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Comedian Jeff Dye on leaving Los Angeles and the politics driving comedy’s new divide

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Comedian Jeff Dye on leaving Los Angeles and the politics driving comedy’s new divide

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After announcing his plans to leave California for Texas last month, comedian Jeff Dye made it clear that this was not a decision he came to overnight. For years, he clung to the belief that the state he loved could still be saved, but eventually that hope ran out.

Dye sat down with Fox News Digital, where he offered insight into his decision to leave Los Angeles for Austin and how politics have carved a growing divide within the stand-up comedy community.

A fixture of the stand-up scene since 2005, Dye is preparing to join the wave of entertainers and everyday Americans who have fled the Golden State in recent years. While he agreed that “there’s nothing heroic about leaving” California, the comedian expressed a sense of hopelessness about the state’s future under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s leadership — especially given his handling of the wildfires that tore through the Palisades earlier this year.

COMEDIAN JEFF DYE JOINS HOLLYWOOD EXODUS, SAYS LA FIRES WERE ‘QUITE A WAKE-UP CALL’

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Comedian Jeff Dye sat down with Fox News Digital and discussed his recent decision to leave California for Texas. (Photo Courtesy of SA Ent. Group)

“I don’t think it’s good to leave California because you’re upset with the way it’s run. We should stay and fight for it,” he asserted. “But at a certain point, you just get a little defeated in like, I don’t know how to fight for it anymore. I don’t know what to do.”

On the issues of homelessness and transportation, Dye questioned where taxpayer funds allocated to tackle these problems have gone, aiming his questions at Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Newsom’s office had a dismissive reply when reached for comment by Fox News Digital, saying of Dye, “Who is that?” When reached for comment, a representative for Mayor Bass replied with a yawn emoji.

In April of last year, a state audit found California had spent $24 billion on tackling homelessness over five years without consistently tracking how the funds actually aided in the homeless crisis.

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“How many things does Mayor Bass and Gavin Newsom, you know, how many things can they just lie to our face or ignore or not do before you go, I’m out of here?” he asked. 

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With politics creeping its way into seemingly every facet of life, the stand-up comedy scene has been no exception.

Jeff Dye explained the impact that he felt politics are having on the stand-up comedy world. (Courtesy of SA Ent. Group)

Fox News Digital asked Dye whether he felt that the growing influence of politics in stand-up comedy has had a negative impact on the industry.

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“The biggest thing I’ve noticed in stand-up comedy — and people will accuse me of being a drama queen or being a punk for even saying this — but the biggest thing I’ve noticed is that the politics is interfering with the comedy,” he said.

“It used to be my heroes, at least, were like, ‘Dude, don’t be politically correct and say what you think and don’t be afraid to break any faux pas.’ Where it’s now, even the most successful comedians are being like, ‘Hey, you can’t joke about that,’ or, ‘You can’t say that,’ which breaks my brain.”

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According to Dye, today’s stand-up stars tend to follow an unspoken rule: “Say whatever you want, but you better be liberal.”

One comedy legend whose words have stayed with Dye over the years is George Carlin, whose anti-establishment, provocative style helped define conscious comedy.

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“George Carlin once said our job as comedians is to find that line and then deliberately cross it … I’m not running for office. I’m not doing TED talks. I’m not lecturing people on ethics and morals. I’m just supposed to be funny and point out things in society,” he explained.

Comedian George Carlin performs at the Cheyenne Civic Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 1, 1992. (Mark Junge/Getty Images)

Dye contended that a few “brave comics” have shifted the Overton Window in regard to what is or isn’t acceptable to speak about as a stand-up.

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He credited comedians/hosts like Joe Rogan, Theo Von and Shane Gillis for this shift, praising their willingness to speak their minds with little regard for what others may think.

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“Now you see a lot of comics coming along going, ‘Oh, it’s a little safer now, because these big comics have said a thing.’ I was on the front lines of that in a way,” he said. “I’ve always been more conservative than my comedic counterparts. I’ve always been way more religious as far as like, I’m a Christian, so that’s not a huge, popular thing in stand-up comedy. I was on the front lines in that way.”

Comedian Jeff Dye performs on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” on Jan. 19, 2018. (Andrew Lipovsky/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal)

Explaining his gradual shift in political ideology, Dye told Fox News Digital, “I was late to the Trump party. I was late to a lot of those things. I thought, because I had gay friends, that I must be liberal, and then becoming liberal became crazier and crazier and more Antifa-ish, and I was like, ‘I’m out.’”

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Dye acknowledged that some may scoff at the idea of comedians being brave for expressing their views, but he pushed back on that perspective — noting the risks that come with challenging the dominant political consensus.

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“It is brave to say something that everyone else isn’t saying. There is some bravery in that. To say a thing that your peers and the people you work with are going to hate. And if you don’t think that’s brave, look at what happened to Charlie Kirk,” he argued. “It is brave because there are risks when you say things that people don’t like.”

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Two wounded in Portland shooting involving federal agents after DHS says vehicle ‘weaponized’ against them

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Two wounded in Portland shooting involving federal agents after DHS says vehicle ‘weaponized’ against them

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed a U.S. Border Patrol agent shot two people in Portland, Oregon, after the driver of a car allegedly attempted to run over federal officers.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:19 p.m. local time, when Border Patrol agents stopped a vehicle and identified themselves as law enforcement, DHS said.

According to DHS, the driver – who is believed to be a member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) – allegedly, “weaponized the vehicle and attempted to run over the law enforcement agents.”

Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot, according to DHS. The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene, officials said.

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DHS said the driver was also allegedly involved in a recent shooting in the city.

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FBI agents at the scene of an alleged shooting involving federal agents. (KPTV)

Following the incident, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “halt all operations” in the city until a full and independent investigation can take place.

“We know what the federal government says happened here,” Wilson said during a news conference Thursday. “There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time has long passed.”

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Wilson added that ICE agents and DHS leadership “must fully be investigated and held responsible for the violence inflicted on the American people in Minnesota, in Portland, and in all the communities across America.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek reacted to the shooting, claiming it was “instigated by the reckless agenda of the Trump administration.”

“While the details of the incident remain limited, one thing is very clear: when a president endorses tearing families apart and attempts to govern through fear and hate rather than shared values, you foster an environment of lawlessness and recklessness,” she said.

Kotek said Oregon’s attorney general and other leaders have raised concerns with the excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland, adding that “today’s incident only heightens the need for transparency and accountability.”

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced the state DOJ has launched a formal investigation into the shooting.

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Portland District Attorney Nathan Vazquez hosts a press conference outside a medical building in Portland after a shooting involving federal agents occurred. (KPTV)

Portland District Attorney Nathan Vazquez said Thursday he was “very concerned” by the incident and pledged a thorough investigation.

Vazquez said his office is working closely with Portland police and the FBI.

Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers responded to reports of a shooting on the 10200 block of Southeast Main Street at about 2:18 p.m. local time and confirmed federal agents were involved, according to the city.

Fewer than 10 minutes later, at 2:24 p.m., officers were told a man who had been shot was calling and requesting help in the area of Northeast 146th Avenue and East Burnside. 

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Police responded and found a man and woman with apparent gunshot wounds, according to the city. They were taken to the hospital and their conditions are unknown. 

The City of Portland released a map of where a shooting took place Thursday afternoon in Portland, Oregon. (City of Portland)

Both scenes were secured by the PPB pending an investigation, officials said.

No arrests have been confirmed.

“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” PPB Chief Bob Day wrote in a statement. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”

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Two people were allegedly shot by federal agents in an Oregon neighborhood. (KPTV)

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Audio released Thursday evening from a 911 call captures a request for emergency assistance after a man was shot twice in the arm and a woman, identified as his wife, was shot in the chest.

PPB officers were not involved in the incident, and “do not engage in immigration enforcement,” according to city officials.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., reacted to the shooting on X, blaming the Trump administration for “inflaming violence.”

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“I’m monitoring the first awful reports of two people shot in Portland by federal law enforcement,” Wyden wrote in the post. “I’ll keep you updated, but Trump’s deployment of federal agents in my hometown is clearly inflaming violence–and must end.”

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said he had “huge concern” about a reported shooting of two individuals by federal agents outside Portland Adventist Hospital.

“Please keep protests of Trump’s ICE/CBP peaceful, as Trump wants to generate riots,” Merkley said, adding, “Don’t take the bait.”

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Oregon state Sen. Kayse Jama forcefully rejected the presence of ICE and other federal agencies in the state, saying, “We do not need you.”

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“You are not welcome and you need to get the hell out of our community,” Jama said at a news conference.

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San Francisco, CA

49ers Show ‘Resiliency’ in Upset Victory, Thanks to LFG Winner Demarcus Robinson

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49ers Show ‘Resiliency’ in Upset Victory, Thanks to LFG Winner Demarcus Robinson


The San Francisco 49ers suffered another devastating injury on Sunday. But, thanks to a strong supporting cast, they found a way to prevail once again.

San Francisco pulled off the biggest playoff upset so far in what’s been a wild wild-card round, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, on the road. Unheralded wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was a major reason behind Sunday’s upset as he hauled in six receptions for a game-high 111 yards and a touchdown en route to winning Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game.

When Robinson spoke with Brady after the game, it didn’t take long for him to find the one word to describe the 49ers. 

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“If it was one word, I’d say resiliency. Resilient,” Robinson said of his team. “These guys play with resiliency. We’ve got a lot of injuries throughout the year. Even tonight, like you said, losing Kittle, guys stepped up and knew they had to make plays. That’s what we were able to do today, go out and make plays.”

Sunday’s victory also came in comeback fashion for the Niners, who rallied from a 16-10 fourth-quarter deficit despite losing tight end George Kittle in the first half to a torn Achilles.

Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game: 49ers WR Demarcus Robinson 🏆

Robinson’s resiliency was on full display on the 49ers’ opening possession. He turned an intermediate pass from Brock Purdy over the middle into a 61-yard gain, zigzagging through the Eagles’ secondary on his way to Philly’s 16-yard line. He then caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to end the drive.

There was possibly no greater sign of the team’s resiliency, however, than the play that gave them a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. After their offense seemed stuck in the mud for most of the game, the 49ers found the end zone when wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to running back Christian McCaffrey on a trick play.

Robinson was just one of a few supporting characters who contributed to the 49ers’ win. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had a season-high four receptions for 49 yards, making a pair of big grabs that helped set up touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Defensively, linebacker Garret Wallow had a game-high 11 total tackles after recording just nine total tackles in the regular season. 

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The 49ers’ top player in McCaffrey also showed his resilience in the win. McCaffrey turned 21 touches into 114 yards and two touchdowns, with the second TD coming via a 4-yard grab with 2:54 remaining to give the 49ers a decisive 23-19 lead.

“I think the guys are just playing with resiliency, man,” Robinson said of his team. “Everybody knew what we had at stake. Everybody came out there and did their part. So, that helped us get the dub.”

The injury to Kittle was his second serious injury of the season after he missed time earlier in the year due to a hamstring tear. San Francisco has also seen some of its other stars get sidelined for the majority of the year, such as edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner.

Warner could potentially return later in the postseason, but another key piece in wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who missed Sunday’s game, remains in limbo as he battles a knee injury. Of course, Purdy missed time this year due to shoulder and toe injuries that cost him eight games.

Despite all of that, the 49ers will now move on to play for a spot in the NFC Championship Game when they take on the Seahawks in Seattle next weekend. They nearly hosted the divisional round game, but lost to the Seahawks at home, 13-3, in the regular-season finale to give Seattle the NFC West and the conference’s No. 1 seed. 

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Robinson is optimistic, however, that there will be a different result this time around. 

“Hopefully, we get the dub, obviously,” Robinson said. “We’ve just got to lock in, man. We’ve got to lock in and put more points on the board than we did last week at home. Just put more points on the board. The defense played lights out tonight. Hopefully, we keep playing that same way, man, and it leads to more dubs.”

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Denver, CO

Broncos will face Chargers or Bills in divisional round (date coming soon)

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Broncos will face Chargers or Bills in divisional round (date coming soon)


The Denver Broncos are just hours away from learning their opponent for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

As the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, the Broncos have a bye for the wild-card round this weekend. They will play the lowest advancing seed from the conference, and there are now two candidates.

The Buffalo Bills (the No. 6) seed defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The only lower seed in the AFC are the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 7), who will face the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football this evening. So if L.A. wins, they will face Denver next weekend. If the Chargers lose, the Broncos will host the Bills next weekend.

Broncos divisional opponent

  • If Chargers win: Chargers @ Broncos
  • If Chargers lose: Bills @ Broncos

The NFL will likely announce the date, time and television channel for the Broncos’ playoff game during or just after SNF. Denver is coming off a bye and there’s another AFC wild-card game scheduled for Monday, so the Broncos will likely be scheduled to play on Saturday, Jan. 17 (but that hasn’t been confirmed yet).

Stay tuned. We will know Denver’s opponent later today, and the game date should also arrive soon.

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