SHOCK HEALTH SCARE: SAM CHAMPION’S SUDDEN SURGERY LEAVES FANS WORRIED CQ
SHOCK HEALTH SCARE: SAM CHAMPION’S SUDDEN SURGERY LEAVES FANS WORRIED CQ
GOOD Morning America’s Sam Champion has been hospitalized and underwent emergency heart surgery after a standard test revealed alarming results.
The weather anchor took a break from his duties on the morning show and ABC News to prioritize his health after receiving concerning news.
Good Morning America’s Sam Champion is on the mend after undergoing emergency heart surgeryCredit: Instagram/samchampion
Sam shared photos from his hospital bed after undergoing a cardiac catheterizationCredit: Instagram/samchampion
On Sunday, Sam, 64, shared in an Instagram post that he’s on the mend following the procedure, which was prompted when doctors “found some things” during a routine “nuclear stress test.”
He posted a photo of himself waving from a hospital bed, wearing a hospital gown and being hooked up to machines.
“Thank you Dr. Lerakis and Dr.sharma and the WONDERFUL team of nurses at @mountsinaimedicalcenter Fuster Heart Hospital!” Sam’s caption began.
“Many of you know I had a nuclear stress test last Thursday. And we found some things that needed to be taken care of so today.
“I went in to the cardiac catheterization laboratory….. and we took care of it. Thanks to these procedures. I am well and expected to make a full recovery.“
According to the Mayo Clinic, a nuclear stress test is “an imaging test that shows how blood goes to the heart at rest and during exercise.”
Sam then underwent a “cardiac catheterization,” which is an invasive procedure to “find problems with how your heart is working and its blood flow,” per the Cleveland Clinic.
The TV star also shared a selfie on his Stories, giving the camera a soft smile from his hospital bed.
“After: a little work then back to normal,” he captioned the post.
Many of Sam’s famous pals shared their wishes for the notable weatherman in the comments.
“I need to visit the cardiac care center after seeing this. SO glad you are okay. We need you around for 26385926385 more years,” ABC 7 meteorologist Dani Beckstrom wrote.
“Sam The Man. Glad you are on the mend, my friend,” the Today show’s chief meteorologist, Al Roker, said.
“Sam! Our Golden Guy with the heart of GOLD. Glad you got in front of this and sharing it helps underscore the importance of monitoring health for men and women!” WABC-TV journalist Nina Pineda reacted.
Sam’s husband of 14 years, Rubem Robierb, also commented with a slew of stars and raised-hands emojis.
In October 2024, Sam opened up to GMA viewers about his previous skin cancer diagnosis, in which he underwent an in-office procedure that left him with a significant scar underneath his left eye.
“Recently I had to step away from the studio to treat some skin cancer,” the TV personality shared.
“It’s not my first bout with the life-threatening disease, but this time I got a biopsy on a spot right under my eye, which turned out to be a basal cell carcinoma.”
He explained that his dermatologist performed a laser treatment to remove “pre-cancerous spots on my face.”
Sam was first diagnosed with skin cancer when he was 26.
The weatherman previously opened up to GMA viewers about his skin cancer diagnosisCredit: Getty
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Sam received a laser treatment to remove pre-cancerous spots on his face that left him with a significant scarCredit: Getty
Sam is a weather anchor for GMA and ABC NewsCredit: Getty
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
SHOWDOWN ON THE FIVE: Jessica Tarlov Drops Truth Bomb on GOP’s Controversial Voter Legislation
WASHINGTON — A ferocious battle over the soul of American democracy erupted on cable news this week, proving once again that the clash over election integrity is reaching a boiling point.
During a high-stakes segment on Fox News' top-rated program The Five, liberal co-host Jessica Tarlov ignited an intense firestorm by sounding the alarm on the Republican-backed SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act).
Her warning was sharp, direct, and unapologetic: This isn't just a simple Voter ID bill—it’s a bureaucratic roadblock designed to keep millions of legal Americans away from the ballot box.
"Far Beyond Voter ID": Tarlov Sounds the Alarm
While GOP proponents frame the SAVE Act as a common-sense measure to restore trust in elections, Tarlov shredded that narrative live on air, dissecting the fine print of the proposed federal mandate.
Under the bill, anyone registering to vote in federal elections would be legally required to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship—such as a physical U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, or naturalization papers.
"People hear 'Voter ID' and think it’s just showing a driver's license at the counter," Tarlov argued. "It’s not. This bill demands physical proof of citizenship upfront. Millions of everyday, hard-working American citizens do not have a valid passport sitting in a drawer or immediate access to an official birth certificate. This creates an artificial barrier to a fundamental constitutional right." without instant paperwork access.
Integrity Guardrail or Voter Suppression? The Great Debate
The fiery television debate reflects a massive political rift tearing through Capitol Hill and statehouses across the country.
The Conservative Defense: Republican sponsors and conservative commentators insist the measure is vital to national security and sovereign elections. They argue that verifying citizenship at registration is a necessary safeguard to prevent non-citizens from ever slipping onto federal voter rolls.
The Progressive Pushback: Critics like Tarlov argue that non-citizen voting in federal elections is already illegal, strictly policed, and exceptionally rare. Opponents caution that adding heavy administrative hurdles will unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters—particularly students, low-income citizens, rural voters, and women whose names have changed due to marriage.
The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher
As the debate over voter access versus election security intensifies, the SAVE Act has turned into a major political litmus test.
Is requiring physical proof of citizenship a mandatory protection to guarantee that every vote is lawful? Or is it an unnecessary, red-tape nightmare that punishes legal citizens for not having their paperwork in order?
One thing is certain: as long as voices like Jessica Tarlov continue to push back on prime-time television, the fight over who gets to vote—and how hard it is to do so—is far from over.
Jessica Tarlov Says Trump Has 35% Approval Rating in Most Polls
Supporters of the bill strongly disagree, saying it is designed to protect election integrity by preventing non-citizens from registering to vote. Opponents argue the existing safeguards are already sufficient and fear the measure could unintentionally disenfranchise lawful voters. Is the SAVE Act a necessary election safeguard, or does it create unnecessary barriers to voting?
