said during a recent appearance on OutKick’s "OutKick The Morning with Charly Arnolt."
"I raced the day before, so I didn’t get to hear him over the radio, but I was listening, and I can’t even imagine how the drivers must have felt in that moment."
Balcaen, 32, raced in the ACRA Menards Series the day prior to the Daytona 500, which Gus Dean won.
Balcaen said Trump’s presence added even more to what is already an awesome atmosphere.
"The Daytona 500 is known as the great American race. It’s NASCAR’s Super Bowl. So to have Donald Trump, or the President of the United States there, I mean the energy is already absolutely electric on that day at Daytona. But to have the President there, it just added another level."
Trump became the first president to attend the Daytona 500 twice when he visited the racetrack earlier this month.
After talking with some drivers on pit lane, he rode in the presidential limousine, "The Beast," as it took a pace lap before the green flag flew.
William Byron won the Daytona 500 for the second time in his career and talked to Fox News Digital earlier this month about what it meant having Trump in attendance.
"It was pretty neat," Byron said. "I think anytime you can have a sitting president come and see your sporting event, it is very special. And for him to take the time to do that was really cool. Just to be able to see the motorcade go across the track and just the various things that he did when he was there was pretty cool.
"Brought a lot of energy and excitement to the race before it started."
The Georgia House recently passed the "Riley Gaines Act," which aims to prohibit transgender athletes from competing against biological girls and women.
The bill is named after Gaines, the host of the "Gaines for Girls" podcast on OutKick, who has been a champion for keeping biological males out of girls' and women's sports ever since competing against Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer who won an NCAA title three years ago.
Representatives voted 102-54 for House Bill 267 on Thursday.
While all 54 no's came from Democrats, three of them voted to pass; zero Republicans voted no, and of the 10 who did not vote, nine were Democrats.
The measure moves to the Senate, which has passed its own separate legislation.
"Female athletes deserve fair competition and that means the chance to maintain the women’s divisions distinct from men’s categories," said Republican Rep. Josh Bonner of Fayetteville, the bill’s sponsor.
Georgia's high school athletic association currently bans transgender students from participating in sports based on their gender identity; 25 other states have laws restricting sports participation by trans athletes.
Democratic Rep. Karla Drenner of Avondale Estates said the bill is "calculated, dangerous, deeply discriminatory piece of legislation that goes far beyond the realm of athletics."
"Let’s call this the erasure of transgender Georgians act today," said Drenner, who was the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the legislature when she was elected in 2000.
Several states, despite President Donald Trump's executive order, have allegedly continued to allow transgender athletes to compete against biological females; the Department of Education has launched Title IX investigations into California, Minnesota and Maine for doing so.
Trump threatened Maine governor Janet Mills with a lack of federal funding if the state continued to ignore Trump's order.
Potential No.1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, spoke to reporters on Friday at the NFL combine and did not lack confidence.
Sanders, 23, said he knows he can turn an NFL franchise around.
"We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back-to-back. You don't think I could come to an NFL franchise and change a program again? It's history, it's always going to repeat itself," Sanders said.
"If you ain’t trying to change the franchise or the culture, don’t get me. So, you should know history repeats itself over and over and over, and I’ve done it over and over, so it should be no question why NFL franchises should pick me."
One key to turning a franchise around is strong leadership, which the Colorado star quarterback said is his best trait.
"I would say being a leader, that’s my best trait overall, because everything is mental. So, if I play my game from the neck up, I got to be able to adjust to my players, to have them have relatability for them to get to know me, for us to make everything smooth. I came from an HBCU and then went (to a Power Four conference), those two types of different players, and it’s very diverse, and getting to know people, talk to people and making everything genuine," Sanders said.
"That’s why when I’m here interacting with people, I love interacting with people so they can truly get to know me and not just know clicks or anything like that."
Sanders highlighted the importance of being in a strong mental headspace on the field as well.
"It’s extremely important to keep your mental in the best place because that’s where my game is played. My game is not played from my legs and not even just my arm. So I know longevity, the all-time greats. What’s Tom Brady's best trait? His mental. He’s able to think. So if you have those traits of greatness and I know where I’m heading, then why wouldn’t a franchise pick me? You’ve got the ultimate cheat code."
A lot of experts have said the top two quarterbacks in this class, Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward, are not as good as the quarterbacks in last year’s class.
The 2024 quarterback class included Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., JJ McCarthy and Bo Nix, with a few of those quarterbacks having immediate success in their rookie season.
While Sanders may not have been selected high in last year’s class, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year questioned those who do not see him as the top quarterback over Ward in the 2025 draft class.
"When people say I'm not one of the top quarterbacks or the top quarterback, what are y'all going based off of? Because I did it year after year after year, and you see the progression. Obviously, it has to be some kind of external hate that you have for the family, for the last name, for anything, because I know I’ve proven myself on the field."
Last season with Colorado, Sanders threw for 4,314 yards and 37 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, helping lead the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record and a bowl game appearance.
Sanders’ play is a big reason the team improved to 9-4 after going 4-8 the prior season; Colorado was 1-11 the year before the Sanders family came over.
There are a few quarterback-needy teams at the top of the draft that could select Sanders or Ward. The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are unsettled at the quarterback position and have the first three picks in the draft.
Only time will tell where Sanders ends up, and if he does indeed turn that franchise around.
