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President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented war against cartels and has threatened narco-terrorists, saying he will “blow you out of existence” as his administration seeks to curb the influx of drugs into the U.S. 

The White House sent lawmakers a memo Sept. 30 informing them that the U.S. is now participating in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug smugglers — on top of conducting four fatal strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean since September. 

The Department of War recently announced a new counter-narcotics Joint Task Force in the Southern Command area of responsibility, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. 

The aim of the task force is to “crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe,” Hegseth wrote on X Friday. “The message is clear: if you traffic drugs toward our shores, we will stop you cold.”

HOW TRUMP’S STRIKES AGAINST ALLEGED NARCO-TERRORISTS ARE RESHAPING THE CARTEL BATTLEFIELD: ‘ONE-WAY TICKET’

These recent developments suggest that Trump is eyeing targets within Venezuela, not just those within international waters, according to Geoff Ramsey, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council international affairs think tank.

“This is a sign that President Trump is taking the US war on drugs in Latin America to the next level,” Ramsey said in a Monday email to Fox News Digital. “By involving the military, the president is going after drug cartels in a way that no previous US administration has dared to so far. I think it is likely that we will see the Pentagon evaluate targets inside Venezuela.”

Additional strikes could target more drug shipments or drug flights, which often take off from covert airfields near the Colombian border, Ramsey said. 

“It’s a bad time to be posted in a guerrilla camp on the Colombian border or operating a Tren de Aragua safe house along the Caribbean trafficking route,” Ramsey said. 

Even so, Ramsey said it would be challenging to strike within Venezuela’s territory. Doing so would require the U.S. to dismantle Venezuela’s air defense system, which would escalate hostilities by openly engaging with Venezuela’s military, he said. 

That’s a departure from the current approach, in which the U.S. has intentionally avoided targeting Venezuelan military assets, Ramsey said. 

“When two Venezuelan F-16s flew over a US destroyer last month, the fact that those planes weren’t blown out of the sky suggests that the US is not interested in a shooting war with Venezuela’s military,” Ramsey said. 

Trump himself has not ruled out conducting strikes within Venezuela though, and signaled such strikes could happen when he told military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, Sept. 30 that his administration would “look very seriously at cartels coming by land.”

WAR ON CARTELS? WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT HAS AN IRON-CLAD CASE TO STRIKE NARCO-TERRORIST GROUPS

So far, the Trump administration has utilized maritime forces to address drug threats, and has beefed up naval assets in the Caribbean in recent months. For example, Trump approved sending several U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers to bolster the administration’s counter-narcotics efforts in the region starting in August. 

“I expect these deployments to continue for months or more than a year, with new ships rotating in to replace those that need to return home for maintenance or crew rest,” Bryan Clark, director of the Hudson Institute think tank’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, told Fox News Digital in September. 

Nathan Jones, a nonresident scholar in drug policy and Mexico studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, predicted the strikes are unlikely to impact the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. That’s because fentanyl precursors originate in China, and are then produced in labs in Mexico before they head north without a pathway into the Caribbean. 

“I wouldn’t expect your drug flow to be affected because of these strikes,” Jones told Fox News Digital Tuesday. “This could, though, leave transnational criminal organizations running a little scared in terms of what the administration is going to do.” 

Still, Jones said that he predicted drug flow routes would adapt and that land or aerial drug routes would take precedence over sea routes in the Caribbean. 

The strikes have prompted members of Congress to question their legality and senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., filed a war powers resolution in September that would block U.S. forces from engaging in “hostilities” against certain non-state organizations. 

TRUMP UNLEASHES US MILITARY POWER ON CARTELS. IS A WIDER WAR LOOMING?

“There has been no authorization to use force by Congress in this way,” Schiff told reporters Wednesday. “I feel it is plainly unconstitutional. The fact that the administration claims to have a list and has put organizations on a list does not somehow empower the administration to usurp Congress’s power of declaring war or refusing to declare war or refusing to authorize the use of force.” 

However, the measure failed in the Senate by a 51–48 margin Wednesday. Even so, the measure attracted support from Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who voted alongside their Democratic counterparts for the resolution. 

Other Republicans have defended the strikes though, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said that Trump’s actions were well within his rights and that the resolution was “unreasonable.” 

“When he sees an attack like this coming — an attack of drugs or explosives or anything else that’s going to kill Americans — he not only has the authority to do something about it, he has the duty to do something about it,” Risch said Wednesday before the vote. 

Tech billionaire Marc Benioff is shifting his tone toward President Donald Trump, saying he “fully” supports the president and is now urging him to deploy the National Guard to Benioff’s home city of San Francisco.

“We don’t have enough cops, so if [the National Guard] can be cops, I’m all for it,” Benioff said in an interview with The New York Times.

“I fully support the president,” he added. “I think he’s doing a great job.”

His comments come a week before his annual Dreamforce conference in San Francisco. He complained to the Times that he has to pay out of pocket for off-duty police officers to bolster security in the convention area every year.

LONG-HELD SCOTUS PRECEDENTS COULD UNDERCUT PORTLAND, CHICAGO NATIONAL GUARD LAWSUITS

“You’ll see. When you walk through San Francisco next week, there will be cops on every corner,” he promised. “That’s how it used to be.”

The friendly words for Trump are an about-face for the California billionaire, however, having spent recent years funneling tens of millions of dollars toward left-wing activist groups. Benioff’s company, Salesforce, has also a championed transgender ideology.

‘UNTETHERED FROM REALITY’: LAWYERS FOR TRUMP, OREGON, SPAR OVER NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT IN COURT CLASH

Between 2022 and 2024 alone, Salesforce donated over $23 million to the left-wing Tides Foundation. Salesforce also created the “Pledge 1%” program, a model that encourages corporations to donate 1% of equity, product, profit, and employee time to charity.

Salesforce kicked the program over to Tides Foundation, which has been handling the Pledge 1% funds since at least 2019. Salesforce says at least 9,000 companies have joined the program since its inception.

Salesforce also donated $1.5 million to the liberal dark money group New Venture Fund. Reporting from the Washington Examiner says the organization has links to a Palestinian terrorist group.

Aside from funding, Benioff’s company has used its own reach to push transgender activism, using its social media accounts to hail a transgender athlete and defend transgender people in the U.S. military.

Despite the left-wing resume, Benioff has been successful in getting closer to Trump’s orbit since his election in 2024. Benioff sat across from Trump at the state dinner hosted by King Charles in the U.K. last month. According to the Times, he repeatedly told Trump “how grateful I am for everything he’s doing.”

The White House did not immediately respond when Fox News Digital reached out regarding any plans to deploy National Guard to San Francisco.

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Trump himself floated the idea in August, however, telling reporters in the Oval Office that Democrats have “destroyed” the city.

“You look at what the Democrats have done to San Francisco — they’ve destroyed it. We can clean that up, too — we’ll clean that one up, too.”

Rice Owls cornerback Khary Crump was ejected during the team’s loss against the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday night.

Crump was trying to make a stop on defense with the rest of his teammates when he was seen throwing a punch while in the pile on the field. As the officials tried to break the play up, Crump was seen pushing one official. It led to his ejection.

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The Houston Christian transfer apologized for his actions in a post on X.

“I apologize Rice nation I let you down,” Crump wrote. “For you guys to open arms and give me another opportunity is all I can ask. My actions this game unacceptable but not ill intent me swinging in the pile was try get the ball out. 

“I did not realize that was ref grabbing me until it was done.”

Crump had two tackles before he was kicked out of the game.

He joined Rice as a graduate transfer. The California native started his collegiate career at Arizona before playing one season each at Michigan State and Houston Christian. He had 14 total tackles and six pass breakups this season.

TENSIONS FLARE IN RED RIVER RIVALRY, SPARKING OKLAHOMA-TEXAS PLAYERS’ PREGAME SCUFFLE

UTSA clobbered Rice, 61-13. Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown had three touchdown passes in the first half. He was 15-of-21 with 236 passing yards in the game. Running back Will Henderson III had 115 rushing yards on five carries and two touchdowns.

Rice’s running attack helped Daelen Alexander record 129 rushing yards and a touchdown in the game.

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UTSA improved to 3-3 on the season. Rice fell to 3-4.

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EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said he is the only Senate candidate in Kentucky with the “America First” record and experience necessary to keep the state’s open Senate seat red as Sen. Mitch McConnell’s 40-year tenure comes to an end.

After serving seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, Barr is running to replace McConnell in the Senate, as the former party leader retires next year. With Amy McGrath announcing her campaign for the Democratic nomination this week, Barr is also gearing up for a potential rematch. 

“I relish the opportunity of a rematch, especially statewide, where the electorate is far more conservative than the swing district where I have represented the last seven terms,” Barr told Fox News Digital. 

McGrath unsuccessfully challenged Barr for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District in 2018. She later lost to McConnell when she ran for his Senate seat in 2020. 

TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATE WINS CROWDED GOP PRIMARY IN BATTLE FOR VACANT HOUSE SEAT

“She’s a proven loser,” Barr said. “She has lit Democrat donor money on fire twice, and I’ve even seen Democrats lament the fact that she’s retreading her old messages. She is a stale candidate, and I think there’s a fatigue factor with Amy McGrath.”

DEM SHELLACKED BY MCCONNELL IN 2020 MOUNTS NEW SENATE BID: ‘COWARDS IN WASHINGTON ARE BOWING TO DONALD TRUMP’

Despite the criticism, Barr admitted that McGrath is the “darling of the far, extreme left” with a unique fundraising record, so it would not surprise him if Democrats nominated her to run for the open Senate seat.

“I’m the only candidate in this U.S. Senate race who has a proven record of defeating Amy McGrath and her fundraising in the one swing, purple district. If you want to block her path, if you want to defeat Democrats in Kentucky, nominate the guy who has a proven record of defeating Amy McGrath,” Barr said. 

Barr defeated McGrath by just over three percentage points in 2018, despite the former Marine fighter pilot reportedly raising nearly twice as much money as him. 

Barr described himself as an “America First, pro-Trump Republican member of Congress,” who values limited government, free enterprise and strong national defense. Barr told Fox News Digital that he is the only candidate in the race with experience delivering on President Donald Trump’s agenda. 

Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris are among those vying for the Republican nomination for Kentucky’s open Senate seat. 

“The Kentucky Republican Party is ascendant in the wake of Senator McConnell’s 40 years in office,” Barr said, telling Fox News Digital that Kentucky’s electorate has shifted to the right since McGrath’s last two races. 

“The electorate is even more conservative in Kentucky, more pro-Trump than it was when she ran those first two races, first against me in 2018 and then against Mitch McConnell in 2020. The people of Kentucky have rejected those extreme, far-liberal views,” he said. 

Trump won Kentucky by more than 30 points last year. While former Vice President Kamala Harris won Fayette County, which includes Lexington and is part of the 6th Congressional District, by 18 percentage points in 2024, Barr won his re-election by 26 points. 

Barr is one of just three House Republicans who won districts that Harris carried in 2024. 

“Everyone knows that Daniel Cameron is the frontrunner in this race. You’re essentially lighting your money on fire if you give it to Andy Barr,” Cameron’s campaign fired back when reached for comment, arguing that Cameron is the “America First” candidate. 

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And McGrath told Fox News Digital that Kentucky voters are “tired of lifelong politicians like Andy Barr who care more about pleasing Donald Trump than solving real problems here at home.”

“It’s time he spent less energy playing politics and more time delivering for the people he’s supposed to represent,” the Democrat added. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Morris’ campaign but did not immediately receive a response. 

WWE fans in Perth, Australia, were treated to incredible performances at Crown Jewel on Saturday as they got to witness a handful of classic matches.

In one more phenomenal match, John Cena and A.J. Styles squared off for the fifth and likely final time. Both competitors’ careers are coming to an end. After the music was finished and the introductions were done, the two men came face to face and put on a heck of a show.

It was a celebration of pro wrestling as the legends pulled out all the stops.

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Cena hit an Attitude Adjustment trying to end the match early, but Styles wasn’t having any of it. The two went deep into their bag. Cena hit a Skull Crushing Finale, and Styles pulled out a Torture Rack into a UFO Slam and later a Scorpion Death Drop. Cena even put Styles into a Camel Clutch and later the Walls of Jericho.

Rightfully, “fight forever” chants broke out from the crowd as the veterans wore themselves out in the ring.

No one had the upper hand, and if they did, it didn’t last long.

Styles was trying to wrap it up. He went to the ropes for a Phenomenal Forearm. Cena countered and dragged Styles to the middle of the ring. He paid homage to the late Bray Wyatt and performed his Sister Abigail move. Cena pinned Styles but the “Phenomenal One” kicked out at two.

The two emptied whatever they had left in their tanks. There was no one in Australia, or possibly around the world, who wanted this match to end. 

Cena put Styles on the top rope in an apparent attempt at an Avalanche Attitude Adjustment. Styles countered and threw him off. Styles tried to press Styles, but Cena caught him.

Cena hit Styles with a Tombstone Piledriver and then an Attitude Adjustment for the win.

“This is why we all fell in love with professional wrestling,” WWE broadcaster Michael Cole said.

Cena has four more dates on his retirement schedule with the final match coming at Saturday Night’s Main Event Dec. 13 in Washington.

The men’s and women’s Crown Jewel Championships were crowned for the second time.

The weight of the world was on Seth Rollins’ shoulders as he marched toward the ring. He didn’t have “The Oracle” Paul Heyman behind, nor did he have his compatriots in The Vision by his side. He said he had to beat Rhodes by himself. Rollins already came into the match setting the bar high, saying over the last few weeks that the winner would help determine the direction of the company for the next few years.

Cody Rhodes came into the match with the advantage. He’s defeated Rollins three consecutive times and was looking for No. 4.

WWE STAR JIMMY USO HAS SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP DREAMS, EXPRESSES EXCITEMENT FOR 1ST BABY WITH NAOMI

There was a main event feel in the final match of the event. The tension between the two longtime rivals and on-and-off frenemies. Early on, Rollins was already in his head. He was lashing out at the fans, he put his hands on Michael Cole, and he lost his focus for a few moments.

The frustration turned to aggression soon after. Rollins started to turn his attention to Rhodes’ back and shoulders, two approaches that have hampered “The American Nightmare” in the past. 

The fight was on from there. Both superstars played mind games and delivered hard-hitting action.

A suicide dive from Rhodes to the outside along with a Cody Cutter was met by Rollins with a Cross Rhodes and a Pedigree. The two were in the midst of a classic with both unsure how they were going to finish the other.

Rollins needed to do something he’s rarely ever done – go to a high-risk aerial maneuver. He hung Rhodes upside down in the corner. He marched to the opposite corner and hit a coast-to-coast headbutt. Rhodes avoided the pinfall and kicked out at two. He wasn’t done there.

Rollins jumped up to Rhodes on the top rope with him next. He then pulled out a Spanish Fly into a Rock Bottom. Still, he couldn’t keep Rhodes down.

Rhodes did his own aerial maneuver. He angled Rollins across the top rope, positioned him in the Cross Rhodes and hit the massive move. A mere mortal would have stayed down. Rollins kicked out on the pin attempt.

Rollins had a dirty trick up his sleeves. He grabbed the Rolex watch that Rhodes gifted him after WrestleMania 40 and nailed him with it while Rhodes attempted another Cross Rhodes. Rollins hit The Stomp and a Super Stomp.

He pinned Rhodes for the win and finally claimed the victory.

The women’s Crown Jewel Championship featured two rising stars in the division in Stephanie Vaquer and Tiffany Stratton.

Stratton, in arguably one of her best matches this year, was matching Vaquer blow for blow early on. She tried to go for a swanton from the top rope but was met with Vaquer’s knees to the back of her neck. Vaquer took over from there, hitting the Devil’s Kiss on Stratton.

Just when it appeared Stratton was going to nail the Prettiest Moonsault Ever on her opponent, Vaquer moved out of the way. The Chilean superstar nailed a 450 corkscrew and picked up the incredible victory.

She received the Crown Jewel Championship and a ring from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque in the middle of the ring.

“You deserve it!” chants broke out from the crowd in Perth as she addressed the fans.

‘STAR-SPANGLED BANNER’ BOOED HEAVILY AT WWE’S CROWN JEWEL IN AUSTRALIA

Vaquer is the second Crown Jewel champion. Liv Morgan won the inaugural championship last year.

Roman Reigns attempted to put his rivalry with The Vision in the rearview mirror in a match against Bronson Reed, but his relationship with Jey and Jimmy Uso appeared to have more cracks than first thought. Despite Reigns imploring them to stay out of the Australian Street Fight, the iconic tag team would come into the ring to offer some support.

Reed received help from his stablemate Bron Breakker, who speared everyone in his path, including Jimmy Uso through the barricade. Reed and Breakker put Reigns through the announce table after it appeared the “Original Tribal Chief” was on the offensive for most of the match.

Reed had Reigns on his shoulders as it looked like he was going to deliver a Jagged Edge through a table set up in the corner. Reigns got out of it but was on the receiving end of an accidental spear from Jey Uso. Breakker dragged Reigns’ carcass out of the remnants from the table to help set up Reed for the Tsunami.

The Australia native Reed pinned Reigns and picked up the victory.

Afterward, as Reigns shook out the cobwebs, he was left in shock that his family members didn’t listen to him and ultimately cost him the match.

It was a huge win for Reed as he made a major statement about his standing on the WWE roster in front of his fellow Australians.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky hoped to put their differences aside to vanquish the Kabuki Warriors in Asuka and Kairi Sane. Sky’s friendship with her former Damage Control stablemates deteriorated in recent weeks as Sky’s relationship with Ripley has grown.

Sky started off taking it to Asuka in the ring and a suicide dive outside the ring. She looked to be in control until she turned her back to Asuka to deal with Sane. Sky went off the ring post on the outside of the ring and the Kabuki Warriors started to regain the advantage.

The crowd was begging for Ripley, the Australia native, to get into the mix, She tagged in and the crowd popped.

Ripley’s offensive assault started. She put both Asuka and Sane on her back. She tagged Sky back in as she hit the Razor’s Edge on Sane. It allowed Sky to connect with a missile dropkick. But Sky was only able to get a two-count on Sane.

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Sane and Asuka reclaimed the advantage for a few moments. Sane and Asuka worked together to take out Ripley on the outside. But they took their eyes off Sky, who hit a springboard moonsault to get back into the match.

Toward the end, Sane pushed Asuka out of the way of a big boot from Ripley. She then took a Riptide from Ripley, who tagged in Sky for the finishing touches. Sky hit the Over the Moonsault and finished the match with the pinfall.

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White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino is poised to play an even larger role in President Donald Trump’s administration, the president announced Sunday.

Trump says Scavino, in addition to his current role, will now lead the White House Presidential Personnel Office. The office was previously held by Sergio Gor, who is now transitioning to become the U.S. Ambassador to India.

“I am pleased to announce that the great Dan Scavino, in addition to remaining Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, will head the White House Presidential Personnel Office, replacing Sergio Gor, who did a wonderful job in that position, and will now become the Ambassador to India,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“Dan will be responsible for the selection and appointment of almost all positions in government, a very big and important position. Congratulations Dan, you will do a fantastic job!” he added.

TRUMP SAYS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LAYOFFS ARE ‘UP TO’ DEMS AS STANDOFF CONTINUES

Scavino’s new appointment comes as the Trump administration is in a pitched fight with Democrats to define the cause of the ongoing government shutdown.

Trump allies have pointed to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s refusal to work with Republicans.

The president also sought to mitigate damage on Saturday by ordering War Secretary Pete Hegseth to make sure military service members get paid next week, regardless of the shutdown.

JOHNSON RAISES STAKES ON SCHUMER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BARRELS INTO WEEK 3

“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I DISAGREE! If nothing is done, because of ‘Leader’ Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th.”

He said he directed Hegseth “to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.”

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The government shut down on Oct. 1, after Democrats and Republicans failed to pass a spending bill to fund the government, with Democrats concerned expiring Affordable Care Act tax cuts could raise premiums and that Medicaid cuts could leave people without coverage.

Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report

Golf legend Phil Mickelson shared his reaction to news the late Charlie Kirk will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, Oct. 14.

Mickelson sent an X post on Saturday, sharing the news with his thoughts. 

“His presence and message will live forever but I still wish he was here. This award is well deserved,” Mickelson wrote. 

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Mickelson has been a staunch celebrator of Kirk’s life since the conservative activist’s assassination in Utah last month. Mickelson has also taken aim at those who have made inflammatory comments in the aftermath of Kirk’s death. 

“The assassination of Charlie Kirk is bringing out some of the best in humanity and it’s also exposing some of the worst,” he wrote on X in response to a statement from the president of the Oxford Union last month. “The unification, love, support, and outcry on his behalf throughout the world is heartwarming. 

“The number of people supporting Tyler Robinson’s appalling behavior has opened my eyes to a side of extremism with a moral superiority complex that has also shaken my belief in people in general. I hope they are held accountable for their disgusting rhetoric.”

Mickelson also shared a post featuring one of Kirk’s debates. The talk with another student featured Kirk shutting down a college-aged man and his “hate” for billionaires like President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

EX-JETS STAR ‘DISGUSTED’ WITH NEW JERSEY TOWN FOR FAILING TO HONOR CHARLIE KIRK

“His ability to use words and his intellect to win debates is what scared them,” Mickelson wrote.

Mickelson also took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., after the controversial congresswoman insulted Kirk and his legacy in a CNN interview. 

During the interview on CNN, Omar addressed her recent social media posts in which she called Kirk “Dr. Frankenstein,” doubling down on those comments and saying his legacy should be left in the “dustbin of history.” 

“What I find jarring is that there’s so many people willing to excuse the most reprehensible things that he said, that they agree with that, that they’re willing to have monuments for him, that they want to create a day to honor him and that they want to produce resolutions in the House of Congress honoring his life and legacy,” Omar said.  

“I am not going to sit here and be judged for not wanting to honor any legacy this man has left behind, that should be in the dustbin of history, and we should hopefully move on and forget the hate that he spewed every single day.” 

Mickelson responded to Omar’s comments in a post on X, saying he hopes she’s “sent back to Somalia soon.” 

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“Ilhan spews hate every time she opens her mouth, she came here fraudulently and will hopefully be sent back to Somalia soon,” Mickelson wrote. 

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Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said NIL — the name, image and likeness of NCAA student-athletes — has hurt the SEC, the conference he coached in for a long time.

Saban, 73, coached for a couple of years in the NIL era before retiring at the end of the 2023 season. The legendary coach said NIL helps schools up North in terms of recruiting. 

“I do think that the culture in college football right now, with name, image and likeness (NIL) and paying players money, has actually maybe hurt the SEC a little bit and helped the schools up North,” Saban said during a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” per On3.com.

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“Because if you’re making your decision about money, and someone is going to pay you more to go to Ohio State or Michigan or wherever it is — And I’m not complaining about that. That’s the way it is. — then these kids are going to be more willing to move.”

Saban said NIL has changed the culture of college football because high school recruits now want to play for whichever team will pay them the most. 

FORMER MINNESOTA, NFL RECEIVER DISCUSSES ALMA MATER’S CHALLENGES IN NEW NIL ERA AMID HOMECOMING WEEKEND

“Kids are not growing up wanting to go to Alabama, wanting to go to Georgia, wanting to go to Florida, wanting to go to Texas. They want to go wherever to who is going to pay them the most money,” Saban said. 

“So, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. I’m just saying that culture (of college football) has changed, which I think has made the regional advantage that the Southeastern Conference has had for years is no longer an advantage.”

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Saban’s assessment may be accurate since an SEC team has not played for a national title since the 2022 season. The last two national championships were won by Big Ten teams — Michigan in 2023 and Ohio State in 2024.

Saban has said in the past that NIL is not the reason he retired, but he has been adamant in his belief that changes need to be made. 

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The New York Jets remain the only winless team in the NFL despite whatever positives new head coach Aaron Glenn wants to tell the press and fans about.

Ahead of the Jets’ 37-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last week, Glenn preached that a recent practice leading up to the game was one of their best. Earlier this week, he praised the team for the bonding players had done in their hotel in London as they prepared to face the Denver Broncos.

In all likelihood, the Jets’ playoff drought will reach a 16th consecutive season, and at this point, “it feels like there’s probably a curse,” former Jets wide receiver Eric Decker said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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However, it was not always like that.

Decker spent three seasons with Gang Green, and in his second season, they went 10-6 but missed the playoffs. During that season, Decker did not get “cursed” vibes and actually reflected fondly on his time in East Rutherford.

“The teams I was on, we had a good squad, had a chance to make the playoffs, and we lost it ourselves. To win 10 games and not make it was crazy. But inside, to me, everyone inside the facility was all in and did their part and gave players the opportunity,” Decker said. 

“No, I didn’t feel that. I didn’t feel like ‘Here we go again; it’s the Jets’ or this aura about it. It’s just little thing by little thing that adds up in the NFL. Those things are the deciding factor. 

FORMER MINNESOTA, NFL RECEIVER DISCUSSES ALMA MATER’S CHALLENGES IN NEW NIL ERA AMID HOMECOMING WEEKEND

“They got a pretty good team, and I like that coach. It’s all about mentality, which seems like it needs to be changed from the outside, but being inside, you don’t have that thought process.”

Glenn certainly has that mentality, but the results are not there. Decker, however, believes the Jets just need to control the “controllables.”

“Today’s culture in football, it’s like, if you don’t perform right now, we’re moving on. That’s a lot of pressure for a coach and for players. When guys are not showing up on time or the lack of effort, a lot of those things are controllable. That’s a red flag. ‘What’s going on inside? There’s obviously a lack of leadership or a shakeup that way,’” Decker said. 

“But if guys are doing the right thing and giving 100%, performance is a little bit more tricky, because it’s not necessarily as controllable.

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“I think it will turn,” he added. “It’s just a matter of someone leading that charge at the helm.”

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The mother of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders referenced her son in a mysterious Instagram comment Friday after news broke that the rookie had been elevated to the team’s backup quarterback role. 

Pilar Sanders posted a video of her in the kitchen making a massive seafood spread that included fried shrimp and lobster. The top comment on the post asked her, “Are you cooking all that for Shedeur being named QB2?”

The mother responded with a cryptic statement. 

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“For Shedeur’s yes – we know 2 has always been 1 – the matrix will try to make u believe anything hahahahah – never fall for tall tales,” she wrote. She did not clarify or specify what she was referring to. 

Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who coached him at the University of Colorado, has been the subject of immense media scrutiny and speculation dating back to when he was drafted in April. 

After the Browns traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this week, fans and pundits speculated whether Sanders would be elevated to the second-string job or remain in the third-string role behind Bailey Zappe. 

The quarterback was the subject of one of the most shocking slides in NFL Draft history in April, when he fell from a potential No. 1 overall expectation to the 144th pick in the fifth round. 

The Tuesday before the draft, NFL Media released a summary of the top 18 prospects in this year’s class. 

Sanders’ section included comments from an anonymous assistant coach who said Sanders was “the worst formal interview I’ve ever been in in my life. He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks. He never plays on time. He has horrible body language. He blames teammates. … But the biggest thing is, he’s not that good.”

An anonymous longtime executive added, “It didn’t go great in our interview. He wants to dictate what he’s going to do and what’s best for him. He makes you feel small.”

NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson stoked conspiracy theories related to Sanders in an August interview, claiming that NFL teams were “told not to” draft Sanders to “make an example” of the quarterback when he fell to the fifth round. 

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“I tell you this much, what I heard from someone that’s in the NFL [is] that the NFL told [teams], ‘Don’t draft him. Do not draft him,’” Dickerson said in an interview on the “Roggin and Rodney” show on AM 570 LA Sports. 

“‘We’re going to make an example out of him.’ And this came from a very good source, a very good source. They were going to have him not get drafted to basically show you ‘this is what happens when you do this.’ I mean, look, the NFL’s got all kinds of power. They do all kinds of stuff.” 

Sanders’ slide out of the first round shocked many, including President Trump, who sent a post on Truth Social condemning the league’s owners for passing on the quarterback. 

“What is wrong with NFL owners, are they STUPID? Deion Sanders was a great college football player, and was even greater in the NFL. He’s also a very good coach, streetwise and smart! Therefore, Shedeur, his quarterback son, has PHENOMENAL GENES, and is all set for Greatness,” Trump wrote. “He should be “picked” IMMEDIATELY by a team that wants to WIN. Good luck Shedeur, and say hello to your wonderful father!”

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith revealed a text message from an associate who compared the situation to Colin Kaepernick being out of the NFL since 2016, suggesting “collusion.” 

“‘This is a bad look for the NFL. This feels like Kaepernick-level collusion,’” Smith said of the content of the text, adding the situation goes beyond “talent evaluation.” 

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“All the hard work the NFL League Office puts in to eradicate these kinds of perceptions, only to turn around and watch as the OWNERS look like they’re colluding, messing up everything. What has been done to Shedeur will outshine everything else in this draft. We’ll never believe this is about just talent evaluation again.” 

Sanders has yet to get into an NFL regular-season game, but his first action could come as soon as this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers if starter and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel has to exit the game for any reason. 

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