Newly minted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson thinks it’s too easy to get divorced, and he’d like to change that. 

“In my generation, all we’ve ever known is the no-fault scheme, and any deviation from that seems like a radical move,” Johnson said more than two decades ago. No-fault divorce, the “scheme” Johnson has long admonished, allows one party to unilaterally file to end a marriage—without having to prove things like adultery, imprisonment, or domestic abuse. These laws, mostly passed in the 1960s and 70s, were monumental in furthering women’s financial, social, and professional independence, as well as their safety. 

Johnson, though, believes that such laws are partly to blame for our “completely amoral society” that causes a young person to go “into their schoolhouse and open fire on their classmates.”

And Johnson isn’t alone in his ire. Lately there’s been a push by conservatives to end no-fault divorce—in podcast studios and in the halls of government. Right-wing activist and influencer Steven Crowder, Daily Wire and PragerU host Michael Knowles, and conservative podcaster Tim Pool, among others, have all decried the nationwide standard as being too lax, granting women divorces on a whim. The official GOP party platforms in Texas and Nebraska call for ending no-fault divorce. And in Louisiana, Johnson’s home state, the Republican party is considering the elimination of no-fault divorce.

Johnson’s opposition to no-fault divorce dates back decades. In 1997, Louisiana became the first state in the country to pass a “covenant marriage” law, offering newlyweds a religion-based contract that makes it significantly harder to get divorced. The law was backed by the Louisiana Family Forum, “a voice for traditional families,” where Johnson had been a volunteer. (The organization has received money from powerful groups like the Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom; Johnson has been an attorney and spokesperson for the latter.) Two years later, Johnson and his new wife, Kelly, opted for a covenant marriage. They were some of the few who did. Between 2000 and 2010, about 1 percent of Louisiana couples opted for a covenant marriage.

It wasn’t the night that Newcastle fans wanted, but who cares, at least St James’ Park has some fantastic drainage.

Pete and Vish appreciate that on Ramble Reacts and they also take a moment to compliment Nick Pope for his short sleeve shirt. Plus they answer the important question… Is Kevin De Bruyne really a cake?

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Same podcast? Same podcast. Yes! Marcus, Luke, Jim and Pete celebrate the return of England’s sunflower Hazza Maguazza to goalscoring form as Manchester United bagged a huge win in the Champions League last night.

We also ask who did it best – Gabriel Jesus or Hal-Robson Kanu? – and look ahead to the collapse of the PIF Posse following Kevin Keegan’s meeting with Edward Howe.

Plus, Luke gets extraordinarily excited about Gary O’Neil.

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Praying for Ashley Young and James Milner’s hamstrings this morning are Marcus, Luke, Vish and Pete!

On today’s show, we look back on the Merseyside derby and wonder how we can access it via Phil Neville’s new VPN next time. Plus, Marcus continues to valiantly nail himself to the Harry Maguire mast, Andy Carroll is full of beef and gravy but still scores from 40 yards out in France, and Birmingham City fall foul of Ramble lore! Nice it!

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Luke and Andy roll out the red carpet for the Premier League’s post qualifiers return, but not before they pay tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton after his tragic passing. We remember his phenomenal talents on the pitch, as well as just how classy and affable he was off it. 

We also check in with his former team as Man United stumbled past Sheffield United, while Chelsea and Arsenal lovingly shared the points at the Bridge - as each goalkeeper tried to prove they’re more chaotic than the other. 

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The Premier League returns! And Marcus, Luke, Pete, and Jim Full On Campbell are here for a data romp ahead of the weekend.

We discuss intimate exchanges in the tunnel between Sean Dyche and Jürgen Klopp, Wayne Rooney’s return to the fold, and a World Cup runner-up heads to the ninth tier!

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England did ‘em! Marcus, Luke, Vish and Andy react to an imperious comeback win for Southgate’s posse over Italy, in which Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane were just… really, really good.

We also imagine Phil Neville appearing on Dragon’s Den, relive San Marino’s wild goal celebrations after equalising against Denmark last night (yes Denmark, you read that right), and scratch our heads over a truly bizarre situation with Ireland…

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Pete has made a special Marcus Speller-themed shirt for the show today. Because of course he has.

Marcus, Pete, Vish and Jim discuss a big Welsh win, a big Scottish win without even kicking a ball, and Gareth Southgate’s staunch defence of Jordan Henderson!

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Arsenal and Real Madrid are both expressing interest in British talent Noel Buck, who is making a name for himself in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution.

The 18-year-old is generating considerable attention in the American soccer scene and has been selected to represent the England U19 national team, owing to his British lineage.

Buck is just beginning to break into the first team at the Revolution, but Arsenal has already shown interest in securing his signature. According to a report from Defensa Central, the Gunners are in competition with Real Madrid for the young player.

Both clubs view Buck as a highly promising talent and are expected to vie for his services. Arsenal is well-regarded for its commitment to youth development, but Real Madrid has also demonstrated its ability to nurture young talent, which could make the decision more challenging for Buck.

Just Arsenal Opinion

Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor has extended a message to Arsenal supporters, urging them to let go of the anger associated with his celebration against the Gunners during his time as a Manchester City player.

Adebayor was among the players who made the switch from Arsenal to City when the wealthy owners of the Manchester club initiated their ambitious project. His transfer was met with controversy and some Arsenal fans felt betrayed by the Togo international.

In his first match against Arsenal as a City player, he was subject to abuse from Arsenal supporters. Adebayor further fueled the animosity when he scored and celebrated in front of the Arsenal fans. His actions intensified the hostility from the already incensed Arsenal supporters.

Despite the incident, Adebayor has moved on from that period and encourages Arsenal’s fans to do the same.

Metro Sport quotes him saying: ‘Today I will make it clear, I don’t think any human being would accept it if people were singing about and insulting your family, especially your mother and father.

As hundreds of thousands of Gazans have fled their homes in response to Israel’s warnings of a massive ground invasion, the United Nations is warning of an escalating humanitarian crisis.

Many are struggling to find shelter and food; Gaza has no electricity and is running out of clean drinking water. “It has become a matter of life and death,” said Phillippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency, the agency that provides support and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, in a statement Saturday. “It is a must: Fuel needs to be delivered now into Gaza to make water available for two million people.” 

On Saturday, Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on Palestinian human rights, warned, “In the name of self-defense, Israel is seeking to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing.”

Nearly half of Gaza’s population has been displaced over the week following a massive attack on Israel by Hamas, the group that controls Gaza, last Saturday. The sequestered region has not received humanitarian aid since a complete blockade began on Friday. More than 1,300 Israelis and 1,900 Palestinians are estimated to have died in a war that erupted after the surprise attack a week ago. With the ground invasion set to begin soon, residents are fleeing but have few places to go. 

Meanwhile, a number of American lawmakers and other officials have attempted to demonstrate their support for Israel. Last week, President Joe Biden said, “So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel. We stand with Israel. And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.”

Folarin Balogun has reflected on the players who inspired him during his time in the Arsenal academy. Balogun is one of the most expensive players Arsenal has sold, as he departed for AS Monaco in the most recent transfer window.

Before earning opportunities with the senior team, Balogun was in impressive form for Arsenal’s youth teams and consistently delivered strong performances. His performances earned him a promotion to the first team, and he made a significant impact on loan at Reims last season.

When discussing his time in the academy, Balogun revealed the players who served as sources of inspiration for him.

He tells ESPN:

“Before you mention them because I went there when I was about 10 so the kind of older boys for me were Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi.

Cesc Fabregas has shared his thoughts on Mikel Arteta’s system at Arsenal and emphasised the significance of William Saliba within the team.

Saliba has become a pivotal player at Arsenal, enhancing the team’s defensive stability since his introduction to the first team last season. His impressive performances have earned him recognition as one of the top centre-backs in Europe, attracting the interest of elite clubs across the continent.

Fabregas acknowledges that Arteta’s team plays an attractive brand of football in the Premier League, and he discussed Arsenal’s style of play while mentioning the best team to watch in England.

He named the Gunners alongside Manchester City and Brighton, commenting, as quoted by the Daily Mail:

“Arsenal use that 3-1-3-3 formation – which is six players in front of the ball. It’s about the coach trusting their defenders to be quicker, faster and recover the ball. Then they can play a little bit more attacking football.

Arsenal is taking proactive steps to protect Thomas Partey, a midfielder who has had injury issues in the past, while he represents his national team.

Partey recently returned from injury just before the international break and was subsequently included in Ghana’s squad for their upcoming matches.

Although Arsenal cannot prevent him from participating in the international games, the club has taken a precautionary approach by sending physiotherapist Simon Murphy to monitor him during his international duties, reports the Mirror.

This measure is aimed at ensuring that the midfielder does not sustain any new injuries and is able to return to Arsenal in good physical condition. Given Partey’s history of injuries, this proactive approach is seen as a positive step by the club to safeguard their player’s fitness for the upcoming matches.

Just Arsenal Opinion

Shaka Hislop is the latest pundit to express scepticism about the decision to make David Raya Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Aaron Ramsdale. Hislop maintains that there isn’t a significant difference between the two goalkeepers.

Raya has been the first-choice goalkeeper at the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks after manager Mikel Arteta made the surprising decision to replace Ramsdale.

While it initially seemed that Arteta might rotate between the two goalkeepers, Raya has maintained his position as the starting goalkeeper since his inclusion.

However, many fans and pundits alike remain unconvinced that Raya is a substantial upgrade over Ramsdale, who has now taken on the role of the backup goalkeeper.

Hislop has added his voice to the debate regarding the better goalkeeper, emphasising that there have been too many uncertain moments with Raya in goal.

On Friday, a Trump-appointed federal judge struck down an electoral map in Galveston, Texas, saying it violates the Voting Rights Act and amounts to “egregious” discrimination against Black and Latino voters.

“This is not a typical redistricting case,” wrote Judge Jeffrey Brown in a 157-page ruling. “What happened here was stark and jarring…the enacted plan denies Black and Latino voters an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and to elect a candidate of their choice.”

The trial, which began in August, focused on how Galveston’s Republican commissioners redrew voting maps in 2021, breaking up the only precinct where Black and Latino voters made up the majority of the electorate. Their map would have effectively erased representation of people of color at the highest levels of local government in a county that is 45 percent non-white.

As my colleague Ari Berman wrote in 2021, the redistricting in Galveston “brought to mind the disenfranchisement of Black voters in the Jim Crow South,” with implications that extended beyond this single district. 

What’s happening in Galveston isn’t an aberration, but part of a troubling trend that is playing out throughout Texas—and across the South—in which Republicans at all levels of state government are going to increasingly extreme lengths to preserve white GOP power by diluting the votes of communities of color in new maps drawn for the US House, state legislative seats, and local offices like county commission and city council districts.

Arsenal has long been a dream club for players aspiring to play in the Premier League, and one young player has openly expressed his desire to don the Arsenal shirt.

Under the management of Mikel Arteta, Arsenal is once again establishing itself as one of the top clubs in England, rekindling the allure that was synonymous with the Arsene Wenger era.

In the recent transfer window, Arsenal secured the signing of Jurrien Timber from Ajax, a highly regarded defender in European football. While Timber has yet to feature in many games for Arsenal due to injury, his transfer has already served as an inspiration to a player at his former club, Ajax.

Jorrel Hato, a 17-year-old prospect, is one of the coveted young talents at Ajax, and he has openly confessed his aspiration to play for a top club like Arsenal.

He said, as quoted by Sport Witness:

Jurrien Timber’s injury in his first league game for Arsenal is a big blow to the Gunners, but he is still expected to play a significant role when he returns.

Arsenal signed the Dutch defender in the summer after his impressive performances at Ajax, and his arrival was met with excitement among the club’s fans.

However, Timber’s absence from the team has led to multiple changes in Arsenal’s defence, reverting to a formation similar to that of the previous season, with Gabriel Magalhaes partnering William Saliba at the centre of the defence.

During Timber’s first game with the club, he played as a left-back, with Saliba and Ben White as the centre-backs, and Thomas Partey slotting in as a right-back. Various changes have been witnessed in Arsenal’s lineup due to injuries and suspensions.

A report from Football Transfer suggests that Timber’s return in the second half of the season could enable Mikel Arteta to implement a defensive approach reminiscent of Pep Guardiola’s playbook. The report indicates that when Timber is fit, Arteta may opt to field four center-backs across various defensive roles, much like Guardiola does in many of his matches.

Arsenal Women captain Kim Little “Domestically, our aim is to win every trophy” by Michelle

Michelle Maxwell

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Positive injury news for the Arsenal Women

Jonas Eidevall faced the press ahead of our games against Aston Villa this weekend, and was asked about Beth Mead and the latest on her recovery process after Arsenal Women posted photos of Mead in training via their official twitter page and had Arsenal fans excited at the prospect of finally seeing Mead back on the pitch. Mead has been absent since tearing her ACL against Manchester United last season and missed the opportunity to represent her country at this year’s Women’s World Cup.

When asked if Mead would be ready to play this Sunday, https://www.arsenal.com/news/every-word-jonas-pre-aston-villa-presser” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Eidevall said this: “In order for squad selection, we have one more training to go. If she goes through that training session, she should be 100 per cent ready for squad selection”.

It’s been no secret that her recovery process has been difficult on her mental health as well as her physical health and after a long hard process back to recovery, she will be stoked to finally get back to what she loves doing the most.

When asked how much work Mead has done to cope with the psychologically pressure of getting back on the pitch, Eidevall said this: “I think, and this is probably where elite sport has changed a lot in the last decade, where mental training before was used for a team that was struggling, who said they needed a mental coach because they were under a lot of pressure.”