Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum is back behind bars after failing a drug test just one month after his arrest in Alabama on drug charges, the latest legal setback for the one-time Democratic star who narrowly lost to Republican Ron DeSantis in the 2018 race for the governor’s mansion.
The 47-year-old former Tallahassee mayor was booked again Thursday into the Baldwin County jail in Alabama, according to jail records reported by Pensacola ABC affiliate <a href="https://weartv.com/news/local/former-tallahassee-mayor-gillum-arrested-on-drug-charge-again">WEAR-TV</a>. A judge revoked Gillum’s bond after he reportedly skipped a drug test and later tested positive for methamphetamine. 
Gillum’s return to custody resulted from a random screening program known as “color code drug testing,” <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/07/andrew-gillum-ordered-to-return-to-jail-after-allegedly-testing-positive-for-methamphetamine/">according to TMZ</a>. Under the court-ordered program, Gillum is assigned a color and required to call a hotline each day. If his color is announced, he must report for a drug test that day.
Baldwin County Assistant District Attorney John Oxford told TMZ that Gillum failed to appear for a court-ordered drug test after his assigned color was called. He was later tested during a court appearance on Thursday, and the test came back positive, according to TMZ.
The failed test adds to the stunning fall for a politician who, just eight years ago, appeared destined for a bright future in Sunshine State politics. Gillum upset the Democratic establishment to win the 2018 gubernatorial nomination but ultimately fell short in the race against DeSantis by roughly <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us/elections/results-florida-elections.html">32,000 votes.</a> 
Rather than becoming the face of a Democratic comeback in Florida, Gillum became engulfed in personal scandals, ethics investigations, and criminal proceedings, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-dem-golden-boy-arrested-again-just-three-years-after-he-was-let-off-the-hook">The Daily Wire</a> has reported. 
<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article249009610.html">In 2020</a>, Miami Beach police found Gillum intoxicated inside a South Beach hotel room after a third man called 911 over concerns that Travis Dyson, a male escort also in the room, had overdosed. Officers recovered suspected methamphetamine and prescription pill bottles, though prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges because they could not establish ownership of the drugs.
Gillum later entered rehabilitation, saying he had developed an alcohol dependency after his election defeat. “This has been a wake-up call for me,” Gillum said at the time. “Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse.”
Gillum’s legal troubles continued in 2022, when federal prosecutors <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/former-tallahassee-mayor-and-gubernatorial-candidate-and-associate-charged-conspiracy">accused</a> him of conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements as part of an alleged campaign finance scheme. A jury acquitted him of lying to federal agents in May 2023 and deadlocked on the remaining counts, and prosecutors dropped the case days later rather than retry him.
It remains unclear how the bond violation will affect Gillum&#8217;s pending drug case, in which he faces a felony possession charge stemming from the July traffic stop. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 13.
“This is really sad,” Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross <a href="https://x.com/AmeshiaCross/status/2085912674886369652?s=20">said</a>. “Addiction is an illness. He needs help. Not a podcast. Not a TV appearance. Clinical attention and support.”

Mayor Andrew Gillum Makes Major Announcement In Miami Gardens

Former Dem Golden Boy Back In Jail After Testing Positive For Meth

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Gossip blogger Perez Hilton is reportedly recovering in the hospital following an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gossip-blogger-perez-hilton-sparks-police-response-with-disturbing-video">incident</a> of him appearing to engage in self-harm during a livestream, police have confirmed.
The popular online personality exhibited the disturbing behavior late Tuesday night, prompting multiple followers to call emergency responders to intervene. Hilton appeared completely nude holding a knife and appeared to be using it to cut himself. 
Emergency personnel were dispatched to his South Florida home and have now confirmed that he has been taken to the hospital and is recovering.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/perez-hilton-hospitalized-reports-livestream-self-harm-rcna590901">said</a> in a statement that an individual, believed to be Hilton, had been &#8220;safely recovered&#8221; and taken to &#8220;a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention.”
Police said after arriving on scene, they opted to &#8220;tactically disengage while continuing to monitor the situation.&#8221;
&#8220;In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication,&#8221; authorities said. &#8220;Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public.&#8221;
Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira Jr., was home alone during the time of the live stream, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/perez-hilton-hospitalized-reports-livestream-self-harm-rcna590901">reported</a>. His TikTok account was suspended following the graphic livestream on Tuesday.
The co-CEOs of Golden Artists Entertainment, the talent management firm that represents Hilton, said in a statement Tuesday night that they “are aware of the concerning content circulating online involving our client, Perez Hilton.”
“At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him,” Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan said. “Our primary concern is Perez’s health and well-being, as well as the well-being of his family.”
Hilton rose to fame operating a snarky celebrity gossip blog, which he has since said was a form of bullying and not behavior he wishes to engage in any longer.
He recently announced on social media that he was moving from Las Vegas to Florida with his three children. “Manifesting abundance, manifesting just family, peace, good times,” Hilton said of the change in June. “Manifesting health, good health — that’s what’s most important.”
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 by dialing 988.

Perez Hilton

Perez Hilton Recovering In Hospital After Disturbing Livestream

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Florida law enforcement rushed to the home of media personality Perez Hilton Tuesday night following reports that the gossip blogger appeared to be repeatedly cutting himself and engaging in self-harm during a TikTok livestream. 
According to The Sun, viewers who watched the livestream contacted emergency services after Hilton appeared to harm himself on camera.
Disturbing and graphic videos on social media, which The Daily Wire is not publishing, appear to show Hilton, the longtime chronicler of Hollywood scandals, bloodied from head to toe. 
The Miami-Dade Sheriff&#8217;s Office confirmed it received numerous calls about the incident.
“The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media,” the agency <a href="https://x.com/kforresternews/status/2084824581257257148?s=20">said</a> in a statement to The Sun. “Deputies quickly located the individual’s residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside.” 
The sheriff&#8217;s office said deputies opted to use de-escalation tactics rather than immediately enter the residence.
“At this time, deputies have tactically disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation,” the sheriff’s office said. 
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Authorities have not released additional information about Hilton&#8217;s condition, and it remains unclear whether he later received medical treatment.
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Hilton, 48, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/08/04/police-respond-to-perez-hilton-after-alarming-tiktok-live/">rose to fame</a> in the 2000s through his celebrity gossip website before expanding into television and other media. He is the father of three children. 
This is a developing story. Stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

Las Vegas Celebrates Liberace With Charity Benefit Hosted By Perez Hilton At Modern Showrooms

Gossip Blogger Perez Hilton Sparks Police Response With Disturbing Video

Hollywood

A federal appeals court <a href="https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202312160.enb.pdf">ruled</a> Tuesday that Florida can enforce its law banning children from attending sexually explicit live performances, delivering a significant win for the state&#8217;s effort to keep minors away from adult-themed drag shows.
“Huge victory for our team at the 11th Circuit! After 3 years of litigation, the full court affirmed the constitutionality of Florida’s ban on children attending sexualized drag shows,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier <a href="https://x.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2084668048112341393?s=20">said</a>.  
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed Florida&#8217;s Protection of Children Act into law in 2023. The measure makes it a misdemeanor to admit a child to an adult live performance featuring nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, specific sexual acts, lewd conduct, or the lewd display of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.
The law became a national flashpoint in the conservative movement&#8217;s campaign to protect children. Supporters argued it protected them from sexually explicit entertainment, while opponents said it threatened constitutionally protected expression.
Central Florida-based Hamburger Mary&#8217;s, a restaurant chain known for hosting drag performances, sued to block the law, arguing it violated the First and 14th Amendments because its definitions were unconstitutionally vague and overly broad. The restaurant said the law would chill protected speech rather than target only obscene performances.
A federal district judge agreed and issued a statewide preliminary injunction preventing Florida from enforcing the law.
Florida appealed, and the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit vacated that decision on Tuesday with an 8-5 ruling, concluding that Hamburger Mary&#8217;s was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its constitutional claims. In the decision, a six-judge bloc also concluded the district court lacked authority to issue a statewide injunction, one vote short of a majority on that question.
“[T]he district court lacked authority to impose a universal injunction that prevented the enforcement of the Act against everyone in Florida,” Judge Andrew Brasher, a Trump appointee, wrote in the majority opinion reinstating the law. “Second, Hamburger Mary’s was not entitled to even a more limited preliminary injunction to prevent the enforcement of the Act because its claims do not have a substantial likelihood of success on the merits.”  
The court also rejected the argument that the law&#8217;s reference to the &#8220;age of the child present&#8221; made it unconstitutionally vague.
“There is no doubt the Act is rational. We will not second-guess the Florida Legislature’s decision to regulate obscenity,” the majority wrote. 
Hamburger Mary&#8217;s could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the ruling. The Daily Wire reached out to Hamburger Mary’s for comment. 
Tuesday’s decision marks a significant legal victory for DeSantis, whose administration has defended the law as part of its effort to shield children from sexually explicit material. 
“We are going to protect the innocence of our children,&#8221; DeSantis <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2084691717341462979?s=20">said</a>. &#8220;Why would it be problematic to say you can&#8217;t do this stuff that&#8217;s sexually explicit in front of minors?&#8221;
 “I want Florida to be family-friendly,&#8221; he added.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, holds a press conference to speak

Three-Year Culture War Fight Ends With Major Win For DeSantis

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Marco Rubio, one could argue, could do anything in the world if he was given a week off — but the Secretary of State has a much more relatable vision of a theoretical week-long vacation with no interruptions: watch college football.
&#8220;My wife is going to hate this answer, but I would love to sit down and watch every college football game starting at noon eastern until when the west coast games end at 2 a.m. our time,&#8221; Rubio said during an interview on Fox News&#8217; My View with Lara Trump.
That&#8217;s right: when asked how he would spend a week off, Rubio said what a majority of men in America would say. Maybe it was because college football returns this month, so Rubio could already feel the anticipation of the season starting. But while the Secretary of State appears to have college football circled on his calendar like most sports fans, he probably also knows he has no time for it.
&#8220;I doubt I’ll be able to do that anytime soon,&#8221; Rubio added.
Unfortunately for Jeanette Rubio, her honey-do-list may take a backseat if her hubby gets a weekend off this fall.
But can you blame him? Rubio played college football at an NAIA school, Tarkio College, in Missouri before transferring to the University of Florida to earn his undergrad degree. His son, Anthony, followed in his father’s footsteps.
He’s a redshirt junior running back entering his fourth season at the University of Florida, where he scored his first collegiate touchdown in 2024 in the Gasparilla Bowl.
Rubio also has made it known he’s a die-hard University of Miami fan. He cheered on the school where he earned his Juris Doctor throughout the College Football Playoff last season, even attending the National Championship where Miami lost to Indiana. It’s clear football is in the Rubio family’s blood.
Admitting to having the same desires as most of America on fall Saturdays adds on to Rubio’s relatability, something he already gained quite by accident when he became a top meme of 2026.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-rubio-get-ready-to-bro-out-at-college-football-national-championship-game">Trump And Rubio Get Ready To ‘Bro Out’ At College Football National Championship Game</a>
Another common thread between the college football fan and Rubio is both share some of the same frustrations with the current playoff system. Back in December he criticized the College Football Playoff committee, noting how it would have been unfair to leave Miami out of the 12-team post-season bracket, which was a highly debated topic at the time.
&#8220;I&#8217;m a Florida Gator, but if the University of Miami gets screwed out of the College Football Playoffs, after going 10-2 and beating Notre Dame, the whole thing should be scrapped,&#8221; Rubio said.
He then suggested Trump would have to take over for the 2026 CFP if Miami got left out.
Ultimately Miami made it into the playoff over Notre Dame who had a matching 10-2 record to the Canes.
As he admitted, Rubio’s current role doesn’t allow him to watch a football game — much less attend as many as he would like to support his son — but he made it clear that when it’s all said and done, you’ll find him escaping the real world by watching the same game that, to many Americans, makes the world go round.

Credit: James Gilbert/Getty Images

Marco Rubio Reveals How He Would Unwind If He Had A Whole Week Off

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Marco Rubio

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Florida is set to become the first state in nearly a decade to conduct two executions in a single day on Tuesday as Gov. Ron DeSantis&#8217; administration continues to move on death penalty cases at an unprecedented rate.
James Aren Duckett, 68, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at noon at Florida State Prison near Starke, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-duckett-occhicone-4c313a84631ad20a62998f7dd061dbcf">Associated Press.</a> Duckett, a former Mascotte police officer, was convicted of the <a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/2026/sc2026-0449.html">1987 kidnapping, rape, and murder</a> of 11-year-old Teresa Mae McAbee. Prosecutors said he abducted the girl, sexually assaulted her, strangled her, and drowned her in a lake less than a mile from the store where she was last seen.
About six hours later, Florida plans to execute 80-year-old Dominick Anthony Occhicone, who would become the second-oldest inmate put to death in the modern era of the U.S. death penalty, according to the Associated Press. 
Occhicone was convicted of the <a href="https://acis-api.flcourts.gov/courts/68f021c4-6a44-4735-9a76-5360b2e8af13/cms/case/4190fe57-e5c6-47b5-990f-773f93586035/docketentrydocuments/bc305c22-4efd-4801-9ab9-fd43568dd02a?utm_source=chatgpt.com">1986 murders</a> of his former girlfriend&#8217;s parents, Raymond and Martha Artzner, in Pasco County. Prosecutors said he returned to the family&#8217;s home armed with a handgun after his former girlfriend refused to speak with him, cut the home&#8217;s telephone lines, fatally shot Raymond Artzner outside the house, then forced his way inside and killed Martha Artzner.
The Florida Supreme Court earlier this week rejected emergency appeals from both Duckett and Occhicone. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court also <a href="https://x.com/KelseyReichmann/status/2082146169627578589?s=20">denied</a> their final appeals, clearing the way for the back-to-back executions. No justice noted a dissent.
With six months left in office, DeSantis has presided over a record 19 executions in 2025, the most by any Florida governor in a single year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, according to an AP analysis. Tuesday&#8217;s two executions would raise the number of executions under DeSantis&#8217;s final two years in office to 31, with another scheduled for August.
“July 28 represents an unprecedented escalation of Florida’s use of the death penalty,” <a href="https://www.fadp.org/florida-set-to-execute-james-duckett-and-dominick-occhicone-tuesday-amidst-innocence-claim-and-7-5-jury-vote/">said</a> Grace Hanna, Executive Director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. “These are two profoundly different cases, but they point to the same troubling reality: Florida continues to expand the use of capital punishment, despite mounting evidence that it is not what Floridians want.&#8221;
The Florida Governor, however, is not alone. 
In April, President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice on Friday directed the Bureau of Prisons to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-commuted-death-sentences-trumps-doj-is-bringing-back-the-firing-squad?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Biden+Commuted+Death+Sentences.+Trump%E2%80%99s+DOJ+Is+Bringing+Back+The+Firing+Squad.">bring back the firing squad and lethal injection</a> for federal executions.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-takes-actions-strengthen-federal-death-penalty">announced a series of new measures</a> to strengthen enforcement of the federal death penalty, clearing the way for the DOJ to carry out executions once inmates exhaust their appeals.
“Among the actions taken are readopting the lethal injection protocol utilized during the first Trump Administration, expanding the protocol to include additional manners of execution such as the firing squad, and streamlining internal processes to expedite death penalty cases,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
The directives fulfill a campaign promise for Trump, who on his first day back in office <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-the-death-penalty-and-protecting-public-safety/">issued</a> an order to “pursue the death penalty for all crimes of a severity demanding its use” and marks a reversal from the Biden administration’s handling of federal executions.
In 2021, former President Joe Biden&#8217;s DOJ imposed an indefinite moratorium, effectively blocking all federal executions. In December 2024, he commuted the sentences of 37 of 40 inmates on federal death row at the urging of then-Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Those granted mass clemency included Thomas Sanders, who was convicted of murdering <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-commutes-sentences-of-dozens-of-murderers-two-days-before-christmas">12-year-old Lexis Roberts</a> and hiding her body in the woods. Another included Daryl Lawrence, who killed 33-year-old Ohio police officer Bryan Hurst during a 2005 bank robbery in Columbus.
“These decisions inflicted untold damage on victims of crime and, ultimately, to the rule of law itself,” Blanche <a href="https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1437806/dl?inline">said</a>.

Lethal Injection Room at Huntsville

Red State Set To Carry Out Rare Double Executions On Same Day

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After President Joe Biden outraged millions of Christians by declaring Easter Sunday as the “Transgender Day of Visibility,” former Republican representative David Jolly stood by him. 
Jolly, now running for governor in Florida as a Democrat, did a media tour to defend Biden and lecture conservatives about their theology. Now, Democrats are running him to replace Ron DeSantis as governor of Florida as he attempts to sweep culture war issues under the rug. 
Many Democrats have been quiet on the transgender issues this election cycle after polling showed that the issue hampered Kamala Harris in 2024. Jolly was vocal about the topic during his post-Republican days, attacking his former party for passing laws banning transgender procedures on kids and keeping gender-confused boys off of girls&#8217; sports teams.
Jolly even vigorously defended Biden after he called in March 2024 for Americans on Easter Sunday to “join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation.” Biden’s decision prompted significant pushback from prominent Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson and the Trump campaign. Jolly said their politics and theology were wrong. 
“The Jesus they celebrate today would be inclusive of the transgender community, and would be supportive of the transgender community,” he said while <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaAJMq4_gdg">appearing</a> on MSNBC, adding that “all Christians, including Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, and others who celebrate today, that, in fact, they should love the transgender community as they love their own God. I am not sure the theology upon which they rely to criticize Joe Biden.”
“I think it&#8217;s wrong theologically, it&#8217;s wrong morally, and it&#8217;s absolutely stupid politically,” he added. 
In another appearance on the Stephanie Miller Happy Hour podcast, he said conservatives turned Biden’s proclamation into the latest “culture war” flash point. 
“First, theologically and doctrinally, I think the Right is wrong when it comes to biblical theology. I think they&#8217;re a long ways from what Jesus would do, the bracelets they used to wear,” he said. “ The reality is Jesus is a loving God who would support the trans community and be proud of their bravery and the struggle that they have gone through for recognition and equity.”
In other media appearances reviewed by The Daily Wire, Jolly attacked a law shielding kids from transgender procedures and claimed that kids would be ripped away from their parents if they obtained transgender medications from outside of Florida. 
“That&#8217;s the real consequence of this war on gender-affirming care and the trans community,” he said on the Joe Walsh <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0HXaFr8uaE">podcast</a>. “I don&#8217;t have a personal appreciation or understanding of what all that is like. But I know what it would feel like if the state stepped in and say, ‘Hey, Jolly, you&#8217;re not allowed to make decisions for your kid?’”
Jolly also said he was fine with biological boys competing on girls’ sports teams during an interview with radio host Charlie Sykes. 
“I think it&#8217;s been pretty disgusting what we&#8217;ve seen from Republicans in the past several years on this. Look, I don&#8217;t think we need to knock down that youth soccer player who is working with their family and their doctor on whatever their current, you know, crisis is personally,” he said. “I think it can be supportive of them to allow them to play in youth sports.”
Ultimately he said he thought that the case should be decided by the Supreme Court.
&#8220;I think some latitude among the sports leagues to make decisions, but ultimately, it&#8217;s a constitutional question that the courts are going to have to decide,&#8221; he said. 
Jolly, whose issues page on his website does not mention &#8220;transgender&#8221; or LGBTQ, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weY8ycv-6dc">recently predicted</a> that he would be criticized by Republicans for being pro-transgender.
The Democrat is expected to face off against Rep. Byron Donalds, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Donalds has a large lead against GOP rivals including <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/768484-woman-says-james-fishback-dated-her-while-she-was-underage-then-harassed-her-after-breakup/">James Fishback</a>, Lt. Governor Jay Collins, and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.

Key Speakers At National Action Network Convention

Dems’ ‘Ex-Republican’ Governor Hopeful Is A True Believer In Gender Radicalism

Byron Donalds

David Jolly

Transgender

Measles, the world’s most infectious disease once declared eliminated, has made a comeback in the United States, ravaging states such as South Carolina, Florida, Utah, Virginia and Texas.
Multiple outbreaks occurred over the past year across the United States, costing millions in taxpayer money. South Carolina has<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html"> suffered</a> through 670 cases this year. Virginia has <a href="https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/measles/">reported</a> 176 confirmed cases and eight hospitalizations, and the Texas Department of State Health Services has <a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/vaccine-preventable-disease-conditions/measles-rubeola/measles-rubeola/measles-rubeola-data">reported</a> a total of 182 cases as of July 15.
The airborne virus is notorious for spreading rapidly. Nine out of 10 people who come into close contact with a person infected with measles can come down with the illness if they are not protected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html">reports</a>. This makes the disease about five to six times more contagious than the common cold.
Three to four million Americans contracted the disease every year in the 1950s and 60s. However, Health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000 after 12 consecutive months without endemic transmission. 
However, resistance to taking vaccines has grown over the years. This is partly due to people refusing vaccines produced using cell lines originally derived from aborted fetal tissue obtained in the 1960s — <a href="https://www.chop.edu/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-safety/vaccine-ingredients/fetal-tissues">such as</a> the rubella vaccine in the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Additionally, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10224336/">studies</a> have found that many parents remain concerned about a possible link between vaccines and autism.
As fewer people take the measles vaccine, more cases are popping up in the United States. Johns Hopkins University, which manages a <a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/resources/us-measles-tracker">tracker</a> for measles cases, reports that the number of cases for 2026 has reached 2,295 — the highest number of cases since 1991
“This is not simply the return of a childhood rash illness,” epidemiologist Dr. Syra Madad <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/22/health/us-hits-most-cases-of-worlds-most-contagious-disease-in-35-years/">told</a> the New York Post. “Measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, hospitalization and death, especially in young children and medically vulnerable people.”
Measles can also create the condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. This is a fatal neurological condition that causes inflammation and scarring of the brain, the National Institutes of Health <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560673/">reports</a>. This condition can take up to 20 years after a measles infection to develop. 
Prominent health officials in the Trump administration have called on all Americans to take the measles vaccine, especially after the 2025 measles outbreak.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/02/09/us-news/measles-outbreak-surges-in-us-as-dr-oz-begs-people-to-get-vaccinated/">told</a> Americans to “take the vaccine, please.”
“Not all illnesses are equally dangerous and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses,” Oz said on CNN&#8217;s “State of the Union.” “But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for].”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for being skeptical about the benefit of modern vaccines rolled out by Big Pharma, has urged parents to consult their doctors about vaccinating their children.
“The measles outbreak in Texas is a call to action for all of us to reaffirm our commitment to public health,” Kennedy <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/robert-f-kennedy-jr-measles-outbreak-call-action-all-us?title=op-ed%20for%20Fox%20News">said</a> in an opinion piece last year. “By working together — parents, healthcare providers, community leaders, and government officials, we can prevent future outbreaks and protect the health of our nation.” 
“Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” Kennedy added.
This article has been updated to correct that South Carolina has reported 670 cases in 2026, not 997.

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A Disease Once Thought Defeated Is Spreading Across America

The World’s Most Infectious Disease Is Making a Comeback in the United States

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Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, storm surge, and the threat of isolated tornadoes to parts of the Gulf Coast.
The storm came ashore around 2 p.m. CDT near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Coastal flooding from storm surge was already being reported as Tropical Storm Warnings remained in effect for the New Orleans metropolitan area and the Lake Pontchartrain region.
Forecasters warned residents across southeastern Louisiana and portions of coastal Mississippi to expect sustained tropical-storm-force winds, heavy rainfall, and the potential for isolated tornadoes through Thursday. 
Farther east, Bertha also generated dangerous surf and rip current conditions along Alabama&#8217;s Gulf Coast. AccuWeather reported double red flags at Orange Beach, warning beachgoers of life-threatening surf and rip currents. Waves were expected to build between 9 and 11 feet, and swimmers who ignored the warnings could face fines or arrest. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Tropical Storm Bertha brought high surf, storm surge, and coastal flooding advisories to Alabama&#8217;s Gulf Coast on Tuesday evening, creating hazardous conditions along the shoreline. <a href="https://t.co/GsE51kqB3v">pic.twitter.com/GsE51kqB3v</a>
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) <a href="https://x.com/accuweather/status/2079967990276337976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The storm also caused <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/live-news/tropical-storm-bertha-live-updates-landfall-ocurrs-in-st-bernard-parish-louisiana/1913848?utm_source=chatgpt.com">significant beach erosion</a> in Alabama. At least six vehicles were submerged at the western end of Dauphin Island, while flooding forced officials to close portions of Dauphin Island Parkway near Dog River and restrict access to the eastbound I-10 Bayway ramp.  
Bertha is the second named storm in the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, following <a href="https://wlos.com/news/local/tropical-storm-arthur-forms-texas-coast-first-named-storm-2026-atlantic-season-national-hurricane-center-forecast-weather-rain-thunderstorms-flooding-rainfall-noaa-outlook">Tropical Storm Arthur</a> in June. 
Forecasters said Bertha remains somewhat disorganized as strong upper-level winds continue to disrupt the storm&#8217;s structure. Despite that, the system is expected to produce hazardous conditions across portions of the Gulf Coast. 
The greatest threats remain damaging wind gusts, creating rough surf conditions, flooding and storm surge. ” Florida&#8217;s Panama City Beach experienced wind gusts up to 42 mph on Tuesday, while portions of Florida&#8217;s Panhandle experienced gusts as high as 50 mph. 
Forecasters also warned that a storm surge of up to three feet is possible along parts of the immediate Gulf Coast, per Yale Climate Connections.

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Tropical Storm Bertha Makes Landfall, Bringing Flood, Wind Threats

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The Trump administration does not plan to intervene to stop the extradition of controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate to the United Kingdom, despite the brothers&#8217; legal team urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to step in.
A senior administration official told <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/22/trump-rubio-tate-brothers-extradition">Axios</a> on Wednesday that the United States will not block the proceedings as the brothers fight extradition in federal court. &#8220;The U.S. has an extradition treaty with the U.K. and the administration intends to honor it in this case,&#8221; the official said.
The State Department likewise indicated it has no plans to intervene. A senior department official said Rubio has not spoken with the Tate brothers or their attorneys and that the department &#8220;has no plans to act on this matter at this time.&#8221;
Andrew and Tristan Tate were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-and-tristan-tate-arrested-in-florida-on-rape-child-pornography-charges?author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Andrew+And+Tristan+Tate+Arrested+In+Florida+On+Rape%2C+Child+Pornography+Charges">arrested</a> in Miami on Saturday, following a British extradition request tied to dozens of new criminal charges. The Crown Prosecution Service recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tate-brothers-slapped-with-38-new-charges-in-expanding-sex-trafficking-case?author=Daily+Wire+News&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Tate+Brothers+Slapped+With+38+New+Charges+In+Expanding+Sex+Trafficking+Case">announced</a> 38 additional <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/read-the-graphic-allegations-unsealed-against-the-tate-brothers?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Read+The+Graphic+Allegations+Unsealed+Against+The+Tate+Brothers">charges</a> against the brothers, bringing the total number of charges they face in the United Kingdom to 59. The charges include allegations of rape, sex trafficking, assault, and offenses involving indecent images of children and extreme pornography.
The brothers have thus far denied all wrongdoing, and they appeared Monday before a federal judge in Miami to begin extradition proceedings. Their attorney, Joseph McBride, argued outside the courthouse that the prosecution is politically motivated and has vowed to challenge the request. &#8220;We are of course objecting to extradition because Andrew and Tristan are innocent,&#8221; McBride told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/andrew-tristan-tate-sex-trafficking-rape-uk-miami-3a3748e075f49b00f286a003f5103485">reporters</a>. &#8220;They&#8217;ve never done nothing wrong. They shouldn&#8217;t be extradited for crimes they did not commit.&#8221;
McBride has also argued that Rubio has the authority to deny the extradition request if he determines the brothers are being politically persecuted. Court filings acknowledge the secretary retains final authority over extradition decisions after judicial proceedings conclude, but administration officials have indicated there is no appetite to exercise that discretion in this case.
According to Axios, Rubio has privately expressed disdain for the brothers, with one source telling the outlet the secretary views them as &#8220;scum.&#8221; Another source familiar with President Donald Trump&#8217;s thinking said the president likewise wants nothing to do with the influencers despite their repeated public support for him. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/who-are-andrew-and-tristan-tate-everything-to-know-about-the-controversial-manosphere-brothers?author=Tim+Rice&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Who+Are+Andrew+And+Tristan+Tate%3F+Everything+To+Know+About+The+Controversial+%E2%80%98Manosphere%E2%80%99+Brothers.">The Tate brothers</a> have cultivated a massive online following through content promoting wealth, hyper-masculinity, and controversial views on women. They became prominent figures within the so-called &#8220;manosphere&#8221; and have repeatedly portrayed themselves as allies of Trump and the MAGA movement.
The extradition case is only the latest legal challenge facing the brothers. They remain under criminal investigation in Romania on separate human trafficking and rape allegations, which they have also denied.
A federal judge has scheduled the brothers&#8217; next hearing for July 27 as the extradition process continues. If the court determines the treaty requirements are met, the final decision on whether to surrender the brothers to British authorities will rest with Rubio, though administration officials have made clear they currently have no intention of blocking the request.

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A St. Augustine surrogate mother is fighting for custody of two surviving triplet boys after the intended father, a single man from China, failed to claim them for nearly 20 months.
One of the triplets died from complications related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) while in her care, and the remaining two are now in foster care as a legal battle over their future unfolds.
Kyla Simpson gave birth to the boys at UF Health Jacksonville on November 4, 2024. The intended father never appeared for the birth. She and her husband, Lincoln, brought the babies home from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in January 2025, breastfed them, and raised them as their own until a court order placed the children in foster care.
The case first gained national attention after children&#8217;s rights activist Katy Faust summarized it in a post on<a href="https://x.com/katy_faust/status/2077790028273766872"> X</a>. Faust wrote that a single Chinese man commissioned triplets, failed to show up at birth, later sent “two sketchy guys in a black SUV” to collect them, and then disappeared for a year and a half. One child died of RSV. The surrogate and her husband are now fighting for custody while the babies sit in foster care. “Welcome to the global baby trade,” Faust wrote.
According to<a href="https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/investigations/surrogate-fights-for-parental-rights-st-augustine/77-9d74ed3f-41c9-471b-a87e-9a4648c0345c"> First Coast News</a>, Simpson signed a gestational surrogacy contract and a hospital birth plan dated October 31, 2024, that gave her physical custody and decision-making authority in the intended father’s absence. The boys remained in the NICU for roughly two months. 
The case comes as Florida implements a new law, effective July 1, that bans gestational surrogacy contracts involving citizens or residents of “foreign countries of concern,” including China. Assisted reproductive technology attorney Karen Persis, who is not involved in the case, noted that intended parents from abroad usually handle all paperwork and are present for the birth. Situations in which an intended parent simply never appears are extremely rare, she said.
Simpson said the intended father repeatedly claimed he was working on a U.S. visa and at one point asked her to help obtain the children’s travel documents. They even discussed her flying the babies to China.
In a March 21, 2025, email, the intended father said he would send a friend and an agent to pick up the children. Two men later arrived at Simpson’s home. She refused to hand the babies over to strangers, telling him she would only release them to him, the people listed in case of his death, or a representative from the agency.
Communication then broke down. In August 2025, one of the triplets died from RSV complications. “I broke down crying over him,” Simpson told First Coast News. “That was like my most bubbly baby.”
She did not hear from the intended father again until February 2026. In May, she began legal proceedings to terminate his parental rights and adopt the boys. His attorney successfully sought an emergency order requiring the children to be turned over. 
Simpson’s attorney, Ellen Kaplan, filed an emergency motion and an appeal with Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal on July 14 seeking to keep the children in the United States, noting that China is not a party to the Hague Abduction Convention. The court denied the emergency motion; Kaplan has requested a rehearing. A ten-minute hearing is scheduled for late July in St. Johns County.
An investigator working for Simpson said she spoke with the FBI. First Coast News could not confirm an active investigation.
The St. Augustine case also comes amid broader scrutiny of surrogacy arrangements involving Chinese clients. Separately, federal authorities are investigating alleged China-linked “rent-a-womb” operations in California, first reported by<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-feds-investigating-alleged-china-linked-rent-a-womb-surrogacy-scandal-in-california"> The Daily Wire</a>.
Center for Bioethics and Culture executive director Kallie Fell called the pattern “a form of organized reproductive trafficking.”
Simpson and her husband are raising money for legal fees as they continue fighting to bring the boys home. “You had a year and a half to do all that you needed to do,” she said, “but to now rip them from everything they’ve known.”

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Babies Abandoned In Another Chinese Surrogacy Scandal

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Newly unsealed federal court documents revealed the laundry list of charges against brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate — a list that includes multiple rape charges, sex trafficking, and possession of child sex abuse material.
The new court documents allege a disturbing pattern of behavior, with British prosecutors accusing both men of repeatedly choking women — in some cases until they lost consciousness — before raping them. The specific allegations detailed in the complaint involve incidents against several women in England dating back more than a decade, including one woman who told investigators she feared for her life during an assault.
Andrew Tate now faces seven counts of rape, three counts of sex trafficking, three assault counts, and 19 additional charges tied to child exploitation material, according to the unsealed complaint. Tristan Tate faces two rape counts, one sexual assault count, and three counts of sex trafficking. Combined, British authorities have now filed 59 charges against the pair — a dramatic escalation from the original 21 counts filed last year.
The Tates will remain in federal custody after appearing before a Miami court on Monday, where their attorneys signaled they intend to fight extradition to the United Kingdom on the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/andrew-and-tristan-tate-arrested-in-florida-on-rape-child-pornography-charges">sprawling list of charges</a>. The hearing came just two days after U.S. marshals arrested the brothers at a boxing event in downtown Miami on a sealed U.K. warrant.
The brothers&#8217; attorney, Joseph McBride, told reporters outside the courthouse that the case against his clients was politically motivated and dismissed the allegations. The Tates have retained a South Florida defense team to fight extradition, with another court date set for next week to address whether they&#8217;ll remain detained in the meantime.
Monday&#8217;s hearing is the latest chapter in a legal saga that stretches back to 2022, when Romanian authorities first arrested the brothers on human trafficking charges. That case, along with a separate allegation involving a minor, remains unresolved. The Tates spent roughly two years on and off under house arrest in Romania before travel restrictions were lifted, allowing them to relocate back to the United States.
The brothers built their fortune and online following through webcam pornography operations and later Hustler&#8217;s University, a subscription-based self-help program that taught young men to emulate the Tates&#8217; aggressive, wealth-flaunting persona. The brothers made increasingly inflammatory public statements, including antisemitic remarks and a Nazi salute following Hamas&#8217; October 7 attack.
Florida&#8217;s attorney general opened his own investigation into the Tates last year, and federal anti-trafficking investigators have reportedly been examining the brothers as well, though no state or federal charges have yet been filed domestically.

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Read The Graphic Allegations Unsealed Against The Tate Brothers

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