A Heated Exchange Between AOC and Riley Gaines

A fiery social media exchange erupted this week between Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, after the athlete criticized the Democratic Party’s progressive agenda.

The clash began when Gaines shared a photo of AOC alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders and New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, writing on X,

“We’re being destroyed from within.”

Instead of responding to the political comment, Ocasio-Cortez shot back with a personal jab referencing Gaines’ performance at the 2022 NCAA Division I Swimming Championships, where she famously tied with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania.

“Maybe if you channeled all this anger into swimming faster you wouldn’t have come in fifth,” AOC wrote on X, sparking immediate backlash.

Gaines Fires Back: “Keep Mentally Ill Men Out of Our Sports”

Gaines, known for her outspoken advocacy of sex-based fairness in women’s sports, didn’t hold back. She accused AOC of hypocrisy on women’s rights, arguing that her feminism only applies selectively.

“It’s always ‘we support women’s rights!’ until it’s a woman who wants the right to compete & undress free from less than mediocre men,” Gaines posted.
“Keep your mentally ill men out of our sports, locker rooms, prisons, etc.”

She also dismissed AOC’s mockery of her NCAA finish, noting that being the fifth-fastest woman in the nation was no small feat.

“It’s always hilarious when they think they’ve landed a ‘gotcha’ by pointing out I was the 5th-fastest woman in the nation, yet they conveniently forget the mediocre man who ranked 462nd in the men’s division lol,” Gaines added.

Concluding her post, she labeled AOC a “misogynistic dunce,” further intensifying the exchange that soon dominated political and sports circles online.

Political Fallout and Public Reaction

The verbal sparring quickly drew responses from conservative lawmakers, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican and former college football coach who has been vocal about protecting women’s sports.

“What happened to ‘support all women,’ @AOC?” Tuberville wrote.
“@Riley_Gaines_ is a 5x SEC Champion and 12x NCAA All-American. Not to mention she’s a patriot who has fought every day for women and girls.”

He continued:

“Meanwhile, AOC thinks ‘women’s rights’ just means abortion.”

Tuberville recently sponsored legislation to ban biological males from competing in women’s sports, a position shared by several Republican lawmakers.

In January, Ocasio-Cortez and most Democrats voted against H.R. 28 — the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would prohibit federal funding for athletic programs allowing transgender women to compete in female categories.

A Broader Debate: Women’s Sports and Gender Politics

The Gaines-AOC spat has reignited a larger conversation about the future of women’s athletics and how the inclusion of transgender athletes fits into the framework of fairness and equality.

Gaines, who now hosts “Gaines on Girls” on OutKick, has become a leading voice in the conservative fight to preserve biological distinctions in sports. Her advocacy has earned both praise and criticism, making her one of the most recognizable figures in the ongoing transgender sports policy debate.

Meanwhile, AOC’s dismissive tone drew criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some feminists accusing her of belittling a female athlete’s accomplishments instead of engaging on policy.

Political commentator Megyn Kelly weighed in, calling AOC’s remarks “cruel and condescending,” while others argued that Gaines’ comments crossed the line into hate speech.

The online feud has since evolved into a flashpoint for America’s broader culture war — one that blends politics, gender identity, and the definition of women’s rights.

What Comes Next

Both AOC and Riley Gaines have made clear they won’t back down. Gaines continues to campaign nationwide for sex-based fairness laws, appearing at events across the U.S. and lobbying for policies that ban male participation in women’s categories.

AOC, meanwhile, remains one of the Democratic Party’s most influential progressive voices, frequently defending transgender inclusion and reproductive rights as cornerstones of gender equality.

As the 2026 midterms approach, political analysts suggest that controversies like these could further polarize voters on social issues, making women’s sports yet another defining battleground in America’s cultural divide.

In a truly inspiring story of determination and hard work, Amol Kohli, a 37-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur, has gone from working as a waiter at a Friendly’s restaurant in Philadelphia to owning the entire restaurant chain. His journey, spanning two decades, is a testament to the possibilities in the restaurant industry, where perseverance and a willingness to learn can lead to extraordinary success.

Kohli, who moved to the US in search of better opportunities, began his career at Friendly’s in 2003 as a high school sophomore. At the time, he was earning just $5 an hour, juggling multiple roles, including cooking, dishwashing, bussing tables, and even serving as an ice cream scooper. As he told CNBC Make It, his goal was simple: to make some extra pocket money. However, what began as a temporary job soon became a stepping stone to something much greater.

Fast forward to July 22, 2025, Kohli’s investment group, Legacy Brands International, acquired Friendly’s, along with Brix Holdings, its parent company, and six other restaurant chains for an undisclosed amount. “This is one of the few (industries) in the entire world that you can literally start from that level and work your way up to a CEO or executive,” Kohli said, reflecting on his incredible rise within the company.

From Waiter to Regional Manager and Franchisor

Even while pursuing a degree in finance and marketing at Drexel University, Kohli remained connected to Friendly’s. Every summer, he returned to the restaurant, working to learn the inner workings of the business, from payroll and insurance to food costs. “I started supporting a couple of franchisees and just started learning what happens after the money makes its way into the register,” Kohli recalled. He credits this practical experience as pivotal in shaping his business acumen.

After graduating in 2011, Kohli chose a regional manager role at Friendly’s over a more traditional finance career. Over the years, he expanded his role, eventually taking over a closing franchise location using savings, credit, and business partners. This was the beginning of his franchising career, which quickly gained momentum. Kohli went on to franchise 31 Friendly’s locations before making the bold move to buy the entire brand.

Today, Kohli’s company owns multiple restaurant brands, including Clean Juice, Orange Leaf, Red Mango, Smoothie Factory + Kitchen, Souper Salad, and Humble Donut Co., with more than 250 restaurant outlets across the US.

Overcoming Challenges and Modernising Friendly’s

Kohli’s acquisition of Friendly’s comes at a time when the brand is facing significant challenges. Once an 800-location chain, Friendly’s has struggled in recent years, with sales plummeting during the Covid-19 pandemic. The company even filed for bankruptcy in 2020 before being acquired by Brix Holdings in 2021 for under $2 million.

Despite these setbacks, Kohli is optimistic about the future. He founded Legacy Brands International in May 2025, with the goal of acquiring Brix Holdings. The creation of this investment group, Kohli believes, was the result of “a combination of a lot of stars aligning,” adding that his long history with Friendly’s made him the “ideal candidate for ownership.”

Now, as the new owner, Kohli is focused on revitalising Friendly’s by modernising the brand and reframing food service jobs as long-term careers. He hopes to attract new franchisees and offer growth opportunities within the company. “Some of the people on my executive team now were dishwashers and cooks,” Kohli proudly notes, citing his own rise through the ranks as a powerful example of what’s possible in the industry.

Kohli’s Vision for the Future

Kohli’s vision for Friendly’s extends beyond just turning a profit—he wants to create an environment where employees are viewed as integral to the success of the business. By offering them the opportunity to grow, Kohli believes he can change the narrative around food service jobs, which are often seen as temporary work.

As Kohli continues to expand Legacy Brands International, his story serves as an inspiration to young entrepreneurs, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, demonstrating that with hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to learn, it’s possible to achieve the American Dream.

A horrifying scene unfolded in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, on Saturday morning after the home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein was set ablaze under what investigators are calling “suspicious circumstances.”

Authorities confirmed that the fire began around 11:30 a.m. ET, injuring three members of the Goodstein family — including her husband, former Democratic state senator Arnold Goodstein, and their son. The occupants had to be rescued by kayak, according to the St. Paul’s Fire District, which responded to the scene.

Judge Diane Goodstein, 69, was not at home during the fire. Sources told FITSNews that she had received multiple death threats in the weeks prior to the blaze. The South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is leading the investigation and has not yet determined whether the fire was accidental or arson.

Explosion suspected

Chief Justice John Kittredge confirmed that preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by an explosion.

“At this time, we do not know whether the fire was accidental or arson,” Kittredge said. “Until that determination is made, local law enforcement has been ordered to provide extra patrols and security around judges’ residences.”

The incident comes just weeks after Goodstein faced public criticism from the Trump administration for blocking the South Carolina Election Commission from handing over voter registration data to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Clash with the Trump administration

Last month, Goodstein issued a temporary injunction preventing the release of the state’s voter files — including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers of over three million registered voters — to federal authorities. The DOJ had requested the information as part of President Donald Trump’s March executive order aimed at identifying non-citizens on state voter rolls.

While non-citizens are already prohibited from voting in federal and state elections, critics said the order represented an attempt to federalize state-controlled election systems and suppress marginalized voters.

Goodstein’s ruling was quickly overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court, but the damage had already been done. Harmeet Dhillon, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, publicly rebuked the judge, accusing her of “obstructing election integrity.”

Following that, Goodstein began receiving death threats, according to FITSNews, raising concerns about escalating political violence against members of the judiciary.

Pattern of political violence

If investigators confirm that the fire was intentionally set, it would mark another alarming instance in a string of politically motivated attacks across the United States.

In recent months, multiple judges and elected officials have been targeted after rulings unfavorable to the Trump administration:

• Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered last month in what officials described as a politically motivated attack.
• In June, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home.
• In April, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence was the target of an arson attack.

The Trump White House has faced criticism for its increasingly hostile rhetoric toward judges who rule against its policies. President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to jurists as “radical left lunatics” and “agitators,” while senior aide Stephen Miller recently accused an Oregon federal judge of “legal insurrection.”

A judiciary under fire

Experts warn that such rhetoric has emboldened extremist threats. In August, Judge Jack McConnell of Rhode Island revealed that his court had received more than 400 threatening voicemails, many referencing Trump’s statements. Judges have even been subjected to “pizza doxxing” — anonymous food deliveries meant to signal that their home addresses have been discovered.

Former federal judge Nancy Gertner, now a professor at Harvard Law School, told The Guardian that inflammatory political language is putting lives at risk.

“There are people inflamed by the incendiary comments of our president and members of Congress about judges,” Gertner said. “Public officials have legitimized attacks on judges with whom they disagree.”

Calls for accountability

In May, more than 150 current and former judges signed an open letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, urging a federal investigation into the growing number of threats.

“Threats against judges are threats against constitutional government,” wrote Judge Richard Sullivan, a Trump appointee to the U.S. Court of Appeals. “Everyone should be taking this seriously.”

The Department of Justice has yet to comment on the Edisto Beach fire, though a White House spokesperson told NPR that “attacks on public officials have no place in our society.”

Meanwhile, the Goodstein family remains hospitalized as authorities continue to investigate what appears to be one of the most serious acts of political violence against a member of the judiciary this year.

“This is not just an attack on a person,” said one South Carolina legal official. “It’s an attack on the rule of law itself.”