Kamala Harris suggests mocking her cackle is sexist: 'Out-of-touch standards'

Former Vice PresidentKamala Harrissuggested that it is sexist to mock her distinctive cackle.

Harris made the comment during a recent appearance on the "Rich Little Broke Girls" podcast, when she recalled a reporter asking her about criticisms of lacking humility.

"I don't aspire to be humble. Humility, yes, is very important. [It's] a very dated perspective on who women should be. To say, women should be humble. Women should be quiet. Women should laugh quietly," Harris said.

Kamala Harris Says She Hasn't Decided On 2028 Presidential Campaign Amid Report She's 'Stepping Toward' Run

"Women should not have a sense of humor. Women should not raise their voice," she continued. "I have never felt burdened by those very dated, and I think out-of-touch standards."

The former vice president has previously argued that sexism was to blame for criticism of her cackle, including during an April 2024 interview with talk-show hostDrew Barrymore.

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"Like, apparently, some people love to talk about the way I laugh," Harris said at the time.

"Well, let me just tell you something: I have my mother's laugh," she continued. "And I grew up around a bunch of women, in particular, who laughed from the belly."

Kamala Harris Warns That Democratic Party Is 'Stuck In The Past,' Speaking Inauthentically

During Harris' appearance on the "Rich Little Broke Girls" podcast, she also gavedating advice to young single women, highlighting the importance of finding someone who is kind and makes them laugh.

"Choose to be with someone who allows you to laugh at yourself and them," she said. "Choose to be with someone who you know you like, going to the grocery store together, taking a walk together."

"There are different phases in your life and you may not know what phase you're in," Harris added. "Maybe you're going to choose that you want to have that kind of Friday night relationship — or you want that Sunday morning relationship. Sometimes you can get both — and sometimes they just are oil and water. And that's okay! Be in those phases where you are having fun!"

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Noting that people want different things at various stages in life, Harris said she was not sure if she would have been ready to marry Doug Emhoff, who she married in 2014, earlier in life.

"Doug and I got married in our 40s, and I love my husband so very much. He is my best friend," Harris said.

"We've talked about it. If we had met in our 20s, I don't know that we would have really been in the same place," she added.

Harris' office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Original article source:Kamala Harris suggests mocking her cackle is sexist: 'Out-of-touch standards'

bySator Tenet

in

December 24, 2025

Kamala Harris suggests mocking her cackle is sexist: 'Out-of-touch standards'

Former Vice PresidentKamala Harrissuggested that it is sexist to mock her distinctive cackle. Harris made the co...

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NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who alreadyWordle,Connections,Strandsand theMini Crosswordnow have Connections Sports Edition to add to the mix.So, if you're looking for some hints and answers for today's Connections Sports Edition on Wednesday,December24, 2025, you've come to the right place.

🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox

What Is Connections Sports Edition?

Connections Sports Edition is just like the regular Connections word puzzle, in that it's a game that resets at 12 a.m. EST each day and has 16 different words listed. It's up to you to figure out each group of four words that belong to a certain category, with four categories in total.

This new version is sports-specific, however, as a partnership between The New York Times and The Athletic.

As the NYT site instructs, for Connections Sports Edition, you "group sports terms that share a common thread."

Related:The 26 Funniest NYT Connections Game Memes You'll Appreciate if You Do This Daily Word Puzzle

Hints for Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories on December 24, 2025

Here are some hints about the four categories to help you figure out the word groupings.

• Yellow: What separates two entities.

• Green: Head to the mountains.

• Blue: Mitt makers.

• Purple: Kick it.

Here Are Today's Connections Sports Edition Categories

OK, time for a second hint…we'll give you the actual categories now. Spoilers below!

• Yellow: GAP BETWEEN TWO OPPONENTS

• Green: A SKIER'S NEEDS

• Blue: BASEBALL GLOVE MANUFACTURERS

• Purple: NFL PUNTERS

If you're looking for the answers, no worries—we've got them below. So, don't scroll any further if you don't want to see the solutions!The answers to today's Connections Sports Edition #457 are coming up next.Related:15 Fun Games Like Connections to Play Every Day

What Are the Answers to Connections Sports Edition Today?

• GAP BETWEEN TWO OPPONENTS: ADVANTAGE, EDGE, LEAD, MARGIN

• A SKIER'S NEEDS: BOOTS, POLES, SKIS, SNOW

• BASEBALL GLOVE MANUFACTURERS: MIZUNO, NIKE, RAWLINGS, WILSON

• NFL PUNTERS: ANGER, HAACK, STOUT, WAY

Don't worry if you didn't get them this time—we've all been there.

Up next,catch up on the answers to recent Wordle puzzles.

Related: Costco's Rustic and 'Solid' Lamp Is So Beautiful, Shoppers Are Buying 2 At a Time

This story was originally published byParadeon Dec 24, 2025, where it first appeared in theLifesection. Add Parade as aPreferred Source by clicking here.

bySator Tenet

in

December 24, 2025

NYT Connections Sports Edition Today: Hints and Answers for Wednesday, December 24, 2025

Get excited—there's another New York Times game to add to your daily routine! Those of us word game addicts who alrea...

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Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Holiday Snap Slammed As “Manipulation” After Fans Spot Details

AsPrince HarryandMeghan Markleunveiled their official2025 holiday card, offering a rare glimpse of their two children, the internet wasted no time tearing it apart over certain suspicious details.

Shared on December 19 on the Duchess of Sussex's Instagram account as part of the couple's annual festive tradition, the image quickly sparkedbacklash.

Critics accused them of yet anotherphotoshopping mishapand blasted Meghan's "questionable" outfit choice in the image.

"This is not just a fake. It's a really bad fake," one furious netizen wrote.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Christmas Card With Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Slammed Over Possible Photoshop Fail

Image credits:Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Sharing annual Christmas cards has been a tradition for the Sussexes since their 2018 wedding, with the couple releasing one each holiday season without fail.

In the festive photo, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stood on a whimsical wooden bridge surrounded by greenery, with a narrow stream flowing beneath it.

They were joined by their two children, with everyone dressed in coordinated shades of white, except for Princess Lilibet, who wore a pale blue knee-length dress.

Image credits:meghan

Prince Harry embraced Prince Archie, while Markle held her daughter's hands, touching her forehead to the four-year-old's in an affectionate moment.

The former actress captioned the post, "Happy Holidays! From our family to yours."

As soon as the image was shared on social media, users beganquestioning its authenticityafter noticing a distortion around Prince Harry's head.

Image credits:meghan

Many pointed out what appeared to be a smudge near his head, while others claimed that a portion of the 41-year-old's hair seemed to be missing.

One netizen wrote, "What happened with the editing? The back of Harry's head is missing above the hairline."

Another added, "Right away you can see all the Photoshop mistakes… I may be wrong, but this photo doesn't look right to me."

Critics claimed that a chunk of Prince Harry's head appeared to be missing, while the 44-year-old actress was slammed for wearing an "awful" sheer dress

Image credits:The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan Duke & Duchess of Sussex

Others pointed out what they described as the "unnaturally" long feet of both the Duke of Sussex and four-year-old Lilibet, arguing that her proportions appeared inconsistent, especially given that she is younger than six-year-old Archie, who seemed to have shorter feet.

Summing up the speculation in a Reddit thread, one critic wrote, "Archie's also much smaller than lilibet despite being literally inches away. Meghan's forehead has a weird curvature that isn't in any of her other pics and lili isnot dressed to match anybodyin the photo."

Image credits:meghan

According to the commenter, "harry and archie are not in the pic, they are photoshopped in. Meghan possibly photoshopped herself with lili."

Another point of contention was theSuitsalum's slightly sheer ivory dress, which revealed the outline of her back and legs, something several critics deemed "unattractive" and inappropriate for a Christmas card.

"Awful dress. Not only was the picture taken with her see-through dress, she [also] chose this picture as her Christmas card," one critic wrote.

Image credits:meghan

While the couple has not addressed the latest wave of photoshopping accusations, it certainly isn't the first time they have faced such claims.

Earlier this year, in May, to mark the seventh anniversary of their 2018 wedding at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, Markle shared an Instagram post that once again landed her in the midst of photoshop allegations.

"The harder they try to make themselves appear natural, the more they fail," one critic reacted after noticing certain "fake" details in the image

Image credits:meghan

Inone of the imagesfrom the post, Meghan and Harry were seen facing each other with their noses touching.

However, viewers suggested that the moment was not genuine and had instead been edited into a single image using two separate photos taken during their 2018 tour of New Zealand.

During that visit, the pair performed the hongi, a traditional Māori greeting in which two people press their noses and foreheads together, which critics believe was used to create the anniversary image.

Image credits:The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan Duke & Duchess of Sussex

Moreover, last year's Christmas card from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also sparked speculation that the image may have been artificially created.

Their 2024 Christmas card featured a collage of six photographs, including one imageshowing the entire family togetherin a park setting.

However, upon closer inspection, viewers claimed to spot several apparent inconsistencies in the image, such as Prince Harry appearing to have six fingers on one hand, dogs that seemed "digitally positioned," and Princess Lilibet looking roughly the "same height as her brother."

Image credits:Dan Wootton Outspoken

One observer commented at the time, "Look at this dodgy digitally altered photo Harry and Meghan have released for Christmas! The shadows are all wrong, you can see the digitally altered outline around Meghan and the dogs have been superimposed."

"Also, are we supposed to believe Lilibet is around six or seven years old or what?!"

Over the years, the couple has faced multiple photoshop accusations, at times even drawing comparisons to Princess Kate Middleton's own editing backlash

Image credits:The Office of Prince Harry & Meghan Duke & Duchess of Sussex

As Harry and Meghan's 2025 card was dragged online, netizens also resurfaced past controversies, speculating that this latest "terrible Photoshop" may have been intentional, aimed at stirring a reaction similar to Catherine's Mother's Day editing scandal.

For those unaware, in March last year, the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, Meghan's sister-in-law, sparked backlash after sharing a digitallyaltered Mother's Day photofeaturing her three children.

Image credits:meghan

The controversy escalated when major news agencies, including the Associated Press (AP), Getty Images, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse (AFP), withdrew the image from their archives over concerns about photo manipulation.

Kate later addressed the situation herself, confirming that the image had been an "experiment with editing" in anapology shared on her Xaccount days later.

Image credits:princeandprincessofwales

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."

"Meghan photoshops because no one will pose in a photo with her. She has been doing it since at least her suits days," one netizen harshly claimed

bySator Tenet

in

December 24, 2025

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Holiday Snap Slammed As “Manipulation” After Fans Spot Details

AsPrince HarryandMeghan Markleunveiled their official2025 holiday card, offering a rare glimpse of their two children, th...

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South Korean lawmakers pass bill targeting false information despite warnings on censorship

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's liberal-led legislature on Wednesday passed a bill allowing heavy punitive damages against traditional news and internet media for publishing "false or fabricated information," brushing aside concerns the legislation could lead to greater censorship.

Journalist groups and civil liberty advocates urged PresidentLee Jae Myungto veto the bill pushed by his Democratic Party. They say the wording is vague about what information would be banned and lacks sufficient protections for the press, potentially discouraging critical reporting on public officials, politicians and big businesses.

The Democrats, who have failed to pass similar legislation under past governments, say the law is needed to counter a growing threat offake news and disinformationthat they argue undermine democracy by fueling divisions and hate speech.

The bill would allow courts to award punitive damages of up to five times the proven losses against news organizations and large YouTube channels that disseminate "illegal information or false, fabricated information" to cause harm or seek profit.

The bill also would allow damages of up to 50 million won ($34,200) for losses that are difficult to quantify in court. The country's media regulator would be able to fine outlets up to 1 billion won ($684,000) for distributing information a court confirms to be false or manipulated more than twice.

The bill passed the National Assembly by a vote of 170-3 with four abstentions after many lawmakers from the main conservative opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote. The vote was delayed after a 24-hour filibuster by PPP, during which lawmakers from both parties debated the bill.

PPP lawmaker Choi Soo-jin said during the filibuster that the bill fails to define the degree of inaccuracy for information to be banned, warning it could be broadly applied to content containing minor errors or general claims and used as a tool to silence critics with the threat of lawsuits.

The Democrats argue punitive damages would apply only when there is clarity that false information has been deliberately spread for harmful or profit-seeking purposes and causes actual damage, while routine allegations or claims would not be penalized.

They note the law prohibits filing damage claims with the purpose of "obstructing just criticism or oversight conducted in the public interest," although legal experts and journalist groups have criticized the provision as vague and unrealistic.

"What the law targets is not (legitimate) criticism but the malicious and deliberate dissemination of false information," Democratic Party spokesperson Park Soo-hyun said. "(The bill) is based on the requirement of intent and also exempts satire and parody, clearly distinguishing (what should be respected as) freedom of expression."

The National Union of Media Workers urged Lee's government and the Democrats to address concerns that regulating false or manipulated information by law could infringe on freedom of expression and expose media companies to abusive lawsuits, chilling scrutiny of those in power.

"We urge (them) to clearly reaffirm that the law would target only a tiny portion (of content) that's 'false or fabricated information' and to carefully review the bill to eliminate any potential infringement on freedom of the press and of expression," the group said in a statement. "We call on them to carefully define the law's scope when drafting (the law's) enforcement ordinance."

bySator Tenet

in

December 24, 2025

South Korean lawmakers pass bill targeting false information despite warnings on censorship

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's liberal-led legislature on Wednesday passed a bill allowing heavy punitive da...

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Atlanta Housing Authority official charged with fraud, theft, feds say

The senior vice president of the Atlanta Housing Authority was accused of creating a scheme to collect Section 8 housing assistancepaymentson her property and those of family members while also submitting fraudulent applications forpandemic relieffunds,federal prosecutorssay.

Tracy Denise Jones, a 61-year-old woman from Atlanta, was arraigned on Dec. 19 onfederal charges of conspiracyto commit theft of government funds, wire fraud and credit application fraud, according to a Dec. 22 news release from the Northern District of Georgia's U.S. Attorney's Office.

"A long-time senior executive of one of the largest housing authorities in the nation, Jones was entrusted to deliver vast sums of government assistance to our community's neediest members," U.S. attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said in the release. "But Jones allegedly exploited a variety of assistance programs and chose to line her own pockets using an alternate identity, multiple business entities, a false affidavit and a cadre of associate willing to lie on her behalf."

Atlanta Housing Authority: Fake name and shell business conceal identity

Jones served with the Atlanta Housing Authority over the Housing Choice Voucher Program since 2017, which includes one of the largest Section 8 housing programs in the nation.

Section 8 offers rental assistance payments to landlords to supplement rent from low-income individuals and families. There are often long waits to get approved for Section 8 assistance, and the funds are limited, federal prosecutors said.

Jones is accused of creating a fake name and a shell business entity in order to complete Section 8 documents for a home she owned and rented to her family members, generally prohibited for housing authority staff.

She received more than $36,000 in Section 8 funds she wasn't eligible for, and when an investigation was launched into the fake identity, Jones is accused of submitting a false affidavit and then convincing friends to lie on her behalf, prosecutors said.

Used shell business for COVID-19 relief funds

While the shell business was used to funnel money from Section 8, prosecutors say Jones also used it to apply for more than $27,000 in U.S. Small Business Administration COVID-19 pandemic relief programs.

Jones claimed her business was functioning and was carrying a staff, and that the company made $56,000 in gross revenue in 2019. When one application was denied Jones appealed the decision and said she was "truly a[n] honestly business owner," and that she had "heard how people abused the PPP loans to establish a lavish lif[e] style," but "that is not me."

Fraud across finances

As investigators took a closer look at Jones' Section 8 property, they found she had refinished the mortgage but lied on her application.

Jones claimed the $219,780 loan was for a property that was her primary residence and not a rental. She also stated she didn't own any other property.

The investigation into Jones was part of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established in 2021.

Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today's Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Atlanta Housing Authority senior vice president charged with fraud

bySator Tenet

in

December 24, 2025

Atlanta Housing Authority official charged with fraud, theft, feds say

The senior vice president of the Atlanta Housing Authority was accused of creating a scheme to collect Section 8 housing ...

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Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay

The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination overa failing gradeon a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a "belief in multiple genders" was "demonic."

The university said ina statementposted Monday on X that its investigation found the graduate teaching assistant had been "arbitrary" in giving 20-year-old junior Samantha Fulnecky zero points on the assignment. The university declined to comment beyond its statement, which said the instructor "will no longer have instructional duties."

Through her attorney, the instructor, Mel Curth, denied Tuesday that she had "engaged in any arbitrary behavior regarding the student's work." The attorney, Brittany Stewart, said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press that Curth is "considering all of her legal remedies."

Conservative groups, commentators and others quickly made Fulnecky's failing grade an online cause, highlighting her argument that she'd been punished for expressing conservative Christian views. Her case became a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over academic freedom on college campuses as President Donald Trump pushes toend diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and restrict how campuses discuss race, gender and sexuality.

Fulnecky appealed her grade on the assignment, which was worth 3% of the final grade in the class, and the university said the assignment would not count. It also placed Curth on leave, and Oklahoma's conservative Republican governor, Kevin Stitt, declared the situation "deeply concerning."

"The University of Oklahoma believes strongly in both its faculty's rights to teach with academic freedom and integrity and its students' right to receive an education that is free from a lecturer's impermissible evaluative standards," the university's statement said. "We are committed to teaching students how to think, not what to think."

A law approved this yearby Oklahoma's Republican-dominated Legislature and signed by Stitt prohibits state universities from using public funds to finance DEI programs or positions or mandating DEI training. However, the law says it does not apply to scholarly research or "the academic freedom of any individual faculty member."

Home telephone listings for Fulnecky in the Springfield, Missouri, area had been disconnected, and her mother — an attorney, podcaster and radio host — did not immediately respond Tuesday to a Facebook message seeking comment about the university's action.

Fulnecky's failing grade came in an assignment for a psychology class on lifespan development. Curth directed students to write a 650-word response to an academic study that examined whether conformity with gender norms was associated with popularity or bullying among middle school students.

Fulnecky wrote that she was frustrated by the premise of the assignment because she does not believe that there are more than two genders based on her understanding of the Bible, according toa copy of her essayprovidedto The Oklahoman.

"Society pushing the lie that there are multiple genders and everyone should be whatever they want to be is demonic and severely harms American youth," she wrote, adding that it would lead society "farther from God's original plan for humans."

In feedback obtained by the newspaper, Curth said the paper did "not answer the questions for the assignment," contradicted itself, relied on "personal ideology" over evidence and "is at times offensive."

"Please note that I am not deducting points because you have certain beliefs," Curth wrote.

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bySator Tenet

in

December 23, 2025

Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay

The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination overa failing gradeon a psych...

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Search teams probe wreckage after Libyan army chief and 7 others are killed in Turkey plane crash

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Search and recovery teams on Wednesday intensified their operations at the site of aplane crash that killed Libya's military chiefand other high-level officers, working to secure the area and locate the aircraft's flight recorders after a night of heavy rain and fog, Turkey's state-run news agency said.

The private jet carrying Gen. Muhammad Ali Ahmad al-Haddad, four other officers and three crew members crashed in Turkey on Tuesday after taking off from the capital, Ankara, killing everyone on board. Libyan officials said the cause of the crash was a technical malfunction on the plane.

The Libyan delegation was on its way back to Tripoli after holding high-level defense talks in Ankara aimed at boosting military cooperation between the two countries.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah confirmed the deaths, describing the incident on Facebook as a "tragic accident" and a "great loss" for Libya.

Al-Hadad was the top military commander in western Libya and played a crucial role in the ongoing, U.N.-brokered efforts to unify Libya's military, which has split, much like Libya's other institutions.

The four other officers who died in the crash were Gen. Al-Fitouri Ghraibil, the head of Libya's ground forces, Brig. Gen. Mahmoud Al-Qatawi, who led the military manufacturing authority, Mohammed Al-Asawi Diab, advisor to the chief of staff, and Mohammed Omar Ahmed Mahjoub, a military photographer with the chief of staff's office.

The identities of the three crew members were not immediately released.

Turkish officials said the Falcon 50 type business jet took off from Ankara's Esenboga airport at 8:30 p.m. and that contact was lost some 40 minutes later. The plane notified air traffic control of an electrical fault and requested an emergency landing. The aircraft was redirected back to Esenboga, where preparations for its landing began.

The plane, however, disappeared from the radar while descending for the emergency landing, the Turkish presidential communications office said.

The wreckage was found near the village of Kesikkavak, in Haymana, a district some 70 kilometers (about 43.5 miles) south of Ankara.

At Haymana, gendarmerie police sealed off the area where the plane crashed, while the Turkish disaster management agency, AFAD, set up a mobile coordination center, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Specialized vehicles, such as tracked ambulances, were deployed because of the muddy terrain.

Anadolu said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya is expected to visit the site along with prosecutors assigned to lead the investigation.

Libya was also expected to send a team to Ankara to work with Turkish authorities investigating the crash.

While in Ankara, al-Haddad had met with Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and other officials.

Libyaplunged into chaos after the country's 2011 uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country split, with rival administrations in the east and west, backedby an array of rogue militiasand foreign governments.

Turkey has been allied withLibya's government in the west, but has recently taken steps to improve ties with the eastern-based government as well.

Tuesday's visit by the Libyan delegation came a day after Turkey's parliament approved to extend the mandate of Turkish troops serving in Libya for two years. Turkey deployed troops following a 2019 security and military cooperation agreement that was reached between Ankara and the Tripoli-based government.

Abuelgasim reported from Cairo.

bySator Tenet

in

December 23, 2025

Search teams probe wreckage after Libyan army chief and 7 others are killed in Turkey plane crash

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Search and recovery teams on Wednesday intensified their operations at the site of aplane crash tha...

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Leonard's 41-point game powers Clippers to a 128-108 victory win over the Rockets

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points and James Harden added 29 as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Houston Rockets 128-108 on Tuesday night.

Leonard shot 16 for 23 from the field and 4 for 5 from long distance as the Clippers won consecutive games for just the second time this season. Los Angeles was coming off a 103-88 win over the Lakers on Saturday that snapped a five-game skid. The Clippers also won consecutive games Oct. 24-26, against Phoenix and Portland.

Harden, who shot 7 for 14 from the field and 3 for 8 from long distance, was helped by 12-for-13 shooting from the line.

John Collins and Kobe Sanders added 13 points apiece and Kris Dunn scored 11 for Los Angeles, which shot 54% (20 for 37) from 3-point range.

Kevin Durant scored 22 points on 8-for-15 shooting, and Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for Houston, which was 9 for 30 (30%) from long distance.

Amen Thompson added 19 points for Houston, and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 16 for the Rockets, who have lost four of their last five games.

The Clippers, who trailed by six points after one period, outscored Houston 34-23 in the second and led 63-58 at the break. The Rockets were helped by 10-for-22 shooting from 3-point range in the first half. Leonard had 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting in the opening quarters and Harden scored 11.

Durant had 17 first-half points to lead the Rockets. Sengun scored 15 and Smith had 11.

The Clippers led 98-82 after three periods.

Rockets: At Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday.

Clippers: At Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

bySator Tenet

in

December 23, 2025

Leonard's 41-point game powers Clippers to a 128-108 victory win over the Rockets

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points and James Harden added 29 as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Houston ...

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Bane's work on both ends helps Magic hold off Trail Blazers, 110-106

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 23 points, Anthony Black added 22 and the Orlando Magic turned back Portland's comeback attempt Tuesday night for a 110-106 victory over the Trail Blazers.

After trailing by 17 in the third quarter, the Blazers took a one-point lead early in the fourth before Tyus Jones answered with a 3-pointer and Wendell Carter Jr. hit a jumper for the Magic.

Shaedon Sharpe had a chance to tie it with 38.9 seconds left but made only one of two free throws, leaving Portland down 107-106.

Bane missed a pull-up jumper at the other end, then blocked a layup attempt by 7-foot-2 center Donovan Clingan with 12 seconds remaining to preserve the lead. Bane sank two free throws to make it 109-106 and Deni Avdija missed a long 3 for the Trail Blazers before Black added a foul shot for the final margin.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/NBA

bySator Tenet

in

December 23, 2025

Bane's work on both ends helps Magic hold off Trail Blazers, 110-106

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Desmond Bane scored 23 points, Anthony Black added 22 and the Orlando Magic turned back Portland...

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Biggest 2026 Pro Bowl snubs: Jared Goff, Jordan Love among deserving NFL stars overlooked

Jared Goff is tied with MVP frontrunner, Pro Bowler and intertwined trade counterpart Matthew Stafford for the lowest interception rate in the league this season. Goff has thrown only five interceptions while amassing the second-most passing touchdowns (32) of any quarterback in the league during the 2025 campaign.

Through 15 games, he also ranks third in passing yards (4,036), fifth in completion percentage (68.6%), second in passer rating (109.4) and, according to Next Gen Stats, tied for fifth in EPA per dropback (+0.15).

Goff has done all of that while playing in front of a Detroit Lions offensive line that has taken a step back, and particularly struggled on the interior, this season. Yet, he might miss out on the playoffs.

He's on the outside looking in ofthe 2026 Pro Bowl rosters, too.

So is division rival Jordan Love, who is tied with Stafford for first in EPA per dropback (+0.20), according to NGS. Like Goff, Love has suffered some heartbreaking losses this season. But, in that advanced metric, both are ahead of two of the NFC's Pro Bowl quarterbacks: the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott and the Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold, who are tied for seventh (+0.12) and tied for 10th (+0.08) in EPA per dropback, respectively.

If the rudimentary QB wins stat was a factor, then it's fair to ask why Prescott got the nod over Goff and Love, given that the six-win Cowboys have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

As for Darnold, as great of a story as he continues to be, his 24 passing touchdowns are only one more than Love's 23. Plus, Darnold has thrown 13 interceptions, whereas Love has tossed just six picks.

Darnold's interception rate (3.1%) is more than double Love's (1.4%). Love notably completed a franchise record-tying 20 straight passes in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8, and his 66.3% completion percentage is the second best of his career.

Goff and Love each have a convincing case for this year's Pro Bowl Games. They're among the biggest snubs.

[Read: 2026 Pro Bowl rosters announced]

The Pro Bowl Games include a skills competition and a 7-on-7 flag football game that's scheduled for Feb. 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, which will host Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8.

Long gone are the days of a "real" Pro Bowl, but the exhibition unraveled into glorified two-hand touch over the years anyway. Nevertheless, a Pro Bowl nod is still meaningful in the league.

That said, it's not a foolproof measuring stick for player excellence. The Pro Bowl Games rosters are determined by a combination of votes from coaches, players and fans. Each group accounts for a third of the consensus vote.

An accomplished player with just an OK season can occasionally receive the All-Star tag line because of name recognition or lifetime achievement. It's an imperfect system.

Here are the rest of the snubs...

Indianapolis Colts TE Tyler Warren

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers earned a spot on the AFC roster despite making a mere eight starts and averaging 13.5 fewer receiving yards per game than he did during his head-turning rookie campaign. Bowers is a stud, but Warren's body of work this year is more impressive. He's caught 66 passes for 748 yards and four touchdowns. He's second among all tight ends this season in yards after the catch (467), behind only Arizona Cardinals star Trey McBride (520), per NGS. Oh, and he's rushed for a score and, according to Pro Football Focus, lined up three snaps at QB.

New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave

It's hard to argue with the NFC's Pro Bowl receivers this season. But there's definitely an argument to be made for Chris Olave, who has enjoyed a bounce-back season while starring in an offense that's turned from Spencer Rattler to Tyler Shough under center. Olave has dipped back into the 1,000-yard receiving pool, and he's got as many contested catches (16) as Cincinnati Bengals standouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, per PFF.

Miami Dolphins C Aaron Brewer

Brewer was at the heart of a Dolphins offensive line that paved the way for Pro Bowl running back De'Von Achane. Among all NFL centers with at least 500 offensive snaps this season, Brewer ranks second in PFF run blocking grade, one spot behind the Kansas City Chiefs' Creed Humphrey and three spots ahead of the Baltimore Ravens' Tyler Linderbaum, both of whom made the AFC roster. Also, Brewer has allowed just one sack this season, per PFF.

Los Angeles Rams RG Kevin Dotson

The Rams' run game is in some desperate need of Pro Bowl representation. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have formed quite the one-two punch in L.A. They've been running behind one of the best offensive lines in football this season. Dotson is a force to be reckoned with at the point of attack. He can carry his power to the second level as well. There's no reason why Dotson couldn't have joined Atlanta Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom and Chicago Bears left guard Joe Thuney on the NFC roster.

Baltimore Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley

Joe Alt is awesome. He's played in only six games for the Los Angeles Chargers this season, though. His spot should be occupied by someone else, like Stanley. While the Ravens have had trouble at guard this season, their tackles have been solid. Stanley has conceded the sixth-fewest pressures (23) of any AFC tackle with 700-plus offensive snaps this season, per PFF.

Philadelphia Eagles DT Jordan Davis

The voters selected the wrong Eagles defensive tackle. Jalen Carter is a game-wrecker, but his linemate, Jordan Davis, has simply had a better season. Davis blocked a potential game-winning Rams field goal in Week 3 and then returned it for a walk-off touchdown. He batted down three passes in a Week 11 victory over the Lions. He dropped weight before the season, and his trimmed-down physique has invited a rare Year 4 leap. Davis' 65 total tackles, 9 TFLs and 4.5 sacks are all career highs.

Pittsburgh Steelers DT Cameron Heyward

In the AFC, Heyward should have been in over Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. At 36 years old, Heyward has followed up his fourth first-team All-Pro campaign with another age-defying run. This time, he's piled up 66 total tackles, 8 TFLs, 6 passes defended and 3.5 sacks. For reference, the 31-year-old Jones is responsible for 24 total tackles, 9 TFLs, 2 passes defended and 4 sacks. Jones has generated five more pressures (53) than Heyward (48) this season, per PFF, but Heyward has proven superior in run defense.

Jacksonville Jaguars OLB Josh Hines-Allen

It's time the Jaguars are given their flowers. Their only Pro Bowler this season is long snapper Ross Matiscik. That's not reflective of an 11-4 Jacksonville team that's playoff-bound with a shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Trevor Lawrence has been a prolific dual threat of late, but the Jags' defense needs more love. Hines-Allen has seven sacks to his name, and, maybe more importantly, four turnovers caused by pressure, per NGS. His pressure rate (15%) is significantly higher than Pro Bowler T.J. Watt's (9.8%).

Jacksonville Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd

Staying in Jacksonville, Lloyd can't be ignored, either. He's picked off five passes. Four of those interceptions arrived over the first five games of the season. One of them was a 99-yard pick 6 in a Week 5 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. That went down as the longest defensive touchdown in Jags history. Lloyd has made a handful of critical plays in run defense, too. To top it off, he's logged 22 pressures on 84 pass rushes, resulting in a pressure rate of 26.2%, per NGS.

Let's take a look at the numbers on Devin Lloyd's 99-yard interception return, via@NextGenStats📊🔹 116.8 yards traveled 🏃‍♂️🔹 18.92 MPH top speed 💨🔹 +42% win probability 📈pic.twitter.com/dfSAPmcCIf

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus)October 7, 2025

Miami Dolphins LB Jordyn Brooks

The AFC's linebackers are Azeez Al-Shaair of the Houston Texans and Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens. Brooks should have gotten the edge over both of them. For one, he leads the NFL with 169 total tackles and 93 solo tackles. But he's more than just a tackle vacuum. Those tackles mean something, especially against the run. Of the linebackers with 100 or more run defense snaps this season, Brooks is tied for fifth in run-play stop percentage (9.7%), according to PFF.

Chicago Bears CB Nahshon Wright

Wright's coverage stats don't jump off the page — PFF has him down for seven touchdowns allowed, after all — however, it's hard to discount the special season he's having for an opportunistic Bears defense. Wright has intercepted five passes, including one that he took 74 yards to the house in Week 1 versus the Minnesota Vikings, and forced a pair of fumbles. Speaking of fumbles, he's recovered three of them.

Houston Texans S Jalen Pitre

Yes, Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. is on the AFC roster. It still feels like the Texans' secondary deserves more of a Pro Bowl presence. The unit has had a Texas-sized hand in Houston giving up the fourth-fewest passing yards per game (176.1) this season. Corner Kamari Lassiter and safety Calen Bullock warranted consideration. Fellow safety Jalen Pitre was due for selection. He's been dynamite in the slot and in the box. He hasn't allowed a touchdown in coverage this season, according to PFF, and he's picked off four passes, defended a total of 11, and combined for 66 tackles.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers S Tykee Smith

Whatever could go wrong has gone wrong for the Arizona Cardinals, and that's made it hard to measure Budda Baker's effectiveness in a truly porous defense out there in the desert. Perhaps another safety could have taken his place on the NFC's roster. Either that or Antoine Winfield Jr. could have been passed up by his teammate, Tykee Smith. Smith has been electric in 2025, with 13 passes defended, a pair of sacks and 94 total tackles.

Seattle Seahawks P Michael Dickson

Washington Commanders punter Tress Way made his third Pro Bowl. Dickson would have been a better pick for the NFC. Although Way has dropped more punts inside the 20-yard line (27) than Dickson (20) this season, Dickson's hang time (4.56 seconds), the best among NFC punters per PFF, is much longer than Way's (4.22). That's played a role in only 38.8% of Dickson's punts being returned, according to PFF.

bySator Tenet

in

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