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Tom Brady on return to New England in Bucs-Patriots matchup: ‘I’m not going to necessarily reminisce’

Tom Brady will return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday for the first time since leaving New England to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but the seven-time Super Bowl Champion says that this is not time to “reminisce.”

Brady, 44, knows better than anyone what it’s like to play in Foxborough but during an episode of the “Let’s Go!” podcast with Jim Gray, he said this weekend’s game against the Patriots will be a first for him.

TOM BRADY’S DEPARTURE ‘WASN’T A QUESTION OF NOT WANTING HIM,’ BILL BELICHICK SAYS

“I know that locker room, I know that home locker room, I know that home tunnel, I know which way the wind blows, I know everything about that [place],” he said, via ESPN. “I know the way it smells. I know what a night game’s like, I know what the fans are gonna sound like. So in some ways, that’ll be really unique. I’ve never had that experience going to, you know – it’ll be a first time for me being on the other sideline.”

Brady signed with the Buccaneers in March 2020, after 20 seasons and six Super Bowls wins with the Patriots – arguably the greatest run in football history, maybe even sports history. But the veteran quarterback wasn’t done just yet. Reports at the time indicated that the two sides couldn’t agree on a long-term contract and the Bucs jumped at the opportunity to sign Brady – winning the Super Bowl that same year.

Head coach Bill Belichick addressed the situation on Monday saying, it was never “a question of not wanting him.”

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“He looked at his options and made his decision. We weren’t as good an option as Tampa, so I mean, you’d have to ask him about all of that,” Belichick said.

Brady said he wouldn’t call Sunday’s game a “homecoming,” well aware that fans’ loyalties lie with their teams. He also said that his focus will be on the game – he’ll have plenty of time to “reminisce” later on.

“I’m not going to necessarily reminisce. I don’t think this is the moment for that. I’ll have plenty opportunities to reminisce about my football career – none of it, none of which I really care to do right now because I’m so much in the moment,” he said.

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“I’m not going to be thinking about 20 years of history. I’m going to be thinking about one night of football, a Sunday night game coming off a really tough loss.”

The Bucs and Patriots will face off at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Test Drive: The 2022 Rivian R1T electric pickup is a game-changing truck

Test drive: 2022 Rivian R1T

The 2022 Rivian R1T is the first all-electric pickup and filled with tons of technology and clever features. Fox News Autos Editor Gary Gastelu went to Breckenridge, Colo., to test it on and off road.

Pop car quiz: What do Ford, General Motors, Ram and Tesla have in common? Aside from building things with four wheels, of course.

Answer: None of them will go down in history as the American brand that put the first mass-market electric pickup into production.

(Rivian)

That distinction will now and forever belong to startup automaker Rivian, which has begun manufacturing the R1T pickup at its factory in Normal, Ill., and shipping them to customers less than three years after revealing the first prototype.

It’s a remarkable feat. Launching a new car company is hard, doubly so in the middle of a pandemic that’s been making semiconductor chips hard to come by and slowing supply chains across various industries.

(Rivian)

The truck is pretty remarkable, too. I call it a “truck” with confidence in the face of sticklers because the midsize R1T features a body attached to a frame in the traditional sense of the word, even if it’s far from traditional.

(Rivian)

In this case, the frame houses a 135-kilowatt-hour battery pack that’s good for 314 miles of range; four electric motors with a combined output of more than 800 horsepower that let the R1T accelerate to 60 mph in three seconds and tow 11,000 pounds; and a fully independent air suspension that can raise or lower it to provide from eight to 14 inches of ground clearance, give or take.

The first R1Ts off the line are the limited Launch Edition trim, which was priced at $73,000, but is already sold out. Latecomers to the party can order the similarly outfitted and priced Adventure or the entry-level Explore that starts at $67,500, with earliest deliveries scheduled for January. All qualify the full federal tax credit of $7,500, which knocks the base price down to $60,000. Models with a larger Max Pack battery expected to be rated at over 400 miles per charge will be available next year for an extra $10,000. Sales of the vehicle are direct from Rivian, which plans to have just a small number of showrooms and a nationwide network mobile service technicians that can come to your house to handle most repairs.

(Rivian)

The R1T is roughly the same size as a Jeep Gladiator, so it’s large for a midsize pickup and has a roomier cabin than a Ford Ranger or Toyota Tacoma that’s impeccably dressed more along the line of a Land Rover. The interior of the Launch Edition is trimmed with reclaimed wood inserts, top shelf vegan leather and houses a digital instrument cluster and large touchscreen display that controls just about everything.

(Rivian)

The skateboard-style layout of the R1T’s platform leaves room for a front trunk or “frunk” under its power-opening hood as well as compartment under the bed that’s large enough for a full-size spare tire, and the Launch Edition’s all-terrains are a very large 34-inches tall.

(Rivian)

The bed itself is a compact 4.5 feet long, but the tailgate has a gooseneck hinge that extends the composite floor to 6.9 feet when it’s down and it’s wide enough between the wheel wells to accommodate the benchmark 4×8 sheet of plywood. A built-in roll-top cover is included on the Explore and powered on Adventure and Launch Edition models, but the R1T’s most unique storage feature is found further below.

(Rivian)

It’s called the Gear Tunnel and runs straight through the middle of the truck between the cabin and the bed. It has 11.9 cubic feet of storage space and its fold-down doors are strong enough to stand or sit on. There’s a power outlet and lights inside and it can be ordered with either an optional $1,500 sliding rack to make it easier to load and unload things, or a pull-out $5,000 electric camp kitchen with a sink and an induction stove that runs off of the battery, plus custom cookware and a dining service. Both can be rolled into the R1T’s financing and Rivian said that orders for the kitchen are far outweighing expected demand.

(Rivian)

Among other clever touches that leverage R1Ts electric power are a set of four 110-volt outlets, a built-in air compressor, a removable and rechargeable speaker that stores in the center console between the front seats and a flashlight that pops out of the driver’s side door jamb that brings the total number of Samsung-supplied battery cells in the R1T to a neat 7,777.

Rivian chose the mountains outside Breckenridge, Colo., to show off the R1Ts on-road and off-road abilities, not to mention one big advantage electric vehicles have over their internal combustion engine counterparts. Since they don’t need oxygen, there’s no power loss at altitude. That’s more than I can say about the rental car I drove in to get there, which was working as hard as I was to cope with the thin air.

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The R1T pulls away with all of the strength you’d expect from over 800 horses backed by more than 900 lb-ft of torque and you’d never guess the aluminum-bodied vehicle weighs nearly 7,000 pounds. Batteries are a burden, but the R1T carries it well.

Sitting low in Sport mode, the R1T carved its way up and down the winding Loveland Pass more like a sports car than a pickup in the sort of silence you expect from an electric vehicle, despite the quartet of motors at work, and there wasn’t a squeak or rattle to be heard.

The regenerative braking system, which turns those motors into generators to slow it down as they recharge the batteries, has three settings and the strongest is effective enough to make the disc brakes an afterthought most of the time.

(Rivian)

Choosing one of the off-road modes through the touchscreen lifts the truck and adjusts the traction control and throttle response for rough surfaces. The maximum ground clearance is more than a Jeep Wrangler’s and the R1T can wade through over three feet of water. Unlike in a conventional 4×4, there’s no need to shift a transfer case into low range, the electric motors are always prepared to give you full grunt.

(Rivian)

Using the screen on the move can be tricky as your finger bounces around, however, and the R1T relies heavily on it. Its only physical controls are the window switches, turn signal and transmission stalks, and a pair of toggles and scroll wheels on the steering wheel hub that are used for a variety of functions you have to first call up on the display, including adjusting the mirrors and the wheel itself.

The infotainment system offers Amazon Alexa voice controls for some features. It doesn’t have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, but Rivian’s unique user interface is comprehensive and reacts quickly to inputs. It can also accommodate over the air updates, so additional features will be added over time.

That applies to the electronic driver aids, too. The R1T initially ships with adaptive cruise control and a lane centering feature, but comes with the cameras, sensors and facial recognition equipment necessary to enable a future hands-free capability like GM’s Super Cruise when the software is ready.

Rivian’s engineers are also taking advantage of having four unconnected electric motors to play with by developing a Tank Turn feature that will allow the R1T to spin in place on loose surfaces, which they will release when they’re satisfied that it will only work under safe conditions. It doesn’t need anyone trying to do this for the Gram in a school parking lot.

Rivian’s vehicles feature four independent electric motors that allow them to spin in place on loose surfaces. (Rivian)

Driven in a straighter line, the R1T proved its mettle climbing the steep trails leading to the top of Wise Mountain as easily as the goats who barely gave us a second look as we silently cruised by them. It may be putting in the effort, but it sure doesn’t sound like it is, which is a wonderful way to enjoy the great outdoors.

The route we took was tougher than you’d want to attempt in all but the most extreme off-road factory truck models, but the R1T trudged along without missing a step. It shrugged off rocky scrambles and 30-degree slopes as the computer controlled suspension soaked it all in and its 360-degree camera system helped guide the way through the tricky stuff.

(Rivian)

The perfectly flat bottom did take a couple of hits, but its metal and composite armor plating was designed to withstand 15-inch drops onto sharp rocks without breaking and I couldn’t find a dent when we took a rest on the summit. Nevertheless, Rivian doesn’t encourage jumping the R1T the way the similarly powerful Ram 1500 TRX is often depicted,

On the way down, the regenerative braking added 10 miles of range to use on the way back to base. The system operates at a maximum rate of 150 kilowatts, which is just shy of the R1T’s top 200-kilowatt rate when you plug it into a DC fast-charging station.

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Rivian is building out an exclusive network of those, much like Tesla did, to ensure its owners a consistent experience that they can count on to deliver 140 miles of range in 20 minutes. Public stations often operate at lower than their top advertised rate, which can add unexpected hours onto a long trip.

You’ll want to take plenty of those in the R1T, which is an absolute game-changer that will put other automakers on notice as they begin their transitions to electric power. It does just about anything and does it all better than anything like it. Sure, it’ll be years before we’ll known how reliable it is, but it sure makes an incredible first impression. I suggest you don’t bother test driving it if you can’t afford it, because you’ll never look at a pickup the same way again.

Obama calls open borders ‘unsustainable,’ migrant crisis ‘heartbreaking’

Former President Obama called for comprehensive immigration reform to fix a “dysfunctional” system as the Biden administration grapples with what he called a “heartbreaking” migrant crisis at the southern border.

Obama, during an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America” that aired Tuesday, said reform to the U.S. immigration system is “something that is long overdue.” He added that immigration is a “tough” issue because Americans want to be compassionate but that the U.S. having open borders is an “unsustainable” idea.

Obama’s comments come after more than 14,000 Haitian migrants camped under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas, after a surge in border crossings.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas admitted Sunday that the vast majority of Haitian migrants who crossed the southern U.S. border in recent weeks have already been released into the United States and it is possible that more will follow them.

MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS OVER 200,000 AGAIN IN AUGUST, AS BORDER SURGE CONTINUES

So far, approximately 12,400 of the people are having their cases heard by immigration judges, while another 5,000 are being processed by the Department of Homeland Security. Only 3,000 are in detention.

Obama said the situation in Del Rio “is a painful reminder that we don’t have this right yet and we’ve got more work to do.”

“As big-hearted as he is, nobody understands that better than Joe Biden,” Obama said. “And the question is now: Are we gonna get serious about dealing with this problem in a systemic way, as opposed to these one-offs where we’re constantly reacting to emergencies? And I think that that’s something that every American should wanna put an end to.”

Obama added that “immigration is tough” and “always has been.”

“Immigration is tough. It always has been because, on the one hand, I think we are naturally a people that wants to help others,” Obama said. “And we see tragedy and hardship and families that are desperately trying to get here so that their kids are safe, and they’re in some cases fleeing violence or catastrophe.”

He added: “At the same time, we’re a nation state. We have borders. The idea that we can just have open borders is something that … as a practical matter, is unsustainable.”

The Biden administration has faced fierce criticism for its handling of the crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border, which Republican critics have blamed on the dramatic rollback of Trump-era policies, like border wall construction and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). It has also narrowed interior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) priorities and pushed hard for legalization of illegal immigrants already in the country. It has also been releasing migrants into the interior, processing UACs to sponsors already in the country and releasing migrant families — angering Republican governors and other lawmakers.

MAYORKAS SAYS AS MANY AS 12K OUT OF 17K MIGRANTS HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO US, AND ‘IT COULD BE HIGHER’

There were more than 200,000 migrant encounters at the southern border in August, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed earlier this month, the second month in a row where the number has been over the 200,000 mark as migrants continue to attempt to enter the U.S.

Fox News first reported that there were 208,887 encounters in August. While it marks the first decrease in migrant encounters seen under the Biden administration, where migrant encounters have been sharply rising for months, it is only a 2% drop over the more than 212,000 encounters in July.

CRUZ BLAMES BIDEN FOR HAITIAN MIGRANT CRISIS, CITES ‘CANCELED’ DEPORTATION FLIGHTS

The Biden administration has pushed back, blaming the Trump administration for sealing off legal pathways to asylum while emphasizing the role that root causes – like poverty, violence and corruption in Central America – play in encouraging migrants to travel north.

Mayorkas said the administration intends to continue with its border strategy, which he said involves rebuilding “safe, legal and orderly pathways for migrants,” improving processing, and going after smugglers.

“We have a plan, we are executing our plan and that takes time,” he said in August, when he announced the July border numbers.

He also told border agents in audio leaked to Fox News that the situation is “unsustainable.”

Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Florida sues Biden administration over catch-and-release policy, alleging violation of federal law

EXCLUSIVE: The state of Florida is suing the Biden administration over its “illegal” catch-and-release policies at the Southern Border, saying they cause harm to the state’s “quasi-sovereign interests,” while claiming officials are either in violation of federal immigration law, or simply abusing their authority.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody filed the suit against the administration Tuesday, as part of a joint effort with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to “uphold the rule of law despite the Biden administration’s decision to violate the law.”

MIGRANT ENCOUNTERS OVER 200,000 AGAIN IN AUGUST, AS BORDER SURGE CONTINUES

The suit was filed in the Pensacola Division of the Northern District of Florida. Moody is not seeking a preliminary injunction. The defendants in the suit are the Department of Homeland Security, its component agencies, like Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, top officials from ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The attorney general is also suing the United States itself.

Fox News exclusively obtained Florida’s lawsuit against the Biden administration Tuesday.

“The Biden administration’s illegal border policies cause Florida harm,” the lawsuit states. “Many of the aliens illegally released by the Biden administration are arriving, or will arrive in Florida, harming the state’s quasi-sovereign interests and forcing it to incur millions of dollars in expenses.”

Under U.S. code 1225, when individuals arrive in the United States, either at ports of entry, or when caught crossing the border illegally, they are considered “arriving aliens” under immigration laws.

Under U.S. code, those individuals are required to be detained until a decision is made as to whether they are to be admitted to the country. This rule applies even if the individual is claiming asylum–an immigration judge would determine if they are entitled to asylum before release into the U.S. interior.

The only exception to the rule is the federal government’s “parole authority,” which allows releasing aliens into the interior immediately, but may only be used on a “case-by-case basis” and only for “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

Moody’s suit alleges that the Biden administration’s immigration policy is either in violation of these rules, or simply an abuse of their parole authority.

“The government is not free to ignore the clear commands of Congress,” the lawsuit states. “It has claimed that it lacks the resources and detention capacity to process the surge of migrants at the border.”

The lawsuit alleges that the Biden administration “has actively sought to eliminate measures that increase its resources and detention capacity, such as the Migrant Protection Protocols (also known as the ‘wait in Mexico policy’), and has even asked Congress to reduce the number of immigration detention beds available to it.”

“Further, it is the Biden administration’s misguided policies that have encouraged more migrants to make the dangerous journey to the United States,” the lawsuit says. “The government cannot, therefore, use a purported lack of resources as an excuse to ignore congressional mandates.”

Moody warned that most people who claim asylum are ultimately denied, and many who claim asylum do so fraudulently.

“Once people are released into the interior, the federal government may never find them,” Moody’s office said.

Moody’s office said that the United States, since President Biden took office in January, has released at least 225,000 migrants at the border.

DESANTIS REQUESTS BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STOP RESETTLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN FLORIDA

Moody argued that those illegal border crossers come to Florida– a state that spends more than $100 million per year incarcerating criminal illegal aliens, and provides a number of other services to unlawfully present individuals, including education, substance abuse treatment, crime victim’s services, and emergency medical services.

Florida is asking the court to “hold unlawful and set aside” the Biden administration’s policy of “releasing arriving aliens subject to mandatory detention, of paroling aliens without engaging in case-by-case adjudication or abiding by the other limits on that authority; and of failing to serve charging documents or initiate removal proceedings against plainly inadmissible aliens who are being released into the interior of the United States.”

Florida is also asking the court to issue “permanent injunctive relief,” compel the Biden administration to comply with requirements pursuant to U.S. code; issue declaratory relief declaring the policy unlawful’ and award Florida costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.

The lawsuit comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered more than 200,000 migrants at the southern border in August–the second month in a row where the number has been over the 200,000 mark as migrants continue to attempt to enter the U.S.

Additionally, the 208,887 number for August represents a 317% increase over last August 2020 which saw 50,014 encounters — and a 233% increase over August 2019, where there were 62,707 amid that year’s border crisis.

In August, 49% of apprehensions were single adults, down 7% from July, and 44% of migrants overall were expelled via Title 42 public health protections put in place under the Trump administration and extended by the Biden administration.

The Biden administration has been expelling single adults and some migrant families under the order, implemented due to COVID-19, but has not been expelling unaccompanied children or migrant families with young children.

There were 18,847 encounters of unaccompanied children in August, down slightly from July, and 86.487 encounters of family units, marking a 4% increase over July. Just 19% of encounters involving family unit individuals resulted in a Title 42 expulsion.

The lawsuit also comes after DeSantis, last month, wrote to the Biden administration asking that it stop resettling illegal immigrants in Florida. DeSantis asked that administration officials either deport them or instead send them to a state that supports the “flouting of our immigration laws.”

The Florida governor cited Border Patrol statistics that 59,691 immigrants were issued either a notice to appear in court or an order of recognizance in July alone, and that as of June, 6,254 unaccompanied children had been released to sponsors in Florida this fiscal year.

BIDEN WARNS MOUNTED BORDER PATROL AGENTS CHARGING MIGRANTS IN DEL RIO SECTOR: ‘THOSE PEOPLE WILL PAY’

DeSantis, one of a number of Republican governors who has objected to the Biden administration’s immigration policies and has blamed them for fueling the surge at the border, told Mayorkas not to resettle migrants in the Sunshine State.

“I ask that DHS immediately cease any further resettlement of illegal aliens in Florida and that the aliens instead be removed from the United States or resettled in states that support the administration’s continued flouting of our immigration laws,” he said.

“Floridians welcome responsible immigration that serves the interests of Florida and the American people, but we cannot abide the lawlessness that your department is aiding and abetting on the southwest border,” he wrote.

A DHS spokesperson told Fox News in a statement that DHS policy remains that single adults and families are removed under Title 42. Those who Mexico will not take are transported to an ICE facility are released with either a notice to appear or a notice to report at an ICE office.

“As part of the process, Border Patrol agents collect biometric and biographic information – fingerprints, photos, phone numbers, and an address in the United States – and run a background check to identify criminals or those who pose a public safety risk,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said that many immigrants are “proactively reaching out to ICE to begin their official immigration processing, including by receiving a Notice to Appear” and that community partners also play a role in getting individuals to report to ICE and court.

SCOTUS ‘REMAIN IN MEXICO’ RULING’ MARKS LATEST IMMIGRATION DEFEAT FOR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION

“Those who do not report, like anyone who is in our country without legal status, are subject to removal by ICE,” they said.

The Biden administration has faced fierce criticism for its handling of the crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border, which Republican critics have blamed on the dramatic rollback of Trump-era policies like border wall construction and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). It has also narrowed interior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) priorities and pushed hard for legalization of illegal immigrants already in the country. It has also been releasing migrants into the interior, processing UACs to sponsors already in the country and releasing migrant families — angering Republican governors and other lawmakers.

The Biden administration has pushed back, blaming the Trump administration for sealing off legal pathways to asylum, while emphasizing the role that root causes — like poverty, violence and corruption in Central America — play in encouraging migrants to travel north.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the administration intended to continue with its border strategy, which he said involves rebuilding “safe, legal and orderly pathways for migrants,” improving processing, and going after smugglers.

“We have a plan, we are executing our plan and that takes time,” he said in July when he announced border numbers.

He also told Border agents in audio leaked to Fox News that the situation is “unsustainable.”

“A couple of days ago I was down in Mexico, and I said look, you know, if, if our borders are the first line of defense, we’re going to lose and this is unsustainable,” Mayorkas said. “We can’t continue like this, our people in the field can’t continue and our system isn’t built for it.”

ABC, CBS, NBC join MSNBC in avoiding CNN’s sexual harassment scandal plaguing Chris Cuomo

The three broadcast networks have turned a blind eye to the sexual harassment scandal plaguing CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, joining MSNBC in a total blackout of coverage.

Neither ABC, CBS nor NBC have addressed the bombshell claim made by veteran TV producer Shelley Ross in a guest essay published in The New York Times on Friday.

ABC, in particular, is put in a similarly awkward spot as CNN since the groping allegation took place in 2005 when both Ross and Cuomo worked at ABC News.

MSNBC continued ignoring the scandal in the days since Ross came forward despite being CNN’s direct liberal competitor. CNN, for obvious reasons, has yet to address the controversy on-air.

FEMALE CNN PRODUCER EXITED ‘CUOMO PRIME TIME’ IN 2020 AFTER FEELING ‘THREATENED’ BY ANCHOR, SOURCES SAY

Notably, all five major networks also initially avoided the sexual harassment scandal that ultimately derailed the political career of Cuomo’s brother, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Lindsey Boylan, a former aide, first went public in December 2020 on Twitter claiming the governor had “sexually harassed me for years.” CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC, along with the rest of the elite media, chose to ignore her.

Even after she shared details of the harassment in a Medium piece published in February, the same five networks similarly slow-rolled Boylan’s claims.

LINDSEY BOYLAN TORCHES CHRIS CUOMO, CNN OVER SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL: ‘WILL YOU HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE?’

In the end, more women came forward, resulting in Cuomo’s resignation following an investigation conducted by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Shelley Ross claimed Chris Cuomo grabbed her buttock at a work event in front of her husband. Included in her essay was the email Cuomo sent to her at the time apologizing for the incident. Cuomo reiterated his apology to his former boss in a statement to the Times.

The new allegation against the CNN anchor was foreshadowed in a leaked audiotape obtained by “Tucker Carlson Tonight” in September 2020 of comments he made to ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen about his days at ABC News.

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“Do you know how many f—ing phone calls I’ve gotten from people at ABC who say that reporters are calling and lying about things they heard about me to try to get stories about me when I was at ABC? Guys calling and saying, ‘I heard he’s the Charlie Rose of ABC, used to invite women to the hotel and open up his bathrobe.’ Do I look like the kind of f—ing guy who’s gotta do that?” Cuomo said.

“Sure. Why not?” Cohen replied with a chuckle.

4-year-old runs into the arms of Michael Myers in video gone viral

A little girl’s reaction to Michael Myers making an appearance at her fourth birthday party is bringing millions into the Halloween spirit.

The moment was recently caught on video as Aria Alvarado was surprised by the fictional slasher film character who crept from behind a bush in his familiar mask and classic blue jumpsuit.

Mom Rose Alvarado posted the footage onto Twitter and TikTok showing Aria’s excitement as Myers greets her. Alvarado told Fox News that her daughter is a huge fan of all-things Halloween, as well as the Michael Myers character.

4-year-old runs to Michael Myers at her birthday party (Rose Alvarado)

“Over time, I’d buy her little trinkets that had [featured] Michael Myers,” Alvarado said. “It’s not like she watches the movies religiously…I guess she just liked him as a character. It’s pretty innocent. She doesn’t mean any harm by it.”

‘THE CONJURING’ HOUSE LISTED FOR $1.2M, JUST 2 YEARS AFTER LAST SALE

Alvarado said she hosted a costume party for Aria’s birthday this year, so her husband Daniel decided to dress as Myers.

“He said, ‘I’m going to surprise her and come around the corner and see if she notices,” Alvarado said, adding that she played the theme song from the movie “Halloween,” in which Myers appears.

4-year-old runs to Michael Myers at her birthday party (Rose Alvarado)

Aria went viral on social media as she ran towards the frightening Myers, and not away from him, with many praising the child for her bravery in the comments section.

Other users criticized Alvarado’s parenting for exposing Aria to horror movie characters.

“She’s trending for being herself,” Alvarado defended. “Even us, we weren’t expecting that reaction from her.”

Alvarado said Aria also takes a liking to Sam from “Trick ‘r Treat,” and the characters from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Aria Alvarado is seen in front of the character Michael Myers’ house from the movie, “Halloween.” (Rose Alvarado)

ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH? ‘SILENCE OF THE LAMBS’ HOUSE OPEN FOR HALLOWEEN TRAVEL

For a Halloween costume Aria is still deciding between an astronaut, Batgirl and a witch.

Stormy weather forecast for Plains, cooler temperatures to move into Northeast

Summertime heat is hanging on across the Plains with temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above average in some areas.

COLD FRONTS PUSHING ACROSS US, BUT PLAINS FACING ABOVE-AVERAGE TEMPERATURES

Late week rainfall for the U.S. (Credit: Fox News)

A cold front moving into the region midweek will bring temperatures down and the chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Cooler air and higher elevation snow are forecast for the Northwest.

Higher elevation snow over the Northwest (Credit: Fox News)

The Northeast will see showers and thunderstorms move in on Tuesday.

HURRICANE SAM NEARS MAJOR STATUS

Forecast temperatures for the Northeast (Credit: Fox News)

Cooler, drier air will settle in, bringing fall weather to the area.

Hurricane Sam over the Atlantic (Credit: Fox News)

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Hurricane Sam will not be a threat to the U.S., but Bermuda will need to keep an eye on the storm this weekend.

Janice Dean currently serves as senior meteorologist for FOX News Channel (FNC). In addition, she is the morning meteorologist for FNC’s “FOX and Friends” (weekdays 6-9AM/ET). She joined the network in January 2004. She is the author of several books. Her latest is “Make Your Own Sunshine.” Click here for more information on Janice Dean.

Bethenny Frankel catches backlash for alleged ‘transphobic’ comments about pronouns made on a recent podcast

Bethenny Frankel is facing backlash for “transphobic” comments she made on her “Just B” podcast.

The “Real Housewives of New York City” alum, 50, opened her most recent episode by pontificating about pronouns and gender identity — as they pertain to her 11-year-old daughter, Bryn.

“We have to go into the fact that I did a Zoom for my daughter’s school and [had] the pronouns conversation with each teacher, each parent, each child,” Frankel began, seemingly frustrated.

“And my daughter says in school, too, that everybody has to say their pronouns.”

She continued, “And my daughter didn’t even know what hers were … [She said], ‘I know what I am or what I think I am, but I have never said it out loud. It hasn’t come up for me.’ So she said she didn’t know.”

BETHENNY FRANKEL EXPLAINS ‘RHONY’ EXIT: ‘IT WASN’T WHAT I WANTED TO BE DOING ANYMORE’

Bethenny Frankel caught backlash for allegedly transphobic comments she made on a recent podcast episode. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

The Skinnygirl founder lamented further by sharing a summer camp story that convoluted anatomy, sexuality and gender identity, all at once.

“It’s an all-girls camp and a person with a penis, who identifies as being a girl, went to the camp and was in the bunk with the girls. And the girls saw her — because it’s her, because it’s a male anatomy but identifying as a woman — so the other girls saw a penis. They’re 9, 10 years old, so the parents obviously weren’t that happy,” she said.

The former Bravo star then claimed she heard the aforementioned child was “making out with a lot of different girls at the camp.”

Frankel went on to say that Bryn — whom she shares with ex-husband Jason Hoppy — has a solid understanding of gender identity and the importance of using correct pronouns: “It’s amazing.”

Still, the “Big Shot With Bethenny” host implied that she might not let her daughter sleep in the same bunk as a transgender child.

BETHENNY FRANKEL BRINGS EMERGENCY AID TO TEXAS AMID DEADLY WINTER STORM

“But she also hasn’t seen a penis. So, in a camp, she’d see girl parts so I think these conversations are also fluid,” she said. “It’s an interesting conversation about a girl, female anatomy being in a male anatomy bunk or vice versa. OK?”

According to 2020 research from the Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to at-risk LGBTQ youth, “Respecting pronouns is part of creating a supportive and accepting environment, which impacts well-being and reduces suicide risk.”

Frankel — who also questioned trans inclusion in school sports and later implied that one’s gender identity could simply be a “phase” — was met with fierce criticism from LGBTQ advocates on Twitter.

“Hi Beth! I was going to quote the transphobic language you used in the horrific intro to this episode, but it’s too hurtful to even put it in writing,” one user fumed. “Maybe do the bare minimum of research before you speak to your audience?”

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Another person wrote, “Decided to listen to it because I saw this tweet. Interesting how no one listened to this back and said ‘yea maybe we shouldn’t post this intro’ ….. cmon.”

Meanwhile, another added, “Agree I’ve listened to almost every episode and this rant was completely offensive and disgusting. How dare she.”

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And one more remarked, “Ew Bethany [sic]. Not cool!!!”

A rep for Frankel did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.

What’s next for R. Kelly following guilty verdict in sex trafficking trial?

R. Kelly was found guilty on all nine counts in his racketeering and sex trafficking case on Monday.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York confirmed the conviction on Twitter. “R. Kelly has been convicted of racketeering by a federal jury in Brooklyn,” the statement read.

“R. Kelly found guilty on ALL COUNTS,” it later added.

The jury of seven men and five women found the 54-year-old singer guilty on their second day of deliberations. He wore a face mask below black-rimmed glasses, remaining motionless with eyes downcast, as the verdict was read in federal court in Brooklyn.

R. KELLY’S LIFE, FROM TROUBLED TALENT TO TRAFFICKING TRIAL

R. Kelly was convicted Monday in a sex trafficking trial on Monday after decades of avoiding criminal responsibility for numerous allegations of misconduct with young women and children. (Charles Rex Arbogast via AP)

Prosecutors alleged that the entourage of managers and aides who helped Kelly meet girls — and keep them obedient and quiet — amounted to a criminal enterprise. Two people have been charged with Kelly in a separate federal case pending in Chicago.

He faces the possibility of decades in prison for crimes including violating the Mann Act, an anti-sex trafficking law that prohibits taking anyone across state lines “for any immoral purpose.”

However, it’ll be months before the R&B superstar, known for his anthem “I Believe I Can Fly,” will be sentenced. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 4.

R. KELLY FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS IN RACKETEERING, SEX TRAFFICKING TRIAL

One of Kelly’s lawyers, Deveraux Cannick, said he was disappointed and hoped to appeal.

“I think I’m even more disappointed the government brought the case in the first place, given all the inconsistencies,” Cannick said.

Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, has been jailed without bail since in 2019.

In this courtroom artist’s sketch made from a video screen monitor of a Brooklyn courtroom, defendant R. Kelly, left, listens during the opening day of his trial, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021 in New York. The prosecutor described sex abuse claims against Kelly, saying the long-anticipated trial now underway was “about a predator” who used his fame to entice girls, boys and young women before dominating and controlling them physically, sexually and psychologically. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams)

Two separate legal cases involving the singer still exist in Illinois and Minnesota. He’s pleaded not guilty to sex-related charges in both states.

However, the timeline for the separate cases is unclear. Trial dates for the cases have yet to be scheduled. The delays are likely due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Kelly’s criminal charges were covered in the docuseries “Surviving R. Kelly,” which made his case stand out amid the #MeToo era.

“To the victims in this case, your voices were heard and justice was finally served,” Acting U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn Kasulis said Monday.

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Gloria Allred, a lawyer for some of Kelly’s accusers, said outside the courthouse that of all the predators she’s gone after — a list including Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein — “Mr. Kelly is the worst.”

If you or someone you know is suffering from abuse, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Fox News’ Jessica Napoli and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Milley, Austin, McKenzie to testify on chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal at Senate hearing

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and head of U.S. Central Command Gen. Frank McKenzie are set to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday morning and are expected to face a grilling from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle over the Biden administration’s chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The hearing comes nearly a month after the Biden administration, on Aug. 31, withdrew all U.S. military assets from the region after having a presence there for 20 years following the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

PENTAGON: ‘POSSIBLE’ US WILL WORK WITH TALIBAN AGAINST ISIS-K

The top military officials are expected to take questions on a number of factors – including their plans leading up to the withdrawal, their plans for evacuating Americans and Afghan allies from the country and the Aug. 26 suicide bombing outside of Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport.

The bombing took the lives of 13 U.S. service members – including 11 Marines, one Navy sailor and one Army soldier. Eighteen other U.S. service members were wounded. The bombing also left more than 150 civilians dead.

As the Biden administration began the withdrawal of military assets, provincial capitals across Afghanistan began to fall to the Taliban. By mid-August, the Taliban attained control of two-thirds of Afghanistan. And by the time the U.S. withdrew all U.S. troops from the country on Aug. 31, Kabul had also fallen to the Taliban. In mid-August, U.S. intelligence assessments projected the capital city could fall to the Taliban within 90 days.

Austin, Milley and McKenzie are also likely to face questions on the botched U.S. drone strike in Kabul on Aug. 29 aimed at ISIS-K terrorists. The Pentagon later admitted that it was unlikely any ISIS-K members were killed in the strike and it instead led to multiple civilian casualties – including seven children.

In this June 17, 2021, file photo, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, left, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley talk before a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP) (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP)

The drone strike, which was intended to target ISIS-K operatives, resulted in the deaths of an aid worker and up to nine of his family members, including seven children. According to U.S. officials, the strike on the vehicle, formerly believed to have been a threat that included bombs and that was operated by ISIS-K militants, took place after the suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members.

PENTAGON: ‘NO QUESTION’ AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL MAKES IDENTIFYING TERROR THREATS MORE DIFFICULT

Prior to the Pentagon’s admission, Milley defended the strike as “righteous,” but later, described it as a “horrible tragedy of war,” and said the Pentagon is “committed to being fully transparent about this incident.”

The withdrawal concluded on Aug. 31, with administration officials admitting to leaving more than 100 American citizens behind. Administration officials, though, said their mission in Afghanistan had shifted from a military mission to a diplomatic one, with some saying they were working with the Taliban to ensure safe passage for those Americans and U.S. visa holders, as well as some Afghan allies, to evacuate the country.

Since the withdrawal, Austin and other top military officials have admitted that without troops on the ground in Afghanistan it will “no question” be “more difficult” to identify and counter terror threats from the region.

Austin said officials are “committed to making sure that that threats are not allowed to develop … that could create significant challenges for us in the homeland.”

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And earlier this month, Austin said it is “possible” that the U.S. will work with the Taliban against ISIS-K in Afghanistan.

Separately, Milley is expected to face questions about revelations published in the new book “Peril” co-authored by Washington Post correspondents Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.

The allegations, made public earlier this month, said Milley made two secret phone calls, both to his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army, during the Trump administration. The book alleges that the phone calls took place prior to the 2020 presidential election, on Oct. 30, 2020, and then two days after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, on Jan. 8, 2021.

GEN. MILLEY DENIES INTEL WARNED OF RAPID COLLAPSE, SAYS NOBODY PREDICTED AFGHAN SECURITY WOULD COLLAPSE

The book claims Milley contacted Li after he had reviewed intelligence that suggested Chinese officials believed the United States was planning an attack on China amid military exercises in the South China Sea. The authors of the book also claim Milley contacted Li a second time to reassure him that the U.S. would not make any type of advances or attack China in any form, as Milley promised, “We are 100% steady. Everything’s fine. But democracy can be sloppy sometimes.”

Col. Dave Butler, Milley’s spokesperson, has defended the talks, saying the conversations are “vital” to “reducing tensions” and “avoiding unintended consequences or conflict,” maintaining that the calls were coordinated with high-level defense officials.

“The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs regularly communicates with Chiefs of Defense across the world, including with China and Russia. These conversations remain vital to improving mutual understanding of U.S. national security interests, reducing tensions, providing clarity and avoiding unintended consequences or conflict,” Butler said earlier this month.

Butler said Milley’s calls “with the Chinese and others in October and January were in keeping with these duties and responsibilities conveying reassurance in order to maintain strategic stability.”

“All calls from the Chairman to his counterparts, including those reported, are staffed, coordinated and communicated with the Department of Defense and the interagency,” Butler said.

TRUMP ACTING DEFENSE SECRETARY MILLER SAYS HE ‘DID NOT’ AUTHORIZE MILLEY CHINA CALLS, SAYS HE SHOULD RESIGN

“Also in keeping with his responsibilities as senior military advisor to the President and Secretary of Defense, General Milley frequently conducts meetings with uniformed leaders across the Services to ensure all leaders are aware of current issues,” Butler continued. “The meeting regarding nuclear weapons protocols was to remind uniformed leaders in the Pentagon of the long-established and robust procedures in light of media reporting on the subject.”

Butler added: “General Milley continues to act and advise within his authority in the lawful tradition of civilian control of the military and his oath to the Constitution.”

Since the revelations, Milley has faced calls to resign. But President Biden has said he has full confidence in the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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