WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Wednesday again blocked Democratic legislation that would halt President Trump’s war with Iran, but the number of GOP senators voting against the war grew.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the war for the first time since it began at the end of February. Two other Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky, also voted against the war, as they had done previously.

The war powers legislation ultimately failed to advance 49-50, with Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania the only Democrat to oppose it, yet the close tally reflected growing unease with Trump’s war. Several other Republican senators have signaled they want Congress to weigh in on the direction of the conflict.

“There will be a day — and it might be soon, I believe — where this Senate will say to the president, ‘Stop this war,’” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has spearheaded his party’s tactic of forcing repeated votes on the war, said before the vote.

Even if it passes the Senate, a war powers resolution would have a slim chance of passing the House and would also certainly be vetoed by Trump. But Democrats say the votes are about building political pressure on the president either to withdraw from the conflict or seek congressional authorization to wage the war.

Trump officials downplay role for Congress

The White House, meanwhile, has asserted that it does not need congressional authorization for the war and has circumvented legal requirements to gain approval from Congress to continue the military campaign. It claims that it has “terminated” hostilities with Iran because the U.S. has entered a ceasefire.

That posture has created tension between the Republican-controlled Congress and the White House because presidents under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 are required to obtain authorization from Congress after 60 days of engaging in a conflict.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers this week that the U.S. could start attacking Iran again without the White House seeking congressional approval. He told Murkowski during a hearing on Tuesday that the Trump administration believes it has “all the authorities necessary.”

Murkowski voiced skepticism about that argument. She pointed to the troops and war ships deployed to the region, saying, “It doesn’t appear that hostilities have ended.”

GOP leaders back the war, but unease grows

Republican leadership has continued to back the war with Iran, arguing that the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz that has blocked most commercial shipping puts more economic pressure on Iran than it does on the U.S.

“Iran’s economy is on life support. Its leadership is eliminated,” said Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Republican in leadership, during a floor speech Wednesday.

He also argued that the Democratic effort on the war is all about undermining Trump. Forcing the issue just as he arrived in China for a summit would “pull out the rug from under him,” Barrasso said.

Still, Republicans are also growing uneasy about the high gas prices, especially as the November elections draw near.

Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, said Wednesday he’d prefer that the two branches of government work out the constitutional issues instead of a congressional war powers vote or a potential challenge in court.

The two sides should sit down together and say “we have shared constitutional responsibilities,” Rounds said.

Democrats plan to keep forcing weekly votes on war powers resolutions and are looking ahead to put limitations on Trump during the debate over annual legislation that authorizes and funds the military.

Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat who sponsored Wednesday’s resolution, told reporters that he believes there is an “erosion of support, erosion of enthusiasm, an increase in skepticism” about the war from Republicans.

Groves writes for the Associated Press.

Caoimhin Kelleher, Brentford, keeper, £4.8m – Crystal Palace (h)

Since week 29, Kelleher has returned a clean sheet every other week.

Arsenal aside, there aren’t many strong clean sheet picks this week but this Crystal Palace side is unlikely to be at full strength for the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium.

They will have their minds firmly on their Europa Conference League final and manager Oliver Glasner is likely to continue his rotation and protection of star players.

Gabriel, Arsenal, £7.3m – Burnley (h)

If you’re not picking the best defender in the game at home to a relegated team then something has gone wrong!

Gabriel got 11 points last week including defensive contribution points (defcon) making it just once in the past eight weeks that he has failed to return – and that was away at Manchester City.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, Arsenal, £5m – Burnley (h)

Double Arsenal defence again only this time I’m going with Lewis-Skelly, who might end up playing in midfield for the Gunners.

Burnley at home feels like a stonewall cleansheet for Arsenal and Lewis-Skelly could earn more defcon and pose a bigger attacking threat from a central midfield slot.

James Tarkowski, Everton, £5.7m – Sunderland (h)

Another 15-point return would be nice from Tarkowski, after his haul at Crystal Palace last time.

The fourth-highest scoring defender, he has returned defcon in 20 of 35 games to go with the attacking threat he demonstrated last week.

And Sunderland have scored just once in three games.

Malick Thiaw, Newcastle United, £4.9m – West Ham (h)

Another defcon monster who has been on the verge of a haul several times recently with no luck.

Thiaw’s xG over his past four games is 1.06 with nothing to show for it.

West Ham have only scored in one of their past four games so there are chances for points at both ends for Thiaw.

Thousands of people cheered Team Melli as Iran’s World Cup kit was unveiled before the team’s training camp in Turkiye.

Iran hosted a departure rally for its FIFA World Cup squad, witnessed by thousands of fans in Tehran’s Enqelab Square, amid concerns about ⁠the team travelling to the United States to compete.

The players were cheered ⁠by the crowd as they made patriotic statements from a stage on Wednesday.

Iran’s World Cup 2026 kit was also unveiled at the event, following which the team will travel to Turkiye to continue their preparations at a training camp.

“This is the best sendoff in the ⁠last four World Cup campaigns,” Mehdi Taj, president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), told state TV.

“The players are with the people, and the crowd stands with the country’s dignity, honour, and strength. Whatever the result, may Iran’s flag be raised there and defended.”

Iran’s participation in the World Cup has been in question since the US and ‌Israel attacked Iran, starting a regional war on February 28.

An FFIRI delegation, led by Taj, turned back at Toronto’s main airport, citing their treatment by Canadian immigration, and missed a pre-World Cup FIFA gathering in Vancouver. They alleged “unacceptable behaviour of immigration officials” despite holding valid visas.

In 2024, Canada listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, and statements from the Canadian government indicated that Taj was denied entry due to his alleged ties with the IRGC.

The incident triggered fears there may be issues for some of the Iranian delegation getting into the US.

As in Canada, the IRGC is classified as a “terrorist entity” in the US, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said no one with ties to ⁠the organisation would be admitted to the country.

Iran has placed responsibility for ⁠getting the players and team officials into the US, where Team Melli are scheduled to play all three World Cup group matches, firmly in the hands of FIFA.

“Nothing has arrived yet regarding the visas. We hope it will definitely ⁠be handled within this timeframe,” Hedayat Mombeini, FFIRI secretary-general, told state TV at the rally.

“FIFA has made promises, and hopefully those promises ⁠will lead to results, and the players will receive their ⁠visas on time.”

Iran ‌will play The Gambia in a World Cup warm-up in Antalya on May 29. Mombeini said the FFIRI was in the process of arranging another friendly for the training camp in Turkiye.

The imposition of Venezuelan state sovereignty over the oil industry was one of the pillars of the Bolivarian Revolution from the get-go.

This edition of Tatuy Tv’s “Chávez the Radical” compiles several speeches by Comandante Chávez where he discusses the multiple policies that had subordinated the Venezuelan oil industry to transnational corporate interests and their nefarious consequences.

Issues like state ownership, royalties, taxes, and international arbitration are as relevant as ever today as the country undergoes major pro-business reforms in the oil sector.

Source: Tatuy Tv

The BBC has confirmed that a comedy that had viewers ‘howling’ will be back for a third series

A BBC comedy that had viewers “howling” with laughter is set to return.

Mammoth, which is about about a PE teacher from the 1970s getting a second chance at life, started in 2024 before returning for a series two. And now the broadcaster has confirmed that it will be back for a third run, with filming due to start in Wales this year.

Starring Death Valley‘s Mike Bubbins as Tony Mammoth and Car Share ‘s Sian Gibson as his daughter, the series followed the teacher when his body was discovered frozen in time, after he was thought to have died in an avalanche during a school trip in 1979. He then attempts to rebuild his life in a world that has completely changed.

The BBC said the next series, which will be comprised of five episodes, will see Tony still trying to fiund his place in society “but due to his thin skin and inability to keep his thoughts to himself, he often puts his big retro shoes in it, on all fronts”.

“I can’t wait for people to see the next adventures in the life of Tony Mammoth,” said Mike. “He’s back funnier, bolder, and dafter than ever.

“When I first came up with the idea, I didn’t dream that in a few years it would be back for a third series.

“It’s once again been a lot of hard work for me, Paul Doolan and Luke Mason (co-writers), although when the three of us spend our days in a room together laughing, I’m reminded that it’s not exactly the same sort of hard work that my grandad did toiling away as coal miner for 50 years.

“Although, in fairness, we have both never won a BAFTA. So make sure you watch the new series, and don’t forget… Mammoth is the word!”

Josh Cole, CCO of BBC Studios fiction and comedy, says: “We’re delighted to be delving deeper into Mammoth without leaning too far into the traumatic decades he spent frozen alive in the ice.

“We’re so proud of this show: a big, bold, laugh out loud creation from a unique voice.”

The BBC’s director of comedy Jon Petrie said the series was “warm, daft, joyful and full of heart”, adding: “Audiences have really taken Tony Mammoth and his ridiculous misadventures to their hearts too, and we’re very proud to keep backing such brilliant original comedy from Wales.”

Mammoth has been popular with viewers since it began two years ago, with one person on Imdb calling it “a cracking comedy” and a Reddit user saying it was “one of the best recent comedies”.

“I was f****** howling,” said someone else, as one critic called it “an absolute gem of a comedy”.

Mammoth will return for a third series on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two and BBC One Wales.

Industry leaders have not ruled out fuel shortages this summer

Airlines will not be able to continue “absorbing the cost” of disruption caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in the long term, according to the director general of the International Air Transport Association. Willie Walsh told the BBC there was no need to panic over potential jet fuel shortages, but warned rising fuel prices would inevitably feed through into higher ticket prices.

He said: “There’s just no way airlines can absorb the additional costs they’re experiencing. There may be some instances where airlines will discount to stimulate some traffic flow… but over time it’s inevitable that the high price of oil will be reflected in higher ticket prices.”

While Mr Walsh did not think there would be widespread cancellations, he added: “I think the concern will be that if sufficient alternative supply isn’t sourced, there may be some shortages when we get into the peak summer period.”

Last week, British Airways’ parent company IAG warned its profits will be hit as it expects to spend about two billion euro (£1.72 billion) more than planned on fuel this year. Chief executive Luis Gallego said IAG does not believe there will be “any interruption for the summer” in terms of jet fuel supplies.

Earlier this month, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said summer holiday plans will not face major disruption because of shortages. She revealed that more fuel has been imported from America, and UK refineries have upped their production.

The Government has also introduced a temporary rule change allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together onto fewer planes to save fuel. It comes amid data that showed airlines have increased the number of flight cancellations for May.

Aviation analytics company Cirium said that as of Tuesday, airlines have axed 296 departures from UK airports this month, equivalent to 0.75% of the total. That is up from 120 cancellations six days ago.

Figures for the peak summer months show week-on-week schedule reductions are currently limited. The number of outbound flights planned for June is 48 lower than a week ago, after 0.2% of flights were cancelled.

For July the week-on-week reduction is 31, while the figure for August is just four. Airlines avoid being liable for compensation if they axe a flight with at least two weeks’ notice, meaning they can delay decisions on summer cancellations and still avoid payouts.

The price of jet fuel has more than doubled since the start of the war in the Middle East, as Iran continues to have a stranglehold on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. A Government spokesperson said: “UK airlines are clear that they are not currently seeing a shortage of jet fuel.

“Aviation fuel is typically bought in advance and airports and suppliers keep stocks of bunkered fuel to support their resilience. We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airports, airlines and international counterparts to keep flights operating.

“We are also consulting on measures to help airlines plan realistic flight schedules which will avoid last-minute disruption and protect holidays.”

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom will propose a new $100-million fund to help wildfire victims afford loans to rebuild their homes under a revised budget plan set to be released Thursday.

The Newsom administration estimates that thousands of victims of the Los Angeles wildfires cannot afford to rebuild, blaming a lack of access to affordable loans and a gap between insurance payouts and the cost to build again.

“We have been on the ground in L.A. since Day One of recovery from these fires, and we aren’t turning our backs now,” Newsom said in a statement. “This community deserves continued support to help them get back on their feet, and rebuild their homes and their lives. “

The new fund would be designed to cover loan-loss guarantee to lenders, in which the state would commit to paying back a percentage of a loan amount if a borrower defaults, in order to lower the risk for lenders and encourage them to award construction loans to borrowers who might not otherwise qualify or only be eligible for loans at high interest rates. The money would also be available for homeowners to buy down their interest rates during the construction period, according to Newsom’s office.

The Eaton and Palisades fires killed 31 people and destroyed over 16,000 structures in January 2025.

A recent survey of the wildfire victims found that homeowners estimate they need more than $600,000 on average above their insurance payouts to rebuild their homes, according to a report from a wildfire recovery nonprofit called the Department of Angels. The gap in Altadena was about $550,000, and between $1.19 million and $1.73 million in Pacific Palisades and Malibu.

Under Newsom, California has also provided mortgage relief to more than a thousand wildfire survivors under CalAssist, a program that provides grants to eligible homeowners to cover mortgage payments for 12 months up to $100,000.

The governor’s new proposal will be included in his funding plan for the upcoming 2026-27 budget year that begins July 1.

State revenue from income tax collection is higher than initially forecast, a boon that is expected to wipe out a projected deficit in the year ahead. Analysts attribute the revenue increase to an artificial intelligence boom in the stock market.

Though likely temporary, the extra funding is expected to give Newsom enough cushion to balance the state budget without major cuts and lower a projected shortfall in 2027-28.

The proposal to create the rebuilding fund requires support from both houses of the California Legislature and would move forward as a trailer bill accompanying the state budget. The funding would be available to disaster survivors, though details on eligibility will be determined during the legislative process.

Plenty has happened over the past seven days, including a nervy win for England’s women’s cricket team, some season-defining football matches and more Fifa World Cup build-up.

About 21% of quizzers got full marks in last week’s edition. Will you make the grade this week?

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

May 13 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s employment rate fell for the first time in 16 months in April as hiring growth slowed amid higher oil prices, weaker consumer sentiment and continued external uncertainty tied to the Middle East war.

The number of employed people aged 15 and older stood at 28.96 million in April, up 74,000 from a year earlier, according to employment data released Wednesday by Statistics Korea.

The increase was the smallest since December 2024 and the first time this year that job growth fell below 100,000.

The employment rate fell 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier to 63.0%, marking its first decline in 16 months.

Youth employment remained weak. The number of employed people aged 15 to 29 fell by 194,000 from a year earlier to 3.42 million, extending its decline for a 42nd consecutive month since November 2022.

The youth employment rate dropped 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier, marking its 24th straight month of decline.

By industry, wholesale and retail jobs fell by 52,000 from a year earlier, while accommodation and food service jobs declined by 29,000. Manufacturing employment dropped by 55,000.

Officials attributed the slowdown to weaker consumer sentiment and continued external uncertainty related to the prolonged Middle East war. Transportation and warehousing jobs, which are sensitive to oil prices, rose by 18,000, but the pace of growth slowed.

Agriculture, forestry and fisheries employment fell by 92,000 amid population aging, while professional, scientific and technical services dropped by 115,000 because of a high base from last year.

Health and social welfare service jobs increased by 261,000, supported by rising care demand and government-backed direct job programs for older people.

“Employment gains were led by health and welfare services, arts, sports and leisure, and real estate,” said Bin Hyun-joon, head of social statistics at Statistics Korea. “By age group, employment increased among people aged 60 and older and those in their 30s, but the pace of growth slowed from the previous month.”

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260513010003376

Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with drones and missiles early on Thursday, officials said, damaging several buildings, including one which partially collapsed with residents likely trapped under rubble.

Look Mum No Computer will perform in the semi-final on Thursday night, but has already got a place in Saturday’s live grand final

She was parachuted in to take on the role vacated by Scott Mills – now new Eurovision Song Contest presenter Angela Scanlon is backing the UK to do well on Saturday.

The bookies have so far placed our act Look Mum No Computer way down in 18th place, with odds of 250-1 to triumph.

But everything could change after viewers get to see the full staging in Thursday’s semi-final, including some “risky moves” by performer Sam Battle, whose song is a fusion of synths and electronic-bass.

At one point he is rumoured to be standing on a table being carried by a team of four dancers. “There’s something really exciting about an act that feels completely original – and that’s what he brings in spades,” Angela told the Mirror. “Eins, Zwei, Drei has personality, energy, and that slightly unpredictable edge that Eurovision audiences love. If the performance lands the way it promises to, I think it could really connect. And ultimately, that’s what it’s all about – creating a moment people remember.”

The Your Home Made Perfect presenter, 42, is thrilled to be hosting the two semi-finals on BBC1 alongside Rylan Clark this year, describing the event as “the world’s biggest music festival, talent show, and theatrical spectacular all rolled into one.” But she admitted that the complicated voting system, which incorporates votes from national juries as well as viewers at home all over the world, would again “test your emotional resilience”.

One source who has seen the UK’s rehearsal said: “Sam could surprise everyone with his staging. He’s very cool and there are some risky elements with him dancing on top of things. It’s precarious and a bit dangerous.”

On Thursday Look Mum No Computer will take part in the second semi – even though the UK’s place in Saturday’s final is guaranteed. Others performing on the night include former Neighbours star and judge of The Voice Delta Goodrem, for Australia, and ex-Love Islander Antigoni Buxton, who is singing for Cyprus.

Other countries vying to get through the second semi-final include Ukraine, Bulgaria and Denmark.

Rylan, who has been part of the BBC’s Eurovision coverage since 2018, when he took over from Mel Giedroyc, said he loved getting into the commentary box and meeting up with international friends old and new. “There are commentary teams from all over Europe and in that week, you all get to know each other pretty well,” he explained. “After doing it for so long, the commentary box level is one big party, and I love seeing my fellow commentators from other countries.”

Rylan was said to have been “devastated” when Mills lost his job at the BBC in March, because they had become close friends outside of work. Mills was sacked from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show over personal misconduct relating to “serious sexual offences against a teenage boy”. A police probe which ended in 2019 found insufficient evidence to bring charges.

But he was also informed that he will not work for the BBC again.

Despite this Rylan, 37, has vowed to enjoy himself while in Austria for the ESC. “This year we’re heading to Vienna to have some fun.,” he insisted. “Is there anything that’s not been done? We’ve had butter churning, singing in the rain, and even Bonnie Tyler singing on a mechanical lift. It’s unique. And that’s what Eurovision is all about – the unexpected.”

The current favourite to triumph on Saturday is Finland, with Greece, Denmark, France and Australia also looking strong.

The UK has not won for 29 years, but came close in 2022 when Sam Ryder finished in second place with Space Man, drawing 466 points. Last year’s UK entry Remember Monday came 19 ^th with 88 points and the previous year Olly Alexander finished 18th with 46 points.

– Eurovision Song Contest, BBC1, Thursday 8pm and Saturday 8pm

—

WASHINGTON — David Venturella, a former executive at a private prison operator, will serve as the acting head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Trump administration says, after the agency’s current leader steps down at the end of the month.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said late Tuesday that Venturella would succeed Todd Lyons, who led the agency through much of the administration’s tumultuous crackdown on immigration. ICE did not immediately respond to an email seeking additional information Wednesday.

Venturella left the Geo Group in early 2023 and has been working at ICE leading the division that oversees detention contracts, members of Congress wrote in a public letter earlier this year.

At the Geo Group, which houses around one-third of ICE detainees, Venturella served in a number of posts, including executive vice president overseeing corporate development, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. He also oversaw removal operations for ICE in 2011 and 2012 after working for federal contractors, including one that specializes in security clearances and background checks.

Geo has benefited from President Trump’s mass deportation push, garnering big contracts to open three shuttered facilities. Among them was a $1-billion, 15-year deal for a detention center in New Jersey’s largest city.

“Last year was the most successful period for new business wins in our company’s history,” Geo’s CEO George Zoley said during an earnings call last week.

Geo owns and operates 23 ICE detention facilities, with about 26,000 available beds. Zoley also said that ICE’s air transportation subcontract had continued to steadily increase and that it secured a new contract last year for electronic monitoring.

Venturella will lead ICE at a time when the public mood has soured on Trump’s immigration crackdown, which sent surges of federal immigration officers into American cities to round up immigrants. Those raids sent tensions soaring and prompted clashes between protesters and law enforcement, leading to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Trump returned to the White House on a promise of mass deportations, and ICE has been a central executor of that vision. Under Lyons’ leadership, the agency used a massive infusion of cash to expand hiring and detention capabilities, and it ramped up arrests to meet demand from the Republican administration.

Federal officials announced Lyons’ departure last month from ICE, which had gotten $75 billion from Congress to fulfill Trump’s mass deportation campaign.

Venturella’s appointment comes as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin settles into his role atop the Cabinet agency overseeing ICE. Mullin has promised to keep his department out of the headlines and has indicated a softer tone on immigration, although he is expected to align with the president’s priorities on mass deportations.

One contentious issue confronting Homeland Security now is a plan for converting warehouses into immigrant detention centers. Conceived while Kristi Noem led the department, the effort has encountered multiple lawsuits and intense community blowback, including in Republican-led states.

The $38.3-billion plan would increase detention capacity to 92,000 beds and mean acquiring eight large-scale facilities, capable of housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees each, and 16 smaller regional processing centers.

Those, and other sites, were supposed to be running by the end of November. But after Noem’s departure, the department paused the purchase of new warehouses as it scrutinizes all contracts signed during her tenure.

Last month a judge extended a pause on transforming a massive Maryland warehouse into a processing facility for immigrants, and there are signs that federal officials are scaling back the plans.

This could be good news for Geo. The Florida-based company has about 6,000 idle beds at six company-owned facilities, Zoley said last week.

Zoley had offered a note of skepticism about the warehouse plan during an earlier earnings call in February, noting that renovating a warehouse is “more complicated than you may think.” At that point, he said the company was “cautiously” looking at whether to bid to help operate some of them.

Hollingsworth writes for the Associated Press.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Calvin Harris had a goal and two assists and Dejan Joveljić scored against his former team, leading Sporting Kansas City to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Galaxy on Wednesday night.

Sporting KC (2-8-2) snapped an eight-match winless streak under first-year manager Raphaël Wicky and an eight-match winless skid at home dating to last year. The club’s only other victory came against the Galaxy (4-5-4) — a 2-1 road win on March 14 in which Joveljić also scored.

Sporting KC grabbed a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute on Capita Capemba’s first career goal in his sixth appearance. Harris and Lasse Berg Johnsen had assists.

Joveljić made it 2-0 at halftime when he scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time with assists from Harris and defender Zorhan Bassong. It was his sixth goal this season and his 24th in 44 appearances with his new club. Joveljić scored 34 goals for the Galaxy from 2021-24. He scored the winner in the final against the New York Red Bulls in 2024 for L.A.’s sixth MLS Cup before being traded in the offseason.

Harris found the net in the 70th minute for a 3-0 lead with helpers from Manu García and Jacob Bartlett, who entered in the 61st. It was Harris’ first goal this season and his 12th in 113 career matches.

Stefan Cleveland totaled six saves for Sporting KC in his third start this season and the 15th of his career.

J.T. Marcinkowski saved six shots for Los Angeles.

The Galaxy extended their current scoring streak to a league-best 22 straight matches when Gabriel Pec scored in the 89th minute for his 10th goal of the season. Justin Haak and former Sporting KC member Erik Thommy had assists.

Pec scored two late goals in a 2-1 road win over Atlanta United last time out. It was his 10th goal of the campaign.

Sporting KC ties the all-time series at 29-29-18 while improving to 20-10-9 at home against the Galaxy.

Joveljić has scored in three straight matches against his former teammates.

Up next

Galaxy: Visit the Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

Kansas City: Visits Austin FC on Saturday.

May 13 (UPI) — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Wednesday evening against D.C. disciplinary officials who recommended Jeffrey Clark be disbarred over his efforts to overturn 2020 election results, the latest move by the Trump administration to defend allies accused of helping President Donald Trump remain in power after that election loss.

The lawsuit in a federal court in D.C. alleges the disciplinary officials used their powers to punish lawyers over what federal prosecutors describe as “internal Executive Branch deliberations” in order to regulate federal government actions.

“Weaponizing state bar discipline against Executive Branch attorneys in this way chills them from giving candid legal advice to others in the Executive Branch, including the president and attorney general,” the lawsuit states.

“To permit these proceedings is to allow state bar authorities to control the Executive Branch. That is not the law.”

Clark was an assistant attorney general at the Justice Department following Trump’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, and urged Justice Department officials to issue a letter he wrote casting doubt on election results, according to congressional investigators and D.C. disciplinary officials.

The letter specifically targeted the results in Georgia, a swing state Trump lost to Biden by 11,779 votes, alleging a Justice Department investigation had uncovered election “irregularities” despite Attorney General William Barr having already announced there was no evidence of outcome-determinative fraud in the election prior to his resignation.

Clark had prepared the letter to be signed by Barr’s replacement, then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Richard Donoghue, the second highest-ranking Justice Department lawyer, both of whom refused because they knew its contents were untrue.

Clark continued to push for the Justice Department to issue the letter, which he intended to be used as a template to be sent to other states. Amid the political turmoil, Trump considered appointing Clark as attorney general — a move Clark encouraged so he could launch nationwide investigations to uncover unfounded claims of election issues.

Trump abandoned the idea of appointing Clark only after being informed doing so would cause mass resignations among Justice Department leadership.

The D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel opened its investigation into Clark’s actions after Sen. Dick Durbin, as then-chairman of the committee, asked it to probe his “serious violations of professional conduct.”

The D.C. Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility in July recommended that Clark be disbarred in D.C., stating that “when a lawyer attempts to make intentional false statements on an issue that the lawyer understands to be a ‘pressing matter of overriding national importance,’ or knowing that the false statement would have serious and far-ranging consequences, they deserve the ultimate sanction.”

A final judgment has not yet been issued in the case.

The Justice Department on Wednesday asked the court to quash the D.C. disciplinary proceedings against Clark, and alleged they violate the Supremacy Clause and Article II of the Constitution by arguing that Clark was acting as a federal government employee who cannot be punished for performing Executive Branch duties.

Federal prosecutors also frame the issue as involving internal discussions. They said Clark attempted to persuade his superiors to issue a draft letter “that he felt reflected the actual law and facts about the 2020 election.”

“D.C. disciplinary authorities may not punish a United States official for disagreeing with a superior or coworker or for sharing an opinion just because those disciplinary authorities disagree with it,” the filing states.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also accused the D.C. Bar of being “a blatantly partisan arm of leftist causes,” accusing it of being weaponized.

“The D.C. Bar will no longer be permitted to probe sensitive Executive Branch deliberations and target Executive Branch officials with whom they happen to politically disagree, and federal attorneys will once again be free to share their candid legal advice with their bosses and colleagues,” he said in a statement.

Clark was never charged in federal court in connection with his role in the alleged scheme, but he, Trump and 17 others were indicted in Georgia on racketeering charges. The case was dismissed after the prosecutor appointed following Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ removal declined to pursue the charges.

Other Trump allies accused of aiding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election have also been sanctioned in D.C., including Rudy Giuliani, who was disbarred in D.C. and New York, and John Eastman, whose D.C. law license was suspended on an interim basis after he was disbarred in California.

Wednesday’s lawsuit is the latest action by the federal government aiding those who supported Trump’s false election claims.

On Trump’s first day in office, he issued clemency to the roughly 1,500 people charged or convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

He also issued pardons to Giuliani, Eastman, Clark, Sidney Powell and many others accused of aiding his efforts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is welcoming US President Donald Trump to Beijing for high-level talks. Tariffs, competition over tech, the US-Israeli war on Iran, and Taiwan are all on the agenda for the two-day visit.

HOLLYWOOD star Demi Moore showcases her chic side at the Cannes Film Festival.

The US actress, 63, wore a strapless, violet gown for a screening of French romantic comedy La Vie D’Une Femme.

She was joined on the red carpet by stars including Gillian Anderson and Ruth Negga.

Demi was last at Cannes in 2024, promoting her film The Substance, which won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

Just months ago, Demi capped off a stellar career comeback by being named Glamour’s Woman of the Year.

She was interviewed by her Substance co-star Margaret Qualley for the mag and said: “With everything I’ve been through, which has been a lot, I wouldn’t trade where I am today.”

SAG STARS!

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She added a difference with her younger self is the “freedom to know I don’t have to have the answer, and life is not going to be completely stolen from me if I somehow don’t know”.

During Demi’s emotional Golden Globes acceptance speech last year, she spoke of having been at a “low point” and not thinking she was “enough”.

The actress has battled countless traumas and rejections during her life – including her biological dad leaving before she was born, saving her drug addicted mum from suicide, two spells in rehab and being raped aged 15. 

The star of Ghost, Indecent Proposal and A Few Good Men’s return to form in the satirical horror movie The Substance is one of the greatest Hollywood comebacks of all time.

BEIJING — An extraordinary display of power and precision along Tiananmen Square greeted President Trump in Beijing on Thursday, kicking off a two-day summit with particularly high stakes for the Americans.

Trump’s meetings with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, began at the Great Hall of the People moments after a welcome ceremony that seemed to impress the president, featuring a Chinese military honor guard and a greeting from excited school children. American flags waved as “The Star Spangled Banner” rang out on a smoggy day in the heart of the capital.

Children holding Chinese and U.S. flags rehearse before the welcome ceremony for President Trump.

(Maxim Shemetov / Associated Press)

Trump reflected on the stakes of his visit at the top of the meeting, telling Xi that the ceremony was an honor “like few I’ve seen before.”

“There are those who say it may be the biggest summit ever,” he said. “I have such respect for China, the job you’ve done.”

Both men struck a conciliatory tone, despite the agenda for the summit featuring some of the thorniest issues facing the two superpowers today, from the U.S. war in Iran to trade relations and the future of Taiwan.

“We’ve gotten along — when there have been difficulties, we’ve worked it out,” Trump added. “We’re going to have a fantastic future together.”

Trump is expected to ask Xi for help reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital commercial waterway disrupted by Iran since the start of the war, and for the extension of a truce in the trade war he started at the beginning of his second term.

China, in turn, will ask the Trump administration not to proceed with arms sales to Taiwan, despite their approval by Congress, and for a declaration of opposition to Taiwanese independence. Beijing also seeks access to top-end chips made by American manufacturers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump shake hands at the Great Hall of the People.

(Kenny Holston / Associated Press)

The agenda exposes the mutual dependence of the two rival superpowers, marked by distrust but driven by a quest for cooperation and stability.

The welcome ceremony outside of the Great Hall kicked off with Xi shaking the hands of Trump’s delegation, including figures such as his political advisor, James Blair, his communications director, Steven Cheung, and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

They were just a few members of a U.S. delegation accompanying Trump filled with curiosities.

Chinese officials were surprised to learn that Pete Hegseth was joining Trump in Beijing this week, marking the first time a president has brought his secretary of defense on an official state visit. It wasn’t immediately clear to the Chinese what his inclusion was meant to convey.

Eric Trump, the president’s son, is here, seeking to leverage the family name for lucrative business deals as Beijing aggressively campaigns against government corruption at home. And First Lady Melania Trump decided to stay at home, an unusual snub of such a high-level event.

A contingent of U.S. business leaders was given little notice to prepare for the trip, including the CEO of Nvidia, who raced to join Trump aboard Air Force One at a refueling stop in Alaksa.

The diplomatic faux pas follow weeks of Chinese frustration over what they see as the Trump administration’s lack of preparation — a perceived display of incompetence that boosts their confidence heading into the negotiations.

Over the course of the visit, Trump is expected to visit the Temple of Heaven, a monument to imperial China and Confucian thought in the center of Beijing. Ahead of Trump’s arrival, an area roughly the size of 400 American football fields was closed in preparation for a stop here.

On Thursday night, local time, Trump will return to the Great Hall of the People for a banquet dinner. Additional meetings are scheduled for Friday morning before Trump departs midday for home.

May 13 (UPI) — The remains of a second U.S. soldier who went missing during exercises in Morocco earlier this month have been recovered, the U.S. military said Wednesday evening, ending a joint U.S.-Morocco search.

The remains of Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, of Tavares, Fla., were located and retrieved Tuesday from a coastal cave roughly 1,640 feet from where she and 27-year-old 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. are believed to have fallen into the ocean, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said.

Key’s remains were located and recovered Saturday.

“The loss of Spc. Collington is a profound loss for the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command,” Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement.

“Her recovery closes the search for our two missing soldiers, but our commitment to caring for their families, friends and teammates continues. We are grateful to the U.S. and Moroccan forces for their professionalism and support throughout the search.”

Key and Collington went missing May 2 near the Cap Draa Training Area, a coastal military training site near Tan-Tan, located in southwestern Morocco about 342 miles southwest of Marrakech, where they were participating in African Lion 26, this year’s iteration of the U.S. military’s largest Africa-based exercise.

Their disappearance was not related to active training. Military officials believe they fell into the Atlantic Ocean near cliffs during a recreational hike. They were reported missing the night of May 2 after a base-wide head count, prompting a joint U.S.-Moroccan search.

U.S. military officials said Collington’s remains were transported via helicopter by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces to the morgue of Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim, about 80 miles northeast of Tan-Tan.

Moroccan and U.S. forces conducted a “dignified carry” at the military airport in Guelmim on Tuesday, and the remains of Key and Collington have departed Morocco for the United States, USAREUR-AF said.

“Spc. Collington was a bright light in this battalion,” said Lt. Col. Chris Couch, the 5-4 ADAR battalion commander.

“To the soldiers who knew her best and served alongside her each day, she was a treasured friend whose loss leaves a deep and profound void on our team.”

Students from Venezuela’s leading universities blocked the main highway in Caracas to demand the immediate release of political prisoners. Demonstrators said more than 450 people remain imprisoned despite government promises of amnesty and reconciliation.

Considering the amount of comedy that was dropped on L.A. last week for the third Netflix is a Joke Festival, the idea that anyone can see it all is laughable. Yet of course, like fools, once again we tried. Between big outdoor shows, theaters and intimate club gigs, the seven day smorgasboard of stand-up, improv, variety shows, marathons and more was a wild ride we won’t soon forget. Here is our list of the funniest shows we saw at Netflix is a Joke 2026.

Monday, May 4

Ron White, from left, Jim Jefferies, Sam Jay, Shane Gillis, James McCann and Dan Soder at the Hollywood Bowl.

(Adam Rose / Netflix)

Shane Gillis and Friends
Hollywood Bowl
As a sea of comedy fans filled up the Hollywood Bowl to kick off the first outdoor event at Netflix is a Joke, Shane Gillis brought the energy of a season-opening football game to L.A.’s biggest bandshell. Commanding a solid roster of veteran comics including James McCann, Sam Jay, Ron White, Dan Soder, and Jim Jeffries, Gillis took on the role of a grizzled and playfully perverse football coach hosting the night and telling funny stories about his days as a very average high school football player on crappy all-white teams before he blew up in comedy.

“Whoever the home team was in high school football you got to pick the intro song that you would run onto the field to to get hyped. So when me and the white guys were the home team, our music would be like ‘Cut my life into pieces…’ [singing Papa Roach’s “Last Resort”] something scary, something suicidal. That’s as intimidating as white dudes get…sad. Those are the most dangerous whites. If this game doesn’t go well I might shoot this whole thing up on Monday,” Gillis joked.

Fortunately it did go pretty well throughout the night as Gillis brought up each comic that used their different styles to score plenty of laughs throughout the night. (Nate Jackson)

Mike Ward
Dynasty Typewriter

Comedy transcends lines and borders, so when we heard that comedian Mike Ward hopped his own border in Canada to be at Dynasty Typewriter, we were all in. Rachel Bonnetta opened the show with a mix of playful confidence and high-energy hilarity, perfectly warming up the crowd before introducing the main attraction to fans. Record breaker and a master of storytelling in French, he didn’t disappoint with his all-English crossover, covering everything from his legendary Supreme Court of Canada case to teenage lust, dating after marriage, attempting generosity, and “trunk love.” Ward mentioned jokes translating from French to English and how they’d hit, but he was definitely in his element, and it all translated to perfect laughs. (Ali Lerman)

Tuesday, May 5

Theo Von and Mike Tyson record a live podcast at the Wiltern.

(Matthew Salacuse/Netflix )

Theo Von: ‘This Past Weekend’ Live- Guest: Mike Tyson- The Wiltern

Stand-up might own the Netflix Is a Joke Festival, but the podcasts they delivered are absolutely worth talking about. For Theo Von’s first-ever live taping of his hit podcast “This Past Weekend,” he landed the ultimate guest: Iron Mike Tyson. The sold-out crowd at the Wiltern erupted the second Von hit the stage, but that was nothing compared to the deafening roar of screams and “We love you, Mike!” when Tyson walked out.

Tyson admitted he wasn’t familiar with Von, but thankfully stated he did indeed like him, because that would have really messed up the rest of the episode! The two share an inquisitive and child-like energy, turning heavy conversations about growing up broke, the solitude of incarceration, and desperate cries for attention, into something remarkably light. Tyson’s vulnerable side was also on display while speaking about his daughter dying tragically, God’s plan for him, and speaking about his mentor Cus D’Amato, which quite literally brought him to tears. Can a show be heartfelt and insane at the same time? Definitely interested to see how they edit a few things, but when this knockout episode comes out, you’re truly in for a beautiful treat packed with plenty of wild moments. (A.L.)

Seinfeld featuring Leanne Morgan
The Greek Theatre

Blending the big-city humor with hilarious Southern comfort might sound like an odd pairing when talking about comedy, but something about the combo of Jerry Seinfeld and Leanne Morgan just works. Yes, we love a good rant about the terrors of technology from a comedy legend like Seinfeld, who got famous long before the advent of artificial intelligence and smartphones. But his crotchety comedy on a cold night at the Greek Theatre was complimented by Morgan’s ability to add warmth and sweetness to her smack talk about being a small town cheermom in the world of competitive cheerleading which she described as “the Olympics meets Honey Boo Boo.”

Most big comedy shows at the fest had a strict no cellphones policy, Seinfeld was content with just reminding us that our friends are all sick of our stupid cellphone videos. “They don’t care what you’re doing, your life, your experiences, any more than you care about what your friends are doing…everyone is sick of everything. That’s where we’re starting tonight.”

Both are recognized around the world for being on popular TV shows bearing their names. One star seemed genuinely enthralled that people recognized her and clapped when she came out, the other one seemed like he couldn’t get out of the show fast enough and get back to bed. But the mix of both energies of these authentic polar opposites worked well together to keep the crowd laughing. (N.J.)

Wednesday, May 6

David Spade, Dana Carvey and Chris Rock at the Orpheum Theatre.

(Kit Karzen / Netflix)

‘Fly on the Wall’ podcast with Dana Carvey, David Spade and Chris Rock
The Orpheum Theatre

The best way to get amazing stories out of a famous comedian is to be one yourself. It’s the reason a podcast like “Fly on the Wall” with David Spade and Dana Carvey succeed at squeezing the best out of their guests who are often on somebody’s Mt. Rushmore of Comedy. For the festival, the two “Saturday Night Live” alumni brought out the big guns by inviting their buddy Chris Rock downtown — ”way downtown” by his estimation — at 6 p.m. last Wednesday to the Orpheum for a live taping of the podcast. The three stars began by diving ever-so-casually into stories about their interactions with Michael Jackson, Tupac, Kanye and Dave Chappelle. Rock also got to expound on the classic period where he released some of the best comedy specials ever made.

He talked about his groundbreaking hour “Bring the Pain” being the result of doing as many shows as possible to pay for a divorce and as a result, “I got way better” he told Carvey and Spade. “Then I went on a Rocky run where he was knocking motherf— out.” He took that momentum into his next classic special, 1999’s “Bigger & Blacker,” that helped reshape the face of stand-up. “There’s a time in your life when you’re just a vessel and I was in that point of my life,” Rock said. (N.J.)

Nate Jackson at Laugh Factory Hollywood

It’s a skill for a comedian to be able to sit in the pocket of a crowd’s energy and keep a room full of people laughing and on their toes at the same time. Try doing it for six shows back to back. While it’s not the most consecutive sold-out shows he’s ever done at a venue (last year he delivered nine in a row at Zanies in Nashville), Nate Jackson’s ability to leave a mark on the fest at his week-long residency at Laugh Factory Hollywood was akin to watching an executive chef doing a week of cooking in his restaurant. In Jackson’s case that meant delivering some third-degree burns in the front several rows of the crowd known as the “roast zone.” When it comes to killing his customers Jackson prefaces every show the same way. “Rule number one, if I look at you and you don’t want no smoke, look away,” he told the Laugh Factory crowd.

“That is the rule and the standard, I do not get people unless they lock eyes and give me consent. As a matter of fact, this is called the Roast Zone. If anybody is accidentally down there, it’s time to get the f— out. Because rule number two is, if I look at you and you look at me and I start and you don’t like what I decided to talk about, looking away will no longer save you.” To the people that got a little too charred during his show, don’t say he didn’t warn you. (N.J.)

Thursday, May 7

Noah Wyle and Jon Stewart at the Hollywood Bowl.

(Adam Rose / Netflix)

Night of Too Many Stars
Hollywood Bowl

It was a starry, starry night at Thursday’s sold-out Hollywood Bowl Netflix is a Joke Presents: Night of Too Many Stars epic comic bonanza fundraiser benefitting autism programs nationwide, including Autism Speaks. Founded in New York by writer-producer Robert Smigel and his wife Michelle in 2003 following their son Daniel’s autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, the Los Angeles gala was hosted by longtime supporter Jon Stewart and featured a roster of top–tier stand-up talent including Niki Glaser, Ali Wong, Conan O’Brien, Tiffany Haddish, Sarah Silverman, John Mulaney and Adam Sandler, who closed the show with a trio of upbeat tunes. Cast members of reality shows such as “Love on the Spectrum” were also on deck to introduce comics, and auction items throughout the event raised crucially needed funds for individuals on the spectrum: a mock “physical examination” by Noah Wyle, star of HBO’s juggernaut medical series “The Pitt” fetched $18,000; a woman paid $50,000 to be animated into an episode of “The Simpsons.” One man stood up and donated $100,000 with no prize attached. The most special part of the night: I attended along with my son, 19, who is on the autism spectrum and laughed and smiled for three hours straight. (Malina Saval)

Wanda Sykes
Dolby Theatre

Politics, family, inflation, racism, weight gain and greed were among the multiple topics lampooned by Wanda Sykes during a dynamic and often wickedly funny tour stop at the Dolby Theatre last Thursday. Despite the large venue and packed-in audience, Sykes created an intimate club vibe, walking onstage in a utilitarian jumpsuit and instantly bonding with the audience over just how weird things have become in present-day America.

She likened 2026 to the Upside Down in “Stranger Things,” but populated with pedophiles, grifters and racists instead of demogorgons. Turn it upside down “and a billionaire falls through the ceiling,” she said. Her impersonation of Trump dancing and chatting with Epstein in the now infamous video clip was pure brilliance. How a 5-foot-2 Black woman looked more Trump than Trump was a feat unto itself.

Sykes also bemoaned the greed behind things marketed as conveniences, like supermarket self-checkout (“We’re working for free!”), food delivery bots and airport wheelchairs that get passengers to their gate without attendants. “That was someone’s job!” she said. Then added, “What if walking fast and [pushing heavy things] was the only thing they were good at?” Opening for Sykes was her former sidekick on “The Wanda Sykes Show,” Keith Robinson. (Lorraine Ali)

“Kill Tony”
Intuit Dome

The number one live podcast in the world, “Kill Tony,” returned to its roots in our beloved city on Thursday, and this time for the local masses at Intuit Dome. Co-hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe and Brian Redban, when there’s a show of this caliber during a festival, you just know the guests are going to be jaw droppers. Fighting the L.A. traffic to kick off the Dome show were Jelly Roll and Teddy Swims backed up by the Kill Tony Band, maybe? You know, it was hard to hear through all the women screaming. Kidding, we were all scream-singing, and it was such a fun way to start a show. Sitting on panel were beloved KT guests Harland Williams and Gabriel Iglesias, and the “legends bucket” made its way to its first arena in L.A., and the pulls were indeed clutch. Ron White, Joe DeRosa, and Tony’s number one favorite comic, Tony Hinchcliffe (played by Adam Ray), showed the crowd exactly what effortless and absolutely merciless veteran comedy looks like. Between bucket pull madness, a ton of Golden Ticket winners dazzled throughout, treating L.A. to a little slice of what we see in Austin on Mondays. (AL)

Friday, May 8

“Stamptown” at the Montalbán Theatre.

(Aaron Epstein / Netflix)

‘Stamptown’
Montalban Theater

Comedy variety show “Stamptown” begins with master of ceremonies Jack Tucker (the clown persona of Zach Zucker) descending from the ceiling covered in sweat as pyrotechnic flares explode on stage and electric guitars summon him before he falls flat on his face. But don’t worry, it only gets more insane from there. Part musical revue, part comedy showcase, and part circus — “Stamptown,” which filmed its shows for an upcoming Netflix special, is what happens when the lunatics get control of the asylum and decide to put on a Las Vegas show from hell. Tucker’s rapid-fire delivery is punctuated with sound effects, music cues, and the use of a variety of props dangling from his person at all times (including handcuffs, a wad of cash, and two guns). Featuring celebrity cameos, acrobatic stunts, full-frontal nudity, and the show’s stagecrew and audience members getting in on the chaos — “Stamptown” is a true homage to the theatrical possibilities of performance that toes the line ofwhat you think is possible to be done under the label “comedy show.” “Stamptown” at the Montalbán was filmed as part of a Netflix special that will air later this year, which any lover of brain rot and pageantry should be sure to check out. (Leila Jordan)

Dave Chappelle
The Palladium
We’re not allowed to say anything about went on at the Dave Chappelle three-show residency at the Palladium other than the fact that it was an evening of music and comedy. Per usual they locked up the crowd’s phones to see his show but fortunately there were plenty of actual cameras capturing what went on so hopefully you get to see what we saw very soon. (NJ)

Hasan Minhaj versus Ronnie Chieng
Dolby Theatre
Known for their spirited debates on “The Daily Show,” political satirists Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng faced off in a comedy showdown where they challenged one another to prove who is better suited to fix a broken America, Asians (Chieng is from Malaysia) or Indians (Minhaj’s parents are from India)?

Never mind that Indians are South Asians, the two comedians got plenty of laughs backing up their absurd arguments with flow charts, graphs, curated news clips, a faux AI bot called “Niri,” and plenty of racist rhetoric. They broke down the debate into categories: Who’s better at academics? Business and the economy? Cuisine? Chieng argued that Asians are better at sports with a list of Olympic gold medal wins over the past three Summer Games. He won’t use all of Asia, he said, just China. Result? The country had over 100 gold medals. India had just one. Minhaj wondered aloud: For people who love gold so much, why is it so hard for us to win one?

Their choreographed debate exploited and skewered stereotypes via expert timing and pointed wit, hitting home with the predominantly Asian and South Asian audience. (L.A.)

Saturday, May 9

Atsuko Okatsuka with Margaret Cho and Trevor Noah at the Orpheum.

(Andrew Max Levy / Netflix)

Atsuko Okatsuka
The Orpheum Theatre

An Atsuko Okatsuka show is typically full of surprises as a result of her offbeat humor and twerk-master physicality. Her show at the Orpheum is the result of a brand-new hour she’s been performing on her Big Bowl Tour and includes plenty of jokes about dinosaurs and love of Jamaican dancehall choreography. But before she even took the stage with new material, fans got gleefully blindsided by the appearance of two comedy titans, Margaret Cho and Trevor Noah, who came out to deliver punchy opening sets that got loads of laughter to set the tone for Okatsuka’s evening of examining reality through her absurdist lens as an artistic performer who often feels like she’s from another planet. At the end of the show she announced that after releasing her first two specials on HBO (“The Intruder” in 2022) and Hulu (“Father,” which came out in 2025) her next special will be released (surprise!) on Netflix in 2027. (N.J.)

‘My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Reunion

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” premiered on the CW Network in 2015 and managed to tell a complete four season story about mental illness in a musical comedy series that featured parody songs on everything from “Cats” to modern pop music to Jewish folk songs. Seven years after it ended, the cast and creatives behind the show reunited to perform a stripped-down selection of the series’ beloved songs. But this concert is not meant to serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with the original show. The reunion performance is a tribute both to the miraculous existence of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” and to the devoted fans who still know all the words to songs like “Let’s Generalize About Men” and “Don’t Be a Lawyer.” (L.J.)

James McCann
Hollywood Improv (Main Room)

Australian-born comedian James McCann topped the bill Saturday night at the Hollywood Improv, and the eclectic crowd packed the place ready to celebrate his arrival in L.A. Host Benton Harshaw and openers Ruby Setnik and Sam Campbell absolutely connected and killed. And if my word count were double, they’d get individual praise for setting the room up perfectly. High energy was the vibe when McCann got on stage to wild roars from the 9:30pm early show crowd and his energy match, noting he was excited to be at the historic club himself. Mullet looking flawless, poems in tow, and dark humor dialed to an 11, he questioned L.A.’s homeless crisis, may have questioned the audience a bit too much, and tore through his thoughts on a census overhaul, the insanity of the TV show “Survivor” (yes, it’s still on), the glory days of drinking, and having visions of finally being successful enough to hire his dream team. (A.L.)

Tom Segura, left, and Bert Kreischer speak during the Two Bears 5k event at the Rose Bowl.

(Jerod Harris / Getty Images for Netflix)

2 Bears 5K
Rose Bowl

Can’t. Type. Too. Sore. And that’s not even from the run-walking, it’s from the afterparty inside Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. Whether you kicked off this magical day of athleticism in downward dog with Ari Shaffir, or if you went straight for the starting line with Bert Kreischer, Tom Segura, and a svelte-looking Jelly Roll (bravo!), there was stretching, pacing, sweating and rejoicing to be had. The hang was so casual it allowed participants to rub elbows with a surplus of comics on hand like H. Foley, Kevin Ryan, Steph Tolev, Jefferson McDonald, Joe DeRosa, Jessimae Peluso, Greg Fitzsimmons, Daphnique Springs, Brittany Ross, Ian Fidance, Kim Congdon, and Dave Williamson. The finish line led runners directly into the Rose Bowl where there was plenty of Por Osos flowing, snacks, interactive games and recovery stations, and a live taping of 2 Bears 1 Cave with our favorite boys and celeb participants.

Sunday, May 10

Marcello Hernandez performed with Feid at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday.

(Koury Angelo / Netflix)

Marcello Hernandez and Feid
Hollywood Bowl

On “Saturday Night Live,” he plays a Latin Lover named Domingo. But at the Hollywood Bowl on Mother’s Day Sunday, headliner Marcello Hernández riffed on his real life as a mama’s boy growing up in Miami — expanding on material from his 2026 Netflix special, “American Boy” — and duly invited out his mom, Isabel, who was met with a standing ovation. “God gave me a mother who worked her entire life for me,” said Hernández, who eased on his elastic goofball schtick to exalt immigrant mothers. “Today, I give thanks to her — and to all the mothers who are here, as well as those you left back home.”

Attended by nearly 17,000 people, the Bowl’s biggest Spanish-language comedy event also featured a special (and sensual) musical performance by Colombian reggaeton heartthrob Feid, as well as Mexican comedian Sofia Niño de Rivera, who opened the show with her own riotous act. At some point she asked the audience if beating piñatas had been canceled by the woke mob; you’ll just have to trust me when I say it’s even funnier in Spanish. (Suzy Exposito)

Roast of Kevin Hart
Kia Forum
Los Angeles showed up to the Forum in Inglewood for the roast of Kevin Hart, the comedian we love to hate but also love to laugh with. It was a brutal takedown of Hart that could only be accomplished by the utmost respect and love from his peers. A surprise appearance by his longtime rival Katt Williams brought the entire house to their feet. Sheryl Underwood expertly executed the punchlines and made the culture the star of her set. Chelsea Handler could have been the star of her own show. The Rock’s WWE entrance brought the heat of the pyrotechnics to the stage with his explicit propositioning of Hart’s wife, Eniko, and an attempt to breastfeed Hart. Some controversial jokes by lesser, edgy comedians fell flat but Jeff Ross, the master of roasts, held the tempo together and kept the roast moving forward. There was something for everyone in this, as Hart, the hardest working person in comedy, has become famous for. (Janelle Webster)

Flight of the Conchords
The Greek Theatre

Experiencing Flight of the Conchords at the Greek is something many fans of their lusty, yet-bone-dry musical comedy haven’t gotten to experience in a while. It’s been eight years since Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie have put us on “Business Time” with their stripped down odes to sexy R&B mixed with a hint of yacht rock, hip-hop power pop and whatever else they decided to throw together from their bag of classic jams that earned them fans in the early aughts. Following a killer opening set from comedian Arj Barker, Flight of the Conchords took the stage looking a bit more like silver foxes than young birds, which made the timeless chuckle-inducing tunes like “Robots,” “The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room),” “Hurt Feelings” and “Business Time” land with even more impact as the crowd enjoyed some long-awaited nostalgia. Did they forget a few lyrics? Miss some solos? Mess up entire songs? Sure! But with a dose of Kiwi banter and the ability to laugh at themselves, the mistakes only made the show funnier and a reminder of why we’ve missed them. (N.J.)