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Sage Steele, Billy Bush open up about infamous splits with ESPN, NBC on ‘Hang Out with Sean Hannity’ podcast

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Sage Steele and Billy Bush joined the latest episode this week of the podcast “Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” where the veteran broadcasters opened up about their news-making splits with mainstream media organizations.

Steele, a former ESPN anchor, and Bush, who was fired by NBC over the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape of then-candidate Donald Trump, didn’t hold back on the twice-weekly podcast that offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the real conversations that normally take place when the cameras stop rolling.   

Both Steele and Bush had memorable exits from previous gigs, as the former left ESPN after she was taken off the air for nearly two weeks in the fall of 2021 after giving her opinion on COVID-19 vaccine mandates at ESPN, calling former President Barack Obama’s decision to identify as Black on the census “fascinating” and discussing female reporters in the locker room. 

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Steele said ESPN wanted her to apologize, but she refused to back off her stance against vaccine mandates. She negotiated, and said she agreed to apologize for causing headaches for ESPN parent company Disney, but said it came with a strange request. 

“In my statement, I wasn’t allowed to say ‘Disney.’ I could only say ‘the company,’” Steele told Hannity. 

“When I had peers that later started to go on NFL shows, NBA shows, and talk about Roe v. Wade being overturned, and abortion on a football show or a basketball show, or their thoughts on Black Lives Matter—when you’re tuning into ‘SportsCenter’ for what? Not for that,” she continued. “So when they allowed my peers to do that live on ESPN, make it about political things and their opinions, when I was punished for doing something on an off day, on a separate podcast, to make sure I separated my opinions from my employer, because I believe that is so important, the hypocrisy was too much, and that’s when I sued.”

Steele sued ESPN in April 2022, claiming the network breached her contract over its reaction to the remarks she made during a September 2021 podcast interview. She said she first asked for an apology, but ESPN honchos “laughed” at her request. The suit was settled in 2023, but Steele said she had “already won.”

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“I don’t mean with a settlement—I don’t mean in that way. I mean by finally not living in fear and standing up for what I knew to be right,” Steele said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to ESPN for comment.

In 2016, NBC dismissed Bush from a hosting gig on “Today” shortly after the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape came to light, where Bush could be heard laughing as Trump crudely boasted on a hot mic that he could kiss and grope women because he was famous. Bush opened up about the dark period in his life following the scandal.

“I drank like a fish, and finally, after four months of, you know, drinking like crazy and just trying to numb, I went to a place called the Hoffman Process. And ironically enough, it was Trump’s first day in the Oval Office [in 2017]—that was the day I checked in to a mental health retreat for nine days, like no phones, no nothing,” Bush said. 

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“It was all this was—just put one foot in front of the other… And look, the positive in all of it is—and people do say you’ll be better than ever when you get through it. And at the time, you want to say, ‘Shut the f— up. You are crazy. Like, you have no idea what you’re talking about,’” he added. “But the reason why they say it, and why it’s an axiom that’s been around as long as time, is that it is true.”

“Hang Out with Sean Hannity,” along with “Ruthless,” “Will Cain Country,” “Planet Tyrus” and “The Riley Gaines Show,” are part of FOX News Media’s new media division. Subscribe now on YouTube and Spotify

Fox News Digital’s Joe Morgan and Ryan Morik contributed to this report. 

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Fan spotted with laptop, apparently logging work hours from Wrigley Field stands during Cubs day game

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The Chicago Cubs opened the 2026 season with a six-game homestand at historic Wrigley Field.

Among the thousands of Cubs fans who passed through the turnstiles at the famed ballpark on Chicago’s North Side was at least one who took Wednesday’s “businessman’s special” afternoon start to heart.

Temperatures in the Windy City didn’t climb above 40 degrees Wednesday, and one fan, bundled in a coat and hat, multitasked on his cellphone and laptop, apparently working after the 2 p.m. first pitch.

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The moment mirrors one from last season, when cameras caught a fan who, instead of winter gear, wore shorts and worked on his computer during an August 2025 game at Wrigley Field.

The fan even brought a computer mouse along as he intently focused on his computer while the Cubs faced the Milwaukee Brewers. 

The game broadcasters, however, questioned what he was up to.

“There’s only one question: Is this guy working?” one broadcaster said. “Or maybe he’s reviewing his fantasy football draft.”

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The Cubs’ broadcast network crafted a tongue-in-cheek work email: “Hi, per our last email, we have a hard stop. Let’s touch base Friday before the Cubs-Guardians game. All the best, Marquee.”

The Cubs celebrated a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday to take two of three games in the series. Matthew Boyd struck out ten batters and picked up the win. 

The Cubs were off on Thursday and resume action on Friday in Cleveland as they open a three-game series with the Guardians.

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Chuck Schumer insists calling DHS funding shutdown ‘political’ posturing’ is ‘not fair’

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., claimed it was “not fair” to argue that Senate Democrats were holding up Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for “political posturing” on Thursday.

Schumer spoke to CNN’s “Situation Room” about the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown after Senate Democrats demanded tighter restrictions on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

Though the shutdown has caused disruptions within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), ICE and Border Patrol have been largely unaffected after previously receiving funding last year in the One Big Beautiful Bill, leading Blitzer to ask Schumer what the purpose of the shutdown was.

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“What do you say to those critics who argue that both ICE and Border Patrol are already set with funding millions and millions of dollars because of President [Donald] Trump‘s so-called Big Beautiful Bill that passed months ago?” Blitzer asked. “So Democrats just held up this legislation for what? For political posturing? Is that right?”

“Well, that‘s not fair at all,” Schumer answered. “We held it up because we wanted, as I mentioned before, to reform ICE and CBP, which are lawless. The American people are totally on our side. I think by 2 to 1 or close to that, they want it reformed. And that‘s what we‘re pushing for. We‘re not going to fund a lawless ICE and a lawless CBP, and the American people are overwhelmingly on our side on that.”

“But they‘re already funded. Right?” Blitzer repeated.

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“Well, if they put funding in from their other bills and want to keep funding a lawless ICE, a lawless CBP that creates chaos in our cities, it‘s on their back. We‘re not going to participate in that,” Schumer responded.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order providing pay to TSA agents, many of whom had not received a paycheck since February. Despite the strain on workers, Schumer refused to give Trump credit for the order.

“We‘ve been trying to do it for three weeks, and Trump has opposed it. We proposed funding all of those other agencies, not ICE and CBP, until they reform, but all the other agencies. And they said no. And so, the best way to get them paid was for [Speaker Mike] Johnson to put the bill that the Senate passed this morning with [GOP Senate Majority Leader John] Thune‘s leadership on the floor, and we pass it,” Schumer said.

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In a comment to Fox News Digital, a Thune spokesperson pointed to comments the Majority Leader made earlier on “America’s Newsroom.”

“[For] Democrats…it was all about ‘reforms,’ restrictions on ICE and on CBP agents and what they could or couldn’t do. They got none of that. They got zero of the reforms that they were advocating for. In the end, this was all about their left-wing base demanding that no funding be provided,” Thune said.

The Senate agreed via voice vote on Thursday to send a bipartisan deal funding the whole of DHS except for Trump’s immigration enforcement and border security efforts to the House for consideration. The chamber is not expected to vote on the legislation until House lawmakers return to Washington on April 13. 

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Phil Mickelson withdraws from the Masters, joins Tiger Woods in sitting out signature major

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As Tiger Woods steps away from golf and won’t be playing in the Masters next week, another golf legend won’t be on the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club.

Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson released a statement Thursday saying he won’t be playing in this year’s tournament.

“Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” Mickelson’s statement on social media said.

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“I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching.”

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley also released a statement after Mickelson’s decision.

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“We know how much Phil loves the Masters tournament, and he will be missed by everyone in Augusta next week,” Ridley’s statement said. “He has our complete supports as he takes time to be with his family.”

The 55-year-old Mickelson missed four LIV Golf events earlier this year, and he noted he was dealing with a “family health matter.”

He was on the course in South Africa two weeks ago, leading his HyFlyers GC squad for the event. Mickelson finished tied for 48 in the event.

Mickelson’s Masters announcement comes after Woods stepped away from golf “to seek treatment” following a DUI arrest after a rollover crash Friday in Jupiter Island, Florida.

Woods, a 15-time major winner and five-time Masters champion, and Mickelson sat atop the golf world, beginning in the late 1990s and through the 2010s. While Woods usually sat atop the world golf rankings, Mickelson was his toughest competitor, winning six majors over his storied career.

So, two golf icons won’t be at Augusta National come next week, when the 90th edition of the Masters tees off Thursday, April 9.

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