special

The cast spent two weeks in the former British colony to film the storyline involving harrowing scenes of death and destruction but also of love and hope

The Call the Midwife Christmas specials were nearly thrown off course by a force 10 typhoon during filming in Hong Kong. But while the cast were ordered to stay in their hotel rooms and not venture out for two days, the filming was completed and now viewers will have not one but two specials on BBC1, airing on Christmas Day ad Boxing Day.

In the plot, half of the Nonnatus House medics make a mercy dash to Hong Kong after the mission building collapses, causing fatalities and leaving the orphans and expectant mothers with nowhere to go.

There is further danger when the nuns have a run-in with gun-toting gangsters and are threatened by a triad leader who steals the keys to the new building they have just secured for the mission.

READ MORE: Best TV to watch this Christmas – 15 shows you won’t want to miss

Jenny Agutter, who has played head nun Sister Julienne since the series launched in 2012, said that filming in Hong Kong was hampered by a typhoon so severe they were ordered to stay inside their hotel rooms and not leave.

“The winds became really bad on the Saturday night, when we weren’t working but we were told to be careful because it was going to get bad. In the early hours of the morning, it really was stronger. On Sunday, they said not to open the curtains of the hotel in case anything hit the window. But we were facing the water so there was little chance. Of course, I had a jolly good look outside because it was rather amazing seeing all the water whipped up.”

Jenny, 72, said that the Christmas special felt “quite epic” for being set in two locations many thousands of miles apart. “Hong Kong is a very peculiar, complex place. It’s no longer cosy because in many ways, not unlike we are today with the changes that are happening, it feels a little dangerous. What makes it easier is this community that are cohesive and are actually supportive.”

Annabelle Apsion, who plays Poplar’s Mayor and haberdasher Violet Buckle, said the storm was thrilling. “Our hotel looked out over the sea and you could see things going down the streets, it was exciting. I was in Hong Kong 35 years ago for Soldier, Soldier so it was amazing to go back all these years later. It was boiling hot so we had fans on us all the time because otherwise the perspiration would have shown on camera.”

Cliff Parisi, who plays her husband Fred, said he hadn’t been keen to fly half way around the world – but was glad when he did. “Hong Kong was extraordinary, a real eye opener. I’ve never been that far east before. I’ve always wanted to go but I don’t like flying long-haul. Of course, I went because it was work. But I got there, and we had the most fabulous time.”

“I do my own research so I became very immersed in the world of Chinese-Hong Kong organised crime,” Heidi, 63, explained. “I had to make up names of gangsters and gangs and when I handed the script over to our Triad advisor – which we’ve never had before – I got the message back that the names I’d chosen were so realistic that I’d have to change them or we’d all be in trouble. I was quite pleased with myself.”

Next year will see the hugely popular series take a break, while a prequel set in 1939 is made, featuring young versions of Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter), the late Sister Evangeline (Pam Ferris) and Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt).

But ahead of that comes the dramatic two-part Christmas special followed by and the 15th series set in Poplar, where the year has reached 1971.

At Christmas, the younger nurses left behind in London make the most of their freedom by throwing a party in Nonnatus House involving cocktails, cross-dressing and a cramped game of sardines.

Helen George, who plays Trixie Aylward, said she didn’t mind not going to Hong Kong. “I get to wear an angel costume to the carnvial. It’s probably the favourite costume I’ve ever worn. It’s got a 1970s twist. It’s a beautiful white coat with a fur trim and angel wings coming out of the back, and then these really cool glittery stars. For me, it was a lot of fun dressing up.”

But Laura Main, who plays Shelagh Turner, said she had loved every second of filming abroad. “It was just a life highlight, if I’m honest. All the places I’ve been over the past 15 years – South Africa, the Outer Hebrides, and now Hong Kong. What this show has allowed me to be part of is just amazing and I’m so grateful for it.”

– Call the Midwife, BBC1, Christmas Day and Boxing Day

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A special counsel team on Wednesday demanded a 15-year prison term for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on charges of abetting former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team made the request during the final hearing of Han’s trial at the Seoul Central District Court, making him the first of dozens of defendants in the martial law case to receive a sentencing recommendation.

“Though the defendant was, in fact, the only person who could have stopped the insurrection situation of this case, he abandoned his duty as a servant of the entire nation and took part in the insurrection crime through a series of acts before and after the declaration of martial law,” a member of the special counsel team said.

Han has been indicted on charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, playing a key role in an insurrection and perjury, all in connection with the martial law imposition.

In addition to attending a Cabinet meeting shortly before Yoon declared martial law on Dec. 3, he allegedly revised the proclamation afterward to enhance its legitimacy, discarded it and lied under oath at the Constitutional Court.

The special counsel team asked the court to consider the immense damage to the nation and the people and his uncooperative attitude in the investigation process.

“This case was an act of terror on the democracy of the Republic of Korea, and the nation and the people as a whole were the victims,” the team member said.

“By strictly punishing the defendant, we must ensure this unfortunate history of the Republic of Korea does not repeat itself,” he added.

Han is expected to be the first to receive a verdict in the martial law case as the court previously stated plans to deliver its ruling on Jan. 21 or 28 next year.

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What a day it turned out to be for boyhood Arsenal fan Eze.

Before the match Tottenham manager Thomas Frank joked “who?” when questioned about how close Eze was to becoming a Spurs player in the summer. Those words certainly came back to haunt him.

A first senior hat-trick is a big landmark in itself, let alone a first treble in Premier League north London derby history.

Eze signed for Arsenal in a deal worth £67m and is starting to cement himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet for manager Mikel Arteta.

When he signed for the Gunners there were questions about where he would fit into the side but, after an injury to captain Odegaard, Eze has taken his opportunity with both hands.

The 27-year-old has taken time to settle as he got used to a different role in this Arsenal team than the one he was used to at Crystal Palace, but he has already started to deliver big moments.

He provided an excellent pass for Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser against City, scored the winner against Palace and now has a first senior hat-trick against rivals Tottenham.

Eze provides something different to the rest of the Arsenal forwards and his unpredictability adds another edge to Arsenal’s forward line.

The Gunners have another two big games coming up, with matches against Bayern Munich and Chelsea, but Eze will relish the challenge given the form he is now in.

“That’s him. He had two days off after the England camp and after day one he wanted to train,” Arteta said.

“He wanted to come back and improve and ask questions. When you have such a talent and such an intelligence and then you add that willingness to be better and practise, these things happen.

“When I spoke to Thomas Tuchel (about him) I said how good is he? He said to me one of the best I have seen. I rate him one of the best in terms of talent. If we add in now his work rate, willingness to play for this team and the joy I sense when he is the building we have a special player there.”

No English player has been involved in more goals that Eze in 2025 in the Premier League. Only Erling Haaland (25), Mohamed Salah (23), Bryan Mbeumo (21) and Antoine Semenyo (18) been involved in more Premier League goals than the Arsenal number 10 (18 – 10 goals, eight assists).

“I know how much this move from Crystal Palace meant to him and what a performance from him. Best player on the pitch,” former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“This is where his Arsenal career takes off.”

Nov. 14 (UPI) — The Georgia Prosecuting Attorneys Council announced a replacement for Fani Willis as the prosecutor in the election interference case against President Donald Trump and 14 others charged.

PAC Executive Director Peter J. Skandalakis announced on Friday, that he would prosecute the case because the group couldn’t find anyone to take it up.

“Several prosecutors were contacted and, while all were respectful and professional, each declined the appointment,” he said in the announcement. “Out of respect for their privacy and professional discretion, I will not identify those prosecutors or disclose their reasons for declining.”

In September, the Georgia Supreme Court denied Willis’ attempt to continue in the case. It refused to hear her appeal of a lower court’s decision to disqualify her because of “impropriety.” She had a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor in the case.

Another reason he chose to prosecute the case is that he has some familiarity with the case file. The documents he received to review included 101 banker boxes of documents and an 8-terabyte hard drive, which he hasn’t had the time to fully read.

Some of the others charged include former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

On Nov. 7, Trump pardoned 77 people, including those involved in the Georgia case.

Skandalakis said the pardons don’t apply to state charges, only federal ones. “Therefore, the task before my office remains unchanged,” he said.

Trump’s attorney Steve Sadow said the “politically charged prosecution has come to an end.”

“We remain confident that a fair and impartial review will lead to a dismissal of the case against President Trump,” Sadow said.

Skandalakis noted the importance of the case.

“I am keenly aware that this matter has been of significant public interest since January 2021, when District Attorney Fani Willis announced the initiation of the investigation,” he said in a statement. “My only objective is to ensure that this case is handled properly, fairly, and with full transparency discharging my duties without fear, favor, or affection.”

1 of 2 | American Catholic bishops pictured April 2008 singing in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued sharp criticism to the Trump administration’s ongoing mass deportation of immigrants. File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 13 (UPI) — America’s Catholic bishops sent sharp criticism of rising fear in the United States and ongoing mass deportations in a rebuke of Trump administration immigration policy.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said its some 273 active bishops were “disturbed” to see that “among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement.”

“We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants,” the group wrote in its statement.

It arrived after U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV directed bishops in the United States to be vocal and speak out against President Donald Trump‘s hardline crackdown on migration.

The U.S. religious leaders approved the rare “special message” with 5 votes against and 3 abstentions of 216 ballots cast at its meeting Wednesday in Baltimore, Md.

“We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good,” the plethora of all-male bishops added. “Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks.”

It marked the first time in 12 years the USCCB invoked its urgent way of collectively speaking as a body.

“We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care,” the bishops added. “We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status.”

Trump has targeted immigration enforcement in Democratic-run cities such as the nation’s capital, Los Angeles and in Chicago with the presence of masked ICE agents leading to violent activity, arrests and sprayed tear gas.

The bishops wrote that Catholic teaching “exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants.”

“We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures,” they continued. “Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.”

The new pope has called for an end to Israel’s war in Gaza with the militant wing Hamas, expanded access to much-needed aid for hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and children and a cease to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the Catholic leaders said national security and human dignity both “are possible if people of good will work together.

US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to other countries and to place the Palestinian enclave under the US control is “unlawful, immoral and completely irresponsible,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Francesca Albanese condemned the proposal and warned that it would worsen the regional crisis, Anadolu Agency reports.

“It’s unlawful, immoral and completely irresponsible … what he proposes is nonsense,” Albanese said.

“It’s incitement to commit forced displacement, which is an international crime,” she added.

Albanese urged the international community to take a stronger stance, saying:

The international community consists of 193 states, and this is the time to give the US what it has been looking for – isolation

she said.

Albanese dismissed the notion that economic incentives could resolve the long-standing conflict in the Middle East.

READ: QUOTES – Global reaction to Trump’s Gaza Strip takeover plan

For too long, the international community has treated the issue of Palestine as something that can be managed through development, economic incentives and humanitarian aid,” she said. “Frankly, it doesn’t work

While acknowledging the importance of economic growth, she insisted that it cannot come at the expense of fundamental rights. “Peace through economic development is an expectation of surrender, and it will not work.”

“The only way to stop the violence is to give peace a chance through freedom,” Albanese stressed.

President Donald Trump, earlier on Tuesday night in a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that the “US will take over the Gaza Strip”, shortly after suggesting a permanent resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza.

“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, (and) create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area,” Trump said.

During a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in Washington on Tuesday, Trump said that the US “will take over” Gaza after relocating Palestinians elsewhere under a redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Turkiye, Jordan and Egypt as well as other regional and European countries, including the UK, France and Germany, have rejected Trump’s relocation proposal.

READ: Gaza wastewater pool at risk of flooding, municipality warns

Sarah Jessica Parker is adding one more trophy to her collection.

The six-time Golden Globe-winning actor will receive the 2026 Carol Burnett Award for excellence in television. Parker will be presented with the prize, named for its inaugural winner, during the first-ever “Golden Eve” special, airing Jan. 8 on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

The Golden Globes previously announced that Helen Mirren will be honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the January ceremony, part of a celebratory “Golden Week” kicking off the awards season.

“Sarah Jessica Parker’s career embodies the very spirit of the Carol Burnett Award,” Golden Globes President Helen Hoehne said in a press release Thursday. “Her trailblazing impact on television and her dedication to storytelling across stage and screen have left an indelible mark on popular culture. We are honored to celebrate her extraordinary contributions to entertainment.”

Past winners of the Carol Burnett Award include Ted Danson (2024), Ryan Murphy (2023) and Norman Lear (2021).

Best known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in the epoch-defining “Sex and the City” — she reprised the character for the divisive HBO sequel “And Just Like That” — Parker has also received Golden Globe nominations for her performances in the beloved 2005 Christmas comedy-drama “The Family Stone” and the HBO drama series “Divorce.”

Parker is also the co-founder of Pretty Matches Productions, alongside producer Alison Benson. With the production company, Parker and Benson have made a concerted effort to hire more women for on- and off-camera roles, exceeding standard mandates with “Divorce.”

Parker is also the founder of SJP Lit, an imprint from independent publisher Zando that has ushered in acclaimed titles including Mai Sennaar’s “They Dream in Gold” and Alina Grabowski’s “Women and Children First.”

Recently, Parker served on the judging panel for the 2025 Booker Prize.

Comedian Nikki Glaser will return as host for the 83rd annual Golden Globes ceremony, which airs Jan. 11 on CBS and streams on Paramount+.

The Norwegian Fjords have been named the world’s most beautiful cruise destination, boasting picture-perfect landscapes, dramatic rocky coastlines, and charming fishing villages

Cruise fans have crowned the world’s most picturesque cruise destination, and it’s a stone’s throw away for Brits – nestled right here in Europe. The Norwegian Fjords are already a must-see on any travel enthusiast’s list.

In the spring and summer months, passengers can feast their eyes on the breathtaking views of the dramatic rocky landscapes, lush greenery, quaint fishing villages and idyllic waterfront towns that could easily grace a postcard. As winter sets in, the Fjords transform into a magical winter wonderland. Additionally, from October to February, certain regions offer the opportunity to witness the mesmerizing Northern Lights.

In fact, the night skies are set to become even more spectacular.

If you’ve always dreamt of ticking the Aurora Borealis off your bucket list, then a cruise in January or February 2026 might be just the ticket. This is because 2026 is predicted to be the best year in a decade for viewing the Northern Lights, thanks to a once-in-a-decade phenomenon known as the solar maximum.

This rare event occurs when the Sun’s heightened magnetic activity releases charged particles that collide with Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in brighter and more frequent auroras, reports the Express.

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Scientists anticipate this spectacle to peak by March 2026, before gradually fading again until the mid-2030s.

The closer you are to the Arctic Circle, the better your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. So, if you’re looking to maximise your chances, consider heading to Tromsø, the Lofoten Islands, Alta, or Svalbard.

But if you’re after more than just chasing the Aurora, the Norwegian Fjords could be the perfect blend of adventure and opportunity to see those mesmerising green skies.

Even without the Northern Lights, there’s plenty to see and do in this stunning region. The breathtaking landscapes have been a source of inspiration for poets, novelists, and artists for generations.

Nestled among awe-inspiring mountains and valleys, these narrow fjords boast everything from stunning waterfalls to incredible glaciers. It’s this abundance of natural beauty that has led the Norwegian Fjords to be named the world’s most beautiful cruise destination by Cruise118.com.

Sharon Hodgkiess, Sales and Customer Experience Director for the brand, said: “Seeing Norway from the deck of a ship is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Each fjord has its own charm, including sights such as mountains, waterfalls, hamlets and mountainside farms.”

If you’re considering a cruise for your next holiday, Sharon has some advice.

She suggests: “Think carefully about what you want from your cruise and select one that aligns with your travel style and interests. If you love nature and scenery, Norway or Alaska are unbeatable. If you’re after sun and relaxation, lean more towards destinations such as the East and West Mediterranean.”

Got a travel tale to tell? Drop us an email at [email protected]

Nearly 1.3 million members of the security forces and more than 26,500 internally displaced people are eligible to vote ahead of Tuesday’s polls.

Members of Iraq’s security forces and its internally displaced population have begun casting their ballots in the parliamentary elections – the sixth since a United States-led invasion toppled longtime ruler Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Polls opened at 7am (04:00 GMT) on Sunday for 1.3 million members of the security forces at 809 polling centres and will close at 6pm (15:00 GMT) before they are deployed for security purposes on the election day on Tuesday.

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More than 26,500 internally displaced people are also eligible for early voting on Sunday across 97 polling stations at 27 places in Iraq, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) said.

Interior Minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari told INA that the special voting process is advancing “smoothly and in an organised manner”.

Nearly 21 million Iraqis are eligible to vote on Tuesday across 4,501 polling stations nationwide, the INA said.

More than 7,750 candidates, nearly a third of them women, are running for the 329-seat parliament. Under the law, 25 percent of the seats are reserved for women, while nine are allocated for religious minorities.

The current parliament began its term on January 9, 2022, and will last four years, ending on January 8, 2026.

An old electoral law, revived in 2023, will apply to the ongoing elections, with many seeing it as favouring larger parties. While about 70 independents won in the 2021 vote, only 75 independents are contesting this year.

Observers also fear that turnout might dip below the record low of 41 percent in 2021, reflecting voters’ apathy and scepticism in a country marked by entrenched leadership and allegations of mismanagement and endemic corruption.

There were widespread accusations of corruption and vote-buying before the elections, and 848 candidates were disqualified by election officials, sometimes for obscure reasons, including insulting religious rituals or members of the armed forces.

Past elections in Iraq have been marred by violence, including assassinations of candidates, attacks on polling stations, and clashes between the supporters of different blocs. While overall levels of violence have subsided, a candidate was assassinated in the run-up to this year’s election.

Influential Shia leader Moqtada Sadr urged his followers to boycott what he described as a “flawed election”.

Al-Sadr’s bloc won the largest number of seats in 2021, but later withdrew after failed negotiations over forming the government amid a standoff with rival Shia parties. He has since boycotted the political system.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, elected in 2022 with the backing of pro-Iran parties, is seeking a second term and is expected to secure a sizeable bloc.

Among the other frontrunners are influential Shia figures, including former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Muslim scholar Ammar al-Hakim.

By convention in post-invasion Iraq, a Shia Muslim holds the powerful post of the prime minister and a Sunni of the parliament’s speaker, while the largely ceremonial presidency goes to a Kurd.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris and a slew of other national and California Democrats on Saturday rallied supporters to stay fired up in seeking passage of a ballot measure to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections.

While polling suggests Proposition 50 is likely to pass Tuesday, volunteers must continue knocking on doors, phone banking and motivating voters through Election Day, they said. Newsom told volunteers they ought to follow the model of sprinters, leaving it all on the field.

“We cannot afford to run the 90-yard dash. You Angelenos, you’ve got the Olympics coming in 2028. They do not run the 90-yard dash. They run the 110-yard dash. We have got to be at peak on Election Day,” Newsom told hundreds of supporters at the Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. “We cannot take anything for granted.”

Hours earlier, Republican spoke out against the ballot measure at John Wayne Park in Newport Beach, before sending teams into neighborhoods to drum up votes for their side.

“What Proposition 50 will do is disenfranchise, meaning, disregard all Republicans in the state of California,” said state Assembly member Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach). “Ninety percent of 6 million [Californian Republicans] will be disenfranchised.”

Proposition 50 would redraw California’s congressional districts in an attempt to boost the number of Democrats in Congress. The effort was proposed by Newsom and other California Democrats in hope of blunting President Trump’s push in Texas and other GOP-led states to increase the number of Republicans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in next year’s midterm election. But even if voters approve the ballot measure that could flip five California districts currently represented by Republicans, it’s unclear whether that will be enough to shift control of the House unless there is a blue wave in the 2026 election.

The party that wins control of the House will shape Trump’s final two years in the White House — whether he is able to continue enacting his agenda or faces a spate of investigations and possibly another impeachment attempt.

The special election is among the costliest ballot measures in state history. More than $192 million has flowed into various campaign committees since state lawmakers voted in August to put the proposition on the ballot. Supporters of the redistricting effort have raised exponentially more money than opponents, and polling shows the proposition is likely to pass.

As of Friday, more than a quarter of the state’s 23 million registered voters had cast ballots, with Democrats outpacing Republicans.

Newsom was joined Saturday by Harris, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla of California and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, other Democrats and labor leaders.

Harris, in a surprise appearance at the gathering, argued that the Trump administration is implementing long-sought GOP goals such as voter suppression.

“This fight is not about sitting by and complaining, ‘Oh, they’re cheating,’” the former vice president said. “It’s about recognizing what they are up to. There is an agenda that we are witnessing which feels chaotic, I know, but in fact, we are witnessing a high velocity event that is about the swift implementation of a plan that has been decades in the making.”

Several of the speakers referred to the immigration raids that started in Los Angeles in June and deep cuts to federal safety nets, including the nutrition assistance program for low-income families and a health coverage for seniors and the disabled.

“We know there’s so much on the line this Tuesday. And a reminder, Tuesday is not Election Day — it’s the last day to vote,” Padilla said. “Don’t wait till Tuesday. Get your ballots in folks…. As good as the polls look, we need to run up the score on this because the eyes of the country are going to be on California on Tuesday. And we need to win and we need to win big.”

Padilla, a typically staid legislator, then offered a modified riff of a lyric by rapper Ice Cube, who grew up in South Los Angeles.

“Donald Trump — you better check yourself before you wreck America,” said Padilla, who is considering running for governor next year.

Nearly 50 miles southeast, about 50 Republican canvassers fueled up on coffee and donuts, united over the brisk weather and annoyance about Newsom’s attempt to redraw California’s congressional districts.

Will O’Neill, chairman of the Orange County Republican Party, equated this final push against Proposition 50 as the California GOP’s game 7 — a nod to tonight’s World Series battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays.

“Orange County right now is the only county in Southern California that has a shot of having more Republicans than Democrats voting,” said O’Neill. “We expect that over the next three days, around 70% of everyone who votes is gonna vote ‘no’ on 50. But we need them to vote.”

O’Neill labeled the measure a “hyper-partisan power grab.” If Proposition 50 passes, it will dilute Republican power in Orange County by splitting communities and roping some residents into districts represented by Los Angeles County politicians.

Dixon also rallied volunteers — which included a handful of college students from across the state: “Be polite. Just say thank you very much. Just like Charlie Kirk would. Don’t [stimulate] an argument. Just be friendly.”

“They’re squeezing out what very little representation Republicans have in the state,” said Kristen Nicole Valle, president of the Orange County Young Republicans.

“We will not be hearing from 40% of Californians if Prop. 50 passes.”

Randall Avila, executive director of the Orange County GOP, said the measure disenfranchises Latino GOP voters like himself.

Nationally, Trump managed to gain 48% of the Latino vote, a Pew Research study showed, which proved crucial to his second presidential victory.

“Obviously our community has kind of shown we’re willing to switch parties and go another direction if that elected official or that party isn’t serving us,” said Avila. “So it’s unfortunate that some of those voices are now gonna be silenced with a predetermined winner in their district.”

Not all hope is lost for Republicans if Proposition 50 is approved, Avila said. A handful of seats could be snagged by Republicans, including the districts held by Reps. Dave Min (D-Irvine) and Derek Tran (D-Orange).

“If the lines do change, that doesn’t mean we pack up and go home,” he said. “Just means we reorganize, we reconfigure things, and then we keep fighting.”