NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will not testify before Congress amid scrutiny of past testimonies

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, invited earlier this week to testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing that will examine whether the Sports Broadcasting Act has been used "to harm consumers," is declining the invitation.

And that's probably a wise choice by the commissioner given his past history testifying before Congress.

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Goodell declined the invitation to appear at the June 10 hearing "due to ongoing litigation related to the topic of the hearing," NFL general counsel Ted Ullyot wrote in a letter Wednesday to Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)Jim Jordan, (R-Ohio).

The ongoing litigation Ullyot was referring to is likely the NFL's Sunday Ticket antitrust case, which remains in post-trial and appellate proceedings.

All of this is tied to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 that provides limited antitrust exemption for the collective sale of over-the-air broadcast rights. The SBA does not clearly protect cable, satellite, streaming or subscription products, the rising cost of which has incited consumer complaints and government scrutiny.

According to the Associated Press, Ullyot repeated in his letter the well-chronicled NFL narrative that 87 percent of its games will be available over the air this season, and that every game in the competing teams' home markets is on broadcast television.

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"The NFL’s decision to license a few more games to widely adopted streaming services is simply a reflection that those platforms now offer significantly more reach than the current pay TV ecosystem and that broadcast television remains the foundation of our media distribution," Ullyot wrote.

The NFL's stated reasoning for not putting Goodell in front of Congress is legitimate but league counsel almost surely took Goodell's past performances before lawmakers into account. The NFL has declined to comment on Goodell's decision despite multiple requests by OutKick and Fox News.

And how has Goodell fared before Congress in the past? "Debacle," was the word one congressional source used to describe it.

That's obviously someone's opinion that is up for debate, but it is fair to say that when Goodell has appeared on Capitol Hill, it has not been a smooth ride. His appearances have historically served as platforms where lawmakers aggressively targeted the league's multi-billion-dollar business models, safety protocols and accountability.

Goodell has testified before Congress on two previous occasions: in October 2009 on the league's concussion crisis of that time, and in June 2022 on the Washington Commanders workplace investigation.

In 2009, the House Judiciary Committee called a hearing titled "Legal Issues Relating to Football Head Injuries" following independent research and media reports linking repeated football head trauma to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

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Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA) excoriated Goodell for the league’s refusal to acknowledge independent medical data. She famously compared the NFL’s stance to Big Tobacco executives denying the link between smoking and lung cancer in the 1990s. Goodell sat in silence as she blasted the league’s "blanket denial."

Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) pressed Goodell with a simple question: "Does a medical link exist between playing football and long-term brain damage?"

Goodell refused to say "yes." Instead, he deflected by saying, "I’m not a medical expert."

In 2022, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing called "Tackling Toxic Workplaces," investigating decades of rampant sexual harassment, verbal abuse and structural misconduct within the Washington Commanders organization under former owner Dan Snyder.

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Goodell testified via Zoom but the virtual format didn't shield him.

Lawmakers hammered Goodell over the NFL's refusal to release a report authored by attorney Beth Wilkinson's independent investigation into the Commanders. Members of Congress and former employees pointed out the NFL released a 200-plus-page public report when investigating whether Tom Brady deflated footballs, but chose to keep the findings of a 20-year sexual harassment culture secret, delivering only an "oral report" to Goodell.

Goodell’s defense — that they withheld the written report to protect the privacy of the victims — was dismissed by some committee members as a hollow excuse to protect Snyder.

Goodell tried to paint the NFL as both powerless and an ally that had successfully "held Snyder accountable," which obviously didn't fly.

He pointed out the league levied a $10 million fine and forced Snyder to cede day-to-day operations but also repeated, "I don't have the authority to remove [Snyder]," which frustrated was panned by the lawmakers.

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Canada's Carney pledges action on antisemitism amid backlash over new anti-hate council members

Prime Minister Mark Carney warned this week that Jewish Canadians are being "brutally targeted," while also announcing a new anti-racism council that reportedly includes two members with troubling views on the Jewish state.

Following Carney's speech on antisemitism, critics reacted with anger at the makeup of the council and questioned how a body meant to fight hate and antisemitism includes two members who are reportedly hostile to the concerns of the Jewish community.

Omar Alghabra, a former Liberal party cabinet minister and Member of Parliament, has faced criticism for publicly mourning former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The former leader of the PLO was described by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies as "the father of modern terrorism." In the days following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, he declined a request to condemn them, when asked by Canada's Rebel News. 

Alghabra has also faced scrutiny over past comments regarding Israel. In 2005, he criticized Toronto's police chief for participating in and leading a "Walk with Israel" event, according to The Jerusalem Post. He described the event as "a show of solidarity for a foreign state currently in the midst of an unresolved conflict" and referred to Israel as "a country that is conducting a brutal and the longest contemporary military occupation in the world."

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Canada's opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, pointed to a separate encounter with him involving a terrorist organization. "I remember Mr. Alghabra lobbying me before he was in politics to keep Hezbollah legal, so I'm not sure that he's the right guy to combat antisemitism," he told reporters. 

Howeer, the Jerusalem Post reported that Alghabra had described Hamas as a terrorist organization during a 2016 parliamentary debate.

The other controversial member of the council, Avnish Nanda, represented efforts to keep a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Alberta in place. Critics of the encampment argued it created a hostile atmosphere for Jewish students following Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel. 

In April, B’nai Brith Canada’s League for Human Rights released a report showing that 6,800 antisemitic incidents took place in the country in 2025, representing a 9.4% increase over 2024. On average, this represented 18.6 incidents a day and was the "highest volume" the group has recorded since it began tracking incidents.

"I'm a Canadian-born Jew serving as rabbi of the vibrant Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem community in Montreal, and I was truly shocked to learn that among the people chosen to sit on Prime Minister Carney's newest council is Omar Alghabra, who publicly mourned the death of Yasser Arafat and remained silent when asked to condemn the attacks of October 7th," Rabbi Zolly Claman of Montreal's Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem Congregation told Fox News Digital.

"Canadian Jews are struggling to understand how our prime minister believed this would be a constructive appointment," Claman said.

When announcing the new Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion, Carney stated, "The council has a clear mission to combat racism and hate in all their forms and to guide the Government of Canada as part of our efforts to build a fairer, more just, more inclusive society," He also said that, "The crisis of antisemitism in Canada today is specific, it’s severe, and it demands a targeted response. And that is what our government is fully committed to," Reuters reported.

FROM AUSCHWITZ, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER RISING ANTISEMITISM IN CANADA

When asked about Prime Minister Mark Carney's announcement, B'nai Brith Canada, one of the country's leading Jewish advocacy organizations said that while it welcomed the prime minister's acknowledgment of rising antisemitism, it believes additional action is needed to address what it views as a growing crisis facing Canada's Jewish community.

"B'nai Brith Canada acknowledges the Prime Minister's solidarity with the Jewish community," Simon Wolle, the organization's chief executive officer, told Fox News Digital. "He was right to mandate that the Special Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion prioritize researching and combating antisemitism."

At the same time, Wolle questioned whether the newly announced council has the authority and scope necessary to effectively address the problem.

"But we are concerned because the council does not have the power or scale to address this crisis in an appropriate and meaningful manner," he said. "It is an important aspect of the government's approach to combating antisemitism, but it is not sufficient."

Wolle added that B'nai Brith Canada will "continue to call on the government to establish a National Emergency Task Force on Antisemitism, among other initiatives, because the Jewish community needs immediate action, not just words during this time of violence, hate, and threats to our right to exist and participate in Canadian society," he said. Wolle did not offer comment on either Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda appointments.

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Canadian Jewish activist Ariella Kimmel also questioned the effectiveness of the newly announced council.

"The Jewish community makes up just 1.2% of Canada's population, yet is the target of 75% of hate crimes, which is astoundingly disproportionate. Canada does not have a hate problem; it has a Jew-hatred problem. There is a very specific virus spreading rapidly across this country, and our prime minister is administering a broad catch-all antibiotic that will not help."

Kimmel said his speech lacked concrete solutions and failed to address what she described as growing hostility toward Jewish communities.

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"There was nothing on the vile chants we hear on the streets, nothing about the mobs that target Jewish neighborhoods, nothing calling for police to enforce the laws that already exist," she said.

"What Canada doesn't need is another special council on racism. We need to address the real elephant in the room, the targeting of Jews using 'Zionism' as an excusable reason, led by radicalized progressives and Islamist fundamentalists."

Fox News Digital reached out to Carney’s office and Omar Alghabra and Avnish Nanda for comment.

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Family whose children were killed by World Series champion's former lover awarded $176 million

The family of two Los Angeles children who were killed by a city socialite was awarded $176 million by a jury.

Rebecca Grossman, the estranged wife of prominent Dr. Peter Grossman, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of Mark and Jacob Iskander, 11 and 8, respectively, after striking them with her vehicle at nearly 80 mph in September 2020.

Grossman had prescription drugs and alcohol in her system at the time of the 2020 crash, prosecutors told Fox News Digital.

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Although she was married to a prominent Los Angeles surgeon, Dr. Peter Grossman, she was racing her boyfriend, former MLB pitcher Scott Erickson, home from a restaurant. Each of them was driving Mercedes-Benz SUVs above 70 mph, and Grossman fled from the scene.

Both were found negligent in the crash.

The boys were walking with their youngest brother and mother, who both avoided the crash. The mother said she grabbed the youngest son and dove out of the way of Erickson's car.

Erickson started 364 of his 389 games pitched, pitching to a 4.59 ERA with a 142-136 record. He pitched for the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

Erickson made a name for himself with the Twins, winning the World Series with them in 1991 and finishing in second place in Cy Young Award voting that season, falling short of Roger Clemens. Erickson spent six seasons with the Twins and seven with the O's before abbreviated stints with the others.

Grossman was sentenced to 15 years to life in 2024.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Joseph Brandolino rejected a request from prosecutors that Grossman be sentenced to 34 years to life, saying such a lengthy term is "just not warranted here," Fox Los Angeles reported. He said the children's deaths were an "unimaginable loss," but he noted Grossman's lack of a criminal record and philanthropic history. 

Fox News' Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

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Mullin tells Congress primary border wall will be done by June 2027, secondary wall by summer 2028

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced on Wednesday the administration is on track to have the primary border wall, from the Pacific to the Gulf of America, completed by June 2027.

He added all contracts will be out by the end of this month, noting the department is making "great progress."

Mullin's comments came as he testified before the House Homeland Security Committee about his department's 2027 fiscal year budget. He testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday.

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However, Mullin clarified the primary wall is separate from the secondary wall.

"The primary wall is the first wall up because of the way the cartels adjust... they're thugs and they're terrorists," Mullin said. "We have to push out a secondary wall because they've been going in and cutting the wall, and before we can respond to some of these remote areas, they've been able to get through."

He said that every mile of fencing the department puts up, "the smaller the choke point gets for criminals to cross."

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To combat the potential break-ins, Mullin said the secondary 150-foot walls will be placed in certain locations, in addition to a smart wall, which will tell the department how many people are there.

"The smart wall is pretty impressive and we can put a drone in the sky and immediately keep eyes on them," he said. "We're well within track. The secondary wall — we feel like if we can continue to have the progress we have and the partnerships we're having, we will probably complete that in the summer of 2028. All of it will be fully completed."

Mullin noted he has made multiple trips to oversee the wall construction and used aircraft to fly over "a tremendous amount of it."

"We have some Democrat members that [have] had some concerns — some Democrat senators, congressmen — every one we try to address immediately," he said.

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Military sister surprises graduating brother by delivering his diploma after overseas deployment

A heartwarming military homecoming is gaining attention online after a deployed sister gave her graduating brother the surprise of a lifetime.

Kalen Barksdale started his walk across the stage to receive his diploma from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Wisconsin, only for a school official to pause and tell him that it was not there.

Initially dismayed, Barksdale soon realized his diploma was there after all and that his sister, Mauriana — who had been serving overseas — had arrived to deliver it.

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"My first initial reaction was embarrassment because that's a huge milestone to achieve..." Kalen said, recounting the surprise on "Fox & Friends."

Concern turned into surprise when Kalen learned the setback was "a setup for something greater."

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Mauriana made her way down the aisle to the crowd's cheers and applause while holding Kalen's diploma. The siblings shared a warm hug when they met.

"There was a lot going through my mind at that time," Mauriana recalled.

"[I was] so grateful to have been able to make it home because there was a possibility that I wouldn't have been able to be here for that moment..."

Mauriana thanked Milwaukee Lutheran High School for helping coordinate the surprise.

The emotional reunion has reached millions online, warming hearts across the country.

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Former MSNBC host Joy Reid says she is no longer a New York Giants fan because Jaxson Dart introduced Trump

Former MSNBC host Joy Reid says she can no longer root for the New York Giants after quarterback Jaxson Dart introduced President Trump on stage.

Reid first called Dart an "idiot" for using the word "pleasured" to describe meeting Trump.

"I’m pleasured to meet, like what does that even mean?" she began. "First of all, he’s an idiot. OK, but what do you mean ‘you’re pleasured to meet the president?’ Like, is English your first language? What are you saying?"

She then explained why she must stop supporting the Giants

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"I was, you know, really kind of repulsed as a Giants fan — former now — because the reality is Donald Trump is not a normal president," Reid told host Jack Cocchiarella. "Donald Trump is not an American president. Donald Trump is a wannabe king. And we’re in the 250th anniversary of our divorce from the king of England. And Donald Trump is trying to be a king."

Apparently, all the players who committed violent crimes were not enough to turn Reid away from the Giants. It took a player welcoming Trump on stage.

Later in the rant, Reid suggested Dart benefits from, you guessed it, White privilege.

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"Sports has always been political and it’s always been used as Americana, right? They love it when the athletes are representing America on the court or on the field and that’s what you’re supposed to do. If you’re waving the flag, that’s fine. If you’re challenging the flag or challenging the status quo in the country, that’s a problem. And that’s black artist, black athlete vs. white athletes," she said.

"It’s always been that way. When Muhammad Ali says he won’t go to Vietnam, no one questions, 'Well, maybe we should let him interrogate a little bit more why we’re fighting in Vietnam.' Instead, they just call him unpatriotic and throw him in jail. And so, you know, this has been the history of Black athletes, really, from the beginning. The only way to kind of be an acceptable Black athlete is to also wave the flag."

Wait, what?

Muhammad Ali was undoubtedly bigger than sports, but comparing his protest of the Vietnam War to Dart simply introducing a sitting president is quite a leap.

And if society were truly as hostile toward Black athletes as Reid suggests, one would think there would be far more scrutiny when athletes commit serious offenses, such as domestic violence, assault and reckless driving.

We also must ask: When did Joy Reid become a Giants fan?

For starters, we've never heard her discuss the team before. More importantly, abandoning a franchise because one player welcomed a president on stage seems like an awfully thin reason to walk away.

If being a sports fan requires every player on your favorite team to share your political views, there won't be many teams left to support.

As OutKick founder Clay Travis noted, there is about a "zero percent chance she could answer basic questions on Giants fandom."

Honest question: Could she even name the player who made the Helmet Catch against the Patriots in Super Bowl 2007? Doubtful.

Still, it was probably wise for Reid to jump into the Dart controversy, albeit embarrassingly. Since MSNBC fired her in 2025, she has struggled to remain relevant.

Hyper-racial idolatry may be too competitive a field on the internet to cut through. Reid may need to mix it up a bit more, as she did by announcing her departure from Giants fandom.

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Medical cart carrying injured soccer player runs into teammate in insane scene in Ecuadorian league

The second tier of the Ecuadorian league doesn't often create headlines in the professional soccer world, but over the weekend, it produced one of the funniest, most diabolical clips we've seen in quite some time.

El Nacional and Liga de Portoviejo took the pitch on Sunday afternoon, and things flowed as expected. Portoviejo, positioned in the middle of the table, grabbed a 1-0 lead against El Nacional, which occupies the basement of the 12-team table and is still searching for its first win of the campaign.

Things took a turn for the worse, literally, in the 72nd minute for Portoviejo.

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One of the club's outfield players went down with an injury, and one that appeared to be serious, given that he was taken off the pitch on a medical cart.

As the medical cart slowly began departing the field, another Portoviejo player, Edison Caicedo, who was clearly not paying attention to his surroundings, stepped directly in front of the cart.

While the cart was only traveling a few miles per hour, the corner of the stretcher lying on the back of it appeared to squarely connect with the player's upper thigh, sending him to the turf in an instant.

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The player who was hit by the cart immediately grabbed his thigh and knee area while squirming in pain on the ground.

The funniest part of the entire sequence, by far, is the driver of the medical cart attempting to drive off after hitting the player.

He made it all of a few feet before Portoviejo staff members stopped him, and didn't exactly look too concerned about hitting someone while behind the wheel.

While Caicedo likely woke up with a bruise on his thigh on Monday morning, he was able to continue and finish the match, which Portoviejo held on to win 1-0.

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