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. 

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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.

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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 South Florida elected official is pledging to donate his salary to the family of a fallen police officer who died in a fatal crash this week and left behind a wife and three young children. 

Miami Beach Commissioner David Suarez told Fox News Digital he plans to reach out to the family of Miami Beach Police officer David Cajuso after giving them time to grieve. 

Cajuso, 33, was a 10-year veteran of the police force who served as a motorman “with courage and an unwavering commitment to public service,” the police department said in a Facebook post announcing his death. 

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“You couldn’t find a better officer. He was really a cop’s cop. He was one of the best,” Suarez said. “He leaves behind a widow and three very small children. I’m married. I have three small children, and I can’t image what my wife would do without me.”

The fallen officer died after being involved in a traffic crash along the northbound lanes of Interstate 75 in the area of NW 138 Street.

Miami Beach commissioners make around $70,000 annually, a combination of base pay and monthly allowances, Suarez said. 

Cajuso was remembered by residents as a good police officer with a warm smile who displayed the utmost professionalism.

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Miami Beach Commissioner David Suarez (Miami Beach Commissioner David Suarez/Facebook)

“I recently spoke to him about the importance of supporting law enforcement and mutual friends we shared from my time in the FBI and those from Miami Beach Police Department,” Nicole Parker, a former FBI special agent and Fox News contributor who lives in Miami Beach, told Fox News Digital. 

“He genuinely cared about protecting others and particularly the most vulnerable, children.

“I was crushed to learn of his passing and even more heartbroken when I saw the photos of his beautiful family — a wife and three young children,” she added. “Having lost my closest friend in the line, the devastating impact it has on the children left behind is beyond words.”

Suarez credited law enforcement with protecting the public, specifically in Miami Beach.

“We stick up for our law enforcement,” he said. “I think it’s important that we support each other.

A photo of the Miami Beach coastline.  (iStock)

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“I wish more politicians really did stick up for law enforcement and support families because it’s a tough job. You have families that are involved with these police officers,” he added. “A lot of people forget that they have spouses, they have a lot of children. 

“A lot of them are young, and I think it’s important that we show the human side to the people who really protect us, because, in the last couple years, they’ve had a bad rap. They’ve been vilified in the media, and that goes with their families too.”