(This story was up to date so as to add new info.)

Sean Combs, the rapper generally referred to as “Diddy,” has been well-known in music, enterprise, and political circles because the late Nineteen Nineties with each Democratic and Republican candidates.

However in response to federal prosecutors, certainly one of hip-hop’s greatest names used his fame to coerce ladies into demeaning sexual acts for greater than 16 years leading to three felony fees of intercourse trafficking and racketeering on Monday. Diddy has pled not responsible to all fees.

Combs’ community of high-profile politicians features a who’s who in nationwide and native politics, together with presidential candidates, members of Congress and mayors.

Beginning with former President Donald Trump, who, like Diddy, was born and raised in New York, was first publicly linked to the rapper in 1998 when the true property mogul was one of many high-profile superstar attendees on the singer’s twenty ninth birthday celebration.

Signal-up for Your Vote: Textual content with the USA TODAY elections staff.

Trump was additionally featured in a video invitation to the get together, and referred to Combs as “the legendary Puff Daddy,” in response to Newsweek.

Over time, Combs has primarily supported Democratic causes, together with Rock the Vote and launching the voter-education drive Vote or Die marketing campaign in 2004.

Fellow Democrats, together with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, and New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams, have additionally crossed paths with the music mogul.

Harris had posted her because of Combs on X, previously Twitter, throughout her first run for the White Home after he hosted a city corridor on racial inequality and COVID-19 in April 2020. The occasion additionally featured appearances by Rev. Al Sharpton and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Extra:Diddy edited into photograph of Kamala Harris and Montel Williams | Reality verify

As for Trump, whereas filming The Movie star Apprentice 5 in 2012, the truth tv host advised contestant Aubrey O’Day, who labored for the hip-hop impresario, that Combs was his buddy.

“I really like Diddy. You recognize he’s a very good buddy of mine, he’s a very good man,” Trump mentioned. He then requested O’Day: “Is he a very good man?”

She seemed off-camera earlier than replying, “I don’t wish to reply that query,” and later revealed on a podcast that she was fired as a result of she “wasn’t prepared to do what was anticipated of [her] — not talent-wise, however in different areas.”

Combs, 54, was arrested Monday night time after being indicted by a grand jury in New York Metropolis. He faces fees of intercourse trafficking by drive, fraud, or coercion; racketeering; and transportation to interact in prostitution, in response to a 14-page indictment unsealed Tuesday morning.

A federal choose denied bail for Combs on Wednesday, granting a prosecution request for the rapper to stay behind bars earlier than trial in certainly one of NYC’s most infamous jails: the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn.

The MDC is the one federal jail in NYC and is understood for its crumbling infrastructure and unchecked violence as a consequence of a extreme staffing scarcity, in response to The New York Instances. The infamous correctional facility additionally as soon as housed high-profile inmates, together with R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Sam Bankman-Fried.

Combs mentioned his friendship with Trump in 2015 because the Republican was nonetheless seen as an unbelievable candidate within the 2016 presidential race. “Donald Trump is a buddy of mine, and he works very arduous,” he advised The Washington Submit.

However by 2020, Combs had soured on Trump. “White males like Trump have to be banished. That mind-set is actual harmful,” he advised Charlamagne tha God in an interview.

“Once you take a look at it, we don’t haven’t any alternative. Say what you need about Biden, I can’t say I really like the choose both. However we’ve received to get him in workplace, after which we’ve received to carry him accountable,” Combs concluded.

The rapper faces a sentence of as much as life in jail and a minimal of 15 years if convicted.

Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.

Melissa Cruz is an elections reporting fellow who focuses on voter entry points for the USA TODAY Community. You may attain her at mcruz@gannett.com or on X, previously Twitter, at @MelissaWrites22.

Sean “Diddy” Combs, in custody on the Metropolitan Detention Middle in Brooklyn, N.Y., as he awaits trial on sex-trafficking and racketeering fees, was positioned on suicide watch by officers, in accordance with sources.

The sources stated the suicide watch was routine in high-profile circumstances and meant to guard Combs.

Attorneys for Combs say they may preserve preventing to have their consumer free of the ability.

His group wished him to be positioned on home arrest with a $50-million bond, however their request was denied.

U.S. District Choose Andrew L. Carter stated Wednesday {that a} bail package deal that might have saved the hip-hop mogul beneath home arrest in his Star Island mansion in Miami — with safety and no entry to cellphones, web or girls aside from his household — was inadequate to launch him pending trial.

The Metropolitan Detention Middle, which has housed inmates together with R. Kelly and Jeffrey Epstein’s affiliate Ghislaine Maxwell, has a historical past of violence and squalid situations.

Prosecutors unsealed their indictment in opposition to Combs on Tuesday, charging him with intercourse trafficking, racketeering and transportation to interact in prostitution. He pleaded not responsible and was denied bail throughout that listening to as effectively.

The indictment alleges that Combs and his associates lured feminine victims, typically beneath the pretense of a romantic relationship. Combs then allegedly used pressure, threats of pressure, coercion and managed substances to get them to interact in intercourse acts with male prostitutes in what Combs known as “freak offs.” Combs is accused of giving the ladies ketamine, ecstasy and GHB to “preserve them obedient and compliant” through the performances.

The encounters, which prosecutors stated generally lasted for days, have been elaborate productions that Combs organized, directed, masturbated throughout and infrequently recorded, in accordance with the indictment. Prosecutors allege in a detention memo filed in courtroom that the intercourse performances occurred frequently from a minimum of 2009 via this 12 months and that the resort rooms the place they have been staged typically sustained important injury.

Individuals journal was the primary to report the suicide watch.

LONDON (AP) — A uncommon polar bear that was noticed outdoors a cottage in a distant village in Iceland was shot by police after being thought of a risk, authorities mentioned Friday.

The bear was killed Thursday afternoon within the northwest of Iceland after police consulted the Setting Company, which declined to have the animal relocated, Westfjords Police Chief Helgi Jensson instructed The Related Press.

“It’s not one thing we love to do,” Jensson mentioned. “On this case, as you possibly can see within the image, the bear was very near a summer time home. There was an outdated lady in there.”

The proprietor, who was alone, was frightened and locked herself upstairs because the bear rummaged by way of her rubbish, Jensson mentioned. She contacted her daughter in Reykjavik, the nation’s capital, by satellite tv for pc hyperlink, and known as for assist.

“She stayed there,” Jensson mentioned, including that different summer time residents within the space had gone house. “She knew the hazard.”

Polar bears are usually not native to Iceland however sometimes come ashore after touring on ice floes from Greenland, based on Anna Sveinsdóttir, director of scientific collections on the Icelandic Institute of Pure Historical past. Many icebergs have been noticed off the north coast in the previous few weeks.

Though assaults by polar bears on people are extraordinarily uncommon, a examine in Wildlife Society Bulletin in 2017 mentioned that the lack of sea ice from world warming has led extra hungry bears to land, placing them in larger probability of conflicts with people and resulting in a larger threat to each.

Of 73 documented assaults by polar bears from 1870 to 2014 in Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and United States — which killed 20 folks and injured 63 — 15 occurred within the last 5 years of that interval.

The bear shot on Thursday was the primary one seen within the nation since 2016. Sightings are comparatively uncommon with solely 600 recorded in Iceland for the reason that ninth century.

Whereas the bears are a protected species in Iceland and it’s forbidden to kill one at sea, they are often killed in the event that they pose a risk to people or livestock.

After two bears arrived in 2008, a debate over killing the threatened species led the atmosphere minister to nominate a process power to check the difficulty, the institute mentioned. The duty power concluded that killing vagrant bears was probably the most applicable response.

The group mentioned the nonnative species posed a risk to folks and animals, and the price of returning them to Greenland, about 300 kilometers (180 miles) away, was exorbitant. It additionally discovered there was a wholesome bear inhabitants in east Greenland the place any bear was more likely to have come from.

The younger bear, which weighed between 150 and 200 kilograms (300 to 400 kilos), will probably be taken to the institute to check. Scientists took samples from the bear Friday.

They are going to be checking for parasites and infections and evaluating its bodily situation, such because the well being of its organs and share of physique fats, Sveinsdóttir mentioned. The pelt and cranium could also be preserved for the institute’s assortment.

A Coast Guard helicopter surveyed the world the place the bear was discovered to search for others however didn’t discover any, police mentioned.

After the shot bear was taken away, the girl who reported it determined to remain longer within the village, Jensson mentioned

It’s spectacular how little The Penguin cares about being a Batman present. The truth is, one would possibly surprise why it even bothers. This can be a present that clearly prefers the mafia canon to the comic-book one, a thinly veiled excuse to do Scarface in Gotham Metropolis, or to think about a model of The Godfather Half II that’s about Fredo. This will likely annoy some individuals, and please others—it’s actually completely different from the Marvel Cinematic Universe–fashion Easter egg hunts that audiences have been bombarded with over the previous few years. But it surely’s additionally an odd duck, an HBO collection that’s troublesome to sq. with the community’s penchant for status—and, after all, its different (extraordinarily well-known) gangster epic.

The brand new collection follows Colin Farrell’s closely prosthetic reimagining of Oz “The Penguin” Cobb, within the aftermath of 2022’s The Batman. A gap montage reminds viewers concerning the state of issues in Matt Reeves’ model of Gotham Metropolis, and the brief model is: Batman type of beefed it. The Riddler bombed town, flooding its streets and turning its poorer districts right into a catastrophe zone. Metropolis assets are stretched skinny. And mob boss Carmine Falcone (John Turturro within the movie) is lifeless, leaving an influence vacuum within the underworld.

Batman and Bruce Wayne don’t issue into this story. The numerous criminals of The Penguin don’t appear to spare a thought for the armored man whose most popular pastime is thrashing the hell out of small-time crooks. This omission by no means stops being bizarre—I perceive this model of the superhero is simply getting began, however The Batman made it fairly clear that folks in Gotham have a minimum of heard of him. Moreover, The Penguin leans into a few of the comic-book methods of constructing it clear that Gotham shouldn’t be merely a fictional New York, just like the existence of a drug economic system constructed round “drops,” the odd jaunt over to Arkham Asylum, and Riddler query marks tagged throughout billboards. There are a hilarious variety of scenes the place characters stroll by this very apparent comics iconography and proceed to behave as if they don’t seem to be in a comic-book present.

There’s precedent for the style trappings right here. Lots of the hottest and influential Batman comics are very a lot crime tales, like Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli’s Batman: Yr One, or Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s The Lengthy Halloween and its sequel, Darkish Victory—all of which inform The Penguin. Figuring out this, it’s not exhausting to think about a gangster saga that merely omits the Caped Crusader, detailing simply what sort of corruption the hero is set to root out, or how disruptive his arrival could be to a well-established underworld.

The Penguin skews towards the latter. Constant along with his characterization in The Batman, Oz Cobb is a shit-talker and schemer who sees a possibility to scramble his approach up from glorified drug seller to true kingpin. He instructions little respect—his nom de crime is supposed as an insult stated to his face—and in addition doesn’t appear to be terribly good at a lot of what he units out to do. However he’s pushed, moved by an timeless rage on the world round him for overlooking him and denying him the ability and alternative he believes is his, and he has a knack for swaying different disgruntled males to again him in a battle to take again what’s theirs. Batman may not be current, however he offered Oz with a possibility, and he’s going to take it.

That is maybe essentially the most compelling factor about The Penguin: By way of its characterization of Oz and his place in Gotham, it illustrates the seductive attraction of gangster tales, and means that possibly it’s not terribly completely different from what attracts individuals to superhero fables. The poisonous fandom inherent to each solely underlines this. To that finish, the present’s finest character, and the explanation why all of it comes collectively so properly, is a girl.

Sofia Falcone (Cristin Milioti) is an instantaneous menace to Oz’s ambitions. Lately launched from Arkham, she is a shock inheritor to the mob throne, an aspiring queenpin to parallel Oz’s felony objectives. Like Diane Keaton in The Godfather or any girl strolling into an previous patriarchal stronghold, she is straight away shut out by males who’ve energy or need it—however frequently finds methods to jam her foot within the door, frustrate plans, construct her personal empire. Throughout its eight-episode run, The Penguin takes time to look at each Oz and Sofia, to search out the cracks of their psyches that give them the need to warp town to their very own picture, discovering extra to mine of their petty humanity than of their felony acumen.

Right here is the place The Penguin most seems like The Sopranos, turning its consideration to the broken households that produce males like Oz or girls like Sofia, and the way the crime “households” they’re a part of mirror their gaping emotional wants. The comparability is an uncomfortable one, and unattainable to keep away from—a stark divide between the status TV of yore, when the phrase was coined, and what it appears like at present. What beforehand described a subset of exhibits that stood in distinction to broadcast norms and sought to push boundaries has now develop into a proper normal, a mildew able to obtain the IP tie-in that each high-profile media property will need to have now, even on HBO.

But there’s a craft to The Penguin that makes it satisfying by itself phrases, a stunning work of IP brinkmanship with the devious goal of seeing how far you’ll be able to take the Batman identify for a trip whereas ravenous Batman followers of his presence. Prefer it or not, that is simply how status TV is made now, however a minimum of it may nonetheless be good.

HBO is spooling up additional DC programming, a present that would not be extra reverse to its earlier providing, James Gunn’s Peacemaker. That may be The Penguin, a spin-off of Matt Reeves’ non-DCU, non-DCEU The Batman film, a movie which featured Colin Farrell’s Penguin as a supporting character. Now, he’s about to get ten occasions the display time Robert Pattinson’s Bruce/Bats ever obtained in that film.

The present aired on Thursday, however that can subsequently transfer to Sunday as HBO’s “premium” providing on that night time, which beforehand featured Home of the Dragon. And sure, it deserves that slot. Spoilers comply with.

As of now, The Penguin is way faraway from something resembling precise superheroism, a pure mob drama that offers with the aftermath of the occasions of Riddler flooding Gotham which Batman is certain not going to singlehandedly clear up, and I’d be amazed if he even obtained a cameo. There’s an influence wrestle within the underworld after the loss of life of Falcone Sr., and the present opens with the stunning execution of his son and successor by Oz, just because he laughs at his dream of being a revered gangster.

The present then turns into an odd buddy drama with Penguin recruiting a child to assist him together with his new plans, somewhat than executing him when he’s a witness to the disposal of Falcone’s physique. He needs an apprentice, it appears. Now, Penguin is taking part in each side, the Falcone’s and the Moroni’s, ending up escaping blame for the homicide by the top of the episode with a surprisingly good plan.

Whereas I do know we noticed him do that in The Batman, it’s nearly unimaginable to consider that it’s Colin Farrell underneath that make-up and rubber in what must be essentially the most spectacular prosthetic work I’ve ever seen. Have you learnt how arduous it’s to create a personality in a grounded mob drama with a bunch of crap on his face whereas sporting a fatsuit? But it surely works, it actually works, and Farrell is great right here. He’s unrecognizable not simply visually, however his performing, as effectively, which is not like something I’ve ever seen him do. It appears he shall be much more attention-grabbing than he was allowed to be in The Batman, and it’s simple to grasp now why they gave him his personal collection.

And although she has much less display time, it appears very clear that Cristin Milioti’s Sofia Falcone, not too long ago launched from Arkham, goes to be a equally glorious presence within the present, one who has Penguin’s quantity and understands his performs higher than anybody. It appears she could also be the villain within the present (effectively, Oz is a villain, however you get what I imply), and to date, she has earned that title.

We all know that James Gunn is planning a lighter-hearted model of DC in comparison with each the DCEU and now this Reeves stuff, nevertheless it’s arduous to disclaim that Reeves’ imaginative and prescient of Gotham right here is near the very best we’ve ever seen. There’ll probably be a film trilogy, this Penguin miniseries and at the very least one or two different HBO reveals by the point all is claimed and executed. And he and his workforce are two for 2, and I’d be prepared to wager they might go six for six, given the prospect.

Comply with me on Twitter, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.

Decide up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller collection and The Earthborn Trilogy.

FOXBORO — The Patriots do not make a change to rookie Drake Maye at quarterback. Jacoby Brissett will stay New England’s starter till Jerod Mayo says in any other case.

“Jacoby is our quarterback till I say he is not the quarterback,” Mayo stated throughout his video convention with reporters Friday morning. “Final night time, he confirmed plenty of toughness and grit on safety breakdowns. As a staff, as a training workers, we simply need to be higher.”

Brissett took one other beating all through New England’s 24-3 loss to the Jets on Thursday night time, as he was sacked 5 instances by the New York protection. He was pressured on greater than half of his dropbacks, and threw for less than 98 yards. 

That is been an ongoing theme for the Patriots over the primary three weeks of the season, with the offensive line failing to guard their quarterback. With the result settled late within the fourth quarter, Mayo opted to ship Maye on the market to complete the competition.

The rookie led the Patriots downfield into the pink zone, however the drive and the sport ended when he took a sack on his last snap. Maye was sacked twice and hit thrice on his 16 snaps.

After watching the sport movie and assembly together with his teaching workers, Mayo and the Patriots are sticking with Brissett underneath middle. Mayo admitted final week that Maye is getting roughly 30 % of the snaps with New England’s starters in apply, which is an unusually excessive proportion for a staff’s backup. 

Mayo stated that Maye’s apply snaps will not be growing because the Patriots put together for his or her Week 4 recreation in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.

“Proper now it is nonetheless established order,” Mayo stated of the QB reps. “Jacoby remains to be our beginning quarterback and we’ve got to be able to help him. There are 11 guys on the market on offense, so it is everybody. That is actually not into account that this time.

“All our focus proper now could be to get to 2-2,” Mayo added. “Every part is all the time underneath analysis, however simply to be clear, Jacoby remains to be our beginning quarterback till I say he is not.”

Jerod Mayo evaluates Drake Maye’s debut

Maye had an up-and-down debut, finishing 4 of his eight passes for 22 yards whereas speeding for 12 yards on a pair of scrambles. His first move was practically picked off, however he did make a pleasant throw to DeMario Douglas for 15 yards that set the Patriots up on the New York 7-yard line. Just a few performs prior, Maye picked up a primary down with an 11-yard scamper on a fourth-and-8.

Mayo was impressed with what he noticed out of the 22-year previous.

“One other man who has athleticism and he could make all of the throws. Coming off the bench at the moment is all the time robust regardless of the positions, however particularly at quarterback. He dealt with himself properly and tried to place a drive collectively,” stated Mayo. “It is one thing to construct off of. I believed it was alternative for him to go on the market and get some dwell reps.”

Whereas Maye received some precious expertise on Thursday night time, New England offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt believes one of the best improvement plan is to have the rookie stay on the sideline.

“I nonetheless suppose it is by watching. I feel there’s quite a bit to be realized but, and that is the place I will stand on that,” Van Pelt stated Friday.

“Jacoby is our starter, like Coach stated. Till that modifications, I feel we received to do every little thing we are able to to get the starter able to win a recreation [against the 49ers],” added Van Pelt.

Arsenal wrap up a gruelling week on the street with a 3rd immediately sport after they face champions Manchester Metropolis within the Premier League on Sunday, and supervisor Mikel Arteta stated his squad had been getting ready for the conflict since preseason.

After beating Tottenham away in a north London derby final weekend, Arsenal flew to Bergamo, Italy and obtained a goalless draw at Atalanta within the Champions League on Thursday. They’ve little time to relaxation, nevertheless, with Metropolis subsequent up on the weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s facet have edged Arsenal to win the title within the final two seasons and as soon as once more the 2 golf equipment are first and second within the league after 4 video games, with Metropolis two factors clear on the prime.

“We have been getting ready for this since preseason. Clearly, we knew the schedule and we all know that it is extraordinarily uncommon to play in these situations with three huge away video games in six days,” Arteta stated.

“Nevertheless it was what it was so we’ve ready for that, each bodily, mentally and tactically.

“We’re ensuring that everybody is prepared for it as a result of we’ll want them, particularly with the accidents that we had from the worldwide break.”

Arsenal skipper Martin Ødegaard stays sidelined with an ankle damage sustained on responsibility with Norway, and Arteta is not sure of the midfielder’s return date.

“We have to see the event within the subsequent week or so, how the ankle reacts to begin with after which the workers will give me an replace on the timeframe and the way lengthy he’ll be out for,” the Spanish coach stated.

Arteta added that there have been no recent accidents after the draw at Atalanta however had hoped for an additional day of relaxation after Metropolis drew at house to Inter Milan on Wednesday.

“We needed the identical as them, we’re not getting it, so we’ve to adapt and take advantage of the time that we’ve as we speak and tomorrow and on the morning of the match to arrange in one of the simplest ways to go there and win the sport,” he stated.

Though Metropolis have had Arsenal’s quantity previously, they haven’t overwhelmed Arteta’s facet of their final three conferences in all competitions, with their final win coming in April 2023.

Arsenal additionally boast a stellar away document in 2024, dropping factors in simply the 0-0 draw at Metropolis final season, and Arteta stated he anticipated a aggressive environment on the Etihad.

“We go to the house of the champions, the crew that I feel in Premier League historical past has been probably the most constant ever, not solely when it comes to outcomes however when it comes to dominance and constant prime performances,” he stated.

“That is the problem. We’ve to go there and show that once more we have made one other step and we are able to compete.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Kelly Clarkson says she’s realized a factor or two about interviewing after being within the highlight as a recording artist since 2002. So, she’s created a protected house for friends on season six of her speak present which launches Monday. Burned by media tales previously, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter says she takes a unique method with friends on her daytime present.

Followers of the present — primarily based in New York for its second yr — can count on extra superstar interviews, human curiosity tales, and Clarkson’s signature “Kellyoke” musical performances. Clarkson says she likes to make friends really feel snug, typically enjoying video games and infusing humor into her segments.

Clarkson can be an government producer on the present, which has gained 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, together with Excellent Daytime Host and Speak Present final yr. She spoke to The Related Press just lately about how she approaches interviews, overlaying new artists and staying incognito on the subway. Solutions have been edited for readability and brevity.

AP: What are you most enthusiastic about within the new season?

CLARKSON: By season six, individuals sort of belief our present extra. I believe plenty of instances some actors or artists — particularly within the limelight — they get a bit of nervous about occurring reveals as a result of they’re like, “Are they going to try to angle one thing? Or get some form of soundbite or clickbait?” That’s not what I’m about. I’ve clearly had that occur to me in my profession, so I don’t need to try this to anybody. I believe individuals by now really feel protected there, and so they’re prepared to love, you realize, play a dumb sport that’s simply enjoyable or they’re prepared to speak about issues that possibly they don’t usually speak about.

AP: What have you ever realized from being on the opposite aspect of interviews?

CLARKSON: I do know what the receiving finish appears like. You simply need to promote one thing that you simply’re pleased with, after which having to shadowbox your approach by way of an interview so any person just isn’t attempting to make their profession off one thing they try to get you to say — it’s simply gross and it’s hurtful. There’s been sure issues, like the place I assist navigate the interview in a approach that I’m snug. I by no means ask somebody one thing that I wouldn’t thoughts answering. I positively have been on the receiving finish of that in a constructive approach and in a really unfavourable approach. I simply need individuals to really feel protected and cozy as a result of it’s imagined to be a great time, you realize?

AP: Who’re your dream friends?

CLARKSON: All the things is a cherry on high at this level. I’ve had essentially the most wonderful bookers for my present. I frolicked with Dolly Parton and Cher and Coronary heart and Alanis Morissette and Babyface and like all these artists that I really like musically. After which I received to hang around with Josh Brolin, who was like in “The Goonies” and he’s Thanos, and it’s like, so cool! Assembly individuals that you simply love of their motion pictures or for his or her work after which, you realize, attending to see a sneak peek of who they’re as a human may be very enjoyable. I at all times say Meryl Streep — she is one among my favorites within the business, whether or not it’s singing or appearing or no matter.

AP: Your “Kellyoke” phase is a fan-favorite, and also you cowl many common songs. Which new artists are you listening to now?

CLARKSON: I’m an enormous fan of Chappell (Roan.) I’m truly overlaying her fairly a bit this season. I really like Fletcher. I’ve at all times been overlaying this technology, like Billie (Eilish) or Olivia Rodrigo, there’s plenty of them. There’s plenty of expertise — Sabrina Carpenter I’m an enormous fan of. I’m like 42, however I like it. Music is music. That’s the cool factor about it. There isn’t a particular tradition, particular age, particular, no matter it’s important to be — it’s for everybody. I cowl 180 songs a season, which is superior. It’s simply plenty of work, so to have the ability to sing songs and be so enthusiastic about like these new up-and-coming artists. It’s thrilling overlaying these songs after which difficult you a bit however I really like this. It’s an amazing technology of artists proper now.

AP: Is it true you experience the New York Metropolis subway? Don’t you get acknowledged?

CLARKSON: By no means! Woman, I don’t appear to be this — (motions to made-up face) — this isn’t how I awoke! (laughs) I normally am in a mother bun, or a hat and I get away with it. It’s solely after I converse — as quickly as I open my mouth to talk is when individuals will go, ‘what?’ After which that’s what provides me away. I’ve a really gifted (hair and make-up) crew named Harry and Potter — that’s what I name them (laughs) — and I’m very fortunate. I understand that. On “The Voice,” like I bear in mind, any time I’d ever exit with Blake (Shelton) anyplace or John (Legend) they only appear to be them on a regular basis. They’ll’t get away with it and so they can’t go anyplace. I’m very blessed. I get away with main a reasonably regular common life, and I don’t suppose lots of people within the limelight get that. However yeah, the subway’s simply sooner! So, we’re on it on a regular basis.

The Atlanta Dream claimed the WNBA’s last playoff spot on Thursday evening to finish the league’s postseason subject.

Eighth-seeded Atlanta will face the top-seeded New York Liberty within the best-of-three first-round sequence, which begins Sunday in New York.

The three different matchups additionally will start Sunday. The second-seeded Minnesota Lynx drew the seventh-seeded Phoenix Mercury, the third-seeded Connecticut Solar face the sixth-seeded Indiana Fever and the fourth-seeded Las Vegas Aces battle the fifth-seeded Seattle Storm.

The upper-seeded group hosts Video games 1 and a couple of. The decrease seed would host Sport 3, if mandatory.

Two-time defending champion Las Vegas was within the working for the No. 3 seed on Thursday earlier than Connecticut clinched the spot with an 87-54 rout of the Chicago Sky.

Las Vegas is seeking to develop into the primary group to win three straight titles for the reason that Houston Comets gained 4 in a row (1997-2000).

Atlanta secured the ultimate spot with a 78-67 upset of the Liberty. The Dream edged out the Washington Mystics, who posted a 92-91 dwelling win over the Indiana Fever.

“This yr is particular. This has positively been the hardest yr for us with every part that has gone on,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright stated afterward. “I’m actually pleased with our athletes for persevering with to struggle and by no means giving in as a result of I believe it’s straightforward to present in after the season that we’ve had.”

Sunday’s recreation between the Caitlin Clark-led Fever and Solar might be aired on ABC. The three different video games that day might be televised on ESPN.

Video games 2 and three of the Atlanta-New York and Seattle-Las Vegas sequence are slated for Tuesday and Thursday, pending whether or not a Sport 3 is critical. The Indiana-Connecticut and Phoenix-Minnesota sequence are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday video games, once more relying on whether or not Sport 3 is required.

The very best-of-five semifinals are slated to start Sept. 29.

The WNBA Finals, additionally a five-game sequence, will start Oct. 10. A Sport 5 can be held Oct. 20, if mandatory.

–Subject Stage Media

A star reporter who lined Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential marketing campaign has been positioned on go away after admitting a relationship with a former reporting topic.

New York Journal mentioned in an announcement Thursday, first reported by Standing, that its Washington correspondent, Olivia Nuzzi, had didn’t disclose a “private relationship” with an unnamed marketing campaign topic whereas she was reporting on the 2024 election.

This was a violation of the outlet’s requirements on journalists declaring private pursuits that could possibly be seen to affect their protection, it mentioned.

“Had the journal been conscious of this relationship, she wouldn’t have continued to cowl the presidential marketing campaign,” the assertion mentioned. The journal mentioned that it reviewed her work, nevertheless, and located “no inaccuracies nor proof of bias.”

“She is at the moment on go away from the journal, and the journal is conducting a extra thorough third-party assessment. We remorse this violation of our readers’ belief,” it added.

Whereas neither Nuzzi or New York Journal named the reporting topic, Standing in addition to CNN and the New York Instances have reported that it was Kennedy.

Nuzzi mentioned in an announcement to The New York Instances on Thursday, with out elaborating on the precise nature of their relationship, that “some communication between myself and a former reporting topic turned private” earlier this 12 months.

She mentioned that regardless of having lined the topic beforehand she didn’t report on him straight throughout this time.

“The connection was by no means bodily however ought to have been disclosed to stop the looks of a battle. I deeply remorse not doing so instantly and apologize to these I’ve disenchanted, particularly my colleagues at New York,” she mentioned.

NBC Information reached out to Nuzzi in a single day for remark.

Stefanie Spear, spokesperson for Kennedy, mentioned in a brief assertion to NBC Information that “Mr. Kennedy solely met Olivia Nuzzi as soon as in his life for an interview she requested, which yielded a success piece.”

Nuzzi wrote a prolonged article about Kennedy in Nov. 2023, headlined: “The Thoughts-Bending Politics of RFK Jr.’s Spoiler Marketing campaign.” Its subheading learn: “He’s a conservative. He’s a liberal. And he may flip the presidential race the other way up.”

A current article by Nuzzi, an interview with Trump, was revealed on Sept. 9. The web model has been up to date with a “word to readers” which hyperlinks to New York Journal’s assertion.

Kennedy, who gained prominence as an environmental lawyer after which as a number one anti-vaccine advocate, dropped out of the race final month and introduced he would help Trump.