Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp made his first appearance of the 2024 election with Donald Trump on Friday. The event marked another key moment of support by Kemp for Trump’s presidential bid, despite the vitriol Trump has directed at him and his family.

The two appeared together at a relief shelter in the east Georgia town of Evans, which was badly damaged last week by Hurricane Helene. “I want to thank President Trump for coming back to our state again for the second time to tour storm damage and keep a national focus on the state as we recover,” Kemp said.

In 2020, Trump relentlessly pressured Kemp to overturn the election. After Kemp refused, Trump spent years going after him: He tried to oust Kemp in 2022 by endorsing his primary Republican opponent, and this summer criticized him as “the most disloyal guy I’ve ever seen” and “very bad for the Republican Party” during a 10-minute tirade at a rally in Atlanta.

While Friday’s speech was not an official campaign event, Kemp’s appearance with Trump will be used by the ex-president to boost his campaign in the tight battleground state. “Your governor is doing a fantastic job, I will tell you that,” Trump said while surrounded by emergency relief supplies, such as bottled water, toilet paper, and diapers, contradicting his earlier Kemp criticisms. “We’re all with him and with everybody.”

Donald Trump’s claim that non-citizens are crossing the Southern border and registering to vote in US elections has become a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, even though every major study shows that non-citizen voting is exceedingly rare.

But a lawsuit filed last month shows that those false assertions of voter fraud are leading to real world instances of qualified voters being blocked from casting a ballot.

On August 13, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, an election denier who supported Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 results, announced that his office had identified 3,200 alleged noncitizens who had registered to vote in the state and had begun removing them from the voter rolls. He said the names were pulled from a list of individuals who had received noncitizen identification numbers from the Department of Homeland Security. Even then, he conceded that “it is possible that some of the individuals who were issued noncitizen identification numbers have, since receiving them, become naturalized citizens and are, therefore, eligible to vote.”

On September 27, the Department of Justice sued Alabama, arguing that Allen’s actions were in violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which prohibits the removal of voters from the rolls within 90 days of an election. That so-called quiet period exists “to mitigate the risk that errors in systematic list maintenance will disenfranchise, confuse, or deter eligible voters by ensuring that they have adequate time to address errors and understand their rights,” the Justice Department wrote in its lawsuit.

This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

Exported gas emits far more greenhouse gas emissions than coal, despite fossil-fuel industry claims it is a cleaner alternative, according to a major new research paper that challenges the controversial yet rapid expansion of gas exports from the US to Europe and Asia.

Coal is the dirtiest of fossil fuels when combusted for energy, with oil and gas producers for years promoting cleaner-burning gas as a “bridge” fuel and even a “climate solution” amid a glut of new liquefied natural gas (or LNG) terminals, primarily in the US.

But the research, which itself has become enmeshed in a political argument in the US, has concluded that LNG is 33 percent worse in terms of planet-heating emissions over a 20-year period compared with coal.

After the Emirates began to empty out despite Arsenal’s 2-0 lead over PSG, should fans who leave early be called out for their disloyalty? Or should we all just stop whining about it? Luke, Andy, and Vish tackle one of football’s big taboos.

Elsewhere, with the old guard of managers almost completely gone (just you left now, Dychey), have managerial mind games become a thing of the past?

Plus, why are more players returning to their old clubs and what are our favourite football noises? No, Gary Neville’s orgasm doesn’t count...

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In June, Oklahoma’s Trump-supporting top school official, Ryan Walters, ordered the state’s schools to teach the Bible in class—and this week, his department put in a $3 million proposal to buy 55,000 Bibles for Oklahoma schools. But out of the thousands of versions available for purchase, it seems only two holy books fit the state Department of Education’s strict criteria: one sold by Donald J. Trump, and one sold by his son Don Junior.

Surprise, surprise.

On Friday, the nonprofit news outlet Oklahoma Watch reported that the superintendent’s bid documents included specific standards for the Bibles set to be used in Oklahoma classrooms, standards only met by two editions.

According to the documents, the books must:

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agency didn’t have enough funding for the rest of hurricane season. Some on the right, including Trump, seized on the moment to attack their favorite scapegoat: undocumented immigrants.

“They stole the FEMA money just like they stole it from a bank so they could give it to their illegal immigrants who they want to have vote for them,” Trump falsely claimed during a rally in Michigan yesterday.

FEMA’s response: a fact check page, where the agency denied diverting funds.

Long gone are the innocent days when media outlets claimed the independence and nuance of the politics of Elon Musk. Now, amid myriad X posts spreading far-right propaganda on immigrants, trans people, and, well, just about any other topic, it has become obvious where one of the richest men in the world stands.

This week, there was more proof that Musk has put his money where his mouth has been. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Musk poured tens of millions of dollars into Republican campaigns and conservative groups even before he publicly endorsed Donald Trump in July. Conservatives helped conceal Musk’s contributions through so-called social welfare or “dark money” groups that do not have to disclose their donors and can raise unlimited funds. (Musk did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.)

One piece of reporting stood out. The newspaper found that the tech billionaire donated more than $50 million in 2022 for campaign advertisements by Citizens for Sanity, a group connected to former Trump aide Stephen Miller and his non-profit America First Legal, which bills itself as “the long-awaited answer to the ACLU.” 

Ties to Miller back in 2022 illuminate Musk’s current penchant for posting about immigrants. Musk has increasingly aligned himself with xenophobic anti-migrant plans and trans hysteria championed by Miller within the Trump administration. 

As congratulations poured in for the recipients of this year’s MacArthur Award, Dr. Ruha Benjamin, a professor of African American studies at Princeton University, should have been celebrating a career-defining achievement. But the full story was a bit more complicated. Around the same time that she had been awarded one of the most prestigious prizes in intellectual circles, Dr. Benjamin was being chastised for pro-Palestine activism by her university.

She explained the context in a thread on X, which gained wide attention:

The thread publicized an ongoing conflict between Benjamin and her employer, which had opened an investigation into her involvement in an April protest in solidarity with pro-Palestinian student demonstrators. According to Benjamin, a “tense” phone call with university officials had taken place shortly before learning she had won a MacArthur grant, thus diluting the joy that comes with such an exceedingly rare achievement.

Could Pete kick through a door? That’s the big question he poses to Luke, Andy and Vish on today’s Ramble.

Elsewhere, Andy also finds some time to explain why Man United won’t sack Erik ten Hag just yet, Luke backs the decision to call up Dominic Solanke to the England squad, and Pete is forced to talk about Only Fools and Horses The Musical.

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And to mark the occasion Pete and Luke are sniffing some mysterious minty white powder. IT’S MENTHOL, ALL RIGHT!

They discuss that Jhon Durán goal, that Emi Martínez save, and whether this was the greatest night in Villa’s history since Steve Bruce had that cabbage thrown at his head.

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Ethan Nwaneri was given some minutes in Arsenal’s win against Leicester City this afternoon, and he delivered an impressive cameo.

The youngster had scored two goals in the Gunners’ midweek League Cup match against Bolton.

His performance in that game has made it difficult to justify leaving him out, despite him being just 17 years old.

Arteta brought him on when Arsenal was searching for a winner, with the game tied at 2-2.

Nwaneri showed quick feet and caused problems for Leicester as Arsenal continued to pepper their goal.

Martin Keown has been impressed with Leandro Trossard and is delighted that the Gunners signed the Belgian, especially after his performance against Leicester City today.

Since joining Arsenal, Trossard has been one of their standout players, consistently making important contributions to the team’s success this season.

In the absence of Martin Odegaard, Arsenal has struggled with creativity, which has allowed Trossard to start more games for the club.

Trossard often makes a bigger impact when coming off the bench than when starting, which has been the case for several weeks.

However, he broke that pattern in the match against Leicester City, scoring a goal and forcing Wilfried Ndidi to score an own goal, putting Arsenal back in the lead.

Former Everton and Chelsea player Pat Nevin has praised Arsenal for their performance against Leicester City, insisting they fully deserved their win.

The Gunners were dominant in the first half, but they allowed their two-goal lead to slip in the second half, and Leicester nearly secured a draw.

Mikel Arteta’s side showed character and persistence, scoring two late goals to take all three points.

It wasn’t the second half their fans had expected, but Arsenal once again demonstrated why they are considered one of the favourites to win the league this season.

When the game was tied at 2-2, Arsenal barely allowed Leicester a moment of peace until they found the breakthrough, and Nevin was impressed.

Bukayo Saka can’t stop breaking and setting records in the Premier League this season, and the attacker just set another one against Leicester City.

This season has been a brilliant one for the Euro 2024 finalist, and his form could lead Arsenal to the title.

The Gunners have relied heavily on him for assists, and he hasn’t disappointed. But in the game against Leicester, he delivered an even more outstanding performance.

Saka was Arsenal’s captain for the day, and he led by example, unsettling the Foxes and helping grind out the result.

Arsenal found themselves in trouble at 2-2, but they continued to press their visitors in search of the winning goal, with Saka being one of their most active players.

Theo Walcott is impressed with how Arsenal defeated Leicester City in their Premier League game this afternoon.

The Gunners appeared to be heading for a routine win before their visitors levelled the game at 2-2.

In the past, that might have been enough to demoralise Arsenal, but not this time.

The current Arsenal team knows how to get results against and Walcott believes Mikel Arteta has instilled the belief that they can beat anyone.

This gives them the confidence to keep pushing for a win, no matter the situation they find themselves in.

Arsenal earned a 4-2 win against Leicester City this afternoon after surviving a second-half scare from the Foxes.

Leicester was two goals down at the break, and most people thought the game was over, expecting Arsenal to finish the job when the teams returned.

However, the Foxes fought back, and the score was 2-2 during added time, before Arsenal scored two late goals to seal the win.

It was a nervy performance from Arsenal, and they will not be proud of how they squandered a two-goal lead in the second half.

Nevertheless, the most important thing is that they ultimately won the game and should be proud of their overall performance.

The game started as we expected with Arsenal going straight in for the kill and the Foxes on the back foot, but our first clearcut chance fell to Martinelli after 15 minutes.

It fell at his feet, but it looked like he wasn’t confident with his right foot and flicked it to his left and gave Leicester the time to react.

But 5 mins later he didnt fluff it and hit it with his right (yay!) in the centre of the box. He only scuffed it but it trickled into the corner of the net and we had the lead at last. Its his first goal of the season so hopefully his confidence will go up now from now on.

Arsenal kept up the pressure with lots of corners and possession but couldnt get through the physical Foxes low block. They were not averse to a few bookings either.

Ten before half time Havertz got a great flying header, but it frustratingly was just wide.

This week’s team prediction is going to be much harder than usual, as, having played 5 really tough games since the start of the season, we are now facing a run of much less stressful fixtures.

After many of our backups putting in excellent shifts in the midweek win on Weds, I am hoping that Arteta will continue to rest a few of our first teamers once again, considering Leicester are yet to win a game and are one of the favourites for relegation, and even more importantly, we are playing PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday.

How Arteta manages this, I’m not sure but I’m hoping one thing is sure is that we should see Neto’s debut in goal with Raya’s injury.

I think we will revert to our usual back four, and I am hoping they should have a tough game and were rested midweek.

The midfield and forwards are only going to be a will guess, but I want Rice and Saka tobe  rested after playing midweek.

In Victoria Pelova’s absence. due to an ACL injury, with Lia Walti just back from a major injury, and a move for another top midfielder, Keira Walsh, falling through, Kyra Cooney-Cross was to step up this season, and she’s already hinting at that.

That said, Lia Walti was in the starting XI for Arsenal’s UWCL qualifier against BK Hacken midweek. Our Gunners won 4-1 on aggregate and Walti was named Player of the Match. And Victoria Pelova has stepped up her rehabilitation process this week too.

More good news, Gooners…

Victoria Pelova stepped up her recovery today. We’re so proud of you, Vic! pic.twitter.com/Rvf65nGl2b

— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) September 27, 2024

Arsenal have amazing players but the sad reality is they won’t remain loyal forever.

Since his appointment in December 2019 Mikel has done a pretty good job in his first managerial appointment of his career so far, despite the ups and downs, no one can argue against the fact that we’re currently on an upward trajectory as a club moving forward.

This has been helped, not just by the great job he’s been doing, but also by the clever recruitment and development of our players by the club. This has seen us not just improve collectively but individually as well, in this never ending search for major silverware.

The improvement has been there for the whole world to see over the past few years with us now being consistent title chasers, in arguably the best league in the world, against (in my opinion) the best team in the world,

This has been possible by the help of the quality players we’ve had at our disposal for some years now. We must not forget however that this much attention we’ve been getting will come with the risk of potential interests in our stars from European giants, (I was tempted to use “bigger clubs” but my ego is too fragile for that and most gooners can say the same!)