Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., vowed on the “Ruthless” podcast Thursday in an exclusive interview that he will hold the NCAA accountable over a rules change regarding athletes engaging in sports betting.

Guthrie sent a letter to National Collegiate Athletic Association President Charlie Baker, questioning their decision to allow student athletes and college athletic department staff to bet on professional sports.  

“The timing of the NCAA’s decision to allow student athlete and staff participation in professional sports betting raises questions about sports betting and integrity of sport in the NCAA,” Guthrie wrote. 

While college athletes are still unable to bet on college sports, Guthrie warned in a letter that there are those who believe it may be hazardous to allow college athletes to bet on professional sports, noting that even the NCAA itself, “previously expressed concern about the pervasiveness and potential harm of sports betting on young adults” and yet beginning next month, student athletes will be able to place bets. 

NBA MEMO SHEDS LIGHT ON LEAGUE’S INTEGRITY CONCERNS AFTER GAMBLING-RELATED ARRESTS

Amid recent sports betting scandals, the timing of such a rule change, the letter argued, is concerning, and proceeded to ask numerous questions such as, “Why is the NCAA changing its policy allowing student athletes to bet on professional sports?”

Guthrie spoke to the “Ruthless” podcast on Thursday, announcing his NCAA letter.

“The integrity of the game is in question,” the lawmaker said. “And my understanding with the NBA, a lot of these gambling houses are the people that apps, I guess, is what flagged it. Because they saw these different patterns.”

Guthrie expressed concern that while the NCAA has moved to permit student-athletes to bet on professional sports, many questions remain about who made this decision, how the decision was reached, and how oversight and control will be implemented. He emphasized that these athletes are closely connected—often moving from college to the pros and maintaining personal relationships—making it especially important to understand how such relationships and communications will be managed under this new policy.

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“Yeah, ‘Maybe pull a hamstring in the second quarter,’” co-host Michael Duncan joked, a person might suggest to his athlete friend, looking to win big.

Co-host Michael Duncan joked that friends of athletes might pressure them to throw the game in order to win a bet. 

“Yeah, I’m just saying, you don’t know that – hopefully they wouldn’t do that, but it certainly sets that situation up,” the congressman warned.

Guthrie went on to note the strange ways that unethical gambling behaviors can pop up, such as citing how player-manager Pete Rose defended how he only bet on his team winning, something which Guthrie noted even himself thought innocuous, “’If you bet on your team to win, aren’t you gonna try harder?’”

However, Guthrie noted how he learned from sports gamblers how even this can be ethically hazardous, due to what games one strategically decides not to bet on.

“So if he’s betting $10,000 on this game, but nothing on the next game, he knows there’s a pitcher not pitching well, has a player got a sore foot. You know, that’s what you don’t know,” he said. “And so I agree. So you can’t have athletes, particularly people that communicate as they do, even though, you know, a college player is not on a pro team, but if his best friends own the pro team, and you’re seeing him betting, then you’re going, ‘Well, maybe we should bet that way.’”

“Ruthless” can be listened to on all podcast platforms and can be watched on YouTube. (Fox News Media)

“If there’s one guy that I trust to look into it, it is you because you’re a sports fan, you have tons of integrity, and you actually try to find the facts, not just get your name next to the league letters in the newspaper,” co-host Josh Holmes said. 

FIRST ON FOX: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested two illegal immigrants wanted for murder in Texas and Georgia on the same day, with one allegedly confessing to a killing after his arrest, officials said.

In Texas, on Oct. 22, agents took William Machado, a Honduran national, into custody. Machado had been wanted by local law enforcement since 2022 for murder.

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ICE officials said in a statement that it was during an interview following his capture that Machado confessed to the homicide.

In a separate operation in Georgia, ICE agents arrested Salvador Rodriguez-Mendoza, a Mexican national, who is wanted by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, also for murder, as well as two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

CALIFORNIA ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WITH 49 PRIOR ARRESTS TOPS ICE’S LATEST ‘WORST-OF-THE-WORST’ LIST

In Georgia, ICE arrested Salvador Rodriguez-Mendoza from Mexico, who had an active arrest warrant for murder. (Department of Homeland Security)

Authorities said Rodriguez-Mendoza has a lengthy criminal record, including multiple arrests on charges of drunk driving, drug possession charges, and driving without a license.

ICE confirmed Rodriguez-Mendoza had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2000 and 2018, but illegally re-entered the country for a third time at an unknown date and location.

“These two criminal illegal alien MURDERERS will now face justice thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Machado and Rodriguez-Mendoza have zero regard for human life, and we have NO PLACE for animals like them in our country,” she added.

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Nearly 60 people were detained by ICE in the operation. (WZTV)

“These are the exact type of heinous criminals ICE is arresting and removing from American communities every single day. 70% of ICE arrests have been charged with or convicted of crimes in the U.S. Thanks to President Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s leadership, these two dangerous criminals are no longer a threat to Americans,” McLaughlin added.

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ICE said detainers have been lodged on both individuals pending the conclusion of their criminal proceedings.

According to ICE data, roughly 70% of individuals arrested in fiscal year 2024 had either been charged with or convicted of crimes inside the U.S., ranging from homicide and assault to drug trafficking and DUI offenses.

A JetBlue flight traveling from Cancun to New Jersey made an emergency diversion to Tampa Thursday after a sudden “drop in altitude” left several passengers injured, the air carrier told Fox News Digital.

Flight 1230, an Airbus 320, was headed to New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport from Cancun International Airport in Mexico when it suddenly experienced a “flight control issue” and was diverted to a nearby airport, the airline said.

The plane landed at Tampa International Airport around 2 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Fox News Digital.

JetBlue added that the “flight was met by medical personnel who evaluated customers and crew members, and those needing additional care were transported to a local hospital.”

TWO DELTA REGIONAL JETS COLLIDE ON TAXIWAY AT LAGUARDIA AIRPORT; 1 INJURED

The airline did not immediately specify how many people were injured or the severity of their conditions.

The aircraft has since been removed from service for inspection, JetBlue said.

2 SMALL PLANES COLLIDE IN MIDAIR AT REGIONAL ARIZONA AIRPORT, LEAVING 1 DEAD

A JetBlue Airways passenger plane is parked at an airport gate Aug. 24, 2025, in Arlington, Va.  (Daniel Slim/AFP)

The FAA and the air carrier added they will conduct a full investigation to determine what caused the sudden altitude loss.

Planes are parked at Tampa International Airport Sept. 27, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP)

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“The safety of our customers and crew members is always our first priority, and we will work to support those involved,” JetBlue said.