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Democrats double down, say they will keep calling Trump a 'threat to democracy'
After former President Trump escaped a second alleged assassination attempt, Democrats are refusing to tone down the rhetoric of calling the former president a "threat to democracy."
FOX Business reporter Hillary Vaughn asked Democrats on Capitol Hill if the rhetoric should be toned down:
"The fact of the matter is that he is a threat to democracy," said Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga.
"I think we should be clear that he is a threat to democracy," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wa., and argued that "his (Trump) rhetoric should be toned down, absolutely."
"He is a threat. Period. Point-blank," said Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., slammed Democrats for their statements Friday, telling "Fox & Friends" that "everybody needs to tone it down" as the election nears.
"Calling him a threat to democracy is ridiculous. Our democracy will endure as it has for 248 years. We're going to be fine no matter who wins the election," said Lawler.
"At the same time, they gaslight the nation for an entire year about Joe Biden's cognitive abilities and then undermine 14.6 million Democratic primary voters and throw him out and install Kamala Harris. You can't really talk about threats to democracy when you do things like that," said Lawler.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C. said on "Fox & Friends First" that "the left is completely tone-deaf" about the consequences of their incendiary rhetoric.
"I live with these threats every day. And I can't imagine the fear that the Trump family has every time they're out there. They're outspoken. They love our country. You shouldn't be shot at because you love the United States of America like Donald Trump," said Mace.
Earlier this year, President Biden told donors in a private call that the media isn’t doing enough to scrutinize Trump and that it was "time to put Trump in the bulls-eye." Biden, after the first assassination attempt against Trump, acknowledged it was a "mistake" to use that term.
The president, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, have accused Trump of being a "threat to Democracy" on several occasions.
Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman, who quickly apologized for the comment, said last year that Trump is so "dangerous" to democracy that he "has to be eliminated."
"More and more dangerous. We saw what happened on January 6th, when he used his inflammatory rhetoric now, and his recent truth social post is incredibly, incredibly scary for anyone that might be trying to work in government. And it is just unquestionable at this point that man cannot see public office again. He is not only unfit, he is destructive to our democracy, and he has to be eliminated."
Goldman strongly condemned political violence after the first assassination against Trump, saying that he was "horrified" by the news. Following the second assassination attempt, Goldman said he was "outraged."
Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters has long been criticized by Republicans for comments viewed to be inciting violence, including telling protesters in Minnesota to "get more confrontational" and encouraging Democrats to confront Trump officials if they see them in public.
Fox News' Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Anti-Israel agitators rock University of North Carolina, vandalize building and remove American flag
At least 200 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill students and staff participated in an anti-Israel walkout led by UNC Students for Justice in Palestine on Thursday, according to the school’s student newspaper.
The Daily Tar Heel reported that the "Walk out for the West Bank" featured protesters walking in and out of various buildings around campus while spray-painting messages such as "Free Gaza," "F—K UNC" and "Israel is a terror state."
"There were several speeches demanding that the University reject Israel and the brutalization of students. Protesters chanted phrases like "disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest," as they walked through Halls," the Daily Tar Heel reported.
The paper reported that anti-Israel protesters also vandalized the UNC NROTC Naval Armory building with spray paint and draped a Palestinian flag from the gun turret.
"The American flag that waves outside of the building was also taken down by protesters," the student newspaper reported.
Police arrived and restored the American flag within the hour.
"Police were already present on campus due to the emergency preparedness event happening around the same time," The Daily Tar Heel reported.
UNC STUDENT WHO DEFENDED AMERICAN FLAG FROM CAMPUS MOB ‘HONORED TO GIVE BACK TO THE NATION’
"Some SJP members got into a physical altercation with counter protesters who were also present at the event," the report added. "One SJP member said that their phone was taken by a counter protester, and thrown into the street."
The University of North Carolina did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. The university told the Daily Tar Heel that "they have not seen or heard about anyone being detained."
UNC Students for Justice in Palestine have demanded that UNC boycott "corporations and programs supporting Israel, including study abroad programs, and for the University to disclose and divest," according to the report.
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has been plagued with campus unrest since last school year. Last spring, fraternity brothers at the school famously prevented the American flag on Chapel Hill's quad from touching the ground when anti-Israel agitators tried to replace it with the Palestinian flag.
A GoFundMe page created by a third party raised more than $500,000 for the students who saved the flag, which would be used for a "rager." Country singer John Rich then offered to host a concert on Labor Day in their honor. That concert turned into a large show featuring multiple artists and bands including Big & Rich, Aaron Lewis, John Ondrasik and Lee Greenwood.
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Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
Eva Mendes feels 'lost' now that her children are getting older: 'Who am I now?'
Now that Eva Mendes' daughters are getting older, the former movie star is questioning her choice to step away from acting to focus on her family.
During an appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Mendes shared that she never felt lost when she entered motherhood, but now she's starting to question her identity. Mendes has been raising her two daughters, Esmerelda, 10, and Amada, 8, whom she shares with longtime love Ryan Gosling.
"I actually didn't feel lost, I felt very clear," she told Barrymore of becoming a mother. "But then, I felt lost. Then it was the cliché of like, ‘Who am I now, after the kids can survive on their own?'"
Mendes noted that her daughters are only eight and ten, but they don't need her "every second" anymore.
"It's a little different, but I love talking to my girls about anything. So, I feel very fulfilled," Mendes said.
Earlier this week, Mendes was a guest on "Good Morning America" to promote her children's book, "Desi, Mami, and The Never-Ending Worries," and opened up about whether she'll ever return to the big screen.
"I don't know. If there's interesting roles . . . I kind of felt like I did it, you know? I was like, ‘I just worked with Ryan Gosling. He's like, the best,'" she said, referencing her 2012 flick, "The Place Beyond the Pines."
"It was such a high [in] my career to work with him and what we created together, that I was like, 'This is a good time to like ’Seinfeld' it, and just walk out.' So, who knows?"
In recent years, Mendes has shared that her mindset has changed since having children.
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"Acting is something that I will always love. It's just like now that I have children, I'm kind of extreme," Mendes told Entertainment Tonight in 2020. "There's just so many things I won't do. Like, I won't do most of the movies I've done in the past. A lot of things are off that list. I don't want to do anything too violent. Of course, I don't want to do anything too sexual or sexual at all."
Mendes did make a small appearance in the children's show "Bluey" in 2021, which she said "killed" in her household.
When talking about her book on "Good Morning America," she noted that writing it was actually beneficial to her parenting.
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"Desi has these never-ending worries — I have them as well," Mendes admitted of the book's main character. "And she tries to work with her brain to…make sure it's not being a bully to her, by sending all these negative thoughts her way, and that it's being like a BFF to her."
Mendes revealed that her kids were fans of her latest venture. "They love it. I think they love it. They're very harsh critics though," she shared, before telling a story she insisted was real, and not only for television.
"My little girl, who just turned 10, was having a hard time, and I swear to you, I walk into her room, she's reading the book. . . . That really got to me," she said.
Fox News Digital's Caroline Thayer contributed to this report.
Mayorkas, top border officials in Biden-Harris admin worth millions: database
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other top officials dealing with the crisis at the southern border are worth millions, according to a database collecting federal forms -- leading a top Trump ally to accuse them of inflicting mass migration on regular Americans while avoiding the consequences.
"Inside Biden's Basement," which lists the OGE Form 278e of government employees showing financial worth, is an organization stemming from the Transparency Action Fund, a 501(c)4.
According to the database, Mayorkas' estimated net worth is between $3.8 million to $9 million.
NEW ‘INSIDE BIDEN’S BASEMENT' PROJECT AIMS TO ‘EXPOSE’ OFFICIALS ‘DRIVING AMERICA INTO A DITCH'
Previous reporting identified his worth at around $8 million. Mayorkas’ finances, specifically his salary, came into focus this year when Republicans voted to block his salary.
It was an amendment by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., for the House's appropriations bill funding the DHS for fiscal year 2025 that would block funds in the bill from being used to pay Mayorkas.
Biggs cited Mayorkas’ impeachment in the House earlier in the year for freezing his salary. Mayorkas was impeached in the GOP-led chamber for his handling of the border crisis, but the Senate did not take up his trial. The DHS had brushed off efforts by Republicans to freeze his salary.
"While the House Majority has wasted months trying to score points with baseless attacks, Secretary Mayorkas has been doing his job and working to keep Americans safe," a spokesperson said last year. "Instead of continuing their reckless charades and attacks on law enforcement, Congress should work with us to keep our country safe, build on the progress DHS is making, and deliver desperately needed reforms for our broken immigration system that only legislation can fix."
Meanwhile, other officials were also valued as having a high net worth by the website.
Royce Bernstein Murray, assistant secretary for Border and Immigration Policy, has an estimated net worth of $1.7 million to $6.8 million. Michelle Brane, the immigration detention ombudsman and who previously served as executive director for the department’s Family Reunification Task Force, has an estimated net worth of $1.4 million to $3.3 million.
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for comment on the figures.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS
While the website shows others in the administration have significantly higher net worth, the numbers from the immigration officials brought criticism from former Trump senior White House official Stephen Miller, who told Fox News Digital that it showed how rich officials have the ability to distance themselves from the policies of the administration.
"Leftist elites force intolerable mass migration on an unwilling populace while using their wealth to remove themselves as far as possible from the catastrophe they have inflicted on everyone else," Miller, who is also the founder of America First Legal, told Fox News Digital.
Immigration and the ongoing border crisis has been a top issue in the U.S. ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Republicans have placed the blame for the crisis on the Biden administration's ending of Trump-era policies. The Biden administration has said its strategy of expanding lawful pathways for migration while implementing consequences at the border is working – pointing to a recent drop in encounters by more than 50% since June when President Biden signed an executive order implementing new restrictions.
5 fun Halloween trunk-or-treat decoration kits
Parents are turning to safer alternatives besides the traditional trick-or-treating to celebrate Halloween. One increasingly popular option is trunk-or-treat events. With this alternative, people decorate their cars and children go from car to car for treats and games.
Once you have the perfect Halloween costume picked out, the next step is to consider how to decorate your trunk if you are planning on participating in a trunk-or-treat event.
Here are five fun kits you should consider:
This Ghostbusters Trunk or Treat Kit from Walmart will transform your car into a Ghostbuster fan's dream come true. The kit includes awesome printed images of the Ecto-1 license plate, the Ghostbusters symbol, the Slimer, and more.
Let this Beetlejuice-inspired sandworm be the centerpiece of your trunk-or-treat design. This 4.6-foot-tall Halloween inflatable arch has built-in LEDs for decorating the trunk of your car. It is equipped with a user-friendly air pump that inflates quickly and easily. Just plug it in and the castle will inflate in minutes.
STAND OUT THIS HALLOWEEN WITH BEETLEJUICE INSPIRED COSTUMES AND MORE
This kid-friendly Dalmatian decorating trunk-or-treat kit on Amazon is easy to assemble, so you can decorate with your children. The kit has everything you need, even a big red tongue to make the Dalmatian.
If you are more into celebrating the season and less into Halloween, try this Christian-themed deluxe pumpkin trunk-or-treat set from Oriental Trading. Decorate your trunk easily with this religious Halloween-themed pumpkin set, perfect for a church-sponsored event.
For more Deals, visit www.foxnews.com/category/deals.
If you like to celebrate with balloons, try this trunk-or-treat kit from Amazon, which includes 80 balloons to make the perfect Halloween-themed trunk arch. The kit includes four special foil balloons and a three-meter purple light string that can blink or stay on.
Democratic operative who ditched party after DNC blasts 'hypocrisy': 'I don't recognize this party anymore'
A former Democratic operative ditched the party, explaining how the "hypocrisy" and affinity for "out-of-touch" celebrity support has left her feeling hopeless about the party's future.
Evan Barker, a former Democratic Party campaign fundraiser, explained why she is now "fed up" with the Democrats during "Fox & Friends" after Vice President Kamala Harris attended a star-studded virtual campaign event with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday.
"I've worked in Democratic politics a long time. I've raised the millions of dollars and I went to the DNC last month hoping to feel re-inspired, and instead, I just felt like I was in a room with the most out-of-touch and elite people in the world," Barker told Lawrence Jones on Friday.
In a Newsweek op-ed published this week, Barker described how she went from raising "tens of millions of dollars" for Democrats to distancing herself from a party she now believes is "totally out of touch" with everyday Americans.
Barker said she was initially "thrilled" to volunteer at the DNC, where Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for president.
"But once there, wandering amidst the glitz and glam, imbibing the gloss and schmaltz of it all, I couldn't escape a sinking feeling. I felt submersed in a hollow chamber whose mottos were ‘Brat summer’ and ‘Joy’—totally out of touch with regular, every-day Americans and their pressing needs; instead, the most elite people in the world chanted in unison that 'We're not going back,'" Barker wrote.
Barker said the Democrats' "hypocrisy" is a primary reason as to why she distanced herself from the party overall. Donors are the actors who "control everything," including the candidates' policy positions, she argued.
"I'm originally from the Midwest. A lot of the people in my family are union workers or have been in unions, and they are people who once voted for Barack Obama, and now they vote for Donald Trump. And for a long time, I did not understand why, and after raising money for Democrats and just being in these circles, I have realized that the donors control the party," Barker said.
RICH DNC SPEAKERS LIKE OPRAH, OBAMAS RAIL AGAINST WEALTH INEQUALITY, US FIXATION ON MONEY
"They control everything. They control what the candidates prioritize, and I know that Republicans also have this issue, too, but Democrats are much bigger hypocrites about it," she continued. "I think what it comes down to is just the hypocrisy and the fact that I don't recognize this party anymore."
Oprah Winfrey hosted the "Unite for America Rally," a livestream event, featuring several celebrities as well as questions and stories from citizens across the country. The event was held by the "Win with Black Women" organization in support of Harris. Over 140 other grassroots organizations took part in the virtual rally, including "White Women: Answer the Call," "Latinas for Harris" and "White Dudes for Harris."
The event itself took place in Oakland County, Michigan, to an audience of 400 people with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also speaking. Celebrities like Bryan Cranston, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Jennifer Lopez, Tracee Ellis Ross, Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep were in virtual attendance as well.
Barker argued the celebrities in attendance are not the everyday Americans impacted by the rising cost of goods as inflation continues to soar, crippling families financially across the country.
"They're just telling us basically that all we need to have is optimism and joy, and that's going to fix our lives," Barker said. "And I'm just tired of it. I'm completely fed up… My grandmother, she lives in Missouri. She voted for Obama twice. She's voted for Trump the last couple of times… She's getting by just on her Social Security check right now."
"Things have gotten so outrageously expensive, it is so difficult for her," she continued. "I want to see the Democratic Party talk about what they're going to do for my grandmother, not just have a bunch of celebrities fly in and tell us all to be joyful and optimistic. It's cringy. It's embarrassing."
"They have become the party of Dick Cheney, of Goldman Sachs, of endless proxy wars, of identity politics," she said. "I'm just at a point… I've been very brave the last couple of weeks, and I've gotten a lot of flak from a lot of people. And I'm just at the point where I can't stand it anymore, and I have to speak out."
Fox News' Yael Halon and Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
Kamala Harris panned online for delivering rambling remarks during Oprah event: 'Unbelievable CRINGE'
Political commentators and other social media users criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for remarks that she gave during a campaign event and interview with Oprah Winfrey on Thursday night.
"We love our country," Harris said. "I love our country. I know we all do, that’s why everybody’s here right now. We love our country. We take pride in the privilege of being American and this is a moment where we can and must come together as Americans, understanding we have so much more in common than what separates us. Let’s come together with the character that we are so proud of about who we are, which is we are an optimistic people. We are an optimistic people."
Harris spoke with Winfrey at the "Unite for America Rally," a livestream event featuring several celebrities as well as questions and stories from citizens across the country.
HARRIS SHIFTS KEY POSITIONS ON BORDER, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AS CAMPAIGN PROMISES 'PRAGMATIC' APPROACH
"Americans by character are people who have dreams and ambitions and aspirations," Harris said, continuing her comments.
"We believe in what is possible, we believe in what can be, and we believe in fighting for that. That’s how we came into being, because the people before us understood that one of the greatest expressions for the love of our country, one of the greatest expressions of patriotism is to fight for the ideals of who we are, which includes freedom to make decisions about your own body, freedom to be safe from gun violence, freedom to have access to the ballot box, freedom to be who you are and just be the love, who you love, openly and with pride. Freedom to just be."
Critics online accused the vice president of offering rambling commentary that didn't seem to have much substance.
"Oprah is looking at this moron thinking, "What the sh*t is she saying?" Unbelievable CRINGE," author Juanita Broaddrick wrote on Thursday.
"The fact that she is within 20 points of Trump is a depressingly sad commentary on the state of our body politic and the media that poisons it,," attorney David Limbaugh wrote. "Stunning."
"To call this pablum is an insult to pablum," ReaclClearPolitics co-founder Tom Bevan said on Friday.
"This might just be the most spectacular two minutes of Kamala’s nonsensical wisdom I have ever heard," political commentator Kate Hyde wrote on Thursday.
Writer Steve Skojec also responded to the video on Thursday: "I can't. I can't do it. I made it 17 seconds and I just cannot continue."
The Harris campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Fox News' Lindsay Kornick contributed to this report.
FOX News Media honors colleagues who received Spotlight Awards
FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President Jay Wallace honored the 2023 FOX News Media Spotlight Award winners on Tuesday during an intimate luncheon.
The FOX News Media Spotlight Awards are an annual tradition for the company, and management received hundreds of nominations from staff members passionate about celebrating colleagues who earned special recognition. Winners were announced last year at a company-wide town hall, and they gathered at 48 Lounge in midtown Manhattan just steps away from FOX News Media’s headquarters to celebrate in person.
FOX News anchor Bill Hemmer, who hosted the event, welcomed guests before introducing Scott to the stage.
"I’m very happy to be here today," Scott said. "When I think back to the legacy and history of FOX News, I always think first and foremost of the incredible team we have. It is the staff we have both behind the scenes and on air that has propelled us to our success. I always say proudly, FOX News Media has the best team in all of media."
FOX NEWS MEDIA SPOTLIGHT AWARDS RECOGNIZE TEAM MEMBERS WHO WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND IN 2023
"A number of us in the room today, including some of our senior executive staff, have been here for more than 28 years, starting at entry-level jobs and working our way through the ranks," Scott continued. "As leadership, we understand how valuable and important it is to maintain a great team at every level of the organization to thrive and grow. And here today are some of our brightest stars."
Scott told the Spotlight Award winners that they were in the room because they were recognized by colleagues.
"Hundreds of your co-workers submitted nominations for these awards. You were the best of the best, and we are all so proud of you," Scott said.
"As many of you know, we created these annual awards four years ago, in response to an employee survey. We wanted to recognize the exceptional performers who help keep FOX News Media on top," she added. "We’ve seen some past winners go on to tremendous success, and we know you can do the same."
Scott turned her attention to the late Joe Rosta, a beloved FOX News lighting technician and Spotlight Award winner who tragically passed away last fall.
"It was an awful loss for all of us, and today, as we celebrate his life. Joe was an exceptional long-term employee, having started with us in 1997… he became one of our top lighting technicians. He was so easy to work with, and unbelievably dedicated to both his job and his colleagues," Scott said, noting that his wife Dolores was in attendance.
Wallace then took the stage to introduce the winners.
FOX NEWS DIGITAL DOMINATES IN KEY METRICS THROUGHOUT NEWS-HEAVY AUGUST
Unsung Hero Award
The Unsung Hero Award goes to employees who consistently and continually go above and beyond with work that is vital to FOX News Media but often goes unnoticed. This year, three winners were chosen.
"Our three unsung heroes all work extremely hard behind the scenes. They coordinate complex projects, they make the screen look sharp, and they keep us ahead of our competition," Wallace said.
Nick Lontine, supervisor of media production’s Real Time Graphics team
"Nick has a wicked sense of humor and keeps everyone laughing even during stressful times. He has his hand in everything ... he’s incredibly proactive and invaluable to his department. Nick’s led this year’s election coverage through the primaries, and now he’s getting us ready for November," Wallace said.
Viktoria Ristanovic, editorial coordinator and executive assistant
"Viki spent several successful years in the newsroom before coming to work in the executive office where she is on top of everything from scheduling changes – to editorial details and endless logistics surrounding all of our platforms," Wallace said.
"She’s also been instrumental at finding, recruiting, and training new people. She loves this place, and she gets our mission, and no matter how high the pressure gets, she always has an amazing attitude," he continued. "Viki also recently got engaged, so her organizational skills are really going to be put to the test in the lead-up to her wedding day!"
Samantha Cosme, production manager
"Some of Sam’s highlights include becoming our de facto Milwaukee bureau chief – Sam was a key asset during our Republican debate there last year, and she was the co-lead of our RNC Convention coverage in July. She also took part in our productions in Iowa and New Hampshire," Wallace said.
"Sam was a production coordinator when she won the Unsung Hero award in December. Back then, we noted that she was well on her way to becoming a production manager," Wallace added. "As it turns out, that’s exactly what she is now. Sam, congratulations on the well-deserved promotion!"
Hemmer then introduced "FOX & Friends" co-host Lawrence Jones to honor the trio of Rising Stars recipients.
Rising Stars
The Rising Star Award goes to entry-level employees who have shown exemplary work ethic and growth throughout the year.
"The Rising Stars are the employees who are starting out on their careers, but they have incredibly bright futures ahead of them," Jones told the crowd.
James Sun, Media Production Group daily artist
"Graphics Artist James Sun. Since he started, he’s gotten up to speed in major projects, and become involved in updating FOX News Channel’s entire look. He’s been heavily involved in our election night touchscreen plans, which I know is very important to Bill," Jones said, referring to Hemmer’s legendary Bill-board.
"James continues to handle hundreds of graphics requests every month," Jones said.
Karina Legarda, remote coordinator
"Next up, Karina Legarda, from our Resource Operations Center. As we predicted in December, Karina has been proving herself in election coverage this year. She was just promoted to remote coordinator in July, and she’s been doing a killer job. She’s also wrapping up transmission training, and working on ways to improve our workflows," Jones told the audience.
Kyle Thomas, remote coordinator
"And our third winner, Kyle Thomas, from the same department. He’s also a remote coordinator who’s wrapping up transmission training. His manager says Kyle often does double duty, handling remote coordination duty while answering transmission calls," Jones said. "Congratulations to all our Rising Stars!"
Hemmer then called on his "morning bestie" and "America's Newsroom" co-host Dana Perino to present the award for community service.
FOX NEWS CHANNEL OUTDRAWS MSNBC, CNN DURING AUGUST TO FINISH WITH CABLE'S LARGEST AUDIENCE
Community Service Award: Vivian Leung, executive producer
"Vivian has spent years raising awareness about domestic violence. She’s spent time as a hotline operator, helping people through moments of crisis. She’s worked as a legal advocate, helping victims get through complex court processes. And she’s on the board of the Childhood Domestic Violence Association," Perino said.
"She just got a big promotion," Perino added, as Leung was just bumped to executive producer… incredible work Vivian, and this award is clearly very well deserved."
Inclusion Ambassador of the Year Award
The Inclusion Ambassador of the Year Award is for an employee who leads by example in celebrating, engaging, and advocating on behalf of diverse community voices, both inside and outside of FOX News Media.
Patricia Peart, vice president of weekend booking
"First, vice president of weekend booking Patricia Peart. Patricia, come on up. You and I have known each other for a very long time. I think I was one of your very first managers, and Jay and I gave you your first promotion! None of us had any idea back then, how far we would all come," Scott said.
"Patricia recently wrapped up several years as co-chair of our employee resource group, ‘Black Plus.’ She’s always helped people find ways to fit in, while strengthening our corporate culture. Since Patricia’s win last year, she helped coordinate a ‘Dream in Color’ event, as well as a ‘Behind the Scenes with Changemakers’ event for Black History Month," Scott continued. "One of Patricia’s priorities has been meeting with, and mentoring, the next generation and we see that in her actions every day."
Bob Bicknell, FOX Weather senior producer
"Our second winner: FOX Weather senior producer Bob Bicknell," Scott said.
"Bob is also an Employee Resource Alum, after wrapping up a term co-chairing FOX Pride. Bob planned the annual ‘Scoops of Pride’ event, and supported our involvement in the L.A. Pride March, and the AIDS Walk in Tempe, Arizona," she continued. "He also represented us at the Association of LGBTQ+ journalists."
"The Five" co-host Judge Jeanine Pirro was up next to present Innovator of the Year.
Innovator of the Year: FOX News Media Lighting Department
"Believe me, I know the importance of good lighting. You know, innovation can be mistaken for miracles. And the lighting department pulls off miracles every day," Pirro said.
"Because of you, I am always ready for my close-up," she added, noting that some members of the winning team had to stay at work and literally "keep the lights on."
The Innovator of the Year recognizes an initiative that created a new way of delivering information, telling a story, or doing business. The FOX News Media Lighting Department, made up of Colin Ackers, Liz Albright, Nico Bazzoni, Jess Black, Justin Brewer, Andrew Crawbuck, Sean Devine, Antonio Huerta, George Jalinos, Harry Kalfaian, Kelly Knudson, Edmond Lulgjuraj, Josh Martinez-Davis, Jason Miller, Dave Renken, Milos Stevanovic, Robert Ulrich, Chris Bazzoni, James Chester and Anthony Rivelli took home the coveted honor along with the late Rosta.
"Of course, we’re missing one individual, Joe Rosta, a 26-year veteran of FOX News, who tragically passed away one year ago. As Suzanne mentioned earlier, we’re thankful for Joe’s wife Dolores, who is here today. We still miss Joe, and we mourn him. And we’re all grateful to have gotten to spend so many wonderful years with him at Fox," Pirro said.
The lighting team paid a touching tribute to Rosta, with Bazzoni taking the mic to speak about his longtime colleague.
"Joe was our brother. He was like the Dallas character from the Outsiders. He was the coolest, and we looked up to him. One year ago yesterday, on September 16, 2023, we lost our brother Joe," Bazzoni said before moving many in the audience to tears with thoughtful stories about his longtime colleague.
"I want to end with a quote from one of Joe’s favorite hard core bands, The Bouncing Souls," Bazzoni said.
"I've met some people along the way, some of them split, some of them stay, some of them walk, some walk on by. I've got a few friends I'll love till I die," he said. "We’ll miss you, Joe."
One of FOX News Channel’s originals, chief religion correspondent Lauren Green, came up to present the next award, with Hemmer joking that she must be passionate about it because she was supposed to have the day off.
The Impact Award: Lissa Kaplan, senior coordinating producer
"The Impact Award goes to an individual or team whose work had some of the most positive overall effect on our company. And it goes to the New York bureau’s senior coordinating producer, Lissa Kaplan," Green said.
"Lissa is not here, because, no surprise, she’s busy with work. Right now, she’s in Israel, helping maintain the incredible level of coverage we’ve seen from the Mideast team," Green continued. "We’re now just a few weeks from October 7, when we’ll mark one year since the attack that horrified millions and plunged the region into war. Our reporters and producers and photographers there have worked nonstop since that awful day, and Lissa is the latest to jump in to help."
Green said this is simply "the latest example of Lissa going above and beyond in her work" at FOX News.
"Lissa, I’m so pleased to accept this award on your behalf. Your contributions have such an enormous impact on our work. She’s meticulous, conscientious, and a terrific colleague. Thank you for all that you do, Lissa, and please get home safe," Green said.
FOX News Digital’s Hanna Panreck contributed to this report.
Aaron Rodgers explains why he rejected Robert Saleh’s hug in Jets home-opening win
All is well in the Meadowlands.
Fans on social media sensed a bit of tension between New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and head coach Robert Saleh after the four-time league MVP appeared to reject his coach's embrace on the sideline in the first half of Thursday night’s win over the New England Patriots.
Some speculated that the rejection might have been Rodgers’ competitiveness and unwillingness to celebrate despite having a 14-0 lead, but the two clarified the interaction during the postgame presser.
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"Part of the things that we’ve been talking about is to just get the defense a two-score lead," Saleh told reporters, grinning.
"And it was a two-score lead, so I guess he just wanted to see something on defense. He just reminded me that we got a two-score lead.
Rodgers’ story seemed to line up, telling the media that he wanted to make a point to Saleh that they accomplished what they set out to do at the Jets’ long-awaited home opener.
AARON RODGERS SHINES IN JETS' HOME OPENER BEATDOWN ON PATRIOTS
"Oh, awkward? No, it wasn’t awkward at all," Rodgers said of the interaction with a laugh.
"He’s not a big hugger usually. So, I didn’t know he was going for the hug. He likes to do the two-hand chest push as well. But he talks a lot about two-score leads. So I kind of just gave him a push and said ‘two-score lead.’ That’s what happened."
The Jets shined against their AFC East rival on a short week.
After defeating the Tennessee Titans on the road Sunday, the Jets returned to New York with all eyes on Rodgers. It would be his first game at MetLife Stadium after he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury just four plays into his debut last season.
Rodgers, 40, finished 27 of 35 for 281 yards with TD tosses to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as the Jets beat the Patriots 24-3, ending an eight-game home losing streak against New England.
The Jets will go on a mini bye as they prepare to host the Denver Broncos on Sept. 29.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: $1M prize, and no takers
Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
- Group offers $1M for anyone who hosts Pride parade in Gaza, West Bank
- Top Biden adviser employed for decades at church that platformed antisemites
- Big Ten college president to resign after contending with pandemic, anti-Israel protests
- The BBC flunks Journalism 101 when it comes to Israel's war on Hamas
TOP STORY: A watchdog group that aims to expose hypocrisy announced Monday that it would donate $1 million to "Queers for Palestine" or any U.S. LGBTQ advocacy organization to host a gay pride parade in Gaza or the West Bank. New Tolerance Campaign (NTC) President Gregory Angelo, who is gay and the former president of Log Cabin Republicans, said the campaign is a "wake-up call" to anyone who identifies as part of the "Queers for Palestine" or "Gays for Gaza" movements.
VIDEO: College students across the nation are expressing concerns to Fox News Digital as they anticipate the return of anti-Israel protests on their campuses. "There's a lot of tension between groups of students on the campus right now," Vivian of New York University told Fox News Digital. "I think that there definitely will be protests, but because there are so few places for students to actually gather on campus, it's gonna be in a different form than we saw last semester."
RADICAL ZONE: A top Biden White House adviser has been employed for decades as a minister at a Washington, D.C., church that has hosted several activists and religious leaders with long histories of antisemitism, including one Black activist who, during a 2002 speech, called for "Zionists" in Israel, including their babies, to be murdered.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: Rutgers University's president will step down at the end of the academic year after leading the top New Jersey university during a brief tenure plagued by the pandemic and pro-Palestinian protests and encampments on campus.
GUEST EDITORIAL: Tel Aviv-based attorney Trevor Asserson details his extensive report on the BBC's coverage of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and it's not pretty. The BBC seems to have thrown out its own journalism rulebook when it comes to the story, he writes.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I'm personally very against everything that they stand for. And I know a lot of other students here are, and I know people that feel very uncomfortable with these protesters popping up around campus and maybe refusing to leave." - Noah, student at University of Tennessee
UP NEXT:
- Looking for more on this topic? Find more antisemitism coverage from Fox News here.
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