Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, a legendary fan-favorite player for the franchise, has died due to complications from kidney disease. He was 41. Mangold played for the Jets from 2006 to 2016 and was a seven-time All-Pro recipient. “Nick was more than a legendary center,” said Jets Chairman Woody Johnson. “He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family,” he added. Mangold announced earlier this month that he was diagnosed in 2006 with a rare genetic disorder and undergoing kidney dialysis. He also said he was searching for a kidney donor. JUST IN: Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold has passed away at the age of 41 after a battle with chronic kidney disease. Earlier this month, Mangold revealed he was undergoing kidney dialysis. Mangold said he was searching for a kidney because no one in his family had the… pic.twitter.com/hurtWoQ1Hs — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 26, 2025 “I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time. Unfortunately, I do not have any family able to donate at this time, so this is why I’m reaching out to you, our NY Jets and Ohio State communities. I am in need of a kidney donor with type O blood,” Mangold wrote. pic.twitter.com/4z5TZtqACb — Nick Mangold (@nickmangold) October 14, 2025 ESPN shared more: Mangold is among 52 modern-era candidates currently being considered for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After an All-America career at Ohio State, Mangold was a first-round draft pick in 2006. That year, the Jets also drafted left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson in the first round. Known as “Nick & Brick,” they became the leaders of an offensive line that paved the way for playoff appearances in 2006, 2009 and 2010 — the franchise’s last trip to the postseason — under coach Rex Ryan. “It’s brutal. Such a great young man. I had the pleasure of coaching him for all six years [I was coach] with the Jets,” Ryan, now an ESPN analyst said Sunday, fighting through tears. “I remember, it was obvious I was getting fired, my last game Mangold is injured — like injured — and he comes to me and says, ‘I’m playing this game.’ And he went in and played for me. That’s what I remember about this kid. He was awesome and just way too young. I feel so bad for his wife and family.” Known for his toughness and cerebral approach, Mangold became one of the most decorated centers in the NFL. He made seven Pro Bowls and was twice named a first-team All-Pro. In 2009, he was a calming influence for rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez, who overcame his turnover issues to help the Jets to the first of two straight appearances in the AFC Championship Game. “Rex Ryan mourns the loss of his former player Nick Mangold following his death from kidney disease,” ESPN noted. Rex Ryan mourns the loss of his former player Nick Mangold following his death from kidney disease. pic.twitter.com/xhpJJ0yue3 — ESPN (@espn) October 26, 2025 “The Ohio State football program is saddened by the news of Nick Mangold’s passing and sends heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” Ohio State Football wrote. The Ohio State football program is saddened by the news of Nick Mangold’s passing and sends heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/cvYMOGJ5iC — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 26, 2025 The New York Post noted: Mangold retired after the 2016 season and was inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor in 2022. The Jets are facing the Bengals on Sunday in Cincinnati, not far from where Mangold grew up in Centerville, Ohio. He later starred at Ohio State. He is survived by his wife, Jenny, and their four children — Matthew, Eloise, Thomas, and Charlotte.

The cat is finally out of the bag. Governor of California Gavin Newsom has finally confirmed he’s looking into launching a 2028 presidential bid. Newsom confirmed he’s looking into launching a presidential campaign while being interviewed by CBS. The New York Post had Newsom’s full remarks in his latest interview: California Gov. Gavin Newsom has finally confirmed he’s looking at a 2028 presidential bid — but is still playing coy about whether he’ll actually run. “Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise,” Newsom told “CBS News Sunday Morning” in a pre-taped interview, when asked if he was considering a White House campaign. “I’d just be lying. And I’m not — I can’t do that.” In recent months, Newsom has swung through key early states and launched a podcast where he’s honed his debate skills — sparring with conservative guests. He’s also turned his social media handles into troll accounts that consistently post bizarre and over-the-top responses to GOP critics. Newsom is term-limited in the Golden State and, therefore, can’t seek a third consecutive term as governor. Watch Newsom below: California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he’s open to a presidential run. The Democrat and frequent Trump critic said he’ll give serious thought to a White House bid after next year’s midterms. “I’d be lying otherwise,” Newsom said, adding that “fate will determine” his decision and a… pic.twitter.com/uD8OqNrnHE — CBS Sunday Morning (@CBSSunday) October 26, 2025 Newsweek reported Newsom is trailing behind Harris in a recent Democrat Presidential primary poll: California Governor Gavin Newsom has suffered a setback in early polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential race, with new surveys showing his support slipping. The latest Noble Predictive Insights poll, conducted between October 2-6, shows that among Democrats and independents Newsom is now trailing former Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2028 nomination, after leading her in August.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigned alongside Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls in Virginia and New Jersey this weekend, fueling speculation he’s preparing for a 2028 White House bid. Shapiro attended campaign and fundraising events in New Jersey on Saturday to support Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and traveled to Virginia on Sunday in support of former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The Democrat governor was among the finalists to be Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Shapiro is believed to be among the top Democrat hopefuls for a 2028 White House run. Where in the World is Josh Shapiro? Not leading or doing his job that's for sure. As PA schools and programs all around the state deal with the effects of the Shapiro Shutdown, our wannabe President Shady Josh Shapiro is campaigning in other states. Get back to PA, do… pic.twitter.com/Mq7lW0oNkK — PA GOP (@PAGOP) October 23, 2025 More from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Mr. Shapiro — whose potential political ambitions have been knocked by Republican state Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity — will attend a rally with Ms. Sherrill in Monroe Township Saturday morning, the state’s first day of early voting. Later, he’ll attend a campaign event at a church in New Brunswick. Another potential Democratic presidential hopeful, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, will also headline upcoming campaign and fundraising events for Ms. Sherrill and state Democrats in New Jersey, according to the New Jersey Globe. The high-profile Democrats will appear at upcoming fundraisers for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee with tickets costing $100 to $79,000, the Globe reported. Mr. Shapiro will help raise funds on Saturday, while Mr. Buttigieg is set to appear at a fundraiser in Asbury Park on Oct. 30. Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican nominee in the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, criticized Shapiro for his out-of-state campaign stops. BREAKING: Gov. Josh Shapiro announces “North American Tour 2025” — featuring campaign stops in every state except Pennsylvania.The Senate passed the budget twice.Josh passed the state line twice. Tickets available wherever leadership isn’t.#NoBudgetAskJosh #JetSetJosh pic.twitter.com/EULcpaga9D — Doug Mastriano (@dougmastriano) October 25, 2025 CBS News shared: Shapiro, who is running for re-election to his own office in 2026, has become nationally known for being able to win his tensely divided state. Shapiro and Spanberger — who during her time in Congress repeatedly won a competitive House district — both represent the more moderate part of the Democratic Party at a time when there are clear tensions between centrist-minded politicians and progressive figures on the left about the future. “Here in Virginia we know the stakes of this election. and in fact, we know all the challenges coming at us, from Washington, from bad policies, but what we will do this November is not just vote against something, but we will vote for the policies that we believe in,” Spanberger said at a rally this week. While Shapiro was a potential running mate option for Vice Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, he is now among a group of Democratic governors emphasizing accomplishments and executive leadership at a time when Democrats are looking to the future amid fatigue with Washington-centric rhetoric. In the race to succeed Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who under state law cannot run for another term this year, Spanberger has been viewed as having an advantage over Virginia GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. But statewide races in Virginia can become surprisingly close, and Spanberger has struggled as of late to navigate the backlash to violent text messages, made public recently, that were sent several years ago by Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee in the Virginia Attorney General’s race.

Amidst his trip to Asia, President Donald Trump signed trade deals with key Asian partners to address trade imbalances while finding alternative supply chains, as China cracks down on rare earth exports.

It’s been nearly three months since Brandon Blackstock lost his battle with melanoma. Following his death, many of Brandon’s family and friends paid tribute to the late talent manager. Reba McEntire married Brandon Blackstock’s father, Narvel Blackstock, in 1989. The two share a son, Shelby Blackstock, and Reba loved her role as Brandon’s stepmother. Even though she and Narvel divorced in 2015, the family remained close. “My relationship with my stepson, Brandon Blackstock, was precious,” Reba told People. “I absolutely loved that child. He came into my life, I guess he was 4 years old. Then when Narvel and I got married, he was 13, 14.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Reba McEntire (@reba) Reba McEntire Had A Special Relationship With Brandon Blackstock Reba McEntire recalled Brandon Blackstock’s love of joking around and playing pranks. “He loved to scare people,” Reba said. “We’d be at the office there at Starstruck [which was owned by Narvel] in Nashville, and I’d be sitting at my desk, and I’d see Penny Chubb [a Starstruck Entertainment employee] walk by going to the ladies’ room, and then here comes Brandon. He’d hide behind the pillar.” Reba McEntire added that she helped raise Brandon Blackstock, along with his siblings, Shawna and Chassidy. Because of that, he will always have a special place in her heart. “Brandon is sorely missed, truly missed with his mischievousness and his love of life. He brought joy to everybody that met him, and we’ll never forget him,” Reba told People. Following his death, the Happy’s Place star shared a sweet tribute on Instagram. “Last week, my stepson/oldest son, Brandon Blackstock, went home to be with God. His struggle is over, and he is in eternal peace in God’s presence. There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace, cowboy. Happy trails to you ’til we meet again,” Reba wrote. This story’s featured image is by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night. The post Reba McEntire Warmly Remembers Late Stepson Brandon Blackstock appeared first on InspireMore.

I don’t know about you, but I always enjoy seeing artists from different sides of the musical spectrum getting together on stage and performing. It’s seems like it’s something that we actually need more today in many ways. The spirit of the 60s was all about harmony, and, of course, there was the other side, all about protests, anti-protests, and war. It was just a mess. But in 1969, a year when I was watching Lost in Space on TV as a young kid, there was some pretty spectacular music happening on television, and at times some very creative and The post When Worlds Collided: Tom Jones and CSNY’s Unforgettable 1969 Performance appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Democrats haven’t had a real primary since 2008, and I’m not bullish on the chances for a real contest in 2028, either. By contrast, Donald Trump took the Republican Party by storm in 2016 and 2024, and he has reinvigorated the party and reshaped American politics, becoming the most influential political figure since … the last guy to win a contested primary—Barack Obama. Having a truly competitive primary can do wonders for a political party. Obama Obama surprised Democrats in 2008, especially since so many of them thought it was Hillary Clinton’s turn to run for the White House. It may be hard for us to remember now, but Obama was the upstart with the funny name, challenging the Chappaqua heir apparent. His movement felt fresh and new. He won over the party, and Clinton stepped aside—with the clear expectation that she would be next in line. He drove that party off a cliff with Obamacare, pushed the noxious narrative that police are systemically racist against black people, and moved full-steam ahead from “I support traditional marriage” to “marriage equality” to rewriting the Civil Rights Act to let boys into girls’ bathrooms. Obama had a real knack for saying something insane in the most compelling way possible. He wrapped himself in the flag while laying the groundwork for demonizing our country and its history. He spoke about the better angels of our republic while unleashing the demons of Antifa. The Great Awokening may have reached its fever pitch after the death of George Floyd during the Trump years, but Obama planted the seeds for it—and Trump got elected to pull out the weeds by their roots. Not Feeling the Bern? In 2016, the American people were sick of Obama. He had promised a new era of hope and racial reconciliation—but America got more division, Black Lives Matter protests escalated into riots, and a host of scandals erupted, from the IRS targeting conservatives to long lines for care at Veterans Affairs hospitals to the gunrunning scandal at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Many Democrats were angry, too, and a self-declared socialist who hadn’t even formally joined the party started taking off in the Democratic presidential primary. Hillary Clinton wasn’t happy at having her turn passed over once again, and the Democratic Party elites gave her many advantages over the socialist upstart, Bernie Sanders. From financial arrangements to internal messaging to the support of “superdelegates,” the party rallied around Clinton in a way that felt “rigged” to Sanders’ supporters. Democrats also effectively prevented other candidates from entering the race, making Sanders the only real competitor. The Democrats pulled the strings for Clinton, and it backfired on them, as Americans voted for change that Trump had promised instead. Bidenmentum? Bernie Sanders won the first three Democrat presidential primaries in 2020 as well, after each of the other candidates failed to take off. Only when Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden did Obama’s former running mate pick up steam. One after another, candidates dropped out and endorsed Biden in a process that felt more orchestrated than organic. Had more candidates remained in the race, Sanders or perhaps Pete Buttigieg, the upstart mayor of South Bend, Indiana, might have prevailed. Instead, it seems the Democrats pulled the strings yet again, and they fell in lockstep behind Sleepy Joe—the guy even Kamala Harris viewed as easy pickings at the beginning of the primaries. Biden only barely defeated Trump, after Big Tech buried the Hunter Biden laptop story and after local election officials weakened voting safeguards in the name of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Another Aborted Primary Biden said he would be a caretaker president, but then he decided to run for a second term. While many of us expressed concerns about his health long before his disastrous June 2024 debate against Trump, even the left-leaning media decided they couldn’t hide his infirmity any longer. Rather than host a quick primary, Biden—and, ostensibly, Democrat leaders working with him—coronated Vice President Kamala Harris, who has recently made hay about the fact she only had 107 days to campaign for the presidency. Democrats could have held a rapid-fire primary, as happens in special elections, but they chose Harris instead. Let’s just say the “vibes” election her supporters envisioned never actually materialized. What About 2028? After 2024, the Democratic Party has come to represent the old Silicon Valley woke elite consensus that Americans had firmly rejected coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure, some “Karens” are still biking with masks on during the summer and the Left’s dark money network is bankrolling ironic “No Kings” protests, but the wind of the woke movement has petered out. Some Democrats know their party needs to tack to the center and return to reality, but the nonprofit activist apparatus that called the shots in the Biden administration is putting off its come-to-Jesus moment, likely perpetually. While truly competitive primaries can be messy—Trump proved a wrecking ball to the old Republican establishment—they often breathe new energy into a party, energy the tired old Democrats sorely need. Unfortunately, that energy seems most likely to come from outright socialists like Zohran Mamdani, who will only champion more of the destructive policies Obama pioneered. The entrenched elites in the Democratic Party may not look the same as they did in 2016, but I suspect the 2028 Democrat presidential nomination will look more like a coronation than a truly democratic contest. The post Will the Democrats Finally Have a Primary in 2028? appeared first on The Daily Signal.