WASHINGTON — The Republican snarled that his opponent was a big-spending liberal. The Democrat huffed about the Republican’s loyalty to an incumbent President. The Republican tried against the odds to attract black and Latino voters. The Democrat sought to lasso conservative Democrats tempted to stray over the political line.
This is not George Bush vs. Michael S. Dukakis, 1988. It was George Bush vs. Lloyd Bentsen, 1970, battling for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, in a race that helps explain why Bentsen was tapped as Dukakis’ vice presidential nominee 18 years later.
For one thing, Bentsen won. For another, he fought off appeals by Republican Bush to curry favor with conservative swing Democrats, the same sort who are expected to make the difference this time around.
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Those who look at the 1970 race as a key to the candidates’ likely behavior this year will find few surprises. It was, the wags said, a face-off between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. The candidates themselves, neither a master of charisma, projected remarkably similar positions on the issues.
“They’re not too different,” said Robert Mosbacher, Bush’s current national finance chairman, who held the corresponding position in the Senate campaign.
Pressed as the 1970 race began to come up with one difference between him and Bush, Bentsen found one: “I am a Democrat and he’s a Republican.”
But there were some distinguishing quirks: Bentsen, worried that he would lose some conservatives to Bush, gained some ground by convincing voters that he was actually more conservative than the pre-Reaganite Bush.
And while the race was nominally between Bentsen and Bush, it seemed at times to be a battle of presidents. On Bentsen’s side was Texas native Lyndon B. Johnson, in the second year of his retirement. On Bush’s was Richard M. Nixon, in the middle of his first term, unspoiled as yet by the ravages of Watergate.
Not a Vitriolic Battle
Surprisingly, given the lack of discord on issues, the race did not degenerate into a sassy or vitriolic personal battle.
“It was really competitive, but there wasn’t any dirty politics or name-calling,” Mosbacher said.
That was reserved for the Democratic primary, a bitter, divisive affair in which Bentsen upset the incumbent, liberal Democrat Ralph W. Yarborough. The primary gave Bentsen a boost of publicity and was the beginning of the end for Bush, who had entered the race assuming he would battle an ideological opposite in the general election.
When he came face-to-face with Bentsen, “it was a whole new ballgame,” said Peter Roussell, Bush’s 1970 press spokesman.
Bush told voters that he, as a Republican senator under the Nixon Administration, could deliver more for Texas, and he accused Bentsen of being the “machine” candidate, groomed by Texas’ powerful Democratic hierarchy.
In a line that would be resurrected in 1988, Bush warned voters against the “big spenders” in Congress, who “recklessly spend the taxpayers’ hard-earned money.” He called for programs to battle air pollution and made forays into the traditionally Democratic Latino and black neighborhoods to corral votes.
Had Better Firepower
But Bentsen was armed with more piercing ammunition.
He criticized Bush’s support of a Nixon Administration welfare proposal, calling the package a “guaranteed annual income.” He also attacked Bush’s support of a 1968 gun-control measure that required dealers to keep records of the sale of guns and ammunition. He called the measure “the first step toward registration of law-abiding citizens’ guns,” a conscience-tweaking issue in Texas. Bush countered that he had voted against every floor amendment that dealt with gun registration.
Johnson entered the fray and told voters that he would vote for Bush for senator–if he lived in Connecticut, the state in which Bush was reared. Added former Texas Gov. John B. Connally–now a Republican–”Texas doesn’t need a Connecticut Yankee like Bush, just a good sound conservative boy like Lloyd.”
Even Bentsen’s campaign slogan–”A courageous Texan with fresh ideas”–reinforced the notion of carpetbagging, although Bush had by then lived in Texas for 22 years. Bush countered with the vague, “He can do more.”
Amid Bentsen’s criticism of the incumbent Administration, Bush stayed loyal to Nixon, calling him “stronger than horseradish in Texas.” The President paid back the favor by flying in for one campaign swing and sending then-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew in for another. But the trips only exaggerated the sense of Bush as an outsider.
GOP Heavily Outnumbered
Ultimately, according to a 1970 aide, Bush was simply unable to persuade Texas Democrats to switch. And a switch was mandatory–in the primaries those years, only 110,000 people voted Republican, while 1.5 million cast Democratic ballots.
SAO PAULO — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday he will run for reelection next year, seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term.
“I’m turning 80, but you can be sure I have the same energy I had when I was 30. And I’m going to run for a fourth term in Brazil,” Lula told reporters during his official visit to Indonesia.
The Brazilian leader is traveling across Asia. After his visit to Indonesia, where he met with President Prabowo Subianto, Lula will head to Malaysia to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.
Brazilian media reported that he is expected to meet for the first time with President Trump in Malaysia on Sunday, following a conciliatory phone call earlier this month. The two leaders are expected to discuss the 50% trade tariff Trump imposed on Brazil.
Brazil’s constitution allows presidents to serve only two consecutive terms. Lula returned to office in 2023 after 13 years out of power and remains eligible to run again.
Before defeating Jair Bolsonaro in 2022 to win a third nonconsecutive term, Lula had said that would be his final campaign both because of his age and because he believed the country needed political renewal. But early in his current term, he began hinting that he might run again.
In February 2023, the president said he could seek reelection in 2026, adding that his decision would depend on the country’s political context and his health.
A dominant figure on Brazil’s left, Lula is the country’s longest-serving president since its return to democracy 40 years ago.
Some Brazilian politicians have expressed concern about Lula’s age and recent health issues. He underwent emergency surgery to treat a brain bleed late last year after a fall in the bathroom. Still, Lula frequently insists he remains healthy and energetic, often sharing workout videos on social media.
Lula currently leads all polls for the 2026 election, though roughly half of voters say they disapprove of him. Trump’s tariffs reenergized the Brazilian leader and pushed his popularity up.
His main political rival, Bolsonaro, has been barred from running for office and sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting a coup. While no strong opposition candidate has yet emerged, analysts say a viable contender is likely to depend on Bolsonaro’s backing as he serves his sentence under house arrest.
BRITS could be set to welcome a new mega zipline after the world’s biggest tunnel flopped.
The Olympic Park’s iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit was crowned the world’s longest tunnel after it was built in 2012.
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A mega zipline could be opening in the UKCredit: AlamyThe Olympic Park’s iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit was constructed in 2012Credit: AlamyWelsh adventure company Zip World took over in SeptemberCredit: ZipWorld
But, despite all its glory, the site never attracted enough visitors to operate a sustainable business.
In a bid to save the location from ruin, Zip World took over in September and vowed to install a huge zipwire.
The company has submitted a planning application which, if accepted, would see a switchback zipwire made.
Tourists would be strapped into a chair that takes them from the top of the Orbit and back up again.
The wire would measure a whopping 440m and stretch over to London Stadium.
Plans need to be approved by Tower Hamlets and Newham council officials.
If they are given the greenlight, it is estimated the attraction would fetch 60,000 visitors each year.
Designed by Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond for London 2012, the ArcelorMittal Orbit delighted visitors during the games before reopening to the public in 2014.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit isn’t just a huge sculpture, it’s also home to the world’s biggest tunnel slide, the Helix.
Standing at 76m and stretching for 178m, brave visitors can reach speeds of up to 15mph on the slide.
The huge tunnel slide also features 12 turns, which twist and snake around the Olympic Park sculpture, making for a dizzying journey.
If this sounds too stomach-churning, then visitors can also take in panoramic views over London from the ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 viewing deck.
Located at the top of the sculpture, the viewing platform boasts views for as far as 20 miles on a clear day.
Visitors have praised the attraction in their reviews on TripAdvisor, with one person writing: “The views across London are spectacular, and you get great views across the park, the stadium, and the city”.
ZipWorld boss, Andrew Hudson, said earlier this year: “We are excited to announce the re-opening date for the ArcelorMittal Orbit at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, ready for half term.
“This is just the start for Zip World in London, and we can’t wait to welcome both locals and thrill-seekers from around the world.
“We’ve got many more epic adventures lined up that will redefine urban excitement in the heart of the city.
“We’ll continue working closely with LLDC as we expand our off world-class experiences to bring something truly unique to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”
Entry tickets to the ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 viewing deck start from £7, with tickets for Helix starting from £14.
Adventure giant Zip World has a host of other attractions in the UK, including the UK’s first zipline rollercoaster at Penrhyn Quarry in Snowdonia.
The Aero Explorer ride opened in 2023 and offers thrill-seekers a “high-speed journey across the quarry” like no other.
An overhead track is connected to a harness on the rider, which enables them to glide around as if they’re on a rollercoaster.
The track is found high above the quarry, offering views of the landscape as people fly around connected to the circuit above.
Plus, how London’s newest tourist town in a “forgotten” district is a £1.3billion attraction with hotels, theatre and a rooftop bar.
It is estimated the proposed zip line would fetch 60,000 visitors each yearCredit: AlamyThe attraction is home to the world’s biggest tunnel slide, the HelixCredit: ZipWorldPlans need approved by Tower Hamlets and Newham council officialsCredit: Alamy
British Gymnastics plans to bid for the 2030 World Championships to be hosted at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool.
A formal bid will be submitted in December with a decision on the host country set to be announced in May 2026.
If successful, it would be the second time the Championships have been held in Liverpool – also doing so in 2022 – with Glasgow, London and Birmingham previously hosting too.
“The opportunity for any gymnast to compete in front of a passionate home crowd is something really special, and we’d love for our British team to be able to experience that in 2030 as part of their build-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics,” said Sarah Powell, chief executive of British Gymnastics.
“We have seen with the women’s Rugby World Cup and the football Euros that hosting major events can harness the nation’s passion and be a catalyst for greater impact.
“So, this World Championships bid is a chance to achieve so much more and have a lasting impact far beyond the week of incredible sporting drama that will unfold in the arena itself.”
UK court to hear challenge to the pro-Palestine group’s ban under ‘anti-terrorism’ laws after government loses appeal.
The United Kingdom government cannot block the cofounder of pro-Palestinian campaign group Palestine Action from bringing a legal challenge over the banning of the group under “anti-terrorism” laws, a court has said.
Huda Ammori, who helped found Palestine Action in 2020, was on Friday given permission to challenge the group’s proscription on the grounds that the ban is a disproportionate interference with free speech rights, with her case due to be heard next month.
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Britain’s Home Office, the interior ministry, then asked the Court of Appeal to overturn that decision and rule that any challenge to the ban should be heard by a specialist tribunal.
Judge Sue Carr rejected the Home Office’s appeal, saying challenging the proscription in the High Court was quicker, particularly where people have been charged and are facing trial for expressing support for Palestine Action.
The court also ruled that Ammori could challenge the ban in the High Court on additional grounds, which Ammori said was a significant victory.
BREAKING: The government LOST their appeal and failed to stop the legal challenge of the Palestine Action ban.
That means the Judicial Review will go ahead on November 25-27th.
Not only that, but we won TWO MORE grounds to argue the illegality of the ban.
“It’s time for the government to listen to the overwhelming and mounting backlash … and lift this widely condemned, utterly Orwellian ban,” she said in a statement.
“The Judicial Review will go ahead on November 25-27th,” Ammori said in a post on X later on Friday.
She hailed the group’s win to challenge “two more grounds to argue the illegality of the ban”.
“Huge victory,” she added.
Disrupting the ‘arms industry’
Palestine Action was proscribed as a “terrorist” organisation by the government in July, making membership a crime which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
More than 2,000 people have since been arrested for holding signs in support of the group, with at least 100 charged.
Before the ban, Palestine Action had increasingly targeted Israel-linked companies in Britain, sometimes spraying red paint, blocking entrances or damaging equipment.
It accused the UK government of complicity in Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Israel has repeatedly denied committing war crimes in its two-year genocidal campaign, which has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians. Rights groups have accused Israel of repeatedly committing abuses in its war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023.
Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire last week.
Palestine Action particularly focused on Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems, and Britain’s government cited a raid by activists at an Elbit site last year when it decided to outlaw the group.
The group was banned a month after some of its members broke into the RAF Brize Norton air base and damaged two planes, for which four members have been charged.
Palestine Action describes itself as “a pro-Palestinian organisation which disrupts the arms industry in the United Kingdom with direct action”. It says it is “committed to ending global participation in Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime”.
Critics of the ban – including United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and civil liberties groups – argue that damaging property does not amount to terrorism.
However, Britain’s former interior minister Yvette Cooper, who is now foreign minister, previously said violence and criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest.
Paramount, backed by billionaire Larry Ellison and his family, has officially opened the bidding for rival Warner Bros. Discovery — a potential massive merger that would dramatically change Hollywood.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s board rejected Paramount’s initial bid of about $20 a share, but talks are continuing, according to two people close to the companies who were not authorized to speak publicly.
One of the knowledgeable sources said Paramount was preparing a second bid.
Warner Bros. Discovery owns HBO, CNN, TBS, Food Network, HGTV and the prolific Warner Bros. movie and television studio in Burbank.
Ellison, one of the world’s richest men, is committed to helping his 42-year-old son, David, pull off the industry-reshaping acquisition and has agreed to help finance the bid, two people close to the situation said.
The younger Ellison, who entered the movie business 15 years ago by launching his Skydance Media production company, was catapulted into the major leagues this summer with the Ellison family’s purchase of Paramount’s controlling stake.
Since then, David Ellison and his team have made bold moves to help Paramount shake more than a decade of doldrums. Buying Warner Bros. Discovery would be their most audacious move yet. The merger would lead to the elimination of one of the original Hollywood film studios, and could see the consolidation of CNN with Paramount-owned CBS News.
Representatives for Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery declined to comment.
Industry veterans were stunned by the speed of Paramount’s play for Warner Bros. Discovery, noting that top executives had begun working on the bid even as they were putting finishing touches on the Paramount takeover.
One of Paramount’s top executives is a former Goldman Sachs banker, Andy Gordon, who was a ranking member of RedBird Capital Partners, the private equity firm that has teamed up with the Ellisons and has a significant stake in Paramount.
Paramount’s interest prompted stocks of both companies to soar, driving up the market value for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Paramount’s offer of $20 a share for Warner Bros. Discovery was less than what some analysts and sources believe the company’s parts are worth, leading the Warner Bros. Discovery board to rebuff the offer, sources said.
But many believe that Paramount needs more content to better compete in a landscape that’s dominated by tech giants such as Netflix and Amazon.
Paramount has reason to move quickly.
Warner Bros. Discovery had previously announced that it was planning to divide its assets into two companies by next April. One company, Warner Bros., would be made up of HBO, the HBO Max streaming service and the Burbank-based movie and television studios. Current Chief Executive David Zaslav would run that enterprise.
The other arm would be called Discovery Global and consist of the linear cable television channels, which have seen their fortunes fall with consumers’ shift to streaming.
The Paramount bid was seen as an attempt to slip in under the wire because other large companies, including Amazon, Apple and Netflix, may have been interested in buying the studios, streaming service and leafy studio lot in Burbank.
However, Netflix’s co-chief executive Greg Peters appeared to downplay Netflix’s interest during an appearance last week at the Bloomberg Screentime media conference. “We come from a deep heritage of being builders rather than buyers,” Peters said.
Some analysts believe Paramount’s proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery could ultimately prevail because Zaslav and his team have made huge cuts during the past three years to get the various businesses profitable after buying the company from AT&T, which left the company burdened with a heavy debt load. The company has paid down billions of dollars of debt, but still carries nearly $35 billion of debt on its books.
Others point to Warner Bros.’ recent successes at the box office as evidence that Paramount is offering too little.
Despite the tumult at the corporate level, Warner Bros.’ film studio has had a successful year. Its fortunes turned around in April with the release of “A Minecraft Movie,” which grossed nearly $958 million worldwide, followed by a string of hits including Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” James Gunn’s “Superman” and horror flick “Weapons.”
Last week at Bloomberg’s Screentime media conference, Ellison declined to comment on Paramount’s pursuit of Warner Bros. or even whether his company had already made a bid. But he did touch briefly on consolidation in Hollywood, saying, “Ironically, it was David Zaslav last year who said that consolidation in the media business is important.”
“There are a lot of options out there,” he added, but declined to elaborate.
After news of Paramount’s interest surfaced, Warner Bros. Discovery‘s stock jumped more than 30%. It climbed as much as $20 a share, but closed Friday at $17.10, down 3.2%.
Paramount also has seen its stock surge by about 12%. Shares finished Friday at $17, down 5.4%
Warner Bros. Discovery is now valued at $42 billion. Paramount is considerably smaller, worth about $18.5 billion.
The Chelsea star has officially won the rights to his nickname and trade mark celebrationCredit: Getty
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Palmer is renowned for his iconic shivering goal celebrationCredit: Getty
It comes after Chateau Palmer, which sells bottles of wine for as much as £750, opposed his bid to flog plonk — and won their case in August.
But, on Friday, the 23-year-old won the right to brand an array of other products, including snacks, mobile phone covers, toys, Christmas crackers and even teddy bears.
This essentially means nobody can use Palmer’s “Cold” nickname for commercial use without his permission.
He has also successfully trademarked his autograph.
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An article in The Athletic detailed how the Intellectual Property Office approved the application made by the footballer’s private company, Palmer Management Limited.
In August, winemaker Chateau Palmer, based near Bordeaux, opposed the initial application.
It still covers a range of other alcoholic beverages, such as spirits, liqueurs and alcoholic energy drinks.
The winery was founded in 1814 when Army officer Charles Palmer bought the estate.
Royal wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd says: “At their best, the wines of Ch. Palmer are among the greatest anywhere in Bordeaux.”
Chelsea ace Cole Palmer LOSES battle against £750-a-bottle winery to trademark nickname & goal celebration
A bottle of its Cru Classé Margaux from 1970 is priced at £750.
Speaking to The Athletic, Karen Lee, an intellectual property lawyer at Edwin Coe, said: “Once you have a registered trademark in place, it is much easier to enforce your rights against third parties.
“Anyone using something that’s the same or similar can amount to an infringement. And that’s when it can lead to High Court litigation, which can be very expensive.”
Palmer has made no secret about the celebration not being his own original work.
He previously admitted how, following his time in the Manchester City academy, he was inspired to perform the celebration by then team-mate Morgan Rogers.
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The vineyard is in France’s Margaux region
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One bottle of the firm’s Cru Classé Margaux from 1970 was listed at £750
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The 23-year-old has now also won the rights to brand an array of other productsCredit: Getty
Aston Villa star Rogers, was accused of copying the celebration when he scored against Chelsea in April 2024, before he clarified: “It’s the opposite, I did it first, he copied me.”
Speaking of his celebration in a previous interview with The Telegraph, Cole said: “It symbolises joy, passion and hard determination for the game, plus it’s funny as it works well with my name.
“Everyone knows it’s my celebration. Lots of people might have done it (before me), but everybody knows it is my celebration.”
However, this could mean that Chelsea has to register for a licence if the London club wants to use his nickname in promotional material.
EA, the company behind the EA Sports FC series of video games, might also have to ask permission to use his celebration in future games.
Other footballers who have trademarked their names and celebrations include David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, who trademarked his name, CR7 initials and “Siuuu” celebration.
Lionel Messi also trademarked his surname after a legal challenge from the cycling brand Massi.
Some other stars have managed to have their brand made exclusive in specific countries, including Marcus Rashford with his name in the United States, Erling Haaland with his signature and goal celebration in his native Norway.
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The footballer has claimed that everyone knows its his celebrationCredit: Getty
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Other players like Beckham and Ronaldo have also trademarked their namesCredit: Getty
Sebastien Lecornu to hold two days of talks to try to shore up cross-party support for his collapsed government.
France’s outgoing prime minister has launched a last-gasp bid to secure cross-party support for his government and chart a path out of the country’s deepening political crisis.
The frantic effort, which began on Tuesday, will see Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu seeking two days of talks with parliamentary figures, just a day after he tendered his resignation over the rejection of his proposed cabinet.
That snub, which came from allies and rivals alike, and Lecornu’s announcement that he would quit after just 27 days, have stoked the political crisis bubbling beneath President Emmanuel Macron since the 2024 snap elections.
Now, in a move that has caused confusion among lawmakers and the public, Lecornu has accepted a request from Macron that he hold talks to try to find a way out of the deadlock.
Lecornu, whose 14-hour administration was the shortest in modern French history, was scheduled on Tuesday morning to meet several members of the conservative Republicans and the centre-right Renaissance parties – the so-called “common platform” – to see if they could agree on a new cabinet.
But voices on both sides have reacted with shock, and suggestions that it is now time for Macron himself to make way.
Macron has tasked Lecornu with “conducting final negotiations by Wednesday evening to define a platform of action and stability for the country”, according to the Elysee Palace.
It was not immediately clear what Lecornu’s task would entail. France’s constitution allows Macron to appoint another prime minister, or to reappoint Lecornu – the fifth PM he has installed in less than two years – should he wish.
Politicians of all stripes have expressed surprise over the move. Some said it appeared to be an effort by Macron to buy time.
Others insisted that it means an early presidential election is needed.
Unsurprisingly, Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, was among them. He said he believed parliament should be dissolved, with parliamentary or early presidential elections to follow.
However, Edouard Philippe, once a close ally of Macron who served as prime minister, also told French media that he was in favour of a presidential vote.
Another former prime minister under Macron, Gabriel Attal, expressed bafflement, saying, “Like many French people, I do not understand the president’s decisions any more.”
Political chaos
Macron tasked Lecornu with forming a government in early September after the fractured French parliament toppled his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, over an austerity budget that prompted nationwide strikes in recent weeks.
Despite Lecornu’s promises to “break” with Bayrou’s strategies, his new cabinet, unveiled on Sunday evening, immediately drew criticism for containing many of the same faces from the previous government, with opponents complaining that it contained too many right-wing representatives or not enough.
The French parliament has been sharply divided since Macron, in response to gains made by the far right, announced snap elections last year, resulting in a hung parliament and now nearly two years of political crisis.
The 47-year-old centrist president has repeatedly said he will see out his second term, which is due to end in 2027.
TORIES will promise to introduce a US-style immigration force to deport up to 150,000 people a year.
Leader Kemi Badenoch will unveil the Conservatives’ toughest border policies yet at her first party conference.
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Kemi Badenoch, with husband Hamish, will unveil the Conservatives’ toughest border policies yet at her first party conferenceCredit: Reuters
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Illegal migrants would be banned from claiming asylum and refugee status will be for only those whose government is trying to kill themCredit: AFP
The plan is part of a policy blitz as the Tories try to stop haemorrhaging support to Reform UK.
Ms Badenoch will pledge to create a £1.6billion removals force like the hardline US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Since President Donald Trump’s second term started in January, it has seen more than two million illegal immigrants either leave the US voluntarily or be removed.
As the party faithful gathered in Manchester, Ms Badenoch — who turned up hand-in-hand with husband Hamish — said: “We must tackle the scourge of illegal immigration to Britain and secure our borders.
“That is why the Conservatives are setting out a serious and comprehensive new plan to end this crisis.
“Labour offer failed gimmicks like ‘one thousand in, one out’.
“Reform have nothing but announcements that fall apart on arrival.”
The plan — if the Conservatives win the next election — would see all new illegal migrants deported within a week of arrival.
The “Removals Force” would be handed sweeping powers like facial recognition to spot them.
But she has been accused of mimicking Nigel Farage’s Reform policies with tougher stances on borders and net zero.
Insiders claim Tory MPs are holding on to letters calling for Ms Badenoch to quit so they can use them when she can be challenged after a year in office — on November 3.
But others expect a move would be more likely after May’s local elections.
Asked if they will topple Ms Badenoch after another bad performance at the ballot box, Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho told The Sun on Sunday: “Kemi’s had one of the toughest jobs in politics.
“If you’re someone who takes over a party after it’s lost an election, it’s a pretty rough ride.
“We’re now taking on energy and you’ll see even more from us on immigration.
“Those are the things that I think the public care about.”
But on the eve of the Conference, London Assembly member Keith Prince became the latest Tory to jump ship to Reform.
A Labour Party spokesperson insisted: “The Conservatives’ message on immigration is; we got everything wrong, we won’t apologise, now trust us.
“It won’t wash.”
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Ms Badenoch will pledge to create a £1.6billion removals force like the hardline US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencyCredit: Reuters
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A federal judge has concluded that the Department of Justice’s prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia on human smuggling charges may be an illegal retaliation after he successfully sued the Trump administration over his deportation to El Salvador.
The case of Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was a construction worker living legally in Maryland when he was wrongly deported to his home country, has become a proxy for the partisan struggle over President Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown and mass deportation agenda.
U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw late Friday granted a request by lawyers for Abrego Garcia and ordered discovery and an evidentiary hearing in Abrego Garcia’s effort to show that the federal human smuggling case against him in Tennessee is illegally retaliatory.
Crenshaw said Abrego Garcia had shown that there is “some evidence that the prosecution against him may be vindictive.” That evidence included statements by various Trump administration officials and the timeline of the charges being filed.
The departments of Justice and Homeland Security did not immediately respond to inquiries about the case Saturday.
In his 16-page ruling, Crenshaw said many statements by administration officials “raise cause for concern,” but one stood out.
That statement by Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Blanche, on a Fox News program after Abrego Garcia was charged in June, seemed to suggest that the Department of Justice charged Abrego Garcia because he won his wrongful-deportation case, Crenshaw wrote.
Blanche’s ”remarkable statements could directly establish that the motivations for Abrego’s criminal charges stem from his exercise of his constitutional and statutory rights” to sue over his deportation “rather than a genuine desire to prosecute him for alleged criminal misconduct,” Crenshaw wrote.
Likewise, Crenshaw noted that the Department of Homeland Security reopened an investigation into Abrego Garcia days after the Supreme Court said in April that the Trump administration must work to bring back Abrego Garcia.
Abrego Garcia was indicted May 21 and charged June 6, the day the U.S. brought him back from a prison in El Salvador. He pleaded not guilty and is now being held in Pennsylvania.
If convicted in the Tennessee case, Abrego Garcia will be deported, federal officials have said. A U.S. immigration judge has denied Abrego Garcia’s bid for asylum, although he can appeal.
Abrego Garcia has an American wife and children and has lived in Maryland for years, but he immigrated to the United States illegally as a teenager.
In 2019, he was arrested by immigration agents. He requested asylum but was not eligible because he had been in the U.S. for more than a year. But the judge ruled he could not be deported to El Salvador, where he faced danger from a gang that targeted his family.
The human smuggling charges in Tennessee stem from a 2022 traffic stop. He was not charged at the time.
Trump administration officials have waged a relentless public relations campaign against Abrego Garcia, repeatedly referring to him as a member of the MS-13 gang, among other things, despite the fact he has not been convicted of any crimes. The government has provided no clear evidence of gang affiliation, and Abrego Garcia denies the allegation.
Abrego Garcia’s attorneys have denounced the criminal charges and the deportation efforts, saying they are an attempt to punish him for standing up to the administration.
Abrego Garcia contends that, while imprisoned in El Salvador — in a notorious lockup with a documented history of human rights abuses — he suffered beatings, sleep deprivation and psychological torture. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has denied those allegations.
Musk, considered the world’s richest man, had argued his ‘incredibly busy’ schedule made attending the Washington, DC, case a burden.
Published On 2 Oct 20252 Oct 2025
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Billionaire Elon Musk has failed to persuade a federal judge in Washington, DC, to move a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit over the late disclosure of his growing Twitter stake to Texas after saying he was too busy to defend himself in the nation’s capital.
US District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan said on Thursday she “takes Mr. Musk’s convenience seriously” but that the world’s richest person has “considerable means” and spends at least 40 percent of his time outside Texas.
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“Indeed,” she wrote, “Mr. Musk’s brief itself indicates that he has spent substantial time here this year,” referencing when he ran the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump.
Sooknanan also said Texas judges have bigger caseloads than in her court and she could proceed with “reasonable alacrity”.
In seeking to move the case, Musk said he was an “incredibly busy individual” who works 80-plus-hour weeks and often sleeps in his office or factory. He argued that litigating in Washington, DC, would impose “substantial burdens”.
Lawyers for Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Reuters news agency. A spokesperson for the SEC had no comment, citing the government shutdown that began on Wednesday.
Musk’s fortune surpassed $500 billion for the first time that day, according to the publication Forbes.
The SEC sued Musk in January, saying his 11-day delay in revealing his initial 5-percent Twitter stake in early 2022 let him buy more than $500m of shares at artificially low prices.
It wants Musk to pay a civil fine and give up $150m he allegedly saved at the expense of unsuspecting investors. Musk is seeking to dismiss the case. He bought all of Twitter for $44bn in October 2022 and renamed it X.
Musk lives in Austin, Texas, and his companies Tesla, SpaceX and the Boring tunnel business are based in the state.
Sooknanan rejected Musk’s alternative proposal to move the SEC case to Manhattan, where former Twitter shareholders are suing him.
BALTIMORE — A U.S. immigration judge on Wednesday denied a bid for asylum from Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case has become a proxy for the partisan power struggle over immigration policy.
The judge in the Baltimore immigration court denied an application to reopen Abrego Garcia’s 2019 asylum case, but that is not the final word. Abrego Garcia has 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
The Salvadoran national has an American wife and children and has lived in Maryland for years, but he originally immigrated to the U.S. illegally as a teenager. In 2019, he was arrested by immigration agents. He requested asylum but was not eligible because he had been in the country for more than a year. However, the judge ruled that he could not be deported to El Salvador, where he faced danger from a gang that targeted his family.
When he was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March and kept in a notorious prison, his case became a rallying point for those who opposed President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Facing a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump’s Republican administration returned Abrego Garcia to the U.S. in June, only to immediately charge him with human smuggling.
While he faces those criminal charges in Tennessee, based on a 2022 traffic stop, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also seeking to deport him to a third country, proposing Uganda first and then Eswatini.
Loller writes for the Associated Press. Loller reported from Nashville, Tenn.
Deaves picked up from where he left off last season, impressing in Ospreys’ opening round defeat to Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
And Jones believes that continued good form has put him in Wales contention.
“I’d be surprised if he [Deaves] is not in the international conversation right now,” said Jones.
“If you look at his post-contact metres, he’s the highest in our squad. He beats defenders and wins collisions in his own way, not just with brute force.
“He’s got a good skillset and is super aggressive. They’re all the traits you associate with an international player.”
Deaves, who still coaches at his hometown club of Pontyclun, said a Wales call would be reward for defying the odds during his early career.
“I was a late developer and playing in a tough position, always being called too small and stuff like that,” said 5ft 11in (1.80m) Deaves.
“The size of my heart had to take over sometimes and I’d like to say that still carries on now.
“It’s about making my village proud, I love representing my village and giving back to my family. [But] I just need to focus on where I am right now.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris offered a spirited defense of her short, unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid, lamented the loss of voters’ faith in institutions and urged Democrats to not become dispirited on Monday as she spoke at the first hometown celebration of her new book about her roller-coaster campaign.
She appeared to take little responsibility for her loss to President Trump in 2024 while addressing a fawning crowd of 2,000 people at The Wiltern in Los Angeles.
“I wrote the book for many reasons, but primarily to remind us how unprecedented that election was,” Harris said about “107 Days,” her political memoir that was released last week. “Think about it. A sitting president of the United States is running for reelection and three and a half months before the election decides not to run, and then a sitting vice president takes up the mantle to run against a former president of the United States who has been running for 10 years, with 107 days to go.”
She dismissed Trump’s claims that his 2024 victory was so overwhelming that it was a clear mandate by the voters
“And by the way, can history reflect on the fact that it was the closest presidential election?” Harris said, standing from her seat on the stage, as the audience cheered. “It is important for us to remember so that we that know where we’ve been to decide and chart where we are.”
Trump beat Harris by more than 2.3 million votes — about 1.5% of the popular vote — but the Republican swept the electoral college vote, winning 312-226. Other presidential contests have been tighter, notably the 2000 contest between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. Gore won the popular vote by nearly 544,000 votes but Bush won the electoral college vote 271-266 in a deeply contentious election that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Harris, faulted for failing to connect with voters about their economic pain in battleground states in the Midwest and Southwest, criticized former President Biden about his administration’s priorities. She said she would have addressed kitchen table issues before legislation about infrastructure and semiconductor manufacturing.
“I would have done the family piece first, which is affordable childcare, paid leave, extension of the child tax credit,” she said, basic issues facing Americans who “need to just get by today.”
Harris spoke about her book in conversation with Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan, the hosts of the “I’ve Had It” podcast and former cast members of the Bravo series “Sweet Home Oklahoma.”
Attendees paid up to hundreds or thousands of dollars on the resale market for tickets to attend the event, part of a multi-city book tour that began last week in New York City. The East Coast event was disrupted by protesters about Israeli actions in Gaza. Harris is traveling across the country and overseas promoting her book.
The former vice president’s book tour is expect to be a big money maker.
Harris’ publisher recently added another “107 Days” event at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Oct. 28.
The Bay Area native touched upon current news events during her appearance, which lasted shortly over an hour.
About the impending federal government shutdown, Harris said Democrats must be clear that the fault lies squarely with Republicans because they control the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“They are in power,” she said, arguing that her party must stand firm against efforts to cut access to healthcare, notably the Affordable Care Act.
She also ripped into Trump for his social media post of a fake AI-generated video of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The video purports to show Schumer saying that Latino and Black voters hate Democrats, so the party must provide undocumented residents free healthcare so they support the party until they learn English and “realize they hate us too.” Jeffries appears to wear a sombrero as mariachi music plays in the background.
“It’s juvenile,” Harris said. Trump is “just a man who is unbalanced, he is incompetent and he is unhinged.”
Harris did not touch on the issues she wrote in her book that caused consternation among Democrats, such as not selecting former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to be her running mate because she did not believe Americans were ready to support a presidential ticket with a biracial woman and a gay man. She also did not mention her recounting of reaching out to Gov. Gavin Newsom after Biden decided not to seek reelection, and him not responding to her beyond saying he was out hikinG.
Harris lamented civic and corporate leaders caving to demands from the Trump administration.
Among those Trump targeted were law firms that did work for his perceived enemies.
“I predicted almost everything,” she said. “What I did not predict was the capitulation of universities, law firms, media corporations be they television or newspapers. I did not predict that.”
She said that while she worked in public service throughout her career, her interactions with leaders in the private sector led her to believe that they would be “among the guardians of our democracy.”
“I have been disappointed, deeply deeply disappointed by people who are powerful who are bending the knee at the foot of this tyrant,” Harris said.
Harris did not mention that her husband, Doug Emhoff, is a partner at the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher that earlier this year that reached an agreement with the White House to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal work during the Republican’s time in the White House and beyond.
In April, the firm reached an agreement with the Trump administration, with the president saying their services would be dedicated to helping veterans, Gold Star families, law enforcement members and first responders, and that the law firm agreed to combat antisemitism and not engage in “DEI” efforts.
Emhoff, who joined the law firm in January and also is now on the has faculty at USC , has condemned his law firm’s agreement with the administration.
Emhoff, who was in attendance at the event and posing for pictures with Harris supporters, declined comment about the event.
Sept. 28 (UPI) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Sunday that he will abandon his re-election bid just five weeks before the election after a federal bribery indictment and the Campaign Finance Board’s decision to withhold millions in public matching funds.
Adams made the announcement with a nearly nine-minute video posted to social media that began with Frank Sinatra‘s “My Way.” He did not make any endorsements in the video.
His name will remain on the ballot in November, but his departure leaves the election to three main challengers, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, perennial Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat running independently after allegations of sexual misconduct led to his 2021 resignation as governor.
“Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my re-election campaign,” Adams said. “The constant media speculation about my future and the campaign finance board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.”
The announcement caps a dramatic fall for Adams, a former NYPD captain and Brooklyn borough president who won City Hall in 2021, promising to restore order after the pandemic. His tenure was quickly overshadowed by controversies over homelessness, migrant housing and public safety, and he never recovered politically after federal prosecutors began probing his fundraising.
The indictment, unsealed earlier this year, accused Adams and aides of soliciting and accepting illegal foreign donations during his 2021 campaign, including money allegedly funneled from Turkish interests. Adams, who was indicted and pleaded not guilty, saw the case later dropped.
The video largely followed prepared remarks that were shared with The New York Times ahead of its release. That draft included criticism of Cuomo, calling him power-hungry and untrustworthy, which did not appear in the final version — fueling speculation Adams may ultimately endorse the former governor, who is viewed as Mamdani’s strongest challenger.
Mamdani, an Astoria, Queens, assemblyman, has surged in polls with support from younger voters and progressive activists, reflecting a broader leftward shift in city politics.
“The choice Eric Adams made today was not an easy one, but I believe he is sincere in putting the well-being of New York City ahead of personal ambition,” Cuomo said in a statement. “We face destructive extremist forces that would devastate our city through incompetence or ignorance, but it is not too late to stop them.”
Cuomo’s statement reads similarly to comments by Adams in his video, who appeared to warn voters against choosing Mamdani. Without naming Mamdani, Adams criticized “insidious forces” for pushing “divisive agendas” that seek to “destroy the very system we built together over generations.”
Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has been nominated as a candidate for U.N. secretary-general, launching her bid to lead the organization in 2027. File Photo by Sashenka Gutierrez/EPA
Sept. 26 (UPI) — Chilean President Gabriel Boric has officially nominated former President Michelle Bachelet as a candidate for U.N. secretary-general, launching her bid to lead the organization in 2027.
“Michelle Bachelet is not only a widely known and respected figure on the global stage. She is a woman whose life story is deeply consistent with the values that inspire this organization. She has served twice as Chile’s president and was, of course, the first woman to do so,” Boric said In his address Tuesday to the General Assembly,
He added that in her roles as executive director of U.N. Women and U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Bachelet “has governed, negotiated, healed and listened.” Her career allows her, in “times of fragmentation and mistrust,” to be a figure capable of building bridges.
The term of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of Portugal ends in December 2026. Only Bolivian Vice President David Choquehuanca has also been nominated, and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said he wants the position.
In July, a group of 36 former Latin American foreign ministers issued a statement stressing the urgent need to renew U.N. leadership, calling for stronger regional representation and for a woman to lead the organization.
Similarly, the former diplomats warned of “a clear gap in global representation,” noting that Latin America and the Caribbean have had only one U.N. secretary-general in eight decades — Peru’s Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, who served from 1982 to 1991 — and they called on member states “to support our region in taking on this responsibility in the next cycle.”
Several women have been mentioned as potential candidates for the U.N. leadership.
Costa Rican economist Rebeca Grynspan, 69, is secretary-general of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development and a former vice president of Costa Rica. She is seen as a leading contender because of her long career and close ties within the U.N. system.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has endorsed biologist and diplomat Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s environment secretary and former executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ecuadorian diplomat María Fernanda Espinosa has also been mentioned. She presided over the 73rd session of the U.N. General Assembly, becoming the first woman to hold that post. She has also served as foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations.
Mia Amor Mottley, 60, is a Barbadian politician and attorney who has served as the eighth prime minister of Barbados since 2018 and as Leader of the Barbados Labour Party since 2008. Mottley is the first woman to hold either position.
“There are other very competent candidates, which is why a strong diplomatic effort and the presentation of a program for U.N. governance in difficult times will be key to standing out from the rest,” Heraldo Muñoz, former foreign minister of Chile, told UPI.
Muñoz also served as assistant secretary-general of the U.N. Development Program for Latin America and the Caribbean and as Chile’s ambassador to the United Nations.
He added that by announcing its candidate before the General Assembly, Chile “immediately positioned the former president’s bid before member states, the international press, commentators who follow world politics and civil society.”
He stressed that what comes next is hard work by Chile’s foreign ministry to deploy “its diplomatic resources to secure formal support from member states in different regions. They will have to be convinced by Michelle Bachelet’s experience in senior U.N. positions.”
Once candidates are officially nominated, the election of the next U.N. secretary-general has two stages.
All members of the Security Council must vote on a candidate. If any of the five permanent members veto the choice, that candidate is immediately out of the race. When a consensus emerges, the name is submitted to the General Assembly, which then votes to ratify or reject the appointment.
“It will be necessary to pay special attention to the 15 members of the Security Council, which proposes a name to the General Assembly. Priority work will be required with the five permanent members, who hold veto power over the candidacies,” Muñoz said.
René Jara, a political scientist and professor at the University of Santiago, said that “any alliance that can be made with other countries, particularly with the BRICS, is important.”
Jara added that the election will pit two forces against each other: those who support U.S. foreign policy and “those who will be a counterweight to those policies.” In his view, “that will be the big battle.”
The Home Office has been refused permission to appeal against a temporary injunction blocking an Eritrean man from being removed to France as part of the “one in, one out” agreement between the two countries.
Last week, the 25-year-old, who arrived in the UK on a small boat, was due to be among the first people sent to France under the pilot scheme.
However, in a last-minute reprieve, the High Court in London gave him at least 14 days to make representations to support his claim that he was a victim of modern slavery.
The government had argued the order risked undermining the new returns policy, but the Court of Appeal refused Home Office lawyers permission to appeal against that decision.
The “one in, one out” scheme was announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron in July.
Under the treaty, France agreed to take back migrants who had travelled to the UK by small boat and had their asylum claim withdrawn or declared inadmissible.
For each person returned to France, the UK will accept someone with a case for protection as a refugee who has not attempted to cross the Channel.
Lawyers for the Home Office had argued that Mr Justice Sheldon, the High Court judge that granted the last-minute order halting the removal, had made a mistake when he did so.
“The judge’s decision to grant interim relief, and for such a significant period in the context of this policy, causes real damage to the public interest and undermines a central policy objective,” Kate Grange KC said on behalf of the Home Office.
Sonali Naik KC, who represented the asylum seeker, said the judge was “entitled to grant the order in the urgent circumstances he did, for the reasons he gave and for the period he did”.
Ms Naik said the man’s case “should be considered in its own context and on its own facts”, adding that it did not have wider significance for others whom the government might seek to remove as part of the returns pilot scheme.
In their judgement on Tuesday, Court of Appeal judges said the lower court had been “correct to hold that there was a serious issue to be tried on the question of whether the Secretary of state was acting unlawfully” by seeking to remove the man in those circumstances.
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell. Don Stanhouse would have been a perfect fit for this bullpen.
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The big news this week (besides the continuing collapse of the bullpen, which barely qualifies as news anymore): Shohei Ohtani removed after five innings while pitching a no-hitter. He was replaced by Justin Wrobleski to start the sixth with the Dodgers leading the Phillies 4-0. Wrobleski had not given up a run this month. He gave up five in the sixth inning. Whoops.
This was followed by fans on social media and a certain newsletter writer’s inbox to complain about Dave Roberts, how he doesn’t know how to handle a bullpen and how he needs to be fired for general incompetence. The fired part is silly, so we will ignore that. But did Roberts mishandle the situation?
If you were mad about it, ask yourself this: Would you have been mad if the Dodgers had won 6-0, or 6-2? If not, you aren’t mad that he caused Ohtani to miss out on a no-hitter, you are mad the Dodgers lost. Let’s reexamine the situation.
—Ohtani is coming off of his second Tommy John surgery and the Dodgers have been very careful with him. A couple of weeks ago, they decided, in consultation with Ohtani, that he would not pitch more than five innings the rest of the season.
—Roberts: “He’s two players in one. If something happens, then we lose two players. … We haven’t done it all year. So, I’m not gonna do it tonight.”
—Roberts had Wrobleski ready, and Wrobleski has been his best reliever this month. Who else was he supposed to bring in?
—Even if Roberts had let Ohtani pitch the sixth, there is no way he would have been left in for nine innings to complete a no-hitter. And we don’t know how the cards would have played out if Wrobleski had started the seventh inning instead of the sixth.
—The Dodgers fought back to tie the score, until Blake Treinen gave up a three-run homer in the top of the ninth. The same Treinen who was a stud in last year’s postseason.
—The culprit, as it has been all season, was the bullpen, not Roberts. Please tell me what reliable reliever should have pitched. Wrobleski was the most reliable guy on that day, and he failed. Roberts can’t throw the pitches for them.
—When Roberts calls down to the bullpen, he must be thinking, “How should we die today? Should I choose slow poison? Electric shock?” There are no great options. The bullpen is the problem. You could have the greatest manager in major league history, and it won’t matter if everyone in his bullpen is as unreliable as the Dodger bullpen is at this moment.
So, it’s hard to see what Roberts did wrong here. The anger some have at him is misplaced on this occasion.
Roberts’ biggest weakness has always been his handling of the bullpen, no question about it. But this one wasn’t on him.
A trend?
This isn’t the first time Roberts has removed a pitcher who had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning or beyond. A look (click on the result line to be taken to a box score of the game):
April 8, 2016: Ross Stripling, 7 1/3 no-hit innings against San Francisco in his major league debut
Number of pitches: 100
Stripling was coming off elbow surgery and had walked his fourth batter of the game when, with one out in the eighth, Roberts removed him. Reliever Chris Hatcher gave up a two-run homer to the next batter.
Roberts quote: “I wanted to see him throw a no-hitter. It’s a special moment. But we’re looking at the long term. We’re looking at the long view. Ross can help us win many more games. If it would have gone south and something would have happened, I would have never been able to live with myself. Because this is this kid’s livelihood. That’s my job.”
Stripling quote: “I have no ill feelings toward the decision one bit. I’m thinking that’s just the right choice.”
Sept. 10, 2016: Rich Hill, seven perfect innings against Miami.
Number of pitches: 89
Wary of exacerbating the blisters that were forming on Hill’s left hand, Roberts removed him after seven perfect innings. Reliever Joe Blanton gives up a hit with two out in the eighth. Blanton, Grant Dayton and Kenley Jansen finish off the shutout.
Roberts quote: “I’m very, very sensitive to his personal achievements. I really am. But nothing should get in the way, or compromise, our team goal…. I’m going to lose sleep tonight. And I probably should.”
Hill quote: “I get it. I’m very adamant about living in the moment. I did not want to come out of the game.” (Note: Hill was shown slamming a bat into the dugout bench after being told he was coming out). “But I think there’s a bigger picture here, and we all know what it is.”
May 4, 2018: Walker Buehler, six no-hit innings against San Diego
Number of pitches: 93
Buehler had thrown 93 pitches, one shy of his professional high, and was operating under an innings restriction because of Tommy John surgery. Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore finished off the no-hitter.
Roberts quote: “He was totally complicit. Just understood where I was coming from, understood where the organization was coming from, what impact he has, how important he is for the organization this year, and going forward.”
Buehler quote: “Obviously, I wanted to keep going. But obviously, it’s above my pay grade. They made the choice. And for these guys to finish it out, it’s pretty cool…. It was the toughest conversation I’ve ever had.”
April 13, 2022: Clayton Kershaw, seven perfect innings against Minnesota
Number of pitches: 80
Coming off an elbow injury the previous season, and with a lockout shortened spring training, Kershaw was on an 80-pitch limit. Alex Vesia gave up a hit with one out in the eighth. Vesia and Justin Bruihl finished off the shutout.
Roberts quote: “There’s a lot of people that are cheering for the Dodgers, not only just for today and Clayton to throw a no-hitter, but for the Dodgers to win the World Series. For us to do that, we need him healthy.”
Kershaw quote: “I knew going in that my pitch count wasn’t going to be 100, let alone 90 or whatever. So I don’t know. It’s a hard thing to do to have to come out of the game when you’re doing that. But we’re here to win and this was the right choice.”
Sept. 16, 2022: Dustin May, five no-hit innings against San Francisco
Number of pitches: 69
May had some arm soreness after his previous start, prompting the team to push back his outing a few days and limit his pitch count. Vesia gave up a hit with two out in the sixth. Vesia, Caleb Ferguson and Phil Bickford finished the shutout.
Roberts quote: “Getting him out of the game, feeling good, is the win. Considering how he threw the baseball the last couple times, building off tonight and [knowing he’s] going on regular rest his next turn, it was the smart decision.”
May quote: “I didn’t even realize I had a no-hitter going.”
June 16, 2023: Emmet Sheehan, six no-hit innings against San Francisco in his major league debut
Number of pitches: 89
Sheehan had been rushed up from double-A to make the start because of injuries. He was averaging fewer than five innings a start in the minors and had never pitched in more than six innings in a game in the minors. He was replaced by Brusdar Graterol, who gave up two runs, then Victor González gave up three runs and Vesia two runs in the loss.
Roberts quote: “I was actually contemplating it after five innings, given the usage he’s had. But where the state of the ‘pen has been, I was trying to squeeze another inning. So to get him through the sixth, I thought was huge.”
Sheehan quote: “To have the Dodger fans and my family behind me, I couldn’t have asked for a better debut. Besides a Dodger win.”
Sept. 21, 2023: Emmet Sheehan, 4 2/3 hitless innings against San Francisco
Number of pitches: 93
It was a tough outing, as Sheehan walked four, hit a batter and gave up a run on a bases-loaded walk. Vesia replaced Sheehan in the fifth, and the first hit was a home run by Joc Pederson off Vesia with one out in the sixth. Shelby Miller, Ryan Brasier, Joe Kelly and Evan Phillips finished off the victory.
Roberts quote: “I think when he got to that fifth inning, there was a little bit of running low on the fuel in the tank, some close misses. … But he pitched a heck of a ballgame.”
Sheehan quote: “I think I definitely build confidence every start.”
Sept. 8, 2025: Tyler Glasnow, seven no-hit innings against Colorado
Number of pitches: 103
Glasnow was pitching for the first time in 10 days because of a sore back. He gave up a run in the second inning on a walk, stolen base, a deep fly ball advancing the runner to third, and a sacrifice fly. He stuck out 11. Blake Treinen pitched a perfect eighth. Tanner Scott gave up a leadoff double in the ninth before getting the save.
Roberts quote: “I do think that there’s certain times, if [the starters] give me the opportunity as far as efficiency and how their stuff is playing, to push them a little more.”
Glasnow quote: “My pitch count was pretty high. I don’t know how many pitches I was going to be allowed to throw. Obviously I want to stay in, no matter what my pitch count is, but given my, like, track record, I kind of understand why. I respect the decision.”
Sept. 16, 2025: Shohei Ohtani, five no-hit innings against Philadelphia
Number of pitches: 68
Ohtani was limited to five innings because he had his second Tommy John surgery in 2023. He was relieved by Justin Wrobleski, who gave up five runs in the sixth, and Edgardo Henriquez, who gave up a run in the sixth. After scoreless innings by Jack Dreyer and Anthony Banda, Blake Treinen gave up three runs in the ninth.
Roberts quote: “We’ve been very steadfast in every situation as far as innings for [Ohtani’s] usage — from one inning to two innings to three to four to five. We haven’t deviated from that. He wasn’t going to go back out.”
Ohtani quote: “The decision of whether to take me out is something I leave completely to the manager.”
The postseason
Here’s how the postseason race pans out after Wednesday’s games:
Wild-cards 4. Chicago, 88-64 5. San Diego, 83-69 6. New York, 78-74
7. Arizona, 77-76 8. San Francisco, 76-76 9. Cincinnati, 76-76
The Phillies have clinched the AL East title. The Brewers and Cubs have clinched a playoff spot. Washington, Pittsburgh amd Colorado have been eliminated from playoff contention.
AL 1. Toronto, 89-63 2. Detroit, 85-67 3. Houston, 84-69
Wild-cards 4. New York, 85-67 5. Seattle, 83-69 6. Boston, 83-69
7. Cleveland, 80-71 8. Texas, 79-74 9. Kansas City, 76-76
Baltimore, Minnesota, Chicago, the Athletics and the Angels have been eliminated from playoff contention.
The top two teams in each league get a first-round bye. The other four teams in each league play in the best-of-three wild-card round, with No. 3 hosting all three games against No. 6, and No. 4 hosting all three against No. 5.
The division winners are guaranteed to get the top three seeds, even if a wild-card team has a better record.
In the best-of-five second round, No. 1 hosts the No. 4-5 winner and No. 2 hosts the No. 3-6 winner. That way the No. 1 seed is guaranteed not to play a divisional winner until the LCS.
Up next
Thursday: San Francisco (Logan Webb, 14-10, 3.34 ERA) at Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 11-8, 2.66 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Friday: San Francisco (*Robbie Ray, 11-7, 3.50 ERA) at Dodgers (*Clayton Kershaw, 10-2, 3.53 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Apple TV+, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Saturday: San Francisco (Kai-Wei Teng, 2-4, 6.41 ERA) at Dodgers (Tyler Glasnow, 3-3, 3.06 ERA), 6:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Sunday: San Francisco (TBD) at Dodgers (Emmet Sheehan, 6-3, 3.17 ERA), 1:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
Nineteen years ago today, the Dodgers hit four home runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie San Diego, win it on Nomar Garciaparra‘s home run in the 10th. Watch and listen here.
Until next time…
Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
If any of Waterman’s young players weren’t on the touchline by 6:30am, the gate would shut and she would exclude any latecomers from the session.
“I lived in Gloucester, so I would travel to Hartpury and get all the equipment out before each session,” she said.
“I said to the girls if I can be here and be ready for you on time – you only have to walk 200 metres to get here.
“I was pretty strict with them, but for good reason – if you turned up to an England session late, you wouldn’t be training and you wouldn’t be selected.
“I would much rather they learn their lessons with me in that safe environment.
“Living that far away from home at that age, they needed a coach, a mentor, various elements of being a psychologist, a bit of a mum in some ways.
“I was called ‘Mummy Nolli’ quite a lot! There was a bit of a running joke that not many could come out of a meeting with me, without having had a little bit of a cry.
“I think I was just that consistent and constant person that they could come to and talk to about anything.”
It was serious. But, inevitably, it was also silly.
Waterman remembers one player having their possessions covered in cling film. Another had their legs turn orange when one of her team-mates swapped massage oil for fake tan.
“It was the best time of my life,” says Jones. “It was such an important time, it set us up for now.”
Waterman reluctantly left after three years in the role, struggling to balance being a player and a teacher.
Nine months later, she scored the opening try in England’s 21-9 win over Canada in the World Cup final.
In nine days time, she hopes to see her former charges become the first England team to win the title since then.
“They deserve everything that comes their way because they are not just incredibly talented rugby players, but more so because they are brilliant women,” said Waterman.
“They are exactly who I want my son, along with so many young girls and daughters across the country, to be looking up to. They are mega.”
Whether or not Waterman’s former pupils end up posing with the trophy on 27 September, it won’t be the image that means most to her however.
“They are at an age now where some are having had children or are getting married and I see the photographs – and, years on, there is always a photograph of them with their friends from Hartpury,” she says.
“The lifelong friendships that they all have are so special. To me, that is one of the biggest and most precious things I’ve taken from my time coaching them – my friendship with them, but also the friendships and fun that they have still together.”
You can find out more about Hartpury’s influence on the Red Roses on a special report to be broadcast by BBC Bristol on Friday, 26 September.
Isadore Hall, a former state legislator and Compton City Council member, launched a campaign Monday to challenge Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia.
Hall, who is backed by a slew of prominent endorsers, argues that Mejia has been more focused on “social media theatrics” than protecting tax dollars.
He said he would bring common sense leadership and accountability, citing his lengthy track record in elected office and master’s degrees in management and public administration, as well as experience weeding out government waste and fraud in Compton.
Hall, who moved to Los Angeles in 2016 and represented parts of the city in both the Assembly and the state Senate, said he launched his bid after being asked by “some elected officials,” along with several pastors and labor leaders, though he declined to provide specifics.
Hall’s endorsements include L.A. County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger, L.A. City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, California Treasurer Fiona Ma, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and five state legislators. If elected, Hall would be the city’s first Black controller; Mejia, who is Filipino American, previously made history as the first Asian American elected to citywide office in L.A.
“It’s one thing to be a great finance person or an auditor or a person who understands numbers … but you also have to have a temperament. You also have to understand the importance of governance,” Hall said, arguing that Mejia’s office is poorly managed and lacks good communication with city department heads and other local leaders.
It’s still unclear whether other candidates will enter the race for controller — a coveted role that is one of three citywide offices, along with mayor and city attorney.
L.A. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez has been rumored to potentially be interested in a bid for either mayor or controller, though she declined to discuss her plans with The Times last week.
Hall and Mejia represent vastly different flanks of the Democratic Party, and the coming race will almost certainly pit L.A. establishment politics against the city’s ascendant left.
Three years ago, despite being heavily outspent, Mejia made political mincemeat of Paul Koretz, who had held elected office since before he was born. Young voters who were previously unaware that L.A. even had a controller were galvanized by Mejia’s unorthodox campaign, which directed an unprecedented spotlight toward L.A.’s chief accounting officer, auditor and paymaster.
Mejia’s successful campaign coincided with a moment where faith in L.A. City Hall was at a nadir amid numerous criminal scandals and an explosive leaked recording of some City Council members frankly discussing politics in sometimes racist terms. The question in 2026 will be whether the civic pendulum has shifted and if the phrase “veteran politician” still doubles as an effective slur. Mejia will also now be running as the incumbent rather than an outsider.
Hall, 52, has spent roughly 15 years in elected office, beginning with the Compton school board in his mid-20s.
Like Mejia, who is now 34, Hall found success in politics relatively young. But his career ascended the old-fashioned way — through incrementally higher offices and with the support of the pastors, labor and community groups who have long powered the Democratic political machine in South L.A. and surrounding cities.
After losing a hard-fought bid for Congress in 2016, Hall was appointed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown to the California Agricultural and Labor Relations Board. Hall was originally seen as a shoo-in victor during his congressional campaign, but underdog challenger Nanette Barragán succeeded, in part, by hammering him on his ties to special interests in the oil, alcohol and tobacco industries, according to prior Times reporting.
Mejia first made his name with unsuccessful runs for Congress as a Green Party candidate. He found his stride and exploded as a political pied piper of sorts during the 2022 election, where his energetic TikTok videos, sharp billboards and occasional dances in a Pikachu costume helped fuel the energy of the moment.
Attempts by critics to paint Mejia in 2022 as too “extreme” because of his anti-police positions and past bombastic tweets largely fell flat.
As the race heats up, Mejia will almost certainly attack Hall for a number of controversies involving campaign finance.
During his 2014 campaign for state Senate, rivals attacked Hall for his use of campaign funds to pay for expensive dinners, limousine rentals, luxury suites at concerts and trips — expenses he defended as legitimate campaign costs.
Hall said last week that he hadn’t been an expert in the complex rules of congressional campaign finance but held his accountant accountable for the error and learned from the experience.
