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Federal judge rules National Guard can’t be sent to Portland

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Federal judge rules National Guard can’t be sent to Portland

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut concluded that the Trump administration violated the 10th Amendment and that the deployment was “beyond the authority of the president.”

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A federal judge ruled on November 7 that the National Guard cannot be deployed to Portland and that President Donald Trump’s attempt to do so exceeded his authority.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut outlined the facts of the case in a 106-page opinion, concluding that the Trump administration violated both the Tenth Amendment and Title 10 Section 12406.

“The evidence shows that these deployments, which were opposed by the Governor of Oregon and not at the request of federal officials responsible for securing the ICE building, exceeded the president’s authority,” Immergut, a Trump appointee, said in a statement.

The ruling came after Immergut heard testimony during a three-day trial and on Nov. 2 issued a preliminary injunction barring the deployment of troops until 5 p.m. on Nov. 7.

The relevant portion of Title 10, United States Code, Section 12406 provides that the President may raise federal troops if there is an existence or threat of insurrection or if the law cannot be enforced by “regular military forces.”

Immergut reiterated those findings in issuing the permanent injunction, and the Trump administration is expected to appeal.

Meanwhile, the Oregon National Guard will remain federalized for two more weeks.

In a statement, Kotek renewed calls for the Guard to be brought home.

“This ruling, the fourth in the case, confirms the facts on the ground: Oregon does not want or need military intervention, and President Trump’s attempt to federalize the Guard is a gross abuse of power,” she said.

The Trump administration previously appealed an interim order by Immergut blocking the federalization and deployment of the Oregon National Guard.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of the Trump administration, but the ruling was vacated because a majority of the circuit’s judges voted for a rehearing by a larger panel of judges.

A total of 400 National Guard troops, 200 each from Oregon and California, have been transferred to the federal government and have been waiting for deployment to military bases in Oregon for more than a month while the legal process continues.

Immergut heard three days of witness testimony from law enforcement officers and officials who testified about conditions around ICE facilities.

Notable revelations include the Trump administration’s admission that the National Guard is stationed at ICE facilities after Immergut blocked their deployment, and that the deputy regional director for the Federal Protective Service, which is responsible for protecting ICE facilities, expressed surprise at the deployment.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a statement that Immergut’s decision is a “huge victory.”

“The court is holding the regime accountable to truth and the rule of law,” he said. “From the beginning, this case was about ensuring that facts, not political whims, guide how the law is applied. Today’s decision protects that principle.”

Judge’s decision is the latest in a tortuous legal battle

Here are some key events in the legal battle over whether President Trump can deploy the National Guard to Portland.

  • September 27 – President Trump posts on social media that he will send troops to Portland.
  • September 28 – The states of Oregon and Portland file a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing the president of exceeding his authority.
  • September 29 – Oregon and Portland request a temporary restraining order to stop the deployment of the Guard while the incident is ongoing.
  • September 30th and October 1st – 200 Oregon troops from units based in Salem and Woodburn begin arriving at Camp Lylea.
  • October 2 – The first judge assigned to the case, Judge Michael Simon, resigns after the Trump administration suggests he resign. Simon is married to U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon). Judge Karin Immergut will be presiding over the case.
  • October 4 – Immergut grants a temporary restraining order suspending federalization and deployment of the Oregon National Guard for two weeks.
  • Oct. 5 – The Trump administration appeals to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking a stay on Immergut’s order and an emergency stay pending the court’s consideration.
  • Oct. 5 – President Trump sends 200 California National Guard troops to Oregon, and Gov. Tina Kotek says she has heard Texas National Guard members will be sent to Oregon and other states.
  • October 5th – Oregon and Portland request a second temporary restraining order.
  • October 5 – Immergut issues a second restraining order stopping any state from sending federal National Guard troops to Oregon.
  • October 8 – The Court of Appeals grants an administrative stay, temporarily suspending Immergut’s order and allowing the Oregon National Guard to federalize, but cannot deploy because of the second order.
  • Oct. 9 – The Court of Appeals hears oral arguments on whether the stay should be granted.
  • October 15th – Immergut extends the temporary restraining order for another two weeks and schedules trial for October 29th.
  • October 20 – The Court of Appeals grants the Trump administration’s request to stay the initial temporary restraining order in a 2-1 decision.
  • Oct. 20 – A Ninth Circuit judge not assigned to the case calls for a vote on whether the justices should reconsider the decision as a larger group and asks the Trump administration, Oregon and Portland to submit responses by midnight Oct. 22.
  • October 20 – The Trump administration files a motion asking Immergut to dissolve or suspend a second order in light of the appeals court ruling.
  • October 21 – Oregon, Portland, and California file responses asking Immergut to uphold its second order.
  • Oct. 22 – Immergut has scheduled a public hearing on the motion to disband Oct. 24 at 10 a.m.
  • Oct. 22 – The Trump administration responds to Oregon’s motion and asks Immergut to rule on the motion on Oct. 22, ahead of an Oct. 24 hearing.
  • October 24 – Mr. Immergut hears oral argument on the Trump administration’s motion to lift a second temporary restraining order.
  • Oct. 24 – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit suspends its Oct. 20 ruling until Oct. 28 at 5 p.m., allowing the appellate court to vote on whether to rehear the case.
  • Oct. 28 – A majority of Ninth Circuit judges agree to vacate an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeals and rehear the case en masse.
  • October 29th – Trial begins.
  • October 31st – Trial ends.
  • Nov. 2 – Immergut issues a preliminary injunction until Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. to give it more time to consider the lawsuit.

Statesman Journal editor Jonathan Williams contributed to this report.

Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Contact us at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.

2026 Land Rover Defender will be boldly updated with new technology

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2026 Land Rover Defender will be boldly updated with new technology

Angus Mackenzie
|Motor Trend

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Reinventing an icon is always a risk. New Coke, Apple III, Levi’s Type 1 jeans. Amid tons of marketing hype, the whole thing crashed and burned. So it’s perhaps understandable that it took JLR decades to find a replacement for the Land Rover Defender, an old-school off-roader with a legendary heritage. jeep wrangler And CJ model.

of original defenderthe slab-sided bodywork around the independent chassis, live axle, and industrial interior was much loved. But we love the new Defender even more, with its unibody, independent air suspension, and retro-modern styling inside and out. In 2015, the last full year of production, JLR sold around 10,000 older Defenders. Ten years later, the new Defender is JLR’s best-selling SUV, with global sales expected to exceed 120,000 units this year.

And JLR has no intention of ruining its success. Five years have passed since its release, 2021 SUV of the Year Minor changes have been made. Visual changes for the 2026 model year include flash rear lights with smoked lenses, revised front headlight graphics, and the availability of new exterior colors such as Borasco Gray and Woolstone Green. Inside, a larger 13.1-inch central touchscreen sits atop a revised center console.

2026 Subaru SUV lineup: Automaker triples Subaru’s EV offering, unveils Trailseeker and Uncharted

A roaring 626 horsepower 4.4 liter V8 engine defender octa The bumper, bonnet, side vents and front undershield have a textured graphite finish. A special new halo color called Borasco Gray and Sargasso Blue has also been added. Chopped carbon fiber interior accents are available as an option, and the exterior features a Patagonia White matte wrap. The new special edition OCTA Black features black paint, black exterior accents and wheels, and black interior.

Added a one-year limited model “110 Trophy Edition” to the 110 lineup that celebrates the harshest races. camel trophy An extreme off-road event held from 1980 to 2000 in which competitors drove specially equipped Land Rover vehicles. of 2026 Defender Trophy Edition It also heralds the return of the event, but instead of promoting tobacco, the new Defender Trophy competition, with the final to be held in 2026, is in partnership with African wildlife conservation charity Tusk.

To buy an affordable vehicle: Cheapest SUVs and Crossovers of 2025

A modern take on the iconic Camel Trophy color scheme known as Deep Sand Glow Yellow or Dark Keswick Green, the Defender 110 Trophy Edition comes standard with a black roof, black-painted 20-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tyres, a roof rack with deployable ladder, external side storage bins, raised air intakes and mud flaps.

Are there any changes to the drive?

There are no mechanical changes and the 2026 Defenders drive exactly the same as before. Quiet and comfortable on-road, very capable off-road. The Trophy Edition’s mudflaps make some hard scraping noises on the ground during extreme articulation events, but otherwise this Defender goes just fine wherever you point it without any drama. The OCTA is fast and fun off-road, but it’s not a true Baja buster like the OCTA. Ford F-150 Raptor or Ram 1500 TRXthe rear suspension rattles when this 5,700-pound SUV hits a big bump at high speed.

That said, OCTA’s trick 6D Dynamics suspension is much more supple and comfortable than the regular Defender when driving at low speeds. This isn’t just because the OCTA has longer wheel travel and better articulation. A version of the 6D suspension setup, featuring diagonally cross-linked shocks with individual comfort, jounce and rebound valving, allowing each wheel to be independently decoupled in real time, is currently in development for the regular Defender lineup.

Prices for the Defender OCTA start at $160,150 and the Threat Defender OCTA Black sticker costs $170,550. Pricing for the Defender 110 Trophy Edition starts at $89,250.

Photo by Land Rover

President Trump does not need immediate funding for food aid for now.

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President Trump does not need immediate funding for food aid for now.

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WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court said late Friday that the Trump administration does not have to immediately pay out the full amount of SNAP food benefits for now, a last-ditch but temporary order that leaves the 42 million Americans who rely on food stamps in limbo.

The court temporarily put on hold a lower court ruling that required the administration to use a combination of reserve funds and other funds to pay states in full for November during the federal government shutdown.

The suspension issued by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, known as an administrative stay, gave the appeals court more time to fully consider President Trump’s request.

The administration had said it could only make partial payments and would not be able to transfer an additional $4 billion to states by Friday night.

But U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island said the administration’s argument that the funds earmarked for the child nutrition program would not be used to fill the November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit gap is “impossible” given that the child program is expected to have money until at least May and Congress could replenish the funding by then.

In contrast, failing to utilize these funds to pay for the full amount of SNAP November food assistance creates a “very real and immediate risk that children will be deprived of food assistance today,” McConnell wrote.

The Boston-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit on Friday declined to immediately block the decision. The Supreme Court’s order gives the appellate court more time to consider whether to suspend the judge’s order.

The Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court on Friday night, arguing that the funding shortfall is a crisis that only Congress can resolve.

And unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the justices told the justices, all beneficiaries of federal programs could rush to court to seek funding, leading to a “judicial statutory barrage.”

“While Congress’ core power is the power of the purse, the executive branch is tasked with allocating limited resources across competing priorities,” the Justice Department said in its appeal. “But here, the courts below have deemed the current closure to be a valid authorization to declare federal bankruptcy and to appoint a receiver charged with choosing winners and losers among those seeking a portion of the limited remaining federal funds.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has told states that full SNAP benefits are on the way, but when and whether those benefits will reach the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to eat remains an open question.

Food assistance is provided to people who earn less than 130% of the federal poverty line. One person can receive up to $298 in monthly assistance.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called the decision “a tragedy for the millions of Americans who rely on SNAP to support their families.”

“It is shameful that the Trump administration has chosen to fight this in court instead of fulfilling its responsibility to the American people,” he said in a statement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on social media that the Justice Department “will not stop fighting day and night to protect and advance President Trump’s policies.”

Taylor Swift and Gigi Hadid named in new legal documents in Blake Lively lawsuit

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Taylor Swift and Gigi Hadid named in new legal documents in Blake Lively lawsuit

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The courtroom in the trial between Blake Lively and It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni could take on the appearance of an affair between the stars.

Lively, who is scheduled to go to trial in March on sexual harassment and workplace misconduct claims against Baldoni, named a number of A-list figures as potential witnesses in newly unsealed court documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and obtained by USA TODAY on Friday, Nov. 7.

People, including Lively herself, her husband Ryan Reynolds, Baldoni and her Wayfarer Studios CEO Jamie Heath, and Colleen Huber, author of “Endless Us,” are being singled out because they “likely have discoverable information” that could help her case. However, their inclusion on the list does not ensure that they will be called to testify during the trial.

Lively, who co-starred with Baldoni in the 2024 romantic drama, filed a civil rights lawsuit against Baldoni in December, alleging that Baldoni and Heath engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior both inside and outside the workplace and orchestrated a “smear campaign” against her in retaliation for speaking out. A formal lawsuit was filed in response to this complaint.

Mr. Baldoni took legal action of his own, including filing a $250 million lawsuit against the New York Times for publishing an exposé detailing Mr. Lively’s claims (the charges were dismissed in June). The “Jane the Virgin” alum also countersued Lively and her husband Reynolds for $400 million in defamation, but that suit was similarly dismissed on Oct. 31.

Which celebrity did Blake Lively name as a potential witness?

The list of potential witnesses in Lively’s “Life Is Over” lawsuit is nothing short of Hollywood who’s who.

One of the most famous people featured is pop superstar Taylor Swift, according to court documents. Lively’s legal team said Swift, who is a high-profile friend of the actress, can speak about “any conduct, complaint, or discussion regarding the work environment” on “It Ends with Us,” as well as “the retaliatory campaign alleged by Ms. Lively and the harm she has suffered as a result.”

In May, media outlets speculated that Swift might be subpoenaed in the actors’ case (Baldoni’s lawyers filed a letter of intent to subpoena Venable LLP, a national law firm that has represented Swift in the past, in April). Baldoni’s lawyers later claimed in a letter to Judge Louis Lehman that Lively had previously asked Swift to delete the women’s text messages.

Lively’s former Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants co-stars Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, and Amber Tamblyn were similarly accused of having knowledge of the incident that led to Lively’s legal case. Shortly after Lively filed a civil rights lawsuit against Baldoni in December 2024, the trio issued a joint statement supporting Lively.

Lively’s unsealed filing also includes actress Emily Blunt. Actor Hugh Jackman. Haim musicians Alana, Daniel and Este Haim. And supermodel Gigi Hadid.

Lively is paying a high price in her legal battle with Baldoni.

The Gossip Girl alum is seeking approximately $161.2 million in damages from Baldoni and his co-defendants in the ongoing lawsuit, according to court documents. This compensation does not include punitive damages, non-economic damages, or attorney’s fees, which have not yet been assigned a fixed amount.

According to the Nov. 5 filing, which was made public, Lively is seeking “more than” $56.2 million in economic damages and “lost profits” totaling approximately $71 million.

As for her earning power, Lively claims she will lose at least $17.5 million in “lost acting and producing opportunities” between the release of It Ends with Us in August 2024 and her trial with Baldoni. The businesswoman estimates her hair care brand, Blake Brown, will suffer a loss of $49 million.

Additionally, Lively is seeking approximately $34 million in reputational damages following Baldoni’s alleged “smear campaign” against her, which is said to include an estimated 65 million impressions of “defamatory statements” made online.

Contributors: Jay Stahl and Pamela Avila, USA TODAY

The internet reacts to Taco Bell’s Baja Blast Pie. See how it worked out.

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The internet reacts to Taco Bell’s Baja Blast Pie. See how it worked out.

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Taco Bell customers, get ready to be “Baja Blast” like never before.

Mountain Dew Baja Blast Pie, dubbed “the most unusual dessert of the season” by Taco Bell, has officially landed at participating locations, but it doesn’t last long.

The fast-food chain said the possibility of a dessert inspired by Taco Bell’s signature drinks was first teased in February 2024 at the brand’s annual Live Mass Live event, and then again six months later during Taco Bell’s 20th annual Bajaversary.

According to Taco Bell, the limited-edition pie “transforms Baja Blast’s legendary tropical lime flavor into a creamy Key Lime-style dessert topped with a graham crumb crust and whipped cream.” All pies are sold whole and retail for $19.99.

Mr. Irvine, Headquartered in California The chain said the Baja Blast Pie “sparked excitement and became a legend that fans can’t wait to taste” and said fans “kept the dream alive” until its release.

“Unexpected in every way, the iconic Tropical Baja Blast flavor is reimagined in a creamy Key Lime-style pie that’s more than just your everyday dessert,” Taco Bell said in a news release. “That’s a statement in a sea of ​​stuffing.”

more: Taco Bell unveils new Baja Blast flavor with a purple twist

The launch of the Baja Blast Pie, which Taco Bell has dubbed the “legendary fan favorite,” is aimed at “killing Friendsgiving,” according to the fast food chain. This release comes a few months after the brand announced a new Baja Blast flavor, Mountain Dew Baja Midnight.

While fans will have to act fast to get their hands on Baja Blast Pie, the brand is also offering an additional Baja Blast Pie Chiller, a frosty twist on Baja Blast Pie, available only at Live Mass Cafes in Southern California and Texas.

Here are the reviews: Customer Dishes About Taco Bell’s Baja Blast Pie

Not everyone who wants to try Baja Blast Pie has the opportunity, but at least for now, those who do are enjoying it.

However, some people were not impressed, with one online user saying the filling “tastes like Baja Blast flavored pudding, not a good pudding”.

See how Taco Bell’s Baja Blast Pie was rated online, including the good, the bad, and the skeptics.

Justice Department preparing subpoenas for Obama officials in Trump-Russia probe

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Justice Department preparing subpoenas for Obama officials in Trump-Russia probe

The grand jury investigation marks a significant escalation in President Trump’s retaliation against Obama aides who led an investigation into ties between the 2016 campaign and Russia.

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WASHINGTON – The Justice Department is preparing grand jury subpoenas seeking documents from Obama administration officials it believes President Donald Trump improperly tried to implicate in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, sources told USA TODAY.

President Trump has publicly called for such investigations for months, including releasing the names of former top law enforcement and intelligence officials he wants prosecuted.

Now, the Justice Department appears to be doing just that, with Jason Redding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a friend of Attorney General Pam Bondi, leading the investigation, sources familiar with the investigation said.

The first grand jury subpoenas in the investigation were also prepared for President Barack Obama’s Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and reportedly his CIA Director John Brennan. They are seeking documents related to the long-running Russia investigation that began in 2016 while President Obama was in office, one of the people said.

The White House acknowledged the existence of a grand jury investigation in August after Fox News reported that Bondy had ordered one based on a criminal referral by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

At the time, Gabbard claimed that Brennan and others, perhaps all the way up to then-President Obama, “fabricated and politicized information” as a means to go after Trump.

The probe is likely to go far beyond the probe into Russia’s efforts to boost President Trump’s 2016 campaign and whether anyone in the Trump campaign and White House staff colluded with the Kremlin.

Other targets Trump may have identified include national security officials from the Biden administration who investigated him for allegedly illegally handling classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021, as well as those suspected of trying to overturn the 2020 election that Trump lost to Joe Biden. Both cases led to criminal charges against Trump, but the charges were dropped after Trump was re-elected in November 2024.

Former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted by the Justice Department on September 25 on unrelated charges at President Trump’s request, has also given his attorney assignments that he hopes will be included in the Miami-based investigation, which is in its early stages, according to people familiar with the investigation.

No former officials commented for this story through requests to USA TODAY’s lawyers. Lawyers also declined to comment, citing the sensitivity and fluid nature of the matter. In past statements, Mr. Clapper, Mr. Brennan and Mr. Comey have strongly denied wrongdoing.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

more: First Comey, then James, and now John Bolton. Who will be next on President Trump’s list of legal targets?

Was it revenge for what President Trump said was a “witch hunt” against him?

Officials described the investigation as President Trump’s most ambitious effort yet to weaponize the FBI and Justice Department against those who believe he is trying to restore the relationship they have had since he was first elected in November 2016.

That’s when President Obama ordered a so-called intelligence assessment of Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election through field operatives, social media manipulation and other so-called “active measures.”

President Trump has frequently attacked Mr. Brennan, Mr. Clapper and Mr. Comey over that assessment, claiming that they and Mr. Obama launched a witch hunt against Mr. Brennan with what he called a “Russia hoax.”

It has recently expanded its list of targets for retaliation.

In a Truth Social post on September 20th. President Trump said he wanted revenge on Mr. Comey, California Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff and others who impeached me twice and indicted me (five times!) without doing anything. Justice must be served now!!!

On October 29, President Trump used Truth Social to call for immediate investigations of others, including Special Counsel Jack Smith, who led the Justice Department’s two prosecutions of Trump for document mishandling and conduct that led to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

In the post, Trump also singled out Biden’s Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, and FBI Director Chris Wray, saying they “should be investigated immediately” for the “corrupt J-6 witch hunt,” citing the causes of the January 6 riot and Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results.

Baseless and politically motivated?

Democrats, all the way up to President Obama, say President Trump’s current prosecution calls are baseless and politically motivated.

They cite numerous investigations, including a thorough investigation by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee. The report concluded in early 2019 that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump defeat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. But investigators could not say that Mr. Trump and his associates actively colluded with the Russian government in that effort.

On November 6, MSNBC reported that the Justice Department was preparing to issue “a series of grand jury subpoenas” as part of “the investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan and the CIA and FBI investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.” He also said Redding Quiñones is working in consultation with top Justice Department officials in Washington.

Redding Quiñones, a former Florida judge with experience at the Justice Department, was the first federal prosecutor confirmed in the second Trump administration and leads the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the third largest in the nation after New York and Washington.

Just the News, a pro-Trump website, reported that a federal grand jury in South Florida is in the process of issuing more than 30 subpoenas “related to false claims of Trump-Russia collusion spread by U.S. intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies since 2016,” citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

And on November 7, Bloomberg Law reported that the Miami-based U.S. Attorney’s Office is hiring prosecutors and restructuring its chain of command in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former Justice Department officials involved in the case against Trump.

To that end, the agency is inviting current employees and outside lawyers to join a new investigative team within the national security division, Bloomberg Law reported, citing four people familiar with the situation.

Trump supporters, including the lawyers who pursued the case, argue that the investigation must ultimately look into what they believe to be a much broader and long-standing Democratic conspiracy to undermine President Trump by launching numerous investigations and prosecutions.

“I think it goes all the way up to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Hillary Clinton, Comey, Brennan, Clapper, so many people within the Obama-Biden administration,” Mike Davis of the pro-Trump conservative legal group Article III Project told Fox News on Oct. 12. “And I think that includes the prosecutors, Lawfare Democrats, who worked with the Biden White House to bring charges against President Trump.”

Davis and others point to a federal judge who recently condemned a new grand jury to convene on January 12 in Fort Pierce, Florida.

“This would be a good place for a grand jury to investigate what they did to President Trump,” Davis said. “The Mar-a-Lago attack is the hook.”

Davis said in an interview on “The Charlie Kirk Show” in October that his “homie” Redding Quiñones moved to bring in a grand jury because he “pushed so hard” on Davis to investigate what he alleges was a conspiracy against Trump.

In August 2022, the FBI obtained a court order to search President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, in search of classified documents that the president had refused to return. President Trump said he personally declassified them.

Davis and other Trump MAGA supporters argue that this would allow the Justice Department to use Republican-heavy South Florida to conduct investigations away from Democratic-leaning grand and trial juries in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs.

What are the charges against Brennan and Clapper?

Gabbard, Trump’s director of national intelligence, and Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee allege that Brennan used loyal CIA aides to ensure that a 2017 intelligence assessment concluded that Russia wanted Trump to become president. Gabbard claims that Brennan dismissed objections from some career officials who said there was no evidence.

House Republicans also claim that Mr. Brennan personally lobbied for the inclusion of material from the now largely discredited Steele dossier, an acronym for information gleaned from former British spy Christopher Steele. And they allege that Mr. Brennan lied before the committee on May 11, 2023, when he testified that the CIA pushed back on the FBI’s request to include the Steele dossier in its intelligence assessment.

On October 21, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (Ohio), referred the matter to the Department of Justice, calling for criminal charges to be filed against Mr. Brennan.

Steele’s documents were originally shared with the FBI near the end of the 2016 presidential campaign. Ultimately, the document summary was included in the report only as an appendix with qualifiers regarding its methodology.

The claim has already been refuted by numerous studies

Brennan and Clapper vehemently deny the allegations.

“For the last month, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Director of Central Intelligence John Ratcliffe have alleged that senior Obama administration officials engaged in a broad ‘treasonous conspiracy’ to fabricate politicized intelligence operations, silence intelligence professionals, and undermine Donald Trump’s presidency,” they wrote in a July 30 op-ed in The New York Times. “That’s clearly false.”

“All serious considerations confirm the intelligence community’s basic conclusion that the Russians conducted an influence campaign aimed at helping Mr. Trump win the 2016 election,” the researchers wrote, citing reporting that supported their conclusion.

One of those reports followed an investigation by Special Counsel John Durham, appointed by then-Trump administration Attorney General Bill Barr in May 2019, and found no criminal wrongdoing by Mr. Brennan, Mr. Clapper, or anyone else who played a leading role in the Russian election interference investigation.

The FBI-led portion of the investigation, codenamed “Crossfire Hurricane,” led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. His team discovered that there were significant contacts between Kremlin operatives and Trump campaign officials who were eager to accept aid from Moscow.

However, Mueller did not allege in his final report that there was any intentional coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia.

A bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report said the Trump campaign, particularly former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, posed a “serious counterintelligence threat” by sharing internal polling data and other information with individuals with close ties to Russian intelligence.

In a March 2022 letter to Durham, Brennan and Clapper’s lawyers said the intelligence community’s efforts to address the threat of election interference in 2016 “have been the target of factual distortions and baseless accusations from numerous experts, political operatives, and even government leaders seeking to demonize the intelligence community and discredit the analysis and assessment of Russian interference.”

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block SNAP funding order

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Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block SNAP funding order

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WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has filed a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court seeking to block a court order requiring the government to provide full SNAP food assistance benefits to millions of Americans by Nov. 7.

The administration made its request Friday night after the Boston-based 1st Circuit Court of Appeals declined to intervene.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island ordered the administration to pay the full amount of food stamps to states within one day.

The government argues that because Congress hasn’t passed this year’s budget, there is no legal basis to tell the government to “somehow squeeze $4 billion out of your metaphorical couch cushions.”

The Justice Department said in its appeal that the funding shortfall is a crisis that only Congress can solve.

And unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the justices told the justices, all beneficiaries of federal programs could rush to court to seek funding, leading to a “judicial statutory barrage.”

“While Congress’ core power is the power of the purse, the executive branch is tasked with allocating limited resources across competing priorities,” the Justice Department said in its appeal. “But here, the courts below have deemed the current closure to be a valid authorization to declare federal bankruptcy and to appoint a receiver charged with choosing winners and losers among those seeking a portion of the limited remaining federal funds.”

The judge said the U.S. Department of Agriculture could use a combination of emergency funds and other funds available to make full payments during the federal government shutdown.

McConnell said in the court order that the administration’s argument that it would not use funds earmarked for another nutrition program to fill the hole in November’s SNAP benefits is “impossible,” given that children’s programs are expected to be funded through at least May and that Congress could replenish funding by then.

In contrast, failing to utilize these funds to pay for the full amount of SNAP November food assistance creates a “very real and immediate risk that children will be deprived of food assistance today,” McConnell wrote.

The administration followed Mr. McConnell’s previous direction to use reserve funds for November’s SNAP benefits, but the funds only authorized partial payments.

Skye Perryman, president of the Democracy Forward Foundation, one of the groups suing over the funding, said the administration continues to seek to “take food out of the mouths of families, seniors, workers and children.”

“Even if the administration seeks to deprive the American people of nutrition through yet another appeal to the Supreme Court, we will continue to defend against them with effective legal action to ensure the interests of the American people,” Perryman said.

Contributor: Aisha Bagki

Border Patrol agent appears to be bragging about shooting and killing a woman in Chicago

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Border Patrol agent appears to be bragging about shooting and killing a woman in Chicago

Miramar Martinez, the Chicago woman who was shot and killed by an immigration officer, has been charged with assault on a federal officer. Text messages show agent bragging about gunshot wounds

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CHICAGO – A Border Patrol agent enforcing immigration in Chicago appeared to brag about shooting and killing a woman who said she was assaulted, according to text messages obtained by USA TODAY.

Miramar Martinez was charged with assaulting a federal immigration officer in connection with an Oct. 4 car crash on Chicago’s South Side. She has pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Illinois case.

Text messages released in court records Wednesday, Nov. 5, show Border Patrol Supervisor Charles Exum apparently bragging about the incident.

“I fired five shots, leaving seven holes in her,” the agent wrote. “Put that in your book.”

Martinez’s attorney, Christopher Parente, said Exum sent the messages obtained through a court order in encrypted chats with other immigration officials.

USA TODAY has reached out to the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security for comment on Exum’s behalf. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson declined to comment directly on the incident.

Asked about Exum’s situation, a spokesperson said, “Given the violence against our agents, CBP does not intend to divulge information regarding personnel against whom weapons may be used.” “This issue is being led by the FBI and the Department of Justice.”

Homeland Security officials said their workers were facing heavy resistance in Chicago. Asked for comment about Border Patrol agents snatching a Chicago woman from her car after she claimed to have tackled her, Border Patrol Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said the incident was “not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals driving into our nation’s law enforcement officers.”

Federal judges in Illinois have questioned the Department of Homeland Security’s claims that it was confronting an “insurrectionist” in the city.

The court filings released in Martinez’s case come amid several other federal lawsuits over the conduct of immigration officials in the city while carrying out President Donald Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz.

On November 6, U.S. District Judge Sarah L. Ellis issued sweeping restrictions on how officers can use force in the city after complaints that children were being tear-gassed. A day earlier, District Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued a temporary restraining order forcing U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement to improve conditions at the facility, calling him “disturbing,” “disgusting” and “unconstitutional.”

And on Nov. 12, District Judge Jeffrey Cummings is scheduled to hear a case involving an agent who allegedly made a warrantless arrest.

Martinez and other Chicago-area residents are accused of tailgating agents conducting immigration enforcement operations in their cars, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit. The civilians attempted to “corral” the agents with their vehicles, and Martinez “rammed and skidded” the agent’s vehicle, according to the affidavit.

At an Oct. 15 hearing in which Martinez pleaded not guilty, Parente said he didn’t think his client’s case was complicated. “This was a traffic accident where one of the drivers got out and shot the other driver,” he said.

The case is scheduled for trial in February, according to court records.

What else is in the text message?

Exum was texting people about the shooting in a group text, according to photos provided in court filings. Parente, who obtained the text messages through a court order, said the 23-year Border Patrol veteran had encrypted chats with other agents.

Exum first sent a link to an article about the shooting, then sent a message that read, “Read it. 5 shots, 7 holes.”

Messages returned to the attorney will be redacted in the court filing. A surprised reaction emoji will appear next to the link to the article.

The agent used an expletive, saying, “I’m ready for the next round,” texted the group, “LOL,” and referenced “My 15 Minutes of Fame.”

Lawyers shared text messages during a Nov. 5 hearing. The lawyer said he is a firearms instructor and takes pride in his “shooting skills,” the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Parente, a former federal prosecutor in the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office, said the messages provided insight into the officers tasked with suppressing President Trump.

“These are people standing in our neighborhoods with assault rifles,” he said. “If it were the police, the city would be on guard about this.”

Chicago judge doubts homeland security officials

The release of the investigators’ text messages in the case against Martinez comes as several federal judges in downtown Chicago courts have expressed skepticism about the government’s claims about the violence the city is experiencing.

U.S. District Judge April M. Perry, who heard a case over whether President Trump could deploy the National Guard to Chicago, asked whether Homeland Security officials were “bound by reality.” Government lawyers have appealed the case, which is now before the U.S. Supreme Court. It is unclear when they will rule.

On November 6, Mr Ellis, the judge hearing the case over the use of force by immigration officers in the city, said the officers’ version of events was “absolutely untrue”. Federal authorities say they will need to use chemical weapons and other means to deal with Chicago’s “riots.”

“Describing the neighborhood moms as professional agitators shows how out of touch their operatives are and how unbelievable their views are,” Ellis said from the bench. “Overall, this calls into question everything the defendants say they are doing and their characterization of the case.”

Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino said the officers’ use of force was “more than exemplary.”

Still single and need help? This dating dictionary is for you.

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Still single and need help? This dating dictionary is for you.

Love: That’s a long time ago. But the way we talk about it is constantly evolving.

Remember “beige flag”, “illness” and “situation”? Well, these conditions are from last year. Now, daters have to deal with “thrones,” “Banksy,” and “postal coding.” They are also subject to a “monkey ban.” And no, it’s not as sweet and innocent as it sounds.

Amy Chang, a dating coach and author of Breakup Boot Camp: The Science of Rewiring Your Mind, previously told USA TODAY that people shouldn’t be surprised if hot new dating terms keep popping up. Modern dating in the digital age has become so arcane that people are struggling to make sense of their experiences, so they’re inventing new words to process it, she said.

“Modern dating has become so complex that we need new words just to explain what’s happening to us,” she said. “It’s kind of made dating woes part of the public conversation in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

So if you’re having a hard time keeping up with the labyrinth that is the dating landscape, you’re not alone. We’ve put together a handy guide to all the latest terms and trends. That way, you’ll know exactly what’s going on the next time you lose your “throne” to someone who was about to play “Shrek.”

What is a throne?

Looking for your “king” or “queen”? Be careful.

To “sit” is to date someone in order to raise your social status. The goal for the throne-seeker is to acquire an influential partner, so that his or her own image is improved by association.

“Basically, a date is a throne used to exalt the person on the throne,” one TikToker explains in a video. “This scenario focuses only on social influence and status, not on building real emotional connections.”

“Throwing” is heartbreaking. New dating trends. Has social media ruined romance for Gen Z?

The TikToker warns, “If someone seems overly focused on your status or social circle and changes their attitude towards you depending on whether you’re in public or private…this could be an indication of entitlement.”

What is Shrecking?

“Shrecking” refers to dating someone you are not attracted to in the hopes that they will make you better. After all, Princess Fiona made a bet on Shrek, and it turned out great for her, right?

Unfortunately, the fact that you were “Shrek” means that the person to whom you lowered your standards also ended up hurting you. As Chan previously stated, “In this plotline, you’re dating a demon without the princess treatment.”

“A lot of people put looks low on the list or expected it to become more attractive over time, which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing,” she added. “Where it backfires is when someone assumes that just because they look ‘lesser’ they will automatically be treated better.”

What is Banksy?

The name “Banksy” comes from the elusive street artist Banksy, known for his art that appears out of nowhere and often has a mysterious twist. Like a mysterious Banksy artwork, Banksy in a relationship means slowly and emotionally withdrawing from your partner without telling them you’re doing it. When the time finally comes to break up, Banksy often ends up feeling better by mentally dissolving the relationship long ago, leaving the other person blindsided and confused.

more: This new dating trend is leaving people confused and heartbroken. It’s called “Banksy”.

When someone uses this technique, they begin to destroy the relationship before the other person even notices it coming. Some of Banksy’s art has famously been self-destructed, such as the painting he shredded himself after selling for $1.4 million at auction.

What is ZIP coding?

“ZIP coding” takes many forms depending on who you ask. In the most common version, people set very narrow filters on dating apps to avoid meeting people outside their zip code.

For some, the zip code goes further. They only date someone while that person is in their area, but consider them single when they are outside of their zip code. Think of college students who are monogamous during the school year but date other people when they’re home for the holidays. Or maybe you get a boyfriend while you’re together at summer camp.

“ZIP coding” is a new trend in dating. That may be why you’re still single

All of this speaks to what Chan calls an unhealthy obsession with place that has taken over dating.

“We expect everything to be coordinated, quick and frictionless, as if love works like food delivery,” she says. “However, that approach can lead to narcissists focusing on what’s easiest for us or what appeals to our egos, rather than fostering real connections.”

What is monkey barring?

“Monkey Birling” alludes to how, in dating, partners move from connection to connection, only letting go of old connections when they move on to the next connection.

Amanda Miller, a sociology professor at the University of Indianapolis, previously told USA TODAY that this behavior is not all that new. But now, the phenomenon is even more prevalent as Gen Z struggles to find real-life connections in the age of dating apps.

Generation Z “bans monkeys” —It’s not cheating. It’s not what you think.

“What seems like an eternity of swipe, swipe, swipe makes it seem like there’s an infinite number of partners, but that’s not really the case,” Miller said. She added that people go to bars because they want to feel safe. They avoid the weakness that comes with leaving a relationship and being alone.

Contributed by Nicole Fallert and Rachel Hale, USA TODAY

Starbucks’ “Bearista” cup appears on eBay and Mercari immediately after release

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Starbucks’ “Bearista” cup appears on eBay and Mercari immediately after release

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Resellers are already looking to capitalize on the success of Starbucks’ Bearista cups.

The 20-ounce “Cold Cup,” part of the coffee house chain’s holiday product line, has become a hot item, quickly gaining popularity within hours of its release on Thursday, Nov. 6.

Shaped like a teddy bear, this beverage container features a lid designed to resemble a green Starbucks stocking cap and comes with an included straw. Retail price was $29.95.

Fans on Starbucks’ Instagram seemed excited about the new product additions ahead of the launch, but that excitement turned to frustration over the lack of stock, which Starbucks says “sold out quickly.”

Customers flooded Starbucks’ social media with comments, revealing their disappointment, with some waking up extra early or walking to multiple locations to get their cups.

“We understand that many customers were excited about the Bearista Cup and apologize for any disappointment,” Starbucks said in a statement. “We have even more exciting products coming this holiday season.”

While the excitement around the launch of the Bearista Cup has subsided, attempts to capitalize on the moment are emerging in the form of third-party listings.

“Really disappointing: Starbucks’ Bearista” cups are up for sale on eBay and Mercari

Holiday-themed beverage containers and other similar products have been listed on eBay and Mercari, much to the dismay of some.

“This campaign is just reselling fuel at exorbitant prices and feeding a market that shouldn’t exist. It’s really unfortunate, but I felt it was important to say this,” one user wrote in the Starbucks comments section.

Original “Bearista” cups are currently listed on both e-commerce platforms for between $100 and $450, while reproductions of “Bearista” cups are also listed for $50 and above.

Dozens of eBay listings reviewed by USA TODAY found that some consumers spent hundreds of dollars to purchase the cups for resale or to source beverage containers.

As consumers continue to wait for the next release and buy from third-party resellers, some are taking matters into their own hands by “DIYing” bear-shaped honey containers into their own cups.

“I have a bear cup at home, in case you didn’t know,” beauty content creator Hashime Kukai wrote in the caption of a video tutorial on Instagram.

Are Starbucks’ Bearista cups sold out?

yes. Starbucks confirmed in a statement to USA TODAY that its Bearista cups are sold out.

“Excitement about our product has exceeded even our highest expectations, and even though we shipped more Bearista Cups to coffeehouses than almost any other product this holiday season, the Bearista Cup and several other products sold out quickly,” the company said.

Starbucks declined to provide additional information, specifically whether and when the cups will be refilled.

Contributor: Melina Khan/USA TODAY

James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, dies at 97

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James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix, dies at 97

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James D. Watson, the brilliant but controversial American biologist who discovered the structure of the genetic molecule DNA in 1953, ushering in the age of genetics and providing the basis for the biotechnology revolution of the second half of the 20th century, has died at the age of 97.

His death was confirmed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island, where he worked for many years. The New York Times reported that Watson died this week at a hospice on Long Island.

In his later years, Watson’s reputation was tarnished by his comments about genetics and race, and he was ostracized from the scientific community.

From a young age, he was known as much for his writing as for his science and for his infantile, fearsome personality, which included a willingness to exploit the data of other scientists to advance his own career.

His 1968 memoir, The Double Helix, was a racy, take-no-prisoners account of how he and British physicist Francis Crick first determined the three-dimensional shape of DNA. This work earned them a share of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Medicine and ultimately led to genetic engineering, gene therapy, and other DNA-based medicines and technologies.

Click complained that the book “grossly invaded my privacy.” Another colleague, Maurice Wilkins, objected to what he called “a distorted and unfavorable image of scientists” as ambitious schemers willing to deceive colleagues and competitors in order to make discoveries.

Additionally, Watson and Crick, who conducted their research at the University of Cambridge in England, were widely criticized for using raw data collected by X-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin to construct their DNA model (Two Intertwined Staircases) without fully acknowledging her contributions. As Watson put it in The Double Helix, scientific research feels the “conflicting forces of ambition and a sense of fair play.”

In 2007, Mr Watson again sparked widespread outrage when he told the Times of London that he believed tests had shown that Africans’ intelligence was “not really… the same as ours”.

He was accused of promoting long-discredited theories of racism and was forced to resign from his position as director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York shortly thereafter. Although he later apologized, he made similar comments in a 2019 documentary, calling differences in performance between races on IQ tests, which most scientists attribute to environmental factors, “genetic.”

“Tough Irishman”

James Dewey Watson was born in Chicago on April 6, 1928, and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1947 with a degree in zoology. He studied genetics at Indiana University and received his Ph.D. In 1951, he joined the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, where he met Crick and began exploring the structural chemistry of DNA.

Using what was known about biology at the time and X-ray images, they determined that DNA was structured as a twisted, double-helix ladder, with each rung made up of a pair of chemicals. Understanding its structure now explains what used to be a great mystery: how DNA passes its genetic blueprint to the next generation of cells and organisms. This explanation has allowed researchers to track evolution and human history, among other things, and better understand and treat a vast number of diseases.

Watson and Crick went their separate ways after their DNA research. Although Watson was only 25 years old and had not made any new scientific discoveries that approached the importance of the double helix, he remained an authority in the scientific community.

“After achieving what he accomplished at such a young age, he had to think about what he was going to do with his life,” biologist Marc Ptashne, who met Watson in the 1960s and remained friends, told Reuters in a 2012 interview. “He figured out how to play to his strengths.”

Its strength was to play what Ptashne calls a “tough Irishman” and become one of the leaders in pushing the United States to the forefront of molecular biology. Watson joined Harvard University’s biology department in 1956.

“The existing biology department felt that molecular biology was just a flash in the pan,” said Guido Guidotti, a biochemist at Harvard University. But when Watson arrived, Guidotti said he immediately told everyone in the biology department, all the scientists whose research focuses on whole organisms and populations rather than cells and molecules, that they were wasting their time and should retire.

This earned Watson decades of hostility from some traditional biologists, but he also attracted young scientists and graduate students who were to start a revolution in genetics.

In 1968, Watson went to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island to build a facility and spent eight years between the lab and Harvard University. At the time, the lab was “just a remote area infested with mosquitoes,” Ptashne said. As director, “Jim transformed it into a vibrant, world-class institution.”

genome project

In 1990, Watson was named leader of the Human Genome Project. The goal was to determine the order of the 3 billion chemical units that make up the complete human DNA. When the National Institutes of Health, which had funded the project, decided to apply for a patent on some of the DNA sequences, Watson attacked the NIH director and resigned, arguing that genomic knowledge should remain in the public domain.

In 2007, he became the second person in the world to have his entire genome sequenced. He released the sequences and argued that concerns about “genetic privacy” were overdone, but he made an exception because he didn’t want to know whether he carried a gene linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Watson did indeed have a gene associated with novelty seeking.

Watson told a Discover magazine interviewer in 2003 that his proudest accomplishment was not the discovery of the double helix, which he wrote, but which he thought would be discovered in the next year or two anyway.

“My heroes were never scientists,” he said. “They were Graham Greene and Christopher Isherwood. You know, great writers.”

Friends say Watson cherished the bad boy image he presented to the world in “The Double Helix,” and emphasized it in his 2007 book “Avoiding Boring People.”

Married with two sons, he often belittled women in public and bragged about chasing what he called “poppies.” However, he personally encouraged many women scientists, including biologist Nancy Hopkins of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“I don’t think I would have had a career in science without his support,” said Hopkins, who has long been outspoken about anti-women bias in science. “Jim has been so supportive of me and the other women. It’s a strange thing to understand.”

Ford weighs fate of F-150 Lightning

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Ford weighs fate of F-150 Lightning

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  • Ford Motor Co. executives are said to be in talks over the fate of its all-electric pickup truck.
  • No decision has been made yet.
  • Industry experts predict that many automakers will end production of various EVs due to the removal of federal tax incentives.

Ford Motor Co. leaders are reportedly “in active discussions” about the future of the F-150 Lightning, an all-electric pickup truck, and if they decide to retire it, the Lightning would be the company’s first electric truck.

Industry officials say the move has been long expected as sales of the car have been lower than expected.

“There’s nothing definitive[about the cancellation],” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. “But when you look at the numbers, you can see that they can’t expect to get it back (in production) anytime soon.”

On October 23, Ford suspended production of the Lightning, which was assembled at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, due to an aluminum shortage after a fire destroyed part of the Novelis aluminum plant in New York. Novelis is a major supplier of aluminum used in Ford pickups and SUVs.

On October 23, Ford Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra told reporters that the company also plans to suspend production of its profitable gasoline-powered F-150 pickup trucks at its Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan this month due to aluminum shortages. When asked if Lightning’s production suspension would be permanent, Galhotra was vague.

“We are 100% focused on the F-150 and covering it as much as possible. The factory is right next to DTP, so we will restart the Lightning whenever we are ready,” Galhotra said on October 23.

A report in the Wall Street Journal on Nov. 6, citing unnamed sources, said the fate of the Lightning was being discussed within Ford, but no final decision had been made. The report also said, citing people familiar with the matter, that General Motors executives are also discussing discontinuing production of some electric trucks.

GM spokesman Kevin Kelly told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Nov. 6 that no changes to the automaker’s portfolio were being discussed. “The strategic realignment of our EV production capacity does not impact today’s retail portfolio of currently produced Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac EVs, and we expect these models to remain available to consumers in the future,” GM said in a government filing last month.

Stellantis, which makes Ram trucks, earlier this year scrapped plans to build an electric version of its full-size pickup.

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Review: Ford’s electric pickup is powerful, practical, and fun to drive

Ford’s take on the Lightning

When asked about the fate of the Lightning and whether Ford is considering discontinuing the vehicle, Ford spokesman Dave Tovar told the Detroit Free Press on November 6, “We do not comment on speculation regarding future product plans.”

He added that the F-150 Lightning is the best-selling electric pickup truck in the United States.

“Right now, as we recover from the Novelis fire, we are focused on F-150 ICE and hybrid production,” Tovar said. “We have a sufficient inventory of F-150 Lightnings and plan to reopen the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center (REVC) at the appropriate time, but there is no exact date at this time.”

In the third quarter, Ford reported selling 10,005 Lightning units. This is a 39.7% increase year-over-year and a record for the company. Sales were largely helped by a rush by buyers to take advantage of the $7,500 federal tax credit when they could, as it expires at the end of September. Ford reported sales of 23,034 Lightning units from January through the end of the quarter, an increase of 1% from a year earlier.

By comparison, General Motors sold 3,940 Silverado EVs in the third quarter.

Tesla sold about 5,385 Cybertrucks in the quarter, according to estimates from Cox Automotive.

Advocate for EV reduction

Fiorani said most experts are waiting for automakers to start removing EVs from their lineups now that the federal tax incentives are gone. EV sales fell off a cliff across the industry in October, with no deep discounts to entice buyers. For the industry as a whole, U.S. EV sales fell from 98,289 in September to 74,897 in October, according to Reuters.

“We expected all manufacturers to reevaluate their EVs once the incentives were removed, because they would have to adjust the price by $7,500,” Fiorani said. “We have long maintained that EVs will disappear from the market.”

Fiorani said the Ford Lightning in particular qualifies for elimination because it doesn’t share parts with other Ford vehicles to justify manufacturing costs or gain economies of scale.

“On the other hand, GM’s EVs share parts with other vehicles, which lowers the cost per vehicle.

“Manufacturers need to decide whether it’s worth the time and money to keep it on the market,” Fiorani said. “The Silverado EV also hasn’t sold well, but it shares parts across five different nameplates.”

Free Press staff writer Jackie Charniga contributed to this article.

Jamie L. Lareau is senior auto writer for USA Today and covers Ford Motor Company for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jalalean. To sign up automotive newsletter. become a subscriber.

President Trump praises Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán at the White House

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President Trump praises Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán at the White House

Mr. Orbán is a hero to many in the MAGA movement, having cracked down on Hungary’s press and liberal opposition.

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s hard-line approach on immigration, saying he likes and respects the dictator who visited the White House to discuss possible waivers of U.S. sanctions on Russian energy.

“I support Viktor Orbán,” Trump said at a White House meeting on Nov. 7. “Not many people do that, because a lot of times they’re jealous. They wish they had done what he did. There’s nothing wrong with if he did what he did.”

Trump said he had told European leaders they could learn from Orbán’s approach. Mr. Orbán is a hero of the MAGA movement, and Mr. Trump’s critics have compared his second-term agenda to strategies used by the Hungarian leader to consolidate power in his country.

Prime Minister Orbán has been at loggerheads with the European Union over migration, support for Ukraine and a crackdown on independent institutions..

President Trump said he has good relations with European leaders and agrees with Orbán on border control. European countries have made “big mistakes” when it comes to welcoming foreigners, he said.

“I think he happened to be right because their whole structure changed,” Trump said. “So you go to some countries and now they’re unrecognizable because of what they’ve done. And Hungary is very famous.”

President Trump said the dictator had done a “great job” and was “a very powerful person in the country” and was “loved” by those who knew him.

“The Hungarian government is systematically dismantling the rule of law and suppressing dissent in the name of protecting national sovereignty,” Iskra Kirová, Europe and Central Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, wrote last month.

Prime Minister Orbán said he came to the White House to “open a new chapter” and mend relations that had cooled. The Hungarian hardliner spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2022 and attended the NATO summit in Washington in 2024, but was not welcomed at the White House by former President Joe Biden.

Trump acknowledged that Orbán is a controversial figure who has entertained leaders who have taken measures to restrict press freedom and political opposition.

“He’s respected by everyone and liked by some,” Trump said.

President Trump is considering exempting Orbán’s government from sanctions imposed by the United States on Russian energy companies, and said the war with Ukraine would also be a topic of discussion. Hungary is one of Europe’s largest remaining importers of Russian oil and gas and has come under intense criticism from supporters of Ukraine for its ties to President Vladimir Putin.

The Hungarian capital was expected to host the next meeting between Trump and Putin until the summit was canceled last month.

“That meeting ended up turning out that I didn’t want to have that meeting because I didn’t think anything significant would happen,” Trump said. “But if I have it, I would like to keep it in Budapest.”

Eddie Murphy paid for the funerals of these celebrities. The reason is as follows

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Eddie Murphy paid for the funerals of these celebrities. The reason is as follows

Eddie Murphy knows he will eventually be “kicked out.” He shares his plans for how it will work while discussing his new Netflix documentary “Being Eddie.”

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  • Eddie Murphy is the subject of a new Netflix documentary about his life and career, “Being Eddie,” released November 12th.
  • In an interview with USA TODAY, Eddie Murphy shared a provocative plan for what would happen if he died.
  • The film includes interviews with Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Jamie Foxx, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and more.

A conversation about life with Eddie Murphy turned into death.

“I’ve paid for a lot of funerals, but I don’t go to funerals,” Murphy told USA TODAY. In fact, the Oscar-nominated star says he’s only been there twice in 64 years. One is for his biological father, Charles Edward Murphy (who, Murphy told Rolling Stone, was fatally stabbed by a jealous woman when he was 8 years old), and the other is for the comedian’s stepfather, Vernon Lynch, who was Murphy’s chaperone when he married the ex-Nicole Mitchell Murphy in 1993.

“They shouldn’t even have a funeral,” Murphy says. “I thought, ‘This funeral is sick.’ All the people[attend]and you get to see your loved one, but emotionally, this whole ceremony is just too much.”

Join the watch party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY’s TV and movie recommendations in your inbox

The subject of the Netflix documentary “Being Eddie,” which chronicles his life and career (released November 12), suspects that he is an empath and is influenced by the energies of other people in the room.

In the hour-and-43-minute film, which includes interviews with Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Jamie Foxx, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jerry Seinfeld, Murphy says he paid for the funerals of his “Harlem Nights” co-star Redd Foxx and Rick James, Murphy’s collaborator on the 1985 hit “Party All the.” It’s time. ”

Murphy said she also purchased headstones for William “Billy” Thomas Jr., who invented the role of Buckwheat, and Tim Moore, who played Kingfish in “Amos and Andy.” And then there are the friends and relatives who helped, Murphy said. But he himself plans to avoid funeral customs altogether.

“It’s not like I’m going to leave my house and lie there without a funeral and people will come and see me and push me to the ground,” he says. “I’m going to be cremated right away. And there’s no funeral, there’s no memorial, there’s no memorial or anything. Just keep going. There’s no trauma like that. … It’s too bad, funeral.”

And Murphy doesn’t care what happens to his body.

“I don’t care how they treat them,” he says with a laugh. “Unless there’s someone around to hold my ashes…I don’t want to be in the urn while everyone else is crying. I don’t want to experience that moment.”

“You are allowed to cry,” he clarified. “What I’m talking about is the whole ritual of a funeral is just too much for me.”

While “Being Eddie” is a tribute to Murphy’s past, when he joined “SNL” at age 19, celebrated his 21st birthday at Studio 54, and rode the success of films like “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Shrek,” Murphy prefers to live in the present.

“Sometimes memories come to mind, but I don’t dwell on them,” he says. “I’m not longing for the good old days or the old relationships. This is who I am. I’m here. I try to be here.”

He likens the documentary to “looking through an old photo album” and says he was most emotional when remembering his brother Charlie Murphy. The comedian and actor, who appeared on an episode of “Chappelle’s Show” and co-wrote “Norbit” and “Vampire in Brooklyn” with Murphy, died of leukemia in 2017 at age 57.

“When I started talking about my brother, I got very emotional,” Murphy said. “It flickers a little, but you can just feel it.”

The subject of “being Eddie” gets a little confusing when asked who the real Eddie Murphy is. “I’m a unique person, Eddie,” he says. “And I’m a really creative person and can express my creativity in many different areas. That’s who I am.”

He is also the proud father of 10 children ranging in age from 7 to 35 years old. His children appear briefly in the documentary.

“At the heart of everything is our relationship with our children,” Murphy says. “That’s my greatest accomplishment, my legacy is my children, my world revolves around them. Everything comes after them.”

Peloton recalls more than 800,000 bikes due to injury risk. See issue.

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Peloton recalls more than 800,000 bikes due to injury risk. See issue.

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More than 800,000 Peloton stationary bikes have been recalled due to parts that could break and cause injury.

Peloton, the exercise media and exercise equipment brand that exploded in popularity in 2021, began a recall of certain bikes sold in the United States and Canada on November 6, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

According to Health Canada, about 833,000 recalled bicycles were sold in the United States and an additional 44,800 in Canada.

According to the recall, bicycle seat post assemblies can break during use, putting users at risk of falls and injury. As of Nov. 6, Peloton has received three reports of injuries caused by broken bicycle seatposts in the United States.

Here’s what you need to know about the recall.

Which Peloton bikes are subject to recall?

  • Peloton Original Series Bike+ unit model number PL02 and serial number starting with the letter “T”.

The bike is 4 feet long and 2 feet wide with an adjustable seat and handlebars. To find your bike’s serial number, look inside the front fork, behind the front fork, or behind the flywheel.

The recalled bikes were sold from January 2020 to April 2025 at Peloton and Dicks Sporting Goods stores nationwide and online at onepeloton.com, eBay, Amazon and DicksSportingGoods.com for approximately $2,495.

What to do if you have a recalled Peloton bike

This problem can be resolved with at-home repairs. If you own a recalled bike, stop using it immediately and contact Peloton to receive a free seatpost that you can install yourself.

To contact Peloton, call 866-679-9129 Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Eastern Time, or visit www.onepeloton.com and click “Product Recall” at the bottom of the page. There you will find instructions for ordering and installing a free replacement post.

Darryl Strawberry pardoned by Donald Trump after being found guilty of tax evasion

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Darryl Strawberry pardoned by Donald Trump after being found guilty of tax evasion

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced on November 7 that he has pardoned former baseball player Darryl Strawberry, who was convicted of past tax evasion, citing his sobriety and restored Christian faith.

Strawberry, an eight-time All-Star outfielder in Major League Baseball, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in 1995, admitting that he intentionally failed to report more than $350,000 in income he earned from autograph sessions.

Strawberry was suspended three times for drug abuse during his MLB career and later served 11 months in a Florida prison on unrelated state charges for drug possession and pimping. He was released in 2003.

more: Mets retire 1986 World Series champion Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden’s uniform numbers

A White House official who confirmed President Trump’s approval of the pardon said Strawberry, now 63, had served his time in prison and repaid the taxes he owed to the government. Strawberry has since discovered his Christian faith and has remained sober for more than 10 years, the source said. Mr. Strawberry became active in volunteer work and started a drug recovery center, which remains active today, officials said.

Strawberry, an outspoken supporter of President Trump during his campaign, expressed his gratitude for the president’s pardon in an Instagram post. “Thank you President Trump for my full pardon and for ending this part of my life so I can be truly free and clean from all of my past,” Strawberry wrote.

Strawberry said he received a call at 4:37 p.m. ET on Nov. 6 and noticed the Washington, D.C., area code, adding that “to his surprise” the call was for Trump. He said the president spoke warmly about the peak of Strawberry’s playing career in the 1980s and said, “Then he told me he was going to give me a full pardon from my past.”

“This has nothing to do with politics. It’s about President Trump, a man who cares deeply about his friends. God used him as a vessel to set me free forever!” Ichigo said.

more: Former Tennessee House Speaker Casada, chief of staff pardoned by President Trump: White House

Strawberry, the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year, is best known for his time with the New York Mets in the 1980s before finishing his career with the New York Yankees. Strawberry also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants. He played on three World Series champion teams, one on both sides of New York.

Trump has aggressively used his pardon power in recent weeks.

In October, he commuted the seven-year prison sentence of former New York Republican Congressman George Santos for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He later pardoned Binance founder Chao Changpeng, a major backer of the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture, who had pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. On November 6, President Trump pardoned former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren, and announced that both men will serve time in prison on public corruption charges.

X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.

Even if flights aren’t cancelled, how might flight reductions affect travelers?

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Even if flights aren’t cancelled, how might flight reductions affect travelers?

Flights are being cut at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports to compensate for a shortage of air traffic controllers due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. But it’s not just travelers who are affected by cancellations.

“There will be massive disruption to the national air transportation system,” said Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, an independent travel analysis firm. And the effects could last longer than the closure.

With cancellations starting November 7th, here’s what travelers need to know.

Impact on flights: ‘Connecting passengers may be at further risk’

The Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration have ordered 40 airports to reduce flights by 10%.

“Flight reductions will be phased in in stages,” Harteveldt said. “It will start on Friday with a 4% reduction in flights, and increase from there in stages to 10%.”

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines confirmed they would cancel flights in advance to avoid congestion at the airport that day.

“Airlines need to consider the flow of aircraft and crew when canceling flights. It’s not just canceling one flight; that aircraft and crew are supposed to continue later in the day,” Ahmed Abdelghani, associate dean for research at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s David B. O’Malley College of Business, told USA TODAY. “Thus, airlines with more round-trip loop flights in their schedules are in a better position to deal with cancellations. If you cancel both flights in a loop, the aircraft and crew will be placed in a suitable location later. This will avoid stranding the aircraft and crew, which will enable recovery.”

Affected airports include hubs such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, but Shai Gilad, a professor of management practice at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, said travelers at other airports will also be affected.

“Transit passengers are potentially at even higher risk and are likely to experience higher fares, fewer flights and fewer options,” and their layovers may be significantly longer than usual, he said, noting that airlines may raise prices to make up for lost revenue. Gilad has been an airline pilot for 10 years and his areas of expertise include the aviation industry.

Airlines are trying to minimize the impact on travelers, and Harteveld compared the challenge to dismantling Humpty Dumpty without breaking it into 1,000 pieces.

“Even though the government says they have 36 hours or so to start dismantling their carefully constructed flight schedules, that doesn’t give airlines a lot of time,” he said, noting that in addition to staffing, airlines are juggling gates, maintenance schedules and passenger demand. He said it is fortunate that demand is relatively low at the moment, which means flights have already been reduced compared to the summer. “So many airlines’ flights are often close to full or completely full, leaving airlines with little flexibility.”

Flight canceled or delayed? What travelers can do

play

How to prepare for Department of Transportation flight reductions during government shutdown

USA TODAY’s Nathan Diller has travel tips to survive DOT’s reduced flights during the government shutdown.

The effects of cuts continue even after closures end.

Airlines could become even less flexible in the coming weeks.

“We have to remember that this is a reduction of up to 10% only based on staffing, but that doesn’t mean other types of delays won’t occur, such as weather or mechanical issues,” Gilad said. “These types of disruptions will continue to occur, and reducing capacity…makes it harder to recover. That could create problems because there are fewer aircraft and fewer employees in the system to recover.”

He and Haldefeldt warned that depending on how long the cuts last, some Thanksgiving travel plans could be upended or at least changed.

“That could mean more traffic on the highways and perhaps other forms of transportation, or it could just mean people not being able to travel at all… and having to opt out of spending time with their families over the holidays,” Gilad said.

If people choose not to travel, there will be a downward impact, not only on airline and airport concessions that will be economically affected, but also on potentially fewer visitors at the destinations they travel to, Hadefeld said.

This situation may be avoided if the shutdown ends early.

“Open up the damn government,” Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said at a Breitbart News policy event on November 7, blaming Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown. “Vote to open the government.”

However, Hopper analyst Haley Berg said, “This capacity restriction will not be lifted the day the shutdown ends. The condition is that this capacity reduction will not be lifted until air traffic control and the FAA are operating at staffing levels…Even if these employees are paid and furloughed, it may not be lifted immediately.”

Abdelghani agrees: “Even if the government reopens, the recovery will still take time. Capacity cannot absorb everyone, so some passengers will have to be refunded and removed from the system. The severity and duration of this reduction will determine how long the recovery will take.”

(This story has been updated with video and new information.)

Fans of the “For Good” collaboration can purchase merchandise

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Fans of the “For Good” collaboration can purchase merchandise

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Whether you’re hanging out at home, shopping, or going out to dinner, the iconic characters from the Wicked series seem to be everywhere.

‘Wicked: For Good’ will be released in theaters on Friday, November 21st. The film is a sequel to the 2024 blockbuster, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Broadway musical of the same name, Wicked.

People fell in love with this movie when it premiered in November 2024. According to Box Office Mojo, it earned $112.5 million in its opening week alone. It grossed a total of $756.6 million worldwide.

And it seems like fans are looking forward to the sequel as well. That’s evident from the amount of merchandise that hits the shelves before the movie hits theaters.

So if you want to stock up on premiere merchandise for yourself or a loved one who’s obsessed with “Wicked,” you have a few options.

More news: NBC’s ‘Wicked: One Wonderful Night’ Previews the Magic of ‘For Good’ with the Movie Cast

Target and everything is “evil”

Target sells several dolls, toys and other products inspired by “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good.”

The retail giant also sells Target-exclusive records in pink and green, of course. Colors of iconic characters Galinda/Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (played by Cynthia Erivo). Target also has a limited edition Wicked: The Soundtrack available.

But it’s not just vinyl.

“Wicked” fans can also purchase Stanley’s Cup, specifically the Stanley 40-ounce Stainless Steel H2.0 Flow State Quencher Tumbler, for $55 at Target. Available in 3 different designs.

  • Elphaba for Good
  • glinda for good
  • Ozian restart

Designer Katie Kim has also created a new line of homewares, sleepwear and more inspired by Wicked: For Good and its main characters.

Pink and green go well together at Walmart.

Walmart has everything you need to fill your closet, including a variety of pink and green shirts, sweatshirts, and more.

The retailer sells merchandise such as “Wicked” dolls and toys, as well as children’s and adult clothing such as sweaters, sweater pants and T-shirts that fans can wear while watching the sequel in theaters.

Walmart also sells “Wicked”-themed home decor items such as Zak Designs’ 14-ounce 4-piece Wicked Ceramic Stacking Mug with Wire Rack ($19.97) and accessories such as the Wicked Emerald City Women’s 10.5-inch Mini Backpack ($29.97).

‘Thank you’ for Dunkin’s ‘Wicked’-inspired menu

Dunkin’ has debuted a “Wicked”-themed menu item to celebrate the franchise’s “epic conclusion.”

For a limited time, Dunkin’ customers can now purchase the following items.

  • Wicked green matcha
  • Wicked Pink Refresher
  • evil “munchkin”

Fans can also purchase Glinda and Elphaba’s signature pink and green limited edition Wicked merchandise.

‘Wicked’ American Girl doll sells for nearly $300

Iconic doll brand American Girl has released the “Wicked” Collector Series, featuring two dolls and two iconic outfits inspired by the first movie.

This series includes:

  • American Girl Elphaba doll – This doll has black hair, green skin, lips, and eyes, and wears Elphaba’s iconic black outfit and hat. She holds a broom and wears boots. This doll comes with a certificate of authenticity and is priced at $295.00.
  • American Girl Glinda doll – This doll has blonde hair and wears a tiara, earrings, multicolored gown, kitten heels, and Glinda’s training cane. This doll comes with a certificate of authenticity and is priced at $$295.00.
  • Glinda “Popular” Pajamas — Designed to fit American Girl dolls, this outfit features the look worn by Glinda in the hit song “Popular.” Includes mirror, hair clip, slippers, robe, and romper. This costume retails for $80.
  • Elphaba “Popular” Pajamas – Designed to fit the American Girl doll, the outfit recreates the look worn by Elphaba in her hit song “Popular.” Includes green bottle, diary, robe, top, pants, and slippers. This costume retails for $80.

The American Girl website says the doll is sold out, but the outfit is still available.

‘Wicked’ limited edition laundry detergent and other cleaning products

Toys, dolls, clothing, accessories, and food are somewhat expected, but cleaning supplies may not be on the “Wicked” merchandise bingo card.

Gain is launching the brand’s Wicked: For Good Frings laundry detergent pods in the “Fantabulous Floral” scent and retailing for $11.19 on Target’s website. Gain launches “Wicked Laundry Scent Booster Beads” in “Wonderfullest Woods and Beautificial Blossom” and “Emerald Charm and Yellow Brick Wonder,” both priced at $10.39.

Gain also partnered with Febreze to release Beautiful Blossom and Wonderful Rest Woods air fresheners, Dawn to release PowerWash Dish Spray Wicked Fantabulous Floral Air Freshener ($6.39), and Cascade to release Cascade Complete Wicked Emerald City Air Freshener laundry detergent ($21.49).

Meanwhile, Swiffer is launching a limited edition Swiffer Sweep + Mop in Glinda’s iconic color pink, priced at $21.49.

Wicked-themed cleaning products are also available on Amazon, but prices may vary.

Other “Wicked” goods

There are many “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good” products. Other companies and brands selling movie-inspired products include:

Hopefully, you can follow the yellow brick road to the store that sells the right product for you.

Updated to add new information.

Julia is a trends reporter for USA TODAY, covering scientific research and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamaigz or email jgomez@hannett.com

Democrats outline new proposal to end government shutdown

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Democrats outline new proposal to end government shutdown

“Democrats are offering a very simple compromise,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Republicans denounced the proposal.

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WASHINGTON – Democrats unveiled a potential path out of a record government shutdown Friday.

The plan, which Democrats characterized as a good-faith proposal to Republicans, would codify a one-year extension of health benefits set to expire in early 2026 and raise premiums for millions of Americans. Tax credits for Obamacare enrollees are at the center of the 38-day funding crisis.

Republicans already oppose the deal, and unresolved exchanges virtually ensure the government shutdown will last even longer. But it was also a notable sign that the two sides are coming closer together amid unpaid salaries for hundreds of thousands of people, widespread disruption to travel, worsening food shortages and other impacts that have been deepening for more than a month.

The Democratic proposal includes a proposal to restart the entire government at current funding levels, potentially through next year. Under the framework, lawmakers would simultaneously advance separate budget proposals to provide year-round funding to some federal agencies and new levels of programs.

Additionally, the plan would create a bipartisan commission to continue discussions on reducing health care costs.

read more: Democrats want a health care tax credit to end the shutdown. Why does the Republican Party say not yet?

“This is a reasonable proposal,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday. “Now the ball is in the Republican court.”

Republicans denounced the proposal and continued to accuse Democrats of making unreasonable demands to score more political points following their recent election victories.

read more: Will a landslide Democratic victory end the government shutdown, or will it be prolonged?

Republicans weren’t the only ones to express displeasure with the proposal. Some Democratic politicians also criticized it for the same reason. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the bill also calls for reversing recent layoffs of thousands of federal workers (which have been suspended in court) and guaranteeing back pay for furloughed public employees.

read more: Department of Education lays off about 20% of staff due to government shutdown

“I’ll be honest with you. It’s not everything I wanted,” he said. “It’s a compromise, and compromise is not a four-letter word.”

For the first time since the shutdown began, senators planned to remain in the Capitol over the weekend in hopes of winning more votes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) told reporters he would force a vote on Friday on a standalone bill that would deliver checks to federal workers who have gone weeks without pay.

“I’m tired of political gamesmanship,” he said.

Zachary Schermele is a Congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can email us at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and on Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.

President Trump to attend Lions vs. Commanders game this Sunday

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President Trump to attend Lions vs. Commanders game this Sunday

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend this Sunday’s NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders. It’s the latest in a long list of sporting events President Trump has watched in person since returning to the White House.

Trump will be heading to the game at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, home of the Commanders, to participate in Veterans Day celebrations at halftime, a White House official confirmed to USA TODAY.

ESPN’s Pat McAfee, who first reported Trump’s attendance, said the president plans to watch the game from Commanders owner Josh Harris’ suite. President Trump welcomed Harris to the Oval Office in May and announced plans for the 2027 NFL Draft to be held on the National Mall in Washington.

President Trump has repeatedly expressed disapproval of the “Commanders” name and urged Washington to revert to the team’s previous name, the Redskins, which the team dropped in 2020 amid nationwide protests against racial injustice.

In July, President Trump threatened to block Washington’s plan to build a new stadium in the District of Columbia if the team didn’t join the Redskins, but he appears to have moved forward. In September, the D.C. Council approved a $3.8 billion stadium deal to move back to the site of RFK Stadium, which served as the franchise’s home from 1961 to 1996.

more: Why Donald Trump, America’s biggest sports fan, can’t miss important games

The Lions-Commanders game will be the first NFL game of the 2025 season that Trump, a lifelong sports fan, has attended. Weeks into his second term in the White House, Trump became the first sitting president to watch the Super Bowl in person. He followed that up the following weekend by participating in the Daytona 500.

He hasn’t slowed down, attending the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, the LIV Golf Tournament at his Doral Golf Club in Miami, a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match in New Jersey, multiple UFC matches, the U.S. Open Men’s Tennis Finals in New York City, the New York Yankees game commemorating the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and most recently the Ryder Cup in Long Island, New York.

X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.

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