After locking down a deal for Santiago Castro, it was expected that all of Tony D'Amico's efforts would turn back to finding a left wing that Gian Piero Gasperini has been yearning for. However, it appears that the next Giallorossi signing for the time being won't be Antonio Nusa or Abde Ezzalzouli to fill that need. Instead, reports indicate that Roma's next signing won't even play that far up the pitch.
In a move that came out of nowhere, Roma is expected to sign 22-year-old Greek defender Konstantinos Koulierakis of Wolfsburg. The deal was first reported by Ugo Trani of Te la do io Tokyo and is now being corroborated by Fabrizio Romano and others. The amount being bandied about is €15 million, and it's expected that Koulierakis would fill the role of vice-Hermoso.
Koulierakis is a left-footed center back who brings considerable experience for his age. He's made 59 Bundesliga appearances over the last two seasons, 35 appearances in the Greek Super League, and another 9 Europa Conference League appearances with PAOK prior to that. He's also already made 22 appearances for the Greek national team.
Koulierakis was purchased by Wolfsburg from PAOK for just under €12 million two summers ago. After proving his worth in Germany, Roma is ready to bring him to Italy to add depth to its rearguard. Perhaps most importantly, he is a left-footed defender in a back three dominated by right-footed players—aside from Hermoso, to whom Koulierakis will likely be an understudy.
Koulierakis is a fairly tall center back at 6'2" and defends well in the air. He's known for being a progressive passer, which makes him a good fit in Gasperini's system as a left-sided defender. He's also proven to be composed on the ball and comfortable defending in tight ******* es. Koulierakis has chipped in 4 goals and 3 ******* ists during his time at Wolfsburg. At just 22, he's got plenty of room for development under Gasperini's tutelage.

#back #expected

A Wisconsin brewery known for anti-Trump social media posts, including one promising a free beer promotion upon the death of President Donald Trump, has had its permit to operate in the state revoked by state officials.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday that liberal activist and brewery owner Kirk Bangstad is "vowing to fight 'tooth and nail' after receiving a letter from the state's Department of Revenue revoking Minocqua Brewing Co.'s permit to operate in Wisconsin, according to a July 26 newsletter sent to his supporters."
"As you can imagine, I'm not taking this lying down," Bangstad wrote in a Substack post on Sunday. "We're going to fight the state of Wisconsin tooth and nail, and once again, they'll have to pry me out of my taprooms before I stop selling beer to thirsty progressives who come to visit us."
Wisconsin Dem's Bar Laments 'We Almost Got Free Beer Day' For Trump ******* assination
President Donald Trump took a victory lap over a judge's ruling allowing his legal team to amend his $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times.

#Trump #donald #free

Giverny Capital ***** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ***** et Management highlighted JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM). JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a leading financial services company that provides financial, commercial, ***** et and wealth management as well as investment banking services. On July 21, 2026, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) closed at $345.23 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $917.69 billion. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) posted a one-month return of 3.53%, while its shares gained 16.33% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital ***** et Management stated the following regarding JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), Mastercard and Progressive Corp. that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging. JP Morgan has compounded earnings in the low teens over the past decade, with growth accelerating recently, but the stock lags the market this year."

#chase #management

EXCLUSIVE - Far-left Democratic congressional candidate Oliver Larkin of Florida says he supports abolishing the U.S. Senate, agrees with socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested during his upcoming trip to the U.S., and refers to Israel's ruling coalition as a "religious supremacist regime."
Larkin, who is challenging Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz in next month's Florida primary, is one of just four congressional candidates endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The 33-year-old Larkin, a veteran of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 Democratic presidential campaign, is also the only DSA-endorsed House candidate running in one of the roughly two dozen key swing districts that will determine if Republicans hold onto their razor-thin majority in the midterm elections.
Moskowitz, who is running for re-election in Florida's newly redrawn 25th Congressional District, a Broward County-anchored seat in the southeastern corner of the red-leaning state, is heavily supported by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). He currently holds a polling and fundraising lead over Larkin.
Midterm Battle For The House: Check Out The Fox News Power Rankings

#midterm

Giverny Capital **** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital **** et Management highlighted The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR). The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is a leading auto insurer in the United States offering personal autos and special lines products. On July 20, 2026, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) closed at $212.23 per share. The one-month return of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) was -1.60%, and its shares lost 14.21% over the past 52 weeks. The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) has a market capitalization of $123.39 billion.
Giverny Capital **** et Management stated the following regarding The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, Mastercard and The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
The consensus of Wall Street **** ysts says Progressive will report lower earnings this year than last, as auto insurance rates are in decline after years of rate inflation. Progressive's growth rate is indeed slowing, but for the first half of 2026 its EPS rose 7%. Despite this, the share price dropped 4% for the first half of the year. We added to our position in June. For the first time in years, Progressive has been buying back its stock."

#progressive #capital

Giverny Capital ***** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ***** et Management highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 20, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $547.44 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $483.71 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 11.06%, while its shares lost 2.99% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital ***** et Management stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and Progressive Corp. that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
Similarly, Wall Street ***** ysts expect Mastercard to compound EPS by 15% over the next few years, roughly the same rate as the past 20 years. The stock was down 10% in the first half of 2026 and has lagged the Index over the past five years."

#incorporated #index #asset

Giverny Capital ****** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ****** et Management highlighted The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW). The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a multinational financial services company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, ****** et management, custody, and financial advisory services. On July 20, 2026, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) closed at $102.54 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $178.33 billion. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) posted a one-month return of 10.06%, while its shares gained 7.50% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital ****** et Management stated the following regarding The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW), JP Morgan, Mastercard and Progressive Corp. that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
Schwab, for example, earned $4.87 per share in 2025 and the consensus of Wall Street ****** ysts calls for earnings per share, or EPS, of $7.62 in 2027. That would represent a two year growth rate of 56%, or 25% per year. As of June 30th, the shares were down 8% for the year and trading at $92.27, or 12 times the 2027 EPS estimate. The Index trades for more than 20 times the forward estimate. We

The House passed its $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill Wednesday after a bipartisan revolt over a provision expanding U.S.-Israel defense technology cooperation.
The fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act passed 216-212, with Republicans largely supporting and Democrats mostly opposing the measure.
The annual bill, which sets Pentagon policy and typically draws broad bipartisan support, received only six Democratic votes as much of the caucus objected to Section 219 and Republican-backed amendments restricting transgender care and easing access to personal guns on military bases.
House Democrats Fracture Badly Over Massie Amendment To Cut $3.3B In U.s. Aid To Israel
Opposition came from a coalition of progressive Democrats and Republican skeptics of U.S. support for Israel, who accused congressional leaders of shielding the provision from scrutiny after lawmakers were denied a separate vote to remove it.

#policy #bill

L1 Capital, an investment management firm, released its "L1 Long Short Fund" second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The market's main themes in the June quarter were the Iran conflict and developments in the AI sector. These trends shifted after oil prices declined due to a ceasefire agreement, leading to a reversal. AI stocks surged, driven by strong earnings, rapid capital investment, and critical supply shortages. During this period, the L1 Long Short Fund achieved notable gains, rising 12.7% compared to the ASX200AI's 4.0%, with year-to-date returns at 12.5% versus 2.4%. U.S. equities outperformed, especially those benefiting from AI-related capital expenditure. The firm is satisfied with the portfolio's positioning, emphasizing strong medium-term growth potential, supported by attractive valuations, solid earnings, and robust cash flow. In addition, you can check the Fund's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, L1 Long Short Fund highlighted James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX). Based in Dublin, Ireland, James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) is a building materials company that manufactures and supplies fiber cement, fiber gypsum, and cement-bonded building products. On July 17, 2026, James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) closed at $25.82 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $14.98 billion. James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) posted a one-month return of 5.34%, while its shares lost 1.64% over the past 52 weeks.
L1 Long Short Fund stated the following regarding James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) (+46%) shares recovered over the quarter following easing Middle East tensions and on management's release of a constructive FY27 outlook, which included a pathway to return the core North American fibre cement business to volume growth, despite a subdued U.S. housing market. We expect this volume recovery to be supported by normalisation of channel inventory following the 2025 destocking period, improving execution in repair & remodel / smaller-builder channels, the Trim-Over installation method, competitor exits and continued material conversion from vinyl and wood.
In our view, the market is still applying a discounted multiple to James Hardie to reflect recent execution, governance and housing-cycle concerns. As these issues are progressively addressed, we believe there is scope for both earnings growth and recovery in the valuation multiple over time."

#NYSE

Giverny Capital ****** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital ****** et Management highlighted Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA). Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a leading global payment technology company provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services. On July 20, 2026, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) closed at $547.44 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $483.71 billion. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) posted a one-month return of 11.06%, while its shares lost 2.99% over the past 52 weeks.
Giverny Capital ****** et Management stated the following regarding Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) and Progressive Corp. that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
Similarly, Wall Street ****** ysts expect Mastercard to compound EPS by 15% over the next few years, roughly the same rate as the past 20 years. The stock was down 10% in the first half of 2026 and has lagged the Index over the past five years."

#mastercard #incorporated #NYSE #giverny

Giverny Capital **** et Management, LLC, an investment management company, recently published its second-quarter 2026 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The model portfolio returned 13.70% this quarter, compared to the S&P 500's 15.20% return. YTD, the portfolio gained 5.89%, while the index increased by 10.21%. The long-term link between stock appreciation and earnings growth is strong; Benjamin Graham described the market as a "voting machine" in the short term and a "weighing machine" in the long term. Despite the S&P 500's 10.2% rise in the first half of the year, 210 stocks lost value, indicating market anomalies. High-quality earnings compounders that benefit from AI capabilities are likely to maintain their competitive edge. Recently, the market has increasingly chased momentum. Tech giants are taking advantage of the optimism of investors amid fears of an AI bubble. Despite strong profit margins, reliance on "moonshot" investments raises sustainability concerns. The author recommends investing in both emerging tech leaders and established firms. In addition, please check the Strategy's top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Giverny Capital **** et Management highlighted The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR). The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) is a leading auto insurer in the United States offering personal autos and special lines products. On July 20, 2026, The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) closed at $212.23 per share. The one-month return of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) was -1.60%, and its shares lost 14.21% over the past 52 weeks. The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) has a market capitalization of $123.39 billion.
Giverny Capital **** et Management stated the following regarding The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) in its Q2 2026 investor update:
"Roughly 40% of the Index outperforming the average and 60% underperforming is not so unusual, but two-thirds of that lagging group underperforming by more than 10 percentage points seems like a lot. Even this level of dispersion might make sense if most of the earnings growth in the Index was concentrated in the 200 stocks that were up double digits. This is not the case. We own Index constituents such as Charles Schwab, JP Morgan, Mastercard and The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR) that continue to grow their earnings per share at healthy rates and in some cases at higher rates than usual, but whose stock prices are lagging.
The consensus of Wall Street **** ysts says Progressive will report lower earnings this year than last, as auto insurance rates are in decline after years of rate inflation. Progressive's growth rate is indeed slowing, but for the first half of 2026 its EPS rose 7%. Despite this, the share price dropped 4% for the first half of the year. We added to our position in June. For the first time in years, Progressive has been buying back its stock."

#NYSE #earnings #asset

By Yi-Chin Lee and Ann ****
TAIPEI, July 19 (Reuters) - Taiwan must work together to protect its democracy and not become part of China, President Lai Ching-te said on Sunday, calling ‌on members of his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to oppose the "red terror" coming from Beijing.
Lai, who won ‌election two years ago, and his ruling DPP, champion Taiwan's separate identity from China, a position that frequently angers Beijing which views the island as an inviolable part of Chinese territory.
Speaking to the DPP's annual convention, Lai said Taiwan must remain vigilant in times of peace, pointing to what he said was China's "legal warfare", such as its new ethnic unity law which gives Beijing the basis to take action against people outside its borders.
That has alarmed Taiwan, because ‌it could give Beijing another legal ⁠basis to try and prosecute or arrest Taiwanese it views as separatists. China has rejected all criticism of the law. China's legal system has no jurisdiction in Taiwan.

Jesy Nelson has revealed that one of her baby daughters will have to undergo surgery to treat her scoliosis.
The former Little Mix singer announced in January that her twin daughters Ocean and Story had been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness.
In an emotional interview with The Daily Mail about her new documentary, Jesy, 35, revealed that Story has also been diagnosed with scoliosis, or the abnormal curvature of the spine, and would need frequent operations.
In addition, the 35-year-old divulged that both twins, now 14 months, will have surgery soon to change their feeding tubes.
"They're having an operation soon because obviously they're on feeding tubes and the girls basically keep pulling them out because they're causing so much trauma to their nose and throat," she shared.
"So they've now got to have an operation where the food goes into their tummy, because they can't have this tube down their throat anymore because it's causing so much trauma."

Maverick Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has said he has "no plans" to leave the Democratic Party, but he warned on Wednesday that if Democrats completely turn their backs on U.S. support for Israel, that would cross a red line that could push him out of the party.
"If our party ever becomes — and just makes it official — the anti-Israel party, that's when I would leave because that's been a moral clarity for me," he said during an interview at the Hill Nation Summit in Washington.
Fetterman said he "can't understand why the Democratic Party" — which shares an array of values with Israel as an important democracy in the Middle East — would turn against a long-standing ally.
The Pennsylvania Democrat says he has a major "concern" over the trajectory of many Democrats who have become increasingly critical of U.S. aid for Israel amid growing pressure from the party's progressive base.
"My long-term concern has been with the Democratic Party, as I am a member of that, is that our party is going to back away and turn their back to Israel," he said.

Retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., has abandoned his neutrality in Michigan's high-stakes Democratic Senate primary, backing U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens as party leaders rally to stop progressive rival Abdul El-Sayed from winning the nomination.
Peters, who is retiring after two terms in the Senate, announced the endorsement Monday, saying Stevens "will be ready on day one to fight for Michigan." The move reverses his position from late May, when he told The ****** ociated Press he planned to stay neutral in the Aug. 4 primary.
Democrats are eager to keep the Michigan seat as they try to win back the Senate majority, and many party leaders have lined up behind Stevens, a four-term congresswoman they see as a stronger general election candidate.
Democrats' Civil War Heads To Michigan Where Progressives Face Biggest Test Yet In High-stakes Senate Showdown
Stevens has centered her campaign on manufacturing, jobs and Michigan's auto industry. El-Sayed, a former Michigan health director who has never held elected office, has run on a more progressive platform that includes "Medicare-for-all" and campaign finance reform. He has also made the war in Gaza a central issue in his campaign, highlighting a divide that has surfaced within the Democratic Party.

Graham Platner's political collapse did more than derail a scandal-plagued Senate campaign in Maine. It also completed Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman's public transformation from a Bernie Sanders-backed progressive populist to one of the left's most aggressive internal critics.
Fetterman was among the first prominent Democrats to call out Platner's mounting controversies, even as many party leaders continued backing the scandal-plagued candidate until a former girlfriend publicly accused Platner of rape, an allegation he denies. The accusation prompted the remaining pillars of Democratic support to collapse.
By Wednesday night, Fetterman laid into his onetime political ally Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in an interview with Fox News' Charles Hurt on "Jesse Watters Primetime."
"The trash took itself out," Fetterman said of Platner's withdrawal, as Hurt asked who should be held most responsible for the Platner chaos.
Kingmaker Mamdani Calls On Platner To 'Drop Out Of The Race' After Rape Allegation

By Rami Ayyub
TURMUS AYYA, West Bank, July 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers armed with U.S.-made rifles during a West Bank visit this week that he cast as an unfiltered look at the human toll of Israeli occupation as he weighs a ‌2028 presidential run.
Speaking with Reuters on Thursday in a Palestinian village, Khanna said his group's van was surrounded by settlers wielding M4 rifles a day earlier ‌while touring a part of the southern West Bank where residents face frequent settler attacks.
"We were at a village that Israeli settlers had destroyed, they had destroyed the school, they had destroyed that village, and we were just looking at it," said Khanna, a progressive lawmaker from California in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"And these hoodlums come in with machine guns – M4, an American-made machine gun – and they detain us. They block off the road. And then they call the IDF and the IDF is on their side, not on the side of the Americans," Khanna said, referring to the Israeli military.

Far-left journalist Joy Reid unloaded on the Democratic Party after Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign on Wednesday, telling voters they have her "permission to not vote" if leadership opts to replace the progressive candidate with a more moderate option.
On "The Joy Reid Show," the former MSNBC host warned key figures in the party that if they do not replace Platner with an "ideologically similar candidate," voters may stay home on Election Day.
"You need to replace him with somebody who is ideologically the same because that is what was decided. The people of Maine, the Democratic voters of Maine said, 'We want a progressive.' They did not say they want an AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee] moderate," Reid said. "So, the Democratic Party in Maine ought to pick someone who is ideologically the same or ideologically similar as Platner."
Reid went on to give Maine voters her blessing not to cast their ballot if the Democrats do not select a candidate whose policies are in line with Platner's campaign promises.
Platner Drops Out Of Crucial Senate Race After Bombshell Rape Allegation Torpedoes Campaign

When things go wrong for owner operators and small carriers, the right insurance is a financial foundation that can help keep a business solvent. In today's freight environment, equipment, insurance and loss costs have increased, creating challenges for truckers.
According to the American Trucking Research Institute (ATRI), insurance premiums rose 3% in 2024 to a record 10.2 cents per mile. Early 2025 data shows that trend accelerating, with carriers reporting a 5.8% year-over-year increase in Q1 2025.
Contributing to those premiums is the average cost of an accident, which has increased due, in part, to a rise in repair costs, medical costs, and litigation.
In that environment, the wrong insurance coverage structure can put a business under. The right coverage structure, tailored to how a carrier actually operates, can be the difference between recovering from a bad day and closing the doors.
Progressive Commercial, the nation's No. 1 truck insurer from S&P Global Market Intelligence 2025 national written premium data, and with more than 50 years of experience in the ***** e, has built its products around the principle of matching coverage to the specific risk profile of each customer, rather than selling one-size-fits-all policies.

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino accused top Democrats of putting "power" ahead of principle, insisting many have only turned on embattled Senate candidate Graham Platner after concluding he could no longer win.
"There were no principles involved here at all," Bongino told "The Ingraham Angle" on Tuesday.
"The left are the anti-anti-communist. They're just against us and whatever we stand for to advance their communist agenda, and this guy was a tool that's no longer sharp for them."
Kingmaker Mamdani Calls On Platner To 'Drop Out Of The Race' After Rape Allegation
Several Democrats and progressives, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have either rescinded their support for Platner or called on him to end his campaign following a rape accusation.

SOUTHWICK — For motocross fans around the world, Southwick will be at the center of their universe at 9 a.m. this Saturday, when the starting gate drops at The Wick 338 for the 45th running of The Crestview Construction Southwick National.
Many of the riders shooting for the holeshot out of the starting gate are some of the sport’s most high-profile superstars in motorcycle racing, including Australian siblings Jett and Hunter Lawrence, second-generation American phenom Haiden Deegan and Spanish world champion Jorge Prado.
Hunter Lawrence, who rides for Honda MRC Progressive, will be fresh off winning the overall in the 450SMX class at the RedBud National on July 4 in Michigan.
His 2-1 effort netted him a second straight win and class-leading third overall victory of the season, according to the Pro Motocross Championship.
Prado finished second at the RedBud in the 450 Class.

A very different side of France came to the fore, proving they are not mere showboaters, there is plenty of steel, grit and determination among the ranks. It was a brutal encounter as they became targets for Paraguay, who added menace to the low block. No one in blue retreated to the shadows, instead taking the overaggression head on, using it as fuel. “To anyone who wants to go to war with us, this is what you should expect,” Rayan Cherki said. It was the biggest test they have faced this far but intimidation tactics do not work, it transpires, leaving everyone else wondering how to stop them.
Goals win matches but defences win championships. It is five games without conceding and La Roja had little trouble keeping Portugal quiet, thanks to fine organisation at the back and the diligence of those carrying out instructions. Another trait of champions is players making a difference off the bench; Mikel Merino was the matchwinner, combining with two other substitutes to supply the deadly blow. “I want to express the importance of the substitutes who came in later in the game,” Luis de la Fuente said. “Not just today, but the contribution in other games has been enormous.”
Lionel Messi’s dreams were in disarray, heading out with a shock defeat looming against Egypt after a wasted penalty. This was not the way it was supposed to end for the holders – and it didn’t. Champions do not go down without a fight. Three goals in 13 minutes produced a glorious turnaround engineered through a mix of determination and quality, as the captain produced a goal and ****** ist. Lionel Scaloni and Messi were in tears at full-time because this means so much to them. “Whatever happens from here on, this team gives me the feeling that it never stops believing, even when everything is going against it,” Scaloni said.
If the Three Lions arrived in the last 16 below par, the helter-skelter victory in the Azteca Stadium was enough to instil the belief that this team has got something about it. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane grabbed the headlines but this was a team effort, from the wonder saves of Jordan Pickford to the crucial blocks by substitute Dan Burn. Surviving with 10 men for an extended period was evidence of a resilient group, made more impressive as they had to cope inside a cauldron packed with more than 80,000 people desperate for them to lose.
Three of the four shots on target against Canada found the back of the net. It was a clinical performance, gloriously efficient from a side able to adapt to circumstances. The head coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, has made the team more progressive and attacking but a greater level of pragmatism was implemented to knock out the co-hosts. “We are no longer a surprise,” Ouahbi admitted, but considering they can mix up their styles means they do possess something of the unexpected and they will require that – and more – against France.

Dallas Cowboys football player Marshawn Kneeland was suffering from stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died by suicide last year, scientists said.
Researchers at Boston University's CTE Center made the diagnosis through a postmortem brain tissue ***** ysis of the defensive lineman, who died aged 24.
"Unfortunately, I was not surprised to find CTE in the brain of Mr Kneeland, because we have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we've studied who have died before the age of 30," said the centre's director, Dr Ann McKee.
Stage 1 is the mildest of CTE's four stages, where headaches and loss of attention or concentration are common symptoms.
In a statement, Kneeland's family said the diagnosis provided "important context" about some of the struggles he was facing.

A bombshell rape allegation has thrown Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's campaign into turmoil, with some of his most progressive supporters in Congress jumping ship as his bid for the Senate unravels.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who championed Platner's insurgent campaign amid myriad scandals, called on the Senate hopeful to exit the race on Tuesday after Maine resident Jenny Racicot, 41, accused him of rape in interviews with Politico and CNN.
Sanders said in a written statement that he had spoken with Platner about the rape allegation and "recommended that he step aside."
The leading progressive's decision to effectively disavow Platner marks the latest blow to the once-ascendant Democrat's floundering campaign, leaving him with virtually no remaining support from the movement that fueled his populist bid against Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the Democratic establishment.
Democrats Break With Scandal-plagued Graham Platner, Warn Of 'Civil War' In Party

Failed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt seethed about New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as he ranted about the evils of communism on social media Saturday.
In a five-and-a-half-minute video staged in the ruins of his home in Pacific Palisades, California, which burned down in the Pacific Palisades fires last year, Pratt called Mamdani a "vile commie."
Politics: Stephen Miller Takes His 'Divine' Praise Of Trump To An Absolutely Bizarre New Level
Wearing a shirt that said "anti socialists social club," Pratt criticized the progressive's Fourth of July speech marking America's 250th anniversary, as he raged that, "We all had to sit and watch that vile, commie mayor sit on the wrong side of our founding father's desk to try to lecture us about our own history."
In his speech, Mamdani rebuked the right's anti-immigration stance while outlining an inclusive vision of patriotism as he sat at a desk that once belonged to President George Washington surrounded by 10 newly naturalized American citizens.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow suspended her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Sunday, abruptly reshaping the party primary just a month before the election and leaving a two-person contest between moderate Haley Stevens and progressive Abdul El-Sayed.
McMorrow's exit comes after many Democrats increasingly viewed her as a long shot for the nomination. It also creates a fresh dynamic in one of the country's most closely watched Senate races, forcing Democratic voters into a direct choice between Stevens, a mainstream congresswoman backed by much of the party establishment, and El-Sayed, supported by many progressive movement leaders.
The binary choice will be on full display Tuesday, when Stevens and El-Sayed are set to face off in a televised debate. During a May debate, El-Sayed repeatedly went on the offensive against Stevens, who mostly declined to engage directly with him.
McMorrow's departure could also prompt influential Democrats in the state to announce their support for Stevens because of concerns about El-Sayed's electability in a general election. Some had stayed on the sidelines because of relationships with McMorrow.
The seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is one that the party must hold if it hopes to reclaim the Senate majority in this fall's midterm elections. The primary winner is expected to face Republican Mike Rogers, who lost to now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024.

CLEVELAND — The Chicago White Sox regained sole possession of first place in the American League Central on Sunday after a 7-6 victory against the Cleveland Guardians in front of 22,616 at Progressive Field.
Kyle Teel, Tristan Peters and Colson Montgomery homered early as the Sox built a 6-3 lead. The Guardians pulled even in the fifth on a three-run home run by Gabriel Arias.
The Sox broke the tie in the sixth, scoring a run when Sam Antonacci grounded out to first base. They held on to earn a split of the four-game series. The Sox (47-42) leave Cleveland with a one-game lead over the Guardians (47-44) in the division standings.
Here are three takeaways from Sunday:
Sox manager Will Venable said it took “a lot” to pull out Sunday’s win.

CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 01: Abdullah Mason looks on prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Sean Finucane/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason didn't get the opponent he wanted for his July 4 homecoming fight, but the Cleveland native is still going to do his best to put on a show for the hometown fans. In front of a national audience at the Wolstein Center, Mason will defend his crown against veteran Albert Bell on the debut episode of The Fight. Let's talk boxing.
Event: The Fight — Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell (WBO lightweight ****** le)
Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Venue: CSU Wolstein Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Sandler hosted, Trump roasted.

The White House went into overdrive on Taylor Swift Friday, posting a meme appropriating the Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding at Madison Square Garden.

In an Instagram post Friday evening, the White House parodied the Garden's purple digital billboard of Swift and Kelce's "JUST&T Married" by replacing it with the message "Trump Is Your President," alongside similar text of "It's happened!" which makes sense only if you think about it for fewer than two seconds.

The post follows one from Thursday night in which a collage of all-American images like Iwo Jima and the Miracle on Ice are dominated by an image of Trump, beneath the caption of "America's Eras Tour," parodying Swift's poster for the 2023 concert behemoth; it even included Taylor's "It's a long time coming line" from that barnstorm.

The specter of a wedding on a national holiday seemed to especially rankle a Swift-sensitive White House: The White House also posted two videos to X montage-ing moments in American history by repurposing Swift; one proclaimed "Next in America's Eras Tour" while another touted "America's greatest hits, one era at a time."

Compared to some of the other celebrity tolls Trump has engaged in — just this week he posted an AI video as a doctor treating Julia Roberts and Robert De Niro for "Trump Derangement Syndrome" — this proved to be pretty tame and even had an air of grudging blessing. There's a reason for that.

Running against liberal movie stars is a risk-free bet for the president and an easy score with his base. Going after Swift, however, requires more of a shadowbox for Trump, who knows that plenty of people in swing states where he is backing candidates look up to her and her liberal views, and that a war with her could turn out a vote against him. That's one reason he has said he wished the couple well (but also predicted they would not last).

The choice of July 4 weekend, with icons performing on a grand platform, also, whether intentionally or not, upstages Trump, who wanted something similar for himself with a Freedom 250 concert but saw even musicians like Martina McBride and Bret Michaels — hardly progressive firebrands — drop out because they didn't want to be **** ociated with the partisan celebration.

Meanwhile, Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney take the stage, or plan to, with the country's biggest pop star at the wedding Friday night. And in front of a who's-who of liberal entertainers, in what will be the world's first pop concert to feature a wedding **** ouncement from Billy Madison.

Swift seems to have an unusual ability to get to Trump, free rent, living in his mind. After Trump in 2024 posted a deepfake of Swift endorsing him over Kamala Harris, she clarified she didn't, prompting him to post: "I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!"

While she's been largely quiet this term, Swift did step out strongly against Trump during the height of BLM protests in 2020, accusing him of "stoking the fires of

CLEVELAND -- Two of the youngest teams, and the top two contenders in the American League Central, begin a key four-game series at Progressive Field, as the Guardians battle the division-leading White Sox.
The Guardians and White Sox are both among the top-seven youngest teams in the league by average age, and they've emerged as the front runners for the division as the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals have all faltered to varying degrees.
Follow along here for live score updates, ***** ysis and highlights from the July 2 Guardians-White Sox game at Progressive Field.
Below is some pregame information.
Travis Bazzana, 2B