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1. Obama says Trump officials’ pursuit of Rep. Omar should ‘outrage all Americans’  The Washington Post
2. Obama condemns comments by ‘border czar’ that Ilhan Omar could ‘of course’ be denaturalized  The Guardian
3. Obama calls Trump administration’s investigation into Ilhan Omar ‘appalling’  CNN
4. Attorneys for Rep. Ilhan Omar accuse DOJ of violating judge's orders to follow protocols to protect her rights as member of Congress  CBS News
5. Homan: Investigators have a ‘strong case’ against Omar  The Hill

1. Talarico Kicks Off Campaign Tour of Texas as Senate Election Looms  The New York Times
2. Suburban women souring on Paxton could doom him in tight race  The Washington Post
3. Texas Senate candidates rally voters a day before early voting begins  CNN
4. New Texas poll shows Democrats leading nearly all statewide races  WFAA
5. CBS News poll shows a Texas toss-up with Talarico, Paxton in tight Senate race  CBS News

1. Anthropic commits 5% of shares to ‘public benefit’ fund  Financial Times
2. Investing in the public benefit  Anthropic
3. Anthropic says it will commit 5% of its shares to 'public benefit fund'  BBC
4. Anthropic commits 5% of shares to new public benefit fund that could address AI job disruption  CNBC
5. Anthropic Plans to Shift Some Shares Into New ‘Public Good’ Fund  Bloomberg.com

1. Viral Preseason Quote from Cardinals' Mack Wilson Resurfaces After Upset Win vs. Rams  Bleacher Report
2. NFL results: Los Angeles Rams lose again as Kansas City Chiefs stay unbeaten  BBC
3. Cardinals 18, Rams 16: 5 observations on offense in Week 6 win  Yahoo Sports
4. Kicker Chad Ryland accounts for all of Cardinals' points in upset of Rams  ESPN
5. Sean McVay on 2-4 Rams: 'We won't win a game unless we figure out how not to beat ourselves'  NFL.com

1. Bills report card: Allen rescues woeful defense with more of his magic  Democrat and Chronicle
2. Bills 33-30 Raiders (Oct 18, 2026) Game Recap  ESPN
3. 'Saw our guy open' | Josh Allen reflects on crazy flip-pass TD and other team highlights in win at Raiders  Buffalo Bills
4. Capaccio: Arrow Up/ Arrow Down: Bills at Raiders  Audacy
5. Buffalo Bills observations: Josh Allen & James Cook deliver, Keon Coleman shines in win over Raiders  Syracuse.com

1. Caitlin Clark and Taylor Swift spotted together again cheering on Travis Kelce at Chiefs game  Fox News
2. Taylor Swift’s Playful Chiefs Dance Comes With Travis Kelce Detail  Yahoo
3. Taylor Swift Traveled From L.A. to Travis Kelce’s Chiefs-Chargers Game—and Brought 2 Famous Friends  ELLE
4. Taylor Swift Joined by Este Haim and Caitlin Clark as She Cheers on Husband Travis Kelce at Chiefs Game  People.com
5. Taylor Swift, Caitlin Clark attend Chiefs-Chargers game at Arrowhead Stadium  KMBC

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1. The Reason to Fire Mike McDaniel Goes Beyond the Chargers’ 0–6 Record  Sports Illustrated
2. Harbaugh mum on McDaniel, says Chargers need 'to address everything'  ESPN
3. Chargers rumors: Mike Florio’s ‘buzz’ on Mike McDaniel firing comes with likely replacement  Yahoo Sports
4. Mike McDaniel’s Chargers tenure tenuous after latest offensive disaster vs. Chiefs - The Athletic  The New York Times
5. 'Self-Inflicted… S--t,' Justin Herbert, Jim Harbaugh, McDaniel's Chargers Called Out by NFL Coach  Bleacher Report

One more time? Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrate after beating the San Antonio Spurs in the 20926 NBA Finals (Gregory Shamus)

Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks say they're starting from scratch as they aim for an elusive NBA championship repeat with the San Antonio Spurs spearheading a host of rivals as the 2026 season tips off on Tuesday.

"We just have to find a way to turn the page and move on," NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Brunson said as the Knicks began their preparations in September three months after ending the storied franchise's 53-year title drought with an epic defeat of San Antonio.

The Knicks return their starting five, but a sour note has already been sounded in the pre-season as star center Karl-Anthony Towns said he was "extremely disappointed" by the Knicks' public announcement that they were pausing contract extension talks with him and Josh Hart.

Additionally, no team has won back-to-back titles since the Golden State Warriors in 2018, and Victor Wembanyama's Spurs are just one of the clubs tipped to keep it that way.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, led by two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are eager to reassert themselves after the Spurs ended their title repeat bid in the Western Conference finals.

Closer to home in the Eastern Conference the Knicks will contend with a retooled Philadelphia 76ers squad now featuring all-time leading scorer LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, who earned Finals MVP honors with the Boston Celtics in 2024.

Four-time champion James, still a force at 41, agreed to slash his salary in his quest for a fifth ring.

Along with Brown he'll team with former MVP big man Joel Embiid, All-NBA point guard Tyrese Maxey and 21-year-old phenom VJ Edgecombe.

The 76ers will be out to make an early statement when they take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, part of a three-game opening day slate.

The Miami Heat have also added star power in the shape of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo, who led Milwaukee to the crown in 2021, arrived from the Bucks in a blockbuster trade and could form a lethal partnership with Bam Adebayo -- who poured in 83 points in one game last season.

But nowhere are the expectations higher than in San Antonio. The Knicks were still celebrating their Finals victory when Wembanyama started counting the days to the 2027 championship series.

San Antonio used the disappointment of their 2013 Finals loss to Miami to fuel their run to the 2014 title, and Wembanyama says the current Spurs squad is determined to bounce back in the same way.

- Spurs eye summit -

"We're fighting for the top spot of the mountain," says the towering French center, who reached his first NBA Finals in only his third season.

At just 22 Wembanyama is a bona fide star. He was the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year and finished third in MVP voting. An abundance of other talented players at coach Mitch Johnson's disposal includes Dylan Harper, who emerged as a consistent threat at the rim in the playoffs after being limited by injuries in the regular season.

The annual pre-season survey of league general managers saw the Spurs tipped to take it all.

Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder expect to have something to say about that.

Oklahoma City took the Spurs to seven games in last season's Western Conference finals despite the injury struggles of key offensive contributors Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell during the series.

With Williams and Mitchell healthy the Thunder are poised to maintain their offensive efficiency while All-Star big man Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein return to anchor the league's best defense.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who reached the Western Conference finals in 2024 and 2025, are counting on the arrival of LaMelo Ball to team with Anthony Edwards to ramp up their challenge to the Spurs and Thunder.

In Los Angeles, Slovenian star Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves spearhead the new-look Lakers, aiming to forge a new identity after the departure of James in free agency.

bb/rcw

HOUSTON, Texas — Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris has seen enough of his team's slow starts.

After watching the No. 18 Cowboys fall 35-32 to No. 20 Houston on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium, Morris didn't hide his frustration with an offense that once again needed an extended period to find its rhythm.

"The slow start stuff has to stop," Morris said following the loss. "We're two different teams in the first half and the second half right now, and it blows my mind to be honest with you."

Oklahoma State trailed 14-3 at halftime before scoring 29 points over the final two quarters. The Cowboys nearly erased the deficit but couldn't get the ball back for one final possession.

The loss snapped Oklahoma State's four-game winning streak and dropped the Cowboys to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.

Early Opportunities Go to Waste

Oklahoma State had chances to build an early lead but failed to capitalize on two promising first-quarter possessions.

The Cowboys received excellent field position after LaDian Fields intercepted Houston quarterback Conner Weigman on the Cougars' opening drive. Starting at the Houston 48-yard line, quarterback Drew Mestemaker moved Oklahoma State into scoring position with completions to Carson Kolb and Miles Coleman. However, the drive stalled near the goal line, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a 23-yard Gabe Keltner field goal.

Oklahoma State's next possession produced an even more frustrating result. Mestemaker connected with Wyatt Young for a 54-yard gain, putting the Cowboys deep in Houston territory. A defensive pass interference penalty later gave Oklahoma State another opportunity near the goal line, but the Cowboys couldn't punch the ball into the end zone.Facing fourth-and-goal from the Houston 2-yard line, Mestemaker's pass intended for Young was broken up by Kentrell Webb. Instead of potentially taking a 10-7 lead, Oklahoma State came away empty-handed.

Houston eventually extended its advantage to 14-3, while the Cowboys managed only 138 yards of total offense in the first half. Mestemaker completed six of 15 passes for 124 yards and an interception before halftime, while Oklahoma State's rushing attack produced just 14 yards.

A Completely Different Offense After Halftime

Whatever adjustments Oklahoma State made during the break produced immediate results. The Cowboys began generating explosive plays through both the air and on the ground, putting together their most productive offensive half of the night.

Ayo Adeyi scored on a 13-yard touchdown run to cut Houston's lead to 14-10. After the Cougars answered, Mestemaker connected with Young for a two-yard touchdown pass, bringing Oklahoma State within four points.

The Cowboys continued battling into the fourth quarter. Running back Caleb Hawkins turned a short completion into a 66-yard touchdown reception, and a successful two-point conversion to Justin Bowick cut Houston's lead to 28-25. Houston responded with another touchdown, but Mestemaker engineered one final scoring drive, finding Bowick for an eight-yard touchdown to make it 35-32.

Oklahoma State ultimately finished with 499 yards of total offense, including 365 passing yards and 134 rushing yards. Mestemaker completed 22 of 34 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns, extending his streak of 300-yard passing performances to five consecutive games. But the Cowboys' offensive explosion came too late to overcome their first-half struggles and costly turnovers.

Mestemaker Points to Execution, Not Houston's Defense

Following the game, Mestemaker also acknowledged that Oklahoma State's early offensive struggles were self-inflicted. The quarterback said the Cowboys weren't consistently executing their assignments, particularly when they reached scoring position.

"It's not like we're not strong enough to be down there or the other team pulling out these magical plays," Mestemaker said. "We just have to execute at the end of the day."

Oklahoma State finished 3-for-8 on third down and 1-for-2 on fourth down. Although the Cowboys scored on four of their five red-zone possessions, the missed opportunity near the goal line in the first half proved especially costly in a three-point defeat.

Mestemaker also refused to blame Oklahoma State's defense for failing to give the offense one final opportunity. Instead, he pointed to the Cowboys scoring only three points before halftime as a major reason they were forced to play from behind.

Finding Consistency Moving Forward

Oklahoma State has demonstrated the ability to generate explosive offensive performances under Morris.

Against Houston, the Cowboys scored 29 points after halftime and nearly completed a comeback against a ranked Big 12 opponent. However, the difference between the two halves remains a concern.

The Cowboys struggled to establish the run early, failed to finish promising possessions and allowed Houston's defense to disrupt Mestemaker with pressure.

Even after finding their rhythm, turnovers prevented Oklahoma State from fully capitalizing on its offensive success. Morris' comments suggest the issue goes beyond one difficult half in Houston.

For a team hoping to remain in contention for the Big 12 championship, consistently starting games with the same urgency and execution it displays after halftime will be critical.

The Cowboys showed Saturday that they have enough offensive firepower to battle back from a double-digit deficit. Now Morris wants to see that same offense from the opening kickoff.

Arizona Cardinals TE Trey McBride caught seven of his nine targets for 53 yards in an 18-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6.

SOURCE: USAToday.com

Why it Matters: McBride led the Cardinals in catches, targets and yards, and he has caught at least seven passes in every game this year. His yardage totals have left something to be desired, but McBride still has an elite floor among TE1 options.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seven grabs for Trey McBride in Week 6 win

Ningbo Open’s defending champion and new WTA World No. 1 Elena Rybakina returns to tennis after spending time at home recuperating her injured foot.

She came back to the WTA Tour with a surprising new addition to the team, following in the footsteps of one of her chief rivals, Aryna Sabalenka.

Rybakina is now a dog owner to an adorable little puppy named Toby.

MORE: New Australian Open director Andrew Abdo commits avoidable gaffe at press conference

Rybakina was beaming as she talked about her puppyTennis – U.S. Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 12, 2026 Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina celebrates with the winner’s trophy after her final match against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Robert Deutsch Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters (Reuters)

Rybakina tends to be reserved, but pure joy emanated from her as she talked about meeting and falling in love with Toby.

She described the decision as a bit impulsive because she loved the dog so much.

Rybakina hopes to take Toby on the tour with her as much as possible.

For these players who travel the world nonstop for 11 months out of the year, having a pet must provide some stability and comfort.

MORE: After China Open loss, Elena Rybakina is subject of unnecessary internet criticism

Alexander Zverev, Anna Kalinskaya also have dogs

This is a relatively new phenomenon in professional tennis. Players traveling with their dogs. 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu was among the first to have her dog Coco tag along for emotional support.

Because the players have teams of people traveling with them, they have helping hands to care for the dog when they are busy practicing or playing matches.

It is a win-win for the players because no matter how brutal tennis can be, there is always a four-legged friend waiting to shower them with love.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Oct 18, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker (1) catches a pass for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Allegiant Stadium.

LAS VEGAS—Three weeks ago, the Las Vegas Raiders were on top of the world.

They had fired off three straight victories and were one of the few unbeaten teams remaining in the league, and a fanbase long starved for success could finally see the daylight at the end of the tunnel.

Then, the setbacks began. A nailbiter to the Kansas City Chiefs went against the Raiders on a crucial fourth-quarter sequence, followed by a dud on the road against the New England Patriots. Suddenly, the progress was being questioned and the Raiders were needing a chance to get right.

Unfortunately, it did not come on Sunday, as the Raiders fell to .500 in a 33-30 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

“Very disappointed that we didn’t get it done today,” lamented head coach Klint Kubiak in the postgame press conference.

“As a team, we did not close the game and there’s plenty of improvement, but we are not satisfied with any moral victories.”

What undid the Raiders was an outcome very similar to the Chiefs: moments showing their inexperience in mixing it up among the NFL’s elite.

With the support of a massive contingent of Bills Mafia that made the trek out west, Josh Allen and the playmakers Buffalo has in their arsenal were able to get things going down the field with regularity. Allen put up 255 yards and two touchdowns, including a spectacular play where he juked two Raiders defenders and heaved a shovel pass that found a wide-open Keon Coleman in the end zone.

Running back James Cook also made his impact with 153 all-purpose yards (95 rushing, 58 receiving), and his efforts lead to his touchdown that put the Bills in front for good.

While the Raiders kept pace for the most part, there were elements of their game where bad habits seeped in.

The lack of clean execution was most notable at the start of the third quarter, when Kirk Cousins threw three straight incompletions on the first drive to take only 35 seconds off the clock. The next drive, Cousins threw an inexplicable pass into double coverage that was picked off by Bills linebacker Dorian Williams, resulting in the game’s lone turnover and giving Buffalo a short field that resulted in a touchdown.

Other mistakes that plagued the Raiders were going 2-for-5 on their red zone opportunities, which lead to them settling for field goals when they needed touchdowns in the track meet-style game the Bills were daring them to play.

“One of those games where it’s hard to sleep afterwards when you kind of think through the plays that you could have or should have made and in the red zone plays when you leave points out there and you kick field goals in a tight game like that, it comes back to haunt you,” Cousins said as he candidly judged his performance.

It was also a difficult outing for the Raiders’ offensive stars. Ashton Jeanty averaged 2.2 yards per carry on 10 carries despite getting a touchdown on the team’s first drive.

In the passing game, Brock Bowers’s final stat line of four receptions for 70 yards appears fine on the surface, the star tight end did not record his first catch until within five minutes of the third quarter.

“Credit Buffalo. They did a great job of playing him. They had a good plan,” said Kubiak on the Bills’ ability to contain Bowers.

While the Raiders did get added contributions from Michael Mayer (seven catches for a career-high 95 yards) and Tre Tucker (five receptions for a team-high 97 yards and both touchdowns), it proved to be insurmountable to have players the Raiders are depending on for production struggling to get anything going consistently.

With a season that started out with so much promise going in the opposite direction, Kubiak now faces his first true test of his head coaching career in bringing a team through adversity.

If the first three weeks of the season presented a foundation that the Raiders can build off of, the previous three have showcased the problems that Kubiak and his staff are working to fix. This past week of practice, Kubiak has expressed that he is addressing the issues in “bite-sized” increments, focusing on one element at a time instead of clearing the whole big picture in one fell swoop. However, the head coach made one area of improvement perfectly clear, to the point where calling in the mantra of this upcoming week is not hyperbole.

“Close. Games. Out,” was all Kubiak had to say to at the end, indicating an intense week of practice rivaling the coach’s demeanor.

They will have the chance to do so when a desperate Los Angeles Rams team rolls into Allegiant Stadium next, as that game has now taken a new storyline of two teams trying to prevent their seasons from going off the rails.

The Cincinnati Bengals rank 10th in the league in points per game (25.6) through five weeks, and they’ve done it with almost no running game: 3.6 yards per carry as a team, with a Zac Taylor-era low of 23 rushing yards against Jacksonville. That means the passing game has carried this offense. Here’s who’s done the carrying.

Joe Burrow, QB: 1,361 yards, 11 touchdowns, three interceptions, and an NFL-best 71.4% completion rate. He’s also taken nine sacks behind a line that’s still figuring things out. Through three games, his numbers almost exactly matched his 2024 pace, the year he led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns.

Tee Higgins, WR: 27 catches, 423 yards, one touchdown. He leads the team in yards by more than 130 and has been the reliable downfield option, including 90 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR: 27 catches, 289 yards and four touchdowns, despite missing most of the Jacksonville game with a concussion. He came back six days later and made a one-armed, 45-yard touchdown catch in Miami while getting mugged by the corner.

Mike Gesicki, TE: Only 12 catches, but they’ve gone for 159 yards and four touchdowns. One in every three Gesicki catches has ended in the end zone. That’s red-zone efficiency in a 31-year-old tight end.

Amarius Mims, OT: The mammoth right tackle has been outstanding this year. Some outlets credit him with zero pressures or sacks allowed, while PFF has him as the 6th-best pass-blocking tackle in the league right now.

Higgins has more yards, but Chase has more touchdowns. Which number matters more to you? And should a quarterback be eligible for both Team MVP and Offensive MVP? Sound off in the comments on your winner!

1. Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is a hit in theaters  NBC News
2. ‘You Can See Everything’ becomes one of the biggest documentary releases in decades  CNN
3. 'You Can See Everything' Review: The buzzy Elizabeth Holmes documentary is worth the hype  Fox News
4. Box Office: Elizabeth Holmes movie ‘You Can See Everything’ is now a hit in theaters too  AP News
5. ‘You Can See Everything’ Sets Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd Review Records  Forbes

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1. Trump says he's "negotiating Peace" as Ukraine launches 1,000 drones at Russia amid continued back-and-forth strikes  CBS News
2. Trump excoriates Zelensky after Ukraine defies US president with major attack on Russia  CNN
3. Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia, setting oil facilities ablaze  Al Jazeera
4. Ukraine launches more than 1,000 drones at Russia as spat between Trump and Zelenskyy continues  AP News
5. Oil facilities hit in deadly overnight attack on St Petersburg  BBC