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5 common mistakes that are slowing down your Wi-Fi

January 6, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

If only the calendar flipping over to a new year erased our tech problems. You can do a lot to make your digital life easier in 2023.

Start with clearing your inbox. You deserve to hit zero at least once. Tap or click for the quick way I do it.

Sick of tech companies invading your privacy? Take action! Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook always listen unless you change these settings.

You don’t need to struggle through yet another year of bad Wi-Fi. These simple, fixable mistakes might be the reason your connection stinks.

Do you know exactly which devices are using your connection? If your Wi-Fi isn’t password protected, you need to fix that. Tap or click here for instructions on finding your router’s password and changing it.

Or your password is easy to guess, and someone is mooching your internet.

On a Windows PC, Wireless Network Watcher scans your network and shows you the IP address, MAC address, name and manufacturer of the computers, tablets and smartphones it detects on your network.

As soon as you boot up Wireless Network Watcher, you’ll see all the detected devices on the list. You should be able to recognize the connected devices. For example, you might see devices from Apple and Amazon Technologies when using an iPhone and Amazon Echo.

On a Mac, Who Is On My Wi-Fi will show you who’s accessing your Wi-Fi. You’ll have to do a little investigating to figure out some of the connected devices. Look for the description and manufacturers.

Don’t panic if you don’t recognize a device. Look around your house to see which appliances, TVs, tablets, laptops and smartphones are accessing Wi-Fi.

Read through the list to make sure you recognize everything. You know somebody is connected without permission if you see devices you don’t recognize.

Using a router that’s years old? It might be hamstringing your connection and putting your security at risk.

Choosing a new router is tricky, so I did the hard work for you. Check out my recommendations below.

There’s also the matter of where to put your router. Don’t stick it on the floor in a closet or far away from where most internet use happens.

Try to put your router near the center of the room to have the fastest speeds. It would be best if you also placed it as high as possible, on a shelf or even mounted on the wall. If your router has antennas, point them in different directions.

Other devices can impact your router, too. Keep it away from cordless phones, Bluetooth speakers, microwave ovens and baby monitors.

You may not require blazing internet speeds depending on how much you do at home. You’ll be OK with lower speeds if you’re streaming content on one device and primarily checking email and social media from your phone.

If your home is full of smart and connected devices, you need enough bandwidth to support them.

Here are some general guidelines to get started:

Keep an eye on your data cap. Your ISP may throttle your speed or even charge you for exceeding the cap if you go over it.

Strapped for cash? Try these proven strategies to lower your internet, cable, and streaming bills.

Moving to a different channel for your router is an easy tweak to up your speed. This step is beneficial if you’re tuned to that 2.4GHz frequency. Moving from one channel to a less crowded one may help speed things up.

Try using a Wi-Fi scanner to check the optimum 2.4GHz channel for your area or the least used channel.

For Macs, Apple provides the free tool Wireless Diagnostics. Hold the Option key while clicking on the Wi-Fi icon on the right-hand side of the menu bar, then choose Open Wireless Diagnostics.

For Windows, download NetSpot Wi-Fi Analyzer. Similar to the Mac’s Scan tool, this application will instantly give you information about the Wi-Fi signals in your area, including the channels they utilize.

When you’re trying to join a video call for work, the last thing you want is your kid downloading a colossal game update in the next room. This eats up a lot of bandwidth, and you’ll both end up frustrated.

To make things run smoother, schedule updates and big downloads for 1 a.m. when everyone is asleep or should be.

Need help getting the kids on board with tech rules? I can help. Tap or click to download my Tech Contract for parents and kids to sign.

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My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

The Supreme Court takes on social media, why to delete Kaspersky, Facebook troubles, pilotless air taxis, worst text scams and life-saving tech. Plus, how to make sure Amazon Alexa isn’t recording everything you say and find hidden spy cameras.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

Get more tech know-how on The Kim Komando Show, broadcast on 425+ radio stations and available as a podcast. Sign up for Kim’s 5-minute free morning roundup for the latest security breaches and tech news. Need help? Drop your question for Kim here.

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Donald Trump sued by girlfriend of fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick

January 6, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News

The girlfriend of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick is suing former President Donald Trump as well as two of the Capitol rioters.

Sandra Garza, Sicknick’s girlfriend, is requesting that each of the defendants pay $10 million, according to the lawsuit filed on Thursday. Her lawyer says that any recovery that comes as a result of the lawsuit will be donated to charity.

The lawsuit accuses Trump of directly inciting “the violence at the U.S. Capitol that followed and then watched approvingly as the building was overrun.”

“After Defendant Trump’s speech ended, insurgents charged the hill surrounding the U.S. Capitol and began scaling the building’s outer walls. Officers reported rioters were attacking them with metal poles. Law enforcement and local leaders put out calls for help. Officers called for reinforcements as the mob pulled down the gates erected to protect the U.S. Capitol and attacked officers,” the lawsuit states.

BIDEN EXPECTED TO PRESENT JAN. 6 POLICE OFFICERS WITH PRESIDENTIAL CITIZENS MEDAL: REPORT

Julian Elie Khater, a defendant in the lawsuit, pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers on January 6, 2021. The Department of Justice says that Khater used pepper spray which caused injury to law enforcement officers.

George Pierre Tanios, another defendant in the lawsuit, was initially charged with assaulting a police officer but later pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors.

“Nothing can return Officer Sicknick to his fiancée or his family, but this lawsuit is an important part of the process of holding those who caused his death accountable. Former President Donald Trump called Khater and Tanios to Washington DC to attack the Capitol and they answered. This directly caused Officer Sicknick’s death,” said Matt Kaiser, who is an attorney representing Garza.

The U.S. Capitol Police say that Sicknick “passed away due to injuries sustained while on-duty” and “was injured while physically engaging with protesters.”

FBI RAISES REWARD MONEY FOR UNSOLVED RNC, DNC PIPE BOMB ATTEMPT TO $500K

Sicknick, according to the Capitol Police, returned to his office where he collapsed, then was taken to a local hospital “where he succumbed to his injuries.”

Washington D.C. Chief Medical Examiner Francisco Diaz found no evidence during an autopsy that Sicknick died as a result of an allergic reaction due to chemical irritants, but died from “acute brainstem and cerebellar infarcts due to acute basilar artery thrombosis.”

Diaz told the Washington Post that the events of Jan. 6, 2021 “played a role in his condition.”

A spokesperson for Trump reacted to the lawsuit in a comment to Fox News Digital.

“President Trump clearly and unequivocally stated that Americans should ‘peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard.’ Yet, Big Tech companies unilaterally censored and suppressed his calls for peace and should thus be held accountable for their appalling actions. By contrast, radical Democrats like Maxine Waters and many others have promoted ultra-violence against conservatives and those who will not bow down their deranged ideology. President Trump is immune from frivolous attacks and will continue to be fully focused on his mission to Make America Great Again,” the spokesperson said.

Fox News’ Megan Henney and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Healthy aging and drinking water: Fascinating findings from a new study

January 6, 2023 Published by Fox News

Nearly half of people worldwide do not get the recommended daily total water intake, a new report indicates

Yet drinking enough water may help to delay the aging process for many.

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in eBioMedicine suggests as much — though there are caveats to know.

SHOULD YOU DRINK WATER BEFORE BED? EXPERTS CHIME IN

“The results suggest that proper hydration may slow down aging and prolong a disease-free life,” said Natalia Dmitrieva, PhD, a study author and researcher in the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, in a news release.

The researchers looked at the link between sodium levels in blood and certain health markers — and explained that blood sodium levels increased when fluid intake decreased.

Staying well-hydrated is associated with better health, fewer chronic conditions and longer life, a new study suggests. Fox News Digital talked to several physicians, who shared some key caveats.
(iStock)

Adults who had serum sodium levels at the higher end of a normal range were more likely to die at a younger age.

They were also more likely to develop chronic conditions and show signs of advanced biological aging, compared to those whose levels were in the medium ranges, the NIH report said.

The study’s authors explained that hydration plays a role in serum sodium levels.

A normal serum sodium range should be between 135-146 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), according to the NIH release.

The study’s authors explained that hydration plays a role in serum sodium levels.

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“Decreased body water content is the most common factor that increases serum sodium, which is why the results suggest that staying well-hydrated may slow down the aging process and prevent or delay chronic disease,” they said.

The team collected data from 11,255 participants over a 30-year period.

Staying well-hydrated was also associated with better health, fewer chronic conditions and longer life, a new study said.
(iStock)

The NIH release indicated that the team found that serum sodium greater than 142 mmol/l for those who are middle-aged is associated with a 39% increased risk of developing chronic diseases — and up to a 64% increased associated risk for developing dementia and chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease.

Randomized, controlled trials are needed to determine if the optimal amount of fluid intake can help prevent disease and promote healthy aging.

Staying well-hydrated was also associated with better health, fewer chronic conditions and longer life, the study said.

The researchers also found that participants with serum sodium levels above 144 mEq/L had a 50% increased risk of being “biologically older” than their actual age — while those around the 142 mEq/L mark had up to a 15% increased risk, compared to those who had ranges between 137 and 142 mEq/L

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Adults with levels between 144.5 and 146 mEq/L presented a 21% increased risk of premature death compared to those with ranges between 137-142 mEq/L, the NIH report also said.

The study’s authors found that adults with serum sodium levels between 138-140 mEq/L had the lowest risk of developing chronic disease.

The correlations found in the study can be helpful in guiding an individual’s behavioral habits and be informative to clinicians, the researchers said.
(iStock)

The NIH release, however, noted that the researchers’ findings do not prove a causal effect — and that randomized, controlled trials are needed to determine if the optimal amount of fluid intake can help prevent disease and promote healthy aging.

The researchers said the correlations found in the study can be helpful in guiding an individual’s behavioral habits and be informative to clinicians.

POTATOES AREN’T ALWAYS BAD FOR YOU — IT’S ALL IN THE PREPARATION, NEW STUDY INDICATES

“People whose serum sodium is 142 mEq/L or higher would benefit from [an] evaluation of their fluid intake,” Dmitrieva said in the NIH release.

It is important for people to discuss with a physician how much water intake is appropriate for them and their individual situations.

People can increase their fluid intake with water as well as with juices, vegetables and fruits with high water content, she said in the release.

Health experts said certain medical conditions could also affect fluid intake or a need for fluid restriction — so it is important for people to discuss with a physician how much water intake is appropriate for them and their individual situations.

“The goal is to ensure patients are taking in enough fluids, while assessing factors, like medications, that may lead to fluid loss,” said Manfred Boehm, M.D., a study author and director of the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, in the NIH release.

“The authors’ findings are in keeping with advice many of us received from our mothers — drink six to eight glasses of water every day,” said one physician.
(iStock)

Boehm also said in the release, “Doctors may also need to defer to a patient’s current treatment plan, such as limiting fluid intake for heart failure.”

Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., MPH, is director of Mount Sinai Heart Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. He was not part of the study, but he told Fox News Digital that the findings were interesting and provocative.

“The authors’ findings are in keeping with advice many of us received from our mothers — drink six to eight glasses of water every day,” he said.

“Staying well-hydrated is probably a good idea, though for the average healthy person, I wouldn’t say to drink more water unless you are thirsty.”

“More recently, that conventional wisdom has been challenged, with experts instead recommending drinking water only when actually thirsty and not on a schedule.”

Bhatt cautioned, “Older adults or those with some degree of dementia … may lose their sense of thirst — and in those situations, more scheduled water consumption can sometimes be useful.”

Bhatt, who is also a professor of cardiovascular medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System, pointed out that the investigators examined sodium levels — and it was not a direct study of the amount of daily water intake.

“To prove that drinking more water actually improves health would require a gold-standard, randomized trial,” he said.

“Bottom line: Staying well-hydrated is probably a good idea, though for the average healthy person, I wouldn’t say to drink more water unless you are thirsty,” he added.

When more people are working from home today, said one health professional, it’s perhaps “more important not to lose track of time and to make sure you are getting enough water to stay well-hydrated.”
(iStock)

“Perhaps, in this peri-pandemic period where some people may be working from home and glued to a computer, it is more important not to lose track of time and to make sure you are getting enough water to stay well-hydrated.”

Dr. Marzena Gieniusz, an internist and geriatrician in the Department of Medicine and Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Northwell Health in New York, told Fox News Digital, “An important thing to take from this study is that more research needs to be done to understand the dynamics between hydration and aging, and how to best optimize hydration in the setting of various conditions, and on an individual level to improve health and outcomes.”

FITNESS FAIL? EQUINOX GYM’S SHAMING OF NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS RAISES THE EYEBROWS OF EXERCISE EXPERTS

She added, “The findings of this study do not prove a causal effect — and more hydration is not synonymous with better hydration, healthier aging and better outcomes for everyone. This is important to understand.”

Dr. Gieniusz, also an assistant professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, said as well, “Optimal hydration depends on the individual and the body’s needs, which are affected by various factors including, but not limited to, activity level, medical conditions, weather, etc.”

She noted, “When it comes to recommendations about how much water or fluids we should drink, it depends on the individual. The standard 6-8 cups per day does not apply to everyone.”

“The body is designed to self-regulate and maintain balance — although self-regulation and maintaining balance becomes more challenging as we get older.”

Added Gieniusz, “The human body is very complex — and we are still learning how the various systems work independently and interact with each other, including the system of using and balancing salt and fluids in the body.”

She said, “We do know that the body is impressively designed to self-regulate and maintain balance — although self-regulation and maintaining balance becomes more challenging as we get older.”

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For example, she said, “with aging, we often experience a decline in our thirst sensation, so older adults may drink [fewer] fluids, which may increase their risk of fluid depletion or dehydration — and that can sometimes lead to complications. Yet sometimes it can actually be a good thing.”

She added, “Certain medical conditions (e.g. heart failure), which are more common in older adults, may benefit from limiting fluid and/or salt intake, and some patients even take medications to rid the body of water in order to better manage their medical conditions.”

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The current guidelines from the National Academies of Medicine suggest women should drink 6-9 cups (1.5-2.2 liters) daily and men should drink 8-12 cups (2-3 liters) daily, according to the release.

Amy McGorry is a contributing health reporter for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.

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Jack Nicklaus Fast Facts

January 6, 2023 Published by CNN

CNN
—

Here’s a look at the life of retired professional golfer Jack Nicklaus.

Birth date: January 21, 1940

Birth place: Columbus, Ohio

Birth name: Jack William Nicklaus

Father: Louis Charles Nicklaus Jr., a pharmacist

Mother: Helen (Schoener) Nicklaus

Marriage: Barbara Jean (Bash) Nicklaus (July 23, 1960-present)

Children: Michael, July 24, 1973; Gary, January 15, 1969; Nancy, May 5, 1965; Steve, April 11,1963; Jack II, September 23, 1961

Education: Attended The Ohio State University, 1957-1961

Nicknamed “Golden Bear.”

Began playing golf at age 10.

Has won 18 professional major championships: six Masters, five PGA Championships, four US Opens and three British Opens. Additionally, Nicklaus has won two US Amateur Championships.

Founded and formerly served as chairman and CEO of Nicklaus Companies, which includes a successful golf course design business.

1956 – Wins the Ohio State Open golf tournament at age 16.

1959 and 1961 – Wins the US Amateur Championship.

January 1962 – First professional start at the Los Angeles Open.

June 1962 – First professional win, defeating Arnold Palmer at the US Open.

1962, 1967, 1972 and 1980 – Wins the US Open.

1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986 – Wins the Masters.

1963, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1980 – Wins the PGA Championship.

1966, 1970 and 1978 – Wins the British Open.

1967, 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976 – Named PGA Player of the Year.

1974 – Inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

1991 and 1993 – Wins the US Senior Open.

1997 – “Jack Nicklaus: My Story,” written with Ken Bowden, is published.

1999 – Named Sports Illustrated’s best individual male athlete of the 20th century.

2001 – Is awarded the ESPY Lifetime Achievement Award.

2002 – The Jack Nicklaus Museum opens on the campus of The Ohio State University.

2004 – The Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation is formed.

2005 – Retires from tournament competition.

2005 – Is awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

2006 – Is inducted into the PGA Professional Hall of Fame.

March 24, 2015 – Honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.

December 2015 – Nicklaus receives Sports Illustrated’s Muhammad Ali Legacy Award.

February 18, 2016 – Undergoes experimental stem cell therapy to help with debilitating back pain.

July 19, 2020 – Nicklaus reveals that he and his wife both tested positive for the Covid-19 virus on March 13 and stayed at their home in North Palm Beach, Florida, until they recovered on April 20.

May 13, 2022 – Nicklaus and GBI Investors Inc., of which he is a principle, are sued by Nicklaus Companies in New York Supreme Court. The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, tortious interference and breach of fiduciary duty.

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2 years after Jan. 6, speaker scrap paralyzes Congress again

January 6, 2023 Published by ZEKE MILLER, MARY CLARE JALONICK and CALVIN WOODWARD

Top News: US & International Top News Stories Today | AP News

FILE – Violent insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump, storm the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Such are the fractures in the country, between the political parties and inside the Republican Party itself, that one time-honored specialty of Washington — memorializing and coming together over national trauma — isn’t what it used to be.

Friday’s moment of silence at the Capitol to contemplate the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on it was expected to draw mostly Democrats.

At the White House, few Republicans were expected for a ceremony at which President Joe Biden will award Presidential Citizens Medals to a dozen state and local officials, election workers and police officers for their “exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens” in upholding the results of the 2020 election and fighting back the Capitol mob.

It’s all a far cry from Sept. 11, 2001, when lawmakers who had frantically evacuated the Capitol during the terrorist attack gathered there later in the day in a moment of silence and broke out in “God Bless America,” Republicans and Democrats shoulder to shoulder.

“They stood shaken and tearful on the steps of the Capitol, their love of nation and all that it symbolizes plain for the world to see,” an Australian newspaper reported in a passage reflected now in the House’s official history.

Hub peek embed (JoeBiden) – Compressed layout (automatic embed)

Today, the world sees a different picture, one of turmoil in American democracy coming from within the institution that insurrectionists overran two years ago.

The nation’s legislative branch is again paralyzed — not by violence this time but by a tortuous struggle among Republicans over who should lead them, and the House itself, as speaker.

To be sure, a resolution to the immediate crisis may be near as the GOP leadership continues negotiations to appease its hard-right flank, but questions loom about the chamber’s ability to manage even the most essential legislation, such as funding the government and meeting the nation’s debt obligations.

Biden, in his afternoon remarks, will tell stories of heroism, whether in the face of a violent Capitol mob or a vehement horde of Donald Trump-inspired agitators who threatened election workers or otherwise sought to overturn the results. He will appeal for unity.

But the Democratic president can’t ignore the warning signs that it could happen again.

In the midterms, candidates who denied the outcome of 2020’s free and fair election were defeated for many pivotal statewide positions overseeing elections in battleground states, as were a number of election deniers seeking seats in Congress.

Yet many of the lawmakers who brought baseless claims of election fraud or excused the violence on Jan. 6 continue to serve and are newly empowered.

Trump’s 2024 candidacy has been slow off the starting blocks, but his war chest is full and some would-be rivals for the Republican presidential nomination have channeled his false claims about the 2020 race.

As well, several lawmakers who echoed his lies about a stolen election at the time are central in the effort to derail Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ascension to speaker — unswayed by Trump’s appeals from afar to support him and end the fight.

The protracted struggle leaves the House leaderless, unable to pass bills and powerless to do much more than hold vote after vote for speaker until a majority is reached. Everything from national security briefings to helping their constituents navigate the federal bureaucracy are on pause because the members-elect can’t yet take their oath of office.

Some Democrats see a throughline from Jan. 6.

The chaos of the speaker’s election “is about destruction of an institution in a different way,” said Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, one of the lawmakers who fled the rioters two years ago.

Then, the insurrectionists trapped some lawmakers in the House chamber but never breached it. They held up national business for hours that day.

Now some are feeling trapped in the same chamber by the repeated, fruitless votes for speaker — 11 votes so far — and House business is held up for this week and counting.

“The stream of continuity here is extremism, elements of Trumpism, norms don’t matter,” says Democratic Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois. “It’s not about governing, it’s about pontificating and advocating an extremist point of view.”

Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire said, “It is a very small minority who want to throw this institution into chaos.”

After the unsatisfying midterm election for Trump allies, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack wrapped up its work with a recommendation to the Justice Department to prosecute the former president. A special counsel and ultimately Attorney General Merrick Garland will now decide whether to indict him.

While the congressional investigations have ended, the criminal cases are still very much continuing, both for the 950 arrested and charged in the violent attack and for Trump and his associates who remain under investigation. The second seditious conspiracy trial begins this week, for members of the far-right Proud Boys.

In a measured but significant step, Congress in December amended the Electoral Count Act to limit the role of the vice president in counting electoral votes, to make it harder for individual lawmakers to mount objections to properly certified election results and to eliminate “fake electors” like those deployed by Trump allies in a bid to overturn his defeat to Biden.

After all that, Biden, who made it a tentpole of his agenda to prove to the world that democracies can deliver for their citizens, had dared hope that this was “the first time we’re really getting through the whole issue relating to Jan. 6. Things are settling out.”

But then came the fight for speaker, rare in the annals of Congress.

“And now, for the first time in 100 years, we can’t move?” Biden said earlier this week. “It’s not a good look. It’s not a good thing.”

“Look,” he went on, “how do you think it looks to the rest of the world?”

Will Rogers’ durable joke — “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat” — now looks dated and out of place. Democrats voted unanimously for their new House leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, in a seamless transition from Nancy Pelosi.

Two years after Jan. 6 and Trump’s subsequent departure, Republicans, the party for which standing in line the longest usually meant victory, are now the party of factions and disorder.

___

Associated Press writer Colleen Long contributed to this report.

Buttigieg responds to critics of Christmas chaos, pledges 'full force' of DOT to compel Southwest redress

January 6, 2023 Published by Fox News

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded Thursday to critics following a disastrous Christmas travel week compounded by nationwide snowstorms and thousands of canceled flights, most notably from Texas-based Southwest Airlines.

Buttigieg reiterated that USDOT made a “ton of progress” in promised preparations for the winter travel season, despite critics’ claims his agency dropped the ball.

Anchor Bret Baier cited comments Buttigieg made in September to CBS comic James Corden about making sure travel would get better by the time Christmas came around:

“[T]he evidence of that is we had an epic storm hit the United States, and within a few days, almost all the airlines had recovered,” Buttigieg replied on “Special Report.”

CRENSHAW TORCHES MCCARTHY HOUSE SPEAKER DETRACTORS

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

“Matter of fact, every airline recovered except for one – Southwest Airlines. That’s right: They failed to invest in the kind of IT systems that they needed and made a number of other operational mistakes.”

When asked if USDOT was aware of Southwest’s antiquated scheduling system prior to the Christmas rush, the secretary replied he does not run the airline, but does regulate it.

“So what we’re doing right now is using the full force of this department to make sure customers get taken care of – I made clear to Southwest Airlines that they will be required by our department – by the way, this is something that wouldn’t have been possible before the work we did this summer – They are now required to cover lodging, to cover ground expenses, to cover hotels for these delays and cancelations that were their responsibility.”

HANNITY AND BOEBERT SPAR OVER HOUSE SPEAKER CHAOS

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Buttigieg noted Southwest CEO Bob Jordan is “pretty new,” having only gotten into the job in February 2022, but that the airline should have been taking corrective action years before the new boss took over.

“What I know for sure is that — and this is important for anybody who’s watching this to know – you are required to get your money back if your flight was canceled and you’re required to get it within 7 days… and you are required to get your expenses covered. I know a lot of passengers right now still having issues.”

Baier later pressed Buttigieg on a handful of other situations for which USDOT has taken criticism, including the supply chain crisis, which largely hit its apex while the secretary was on paternity leave.

“It’s nonsense,” Buttigieg replied. “Let’s start with the supply chain crisis. I worked that issue before, during and after the time that I was focusing on my children.”

HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE DERBY THE ‘ANTI-GROUNDHOG DAY’: CRITICS

A Southwest Airlines jetliner sits at a gate on the C concourse of Denver International Airport
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

He added that, though media outlets were predicting “Christmas was going to be cancelled” because of the lack of goods and the like, the reality was that retailers enjoyed record sales.

As for the formerly looming rail strike in late 2022, Buttigieg said he had been actively working on Capitol Hill and in his office to avert what would’ve been a catastrophe for American commerce.

“I think the night before the tentative agreement, I remember going to bed at 1 and then being back up to check my phone at 4 [o’clock],” he said.

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In closing, Baier also asked Buttigieg about a recent senatorial retirement from a state which he recently moved to.

Since the former South Bend, Ind., mayor reportedly relocated north to Michigan, Buttigieg was asked about the possibility of running in 2024 to replace fellow Democrat Deborah Stabenow.

“I’m completely focused on doing this job, and I’m not planning to run for anything,” he said when asked if he would rule out running to replace Stabenow, who was first elected in 2000.

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.

He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.

Charles covers media, politics and breaking news, and has covered the annual CPAC conference for Fox News Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

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JESSE WATTERS: 'Coyote Joe' and his admin create app to usher in migrants amid border crisis

January 6, 2023 Published by Fox News

Fox News host Jesse Watters roasts President Biden’s potential parole program for undocumented migrants on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”

JESSE WATTERS: So, before you cross into our country and they let you in, now Joe wants you to make an appointment so they can let you in. No one is still not getting in. You just have to make an appointment. It’s like OpenTable for illegals. So, if you’re from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti or Venezuela, Biden wants you to still pay a coyote, still hop into a caravan, still walk through jungles and deserts and then once you get to our border, you download an app and it will take your reservation. This is like TSA PreCheck for the third world.

BIDEN ANNOUNCES BORDER VISIT, NEW MEASURES AS PRESSURE GROWS OVER OVERWHELMING MIGRANT SURGE

President Joe Biden speaks about border security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris stands at left.
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

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And wait, I thought these were all peasants without a dime — excuse me, pesos — to their name, and they’re all going to die if they stay in their village and they all have iPhones? And they know how to get into the App Store? Is Tim Cook going to set up Apple stores in Tijuana now, or are they just going to hand out Biden phones along the Rio Grande? And honestly, what’s harder, downloading the app or the 2,000-mile journey? I can’t even figure out how to change my settings. And you’ll probably get cleared to come through as long as you get a sponsor living in the United States to vouch for you.

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Reba McEntire addresses potential ‘Reba’ reboot: ‘We talked about that a lot’

January 6, 2023 Published by

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Reba McEntire is getting real about whether she’ll return to her role as a single mom who works too hard.

McEntire recently revealed that she and former “Reba” co-star Melissa Peterman discussed a potential “Reba” reboot quite a bit while they were working together on their upcoming Lifetime movie “The Hammer.”

“We talked about that a lot,” McEntire told “E! News.” “I don’t think that’s ever going to come to fruition, but maybe one of these days.”

The show originally ran for six seasons on The CW, previously known as The WB, and followed McEntire as the main character as she navigates her new life as a single mother after her husband left her for his assistant.

REBA MCENTIRE POSTPONES CONCERTS ON DOCTOR’S ORDERS, REVEALS ‘DIFFERENT DECISION’ TO RESCHEDULE SHOWS

The show also starred JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Scarlett Pomers, Christopher Rich and Steve Howey, many of whom have gone on to have successful careers in the industry. Howey had leading roles in movies like “Bride Wars” and “Something Borrowed” as well as the TV show “Shameless,” and Garcia Swisher had a recurring role on the popular ABC show “Once Upon a Time” and starred in the Netflix series “Sweet Magnolias.”

The cast has managed to keep a close relationship since the show came to an end in 2007, with McEntire and Peterman reuniting this year for the Lifetime movie. McEntire says out of everyone in the cast, Peterman is “always trying to break me, and she does it a lot.”

“We love to act together, we love to hang out together,” McEntire said. “We rented a house and all of us we’re in the house together — my bunch and Melissa — and it was just the best. I had the most wonderful experience getting to shoot this movie.”

While the Grammy Award-winning singer is unsure if a “Reba” reboot will ever make it to air, it doesn’t mean McEntire will completely disappear from TV screens as she is currently starring on the ABC drama “Big Sky” alongside boyfriend Rex Linn.

The two originally met in 1991 on set of the Kenny Rogers movie “The Gambler,” but they didn’t start dating until they reconnected in January 2020 when McEntire was called to do a guest spot on “Young Sheldon.” The COVID-19 pandemic made it hard for them to stay connected while in quarantine, however, they were able to keep the relationship alive through FaceTime.

In “Big Sky,” McEntire got to embrace her darker side on the show as she plays Sunny Barnes, the matriarch of a family who recently started a glamping business. While she may look nice on the outside, the character is not afraid to get messy when necessary.

“I didn’t want to come on as Reba McEntire,” McEntire told Entertainment Weekly in a September interview ahead of the show’s season premiere. “I wanted to play somebody else. I get to play me all the time. I wanted to be a character, and to be a dark character is even better.”

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Aside from getting to play a darker role, McEntire says she was attracted to the script because “it’s out in the country,” and as “a third-generation rodeo brat” who “grew up on a working cattle ranch in southeastern Oklahoma,” she felt right at home.

“The Hammer” is set to premiere on Lifetime on Jan. 7.

Valerie Bertinelli announces she will be going dry in January for 'two reasons'

January 6, 2023 Published by Fox News

Valerie Bertinelli announced on her Instagram story Thursday she will be participating in Dry January this month.

The Food Network star announced in a video the two reasons why she has chosen to give up alcohol for 31 days.

“I have decided to go Dry January. I like it so far,” Bertinelli said. “I’m doing it for two reasons. One, I want to try and cut down the cravings for my sugar. And I think alcohol exacerbates that.”

The second reason for the alcohol-free month revolves around reducing her stress level.

MATTHEW PERRY REVEALS HE KISSED EDDIE VAN HALEN’S WIFE VALERIE BERTINELLI WHILE ROCKER WAS ‘PASSED OUT’ DRUNK

Valerie Bertinelli took to Instagram to announce she will be participating in Dry January.
(Valerie Bertinelli Instagram)

“I want to calm down the cortisol in my body that has been raging for the last five, six years. I’ve been in fight, flight, freeze, fawn mode. And I want to go into rest and digest,” she shared. “I think cutting alcohol will help me do that.”

She added that she is not a doctor, so this is just her “theory” on what would help “reset and regulate” her body. Bertinelli also noted she has cut back on drinking over the past several months.

Valerie Bertinelli is cutting out alcohol this month for two reasons.
(Zach Pagano/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

“If you’re doing a Dry January, let’s have fun. Let’s do it together,” she concluded. “If not, it’s OK. It don’t matter. You take care of yourself, I’ll take care of me.”

In 2022, the actress was candid about her divorce from ex-husband Tom Vitale.

In a video posted to her social media in November, Bertinelli couldn’t contain her glee as she learned from her lawyer that divorce papers were signed and would soon be filed.

Valerie Bertinelli attends the Build Series at Build Studio Aug. 21, 2019, in New York City.
(Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

“I’m at the airport. About to go see Wolfie. And my lawyer just called. The papers are all signed. They’re about to be filed. On 11/22/22, I am officially f—ing divorced,” she whispered into the phone.

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Bertinelli, 62, filed for divorce from her second husband, financial planner Vitale, in May.

Bertinelli exclaimed, “Happily divorced. God. Finally. It’s finally over. YES!”

Tom Vitale and Valerie Bertinelli were married New Year’s Day in 2011.
(Taylor Hill)

She captioned her twitter video “11.22.22 second best day of my life.”

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Prior to Vitale, Bertinelli was married to late rocker Eddie Van Halen from 1981 to 2007, although they separated in 2001. Wolfgang “Woflie” Van Halen is the son of Eddie Van Halen and Bertinelli.

Fox News Digital’s Caroline Thayer contributed to this report.

Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital.

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Rep.-elect Maxine Waters appears to get in shouting match with Republicans on House floor

January 6, 2023 Published by

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Rep.-elect Maxine Waters, D-Calif., appeared to get in a shouting match with Republicans on the House floor during the ninth round of voting to elect a speaker on Thursday.

“This is my 9th vote for Hakeem Jefferies,” Waters stood up and said when it was her turn to vote before turning and pointing to a group of Republicans behind her. “Matt Rosendale, get it together.”

Waters continued speaking but was drowned out by several Republicans shouting, “Order!”

About an hour before the exchange, Rep.-elect Matt Rosendale, R-Mt., named Waters while speaking on the floor.

“Last summer we began to negotiate, a group of us in good faith, a list of changes, amendments, to the rules of this body. Not to empower ourselves, not to bring personal benefit to ourselves, but to empower you and you and you, Maxine, and you, and you, and everyone sitting in this chamber equally,” Rosendale said before

“There’s no rules, I did not use anyone’s name… Excuse me, Maxine.”

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Rosendale is one of 20 Republicans who have voted against GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy for House speaker through 11 rounds of balloting over three days. With the GOP’s slim majority, McCarthy can only lose four members of his caucus.

Republicans cannot pass a rules package, consider legislation, or begin oversight of the Biden administration until they agree on a speaker.

Democrats have voted in lockstep for Rep.-elect Hakeem Jefferies, D-N.Y., to be the next House speaker.

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The House voted to adjourn until noon on Friday.