Fox News Digital has learned that Buck McNeely, the host of the renowned adventure series "The Outdoorsman," passed away on January 7th. He was 63 years old, as Fox News reported.
Maximum McNeely, McNeely's son, disclosed that his father "passed away in his sleep" in a tribute that was posted on Facebook in honor of the deceased outdoor enthusiast.
His son spoke to the things he appreciated about his late father as well as what he thought he would be remembered for.
"Words cannot even begin to describe the pain and loss our family is feeling at this time and it will never be the same," he wrote.
"Seeing your dad die is like watching Superman die because that’s what he was to me. A true superhero and I couldn’t have asked for a better role model than him.
"Even though Buck is gone the show will go on as I have been preparing for this my whole life. Just as he has trained me in life he has also trained me in the family business by working and traveling the world with him for the past 13 years."
"The Outdoorsman with Buck McNeely" debuted on the Tempo Network in 1987 and has since aired on FOX Sports, The Outdoor Channel and USA Network among others.
According to McNeely's biography, his father served in the Air Force, and by the time Buck was in elementary school, his family had been stationed in a number of different locations, including Texas, the Philippines, Washington, the District of Columbia, and California.
While he was attending college in Modesto, California, he discovered that he had a passion for storytelling and multimedia.
"My dad started his show The Outdoorsman with Buck McNeely as a college project at SEMO and took it to heights no one could’ve imagined with over 550 TV stations airing his show globally he became the largest syndicated outdoors show in the world," Max wrote.
"For nearly 40 years on the air he entertained and showcased various parts of the world for his fans. He loved his fans and anytime one would run into him he always loved meeting them and chatting about the show."
Max added, "His motto was always ‘Live Large’ and he truly lived larger than anybody I know and I will continue that legacy in his honor like he always wanted. It won’t be easy, but nothing good in life is easy. Just another of the countless lessons he’s taught me over the years.
"Call your parents and hold them tight because it really can be gone just like that. Thank you to everyone for your kind words and prayers. God Bless & Live Large!"
Ladonna, McNeely's wife, and their sons Max and Rex survive him to carry on his legacy.
One of Donald Trump’s most significant obstacles in his court cases has been the judges that have been assigned to these cases.
In all but one case, Trump has drawn a hostile judge with Democrat ties, including the E. Jean Carroll case.
To that point, Judge Kaplan has ruled in favor of a motion filed by E. Jean Carroll’s attorneys to block Trump from referencing arguments regarding Carroll’s rape claims in the second defamation case.
Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued his ruling on Saturday night for the motion filed by Carroll’s legal team.
Kaplan’s ruling prohibited Trump’s legal team from “offering any evidence, conducting any examination, or making any argument” that had to do with the first defamation case.
Kaplan added, “Whether Mr. Trump forcibly and without Ms. Carroll’s consent penetrated her vagina with his fingers—as the Carroll II jury and the Court both found—or also with his penis has nothing to do with injury inflicted on her by the defamatory statements.”
This is one in a string of defeats that Trump has suffered from during this case, the most recent being a denial to delay the case so Trump’s attorneys could consider other options.
Trump has and continues to deny the allegations made by Carroll, addressing them again this weekend at an Iowa rally, where he called out Kaplan as a “radical Democrat” and said the allegations were “all made up.”
Trump lost the first defamation case, with Carroll being awarded $5 million in the judgment.
After that judgment was announced, Trump went on Truth Social and trashed Carroll again, with the author immediately stating that she believed Trump opened himself up to a second defamation suit.
Once the second suit was filed, Trump again tried to invoke presidential immunity, but he lost his appeal in December, citing that Trump had waited too long to raise the defense.
In addition to the Carroll case, Trump is also litigating a civil suit brought by Attorney General Letitia James and four federal cases with nearly 100 charges.
Trump is expected to lose the James civil suit, with his best chances for winning the case being on appeal. James has actually upped her request from $250 million to $370 million in the New York fraud case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is still arresting people in relation to the Capitol protest of Jan. 6, 2021.
The Washington Times reports that, on Saturday, the FBI arrested three Florida residents for their involvement in the protest.
The three individuals have been identified as Jonathan D. Pollock, 24; his sister, Olivia M. Pollock, 33; and Joseph D. Hutchingson, 27.
Saturday - the day of the arrests - was the third anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, protest.
The FBI claims that all three individuals assaulted officers during the protest.
"According to a 53-page indictment, Jonathan Pollock and Hutchinson are on video recordings repeatedly punching officers during the riots. Pollock is also alleged to have grabbed riot shields from officers, and he and Hutchinson are accused of using the edge of one to strike an officer in the neck or face," the Times reports.
The outlet adds, "Olivia Pollock is charged with punching and elbowing an officer and trying to grab officers’ batons."
For these actions, the three individuals have all been charged with multiple felonies, including assaulting officers and violent entry of the U.S. Capitol.
The indictment was first issued in April 2021. Jonathan Pollock, in response, went into hiding. Olivia Pollock and Hutchingson were arrested in June 2021, and they went into hiding after being released on bond.
ABC News just published a report highlighting law enforcement's response to the Jan. 6, 2021, protest.
"In the three years since the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors have charged more than 1,265 defendants across nearly all 50 states and D.C. and secured sentences of incarceration for more than 460 people, according to newly released numbers from the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C.," the outlet reports.
It, later, adds, "Of the more than 1,265 individuals charged since Jan. 6, 2021, department prosecutors have secured more than 718 guilty pleas -- including 213 who pleaded to felonies that include assaults on federal officers, obstructing law enforcement, and seditious conspiracy. Also, 171 others have been found guilty at trial or otherwise convicted, the D.C. U.S. Attorney Office said."
NBC News reports, "Hundreds of additional rioters have been identified but not yet arrested, and Matthew Graves — the top federal prosecutor in Washington — said this week that 'scores' of new cases are on the way."
This weekend - the third anniversary of the Capitol protest - has made it clear that the political left, including mainstream media outlets such as NBC News and ABC News, are still trying to capitalize politically off of Jan. 6, 2021.
Attorney General of New York Letitia James is seeking a $370 million punishment and a lifetime ban from the state's real estate industry for former President Donald Trump and two of his former company executives.
The sanction was requested in post-trial motions submitted on Friday by attorneys representing James in the Trump fraud case, as NBC News reported.
It has been asserted that Trump is allegedly indebted to $152 million from the sale of the Old Post Office building, which houses one of his hotels, $60 million from the transfer of the Ferry Point Golf Course contract, and $2.5 million from severance agreements for former Trump Organization controller Jeff McConney and former Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Howard Weisselberg.
James additionally advocated for Trump, Weisselberg, and McConney to be permanently barred from the real estate sector and from holding positions of authority as officers or directors in New York corporations or entities.
Under the same conditions, the attorney general also requested five-year prohibitions for Trump's eldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
The case's summary judgment established the liability of the former president, his company, and senior executives for repeated and persistent fraud pertaining to the preparation and certification of falsely inflated financial statements for Trump. These statements ranged in value from $812 million to $2.2 billion.
The defense attorneys stated in a separate petition filed on Friday that the evidence does not support a finding that he intended to defraud and that the same holds true for Weisselberg and McConney.
The attorneys contended that the attorney general's office has been unable to establish insurance fraud and has not provided any tangible evidence of its effects, while banks independently examined the financial statements.
Trump has consistently refuted any culpability in the case, referring to the lawsuit as a "partisan witch hunt" and threatening to appeal the judge's decision.
In a post in all capital letters Friday on Truth Social, Trump said, "I did nothing wrong, my financial statements are great, & very conservative, the exact opposite of what the highly political & totally corrupt New York state attorney general says."
"This case should never have been brought, should be in the commercial division (the rigged judge would not let go of it!), & I should never have been gagged," Trump continued.
"Now the corrupt A.G. wants $370,000,000 as businesses flee New York. They should pay me. This is prosecutorial misconduct — a DOJ witch hunt!”
According to James' office, Trump and the others engaged in fraudulent activities with the explicit purpose of obtaining millions in ill-gotten gains. The amount she is demanding in damages significantly exceeds the $250 million she initially projected for Trump and his company in 2022.
Beginning in early October, the trial concluded last month with the conclusion of testimony. Closed-door arguments are scheduled for January 11, and Judge Arthur Engoron has stated that he anticipates rendering a written decision containing his findings in the weeks that follow.
On December 18, Engoron issued a ruling in which he expressed his lack of conviction regarding the Trump team's assertions that the financial statements were not inflated and that such valuations are subjective.
The business fraud lawsuit is merely one of Trump's numerous significant cases. In addition, the former president is facing allegations of state election interference in Fulton County, Georgia, and federal offenses pertaining to alleged election subversion in Washington, D.C., and mishandling of classified documents in Florida.
Special Counsel Jack Smith might have thought he had an air-tight case against former President Donald Trump.
But even if he did, it might not matter depending on what a D.C. appeals court determines regarding his eligibility to even be a special counsel with powerful prosecutorial tools at his disposal.
According to Fox News, Smith's eligibility to act as special counsel is now under question.
The court told lawyers to be prepared to answer questions regarding Smith's eligibility, which could be a major wrench in Smith's pursuit of Trump.
Earlier in the week, Ed Meese, a former attorney general under President Ronald Reagan, filed a friend-of-the-court brief arguing Smith's eligibility as special counsel.
Meese argued that his appointment as special counsel constituted a violation of the Appointments Clause of the Constitution.
Cool. Ed Meese’s amicus brief has been accepted in the Trump appeal (challenging Smith’s standing), and the court has directed the parties to be prepared to argue the issues raised by the amici. https://t.co/R8zx2XUSj7 pic.twitter.com/U0xSTMYgua
— FoiaFan🇮🇱 (@15poundstogo) January 2, 2024
Meese held nothing back in the brief filed with the court, insisting that Smith is simply not eligible to pursue charges against Trump in his position.
"Not properly clothed in the authority of the federal government, Smith is a modern example of the naked emperor. Illegally appointed, he has no more authority to represent the United States in this Court, or in the underlying prosecution, than Tom Brady, Warren Buffett, or Beyoncé," Meese wrote.
The court ultimately told lawyers on both sides to "be prepared to address at oral argument…any inquiries by the Court regarding discrete issues raised in the briefs filed by amici curiae."
Many agreed with Meese's assessment and some even called into question why it took this long to make the argument that Smith isn't eligible.
"What's astonishing and terrifying is that it took a retired, Reagan Era offical to make this point. Our State AG's are apparently otherwise occupied. Our bazillion dollar, fancy Bar class of attorney's are...at the bar. We certainly cannot rely on the US AG," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "I hope they rule against him! This case should never have been brought against Trump!"
Only time will tell what the court thinks about Smith's role as special counsel. This could get interesting.
Wednesday was nothing less than absolute chaos across several states as some nine state capitol buildings were evacuated.
According to The Guardian, bomb threats forced evacuations of the state capitol buildings, including in Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi and Montana.
According to authorities, the bomb threats came via email and were sent to various secretaries of state and state legislators.
The FBI said in a statement that it was working with state authorities "to gather, share and act on information."
Not much is known about the emailed threats, other than the fact that they happened in the wake of a growing list of politicians becoming victims of "swatting," which is when police are called to a person's home under false pretenses.
The only connection known at the time of this writing is that in most of the states targeted with the hoax bomb threats, it's at the same time the state legislators came back to work.
The FBI is investigating after multiple state Capitols received bomb threats Wednesday. At least nine state Capitols were evacuated following the swatting calls.
MORE: https://t.co/IJlKcAI0Ok #MorningInAmerica pic.twitter.com/N8VEZvHrtr
— NewsNation (@NewsNation) January 4, 2024
Several states' authorities issued statements on the bizarre situation.
"In response to a threat made involving the Michigan state capitol building in Lansing, we can confirm a threat was emailed to a general account for the Michigan state capitol commission around 7.45am, today, Wednesday, 3 Jan, 2024," Michigan state police spokesperson Lori Dougovito said. "We are aware of similar threats sent to government agencies across the country."
"While everyone is safe, KSP has asked everyone to evacuate the state Capitol and is investigating a threat received by the Secretary of State’s Office. We are aware of similar threats made to other offices across the country. We thank our first responders for their quick response, and we will provide more updates," Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote on X.
Social media users reacted to the multiple evacuations, with many claiming that they believe it's related to the release of Jeffrey Epstein's client list, though authorities have not determined that to be the case at this time.
"People had until monday to dispute the release of the jeffrey epstein list," one X user wrote.
Another X user wrote, "This will be covered on legacy media networks today rather than the Epstein list."
Hopefully, it was a one-off situation. State legislators, love them or hate them, have work to do for the people and no time to deal with hoax bomb threats.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets appeared to joke that he was prepared to celebrate the disclosure of Jeffrey Epstein's associates.
Court documents detailing a list of disgraced financier Harvey Epstein's associates are expected to be made public in the early days of 2024, as The Daily Mail reported.
Jimmy Kimmel, according to Rodgers, may be among those individuals included on the list.
Rodgers initiated a conspiracy theory during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show regarding the hues of the NFL's Super Bowl emblems, which are believed to indicate which teams will face off in the championship game that season.
Co-host AJ Hawk interrupted the panel to inquire jokingly whether the 40-year-old's lengthy explanation involved the Epstein list, which caused some confusion among the panelists.
"There's a lot of people, including Jimmy Kimmel, who are hoping that list doesn't come out," the quarterback responded.
McAfee then joked Rodgers had been 'waiting in his wine cellar' for the release of the court documents: "I'll tell you what, if that list comes out, I will definitely be popping some sort of bottle," Rodgers added.
The remark by the Super Bowl champion follows Kimmel's previous derision of Rodgers for discussing the Epstein list.
In March of last year, Kimmel criticized Rodgers on an episode of his eponymous late-night program for his remarks regarding Epstein and UFOs.
Rodgers had expressed some of his views on the subjects during a February appearance on the Pat McAfee program; Kimmel re-aired the clip during his monologue.
"I believe that this has been going on for a long time. Interesting timing on everything. There's a lot of other things going on in the world," Rodgers said.
The program outlined the event in a segment where Rodgers said, "Did you hear about the Epstein client list about to be released?
"There's some files that have some names on it that might be getting released pretty soon."
Kimmel then said "It might be time to revisit that concussion protocol, Aaron,' after referring to him as a 'tin-foil hatter" earlier in the segment.
David Bakhtiari, a former teammate of Rodgers' with the Green Bay Packers, responded to Kimmel's remarks on social media.
"Tell me you're on the Jeffrey Epstein client list, without telling me you're on the Jeffrey Epstein client list…," he tweeted.
Powerful acquaintances and associates of the pedophile are slated to be revealed as part of a massive unsealing ordered by a judge just prior to the New Year.
Approximately 177 individuals will be identified through the examination of hundreds of files, providing fresh insights into the sex trafficking enterprise and influential network of the deceased financier.
Former President Barack Obama has unveiled his annual playlist for 2023, featuring a diverse selection of artists who have made waves in the music industry throughout the year.
The 28-track list spans various genres and includes both well-established and emerging musicians, as The Washington Post reported.
This year's group of artists reflects global music trends, with artists who have achieved chart dominance and garnered Grammy nominations.
One notable inclusion is Colombian reggaeton and trap singer Karol G, whose song "TQG" featuring Shakira, from her album "Mañana Será Bonito," was among Spotify's top-streamed albums of the year.
American singer-songwriter Mitski makes her entry with the piano ballad "My Love Mine All Mine," marking her first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100.
Afrobeats sensations Davido and Burna Boy, both nominated for Grammys this year, also feature on the list, representing the genre's growing influence on a global scale.
Obama's playlist encompasses a range of musical styles, including Mexican singer Peso Pluma's trap-infused hit "Ella Baila Sola," a collaboration with Eslabon Armado.
The song, drawing inspiration from regional Mexican music, became one of the top-streamed tracks on Spotify.
While some slots are reserved for familiar names like Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, and Mitski, Obama introduces lesser-known artists to his playlist. Singer-songwriter Indigo De Souza, with her track "Younger & Dumber" from the album "All of This Will End," celebrates her first appearance on the list.
Alternative rock artist Blondshell makes a notable entry with "Joiner," expressing her excitement on Instagram.
Obama also showcases emerging talents in "Afrobeats," recognizing the genre's rising success. Nigerian-born Davido's "Unavailable," featuring South African producer Musa Keys, received a Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category.
However, some mainstream megastars like Taylor Swift and South Korean singer Jungkook did not make the cut this year.
Swift, recognized as the top artist by Billboard, Spotify, and Genius, had a record-breaking year with the Eras Tour, the highest-grossing tour of all time.
In summary, Obama's 2023 playlist serves as a snapshot of the diverse and influential musical landscape, featuring both established and emerging artists who have shaped the global music scene throughout the year.
Obama's annual list came out as the United States is once again facing a government shutdown, as well as assisting in the funding wars in both Western Europe and the Middle East. The former president has been vocal about continuing to support Democrat causes, and even appeared in a video with the current president to talk about healthcare just weeks ago.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D), on Friday, attempted to explain how it is that she decided to disqualify former President Donald Trump from Maine's 2024 ballots.
Bellows tried to do so during an appearance on CNN's Situation Room.
In the process, she had to explain how it is that she found Trump guilty of insurrection - a claim that not even special counsel Jack Smith has brought against Trump.
This is really saying something considering the dubious nature of many of the claims that Smith has brought against Trump. Yet, Smith has not been willing to go so far as to accuse Trump of insurrection.
In case you missed it, last Thursday, Bellows invoked Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to disqualify Trump - the Republican Party's leading candidate - from her state's 2024 ballots.
The Fourteenth Amendment essentially disqualifies individuals who took certain governmental oaths and who "engaged in insurrection" from holding public office. The claim is that Trump took such an oath when he became president and that he engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021.
During a CBS News interview, on Thursday night, Bellows claimed that she "was required to issue that decision."
"I was required to issue that decision. And I could only look at the hearing, evidence, and facts that were presented during that hearing. In evaluating the weight of evidence, it made clear that Mr. Trump was aware of the tinder that was laid in a multi-month effort to delegitimize the 2020 election, and then chose to light a match," she said.
Trump is expected to appeal Bellows' decision, and the matter is expected to make it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Legal experts expect the decision to be overturned by the Supreme Court because they say that the Fourteenth Amendment was not meant to be applied in the way Bellows and others are trying to apply it to Trump.
Bellows, during her CNN appearance on Friday, was asked to explain how it is that she has found Trump guilty of "insurrection" when no one has been willing to bring such a legal claim against Trump.
"It's important to understand that an administrative hearing under Maine's Administrative Procedure Act and in terms of implementing election law is different than a criminal proceeding in a criminal court. Sure, the standard is preponderance of the evidence," Bellows said.
She continued, "And furthermore, part of the hearing record, and my decision was based exclusively on the record before me, is not only live testimony that is subject to cross examination, but also exhibits that are produced and submitted by the parties. And, in fact, in this situation, there were thousands of pages of exhibits which I reviewed, including the bipartisan January 6th report, a bipartisan Senate report, a GAO report, a defense Department report."
Bellows went on to claim that she had "substantial evidence," and that her decision was based on "the Constitution and the rule of law."
We'll have to see if Bellows' reasoning holds up in court. The first stop will be Maine's superior court.
The Trump family Christmas photograph shows Barron Trump is ready to take on a more public role.
This is according to a new report from the New York Post.
The report, according to the outlet, is based on "a well-placed source," namely, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former senior aide to former First Lady Melania Trump.
For those unfamiliar with Barron Trump, he is the 17-year-old son of former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump. Both Melania Trump and Barron Trump, since the end of the Trump administration, have avoided the public spotlight. But, it appears that, in the case of Barron Trump, this may be about to change.
In case you missed it, Kimberly Guilfoyle - the fiancee of Donald Trump Jr. - posted to social media a family photograph that the Trumps took on Christmas Eve at the former president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Take a look:
View this post on Instagram
The photograph shows Trump with many members of his immediate and extended family, including four of his children - Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Barron Trump. Also in the photograph are the spouses of some of Trump's children and several of Trump's grandchildren.
Melania Trump, Trump's wife, is not in the photograph. Reports indicate that this is because she was caring for her sick mother, Amalija.
But, the part of the photograph that has stood out to many is Barron Trump. Many on social media have pointed out Barron's prominent position in the photograph - directly next to his father. Social media users have also highlighted Barron's height, which must be around six foot eight inches.
Wolkoff - Melania Trump's former aide - told the Post that there is more to the photograph than the average person might realize.
Wolkoff described Barron's appearance as "truly monumental," and she said that the photograph suggests that Barron Trump may be ready to take on a more public role.
"Melania’s decision to include Barron in this family activity, even if she couldn’t be there herself, might be a significant turning point, potentially fostering a new level of support between Melania and Donald," Wolkoff said.
She continued, “Barron’s appearance is truly monumental and shows Donald and Melania are in lockstep with one another."
“I believe we will be seeing more of him now. Nothing happens by chance with Melania," Wolkoff added.