The suspect accused of starting one of the largest wildfires in Los Angeles history, fixated on Luigi Mangione weeks before starting the blaze out of resentment for the rich, according to federal prosecutors. 
Federal prosecutors said in a trial memorandum that 30-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht demonstrated an obsession with Mangione in the days before he started the Lachman and Palisades Fires on January 1, 2025. Mangione has developed a cult following among the Left after he was arrested for gunning down Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
“On January 24, 2025, when investigators asked defendant why someone might commit arson in the Pacific Palisades, he responded that it would be out of resentment of the rich enjoying their money as ‘we’re basically being enslaved by them’ and compared such an act of ‘desperation’ to the murder for which Mangione was charged,” the memo said. 
The memo added that Uber passengers who rode with Rinderknecht on December 31 and January 1 recounted him being “angry, intense, driving erratically, and ranting about being ‘pissed off at the world’ and Luigi Mangione, capitalism, and vigilantism.”
Prosecutors described Rinderknecht becoming “fixated” on Mangione in the weeks leading up to the fires, saying his internet search history revealed queries like “free Luigi Mangione,” “lets take down all the billionaires,” and “reddit lets kill all the billionaires.”
Rinderknecht has been charged with destroying property by fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce, and setting timber afire. Facing over forty years in prison, he has pleaded not guilty. 
&#8220;Millings of people in this country are fascinated with Luigi Mangione. To suggest that is a connection to the crime of ours is ridiculousarson is ridiculous [SIC],&#8221; Steve Haney, Rinderknecht&#8217;s lawyer, told The Daily Wire. &#8220;These are the depths that the government are going to in the absence of any evidence of my client committed a crime.&#8221;
The memo said that Rinderknecht had an obsession with fire and had previously burned a Bible. 
“A few months before the fire, defendant asked ChatGPT — an AI system that he used as a confidant and diary — to generate and then modify images of a ‘burning forest’ next to ‘a bunch of people running away,’” prosecutors said. “Defendant also confided to ChatGPT that he had burned a bible and that it felt ‘liberating.’ Later, after he knew he was under investigation for the fire, defendant threatened to burn down his sister’s house.”
Mangione is currently facing charges related to the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. While a judge dismissed federal murder charges against Mangione, he still faces second-degree New York murder charges. In the wake of Mangione’s arrest, leftist activists have called for his release, claiming he was targeting an exploitative corporation.

MixCollage-04-May-2026-09-14-AM-5387

Major Arson Suspect Obsessed Over Luigi Mangione And Wanted To Kill The Rich, Prosecutors Say

California

Fire

Los Angeles

Luigi Mangione

Embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accused her reelection opponent, Spencer Pratt, of &#8220;exploiting the grief&#8221; of the LA wildfire victims. 
In an interview with left-wing podcast host Katie Phang, Bass criticized Pratt&#8217;s outspoken advocacy, claiming that he was capitalizing on the tragedy even though he was among those who lost a home in the Palisades wildfire. 
&#8220;Well, honestly, before this, I had never heard of Spencer Pratt. But the thing I am concerned about is that I feel like he’s exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades. And I think that’s reprehensible,&#8221; Bass said. &#8220;I think he&#8217;s about his own celebrity; he&#8217;s famous now again.&#8221;
&#8220;I think he could benefit by a basic civics course, because I don&#8217;t think he understands the basics of how any government works,&#8221; she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
LA Mayor Karen Bass:
Well, honestly, before this, I had never heard of Spencer Pratt. But the thing I am concerned about is that I feel like he’s exploiting the grief of people in the Palisades. And I think that’s reprehensible. <a href="https://t.co/PGbn9UKmkZ">pic.twitter.com/PGbn9UKmkZ</a>
— Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/2050440571588944222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2026</a></blockquote>
The attacks come after Pratt, a former reality TV star, posted a<a href="https://x.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?s=20"> viral advertisement</a> blasting Bass and other city leaders.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-star-rips-karen-bass-in-fiery-campaign-video">In the campaign video</a>, Pratt films himself outside the mansions belonging to Bass and City Council member Nithya Raman. The scene then cuts to a homeless encampment as Pratt narrates, “They don’t have to live in the mess they created. Where you live,” he says.
&#8220;This is where I live,” Pratt adds while posing outside a trailer at the site of his burned-down home.
“They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are. That’s why I’m running for mayor. For my sons, and the rest of us Angelenos that want to stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city. We are gonna get the golden age of Los Angeles back,” he concludes.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They not like us <a href="https://t.co/78hducHDUE">pic.twitter.com/78hducHDUE</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
In January 2025, wind-whipped flames tore through homes and devastated entire neighborhoods in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, an upscale community near the Los Angeles County coastline. Firefighters and emergency crews worked for weeks to fully contain the fires, which burned 50,000 acres and destroyed nearly 16,000 homes.
The fires, among the deadliest in California&#8217;s history, directly resulted in at least 31 deaths, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. A more in-depth analysis by the<a href="https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2025/death-count-for-2025-la-county-wildfires-likely-hundreds-higher-than-official-records-show/#:~:text=An%20estimated%20440%20deaths%20are,excess%20mortality%20during%20that%20period."> Boston University School of Public Health</a>, however, estimated that the fires were responsible for 409 excess deaths.
&#8220;The additional 409 deaths that were excluded from official death records likely resulted from partially attributable factors such as lung or heart conditions due to increased exposure to air pollution from smoke and burning objects, as well as indirect factors such as disruptions in other critical healthcare or mental health emergencies,&#8221; the researchers said.
Mayor Bass, who was representing the Biden Administration in Africa as Los Angeles communities were reduced to rubble, came under scorching criticism for her handling of the fires.
Returning from her overseas trip, Bass was caught flat-footed and literally speechless at Los Angeles International Airport.
&#8220;Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning, and do you regret cutting the fire department budget by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor?&#8221;<a href="https://x.com/SkyNews/status/1877115173443400065?s=20"> Sky News reporter David Blevins asked Bass at the airport</a>.
&#8220;Have you absolutely nothing to say to the citizens today?&#8221; he added.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders in the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including Bass, who is seeking re-election. <a href="blank">Prediction market</a>s currently favor leftist Nithya Raman.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
&#8216;Do you owe citizens an apology for being absent whilst their homes were burning? Do you regret cutting the fire department&#8217;s budget? 
<a href="https://twitter.com/skydavidblevins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@skydavidblevins</a> questions the mayor of LA, Karen Bass, as she faces backlash regarding the California wildfires.<a href="https://t.co/Nkz8onjC7V">https://t.co/Nkz8onjC7V</a> <a href="https://t.co/WwRwp6Imqz">pic.twitter.com/WwRwp6Imqz</a>
— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1877115173443400065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote>

Karen Bass

Karen Bass Accuses Spencer Pratt Of ‘Exploiting Grief’ Of Palisades Fire Victims. He Is One.

Palisades Fire

A four-word caption and a short video were all it took for LA-based mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt to go viral, again.
&#8220;They not like us.&#8221;
The former reality star has been fundraising like mad in hopes of unseating incumbent Democrat Karen Bass, and with mega exposure like this, some of his supporters are saying he just might do it.
In the campaign video, the villain from the MTV reality show “The Hills” films himself outside mansions belonging to Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman. The scene then cuts to a homeless encampment as Pratt narrates, “They don’t have to live in the mess they created. Where YOU live,” he says.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They not like us <a href="https://t.co/78hducHDUE">pic.twitter.com/78hducHDUE</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2049497051793412557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This is where I live,” Pratt adds while posing outside a trailer. The mayoral hopeful is openly furious over the city&#8217;s handling of the Palisades fire and the aftermath — and blames poor leadership for the conditions that led to the fire happening in the first place.
Pratt and his wife lost their home in the fire.
“They let my home burn down. I know what the consequences of failed leadership are. That’s why I’m running for mayor. For my sons, and the rest of us Angelenos that want to stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city. We are gonna get the golden age of Los Angeles back,” he concludes.
The former reality star is getting a whole lot of support from a variety of places. According to <a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/lakers-jeanie-buss-la-mayoral-race-spencer-pratt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FOX 11</a>, Jeanie Buss — the controlling owner and governor of the Los Angeles Lakers — donated $1,800 to Pratt&#8217;s campaign, the maximum amount permitted by law.
X users are loving his new ad, which has 8.1 million views as of Thursday morning.
“One of the greatest political ads I&#8217;ve seen in a very long time,” one popular reply <a href="https://x.com/mattvanswol/status/2049523647874826629">said</a>. “Down to earth. Clear willingness to work hard. Dichotomy between ‘them’ and ‘us’ is amazing&#8230; those who POSTURE, vs those who have to live with the consequences of their posturing. 10/10 no notes.”
Last week, Pratt made <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/reality-star-rips-dem-karen-bass-for-allowing-homeless-to-conduct-nazi-like-experiments-on-dogs">headlines</a> after he ripped Bass for allowing animal abuse committed by the homeless to continue. If elected, he committed to putting an end to the practice. “Unbelievable levels of evil from the druggies that are left to massacre these poor animals. This ends when I’m mayor,” he promised.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders in the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including Bass, who is seeking re-election. Pratt’s campaign website describes him as “Karen Bass’ worst nightmare.”

Spencer Pratt

Reality Star Rips Karen Bass In Fiery Campaign Video

Mayor

Politics

Former reality star Spencer Pratt, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles against incumbent Karen Bass, is taking a stand for animals that are allegedly being tortured by homeless people in the community.
The mayoral hopeful has been posting about animals being abused on Skid Row and beyond for weeks, sharing graphic videos of dogs overdosing on fentanyl and one presented with his eyes sewn shut.
“As Mayor, I will stand up a dedicated LAPD task force, Tactical PAWS: Policing Animal Welfare &amp; Safety. We will end the horrific atrocities that Karen Basura (his nickname for Bass) and [coucilwoman] Nithya Raman have allowed on our streets. ZERO tolerance for animal abusers,” he wrote in a post on April 20.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
As Mayor, I will stand up a dedicated LAPD task force, Tactical PAWS: Policing Animal Welfare &amp; Safety. We will end the horrific atrocities that Karen Basura and Nithya Raman have allowed on our streets. ZERO tolerance for animal abusers! <a href="https://t.co/QyUPKpdLEB">https://t.co/QyUPKpdLEB</a> <a href="https://t.co/XDnpJk4aba">pic.twitter.com/XDnpJk4aba</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2046277962664996895?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This is uncaring Karen’s legacy,” he said of Bass in response to a video of a dog with drugs in its system receiving medical care. “Unbelievable levels of evil from the druggies that are left to massacre these poor animals. This ends when I’m mayor.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is uncaring Karen’s legacy. Unbelievable levels of evil from the druggies that are left to massacre these poor animals. This ends when I’m mayor. <a href="https://t.co/jJ64X0sQ5R">https://t.co/jJ64X0sQ5R</a>
— Spencer Pratt (@spencerpratt) <a href="https://twitter.com/spencerpratt/status/2047197321079980376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In another video <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXhkUNNAdT9/">shared</a> to Instagram on Friday, he accused Bass and Raman of “facilitating the torture, mutilation, abuse, and murder of thousands of dogs by crazy drug addicts who breed them for money, set them on fire, [and] conduct Nazi-like experiments.”
Pratt says the dogs become drug testers and are frequently overdosing.
The former star of “The Hills” said that Raman allegedly “walked out” of a recent city council meeting after an animal rescue worker begged for help with the problem.
Pratt also said a rally was happening at The Barkery in Encino on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. to raise awareness and “save our pets from the zombies.”
The reality alum announced that he is running for mayor of Los Angeles on the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire, which is the event that he says radicalized him to make a change in his community. The Republican and former star of “The Hills” has been critical of local Democrats for their actions before and after the fires. Pratt and his wife, Heidi Montag, and his parents all lost their homes.
“The system in Los Angeles isn’t struggling; it’s fundamentally broken. It is a machine designed to protect the people at the top and the friends they exchange favors with while the rest of us drown in toxic smoke and ash,” Pratt said in part while announcing his campaign.
Pratt is a first-time candidate facing more than a dozen other contenders in the nonpartisan mayoral primary in June, including current Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Bass, who is seeking re-election. Pratt’s campaign website describes him as “Karen Bass’ worst nightmare.”

Reality Star Rips Dem Karen Bass For Allowing Homeless To ‘Conduct Nazi-Like Experiments’ On Dogs

Animals

Drugs

Elections

Homeless

Rapper d4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder after a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered body was found in his Tesla last year.
The Los Angeles Police Department said Burke, 21, has been booked on suspicion of murdering Celeste Rivas Hernandez and is being held without bail.
&#8220;Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery-Homicide Division, have arrested David Burke, a 21-year-old resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of Celeste Rivas,&#8221; LAPD <a href="https://x.com/LAPDPIO/status/2044934044467769705?s=20">posted</a> on X, adding that the case will be presented to the L.A. County District Attorney&#8217;s office on Monday for possible charges.
Burke&#8217;s attorneys denied the allegations, saying in a statement that &#8220;actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and he was not the cause of her death,&#8221; per <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/d4vd-arrested-suspicion-murder-celeste-rivas-lapd/">CBS News</a>.
&#8220;There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;David has only been detained under suspicion. We will vigorously defend David&#8217;s innocence.&#8221;
The 21-year-old singer initially continued touring after the remains were discovered in September 2025. He canceled the remainder of his tour after the victim was publicly identified.  
Rivas’ dismembered body was found in bags inside the abandoned Tesla that had been taken to the city impound. The car was searched after employees reported a foul stench coming from the vehicle.
The Riverside County Sheriff&#8217;s Department confirmed that Rivas was reported missing from Lake Elsinore more than a year ago, per CBS News. According to a missing person flyer, the teen was last seen on April 5, 2024, leaving her home.
Burke first gained recognition on TikTok before being signed to Darkroom and Interscope Records. The “Romantic Homicide” singer has 2 million followers on Instagram and 5.4 billion streams on Spotify.

d4vd

Rapper Arrested Months After Dismembered Teen Found In His Tesla

Crime

Entertainment

Homicide

Rapper

According to a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/see-how-hollywoods-job-market-is-collapsing-230be437?mod=e2tw">new report</a> from The Wall Street Journal, the Hollywood job market is collapsing at an alarming rate.
The news outlet found that entertainment motion picture and video production employment saw a 30% reduction in jobs as compared to 2022. That includes work for actors, carpenters, costume makers, and the hundreds of other professions behind movies and TV shows.
WSJ noted that studios are making fewer movies and shows in general, and that when they do, those projects are often being made in countries that offer cheaper prices for filming.
Noah Wyle, who stars in and serves as executive producer of the popular medical drama “The Pitt,” said it was “a near cratering of our once thriving industry.”
The outlet noted that studios, labor unions, and soundstage owners have been pushing for a federal tax incentive of 15%, which could be combined with state incentives ranging from 20% to 40%. They claim this would entice studios to bring production back to the United States.
But even if those incentives brought the action back to Hollywood, it wouldn’t solve the issue of a general downturn in output. Hollywood has been serving up <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hollywood-just-had-its-worst-summer-box-office-in-over-40-years">a lot of flops lately</a>, and that track record has led to major studios being more cautious with what they’re willing to make. This likely has a lot to do with churning out woke crap that audiences are sick of seeing, even if they’d never admit it.
The bad box office results are being blamed on the rise of streaming, short attention spans in the TikTok age, and a general refusal of audiences to return to theaters in a post-COVID world, among other issues. Hollywood analysts insist there is too much competition to make a great hit. But then a success story like “Project Hail Mary” comes along and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hollywood-learned-the-wrong-lesson-from-project-hail-mary">blows that theory to shreds</a>.
In September, President Trump addressed the issue, threatening a “100% tariff” on films made overseas in an effort to bring movie production back to the United States.
“Our movie making business has been stolen from the United States of America, by other Countries, just like stealing ‘candy from a baby.’ California, with its weak and incompetent Governor, has been particularly hard hit! Therefore, in order to solve this long time, never ending problem, I will be imposing a 100% Tariff on any and all movies that are made outside of the United States,” the president shared in a Truth Social post at the time, echoing similar statements he made in May.

Distressed image of movie clapperboard

Hollywood Is In Deep Trouble And May Have Itself To Blame

employment

Hollywood

Jobs

Wokeness

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responded after a large “No Kings” protest in downtown Los Angeles escalated Saturday, and demonstrators vandalized a federal building with threats against ICE agents, clashed with law enforcement, and sparked multiple arrests.
“If you threaten ICE, or their families, you WILL face the full force of federal law,” the response read. “Our courageous men and women face death threats, just like this, every day. Individuals making the threats will be held accountable.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Leftist radicals had vandalized a federal building in Los Angeles on Saturday, scrawling the message “Kill your local ICE agent” alongside two crosshairs as thousands flooded downtown for a “No Kings” protest.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
DIRECT THREAT: An agitator spray-paints &#8220;kill your local ICE agent&#8221; on the side of a federal building in Los Angeles as thousands marched through the city&#8217;s downtown for the &#8220;No Kings&#8221; protest. <a href="https://t.co/oYw1tTLHDU">pic.twitter.com/oYw1tTLHDU</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/2038285730733293982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The threatening graffiti came amid a day of demonstrations that drew tens of thousands into the city’s streets, with organizers estimating attendance as high as 50,000 at a rally held at Gloria Molina Grand Park outside City Hall. The Los Angeles Police Department <a href="https://x.com/LAPDCentral/status/2038046323090620455">placed</a> the city on tactical alert around 5:30 local time and issued a dispersal order, warning demonstrators to leave the area near Alameda Street or face arrest. When multiple individuals refused to comply, officers began taking people into <a href="https://x.com/LAPDCentral/status/2038058913934070205">custody</a> 30 minutes later.
Federal officials also reported violence directed at law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli <a href="https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/2038064445990350958">said</a> federal agents had “started arresting those who assaulted our personnel at the Los Angeles courthouse,” warning that suspects who hurled projectiles at officers had been captured on video.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨: Anti-ICE rioters threw chunks of concrete at DHS agents protecting the federal building in Los Angeles. Federal agents responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd. <a href="https://t.co/lgn8l5XyW9">pic.twitter.com/lgn8l5XyW9</a>
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) <a href="https://twitter.com/Julio_Rosas11/status/2038049747790094553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“To those who were smashing concrete blocks and throwing them at our officers, we have you on video,” Essayli said. “We will find you and arrest you too. You’ve been warned.”
The Department of Homeland Security wrote in a post on <a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/2038082883814936848">X</a> two federal officers were struck by cement blocks and required medical attention. Authorities confirmed that at least two individuals were arrested on felony charges for assaulting federal law enforcement.
Police eventually cleared most demonstrators from the area, lifting the tactical alert around 8 p.m.
Saturday’s protest marked the third major “No Kings” demonstration in recent months, with organizers framing the movement as a grassroots response to what they describe as authoritarian policies.
“A lot of people want to help, they just don’t know where to start,” organizer Emily Williams said ahead of the event. “No Kings is that starting point. It’s about community, about showing up for each other, and about turning concern into real action you can be part of.”
Local and national Republican leaders have sharply criticized the demonstrations. President Donald Trump previously dismissed the movement, saying he is “not a king,” while House Speaker Mike Johnson <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/10/no-kings-protest-mike-johnson-00602705">characterized</a> earlier protests as a “Hate America Rally,” linking them to Hamas and far-left terror groups.
City officials had anticipated potential disruptions. Crews installed gates along 101 Freeway ramps ahead of the march after previous protests saw demonstrators spill onto the highway, creating dangerous conditions for both pedestrians and drivers.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass struck a more supportive tone, calling the demonstrations “democracy in action”  on <a href="https://x.com/MayorOfLA/status/2037949533792219327">X</a>. “Peaceful protest is our constitutional right,” Bass said. “When people come together to make their voices heard, that is democracy in action.”
Despite those calls and Democrat party rhetoric of “mostly peaceful” protests, Saturday’s events, at least in Los Angeles, spilled into confrontation, culminating in assault and threats against federal agents and acts of vandalism at government property.

The ‘No Kings’ protests Day in Los Angeles.

ICE Drops Hammer After ‘Kill’ Threat Against Agents Surfaces During ‘No Kings’ Riot

Media

Protests

The LA Marathon was full of highs and lows over the weekend, with viewers celebrating the triumph of American excellence and resiliency, and also mocking the implementation of what amounted to a participation trophy. 
American high school track and cross country coach Nathan Martin finished first, beating out Michael Kamau from Kenya by a mere .01 of a second.
It was the closest finish ever for the famous marathon and drew a huge reaction online, especially as viewers watched how Martin overcame Kamau right at the finish line.
Martin&#8217;s time was 2:11:16.50, which was technically the same as Kamau&#8217;s, even though he crossed the line first. Kamau can be seen on video collapsing at the finish line, where he was later attended to by medics.
In interviews later, Martin said he wasn’t even sure at first he had won because of how close he and Kamau were to crossing at the same time. 
Last year was the first time in 31 years that an American won the LA Marathon when Matthew Richtman took home top honors. Prior to that, an American hadn’t won the race since 1994. 
The annual running event kicked off with the implementation of a cringeworthy policy. Runners could still receive a medal indicating they had completed the entire marathon if they were having an off day and could only complete half the race.
The 26.2-mile race was expected to have unusually warm temperatures, which is what prompted the change.
“If you’re having a tough day and want to end your race before 26.2, you can choose to take the turn at Mile 18 and head into the finish line early. You do not need to notify anyone of your decision and can opt to take this route at any time,” officials said, as <a href="https://www.mccourtfoundation.org/race-day-weather/">posted</a> on the “Race Day Weather” page.
“There is no shame in making a smart decision for your body,” the announcement went on. The temperature had reached the upper 60s by 9 a.m. on Sunday, per ABC News 7, and was expected to be in the mid-70s within the next hour when the update was made.
Social media users mocked the idea, <a href="https://x.com/lisa_4_la/status/2030362981230678211?s=43">saying</a>, “people who don’t finish the Marathon can identify as people who do finish the Marathon.”
“Can I submit my application to be a marathon finisher by mail and just have them send me my medal afterwards?” another X commenter asked.
ABC7 <a href="https://abc7.com/post/heat-prompts-safety-changes-la-marathon-higher-usual-temperatures-expected/18692488/">reported</a> that more than 27,000 people participated in this year’s Asics LA Marathon.

Nathan Martin

LA Marathon Ends In Stunning Photo Finish Between American Coach And Kenyan Runner

LA Marathon Ends In Closest Race Ever, With American Track Coach Narrowly Besting Kenyan Runner Up

Marathon

United States

This article is part of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/introducing-upstream-a-lifestyle-and-culture-section-of-the-daily-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Upstream,</a> The Daily Wire’s new home for culture and lifestyle. Real human insight and human stories — from our featured writers to you.
***
Hi, my name is Lauren, and I’m a Los Angeles refugee living in Nashville. It’s been 31 days since I left my apartment on Hollywood Boulevard, where I carried my dog over hypodermic needles and human feces; reported a makeshift meth-lab Jeep on the corner; huddled on the floor of my kitchen during a lunchtime police standoff with an armed, barricaded neighbor; evacuated my apartment because of wildfires; paid $50 for two tacos and a skinny marg; gave another driver the finger while listening to a mindfulness meditation; was called a “pedo” for not honking in support of a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-asked-no-kings-protesters-what-made-trump-a-king-they-couldnt-say">No Kings</a> protest; and was unsuccessful at landing a “good morning” response from the guy who walked his black lab past me every day, for six years, completely ignoring my existence.
After downing enough juice cleanses and kale salads to scrub my body of all internal organs, I began to hear rumors of people in other cities living fully realized lives. When I finally summoned the courage to leave the safety of my five-mile-wide bubble to explore these alleged civilizations, I landed in Music City. Immediately, I realized something was off about the place: People were smiling. I made it my mission to find out exactly what they were on. 
Admittedly, the LA talent pool is straight outta Central Casting, but I’m pretty sure one out of every two people in Los Angeles is mentally deranged. (It’s not their fault — they’ve been shopping lame script ideas to anyone who will listen for 47 years.) I befriended a few brilliant diamonds in the rough, but much of the Hollywood crowd was indistinguishable from the life-size, animatronic zombies on seasonal display at Rock &amp; Roll Ralphs on Sunset Boulevard. Was the half-dead creature awkwardly twitching to “Monster Mash” on sale for $99.99 or shopping for corn flakes? It&#8217;s hard to say.
But who am I to judge? I was a shell of a human, too, struggle-bussing it through my slightest-shred-of-kindness-brings-me-to-tears era. When the garbage collector paused to let my dog sniff the grass before grabbing a nearby trash bin with the truck’s monster claw, I waved to him like one of us was going off to war. The time an elderly man held onto my arm to steady himself on the sidewalk, my heart turned to warm mush in my chest. And the parking enforcement officer who didn’t ticket me for accidentally parking at a broken meter? We almost eloped on the spot.
LA’s famous good weather belies the dark cloud coming from the locals. I&#8217;d like to offer California the award for outstanding performance by a state taking a royal dump on the <a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/meteorologists/best-weather-in-the-us.htm#:~:text=1.,spend%20time%20outdoors%20year%2Dround.">best weather in America</a>. Its quality of life, like the 1980s mullet, is fine up front and 100% dumpster fire in the back. Perhaps this dichotomy was best illustrated by the time I saw a tourist take a photo of her Erewhon <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mymanabites1/videos/strawberry-glaze-skin-smoothie/1584423176196268/">“Hailey Bieber” smoothie</a> against the part of the sky that was blue while apocalyptic black clouds from the <a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/disasters/palisades-fire/">Palisades</a> fire billowed miles into the atmosphere out of frame. By that point, I had already uncovered the righteous irony of “we’re in this together” during the pandemic in a city where next-door neighbors remain lifelong strangers. But a $24 smoothie puts a gilded frame around the insanity.
On a bad day, I liked to think I lived in a mecca for the entitled jerks of other cities (you know, everyone who ever fell for “OMG, are you a model?”). When they were alone in their hometowns, their friends and family kept their egos in check, but assembled in the wild, with the practiced inexpressiveness of the Kardashian-Jenners, their powers aligned to form a narcissist nightmare. On a good day, I lived among those same people, but with, like, fun, puffy clouds.
Meanwhile, back in the normal-sphere, Nashville, Tennessee, ranked 96th on the worldwide <a href="https://happy-city-index.com/">Happy City Index</a> in 2025. Based on my scientific research (wondering why everyone makes eye contact and says “hello”), Nashvillians totally live up to the hype. Couples walk hand-in-hand. Kids can be heard laughing on playgrounds. Bartenders and baristas actually seem to enjoy interacting with customers. People enjoy long walks in the park and non-obsessive exercising. Even a teen death metal band playing a song called “Purgatory” at a dive bar breaks into easy smiles when the singer’s older sister makes them pose for a post-show pic.
Nashville was voted <a href="https://yougov.com/en-us/articles/52614-americans-favorite-city-is-nashville-tennessee-poll">America’s favorite city in 2025</a>, clearly getting the memo on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/happiness/comments/1ngdu92/joy_maxxing_at_work/">joy-maxxing</a> and spreading the good news. You could say it’s the no <a href="https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/filing/states/tennessee-taxes/?srsltid=AfmBOop9SfQ8fZBMscLt9NmNZIaSiVSyAmrwKL4uW4NVnYX4_40dL2pZ">state income tax</a>, booming <a href="https://news.utk.edu/2025/12/15/boyd-centers-2026-economic-outlook-for-tennessee-shows-positive-but-slow-growth/">job market</a>, A-plus <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2023/08/30/u-s-news-world-report-rankings-reveal-top-high-schools-in-tennessee/70708190007/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z1188xxe1188xxv006373d--70--b--70--&amp;gca-ft=192&amp;gca-ds=sophi">schools</a>, or lively <a href="https://archive.is/20241125130929/https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2024/11/25/nashville-ranked-as-one-of-the-best-cities-in-the-country-to-live-in/76495728007/">music-scene lifestyle</a>, but everyone’s clearly high on life. 
As Tennessee gains followers, California’s star gradually dims. Residents (the <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/15/who-s-leaving-who-s-staying-sf-standard-s-billionaire-tax-tracker/">billionaires</a> and the dollar-aires, like me and my musician boyfriend), have been <a href="https://www.uhaul.com/Articles/About/U-Haul-Growth-Index-Texas-Back-ON-Top-As-No-1-Growth-State-Of-2025-36556/">fleeing the state</a> in record numbers. A hefty <a href="https://dof.ca.gov/forecasting/demographics/estimates/E-2/#:~:text=Net%20domestic%20migration%20from%20California%20became%20more,consistent%20with%20levels%20in%202018%20and%202019.">216,000 people</a> left in 2025. I quickly discovered that U-Haul moving truck rentals cost at least $2,000 more to leave the Golden State versus moving in. I still left.
I’ve met lots of former Californians in Nashville, and I do run into the occasional expat who reminisces about LA weather. I struggle to drum up enthusiasm for the sunshine and succulents when it feels like standing over someone’s great aunt’s funeral casket, marveling at how her makeup gives her a healthy glow. Or like telling Andy Dufresne in “Shawshank Redemption” to crawl back through the escape hatch behind his Raquel Welch poster and once again tuck himself into bed in his prison cell. It’s too soon to reminisce about the weather — for me, anyway.
A grocery cashier in my East Nashville neighborhood noticed my boyfriend’s California ID and joked that she felt lucky to be hanging out with movie stars. (Does everyone here work on tips?) “Well, welcome!” she said. 
“Thank you. It&#8217;s better here,” we blurted out after just days in our new apartment.
“You know, sometimes you’ll see Brad Pitt around here,” she said with a wink.
I spent 15 years working as an actor in commercials, film, and TV in Los Angeles — with a food delivery side hustle for wealthy clients. I saw A-listers on set, on the street, and in their jammies on their million-dollar doorsteps. (Stephen Tyler will never not look like someone’s fun aunt to me. And I swear Bruce Willis promised me his vintage red muscle car.) This woman glowed with the kind of unjaded sweetness that LA almost hammered out of my soul. I felt the misty eyes coming on.
I’m sure I’ll miss glamorously swishy palm trees against pink moon skies, the smell of blooming jasmine on the warm breeze, and my good friends bravely holding down the fort. But as I bask in the glorious aura of people living their best lives, I’m grateful I got out before I was completely consumed. Let Tennessee weather be the crazy lottery that it is. It’s Nashville’s happy world, and I’m just living in it. 
* * *
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

What’s Wrong With Nashville? Everyone Is So Happy Here

Nashville

Upstream

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was the subject of multiple federal raids on Wednesday.  Multiple reports confirmed that authorities conducted searches of both his home and his office.
An affidavit was filed in connection with the <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/lausd-superintendent-carvalho-raid/3853654/">searches</a>, but officials stated that the details remain under seal. Another search was executed at a Miami property also connected to Carvalho, who has been the head of the second-largest school district in the United States since 2022. Carvalho previously worked for 14 years as superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
No details have been released regarding the reason for the searches, but the FBI Los Angeles office released a statement confirming the action: &#8220;We can confirm that the FBI is serving a court-authorized warrant at those locations. However, the affidavit in support of the warrant has been sealed by the court and we, therefore, have no further comment.&#8221;
According to a <a href="https://www.foxla.com/news/fbi-raids-lausd-headquarters-superintendent-alberto-carvalho-home">report</a> from local FOX affiliate FOX11, employees were evacuated from the Los Angeles school district offices while officers searched the premises. Other officers searched his home in San Pedro, California. Drone footage captured by local news outlets showed multiple FBI agents entering and leaving the properties, some carrying boxes.
Complicating matters further, President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration joined a lawsuit against LAUSD alleging that the district discriminates against white students by funneling money and resources to schools based on the racial demographics of the attending students.
The lawsuit, filed by the 1776 Project Foundation, states that LAUSD uses a race-based label to designate certain schools as &#8220;PHBAO&#8221; (Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Other non-Anglo). The complaint then argues that schools without that designation — meaning they are predominantly white — often do not receive the same funding considerations or allocation of resources. The DOJ asserts that, in addition, students from &#8220;PHBAO&#8221; schools receive preferential treatment when they seek to transfer to magnet programs.
The FBI has not indicated whether the searches are related to the lawsuit and the school district as a whole or are directed specifically at Carvalho.

LAUSD, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho,

FBI Raids Home And Office Of Los Angeles School Superintendent

Los Angeles Schools

Schools

A man who injured a Customs and Border Protection officer by hurling rocks through a car window during last summer&#8217;s violent anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles County pleaded guilty on Tuesday to assaulting a federal officer. 
Elpidio Reyna, 41, admitted to one count of assault with a deadly or dangerous weapon resulting in bodily injury. He was one of the dozens arrested after riots erupted after Immigration and Customs Enforcement began enforcement operations in the Los Angeles area. 
“This defendant could have easily killed a federal officer or innocent bystander,” <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/compton-man-pleads-guilty-assaulting-and-injuring-federal-officer-during-anti">said</a> First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “As he found out the hard way, violence against law enforcement is not constitutionally protected and will be met with swift justice. Those who engage in similar violence will be arrested, charged, and eventually convicted in a court of law.”
On June 7, 2025, Reyna joined a crowd throwing rocks and improvised explosives at federal officers operating near a Home Depot in Paramount, located about 11 miles north of Long Beach. 
“Protestors, including the defendant, began to throw rocks at the officers’ official vehicles, lit objects on fire, and impeded law enforcement activity. During this, defendant knowingly and intentionally lit objects on fire in the middle of the street and threw rocks at a convoy of law enforcement vehicles occupied by Customs and Border Protection Officers,” according to the plea agreement. 
One of the projectiles shattered a car window, cutting a Customs and Border Protection officer on the forehead. In <a href="https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/1932267820798353760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1932267820798353760%7Ctwgr%5E2a2f0cba6174f5a73c77e8c8924987e0ce6ce20b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Ffbi-identifies-man-caught-on-camera-hurling-rocks-at-feds-during-anti-ice-riot">video</a> released by the Justice Department, Reyna can be seen pelting law enforcement vehicles with rocks and chunks of concrete while wearing a motorcycle helmet. 
The FBI offered a $50,000 reward for Reyna after a special agent identified him through a review of TikTok videos. He was on the FBI&#8217;s most wanted list before <a href="https://x.com/USAttyEssayli/status/1948056678504767913">surrendering</a> at the U.S.-Mexico border on July 23. 
Reyna faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on August 7 by U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha. He has remained in federal custody since July 2025. 
Dozens of arrests were made during the protests in June and July across the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas over federal immigration operations. The unrest prompted President Donald Trump to deploy the National Guard to protect federal personnel and property, setting off a prolonged legal battle with California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom over the troop deployment.

MixCollage-18-Feb-2026-07-15-AM-3747

Anti-ICE Rioter Who Hurled Rocks At Feds Now Facing Life-Changing Fallout

Courts

Customs and Border Protection (CPB)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Los Angeles County

Riots

U.S.

One of the nation&#8217;s largest teachers unions promoted a “summer of resistance” against the federal government and claimed that students had been kidnapped by federal officers. 
The United Teachers Los Angeles union gave a presentation last year on “Preparing for ICE at your school” that pushed its members to engage in political activism and suggested utilizing school resources to thwart Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, according to <a href="https://defendinged.org/incidents/united-teachers-of-los-angeles-utla-planning-documents-and-materials-appear-to-advocate-for-use-of-school-resources-as-form-of-resistance-against-ice-promote-engaging-students-in-community-se/">materials obtained</a> by Defending Education. The training came after parts of Los Angeles were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-are-coming-for-you-feds-reveal-more-charges-against-anti-ice-rioters">rocked by violent anti-ICE riots</a> that prompted President Donald Trump to send in the National Guard. 
The presentation pointed educators to how they could fight back against the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and urged parents and teachers to collaborate on &#8220;resistance&#8221; efforts. It appeared to be created as part of the union&#8217;s broader <a href="https://utla.net/app/uploads/2025/08/Immigration-Enforcement-Safety-Review-FINAL.pdf">efforts</a> &#8220;to build a comprehensive to immigration enforcement.&#8221; 
Defending Education director of research Rhyen Staley told The Daily Wire that the training was another example of how teachers&#8217; unions push leftist politics over education. 
“Unfortunately, these documents are another reminder that the teachers&#8217; unions, especially UTLA, are focused on far-left social justice activism and advancing unpopular ideologies over how to improve the academic outcomes of the students they serve,” he told The Daily Wire. “But what is deeply appalling is the willingness of teachers to incentivize minors to engage in radical practices that could potentially put them in harm&#8217;s way.”
The training, which Defending Education noted was created by two members of the union and teachers at the Los Angeles Unified School District, walked educators through legal actions taken to block certain ICE operations in Los Angeles over the summer that culminated in a leftist judge blocking the agency from conducting broad immigration sweeps. 
The training did not appear to mention the violence of the anti-ICE protests, which included setting cop cars on fire, vandalism, and assaults on state and federal law enforcement. 
<div id="attachment_1041161" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1041161" class="size-full wp-image-1041161" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2219241406.jpg" alt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 08: Protesters hold up flags during protests after a series of immigration raids on June 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Tensions in the city remain high after the Trump administration called in the National Guard against the wishes of city leaders. " width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2219241406.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2219241406-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2219241406-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/GettyImages-2219241406-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images.</div>
“The fight is far from over, we need to keep fighting together!” a slide shared with educators read. Another slide titled &#8220;What can you do?&#8221; instructed educators on how to take action against ICE operations. 
The suggested actions included joining &#8220;court watch and rally calls,” and funding &#8220;community defense work.”
“The government will likely fight back. But the spotlight is now on DHS’s unlawful practices — and our resistance is working!” the slide read. These resources appeared to be pulled from the used materials from the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
<div id="attachment_1041165" style="width: 2028px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1041165" class="size-full wp-image-1041165" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-10.58.52-AM.png" alt="" width="2018" height="1104" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-10.58.52-AM.png 2018w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-10.58.52-AM-300x164.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-10.58.52-AM-1024x560.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-10.58.52-AM-768x420.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-10.58.52-AM-1536x840.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2018px) 100vw, 2018px" />Training obtained by Defending Education.</div>
Another slide highlighted alleged “student kidnappings,” including one that involved a 6-year-old boy with leukemia who was <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/30/dhs-debunks-fake-news-media-narratives-june#:~:text=The%20implication%20that%20ICE%20would%20deny%20a,regularly%20by%20medical%20professionals%20while%20in%20custody.">kept</a> with his illegal immigrant parents after an immigration judge ruled against their case. He was not denied or prevented from accessing medical treatment, as was suggested in some reports. 
One slide listed specific actions the United Teachers Los Angeles had taken regarding the ICE raids. This included partnering with “other unions for the summer of resistance” for “20 days of non-violent protest and action.” 
It also noted that the union and the Los Angeles Unified School District had agreed to “bargaining language” that declares that “the buildings and grounds of LAUSD (including pick-up and drop-off sites at all entries and exits) are sanctuary spaces for all students, parents, administrators, bargaining unit members, and community members at the school for school-related business and jointly committed to defend the right to a free and safe learning environment to the extent permitted by law.”
A spokesman for the district told The Daily Wire that it &#8220;follows applicable laws and District policies, which employees are expected to follow during the workday and in their interactions with students.&#8221;
The next slide featured suggested actions for members of the union, including “community patrols,” “age-appropriate rallies,” and in-school student protests.
<div id="attachment_1041173" style="width: 2033px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1041173" class="size-full wp-image-1041173" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-2.21.20-PM.png" alt="" width="2023" height="1226" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-2.21.20-PM.png 2023w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-2.21.20-PM-300x182.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-2.21.20-PM-950x576.png 950w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-2.21.20-PM-768x465.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-09-at-2.21.20-PM-1536x931.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2023px) 100vw, 2023px" />Training obtained by Defending Education.</div>
The training documents also suggest using Local School Leadership Councils “as a form of resistance.” These are groups of elected parents, community members, and school officials who oversee certain aspects of school policy. 
One of the policy areas this group oversees is discipline and student safety, and suggestions included the LAUSD “revamping tardy policy to get students into building,” pushing “LAUSD for ‘lock down’ if ICE is on/near campus – shelter in place,” “engaging students in community self-defense – offer service learning hours,” keeping “students away from gates at lunch/recess,” and “patroling school sites depending on community.”
<div id="attachment_1041517" style="width: 2040px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1041517" class="size-full wp-image-1041517" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-8.48.16-AM.png" alt="" width="2030" height="1242" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-8.48.16-AM.png 2030w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-8.48.16-AM-300x184.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-8.48.16-AM-941x576.png 941w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-8.48.16-AM-768x470.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-8.48.16-AM-1536x940.png 1536w" sizes=" (max-width: 2030px) 100vw, 2030px" />Defending Education.</div>
Other notes suggested using professional development time to make “immigration kits.”
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/schools-arent-off-limits-for-ice-raids-trump-dhs-says">withdrew</a> a Biden-era policy that stipulated that schools were off limits for immigration enforcement operations. 
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said on January 21.

ICE Immigration Protest

‘Summer of Resistance’: Docs Reveal How California Teachers Were Trained To Fight Back Against ICE

‘Summer of Resistance’: Docs Reveal How Teachers Were Trained To Fight Back Against ICE

Education

Teachers Unions

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