Tag: Wednesday night

Orange County driver killed when pursuit suspect crashes into their vehicle

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A police pursuit that started in Anaheim on Wednesday night ended with the suspect’s vehicle colliding with another car, killing the driver, officials said.

A driver who fled a traffic stop led Anaheim police into the neighboring city of Placentia, said Anaheim police Sgt. Eric Anderson.

The suspect crashed into another vehicle near the intersection of Bradford and Madison avenues, killing the other driver, Anderson said.

A third vehicle was then struck in the crash and that driver suffered minor injuries, he said. The suspect who fled police was taken into custody.

“I saw a car driving like at least 70 mph, and he ran the red light, so I was able to break in time,” Maria Torres told KABC. “I just saw the cops running behind him. It seemed like it was a pursuit, so I called 911 and it confirmed that it was a pursuit. It must’ve been like less than a foot away from hitting me.”

The identity of the driver was not immediately available. Police did not provide details on why they had initially contacted the suspect.

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Summer Lin

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January 22, 2026
Federal officer shoots person in leg after being attacked during Minneapolis arrest, officials say

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A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle, further heightening the sense of fear and anger radiating across the city a week after an immigration agent fatally shot a woman in the head.Video above: Minneapolis officials give update late Wednesday nightSmoke filled the street Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd while protesters threw rocks and shot fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference that the gathering was an unlawful assembly and “people need to leave.”Things later began to quiet down at the scene, and by early Thursday fewer demonstrators and law enforcement officers were there.Such protest scenes have become common on the streets of Minneapolis since a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good on Jan. 7 amid a massive immigration crackdown that has seen thousands of officers sent into the Twin Cities. Agents have yanked people from cars and homes and been confronted by angry bystanders who are demanding that officers pack up and leave.Video below: Aerial footage of the sceneMinneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as not “sustainable.”“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” he said.Frey described a federal force that is five times as big as the city’s 600-officer police force and has “invaded” the city, scaring and angering residents, some of whom want the officers to “fight ICE agents.” At the same time, the police force is still responsible for their day-to-day work to keep the public safe.The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December and is vowing to not back down.Shooting followed chaseIn a statement describing the events that led to Wednesday’s shooting, Homeland Security said federal law enforcement officers stopped a person from Venezuela who was in the U.S. illegally. The person drove away and crashed into a parked car before taking off on foot, DHS said.After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said.The two people who came out of the apartment are in custody, it said.O’Hara said the man shot was in the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.The shooting took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) north of where Good was killed. O’Hara’s account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.Clashes in court as wellEarlier Wednesday, a judge gave the Trump administration time to respond to a request to suspend its immigration crackdown in Minnesota, while the Pentagon looked for military lawyers to join what has become a chaotic law enforcement effort in the state.“What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered,” state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said during the first hearing in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.Local leaders say the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with the surge of law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez gave the U.S. Justice Department until Monday to file a response to a request for a restraining order.Video below: Legal and political turmoil after the deadly ICE shooting in MinneapolisJustice Department attorney Andrew Warden suggested the approach set by Menendez was appropriate.The judge is also handling a separate lawsuit challenging the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers when they encounter protesters and observers. A decision could be released this week.During a televised speech before Wednesday’s shooting, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota as being in chaos, saying what’s happening in the state “defies belief.”“Let’s be very, very clear, this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”Military lawyers may join the surgeCNN, citing an email circulating in the military, says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is asking the military branches to identify 40 lawyers known as judge advocate general officers or JAGs, and 25 of them will serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys in Minneapolis.Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson appeared to confirm the CNN report by posting it on X with a comment that the military “is proud to support” the Justice Department.The Pentagon did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking more details.It’s the latest step by the Trump administration to dispatch military and civilian attorneys to areas where federal immigration operations are taking place. The Pentagon last week sent 20 lawyers to Memphis, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said.Mark Nevitt, an associate professor at Emory University School of Law and a former Navy JAG, said there’s concern that the assignments are taking lawyers away from the military justice system.“There are not many JAGs but there are over one million members of the military, and they all need legal support,” he said.An official says the agent who killed Good was injuredJonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the extent of the bleeding, exactly how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.There are many causes of internal bleeding, and they vary in severity from bruising to significant blood loss. Video from the scene showed Ross and other officers walking without obvious difficulty after Good was shot and her Honda Pilot crashed into other vehicles.She was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street a few blocks from her home.Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been deeply criticized by Minnesota officials.Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment on any injuries.Good’s family, meanwhile, has hired a law firm, Romanucci & Blandin, that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground in the street in May 2020.The firm said it would conduct its own investigation and publicly share what it learns.___Associated Press reporters Julie Watson in San Diego, California; Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C.; Ed White in Detroit; Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis; Graham Lee Brewer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma contributed.

A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle, further heightening the sense of fear and anger radiating across the city a week after an immigration agent fatally shot a woman in the head.

Video above: Minneapolis officials give update late Wednesday night

Smoke filled the street Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd while protesters threw rocks and shot fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference that the gathering was an unlawful assembly and “people need to leave.”

Things later began to quiet down at the scene, and by early Thursday fewer demonstrators and law enforcement officers were there.

Such protest scenes have become common on the streets of Minneapolis since a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good on Jan. 7 amid a massive immigration crackdown that has seen thousands of officers sent into the Twin Cities. Agents have yanked people from cars and homes and been confronted by angry bystanders who are demanding that officers pack up and leave.

Video below: Aerial footage of the scene

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as not “sustainable.”

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” he said.

Frey described a federal force that is five times as big as the city’s 600-officer police force and has “invaded” the city, scaring and angering residents, some of whom want the officers to “fight ICE agents.” At the same time, the police force is still responsible for their day-to-day work to keep the public safe.

The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December and is vowing to not back down.

Shooting followed chase

In a statement describing the events that led to Wednesday’s shooting, Homeland Security said federal law enforcement officers stopped a person from Venezuela who was in the U.S. illegally. The person drove away and crashed into a parked car before taking off on foot, DHS said.

After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said.

The two people who came out of the apartment are in custody, it said.

O’Hara said the man shot was in the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

The shooting took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) north of where Good was killed. O’Hara’s account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.

Clashes in court as well

Earlier Wednesday, a judge gave the Trump administration time to respond to a request to suspend its immigration crackdown in Minnesota, while the Pentagon looked for military lawyers to join what has become a chaotic law enforcement effort in the state.

“What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered,” state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said during the first hearing in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Local leaders say the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with the surge of law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez gave the U.S. Justice Department until Monday to file a response to a request for a restraining order.

Video below: Legal and political turmoil after the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis

Justice Department attorney Andrew Warden suggested the approach set by Menendez was appropriate.

The judge is also handling a separate lawsuit challenging the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers when they encounter protesters and observers. A decision could be released this week.

During a televised speech before Wednesday’s shooting, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota as being in chaos, saying what’s happening in the state “defies belief.”

“Let’s be very, very clear, this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

Military lawyers may join the surge

CNN, citing an email circulating in the military, says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is asking the military branches to identify 40 lawyers known as judge advocate general officers or JAGs, and 25 of them will serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys in Minneapolis.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson appeared to confirm the CNN report by posting it on X with a comment that the military “is proud to support” the Justice Department.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking more details.

It’s the latest step by the Trump administration to dispatch military and civilian attorneys to areas where federal immigration operations are taking place. The Pentagon last week sent 20 lawyers to Memphis, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said.

Mark Nevitt, an associate professor at Emory University School of Law and a former Navy JAG, said there’s concern that the assignments are taking lawyers away from the military justice system.

“There are not many JAGs but there are over one million members of the military, and they all need legal support,” he said.

An official says the agent who killed Good was injured

Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the extent of the bleeding, exactly how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.

There are many causes of internal bleeding, and they vary in severity from bruising to significant blood loss. Video from the scene showed Ross and other officers walking without obvious difficulty after Good was shot and her Honda Pilot crashed into other vehicles.

She was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street a few blocks from her home.

Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been deeply criticized by Minnesota officials.

Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment on any injuries.

Good’s family, meanwhile, has hired a law firm, Romanucci & Blandin, that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground in the street in May 2020.

The firm said it would conduct its own investigation and publicly share what it learns.

___

Associated Press reporters Julie Watson in San Diego, California; Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C.; Ed White in Detroit; Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis; Graham Lee Brewer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma contributed.

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January 14, 2026
Federal officer shoots person in leg after being attacked during Minneapolis arrest, officials say

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A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle, further heightening the sense of fear and anger radiating across the city a week after an immigration agent fatally shot a woman in the head.Video above: Minneapolis officials give update late Wednesday nightSmoke filled the street Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd while protesters threw rocks and shot fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference that the gathering was an unlawful assembly and “people need to leave.”Things later began to quiet down at the scene, and by early Thursday fewer demonstrators and law enforcement officers were there.Such protest scenes have become common on the streets of Minneapolis since a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good on Jan. 7 amid a massive immigration crackdown that has seen thousands of officers sent into the Twin Cities. Agents have yanked people from cars and homes and been confronted by angry bystanders who are demanding that officers pack up and leave.Video below: Aerial footage of the sceneMinneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as not “sustainable.”“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” he said.Frey described a federal force that is five times as big as the city’s 600-officer police force and has “invaded” the city, scaring and angering residents, some of whom want the officers to “fight ICE agents.” At the same time, the police force is still responsible for their day-to-day work to keep the public safe.The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December and is vowing to not back down.Shooting followed chaseIn a statement describing the events that led to Wednesday’s shooting, Homeland Security said federal law enforcement officers stopped a person from Venezuela who was in the U.S. illegally. The person drove away and crashed into a parked car before taking off on foot, DHS said.After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said.The two people who came out of the apartment are in custody, it said.O’Hara said the man shot was in the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.The shooting took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) north of where Good was killed. O’Hara’s account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.Clashes in court as wellEarlier Wednesday, a judge gave the Trump administration time to respond to a request to suspend its immigration crackdown in Minnesota, while the Pentagon looked for military lawyers to join what has become a chaotic law enforcement effort in the state.“What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered,” state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said during the first hearing in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.Local leaders say the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with the surge of law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez gave the U.S. Justice Department until Monday to file a response to a request for a restraining order.Video below: Legal and political turmoil after the deadly ICE shooting in MinneapolisJustice Department attorney Andrew Warden suggested the approach set by Menendez was appropriate.The judge is also handling a separate lawsuit challenging the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers when they encounter protesters and observers. A decision could be released this week.During a televised speech before Wednesday’s shooting, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota as being in chaos, saying what’s happening in the state “defies belief.”“Let’s be very, very clear, this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”Military lawyers may join the surgeCNN, citing an email circulating in the military, says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is asking the military branches to identify 40 lawyers known as judge advocate general officers or JAGs, and 25 of them will serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys in Minneapolis.Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson appeared to confirm the CNN report by posting it on X with a comment that the military “is proud to support” the Justice Department.The Pentagon did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking more details.It’s the latest step by the Trump administration to dispatch military and civilian attorneys to areas where federal immigration operations are taking place. The Pentagon last week sent 20 lawyers to Memphis, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said.Mark Nevitt, an associate professor at Emory University School of Law and a former Navy JAG, said there’s concern that the assignments are taking lawyers away from the military justice system.“There are not many JAGs but there are over one million members of the military, and they all need legal support,” he said.An official says the agent who killed Good was injuredJonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the extent of the bleeding, exactly how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.There are many causes of internal bleeding, and they vary in severity from bruising to significant blood loss. Video from the scene showed Ross and other officers walking without obvious difficulty after Good was shot and her Honda Pilot crashed into other vehicles.She was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street a few blocks from her home.Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been deeply criticized by Minnesota officials.Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment on any injuries.Good’s family, meanwhile, has hired a law firm, Romanucci & Blandin, that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground in the street in May 2020.The firm said it would conduct its own investigation and publicly share what it learns.___Associated Press reporters Julie Watson in San Diego, California; Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C.; Ed White in Detroit; Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis; Graham Lee Brewer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma contributed.

A federal officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle, further heightening the sense of fear and anger radiating across the city a week after an immigration agent fatally shot a woman in the head.

Video above: Minneapolis officials give update late Wednesday night

Smoke filled the street Wednesday night near the site of the latest shooting as federal officers wearing gas masks and helmets fired tear gas into a small crowd while protesters threw rocks and shot fireworks. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said during a news conference that the gathering was an unlawful assembly and “people need to leave.”

Things later began to quiet down at the scene, and by early Thursday fewer demonstrators and law enforcement officers were there.

Such protest scenes have become common on the streets of Minneapolis since a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good on Jan. 7 amid a massive immigration crackdown that has seen thousands of officers sent into the Twin Cities. Agents have yanked people from cars and homes and been confronted by angry bystanders who are demanding that officers pack up and leave.

Video below: Aerial footage of the scene

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the situation as not “sustainable.”

“This is an impossible situation that our city is presently being put in and at the same time we are trying to find a way forward to keep people safe, to protect our neighbors, to maintain order,” he said.

Frey described a federal force that is five times as big as the city’s 600-officer police force and has “invaded” the city, scaring and angering residents, some of whom want the officers to “fight ICE agents.” At the same time, the police force is still responsible for their day-to-day work to keep the public safe.

The Department of Homeland Security says it has made more than 2,000 arrests in the state since early December and is vowing to not back down.

Shooting followed chase

In a statement describing the events that led to Wednesday’s shooting, Homeland Security said federal law enforcement officers stopped a person from Venezuela who was in the U.S. illegally. The person drove away and crashed into a parked car before taking off on foot, DHS said.

After officers reached the person, two other people arrived from a nearby apartment and all three started attacking the officer, according to DHS.

“Fearing for his life and safety as he was being ambushed by three individuals, the officer fired a defensive shot to defend his life,” DHS said.

The two people who came out of the apartment are in custody, it said.

O’Hara said the man shot was in the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

The shooting took place about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) north of where Good was killed. O’Hara’s account of what happened largely echoed that of Homeland Security.

Clashes in court as well

Earlier Wednesday, a judge gave the Trump administration time to respond to a request to suspend its immigration crackdown in Minnesota, while the Pentagon looked for military lawyers to join what has become a chaotic law enforcement effort in the state.

“What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered,” state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said during the first hearing in a lawsuit filed by Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Local leaders say the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with the surge of law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez gave the U.S. Justice Department until Monday to file a response to a request for a restraining order.

Video below: Legal and political turmoil after the deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis

Justice Department attorney Andrew Warden suggested the approach set by Menendez was appropriate.

The judge is also handling a separate lawsuit challenging the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal officers when they encounter protesters and observers. A decision could be released this week.

During a televised speech before Wednesday’s shooting, Gov. Tim Walz described Minnesota as being in chaos, saying what’s happening in the state “defies belief.”

“Let’s be very, very clear, this long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement,” he said. “Instead, it’s a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government.”

Military lawyers may join the surge

CNN, citing an email circulating in the military, says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is asking the military branches to identify 40 lawyers known as judge advocate general officers or JAGs, and 25 of them will serve as special assistant U.S. attorneys in Minneapolis.

Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson appeared to confirm the CNN report by posting it on X with a comment that the military “is proud to support” the Justice Department.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to emails from The Associated Press seeking more details.

It’s the latest step by the Trump administration to dispatch military and civilian attorneys to areas where federal immigration operations are taking place. The Pentagon last week sent 20 lawyers to Memphis, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said.

Mark Nevitt, an associate professor at Emory University School of Law and a former Navy JAG, said there’s concern that the assignments are taking lawyers away from the military justice system.

“There are not many JAGs but there are over one million members of the military, and they all need legal support,” he said.

An official says the agent who killed Good was injured

Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who killed Good, suffered internal bleeding to his torso during the encounter, a Homeland Security official told The Associated Press.

The official spoke to AP on condition of anonymity in order to discuss Ross’ medical condition. The official did not provide details about the severity of the injuries, and the agency did not respond to questions about the extent of the bleeding, exactly how he suffered the injury, when it was diagnosed or his medical treatment.

There are many causes of internal bleeding, and they vary in severity from bruising to significant blood loss. Video from the scene showed Ross and other officers walking without obvious difficulty after Good was shot and her Honda Pilot crashed into other vehicles.

She was killed after three ICE officers surrounded her SUV on a snowy street a few blocks from her home.

Bystander video shows one officer ordering Good to open the door and grabbing the handle. As the vehicle begins to move forward, Ross, standing in front, raises his weapon and fires at least three shots at close range. He steps back as the SUV advances and turns.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Ross was struck by the vehicle and that Good was using her SUV as a weapon — a self-defense claim that has been deeply criticized by Minnesota officials.

Chris Madel, an attorney for Ross, declined to comment on any injuries.

Good’s family, meanwhile, has hired a law firm, Romanucci & Blandin, that represented George Floyd’s family in a $27 million settlement with Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black, died after a white police officer pinned his neck to the ground in the street in May 2020.

The firm said it would conduct its own investigation and publicly share what it learns.

___

Associated Press reporters Julie Watson in San Diego, California; Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C.; Ed White in Detroit; Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis; Graham Lee Brewer in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma contributed.

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January 14, 2026
Rain is coming back to Southern California: A timeline of what to expect
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Southern California should be prepared for rain and blustery conditions this week.

Residents can also expect to have a rainy New Year’s Eve and Day, with rainfall rates from a quarter to half an inch an hour predicted on Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

“The chances of a wet New Years Parade, and including the night before when people camp out before the parade, are extremely high, 80-90% at this point,” the weather service said in a Monday evening statement. “The last wet New Year’s parade was in 2006.”

Timeline

Tuesday: Windy conditions; chance of rain at night.

Wednesday: Rain chances intensify during day and into the night.

Thursday: Height of storm is Wednesday night through Thursday night.

Friday: 10-12% chance of rain.

Saturday: More rain possible.

Basics
- This storm will not be intense as the one last week, which set records.
- 1-3 inches is expected in basin; 3-5 inches in the foothills and mountains.
- Wind gusts could top 30-50 mph.
Useful heads up

When the ground’s already saturated, even moderate rain can change the risk quickly

— andrew engler (@aerockrose) December 30, 2025
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Clara Harter, Salvador Hernandez

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December 30, 2025
Christmas Eve’s Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.8B, 4th-largest in history

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Christmas Eve’s Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.8B, 4th-largest in history

BUYING A TICKET AND A DREAM. >> POWERBALL AT 1.6 BILLION. TONIGHT, PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE ARE TESTING THEIR LUCK. IT IS A GAME OF CHANCE. THAT IGNITES FANTASY. >> FEELING LUCKY TONIGHT. >> SO PEOPLE IN LINE AT THIS EAST SIDE CORNER STORE DAYDREAMING. >> IF I WON THE POWERBALL TONIGHT, I’D TAKE ALL OF US TO A HOTEL. >> OKAY? >> BECAUSE I’D LIKE TO WAKE UP IN A NICE HOTEL. >> OR ACTUALLY DREAMING. >> I WOKE UP WITH A DREAM, TOO. SO IT’S. IT’S IN MY CULTURE. IF YOU IF POOPED ON THAT, IT’S A GOOD DREAM. SO, HEY, WE’LL TEST IT OUT. >> ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO FIRST. WITH $1.6 BILLION. >> SO FIRST, MY PARENTS WILL RETIRE. >> THE FIFTH LARGEST JACKPOT IN U.S. HISTORY. DREAMS STARTING OFF WITH FAMILY PLANNING. >> I WILL COME TOGETHER WITH THE KIDS, AND WE’LL GAME PLAN FROM THERE. >> AND ENDING WITH HORSE FARMS. >> LIZ AND I ARE GOING TO BUY A HORSE FARM TOGETHER. OKAY. NO, WE’RE NOT. >> LIZ QUICKLY OBJECTED. OR NOT? WISCONSIN HAD WINNERS BEFORE. >> I PRETTY MUCH FELT LUCKY. >> A $768 MILLION WINNER FROM NEW BERLIN IN 2019. THREE YEARS LATER, SOMEONE NEAR GREEN BAY HIT THE JACKPOT AND WON 316 MILLION. THIS TIME, EACH TICKET HOLDER CONVINCED. IF YOU HAVE A VISION FOR IT, YOU JUST MIGHT WIN THE PRIZE. >> THAT COULD BE THE SECRET. >> GOOD LUCK. >> THANK YOU. AN

Christmas Eve’s Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.8B, 4th-largest in history

Updated: 11:07 PM EST Dec 24, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The Powerball jackpot snowballed to an estimated $1.8 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing after no ticket won the grand prize for Monday’s drawing.The numbers below were pulled for the Dec. 24, 2025, drawing.The winning numbers were: 04-25-31-52-59 Powerball: 19Power Play 2XThe jackpot for the Christmas Eve drawing is the fourth-largest in Powerball history, with a cash value of $781.3 million, the Powerball lottery announced earlier.

The Powerball jackpot snowballed to an estimated $1.8 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing after no ticket won the grand prize for Monday’s drawing.

The numbers below were pulled for the Dec. 24, 2025, drawing.

The winning numbers were:

04-25-31-52-59

Powerball: 19

Power Play 2X

The jackpot for the Christmas Eve drawing is the fourth-largest in Powerball history, with a cash value of $781.3 million, the Powerball lottery announced earlier.

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December 24, 2025
Sacramento deputies searching for mother, newborn missing under ‘concerning circumstances’

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Sacramento County deputies are searching for an at-risk mother and her 10-day-old baby on Wednesday night. The sheriff’s office said 41-year-old Alexisse Marshall and infant Riley Stella Ruth Hermosillo were last seen earlier Wednesday under “concerning circumstances.”The mother and daughter were reported missing around 5 p.m. after a family member returned home and found that both were gone.The pair was last seen in a white Volvo SUV bearing California license plate 9GBY905. They were spotted around 1:30 p.m. near Elk Grove Boulevard and Highway 99. The sheriff’s office said there are specific concerns for the mother’s well-being that elevate the urgency of the situation. Alexisse Marshall is described as five feet, seven inches tall, weighing around 185 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing an army green long-sleeve shirt and green Nike sweatpants. Riley Hermosillo is just 10 days old, weighing six pounds and 14 ounces with black hair and brown eyes. Deputies were actively searching in the area of Gerber and Elk Grove Florin roads around 9 p.m., where the two may have last been seen. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-5115.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

VINEYARD, Calif. —

Sacramento County deputies are searching for an at-risk mother and her 10-day-old baby on Wednesday night.

The sheriff’s office said 41-year-old Alexisse Marshall and infant Riley Stella Ruth Hermosillo were last seen earlier Wednesday under “concerning circumstances.”

The mother and daughter were reported missing around 5 p.m. after a family member returned home and found that both were gone.

The pair was last seen in a white Volvo SUV bearing California license plate 9GBY905. They were spotted around 1:30 p.m. near Elk Grove Boulevard and Highway 99.

The sheriff’s office said there are specific concerns for the mother’s well-being that elevate the urgency of the situation.

Alexisse Marshall is described as five feet, seven inches tall, weighing around 185 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing an army green long-sleeve shirt and green Nike sweatpants.

Riley Hermosillo is just 10 days old, weighing six pounds and 14 ounces with black hair and brown eyes.

Deputies were actively searching in the area of Gerber and Elk Grove Florin roads around 9 p.m., where the two may have last been seen.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-5115.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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November 26, 2025
Kings open up preseason with rough showing against Raptors
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Following a 175-day hiatus, Sacramento Kings basketball returned to Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.Fans in attendance got their first look at a new-look Kings team that featured newly-signed point guard Dennis Schroder, rookie wing Nique Clifford (24th pick in June’s NBA Draft), and big man Maxime Raynaud (42nd pick in the NBA Draft) against the Toronto Raptors in the first of four preseason tune-up games.Exhibition games are always a mixed bag–sporadic rotations, limited minutes, and in this case, no broadcast on local or national TV. Sure, the game was broadcast on Sactown Sports 1140 AM and Kings.com, but, like most preseason games, this one felt like a dress rehearsal for the real thing, which is a good thing from Sacramento’s perspective.As was the case last season, the Kings struggled to contain the perimeter against Toronto, falling behind by double digits during the first half — a deficit that Sacramento never recovered from — before pulling its primary rotation players early in the second half.Here are some thoughts and observations from the Kings’ 130-120 preseason-opening loss as we move closer to the season-opener on October 22nd.Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors recap & takeawaysHead coach Doug Christie kept his rotations and planned playing time close to the vest during this week’s practice sessions, but his plans were revealed on Wednesday.New Kings big man Drew Eubanks was Christie’s first sub off the bench for Domantas Sabonis, allowing Sabonis to re-enter the game with Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and rookie wing Nique Clifford on the floor. Second-year forward Isaac Jones was Christie’s first forward off the bench, rather than veteran Dario Saric or sharpshooter Doug McDermott.Sacramento’s new-look rotations got off to a slow start early, falling behind by as many as 14 points during the first half as Toronto set fire to the nets from beyond the arc (11-of-20 from deep during the first half).Zach LaVine, who logged 15 minutes of playing time in his preseason debut, scored 16 points on five-of-seven shooting from the field (three-of-five from downtown) to act as the head of the snake for the Kings’ offense.Sacramento’s primary rotation pieces departed the game near the end of the third quarter as the Kings faced an 18-point deficit, allowing second-year guard Devin Carter, two-way center Dylan Cardwell, forward Daeqwon Plowden, and Eubanks to get more action.Fans in attendance could be heard audibly groaning, and in some cases, booing, as Sacramento struggled to keep up with the red-hot Raptors.While the Kings trailed by double-digits for most of the night, the bench unit of Clifford, Carter, Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and Isaiah Stevens injected life back into the building by opening up the fourth quarter on a 30-20 run that trimmed the deficit to single digits.“They brought the energy. Props to them,” Domantas Sabonis said of the late charge. “As starters, we should have done our job.”Cardwell put on a show in the fourth, scoring all 12 of his points on six-of-seven shooting while putting down a few rim-rattling dunks that helped make things interesting late.Although Sacramento’s bench unit scored 44 points on 65 percent shooting during the fourth quarter, too much damage was done early by the Raptors as Toronto held on for the win.Clifford, who has been rumored to be in the mix for some spot backup point guard minutes, finished the night with a team-high nine assists to go around with ten points. Raynaud added seven points and six rebounds over twelve minutes.The Kings struggled to defend the perimeter last year (as well as most seasons over the past 20 years), a trend that continued against Toronto as the Raptors finished the night 20-of-37 (54%) from three-point land. Chrisite has preached improvements on the defensive end this year, and although it was just one preseason game, Wednesday was a tough start to the 2025-26 campaign.Four of the Kings’ five starters–outside of LaVine’s 15 minutes–logged 24 minutes on Wednesday night, and those minutes are likely to increase over the final three preseason games.Rounding Out The Box ScoreDomantas Sabonis scored 19 points on seven-of-10 shooting from the field over 23 minutes.Dennis Schroder struggled from the field during his unofficial Kings debut, going one-of-five from the field while pulling down six rebounds.Sacramento finished the night 10-of-33 (30%) from beyond the arc during the loss.When is the next Sacramento Kings game?Sacramento will continue its preseason slate of games on Friday night when it travels to the Moda Center for a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.Catch all of the action on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. PT on Game Night before a 7 p.m. PT tip-off from Portland, Oregon.Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 seasonPreseasonFriday, Oct. 10 @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7 p.m. PTWednesday, Oct. 15 vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7 p.m. PTFriday, Oct. 17 @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 p.m. PTRegular SeasonWednesday, Oct. 22 – @ Phoenix Suns – 7 p.m. PTFriday, Oct. 24 – vs. Utah Jazz – 7 p.m. PTSunday, Oct. 26 – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 p.m. PTTuesday, Oct. 28 – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 p.m. PTWednesday, Oct. 29 – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 p.m. PTThis story first appeared on Sactown Sports.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Following a 175-day hiatus, Sacramento Kings basketball returned to Golden 1 Center on Wednesday night.

Fans in attendance got their first look at a new-look Kings team that featured newly-signed point guard Dennis Schroder, rookie wing Nique Clifford (24th pick in June’s NBA Draft), and big man Maxime Raynaud (42nd pick in the NBA Draft) against the Toronto Raptors in the first of four preseason tune-up games.

Exhibition games are always a mixed bag–sporadic rotations, limited minutes, and in this case, no broadcast on local or national TV. Sure, the game was broadcast on Sactown Sports 1140 AM and Kings.com, but, like most preseason games, this one felt like a dress rehearsal for the real thing, which is a good thing from Sacramento’s perspective.

As was the case last season, the Kings struggled to contain the perimeter against Toronto, falling behind by double digits during the first half — a deficit that Sacramento never recovered from — before pulling its primary rotation players early in the second half.

Here are some thoughts and observations from the Kings’ 130-120 preseason-opening loss as we move closer to the season-opener on October 22nd.

Sacramento Kings vs. Toronto Raptors recap & takeaways

Head coach Doug Christie kept his rotations and planned playing time close to the vest during this week’s practice sessions, but his plans were revealed on Wednesday.

New Kings big man Drew Eubanks was Christie’s first sub off the bench for Domantas Sabonis, allowing Sabonis to re-enter the game with Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and rookie wing Nique Clifford on the floor. Second-year forward Isaac Jones was Christie’s first forward off the bench, rather than veteran Dario Saric or sharpshooter Doug McDermott.

Sacramento’s new-look rotations got off to a slow start early, falling behind by as many as 14 points during the first half as Toronto set fire to the nets from beyond the arc (11-of-20 from deep during the first half).

Zach LaVine, who logged 15 minutes of playing time in his preseason debut, scored 16 points on five-of-seven shooting from the field (three-of-five from downtown) to act as the head of the snake for the Kings’ offense.

Sacramento’s primary rotation pieces departed the game near the end of the third quarter as the Kings faced an 18-point deficit, allowing second-year guard Devin Carter, two-way center Dylan Cardwell, forward Daeqwon Plowden, and Eubanks to get more action.

Fans in attendance could be heard audibly groaning, and in some cases, booing, as Sacramento struggled to keep up with the red-hot Raptors.

While the Kings trailed by double-digits for most of the night, the bench unit of Clifford, Carter, Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and Isaiah Stevens injected life back into the building by opening up the fourth quarter on a 30-20 run that trimmed the deficit to single digits.

“They brought the energy. Props to them,” Domantas Sabonis said of the late charge. “As starters, we should have done our job.”

Cardwell put on a show in the fourth, scoring all 12 of his points on six-of-seven shooting while putting down a few rim-rattling dunks that helped make things interesting late.

Although Sacramento’s bench unit scored 44 points on 65 percent shooting during the fourth quarter, too much damage was done early by the Raptors as Toronto held on for the win.

Clifford, who has been rumored to be in the mix for some spot backup point guard minutes, finished the night with a team-high nine assists to go around with ten points. Raynaud added seven points and six rebounds over twelve minutes.

The Kings struggled to defend the perimeter last year (as well as most seasons over the past 20 years), a trend that continued against Toronto as the Raptors finished the night 20-of-37 (54%) from three-point land. Chrisite has preached improvements on the defensive end this year, and although it was just one preseason game, Wednesday was a tough start to the 2025-26 campaign.

Four of the Kings’ five starters–outside of LaVine’s 15 minutes–logged 24 minutes on Wednesday night, and those minutes are likely to increase over the final three preseason games.

Rounding Out The Box Score

Domantas Sabonis scored 19 points on seven-of-10 shooting from the field over 23 minutes.

Dennis Schroder struggled from the field during his unofficial Kings debut, going one-of-five from the field while pulling down six rebounds.

Sacramento finished the night 10-of-33 (30%) from beyond the arc during the loss.

When is the next Sacramento Kings game?

Sacramento will continue its preseason slate of games on Friday night when it travels to the Moda Center for a matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Catch all of the action on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. PT on Game Night before a 7 p.m. PT tip-off from Portland, Oregon.

Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season

Preseason
- Friday, Oct. 10 @ Portland Trail Blazers – 7 p.m. PT
- Wednesday, Oct. 15 vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7 p.m. PT
- Friday, Oct. 17 @ Los Angeles Lakers – 7 p.m. PT
Regular Season
- Wednesday, Oct. 22 – @ Phoenix Suns – 7 p.m. PT
- Friday, Oct. 24 – vs. Utah Jazz – 7 p.m. PT
- Sunday, Oct. 26 – vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 6 p.m. PT
- Tuesday, Oct. 28 – @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 5 p.m. PT
- Wednesday, Oct. 29 – @ Chicago Bulls – 5 p.m. PT
This story first appeared on Sactown Sports.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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October 8, 2025
Check your tickets! Powerball numbers drawn for $700 million jackpot

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Check your tickets! Powerball numbers drawn for $700 million jackpot

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? TONIGHT’S POWERBALL JACKPOT IS UP TO A WHOPPING $526 MILLION. THAT’S A CASH VALUE OF 241 MILLION. HERE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS IS DOCTOR VARSHA RADHAKRISHNAN FROM TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. GOOD TO SEE IT. YOU KNOW, THAT’S A LOT OF MONEY ON THE LINE, RIGHT? BUT THE ODDS OF WINNING IF WE’RE BEING REAL OF THE GRAND PRIZE IS 1 IN 292,000,000. SO, IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO GAMES LIKE THIS? WELL, PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO GAMES LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THAT ANTICIPATION, THE EXCITEMENT THAT WHAT IF FEELING WHAT IF I’M THAT ONE PERSON WHO WINS? EVEN IF THE ODDS OF WINNING ARE ASTRONOMICALLY LOW. BUT GAMES LIKE POWERBALL, THEY ACTUALLY ACTIVATE OUR BRAIN’S REWARD PATHWAY THROUGH THROUGH ACTIVATION OF A NEUROTRANSMITTER CALLED DOPAMINE. SO THAT’S ACTUALLY PART OF OUR PLEASURE AND REWARD SYSTEM. AND SO I THINK IT REINFORCES THINGS LIKE GAMBLING THAT THAT ADDICTION THAT CAN COME UP SOMETIMES. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN GAMBLE FROM TIME TO TIME WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. BUT SOME PEOPLE DO STRUGGLE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS THAT CERTAIN BEHAVIOR MAYBE HAS CROSSED INTO A PROBLEM TERRITORY? YEAH, AND I KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT, BUT WHEN DOES IT BECOME MORE OF AN ENJOYABLE ACTIVITY VERSUS ADDICTION? AND SO WARNING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS REALLY ARE, ARE MORE RELATED TO THAT NEED OR DESIRE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU’RE EXPENDING. THAT FEELING OF IRRITABILITY OR RESTLESSNESS WHEN CUTTING BACK, BEING UNABLE TO STOP DESPITE WANTING TO CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT GAMBLING, CHASING LOSSES, OR EVEN LYING ABOUT GAMBLING SO THAT WHEN THEY’RE STARTING TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE IMPACTS ON RELATIONSHIPS OR WORK, THAT’S WHEN WHEN THOSE BEHAVIORS BECOME VERY CONCERNING. YEAH, THAT’S THE SIGNS THERE. OKAY. SO THERE ARE SOME BENEFITS THOUGH TO THROWING YOUR HAT IN THE RING FROM TIME TO TIME. OH YEAH. THERE’S THERE’S ALWAYS THAT THAT THOUGHT IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND. IT’S IT’S ALSO FUN. OF COURSE IT CAN BE A THRILLING FEELING. PARTICIPATION. AND IN SOME OF THESE THESE TYPES OF GAMES CAN BRING THAT SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AND HOPE. ALSO JOINING SOMETHING THAT INVOLVES OTHER FOLKS AT WORK, FOR EXAMPLE, OR FRIENDS, FAMILY, IT CAN BE A SOCIAL ACTIVITY TOO. YEAH, I KNOW THERE’S A POOL GOING AROUND HERE IN THE NEWSROOM, SO IT CAN BE, BUT YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THOSE SIGNS YOU MENTIONED. DOCTOR RADHAKRISHNAN, WE

Check your tickets! Powerball numbers drawn for $700 million jackpot

Updated: 8:06 PM PDT Aug 23, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Feeling lucky? Here are the winning Powerball numbers for Saturday night: 11-14-34-47-51 Powerball 18The Powerplay Multiplier was 2xVideo above: Odds of winning Powerball slim, but why do we play?After no one won the big prize on Wednesday night, the jackpot grew to $700 million (estimated cash value of $316.3 million), according to the Powerball website.Preliminary data from the Multi-State Lottery Association, which helps facilitate the Powerball lottery, shows Powerball sales are 40% higher than they were at this point last year.”As the jackpot increases, we expect ticket sales to increase,” the association said.While the size of the jackpot and the ticket sales have risen, the odds of winning the top prize have not. The chances of winning the jackpot stand at about 1 in 292 million.

Feeling lucky? Here are the winning Powerball numbers for Saturday night:

11-14-34-47-51 Powerball 18

The Powerplay Multiplier was 2x

Video above: Odds of winning Powerball slim, but why do we play?

After no one won the big prize on Wednesday night, the jackpot grew to $700 million (estimated cash value of $316.3 million), according to the Powerball website.

Preliminary data from the Multi-State Lottery Association, which helps facilitate the Powerball lottery, shows Powerball sales are 40% higher than they were at this point last year.

“As the jackpot increases, we expect ticket sales to increase,” the association said.

While the size of the jackpot and the ticket sales have risen, the odds of winning the top prize have not. The chances of winning the jackpot stand at about 1 in 292 million.

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August 23, 2025
A Food Fight at the Kids’ Table

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Suddenly, it just tumbled out: “Honestly, every time I hear you I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

That was former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s rebuke of businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, easily the best line of Wednesday night’s messy and awkward GOP primary debate. Ramaswamy, for his part, produced his own meme-worthy quote during a heated exchange with Senator Tim Scott: “Thank you for speaking while I’m interrupting.”

Such was the onstage energy at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Chaotic, sloppy, largely substance-free. Seven candidates desperately fought for fresh relevance; none of them came away with it. Rather than pitching themselves as the candidate who can beat former President Donald Trump, these Republicans seemed to be operating most of the time in an alternate universe, in which Trump was absent not just from the stage, but from the race.

Eight years ago, so many candidates were vying for the Republican nomination that the party took to splitting primary debates into two sessions: the main event and the undercard. The latter contest was mocked as the “kids’ table” debate. So far this time around, there’s only one unified debate night. Nevertheless, Trump has such a commanding lead over his challengers that, for the second debate in a row, he hasn’t even bothered to show up and speak. Voters have no reason to believe he’ll be at any of the other contests. Trump counter-programmed last month’s Fox News debate by sitting down for a sympathetic interview with the former Fox star Tucker Carlson. On Wednesday, Trump delivered a speech in Michigan, where a powerful union—United Auto Workers—are in the second week of a strike.

All seven candidates who qualified for the debate—individuals with honorifics such as “governor,” “senator,” and “former vice president”—spent the evening arguing at the kids’ table. Barring some sort of medical emergency, Trump seems like the inevitable 2024 GOP nominee. As Michael Scherer of The Washington Post pointed out on X (formerly Twitter), the candidates on stage were collectively polling at 36 percent. If they were to join forces and become one person (think seven Republicans stacked in a trenchcoat), Trump would still be winning by 20 percent.

Read: A parade of listless vessels

How many other ways can you say this? The race is effectively over. So what, then, were they all doing there? A cynic would tell you they’re merely running for second place—for a shot at a cabinet position, maybe even VP.

One candidate decidedly not running for vice president is Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has taken to (gently) attacking his old boss. Nor does former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie seem to want a sidekick or administration gig. Christie has staked his entire campaign on calling out Trump’s sins, and, so far, it’s not working. Earlier on Wednesday, Christie shared a photo of himself at a recent NFL game, with a cringeworthy nod to new Kansas City Chiefs fan Taylor Swift: “I was just a guy in the bleachers on Sunday… but after tonight, Trump will know we are never ever getting back together.”

At the debate, Christie stared directly into the camera like Macho Man Randy Savage, pointer finger and all, to deliver what amounted to a professional wrestling taunt. “Donald, I know you’re watching. You can’t help yourself!” Christie began. “You’re not here tonight because you’re afraid of being on this stage and defending your record. You’re ducking these things, and let me tell you what’s going to happen.”

[Here it comes]

“You keep doing that, no one up here’s gonna call you Donald Trump anymore. We’re gonna call you Donald Duck.”

“Alright,” moderator Dana Perino said.

The crowd appeared to laugh, cheer, boo, and groan.

The auto-worker’s strike, and criticisms of the larger American economy, received significant attention at the debate. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum laid the strike “at Joe Biden’s feet.” Pence came ready with a zinger: “Joe Biden doesn’t belong on a picket line, he belongs on the unemployment line.” (Another Pence joke about sleeping with a teacher—his wife—didn’t quite land.)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once seen as Trump’s closest rival, stood center stage but spent most of the night struggling to connect as all the candidates intermittently talked over one another. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, perhaps trying to fight back against those who claim he lacks charisma, frequently went on the attack, most notably against Ramaswamy, who, in the previous debate, claimed his rivals were “bought and paid for.” Later, Scott attacked DeSantis for his past controversial comments about race: “There is not a redeeming quality in slavery,” Scott said. But he followed that up a moment later with another sound byte: “America is not a racist country.”

Read: The GOP primary is a field of broken dreams

However earnest and honest Scott’s message may be, it was impossible to hear his words without thinking of the man he’s running against. So again: What was everyone doing Wednesday night? In an alternate reality, a red-state candidate like Scott, Haley, or Burgum might cruise to the GOP nomination. In a way, Fox Business, itself, seemed to broadcast tonight’s proceedings in that strange other world. The network kept playing retro Reagan clips as the debate came in and out of commercial breaks. And those ads? One featured South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem—not a 2024 presidential candidate, but certainly a potential VP pick—making a pitch for people to move to her sparsely populated state. Another ad argued that the Biden administration’s plan to ban menthol cigarettes would be a boon to Mexican drug cartels. What?

It was all a sideshow. Trump’s team seemed to know it, too. With just over five minutes left in the debate, the former president’s campaign blasted out a statement to reporters from a senior advisor: “Tonight’s GOP debate was as boring and inconsequential as the first debate, and nothing that was said will change the dynamics of the primary contest being dominated by President Trump.” For all of Trump’s lies, he and his acolytes can occasionally be excruciatingly honest.

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John Hendrickson

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September 27, 2023