The Sept. 24 premiere tried to spin the bad news. It started promisingly enough, with a shot of the White House triggering fond memories of Aykroyd’s Nix-on, Chevy’s Ford, Carvey’s Bush. But with Phil Hartman gone, “SNL” is Clintonless, so different east members “auditioned” for the job. Big, hyperkinetic Chris Farley did his motivational-speaker thing, Spacey Adam Sandler sang one of his twisted little tunes. Tim Meadows, the lone black male, shrugged, “I’m not gonna get it, am I?...

EILEEN SCHENCK FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS GRIEVED OVER, but not objected to, Kevorkian’s assistance with suicides, I now object. The difference between handing someone a button and saying ““Do what you will,’’ and an outside agent’s pressing the button seems huge and frightening. Did Kevorkian trick us? Is this where he wanted to go all along? Maybe the people who feared that he was just getting his foot in the door were right....

When The Arizona Republic first published Steve Benson’s cartoon zinging death-penalty supporters (above), there was little comment. Then Spokane, Wash.’s Spokesman-Review published the drawing when a firefighter’s convention happened to be in town, and the story began prairie-firing across the Net, talk radio and TV. By last Friday, Benson was on the ““Today’’ show with the uncomfortable duty of sharing the camera with the baby’s mother, who demanded his apology for defiling a tragic image....

I was born during the Marcos regime, and I have been watching Imelda all my life. I had to: my morning cartoons were frequently interrupted by live telecasts of the Marcoses making speeches. This alone should fuel a lifetime of resentment, and I won’t even go into the time Imelda required all TV stations to air cultural programs every Wednesday night. I could make fun of Imelda Marcos, but I cannot work up a proper loathing for her anymore....

Within four hours of the attacks on America’s east coast, Taliban foreign minister Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil strode into the faded Kabul Intercontinental hotel to address international media, on hand for the trial of eight foreign-aid workers accused of spreading Christianity. The urbane minister coolly played down the risk of U.S. retaliation. “We don’t foresee any difficulties in this regard,” he said. “There is no argument or no reason for it....

“He’s always been at the top of the list, in my opinion,” said Branch, talking to Sporting News as a representative of TGI Friday’s monthlong “Happy Every Hour” that kicks off on Feb. 1. “For the fans and for the media, to OK them as the best quarterback, this is the game where he can pass Joe Montana. MORE: Super Bowl MVPs | Montana believes Brady behind Deflate-gate | ‘I’ve always played within the rules’ “The one thing you weigh is, Joe didn’t go to six, but won four and didn’t lose one....

In his first for-the-record comments since his name's been bandied about as a possible replacement for Lane Kiffin at USC, Del Rio declined Thursday to address speculation he might return to his alma mater. Asked if he'd been contacted by USC, the Denver Broncos' defensive coordinator said, "No. No. No, there's nothing to speak on that subject. I'm really here to talk about the Cowboys and our preparation in getting ready for them....

The video, which shows the purported screenshot between the woman and the driver, was posted to TikTok on Sunday by MICAH (@dabimethazine). Already, the post has received more than 150,000 views and over 21,000 likes. It also sparked a debate about tipping etiquette. Specifically, viewers debated whether or not customers should tip their drivers before or after food has arrived. In the video, MICAH—whose name is Jordan Gray, according to The Daily Dot—blinks rapidly in response to the message she allegedly received from a DoorDash driver that read: “No tip, no food....

At the last such gathering at an Austin hotel in October, the analysts walked away empty-handed, even when the Dell execs actually did have something interesting to talk about: the rumors that the company was going to sell a handheld computer. The Dell folks just weren’t ready to talk on the record. But next week, at the industry confab Comdex, Dell will make it official, announcing a personal digital assistant called the Axim X5....

Cuban took West to a local hotel Monday, according to TMZ, while Cuban and West’s family and friends attempt to formulate a plan for West to go into rehab. TMZ also reported that Cuban has offered to pay for West’s entire treatment. The Athletic’s Shams Charania added to the reports that Cuban reunited West with his mother — who requested that Cuban “find Delonte” — and that West is now checked into a rehab facility in Florida....

Adelaide Schrowang, 23, of Sarasota, was arrested at Southwest Florida International Airport on Wednesday, July 7. She allegedly became angry at attendants on the Delta flight who told her to put on a mask, as required by federal law on planes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee County Port Authority Police said Schrowang then became more aggressive and started to spit at fellow passengers, reported NBC 2. The captain then asked police to get her off the flight....

Since Malone’s firing, the Kings have posted a 3-7 record and continued to reel as they struggle through a tough Western Conference slate. Cousins was on the court for this streak, posting 25.3 points and 11.3 rebounds in a losing effort. MORE: Possible Mike Malone replacements | Knicks fans chant ‘fire Fisher’ | NBA mock draft Cousins was at his best under Malone, especially to start the 2014-15 season. He also developed a close relationship with Malone, and does not believe the Kings have recovered from his firing, he explained to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee....

When Thomas was 11 years old, his mother and grandmother were arrested for running a drug ring in Georgia. Fast forward 16 years, Smith was on-hand sporting a custom No. 88 jersey with “Bay Bay’s Mama” — Thomas’ childhood nickname — written on the back. MORE: Demaryius on his orphan-like childhood | Best photos from the AFC divisional round Smith was released from a halfway house back in November, but wasn’t able to travel to see her son play in person....

Lucas Perez ready to leave Arsenal The 19-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most talented teenagers in world football, and was linked with a clutch of clubs prior to his move to Dortmund in May. Hans-Joachim Watzke, Dortmund’s CEO, claimed that his side were “faster” than Bayern when it came to securing his signature, while Manchester United are understood to have scouted the winger, along with the Catalan giants....

There, “Boo Boo” walked out onto the stage wearing a blue and beige coat with white frills looking like someone straight out of the Revolutionary War and then declared, “The Red Coats are here.” That set the tone for a press conference full of pure hilarity. Andrade and Saunders showed such a masterful rapport in exchanging trash talk, it was as if the two were ballroom dancing, with each taking the lead with insults and each having a snappy comeback for whatever the other said....

According to a poll conducted on October 4 and 5 by Public Policy Polling, Cal Cunningham is leading Tillis 48-42, marking a 2-point gain for Cunningham since Public Policy Polling last surveyed likely voters in North Carolina near the end of July. Pollsters said these results came in spite of a sexting scandal involving Cunningham that his campaign acknowledged earlier this month. “There isn’t a ton of room for growth for Tillis among the people who say the news makes them less likely to vote for Cunningham though—he’s already winning those people 79-10,” the poll said....

On Monday, Trump threatened to expand the deployment of federal law enforcement from Portland to New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore and Oakland. The president made the threat despite already facing widespread backlash over the Portland deployments, which have seen one protester left seriously injured after being shot in the head with impact munitions. Others have been arrested by unidentifiable agents and forced into unmarked vans. Still, Trump said, protesters and anarchists across the country have gotten “out of control....

Topping the list so far for the second quarter of 2019 is South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, outraising the likes of former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Biden, although slipping slightly since the first Democratic primary debate last week, still dominates the polls. He still leads by more than 10 points, according to an average of major recent polling compiled by Real Clear Politics. Biden is at 26 percent, followed by California Senator Kamala Harris around 15 percent, Sanders at 14 percent, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren at just under 14 percent and Buttigieg at about 5 percent....

Democratic strategist and former vice president of campaigns for the Center for American Progress, Emily Tisch Sussman, responded to several recent polls showing Warren surging ahead and placing herself next to former Vice President Joe Biden atop the 2020 candidates. Speaking with MSNBC’s Craig Melvin Friday, Tisch Sussman relayed a comment about how Warren is so clearly a better candidate than Sanders that a vote for him indicates one is simply sexist against a female candidate for president....

Democrat Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to “take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacted to the “use of what appear to be whips” by saying the scenes were “deeply troubling” and echoed calls for an investigation, the AP reported. “All migrants seeking asylum must be treated in accordance with the law and with basic decency,” she said....