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📰 Above the fold
The ginned-up controversy about Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl halftime show gives Utah GOP Rep. Burgess Owens another chance to attack one of his favorite targets - the NFL.
The NFL's pick of Bad Bunny—one of the world's biggest artists—gives Super Bowl halftime its first fully Spanish-language performance, and instantly triggered conservative blowback. Bad Bunny endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024 and has openly criticized Trump-era immigration policy. During a recent tour, he skipped U.S. mainland shows, citing fears his fans could face deportation. Some critics have called for his deportation, despite the fact that he is an American citizen from Puerto Rico.
Turning Point USA announced plans for an “All American Halftime Show” as counterprogramming, promising “faith, family and freedom.” No lineup is set, but chatter centers on country headliners like Morgan Wallen and Jason Aldean.
Owens is urging viewers to tune into the Turning Point show to “send a message” to the rest of America, writing in the Daily Caller that the NFL needs a course correction.
“NFL fans have an opportunity to reverse the leftist drift of the patriotic professional sports culture we once loved. As we turn off this season’s NFL Halftime Show and turn on Turning Point’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, it will once again highlight the positive power of We the People,” Owens wrote.
The NFL is a frequent target of Owens, who played in the league for 10 seasons from 1973-1982. He’s attacked the league over players kneeling during the national anthem, and for playing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” widely known as the Black National Anthem, before every game starting during the 2021 season. He claims he’s boycotted the league since 2016, but he tracks its moves very closely.
Owens says the Turning Point USA performance is an opportunity “to take real action” against the “woke ideologies” infecting popular culture.
“Our cultural battle with the NFL and every other woke sports organization is one we must all join. It is, after all, a battle for the hearts, souls, and minds of America’s children,” Owens said.
“So this year, as we turn on the Turning Point Super Bowl Halftime Show, let’s gather our families together and make this a national event. Let’s show our children what patriotic, principled, uplifting and family-friendly entertainment looks like.”
Viewership for the NFL has been on the rise in recent years. Last year’s Super Bowl reached a record 127.7 million viewers. Television ratings for the current season have been soaring, currently up 8% over last year.
Wednesday morning's headlines
Utah and the West
Landscape company says the Utah A.G.'s office raided it to divert attention from Sean Reyes' ties to Tim Ballard, seeks $1B in damages. [Salt Lake Tribune]
How to make sure your vote counts: By-mail ballots now have tighter deadlines. [Utah News Dispatch]
Utah cities, school districts fail to meet requirements, denied property tax increase. [KUTV]
Vote to form a new Utah town will have to wait after a quick Supreme Court hearing. [Salt Lake Tribune]
"It's been difficult": Search in Weber County for facility for disabled homeless people continues. [KSL]
With measles spreading in one Utah county, health experts advise protection for infants. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah advocates' petition to fast-track clean energy is denied, but they still see it as a win. [Utah News Dispatch]
How Utah could someday be connected by 3,100 miles of trails. [KSL]
Should Utah's Granite School District be split in half? [Deseret News]
"It's our favorite": Parents, patrons pack council chambers after proposal to defund Cache County Library. [Fox 13]
Nation
Trump administration posts notice that no federal food aid will go out Nov. 1. [ABC News]
Shutdown pain intensifies as air traffic controllers lose pay, and food assistance is drying up. [NBC News]
Obamacare enrollees get first look at 2026 prices as premiums soar. [CNN]
Trump's popularity dips as Americans sweat cost of living. [Reuters]
The Supreme Court to consider whether to hear challenge to same-sex marriage on Nov. 7. [SCOTUSBlog]
Can Trump really undo Biden's pardons? [CNN]
Texas suing makers of Tylenol over alleged autism link. [USA Today]
World
Jamaica is a "disaster zone," airport is flooded, entire towns are underwater and tens of thousands of tourists are trapped after "Storm of the Century' Hurricane Melissa hit. [Daily Mail]
Israel says ceasefire back on after strikes kill more than 100 in Gaza. [NBC News]
Trump, Xi to discuss lowering China tariffs for fentanyl crackdown. [Wall Street Journal]
Technology
OpenAI says a million ChatGPT users talk about suicide. [Barrons]
Tens of thousands of white-collar jobs are disappearing as AI starts to bite. [Wall Street Journal]
Books
A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript will celebrate America's 250th anniversary. [Associated Press]