THE south of England has some incredibly popular beaches, and one is getting even bigger in time for next summer.
From next month, work is starting on the beach in Brighton and Hove to protect it from erosion and that’s great news for holidaymakers – because let’s face it… size matters.
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The beach at Hove in East Sussex is getting bigger to prevent erosionCredit: AlamyRenders reveal what the beach will look like after the extension
Brighton and Hove is a one of the busiest spots in the UK with 11 million people visiting every year.
Worries about flooding and erosion across the busy Brighton and Hove seafront have led to new plans involving adding new groynes and extending the shingle beach.
Starting in late November or early December, a new groyne field will be built on the beach between the King Alfred Leisure Centre and Second Avenue in Hove.
The new timber groynes will be supported by filling the bays between each one with thousands of tonnes of shingle – which has been dredged from a site in the English Channel.
Effectively, this will slow the movement of shingle along the coastline, helping to protect the area from flooding and erosion.
It will also reduce the amount of shingle which washes up onto the promenade during storms and high tides.
What’s probably more interesting for tourists is that the plans will see the beach extended by approximately 25 metres out to sea.
Not only does this mean the beach will be better protected, but it will create more room for tourists during busy seasons.
There’s a public engagement event taking place today (23 October) so locals can learn more about this phase of the scheme.
The work is scheduled to finish next year so by summer.
Following that, the next phase of the plan is the rebuilding of sea defences on Southwick beach which is set to be complete in 2027.
Brighton & Hove is one of the most popular seaside towns – especially during the summerCredit: AlamyThe shingle beach will grow by around 25metres in sizeCredit: Alamy
Councillor Trevor Muten, cabinet member for transport and public realm, said: “This scheme is vital for the city, to safeguard homes and businesses from coastal flooding and protect our local economy for decades to come. By taking action now, we will help make our city more climate resilient and able to adapt to increasing storms, extreme rainfall and rising sea levels.
“We are committed to value for money to deliver the best for our city. £4.5 million is a substantial sum but our local visitor economy alone is worth £5 billion.”
The project has seen the construction of a skate and pump track, padeltenniscourts, and a new tennis pavilion which opened last year.
The project has focused on creating landscaped gardens and making new pathways at a cost of £13.7million.
There will be an official opening in spring 2025 when the majority of the project will be complete.
Brighton and Hove isn;t just about the beach though.
It’s also famous for shopping in The Lanes, Brighton Palace Pier, beachfront, and the Royal Pavilion.
There’s lots of nightlife, and plenty of pubs – in fact, Brighton & Hove has the most pubs in the UK per person.
Sun Travel‘s favourites include The Station Inn, The Tempest Inn and Hove Place, which has a beautiful Italian-inspired garden.
Brighton is also home to Volk’s Electric Railway, which is the world’s oldest operating electric railway – and it’s right on the front of Brighton Beach.
It’s been operating since 1883 which makes it over 140 years old and is still going today.
It’s more relaxed, still with a pretty pebble coastline and blue waters, but much quieter. On Friday afternoon, just under two hours from my home in Hertfordshire, I hit Brighton.
The seaside town that everyone knows and loves for its sea lanes, pop-up market stalls, quirky creatives and music scene.
It was immediately quieter with a notable absence of Brighton’s squawking seagulls. Hove still retains its beach charm, and in fact, it’s recently been named one of the best seaside towns to live in.
Almost as soon as I hit Hove, I discovered a gem of a beach club called Rockwater.
Rustic-looking on the outside, Rockwater completely blends in with its surroundings with wooden slatted exterior, huge glass windows, and the inside is spectacular.
It has plush chairs, a beautiful bar and a holiday-like atmosphere – imagine the sun shining through open windows, the clinking of glasses and happy tourist chatter.
You might think beach bars are just for summer, but this one has lots of activities all year round from relaxing yoga to book socials, sip and paint – and of course, plenty of Christmas fun.
ONE European island with dreamy beaches and a crowd-free city has been named as a top destination for 2026 holidays.
Whilst it is part of Italy, Sardinia is actually located closer to Africa than mainland Italy and as a result, it boasts warm temperatures and exotic fauna and flora.
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Sardinia in Italy is actually closer to Africa than the mainlandCredit: Cyann FieldingThe stunning island has recently been named by Expedia as a destination of the yearCredit: Cyann Fielding
And now it has been named as a Destination of the Year by Expedia Group’s Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel report, which gathered data from millions of visitors and revealed that searches for Sardinia holidays have risen by 63 per cent.
Having recently visited, I know exactly why – Sardinia is a Mediterranean gem unlike any other.
Most travellers head to Olbia in the north of the island, but Cagliari in the south – the capital of the island – is also a great destination to explore.
The south of the island and around Cagliari is full of quaint villages, rocky hills and breathtaking beaches.
I stayed in a small village called Chia, which is home to two Hilton hotels.
The resort has a number of pools to enjoy and there are two hidden beaches resort guests can access, both with crystal-clear warm waters and hardly any people.
Rooms at one of the hotels – the Conrad Chia Laguna Sardinia – start from £257 per night, for two people including breakfast.
You can also do a number of activities from the resort, including a two-hour horse ride up into the island’s hills.
It was such an amazing way to see the island and experience a bit of local life.
And from the resort, it took me less than an hour to reach Cagliari.
The city is small, but even on a sunny Saturday at the end of August, its streets were quiet from hordes of tourists.
As well as sitting on the coast with panoramic views of the sea, the city has a great blend of culture and history.
One of my favourite spots in the city is Bastione di Saint Remy – a neoclassical fortress made from white and yellow limestone.
While you do have to climb tens of steps, once at the top of the monument you are treated to spectacular views of not only the city, but the islands stretching coastline.
For a while I just sat enjoying the blazing sunshine and the views, with boats whizzing in and out of the port accompanied by the sounds of bustling cafes on the city’s streets below me.
Around Bastione di Saint Remy, there are many winding streets with quaint shops and cafes to explore, which form the city’s historic quarter.
I stayed in Chia, where there are two Hilton hotels with access to two beachesCredit: Cyann Fielding
Prices in the shops and cafes are cheap too, with coffees setting you back around 87p to £1.74.
Food didn’t set me back much either, with a salmon and avocado brunch setting me back less than a tenner at Ex Tipografia.
Cattedrale di Santa Maria, Cagliari’s main cathedral is also worth exploring.
It features a mix of different architectural styles and has a stunning crypt inside – just remember if you are visiting to cover up as this is a place of worship.
Make sure to not miss The Underground Cagliari Tour – this unique activity takes you to three different underground sites across the city.
Stops include the Salesian Institute Tunnel-Shelter, which was used by a school as a shelter during heavy WWII bombings.
The entire tunnel is also lit by candles when you visit.
The second stop is at the Crypt of Santa Restituta – it is a natural cave that has been expanded over centuries and has also served as a place of worship.
Also make sure to head to Cagliari, the capital of the island, where there is a limestone monument that you can climb to capture breathtaking views of the cityCredit: Cyann Fielding
Finally, you head to the Archaeological Area of Sant’Eulalia, which sits beneath the Church of Sant’Eulalia in the Marina district and reveals the remains of a Roman road.
The tour costs from £26.61 per person.
If you want to enjoy the Mediterraneanweather, make sure to explore Orto Botanico.
It is a huge garden with lots of different varieties of plants and Roman archaeological remains and it costs less than £4 to visit.
Return flights to Cagliari cost as little as £38 in November from London with Ryanair.
After starring in The Night Manager, Tom Hollander plays another villainous character with shady motives in The Iris Affair, sharing the spotlight with a Malpractice star.
Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander share the spotlight in The Iris Affair
Niamh Algar is no stranger to shaking things up. After gripping viewers as Dr Lucinda Edwards in Malpractice, she’s stepping into even higher-octane territory as Iris Nixon in Sky Atlantic’s new thriller, The Iris Affair.
“I’ve loved playing Iris – she’s so many characters in one,” Niamh Algar says. “Then there’s the adrenaline side: gunfights, jumping off boats, leaping from buildings, blowing up things. Racing a Ferrari at high speed was the absolute highlight.”
Created by Neil Cross and filmed in Italy, the eight-part series sees Iris as a brilliant codebreaker, living life on the run with a bounty on her head.
“She is obsessive, manipulative and unpredictable,” Niamh says. “She’s not motivated by romance or defined by trauma, but shaped by her intelligence and curiosity.”
She’s recruited by Cameron Beck (Tom Hollander), a charismatic tech billionaire who believes he needs her to relaunch a quantum computer nicknamed Charlie Big Potatoes. Cameron believes the machine could change – even save – the world, but Iris is convinced it could destroy it.
The quantum computer was originally launched by Jensen Lind, a Norwegian scientist played by Game Of Thrones alumni Kristofer Hivju. Jensen and Cameron once worked together on the project, until Jensen stopped it.
“Something makes Jensen try to destroy 10-15 years of working in this compound making the biggest revolutionary device in history,” Kristofer says. “That’s the mystery – why?”
Kristofer admits the science was a challenge, saying, “My Chat GPT has overheated. I have had to go into Hindu cosmology and quantum physics just to understand my lines.”
Meanwhile, Tom Hollander insists his character isn’t the villain audiences might expect. “He’s not a bad guy. He wants good outcomes,” Tom says. “He thinks it’s capable of curing climate change.
What’s really motivating Cameron is he’s in fear for his own life. He’s a rich man who has over-borrowed, so effectively he actually doesn’t have anything.”
Cameron faces a shadowy organisation called The Money, with Harry Lloyd joining the cast as the cryptic Hugo Pym. “He is this guy who is somewhat psychotic and deranged,” Harry says.
“The Money are this ‘Intra Group Committee’ and Hugo is someone who has recently been made head of it.” Caught up in the middle is Joy Baxter, played by Meréana Tomlinson, with whom Iris forms a connection.
“Iris sees something of herself in Joy,” Niamh says. “Joy is essentially a token child in a wealthy household that doesn’t really notice her, and Iris has always felt like she didn’t belong in any system or structure.”
When Cameron kidnaps Joy to pressure Iris into working for him, the stakes become terrifyingly personal. “It becomes a real test for her,” Niamh says. “It also highlights how much she cares for Joy.”
Joy is loyal to Iris but this is tested when she meets Cameron. “Cameron is more alike with her in terms of her emotional wellbeing and her emotional state,” says Meréana. “She latches on to him for survival and then that turns into companionship.”
Meréana bonded quickly with the team, saying, “I have a quote book in my Notes app. It’s just funny things that people have said.” And Neil Cross’s reaction to the book was priceless, she adds. “He sat there giggling at it for five minutes.”
The Iris Affair airs on Thursday, October 16th on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
Lorraine Kelly strips off as part of ground-breaking Change + Check campaign raising awareness of breast cancer
00:00, 01 Oct 2025Updated 00:03, 01 Oct 2025
Lorraine Kelly has stripped off for her Change + Check campaign
TV star Lorraine Kelly has stripped off Calendar Girls-style for the first time – with only a pair of strategically-placed buns covering her modesty. Speaking to the Mirror about her first topless shoot, she joked how she worried her team would be “traumatised” by the sight of her bare flesh.
The shoot was all in aid of the show’s National Check Your Boobs Day initiative within its Lorraine’s Change + Check campaign. Lorraine admits: “I just loved this idea. It’s cheeky and funny and is a nod to the wonderful Calendar Girls.
“It also gave me the chance to say the iconic line “we’re going to need considerably bigger buns”.
Opening up about stripping off, Lorraine adds: “I didn’t feel in any way vulnerable or uncomfortable as I was with my team who are my friends, and our amazing photographer had also gone through breast cancer herself. My editor Victoria asked if I was comfortable being filmed and I told her I was fine, but to check with the crew in case they would be traumatised!!
“It was all very light-hearted, and after all it’s all about getting the Change + Check message across.” The photograph was taken by photographer Sally Mais, a survivor of breast cancer.
The new day will take place today which show bosses hope will serve as a crucial reminder for everyone to make self-checking a regular monthly habit. Lorraine is even after an official endorsement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to establish the day on the national calendar. It comes as the The Change + Check campaign is now officially endorsed by the NHS.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton said: “It’s so incredibly important to check for the signs of breast cancer because we know early diagnosis leads to better outcomes. The Change + Check campaign is a brilliant way for people out and about shopping on their local high street to quickly check themselves as they get changed, knowing the advice is accurate and officially supporting the NHS.”
Asda will also be selling specially created Change + Check ‘iced busty buns’ in their stores throughout the month of October, and the Change + Check sticker will now be visible in Boots pharmacies across the country. Lorraine says the campaign is one of the things she is most proud of in her 40 year career. She said: “Every year the campaign just gets bigger and bigger, and I am so proud of the work we’ve done and the lives we’ve helped to save.
“Launching Britain’s first ever ‘National Check Your Boobs Day’ is a huge step forward and will hopefully be a crucial reminder for everyone to prioritise their breast health. This is something that truly matters to me, and I’m so grateful for all the support we receive from the public and our partners to get this vital message out there.”
Founded by Lorraine producer Helen Addis MBE and host Lorraine Kelly CBE in 2019, the campaign aims to destigmatise conversations around breast cancer. Over the past seven years, more than 100 women and one man have contacted the show to report that they have received a breast cancer diagnosis as a result of seeing the campaign.
On a play-action pass, Chargers running back Najee Harris crumpled to the turf before the fake handoff could fully develop, immediately grabbing his left ankle and tossing aside his helmet in pain.
Needing assistance, trainers helped Harris to the sideline, as he was unable to put any weight on his leg, before he was carted to the locker room in the second quarter of a 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Harris, who spent the lead-up to his first season in L.A. recovering from an offseason eye injury in a fireworks accident, was expected to be a key piece of a one-two punch with rookie Omarion Hampton.
Now, he appears to be sidelined for the season with an Achilles injury, according to head coach Jim Harbaugh, who called the diagnosis “preliminary” as Harris underwent postgame imaging.
“Not good,” Harbaugh said of his emotions as the play unfolded. “[I was] just hoping for the best — maybe a high ankle, something else that wouldn’t be long-term.”
Speaking at the podium with a somber tone, Harbaugh said he met with Harris at halftime and described the running back’s demeanor as “cold-blooded,” adding that he told him: “You’ll be back, kid.”
The injury appeared clear on film, according to Dr. Dan Ginader, physical therapist and author of “The Pain-Free Body,” who reviewed video of the play.
“When looking at the calf of the back plant leg, you can see the muscle sort of ‘jump’ which is indicative of a complete tear of the Achilles,” Ginader said. “Players who have suffered this injury often describe it as being hit in the heel with a shovel. … When you see the muscle jump and see the player crumble to the floor, you can be pretty sure it’s a complete tear.”
Before going down, Harris had been featured early Sunday, carrying six times for 28 yards. Durable throughout his career, he had appeared in all 71 games across five NFL seasons before the injury.
If it’s a complete tear, the earliest Harris could return is about eight months, Ginader said, though most players don’t feel fully themselves “until at least 12 months” post-surgery. For a skill player, he added, “it takes longer to be able to come back at full force.”
With Harris out, Hampton is expected to shoulder a bigger role moving forward. Hampton, who calls Harris a mentor, admitted the loss stings.
A decade ago, “Weird Al” Yankovic launched his 12th concert tour, which covered 200 shows over two years. Somewhere along the line, the pop world’s foremost parodist was backstage putting on a fat suit “for literally the 1,000th time” when he was suddenly struck by the desire to “go out on stage and do a show like a regular musician.”
Soon after, he launched his “Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour,” playing small venues with no video screens, no costume changes, no props or choreography, and none of the song parodies that made him famous. The songs were still comedic — “Everything I write winds up a little warped,” he says — but were original tunes that were pastiches of, say, Frank Zappa or They Might Be Giants’ style. He enjoyed it so much he revived the concept a couple of years ago.
Yankovic, 65, has also not released a parody song for more than a decade, in part, he says, because there’s no longer a “monoculture where it’s more obvious what the hits are,” but also because he enjoys the challenges of those original pastiches, some of which take months for him to develop.
“I wanted to prove that I’m more than just the parody guy,” says Yankovic, who also co-wrote the 2022 TV film “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” The loopy biopic satire starred Daniel Radcliffe and earned Yankovic an Emmy nomination for his writing. (Recently, he also had self-parodying cameo in “Naked Gun.”)
“The smaller tours cleansed the palate for me and were fun for my band and the hardcore fans,” he says. “But now we’re back playing the big tent. We’ve ramping up the silliness.”
(Wesley Lapointe / Los Angeles Times)
Now, having proved he was more than the parody guy, Yankovic has re-embraced the whole full-throated “Weird Al” parody thing — his “Bigger & Weirder” tour, which comes to the Kia Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, features plenty of video screens, lots of costume changes and props, and twice as many band members.
And, of course, it features parodies covering decades of pop music: The Knack (“My Bologna”), Michael Jackson (“Eat It”), Madonna (“Like a Surgeon”), Coolio (“Amish Paradise”), Nirvana (“Smells Like Nirvana”) and Robin Thicke (“Word Crimes”).
“The smaller tours cleansed the palate for me and were fun for my band and the hardcore fans,” he says. “But now we’re back playing the big tent. We’re ramping up the silliness.”
That includes reviving not just old songs but also old bits. “Some fans feel comfort in repetition, which is OK,” he says. While he’ll change up individual jokes, “we’re trying not to change too much what people came to see — if we don’t fulfill their expectations, they’re liable to walk away disappointed.”
(His fans are committed enough that some even parody his songs with their own rewrites. Yankovic is particularly impressed by Steve Goodie, who parodied his “Hardware Store” with “Dumbledore” and even has a one-man show called “AL! The Weird Tribute (and How Daniel Radcliffe Got Mixed Up in This Nonsense).” “It’s fun and gratifying and a little ‘Inception’-like,” Yankovic says, although he has yet to parody Goodie’s parody.)
And so band newcomer Probyn Gregory, a musician who worked with Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Eric Clapton, spends “Smells Like Nirvana” dressed like a janitor and mopping the stage as part of the performance. “He’s an amazing artist, but you can’t have a sense of shame and be part of this entourage,” Yankovic says.
For the most part, of course, Yankovic is putting Gregory and the other multi-instrumentalists he hired to more practical uses — three of them are women because he wanted three-part female harmonies, but between them they also can add percussion, guitar, saxophones and more. “I needed somebody that could play the trumpet and then someone to play clarinet for the polkas,” he says. “In the arenas, I hear our sound and think, ‘Wow, this is much, much bigger than it’s ever been.’”
It’s also more layered, with all those instruments enabling him to “stretch and do songs that were out of our reach as a five-piece.”
To show off his band, Yankovic drops the funny stuff at one point in each show, covering a classic song and playing it straight. In recent weeks, the group has played Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” George Harrison’s “What Is Life,” the Box Top’s “The Letter,” the Doobie Brothers’ “China Grove,” and even Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman.”
“It’s a rotating slot and almost every night is something different,” he says. The fans get into it, he says, although when he talks to them about it, he sometimes finds their reactions “baffling.”
“People sometimes say, ‘Oh, you guys can really play. You can really do real music,’” he says. “What do you think we’ve been doing? Just because the words are funny, it’s not real music?”
Yankovic is a “pop culture sponge” and has always listened to various music genres, first for pleasure and then for work. “I just like to soak it in and regurgitate it in my own demented way,” he says. But he was also raised on Dr. Demento, and was heavily influenced by Spike Jones, Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman, and Monty Python. Those comedians taught him that craftsmanship matters even, or especially, when you’re being silly.
“I think that the craftsmanship is one of the reasons that the humor works so well and I think the best parody is material that emulates the original source as closely as possible,” he says. “It helps the joke if you’re sucked into thinking you’re listening to a particular pop song and then think, ‘Wait a minute, these aren’t the lyrics I’m used to.’”
For that to work, the craftsmanship in his writing and arranging must be matched by the musicianship in his band; he hopes his audience appreciates both sides of that coin.
He adds that he thinks he personally has improved over time. “I think I’m a better singer now than I was in the ’80s and I’m a better musician and a better arranger,” he says.
Even with the four newcomers, Yankovic relies heavily on his original band. “I’ve got one of the best bands in the world and they do every genre flawlessly, and that’s what helps make the whole act work,” he says. “The core band has been together for over 40 years and we’re kind of telepathic in the way we communicate now, so we’re a lot better than we were back in the day.”
SHOPPERS are rushing to snap up a £13 Sainsbury’s summer dress, that is super flattering on all body types.
With just a few weeks left of the school summer holidays, many Brits are likely hoping to make the most of the hot weather, with days out at the beach and last-minute trips abroad.
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Shoppers are raving about this gorgeous summer dressCredit: Sainsbury’s
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The stylish frock is already sold out in some sizesCredit: Sainsbury’s
And what better way to get yourself excited for summer plans, than to treat yourself to a brand new frock.
Sainsbury’s Tu is one of the best-loved brands on the high street, and is constantly wowing us with its stylish but affordable fashion.
From cute dresses to on-trend work attire, the supermarket fast-fashion range always hits the mark, and its summer collection is no exception.
Elegant summer dress
One dress in particular that has caught the eye of fashion fans is the Yellow Square Neck Poplin Midaxi Dress which has been slashed from £26 to £13, a saving of 50%.
Read more fashion stories
The stunning frock is perfect for those with bigger busts, as it has chunky straps, meaning you can wear a supportive bra underneath.
It is made with a lightweight fabric, which will keep you cool on hot summer days, and even has pockets, so you don’t even have to take a bag out with you.
Pair the bright-coloured gown with chunky wedge sandals and eye-catching accessories for a statement holiday look.
The dress is available in a wide range of sizes, from size six to size 24.
However, it has proved so popular with fashion fans that it is sold out in some sizes, so you better be quick to snap up the deal.
Shoppers have been raving about the summer frock on the Sainsbury’s website.
One customer said: “I really like the cut and colour of this dress and it has thick shoulder straps so you can wear your regular bra.”
A second said: “I loved this dress from the moment I spotted it in store and thus I purchased it the second I was able to!
“Fabric wise this dress is very much a summer wear, though I suspect if you layer just right you could well push it into winter.”
A third shopper wrote: “This is a lovely dress. Lovely material.
“I’m a size 12 and it fitted perfectly.”
A fourth remarked: “This lovely dress is made out of quality material, in a triumphant colour and cut beautifully.
Is supermarket fashion the new high street?
DEPUTY Fashion Editor Abby McHale weighs in:
The supermarkets have really upped their game when it comes to their fashion lines. These days, as you head in to do your weekly food shop you can also pick up a selection of purse-friendly, stylish pieces for all the family.
Tesco has just announced a 0.7 per cent increase in the quarter thanks to a ‘strong growth in clothing’ and M&S has earnt the title of the number one destination for womenswear on the high street.
Asda’s clothing line George has made £1.5 million for the supermarket in 2023, 80 per cent of Sainsbury’s clothes sold at full price rather than discounted and Nutmeg at Morrisons sales are also up 2 per cent in the past year.
So what is it about supermarket fashion that is becoming so successful?
Apart from the clothing actually being affordable, it’s good quality too – with many being part of schemes such as the Better Cotton Initiative.
A lot of the time they keep to classic pieces that they know will last the customer year after year.
Plus because they buy so much stock they can turn around pieces quickly and buy for cheaper because of the volumes.
It’s a chaotic time in college sports, the rules seeming to change daily and some athletes making nearly as much money as their coaches.
At UCLA, the revenue-sharing era officially starts Friday. Athletes will undoubtedly keep refreshing their PayPal accounts to check for that first payment from the pot of $20.5 million that will be distributed in the first year.
Meanwhile, Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond will be keeping tabs on another bottom line — following up a successful Big Ten debut with something far bigger.
Having tallied 10 conference championships between the Big Ten and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation — more than any other Big Ten school — UCLA could be poised for a breakthrough in its two marquee sports as part of a potentially historic year across the board for its athletic department.
“If you look at our athletic program,” Jarmond, who recently completed his fifth year on the job, told The Times, “there’s an energy and buzz that I feel we haven’t had since I’ve been here, and that’s why I’m most positive now.”
At a recent player-run practice on campus, Jarmond watched Iamaleava step up in the pocket and fire a 50-yard pass down the sideline to wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer.
“Nico made a play that I don’t know how many other guys in the country could make,” Jarmond said, “and I was like, ‘whoa.’ Like, that’s pretty cool, you know?”
There’s lots of intrigue to behold in Westwood these days.
Fresh off a Final Four run, the women’s basketball team bolstered itself with the additions of sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens, a highly coveted transfer from Utah, and freshman Sienna Betts, the younger sister of All-America center Lauren Betts. Oh, and don’t forget that softball slugger Megan Grant will make Pauley Pavilion a second home as part of her bid to become a two-sport standout.
Grant will also once again combine with Jordan Woolery as perhaps the nation’s top-hitting duo in their bid to help the softball team not only make it back to the Women’s College World Series but win the whole thing this time.
The baseball team that just made the College World Series is bringing back shortstop Roch Cholowsky, the probable No. 1 pick in the 2026 Major League Baseball draft, and recently learned that high school pitcher Angel Cervantes will play for the Bruins next season instead of the Pittsburgh Pirates after contract negotiations ended with the recent draftee. Jarmond said he was confident the team could continue to play at Jackie Robinson Stadium in 2026 after a judge issued a stay of legal proceedings that threatened to force the Bruins to go elsewhere.
The men’s water polo team will try to defend its national championship with Ryder Dodd trying to top a season in which the freshman scored a MPSF-record 102 goals.
After finishing as runner-up to national champion Oklahoma, the women’s gymnastics team will welcome a top recruiting class plus the return of two-time Olympic medalist Jordan Chiles.
Jarmond said he appreciates working for a university administration that understands the importance of supporting a strong Olympic sports program, particularly with the 2028 Summer Olympics headed to Los Angeles.
UCLA’s Jordan Chiles competes on the floor exercise during the NCAA women’s gymnastics championships in Fort Worth on April 17.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
“This is the time to continue to invest in our Olympic sports and make sure that we have the excellence that UCLA is known for,” Jarmond said, “and we’re going to uphold that tradition.”
Unlike other schools that have imposed student fees to help offset rising athletic department costs upon the onset of revenue sharing, UCLA officials have not discussed such a move, Jarmond said. The Bruins will instead focus on revenue generation through fundraising, ticket sales, sponsorships and new creative endeavors.
The school plans to partner with an outside firm to help its athletes with content creation to boost their social media following, making them more attractive to brands that could hire them for name, image and likeness deals.
Jarmond said he’s not aware of any NIL deals involving UCLA athletes being rejected by the new College Sports Commission, though there remains a backlog of deals under review. Deals of $600 or more are evaluated by a clearinghouse called NIL Go to ensure they represent fair market value and a legitimate business purpose.
UCLA football coach Deshaun Foster speaks to reporters during Big Ten media days in Las Vegas.
(Louis Grasse / Getty Images)
The role of collectives in offering additional compensation to athletes beyond revenue sharing continues to evolve as part of a shift away from what was previously considered a hard cap on earnings.
“I’m optimistic that it’s going to work out,” Jarmond said of maximizing earnings opportunities for athletes. “I’m optimistic that we will adapt to whatever situation that presents itself based on hard cap, soft cap, whatever cap.”
UCLA is also strengthening the infrastructure of its men’s and women’s basketball teams with the hiring of an assistant general manager for each sport to help with recruiting and navigating the transfer portal.
When it comes to revenue sharing payments, Jarmond said he’s leaving it up to coaches to dictate how much each player makes. Football coach DeShaun Foster said he divvied up his team’s money based on talent, with general manager Khary Darlington and assistant general manager Steven Price assigning values for each player based on previous NFL front office experience dealing with salary structures.
“They loved that we had people explaining to them how you’re getting this money or why you’re not getting this money,” Foster said of his players, “and I think that resonated with them.”
Across all sports, the Bruins are seeking a strong encore after an initial Big Ten season that saw the school place fifth in the Learfield Director’s Cup standings, its best finish since 2018. UCLA athletes posted what Jarmond called a “phenomenal” 3.22 grade-point average through winter quarter (the latest for which figures are available) despite the travel challenges presented by playing in a coast-to-coast conference.
For UCLA athletics to reach the heights that Jarmond wants, its football and men’s basketball teams must win big, and he believes the coaches and influx of talent on each of those teams will give them a chance to do so next season.
Iamaleava’s arrival has generated heightened excitement about a football team that went 5-7 in Foster’s debut season. Jarmond said two recruits he met with on their campus visits mentioned the quarterback as one of the reasons they wanted to come to UCLA.
“You know, we just have more interest and buzz, and it’s cool,” Jarmond said. “I think DeShaun has created that, and Nico and the guys.”
What excites Jarmond most is the potential to be on a victory lap that’s picking up speed.
“This is a great time for UCLA athletics,” Jarmond said, “and I feel like it’s just the beginning.”
The opening scene unfolds onto a bird’s-eye view of a sedan making its way down a stretch of unmarked highway, as Woody Harrelson’s unmistakable drawl is heard off-camera. “You ever wonder if this industry of ours is just chasing its own tail?” he asks.
Matthew McConaughey, in his equally distinctive cadence, shoots back, “No, I don’t wonder. Restrictions, regulations, nickel and diming productions, political lectures,” before the camera pans in for a close-up of the actors.
The sequence pays homage to the gritty, atmospheric crime drama “True Detective.” Indeed, it was directed by Nic Pizzolatto, the show’s creator.
Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey have played major roles in the effort to increase Texas film incentives.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)
In January, this four-minute video, “True to Texas,” was released as part of an unusual campaign by a coalition of A-list actors — Dennis Quaid, Renée Zellweger and Billy Bob Thornton make appearances — independent creatives and Lone Star Republicans to appeal to the Texas State Legislature.
The goal: to help bring increased film incentives to a state not known for its wholesale embrace of Hollywood or government subsidies — particularly for something like the arts.
Despite considerable push back among conservative lawmakers, the effort paid off. Last month Gov. Greg Abbott allowed the passage of an unprecedented bill boosting tax incentives for film production in the state to $300 million every two years — guaranteeing that funding for 10 years. The law goes into effect Sept. 1.
The aggressive bid to nab a slice of Hollywood furthers the ongoing rivalry between California and Texas. Several major Golden State-based companies including Tesla and Hewlett-Packard have relocated to the Lone Star State, lured by lower taxes and its business-friendly environment. It also comes as California is struggling to keep movie and TV production, having recently doubled its own tax incentive ceiling to compete with film subsidies in three dozen other states and abroad.
The new bill puts Texas in a position to become a major player among the growing list of global and regional filming hubs in an industry that has become increasingly unmoored from its historic Hollywood hometown.
“Texas now has a program that is going to be competitive,” said Fred Poston, the executive director of the Texas Media Production Alliance. “When you really take a close look at it, you realize this is a big deal. We have this new level of funding to start building more industry around it.”
The Texas bill is not only bigger and better, but found itself an unlikely champion in Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to make his state the world’s film capital.
(Eric Gay / Associated Press)
“We are not trying to make Texas the next Hollywood — we don’t like Hollywood. We want to export Texas values,” said Patrick in a campaign update. A staunch conservative who has relentlessly opposed legalized marijuana, gambling and abortion, Patrick has vowed “to make Texas the Film Capital of the World.”
The bill, which supports the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund (TMIIF) program, offers tiered grants up to 25% for projects spending $1.5 million in the state. Faith-based films and those that shoot in historic sites or employ a percentage of crew who are Texas-based military veterans can push grants up to 31%.
The governor’s office, through the film commission, has broad discretion over which projects receive funds and awards can be denied at any stage in the review process for material that portrays Texas negatively or contains “inappropriate” content.
Conservative backlash
Still, even with the bill’s Texas-style protectionist wrangling, its passage was far from assured.
Weeks before the Senate vote, there was hand-wringing among conservative lawmakers and others who opposed the bill on economic, moral and even biblical grounds. Critics took swipes at profanity-laced scripts and what they saw as inaccurate portrayals of the state’s oilmen on TV. Some viewed the grants as akin to taxpayer theft. Many shuddered at the thought that the bill would usher in the unholy influence of a debauched Hollywood on Texas.
“The Bible warns us of the consequences of the government wrongfully taking money from some and handing it out to others,” said the Texans for Fiscal Responsibility in one of several papers it published decrying the bill.
Republican State Rep. Brian Harrison called the bill “an abomination. And shame on everybody who voted for it.”
Harrison launched his own “Don’t Hollywood My Texas” crusade.
One of his followers, the Freedom Bard, a self-proclaimed “patriotic” lyricist, recorded an earworm of a protest anthem denouncing the bill with such lyrics as: “Keep your failed policies and your liberal BS.”
“This is big government liberal redistributive socialism,” Harrison told The Times, “The governor and lieutenant governor of the supposedly Republican-controlled state of Texas chose to keep property taxes billions of dollars higher so that you can subsidize a rich liberal Hollywood movie industry — how embarrassing.”
He plans to introduce legislation at a special hearing later this month to repeal the law.
The ‘Third Coast’
Despite the hostility toward Hollywood, Texas was once known as the film industry’s “Third Coast.”
Many of the westerns of the 1920s and ‘30s were filmed in the state.
Texas’ sweeping backdrops and larger-than-life characters have inspired some of the most celebrated movies and television shows, including the 1956 epic “Giant,” the 1974 slasher classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” the 1990 sleeper hit “Slacker” and the acclaimed small-town TV series “Friday Night Lights.”
The 1956 classic “Giant,” starring James Dean, was primarily shot in Texas.
(Warner Bros. / TCM)
The state’s cultural soil has nurtured a fertile creative community with filmmakers like Robert Rodriguez (“El Mariachi”), Wes Anderson (“Bottle Rocket”) and Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”).
By the early 2000s, however, neighboring states began chipping away.
“Texas had been highly competitive, we had all of these ingredients,” said Rebecca Campbell, CEO of the Austin Film Society. “Then all of a sudden, Texas stories were getting shot in New Mexico and Louisiana.”
In 2007, the state established its first program for film incentives, earmarking $20 million. Although the program expanded in later years, it became chronically underfunded, prompting the producers of “Fear the Walking Dead” in 2021 to relocate to Georgia after filming four seasons around Austin.
Linklater had to rework his 2024 romantic crime thriller “Hit Man” starring Glen Powell, originally set in Houston, when filming relocated to New Orleans because of a lack of available incentive funds.
Director Richard Linklater on the set of “Hit Man,” with Adria Arjona and Glen Powell.
(Brian Roedel / Netflix)
“We’re completely surrounded by states that have very active film incentive programs,” Linklater told the podcast “Friends on Film.” “They really support this industry, and you have to do that to compete.”
But a perceptible cultural and economic shift in the Texas landscape began to slowly take shape during the pandemic, when a wave of actors and filmmakers relocated to the state.
Filmmaker Nate Strayer, formerly of Los Angeles, moved to Austin in 2021 and later founded production company Stray Vista Studios.
“We started to realize that we could have an industry here where our stories aren’t being pulled away to other states,” said Strayer, whose company produced the “True to Texas” video.
Noah Hawley has made Austin, Texas, his base of operations.
(Justin Cook / For The Times)
Until the pandemic shut down Hollywood, “Fargo” series creator Noah Hawley flew every other week from his home in Texas to Los Angeles for meetings with his production company when he wasn’t shooting. When the pandemic ended, Hawley found he no longer needed to be based in Hollywood.
Last year he moved his company, 26 Keys, to Austin.
“My wife and I wanted to be a bigger part of our community in Texas,” he said. “What Austin provides for me is more of a local, handmade place.”
The ‘Sheridan effect’
The other wave to hit Texas’ film industry was Taylor Sheridan.
Taylor Sheridan films an episode of “Landman.”
(Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
The “Yellowstone” creator, who grew up in Fort Worth, began filming many of his hit television shows — including “1883” and “Landman” — across the state.
The productions brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses and a stream of tourists in what many began calling “the Sheridan Effect.”
Production of “1883” alone led to 13,325 booked hotel nights in Fort Worth, according to the city’s film commission.
Beyond the economic boom, Sheridan showed that Texas could tell its own stories and help seed larger ambitions.
In February 2023, Lt. Gov. Patrick had dinner with Sheridan.
Shortly afterward, Patrick described Sheridan as the “best screenwriter of our time and one of the best storytellers ever to make movies” and said, “My goal is for Taylor to move all of his TV and movie production to Texas.”
Soon, Sheridan had a multiplier effect.
The Wonder Project, the faith-based, family-oriented production company behind Amazon‘s “House of David,” was established by filmmaker Jon Erwin (“Jesus Revolution”) and former YouTube executive Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten in 2023 with more than $75 million from such investors as Jason Blum, Lionsgate and Leonard Leo, the wealthy conservative lawyer and Federalist Society co-chairman.
Two years ago, Hill Country Studios, a $267-million film and television studio, broke ground in San Marcos. The plans include 12 soundstages spanning 310,000 square feet, two back lots, a virtual production stage and 15 acres of outdoor production space.
Zachary Levi, the star of “Shazam!” and “Chuck,” is raising $40 million to develop his Wyldwood Studios in Bastrop east of Austin. Plans call for two 20,000-square-foot soundstages, along with a hotel, restaurants and homes.
Zachary Levi is planning to create a new kind of studio system in Texas.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP)
“I really felt this … calling on my life to go and build what is essentially a new version in the lineage of United Artists,” he said. “That allows the artist to really take the power back, take their destiny back.”
But for all the activity, there was no getting around the math. If Texas did not pour resources into a substantial rebate program, it would continue to lose out.
The challenge was to convince the conservative Legislature that an incentive program was not simply a Hollywood handout.
Thus began a campaign in spring 2023 with Texas voices advocating for a strong film industry.
That May, “Good for Texas,” the video precursor to “True to Texas,” showcased Lone Star-born actors such as McConaughey, Quaid, Owen Wilson, Powell and others in support of increased incentives.
Filmmaker Chase Musslewhite, a sixth-generation Houstonian who was one of the video’s producers, said she was motivated to get involved when she lost funding for her first feature after her financier opted to shoot in Louisiana.
She joined forces with Grant Wood, a Midland native, who had studied film and ran a Dallas start-up, to launch the Media for Texas advocacy group.
“We wanted to help get the film community aligned and put forth one bill with one idea to make it as easy as possible for the Legislature to push for it,” Musslewhite said.
The Texas Film Commission painted a rosy picture, saying that for every dollar invested in the incentives, Texas received $4 of new money into the economy.
A pivotal moment arrived in late summer 2024. Media for Texas co-hosted a private screening of the film “Reagan,” starring Dennis Quaid, with Patrick at Austin’s Bullock Texas State History Museum. A number of state legislators attended.
Patrick took to the podium and announced his aim to “make Texas the media capital of the world,” Musslewhite recalled.
That was the push people needed, Musslewhite said.
Last October, Patrick convened a special hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, where a new bill for a robust film incentive was front and center.
Patrick marshaled McConaughey, Harrelson, Quaid and Sheridan to support him. Joining the effort was billionaire Ross Perot Jr.
Dennis Quaid, second from left, standing next to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, looking up, at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in March, is one of the many prominent Texas-born Hollywood actors and filmmakers to rally around film incentives.
(Cassie Stricker / Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo)
During the hearing, a denim-clad Quaid voiced his support. “I, for one, feel that the world is beginning to turn right side up again and common sense prevails, and I’d like to see that reflected in our films and entertainment.”
When Sheridan spoke, he expressed regret that his 2016 film “Hell or High Water,” a story of two bank-robbing brothers trying to save their Texas family ranch, had to shoot in New Mexico because of its subsidies.
“No one will be here without the incentives,” the filmmaker said.
During the last stretch before the vote, McConaughey, in a cowboy hat, made a final overture to legislators in March.
“If we pass this bill, we are immediately at the bargaining table for shooting more films and TV and commercials in our state,” he said. “That is money that’s going to local Texas restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, dry cleaners, street rentals, home rentals ― even Woody’s barber,” in a nod to Harrelson, who was also in attendance.
The high-profile campaign worked. Two months later, the bill passed in the Senate with a 23-8 vote, and by June it had become law.
A slippery slope?
Nonetheless, concerns remain about the program.
For one, the bill, which emphasizes a positive portrayal of the state, does not specifically address whether a film or show that has themes such as abortion, gun control or LGBTQ+ characters will receive funding.
In 2010, then-Gov. Rick Perry’s administration yanked funding for the Robert Rodriguez film “Machete” over concerns that the movie portrayed Texas negatively.
Funding for Robert Rodriguez’s film “Machete” was denied over concerns it portrayed Texas negatively.
(Ryan Green / Netflix)
George Huang, professor of screenwriting at UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, cautioned this could be “a very slippery slope.”
“I understand that with incentives you don’t want to appear to fund controversial subjects,” he said. “But where do you draw the line on censorship? Who in the governor’s office is the arbiter of good taste?”
Many inside the Texas film community stress that these are still early days and believe the film office will ultimately take a case-by-case approach.
“I think that those fears are misplaced, because the opportunity for what Texas can provide to the country and to the world outweighs the risk,” Musslewhite said.
For now,the Texas film community is elated.
“Texans kind of warmed up to the idea that if an industry were to grow in Texas, it doesn’t have to look exactly like it looks in some of these other places,” Strayer said. “I think they came to realize that you can kind of write your own rules.”
And what’s more Texan than writing your own rules?
Lord Huron, led by Ben Schneider, are about to release their fifth album
The final song on LA band Lord Huron’s second album flew well under the mainstream radar when it was released in 2015. A decade on, it’s one of the most unlikely success stories in music.
Beyoncé and Dua Lipa may be two of the world’s top pop stars, and both put out new albums last year, but their biggest songs of 2024 did not match the popularity of a 10-year-old track by Lord Huron, according to the official Billboard global end-of-year singles chart.
And Charli XCX may have ruled Brat summer, but her biggest hit still wasn’t as big as The Night We Met by Lord Huron in the UK last year.
Meanwhile, the Lord Huron song is in the exclusive club of tracks that have racked up three billion Spotify plays – a club even Taylor Swift isn’t in yet.
Videos featuring The Night We Met have had another three billion views on TikTok, according to music data tracker Chartmetric.
“It’s unbelievable,” says Lord Huron frontman Ben Schneider of the popularity of his song, which has snowballed in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down.
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It’s not unusual for old songs to become perennial favourites on streaming and social media (see The Killers, Fleetwood Mac and Tom Odell).
What is much rarer is for it to happen to a track that was not a hit the first time around. And The Night We Met was nowhere near.
The aching ballad closed Lord Huron’s second LP of indie folk, Strange Trails, which was well received by the group’s loyal fanbase and critics, but only grazed the US album chart.
The song was written as “a wistful reflection of a relationship, maybe with a sense of regret of where it’s ended up and where it started”, Schneider explains.
“I remember writing that song and feeling like it was a very concise way to end a record. And I remember my wife saying she thought there was something really special to it. But years went by and it wasn’t like it was a hit or anything.
“And then things just started to happen with it.”
Getty Images
The Night We Met had almost a billion streams on Spotify in 2024 alone
The first thing to happen was for it to be used on the soundtrack of Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why in 2017.
At first, Schneider was unsure whether to let it be on the soundtrack, but his wife told him: “Just do it, put it in the show.”
The couple were away in France at the time. “We were gone for a few months, and when we came back my manager was like, ‘Something’s happening with this song’,” the singer recalls.
“I figured it’d be a quick spike and then fade away, but it’s had this weird and pretty unheard of long tail, where rather than falling off into nothing, it fell off and then slowly ramped back up. And it just seems to keep going.”
Schneider recorded a duet version with Phoebe Bridgers for another 13 Reasons Why scene in 2018. Most of its subsequent lease of life has come from its popularity on TikTok.
It has since defied musical gravity by becoming more popular every year. In 2024, it had almost a billion streams on Spotify – 57% more than the previous year, according to Chartmetric.
The song’s lyrics hark back to the start of a soured relationship: “I had all and then most of you / Some and now none of you / Take me back to the night we met.”
“I think everyone can relate to that sort of story and can insert their own biography into it,” Schneider reflects. “It’s a vessel that fits a lot of people’s personal stories. That’s maybe why it’s had such a lasting and slow-burning effect on people.”
The singer says The Night We Met’s success came at a good moment in the band’s career, “because we had already established ourselves in a lot of ways”.
“We already had a very devoted fanbase, so we weren’t necessarily locked into a one-hit-wonder status by that song.
“Even though it far outstrips our other songs in terms of streaming and everything, we have enough going on otherwise to not feel like we’re known only for that one singular moment, which is great.”
Cole Silberman
The band’s new album, The Cosmic Selector, is named after a jukebox that transports people to parallel universes
There is indeed a lot more to the band than one song.
Lord Huron began as a solo project in 2010, before Schneider assembled a full line-up.
They have released four albums of yearning, soulful and haunting Americana – with a fifth coming out on Friday.
Their albums show Schneider’s skill as a storyteller as well as a songwriter, often containing a running thread of a storyline.
Magic jukebox
The new LP is titled The Cosmic Selector Vol 1 – about a 1950s-style jukebox that can transport people to alternate universes, where life has turned out differently after small decisions in the past set them on different paths.
“I guess the past few years, as I’ve been getting a bit older, I’ve just been thinking about all the ways my own life could have gone, or could still go, or might have been,” Schneider explains.
“Not with any sense of regret, but more with a sense of wonder at the sheer randomness of it all, and how different things could have been if very little things had gone another way.
“So I started thinking about a collection of songs representing that randomness – the lottery that one’s lot in life is.”
Getty Images
But the controls of this magic jukebox are “busted”, he says.
“Everything’s mislabelled. What you think you’re selecting might send you a completely different way, and everything’s on the menu – sorrow, joy, horror, love – all the ways a life can go.”
So various characters, including one voiced by actress Kristen Stewart, are put through this dimension-hopping, life-scrambling retro randomiser. Some are based on Schneider himself, others are just made up, he says.
Everyone has their own sliding doors moments when life could have turned out differently. For Schneider, there was the time a jazz combo played in an assembly at grade school.
“I remember watching the bass player and being like, ‘I could be in a band some day’, and a lightbulb turned on in my head,” he says. “I think there’s a myriad of moments like that where I could have chosen one thing and didn’t, so it’s fascinating to consider that.”
The moment in France when his wife persuaded him to allow The Night We Met to be used in 13 Reasons Why was another turning point.
Schneider hit the jackpot in the lottery of life with that sleeper hit. He now hopes its popularity turns people on to the rest of their music.
“I want to keep trying to move forward and making new stuff,” he says. “And hopefully something that we make will have the same kind of impact that song has had.
“And I think over time, stuff we have already made will, I hope.”
Sitting in northern Europe, I shouldn’t care about the New York mayoral race.
Yet, despite all that is happening in the world, the contentious Democratic primary for the 2025 New York City mayoral election has found its way into conversations around me – and onto my social media feed.
This attention isn’t just another example of the New York-centric worldview famously skewered in Saul Steinberg’s 1976 New Yorker cover, View of the World from 9th Avenue. A genuine political struggle is under way, one that has the potential to reverberate far beyond the Hudson River. At its centre is the increasingly polarised contest between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.
The name Cuomo may ring a bell. He resigned as New York’s governor in 2021 following multiple allegations of sexual harassment. While he expressed remorse at the time, his political comeback has been marked by defiance – suing one of his accusers and the state attorney general who found the accusations credible. He claims the scandal was a “political hit job”.
Cuomo’s record in office was far from unblemished. He diverted millions of dollars from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), jeopardising the financial health of New York’s essential public transit system. He formed the Moreland Commission to root out corruption but disbanded it abruptly when it began probing entities linked to his own campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration was accused of undercounting nursing home deaths, allegedly to deflect criticism of policies that returned COVID-positive patients to those facilities.
Given that legacy, one might imagine Cuomo’s chances of becoming mayor would be slim. Yet, he currently leads in the polls.
Close behind him is Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and state assemblyman from Queens. When he entered the race in March, Cuomo led by 40 points. A recent poll now puts Mamdani within 8 points.
Born in Kampala and raised in New York, Mamdani is the first Muslim candidate to run for mayor of the city. But his significance extends beyond his identity. What distinguishes Mamdani is his unapologetically progressive platform – and his refusal to dilute it in the name of “electability”. His appeal rests on substance, charisma, sharp messaging, and a mass volunteer-led canvassing operation.
At the heart of Mamdani’s campaign is a vision of a city that works for working-class New Yorkers. He proposes freezing rents for all rent-stabilised apartments, building 200,000 affordable homes, creating publicly-owned grocery stores “focused on keeping prices low, not making profit”, and making buses free. He supports free childcare for children under five, better wages for childcare workers, and “baby baskets” containing essentials for new parents.
To fund these initiatives, Mamdani proposes increasing the corporate tax rate from 7.25 percent to 11.5 percent, and imposing a 2 percent income tax on New York City residents earning more than $1m annually.
He also wants to raise the minimum wage, regulate gig economy giants like DoorDash, and protect delivery workers. His plan to establish a Department of Community Safety would shift resources away from traditional policing towards mental health and violence prevention.
He further promises to “Trump-proof” New York by enhancing the city’s sanctuary status, removing ICE’s influence, expanding legal support for migrants, defending LGBTQ+ rights and protecting reproductive healthcare access.
But championing such bold policies – as a brown, Muslim candidate – has made Mamdani a lightning rod for hate. Recently, in a rare show of emotion, Mamdani teared up while recounting threats he has received: “I get messages that say the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim. I get threats on my life … on the people that I love.”
The NYPD is investigating two voicemails from an unidentified caller, who labelled Mamdani a “terrorist”, threatened to bomb his car, and ominously warned: “Watch your f..king back every f..king second until you get the f..k out of America.”
Cuomo’s campaign has also played into Islamophobic tropes. A mailer targeting Jewish voters from a Cuomo-aligned super PAC doctored Mamdani’s photo – darkening and lengthening his beard – and declared that he “rejects NYPD, rejects Israel, rejects capitalism and rejects Jewish rights”.
Much of this centres on Mamdani’s outspoken support for Palestinian rights. He has been criticised for refusing to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and for defending the slogan “globalise the intifada”, which he describes as “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights”. He also noted that the Arabic term intifada has been used by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum to describe the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
Despite the attacks, Mamdani’s movement is surging. He has received endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez, Attorney General Letitia James, the New York Working Families Party, United Auto Workers Region 9A, and Jewish Voice for Peace Action.
In contrast, Cuomo is backed by major real estate donors wary of Mamdani’s housing agenda. His campaign has received $1m from DoorDash, presumably in response to Mamdani’s proposed labour protections. Other prominent donors include Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone and hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman – both known for supporting Donald Trump.
Still, Mamdani’s grassroots campaign has continued to gain ground. Whether or not he wins the nomination, his candidacy has already achieved something vital: it has offered proof that an anti-corporate, anti-Trump, community-powered campaign – one rooted in progressive values and refusal to compromise – can resonate with American voters.
But the stakes extend far beyond New York. Across Europe, South America, South Asia and Africa, right-wing populists are gaining ground by exploiting economic precarity, stoking culture wars and vilifying minorities. Mamdani’s campaign offers a clear counter-narrative: one that marries economic justice with moral clarity, mobilises diverse communities and challenges the politics of fear. For progressives around the world, it is a rare and instructive blueprint – not just for resistance, but for rebuilding.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
The winter wails of “Are the Dodgers ruining baseball?” pretty much established the Dodgers as the team other major league owners love to hate. If there is one thing most owners love more than winning, it is cost control. That is why they covet a salary cap.
The team other owners love? It might just be the Angels.
For owners, costs go beyond the salaries of major league players. In 2021, Major League Baseball eliminated 43 minor league teams affiliated with MLB organizations. Why, owners wondered, should we continue to pay two dozen entry-level players to fill out a roster when only two of them might be legitimate prospects?
And what could be more efficient than turning over player development to colleges? The NFL has no minor league. The NBA has one. Even after those 2021 cuts, MLB teams remain affiliated with 14 minor leagues.
That brings us to the Angels. In football and basketball, a first-round draft pick almost always goes from college one year to the NFL and the NBA the next. In baseball, even a first-round draft pick can spend several years in the minor leagues.
The Angels just called up second baseman Christian Moore, who could make his major league debut Friday in Baltimore, and pitcher Sam Bachman. That means the Angels’ roster now includes eight of their first-round picks — including each of their past five, all 25 or younger.
None of them spent even 100 games in the minor leagues, and almost all of that limited time was spent at the highest levels of the minors. This time last year, Moore was preparing for the College World Series with eventual national champion Tennessee. The Angels gave him 20 games at triple-A Salt Lake, in which he hit .350 with a .999 OPS, and summoned him to the majors.
Of the nine players likely to take the field for the Angels on Friday, the team drafted six in the first round: Moore (2024), first baseman Nolan Schanuel (2023), shortstop Zach Neto (2022), and outfielders Jo Adell (2017), Taylor Ward (2015) and Mike Trout (2009). The bullpen would include Bachman (2021) and Reid Detmers (2020).
Angels shortstop Zach Neto walks through the dugout during a game against the Miami Marlins on May 24.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
This is not the only way to win. None of the Dodgers’ past five top draft picks are even in the major leagues, and the team’s current roster includes only two Dodgers’ first-round draft picks: catcher Will Smith (2016) and pitcher Clayton Kershaw (2006).
No matter, of course, because the team’s current roster also includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Total cost for that quartet: $1.6 billion. Total signing bonuses for the eight Angels first-round picks: $30 million.
And there is no evidence to show what we might call the Angels Way — drafting polished college stars capable of getting to the majors in a hurry — is a way to win. The Angels are trying to rebuild without investing heavily in scouting and player development. They have not posted a winning season in 10 years.
As the Angels open play Friday, they are one game under .500. They played .360 ball in April and .500 ball in May, and they have played .700 ball so far in June. They are 4 ½ games out of first place in what appears to be baseball’s weakest division, the American League West.
What the Angels are trying means you absolutely cannot miss on your top draft picks. Although each of their first-rounders this decade now has made the majors, to this point only Neto has displayed star potential. It’s still early, of course, and a team that learned that Ohtani and Trout alone cannot deliver October is hoping to develop a broader base of talent.
The Angels will try again in a few weeks. They have the second overall pick in the July draft. They could aim to fill their Anthony Rendon-sized third-base hole with Oregon State’s Aiva Arquette. On Thursday, prospect analyst Keith Law of The Athletic projected the Angels would take Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle.
“Everyone expects the Angels to take Doyle or (LSU left-hander) Kade Anderson,” Law wrote, “and then put whoever they select in the majors before the ink is dry on the contract.”
That would make nine first-rounders on the major league roster. That, certainly, would be efficient. Negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement start next year, and the Angels Way could embolden owners to eliminate even more minor league teams.
The fans might be rooting for the star-studded Dodgers. The cost-conscious owners are rooting for the Angels.
YOU can spend hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds trying to make a small garden look bigger.
But a plant expert has insisted you don’t need to shell out to give the illusion of more space, as you can get the same results with a 48p buy.
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If you’ve got a small garden, there are some clever ways you can give the illusion of more spaceCredit: Getty
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A hanging planter is one such trick, and this gorgeous macrame one is 48p on SheinCredit: Shein
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Use a well-placed mirror to reflect the light in your green space tooCredit: Getty
The bargain in question is from Shein – a macrame plant hanger.
“Hanging planters are a brilliant way to add layers to a small garden without cluttering the ground,” Beards & Daisies‘ lead horticulturalist Connor Towning explained.
“Use them for trailing plants like English ivy, boston fern, or even strawberries if you want to grow fruit.”
They also work well on a balcony, as hanging planters make them “feel like little hideaway – kind of like having your own mini garden retreat in the middle of the city,” the company’s founder Jo Lambell added.
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Another way to maximise a garden with limited ground space is with a vertical planting wall.
“Think herbs, trailing plants, or colourful bedding in planters attached to trellises or wooden pallets,” Jo suggested.
“It’s a high-impact look that also smells incredible when you include rosemary, mint or thyme.”
You can even try making one yourself, just by mounting an old metal shoe rack to a wall.
Tilt it, and make sure it’s properly secured so that you can sit small potted plants on it at an angle – creating an “eye-catching, space-saving solution that turns clutter into a garden feature”.
It’s also worth looking at furniture with a dual purpose – such as a planter that doubles as a storage bench – to “maximise functionality while keeping your garden clutter-free”.
I gave my garden a small patio corner using black and white paint from B&Q and people say it’s ‘gorgeous’
Make the most of the corners in your garden too.
You can turn one into a mini wildflower garden, using seeds such as a mix of cornflowers, poppies and cosmos.
“Sowing a small patch of wildflower seeds in a deep planter can support bees and butterflies,” Connor added.
“It’s one of the most rewarding things you can do for wildlife, and it adds a beautiful texture.”
Another option is to create a corner seating area – which you can do for less with reclaimed wooden pallets.
Add some weatherproof cushions to make a “snug lounge area that’s both budget-friendly and space-efficient”.
How To Make Your Small Garden Look Bigger
Garden design expert Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote.co.uk has created a guide on how to make your small garden look larger.
Add shelves – for additional storage and place to hold more plants.
Use foldaway furniture – to take up less space when not in use.
Add privacy – with fencing, trellis, brick walls or hedging.
Add a water feature – to make your garden seem like a natural retreat.
Go bright – when choosing plants, opt for bold colours to make the space pop.
Use large planters – to get more plants in less space.
Plant vertically – add plants upwards to make your garden seem fuller, and therefore, bigger.
Use blue flowers at the edges – blue flowers and plants recede into the distance and make the garden appear bigger.
Grow tall plants – it’s better to think big when it comes to a small garden.
Keep clutter a minimum – as it can give the illusion of less space than there actually is.
Lastly, there are some other illusions you can create with light and space, such as placing a mirror on a wall or fence to “visually double” the space.
Consider planting pale coloured flowers and plants such as white petunias, pale pink geraniums, or daisies to reflect light and make the space look bigger.
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Dust off your DIY skills to put together a garden furniture set from old palletsCredit: Getty
A MAN and his company have been charged after a 27 tonne mountain of rotting rubbish was dumped in a road.
The mound of industrial waste, which is longer than two double-decker buses combined, was dumped by fly-tippers back in January.
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The27 tonne mound of rubbish was fly-tipped on Watery Lane, LichfieldCredit: BPM
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A man and a company have now been charged for dumping the wasteCredit: BPM
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The pile is longer than two double-decker buses combinedCredit: PA
Furious locals complained about being trapped inside their homes by the humongous 80ft mountain of waste.
Local businesses were also been left stranded due to the blockage on Watery Lane in Lichfield,Staffordshire.
Now, Lichfield District Council said a man from Uttoxeter now faces multiple charges.
These include depositing waste, endangering road users, dangerous driving, breaching HGV drivers’ hours regulations, and obstructing the highway.
A company, based near Stafford, has been charged with depositing the waste and obstructing the highway.
Resident Elaine Hutchings, who owns a livery yard, previously said that the festering pile could be smelled from a distance.
She explained that the rural road – which was already inaccessible on one end due to ongoing works – was now completely unusable.
She said: “It’s industrial rubbish, building waste, you can smell it.
“Watery Lane is used as a cut-through. The one end was already shut due to scheduled works and this being dumped this morning means residents and businesses will be left isolated.”
She added that nine or ten households had been cut off – with a small number, including Elaine’s, able to escape their properties via an alternative route set up by housing developer Redrow.
The local told how staff from Lichfield District Council had been on-site to move the build-up, adding: “I had a message from a farmer and they sent me a photograph.
“I drove up and called the council, councillors and the police were already there.
“They are trying to sort the logistics of trying to get it moved.”
Both the man and company who have been charged are due to appear at Cannock Magistrates’ Court on July 1.
Councillor Doug Pullen, the leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “This was an appalling act of environmental crime.
“Local people woke up to find their only route to and from their homes completely blocked, and the cost to the taxpayer of removing and disposing of the waste was nearly £10,000.
“Thanks to the swift action of our environmental health officers, suspects were quickly identified, leading to these charges.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to fly-tipping, because that’s what our communities rightly expect.
“This case is about more than prosecution. It’s about protecting our environment, supporting law-abiding businesses, safeguarding local people—and sending a strong message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated.”
CRIMINAL OFFENCE
FLY-TIPPING means dumping waste illegally, instead of using the kerbside collection service or your local recycling centre.
From a bin bag left in front of your bin store or on the street to a mountain of tyres abandoned in a field, it’s all flytipping.
Flytipping is a criminal offence. If you’re caught you face a fixed penalty notice of £200.
But if you get taken to court, you could be fined up to £40,000 or sent to prison for a maximum of five years.
It’s up to you to store and dispose of your household waste legally, safely and responsibly.
This means using your bins correctly and taking them in again once emptied. Check your local Council website for the correct way to use your bins.
If you have any information relating to a flytipping incident you can report it anonymously on your local council website.
Credit: The Scottish Government / Glasgow City Council
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The mound was 10ft highCredit: PA
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Resident Elaine Hutchings said that the festering pile could be smelled from a distanceCredit: PA
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Aerial shots reveal the full length of the moundCredit: PA
