BOSTON—On a brisk November morning, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy shipped up to Boston with two goals: making his forgotten Merchant Mariners remember who they were, and bringing home the Secretaries&#8217; Cup.
That&#8217;s the trophy that goes to the victor of an annual college football game that pits the Merchant Mariners against the Coast Guard, a smaller but beloved version of the annual Army-Navy game. Fans, alumni, and family of the &#8220;Kings Point&#8221; mariners and the Coast Guard travel from all over the country to support their teams.
This year, Duffy and Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem — whose agency includes the Coast Guard — joined their teams for the final showdown of the season. They had a bet: whoever lost would host the other team at their agency back in the nation&#8217;s capitol. It was a rare non-political event attended for the two high-profile politicians, who were there to cheer on their teams and talk trash to each other.
&#8220;Our Merchant Marine Academy, they&#8217;re excited to play on a on a big venue like this,&#8221; Duffy told The Daily Wire ahead of the game. &#8220;And sometimes they don&#8217;t get the attention that they deserve &#8230; they&#8217;re critical as part of America&#8217;s infrastructure and making sure that we can defend ourselves.&#8221;
&#8220;The Merchant Marine Academy, our young men and women go out and make sure we have the capability of supporting the military in doing sea lifts, making sure products are moving, supplies are moving, and our midshipmen provide those services,&#8221; he explained.
The Merchant Marine Academy is housed under the Department of Transportation, which formerly also housed the United States Coast Guard. The &#8220;Coasties&#8221; were moved under Homeland Security&#8217;s umbrella in 2003. But the reshuffling did nothing to the football rivalry, which dates back to 1949.
The Daily Wire spent the day with Duffy as he wandered around Fenway Park, even down to the locker room, where he aggressively hyped up the mariners before they headed out onto the field. &#8220;You guys have more heart, more grit,&#8221; Duffy told the animated mariners. &#8220;So please go kick some Coast Guard ass today!&#8221;
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Many of the midshipmen who were at the game were delighted to chat with the transportation secretary, who spent a big chunk of his time hanging out in the stands with them.
&#8220;Oh, yeah,&#8221; Edward Lippert told The Daily Wire, asked if he was a Duffy fan. &#8220;He&#8217;s the man. He&#8217;s the man.&#8221;
&#8220;I love that guy,&#8221; added Christian Meyers. &#8220;I can&#8217;t wait to see him.&#8221;
The two young men, who are both seniors at the academy, responded emphatically when asked what it means to them to be mariners. Meyers will go into Navy aviation after graduation, and Lippert will be sailing on his third mates license in the maritime industry.
&#8220;Oh man, it&#8217;s everything,&#8221; said Lippert. &#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s how cargo moves around the world right? World needs mariners.&#8221;
&#8220;Pretty much everyone here will graduate with a license in the US Coast Guard that&#8217;s capable of operating any boat or vessel in the American fleet,&#8221; he added.&#8221;We move cargo, whatever it be, cars, containers from point A to point B. We&#8217;re what puts food on your shelves.&#8221;
The second mariner conceded that without their work, American lives would be significantly impacted.
&#8220;It&#8217;d be really hard to live,&#8221; he said, asked where Americans would be without them. &#8220;Costs would be insane. I mean, there would be no food in supermarkets. There&#8217;d be nothing. There&#8217;d be nothing without us.&#8221;
Duffy feels that the Merchant Marine Academy has been not only forgotten but downright neglected by other secretaries of transportation, including his predecessor, Pete Buttigieg (&#8220;Boot-edge-edge,&#8221; as Duffy chuckled aside to his kids).
&#8220;They&#8217;ve been shunned,&#8221; Duffy said of the mariners. &#8220;They haven&#8217;t had the investments. They have one of the most beautiful campuses, but no one has  reinvigorated it. No one has invested in it.&#8221;
When Duffy first arrived in Kings Point, New York to visit the Merchant Marine Academy, he found out that these midshipmen had gone four months without hot water. A green energy effort brought in an electric boiler that didn&#8217;t work and ultimately led to the midshipmen going without water for months, he said with a shake of his head.
&#8220;So they&#8217;re taking cold showers. They have mold in in their dorms. Their dishwasher broke. They didn&#8217;t have regular plates and silverware. They had plastic plates, plastic silverware.&#8221;
When he brought it up to the midshipmen, he expected that they would be angry. Instead, he joked, they beat their chests and were proud of their tough situation: &#8220;I said, &#8216;No hot water?&#8217; And they&#8217;re like, &#8216;ROAR!! You&#8217;re damn right we did! No hot water!'&#8221;
He also found out that President Joe Biden&#8217;s administration removed a mural of Jesus Christ on the water from the academy and put it in the basement.
&#8220;Shameful,&#8221; said Duffy. &#8220;It&#8217;s been in the academy for over 50 years!&#8221;
&#8220;I said that&#8217;s it, we are going to we are going to resurrect the painting of Jesus on the water out of the basement and put him back in his place of prominence. And when I mentioned it to the to the midshipman, they lost their minds.&#8221;
He doesn&#8217;t have to &#8220;bring faith back to the academy,&#8221; he said, questioned about the move: &#8220;These are faithful young men and women.&#8221;
One way that he&#8217;s boosting morale is by telling the mariners that the &#8220;black sheep&#8221; is their mascot, leaning into the idea that they are the &#8220;black sheep&#8221; of the academies and need to fight to reclaim their identity. Duffy himself was sporting a Merchant Mariners sweatshirt with the black sheep on it, as were his daughters and son who attended the game with him.
&#8220;I just I think it&#8217;s wrong that we have a great American academy with great young American men and women, that we don&#8217;t respect them,&#8221; Duffy shared. &#8220;They are the black sheep of all the academies, right? And sometimes when you feel a little beaten, you&#8217;re an underdog, you come back, have a little more heart, a little more energy, a little more fight.&#8221;
&#8220;You can see we have our black sheep shirts on,&#8221; he added. &#8220;And we embrace it and we still kick ass. We still have grit. We still crush it like what&#8217;s going to happen today on the football field here at Fenway.&#8221;
The mariners did indeed crush the Coast Guard that day in the very final seconds of the game. Duffy joined them on the field, holding the trophy high above his head as he cheered, exuberantly celebrating with the young men — and even jokingly trash talking Noem, who didn&#8217;t come down to the field for the Merchant Marine Academy victory.
&#8220;Well done man,&#8221; he told the mariners as they left the field, shaking their hands and slapping them on the back. &#8220;Thank you for fighting! Well done.&#8221;

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Sean Duffy Wants To Put The Merchant Mariners On The Map — Starting With A Football Win.

Boston

College Football

Department of Transportation

Football

Kristi Noem

Sean Duffy

What really happened on the first Thanksgiving? Why do we eat turkey? How long has football been associated with Thanksgiving? Are Americans still honoring the spirit of the holiday? 
The Daily Wire&#8217;s Morning Wire interviewed historian Melanie Kirkpatrick to get to the bottom of these questions – and more. 
According to Kirkpatrick, author of “Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience,” Thanksgiving goes back even before the Pilgrims. 
“Many of the European explorers who came to this continent called days of thanksgiving, and of course, the original thanksgivings were called by Native American populations,” Kirkpatrick explained.
“The pilgrims, after their first harvest, they gathered their people together and called a day of thanksgiving,” she explained. “And I&#8217;ll point out that it&#8217;s very wonderful when you consider that half of the pilgrims had died between the arrival of the pilgrims and the day of thanksgiving. But nonetheless, they gave thanks for the blessings of the harvest and for being together. And then, of course, Native Americans joined them.”
“There were about 90 Native Americans who joined them, and they celebrated for three days,” Kirkpatrick said. “We know all of that because thanks to two articles, two commentaries by two of the pilgrims.”
However, Kirkpatrick said, “a lot of the other stuff we traditionally associate with the pilgrims is not necessarily true.”
“There&#8217;s a famous painting of the first Thanksgiving, showing the pilgrims having a meal outside. That&#8217;s true,” she said. “But if you look at the other items in the painting, not so true. For example, the pilgrims are all dressed in dark colors. And in truth, they wore bright colors, which goes against what we all learned in kindergarten about how the pilgrims dressed.”
“Similarly, the Native Americans who were there were depicted as wearing elaborate headdresses, like you&#8217;d see in the Plains Indians. But that wasn&#8217;t true either,” she said. “They wore maybe one or two feathers.”
<h3>Did they really eat turkey at the first Thanksgiving?</h3>
Kirkpatrick says we don’t know what exactly was eaten. However, one of the pilgrims mentions “the great store of wild turkey that was available.”
“So they probably had turkey,” she said, adding that they had venison, too. 
“We know they had venison because the Indians brought as a gift a bunch of deer that they had killed,” Kirkpatrick said. “That was a standard feature of Thanksgiving Day up through &#8230; parts of the 19th century actually.”
Turkey became common on Thanksgiving as there were so many wild turkeys in New England, the author said. 
“I just saw a flock of turkeys out my window the other day – I live in Connecticut. So they were easy to find,” she said. “Also, they were, by the end of the 18th, early 19th century, they were domesticated, so they were special.”
Kirkpatrick added, though, that in New England in the 19th century, the central feature of the Thanksgiving Day meal was actually chicken pot pie.
“I know people in New England whose families still have that tradition of having chicken pot pie around the time of the holiday – not necessarily on Thanksgiving Day,” she said. “And as the holidays spread out west, American settlers brought their own food traditions with them. So you find beef being eaten on Thanksgiving instead of turkey, and as settlers from other places came to this country, they brought their own traditions with them, like lasagna and stir fries, curries. So the meal is still evolving.”
<h3>What do we know about the origins of the official Thanksgiving holiday? </h3>
“The early settlers in New England fixed the dates of their thanksgivings by community or by church,” Kirkpatrick said. “And then the governor of the New England colony would name a date.” 
The celebrations were very “ad hoc,” she said. But this all changed when the “Mother of Thanksgiving” stepped in to make the holiday official. 
“Along came Sarah Josepha Hale, who was the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Magazine, the most popular and most widely read magazine of the early part of the 19th century,” Kirkpatrick said. “She was from New Hampshire, and she adored the thanksgiving holiday, and she decided to try to make it national. She saw it as part of American culture, part of our heritage, and she tried to persuade presidents of the United States to name a Thanksgiving Day.”
“Hale used the power of her magazine to write about Thanksgiving and encourage governors to coordinate the date so that they would have the same date,” she continued. “Finally, as the Civil War was approaching, she intensified her campaign. And in 1863, she wrote to Lincoln asking him to name a date when the whole country could celebrate. He did, and in 1863 was the first date that at least part of the country, the North, the Union, celebrated on one day.”
“Every president since Lincoln has named a day, an official date of Thanksgiving,” the historian explained. “Interestingly, it wasn&#8217;t until 1941 that Thanksgiving became official. Congress passed a resolution naming the fourth Thursday of November the date of Thanksgiving, and President Franklin Roosevelt signed it into law.” 
<h3>Thanksgiving And Football </h3>
Relatively soon after football developed in the United States, it was connected to Thanksgiving. 
The tradition of tying football with Thanksgiving started to grow around the 1870s, Kirkpatrick said. “The first football games took place in the late 1860s between Rutgers and Princeton,” she said. “And then there was a college championship game that was played in New York City, and New Yorkers really got into it, and it was played on Thanksgiving Day. So that tradition in New York sets the scene, sets the trend, and other cities followed suit. And then high schools and community groups would have it by the 1890s.”
“There was a tradition of having games on Thanksgiving morning, and the guys would go off to the games and the women would stay home and make dinner, and everybody would reconvene in the afternoon and celebrate Thanksgiving,” she said. 
<h3>How Thanksgiving has evolved </h3>
Discussing the evolution of Thanksgiving, Kirkpatrick said the “value has shifted somewhat,” but people still associate the holiday with charity and family and friends. 
“It&#8217;s not as religious a holiday as it used to be,” she explained. “For the first couple of hundred years, people went to church on Thanksgiving morning, too, before they went to football. But we don&#8217;t see that as much. It&#8217;s still religious in the sense that if a family is going to say grace before a meal, it&#8217;ll be on Thanksgiving.”
“But the values of generosity to the poor, for example, have long been associated with Thanksgiving,” she said. “The earliest example I found of that was, I think, 1624. And today, people participate in helping, making sure that the military gets a good Thanksgiving dinner, and prisoners and people who have a hard time affording the meal.”
“I think maybe the saddest image in American culture is somebody who has no place to go on Thanksgiving Day,” Kirkpatrick added. “It&#8217;s a day that&#8217;s associated with family and friendship, as well as food.”

Man carving roasted turkey at traditional Christmas table

A Historian Explains The History And Traditions Of Thanksgiving

The History And Traditions Of Thanksgiving, Explained By A Historian

America

new england

Pilgrims

Thanksgiving

Turkey

The NFL’s first transgender-identifying cheerleader has been let go from the squad and is now blaming the organization for discriminating against him.
Justine Lindsay, who was previously a member of the Carolina Panthers squad, left the team in August after cheering for the organization since 2022, <a href="https://www.out.com/gay-athletes/justine-lindsay-nfl-transgender-fired">per</a> Out Magazine.
“I was cut because I’m trans. I don’t wanna hear nobody saying, ‘She didn’t wanna come back.’ Why the hell would I not wanna come back to an organization that I’ve been a part of for three years,” Lindsay told Gaye Magazine during an Instagram livestream, adding that he still has Panther pride despite the alleged discriminatory firing.
“I love them down. I appreciate everything that they’ve done for me, but I feel like I was done wrong,” he added. “It was like a big slap in the face to not only me, but for the youth. And this was right after Trump became president.”
“I was devastated. It stung. I was hurt,” he added.
The Carolina Panthers did not immediately respond to The Daily Wire’s request for comment.
Lindsay is planning to compete in the Miss International Queen pageant for trans-identifying men next year, and mentioned that during a statement ahead of this year’s NFL season.
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&#8220;For now, I’m focusing on my pageantry work and community involvement, striving to be recognized not just as an NFL cheerleader, but as someone making a positive impact, especially during these uncertain times,&#8221; he said in a statement in August.
&#8220;Being in the NFL was a stepping stone to get me where I need to be, and God is blessing me each and every day, giving me the breath to do the work and change lives. My focus is to educate and uplift the younger generation of leaders to focus on their dreams and goals. Don&#8217;t let a president who is delusional stop them from reaching their goals, whether they are trans, African American, not American, etc.&#8221;
Male cheerleaders became a topic of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fan-backlash-against-male-nfl-cheerleaders-intensifies-vikings-issue-statement">debate</a> ahead of this year’s NFL season as several were featured in promo videos for various teams, including the Minnesota Vikings.

Justine Lindsay

NFL’s First Ever ‘Trans’ Cheerleader Fired, Cries Discrimination: ‘Cut Because I’m Trans’

NFL's First Ever 'Trans' Cheerleader Fired, Cries Discrimination: 'Cut Because I'm Trans'

Cheerleaders

Discrimination

North Carolina

Social Issues

Transgender

U.S.

An NFL star is about to face his toughest opponent: the legal system. Antonio Brown, who shined for years as one of the top wideouts in professional football, is back in the United States to stand trial for a shooting that happened in Miami earlier this year.
Brown was extradited Thursday from Dubai and is now booked at the Essex County Correctional Facility in New Jersey, per booking documents.
A warrant for an attempted murder charge was issued earlier this year. According to WPLG in Miami, authorities said at that time that Brown was believed to be overseas.
The Miami news outlet reported U.S. Marshals went to Dubai to get Brown, once they knew he was there.
The attempted murder charge comes from an incident that happened May 17 at a boxing event put on by popular streamer Adin Ross.
At that event, Brown was allegedly seen in a fight with multiple people while holding a pistol and chasing someone.
WPLG reported back in June that a warrant was issued for Brown&#8217;s arrest, stating he was facing a second-degree attempted murder charge with a firearm. The warrant said Brown&#8217;s target was Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, who was fighting with Brown.
The former football player claimed after the incident that he was innocent.
Before Brown&#8217;s legal troubles, he was one of the most prolific players in the NFL. He played 12 seasons in the league, the majority of which were with the Pittsburgh Steelers. His storied career ended in 2022, playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when he infamously ran off the field during their game against the New York Jets.
Brown competed on season 22 of &#8220;Dancing with the Stars.&#8221; He finished fourth that season.
His personality shined on the football field, as well as the ballroom, where he made his phrase &#8220;business is boomin'&#8221; a popular saying among his fans.
Those days seem like a different lifetime. In recent years, Brown has made headlines for multiple arrests, including for assault and failure to pay child support, among other charges.
He&#8217;s expected to be extradited to south Florida for his latest charge. Per WPLG, authorities haven&#8217;t given any further information on when that will happen.

Antonio Brown

Business Not Boomin’ For Antonio Brown After Extradition On Attempted Murder Charge

Crime

Dubai

World

Former University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron has entered the race for lieutenant governor, saying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk inspired him to “get off of the sidelines” and serve his state.
&#8220;Alabama&#8217;s conservative and cultural values are under attack from every direction,&#8221; McCarron said in a <a href="https://www.wsfa.com/2025/10/23/former-alabama-qb-aj-mccarron-announces-run-lieutenant-governor/">press release</a> announcing his candidacy. &#8220;That&#8217;s why Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination affected so many of us so deeply. His example convinced me to get off of the sidelines, get into the game, and stand tall for our conservative beliefs, so today, I&#8217;m announcing my candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of Alabama.&#8221;
McCarron was a standout quarterback at the University of Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS National Championships in 2012 and 2013 as a starter. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent several seasons as their backup before brief stints with the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons. Most recently, he started at quarterback for the St. Louis BattleHawks in the United Football League.
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McCarron endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016.
The ex-NFL player is currently working as a college football analyst and co-owns McCarron Real Estate with his wife, Katherine, who was Miss Alabama USA in 2012. They live in Mobile with their three children.
Earlier this year, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), the former head coach at Auburn University, announced he was running for governor of Alabama.
“The Montgomery insiders and career politicians have had their chance. It’s time for political newcomers and outsider candidates like me to lead the battle,” his statement said. “When Coach Tuberville is governor, I’ll be the quarterback who helps pass his conservative outsider agenda.”
Other GOP candidates in the lieutenant governor race include Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, pastor Dean Odle, and Nicole Jones Wadsworth, per <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46699763/ex-qb-aj-mccarron-running-alabama-lieutenant-governor">ESPN</a>. The state primaries will be held on May 19, 2026.

AJ McCarron

Charlie Kirk Just Inspired A Legendary Alabama Quarterback To Run For Office

Former Alabama QB Announces Bid For Lt Governor, Cites Charlie Kirk As His Inspiration

Alabama

Charlie Kirk

Elections

Politics

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that there are no plans to replace Bad Bunny as the halftime performer at Super Bowl LX in February.
Goodell made his first statement on the matter as backlash against the Puerto Rican performer, who only performs songs in Spanish and has expressed anti-ICE sentiments, has grown in recent weeks. A <a href="https://ew.com/petition-replace-bad-bunny-with-george-strait-super-bowl-halftime-show-passes-50000-signatures-11833542">petition</a> to replace Bad Bunny (real name Benito Ocasio) with country performer George Strait earned more than 50,000 signatures.
“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said of the performance, per <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-halftime-show-reconsidered-nfl-126764247">ABC News</a>. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”
“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” the commissioner added. “[Ocasio] understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”
“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said of Bad Bunny’s global appeal. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value.&#8221;
The artist’s selection, which was made in conjunction with Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation, was controversial because of his past anti-ICE statements, including his refusal to schedule any tour stops in the United States due to alleged fears about his fans being taken into ICE custody at his shows.
“…There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about,” Bad Bunny said, referring to ICE agents as “motherf***ers” and “sons of bitches.”
Ocasio also addressed the backlash he and the NFL received about none of his songs being English, advising viewers to learn Spanish if they didn’t like it.
Earlier this month, Turning Point USA <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/turning-point-usa-announces-bad-bunny-free-all-american-halftime-show-to-rival-nfls">announced</a> that they would be hosting an alternative All-American Halftime Show at the same time as the Super Bowl halftime show.

Bad Bunny

NFL Commish Gives Update On Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show Amid Backlash

NFL Commish Confirms They're Not Replacing Bad Bunny For Super Bowl, Despite Backlash

Music

Roger Goodell

Super Bowl

Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny addressed the backlash the NFL has been receiving after it was announced that he’d be the halftime performer at the upcoming Super Bowl, saying anyone unhappy with it should just learn Spanish.
Many people reacted negatively to the 31-year-old recording artist headlining the event, as they noted that, first and foremost, none of his songs were in English. 
Social media users also pointed out that Bad Bunny, whose legal name is Benito Ocasio, had previously refused to perform in the United States as a form of protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents enforcing federal law.
Ocasio referenced the criticism during an appearance on “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.
“Especially all of the Latinos and Latinas in the world here in the United States who have worked to open doors,” Bad Bunny said in Spanish. “It’s more than a win for myself; it’s a win for all of us. Our footprints and our contribution in this country, no one will ever be able to take that away or erase it.”
The singer then switched to English, saying, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bad Bunny&#8217;s monologue! <a href="https://t.co/pjS0Ejckcg">pic.twitter.com/pjS0Ejckcg</a>
— Saturday Night Live &#8211; SNL (@nbcsnl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1974684057045786842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Reactions on social media echoed what NFL fans have been saying since it was announced that Bad Bunny would be the halftime performer.
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“That smug, arrogant clown standing on SNL telling Americans to ‘learn Spanish’ if they want to understand his halftime show? That’s the perfect snapshot of what the NFL has become under Roger Goodell. A bloated, elitist trash heap that worships identity over unity, politics over patriotism, and virtue signaling over actual entertainment,” one commenter <a href="https://x.com/SchoenPhotog/status/1974828994764972492">wrote</a>. “The NFL can go to hell.”
“Imagine an English-speaking artist going on live TV in another country and telling the locals they have four months to learn English. They&#8217;d be canceled by morning,” another person <a href="https://x.com/asectomidnight/status/1974699539631116504">said</a>. “But when its reversed? It&#8217;s called REPRESENTATION.”
Previously, Ocasio referred to ICE agents as “motherf***ers” and “sons of bitches” in a video he posted to Instagram.
The three-time Grammy Award winner said during an interview earlier this month that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.
“There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

Bad Bunny Backlash Explodes After He Tells NFL Fans To Learn Spanish

Celebrities

Puerto Rico

Saturday Night Live

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The NFL is facing major criticism following its announcement that artist Bad Bunny will perform at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show.
Critics are pointing out that the decision appears political as Bad Bunny, who hails from Puerto Rico, has refused to perform in the United States due to his disagreement with immigration enforcement and has openly denigrated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, calling them “motherf***ers” and “sons of bitches” in a <a href="https://x.com/MillyMendezpr/status/1935082845803839745">video</a> he posted to Instagram in June.
The three-time Grammy Award winner said during an <a href="https://i-d.co/article/bad-bunny-puerto-rico-residency-issue-375-cover/">interview</a> earlier this month that he didn’t book any tour stops in the United States because he was worried ICE agents would target concert attendees.
“&#8230;There was the issue of — like, f***ing ICE could be outside (my concert). And it’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
The singer, whose real name is Benito Ocasio, released a <a href="https://media.nfl.com/news-and-releases/music-entertainment/global-sensation-bad-bunny-to-perform-at-apple-music-super-bowl-">statement</a> Sunday about performing at the Super Bowl. 
“What I’m feeling goes beyond myself. It’s for those who came before me and ran countless yards so I could come in and score a touchdown… this is for my people, my culture, and our history,” he said. 
Roc Nation will produce the show in conjunction with Apple Music. Company chairman Jay-Z said in a statement, “What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage.”
The move is being interpreted as a political statement because Ocasio has been outspoken in his political beliefs. He endorsed Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. 
Bad Bunny also supports the blurring of gender roles. “What defines a man, what defines being masculine, what defines being feminine?” he <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/bad-bunny-june-cover-profile">said</a> in a 2022 interview with GQ. “To me, a dress is a dress.” The Left celebrates the singer for wearing makeup and dresses as a way to protest against traditional masculinity.
On July 4, the singer released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5V5WZVcVE">music video</a> for his song, “NUEVAYoL,” which included a voice meant to sound like President Trump apologizing for his crackdown on illegal immigration. 
“I want to apologize to the immigrants in America. I mean the United States. I know America is the whole continent,” the faux Trump voice says. “This country is nothing without the immigrants.”
This, along with other factors, led to an avalanche of backlash on social media. 
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck noted how most of Bad Bunny’s songs aren’t even in English. “This is not a pick designed to unite football fans or let people just enjoy the show. It was a pick designed to divide fans, and no doubt Bad Bunny will find some way to push a woke message,” he shared on X. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bad Bunny was picked by <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RocNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RocNation</a> to play the Super Bowl this year.
He made the following racist comment: &#8220;I highly doubt the type of gringos I don’t fuck with listen to me. Those were all the people at the Super Bown who were pissed odd about how Latino the halftime show… <a href="https://t.co/UqU5Ksobkm">pic.twitter.com/UqU5Ksobkm</a>
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) <a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1972668839222526326?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“Are NFL owners in on this idiocy or are they just culturally that disconnected from reality and how [NFL commissioner Roger Goodell] uses the NFL to push left wing social issues?” asked Starbuck. “Is it that hard to pick a unifying music act who doesn’t want to peddle woke propaganda?”
“&#8230;This isn’t about music, it’s about putting a guy on stage who hates Trump and MAGA,” Starbuck concluded.
“I&#8217;m thoroughly convinced the NFL has no idea who Bad Bunny actually is,” another person <a href="https://x.com/redsteeze/status/1972498134145376610">quipped</a>.
The Super Bowl is scheduled to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

NFL Picks Anti-ICE, Anti-Trump Rapper Bad Bunny For Super Bowl Halftime Show

Entertainment

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Jay-Z

Sports

The days following the assassination of Charlie Kirk have been filled with tributes, both public and private, including from major corporations and celebrities. 
Ahead of Sunday’s NFL games, a league spokesperson said it would be left to individual teams to decide whether to acknowledge Charlie Kirk’s tragic death. Some clubs chose to do so, while others did not.
The Tennessee Titans displayed a photo of Kirk and his family on the Jumbotron while observing a moment of silence before the game.
The Miami Dolphins also held a moment of silence for Kirk, the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and “any other victims of violence.” They also offered a “prayer for unity in our country.”
The New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys honored Kirk’s memory, while the New Orleans Saints held a moment of silence.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 HOLY CRAP! Even the DALLAS COWBOYS just honored Charlie Kirk on their big screen, holding a moment of silence
Afterward, the crowd broke out in cheers and applause!
Absolutely NOBODY knew how loved Charlie loved until he was gone ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/LtbK3SXKoI">pic.twitter.com/LtbK3SXKoI</a>
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1967302647003984138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Kansas City Chiefs made an announcement at Arrowhead Stadium before their game Sunday night. It said, “Our nation has witnessed several acts of senseless violence in recent weeks, including the deaths of schoolchildren in Colorado, churchgoers in Minnesota, and Charlie Kirk in Utah.”
“At this time, we ask you to join us in a moment of silence as we remember those we have lost.”
The Pittsburgh Steelers did not hold an audible tribute but marked the occasion with a pregame flyover and flags at half-staff.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings chose not to hold any tributes for Kirk.
The Colts explained that the team instead held a moment of silence for Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil, the namesake of their stadium. They noted this tribute had been scheduled since his death last month. 
Prior to the weekend, the Green Bay Packers held a moment of silence before their Thursday night game against the Washington Commanders on September 11, one day after Kirk’s assassination.
“He was a national figure,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a <a href="https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-teams-held-moment-silence-173347810.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHad-ke6OB-aLl4yHefMeCFEo_4IBe4TVCZ-RtSidcso0xWRLI8kL9WwYMGcuAZaBW9jBTFZGMlRRTuYD4jFWgITejZU94vbGONf6Ovf4ywOxk-uuH18Q_7eChQkgo-MHweBNX_t_hl9ob7N8Ru7H6D6tyAYvhIFfAnxoARx6-WD">statement</a> to USA Today Sports. “The murder took place about 24 hours before the game.”
“There have been a variety of moments of silence and tributes in-stadium and on-air in all games or a game immediately following events that rise to a national level. Clubs also often hold moments following a tragic event that affects their community.”
Outside of football, other professional sports teams also paid tribute, including Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen, who wrote “Charlie Kirk” on the side of his hat between two crosses. The New York Yankees also observed a moment of silence before their game on Wednesday. 
A memorial for Kirk <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/charlie-kirk-memorial-to-be-held-next-sunday-in-massive-nfl-stadium">will be held</a> next Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale. The venue seats 63,000 people.

Charlie Kirk tribute

NFL Didn’t Require Tributes, But Teams Honored Charlie Kirk Anyway

NFL Teams Weren't Mandated To Honor Charlie Kirk, But Many Did It Anyway

assassination

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected early in the season opener Thursday night after he was caught spitting on Dak Prescott, the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
The incident occurred following the opening kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly. As some staff tended to an injured player, Carter was seen going helmet to helmet with Prescott. 
Carter was immediately hit with a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected from the game. An Eagles staffer escorted him off the field, with cameras following and announcers expressing their shock.
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Jalen Carter was ejected from the Eagles’ season opener after appearing to spit at Dak Prescott.
(🎥 NBC) <a href="https://t.co/HbETVk1ALd">pic.twitter.com/HbETVk1ALd</a>
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1963761757760930233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Footage later emerged showing Prescott spitting towards Carter first, which is why he claimed he retaliated. But the quarterback insists he was just spitting forward and not aiming at anyone.
“I was just looking at him and I was right here in between two linemen,” Prescott said of the incident. “I guess I needed to spit, and I wasn’t going to spit on my linemen, so I just spit ahead.”
“He asked or goes, ‘Are you trying to spit on me?’ At that point, I felt like he was insulting me,” the Cowboys quarterback continued. “I wouldn’t spit on somebody, and I’m damn sure not trying to spit on you, we’re trying to play a game… He just spit on me in that moment, and it was more of a surprise than anything. The refs obviously saw it and threw a flag. I was like, ‘Hell yeah, we get 15 yards to start the game off,’ I didn’t realize he was getting ejected. Unfortunate that he did and hell of a player.”
Carter issued an apology after the game. 
“You know it was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” Carter <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/eagles-dt-jalen-carter-ejected-before-playing-snap-after-spitting-on-cowboys-qb-dak-prescott-in-season-opener">told reporters</a> after the game. “I feel bad for just my teammates and the fans out there. You know, I’m doing it for them. I’m doing it for my family also but the fans, they show the most love. You heard them out there and not being able to start the game to finish the game just f*** me up, but it won’t happen again.”
Despite losing one of their best defensive players, the Eagles managed to eke out a win for week one, besting the Cowboys with a final score of 24-20.

Jalen Carter

Eagles’ Jalen Carter Ejected After Spitting On Cowboys QB, Says He’s Sorry

Eagles' Jalen Carter Apologizes After Being Ejected For Spitting On Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys

General

Philadelphia Eagles

Former NFL coaching icon Bill Belichick’s leap to college football got off to a hot start on Monday night, but it quickly devolved into an embarrassment as his North Carolina Tar Heels were stomped in front of a home crowd by Texas Christian University.
Belichick and the Tar Heels were among college football’s media darlings leading up to the opening week. The game attracted nationwide attention with a primetime slot on ESPN, and UNC legends Michael Jordan, Lawrence Taylor, and Roy Williams were all in attendance to see Belichick coach his first game since parting ways with the New England Patriots in January 2024.
North Carolina got the ball first and came out hot, driving 83 yards down the field in just seven plays and opening up the game with a 7-0 lead. The drive had the Chapel Hill crowd rocking, but the excitement only lasted for a few minutes. At the end of the first quarter, TCU scored to tie the game, and North Carolina’s offense began sputtering. TCU closed out the first half by kicking two field goals and picking off UNC quarterback Gio Lopez and returning it for a touchdown.
UNC’s collapse continued into the second half as Belichick’s defense — coached by his son, Steve — was embarrassed multiple times when TCU’s running backs sprinted past defenders for long scoring plays. Fans began their mass exodus from Kenan Memorial Stadium in the third quarter after TCU’s defense struck again with a strip sack returned for a touchdown. Belichick’s college debut was officially spoiled with more than 18 minutes of game time remaining.
By the end of the third quarter, the Tar Heels were down 41-14, and the team gave up another touchdown in the fourth quarter, setting a school record for points allowed in a season opener. It was also the most points ever <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bill-belichick-i-know-were-a-lot-better-than-that">surrendered</a> by a Belichick-coached team.
Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots between 2000 and 2023, said the Tar Heels have a lot to improve on, but added that he believes his team is a “lot better than that.” He also praised TCU’s performance.
“They were clearly the better team tonight,” Belichick <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401754523">said</a>. “They deserved to win and they did it decisively.”
On the other sideline, the TCU Horned Frogs believe they proved a point by quickly turning the attention away from Belichick and onto themselves.
“We wanted this game to be about us, and it was,” said TCU coach Sonny Dykes, according to ESPN.
“I think we all felt a little disrespected,” he added. “There was a lot of conversation about this game and none of it was about us.”

TCU v North Carolina

How Bill Belichick’s Hyped-Up College Coaching Debut Turned From Excitement To Complete Disaster

Bill Belichick

University of North Carolina

Despite most companies moving away from virtue signaling, the NFL has decided to keep a frequently maligned feature this season. For the sixth straight season, all 32 teams will have messages painted in the end zones with social justice themes and undertones.
The NFL will again be advertising messages such as “End Racism,” “Stop Hate,” “Choose Love,” or “Inspire Change,” per <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-end-zone-messages-end-racism-593ea0278bccb1d30f8c741ccadcf943">Associated Press</a>. Just like in years prior, the opposing end zone will bear the message, “It Takes All of Us.” The outlet noted that “Inspire Change” is the only update from last year, when the message said, “Vote.”
Players will also have the option to display these messages on their helmets.
“We’re working hand-in-hand with players, and alongside our clubs, to amplify player voices and underscore what is most important to them,” Anna Isaacson, NFL senior VP of social responsibility, told the AP. “For decades, the NFL and its players have been a unifying force in American culture and society that brings people of all cultures and backgrounds together to enjoy America’s most popular sport.”
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“This is an honor and responsibility that the league takes seriously, which is why we actively invest in off-field programs and on-field initiatives that promote unity,” she added.
Reactions on social media were mostly negative, with followers questioning why the NFL was keeping up this campaign when so many other companies and organizations are moving in the opposite direction.
“Can&#8217;t we just escape politics and wokeism for a measly 3 hours and watch football? I&#8217;m out. I&#8217;m totally done with the NFL,” one reply <a href="https://x.com/PamelaHensley22/status/1957392218513129655">said</a>.
“It&#8217;s a shame, the actual game is lost on woke social practices.”
Many commenters also remarked on the current controversy about male cheerleaders being promoted as part of several NFL squads.
“Dumb. And also now with the male cheerleaders? Why?” one person <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fan-backlash-against-male-nfl-cheerleaders-intensifies-vikings-issue-statement">wrote</a>.
While male cheerleaders have been part of NFL squads for several years, a clip of rookie cheerleader Blaize Shiek being introduced went viral on social media, igniting significant backlash. Shiek is one of two male cheerleaders on the Minnesota Vikings squad.
In 2022, Justine Lindsay became the first transgender-identifying man to become an NFL cheerleader with the Carolina Panthers.
“I have had so many parents of young kids in the trans community say thank you for what I’m doing and that their son or daughter is watching me,” Lindsay <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/first-openly-transgender-nfl-cheerleader-justine-lindsay-a-face-of-the-possible">said</a> at the time, per NFL.com. “They are so pleased to see that I’m tearing down that wall.”
Lindsay will be cheering again for the Panthers for the 2025 season.

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