Politics

👀 Potential Spain vs. US clash

Published

3 hours ago

July 6, 2026

There is a politically mouthwatering prospect in store on Friday night.

Should Spain beat Portugal in Dallas in the match ongoing now and the U.S. handles Belgium tonight, the feuding allies will face off in Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium for a place in the World Cup semifinals.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted Spain since he returned to office in January 2025 over its military spending record. Spain’s outspoken socialist leader Pedro Sánchez has also clashed spectacularly with Trump over the Iran war and Israel’s assault in Gaza. Meanwhile their policies on issues from energy to immigration are worlds apart.

Read the full story about the fractured Spain-U.S. relationship by Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid here.

Politics

FIFA’s red-card committee hits back after fury over Trump intrusion

Published

37 seconds ago

July 6, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

FIFA’s disciplinary committee, the body that lifted American striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game suspension ahead of Monday’s U.S.-Belgium game, defended its decision in a statement released hours before kickoff in Seattle — but didn’t explain the rationale for making it.

In the 13-paragraph statement, the committee explained the body’s rationale for reconsidering Balogun’s suspension. The review came after President Donald Trump called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino last week to call for the soccer boss to take another look at the decision, after Balogun received a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Said suspension of the implementation was decided considering all of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and evidence available,” the committee said, referring to the lifting of Balogun’s one-game ban. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee (as any other FIFA judicial body) is independent as provided by the FIFA Statutes and the FIFA Disciplinary Code.”

The committee also argued that by not overturning Balogun’s red card entirely, but instead merely suspending his one-game ban, it had applied a “much more balanced measure.”

Soccer pundits had widely criticized the referee’s decision to send Balogun off during the last-32 encounter, but commentators, European politicians and soccer officials rounded on the move to let Balogun play against Belgium.

Earlier Monday, UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said that FIFA’s decision “crossed a red line,” adding that it was “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”

The committee fired back at UEFA in his statement, saying that previous instances of red cards being overturned in football leagues “belonging to UEFA-affiliated member associations” have “never raised concerns about crossing any ‘red line.’”

In the closest historical parallel, Brazilian star Garrincha received a red card in the 1962 World Cup, but had his suspension overturned and played in the final after the president of semifinal opponent Chile, Jorge Alessandri, lobbied FIFA to overturn the ban.

Politics

After Trump intervention, Balogun plays vs. Belgium

Published

31 minutes ago

July 6, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

American forward Folarin Balogun will start tonight for the USMNT against Belgium in the World Cup last-16 knockout match. Balogun was sent off in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to serve a one-match suspension tonight — before world football governing body FIFA unusually lifted the ban following an effort from Trump administration officials.

Politics

Maine’s Democratic Party leadership calls on Platner to drop out following Blue Light News report

Published

46 minutes ago

July 6, 2026

Blue Light Newsroom

The leaders of Maine’s Democratic Party are calling on Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw from the race, after POLITICO reported Monday that a woman who he dated said he forced her to have sex with him.

Their call for Platner’s exit is notable, given the state party has the ability to replace him on the ballot, should he choose to drop out before the July 13 deadline outlined in Maine law. Leaders would then need to select his replacement by July 27.

“The Maine Democratic Party leadership stands with women and survivors, and that principle does not bend based on party affiliation,” Chair Charlie Dingman, Vice Chair Imke Schessler and Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said in a joint statement posted to social media.

Maine Democrats join several prominent party members — including former Platner supporters Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) — in pushing for the progressive oysterman to drop out or condemning his actions after Blue Light News reported new allegations of him sexually assaulting a former partner.

Platner has denied the accusation, saying that the allegations are “troubling, serious, and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.” However, he also said on social media that he was “taking the time to reflect” on his candidacy.

Jenny Racicot, a 41-year-old Maine resident, had told Blue Light News that Platner entered her home uninvited five years ago and forced himself on her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop. She said she cut off contact with him after telling him that his actions that night were not consensual.

“We are entrusted with deciding who represents our values and who carries our banner,” Dingman, Schessler and Murphy-Anderson wrote in the Monday statement. “That responsibility requires judgment, leadership, and a willingness to act when circumstances demand it.”

The Maine Democratic leaders said it is their “responsibility to hold every candidate who seeks to represent our state to the highest standard” and that it is imperative the party defeats GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November.

“This Senate race comes at a pivotal moment in the struggle against a government, supported by Senator Collins, that serves the interests of the wealthy and powerful at the expense of ordinary Maine people,” they wrote. “It is essential that we refocus this campaign on that struggle.”

Other prominent Maine Democrats — including state Senate President Mattie Daughtry — called on Platner to exit.

“Sexual violence has absolutely no place in our society, and it cannot be tolerated from those seeking our highest positions of power,” Daughtry said on X. “To that end, I am calling on Mr. Platner to withdraw his candidacy immediately. Maine deserves a nominee for U.S. Senate with the dignity, judgment, and personal character this seat demands.”