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Marco Rubio warns Iran wanted to be the ‘next North Korea’ as he sees ‘finish line’ in conflict

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday the U.S. is nearing the “finish line” in its conflict with Iran, while warning that Tehran was seeking to become the next North Korea.

Rubio told “Hannity” Tuesday that Iran was pursuing intercontinental missiles capable of striking the United States and would have achieved those objectives if President Donald Trump had not launched Operation Epic Fury.

“They were aiming to become the next North Korea, except not a North Korea run by a regime that is troublesome and hard to understand, but an Iran run by radical Shia clerics with intercontinental missiles that could reach the mainland of the United States eventually,” the Secretary of State said.

“That’s what they would have ultimately achieved… had President Trump not taken these steps that he’s taken.”

CRUZ SAYS TRUMP’S MOVE TO STRIKE IRAN ‘MOST CONSEQUENTIAL DECISION’ OF HIS PRESIDENCY

Rubio accused Iran’s regime of misleading the public about its ballistic missile capabilities, saying officials “denied” their missiles could reach as far as London.

“[Abbas] Araghchi, their foreign minister, this guy is a liar,” he told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “This guy was on television like a week ago – two weeks ago – denying that Iran had any missiles that could go beyond a certain limitation.

Trump has recently said the Iran conflict could last only a few more weeks, as Operation Epic Fury nears 33 days, with Rubio echoing that the end is near.

DEFIANT IRAN VOWS TO FIGHT ‘UNTIL COMPLETE VICTORY,’ DESPITE HEAVY MILITARY LOSSES

“We can see the finish line. It’s not today, it’s not tomorrow, but it is coming,” Rubio said.

Rubio has signaled progress in talks with Iran, noting that while Tehran remains publicly defiant, its officials are being more cooperative in private discussions.

But he said President Trump will not be “strung” along like the Biden administration.

TRUMP SAYS MOST NATO COUNTRIES HAVE INDICATED THEY DO NOT WANT TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN IRAN CONFLICT

“What President Trump is not going to allow is he’s not going to allow fake negotiations to be used as a delay tactic, to buy more time, to buy themselves space,” Rubio explained.

Iranian leadership remains fluid, according to reports, as Pakistan announced Sunday that it will host talks between the United States and Iran.

Rubio warned that if a deal is not reached, the United States will not stop its military campaign.

TRUMP’S IRAN STRATEGY IS WORKING AND TEACHING OUR FOES WHAT DETERRENCE MEANS

“We’re not going to allow… the failure of talks to impede our ability to defend this country and to protect this country from a real threat,” he declared.

Rubio argued the Iranian regime is made up of people with destructive tendencies.

“This is a regime led by people who believe that it is their calling and their purpose in life is to usher in the end of the world,” he told Fox News. “These people want nuclear weapons.

He also warned that the United States may reconsider its role in NATO once the U.S.-Iran conflict ends, as the war raised questions about the alliance’s value.

“We are going to reexamine whether or not this alliance, that has served this country well for a while, is still serving that purpose or has it now become a one-way street, where America is simply in a position to defend Europe. But when we need the help of our allies, they’re going to deny us basing rights,” he told Fox News.

President Trump will address the nation Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET to discuss the state of the U.S.-Iran conflict.

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WWE star Kit Wilson expresses support for Cody Rhodes after Pat McAfee promo, no animosity after ‘toxic’ move

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Cody Rhodes was running hot earlier this month after Pat McAfee was inserted into his WrestleMania 42 feud with Randy Orton just days before their match was set to take place.

Kit Wilson was the punching bag after McAfee kicked Rhodes in the groin, ripped the pro wrestling business and said that Orton was going to save it. Wilson had just finished a match with The Miz against Damian Priest and R-Truth when Rhodes rushed the ring.

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Rhodes targeted Wilson with a Cross Rhodes and cut the scathing promo on McAfee.

Wilson told Fox News Digital that he didn’t know Rhodes was coming and that he would be targeted. However, he praised Rhodes’ message.

WWE CHAMP JADE CARGILL VERY HOPEFUL TO MEET ‘STONE COLD’ STEVE AUSTIN AT HALL OF FAME CEREMONY

“I was just trying to look out for my mentor, The Miz. I was just trying to do the right thing by him. Yeah, I had no idea it was coming,” Wilson said. “It was interesting because I think Cody was speaking from the heart there and what he had to say was quite informational and important in the current zeitgeist of the world.”

Wilson said that he did think Rhodes’ decision to take his anger out on him was “toxic” but he had no ill will toward “The American Nightmare.”

“So yeah, I think he was taking his anger out on me,” Wilson continued. “I don’t appreciate it. I do think it was toxic. But I see the side of him that had a lot of things to say. In my own way, I think I’ve forgiven him.”

Rhodes and Orton will battle for the Undisputed WWE Championship on Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. McAfee is sure to be at ringside in Orton’s corner, much to Rhodes and fans’ chagrin.

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Charlie Kirk podcast pans Utah Valley University citing ‘safety concerns’ in scrapping controversial speaker

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The producers of “The Charlie Kirk Show” panned the stated reason Utah Valley University (UVU) canceled the commencement speaker invitation of author and educator Sharon McMahon, whose selection sparked outrage among supporters of the late conservative leader, who was murdered on its campus.

On Thursday, UVU issued a statement saying, “Due to increased safety concerns related to the speaker and in consultation with public safety professionals and Sharon McMahon, Utah Valley University has decided to proceed without a featured commencement speaker for this year’s ceremony.”

The statement didn’t sit well with podcast co-hosts Andrew Kolvet and Blake Neff.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY SCRAPS CONTROVERSIAL COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER WHO CRITICIZED CHARLIE KIRK AFTER MURDER

“Here’s what’s annoying,” Neff reacted. “They say it’s not because ‘Oh, we picked a terrible speaker and that was our bad.’ They say they have ‘increased safety concerns’ about what happened.”

“Basically it’s our fault we were engaged in menacing behavior, they say,” Neff continued. “But regardless, it’s a speaker they shouldn’t have chosen… Nobody was making any threats about this. Not on this show or anywhere else.”

“We were saying it was a bad idea,” Kolvet responded before saying, “Hallelujah.”

Representatives for UVU did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital‘s request for comment.

UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY FACES BACKLASH OVER COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER CHOICE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION

EXPERTS DEBUNK TYLER ROBINSON’S BALLISTICS CLAIM: ‘UNABLE TO IDENTIFY IS NOT THE SAME AS RULED OUT’

UVU came under fire for its selection of McMahon, who attacked Kirk just days after his assassination.

“Millions of people feel they were harmed, and the murder that was horrific and should never have happened does not magically erase what was said or done,” McMahon wrote on X at the time.

The now-deleted social media post sent two days after Kirk’s death also included a pair of quotes that many Kirk supporters said were taken out of context. 

“It’s important to remember that the incredible tragedy of a public assassination does not erase the harm many experienced from his words, and the ensuing actions his followers took,” McMahon said.

The university’s selection of McMahon as its commencement speaker drew outrage among Kirk’s supporters. A spokesperson for McMahon declined comment. 

Her team previously dismissed the notion that she celebrated Kirk’s death, telling Utah outlets that she “unequivocally condemned the murder of Charlie Kirk, repeatedly and publicly, calling his death a tragedy and stressing that public debate must never be met with violence.

The 31-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder was participating in a public speaking event sponsored by the campus chapter of Turning Point when he was shot and killed on Sept. 10. The suspect, now 23-year-old Tyler Robinson, was charged with seven counts, including aggravated murder. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

Fox News’ Max Bacall contributed to this report.

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Doctors warn of ‘looksmaxxing’ dangers after influencer’s livestream emergency

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“Clavicular,” the controversial “looksmaxxing” influencer, was reportedly hospitalized due to a suspected overdose Tuesday night during a livestream. 

The Miami content creator, 20, posted a photo of his bloody face and commented on X Wednesday.

“Just got home, that was brutal. All of the substances are just [to] cope, trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously, that isn’t a real solution. The worst part of tonight was my face descending from the life support mask.”

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The influencer, whose real name is Braden Peters, was hospitalized after his livestream was cut short when he began slurring his words and repeating phrases, according to reports.

Looksmaxxing is a social media trend focused on enhancing appearance, ranging from basic skin care to extreme practices like hitting cheekbones with hammers to alter facial structure.

The potentially dangerous trend has been popular with young males, plastic surgeons told Fox News Digital.

“In my practice, we’ve seen it primarily in young men in their 20s,” Dr. Josef Hadeed, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, told Fox News Digital. “We have had a few women, but I’d say by and large, it’s been mostly men who have come into our office wanting these various looksmaxxing procedures.”

THE REAL REASON FOR SAGGING JOWLS, AND WHAT WILL AND WON’T HELP, ACCORDING TO AN EXPERT

“Patients are increasingly seeking to align how they look with how they feel,” he said. “The difference today is that the tools and technologies available to achieve that have never been more advanced or more accessible.”

Looksmaxxing can be divided into two categories: “softmaxxing” and “hardmaxxing,” according to Hadeed. Softmaxxing is a more simple, non-invasive approach to improving one’s looks.

“It’s really like self-care or grooming – things like going to the gym on a regular basis to try to improve your body composition, or using various skincare products to try to improve your skin texture,” the surgeon said.

Softmaxxing techniques – which can also include teeth whitening, beard grooming, or upgrading a wardrobe or hairstyle – are not usually a problem, according to Hadeed. Hardmaxxing, which involves more extreme measures, can have riskier consequences.

Some individuals in the looksmaxxing online community do things like “bone smashing,” Hadeed said.

“[It’s] literally what it sounds like, where you smash the bones to change the facial structure, and that is obviously not recommended because it can lead to potential complications,” he warned.

“Once you cross that line and start getting into more extreme things, I feel like that’s where most plastic surgeons should draw the line.”

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Dr. C. Bob Basu, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said the biggest safety risks with the looksmaxxing trend come from pursuing treatments without proper medical guidance.

“Social media can make procedures seem easy or risk-free, but even minimally invasive treatments carry real risks if performed incorrectly or by an untrained provider,” the Houston-based plastic surgeon told Fox News Digital.

To achieve quality results, it is critical to be treated by a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands both safety and anatomy, Basu advised.

The convergence of social media, constant digital visibility and “unprecedented access to aesthetic treatments” – along with a cultural shift toward optimizing wellness and longevity – are fueling the looksmaxxing trend, according to Basu.

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Hadeed agreed, noting that social media puts pressure on individuals to look perfect.

“People are constantly comparing themselves to other people online,” he told Fox News Digital. “It can quickly develop into body dysmorphia for a lot of people, and that’s when they start pursuing more and more procedures that they don’t need by any stretch – it’s kind of like keeping up with the Joneses.”

Dr. Nancy Frye, a professor in the psychology department at Long Island University in Brookville, New York, also weighed in on what’s driving the looksmaxxing craze.

“We figure out how attractive we might be by comparing what we see in ourselves to what we see in others,” she told Fox News Digital. “This social comparison is especially problematic with social media and filters, as people compare themselves to filtered versions of others.”

While experts warn of the risks of looksmaxxing, they say a thoughtful approach can have some benefits, including pride in one’s appearance and health.

The most tangible benefits are associated with the softmaxxing approach, which includes following a fitness routine, eating a clean diet and following regular skin care routines, according to Hadeed.

With healthy guidance, aesthetic care can “enhance confidence and self-esteem, helping patients feel more aligned with their sense of self,” Basu added.

Both plastic surgeons emphasized the importance of taking a responsible approach when considering the looksmaxxing trend.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

“The goal should always be thoughtful self-improvement, not perfection,” Basu said. “It should never be about looking like someone else or a filtered version of yourself, but rather about becoming a confident, natural and authentic version of you.”

Anyone considering this trend should consult a licensed healthcare professional rather than relying on advice from social media influencers, the doctors advised.

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