Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., praised a South Carolina judge Friday after bond was denied for the 19-year-old transgender activist accused of threatening to assassinate her. She also shook the hand of the suspect’s father.
Samuel Theodore Cain, who identifies as transgender and uses the name "Roxie Wolfe" online, was arrested May 15 by state agents for allegedly posting graphic threats targeting Mace and her children. Cain remains in custody, and a trial date has not been set.
The judge cited the seriousness of the threats during a hearing.
"Mr. Cain, I do believe that you are a credible threat, and I'm going to put you in on a no bond," the judge said. "The only condition bond I'm going to put on you right now is no contact with the victim."
Mace flew in from Washington, D.C., to deliver a victim impact statement in court Friday morning and speak to reporters afterward.
"I come before you today not just as a victim, but as a sitting member of the United States House of Representatives who has been the target of a direct and credible threat on her life," she told the judge.
She described how the threats forced her to change her routine, seek shelter and request increased law enforcement patrols for her home and congressional offices.
"This meant I was vulnerable. My staff was vulnerable. And my children were vulnerable," she said. "Threats like these are acts of terror meant to shake the foundations of democracy."
Outside the courthouse, Mace reflected on Friday's bond hearing and finally seeing Cain in person.
"My first thought was, he's huge," she said. "This guy was well over 6 feet, over 200 pounds. I'm 5-foot-6, 115 pounds. He’s twice my size. It was scary.
"As a mom, this was heartbreaking. All I could think about was his family. And my kids. My kids live in fear about being murdered."
She said she was surprised but thankful for the judge’s ruling.
"I’ve seen how women are treated in this state. I hope this gives women hope," she said. "If there’s a mentally ill man coming after us, we need to stand up for our rights. That’s what I saw the judge do today."
After the hearing, Mace approached Cain’s family and shook the hand of his father.
"I shook the hand of a father whose son threatened to kill me, not out of forgiveness, but out of grace," she later posted on X. "Strength is about standing your ground and we can be humble with humanity."
"I want to thank Samuel Cain’s family," she said during her remarks for the media. "Their humility meant a lot to me. As a mom, it meant something to see them show up. We’re all human. But threats like this have to come with consequences."
Mace said the threats were discovered by Capitol Police and were serious enough that her staff and law enforcement begged her to get to a safe location.
"This was serious. Nobody knew where he was," she said. "Law enforcement told me to go inside immediately. That’s how real it was."
She described the toll the threats have taken on her daily life.
"I face threats every day. This is the second person this year. But I receive death threats from trans activists and trans people every single day. And not a single U.S. attorney in the state of South Carolina or anywhere in the country has taken them seriously."
She warned that continued inaction could be deadly.
"One day, someone’s going to pull the trigger. Someone’s going to get a bullet. Someone’s going to die."
She also highlighted a broader pattern of violence and called out what she sees as a lack of accountability from Democrats.
"This case isn’t just about one man’s threats. It’s about a culture that tolerates violence against elected officials, especially women who speak up," Mace said. "We do not accept terror. The normalization of threats against public servants corrodes democracy from within.
"Not one Democrat has spoken up to say it’s wrong," she added. "Only Democrats blame the victim."
On social media, Mace shared a photo of Cain in an orange jumpsuit.
"This is not Roxie Wolfe, this is not a woman, and threatening my life is not a joke. Look at his smirk," she posted.
Mace ended her statement in court with a final plea for justice.
"I pray this young man finds God, who alone can change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh," she said. "Letting him walk away sends the message that threatening to kill a member of Congress is just another day without consequence. It is not. It is criminal. And it must be treated as such."
That’s how Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., responded to the arrest of Samuel Theodore Cain, a trans-identifying activist who goes by "Roxie Wolfe" online, after he was charged with allegedly making repeated death threats against the congresswoman.
Cain, 19, was taken into custody by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) after months of alleged threats, making him the first known trans activist in the country to be arrested for threatening a sitting member of Congress.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Mace didn’t hold back.
"I’ve waited for this for a long time," she said. "Trans activists have been threatening to kill me every day for over six months, ever since I started filing bills to protect women’s spaces."
Mace said her top priority has always been protecting her family, her staff and herself from the kind of politically motivated violence she believes is getting worse and is also ignored by the left.
"We live in fear every day, looking over our shoulders because these trans activists fuel violence," she said. "And yet not one Democrat has spoken up to say it’s wrong."
Cain allegedly posted violent messages online threatening to kill Mace and her children, describing graphic ways he would harm her. According to Mace, these threats were shared with law enforcement and the public for months.
Investigative journalist Andy Ngo reported Cain had a history of allegedly posting threats and expressing support for far-left causes.
In one post, Cain allegedly wrote, "I'M GOING TO ASSASSINATE REPRESENTATIVE NANCY MACE WITH A GUN AND I'M BEING 100% DEAD ASS."
Ngo's investigation revealed that Cain's social media accounts were filled with posts about trans-related topics and support for Democrats. After being contacted by the FBI about his posts, Cain allegedly admitted to making the threat but claimed he "didn't mean it."
"We’ve posted the voicemails," Mace said. "We’ve shared the text messages. They talked about smashing my head into a bathroom floor or shooting me.
"This is who these people are. And still, not a single Democrat has stood up and said, ‘This is unacceptable.’"
Mace said the silence speaks volumes.
"When the left shows you who they are, believe them," she said. "They are normalizing political violence, and they’re doing it by refusing to condemn it."
Mace, who has introduced legislation to protect women’s bathrooms and spaces, said this arrest only proves why her efforts matter.
"This matters more than ever," she said. "We have to protect women. Real men protect women. Real men don’t threaten them. But we can’t do this alone. We need more people to speak out."
She said real change will only happen when people stop being afraid and start holding dangerous behavior accountable.
"This arrest happened because someone had the courage to act," she said. "That was Capitol Police. That was SLED. I demanded it too, but they finally said, ‘Not one more.’ That’s what we need — courage, not silence."
Cain allegedly made many of his threats publicly on social media. Mace said that’s a major problem and called for changes to Section 230, the law that shields tech platforms from liability. According to the DOJ, 230 "provides immunity to online platforms from civil liability based on third-party content and for the removal of content in certain circumstances."
"You can’t even sue blogs when people post threats or lies," she said. "There’s no accountability. That has to change. People are being targeted, and these platforms are letting it happen."
Some on the left have accused Mace of "punching down" for calling attention to her would-be attacker. Mace had a sharp response.
"Only Democrats blame the victim," she said. "They don’t want to protect women. We’ve seen it in sports, bathrooms, locker rooms and now in politics. They always look the other way.
"There’s a total double standard. Not one Democrat colleague of mine has spoken out since the arrest. Not one."
Asked what she would say to other lawmakers, especially women, who are scared to speak out on gender and safety issues, Mace was clear.
"Violence against women should always be taken seriously," she said. "We should believe women. We should protect them. And we should prosecute the people who want to hurt them.
"If you care about women, prove it. Stand up and say, ‘No more!’"
Mace also revealed to Fox News Digital she’s preparing a victim impact statement and hopes to attend Cain’s bond hearing scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday.
"I’m working on it now," she said. "We’re figuring out logistics, but I plan to be there."
With Pope Leo XIV assuming his post, college football coaching legend Lou Holtz shared an important message for every Catholic around the globe.
Holtz said he has been "Catholic all my life," serving as an altar boy as well. He urged people in the United States and around the world to be gracious to Pope Leo as he begins his leadership of the church.
"I’m an old man, I’ve been Catholic all my life. I was taught about how the pope would be selected. The white smoke, the black smoke, et cetera," Holtz began his message. "But you never know about the pope, because he isn’t infallible. He’s infallible when everything comes to religious decisions, and we’re taught to respect him and pray for him and listen to him.
"I hope this pope will be a very, very good one, but I do know this: He is our pope. We must defend him, we must encourage him, we must pray for him, and we must help him."
Holtz continued by arguing "too many people don’t give enough to the church today," and perhaps that is due to some not believing in past papal decisions.
"The church has financial obligations like anything else. So, whether you like the pope or not, is irrelevant. He’s our pope. You must respect him, pray for him, and care about him at the same time, accept the decisions he makes.
"It’s important for us to support the pope regardless of who he is, whether we like him or not. Pray for him. Pray for the decisions that they make. I’ve been blessed to know two popes, have visits with them. Let’s make sure that we pray for the pope, follow his blessings and teachings because they’ve led us the correct way for so many years.
"Good luck to you, and I promise you, I will pray for the pope because I know the pope’s also going to pray for me and pray for the choices he makes in the best interest of this country."
Since Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the first American pope last week, many wanted to learn about the new leader of the church.
Louis Prevost, his conservative brother, pushed back on accusations that Pope Leo would be a "woke" successor to the late Pope Francis.
"He wasn’t, like, super political," Prevost told Piers Morgan on "Uncensored." "He’s not left, he’s not right, he looks at the whole scene, takes information from both sides, and somehow finds a way to go down the middle and not ruffle too many feathers."
Prevost did, however, address Pope Leo’s previous criticism of President Donald Trump’s methods amid the migrant crisis.
"He may take offense with the method in which they’re moving people out and comment on that," but nonetheless, "you still have to follow the rules of the law."
Holtz is a staunch Trump supporter, posting similar videos of his praise for the 47th president.
Holtz coached for 33 years in college with six different programs, most notably Notre Dame, where he went 100-30 over his 11 years with the Fighting Irish.
The craft hot sauce business is exploding in the US as hundreds of small producers compete with centuries-old brands by launching creative flavors and using newly engineered, extra-hot peppers.
Corvon Burgess got his start in real estate after seeing TikTok videos.
Courtesy of Corvon Burgess
Real estate investor Corvon Burgess started his business after seeing a TikTok video two years ago.
He is now looking for backers to fund his conversion of a South Carolina hotel into apartments.
Burgess turned back to TikTok to help raise money to renovate the motel while keeping rents low.
Corvon Burgess first learned about real-estate investing on TikTok.
In 2023, he came across videos about wholesaling, a real-estate investing strategy in which people act as scouts for other investors. They search out under-the-radar properties, secure a contract with the seller, and then resell that contract to another buyer for a profit.
Burgess started out finding a home listed for auction on Zillow in Clinton, South Carolina, a small town of 7,700 an hour north of Columbia. He sold the contract to the home to another buyer through Facebook Marketplace, making a $5,000 profit.
That first deal opened Burgess' eyes to the potential of a career in real estate. At the time, he wasenrolled at Francis Marion University and working at Waffle House.
"You can truly learn about building wealth and how opportunities can open up to you," Burgess, now 24, told Business Insider.
So far, Burgess has sold 10 contracts. His investment firm, Burgess Legacy Investments, also runs short-term rentals and invests in local businesses, including restaurants. Now, he's gearing up for his biggest project yet: buying a rundown motel and turning the rooms into affordably priced studio apartments.
The hotel conversion plan includes keeping rents low
Burgess launched what he's calling the Affordable Housing Project Initiative this year with the intention of buying an 80-room motel in his hometown of Manning, South Carolina, about an hour and a half south of Columbia.
He plans to turn it into 40 studios with rents under $950 a month, utilities included. Zillow only shows one home currently for rent in Manning, a four-bedroom house asking $1,700 a month.
"If we're seeing this need within the place that we grew up in, we've got to do something," Burgess said.
Burgess specifically searched for motels that appeared to be neglected by their owners, looking for outdated, spam-filled websites and non-working telephone numbers.
He found a 1980s-built hotel that was originally a Howard Johnson's before its previous owners took it independent. Burgess said that the building is showing signs of distress; photos from online hotel reviews show a rusty fence and dirty pool.
Currently, he's under contract for the property at $2.45 million, with a down payment of $300,000 set aside from his other investing streams, according to a November 2024 contract Burgess shared with Business Insider. He told BI that he has since negotiated the terms down to a $2.3 million purchase price and a $150,000 down payment, and that his expected monthly payment on the debt is $18,500.
Burgess is seeking additional funds for the hotel conversion
First, Burgess is asking local religious groups that have set aside money to support affordable housing to help fund the motel renovation.
Burgess also reached out to Peyton Vanest, a 26-year-old content creator based in Pittsburgh who has over 700,000 followers on TikTok. Vanest, whose content mostly centers on progressive politics, has urged his followers to donate as little as 50 cents or $1 to GoFundMe he set up if they support Burgess' vision.
Burgess launched a GoFundMe on March 19 with a goal of $500,000 to raise money for the motel renovation. Vanest than shared that link with his followers and, as of May 8, it had raised $345,329.
Vanest said some of his followers have reached out with plans to replicate Burgess' model in their states.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., is once again charging into battle to defend women and basic biology — this time taking aim at Clemson University over a form that listed a whopping 15 gender identities.
After demanding answers, Mace announced Friday that Clemson President Jim Clements confirmed to her that the controversial form was no longer online.
"JUST IN: we heard from the President of Clemson," Mace posted on X. "This form with 15 genders has been taken down."
In a fiery video posted to her social media on Friday, Mace slammed Clemson for offering a health portal menu that included terms like "genderqueer," "two-spirit," "cis female" and "cis male."
"Hey everyone, just learned this morning from Libs of TikTok, not from your state legislature, that Clemson University in South Carolina has 15 genders on one of their applications," Mace said in a video on Instagram. "We want to make sure South Carolina is following science and not some radical, woke, leftist, lunatic ideology. Not on my watch."
She immediately took action, leaving a voicemail and sending a text to Clements demanding answers. "Since there are only two genders," she said, "I just had this issue with USC, and I would like to make sure that you guys are following suit."
The form in question, first flagged by Libs of TikTok, showed a dropdown menu allowing students to select from 15 different gender identities.
However, Clemson responded exclusively to Fox News Digital, clarifying that "Clemson University does not have this type of menu in its housing application."
Instead, the menu appeared in an external vendor's health services portal, was optional, and has since been taken down. The university said it is now "consulting with medical professionals to determine what information is needed for medical care purposes."
Mace made it clear in her social media posts that she believes state universities should reflect two genders, male and female, if they want to keep receiving taxpayer dollars. "If it were me and Clemson University had 15 genders, they would not get a dime in the state of South Carolina," she warned.
"Cis is a slur," Mace emphasized in her Instagram video, adding, "Women are women, men are men."
This isn’t Mace's first stand in the gender wars. She recently made headlines by leading the effort to block Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., a biological man who identifies as a woman, from using women's restrooms on Capitol Hill. Her campaign to "protect women’s spaces" has not come without backlash.
"All the violence and threats keep proving our point," Mace posted on X. "Women deserve to be safe. Your threats will not stop my fight for women! Not now, not ever," she declared.
Late last year, Mace reported being physically accosted on Capitol grounds, an incident that led to the arrest of a 33-year-old Illinois man. She is the first woman to graduate from the Citadel.
Mace's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., recorded a confrontation with a voter over when the conservative lawmaker was going to hold her next town hall, with the exchange ending in several expletives and insults from both sides.
"Some unhinged lunatic, wearing daisy dukes, at a makeup store, got in my face today. Dems are nuts. So I went off – and I won’t be backing down," Mace said in a post on X Saturday along with a video of the confrontation.
The video, which is just under two minutes, appears to start shortly after the exchange between Mace and the voter started, with Mace explaining that she does town halls "every year" while accusing the voter of "harassing" her.
Erin and Jon Carpenter bought and renovated a laundromat in Charleston, South Carolina.
Jordi Tiffany
Erin and Jon Carpenter bought and renovated a laundromat in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2022.
Initially, the goal was to make a few extra dollars, but the reward has been the community.
A love for Charleston led them to more renovation projects in the city.
This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Erin and Jon Carpenter, a married couple living in Charleston, South Carolina. The two have residential-renovation experience, but bought their first commercial property, a laundromat, in 2022. The conversations have been edited for length and clarity.
Erin: It was definitely Jon's idea to buy a laundromat.
He went down a rabbit hole on YouTube with laundromats — and he is an entrepreneur, he went to business school — so he'd always heard that they were a good investment.
So we were thinking — well, he was thinking — why not try a laundromat?
Jon: I had a marketing business that I saved some money from, and I was just seeing it deflate. I think the inflation had started, and we started seeing high inflation numbers at 8%, 9%, and 10%. And I was like, "What is a good recessionary business that does well?"
We had a background in traveling and going to laundromats, and then this one came.
Erin: It was very, very cheap. And we went to see it, and we saw why it was very, very cheap.
The laundromat before the renovation.
Courtesy of Erin Carpenter.
It was in absolutely horrible condition, and I was horrified. I was like, "Oh, wow, this is crazy. This is going to be a funny story to talk about later."
And then we walked out, and Jon said, "I love it." I said, "Then let's do it."
Jon: It was a little over $50,000. The guy who owned it wanted to move on.
Erin: And we had no idea what we were doing. We were kind of just learning as we went.
Jon: We thought we'd love to be in the local business community, it's not far from our house, and it would be a fun pet project to renovate. Then we got into it knowing that if it lost money, it wouldn't make or break us if we lost it. At least we'll learn something. Or maybe we can sell it before we get into it, but it wasn't a huge risk.
The laundromat doesn't make us that much money, but we love the community
Erin: Thankfully, all the machines in the laundromat were still good, so we didn't have to replace any. We just rehabbed the seating areas and how they looked on the inside, making it a more comfortable place for people to sit, because it didn't even feel safe to be inside.
It just felt very dingy and gross. All the furniture was broken, and there were trash cans and trash everywhere. It was not a great place to be.
A laundromat machine before the renovation.
Courtesy of Erin Carpenter.
We just threw ourselves into that.
We put in new flooring. We ripped out the old front desk. We did all new ceiling and new lights. We built out a back office. We painted all the existing dryers, and built a window counter in the front with stools up at the counter for seating.
Jon: Over the past three to four years, we've probably put $75,000 into it.
Erin: The renovation took about three months. It's definitely our shortest renovation.
We knew nothing about that neighborhood. Our initial thought was: This will be a really good business investment.
Before and after shots of the laundromat.
Courtesy of Erin Carpenter.
Jon: When we got it, it lost $800 a month, and then we got it to about breakeven, then to about making $1,000 to $3,000 a month.
The problem is that machines break down, and then that costs, or we have to redo something, and that costs a couple of grand, so the net income goes down.
But our highest months have probably had a net of $5,000 to $6,000. We've started getting our pickup and delivery business going, so that's starting to grow at a rapid pace.
Erin: But the moment we walked in the door, we met Steve, the attendant who'd been there for 11 years. And then throughout the whole renovation process, we got connected with all sorts of people in the neighborhood, like Leroy, who is at the church across the street, but he's also a painter. He painted the dryers, and his wife, Emily, would stop by and help us out with whatever we needed.
A seating area in the renovated laundromat.
Courtesy of Erin Carpenter.
It really gave us a window into this tight-knit community. We did the first free laundry day, and that's when we really got to know people and felt like it was way bigger than just a laundromat.
Ever since then, we've been doing free laundry days about once a month, and also trying to do more events. It's been really cool to see.
That's why we hang on to it. We're stressed all the time; it's not a passive business, but it's just this awesome community, and it's a good business too. I think the people are really what make it so memorable and so valuable.
The laundromat after the renovation.
Courtesy of Erin Carpenter
Jon: We fell in love with community. My goal was to make $1,000 a month of net income off of it. I thought that'd be equivalent to getting a rental house. We're doing better than my initial goal. And I think if we keep growing it and do more, we can do even better.
If there's anything that I've learned about this investment, it's that we went in there to not make a lot of money, but it ended up doing so much good in the community that the money didn't matter that much.
We fell in love with the city on our honeymoon and are still glad we moved years later.
The city's history, weather, natural environment, and culture of Southern hospitality won us over.
In 2017 in the dead of winter in West Michigan, our car slid into the parking lot of the local hospital as snow fell in the darkness of early morning.
My water had broken in the middle of the night, sending my husband and me into a frenzy as we rushed to meet our sweet firstborn.
From there, those early days of parenting were isolating. The cold temperatures and snow kept us indoors and our extended family from making the trek across the state to offer support.
By the time we took our baby for his first stroller walk in the spring of 2018, we'd had enough of cold Midwest winters. We decided it was time to move to a warmer climate so our son could grow up outside, not stuck in a house for months at a time.
Luckily, I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
We set our sights on Charleston, which we'd fallen in love with on our honeymoon
Our family has had a great time in Charleston.
Heather Rose Artushin
Our honeymoon road trip two years earlier had taken us through Charleston, South Carolina. The historic city wooed us with its romantic Spanish moss, Southern hospitality, and beautiful beaches.
It seemed like the ideal place to raise our little one and start over as a young family, so we packed up our townhouse and headed to Charleston in August 2018 with our baby.
As we settled, I knew it was the right choice. Instead of feeling lonely and homesick, I found myself relaxed and energized by each conversation I had with a new acquaintance in our community, church, and local library.
Making connections hasn't been hard for me here — Southern hospitality feels alive and well. Although "Midwest nice" is still a thing, I've noticed many Southerners go out of their way to say hello, strike up a conversation, or offer a courtesy wave from the car as they pass on the road.
I've met other transplants from all over the US who are also making their home in Charleston, and we've connected over the parts of this unique place that drew us in.
We are proud to be Charlestonians and feel grateful for our community
We love being able to bring our sons outdoors.
Heather Rose Artushin
Now a family of four, we love getting to raise our two sons, 4 and 7, outdoors. We take frequent nature walks and often hang out at the beach, even in the winter (the season is quite mild here).
There's so much beautiful wildlife to take in, whether we're going for a "hike" on our very flat Lowcountry trails or a drive down a nearby country road.
We feel inspired by Charleston's diversity and local Gullah Geechee culture, which adds value to our experience of living here. As a person of faith, I also appreciate our city's many churches and congregations of all denominations.
Local community events, like the Thanksgiving golf-cart parade at Wild Dunes Resort and Folly Beach New Year's Eve Flip-Flop Drop, have allowed us to experience new traditions and connect with others. They're especially lovely during the holidays when we're missing our family and friends up north.
Even hurricane season, one of the downsides of living in South Carolina, has had a silver lining as it's only made our community stronger. The annual nail-biter brings the neighbors together, whether we're helping each other fill sandbags or pick up debris.
We look forward to continuing to grow as a family in Charleston — a special place that's been a part of our love story from the very beginning.
Boykin picks up news Masters paraphernalia each year to use as decor.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Photographer Whitney Boykin rents out her home each year for the Masters golf tournament.
Boykin, her husband, and their two kids pile into an RV while guests stay in their home.
They spend $5,000 getting the house ready, but the eight-day booking pays their mortgage for a year.
This week, golf's greatest stars descend on the tiny city of Augusta, Georgia, in pursuit of the famous green jacket awarded to winners of the Masters Tournament.
It's also time for photographer Whitney Boykin and her family to pile into their camper to make way for the guests renting their home in North Augusta, South Carolina.
"I'm one of the rare locals who says I love Masters week. I just want visitors to see how amazing it is here," Boykin told Business Insider.
Boykin and other locals rent out their properties to golfers and visitors directly, on Airbnb, or via other platforms. In the city of Augusta alone, the number of rentals jumped from 725 in March 2024 to 1,700 in April 2024, data from short-term-rental analytics site AirDNA shows. The average revenue for rentals in the city jumped from $2,700 in March 2024 to $5,300 in April 2024, AirDNA found.
While Boykin declined to share exactly how much she makes, she said it's enough to cover the family's mortgage payments for a year. This is the seventh year the family is renting out their house for the Masters.
As of April 4, homes similar to Boykin's listed on Airbnb were available to rent from about $9,000 a week to $28,000 a week.
For Boykin, one week of sleeping in a camper with her husband, their two kids, their cat, and their dog is more than worth it. Take a look inside the home they rent out during the Masters.
Whitney Boykin and her family moved into their North Augusta, South Carolina home in December 2020.
Boykin and her family rent out the home to a company in Texas.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
The house, just over the state line from Georgia, has five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, and a large outdoor space designed for entertaining.
The home is a 12-minute drive to Augusta National Golf Course. But during Masters week, traffic adds up to about 30 minutes.
Boykin and her family have been renting out their home for seven years.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Boykin said she passes the Augusta National Golf Club when she drives her kids to school.
"The rest of the year, it's just not that big of a deal," she said.
Boykin said many North Augusta locals rent out their homes for the Masters and use the money to go on vacation for a week.
Boykin says most residents of North Augusta rent out their homes for the Masters.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Area schools typically schedule spring break to sync up with the tournament.
"Everyone looks forward to this because it's great money," Boykin told Business Insider.
In the past, Boykin has used Airbnb and Vrbo to rent out the home. There is even a local rental agency dedicated to the event called the Masters Housing Bureau.
For the past two years, Boykin's family has rented their house to a Texas company that brings its employees to the tournament.
A putting green at Boykin's home.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Boykin was connected with the company through a local friend.
In January each year, Boykin starts to think about getting the house ready for the Masters. The family spends about $5,000 to prepare it for renters.
Boykin's kitchen.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
"Once the Christmas lights get put away, it's time to get ready," she said.
Preparations include pressure-washing the facade, adding new landscaping, and getting the home professionally deep-cleaned.
Boykin stores all her seasonal Masters gear in a section of the attic that's off-limits to the rest of the family.
A patio of Boykin's home.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
She keeps paraphernalia including flags, pillows, and golf supplies with the Masters logo locked away for most the year, along with special sets of crisp, white linens for the bedrooms.
"My kids know which sheets are Masters ones. We don't touch them," she said.
Guests arrive the Sunday before the tournament begins and pay for an eight-day stay that includes the Monday after the finals.
The backyard grill at Boykin's home.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Local schools have extended spring break, Boykin added, with kids returning to the classroom on the Tuesday after the tournament.
Boykin likes to check on the home twice during the week to clean and make sure everything is OK.
Boykin picks up news Masters paraphernalia each year to use as decor.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Boykin said cleaning visits are more for her peace of mind because they've rarely had issues. Visitors in town for the Masters often try to maximize their time at the golf course.
"They're not spending a lot of time in our home," Boykin said. "They take care of our things better than we do."
Other families renting out their homes travel, but Boykin's family stays in an RV for Masters week.
Boykin's husband bought the RV online from a seller in Myrtle Beach.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Boykin's husband, who works in the car industry, is especially busy in early April.
This year, the family will park the RV at a local equestrian facility that has dozens of walking trails.
Boykin's family first stayed in a camper one year when their home was still accidentally listed for rent in July.
This year, Boykin's family is taking the RV to a nearby park.
Courtesty of Whitney Boykin
Out-of-towners rented their house for a youth basketball tournament called Peach Jam.
Even though the family had no plans to rent out their house for any time other than the Masters, Boykin said her husband felt it was worth it.
He drove to Myrtle Beach to pick up an RV he found online so the family could honor the booking.
Boykin added that he told her it would allow them to take "an extra vacation."
As a longtime local, I've seen a lot of tourists make the same mistakes in Charleston, South Carolina.
benedek/Getty Images
After living in Charleston, South Carolina, for 20 years, I have a lot of advice for visitors.
Prepare for the humidity, cobblestone streets, and laid-back pace before visiting the city.
Check the event calendars and the weather, and make your dinner reservations in advance.
I've called Charleston, South Carolina, home for nearly two decades.
It's a great place that's often voted one of the best cities to visit on travel guides and lists — in part for its renowned historic charm, vibrant culture, and incredible food scene.
It draws a lot of visitors, and I've seen many of them make common mistakes or miss out on incredible opportunities in the city.
Here are a few things I want visitors to know before they head to Charleston if they want to have a great trip.
The humidity here is no joke.
Charleston can get hot and humid during the summer months.
Peter Unger/Getty Images
Charleston can get incredibly humid, especially during the summer months. Be prepared for thick, muggy air and pack accordingly — light, breathable fabrics are your best friend.
Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and don't underestimate the impact of the heat.
Charleston's culinary scene is about much more than just seafood.
There's some great fried chicken to be had in Charleston.
fdastudillo/Getty Images
Although seafood is a staple in Charleston's cuisine, the city offers much more than just fish and oysters.
From classic Southern comfort dishes like fried chicken and collard greens to globally-inspired options like Thai, Italian, and French cuisine, there's something for everyone.
Be sure to explore the city's diverse culinary landscape when you visit.
You can't walk around with open containers.
Stick with drinking at bars and restaurants.
semenovp/Getty Images
South Carolina has strict open-container laws, meaning you can't drink alcohol in public places like streets or sidewalks.
I've seen too many tourists strolling with a beer in hand, only to be stopped by local law enforcement. Keep your beverages confined to bars and restaurants to avoid fines and frustration.
Don't miss a stop at the nearby Isle of Palms.
Isle of Palms has a laid-back coastal vibe.
Jason M. Hazard/Getty Images
Although downtown Charleston receives much of the spotlight, a trip to the Isle of Palms (about 15 miles away) is well worth your time.
With its pristine beaches, great dining options, and opportunities for paddleboarding or kayaking, it's an escape that balances the historic charm of downtown with a laid-back coastal vibe.
In my opinion, Wild Dunes Resort on Isle Of Palms is also worth a visit for a night or two. It combines Charleston's charm with private beach access, golf courses, a spa, pools, and more.
Leave your heels at home.
Cobblestone streets can be tough to navigate in heels.
Marcia Straub/Getty Images
Charleston's historic cobblestone streets may look charming, but they can be a nightmare for anyone in heels.
Wedges or sneakers are a much better choice for strolling through the city if you want to feel comfortable and safe on uneven terrain.
Make sure you know the beach-access and parking rules.
Always read signage about rules.
KC Photography/Getty Images
The city's surrounding beaches are beautiful, but accessing them comes with some rules.
In particular, pay close attention to parking signs — some areas require all four tires to be off the road, and failure to comply can result in a ticket.
Plan ahead and know the regulations to avoid any hassles.
There's almost always a festival or event happening, so do your research before you visit.
Charleston Wine + Food Festival has a bunch of events.
Cameron Pollack for The Washington Post via Getty Images
Charleston's sense of community and celebration makes it feel like there's always a festival taking place.
And, in reality, the city's calendar is packed with events year-round, from the Charleston Wine + Food Festival to Spoleto Festival USA, which is all about performing arts.
Check out the city's event schedule before you visit — you might stumble upon a unique experience.
It can get cold here even though we're in the South.
Yes, it can get cold in Charleston.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP via Getty Images
Although Charleston is in the South, don't assume it's warm all year round.
If you're visiting in January or February, be prepared for chilly temperatures that can dip into the 30s. On rare occasions, you might even see snow.
It's not poolside weather during these months, so pack accordingly and plan indoor activities just in case.
Mentally prepare yourself for the city's slower, laid-back pace.
Charleston tends to be swloer
Daniela Duncan/Getty Images
Charleston operates at its own relaxed rhythm, and it's part of the charm. Take your time, enjoy leisurely meals, and stroll through the historic streets without rushing.
Also, remember to be polite and courteous — holding doors open for others is a common practice and a great way to show Southern hospitality.
Try not to huff and puff if you're used to hustle and bustle, as that's not the vibe here. Charleston invites you to slow down and soak in its tranquil, easygoing atmosphere.
Book your dining reservations in advance.
Some restaurants in Charleston can be hard to get a table at because they're so popular.
: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., describing the lawmaker as "a wonderful friend."
Graham, who has served in the Senate for more than two decades, will be up for re-election again in 2026.
"Senator Lindsey Graham is working incredibly hard for the Great People of South Carolina, a State I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024!" Trump declared in a Truth Social post on Wednesday night.
"Lindsey has been a wonderful friend to me, and has always been there when I needed him. As the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Lindsey is fighting tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Lower Taxes, and Eliminate Government Waste. Lindsey is also relentlessly focused on helping us Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strongly Support our Great Military/Vets, Promote American Energy DOMINANCE, Defend our always under siege Second Amendment, and ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH," he continued.
"Senator Lindsey Graham has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. Everyone in South Carolina should help Lindsey have a BIG WIN next year!"
Some of the president's supporters will likely disagree with the endorsement decision — people at a Trump rally in Graham's own state booed the senator when he spoke at the event in 2023.
People booed when Trump mentioned Graham at another rally later in 2023.
Graham thanked the president for his support on Wednesday night.
"President Trump’s endorsement means the world to me. I am humbled by his faith in me as a Senator and as a friend. On a professional level, I am proud to have been there at the beginning when President Trump — through sheer force of will —achieved the greatest political comeback in American history," the senator wrote in a post on X.
"On a personal level, I genuinely enjoy our friendship. He’s an awesome golfing buddy, who I have yet to beat. I look forward to being one of the driving forces in the U.S. Senate to enact President Trump’s agenda to make America more prosperous and more secure. Thank you, Mr. President."
The president also issued posts backing several other Republican lawmakers on Wednesday night, including Sens. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Rep. John McGuire of Virginia.
Hunter Biden has hired a heavyweight South Carolina attorney — with a similar high profile to his last lawyer — to go after a right-wing business executive for defamation.
Former state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, D-Columbia, a self-described "Joe Biden guy" who recently represented Low Country prosecutor turned convicted killer Alex Murdaugh, is the younger Biden’s new lawyer as he pursues ex-Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne in court.
Harpootlian confirmed to The State newspaper in Columbia that he is replacing Abbe David Lowell, who led Biden through his special counsel probe and gun charges in Wilmington, Delaware.
Biden, who was pardoned by his father for those allegations, is primed to go to Los Angeles court in July against Byrne.
The suit claims Byrne wrongfully accused Biden of being in touch with Iranian officials in 2021, seeking a bribe in exchange for unfreezing $8 billion in funds at the behest of his father.
Meanwhile, Biden is reportedly facing "lagging" art sales and "several million dollars in debt" from fighting past cases when he was represented by Lowell, according to ABC News.
In the Byrne case, Biden is reportedly claiming defamatory statements from the Iran allegation that led him to lose "economic opportunities," including memoir and art sales and speaking engagements estimated to be collectively worth about $500,000.
Harpootlian was ousted from the state Senate in a narrow November upset by state Sen. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, as both men were seeking a redrawn, open seat.
Ott criticized Harpootlian’s representation of Murdaugh, according to the Daily Gazette, and while the longtime Biden ally performed well in urban Richland County, where he also practices law, Ott overperformed in rural Calhoun County, where he and his father long held office.
"We went through a process… I lost. The process worked. I’m not accusing anybody of stealing anything. I’m not having a temper tantrum. I’m not expressing some doubt in our system," Harpootlian said in conceding the race.
Harpootlian also told a 2023 crime-themed convention that he would rather represent Murdaugh pro-bono in a second trial than splurge on a vacation or a racehorse:
"What's so astounding about that? We do cases for free all the time," he said at CrimeCon.
Meanwhile, Lowell was a constant presence while Biden was fighting various allegations in the special counsel probe and House Republicans’ investigations.
After a 2024 deposition, Lowell slammed GOP lawmakers for ending the day "where they started."
"They have produced no evidence that would do anything to support the notion that there was any financial transactions that involved Hunter with his father. Period," Lowell said.
"It seems to me that the Republican members wanted to spend more time talking about my client's addiction than they could ask any question that had anything to do with what they call their impeachment inquiry."
Lowell is also facing a defamation suit, to the tune of $20 million, brought by IRS whistleblowers Gary Shapley Jr. and Joseph Ziegler.
Fox News Digital reached out to Harpootlian’s Columbia office and a communications email for Lowell seeking additional comment.
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., is "seriously considering" a run for South Carolina governor, he told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
"I've been here eight years, and I'm doing a good job," Norman said just outside the U.S. Capitol, where he had been helping lead the debate on a government funding bill backed by President Donald Trump.
Norman said he is a staunch believer in term limits in Congress but added, "I may come back. We'll see."
"But the governor's race has some appeal to it," he said.
Punchbowl News reported earlier this year that Norman was thinking about running for governor. His comments to Fox News Digital on Tuesday, however, appear to be a marked escalation in his flirtations with higher office.
Norman previously mulled a primary challenge against longtime South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
But a run for the governorship could put him on a collision course with a fellow House conservative, Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.
Mace told the Associated Press earlier this year that she was similarly "seriously considering" a run for governor.
Another name floating within the Palmetto State is South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.
Norman and Mace are both vocal Trump supporters, though both had their own public breaks from the president. Norman notably supported fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley for president, but switched to backing Trump immediately after Haley dropped out.
With airline safety being top-of-mind after several deadly or near-death incidents on America’s tarmacs and in its skies, maintenance experts and lawmakers alike are calling for more support for specialized training in jet maintenance.
President Donald Trump has also called for reforming the education system and increasing overall government efficiency, which experts Fox News Digital spoke with said falls in line with their goals as well. Delays and gate changes at airports are also often attributed to urgent maintenance of aircraft.
In the last congressional session, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., unsuccessfully introduced the Aviation Workforce Development Act to expand the "529" qualified-tuition program to include expenses for aviation maintenance and pilot training.
Scott’s hometown of Charleston is notably a hub for the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, and the Senator said that pilot and aviation maintenance jobs are in high demand and provide well-paying careers.
"Unfortunately, the extensive and expensive training they require has undermined Americans’ ability to tap into this vital industry," Scott said, adding that he plans to reintroduce his bill in Congress soon.
"By giving parents flexibility with the hard-earned money they invest into 529 plans, this commonsense legislation provides a pathway to turn today’s students into tomorrow’s pilots. Affording our aviation sector the workforce necessary to sustain the tremendous growth South Carolina has enjoyed will ensure tourists continue to flock to our great state and will provide South Carolinians with reliable and efficient travel."
Meanwhile, the leader of one of the nation’s largest aircraft maintenance training centers said the challenge to properly staff jobs in the increasingly needed field is one that needs support to continue feeding its "pipeline of skilled professionals."
Jason Pfaff, president of Aviation Institute of Maintenance – a school with 15 campuses nationwide that aims to fill the 13,000 annual job openings in its field of study – said support is needed now for these crucial roles.
"The aviation industry relies on highly trained experts to keep planes safe and operational, yet many people don’t realize the demand for these roles—or the impact they have on air travel," Pfaff said.
He spoke of meeting with a student who felt a social stigma about pursuing an aircraft maintenance career, compared to what her friends were seeking to do in life.
However, that feeling changed when she took a tour firsthand to watch aircraft maintainers do their work.
With the deadly crash off Hain’s Point, DC into the Potomac River last month, a jet landing upside down in Toronto and several other incidents, Pfaff said that maintenance workers play a crucial role in ensuring safe air travel.
"[The institute] is thrilled to see a renewed focus on trade careers, and we applaud leaders like Senator Tim Scott for championing aviation education. Aviation maintenance isn’t just a job—it’s a high-paying, high-skill career that keeps the world moving. As industry leaders and policymakers, we have a shared responsibility to spotlight the incredible opportunities in this field."
Pfaff noted some jobs in the field earn upwards of $150,000 per year for a person in their 20s and that thousands of applicants are needed – and Scott and others are right to draw attention to the need for such jobs.
Jose-Marie Griffiths, president of Dakota State University in South Dakota, said that higher education is not "one-size-fits-all" and that universities must play a big role in meeting the changing needs of the U.S. job market – whether it be in the industrial sector or otherwise.
"Higher education institutions must adapt to meet the needs of students at different points in their lives and careers," she said.
In the House, Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, also introduced a bill similar to Scott’s in the last cycle, to increase awareness of tech education opportunities in the same way Pfaff described.
Miller’s bill, if reintroduced, would establish a $1 million grant program for such training in airline maintenance and the similar fields, with the lawmaker saying in a statement that career and technical education "empower students to explore exciting career options, discover their passions, and develop real-world skills that are in high demand."
"A four-year degree is not right for everyone, and our young people should know that they can lead successful careers based on technical expertise. We cannot continue to diminish the role of career and technical education in this country," he said, as nationwide pressure continues to direct students toward standard collegiate postsecondary education.
Lang’s indictment, filed Tuesday, said he had threatened to "take the life of, to kidnap, and to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States."
The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the allegations.
"Ensuring the safety of the President and all of our protectees is not just a duty for the Secret Service - it is a responsibility we uphold with unwavering commitment," Secret Service Communications Chief Anthony Guglielmi told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We are grateful to our special agents and support teams for their work and especially the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for their partnership and invaluable assistance in this case."
He added, "We also urge anyone with knowledge of potential threats against public officials to immediately report these to local law-enforcement. Vigilance and cooperation are critical to maintaining the security of those who serve our nation."
Lang is scheduled to next appear in court for a March 14 bond hearing.
Last year, Lang filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for president as a Republican, but he was not on the Republican primary ballot in South Carolina or anywhere else, and the only donation he received was for $6,000 from himself, according to FEC filings.
He could face up to five years in prison, the South Carolina Daily Gazette reported, citing the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina.
Lang’s Facebook page still says "Travis Lang for President," and his picture on his social media accounts is a split of his face and Abraham Lincoln.
He has also been critical of former President Joe Biden, at one point in 2023 writing on Facebook that Congress should begin articles of impeachment against him.
A U.S. attorney this week told a judge that Lang had previously made multiple threats to both Trump and Biden, the newspaper reported, adding that the Secret Service had visited him to tell him to stop making threats.
Lang referenced the Secret Service visit on his social media, claiming it was sent there because Biden got "scared" when Lang decided to run for president.
The threats come after Trump faced two assassination attempts last year, including when he was grazed in the ear by a bullet while speaking at an outdoor campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Lexington County Sheriff's Office and the Secret Service for comment.
A South Carolina death row inmate who gruesomely killed his ex-girlfriend's parents with a baseball bat in 2001 is scheduled to be executed by firing squad on Friday – the first execution of its kind in the U.S. in 15 years.
Brad Sigmon, 67, who admitted to the killings because his ex-girlfriend refused to get back to him, will be strapped to a chair at around 6 p.m. and three volunteers armed with rifles about 15 feet away will fire bullets into his heart.
Each will be armed with .308-caliber, Winchester 110-grain TAP Urban ammunition often used by police marksmen. The bullet is designed to shatter on impact with something hard, like an inmate's chest bones, sending fragments meant to destroy the heart and cause death almost immediately.
The execution will go ahead if South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson signed off on it. Sigmon’s lawyers have asked McMaster to commute his death sentence to life in prison, arguing that he is a model prisoner and works every day to atone for the killings he committed after succumbing to severe mental illness. But no South Carolina governor has granted clemency in the 49 years since the death penalty resumed.
Sigmon chose the firing squad method over the electric chair which would "cook him alive," or a lethal injection, whose details are kept secret in South Carolina, his lawyers said.
South Carolina keeping information secret about how it conducts lethal injections led him to decide on the firing squad, which he acknowledges will be a violent death, his lawyer said. On Thursday, Sigmon’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to delay his execution because the state doesn't release enough information about the lethal injection drug.
Sigmon said he carried out the brutal slayings because he was angry that the victims had been evicted from a trailer they owned. They were in separate rooms of their Greenville County home and Sigmon went back and forth attacking them until they were dead, investigators said.
He then shot at his ex-girlfriend as she fled, but missed, prosecutors said.
"My intention was to kill her and then myself," Sigmon said in a confession typed out by a detective after his arrest. "That was my intention all along. If I couldn’t have her, I wasn’t going to let anybody else have her. And I knew it got to the point where I couldn’t have her."
Five states — Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah — authorize the use of firing squads in certain circumstances.
Just three inmates — in Utah in 1977, 1996 and 2010 — have faced a firing squad in the U.S. since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. Ronnie Gardner was the last prisoner to be executed by firing squad, in Utah in 2010.
Executions in South Carolina resumed in September, when the state – once one of the busiest for executions – ended a 13-year pause in carrying out the death penalty.
The pause was caused in part by the state having difficulty obtaining lethal injection drugs after their supply expired because of pharmaceutical companies' concerns that they would have to disclose they had sold the drugs to state officials. The state legislature then passed a shield law allowing officials to keep lethal injection drug suppliers private.
Twenty-five executions were carried out in the U.S. last year. Five have already been carried out in 2025, per the Death Penalty Information Center.
Fox News’ Landon Mion and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
"It shouldn’t take longer to approve an [energy] project than it takes to build it," said National Governors Association Vice Chair Kevin Stitt at Friday’s conference in Washington.
That, the Oklahoma Republican said, is the collective picture painted of all the problems with government bureaucracy at all levels that imperils the U.S.’ ability to stay ahead of China in terms of cyberthreat-prevention and energy dominance.
Permitting reform is one of the most important things to address with a new administration and new state government sessions beginning, the governors collectively expressed.
There was bipartisan consensus at the NGA that America must move responsibly toward a future secure from malign foreign actors in both cybersecurity and energy development.
"Permitting reform is one of those issues where both Republicans and Democrats recognize the problem, we largely agree on solutions," Stitt said, adding it is a national security issue that the U.S. must streamline permitting.
"Our allies need affordable, reliable energy and the US has the resources to provide that," he said.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum spoke at length on that matter, saying America is in competition with foreign rivals like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea whether they like it or not.
"It’s key that we win the AI arms race with China," he said, citing bot-powered attacks that can be much more effective than human hackers.
"They would have the ability to take down the electric grid. They have the ability to disrupt everything that we know in our country. And they wouldn't have to put a single soldier on the ground, but it could completely disrupt us and our economy. So, winning that AI arms race doesn't just take software developers, it takes more electricity."
"We’re in a competition… against other countries that aren't slowing themselves down with the level of bureaucracy that we have," Burgum said, citing the threat of cyberattacks from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.
Burgum and the governors discussed the promise of nuclear energy and new technology that allows for the portability of such operations, where plants that generate power can be placed much closer to where that power is needed.
Stitt remarked that when Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an order mandating his own government to rule on infrastructure permit applications within two weeks or give the applicant their money back, he didn’t want to get "beat by a Democrat" in that idea so he quickly issued his own order.
Shapiro also said Pennsylvania conducted an audit of permit applications earlier in his term and found 3,400 – leading him to order there be cataloging going forward.
Despite Bethlehem Steel’s stacks laying dormant 25 years on, and the massive St. Nicholas Breaker coal processor long gone, Pennsylvania remains the nation’s second-largest energy net-exporter – a fact noted by the governor.
The first North American discovery of oil occurred in the mid-1800s in Venango County, and some of the longest-producing wells remain active in Pennsylvania, though the Commonwealth has been far surpassed in that regard by Texas, Alaska and other states.
"We're proud of our legacy as a national energy leader," Shapiro said. "We’ve got to get to-market quickly [regarding] energy projects."
Pennsylvania produced more than 7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in 2023. But there has been a push-pull effect of former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell banning fracking on state parkland, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett reversing that, and Shapiro's Democratic predecessor Tom Wolf then restoring Rendell's moratorium.
Shapiro indicated Friday he would be taking a more measured approach to responsibly developing the Commonwealth’s resources.
He cited the bipartisan SPEED Act out of Harrisburg, which provides for third-party permitting review while also accelerating the overall process.
Burgum called the work of a governor one of the hardest, but remarked that it is about to "become more fun than it’s ever been" with the accessibility of the Trump administration.
In that regard, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster described how cabinet secretaries had shared their own personal contact information following a Friday White House meeting – and that President Donald Trump invited calls as well but did not share his own number.
"I’ve got it, but I’m going to hold onto it," he joked.
A bipartisan group of senators in South Carolina introduced a bill this week that would ban smoking in the car with a child present.
South Carolina Sen. Darrell Jackson, a Democrat, said it is aimed at protecting kids from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and is similar to legislation already in place in a dozen other states.
"I think the time has come for us to have a serious discussion, having South Carolina join these other states. Many of them are Southern states," Jackson said.
"As a father and grandfather, I believe we have a duty to create a healthier future for the next generation," Jackson said. "This legislation is not about punishing smokers; it's about ensuring our kids can grow up in an environment free from unnecessary health risks."
The bill would make it unlawful for a person to smoke a tobacco product in a motor vehicle with a passenger under the age of 12 present. It goes on to outline "tobacco product" as a product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption.
As of Wednesday, 11 of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees have been successfully confirmed to their posts.
While some, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sailed through – others, like Attorney General Pam Bondi saw their confirmation process marred with pointed confrontations, and deep dives into their personal lives, as was the case for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
MARCO RUBIO: STATE
Rubio, a longtime Florida senator from Miami, and the son of Cuban immigrants, enjoyed a relatively calm confirmation hearing when it came to interactions with lawmakers.
However, several Code Pink protesters angry over what their shirts denoted as the "killing of children in Gaza" had to be removed from the room due to outbursts.
The final protester shouted at Rubio in Spanish, to which the now-secretary remarked that his protesters are at-times bilingual.
Rubio was confirmed unanimously 99-0. At the time, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, was still lieutenant governor and had not been seated in Vice President JD Vance’s place.
PETE HEGSETH: DEFENSE
Veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth laid a more contentious path through the confirmation process.
Hegseth earned two Bronze Stars and several other medals while serving in the Army National Guard. He joined Fox News Channel in 2014 and resigned upon his Pentagon nomination.
Questions arose about allegations he drank heavily at times and was abusive towards women. Several people in Hegseth’s orbit, including fellow Fox News personalities, rebuffed the claims against him.
While Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., offered praise for Hegseth’s confirmation – later telling reporters he clearly answered every question put to him – other lawmakers didn’t view the nominee the same way.
When protesters disrupted the hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said they appeared to be from the "Chinese Communist [Party] front-group" Code Pink and upset about Hegseth’s support for Israel.
"I support Israel's existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well," Cotton said.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also grilled Hegseth about his qualifications to lead America’s troops.
"I do not believe that you can tell this committee or the people of America that you are qualified to lead them. I would support you as a spokesperson for the Pentagon," he said.
Critics, including Fox News contributor Joe Concha claimed irony in the lawmaker’s grilling – as Trump previously dubbed Blumenthal "Da Nang Dick" after claims surfaced that Blumenthal had misrepresented his own military service during the Vietnam War.
In the end, a 50-50 split brought on by GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining all Democrats in opposition led to Vance having to cast his first tie-breaking vote of the congressional session to confirm Hegseth.
DOUG BURGUM: INTERIOR
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum received substantive Democratic support in his final confirmation vote of 80-17 last week. Three Democrats did not vote.
His confirmation hearing’s tenor was also mixed, with fellow North Dakotan, Sen. John Hoeven, calling him the right man for the job.
Some Democrats, including Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto and Mazie Hirono, however, offered pointed questions about environmental issues and other concerns during the hearing.
When Cortez-Masto asked about the Trump administration repealing EV credits, Burgum said he "support[s] economics and markets" and highlighted the comparatively high costs of electric vehicles.
Burgum grew up in eastern North Dakota, near a grain elevator his grandfather operated. He reportedly met future Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in college and later "bet the farm" to invest a quarter million dollars in 1983 in a tech startup called Great Plains Software.
He eventually became president of the company, which was purchased by Microsoft around the turn of the century.
He served as North Dakota’s governor in recent years, briefly mounting a 2024 presidential bid before dropping out to endorse Trump.
SCOTT BESSENT: TREASURY
South Carolina billionaire Scott Bessent was confirmed as Trump’s second-term Treasury secretary on Jan. 28.
With the confirmation, Bessent became the highest ranking openly gay cabinet official in U.S. history.
Bessent was born in Conway, S.C., just inland from the famous "Calabash" seafood area in North Carolina and resort city of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
He previously worked for several global investment management companies for decades, notably including a stint as chief investment officer for Soros Fund Management; led by left-wing Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.
His politics, however, appear to greatly differ from those of Soros himself – as Bessent once called Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act "'single most important economic issue of the day."
During his confirmation process, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was a noted foil.
Warren reportedly sent Bessent more than 100 written questions on subjects spanning from housing to financial oversight ahead of his testimony, according to PBS.
He was confirmed by a relatively bipartisan 68-29, with one Republican and two Democrats not voting.
SEAN DUFFY: TRANSPORTATION
Former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., was confirmed in a comparatively more peaceful process than other nominees.
Duffy enjoyed a relatively cordial hearing before Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the Senate Commerce Committee.
However, 22 Democrats still voted against his confirmation, with Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., not voting.
Within a day of his confirmation, Duffy was faced with a catastrophic midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. involving a military helicopter and an American Airlines-sanctioned passenger flight from Kansas to Reagan National.
All of those aboard both crafts died as the fuselage crashed into the shallow but frigid Potomac, just yards shy of the Arlington, Va., airport’s runway.
Soon after, Duffy had to simultaneously handle the fallout from a medical plane crashing near the junction of US-1 and PA-73 in Northeast Philadelphia.
The doomed plane spewed jet fuel as it crashed, setting a row of homes on Cottman Avenue ablaze. Six Mexican nationals onboard and one Pennsylvanian on the ground was killed, according to news reports.
CHRIS WRIGHT: ENERGY
Energy Secretary Chris Wright was confirmed Sunday in a 59-38 vote, with one Democrat and two Republicans not voting.
The energy company CEO from Colorado told lawmakers he would unleash U.S. energy potential as secretary.
He has been a critic of climate change regulations and was endorsed by American Energy Alliance chief Tom Pyle as well as Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. – the former chairman of the natural resources committee.
DOUG COLLINS: VETERANS AFFAIRS
Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., was recently confirmed as Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Collins saw wide bipartisan support in his 77-23 vote. In the Veterans Affairs Committee that heard his nomination, only Hirono voted against him.
Collins is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and will now lead the agency meant to care for veterans after their service.
"I do not come into this with rose-colored glasses. This is a large undertaking that I feel called to be at," Collins said. "When a veteran has to call a congressman or senator’s office to get the care they have already earned, it’s a mark of failure."
Collins notably garnered a pro-life streak in Congress, vociferously opposing the Affordable Care Act and remarking upon the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, "RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws."
KRISTI NOEM: HOMELAND SECURITY
Now-former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem successfully made it through her confirmation hearing to become the nation’s homeland security chief.
As governor, Noem provided South Dakotan resources to Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott to help assuage the Biden border crisis.
As secretary, she has been on hand for immigration enforcement operations undertaken by Border Czar Thomas Homan, including one in The Bronx, N.Y.
Noem saw a relatively peaceful confirmation process, though only a handful of Democrats ultimately supported her.
"We must be vigilant and proactive and innovative to protect the homeland," she said at her hearing.
"The challenges in front of us are extremely significant, and we must secure our borders against illegal trafficking and immigration. We must safeguard our critical infrastructure to make sure that we're protected against cyberattacks, respond to natural disasters and also terrorism."
Noem was raised on a ranch near Hayti, S.D., before venturing into politics.
In 2012, Noem won South Dakota’s at-large U.S. House seat – a GOP flip from its previous officeholder, Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, D-S.D.
From there, she moved on to the governor’s office in 2018.
LEE ZELDIN: EPA
Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin sat for his confirmation hearing to lead the Environmental Protection Agency two weeks ago and was grilled by Democrats on his views of climate change.
Senate EPW Committee ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island questioned Zeldin on the effects of carbon dioxide and pollutants on the atmosphere.
"Is carbon dioxide a pollutant?" the Rhode Island Democrat asked, leading to a short back-and-forth.
Later, after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., questioned Zeldin about climate change and other concerns, a cellphone that appeared to be Zeldin's rang loudly.
"That was the fossil fuel industry," Sanders quipped.
Later, Green New Deal co-sponsor Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts questioned Zeldin on comments from a 2016 congressional debate where he said it is the U.S.’ job to "reduce reliance on fossil fuels."
"I support all of the above energy," Zeldin replied before Markey cut in.
In the final vote, three Democrats joined Republicans to confirm him – Pennsylvania Sen. Fetterman and both Arizona senators – while three other Democrats did not vote.
JOHN RATCLIFFE: CIA
CIA Director John Ratcliffe was confirmed by a 74-25 margin on January 23, with Fetterman not voting.
Ratcliffe previously served as Trump's Director of National Intelligence (DNI) from May 2020 until January 2021, during Trump’s first term in office.
While in Congress representing North Texas, Ratcliffe sat on the House Intelligence Committee, and notably garnered support in his confirmation from Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate’s partner panel.
An Illinois native, Ratcliffe later became an attorney in Texas, was elected mayor of Heath, and later named by former President George W. Bush to lead counterterrorism efforts in the state’s Texarkana-based Eastern District.
PAM BONDI: JUSTICE
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was confirmed to the federal version of her erstwhile role by a vote of 54-46 – with Fetterman being the lone Democrat in support.
Bondi’s hearing was one of those that was marred by tense moments, including an exchange with Rhode Island's Whitehouse.
Whitehouse grilled Bondi whether her Justice Department would seek to target individuals on a political basis and "look for a crime."
"It's a prosecutor's job to start with a crime and look for a name. Correct?" he asked.
"Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what's been happening to Donald Trump," Bondi replied.
"They targeted Donald Trump. They went after him, actually starting back in 2016. They targeted his campaign. They have launched countless investigations against him. That will not be the case. If I am attorney general, I will not politicize that office."
As her exchanges with Whitehouse continued, she pointed to Kevin Clinesmith – an ex-FBI lawyer sentenced to probation after he illegally altered a FISA document during a federal probe through which Trump’s 2016 campaign had been accused of colluding with Russia.
There have been several other confirmation hearings for other potential cabinet members.
Notably, FBI nominee Kash Patel’s clash with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., made waves last week.
Patel enraged Schiff over his reported support for January 6 inmates and his reported work in concert with the production of a song sung by the inmates that featured an a capella Pledge of Allegiance from Trump.
The tit-for-tat devolved into a Clintonian spat when Patel riffed to Schiff that his response to the lawmaker hinged on his definition of the word "we" – as Clinton had told prosecutors in 1998 that a response to part of his Monica Lewinsky testimony centered on the independent counsel’s definition of "is."
Fox News' Adam Shaw, Caitlin McFall, Diana Stancy and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
