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Two NYPD officers are being honored by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after jumping into action to thwart an alleged ISIS-inspired terror attack outside Gracie Mansion over the weekend. 

NYPD Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro received high praise from Mamdani and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at a press conference on Monday, just days after both men put their lives on the line to stop a potentially catastrophic terrorism attack after two explosive devices were dropped at a protest on Saturday. 

Edwards reportedly jumped over a barrier and tackled Emir Balat, 18, to the ground after he allegedly hurled an improvised explosive device at a group of protesters and was about to throw a second batch handed to him by Ibrahim Kayumi, 19.

As the chaos unfolded, Navarro ran toward a second improvised explosive device as it was lit and smoking after allegedly being dropped on the ground by Balat, "without hesitation and without regard for [his] own safety," Tisch said.

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Mamdani thanked both men for their bravery after also recognizing them in a private meeting. 

"That is courage, that is selflessness, and I am deeply grateful to both of them and to every member of the NYPD who works every single day to keep New Yorkers safe," Mamdani said.

Edwards was recently promoted to borough chief of Manhattan North in December of last year after serving nearly 23 years as an NYPD officer, according to the New York Post.

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Edwards was inspired to become an officer after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City. 

"I was a college student back in September 2001," the new commanding officer of the NYPD’s Patrol Borough Manhattan North told the Post last year. "I saw what happened, and I took one of the first tests" for the academy.

"I saw it, I felt it. When everyone was running out [of the Twin Towers], we had our police officers and the other first-responders running in. I thought that was selfless heroism. It just drew me to the profession," Edwards said. "Since I started, I fell in love with policing."

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On Monday, Tisch said the officer’s actions on Saturday followed the same theme of his inspiration to join the department. 

"We saw that same spirit carried forward in the way that he responded," Tisch said, according to the New York Daily News.

Additionally, Navarro has reportedly been on the force for 11 years and joined the NYPD after a friend encouraged him to take the exam. Like Edwards, he was promoted to his current rank in December. 

Both Balat and Kayumi are facing federal terrorism charges stemming from the alleged attack. 

The NYPD did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. 

Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken aim at Starbucks and Dunkin' over sugar-loaded coffee drinks — but how much sugar do those drinks actually contain?

During an "Eat Real Food" rally in Austin, Texas, on Feb. 26, Kennedy referenced plans to challenge the two brands on the amount of sugar their iced coffee drinks contain.

"We're going to ask Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, 'Show us the safety data that show that it's OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it,'" Kennedy said.

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"I don't think they're going to be able to do it."

Publicly available nutrition information shows that sugar totals vary widely depending on the drink and size ordered.

It appears that not all frozen coffees are created equal.

For example, the Starbucks website notes that a Grande Starbucks Frappuccino can have more than 45 grams of total sugar per drink — and that's not counting whipped cream and syrups. 

A Grande Caramel Starbucks Frappuccino has about 55 grams of sugar. 

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Dunkin' Frozen Coffees appear to have substantially more sugar than Starbucks drinks. A medium Caramel Crème Frozen Coffee has 132 grams of sugar, according to Dunkin' menus.

A medium Frozen Coffee with Cream has 81 grams of sugar — a high number considering its lack of added syrups.

On "Fox & Friends First" on Friday, family and emergency medicine physician Dr. Janette Nesheiwat said there was truth to Kennedy's concerns.

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"When you think about it, 100 grams of sugar — that's equivalent to about 25 teaspoons of sugar," she said.

"Think of 25 of those little cubes of sugar that you are putting in your drink. And really, many teenagers aren't aware of how much sugar they are consuming. That's why education is so important."

Excess sugar is extremely harmful "for your metabolism and increases your risk of chronic disease," Nesheiwat noted.

"We see obesity, diabetes, heart disease — and now we're seeing a lot of young patients with what we call non-alcoholic fatty liver disease," she said. 

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"And then, of course, let's not forget about the cavities that all the sugar can cause."

The sugar content in these drinks can easily exceed daily recommendations, said Mackenzie Burgess, a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. 

"The American Heart Association suggests limiting added sugar to about 25 grams per day for women and 36 grams for men, yet many drinks contain far more than that," Burgess told Fox News Digital.

"For example, a medium Dunkin' Frozen Coffee has around 84 grams of added sugar, while a Grande Starbucks Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino has about 60 grams. That means one drink alone can have two to three times more sugar than recommended for the entire day."

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She compared a medium Dunkin' Frozen Coffee to three Snickers bars — and said most Frappuccinos "are comparable to a theater-size box of M&Ms.

"Another thing to keep in mind is that when you drink sugar instead of eating it, it often doesn't feel as filling, so it's easier to consume a large amount of sugar without realizing it," Burgess said. 

Some studies show that excess sugar can cause inflammation in the brain's memory, she said.

But the dietitian added that avoiding sugar doesn't mean you need to go without a pick-me-up.

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"As a dietitian, I always recommend starting with a base of unsweetened coffee and building from there," she said. "Choose iced coffee, cold brew or plain-brewed coffee first, then customize it."

Most major chains have sugar-free syrups and a multitude of milk options, including 2% and skim milk.

"Lately, I've enjoyed ordering a Grande Cold Brew with one pump of sugar-free vanilla, a splash of cream and cinnamon powder on top, which totals zero grams of added sugar," Burgess suggested.

Fox News Digital reached out to Starbucks and Dunkin' for comment.

Fox News Digital's Michael Sinkewicz contributed reporting.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked a social media firestorm after reports that his wife’s social media presence included "mass liking" of posts critics say were celebrating the Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis carried out by Hamas.

Rama Duwaji, a Houston-born illustrator who identifies as Syrian and married Mamdani in early 2025, liked several posts in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack that were critical of Israel, Jewish Insider first reported. Duwaji also liked a February 2024 Instagram post claiming The New York Times’ investigation into sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attack was "fabricated," according to The Free Press.

The reports sparked immediate and intense backlash toward the socialist mayor from conservatives and pro-Israel accounts online. Mamdani was widely criticized during his campaign, particularly by Jewish leaders, over his anti-Israel comments and positions dating back to his college days.

"This is who they are," UPenn student Eyal Yakoby posted on X.

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"Why is this is a story?" Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy posted on X. "Of course Mamdani’s wife celebrated the Oct 7th attack.  The Mamdani’s haven’t hid who they are at all. They are Terrorist sympathizing communists. They wear it loud and proud. Anybody who paid an ounce of attention knew that going in and he still won.   That’s the real problem.   Not that the terrorist lover is acting like a terrorist lover."

"Democrats are now the ultra-left party that defends terror groups," GOP strategist and attorney Mehek Cooke posted on X. "Get ready for more ‘Death to America’ signs on our own streets. Mamdani’s wife is the least of our worries."

"Our First Lady, Rama Duwaji, who shares a home and a life with our esteemed mayor, literally SUPPORTED HAMAS the day after the October 7 massacre," Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov posted on X. 

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"Remember when the media and the left tried to remove Alito because of his wife’s flag?" Conservative commentator Dana Loesch posted on X.

"You get what you vote for," actor James Woods posted on X.

"Make sure every Jewish citizen who voted for Mamdani receive a copy of this tweet! SHAMEFUL," Leo Terrell, civil rights attorney and chair of the Department of Justice Taskforce on Antisemitism and senior counsel at the Justice Department, posted on X.

"Wait Mamdani’s wife celebrated the Oct 7th attack where hamas t*rrorists r*ped, kiIIed and kidnapped over 1,000 men women and children including Americans?" conservative influencer account LibsofTikTok posted on X. "Holy s***."

When asked about the reports, Mamdani did not deny that his wife liked the posts, but argued she is a "private person."

"My wife is the love of my life, and she's also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall," Mamdani said. "I, however, was elected to represent all 8.5 million people in the city, and I believe that it's my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions."

"Mayor Mamdani has been clear and consistent: Hamas is a terrorist organization, October 7 was a horrific war crime, and he has condemned that violence unequivocally," a City Hall spokesperson told Jewish Insider.

President Donald Trump's latest push to slash prescription drug prices promises relief at the pharmacy counter, but behind the headline savings lie trade-offs that could reshape how drugs are developed, priced and delivered in the United States.

To deliver on that promise, the administration has rolled out TrumpRx, a federal price-comparison platform aimed at lowering out-of-pocket costs. The effort unfolds against the backdrop of the midterm election cycle, where rising healthcare costs remain a central concern for voters and a defining campaign issue.

The political appeal is clear, but experts warn the economics are messier. Economists point to a basic trade-off: lower prices today can shape how and whether new drugs are developed tomorrow.

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"When drug prices are capped or negotiated down, companies anticipate lower returns, reducing investment in drug research and development," said Olivia Mitchell, a professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School.

"Economic evidence shows that lower prices depress incentives to develop new drugs," she added. 

"In the short term, patients and payers can see meaningful savings through lower prices and out-of-pocket costs, but in the longer term, there is more risk of fewer or slower-arriving new medicines, especially in areas most exposed to price controls."

TRUMP SECURES AGREEMENTS WITH MAJOR DRUGMAKERS TO LOWER MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION COSTS FOR AMERICANS

Michael Baker, director of healthcare policy at the American Action Forum, said government price setting does not eliminate costs so much as redistribute them.

"At the most basic level, government price setting only limits what patients pay for a drug — usually reflected in an out-of-pocket or co-insurance payment," Baker said. "This does nothing to address the overall cost of the drug, which someone still has to pay, nor does it lower the cost associated with development."

As a result, he said, those costs could reemerge through tighter health coverage rules, fewer treatment options or reduced future innovation.

Supporters of the administration counter that the policy does not amount to strict government price caps. Instead, they describe it as a negotiated arrangement.

HOW TO USE TRUMP RX TO FIND CHEAPER CASH PRICES ON MEDICATIONS

Ed Haislmaier of the Heritage Foundation said companies appear to be lowering prices in exchange for expanded market access or other relief, a structure he argues avoids the most disruptive effects of traditional price controls.

"In such cases, companies are likely calculating that revenue losses from lower prices will be offset by revenue gains from more sales," Haislmaier told Fox News Digital. 

"The kind of government price controls that are most damaging to innovation are ones that limit the initial price a company can charge for a new product. That is the situation in some countries, but fortunately not yet in the United States," he added.

For patients squeezed by rising costs, the promise of immediate savings is hard to dismiss. 

But economists say the long run question is whether the system can deliver cheaper drugs without dulling the incentives that produce the next generation of treatments — an issue both parties are likely to keep pressing as health costs stay front and center.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill could soon add another priority to their growing agenda as Republicans work to navigate a partial government shutdown and other deadlines looming in the next several weeks — weighing whether to provide additional cash to fund President Donald Trump's operation in Iran.

Early chatter is beginning in the House of Representatives over a potential supplemental funding bill to aid the U.S. and Israel's joint strikes on Iran, depending on how long the operation lasts and how much both countries bear down on the Islamic Republic.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., told reporters last week that he would "expect" a supplemental funding request from the Department of War "well before the end of the year."

"We've been told the Pentagon is looking at it, but we haven't been given anything about an amount or time frame yet," Cole said.

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Asked by Fox News Digital about what kind of price tag he would expect, Cole speculated, "Maintaining two carrier battle groups in action is not a cheap thing, not to mention all the other resources that are being expended. So I would expect it to be very robust."

"It's been a pretty frequent part of conversation," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital of an Iran funding bill.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., also told Fox News Digital he would "absolutely" back a defense supplemental funding bill.

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A senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, said they envisioned a modest increase in funding for Iran but said there were multiple variables at work that made a total cost unknowable at this point.

"It depends on how long it lasts," they said. "A lot of this depends on, do our Gulf Coast partners participate? If they do, that helps. It depends on how long Israel goes. But we'll definitely need some more munitions, so I'd say a small supplemental is probably important to just restock."

But it will likely be difficult to sell the need for more Iran funding to House Democrats, many of whom have argued Trump's involvement has amounted to an illegal war.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it in terms of if the administration makes a request to Congress to consider additional funding," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told NBC's "Meet The Press" on Sunday. "But at this particular point in time, the administration has failed to make its case as to the rationale or justification for this war of choice in the Middle East."

And with the House GOP's razor-thin majority, which is expected to grow to two votes after a special election in Georgia this week, Republican leaders could have a tough time appeasing fiscal hawks in their own party.

"We need to know what the terms of the conflict are going to be, how long — a lot of us are very happy with going after and taking out Iran's capabilities and taking out a lot of their bad guys, but what's the endgame?" Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said to Fox News Digital.

"Number two, is it paid for? So, you know, general support for what we're doing to go after the bad guys, but we've got to know what the limits are and how much it's gonna cost, and if it's paid for."

Even if it passes the House, such legislation would need 60 votes to advance in the Senate, meaning at least several Democrats would need to be on board. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of War for additional comment.

A suburban New Jersey school district is considering renaming one of its elementary schools after President Donald Trump, a proposal that has sparked debate among board members and residents.

The idea was introduced by Robert Scales, a member of the Colts Neck Township Board of Education in Monmouth County, who asked the school board to establish an exploratory committee to examine what a name change would entail, NJ.com reported.

The committee, he said, would review potential costs and determine "what lines, if any, could be crossed by naming a school after a president."

Under the proposal, Trump’s name would replace that of Conover Road Primary School, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through second grade.

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The district also has a separate building with a similar name, Conover Road Elementary School, for grades three through five.

"What person is doing things that protects our school?" Scales said in arguing that Trump deserves the recognition. 

He suggested the effort could coincide with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July.

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The proposal surfaced during the board’s March 4 meeting, but the nine-member board did not immediately vote on creating the committee.

Some board members voiced enthusiasm for the possibility of renaming, but not all residents supported it.

"I love the idea," school board member Vincent Rugnetta said, according to NJ.com. He also suggested renaming the neighboring elementary school after Joshua Huddy, a Revolutionary War figure with local ties.

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The local outlet reported that Colts Neck voters overwhelmingly supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, backing him with 69% of the vote compared to 29% for former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Board President Angelique Volpe said she and her husband, fellow board member Kevin Walsh, have reached out to Trump about visiting the district. Walsh has served as director of security for the Trump Organization in New York for the past five years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

"Just to be completely transparent, I’ve — me and Kevin — have reached out to the president and would love to have him visit our district as well," Volpe said during the meeting.

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Colts Neck resident Matthew Jenkins disagreed with the idea, writing in an Instagram post, "School names are supposed to reflect the virtues we hope to instill in our children: integrity, humility, service, respect for the law, and a commitment to community over self." 

"Donald Trump does not embody those values. He represents division over unity, grievance, overgrowth, personal loyalty over public responsibility," Jenkins said.

Jenkins, a Democrat, unsuccessfully ran for Congress in New Jersey’s 4th District in 2024, according to NJ.com.

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A former school board member also urged the board to reject the idea, citing safety concerns.

"Naming a school after a current public figure may not only be divisive, but it also poses safety concerns for our students," said one parent in the district.

Superintendent MaryJane Garibay did not publicly state whether she supports the name change or the establishment of the exploratory committee. She noted that Conover Road Primary School is named after a local landowner whose estate benefited the district.

The local outlet said district policy from 2009 outlines the process required to rename a school and states that facility names must be "free from biases, prejudices, or political, and/or religious connotations" and should reflect the community’s location and heritage.

PALM BEACH, FLA. - One week into the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, two Republican senators on the Senate Armed Services Committee say the military operation has "degraded" Tehran's ability to strike back.

But in exclusive interviews with Fox News Digital, Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ted Budd of North Carolina emphasized that the fighting will not lead to U.S. involvement in "forever wars" in the volatile Middle East.

"Our military is doing a great job," Scott said. And pointing to Iran, he said, "They want to destroy America. We've got to stop them."

Budd highlighted that "we have significantly degraded Iran's ability to shoot back at us... their capacities are degraded. We've had great success."

CLICK HERE FOR FOX NEWS LIVE UPDATES ON THE ATTACKS ON IRAN

Budd and Scott were interviewed as they attended an economic conference in Florida hosted by the Club for Growth, an influential and politically potent conservative group that pushes for fiscal responsibility.

President Donald Trump, who called for Iran's "unconditional surrender," said on Saturday that Tehran will be "hit very hard" and warned the U.S. is considering "areas and groups" not previously considered to target.

Over the past week, "Operation Epic Fury" has widened in scope as Iran has retaliated against a growing number of nations in the region. This week, the Republican-controlled House and Senate, in separate votes nearly entirely along party lines, rejected moves by Democrats to restrict the president's ability to steer the fighting.

WHAT COULD COME NEXT IN THE ATTACKS ON IRAN

The president said on Thursday, in an interview with Axios, that he should be involved in choosing Iran's next leader. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial strikes against Iran a week ago.

And there are concerns among many on the right that the strikes against Iran could lead to prolonged American military involvement in the region, which Trump has repeatedly campaigned against during his three runs for the presidency.

"Trump doesn't want to be in forever wars. Every time I've talked to him, he doesn't want that," Scott said. "But I think what we do want to make sure we don't have another Ayatollah that wants to... chant Death to America and death to our allies and try to destroy us."

Budd added that "we’re not up for forever wars. We want to get in, get this thing done, get out and have peace for our country and the rest of the region."

The latest Fox News national poll indicated that American voters are divided on the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, even as a majority sees the country as a security risk. 

Sixty-one percent of those questioned viewed Iran as a danger to the U.S., according to the survey conducted Feb. 28-March 2. But that concern did not translate into majority support for the current U.S. military action, as 50% approved and 50% disapproved.

Support for the attacks was lower in national polling from other news organizations.

But the Fox News poll and the other surveys indicated widespread support among Republicans.

"Trump's doing the right thing. He's saving American lives by making sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon or ballistic missile. So he's doing the right thing," Scott emphasized.

Budd added, "I'm very excited [about] what President Trump's done... The goal is American prosperity and American safety, and that's what President Trump wants."

Oil prices have shot up since the start of the fighting, instantly resulting in higher costs for gasoline across America. That's a major concern for Republicans as they aim to keep control of the House and Senate majorities in this year's midterm elections.

"Hopefully it's all going to be short term. Hopefully… the demolition of the Iranian military will happen quickly and actually will get lower oil prices," Scott said.

Budd acknowledged that "we are going to have some short-term disruptions."

But the senator was optimistic that "very soon we'll have gas prices much cheaper than ever before. We were already on that pathway. President Trump is all about stability. He's all about the price of oil."