WASHINGTON — President Trump can’t seem to stop talking about Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
He refused to invite him to a White House dinner later this week with state leaders from both parties, saying he was “not worthy” of the event. And he has castigated Moore for a sewage spill that has spoiled the Potomac River, even though the faulty pipe is part of a federally regulated utility.
There could soon be more reasons for Trump to complain about Moore, the nation’s only Black governor currently in office. Moore is trying to redraw Maryland’s congressional map to boost Democrats, part of a nationwide redistricting battle that Trump started to help Republicans in the midterm elections.
If Moore can overcome resistance from a key member of his own party in the state legislature, the tide could continue to shift in Democrats’ favor.
Moore, who is frequently floated as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, is the vice chair of the National Governors Assn., which is meeting in Washington this week for its annual conference. He sat down with the Associated Press on Wednesday at the start of his visit. Here is a transcript of the interview, edited for length and clarity.
Redistricting
Q: You met with Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries to talk about redistricting. Can you tell me what your understanding was leaving that meeting and whether there will be an up-and-down vote in the Maryland legislature?
A: All we’re asking for is a vote. And however the vote goes, however the vote goes. But that’s democracy.
Q: What do you see as your role in the party?
A: I don’t look at it as I’m doing it because I’m trying to help a party per se. I’m doing it because I think we have an unchecked executive and right now Congress does not seem interested in actually doing its job and establishing real checks and balances.
And I’m watching what Donald Trump is doing. This would not be an issue had it not been for Donald Trump saying, you know what, let me come up with every creative way I can think of to make this pain permanent. And one of the ways he did was he said, let’s just start calling states — the states I choose — to say let’s have a redistricting conversation mid-decade.
This would not even be an issue had Donald Trump not brought this up and introduced this into the ecosystem.
Trump relationship
Q: Speaking of the president, do you have thoughts on why he’s been stepping up his criticism of you on everything from not inviting you to the dinner to his criticism of the Potomac River sewage spill?
A: This one would actually be comical if it weren’t so serious. This is a Washington, D.C., pipe that exists on federal land. How this has anything to do with Maryland, I have no idea. I think he just woke up and just said, I hate Maryland so I’m just going to introduce them into a conversation. This literally has nothing to do with us, with the exception of the fact that when we first heard about what happened, that I ordered our team to assist Washington, D.C.
The short answer is I don’t know. I cannot get into the president’s psyche.
Q: Do you think it’s personal?
A: I know it’s not for me. I have no desire to have beef with the president of the United States. I didn’t run for governor like, man, I can’t wait so me and the president can go toe to toe. I have no desire on that. But the fact that he is waking up in the middle of the night and tweeting about me, I just, I pray for him and I just feel bad for him because that has just got to be a really, really hard existence.
Trump and Black History Month
Q: The White House is holding an event right now commemorating Black History Month. Could you share your thoughts on the president’s relationship with the Black community?
A: Listen, I think the president has long had a very complicated history with the Black community. We’re talking about a person who has been sued from his earliest days from his treatment of Black tenants. We’re talking about a person who is one of the originators of birtherism. We’re talking about a person who has now spent his time trying to ban books about Black history, a person who has spent his time now doing the greatest assault on unemployment of Black women in our nation’s history. You know, so, I’m not sure what anyone is going to gain from an event by Donald Trump about Black history.
2028
Q: Do you think the next presidential nominee on both sides might come from this group of governors?
A: I see the governors as in many ways the final line of defense because I think it’s never mattered more who your governor is.
Q: The country is so polarized. How do we break the fever?
A: You stay consistent with who you are. I think if you’re a polarizing person or polarizing personality, then that’s just who you are. That’s just never been me.
Cappelletti and Sloan write for the Associated Press.
WE’RE in half-term, and you might be regretting that you didn’t book a holiday.
Well, you’re in luck because there are some great destinations across the UK – with availability at hotels and holiday parks still – that actually look like they could be elsewhere.
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There are a number of locations across the UK that look like somewhere else…Credit: Getty – Contributor
Whether you are envying your friend in the Caribbean or wish you visited family in Italy, you could just head off to somewhere in the UK that looks similar…
Swap the Caribbean for Argyll and Bute
On the west coast of Scotland, you will find Argyll and Bute – a region with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters just like the Caribbean.
In fact, the region has a total of 28 inhabited islands.
One island you could visit is the Isle of Bute, which boasts a mild climate and some of the houses on the island even have palm trees.
The area is home to a number of castles as well, that can be explored.
Oban is often considered the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ and is well known for its seafood, making it the ideal place to stay in the region.
You can explore Oban Distillery or head to McCaig’s Tower, for example.
When it comes to choosing somewhere to stay, Oban has lots of options.
A great budget option is Premier Inn Oban hotel for a family of four from £94 a night this week.
Argyll and Bute is made up of 28 inhabited islandsCredit: Getty
Swap Italian lakes for Lake District
Instead of heading to Lake Como and exploring busy restaurants and villas hidden in the trees, head to Windermere in the Lake District.
Thouggh Lake Windermere doesn not compare in size to Lake Como, it is is the largest lake in England.
And around a mile from its edge, yu will find the town of Windermere.
The town makes the perfect base for exploring the vast lake and surrounding countryside, which are ideal for active families as there are lots of spots to go for a hike.
And if you want to experience a boat trip like one of the ones on Lake Como, you can do this on Lake Windermere as well.
For example, Windermere Lake Cruises offers daily cruises usually lasting around 45 minutes to two-and-a-half hours.
Right at the edge of the lake, you can stay at Fallbarrow Holiday Park.
A caravan for three nights from February 20 costs from £295 for up to six people, with two bedrooms and a sofa bed.
In the Lake District, you can go on a boat tour just like you would in Lake ComoCredit: Getty
Swap Italy for Portmeirion
Portmeirion in Wales is known for being an Italianate-style village with sub-tropical gardens.
The village overlooks the Dwyryd Estuary and features pastel-coloured buildings.
When it comes to things to do in the village, head to the Gwyllt, which is a 70-acre subtropical woodland that surrounds the village.
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse said: “With visitors likening it to ‘a slice of Italy on the British coast’, I had high hopes, but I wasn’t sure what my boys would make of it considering it’s quite far removed from our usual holiday haunt.
“I needn’t have worried though, as the Portmeirion magic seems to cast a spell over young and old.
“Made up of colourful houses and vibrant gardens set around a bay, the charming hotel-cum-holiday-park features two four-star hotels, one of which is set inside a castle, plus a motor-home park and several self-catering cottages.”
You’ll need to grab a day pass to visit, which during the winter costs £10 per adult and £5 per child.
While there is no availability for the Portmeirion Hotel left for this week, you can stay in one of the village rooms from £310 a night for four people.
The family suites have two bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchenette and a lounge.
And for the price, it also includes breakfast.
Portmeirion is an Italianate style village on the edge of an estuaryCredit: Alamy
Swap the French Riviera for English Riviera
Dubbed the English Riviera, the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham in Devon are the perfect UK seaside getaway.
It got its name as the English Riviera when Victorians started visiting the area more frequently and compared its mild climate and pretty coastal views to the Mediterranean French Riviera.
And, if you head to Torquay – which is known as the Queen of the English Riviera – you will find lots of palm trees lining the promenade, just as if you were in the Med itself.
This region of Devon features 22 miles of coastline to explore, with lots of dramatic red cliffs (thanks to the iron in the soil), sandy beaches and hidden coves.
Across the three towns, you won’t be short of options when it comes to looking for somewhere to stay.
For example, you could stay at the new Hotel Indigo Torquay by IHG which overlooks the beach and sea.
The hotel still has availability for this week, with a king suite sea view with sofa bed for four people costing from £158 per night.
Through Parkdean Resorts you can stay for three nights from this Friday, costing from £119 for an apartment.
The apartments are in a range of areas including the picturesque towns of Totnes and Dartmouth and usually can sleep up to six people.
And the UK has it’s very own English Riviera, with palm treesCredit: Getty – Contributor
Swap Normandy for the Jurassic Coast
The Normandy coast in France is known for its dramatic, chalky cliffs often home to tonnes of fossils.
Instead of flying away this half term, head to the portion of the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.
Just like the Vaches Noires cliffs in France, the Jurassic Coast features towering cliff faces, with sandy and pebbly beaches at the bottom ideal for exploring to find dinosaur fossils.
In total, the Jurassic Coast stretches over 95 miles, but in Dorset you will find the natural limestone arch of Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, known for its shell-shaped curve that is a result of erosion.
Head to the town of Lyme Regis, which is a popular place to set off fossil hunting from.
Though, depending on what beach you visit, make sure to check that fossil hunting is okay, as some beaches do not allow you to chisel at the rocks.
Near to Lyme Regis, you could stay at Newlands Holiday Park in a poolside apartment from February 18 to 21 sleeping up to four people, costing around £375.
The apartment overlooks the pool with one double room and one twin room.
In other destination news, our 2026 Travel Hot List as we reveal our ten must-visit destinations of the year.
Crime drama fans are being urged to watch the show if they haven’t already
Crime drama fans have branded the show as a must watch
Crime drama fans have highly recommended a “disturbing series” that made them feel physically sick, and it is available to stream.
Spanning across four seasons, True Detective has become a firm favourite amongst fans of police drama, with many branding it the “best show ever” and a binge worthy instalment.
Season 4 was released back in 2024, first premiering in the US on HBO and Sky Atlantic in the UK, with the series bringing in its highest viewing since it first debuted.
And it is streaming on Now TV and Sky as fans of crime drama are being urged to add it to their watch list if they haven’t already. Each season follows new detectives as they get to grips with a disturbing investigation.
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This delivers live and on-demand TV without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Last of Us and Squid Game.
Now TV teased: “The lives of police detectives as they chase criminals, using unconventional methods. The officers struggle to gain control of their own personal demons as they attack different cases.”
Despite news of a fifth season being given the green light by HBO, some viewers are only just tuning in to the show for the first time.
In a TikTok video, one fan had not realised a previous season had been released as they said Night Country was worth a watch, adding: “Honestly you need to watch it.”
They continued: “They are all really good, and i mean they are good.”
Admitting they were now “glued” to their televisions screen, the TV fan added: “I’m glued now that’s me for the day, I’ll be on this all day now.
“If you’ve not seen it and you’re looking for something good to watch, I’d highly recommend this because it really is good..”
One person replied: “The first ever true detective is the best by far.” Another wrote: “It’s brilliant but disturbing, it takes a lot to churn my stomach but this did.”
A third added: “First series totally unbelievably good.” A fourth commented: “The first series is unbelievable, one of my most favourite shows ever.”
With an impressive score on 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences praised the “masterpiece” anthology series. One person wrote: “Outstanding. Really love Jodi and hope she keeps coming back to give us more. Rare talent!£
Another said: “I thought this season was possibly the best one yet, very spooky but also plenty of mystery and suspense and big coverups and murders to uncover.”
A third echoed: “It’s crime-horror-supernatural, but grounded in the realities and particular social circumstances of this small Alaskan mining town. Probably my favourite crime drama I’ve seen in a long time.”
A fourth penned: “One of the few things shows hooked me to the point where I “binge watched” the whole thing.”
The True Detective is available to stream on Now TV in the UK.
For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.
A NEW luxury train experience is coming to the UK later this year.
A new carriage will appear on the British Pullman named Celia, after the fictional character created by director Baz Luhrmann and cinematic designer Catherine Martin.
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Celia will be on the British Pullman from summer 2026Credit: BelmondThe carriage will be an original carriage from 1932Credit: Belmond
According to the duo, Celia is a West End icon from the 1930s who once played Titania in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Set in an original 1932 Pullman carriage, Celia will boast a cocktail bar, lounge, dining and entertainment area that feels as if you are heading back to the 1930s.
Up to 12 guests at a time can experience the carriage via private and bespoke events.
The carriage is designed to create a luxury private dining experience, as well as showcase the train carriage’s historical charm.
During the day, Celia will be a reception carriage and then in the evening it will turn into the “most refined venue”.
When guests reserve Celia for an event, a Guest Experience Curator will plan each detail.
Passengers will also get private luxury transfers within Greater London to and from London Victoria.
And there will even be a personal chef, butler and steward.
On the menu, passengers can create their own brunch, lunch and dinner menus.
Welcome drinks, such as a seasonal cocktail or champagne, will also be provided.
And to elevate the experience even more, there will be bespoke activities available to book.
Baz Luhrmann said that Celia is based on a woman who, after a Sunday matinee of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, headed off with her friends to escape the crowds and head on the British Pullman.
Baz said: “From the moment someone receives an invitation, or chooses to board Celia, they should be drawn instantly into her world and be swept into the glamorous, mysterious life of the actress for whom the carriage was named.”
He added: “Celia also has the capacity to transform into a performance space; I have no doubt a musical artist could have great fun staging an unplugged session or making an album announcement there.
And it has been designed by director Baz Luhrmann and cinematic designer Catherine MartinCredit: Belmond
“And of course, we’ll be fitting out the carriage with a terrific sound system and speakers to support that.”
On the idea behind the carriage, Catherine Martin revealed that once they had Baz’s character of Celia, the interior design of the carriage was based on Celia’s life story.
Baz added: “We’re both devoted lovers of slow travel as there’s an undeniable magic and romance to these kinds of journeys.
“It’s a form of travel that lends itself to being told in the most evocative and cinematic ways.”
“In 2008, my wife, my then-7-year-year-old daughter and I were going to take Amtrak from Los Angeles to Chicago, but the Amtrak booking agent screwed the reservations up so badly that we instead decided to take a train from Montreal to Vancouver.
There was some poignancy to this, as my grandmother was a picture bride from Greece. She had grown up on a small Dodecanese island and crossed the Atlantic in the 1920s. For the last leg of her journey, she took a train from Montreal to meet my grandfather (for the first time) in Vancouver. They met on a Saturday and married on a Monday in a Russian Orthodox Church. Experiencing the same journey that my grandmother had taken seemed like a good vacation hook.
Montreal was our point of departure, an enchanting city with fantastic food and charming denizens. After a few days we headed out to Toronto on a commuter-style train. It was perfectly adequate, but not particularly enchanting, and certainly not what my grandmother would have traveled on.
In Toronto, my daughter and I had afternoon tea at the Fairmont Royal York across from the train station, where we embarked on a more picturesque excursion.
We had a triple compartment. It was located in a stainless-steel streamlined car that was built in the 1950s, spot on for our little family of Midcentury Modern enthusiasts. We saw the train snake through Ontario forests, felt it rumble along Canada’s midwestern plains and then head up through the spectacular Canadian Rockies. There were plenty of bear, elk and other wildlife sightings along the way. We ate surprisingly good food like trout and pork chops for dinner. At night we watched train movies like “Murder on the Orient Express.”
We got off in Jasper, the Yellowstone of Canada, filled with glaciers, craggy mountains, waterfalls, rivers and spectacular vistas. We took bike and horseback rides. When I admonished my 7 year-old for complaining too much during a particularly wonderful excursion, she retorted, “Daddy, complaining is my passion!”
After a few days we got back on the train and headed to Vancouver. This was another scenic parade of mountains, rivers and forests.
In Stanley Park I pondered my grandmother’s voyage. Our trip was one of leisure. Hers was a life decision to escape the bleak prospects of an island girl.”
