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ESPN's Stephen A. Smith was repeatedly confronted over why he said he regretted voting for former Vice President Kamala Harris during a podcast released Wednesday, as hosts Cari Champion and Jemele Hill suggested he was targeting Black women.

"Flagrant and Funny" hosts Champion and Hill questioned Smith about his comments that he regretted supporting Harris in 2024 after he said it was the Democrats' plan all along to install her as the replacement for former President Joe Biden in the presidential race.

Smith referenced the widely criticized moment from ABC’s "The View" on Oct. 8, 2024, when Harris appeared and said she couldn’t think of anything she’d do differently than Joe Biden.  

"Because when she went on 'The View' and she sat up there and said she couldn't think of anything that she would do differently, something that Sunny Hostin threw up intentionally as a softball for her to knock out the park. I'm like, when she passed up on that opportunity, this is not a dumb woman. This is a former state attorney general. This is a former senator. This is a former vice president of the United States. She is not dumb. There's only one reason she said that, because her loyalty to Joe Biden usurped everything else," Smith said.

HUNTER BIDEN SAYS KAMALA HARRIS IS GETTING 'BAD POLITICAL ADVICE,' REFUSES TO EXPLAIN LOYALTY CRITICISM

He added, "And I'm like, 'You trying to win a damn presidency? This is embarrassing. Do you want the presidency or don't you?'"

Hill suggested Harris was trying to lean into Biden's accomplishments, and said, "He accomplished a lot."

"But I understand when Sunny gave her that easy layup," Champion pressed. "But still, why was it necessary to say that you regretted voting for Kamala Harris when you knew that would take all of the hard work in which she tried to put together away from what she did?"

Smith said he supported Harris throughout the election and that he made the comments afterward.

STEPHEN A SMITH CALLS TRUMP AN 'UPGRADE' COMPARED TO BIDEN AMID NEW YORK KNICKS FEUD

"I get where you're coming from, Cari, I really do. I think that it should have been far more upsetting if it was something that I said before the election. I did not. I supported her leading up to the election. I voted for her. I was on the airwaves talking about what it's going to take to win, win, win. And when it was over, I was honest about how I felt in the moment that that transpired," he said.

Champion accused Smith of targeting Black women specifically and said he could have made his point about his criticisms without saying he regretted voting for Harris.

STEPHEN A SMITH GOES OFF ON NATIONAL BLACK JOURNALISTS ORGANIZATION AFTER 'PERSONAL HIT JOB' AGAINST HIM

Smith countered, "Can you concede that it's a disagreement as opposed to a disparagement?"

She said she couldn't concede the point before the three turned to Smith's dispute with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas.

AMERICA OWES BLACK WOMEN 'EVERYTHING,' REP JASMINE CROCKETT RANTS OVER JULY 4 WEEKEND

Harris's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Curtis Houck, the managing editor of the Media Research Center's NewsBusters.org, told Fox News Digital, "This level of refreshing honesty from Stephen A. Smith has sadly been in short supply for far too long. Along with ideological diversity, more commentators and journalists should be willing to admit when they're wrong or express regret. The national media demand the utmost transparency and rigorous reflection from the people they cover, so why not have it go both ways?"

Houck continued, "There's a reason why Smith is succeeding by moving outside his normal ideological bubbles. We need more of that from the ruling class, not less."

During an April interview with Sage Steele, Smith was asked about his comments prior to the 2024 election on Dave Rubin's show about voting for Harris.

"You went on his show, and you said that you voted for Kamala Harris?" Steele asked.

"Yes," Smith responded.

Steele then added, "And that you regretted it," to which Smith answered, "Yeah."

Smith went on to explain that he cast that vote because he believed Harris was capable of compromise, but said he later concluded Democrats still did not understand why they lost.

"I also believed that she was the kind of person that… could work across the aisle," Smith said. "And then when I saw how things were unfolding and how out in the clouds the Democratic Party was even after they lost the election, I just said, ‘There’s no hope.’"

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In January 2025, Smith said during an interview with Bill Maher, "Yes, I voted for her, a lot of people voted for her, but in the end, we end up feeling like d--- fools, because we supported it. We fell for the okiedoke, as they say. If you had a primary, the likelihood is she would not have been the Democratic nominee."

Fox News' CJ Womack contributed to this report.

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Former state Senator Troy Jackson, who has replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, backed bills seeking to send millions of dollars in public funds to a college while his son lobbied on its behalf, documents show.

Jackson’s son, Chace, was registered as a lobbyist for the Maine Maritime Academy at the same time as his father was serving as president of the Maine Senate, according to state lobbying records. In 2024, the elder Jackson co-sponsored legislation that would have sent $13.4 million to the maritime academy after pushing a bill providing the institution with an additional $2 million per year in 2023, with both pieces of legislation being drafted while Jackson's son was lobbying for the college.

"Troy Jackson authored Augusta’s failed status quo and has turned public office into a family affair of self-enrichment," National Republican Senatorial Committee press secretary Bernadette Breslin told Fox News Digital. "He’ll always prioritize personal kickbacks over the needs of working Mainers."

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Before his son was lobbying on its behalf, Jackson also supported legislation in early 2022 that provided the academy with a one-time $6.8 million payment to fund repairs to one of its buildings.

Jackson’s son first registered as a lobbyist for the Maine Maritime Academy in December 2022, according to public records. He renewed his lobbying registration in January 2024, just as his father was co-sponsoring legislation that would have sent over $10 million to the academy.

While the Maine Maritime Academy funding boost Jackson backed in 2023 went into effect, his 2024 bill passed the Maine Senate but was never signed into law.

"Troy Jackson has fought for working Mainers, and [is] guided by one goal: fixing our broken system so Maine's working families stop getting squeezed while the rich get richer," a spokesperson for the Jackson campaign told the Washington Free Beacon, which first reported on the lobbying records.

LIKELY PLATNER REPLACEMENT'S RESURFACED POSTS ON 'DEMOCRACY' COME BACK TO BITE HIM: 'HYPOCRITICAL SOCIALIST'

In April, Jackson justified his failed run for governor by claiming that the "status quo isn't working" in Maine because of "special interests, high-priced lobbyists and corporate greed." In addition to representing the Maine Maritime Academy, Chace Jackson works as one of the expensive lobbyists his father has criticized, at one point representing the multinational alcohol company behind premium beverages such as Johnnie Walker whiskey and Don Julio tequila.

In 2024, while his father was the Maine Senate president, the younger Jackson represented nine clients. That sum dropped to five clients after his father left the chamber in 2025.

AFTER PLATNER IMPLOSION, MAINE DEMOCRATS RUSH TOWARD NEW SENATE NOMINEE DESPITE FRESH WARNING SIGNS

A bill targeting an oil and gas giant died in the Maine Senate during Jackson's Maine Senate tenure and while his son was lobbying on behalf of the fossil fuel corporation in question.

The former state senator is facing off against incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson replaced Platner as the Democrat on the ballot after his campaign was hit with a series of controversies, ranging from crude deleted Reddit posts to a Nazi-linked tattoo, which culminated in an allegation of rape, prompting the self-identified oyster farmer to drop out of the race.

Jackson, his son and the Maine Maritime Academy did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

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The kingdom condemns the targeting of Sidr, which was reportedly hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

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Tony Romo on Tuesday pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a charge resulting from his July arrest on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Milwaukee, and then he released a statement admitting an "over-reliance on alcohol" to treat his chronic back issues.

First the legal part:

According to online court records, Romo's license will be revoked for six months and he will be required to pay a fine of $784. The records also show Romo must complete an Alcohol Assessment Program and install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle he owns

TONY ROMO ALLEGEDLY REFUSED INTOXICATION TEST AFTER OWI ARREST FOLLOWING MILWAUKEE GOLF EVENT: REPORT

Romo, who played for the Dallas Cowboys and is now a CBS NFL analyst, was found to have a "strong odor of alcohol" during the July traffic stop, according to police records.

Police allegedly found an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage on the passenger side of Romo's vehicle.

Court records show Romo was cited for refusing to take a test for intoxication and first offense OWI.

Now comes the sad but in some ways uplifting part:

NFL ANALYST TONY ROMO PLACED ON LEAVE BY CBS SPORTS FOLLOWING DRUNK DRIVING ARREST IN WISCONSIN

Romo released a statement on his Instagram account to his 658,000 followers in which he took responsibility for his actions.

"This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense of OWI in Wisconsin," Romo said in his statement. "I own this completely."

And then Romo outlined his struggles with pain killers and then alcohol, which he said he used to wean himself off the pain killers.

"Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected, and left me with constant debilitating pain," Romo said. "The pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.

"As I have taught my three young sons, when you fall short, you stand up and take full responsibility. That is an important first step. The harder and more important step is examining the path that brought you here and making the changes necessary to move forward.

"The path requires honesty. None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take full responsibility for them."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Romo's authenticity, which made him the lead NFL analyst at CBS, is evident in his statement, particularly when he shares the extreme lows of his arrest and his attempt to rebound.

"The past month has been difficult, but it has also been personally significant," Romo said. "It required me to confront and own my mistakes fully, to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public.

"I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes. I am deeply grateful for the support of my family, my friends, and the NFL community, including players, coaches and owners.

"Your encouragement has meant more to me than you know."

In a world where social media likes measure approval, Romo so far has nearly 17,000 likes for his posted statement.

One of those was from Fox Sports lead analyst Tom Brady.

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You never know what you might see at the ballpark. You could even see a hug between two players result in an out.

During the top of the third inning of the Boston Red Sox’s 9-8 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night at Fenway Park, Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle discovered a new way to record an out.

With one out and no one on base, Mariners designated hitter Dominic Canzone hit a weak dribbler toward the pitcher's mound. Tolle, all 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, came barreling off the mound, quickly fielded the ball and then ran toward Canzone along the first-base line.

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Canzone, seeing that Tolle had him beat to the first-base bag, slowed down. Tolle, instead of simply tagging Canzone, hugged him for the out.

"It just kind of happened," Tolle said with a laugh, according to The Athletic. "I was right there in front of him, like, ‘Bring it in for the big one.’"

Tolle said Canzone was probably a little surprised by his embrace.

"I mean, probably for a second," Tolle said. "But then it's like, ‘Yeah, this is just going to happen.’"

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As for Tolle and Canzone, that was their first interaction.

"No, but we do (know each other) now," Tolle said when asked if he had met Canzone before the hug.

For Tolle’s Red Sox teammates, hugs from the big left-hander are nothing new.

"The guy gives hugs all the time, so I'm not sure which one you're talking about," Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story joked, according to MLB.com. "But yeah, that was funny, man. Payton's just a special person. He plays the game like a little kid, which I feel like we all should."

Tolle pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six and earning a no-decision.

The Red Sox (75-63) erased a three-run deficit in the eighth and ninth innings to force extra-innings before winning on Story’s walk-off single. They will look to keep their positive momentum going when they play the Mariners (64-74) in the second game of their three-game series at 6:45 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

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New footage shows former Rep. Eric Swalwell being met by FBI agents at San Francisco International Airport, prompting criticism and mockery on social media.

The video, first obtained by the California Post, shows Swalwell sporting a black sweatshirt and hat deboarding a plane where FBI agents met him at his gate on Aug. 15.

The FBI seized Swalwell’s cellphone and laptop at the airport on Aug. 15, according to Fox News Digital’s previous reporting. Swalwell resigned from Congress in April amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

The FBI searched his Washington, D.C., home the following day, Fox News Digital previously reported.

FBI SEIZES SWALWELL’S DEVICES AT AIRPORT AS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION ESCALATES: SOURCES

Critics took to social media to roast the California progressive, including for his attire.

"I needed this lol," wrote former Rep. George Santos.

"He’s still cooked," said popular conservative account Catturd.

"Looks like he’s headed to an Eminem concert," wrote one user.

"Why is he dressed like Eminem," said another user.

HOUSE AVOIDS UNPRECEDENTED FOUR-MEMBER EXPULSION WEEK AS SWALWELL AND GONZALES RESIGN INSTEAD

"WTF is he wearing," asked one woman.

Swalwell resigned from Congress in April after 13 years in office following mounting allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.

He also withdrew from the California gubernatorial race.

At least five women, including one former staffer, have accused Swalwell of sexual misconduct or rape.

"I will fight the serious false allegations made against me," Swalwell wrote at the time of his resignation. "However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make."

SWALWELL ACCUSERS DETAIL EXPERIENCES WITH LAWMAKER AFTER HE ANNOUNCES HIS RESIGNATION FROM CONGRESS

The White House recently released declassified documents related to an FBI investigation into his relationship with Christine "Fang Fang" Fang, a suspected Chinese intelligence operative.

The California progressive told FBI agents he had "physical relations" with Fang on a handful of occasions and their last sexual encounter occurred in March 2015, according to documents released by the White House Government Transparency task force.

Swalwell was interviewed by the FBI first in May 2015 and later in March 2016 regarding his relationship with Fang.

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Fang was previously described by U.S. officials as having suspected ties to China’s Ministry of State Security, while her parents were reportedly linked to Chinese intelligence.

Fox News Digital reached out to Swalwell's attorney and FBI for comment.

Fox News Digital's Peter D'Ambrosca contributed to this report.

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Responders rescued an individual from the cab of a towering crane in Texas on Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.

The department detailed the save in a Saturday Facebook post, which noted that the individual was about 220 feet high.

"The Fort Worth Fire Department Alarm Office received a call for a medical emergency at 11:50am today," the post noted, explaining, "The location was at... the construction site at JPS Health Hospital. Upon arrival, crews found that the patient was actually located approximately 220 feet up in the air, inside of a crane cab."

Responders climbed up, provided medical aid and lowered the individual to the ground, the department noted.

"When technical rescue teams arrived on scene, they gathered gear and began their ascent up the crane’s ladder. They carried with them all of the equipment they would need for the entire rescue on their backs," the department said.

"Upon arrival at the top of the crane (over 22 stories in the air), they went to work. Immediate emergency medical care was started while technical rescue teams began devising a plan for the patient’s safe descent," the department continued.

"Once the patient was safely hooked up to the ropes and rigging system, the crews had him lowered and on the ground. This all happened within less than an hour of their making it to him initially," the post read.

The department shared multiple photos of the heroic rescue effort.

"The crane operator was then transported to the hospital in stable condition," the department added.

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