There is an old saying that ‘two heads are better than one’. In San Marino that saying is literally taken as a form of government.
In a tradition that dates back to 1243 and based on a custom of the Roman Republic, this tiny republic has not one, but two heads of state.
Known as the Captains Regent, two people are elected every six months by the Grand and General Council, the country’s legislative body.
The two Captain Regent are usually selected from different political parties to give a unique balanced government. Once they have served the six months, they cannot become regents again for another three years.
This may sound a bit bonkers to those of us from countries whose leaders are elected for periods of four or five years, but the roles are mainly symbolic and more like that of a king or queen rather than a president.
Women were prevented from taking public positions in San Marino until 1972. The first female Captains Regent was elected in April 1981.
If you are visiting San Marino on April 1st or October 1st, you can watch the investiture of the new Captains Regent which takes place at the Piazza della Liberta, outside the Government Palace.
Crowds cheered and waved national flags as two Shahed drones were paraded through Tehran. Iranian-made, low-cost Shahed drones have become a major feature of modern warfare, used in attacks across the Gulf and extensively by Russia in its war in Ukraine.
“Dancing With the Stars” pro Witney Carson on Wednesday shut down rumors that she wants her celebrity pairing to be voted off the new season.
Following Week 3 of the competition — which bid farewell to Taylor Hanson and Britt Stewart on Tuesday — the 32-year-old dancer took to social media to address suggestions that she wished to be voted off with her celebrity partner, Guillermo Rodriguez.
Since Season 35 of DWTS premiered Sept. 15, the two have been in the bottom three couples each week, but avoided elimination. Some online fans have interpreted her facial expressions as disappointment upon learning her pair was safe.
“[Being in the bottom three] doesn’t necessarily mean all those couples have the lowest votes, but it does mean that you don’t get to celebrate that you’re safe. You only get to hear who’s going home,” Carson explained in a TikTok video uploaded Tuesday night. “So my face, what you’re seeing, is genuinely sad for the people going home and then excitement.”
The professional ballroom dancer also slammed rumors that she was at all dissatisfied with her celebrity pairing alongside 55-year-old Rodriguez, the talk show sidekick to Jimmy Kimmel on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
“I am truly so grateful to continue on in this competition week after week with Guillermo because he really deserves it. He is genuinely a kind person, he genuinely wants to get better, he never gives up,” Carson continued on TikTok. “Anytime I’m resting in rehearsals, he’s practicing… What you see on Tuesdays, that is his best…”
Last year, Carson took home the top prize alongside Australian conservationist Robert Irwin; in 2014, she took home her first Mirrorball Trophy alongside actor Alfonso Ribeiro, the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” actor who now co-hosts the show alongside dancer Julianne Hough.
Rodriguez too has become a crowd favorite, with various fans noting his improvement each week — including Kimmel, who last week on his talk show joked that his co-star has won the popular vote “more times than Donald Trump.”
Earlier this week, the pair wowed “DWTS” fans during “Yacht Rock Night” with a foxtrot performed to “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).” Rodriguez finished the routine with a funnyman stunt by revealing himself in a coconut bra and inked-belly with the words: “Dancing 4 the People.”
Guillermo Rodriguez and Witney Carson appear on “Dancing With the Stars” Season 35’s Yacht Rock Night.
(Eric McCandless / Disney)
“I think there’s a lot to say about someone who may not have the skills, but is willing to learn and put in the work. That’s an amazing thing and he deserves it,” Carson added.
Carson also used the social media video to tame buzz that she wants to go home because of her pregnancy, she said, “I’m doing all the things that my doctor has approved of, so you guys can rest easy.”
In August, the dancer made headlines when she revealed on “Good Morning America” that she would participate in this new season while pregnant, a scenario that the mother of two admitted was not on her “bingo card,” but that she would stick with it to see what her body was capable of.
“I know how far to push my body and the baby’s health has always been my number one priority,” Carson reiterated in her TikTok video. “So I have no reserve when it comes to speaking up about physically overdoing it.”
But don’t worry, Golden State voters — Times columnists Gustavo Arellano, Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria are watching every minute, every second, really, to bring you the zingers, gaffes and hopefully maybe even some insights.
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Chabria: Let me start things off by saying my hope is that Hilton will push Becerra into specifics around issues including affordability, what we’re going to do about the coming Medicaid cliff, housing and education. California has been focused on raising up our most vulnerable and struggling residents for years — which is important.
But the middle class is suffering now, too, in all those areas. Hilton is right that the status quo isn’t working. That’s going to be a challenge for Becerra when he gets into office (and honestly, he could vacation in Hawaii until November and still get elected), so I’ll be looking for answers on how he plans to lift all boats.
Barabak: There will be much critiquing to come, so let me start by paying both gentleman a compliment.
Hilton has been campaigning hard, as though he has more than the merest speck of a chance of pulling an epic upset and somehow prevailing. Good for him!
And Becerra, who’s made himself exceedingly scarce, is stepping up and debating, as he should. And he’s not being cute about it, insisting on, say, a midnight appearance on local cable TV in Alturas. So props for that.
Arellano: I’m hoping that Becerra will once again channel his inner cholo, as I urged him to during the primary.
The Tío Xavier persona that Becerra supporters have trotted out — a kind, chuckling sage — isn’t what California needs right now. Becerra knows that the most loved uncles in Latino households aren’t the safe, boring ones but the ones who risked it all: the ones who came into this country without papers, who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps so that their kids could drive hybrids, and who proudly warble “El Rey” during the mariachi portion of the latest family wedding instead of sit quietly at the table.
We need the loco uncle, Xavier, not the fresa — uppity — one.
And I’m hoping Hilton will rebuke Donald Trump. I know, I know: there’s a better chance of England winning the FIFA World Cup than that ever happening.
But if there’s an iota of hope for the British expat to beat Becerra, it can only happen by him showing Californians that he’s willing to stand up to the loathed president instead of cozying up to him.
Otherwise, as a famous Brit once sang backed by sinuous xylophones, “Baby, baby, baby, you’re out of time.”
Insights
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Ideas expressed in the piece
Chabria argues that the debate should press Becerra for concrete plans on affordability, the coming Medicaid funding cliff, housing and education. In particular, the piece says California’s middle class is struggling and that the status quo is not working, leaving Becerra with a challenge if elected.
Barabak welcomes both candidates’ participation: Hilton, for campaigning energetically despite his long odds, and Becerra, for agreeing to a televised debate rather than avoiding the encounter.
Arellano contends that Becerra should project a more forceful, less cautious persona, drawing on the immigrant and working-class experience of Latino families. The column also argues that Hilton would need to show independence from President Trump to make a stronger case to California voters.
Different views on the topic
A contrasting case for Hilton’s candidacy is that California needs a sharp break from current policies. Hilton has proposed eliminating state income taxes on the first $150,000 of earnings and says he would offset the lost revenue with budget cuts; he has also blamed climate policies and regulations for high fuel costs.[3][1]
Becerra’s record of public proposals complicates the article’s portrayal of a candidate who has made a campaign out of saying little: his platform calls for expanding housing construction, streamlining approvals and addressing utility and insurance costs. At the same time, his healthcare proposals have been described as broad rather than detailed, lending weight to calls for greater specificity.[4][2][3]
The candidates also offer different approaches to affordability. Hilton has promised to unwind policies he blames for high costs, while Becerra says the state should maintain environmental standards as it works to lower costs and stabilize fuel supply.[3][1]
Chelsea have a penalty overturned by VAR, while Lauren James and Maika Hamano come close to scoring a winner during their 0-0 draw away at Lyon in the Champions League.
