US news | The Guardian

Lawrence Hecker, 93, is set to receive a life sentence after admitting to attacking boy in church bell towerShortly before a jury was supposed to be chosen for his trial on criminal charges of kidnapping and raping a boy in the mid-1970s, the self-acknowledged serial child molester and retired Roman Catholic priest Lawrence Hecker pleaded guilty on Tuesday morning.The 93-year-old is scheduled to receive a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment on 18 December in New Orleans's state criminal courthouse, where it has been rare for a Catholic clergyman to be charged - much less convicted - in connection with the church's decades-old clerical molestation scandal. Continue reading...

Despite Minnelli's memoir not being finished and a queue of Academy award, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winners excited to talk', the star of the upcoming biopic is already obviousAs the repeatedly stalled Madonna biopic has shown, it's difficult to make a film about a real-life icon, especially when the icon in question has a say in who will play them. And so it might prove to be with Liza Minnelli. Earlier this year, Minnelli announced that she is writing what is sure to be a blockbuster memoir. The book promises to pull no punches which - when you factor in her parents, her addiction issues and her complicated love life - is a hell of a lot of punches not to pull.The book isn't due to come out until 2026. Despite this, the television rights have already been optioned and, even though it's so far in the distance, Minnelli has already got several ideas about casting. In an email to People magazine, she wrote: First, we need a great script and an actress who loves to move," adding, Honey, first, I'm a dancer ... like the great line in Chorus Line: God, I'm a dancer ... a dancer dances ... even with replaced hips and scoliosis!" Continue reading...

Nearly 2 million Mexican Americans, more than half US citizens, were deported without due process during the Great Depression, reminiscent of what is unfolding todayOne sunny afternoon in February, a large group of plainclothes federal agents descended on Los Angeles's La Placita Park, a sanctuary and bustling cultural hub for the city's growing Mexican diaspora. Wielding guns and batons, they barricaded the park and demanded proof of citizenship or legal residency from the congregants trapped within.Those who failed to produce papers were arrested. More than 400 people were detained and forced on a train back to Mexico, a place many had never been. Continue reading...

Federal investigators find children working at Sioux Falls meat processing plant for second timeNearly a dozen children were working shifts cleaning meat processing equipment used at an Iowa pork plant's so-called kill floor over a four-year period, the US Department of Labor announced.Eleven children were using corrosive chemicals to clean as well as perilous head splitters, jaw pullers, bandsaws, neck clippers and other equipment" at a Seaboard Triumph Foods pork processing plant in Sioux City, according to officials. This is the second time federal investigators have found children working at that particular Sioux Falls meat processing plant. Continue reading...

My father was more thrilled with his present than the times we gave him lovely photos, swanky dinners and a fancy laptopI waited until I was 15 years old to have my first major disagreement with my physicist dad. We were living in India, and I had just been elected (note, not appointed) captain of my high school. Shortly before I assumed office", he was offered a coveted position at an American university. My teenage self was incredulous that he would put his career over my popularity.My pleas to stay back at boarding school were to no avail. My father made no effort to reassure me that the massive geographical and cultural shift would work out. Instead, he said we were sailing uncharted waters and would have to make the best of our situation. So off we went to freezing Minneapolis where we spent a year before my dad's reputed lab was invited to move to Pittsburgh. My exasperation was complete. Continue reading...

Lake-effect snow warnings in place in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania as residents navigate disruptionSome storm-weary residents of the US's Great Lakes region have seen continued snowfall in recent days and are facing the prospect of even more accumulations this week.Lake-effect snow warnings were in place through Tuesday night in parts of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania. That was after lake-effect snow fell on parts of western New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio that were already blanketed with a foot or more over the past four days. Continue reading...

In 2024, we have a new post-election lie - Trump didn't just win, Republicans say, but he won big. He won a landslide. That's falseRemember the big lie"? In 2020, Donald Trump lost the presidential election so Republicans just brazenly lied and insisted he won.In 2024, we have a new post-election lie from the Republican party. Trump didn't just win, they say, but he won big. He won a landslide. He won an historic mandate for his Maga" agenda.Mehdi Hasan is the CEO and editor-in-chief of the new media company Zeteo Continue reading...

Maui, struck by one of the deadliest blazes in modern US history, has seen tourism drop, a shortage of houses and persistent inflationJanssen Vergara, 35, couldn't wait to rebuild the three-bedroom house she owned in west Maui before it burned down in last year's historic wildfire. She had been granted a building permit and the burn zone had been cleared for construction.But as the months passed, rebuilding came to feel more and more out of reach. Continue reading...

Both sides have traded fire and accused the other of breaching the truce. Plus, Tori Amos talks about trauma, Trump and Neil Gaiman

Everyone I asked gave a different definition - and when a concept is so nebulous, it becomes a political cudgelIn the aftermath of the election, the working class was constantly invoked and rarely defined - invoked as a badge of authenticity, as the people who really matter, as the salt of the earth, the ones politicians should woo or be chastised for failing to woo sufficiently. Who exactly is in this category? I asked around, and the definitions didn't just vary - they wobbled, clashed and blurred.The more nebulous something is, the more it can mean anything useful to the speaker or writer. I thought of Alice Through the Looking Glass:When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.'The question is,' said Alice, whether you can make words mean so many different things.' Continue reading...

Biden could have achieved a ceasefire in Gaza months ago if he had truly applied pressure on Benjamin NetanyahuJoe Biden stood in the White House Rose Garden last week to announce a ceasefire deal, but it wasn't the one he has been desperate to secure for months. Biden confirmed that Israel and Hezbollah had accepted a US-brokered agreement to stop a war that has devastated large parts of Lebanon. But the deal does nothing to end Israel's calamitous war on Gaza, where Biden and his administration had purportedly been pushing for a ceasefire - while enabling Israel with US weapons and political cover for 14 months.Biden could have achieved a ceasefire in Gaza months ago if he had truly applied pressure on the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. On 26 November, Netanyahu made clear the importance of an uninterrupted flow of US weapons to Israel, saying the 60-day truce with Hezbollah would give Israeli troops a breather" and provide time to replenish arms supplies from Washington. Continue reading...

The running back could end up setting the single-season rushing record as the Eagles start to take shape as a Super Bowl contenderBaltimore Ravens nose tackle Travis Jones dropped the fabulous Saquon Barkley to the cold turf for a one-yard loss on his only carry of the third quarter Sunday, leaving the running back with 44 yards rushing on the day. Barkley has had four separate carries this season for more yardage.The Ravens had done a decent job to that point containing Barkley, but football games consist of four quarters, not three, and Barkley only seems to get stronger these days. As the Philadelphia Eagles ground out a 24-19 victory over a fellow playoff contender, Barkley finished with 107 yards rushing. Continue reading...

Band Aid was well meaning, but it has done more harm than good. Now the diaspora is taking back control of the narrative

An event at the European parliament featuring the French academic Maboula Soumahoro was axed after French MEPs objectedMaboula Soumahoro is a renowned French scholar and public intellectual. The holder of a PhD earned through studies both in France and at Columbia University in the US, she is an associate professor at the University of Tours, a specialist on the African diaspora, and one of France's foremost academics when it comes to race relations.So when the European parliament decided to invite her to an internal event last month as part of a dialogue to discuss ways to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace", it made perfect sense.Rokhaya Diallo is a Guardian Europe columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Early online reaction suggests the concept car might appear more familiar to fans of Barbie or the Pink Panther than traditional Jag owners

Christopher Collings was convicted of sexually assaulting nine-year-old in 2007 and leaving her body in sinkholeMissouri's governor on Monday denied clemency for Christopher Collings, a death row prisoner facing execution for sexually assaulting and killing a nine-year-old girl and leaving her body in a sinkhole.Collings, 49, is scheduled to receive a single injection of pentobarbital at 6pm CT on Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, for the 2007 killing of fourth-grader Rowan Ford. It would be the 23rd execution in the US this year and the fourth in Missouri. Continue reading...

Investment banker has donated regularly to conservative causes although not always in favor of the president-electDonald Trump announced on Monday he has picked investment banker and Republican mega-donor Warren Stephens to serve as ambassador to the UK.Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time," wrote Trump in a social media post. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America's most cherished and beloved Allies."Reuters contributed reporting Continue reading...

This blog has now closed; you can read all our coverage of US politics herePresident-elect Donald Trump - as we reported earlier - responded angrily to Joe Biden's pardon.But he himself pardoned several allies and friends in own final days in office among the 70 people granted clemency in 2021. Continue reading...

Congressman launches bid to unseat colleague from key role in committee to sharpen resistance to TrumpJamie Raskin, the Maryland congressman who spearheaded the second impeachment of Donald Trump, has announced a bid to unseat a veteran Democratic colleague from a key role in a Capitol Hill committee as part of a party drive to sharpen its opposition in preparation for Trump's return to the White House.After days of speculation, Raskin said he would challenge Jerrold Nadler of New York for the post of ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives' judiciary committee. Continue reading...

Search for crew of Wind Walker lasted nearly a day and covered more than 108 sq nautical milesThe search for five people believed to be onboard a fishing vessel that capsized in rough seas in the Gulf of Alaska has been suspended, the coast guard said on Monday.The search lasted nearly a day and covered more than 108 sq nautical miles. Continue reading...

Jamie Lee Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty over death of Samantha Miller, who was killed leaving wedding in 2023A woman who admitted to drinking and who was driving well over twice the speed limit when she smashed into a golf cart, killing a bride who had just got married at a South Carolina beach, was sentenced on Monday to 25 years in prison.Jamie Lee Komoroski, 27, pleaded guilty at the Charleston county courthouse to reckless homicide, felony DUI causing death and two counts of felony DUI causing great bodily injury before her sentencing. Continue reading...

Roger Golubski, 71, accused of crimes spanning years, found dead in Kansas hours before jury selection set to beginA former Kansas police detective accused of the grossest acts of corruption a police officer can commit" has died shortly before federal prosecutors began trying charges against him.Roger Golubski, 71, had been waiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and raped two women during the 1990s and early 2000s when he was found dead on Monday morning in his home.Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html Continue reading...

Winnipeg got off to a record-setting start to the season. But balancing corporate demands and human passion is a tough taskFrom our standpoint, the game has never been healthier," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told CNBC in November. He had stopped into the network's Times Square studio to talk about the latest team valuations and the league's future TV and streaming deals. The outlook for both is broadly good. Our competitive balance, how good the game is, is what's fuelling ratings, attendance, partnership growth in terms of sponsorships - the whole package is working together," Bettman continued. All of which is mostly true, except for when it comes to the NHL's best team, the Winnipeg Jets.To be clear, the Jets - valued at just over $1bn - are excellent where it should really count: on the ice. Winnipeg have surprised most with their hot start this season. The Jets went 18-6-0 through the end of November and sit atop the Western Conference and the league. The 2024-25 Jets are the fastest team to reach 15 wins in a season and also the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games. A solid team for many seasons on defence and in goal, the Jets have now found their scoring touch, outscoring opponents 94 to 63. It's an exciting time to be a Jets fan, with seemingly few reasons not to watch each game day. Continue reading...

Some Democrats express disappointment in Biden for setting bad precedent' but others leap to his defenceJoe Biden has been criticised by some of his own supporters for issuing a pardon to his son Hunter that he had previously sworn not to give.The president's volte face drew predictable fire from Republicans, led by the president-elect, Donald Trump, who used it to raise the case of the jailed ringleaders of the 6 January 2021 assault on the US Capitol, who he has suggested he will pardon when he returns to the White House. Continue reading...

Trump says Joe Biden's pardon of his son is a miscarriage of justice' in latest supportive reference to convicted rioters

Passenger boarded full international flight without ticket and was later removed from return flight for disruptionsA Delta Air Lines passenger who flew from New York to Paris as a stowaway is remaining in France for now after disrupting the return flight to the US that had been booked for her.The woman, identified as Svetlana Dali, boarded flight 265 - which was full - without a ticket before it departed from John F Kennedy airport in Queens, according to officials. The US's transportation security administration (TSA) said that while Dali, 57, went through property security channels, she never had a boarding pass or passport checked. Continue reading...

Ireland has, in effect, full employment, an expanded workforce and a booming economy. So why is it such a nation in flux?The best description of Ireland's political landscape after Friday's general election might be: strangely familiar. The familiar bit is easy. The two main incumbent parties, Micheal Martin's Fianna Fail and Simon Harris's Fine Gael, received almost exactly the same combined share of the vote (43%) as they did in 2020. As a result, the identical twins of Irish politics that have governed the state since it came into being just over a century ago will continue to do so.One of them, Fianna Fail, which has won the most seats this time, emerged as the dominant political machine in the 1930s and was almost permanently in charge until its vote imploded in 2011 after the bloody death of the Celtic Tiger. It is now edging back, if not towards its old ascendancy, then certainly into a comfortable seat at the centre of power. Its like-minded partner, Fine Gael, has been continually in government in one form or another since 2011, and if the incoming administration lasts a full term it will remain there until 2029.Fintan O'Toole is a columnist with the Irish Times and the author of We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland Continue reading...

Whistleblower report accuses Trump Pentagon pick of financial mismanagement, intoxication and sexist behaviorPresident-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, was reportedly forced out of two leadership roles at veteran-focused non-profits amid allegations of financial mismanagement, drunkenness and sexist behavior.A lengthy account in the New Yorker, based on interviews with whistleblowers, described Hegseth's behavior at two organizations where he held leadership positions: the Koch-backed group Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) and the AstroTurf" billionaire-backed Vets for Freedom (VFF). Continue reading...

The Spaniard is one of the greatest managers in the Premier League era but his club's aura has vanished. He still has reasons to think his job is safe though

Che Rhymefest' Smith co-wrote some of Ye's biggest hits. Now he's plunging into the vipers' pit that is Chicago city politicsChe Smith is your favorite rapper's favorite wordsmith. As Rhymefest, the Chicago native announced himself as a formidable battle rapper, verbally sparring with Eminem and other stars in the late 90s. He co-wrote some of Kanye West's biggest hits, not least the Grammy-winning Jesus Walks, while carving out his own exemplary career as a conscious emcee. He won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Glory, the Selma film soundtrack theme he co-wrote with John Legend and Common, a fellow Chicagoan.Even as the successes piled up, Smith, 47, never stopped thinking about his humanitarian obligation to his home town of Chicago, cut down to a metonym for urban violence and rot. Continue reading...

The outgoing president's abuse of the constitution opens the door to more abuse by the next one. The rules were never meant to condone crimeThe hypocrisy is breathtaking. Yes, any father might do the same for a son. Yes, the boy is reformed, forgiven, on the mend. Only nasty people are out to jail him. Live and let live. Yet there is something monumental in the pardon granted by the outgoing US president, Joe Biden. Six months ago, he scored political points by denying he would pardon his son Hunter Biden. Now, with the election over, he has done so.The easy response is: what is new? President Gerald Ford pardoned his predecessor, Richard Nixon; Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother and other figures whose families had donated to the Democrats; Donald Trump pardoned his son-in-law's father and dodgy aides galore. No one doubts that, as president, Trump will pardon a number of outrageous figures - perhaps even the Capitol Hill rioters of 2021. We wait to see if this includes trying to pardon himself from various pending prosecutions (though he cannot extend these powers to cases brought at state level).Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

Reacting to claims of inappropriate sexual banter with a blast against middle-class women' was wrong and will probably prove disastrousLet's discuss Gregg Wallace and his white-van-man alter ego. A man who has turned his once reliable MasterChef charm into a full-blown case study in professional implosion. Watching him navigate his downfall has been like observing a souffle collapse in slow motion: utterly predictable, yet still oddly fascinating.There are issues aplenty arising from the allegations levelled against him of inappropriate sexual banter: issues about power relationships, gender relationships, workplace culture, fame and the media. But from a PR standpoint Wallace has served up a textbook example of what not to do: a misjudged mess of ego, tone deafness and a remarkable failure to adapt to the world after #MeToo. And today, an apology hoping to nullify what he said about it all just yesterday. If this is going to plan, what plan was that?Mark Borkowski is a crisis PR consultant and author Continue reading...

Metinvest boss says there is a high degree of uncertainty over Trump's plan to negotiate with Russia

The president-elect's first term brought a wave of protest. This time, visitors to New York's Washington Square Park are struggling for energy to resistIn late 2016, soon after Donald Trump was elected to his first White House term, many women were diligently knitting pink pussy" hats to wear at a huge march where they protested against the election of a man who had recently boasted that he would grab" women.There were other protests too. And across much of non-Trump-voting America, there was a sense of activism and engagement amid the shock of a Trump victory as many ordinary Americans galvanized themselves for what turned out to be one of the most chaotic presidencies in US history. Continue reading...

Patients scramble to stockpile medication and learn how to self-manage healthcare ahead of second Trump termMany transgender people in the US are scrambling to shore up their treatments out of fear the incoming Trump administration will follow through on threats to restrict their healthcare.My goodness this subreddit has exploded ever since Emperor Trump's ascendency. Literally overnight almost a thousand newcomers," read a post just after the 5 November election in one Reddit forum dedicated to sharing advice on gender-affirming hormone therapy. Continue reading...

Campaigners say imposing fee on Mexico, Canada and China till they address drug smuggling could be effectiveAnti-opioid campaigners in the US have welcomed Donald Trump's threat to hit Mexico, China and Canada with increased trade tariffs if they do not curb the smuggling of the powerful drug driving the US opioid epidemic.Families and doctors grappling with a crisis that has claimed about 900,000 lives say the move may signal that a second Trump administration will finally get serious about tackling the flow of fentanyl into the US. But they also warn that much more needs to be done to reduce demand for opioids and to rein in the power of the pharmaceutical industry which created the epidemic. Continue reading...

The president reverses his pledge not to use his executive authority in this way, claiming that his son's prosecution was politically motivated. Plus: scientists ask whether humans are hardwired to commit bad deeds

Stop the hype! The way advertisers talk up every new mascara or pet product is ... well, revoltingThis morning, I walked past an advert for something described as the anal gland revolution. I didn't know anal glands had been calling for a revolution and, futhermore, what's going to happen once they start buying munitions?In recent years, the word revolution" has become as overused, meaningless and commodified as other natty terms such as journey", community" and identity". I did a quick search of the word revolution" in my inbox to see what else is out there and, among others, I found references to The Self Love Revolution (a midlife podcast), a break-up revolution (changing energy provider), a youth-led revolution (which turned out to be about floristry) and a revolution in chicken (essentially, salt). Continue reading...

The quarterback was on the scrapheap after a humiliating time with the Broncos. But he has been revived under Mike Tomlin in PittsburghIn a lot of universes, Russell Wilson's story is over. Sean Payton and the Broncos were down enough on him at the end of last season, that they paid the quarterback $85m to go away.On Sunday, Wilson led the Steelers to a 44-38 win over the Bengals, roasting Cincinnati's porous defense for 414 yards, the second-most passing yards in a game of his career. He finished with three touchdowns and one interception, that sole turnover coming after a botched call. Continue reading...

The Arab world is increasingly divided between those who are losing everything, and those who have everythingFor the past few months, there has been a grim new ritual whenever I meet people from some Arab countries. It's a sort of mutual commiseration and checking in. How are things with you? Where is your family? I hope you are safe, I hope they are safe. I hope you are OK. We are with you.There is a comfort to it, and also an awkwardness. Comfort because the words are earnest, the solidarity almost unbearably meaningful. Awkward because the scale of what many are enduring is too large to be captured in those words. Everything feels shot through with survivor's guilt, but also with a little bit of resolve in the knowledge that the calamities tearing apart our nations have closed the distances between us.Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

The jailing of pro-democracy activists, omnipresent surveillance and a distrust of the police have driven people into a fearful silenceGrowing up, I had always dreamed of becoming a police officer like my uncle. In my childhood in the 1980s and 90s, the police had a positive and brave image. I remember when I was in first or second grade, struggling with English, my uncle would tutor me. After our lessons, I would stay at his house to play. Next to his bed was a punching bag, and he would teach me how to throw punches and do one-handed push-ups.My uncle would show off the muscles on his arms, telling me his dream was to become a police officer who fights crime and protects the innocent. He eventually did. And in his police uniform graduation photo, he stood tall and proud - a hero in my eyes. Continue reading...

The president and supporters argue Hunter Biden would never have been charged were it not for his name - and any father might have done the same. But this exercise of power also looks like a validation of Donald TrumpA loving act of mercy by a father who has already known much sorrow? Or a hypocritical political manoeuvre reminiscent of his great foe? Maybe both can be true.Joe Biden's announcement on Sunday that he had pardoned his son Hunter, who is facing sentencing in two criminal cases, is likely to have been the product of a Shakespearean struggle between head and heart. Continue reading...

Joe Biden has issued a full and unconditional' pardon to his son Hunter Biden, in a reversal for the presidentJoe Biden has issued a pardon for his son Hunter. Here is his statement in full:Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted. Without aggravating factors like use in a crime, multiple purchases, or buying a weapon as a straw purchaser, people are almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form. Those who were late paying their taxes because of serious addictions, but paid them back subsequently with interest and penalties, are typically given non-criminal resolutions. It is clear that Hunter was treated differently. Continue reading...

In announcement, state's Democratic chair touts grassroots and new media organizing success in closely divided stateWisconsin Democratic leader Ben Wikler joined the race to lead the Democratic National Committee on Sunday, promising to take on Trump, Republican extremists, and move our country forward", as the party looks to rebuild from its losses in the November election.In a video posted on social networks, Wikler, 43, touted his state party's success in organizing to flip 14 state legislative seats and send Senator Tammy Baldwin back to Washington DC in November, and in previously campaigns to win control of the state supreme court and re-elect governor Tony Evers. Wikler, a former podcaster, Air America radio producer and headline writer for The Onion, also stressed his new media expertise. Continue reading...

Deep state' critic who has threatened to shut down agency's headquarters could face tough confirmation battleDonald Trump's plan to nominate as FBI director the deep state" conspiracy theorist Kash Patel, a virulent critic of the bureau who has threatened to fire its top echelons and shut down the agency's headquarters, is facing blowback in Congress as US senators begin to flex their muscles ahead of a contentious confirmation process.Politicians from both main parties took to the Sunday talk shows to express starkly divergent views on Patel, whom Trump announced on Saturday as his pick to lead the most powerful law enforcement agency in the US. The move is dependent on the incumbent FBI chief, Christopher Wray, who Trump himself placed in the job in 2017, either being fired or resigning. Continue reading...