In an era when politics and the culture war debates often spill into entertainment, comedian Charlie Berens is betting that audiences are hungry for something else — a break from the outrage and a room united by laughter.

Berens told Fox News Digital he has no interest in adding to the polarization that has driven so many people away from one another. He would rather use his comedic talents to bring people together.

"I think there's enough polarization going on right now to where I just don't have much interest in that," he said. "I have interest — more in finding ways to bring us together, like out to a club or out to a theater or whatever."

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"I think when you get people in the same room, and you get people who may not connect on other things, connecting over something just gives more touchpoints to know that even if someone has an opposite view to you, they're not the devil, you know? You gotta have common ground."

Born and raised in Wisconsin alongside his 11 siblings, Berens explores in his newest special, "Neighborly," how growing up in a large Midwestern Catholic family has shaped how he sees the world.

"My first special was sort of about the Midwest and this is more about the world from a Midwest guy's perspective," he said. "It's also got a lot, it goes deeper into my family. I love gambling with my grandma. I love fishing with my family, and it's kind of just a lot of stories about growing up. I'm one of 12 kids, so I'm mass-produced — I got that going for me."

Berens' first exposure to comedy didn't come from his first open mic set or competing for laughs at the school lunch table — it came from sitting around his family's kitchen table.

He explained to Fox News Digital that, with such a big family, every dinner turned into a stage.

"If you're going to say something, you better make sure what you're saying is good because it's either going to make people laugh or people are going to use it to make themselves laugh at you."

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"When you're having dinner in a family of 12… the food isn't the only thing getting roasted," he joked. "Everybody is just going after each other. So it's fun… it's a fun way to grow up. I don't think I'm the funniest one in my family — in fact, not by a long shot — but it makes for an entertaining way to grow up."

While most of the roasting between one another was typically off the cuff, the comedian shared a Berens family Christmas tradition they call "gimmicks," which takes place alongside their "Secret Santa" gift exchange.

"You pick one person, obviously be nice to that person, get that person a gift and then you kind of say what you did for them on Christmas Eve. But the thing we all really look forward to is after you do that, then you get to… roast that person," he told Fox News Digital, adding that it's his favorite part of the holiday season.

Before launching his stand-up comedy career, Berens worked in a field not typically associated with laughs — journalism, where he says he infused his reporting with a comedic touch.

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"I started working in local news and doing YouTube news early on in my career. And that was sort of like the early 2010s, mid 2010s… where there was this reshaping of journalism, and comedy journalism… It was always a mix between traditional journalism and kind of like infotainment, almost where you try to make the news engaging to get people to watch," he explained to Fox News Digital.

"A lot of what it was, was sort of headline and then adding some punch lines in there or some banter," the comedian continued. "I think that kind of got me into the sort of structure of comedy — of like headline, punch line, headline, punch line — it just gets you in the rhythm of writing one-liners… So maybe that helped ease me into the comedy." 

As comedy adapted to an increasingly digital world, specials shifted from being released on vinyl records, CDs and television, to primarily existing on streaming services and websites like Netflix and YouTube.

While that evolution has helped comedians expand their reach, Berens argued that rapid technological advancement may also be distracting people from what matters most.

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"If you just look at technology… how technology is moving exponentially, and you have artificial intelligence now. So it touches on sort of the absurdity of what that is and that's happening on one end, but on the other end of it, you have taking your grandma to the casino," he contrasted. "Just the observations of something as simple as that, you can find… technologically speaking, we're always looking for more and more and more, but what we have right in front of us is so great and so beautiful." 

"If we just take sort of a moment off of our phone to acknowledge that, maybe we won't always be seeking this next best thing," he added.

For Berens, comedy isn't about thrusting his beliefs onto the audience or scoring political points. It's about filling the room with people from all walks of life and uniting them under the umbrella of laughter and togetherness.

His special "Neighborly" premiered on Dec. 1, 2025, and is currently streaming on YouTube.

Democrats in the House and the Senate on Capitol Hill clapped back with criticisms about President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, calling him out for "lies" and suggesting the president isn't winning the way Trump says he is. 

Some Democrats, like Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued that Trump's move to blame former President Joe Biden for the current affordability issues Americans are facing is expired, while Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he had to up-and-leave the president's address because he was talking about making America healthier, describing the claim as a "lie." 

Markey wasn't the only Capitol Hill Democrat to accuse Trump of lying during his State of the Union speech, with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., using the same attack line.

"I don't want to respond to all of Dr. Trump's lies," Booker said when asked about Trump's address to the nation.

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But, in the process of discussing Trump's approach to immigration, Blumenthal did admit "that the border is more secure." That comment, however, was quickly followed up with a criticism about how Trump is doing just that.

"I've long favored border security. I'm pleased that the border is more secure," Blumenthal said when asked about his reaction to parts of Trump's speech. "Some of the tactics used within the country, I think, are really regrettable and inhumane. And that's why I think there needs to be reforms that stop the violations of law and constitutional rights."

ICE enforcement appeared to be a sticking point for Omar as well. 

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"It happens all the time when a president is lying and clearly forgets that his administration killed two of my constituents," she told Fox News Digital when asked about some of the interruptions that took place during the State of the Union. "It is important for the reminder to be there."

When asked about her stance on defunding ICE, Omar said, she "look[ed] forward" to doing it. 

"At this moment, actually accountability and for people to go to jail for the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti," Omar responded when asked what it would take for her to fund ICE and end the current partial government shutdown impacting workers.  

A wave of corporate relocations is reshaping the U.S. economy, and Texas is emerging as the clear winner.

According to a report by CBRE, one of the nation’s largest commercial real estate brokerage firms, 561 companies have relocated their headquarters nationwide since 2018. The research shows many companies are reassessing tax climates, operating costs and growth prospects as they consider a move. 

That’s significant, because these moves are often driven by long-term financial and growth strategies, not just geography — giving business-friendly states a competitive edge. 

From Texas to Tennessee, those states are racking up new headquarters, while blue strongholds like California and New York are losing companies at a notable clip.

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The Lone Star State clearly dominates the relocation map. Dallas-Fort Worth captured 100 headquarters moves between 2018 and 2024 — the most of any metro in the country — while Austin secured another 81 and Houston added 31. Combined, those three markets accounted for more relocations than most entire states, cementing Texas' outsized role in reshaping the corporate landscape.

Meanwhile, California metros saw the steepest net losses, led by the San Francisco Bay Area with a net loss of 156 headquarters over the same period. 

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As blue states debate regulation and tax policy, Texas business leaders say the state's approach is paying off. Megan Mauro, interim president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, points to the state’s tax structure and lighter regulatory climate as key draws.

"We have a light regulatory touch and no personal or corporate income tax," Mauro said, citing Texas' recent $25 billion surplus as evidence of what she calls a competitive tax environment.

Her argument aligns with research from CBRE, which found that companies most often cite lower taxes, reduced operating costs and stronger growth opportunities when relocating their headquarters.

The shift has intensified scrutiny of tax policy in high-cost states. Steve Moore, economist and co-founder of Unleash Prosperity, said those states risk driving away wealth and investment.

"It is common sense for business leaders to pick places for future financial success rather than economic suffocation," Moore told Fox News Digital.

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He argued that proposals such as California’s 2026 Billionaire Tax Act are accelerating the outflow of the state's ultra-wealthy residents to lower-tax states like Texas and Florida. 

"These business tycoons are running to states like Florida and Texas because of lower taxes, economic freedom and future economic prosperity," he said, describing it as "voting with their feet."

That shift is also reflected in population data.

From 2021 to 2024, Texas and Florida posted the largest net population gains, while California and several northeastern states recorded some of the steepest losses, according to IRS and U.S. Census Bureau data.

Moore added that the broader economic implications extend beyond corporate balance sheets.

Growth in states like Texas can expand the tax base and provide additional funding flexibility for infrastructure, education and other priorities — often without raising tax rates.

Economic performance frequently shapes midterm messaging, and migration trends like these are poised to feature in debates over tax competitiveness.

Whether those patterns endure remains to be seen. For now, though, population flows are reinforcing a broader argument: tax policy is no longer an abstract debate — it’s shaping where Americans choose to build their futures.

Over the past few weeks, there has been great speculation regarding the growing unrest in Iran and what action, if any, the United States will take in response. One fact that remains clear is that the Iranian regime finds itself at its weakest point since 1979. As such, the world has reached a pivotal crossroad — one that will define the course of history for generations.

First, let’s examine how we got to this point. After the attacks of October 7, Israel was determined to give new meaning to the phrase "Never Again" and has relentlessly gone after the terrorist networks that perpetrated the attack. With assistance from the United States, they tremendously degraded not only the nuclear capability, but also the missile capability and general military readiness of Iran. It is ironic to me that one of the main reasons Iran is so crippled stems from October 7, yet it serves as a silver lining that has sprung from one of the greatest atrocities in modern history, nonetheless.

The second major factor is that the people in Iran have risen up and taken to the streets by the millions. Daily life is miserable, and with no viable economic growth potential, the future remains hopeless as long as the ayatollah stays in power. The bravery of the protesters, combined with the military thrashing given by Israel and the United States, has placed this regime at a tipping point.

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The next question, arguably most important, is where do we go from here? President Donald Trump has two lines in the water: a diplomatic line and a military line. While diplomatic negotiations are always worth pursuing within reason, my ultimate hope is that regime change will be achieved. This will come about in one of two ways: either the current regime changes its ways — which I find unlikely — or the Iranian people will take over once the regime falls.

To those who resist regime change: why do you wish to see this regime continue as it is? The ayatollah and his henchmen slaughter people for protesting, they beat young women to death for wearing their headscarves improperly, and they have overseen the largest state sponsor of terrorism for decades. Who wants that to continue? I certainly don’t, nor do the Iranian people. The people are the ones demanding regime change, and we should stand behind them.

When asked by the world media what the protesters in Iran should do, President Trump boldly said, "Keep protesting. Help is on the way." I believe that to be the correct statement, and it will be historical in nature if the regime collapses.

Trump’s support for the protesters, in conjunction with America’s display of strength in Operation Midnight Hammer, has created the largest opportunity for peace and prosperity in the Mideast in over 1,000 years. If this regime is replaced, normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel becomes possible again. The people of Iran will chart their own destiny, and terrorist networks across the region, such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis will atrophy even further. My trip last week to Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia — three states facing threats from Iran and its proxies — reaffirmed to me that each of these possibilities are not only attainable, but would be extremely beneficial to the United States and our allies.

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On the other hand, we must remember who we will be forced to reconcile with if the regime holds. At the helm is the ayatollah, a religious zealot who orchestrated an assassination attempt on President Trump’s life. When he chants death to America and death to all the Jews, he means what he says. If the ayatollah remains in charge after all this bluster, I fear the problems that will arise will haunt the region for decades and America even further.

With the fate of millions at stake, I am praying for President Trump as he makes one of the most consequential decisions any president can make. I know President Trump to be a man of his word. He is reluctant to get entangled in wars with no end, yet unafraid to use force.

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It is my strong view that history is watching every move we make. If we follow through by sending help to the protesters risking their lives, we will have a 21st Century Berlin Wall moment. Ronald Reagan's determination to stand up to communism paid dividends for the entire world when the Soviet Union crumbled under its own weight. What followed was a new birth of freedom around the globe, liberating millions who knew nothing but oppression.

If the ayatollah falls, it will set in motion a similar sequence of events across the Middle East. All the terrorist proxies will be left hanging, the Abraham Accords will expand exponentially, the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel will be back on the front burner, and the Iranian people will come to know what all human beings desire most: freedom. The ripple effects of this regime’s destruction will bring forth tremendous, positive change across the region that will echo across the world.

Only time will tell what will happen next. For now, we must be smart, and we must be bold.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has handed his teenage daughter a leadership role in the regime’s powerful "Missile Administration," the body that oversees Pyongyang’s nuclear forces, South Korean media reported Monday.

The girl, Ju Ae, who is believed to be 13 or 14 years old, was assessed by South Korean intelligence received on Sunday to be acting as a "missile general director" while authorities monitor developments at the ongoing Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, the reports said.

The Chosun Daily, citing high-level government sources familiar with the matter, said intelligence agencies obtained reports that Kim’s daughter has been elevated to the position.

While Jang Chang-ha is officially listed as director of the administration, intelligence suggested Kim’s daughter is receiving briefings from generals and issuing directives.

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South Korea’s National Intelligence Service recently told lawmakers that her public profile signals she is also in the "stage of being designated as a successor," adding that circumstances have been seen where she provides opinions on policy, The Associated Press reported.

The teen has appeared alongside her father at high-profile military events, including intercontinental ballistic missile launches and weapons inspections.

North Korean state media first confirmed her existence in November 2022, and described her only as a "beloved child" when she accompanied Kim at the launch of the Hwasong-17 ICBM. 

Her name has never been officially disclosed by Pyongyang.

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Her reported role comes as Kim continues to showcase advances in the country’s weapons programs.

On Feb. 18, Kim was photographed taking the wheel of a nuclear-capable 600mm multiple rocket launcher in Pyongyang, touting it as among the most powerful of its kind.

State media showed rows of launch vehicles and said the rockets, which Kim claimed rival short-range ballistic missiles and use artificial intelligence in their guidance systems, have "completely changed" modern artillery warfare, Reuters reported.

As previously reported by Fox News Digital, Kim was re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea on Feb.22, a decision announced by state-run media following the party’s Ninth Congress.

North Korea has suspended all meaningful diplomacy with the United States and South Korea since the collapse of a 2019 summit between Kim and President Donald Trump.

This came over disagreements about sanctions relief in exchange for steps to wind down Kim’s nuclear and missile program.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins served as the designated survivor during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, a long-standing security precaution meant to preserve continuity of government in the event of a catastrophe.

Collins was also tasked with the role last year.

Collins did not attend the joint session of Congress. Instead, he was escorted to a secure, undisclosed location for the duration of the address. The identity of the designated survivor is typically made public on the day of the speech, after the individual has been safely relocated.

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The role is part of the federal government’s continuity-of-government planning — a framework designed to ensure that constitutional leadership and core operations can continue if a catastrophic attack or disaster were to incapacitate officials gathered at the Capitol. 

The State of the Union presents a unique security concern because it brings together the president, vice president, members of Congress, the Supreme Court and much of the Cabinet in a single location.

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Under the Presidential Succession Act, if a devastating event were to occur and those ahead in the line of succession were killed or incapacitated, the designated survivor — provided they meet constitutional requirements — could be sworn in as president.

The practice dates back to the Cold War, when fears of a nuclear strike prompted new safeguards to protect the continuity of American leadership. 

While the designated survivor has never been called upon to assume the presidency, the role remains a visible symbol of the extensive security and contingency planning surrounding major national events.

Over 10 years ago, billionaire businessman Donald Trump announced he was running for the biggest office in the land. Three presidential races and two victories later, one thing is clear. Trump won his war with the media hands down. The press set out to destroy him. They failed. And he crushed them instead. At no time since the founding of our republic has the traditional media been less influential.

President Trump has won lawsuits against two different news networks, watched as other news organizations refused to endorse his competitor in the presidential race and celebrated as public media had its taxpayer funding ripped away. This is another classic Trump upset victory that is reminiscent of David smiting Goliath. It didn’t go well for Goliath either time.

Who could have predicted the turn of events? The establishment left-wing press have influenced everything in America for decades — politics, culture, sports and more. They helped decide both party's presidential candidates, destroyed political careers, covered up scandals (Hunter Biden, anyone?) and helped push every issue in the world to the left — from taxes, to transgenders to the media itself.

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They had survived the many threats to their power — the internet, blogging, social media, declining ad revenue, everything the world threw at them. Even the first term of Trump. The press pushed hard for and celebrated two Trump impeachments, an election defeat and enough lawfare to keep Perry Mason busy. They looked like they could take on anything.

Anything, that is, but Trump Part II. This time everything has been different. And, as Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union speech, Tuesday, February 24, the state of his opponents in the media is in a shambles.

Just look at his overwhelming victory against NPR and PBS. Republicans warred against so-called public media for decades. Both networks were overflowing with leftist staffers, guests and agendas and it all was paid for by American taxpayers. But, every attempt to chip away at funding became a battle against Big Bird. The right was humiliated each time it tried to nibble funding away from two of the most openly leftist networks in the nation. The result made Republicans unwilling to try. Trump was willing and pushed Congress to axe the funding and won. Former CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta had urged more funding for public media, calling for it to be "too big to fail in this country." Yet, fail it did.

All of those claims that the federal money didn’t make up much of public media’s budget turned out, unsurprisingly, to be a lie. Both networks are struggling with finances. PBS canceled "PBS News Weekend" and blamed Trump: "PBS cancelled the show due to the loss of federal funding for public media," it declared. You can pretend to be sad now.

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Trump hit the press with lawyers of his own and won. Both ABC and CBS settled lawsuits against Trump, fearing worse outcomes. ABC agreed "to pay a $15 million ‘charitable contribution’ to a future presidential foundation for construction of Trump’s presidential library, covering $1 million in legal fees, and appending a statement of regret to the segment," according to The Washington Post.

The changes at CBS were even more profound. The network settled for $16 million for the future Trump library. But that wasn’t all. CBS hired Free Press founder Bari Weiss as its new editor-in-chief. Most in the media were furious, even though she’s no conservative. The New Yorker referred to it as a, "Hostile Takeover of CBS News." Weiss has battled with network staff to try to get them to be more even-handed, which has infuriated journalists who mostly complain anonymously to others in the press.

One producer resigned, complaining, "Stories may instead be evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations." Journalists who thrilled at the network’s openly leftist ideology, now whine if it shifts slightly closer to center. To top things off, CNN anchor and "60 Minutes" correspondent Anderson Cooper didn’t renew his contract either.

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Ideological expectations were changing in newspapers, as well. Last February, Post owner Jeff Bezos, of Amazon fame, announced a huge shift in the editorial pages. He declared they would promote, "personal liberties and free markets." Two things most journalists hate. The exodus of staffers that followed reads like a Who’s Who of leftist Posties — including columnists Jonathan Capehart and Philip Bump, and its hilariously titled fact-checker Glenn Kessler.

The entire journalism world had erupted in anger when the Post and 43 other of the nation’s top newspapers refused to endorse a candidate for president in 2024. That tally included both the L.A. Times and several top chains, according to journalism’s Nieman Lab. The Post reportedly lost over 200,000 subscribers. This January, the paper had massive layoffs of somewhere between a third and half its staff. One Hill op-ed described the cuts as, "Darkness descends with Washington Post mass layoffs."

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The Post was far from alone. There were 2,254 job cuts at news outlets in 2025, including cuts at CNN, CBS, NBC and more.

Even social media no longer bans Trump. And Trump went from being a minor player there to founder of Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., which includes Truth Social. It has a market cap of about $3 billion.

Not too shabby for the man who called the media "the enemy of the American people" after he first took office in 2017 and has warred with them ever since. Now, journalists face three more years of defeats at the hands of their arch enemy and a future filled with conservatives who learned how to take down media giants from a master.

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