Latest news with #ClayTravis
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
WNBA players' jealousy of superstar Caitlin Clark laid bare by TV analysts as calls for her to start her own league intensify
Calls are intensifying for WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark to go it alone and create her own league, after multiple TV analysts opened up on rival players' 'jealousy' of her. Clark was voted the league's ninth-best guard by her peers last week, which led to outrage in the media, who claimed she should start a breakaway league to prove how necessary she has been to the rise in popularity of the WNBA. Now, a week on, the 'jealousy' of the rest of the league has been laid bare by basketball icon Dick Vitale and others. Speaking to Front Office Sports, the legendary announcer - nicknamed Dickie V - said: 'I feel strongly that various players don't give Caitlin Clark the respect she deserves. 'What she has done to help the WNBA has been unbelievable. Think about it. PR excitement. Ticket sales. TV ratings and interest. Salary increases. More charter flights than the past. Plus, she is so exciting to watch. Lots of jealousy!' Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd backed up Vitale's point with his own comments on air, claiming the voting of rival players showed their 'pettiness has no bounds'. 'For years, the WNBA players were pointing fingers,' he began. 'They were saying, "People are sexist, the media is sexist, we're not being promoted, we're underappreciated." 'And then they get the Golden Goose and they don't like what it looks like. I've said this for years — when the wave hits, ride it. You don't know what it looks like, don't fight it.' Outkick's Clay Travis, meanwhile, has led calls for Clark to quit the WNBA and start her own rival league, claiming she is 'worth more than the entire WNBA'. 'It's a no-brainer,' he claimed in a recent article on his website. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert would have a huge problem on her hands if Clark quits Legendary ESPN voice Dick Vitale has opened up on WNBA players' jealousy of Clark On various occasions this season, Clark has been sidelined with injury and TV viewership has plummeted in her absence, sometimes down by as much as 40%. The Indiana Fever won the Commissioner's Cup earlier this month and during the celebrations, Clark hinted at some unhappiness with the salaries paid to the players. On a live stream recorded by her teammate Sydney Colson, Clark could be heard making a plea to commissioner Cathy Engelbert. 'We get more for [winning the Commissioner's Cup] than you do if you're a [WNBA] champion,' she said. 'Makes no sense! Someone tell Cathy to help us out. Cathy, help us out!'
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'This Is A Disaster!': Conservatives Are Totally Freaking Out Over Zohran Mamdani
Conservatives were fuming late Tuesday night as Zohran Mamdani declared victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who conceded to the democratic socialist after stunning returns in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. Laura Loomer — a far-right firebrand and ally of President Donald Trump — hurled up a storm of posts on X, formerly Twitter, where she claimed there will be 'another 9/11 in NYC' under Mamdani's possible leadership. 'New Yorkers forgot all about the victims of 9/11 killed by Muslims. Now a Muslim Communist will be the mayor of New York City. Get out while you can,' wrote Loomer, a conspiracy theorist and anti-Muslim extremist who was once banned and later reinstated to the platform. She hurled further anti-Muslim attacks at Mamdani — who, if elected, would be New York City's first Muslim mayor — by baselessly claiming he's 'literally supported by terrorists.' 9/11 happened under your guy Rudy, you Islamophobic hack — Brett Meiselas 🇺🇸🦅 (@BMeiselas) June 25, 2025 Mamdani, in a campaign where he didn't shy away from his faith, has notably been hit with intense criticism from opponents over his views on Palestine. He's also faced death threats targeting him and his family, sparking a police probe. OutKick founder Clay Travis, in an appearance on Fox News, criticized Mamdani for wanting to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City. Last year, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest, alleging him of war crimes as part of its investigation in Palestine. 'This is a disaster!' said Travis, who also knocked Mamdani for plans for policing in the city. Travis: This guy said he would arrest Netanyahu for crimes against human rights if he came to visit New York City. This is what this guy said. This is a disaster. — Acyn (@Acyn) June 25, 2025 Elsewhere on social media, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk also used the 9/11 attacks to grumble about the 'Muslim Socialist' that's 'on pace to run New York City.' Kirk, when asked by Fox News' Jessica Tarlov to take down his 'gross and Islamophobic' post, defended his post. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) — who is reportedly eyeing a run for governor next year — also used Mamdani's big night to describe him as a 'radical, Defund-the-Police, Communist, raging Antisemite' and a 'jihadist' before claiming New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) was panicking over the initial primary results. Hochul — who didn't endorse a candidate in the primary — would instead take to social media to express her hopes of discussing ways to 'ensure a safe, affordable, and livable' New York City with Mamdani in the future. Mamdani has championed several progressive causes including a push for free city buses, free child care and city-run grocery stores. Zohran Mamdani Stuns Andrew Cuomo In NYC Mayoral Primary Andrew Cuomo Has Bloomberg's Cash. Zohran Mamdani Has These Guys. Bernie Sanders Makes Rare Endorsement In New York City Mayoral Race
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Suffers Major Blow Amid Thunder-Pacers Finals
NBA Suffers Major Blow Amid Thunder-Pacers Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder hold a 3-2 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals heading into Game 6 on Thursday in Indianapolis at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Advertisement The series has been intense at times because both teams traded victories throughout the first four games. However, the Thunder took control of the pace in Game 5 to cruise to a comfortable 120-109 win. However, the solid play hasn't resulted in excellent TV ratings. According to television analyst and writer Clay Travis, 'Fewer people are watching the NBA Finals through five games than have watched since before the [Larry Bird] and [Magic Johnson] entered the league.' The league has historically had solid ratings since the mid-to-late 1980s, when superstars such as Bird, Johnson and Michael Jordan were among the top players playing in the finals. Furthermore, ratings for Game 6 of the 1993 Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns were 20.3, and in Game 7 of the 1988 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons, ratings were as high as 21.2, according to However, the league did encounter a drop in ratings during the 2020 NBA Finals between the Lakers and Miami Heat because of the COVID-19 pandemic suspending the season until the late summer and early fall which forced the NBA to begin competing with the NFL for ratings. Advertisement 'The league's finals ratings, other than Covid year when they played in the fall and competed with the NFL, have never been lower in live air history,' Travis added. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) brings the ball up court past Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2)© Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images However, despite Travis' findings, the ratings could change throughout the rest of the series. Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Pacers and Thunder will air on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Related: Pascal Siakam Reveals Honest Thoughts on NBA Journey Amid Finals This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
CNN
18-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Fox News takes pro-war position as MAGA media feuds over Israel-Iran conflict
As conservative radio host Clay Travis opened his mouth Tuesday night on Fox News, he was hyper-aware of the viewer-in-chief. President Trump is 'probably watching' this show, Travis said to Fox host Sean Hannity as both men urged the president to eliminate Iran's nuclear program. 'We have to do it,' Travis said, adding, 'We can't go halfway here.' The president's television habits once again have serious foreign policy implications as the Trump administration weighs further US involvement in Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict has exacerbated a deep rift in MAGA media over how the US conducts itself abroad, especially when it comes to Israel. Republican hawks are clashing with MAGA isolationists, and many of the arguments are happening on social media sites like X, as well as podcasts like Steve Bannon's 'War Room.' Get Reliable Sources newsletter Sign up here to receive Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter in your inbox. But Trump's favorite network, Fox News, isn't making as much room for debate. Guest after guest on Fox has played to Trump's ego — simultaneously praising the president and pushing for US intervention through his television screen. (At one point, Fox host Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump aide, waxed poetic about him being a Churchillian 'man of action.') On Hannity's show Tuesday night, weekend host Mark Levin literally screamed on-air as he depicted a battle of 'good versus evil' and doubted the patriotism of the isolationist camp. Levin's view is dominant on Fox's air. While some guests on Fox have warned against escalation, they've been few and far between, and not nearly as loud or omnipresent as Levin. Tucker Carlson's absence is palpable. After he was fired from Fox in 2023, Carlson built himself a digital media platform with a big megaphone on X, as he proved again Tuesday night by teasing a contentious interview with Sen. Ted Cruz. But Carlson and his isolationist views are no longer as visible to Trump, who has an old-school, cable-centric mentality about the media. Levin and Carlson embody the right's competing forces on foreign policy. Levin wants regime change in Iran; Carlson wants the US to stay out of it. Both men say they are representing the 'America first' MAGA movement. Their weeks-long feud turned especially ugly last week, after Israel launched airstrikes in Iran, which in turn pulled out of scheduled nuclear talks with the US and retaliated with a series of missile strikes. Carlson called on Trump to 'drop Israel' and 'let them fight their own wars.' He branded Levin, Hannity, and Fox patriarch Rupert Murdoch as 'warmongers' pushing the president to join the conflict. Levin responded by calling Carlson an antisemite and a 'maggot.' He dredged up Carlson's past criticism of Trump and questioned the former Fox star's allegiance to the MAGA movement. Facing backlash from Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson among others for his foreign policy decisions amidst the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Trump says he came up with the term "America First" and that he decides what that means. While Levin's name-calling has been petty, the back-and-forth has serious impacts. Two weeks ago, when Trump and Levin dined together at the White House, Carlson caught wind of the meeting and immediately tweeted a denunciation of Levin 'hyperventilating' about Iran's nuclear program. Levin's lunch with Trump is a testament to the bombastic radio and TV host's wide influence on the right. Contrary to Carlson's recent claim that 'nobody watched' Levin's weekend TV show, Levin is actually one of the most popular figures on Fox's weekend lineup and is a regular presence on Hannity's weekday show as well. Hannity threw shade at Carlson on Tuesday night, though not by name, when he said Iran is 'the biggest existential threat to the entire western world,' and 'people that can't seem to understand that kind of puzzle me.' Wednesday morning's 'Fox & Friends,' another one of the president's cherished shows, also promoted an interventionist point of view. To 'people who say it's not our fight,' host Brian Kilmeade said, 'you could say that, but you're not paying attention. Since the 1980s, they have been killing Americans.' Then, Kilmeade threw to a video clip of Levin's pro-war arguments from the night before. 'I'm not one that wants to get involved in things. I'm not. But we have no choice! They are our enemy!' co-host Lawrence Jones said. This foreign policy feud has torn apart other pockets of MAGA media. Far-right podcaster Candace Owens exited The Daily Wire last year after she called Israel's war in Gaza a 'genocide' and openly embraced antisemitic conspiracies. The conservative media empire's co-founder Ben Shapiro, who is adamantly pro-Israel, called Owens' comments 'disgraceful,' kicking off a battle that has since rippled throughout the extremely online right. Some Fox shows have acknowledged the divides. 'On the right we have a big difference of opinion here, but unlike the left, we are not afraid to show it,' Greg Gutfeld said Tuesday afternoon on 'The Five.' However, that segment was the only direct mention of Carlson on Fox in recent days, according to a closed captioning search of the network's coverage. Fox is clearly more comfortable in a different mode: Ridiculing the left. 'MIDEAST CONFLICT DIVIDES DEMS' read one banner on 'The Ingraham Angle' Tuesday night. Carlson has seemed bemused by Fox's handling of the unfolding conflict, telling Bannon that his former employer is 'doing what they always do — turning up the propaganda hose to full blast and trying to knock elderly Fox viewers off their feet and make them submit to a new war.' Carlson could have been alluding to the 79-year-old president, whose Fox fixation is so well-established that CEOs and foreign leaders jockey for airtime with the hopes that Trump will see their segment. On Monday, when a reporter asked Trump about Carlson's comment that the president was 'complicit' in Israel's strikes on Iran, the president said he didn't know what Carlson was saying online. 'Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,' Trump said — a barb reflecting Carlson's post-cable existence largely out of the president's view. Trump followed up later in the day, writing on Truth Social, 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'' 'I'm a little kooky. I'll concede that,' Carlson told The Free Press in response.
CNN
18-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Fox News takes pro-war position amid MAGA media feud over Israel-Iran conflict
As conservative radio host Clay Travis opened his mouth Tuesday night on Fox News, he was hyper-aware of the viewer-in-chief. President Trump is 'probably watching' this show, Travis said to Fox host Sean Hannity as both men urged the president to eliminate Iran's nuclear program. 'We have to do it,' Travis said, adding, 'We can't go halfway here.' The president's television habits once again have serious foreign policy implications as the Trump administration weighs further US involvement in Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict has exacerbated a deep rift in MAGA media over how the US conducts itself abroad, especially when it comes to Israel. Republican hawks are clashing with MAGA isolationists, and many of the arguments are happening on social media sites like X, as well as podcasts like Steve Bannon's 'War Room.' Get Reliable Sources newsletter Sign up here to receive Reliable Sources with Brian Stelter in your inbox. But Trump's favorite network, Fox News, isn't making as much room for debate. Guest after guest on Fox has played to Trump's ego — simultaneously praising the president and pushing for US intervention through his television screen. (At one point, Fox host Kayleigh McEnany, a former Trump aide, waxed poetic about him being a Churchillian 'man of action.') On Hannity's show Tuesday night, weekend host Mark Levin literally screamed on-air as he depicted a battle of 'good versus evil' and doubted the patriotism of the isolationist camp. Levin's view is dominant on Fox's air. While some guests on Fox have warned against escalation, they've been few and far between, and not nearly as loud or omnipresent as Levin. Tucker Carlson's absence is palpable. After he was fired from Fox in 2023, Carlson built himself a digital media platform with a big megaphone on X, as he proved again Tuesday night by teasing a contentious interview with Sen. Ted Cruz. But Carlson and his isolationist views are no longer as visible to Trump, who has an old-school, cable-centric mentality about the media. Levin and Carlson embody the right's competing forces on foreign policy. Levin wants regime change in Iran; Carlson wants the US to stay out of it. Both men say they are representing the 'America first' MAGA movement. Their weeks-long feud turned especially ugly last week, after Israel launched airstrikes in Iran, which in turn pulled out of scheduled nuclear talks with the US and retaliated with a series of missile strikes. Carlson called on Trump to 'drop Israel' and 'let them fight their own wars.' He branded Levin, Hannity, and Fox patriarch Rupert Murdoch as 'warmongers' pushing the president to join the conflict. Levin responded by calling Carlson an antisemite and a 'maggot.' He dredged up Carlson's past criticism of Trump and questioned the former Fox star's allegiance to the MAGA movement. Facing backlash from Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson among others for his foreign policy decisions amidst the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Trump says he came up with the term "America First" and that he decides what that means. While Levin's name-calling has been petty, the back-and-forth has serious impacts. Two weeks ago, when Trump and Levin dined together at the White House, Carlson caught wind of the meeting and immediately tweeted a denunciation of Levin 'hyperventilating' about Iran's nuclear program. Levin's lunch with Trump is a testament to the bombastic radio and TV host's wide influence on the right. Contrary to Carlson's recent claim that 'nobody watched' Levin's weekend TV show, Levin is actually one of the most popular figures on Fox's weekend lineup and is a regular presence on Hannity's weekday show as well. Hannity threw shade at Carlson on Tuesday night, though not by name, when he said Iran is 'the biggest existential threat to the entire western world,' and 'people that can't seem to understand that kind of puzzle me.' Wednesday morning's 'Fox & Friends,' another one of the president's cherished shows, also promoted an interventionist point of view. To 'people who say it's not our fight,' host Brian Kilmeade said, 'you could say that, but you're not paying attention. Since the 1980s, they have been killing Americans.' Then, Kilmeade threw to a video clip of Levin's pro-war arguments from the night before. 'I'm not one that wants to get involved in things. I'm not. But we have no choice! They are our enemy!' co-host Lawrence Jones said. This foreign policy feud has torn apart other pockets of MAGA media. Far-right podcaster Candace Owens exited The Daily Wire last year after she called Israel's war in Gaza a 'genocide' and openly embraced antisemitic conspiracies. The conservative media empire's co-founder Ben Shapiro, who is adamantly pro-Israel, called Owens' comments 'disgraceful,' kicking off a battle that has since rippled throughout the extremely online right. Some Fox shows have acknowledged the divides. 'On the right we have a big difference of opinion here, but unlike the left, we are not afraid to show it,' Greg Gutfeld said Tuesday afternoon on 'The Five.' However, that segment was the only direct mention of Carlson on Fox in recent days, according to a closed captioning search of the network's coverage. Fox is clearly more comfortable in a different mode: Ridiculing the left. 'MIDEAST CONFLICT DIVIDES DEMS' read one banner on 'The Ingraham Angle' Tuesday night. Carlson has seemed bemused by Fox's handling of the unfolding conflict, telling Bannon that his former employer is 'doing what they always do — turning up the propaganda hose to full blast and trying to knock elderly Fox viewers off their feet and make them submit to a new war.' Carlson could have been alluding to the 79-year-old president, whose Fox fixation is so well-established that CEOs and foreign leaders jockey for airtime with the hopes that Trump will see their segment. On Monday, when a reporter asked Trump about Carlson's comment that the president was 'complicit' in Israel's strikes on Iran, the president said he didn't know what Carlson was saying online. 'Let him go get a television network and say it so that people listen,' Trump said — a barb reflecting Carlson's post-cable existence largely out of the president's view. Trump followed up later in the day, writing on Truth Social, 'Somebody please explain to kooky Tucker Carlson that 'IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!'' 'I'm a little kooky. I'll concede that,' Carlson told The Free Press in response.
