A man convicted in Texas is set to die this month in the country’s first execution for “shaken baby syndrome,” a scientific diagnosis that has been successfully challenged in some criminal cases.

After filing a clemency petition with the state ahead of his execution scheduled for Oct. 17, Robert Roberson said in an interview with NBC News anchor Lester Holt that aired Thursday that he is calling on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott , to pardon and “admit” him. I’m going home.

“Look at the support I have, Mr. Governor, and I just hope and pray that you do the right thing,” said Roberson, who was convicted of capital murder in the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter.

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which declined to comment, must first recommend a pardon to the governor.

Abbott has used his clemency powers sparingly. He did so in May when he pardoned an Army sergeant who was convicted last year of murder in the fatal shooting of a Black Lives Matter protester in 2020.

His office did not respond to requests for comment.

Texas nearly executed Roberson in 2016, but the trial was halted days earlier by the state’s highest criminal court, allowing a lower court to hold an evidentiary hearing. Last year, the state appeals court rejected Roberson’s request for a new trial because no new scientific data was compelling, and last month it also rejected his request to stay his execution.

Roberson, 57, said he hopes Abbott will be persuaded by the support he is receiving, including from a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers, medical experts and even the original investigator in his case, who testified against him , but now believes no crime was committed.

“I want the public to know that I am innocent,” Roberson told Holt. “It’s not my fault.”

Evidence in court

Roberson said that in the early morning of Jan. 31, 2002, he woke up in his East Texas home with a “strange scream” and found his daughter Nikki had fallen out of bed. He comforted her and they fell back asleep, according to court documents.

But hours later, Roberson said, he woke up to find Nikki wasn’t breathing and her lips looked blue. He took her to an emergency room, where doctors concluded she was showing signs of brain death. She was pronounced dead the next day.

Because of her condition, which included a head injury with bleeding, brain swelling and a retinal hemorrhage, a doctor in Dallas determined she died as a result of what’s known as “shake baby syndrome,” in which a child is shaken so violently The action is believed to occur causing head trauma.

The lead investigator on the case, Brian Wharton, accepted the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome and Roberson was arrested before the autopsy was even completed.

Wharton testified against Roberson in his 2003 murder trial. Prosecutors stressed that they believed Roberson intentionally shook Nikki, causing bruising and blunt force trauma, and that he appeared almost emotionless as he took her to the hospital.

Roberson has since attributed his “seemingly blank reaction” at the time to an autism spectrum disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 2018. Additionally, at his trial, his defense attorneys were not permitted to have a medical expert testify about his claims of “mental insanity” and “deficiencies” caused by a brain injury.

Science in transition

The concept of shaken baby syndrome emerged in the 1970s. Scientists suspected that identifying certain symptoms could explain serious head injuries in infants.

But medical science — and the term — have evolved over the years, said Kate Judson, executive director of the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences, a nonprofit organization. In a recent press conference organized by Roberson’s lawyers, Judson said that “other phenomena, such as B. short falls with head impact or many naturally occurring illnesses such as pneumonia” are now understood to explain many symptoms that were once thought to indicate abuse.

In 2009, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed the name “Shaked Baby Syndrome” to the broader definition of “Abusive Head Trauma” to include injuries caused by mechanisms other than shaking alone.

But even experts who support the scientific validity of abusive head trauma, like Dr. Andie Asnes, professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine and member of the Executive Council on Child Abuse and Neglect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, warn that the diagnosis is complex and requires comprehensive analysis.

“When diagnosing abusive head trauma, context is absolutely critical. Nobody can make this diagnosis when a lot of other important information is missing,” Asnes said. “In other words, if I simply see an injury in a child, I cannot look at an injured child and see what happened to them unless I hear an explanation from someone who may have seen what happened to them is.”

She added that a child’s medical history is “crucial in making a diagnosis.”

While it is “extraordinarily dangerous to shake an infant,” Asnes said, simply looking at the symptoms of bleeding, brain swelling and retinal hemorrhage would be “a significant oversimplification of the multi-step, thoughtful process that leads to the final diagnosis of abusive head trauma.” “

Asnes told NBC News that she was unfamiliar with Roberson’s case and could not comment on the specifics of the sentencing.

Hundreds of cases of possible shaken babies and abusive head injuries are reported to U.S. hospitals each year, according to a nonprofit advocacy group. While there have been criminal trials for such injuries that have resulted in convictions, scrutiny of medical testimony has also led to reversals: Since 1992, at least 34 defendants have been later acquitted of allegations of shaken baby syndrome or abusive head trauma, according to the National Exoneration Registry, which provides sentences for unlawful violations Convictions recorded.

Robert Dunham, director of the Death Penalty Policy Project, an independent research program, and special counsel for the nonprofit law firm Phillips Black, said Roberson would be the first person in the U.S. to be executed because of a shocking baby diagnosis. A Mississippi man on death row for diagnosing a concussed baby was re-sentenced to life in prison in 2018 after a re-examination of the evidence.

Actual causes

Attorney Gretchen Sween, who joined Roberson’s case about two months before his scheduled execution in 2016, said she was struck by how little investigators had taken into account Nikki’s past health problems. Nikki was chronically ill and had to be hospitalized repeatedly in the days before her fall because of persistent breathing problems and fever.

“The shaken baby concept didn’t work,” Sween said. “But a look at the medical records also showed that this was a very, very sick child. And everyone rejected that in court.”

The defense contends, based on re-analyzed autopsy reports, that Nikki suffered from undiagnosed pneumonia that impaired her ability to absorb oxygen and caused her brain to swell, and that she was given a high dose of a drug no longer prescribed to children young as she was.

Wharton, the former police detective on Roberson’s case, said he believed Roberson’s “flat affect” while his daughter was in the hospital meant he was “hiding something.”

Since Roberson’s conviction, Wharton said he has a better understanding of Nikki’s diagnosis and wishes he had had more information about her medical history to begin with.

Wharton was using his background in the case to advocate for Roberson, he said in an interview with Holt.

“I owe Robert nothing less,” said Wharton, who retired from law enforcement to study at a theological seminary. “My life in law enforcement and my life in general has always been about truth and, I hope, justice, and we have come to a point where the truth about Robert is being avoided and justice is not being served .”

Roberson told Holt he was grateful for the support. He no longer feels anger over his years in prison and the way he was treated when his daughter died. As a single father, he took care of Nikki after her mother lost custody due to personal reasons.

Prayer and forgiveness, he said, help him stay positive.

“Bitter just hurts,” Roberson said. “If I don’t forgive, it hurts me and I stay bitter.”

This task is urgent across higher education generally. But in true Harvard fashion, the university that always strives to be the best is, at least in external terms, the worst when it comes to free speech.

According to the Harvard report, nearly half of students said they were uncomfortable sharing their opinions on difficult topics in class.

“Students cited the judgment of their classmates, fear of criticism on social media, fear of reputational damage and fear of potential bullying and harassment as reasons for their reluctance,” say the co-chairs of the university’s “Open Research” working group , to express their opinions on controversial topics in the classroom and constructive dialogue wrote in the Globe.

Faculty also expressed fear. “These individuals expressed reluctance, in part due to their perception that students are sometimes not open to debate. “The potential for students to post recordings or negative comments about controversial classroom discussions on social media poses a significant reputational risk, even for tenured faculty,” they reported. wrote the co-chairs.

Although the report omitted details, it is clear what topics students are afraid to speak honestly about.

The working group was finally convened after tensions over the Middle East boiled over at Harvard and many U.S. universities last year.

Pro-Israel students have reported being intimidated on campus, subjected to hateful chants, and shunned by society for expressing these views. Critics of Israel say they risk being labeled terrorists or anti-Semites if they express support for the Palestinians.

But even before October 7, 2023, the atmosphere at Harvard and other elite universities was tense. Students reported feeling pressured to parrot prevailing campus ideologies about race and gender, and risked being labeled bigots or worse if they raised questions about campus orthodoxies, such as defunding for the police or transgender issues.

To some extent, these fears may just represent the nature of Harvard students, who probably worry more than the average American university student about how their comments in a government seminar might one day sound in a Senate confirmation hearing.

But as the report notes, students also had more tangible and immediate reasons to fear the consequences of unpopular opinions – fearing that the university’s bullying and harassment policies could be weaponized against them if they held views that a Fellow students could claim that they touched her unsafely.

Such concerns are legitimate: Just last year, the Harvard School of Public Health subjected a tenured professor to time-consuming “restoration circles” for speaking out against gay marriage a decade earlier, a position clearly protected by academic freedom, which was offered at a Back then, former President Barack Obama held the same view.

The report recommended that Harvard “review the institutional apparatus for investigating alleged violations of discrimination, bullying, and harassment to ensure that academic freedom is at the forefront of the interpretation, application, and enforcement of policies.”

These and the report’s other recommendations, which include requiring classroom confidentiality and informing students about “constructive disagreements,” are undoubtedly sensible.

But it is unreasonable to expect 19-year-old students, tenured academics, or the university’s staff and administrators to do the heavy work needed to solve Harvard’s problems. It is professors who set the tone for their classroom and for the intellectual climate of a campus in general. They are also the ones who, as the report reminded them, have a professional responsibility to express “dissenting opinions.” Tenured faculty should also take the lead and assume the risks that come with speaking out in the minefield of the modern university environment, even if it means that students and outside groups will call them nasty names.

Finally, there are boundaries that really shouldn’t be crossed – times when disagreements actually lead to bullying or harassment. But the best way for students to find out where these lines lie—at Harvard and elsewhere—is for their teachers to show them to them.

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Editorials reflect the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.

Garth Brooks, a household name in country music, has been accused of sexual assault and battery by a former hair and makeup artist for raping her in a Los Angeles hotel room in 2019.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in a California court by Jane Roe and obtained by USA TODAY, accuses Brooks, 62, of “taking advantage of the opportunity to introduce a female employee to a side of Brooks that he had presented.” “Brooks’ side believes that he has a right to sexual satisfaction when he wants it and that using a female employee to do so is fair game.”

Prior to Roe’s filing, CNN reported that an anonymous celebrity plaintiff — now apparently Brooks — tried to block his accuser from publicly repeating her allegations and denied the woman’s various claims of physical and sexual abuse.

Thursday’s lawsuit follows an apparent attempt by Brooks to hide the sexual assault allegations from the public through a lawsuit he filed as a John Doe in Mississippi federal court on Sept. 13, the same day the Country singer announced the conclusion of his show in Las Vegas residency.

John Doe’s, or Brooks’, statement of claim last month said the sexual assault allegations would cause “irreparable harm to plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood.” Brooks has been married to Grammy Award-winning country star Trisha Yearwood since 2005.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Brooks and Yearwood for comment.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Roe’s lawyers applauded “our client’s courage in advancing her complaints against Garth Brooks.”

“The complaint filed today shows that sexual predators exist not only in corporate America, Hollywood, and the rap and rock and roll industries, but also in the world of country music,” said attorneys Douglas H. Wigdor , Jeanne M. Christensen and Hayley Baker in the statement.

“We are confident that Brooks will be held accountable for his actions, and his efforts to silence our client by filing a preemptive lawsuit in Mississippi were nothing more than an act of desperation and attempted intimidation. We encourage others who may have been victims of this to contact us because no survivor should suffer in silence.”

Roe’s lawsuit was filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, which allows for the revival of sexual abuse claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations.

Garth Brooks denies allegations: ‘I’m not the man they made me out to be’

In a statement obtained by USA TODAY Thursday evening, Brooks said he trusts “the system” and added, “I am not afraid of the truth, and I am not the man they have portrayed me to be.”

“For the past two months, I have been harassed endlessly with threats, lies and tragic stories about what my future would be if I did not write a multi-million dollar check. “It was like waving a loaded gun in my face,” Brooks continued.

“Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my eyes, that means I’m admitting to behavior that I’m incapable of – ugly acts that no human being should ever do to another,” Brooks continued while addressing the September suit. “We filed a lawsuit against this person almost a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of reputation. For the benefit of the families on both sides, we filed the lawsuit anonymously.”

Brooks concluded: “I want to play music tonight. I would like to continue our good deeds in the future. It breaks my heart that these wonderful things are now in question.”

Garth Brooks ends his residency in Las Vegas, says he plans to be wife Trisha Yearwood’s “plus one.”

Former employee of Garth Brooks claims sexual abuse began in 2019

The 27-page lawsuit alleges that unnamed celebrity makeup artist Jane Roe was first hired in 1999 as a hairdresser and makeup artist for Brooks’ wife, Trisha Yearwood. In the lawsuit, Roe claims she “continued to work for Yearwood as well as many other celebrities over the years.”

In 2017, she began doing makeup and hairstyling for Brooks. The alleged abuse began two years later.

According to the lawsuit, Roe was at Brooks’ home styling her hair and putting on makeup when “she looked up in horror as Brooks emerged from the shower naked, with an erection and with his penis pointed at Ms. Roe.” Afterwards He grabbed her hands and “forced them onto his erect penis,” the lawsuit says.

“Brooks horrifically told Ms. Roe that he had dreamed about this moment and wanted her to perform oral sex on him so he could come ‘all over her face,’ especially while she was wearing her ‘glasses,'” it says in the lawsuit further.

“I found her in a past life”: Garth Brooks raves about wife Trisha Yearwood and Kelly Clarkson

Another instance in which Roe accused Brooks of sexually assaulting her occurred in May 2019, when she and the 14-time Grammy nominee traveled to Los Angeles to attend a Grammy tribute to R&B singer Sam Moore to participate. Roe and Brooks were the only passengers on his private jet, the lawsuit says, and Brooks booked a one-bedroom hotel suite with no separate room for the makeup artist.

Here, too, Brooks allegedly made sexual advances by appearing “completely naked in the doorway to the bedroom,” the lawsuit says. “Ms. Roe immediately had a sick feeling in her stomach knowing she was trapped in the room alone with Brooks, with no one to help her and far from Nashville.”

The lawsuit states that Roe felt “her worst fears were coming true” when the country singer “towered over her” and “she was unable to escape his physical dominance.”

The lawsuit states: “She was unable to escape his grasp and was afraid of what was happening to her. While he was holding her upside down and dangling by her ankles, all the blood rushed to her head, making her dizzy and nauseous.” . While Brooks forcefully penetrated her, he said perverted things to Ms. Roe about his sexual abilities.

After the alleged rape, the lawsuit says Brooks showed “cold disregard” for Roe as she continued to do his hair and makeup for the Grammy event.

Lawsuit: Garth Brooks sent ‘sexually explicit text messages’ suggesting a threesome with his wife Trisha Yearwood

After the sexual assault in Los Angeles, the lawsuit alleges that Brooks expressed his sexual fantasies to Roe “more frequently,” “along with his physical groping of her breasts while she did his hair and makeup.”

The country singer’s sexually charged conversations with Roe included “repeated comments about having a threesome with his wife, Ms. Yearwood, insinuating that Ms. Roe would be the third person.”

According to the lawsuit, Roe believes Brooks’ wife overheard these comments “at least once.”

After a 2020 incident in which Brooks allegedly made sexually explicit comments toward Roe in front of his manager and his wife, Roe sent a text message to the singer.

The message read: “I cannot work in an environment where explicit sexual comments are made about shampoo bottles that double as dildos. I don’t mean any harm to you, and if you really appreciate my work, I’m happy to come by tomorrow and/or whenever you need my services.

In 2021, the lawsuit says, Roe moved to Mississippi.

Although not named, the lawsuit states: “Through her hard work, skill and dedication, Ms. Roe has performed hair styling and makeup for celebrities who have been featured in countless publications including Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, In Style, Esquire and Nash Magazine appeared.” .”

Garth Brooks announces end of Las Vegas residency ahead of lawsuit

After selling more than 150 million albums, filling stadiums for decades and receiving top honors like the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and the Kennedy Center Honors, Brooks announced the final shows of his sold-out Garth Brooks/Plus One residency at the Colosseum in September Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

“If there was anyone who would say I’m going to do this for the rest of my life, it would be me,” Brooks said in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY last month. “I’ll miss it. The audience is so great. I’ll surround everyone with a Garth audience, but packing up the phones (during shows) has made a big difference because every show is a surprise for the fans. That’s how it was.” fabulous. I hate to see the end of this.

“I’m sending a plane”: Garth Brooks invites Travis Kelce to sing “Low Places” at his new bar

He added that his job for 2025 after his residency shows is to “be the plus one.”

“My wife is kind enough to always be there for me when I need her,” Brooks said. “I have to reciprocate, and we have to listen to her more than two songs a night. I told her I would be the frontman. I’ll stay backstage and do whatever she needs.”

Brooks is a two-time Grammy winner and has sold more than 162 million albums, making him the second best-selling artist of all time in the United States

Contributor: Melissa Ruggieri

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Garth Brooks denies rape allegations made by former makeup artist

WASHINGTON — The IRS is expanding its program that allows people to file their taxes directly with the agency for free.

The Federal Tax Collector’s Direct File program, which allows taxpayers to calculate and submit their tax returns directly to the government without using commercial tax preparation software, will be open to more than 30 million people in 24 states during the 2025 tax filing season.

The program was piloted in 12 states during the 2024 tax season.

Now, IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel says the program will be permanent and the IRS will expand eligibility options for taxpayers.

“We are announcing significant enhancements to Direct File that will bring the service to millions more taxpayers in 2025,” Werfel said in a call with reporters Thursday. He said it is possible that more states could choose to join the program in 2025.

The pilot program in 2024 allowed people in certain states with very basic W-2s to calculate and file their tax returns directly with the IRS. According to the IRS, those who used the program claimed more than $90 million in refunds.

It was originally available to certain taxpayers in California, New York, Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming and Massachusetts.

States scheduled to be added in 2025 include: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Additionally, new eligibility standards allow participation by taxpayers with 1099 income and credits including, but not limited to, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, the Retirement Contribution Credit, and the Health Savings Account Deduction.

“Other countries have been offering their citizens the opportunity to do something like this for years,” Deputy Finance Minister Wally Adeyemo said on the call with reporters. Several nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, including Germany and Japan, have similar systems with pre-filled tax forms.

The idea of ​​direct filing is not viewed favorably by the commercial tax preparation software companies that have made billions of dollars by charging people to use their software.

Additionally, a general IRS inspector general report released this week indicates that the IRS did not provide adequate privacy safeguards related to the IRS Free File Alliance. The alliance is a long-standing agreement between the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies to provide free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income taxpayers.

The Free File Alliance is separate from the Direct File program.

The IRS has been tasked with studying how it could set up a “direct file” system as part of the money it received from the Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden in 2022. The IRS had nine months and $15 million to report on how such a program would work.

Sabrina Carpenter did her best to prove she really sang during a performance of her hit Espresso on The Tonight Show.

The 25-year-old singer recently kicked off her “Short n’ Sweet Tour,” but just days before, a fan took to TikTok and accused her of lip-syncing.

The singer clapped back, commenting: “I sing 100% live at every show. Would you like to speak to my sound engineers?”

During her performance, she said “Holy…” between verses before singing at The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon’s desk.

Fans were quick to praise the singer in comments on The Tonight Show’s TikTok page and defend her against these lip sync accusations.

anabanananaaa said, “I love that sweet Polly Pocket,” while Nuka Sunshine said, “The lipstick on the mic is so real. ‘I love her so much.’

Amely added: “Sabrina totally ruined it!” “The mood is flawless,” said Kapria, “that’s my espresso,” we all said in unison

Julia said: “Sabrina totally nailed it with espresso!” “Her charisma is second to none,” while Alexisreda said: “MY POLLY POCKET PRINCESS QUEEN.”

One TikTok user said: ‘Sabrina killed it with espresso! What a vibe!’ in a comment on the Tonight Show segment.

ellievey8 said, “A coffee lover’s dream,” with a coffee emoji, while Faith said, “That voice is pure magic!” Espresso vibes are different when you act like that. Keep killing it!’

Another fan, Julie, said: “Sabrina totally nailed it!” “Her charisma is second to none,” while Anna Tran said: “That’s her real hair now.”

nathalie._.g could only muster “Oh,” while Caitlyn Page said, “Never skip a Sabrina video.”

bobthebuilder added: “WHO IS THIS DIVA,” while MegaMind said: “My favorite Polly Pocket.”

Grace g added, “Her mic was on!” “So cute,” sarabales43 added, “She’s so much fun!” in her comment.

Flawless Tara said: “Sabrina Carpenter is so talented and has the voice of an angel!!!”

Jessica added, “I love the key change,” another hint that Carpenter sang live despite the lip-syncing allegations.

The Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour continues Saturday, October 5th at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore.

This all comes following rumors that Sabrina has dumped her latest boyfriend, Saltburn star Barry Keoghan, because of his party animal lifestyle.

Barry and Sabrina were linked late last year when he became a Hollywood heartthrob after his stunning performance in Saltburn.

They confirmed they were the subject of a Grammy party in February, but largely refrained from publicly discussing each other.

Last week, a source claimed they broke up about three weeks earlier because she was annoyed by his behavior while under the influence.

“Barry acts like a jerk when he’s drunk and Sabrina becomes increasingly frustrated,” an insider claimed of the breakup.

“He’s always been a party animal and Sabrina was fed up with his antics.” “She’s storming up the charts and putting herself first as she prepares for her tour next month,” the source added to The Sun added.

Shortly after, an insider explained that Barry and Sabrina were in a relationship People Magazine.

Sabrina reportedly first met Barry in September 2023, months before reports began circulating that he had split from long-term girlfriend Alyson Kierans.

Alyson and Barry, who welcomed a son named Brando in August 2022, were reported to have split in the summer of last year.

A source told The Sun that Barry’s “parties had led to arguments” between the pair, who had “been growing apart over the past few months and things have finally come to a head.”

When Barry was asked about the split in GQ earlier this year, he only said that Alyson “did a great job and is an incredible mother.”

Sabrina first saw her dating life become a hot topic in the summer of 2020 when there were rumors that she was in a love triangle with Joshua Bassett and High School Musical: The Musical co-star Olivia Rodrigo: The Series.

The following year, Olivia added fuel to the fire by releasing her hit single “Driver’s License,” which was generally about Joshua and Sabrina.

“And you’re probably with that blonde girl who always made me doubt. “She’s so much older than me,” sang Olivia, who is almost four years younger than Sabrina.

I’m not sure where to begin when it comes to breaking down everything wrong with the Season 2 finale of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. It wasn’t all bad, but it sure was a far cry from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, and pales in comparison to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien himself. Cheap, lazy Hollywood writing is to blame. Pretty visuals and a sweeping score cannot cover up all the holes and blemishes. All that glitters is not gold.

See, I can knockoff Tolkien quotes, too.

Since the bulk of this review will be an exercise in skewering all the rubbish showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay foisted upon us in the Season 2 finale, I’ll open with what I liked. First and foremost, Charlie Vickers as Annatar / Sauron basically held this season together through sheer force of will. He was genuinely great in every scene, though sometimes this highlighted how bad the rest of the show could be—and the other actors.

For instance, the long duel he and Galadriel have toward the end of the episode really underscored for me what a great casting choice Vickers was for Halbrand/Sauron/Annatar and what a phenomenally poor choice Morfydd Clark was as Galadriel. I’m sure she’s great in other roles, but as Galadriel I could not think of a worse actor in just about every sense.

She is too mousy. Her voice is too small. Her face constantly pinches into awkward, almost goofy expressions. The more anguished she tries to look, the more I want to laugh. Every time she goes for gravitas it comes off as petulance. She’s written poorly, sure, but the actor is wrong. I cannot—I refuse—to accept her as Galadriel. Even as Robert Aramayo has grown on me as Elrond, Clark’s Galadriel has become more and more intolerable with every episode. Even though she has taken on a smaller role in Season 2, every scene she’s in is cringe-inducing and painful to watch, and so this big duel between Galadriel and Sauron is almost laughably bad, no matter how good Vickers is throughout. When he shape-shifted into another version of Galadriel, I groaned.

Ultimately, he gets the Nine from her, but she hurls herself off a cliff rather than hand over her Ring. I’m not sure about you, but if I was a powerful magical being like Sauron, I might use my powers to float down there and snag it from her corpse, or maybe send my orcs to retrieve it, rather than just go “Oh well, she’s 50 meters down that cliffside, I guess I’ll just go back to Mordor now.”

Also, I was really hoping they’d keep breaking lore and kill off Galadriel. Or say, “Hey that wasn’t really Galadriel, that was some imposter!” and recast her for Season 3. A boy can dream.

Alright, I know I said I’d start with what I like, but every time I like something in Rings of Power, this show does its level best to ruin it for me. I like Sauron! But if I have to spend time with Galadriel chirping at him, squelching her face up into the weirdest looks of constipated distress, I’m going to still not enjoy my time. Sorry, folks, them’s the breaks.

However, I did like one scene quite a bit despite its lore-breaking nonsense. That, of course, was with . . . .

The Dwarves

I actually really liked the scene with Durin and Durin this episode. For one thing, Owain Arthur and Peter Mullan are both great. For another, the costume and makeup people have done a solid job with the dwarves on the whole, and the dwarven storyline has always felt a little more “true” than the others, even though it’s not true to the lore and even though I think they badly rushed the ring-corruption plotline this season. The look, the feel, the sound, the speech of the dwarves in general feels a bit closer to what I want from a Tolkien adaptation.

The episode pretty much opens with the dwarves. Durin IV shows up and pleads with is father to take off the ring. He tells him, “Do you remember when I was just a wee lad and we used to arm wrestle? You would let me lift my arm just enough to think I might win.” (I’m paraphrasing). The words seem to have no effect on Durin III. He breaks through the wall and there before them, glistening veins of mithril stretched out into the caverns. “To see our mountain the way I do, you have to wear a Ring,” he says.

“It isn’t our mountain,” his son replies. “You taught me that.”

“It could be,” his father says, and then the Balrog comes. Durin the Elder, faced with this dread nightmare, realizes he’s been deceived and takes off the Ring. He tells his son to run, calls him King Durin, and before he turns to face the monster he says, “I never let you raise your arm. It was always you, getting stronger.” Then he turns and charges. The cavern caves in between them as the old king leaps to his doom.

This is a good scene! The story about the arm-wrestling and the father’s revelation to his son were nice and well-written. It’s a shame that nothing else in this entire episode could match this moment. I do wonder, however, if Durin III should have left the ring on his finger for the Balrog fight. Anything to gain an edge. The symbolism of taking it off, and his son seeing that, was effective, but from a purely utilitarian perspective he might have fared better with it on. That’s neither here nor there.

The dwarves ultimately show up at Eregion in the nick of time—because fast travel!—and save Elrond and the others. Later in the episode we learn that Durin is being challenged for the throne by his brother who we didn’t even know existed until now, and that other dwarven lords have his brother’s backing, so I guess we’ll get a stupid, totally unnecessary power struggle between the dwarves next season, because this show’s creators want it to be more like Game of Thrones.

Of course, they could have saved a much more interesting power struggle for Season 3 instead of compressing the timelines so egregiously. We could have gotten . . . .

Númenor

This storyline should have been saved for later, quite frankly. It also should have been written with far more care. As it stands, the Númenorean plotline is painful in every way. Númenor itself feels like a sad little backwater filled with small-minded idiots who change political leadership based on the goofiest reasons: Petals falling from a tree, a random eagle landing at a window, some scroll about Sauron that we didn’t get to read. One week, Miriel is in charge. The next Al-Pharazon is in charge. Then the next week, Miriel has a cool swim with a squid and she’s back in charge. Now, there’s a scroll about Sauron and everyone is loyal to Al-Pharazon again. Elendil is given Narsil by Miriel in a scene lifted directly from Lord of the Rings between Aragorn and Elrond and flees the city on his lonesome. Why? Next week, Miriel will be back in charge because a crow poops on her crown or something.

On second thought, let’s not go to Númenor. It’s a silly place.

We’ll hop over to Pelargir where Isildur is chilling with Theo and Estrid. At first, Estrid was someone they were helping and then it turned out she was a wildman and so they took her prisoner but then it turned out she wasn’t so bad, so Isildur started to fall for her but then it turned out she had a man already so he backed off but then it turned out she wasn’t actually in love with her betrothed and is totally down to shag Isildur so he invites her to Numenor. This show is like playing ping-pong with plots. Back and forth and back and forth and no progression or actual development at all. And then and then and then. It’s the worst way to write a script.

Kemen shows up (because fast travel!) and puts a kink in Isildur’s plans to return to Númenor. I thought Kemen was going to try to trick him into getting on the ship, but he plays his cards immediately and reveals that Elendil is a wanted traitor and Al-Pharazon is king, so Isildur is now wise to his games. Though who knows, right? After that crow crapped on Miriel and she became Queen of the Air, Al-Pharazon might have seen a flower bloom in a pile of cow dung on the highest peak and gotten his crown back. The half-witted residents of Númenor are so superstitious and racist and small-minded that they’ll pretty much follow anyone who puts a MNGA baseball cap on or promises to cut taxes and forgive student debt.

What is the point of any of these characters? Why do we care about Isildur smashing lips with Estrid? Isildur is the future king of men. He will someday cut the Ring off of Sauron’s finger and take it for himself instead of destroying it, setting in motion everything that follows in the Third Age. Why are we spending time in this pointless, stupid story in which his horse—his friggin horse—Berek the Brave, is the real hero?

Of course, as bad as this lousy, aimless, ping-pong story is—and as much as we ought to have saved the Fall of Númenor for Season 3 or later after a major time-jump—the very worst storyline remains . . . .

The Grandelf and the Not-Hobbits

Well, folks, we know Gandalf’s name now and how he got it and I want to punch a Harfoot in the face. Or maybe a Stoor. They say “Grand-elf” three times this episode. Twice as the Stoors leave their home and once when Gandalf repeats it. “Grandelf,” he says. “Hmmmm.” “They’ve never seen an elf before,” Nori replies. Oh really? Then why are they referring to him as a “Grand-elf”, eh? Why? How does this make any sense except as a very stupid, clumsy, hairbrained no good way to give us a homophonic bridge to Gandalf. Later, Tom Bombadil Yodas at our bumbling wizard, “A wizard doesn’t find his staff, a staff finds the wizard. Same with his name.” (This is one of those let’s sound very wise and deep moments that makes literally no sense when you think about it). “Gandalf,” Gandalf says, because I guess Grandelf sounded too weird. “That’s what they’ll call me.” Gameshelf. Glamdolf. Gannendorf. Grimpelt. So many to choose from!

(In Rings of Power Season 3 Gandalf shows up as Mrs. Claus and the Fallohides, the not-Hobbits of the snowy north, call him (or her, rather) Miss Reindeer and this is how he came by the name Mithrandir).

And now he has a staff, I guess, which is just a big stick he found. Like a child finding a stick and pretending its a sword or a gun. I thought wizards made their staffs, sanding them down, wrapping them with a grip, maybe plopping in a gem or carving some runes, imbuing them with power, etc. etc. But hey, now he’s Gandalf and he has a stick and he can finally go to Hogwarts like a real boy.

Before all this, Gandalf has a run-in with totally not Saruman who calls him “old friend” and talks about taking down Sauron and grabbing his power, because he’s very bad at reading people. Gandalf and Nori don’t trust him, even when he kills one of the nomadic warriors, so he tries to destroy them but it doesn’t work very well because Gandalf remembers how to do magic and buys the not-Hobbits time to escape.

Alas, the Stoor village now has a bunch of rocks everywhere. You can see that a lot of the structures look okay, but there are rocks that have to be cleared and that is too much work. Poppi tells everyone that old Sadoc Burrows told her that sometimes when something is broken it’s better just to give up and not try to fix it—it’s rather a long speech that serves as voice-over for a montage of various scenes across Middle-earth—and so the Stoors, who have known young Poppi for all of a week, pack their bags and head off into the desert to die.

Just kidding, they’re heading to the Shire of course! That’s the whole point of the not-Hobbit storyline. A long, arduous, super dangerous journey into the unknown totally makes more sense than cleaning up some rubble. And Nori tells Grandelf, er, sorry, Gandalf (that’s gonna be hard to shake now!) that their paths now must diverge, for reasons that we are apparently not getting, I guess because she’s going with the Stoors? And he has to take his staff to the fires of Orodruin! “One does not simply walk into Mordor,” the Dark Wizard will tell him in Season 3.

I did like the moment when Tom Bombadil and Gandalf sing the Bombadil song and the camera floats up and out of his hut and for a moment you think, “Ah, at last we come to the end of the episode and the season!” because it would have been a nice, peaceful, sort of happy way to end the episode, but no. Not even close. C’est la vie. This episode was like Return of the King, just ending after ending after ending.

Onward, to . . . .

Eregion

Remember in The Lord Of The Rings how Legolas inspires actual fear in the orcs he encounters because elves are so powerful and so old and so filled with light that darkness and its denizens literally fall back in terror when confronted with them? Well, here in Rings Of Power, an elf soldier does some cool parkour stuff getting down from the battlements and the moment he lands he gets shot with one single orc arrow and falls down and dies. I guess some elves just suck. Rian, the super archer, was Boromired with like a dozen arrows last week and still managed to get her shot off. But mostly, the elves—even the powerful Gil-Galad of legend and Elrond—are chumps, easily captured by Adar’s orcs.

Adar is also a chump, easily hoodwinked by Sauron who turns the Uruk commander offscreen so that the show’s writers can “surprise” us. It’s not a surprise. This betrayal has been telegraphed far and wide. The only surprise is that Adar was so easily fooled and then stabbed to death. Or that Galadriel, the warrior, stood by and watched her new ally—who had just promised her a forever peace—get stabbed to death and did nothing to intervene, despite being fully capable of slicing up a dozen orcs. She’s armed, has a ring of power on her finger, and stands there drooling until Sauron arrives. How does this make sense?

Then again, Arondir was stabbed through the torso in last week’s episode, and fifteen minutes later he’s just fine. You’d think being stabbed through the torso would be a tough wound to recover from. But it’s super easy, barely an inconvenience.

This section is just filled to the brim with nonsense and convenient twists. The orcs burn the scrolls of Eregion and all seems lost, but at least Sauron told them to not hurt the leaders, which I guess includes Arondir just because and then the dwarves teleport from Khazad-dum and save the day and the elves get away. I did think it was funny when the Uruk commander goes to Sauron and says, “We’ve been overwhelmed. The elves are escaping and we follow them many Uruk—” he’s about to say “will die” but Sauron stabs him before the words can be uttered. Should have stuck with Adar, buddy.

Galadriel is stabbed with Morgoth’s crown, the same crown that Adar “killed” Sauron with and then she falls from the cliff to the ground where she’s . . . mostly fine. It’s the kind of fall that would kill a lesser elf, surely, but she’s Galadriel and the show wants us to believe that she’s just so badass, even while it constantly reminds us what a pale shadow of a character she is compared to the books and films (and our imagination). Elrond has his little arc at this moment, realizing that hey, guys, it’s okay to wear these rings after all. So he and Gil-Galad pull a Captain Planet and, with their powers combined, heal Galadriel, who wakes up the spitting image of Frodo in Rivendell, all in white, alive so that she and Arondir and Gil-Galad and Elrond can walk over to the cliff edge and all the elves below can cheer and shout while their king raises his sword on high, because this is the sort of “epic fantasy movie” moment that they wanted to end the season on. Oy vey.

Hey, at least Galadriel—when asked if they should attack or defend—decided to quote Celebrimbor instead. “It’s not strength that defeats darkness, but light,” she babbles, as though this is an answer to the question posed. Does that mean go fight, Galadriel? Does it mean retreat and lick our wounds and rebuild our strength? This is a politician’s answer. How does anyone put up with her?

Verdict

In many ways, I think season 2 managed to be even worse than Season 1. I did enjoy some of the stuff with Annatar and Celebrimbor, including in tonight’s finale. But the forging of the rings and the relationship between those two ought to have been the focus of the first season, while their schism and ultimate war could have occupied the second. So much focus has been taken from this story and put on side-characters and side-plots that the end result is a messy, poorly-paced and wildly amateurish attempt at epic fantasy that feels like it has all the superficial trappings in place but none of the heart or sensibilities of the genre. And that’s just generic epic fantasy. As far as adaptations of Tolkien goes, this could not be much worse or more disrespectful. This is why the Tolkien estate closely guarded its intellectual property for so long, and Rings of Power serves now as glaring evidence of the kind of creative malpractice its former stewards were so rightfully concerned about. That it has come to this is a true travesty, and both the Tolkien estate and Amazon should be ashamed.

I give this season a 2/10. It gets 1 point for the few good scenes it managed to provide, mostly with dwarves or with Sauron, though I think Elrond was a pretty good character as well, and Adar—even recast—whose death is the biggest “shock” of this episode, and who will be missed. It gets another point for some pretty visuals and Bear McCreary’s score. It loses points for the abysmal writing, the feckless, faithless adaptation of Tolkien’s legendarium and for the many pointless storylines, poor casting choices and other crimes against all that is good and holy in this world and in Middle-earth. This grotesque monstrosity is not Tolkien. It’s barely even a coherent story.

Here’s my video review:

Read My Past Season 2 Reviews:

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Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of the brutal 1989 murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez, will appear in court again on November 29 – 28 years after they were sentenced to life in prison without parole. This comes just weeks after the Netflix series “Monsters” reignited public interest in her case.

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced the hearing at a press conference, revealing that new evidence had emerged suggesting that the Menendez brothers were abused by their father. “We received a photocopy of a letter that one of the brothers allegedly sent to another family member about being a victim of harassment,” Gascón said.

In addition, Gascón revealed further claims from a former member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, Roy Rosselló, who claimed that he too was harassed by Jose Menendez. The emergence of this information could lead to a retrial or at least a resentencing, although no decisions have been made yet. “None of this information has been confirmed,” Gascón clarified. “We have a moral and ethical obligation to review this evidence and determine whether it warrants resentencing.”

The Menendez brothers were convicted in 1996 after two mistrials – first individually and then together – for the murders at their Beverly Hills mansion. Although they have never denied committing the crime, the brothers have always maintained that they acted in self-defense and claimed that they feared for their lives after enduring years of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

However, this defense was not enough to convince the jury at the time. Both Erik and Lyle were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, a sentence that was upheld in subsequent appeals. The California Court of Appeals and the state Supreme Court refused to review the case in 1998 and 1999, and further petitions to the federal courts were also rejected. Despite these legal setbacks, the brothers continue to claim that their father’s abuse drove them to murder – a narrative that could be supported by the newly uncovered evidence.

In May 2023, Erik and Lyle’s legal team requested a new hearing after learning of Rosselló’s allegations of abuse by Jose Menendez. These claims reinforce the brothers’ longstanding argument that their father was a sex offender. However, it remains to be seen whether this new information will be enough to sway the courts.

The court’s decision to grant the hearing also follows the explosion in popularity of the Netflix series “Monsters,” which dramatized the Menendez brothers’ story in its second season. The series, part of Ryan Murphy’s true crime anthology, debuted in late September and quickly gained traction, racking up 19.5 million views in its first full week. However, it also generated considerable controversy, particularly for its portrayal of the brothers’ relationship as at times homoerotic and incestuous.

From his prison cell, Erik Menendez issued a strongly worded statement condemning the series, saying, “It is with a heavy heart that I say I believe that Ryan Murphy cannot be so naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives, um to do this.” without any malicious intent. The brothers’ surviving family members also expressed outrage, calling the show “grotesque,” “full of falsehoods” and a form of “character assassination.”

The criticism of the series has done little to harm its popularity. Netflix’s true crime genre, which combines sensationalism with dramatization, has proven extremely effective at keeping audiences glued to the screen, despite the ethical issues such portrayals often pose. “Monsters” is the latest in a series of such productions that capitalize on the public fascination with notorious criminals while blurring the line between fact and fiction.

What the public – and the courts – must now grapple with is the real impact of these newly surfaced allegations. If the court finds the harassment allegations and related evidence to be sufficiently substantiated, the Menendez brothers’ convictions could be reconsidered. However, Gascón warned that this process is far from safe. “We are not ready to say at this point whether we either believe or disbelieve this information,” he said. “But we have an obligation to check it.”

Erik and Lyle remain behind bars for now after spending more than three decades in prison for a crime that shocked and fascinated everyone in equal measure. Whether the upcoming hearing will change the course of her life remains to be determined, but one thing is certain: the Menendez story, with all its tragic layers, is far from over.

Apple’s affordable iPhone SE range has long enjoyed popularity as it delivers the essential iPhone experience without the flagship price. With the iPhone SE 4 expected in early 2025, Apple could be on the verge of redefining what a budget smartphone can do. Although the company hasn’t officially confirmed the release, leaks and rumors suggest a variety of upgrades that could make the fourth-generation iPhone SE a compelling option, even for premium phone users. In India, the iPhone SE 4 in particular could be a game-changer by bringing the intended value of an Apple device to a lower-priced smartphone. To put this in perspective, the iPhone SE 3 was launched in India for Rs 43,900 and we expect the iPhone SE 4 to be priced similarly in the Indian market. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch in early 2025.

First, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, a significant step up from its predecessor’s smaller LCD screen. This upgrade brings sharper contrast, deeper blacks and a more immersive viewing experience, bringing the SE closer to Apple’s flagship models. Paired with a slimmer design with minimal bezels, it borrows heavily from the iPhone 14’s aesthetic, giving users a more modern feel at an affordable price.

The camera is another area where the iPhone SE 4 could stand out. A 48-megapixel main camera is a huge step up from the 12-megapixel camera on previous SE models. With the possible integration of computational photography features, the SE 4’s camera could be a versatile tool for everyday users who want high-quality photos without spending a lot of money on a flagship model.

Under the hood, the A18 chip promises flagship-level performance. Paired with up to 8GB of RAM, the SE 4 will likely handle multitasking, gaming, and even more demanding AI-powered tasks with ease. Additionally, the iPhone SE 4 could support Apple Intelligence and offer advanced features such as better image editing and more intuitive text rewriting. This makes the SE a solid competitor for anyone looking for a phone with high-end performance but at a cheaper price.

The switch from Touch ID to Face ID marks another step in the modernization of the iPhone SE. The introduction of Face ID would bring the SE series in line with the rest of Apple’s iPhone lineup and provide a more secure and convenient way to unlock the device. This change, combined with the introduction of USB-C charging, signals that the SE is ready to take advantage of Apple’s more modern features.

For users craving customization, the rumored addition of the Action Button, currently only found on Apple’s Pro models, could be a significant bonus. The Action button allows users to quickly access features like the camera, flashlight, or specific apps, giving the SE 4 an edge in user-friendly functionality.

The battery life is also designed for an upgrade. Since the SE 4 adopts the iPhone 14’s 3,279mAh battery, it promises longer-lasting performance, boosted by its efficient A18 chip and OLED display. This means users can expect all-day battery life, even under heavy use.

Overall, the iPhone SE 4 has the potential to shake up the mid-range smartphone market. Combining key flagship features like the A18 chip, OLED display and improved camera capabilities, it positions itself as a powerful yet affordable alternative to Apple’s premium models – which could fundamentally change Apple’s strategy and set a new standard for inexpensive smartphones.

Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson (2) runs for a 40-yard rushing touchdown while Minnesota defensive back Coleman Bryson (left) runs for a 40-yard rushing touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday , September 21, 2024, in Minneapolis attempted to attack him. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Iowa (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0), Saturday, 3:30 ET (CBS)

BetMGM college football odds: Ohio State at 19 1/2.

Series record: Ohio State leads 47-15-3.

What is at stake

Iowa will be the toughest test yet for the Buckeyes, who have eliminated every opponent so far. Last week, Ohio State traveled to East Lansing and defeated Michigan State 38-7 in the first Big Ten contest of the season. Aside from a one-point loss to Iowa State on September 7, the Hawkeyes have also won by comfortable margins. On September 21, they defeated Minnesota 31-14 behind Kaleb Johnson, who is second nationally in total rushing yards. The Buckeyes are completing a tough two-game stretch, heading to Iowa for a top-10 matchup against No. 6 Oregon in Eugene.

Key match

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith vs. Iowa CB Jermari Harris. Smith is every bit the playmaker he was touted as when he arrived as the No. 1 national recruiting prospect. His one-handed catch for a touchdown against Michigan State illustrated the point. Harris is Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated cornerback among players who appeared in more than two games. He has two interceptions, including one that he returned for a touchdown.

Players to watch

Iowa: Johnson has already rushed for 685 yards and nine touchdowns in four games this season. The Hamilton, Ohio native threw for a career-high 206 yards and three touchdowns on Sept. 21 at Minnesota. To date, he has recorded more than 100 yards in each of the Hawkeyes’ games.

Ohio State: WR Emeka Egbuka has 21 catches for 362 yards — two yards fewer than Smith’s total — and two touchdowns. Against Michigan State, he had a team-leading seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Facts & Figures

Iowa and Ohio State played their last two meetings separately. The Buckeyes went 54-10 at Ohio Stadium in 2022. Five seasons earlier, the Hawkeyes stunned then-No. 1 Ohio State 55-24 in Iowa City. … Iowa has lost eight straight games in the Horseshoe. … The last time Iowa beat Ohio State twice in a row was in 1922-23. … Ferentz tied Chicago’s Amos Alonzo Stagg for second place with his 199th Big Ten win on Sept. 21 at Minnesota. He trails only legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes (205). … Johnson is the first Hawkeye since Mark Weisman in 2012 to have four straight 100-yard rushing games. … Iowa has 200 or more rushing yards in each of its first four games, a first since 2013.

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