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Tag: Race
How the Oscar Race Got as Messy as “Conclave”
Stop me if you’ve seen this one. A committee of august personages convenes, with much pomp and circumstance, to choose the best of their lot. Time-honored rituals are observed. Fancy outfits are donned. The ogling public is kept at bay. The contenders, some representing progress, others tradition, jockey for supporters, though outright campaigning is frowned upon—and negative campaigning is taboo, although it happens in whispers. Unflattering rumors swirl, and the contestants are made to atone for their past sins. Secret ballots are cast and counted, in an arcane tallying system, and a victor is announced, to great fanfare.
This is, roughly, the plot of “Conclave,” in which the College of Cardinals meets at the Vatican, after the death of the Pope, to choose his successor. But it’s also the plot of this year’s Oscar race, in which “Conclave” is nominated in eight categories, including Best Picture. When I first saw it, last fall, the film immediately reminded me of awards season, with its ceremonial customs, its flair, and the pettiness of its esteemed voting body. (For the red robes and skullcaps, sub in the red carpet.) Just as Oscar nominees go on endless press rounds to talk about their artistic process without evincing a hunger for the little gold man, the film’s papal hopefuls profess that their aspirations are spiritual. Still, “every cardinal, deep down, has already chosen the name by which he would like his papacy to be known,” one character says in “Conclave”—just as every actor has, admittedly or not, delivered an Oscar speech in the shower.
It wasn’t until the Oscar nominations were announced, two weeks ago, that awards season started to resemble “Conclave” where it counts: in sheer, soapy drama. As in the movie, a succession of mini-scandals has threatened to derail one Best Picture contender after another, amounting to one of the messiest campaign seasons in recent memory. In “Conclave,” the calculus shifts each time a disgraced cardinal drops out of the running. In the awards race, the question looms: Will any of the nominees make it to the ceremony untainted?
Let’s start at the beginning. (“Conclave” spoilers follow.) Last year’s Best Picture winner, “Oppenheimer,” was a widely admired favorite, much like the beloved Pope who dies in the first scene of “Conclave.” This year’s race has never had a stable front-runner; instead, it’s populated by smaller, more polarizing movies, each vulnerable under the scrutiny of the Oscar spotlight. As in “Conclave,” in which Cardinal Adeyemi, of Nigeria, gets the most votes on the first ballot, “Emilia Peréz,” a potentially history-making entrant, seemed to be winning the numbers game, with thirteen nominations. But both contenders prove to be imperfect harbingers of progress. Adeyemi would be the first Pope from Africa, but he’s known among the cardinals to have regressive views on homosexuality. “Emilia Pérez,” a musical about a transgender drug lord in Mexico, seems like a boundary-breaking Best Picture winner, but it’s been saddled with criticisms from Mexican and trans viewers, who have accused it of retrograde misrepresentation. (Its director, Jacques Audiard, is French.)
Midway through “Conclave,” Adeyemi’s candidacy collapses when a nun arrives from Nigeria, revealing that he fathered her child when she was nineteen. “Emilia Pérez” has had a cascade of P.R. snafus from Karla Sofía Gascón, the Spanish actress who plays the title role. When Gascón landed on the Best Actress list, she became the first openly transgender performer to be nominated for an Oscar. Things immediately went sideways, when she had to walk back earlier comments she’d made to a Brazilian newspaper about a fellow-nominee, Fernanda Torres (“I’m Still Here”). “I have never, at any point, said anything bad about Fernanda Torres or her movie,” Gascón had told Folha de S. Paulo. “However, there are people working with Fernanda Torres tearing me and ‘Emilia Pérez’ down.”
No sooner was the backlash subsiding than old tweets by Gascón “resurfaced” (the word every public figure dreads), in which she called George Floyd a “drug addict swindler,” likened the 2021 Oscars to “a Black Lives Matter demonstration,” and mused, “Is it just my impression or are there more Muslims in Spain? . . . Next year instead of English we’ll have to teach Arabic.” Gascón nuked her X account and released multiple apologies, although she maintained that she’d been targeted by a plot to “sully” her name with “lies or things taken out of context.” Compare Adeyemi, when he’s confronted by Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes): “I am the victim of a disgraceful plot to ruin my reputation!”
Gascón was never a front-runner for Best Actress, but the revelations have all but scotched her chances, and they may well hurt “Emilia Pérez” over all—making the new front-runner uncertain. Perhaps it’s “The Brutalist,” which has not been immune to scandal itself. Last month, its editor revealed that A.I. had been used to tweak the Hungarian accents of its stars, Adrien Brody and Felicity Jones, and to create fictitious architectural plans and buildings for the closing retrospective of the main character’s career. This touched a nerve in Hollywood, where A.I. was central to the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes, but opinions were split on the infraction. “Not all A.I. is created equal,” Sam Adams wrote in Slate. “You can argue that The Brutalist generating concept sketches deprived a human architect of work—although it was an architect who decided to use it.” If “The Brutalist” has a corresponding character in “Conclave,” I’d say it’s Cardinal Tremblay (John Lithgow), who stands accused of the obscure sin of simony—the buying and selling of something spiritual, such as an ecclesiastic office. Not great, but a bit of a head-scratcher.
But wait, there’s more! Did you see the flak over Fernanda Torres, who had to apologize after a clip of her wearing blackface in a comedy sketch in 2008 resurfaced? (More of that darn resurfacing!) What about the essay that appeared in the Cut in December, titled “How Does My Divorce Make You Feel?,” by Lilly Jay, the therapist whose ex-husband, Ethan Slater, is now dating his “Wicked” co-star, Ariana Grande? (“As for me, days with my son are sunny,” Jay wrote. “Days when I can’t escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker.”) As Hunter Harris observed last week, in her pop-culture newsletter, Hung Up, “This year is quite the Conclave; we are all Isabella Rossellini silently cryptic at an outdated copier.”
Of course, Oscar-season melodrama is nothing new, though it doesn’t date back quite as far as the papacy. In the nineties, Harvey Weinstein, at Miramax, spearheaded an aggressive campaigning style that made the awards ecosystem more cutthroat and bloated. The 1999 race, which pitted Miramax’s “Shakespeare in Love” against DreamWorks’ “Saving Private Ryan,” was the nastiest yet, after DreamWorks got word that Weinstein was bad-mouthing “Private Ryan” to the press. Three years later, the front-runner was “A Beautiful Mind,” about the mentally ill mathematician John Nash, and the Drudge Report posted that Academy members were discovering “shocking Jew-baiting” remarks that Nash had made during a schizophrenic episode. Everyone blamed the smear campaign on Weinstein, but someone from the “Lord of the Rings” team later admitted to having a hand in it. Nowadays, you don’t need a campaign strategist to leak oppo research from the shadows. On their months-long press tours, directors and actors have plenty of opportunity to step in it themselves. Social media can take care of the rest.
The Oscar race this year has been a wild ride, with unexpected twists and turns that have left everyone scratching their heads. From controversial nominations to shocking snubs, it seems like anything could happen on Hollywood’s biggest night.One film that has been at the center of the chaos is “Conclave,” a dark and gritty drama that has divided critics and audiences alike. The film, which follows a group of cardinals as they navigate a tense and secretive election for the next Pope, has been praised for its bold storytelling and powerhouse performances. However, it has also faced criticism for its controversial subject matter and polarizing ending.
As the Oscars draw closer, “Conclave” has become a lightning rod for debate within the industry. Some believe it deserves to sweep the awards, while others think it is too controversial to be recognized. The film’s presence in the race has only added to the confusion and unpredictability of this year’s awards season.
With so much uncertainty surrounding “Conclave” and the rest of the Oscar contenders, it’s anyone’s guess how the race will ultimately play out. One thing is for sure – this year’s ceremony is shaping up to be one of the most chaotic and messy in recent memory.
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College basketball rankings: Johni Broome returns, igniting Player of the Year race as Auburn edges Duke
On the same day Auburn’s Johni Broome suffered an ankle injury at South Carolina that sidelined him for two weeks, Duke’s Cooper Flagg scored a career-high 42 points in a victory at Notre Dame.
That’s when the Player of the Year race flipped.
With Broome on the mend and Flagg on the rise, a decent percentage of us who cover the sport started publicly suggesting that the Wooden Award is Flagg’s to lose. And, in fairness, it probably is; there’s data to support the claim. But if you thought the Player of the Year race was over, think again. Because in just his second game back from that ankle injury, Broome delivered a monster performance of 26 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks in Wednesday’s 87-74 win at LSU that tightened what feels like a two-man race between the two best players on the two best teams.
“That’s a Quad 1 win,” said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl. “That’s a great win for our ball club.”
This season has been filled with great wins for Pearl’s ball club, evidence being that Auburn (19-1 overall) is 12-1 in Quadrant 1 games. It’s a body of work so good that the Tigers are No. 1 in Thursday morning’s updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings for the 23rd consecutive day — and I’ll even take it a step further. Auburn’s body of work is so good, and so superior to anybody else’s, that AP voters should keep the Tigers No. 1 on Monday even if they lose Saturday at Ole Miss.
I know I will.
Cooper Flagg Tracker: Duke star freshman posts monster second half as Blue Devils survive NC State’s upset bid
David Cobb
Obviously, ranking basketball teams is a subjective process and different people do it different ways. Whatever. But this deep into any season, I’ve long believed the body of work should be the biggest factor. And, undeniably, Auburn’s body of work will still be far superior to anybody else’s on Monday regardless of what happens between now and then.
That’s a fact.
Like I explained earlier in the week, to understand my approach to ranking teams, and, more importantly, the selection committee’s approach to selecting and seeding teams, it’s best to think of Auburn as a golfer with a four-shot lead on the field. The Tigers could bogey the next hole, so to speak, watch everybody else par or even birdie, and they’d still be in the lead. From my perspective, that’s Auburn right now as it sits at No. 1 in the Top 25 And 1 with a 12-1 record in Quadrant 1 while No. 2 Duke is just 5-2 in the same quadrant. Yes, Duke does own a victory (at home) over Auburn, and that’s an important data point. But that one data point isn’t enough to offset the dramatic advantage Auburn holds when it comes to evaluating both teams’ entire bodies of work, and it still won’t be on Monday regardless of what happens over the next four days.
Top 25 And 1 rankings
In a thrilling matchup between two top college basketball teams, Auburn managed to edge out Duke in a close game. The game was not only significant for the outcome, but also for the return of standout player Johni Broome, who has now re-entered the Player of the Year race.Broome, who had been sidelined with an injury for several weeks, made a triumphant return to the court and immediately made an impact with his dominant play. His presence on the court was felt throughout the game, as he showcased his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and defensive skills. Broome’s performance has quickly reignited the conversation about who should be considered the frontrunner for Player of the Year, as he has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with.
The win for Auburn, coupled with Broome’s return, has undoubtedly shaken up the college basketball rankings. With the tournament right around the corner, teams are jockeying for position and looking to make a statement. Auburn’s victory over Duke and Broome’s standout performance have certainly turned heads and will be a storyline to watch as the season progresses. Stay tuned for more exciting college basketball action as the race for the Player of the Year heats up.
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First game will be crucial in turbo-charged race for Grand Slam – The Irish Times
Six Nations: Ireland v England, Saturday, 4.45pm, Aviva Stadium – Live on Virgin Media 1, ITV1
Can a first-round match be pivotal? The Guinness Six Nations may be a mini league, per se, but in reality it can be a glorified knock-out tournament. Akin to the start of an F1 Grand Prix, by close of business on the first Saturday three teams will have sped off to the first bend, with three more effectively stalled on the grid. There’s no momentum in that.
Nor is the Six Nations conducive to overtaking from the back of the grid. Only three times since 2000 has a team lost on the opening weekend and won the title. Suffice to say, when the full-time whistle sounds at the end of this truly intriguing opener, one of these teams will be out of the Grand Slam and a Triple Crown reckoning, while hopes of winning the Championship will be seriously imperilled.
The stakes seem even higher when you examine where these two sides are coming from and where they’re heading to next. For Ireland, a victory would be the ideal springboard for interim head coach Simon Easterby and his assistants in the absence of the inspirational Andy Farrell.
This would be all the truer if Sam Prendergast again delivers on his talent and temperament, and Ryan Baird vindicates his bold selection by Easterby.
Ireland would then have an eight-day turnaround before facing Scotland in Murrayfield with hopes of that history-breaking three-peat emboldened and their support base fully aboard. But Irish supporters have been spoilt. The bar is now so high. Alternatively, defeat could diminish interest.
What’s more, Easterby, this coaching ticket, a young captain and this team, could then be facing a buoyant Scottish side in a game for which tickets are apparently like gold dust.
Interim Head Coach Simon Easterby at the Ireland Rugby Captain’s Run in the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Similarly, were England to win in advance of hosting the French next weekend then talk of winning the title might not seem so fanciful. By contrast another defeat, even another narrow one, would increase the heat on Steve Borthwick and induce some additional trepidation in advance of Antoine Dupont and co visiting next Saturday.
Ireland’s form has wavered from Grand Slam champions to mere champions, and especially last autumn. The lineout became a less reliable life source for the attack, which suffered from handling errors and imprecision.
[ All Blacks end Ireland’s winning streak at home with deserving victoryOpens in new window ]
À la Leinster, the multiphase attack is not as irresistible as before, and only one of Ireland’s 14 tries in the autumn emanated from outside the 22, with 12 of them starting from lineouts, penalties or scrums five metres out.
The problem about having one of the most consistent, possession-based styles of play under Joe Schmidt and Farrell is that teams are better equipped to counter that game, and this has uncanny echoes of the 2019 opener when the chariot derailed the then Irish Grand Slam champions, and it’s been a while since a team so readily absorbed Ireland’s attack quite like the Wallabies did last November.
Caelan Doris, Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne arrive out for the Captain’s Run at the Aviva Stadium. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho The return of Garry Ringrose should sharpen the attacking edge, although this will also hinge on work done with Easterby and Andrew Goodman in the Algarve.
With Felix Jones and his Springboks-infused blitz defence no longer on board, it will be fascinating to see if England’s defence hold back like the Wallabies did or push up quickly, so running the risk of Sam Prendergast taking the ball to the line and picking out the right pass in his daring, trademark style.
Ditto England’s approach to their task with the ball. Steve Borthwick has always been a percentage-based coach, who places a premium on kicking, as does the former Saracens and Leicester scrumhalf turned attack coach Richard Wigglesworth.
The selection of Freddie Steward is a nod to the law variations which have ensured a fairer aerial contest. But Marcus Smith is an inventive, quick-witted outhalf who has been given the controls, while the return of Alex Mitchell will add another dimension to their attacking game and the inclusion of the fleet-footed Cadan Murley seems like another signal of intent.
Freddie Steward at the England Rugby Captain’s Run in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Friday. Photograph: Andrew Conan/Inpho So too the eye-catching selection of three opensides in the backrow, Tom and Ben Curry either side of Ben Earl, whose footwork and acceleration hurt Ireland last year. It certainly looks as if Borthwick and co have hatched a plan to stymie Ireland’s recycling, high-tempo game, if sacrificing some of the physicality which bullied Ireland in the collisions last year, while still having some oomph in their 6-2 split for the endgame.
For their part, in selecting Baird, Easterby and co appear to have placed a premium on winning their own lineout ball and taking on the English throw.
At face value, a teatime Saturday kick-off for an Ireland-England Six Nations game looks ideal. But this is countered by the pricing of the tickets and the even more eye-watering resale value.
The IRFU have encouraged supporters to arrive early, with the Scotland-Italy game on big screens, to only move during breaks in play, and have hired DJ Mark McCabe to improve the prematch entertainment. Hopefully the crowd will raise a cheer.
“I don’t expect this place to be anything other than bouncing on Saturday,” said Easterby. “It is so exciting to have this first up. This fixture will always create that bit more interest and first up at home in a stadium that the players love playing in.
“When we play well and give the crowd that type of experience on the pitch they have bought into it and generated a great atmosphere. So, we have a responsibility as a team to ensure that we get the crowd onside and use that to our advantage.”
Can Ireland afford to lose to England?
Josh van der Flier at the Ireland Rugby Captain’s Run. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Losing Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy removes about 15kg of heft from the tight head side of the scrum but the Irish defence looks stronger (five tries conceded in November as against England’s 15), Baird could prove an inspired pick and most Irish players are much more battle-honed than they were in November, notably Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier.
Doris admitted on Friday that in mastering their detail they may have detracted from their focus on the essence of a rugby contest. It could well be a very tricky, taut, tight game but the memories of losing both last year’s meeting and the autumnal opener against New Zealand should focus Irish minds.
Ireland
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster); Mack Hansen (Corinthians/Connacht), Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster), Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster); Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster), Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Corinthians/Connacht), James Ryan (UCD/Leinster), Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster), Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster), Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster), Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(capt)
Replacements
Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster), Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster).
England
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Maro Itoje (Saracens) (capt), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Earl (Saracens).
Replacements:
Theo Dan (Saracens), Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Willis (Saracens), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints).
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
ARs: James Doleman (NZ) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Glenn Newman (NZ)
FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZ)
Overall head-to-head: Played 142. Ireland 53 wins, 8 draws, 81 England wins.
Last five meetings: 2024: England 23 Ireland 22; 2023: Ireland 29 England 10; 2023: Ireland 29 England 16; 2022: England 15 Ireland 32; Ireland 32 England 18.
Betting (Paddy Power): 4/11 Ireland, 22/1 Draw, 23/10 England. Handicap odds (England + 6pts) Evens Ireland, 16/1 Draw, Evens England.
Forecast: Ireland to win.
The first game will be crucial in turbo-charged race for Grand Slam – The Irish TimesAs the Six Nations tournament kicks off this weekend, all eyes are on the teams vying for the coveted Grand Slam title. With the competition heating up and each team looking to make their mark, the first game of the tournament will be crucial in setting the tone for the rest of the matches.
In a turbo-charged race for the Grand Slam, every point and every win will count. The Irish Times predicts that the first game will be a key indicator of which teams are in top form and ready to take on the challenge.
With Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France, and Italy all hungry for victory, the competition is sure to be fierce. Fans can expect thrilling matches, nail-biting finishes, and unexpected upsets as the teams battle it out on the field.
So buckle up, rugby fans, because the race for the Grand Slam is about to kick into high gear. The first game will set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament filled with excitement, drama, and plenty of surprises. Let the games begin!
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Hauler arrival waves the green flag on race weekend at Bowman Gray
NASCAR officials call it a traveling circus: the hauler arrival waves the green flag on race weekend at Bowman Gray.The haulers started making their way up Research Parkway around 9:30 this morning. Race fans checked out the long line of trucks taking pictures and soaking up a little bit of history.It’s been over 50 years since Cup cars raced at Bowman Gray and fans waited for a few hours to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers hauler pulling into the place where it all started. Race fans like Tim Potts are beyond excited.Potts says, “I’ve been coming here since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, as they say. I’ve been a cup fan all my life, never been to a cup race, so to have it here at my home track — it just comes full circle.”Chris Miller says he wanted to witness history. “This is just cool because it’s a historic track. It’s nostalgic, bringing the old school back to where it started. I can’t wait to see all the fans getting excited and having a good time and seeing all this at a historic track. ”The hauler arrival was a fun experience for those who came out, but these fans are ready to see NASCAR’s biggest superstars taking laps around the madhouse.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. —NASCAR officials call it a traveling circus: the hauler arrival waves the green flag on race weekend at Bowman Gray.
The haulers started making their way up Research Parkway around 9:30 this morning. Race fans checked out the long line of trucks taking pictures and soaking up a little bit of history.
It’s been over 50 years since Cup cars raced at Bowman Gray and fans waited for a few hours to catch a glimpse of their favorite drivers hauler pulling into the place where it all started.
Race fans like Tim Potts are beyond excited.
Potts says, “I’ve been coming here since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, as they say. I’ve been a cup fan all my life, never been to a cup race, so to have it here at my home track — it just comes full circle.”
Chris Miller says he wanted to witness history. “This is just cool because it’s a historic track. It’s nostalgic, bringing the old school back to where it started. I can’t wait to see all the fans getting excited and having a good time and seeing all this at a historic track. ”
The hauler arrival was a fun experience for those who came out, but these fans are ready to see NASCAR’s biggest superstars taking laps around the madhouse.
Attention all race fans! The anticipation is building as the haulers arrive at Bowman Gray Stadium, signaling the start of race weekend. The green flag is about to drop, and the excitement is palpable.Drivers and teams have been preparing for this moment all week, fine-tuning their cars and strategies to compete on one of the most challenging tracks in the country. The roar of the engines, the smell of burning rubber, and the thrill of close-quarters racing are all just around the corner.
As the haulers line up and unload their precious cargo, the atmosphere is electric with anticipation. Fans are gathering in the stands, eager to see their favorite drivers battle it out on the historic track.
So grab your tickets, grab your gear, and get ready for a weekend of racing action at Bowman Gray Stadium. The green flag is waving, and the race is about to begin!
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Pete Buttigieg Considers Michigan’s 2026 Senate Race
Senator Gary Peters’s decision to retire has opened up a marquee Senate race in Michigan, a pre-eminent battleground state that President Trump flipped in November.
The announcement this week from Mr. Peters, a Democrat, set off a flurry of political activity in Michigan — especially among his party’s deep bench of ambitious politicians, some of whom are also considering a run for governor.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the people who might jump into the Senate contest:
Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary
Mr. Buttigieg, the former presidential candidate and transportation secretary, is a relatively recent Michigan transplant, growing up in Indiana and becoming a Michigan resident in 2022, moving to Traverse City.
“I have a lot of humility about having only moved to Michigan a few years ago,” he said in an interview last month, asked at the time about a run for governor. “Although, of course, I did grow up in the neighborhood.”
Mr. Buttigieg is taking a “serious look” at a Senate bid, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking who insisted on Tuesday on anonymity to discuss the private deliberations, adding that he was “exploring all of his options.”
Mr. Buttigieg is also seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028.
What about Gretchen Whitmer?
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who is term-limited in 2026, quickly and colorfully took herself out of contention for Mr. Peters’s seat on Tuesday.
“Three letters: N.F.W.,” she said on “The View,” using an abbreviation for “no way” with an expletive in the middle.
“I’ve got a lot of things I want to get done as governor. What comes after that? I don’t know yet, I really don’t,” said Ms. Whitmer, who is also seen as a potential presidential candidate.
“I will never totally check out, but I might want to walk the earth for a little while and get reacquainted with my family and myself,” she added.
But her lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist II, who has been looking at a bid for governor, is now also “seriously considering” a run for the Senate, according to two people with knowledge of his thinking.
The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association will commit to spending seven figures on Mr. Gilchrist’s behalf if he runs for Senate, Kevin Holst, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.
The state attorney general, Dana Nessel, is also subject to term limits and cannot seek re-election in 2026, and she is mentioned by some Democrats as a potential contender.
A Lineup of Democratic Lawmakers
Plenty of other Democrats, including federal and state legislators, are mulling the race.
Mallory McMorrow, a state senator who won national Democratic acclaim in 2022 with a speech defending liberal values while identifying herself as a “straight, white, Christian, married suburban mom,” said she had not ruled out a run for either governor or the Senate.
“I’m taking a serious look at both the governor and Senate seats, and plan to have many conversations over the coming days to see where I might be best suited to serve Michiganders,” Ms. McMorrow, who lives in suburban Detroit, said in a text message on Tuesday.
House members who have won difficult races in the past are also looking at the Senate race, including the moderate Representatives Haley Stevens, of suburban Detroit, and Hillary Scholten, from the Grand Rapids area.
Abdul El-Sayed, the progressive Wayne County health director who ran unsuccessfully against Ms. Whitmer in the 2018 primary, could also look at a bid.
What About Republicans?
Senator Tim Scott, who is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, had been recruiting for the Michigan seat for weeks ahead of Tuesday’s announcement.
“My phone continues to ring,” he said in an interview.
Among those considering a run is Representative Bill Huizenga, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. Representative John James and former Representative Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost a Senate race last fall, are also drawing mention as possible candidates.
Tudor Dixon, who ran unsuccessfully against Ms. Whitmer in 2022, is also a potential candidate for Senate or the governor’s race. On Tuesday, she wrote on social media that she was “considering our future very seriously.”
Kevin Rinke, a former auto dealership owner who lost to Ms. Dixon in the primary that year, could also jump into the race.
“One thing is for sure,” he wrote on social media on Tuesday. “Michigan is open for the taking. Stay tuned.”
Reid J. Epstein contributed reporting.
Recently, news has surfaced that Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, is considering running for the Senate in Michigan in 2026.Buttigieg, who has gained national attention for his progressive policies and charismatic demeanor, has been rumored to be eyeing a political comeback after his unsuccessful bid for the presidency. With Michigan being a key battleground state in national elections, his potential candidacy has sparked interest and speculation among political pundits and voters alike.
If Buttigieg decides to run for the Senate in Michigan, it could shake up the political landscape and potentially have far-reaching implications for the state and the country as a whole. Stay tuned as more details emerge and the 2026 Senate race begins to take shape.
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Tim Walz calls losing 2024 race ‘pure hell’ in rare post-election interview
Former Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz said in a new interview on Tuesday that it’s been “pure hell” since his party lost the presidential election last November.
Speaking with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, the Minnesota governor was asked what advice he’d give to “average people” who oppose the agenda President Donald Trump has implemented since he returned to office.
“You know that overused term, ‘The frog in the boiling water?’ We’ve been in the damn pot way too long,” Walz said. “I think it is speaking up. It’s thinking about your neighbors. It’s writing and putting those members of Congress – look, there is no spine among those folks – but this is real.”
Walz then offered some sympathy to exhausted Democratic voters.
“To the voters, I’m with this too. Everybody’s fatigued. Trust me, I get it,” Walz said. “It was pure hell, and the disappointment and the frustration, and I’m, you know, soul-searching – what could we have done to make the case? Because we knew this was coming. We knew the implication. And they’re throwing so much at us that we’re fatigued.”
TIM WALZ ADMITS HE WAS SURPRISED BY ELECTION DEFEAT: ‘THOUGHT THE COUNTRY WAS READY’
Former Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz said it’s been “pure hell” since he and his running mate Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election. (Screenshot/MSNBC)
The Democratic governor went on to complain how the country spent three days debating whether billionaire Trump ally and Department of Government Efficiency co-founder Elon Musk, who he referred to “President Musk,” had given a “Nazi salute” at a Trump inauguration rally last week.
“Of course he did, but that is a distraction from what, I think you said it, this is ‘game on’ stuff right here,” Walz continued. “And I am worried with these federal employees because look, they’re in a tough spot, that some of these folks, especially those that are doing good work around environmental concerns, around justice for people, around, you know, criminal justice reform, all of the things that make our society better.”
Walz urged Democrats to not “take the bait on the distractions” as President Trump implements his agenda. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“So I would tell people stay focused. Don’t take the bait on the distractions. Surround yourself with people who understand this, and recognize the things they went after today are basically a big chunk of what society does, and people like to have clean water, and hospitals, and safety, and roads, and airports, all the things that they are going after… We have to find that voice. We have to push back. We have to be organized,” Walz later added, discussing the pausing of federal grants.
Walz also urged Democrats to “use the courts” but expressed caution, suggesting Trump won’t care what the courts say even if his party took that route.
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The Harris-Walz team was the first Democratic White House ticket to lose the national popular vote since 2004. (Ronda Churchill/AFP via Getty Images)
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“I think it’s taking it to the individual people. Show what each of these programs does and what it means for people’s lives,” Walz said.
“Yeah,” Maddow agreed. “No matter what people motivated anybody’s vote, if you didn’t think you were voting to cut firefighting, if you didn’t think you were voting to cut meat inspections, if you didn’t think you were voting to cut air traffic control, well it’s all becoming very, very clear right now.”
Maddow incorrectly asserted her one-on-one with Walz was his “first interview since the presidential election,” although it was his first national one. Walz spoke with several local Minnesota outlets in December after losing the 2024 race.
In a shocking revelation, former Minnesota Governor Tim Walz opened up about the emotional toll of losing the 2024 race in a rare post-election interview. Walz, who was defeated by his Republican opponent in a closely contested race, described the experience as “pure hell.”Speaking candidly about the challenges of facing defeat after serving as governor for four years, Walz admitted that the loss took a significant toll on his mental and emotional well-being. “Losing an election is never easy, but this one was especially tough,” he said. “It felt like everything I had worked for was suddenly taken away from me.”
Despite the disappointment and heartache of losing the race, Walz expressed gratitude for the support he received from his family, friends, and supporters throughout the campaign. He also emphasized the importance of moving forward and finding new ways to serve the people of Minnesota.
As he looks towards the future, Walz remains committed to continuing his work in public service and making a positive impact in his community. While the road ahead may be challenging, he is determined to persevere and overcome the obstacles that come his way.
The interview with Tim Walz offers a rare glimpse into the personal struggles and emotions that politicians face after losing an election. It serves as a reminder of the human side of politics and the resilience required to bounce back from defeat.
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Tim Walz, 2024 election, post-election interview, Tim Walz interview, losing race, Tim Walz 2024, election aftermath, political interview, Tim Walz post-election, campaign loss, Tim Walz quotes
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(as of Jan 29,2025 23:12:32 UTC – Details)
Small parts. Not for children under 18 months.
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Customers enjoy this fun toy vehicle set for toddlers. It’s well-made and sturdy, with a nice design that kids love. They find it easy for toddlers to play with, improving hand coordination and visual tracking. The cars are small and not suitable for little hands or mouths. However, some customers mention the cars are too small and not suitable for young children.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
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