glimpse

At her players’ request, Cori Close showed up inside Pauley Pavilion five hours before tipoff. The UCLA women’s basketball coach was joined by her assistants and managers for pregame shooting at 6:30 a.m., so many players filling the court that the sessions had to be staggered.

Three days after a lackluster showing in their season opener, the Bruins felt they had something to prove in their first game at home. The additional work before facing UC Santa Barbara on Thursday reflected their commitment.

“I mean, I never have to coach this team’s work ethic,” Close said. “That is never in question. And so that’s a really fun place to be in.”

The day’s biggest gratification would come later, the third-ranked Bruins resembling an All-Star team at times during an 87-50 rout of the Gauchos that showed glimpses of the firepower they hope to fully unleash by season’s end.

Forward Gabriela Jaquez revealed one of the best long-range shooting displays of her career, making four of seven three-pointers on the way to 21 points. Point guard Kiki Rice was a constant playmaker in her return to the starting lineup while scoring 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds and distributing three assists. Shooting guard Gianna Kneepkens added another dimension to the offense with four more three-pointers and 20 points.

It was the first time the Bruins had three players score 20 or more points since four of them did it against Bellarmine in November 2023.

“There’s so many weapons that I feel like it’s hard for the defense to choose what to take away,” Kneepkens said, “so I think really what makes this team special is that on any night it could be someone’s night, so that’s a really hard thing to scout.”

The challenge for the Bruins (2-0) could be to maximize all that talent.

Close said Rice had sent her an Oklahoma City Thunder news conference in which the team talked about building rhythm with its offense by best utilizing the players who were hot on any given night.

“We’re not quite there yet,” Close said. “We’re not playing with great rhythm. … I think we just haven’t totally found that flow yet.”

UCLA guard Kiki Rice drives to the basket past UC Santa Barbara guard Zoe Shaw during the second half Thursday.

(Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

Part of that could be pinned on Rice still rounding into form from a shoulder injury and fellow point guard Charlisse Leger-Walker (eight points, seven assists, three steals) playing in only her second game since returning from a lengthy injury layoff.

The Bruins were also without Sienna Betts (lower leg) and Timea Gardiner (knee) for a second consecutive game. Close said there remained no timetable for Betts’ return even as she continued to progress.

But Close said she liked the way her players responded after describing them as “flat all the way around” in their opener, a 24-point victory over San Diego State.

“The film session after that was not fun. Practice was not fun,” Close said. “And their willingness to say, ‘This is what we need. We need to be challenged. We didn’t meet the standard’ — I’m really impressed with their willingness to do that.”

After some lackadaisical UCLA defense in the first quarter, there was a stretch in the second quarter in which the Bruins made it difficult just to get the ball past halfcourt.

Jaquez stuck out a hand, tipping an outlet pass to herself before going in for a driving layup in which she was fouled. On the Gauchos’ next possession, Leger-Walker came up with another steal, leading to a Rice layup.

It wasn’t long before Jaquez and teammate Lauren Betts (12 points, seven rebounds, six assists) used a double team along the sideline to force another turnover.

Closing the half on a 19-2 run, the Bruins surged into a 51-26 lead. UCLA also benefited from an oddity midway through the second quarter when the Gauchos (1-1) were assessed a technical foul for having a player wearing a jersey number that didn’t correspond with the scorebook.

For UCLA, the biggest challenge might have been scheduling the game.

Close said she’s struggled to get teams to agree to play the Bruins after their Final Four run, calling every school in the state from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. Most of UCLA’s marquee nonconference games, starting with a showdown against Oklahoma on Monday in Sacramento, will be at neutral sites.

“They kept saying it’s the Lauren Betts factor and I was like, ‘No, it’s the you’re scared factor. Come on,’ ” Close said. “I actually really lose respect for people who aren’t willing to step up and play hard people.”

The Gauchos eagerly complied in part because they were Close’s alma mater and the spot where she coached for nine years.

“Thank you to them for stepping up and coming into Pauley,” Close said, “and wanting to get better at their craft and growing the game.”

For the Gauchos, given the way things went, they might be owed a Christmas card as well.

Early to rise, the Bruins also put an early end to any upset hopes.

It’s hard to believe this stunning town is within the UK, and it’s the perfect place for Brits to get away

Tucked away in North Devon, this charming town offers a seaside escape with views so breathtaking it’s been likened to Switzerland.

Lynton & Lynmouth is famed for its awe-inspiring natural beauty, attracting Brits who are keen to experience its unique environment, which feels worlds away from the rest of England. Indeed, its spectacular waterfalls and expansive landscapes could easily be mistaken for those found in a mountainous European town, rather than a British coastal resort.

These vistas can be admired from the famous Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, offering families the opportunity to ascend high into the mountains. This isn’t your average railway – it’s multi-award-winning, having first opened its doors in 1890 as the steepest and highest entirely water-powered railway in the world.

The cliff railway itself is a major draw for tourists, nestled in the heart of Exmoor National Park. It seamlessly connects the towns of Lynton and Lynmouth, providing unforgettable coastal views that will stay etched in your memory forever.

Its iconic structure is one of only three of its kind globally and remains a grade II listed building. With regular services throughout the day, waiting times are typically short, and prices are reasonable at just £3.75 for adults and £2.25 for children, reports the Express.

One holidaymaker took to TripAdvisor to share their delightful experience, writing: “Had an amazing time here, Lynton is a town with shops and beautiful scenery. You have the cliff railway to Lynmouth village that took my breath away. It was an overwhelmingly little village that definitely had little Switzerland feel.”

Another traveller added: “Excellent village and fantastic view; you can feel like you’re in a small village in Switzerland, and the village is absolutely free compared with Clovelly, where you have to pay to see the village.

“When you get to Lynton, you have to go by Cliff Railway, which will cost you around 11 pounds for a family of four but is absolutely worth it.”

The charming twin villages are nestled within Exmoor National Park, a haven of tranquillity and serenity. Whether you’re seeking breathtaking views of babbling brooks and deep valleys or yearning for a sense of adventure, the national park caters to all.

Tucked away within the park are several stunning waterfalls, reminiscent of those found across the picturesque landscapes in Switzerland. Two particularly renowned ones are Watersmeet, nestled quietly within woodland and coastal trails.

However, to witness them in their full splendour, it’s best to visit after a heavy downpour.

A visitor shared on TripAdvisor: “A walk down steeply wooded paths, with many seats along the way to stop and admire the place, to a magical meeting of two rivers and waterfalls. A charming house, now a cafe, offers delicious food, and there are many trails to explore.”

The eight uncapped players in the Wales squad are Mia Ross, Annie Wilding, Gwen Zimmerman, Scarlett Hill and Amy Richardson, who get their first call-ups, while Poppy Soper, Teagan Scarlett and Tianna Teisar are hoping to make their Wales debuts having been involved with previous squads.

Charlton Athletic midfielder Ross, who has played for England at under-19 and under-23 level, might have played for Wales already were it not for injury.

“Mia, firstly, is a fantastic person. I’ve been in communication with Mia pretty much since I got the job. I’ve been watching her,” said Wilkinson.

“I think she’s got a vision and an understanding of space that’s always really interested me and intrigued me, and it’s a big decision to choose a nationality to play for.

Wilkinson added both player and coach had taken their time and had lots of good conversations before commiting.

“Equally no-one will come into this squad if they’re not the right person for this squad. So yes, she was part of the England pathway, but there’s a type of person that I know can fit in well with this Welsh team,” the head coach explained.

“We have to keep our Welsh heritage, our Welsh understanding strong, that connection and passion for the flag, for the badge, has to be paramount. If that person that I’m looking at doesn’t have that, then I stop recruiting them.

“And from the beginning, Mia’s been very clear that this was something she was interested in, that she felt very strongly about, and we haven’t forced or pushed those conversations, it’s happened quite naturally, and she then got injured.

“So we gave her space and now she’s back playing well, and we’re really looking forward to having her for the first time in with the group.”

THE first glimpse of a popular UK seaside town’s £20million beachfront transformation has been revealed in brand new footage.

Located in the heart of Devon, the new project is set to redefine a stretch of stunning British coastline.

An incredible new fly-through tour has provided residents with a first look at Paignton’s bright future.

The ambitious new plans include the instalment of vital flood protection and upgrades to public areas.

After being appointed by Torbay Council, the construction firm Knights Brown has revealed that it is preparing for full-scale works to commence in early November.

The project is set to unfold in three key phases.

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It aims to protect homes, businesses, and community areas from coastal flooding, while also introducing brand new promenades, seating zones, landscaping and improved lighting.

Phase one will focus on Paignton Green North, with work scheduled for completion before the English Riviera Airshow in May 2026.

The following phase will aim to tackle Paignton Green South.

While a separate single-phase scheme at Preston seafront is due to start at the end of the year.

The £20million project is being funded by the UK government and the Environment Agency as part of broader efforts to strengthen climate resilience.

Construction zones are expected to briefly pause during the 2026 six-week summer holiday period.

Throughout construction residents will also still be able to access both beaches.

Promenades will also stay open but may be narrowed in places.

The green spaces surrounding the work will also remain fully accessible and local businesses will continue to run as usual.

Cllr Chris Lewis, deputy leader and cabinet member for place development and economic growth at Torbay Council, said: “This marks Paignton’s first large-scale transformational project—an initiative that goes far beyond flood defence.

“It will deliver a dramatically enhanced seafront experience for all, with modern design and improved public spaces that add lasting value to the area.

“More than protection, this scheme is about unlocking Paignton’s future as a thriving, vibrant coastal town.”

Mike Crook, divisional director at Knights Brown, added: “We’re proud to be working in partnership with Torbay Council on this game-changing project for Paignton and Preston.

“We have vast experience in coastal and marine projects, having worked on schemes across Wales and the UK, including Mumbles in Wales and Associated British Ports in Southampton.

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“Our team is excited to contribute to Paignton and Preston’s future—not just through construction, but by being an active and positive presence in the community.

“We look forward to working closely with residents, businesses and local organisations to ensure this project benefits everyone.”

The Lakers’ first practice of the week gave them hope of what they can look like whole when Marcus Smart takes the court.

Smart has been dealing with Achilles tendinopathy most of training camp and has been limited in practice. But coach JJ Redick said after practice Tuesday that Smart “did most of practice, including some live play.”

Redick said LeBron James and Luka Doncic — along with Maxi Kleber (quad) and Gabe Vincent — did “modified, mostly individual work.”.

“Marcus participated in some live [practice] and then was out at the end,” Redick said. “Yeah he was awesome. He was awesome. He, I think given the workload of today, I was impressed that he was able to sustain his level of intensity for as long as he did.”

Redick said Doncic was out for “load management.” Then Redick laughed.

Smart has been one of the NBA’s better defenders over his career, winning defensive player of the year for the 2021-22 season while playing for the Boston Celtics and being named to the All-Defensive first team three times — 2019, 2020 and 2022.

That will be a big part of his role with the Lakers, and during practice they got a glimpse of his defensive tenacity.

“Yeah, he guarded me a little bit at the first of practice,” Austin Reaves said. “You still feel that pressure. You feel the intensity that he brings on the defensive end, and that’s going to be big for us. We need that. We need him to be the best version of himself. With that communication that he brings, especially defensively, he’s been in the league a while. He knows how to win at the highest level. So, very excited to have him.”

After the Washington Wizards bought out his contract, Smart received several calls from Doncic about joining the Lakers.

Smart eventually signed with the Lakers for two years and $11 million.

At practice Tuesday, Smart left an impression.

“He looked great. He was moving great,” Jarred Vanderbilt said. “But like I said, his main power is that he’s vocal. So being able to help the guys. Communicate, that’s a big part of defense also. Being physical is one of them, but also being vocal, being able to communicate. I think he does both at a very high level. So, he can definitely help us on that end of the floor.”

Vanderbilt is the Lakers’ other top defender, his versatility allowing him to guard multiple positions.

He was asked to envision what the Lakers’ defense will be like with himself and Smart together on the court.

“Aw, man, just causing havoc,” Vanderbilt said. “Not only physically but just vocally. He’s a vocal guy as well, so it’s being the anchor of the defense, flying around, setting that tone defensively. Like, I’m excited. I can’t wait to share the court together.”

LeBron James ad

At some point after practice, the Lakers were asked if any one texted them about James’ cryptic post about “#TheSecondDecision” on Monday.

It left many wondering if James was talking about retiring.

He was not. It was about an ad for Hennessy that was posted on social media Tuesday morning.

“You guys are idiots,” Redick said when asked, laughing as he spoke. “We all knew it was an ad, right? No, I think most people that text me are also aware that it’s probably an ad, so it wasn’t. … Nobody was freaking out.”

Still, James is entering his NBA-record 23rd season.

“I just got a couple calls, like, ‘what is this?’” Reaves said, laughing.

Rui Hachimura wanted to know what was going on.

So he contacted James just to be sure.

“I mean, [I got] a couple texts. But I texted him too,” Hachimura said. “But he was using a [weird] emoji. I don’t even know. I didn’t understand at all. But he loves to do that type of stuff. Surprises, right?”

The deadly downing of a Colombian National Police (CNP) UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter by a drone on Thursday is the latest sign of the growing vulnerability of rotary-wing aircraft to these attacks. While apparently the first such incident in the Western Hemisphere, the tactic was developed by Ukraine to strike Russian helicopters and has reportedly spread to Asia as well. The downing comes as militaries are rethinking the utility of helicopters due to myriad threats, including drones, which is a danger we have been warning about for years.

The CNP helicopter was hit by a drone while “providing security to officers engaged in manual coca crop eradication efforts,” Antioquia Governor Andres Julian Rendon stated on X. “We have activated the hospital network and are closely monitoring this news, which is so painful for democracy and sad for our Forces. In that area, FARC dissidents and the Gulf Clan are operating.”

Video emerging from the scene shows the helicopters slowly approaching a landing zone. From the angle where the video was taken, the helicopter’s landing and the attack are obscured, but the sound of an explosion is heard and blackish gray smoke is seen wafting up. 

Another video, reportedly taken by the attackers, shows a different view of the aftermath of the strike. None of these videos, however, clearly depicts the method of attack.

At least 12 people aboard the helicopter were killed. Colombian President Gustavo Petro blamed the helicopter attack, along with a car bomb strike on a Colombian military base, on dissident factions of the now-defunct FARC guerrilla group that have rejected a 2016 peace agreement to end a prolonged internal conflict that has left more than 450,000 dead in the country.

This incident highlights several disturbing developments, especially regarding the vulnerability of helicopters to drone attacks. That concern directly led to South Korea cancelling a multi-billion-dollar deal to buy 36 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters.

Yu Yong-weon, a member of South Korea’s National Assembly belonging to the People Power Party, told The Korea Times that the vulnerability of helicopters to proliferated air defenses and loitering munitions/drones that have been showcased to the world in Ukraine spurred the decision.

“Drones and smart systems are redefining the modern battlefield,” Yu explained. “Rather than clinging to expensive legacy platforms, we must invest in capabilities that reflect the future of warfare.”

We previously predicted that drone attacks on helicopters would become a major problem. The danger is rising due to the widespread proliferation of weaponized drones across the world. This is in addition to all the other growing threats that put helicopters, especially those approaching contested landing zones, in the crosshairs.

As we noted in a previous story: Beyond traditional ground-based air defenses, which are becoming far more capable and deeply integrated/networked at an accelerating rate, helicopters have to now contend with FPV drones and loitering SAMs, as well as loitering interceptor drones, that can be used against rotary wing aircraft, as well. Countermeasures to some of these threats really have not caught up. The threat posed by drones, in general, has also vastly reinvigorated proliferation of short-range air defenses for counter-UAS needs, but many of these systems can also engage helicopters. Then there is the aerial threat, with fighter and support aircraft becoming more capable of spotting low and slow flying helicopters thanks to advanced sensors. The distances involved with future wars alone could relegate even the most advanced traditional helicopters into support roles. All this creates an increasingly complex and unpredictable operational reality for military helicopters, even in low-to-medium threat environments.

You can see a Russian helicopter being attacked by a Ukrainian first-person view (FPV) drone in the following video.

The risk posed to helicopters from small weaponized drones, especially FPV types, is rapidly expanding as this technology migrates to state and non-state actors around the globe. Small teams using a guided weapon against a helicopter used to require having man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), also known as shoulder-fired heat-seeking missiles, or at least an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), the latter of which only really works when engaging a helicopter within a narrow window of its performance envelope. Basically, this includes when it is landing, taking off or sitting on the ground. These are both expensive, hard-to-obtain weapons that require proprietary support.

A FPV drone, on the other hand, can be obtained easily and for a fraction of the cost and can fly out to an incoming helicopter and blow it out of the sky with extreme agility and precision. Acting in a point defense role, defending key areas where helicopters may approach, can now be done by a couple of guys and their FPV drones. They can also react fast and don’t have to expose themselves to engage an airborne target, unlike a MANPADS or ATGM fire team. The drones can also be reused if they do not find a target, meaning they can actively patrol for incoming helicopters, if need be.

This is creating a whole new set of problems for helicopter crews. The launch of the drones cannot be detected by onboard missile approach warning systems and the drones are very small, making them hard to identify and evade. Electronic warfare systems are perhaps the best possible defense against these threats, but there has been slow movement when it comes to adapting such systems for helicopters. There is also the reality that fiber optic wire-controlled FPV drones give off no radio frequency emissions and are not jammable. They are also well-suited for providing point defense against helicopters, as their wires have a far lower chance of getting hung up when going after an aircraft in the air.

Obviously, these issues are especially vexing for the special operations rotary-wing community, which goes after targets in contested areas against groups that can easily access this technology.

Once again, the FPV threat is in addition to the growing threats to helicopters from advanced integrated air defense systems, next-generation MANPADS, advanced look-down radars on fighters and AEW&C aircraft, as well as drone interceptors and more advanced loitering munitions. All of this is putting the helicopter’s future efficacy in many mission sets in question. AI will fuse with lower-end drones in the near future making them capable of autonomous air defense operations, as well. This will allow persistent air patrols in areas where enemy helicopter traffic is most likely to occur, including behind enemy lines.

The attack in Colombia comes months after we reported that rebels fighting Myanmar’s junta say they used an FPV drone to down an Mi-17 Hip transport helicopter attempting to land with supplies. 

Footage emerged on social media showing the video feed of what purported to be an FPV drone operated by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) careening toward the helicopter, which was hovering just a few feet off the ground at the time. The video cuts off as the FPV drone gets right next to the helicopter’s rotor blades. The video then shows a different angle of what appears to be a small explosion amongst the Mi-17’s rotors. The helicopter reportedly later crashed a short distance away, killing everyone on board.

Rekaman Video Amatir dan dari Drone FPV milik kelompok Pemberontak Etnis Kachin Myanmar ( Kachin Independence Army ) saat menghantam satu dari 3 Helikopter Mil-17 Angkatan Udara Myanmar yang tengah mendrop Pasukan di kawasan Bhamo pada tanggal 20 Mei lalu. pic.twitter.com/rY8zhOSzMo

— 🦅 Golden Eagle 🦅 (@Y_D_Y_P) May 22, 2025

Myanmar’s military government, however, chalked the crash up to mechanical failure. The War Zone cannot independently verify either claim, although it is generally understood a drone took it down.

Another troubling aspect of this crash is how drug organizations in the Western Hemisphere are increasing the use of drones to execute attacks.

We have reported frequently about how Mexican cartels have been using drones as weapons against rivals and government targets. These groups even reportedly sent members to fight for the Russians against Ukraine to learn how to use FPV drones.

In an investigation by Intelligence Online alleges that Mexico’s Centro Nacional de Inteligencia/CNI sent a report to Ukrainian intelligence w/ concerns that cartel affiliated Mexicans are joining the Ukrainian Foreign Legion to receive drone training.https://t.co/SdlXYF4r6w

— Pernicious Propaganda (@natsecboogie) July 30, 2025

Colombian rebels began using weaponized drones in April 2024, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Since then, “the military here says there have been 301 strikes with unmanned aerial vehicles, more than two-thirds of them in Cauca and Norte de Santander provinces,” the Journal noted. “Both regions are covered in coca, the plant used to make cocaine, with heavily armed militias fighting each other over drug routes. At least 22 soldiers and police officers have died in the attacks.”

Beyond those concerns are reports that Russians are training the Colombian groups how to fight with drones, another sign of how lessons learned in the war in Ukraine are being spread globally.

“Russian contractors and former military personnel are also training FARC dissidents and ELN groups in the use and modification of explosive drones,” the Colombian El Tiempo news outlet reported back in June. “They are doing so from Venezuelan territory, with the knowledge and support of that country’s government, highlighting the growing foreign interference in the Colombian conflict.”

“We know that Russia and Iran support Venezuela with technical capabilities, and from there, Colombian combatants are being trained,” the publication added, citing an anonymous military source.

The attack on the CNP helicopter is the latest iteration of the guerrillas’ drone war.

“Dissidents already employ swarm tactics, microdrones, and some modified devices with thermal cameras and alternating frequencies to evade jammers,” El Tiempo noted. “These drone attacks have left four soldiers dead and more than 50 uniformed personnel injured, as well as one civilian killed and seven injured.”

We believe that it is worth pointing out, as there are claims that a drone was used in this attack, that both FARC & ELN groups are being trained by Russian contractors & former military members on how to utilize drones in conflict within Venezuela as reported in June this year. https://t.co/y6N5XPyHkx

— Pernicious Propaganda (@natsecboogie) August 22, 2025

The claim that the Colombian rebels trained in Venezuela raises the specter that these efforts were conducted with the approval or knowledge of that country’s leader, Nicolas Maduro. As we wrote earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered several warships and thousands of troops deployed toward Venezuela. At least part of that movement is directly aimed at Maduro, a source familiar with the operations told us. His administration considers Maduro a “narco-terrorist.”

No es casual que apenas días después de que Trump se reuniera con Putin, suceda esto. Venezuela es un punto estratégico para el kremlin. Si no hay acuerdo de paz, Maduro tiene sus días contados. pic.twitter.com/E662kAFfCQ

— Fabrizio Mercado Soria (@fabriziosoria) August 20, 2025

Meanwhile, the overall use of drones by drug and insurgent groups is raising alarm bells in Washington.

As we have written in the past, there are increasing concerns that Mexican cartels could expand their use of drones across the border as the Trump administration ramps up its pressure on these groups. That has led the general in charge of the border security and drone interdiction efforts to seek greater permission to shoot down drones.

Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot testified to the House Armed Services Committee in April that since Trump took office, he “proposed … a change to the rule of force.” It would “allow us to shoot down or bring down drones that are surveilling over our deployed and mobile troops … not just that are in self-defense, but anything that’s surveilling and planning the next attack on us within five miles of the border.” 

“Because they’re mobile,” U.S. troops on the border are not allowed to take down drones under current law, Guillot, the commander of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and the joint U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), added. You can read more about the various limitations on the military’s use of force against drones in the United States in our deep dive here.

As the evolution of the weaponized low-end drone continues to accelerate, the threat to helicopters from them will only increase. As it sits now, there is not much being done at scale to combat it, so more of these incidents are likely to hit headlines in the coming months and years.

Contact the author: [email protected]

FLORENCE, S.C. — After nearly six months of President Trump in the White House, California Gov. Gavin Newsom descended on a coffee shop in this small South Carolina city to preach his gospel of resistance.

Suddenly, Democrats here felt they were witnessing a spiritual and political revival: After all the pain and trauma of the 2024 election, they seemed in the presence of an uplifting leader with the savvy to awaken the Democratic grass roots.

“I’ve been so depressed,” Marion Wagner, a retired postal worker, said as she waited for Newsom at his first stop in LilJazZi’s cafe Tuesday. “This is a ray of hope.”

“Thank you for suing Trump!” Suzanne La Rochelle, the executive director of the Florence County Democratic Party, told the tall, svelte 57-year-old West Coast politician after he delivered his political sermon.

“This is just the jolt that South Carolina needs,” said Joyce Black, a 63-year-old grant writer, pumping her fist.

Newsom promoted his more than 2,000-mile jaunt from California to South Carolina as a bid to help the party win back the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026 and connect directly with rural Deep South communities that had been overlooked by Republicans.

But most people believed the governor, who is mulling over a White House bid in 2028, was in the Palmetto State to forge connections in a crucial election state that traditionally hosts the South’s first presidential primary. There are a dozen competitive House districts right now in California, but not a single one in South Carolina.

The state’s Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress and renowned Democratic kingmaker who rescued former President Biden’s 2020 campaign, addressed the elephant in the room when he joined Newsom in Camden, S.C.

“As we go around welcoming these candidates who are running for president, let’s not forget about school boards,” Clyburn said.

Newsom grinned awkwardly and the crowd roared with laughter. Jokingly, Newsom turned around as if looking for another, unidentified, politician behind him.

Clyburn stopped short of endorsing Newsom, but he told The Times “he’d be a hell of a candidate.”

“He’s demonstrated that over and over again,” Clyburn said. “I feel good about his chances.”

Newsom, a former San Francisco mayor who was first elected governor in 2018, would face steep hurdles if he threw his hat into the race for president.

Just being a Californian, some argue, is a liability.

The Golden State boasts the world’s fourth-largest economy and is a high-tech powerhouse. But as income inequality soars along with the cost of living, Republicans paint the state as the poster child of elite “woke” activism and rail against its high taxes, rampant homelessness and crime.

The signs Republican activists waved outside Newsom’s meet and greet in Pickens, a staunchly red county that voted 76% for Trump, distilled the GOP narrative:

“Newsom, your state is a MESS & you want to run this country. NO WAY!”

“Keep your socialist junk in CA!”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks to visitors at Awaken Coffee in Mullins, S.C.

(Sam Wolfe / For The Times)

Tamra Misseijer, a Pickens County middle school teacher, said she and her husband moved from Woodland Hills to South Carolina in 2021 because they could no longer afford to raise their eight children there. Compounding their frustration, she said, homeless people threw needles and sex toys over her fence into their yard. She also lashed out at the restrictions Newsom imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We traded … unconstitutional lockdowns and masks for freedom and fresh air,” the registered Republican’s placard said. “High crime, looting & destruction for peace and order.”

Even some Democrats worry that Newsom is too progressive, too rich and too slick to win over working-class and swing voters in Republican and closely divided states.

Richard Harpootlian, a South Carolina attorney, former state senator and former chairman of the state Democratic Party, predicted Newsom would find it hard to find a foothold in many places in South Carolina.

“He’s a very, very handsome man,” Harpootlian conceded. “But the party is searching for a left-of-moderate candidate who can articulate blue-collar hopes and desires. I’m not sure that’s him.”

Dismissing Newsom as “just another rich guy” who became wealthy because of his connections with heirs to the Getty oil fortune, Harpootlian said he did not think Newsom was attuned to winning back blue-collar voters.

“If he had a track record of solving huge problems like homelessness, or the social safety net, he’d be a more palatable candidate,” he said. “I just think he’s going to have a tough time explaining why there’s so many failures in California.”

Newsom’s tour was organized last week by the South Carolina Democratic Party to energize the grass roots and raise money.

Party Chair Christale Spain said that she invited a bunch of prominent national Democratic leaders to tour the state, but that Newsom was the only one to immediately agree to jump on a plane.

After an email and a few text messages, a Newsom advisor said, Newsom raised $160,000 for South Carolina’s Democratic Party — nearly two-thirds of what the Democratic National Committee gives the party for its annual budget.

Newsom — who traveled to Georgia in 2023 for a much-hyped debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and South Carolina in 2024 to stump for Biden — said national Democratic leaders have abandoned people in the rural South.

“I’ve got a little gripe with my party,” Newsom said at a packed gathering in Fisher Hill Community Baptist Church in Chesterfield. “We let you down for decades and decades.”

Newsom sidestepped the question of whether he would run for president, arguing that Democrats couldn’t afford to wait three and a half years for a savior.

“I think one of the big mistakes for any party, but particularly the Democratic Party, is looking for the guy or gal on the white horse to come save the day,” he said.

But Newsom offered a glimpse of what a potential presidential campaign might look like: He touted his record of filing 122 lawsuits against Trump during his first time in office, he celebrated California as the “most un-Trump state in America,” and he railed against Trump’s recent immigration raids in MacArthur Park as a display of “cruelty and vulgarity.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with Mullins, S.C., Mayor Miko Pickett, right, as they walk downtown on Tuesday.

(Sam Wolfe / For The Times)

Even though Newsom sought to focus on the damage wrought by Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” — or as he called it, the “Big Beautiful Betrayal” — Newsom did not go into detail on how this would hurt Americans in their healthcare or pocketbooks. Instead, he talked about “restoring the soul of this country” and dwelt largely on culture war issues.

“What we’re experiencing is America in reverse,” Newsom told supporters in Camden. “They’re trying to bring us back to a pre-1960s world on voting rights. You know it well: civil rights, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and not just access to abortion, but also access to simple reproductive contraception. It’s a moment that few of us could have imagined.“

But even as Newsom warned about book bans and immigration raids as fundamental assaults on democracy, he resisted the idea that America is a nation neatly divided by east and west, rural and urban, Democrat and Republican.

“Don’t forget California is a large red state,” he said, noting he represented 6 million Trump voters, more than the entire population of South Carolina.

After the 2024 election, Newsom said he, like many other Democrats, turned off the cable news.

“I just, I tapped out,” he told the crowd at the church. “I never thought that would happen. All those years of self-medicating, watching Rachel Maddow with a glass of white wine or a beer. I thought I would never give it up. … The election, you know, it’s a body blow.”

It didn’t take him long to jump back in. On Nov. 7, two days after the election, Newsom convened a special session of the state Legislature to “safeguard California values and fundamental rights” against the incoming Trump administration.

He said Democrats across the country, from California to South Carolina, bore a responsibility to take action.

“We’re not bystanders in this world,” he said. “We can shape the future, we have agency. … You could have dialed it in to stay home. You could have given in, given up. You could have fallen right on the cynicism, the negativity, all the anxiety that I’m sure you’re all feeling about this moment.”

Many in the crowd were clearly awed by Newsom. Some swooned over his “beautiful hair” and “charisma.” Others marveled at his ability to stand up to Trump with clarity and compassion.

One woman informed Newsom her friend was “in love with you, by the way.” Another told friends she blanked out when she met him, so starstruck that she could not come up with words.

“He’s a cool dude,” Carol Abraham, wife of the mayor of Bennettsville, said after Newsom spoke at a meet and greet on Main Street. “He has swag.”

After Newsom wrapped up his talk at Fisher Hill Community Baptist Church, Bryanna Velazquez, a 31-year-old business owner wearing a “Jesús era un immigrante” T-shirt, waited in a long line to thank Newsom for speaking out against the immigration raids.

“I’m married to a Mexican, so it means a lot,” she told him.

Her husband was a citizen, Valazquez said, but still, she was afraid.

“The fact that he is brown makes him a target.”

Since Trump’s 2024 electoral victory, Newsom has taken on the role of the president’s most outspoken Democratic critic while taking steps to defy left-wing orthodoxies and broaden his national appeal in a country that, politically, is far different from California.

In March, he infuriated the progressive wing of his party by hosting conservatives such as MAGA loyalists Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon on his podcast and breaking away from many Democrats on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

“My position is I don’t think it’s fair,” he told reporters Tuesday. “But I also think it’s demeaning to talk down to people and to belittle the trans community. … These people just want to survive and so I hold both things in my hand.”

It is too early to say how many Americans will get on board with Newsom as he experiments with how to balance competing ideas of common sense and sensitivity in the hyperpartisan culture wars.

As the California leader of the Trump resistance stressed the importance of standing tall and firm and pushing back, he also called for more grace and humility, invoking the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

“We’re all, as Dr. King said, bound together by a web of mutuality,” he said in Florence, playing to his Deep South audience. “We’re many parts, as the Bible said, but one body. One part suffers, we all suffer.”

“Let’s not talk down to people,” he told the crowd in Chesterfield. “Let’s not talk past people, good people who disagree with us.”

“Amen,” a man said. “That’s right,” a woman murmured.

CHRISTINE Lampard has given a rare glimpse of her children Patricia and Freddie during a luxury family holiday.

The Loose Women anchor and husband Frank, both 46, jetted to Dubai with little ones for half term.

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And Christine – who keeps her children out of the spotlight – couldn’t resist giving fans a little glimpse inside their fun.

She posted a video montage from the break, showing Patricia, six, swimming while dressed as a mermaid.

The video also saw Freddie, four, copying his famous dad’s pose as they went out for dinner.

Posting the clip on Instagram, Christine wrote: “A half term dose of sunshine and mermaids.”

Frank is also dad to Luna, 19, and Isla, 17, from his relationship with Elen Rivas.

Christine and Frank tied the knot in 2015.

As well as her work on Loose Women, Christine often steps in for Lorraine Kelly on her chat show.

During a recent run as guest host, Christine interviewed Kate Ferdinand – and was quick to ask the former Towie star about life with a blended family and made a rare revelation about her own.

She said: “What do your two little ones think about the big ones in your household?

“Because I know my two little ones, their big sisters walk in, and it’s like god-like female creatures have walked into the house.”

“Ironheart” may have been delayed, but it appears she won’t be denied.

Marvel Television released the teaser trailer for “Ironheart” on Wednesday, giving audiences their first proper look at the upcoming show staring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams. The series was announced back in 2020 before the character made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in the 2022 film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

Set after the events of “Wakanda Forever,” “Ironheart” will see Riri back home in Chicago as she strives to make her own impact and establish her own legacy — likely with a new high tech suit of armor she builds.

“After my internship abroad,” Riri says in the trailer, alluding to her time in Wakanda, “I want to build something undeniable. Something … iconic.”

In “Wakanda Forever,” Riri is introduced as an MIT whiz kid who catches the eyes of the Wakandans after inventing a vibranium detector. When Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) saves her life, Riri offers up her expertise to help Shuri (Letitia Wright) and the Wakandans beat their foes.

The teaser kicks off with Riri facing a test from the mysterious Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos), who can tap into the dark arts when he dons a magical hood.

“Riri, I see you,” Parker says in the trailer. “I see you’re fed up, waiting to be acknowledged for your greatness … I can give you the tools to help you carry out your vision.”

The teaser also offers glimpses of others in Riri’s orbit, including her best friend (played by Lyric Ross) and another “shady” young man (played by Alden Ehrenreich).

“Ironheart” boasts “Black Panther” and “Sinners” filmmaker Ryan Coogler among its executive producers. Chinaka Hodge is the show’s head writer and Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes directed all six episodes. “Ironheart” will hit Disney+ on June 24.