Kelly Clarkson’s home line is packed with best-selling furniture and decor — so much so that it’s hard to narrow down our top picks. Thankfully, she went ahead and did it for us. 

Clarkson dropped her all-time favorite designs on Wayfair, including floral accent chairs, storage-friendly bookcases, and more stylish yet functional pieces. Even better, nearly every find is on sale, with savings of up to 55 percent. 

Kelly Clarkson’s All-Time Favorite Wayfair Finds 

• Sonia Upholstered Storage Bench, $175 (orig. $240) 
• Beaucaire Distressed Metal Vase, $26 
• Arnella Rolling Bar Cart, $320 (orig. $430) 
• Annalise Rectangular Standard Ottoman, $135 
• Auvergne Solid Wood Coffee Table with Storage, $275 (orig. $605) 
• Elodie Open Shelving Unit, $310 (orig. $625) 
• Louise Velvet Hand-Curated Task Chair, $174 (orig. $260) 
• Keilani Barrel Accent Chair, $780 
• Felicia Velvet Barrel Accent Chair, $158 (orig. $399) 

Kelly Clarkson’s Spacious Cabinet Is a ‘Stunning’ Way to Hide Clutter, and It’s Up to 63% Off

Keilani Barrel Accent Chair

This accent chair has all five-star reviews for a reason: It comes in tons of stain-resistant performance fabrics, includes reversible cushions, and has a 360-degree swivel. It’s spacious enough to sprawl out yet isn’t so large that it’s difficult to fit in compact spaces. One shopper said they “get so many compliments” on the chair, adding that it’s “comfortable” and “easy to clean.”

Arnella Rolling Bar Cart

Snag this Kelly Clarkson-loved rolling bar cart while it’s on sale. The multi-use design offers tons of functional space, including three shelves,10 bottle holders, two towel rack holders, and a stemware rack. One customer said it “looks very elegant in [their] living room” and is especially great for anyone who wants “a nice bar space but [doesn’t] have a lot of room.” Others added that it’s “sturdy” and “easy to assemble.” 

Sonia Upholstered Storage Bench

This upholstered bench with hidden storage is ideal for an entryway, mudroom, or even at the end of a bed. It’s an excellent way to solve two issues at once, as it provides both storage and seating. The linen fabric feels polished and sophisticated, while the wood construction offers a sturdy base for relaxing. It has a convenient bottom shelf to add wicker baskets or toss extra shoes, and according to shoppers, it’s a versatile size that works in even compact spaces.

Elodie Open Shelving Unit

Save 50 percent on this bookshelf that fits in with farmhouse-style interiors or a cottagecore design. You can use the open shelving unit for extra organization, storage, or simply display purposes. It’s crafted from durable wood and includes five spacious tiers. 

Reviewers called it “rustic and beautiful” and said it’s easy to assemble in under 30 minutes. One customer added that the “imperfections are well done so the shelf appears authentically old,” which makes it ideal for “farmhouse to French provincial decor.” 

Keep scrolling to shop more of Kelly Clarkson’s all-time favorite furniture and decor from her collection, up to 55 percent off.

Beaucaire Distressed Metal Vase

Annalise Rectangular Standard Ottoman

Auvergne Solid Wood Coffee Table with Storage

Louise Velvet Hand-Curated Task Chair

It’s been a challenging few weeks for Luka Doncic, and tonight’s game against the Lakers likely marked a significant moment in that ongoing saga. While he’ll be hoping to move past the drama for now, the rivalry with the Lakers isn’t over—especially with their next meeting set for late April in Dallas. For now, though, Luka’s focus is on getting some rest.

After the game, Luka shared a warm moment with his former teammate, Kyrie Irving. The two played together for about two seasons and were instrumental in the Mavs’ playoff run last year. Now, both are trying to lead their teams back to championship contention. In this contest, it was a battle of stars with Luka facing off against LeBron James, who finished the night with 27 points and 12 rebounds, guiding the Lakers to a crucial win in the final minutes.

LeBron took over late, as he often does. The Lakers were ahead by as much as 16 at halftime, but the Mavericks fought their way back, tying the game in the fourth quarter. That’s when LeBron stepped up, making key plays to give the Lakers the cushion they needed.

Luka was everywhere on the court, putting up 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists. While he struggled with his shooting—finishing just 6-of-17 from the field—he contributed in nearly every other aspect of the game. His performance underscored his all-around ability, even when the shots weren’t falling.

The game also marked the first triple-double in a Lakers jersey for Luka, a feat that fans can expect to see more of in the future. While Luka may have had the first laugh, the Lakers came out on top, with LeBron continuing to prove why he’s one of the game’s all-time greats.

As for the Mavs, their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Lakers’ late-game execution, but it was clear that they weren’t backing down. Kyrie Irving, a key piece in the Mavericks’ Finals push last season, had a stellar performance of his own. He poured in 35 points, including 14 in the first quarter, helping keep the Mavs in the game.

The intensity of the matchup reflected the stakes—both teams playing with the kind of urgency you’d expect in the postseason. Despite the rivalry, there was respect between the players, with Luka and Kyrie exchanging greetings post-game and acknowledging the competitive spirit that has defined their careers.

Meanwhile, Anthony Davis, who was traded for Luka back in the day, received a warm tribute from the Lakers crowd at Crypto.com Arena. The crowd even chanted “Thank you, Nico” at one point, showing their appreciation for the front-office moves that brought Davis to LA.

While Luka didn’t get the win this time, he showed his teammates and the Lakers faithful that he’s ready for the challenge ahead. As the Mavs and Lakers continue to battle for supremacy, fans can expect even more thrilling matchups between these two teams, especially as both squads continue to build for the future.

Here’s the updated version with newsroom.com:

99-107
Luka lobs it up to LeBron again, and he gathers and puts it up and in.
Posted at: 00:23 EST 26/02/2025
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99-105
Doncic sends Kyrie to the line after the bucket and he hits the FT.
Posted at: 00:22 EST 26/02/2025
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96-105
Timeout Mavs with 1:05 to go.
Posted at: 00:20 EST 26/02/2025
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96-105
LeBron finds Hachimura down low and he seals this game with a layup from underneath.
Posted at: 00:19 EST 26/02/2025
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96-103
Hachimura to the line and he hits one of two after the foul on Washington.
Posted at: 00:18 EST 26/02/2025
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96-102
1:30 to go.
Posted at: 00:17 EST 26/02/2025
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96-102
Luka missed the short jumper in the lane and LeBron was there to smash it back!
Posted at: 00:17 EST 26/02/2025
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96-100
Irving with the leaner off the glass.
Posted at: 00:17 EST 26/02/2025
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94-100
Hachimura with the pick pocket at half court and he slams it home.
Posted at: 00:16 EST 26/02/2025
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94-98
LeBron missed the floater but Finney-Smith was there with the tip slam.
Posted at: 00:16 EST 26/02/2025
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94-96
Kyrie from the top of the key and he gets the friendly bounce off the front of the rim!
Posted at: 00:15 EST 26/02/2025
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91-96
Luka with the lob from half court and LeBron makes the catch, gathers and lays it up.
Timeout Mavs with 4:05 to go.
Posted at: 00:12 EST 26/02/2025
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91-94
Doncic down the left side of the lane and he lays it up and in.
Posted at: 00:11 EST 26/02/2025
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91-92
James to the line after the foul on Marshall and he hits one of two FTs.
Posted at: 00:09 EST 26/02/2025
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91-91
Timeout Lakers with 5:30 to go in the fourth quarter.
Posted at: 00:06 EST 26/02/2025
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91-91
Marshall in the corner and he ties the game with a three ball!
Posted at: 00:05 EST 26/02/2025
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88-91
Luka kicks it out to LeBron and he sticks the three ball!
Posted at: 00:05 EST 26/02/2025
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88-88
Thompson with another three ball off the offensive rebound and kick out from Marshall!
Posted at: 00:04 EST 26/02/2025
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85-88
LeBron into the lane and he lobs it up for Hayes for the jam.
Posted at: 00:04 EST 26/02/2025
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85-86
Thompson with a pump fake, and three ball for his second in a row!
Posted at: 00:03 EST 26/02/2025
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82-86
LeBron with the leaner off the glass from outside the lane.
Posted at: 00:03 EST 26/02/2025
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82-84
Thompson answers back with a three ball to quiet the crowd down.
Posted at: 00:02 EST 26/02/2025
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79-84
Reaves with another lob and he finds LeBron for the layup on the 3/4 court pass.
Posted at: 00:02 EST 26/02/2025
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79-82
Reaves finds Hayes with the alley oop jam!
Posted at: 00:01 EST 26/02/2025
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79-80
Thompson on the drive and he banks it in from underneath.
Posted at: 23:59 EST 25/02/2025
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77-80
LeBron with the fader on the baseline to open up the quarter.
Posted at: 23:57 EST 25/02/2025
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77-78
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE THIRD QUARTER!!!
It’s a one-point game heading into the final 12 minutes.
Posted at: 23:53 EST 25/02/2025
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77-78
Exum got a LeBron elbow to the mouth on James’ way up to the bucket and he came up bloodied and maybe missing a few teeth, but nothing more than a turnover was called.
Posted at: 23:51 EST 25/02/2025
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77-78
Exum with a spot-up in the lane and he gets the roll.
Posted at: 23:48 EST 25/02/2025
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75-78
Mavs ball after the replay and Exum drills a three ball in the corner to cut it back to a three-point game.
Posted at: 23:47 EST 25/02/2025
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72-78
The Lakers are going to challenge an out-of-bounds call that went to DAL under the Mavs basket.
Posted at: 23:43 EST 25/02/2025
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72-78
Luka kicks it out and finds Vanderbilt for the three ball in the corner!!!
Posted at: 23:42 EST 25/02/2025
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72-75
Marshall dumps it off to Irving who lays it up in transition.
Posted at: 23:41 EST 25/02/2025
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70-75
Doncic to the line after the foul on Prosper and he hits one of two FTs.
Posted at: 23:39 EST 25/02/2025
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70-74
Dinwiddie with a fader from the mid-range and he gets the foul! FT is good after the foul on Vincent.
Posted at: 23:39 EST 25/02/2025
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67-74
Reaves drives down the lane and lays it up and in.
Posted at: 23:38 EST 25/02/2025
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67-72
Reaves to the line after the foul on Edwards and he hits both FTs.
Posted at: 23:37 EST 25/02/2025
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67-70
Dinwiddie pulls up from the perimeter and drills the three ball! It’s a three-point game and the Lakers need a timeout with 6:02 to go in the 3rd.
Posted at: 23:34 EST 25/02/2025

The Liberal party has kicked Ruby Dhalla out of the leadership race just days before the contestants were to face off in two debates in Montreal.

Party national director Azam Ishmael says in a statement published late Friday that the decision was made unanimously by the Liberal Leadership Vote Committee.

He says a “thorough investigation” concluded that Dhalla’s campaign had 10 violations of the national leadership rules, the vote rules and the expense rules.

He said those include alleged violations of the Canada Elections Act, not disclosing “material facts,” inaccurate financial reporting and other election finance violations.

The committee determined the violations were “extremely serious,” Ishmael added.

2:40Liberal Party sets new rules for leadership process

The decision comes a day after The Globe and Mail reported that the party had reached out to Dhalla with multiple questions about her campaign finances and possible allegations of foreign interference.

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In multiple statements on X and in an interview with Global News, Dhalla denies all the allegations calling them “fabricated, fictitious and fake.”

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She indicated that she learned of her disqualification from a CBC report, not from the party.

Dhalla said the party had questions about some of the donations made to her campaign, but said none of them were really a problem.

She said six out of several hundred donations involved a couple using their joint credit card to make donations for both the husband and wife.

“This is entirely LEGAL,” she posted.

She said another “fabricated violation” was that donors made $21,000 in contributions directly to her campaign instead of using the required custom link that sends the funds first to the party.

“The campaign refunded the donations and asked the donors to resubmit them via the customized link,” she said. “These donations estimated $21,000. This was not a VIOLATION. Yet another fake, false and fabricated allegation, designed to keep me from the ballot.”

1:48Liberal leadership race heating up with less than 50 days remaining in campaign

In his statement Ishmael said the investigation was extensive, including “interviews, questionnaires and an opportunity for Dr. Dhalla to directly address the committees.”

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Dhalla had paid the full $350,000 entry fee to the party by the deadline earlier this week, $300,000 of which is non-refundable.

This narrows the field to four candidates: former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, Montreal businessman Frank Baylis and former Liberal House leader Karina Gould.

They will face each other in a French language debate in Montreal Monday, followed by an English language debate on Tuesday.

The party selects its next leader on March 9.

Shaking from a 5.1 magnitude earthquake startled many Metro Vancouverites early Friday, Feb. 21 afternoon. 

Earthquakes Canada says the tremor struck an area about 60 km west of the city of Vancouver and 35 km west of Squamish just before 1:30 p.m. on Friday. While the department hasn’t received any reports of damage, they said shaking was “lightly felt” across the Lower Mainland. 

The tremor hasn’t caused a tsunami threat to B.C., according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that it hasn’t received reports of calls, damage or injuries related to the earthquake. However, it will continue to monitor the situation and reminded locals to be prepared for earthquakes.

Metro Vancouver residents respond to Friday afternoon earthquake

Vancouverite Daniel Pierce tells V.I.A. he was working from home when he felt the rumble. 

“My wife and I both felt it and our dog started barking. It was exciting, we wondered if another one would hit. So we immediately packed our bug-out bags in case we had to leave in a hurry.”

María García lives in the Kitsilano area and tells V.I.A. she was sitting on her bed when she felt the rumbling. 

“I was sitting on my bed when all of a sudden my bed, desk, walls – basically everything – started to shake. It lasted for about two to three minutes. It was accompanied by a low-pitched groaning sound – almost as if the earth was yawning – although the sound was probably my house being like what is happening!” 

Aliya Hussein was working in North Vancouver when she felt the quake.

“The whole building where I work was shaking. I thought my brain was playing tricks on me until my co-worker said she felt it too,” she tells V.I.A.

“I was not too scared but a little startled.”

• Related: Is a powerful earthquake likely to occur in Metro Vancouver soon?

Melissa Mesidor tells V.I.A. she’s used to shaking as she lives near a train, but this felt different. 

“It felt like the whole house was slowly swaying from side to side, with a deep, rumbling sound. Being new to the coast, it was the first time we’d ever felt anything like it. [It was] definitely weird,” she explained.

The Maple Ridge resident added that her golden lab kept snoozing away on the couch throughout the shaking. 

Kathy Coles lives in North Vancouver and said she was quite alarmed after she felt a second shake. 

“It shuddered once and I thought, ‘Oh my god what was that! did a truck hit this building? And then after the second shudder, I knew it was an earthquake,” she tells V.I.A.

“I have a lamp on a table that was shaking back and forth and I’m on the third floor. It was quite scary.”

Coles said she went into her hallway and a neighbour told her they could see windows shaking across the street in another building.

• Related: Here’s what a 7.2-magnitude earthquake would do to Vancouver

Heinie Enslin tells V.I.A. he was away from his desk while working in a second-floor office in Burnaby when he started to feel the tremor. 

“I started feeling the floor reacting to, what I thought was a delivery truck backing up into our wall. However, I saw that the computer monitor started to shake and realized this was more serious. The thought occurred to me that this might be an earthquake tremor and [was] confirmed when I heard the question come from my colleague’s cubicle. They asked if I also felt the tremor,” he explained.

“It didn’t last very long – perhaps 15 to 20 seconds – but I felt it strongly enough to set my sights on my escape route. Then the wait started to see if any further, perhaps larger tremors would follow.” 

Many locals are concerned about The Big One and earthquake preparedness 

Vancouverite Ajay Sharma says his initial thought was that there was an accident across the street at a construction site. 

“This felt like a dropping sensation as opposed to the traditional swaying,” he tells V.I.A. “Then I felt anxious…the uncertainty of what may happen. Is it a precursor to a bigger earthquake?

“I really felt as though we aren’t truly prepared for the big one as I saw neighbours running into the street. It was certainly uncomfortable and unnerving. I truly don’t feel as a municipality we are prepared for a disaster situation.”

New Westminster resident Jessica Craig says she felt it and was afraid about a possible bigger earthquake. 

“I think the first (thing) that comes to mind is, ‘Is it leading to the big one?'” she tells V.I.A. “Then…I really have to pack that earthquake kit with supplies.”

Tammy Morris is the owner of Be1 Fitness in Mount Pleasant and said she was sitting on the floor of the studio when she felt the “whole building shake.” 

“I instantly thought that they must be drilling underground for the Broadway Corridor SkyTrain so I went and looked out the window and when there was no work being done, that’s when I realized it was an earthquake,” she tells V.I.A. 

Emergency Info BC Earthquake tips

Emergency Info BC recommends staying calm if you feel shaking and for you to drop, cover and hold on. Once the shaking stops, count to 60 before getting up. You should also put on protective shoes and clothing as soon as possible. Aftershocks are possible following any earthquake. 

The department also advises that you check for unstable objects and other hazards above and around you. If you smell gas or rotten eggs, leave the building immediately. Call 9-1-1 or your gas company’s emergency phone number.

The B.C. government has instructions online for building an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag. How prepared did you feel when the earthquake hit B.C. on Friday?view related story Very prepared—I have a plan and supplies. Somewhat prepared—I know what to do but lack supplies. Not prepared—I’ve never thought about it. Completely unprepared—I have no idea what to do.

The Golden State Warriors have looked like an entirely different team since acquiring Jimmy Butler III in a deadline deal with the Miami Heat. But while they went 3-1 in Butler’s four games before the All-Star break, there was one giant negative caveat: their lone loss in that span came against the one team they faced that they were competing with in the standings.

So Friday night’s start to the second half of the season was both pressure-packed and a litmus test. The Dubs were finishing off a stretch of seven consecutive road games, and were facing the team directly ahead of them in the standings, the Sacramento Kings. Lose, and the Warriors would sink further into the 10th spot; win, and they’d leapfrog the Kings in the standings.

You don’t get extra points in the win column for impressive victories or blowouts. But you do get to make a statement to yourself, your opponent, and the rest of the conference.

Statement made.

Golden State went into a lively Golden1 Center and thoroughly dominated a motivated and energetic Kings team, and left the court with a 132-108 win.

Unlike in many of their other recent wins, the Warriors didn’t fall behind early, though it still took them a while to fully find their rhythm. A little electricity from Steph Curry early on gave the Dubs a 10-6 lead and forced a Kings timeout, but Sacramento responded with back-to-back threes that sparked a 10-2 run. Behind a spirited effort from DeMar DeRozan, the Kings were playing fast, playing hard, and playing physically. But the Warriors kept having responses, and brought plenty of energy of their own. Buddy Hield in particular brought a huge first-quarter spark with 10 points in the frame, including a three on the front end of a two-for one. The Warriors followed it up with a steal, and Butler found Brandin Podziemski in transition for a layup to make it a 31-28 lead after the first quarter. Golden State missed a lot of layups and easy shots, but had outscored Sacramento 10-0 in points off turnovers.

The second quarter was when the big lead was built. It started with Moses Moody who, after a strong first quarter, scored the first five points of the second frame for the Dubs. Quinten Post gave Golden State a fascinating look in the quarter, providing some size (they started with a small-ball lineup) and also some shooting. A pair of threes by Post (who had three of them in the quarter) helped push the lead to double digits and, less than halfway through the frame, a Podziemski three punctuated a 24-6 run that had spanned both quarters. With just under four minutes left, Hield scored on one end, the Warriors stole the ball on the other, and Curry found a streaking Gary Payton II with a full-court pass to push the lead to 20 points.

All was well until the very end of the quarter, when the Warriors botched a two-for-one. They went empty on both of their possessions, with Hield fouling DeRozan on a three-point attempt in between. It was still a 68-53 lead at the break, but it felt like the Warriors should be up by more … and like Sacramento had started to shift the moment.

That momentum shift carried over into the third quarter. Sacramento quickly made it an 11-point game, prompting a very early timeout from Steve Kerr. The Kings added a three out of the berak, making it an eight-point game and signaling that they weren’t going anywhere.

Golden State didn’t seem to care though. They bit down on their mouthpiece and came roaring back, with a run led by Moody’s offense and Draymond Green’s defense. They built the lead back to 15 points, prompting a Sacramento timeout. After the action resumed, the Warriors rattled off five straight points, prompting another Sacramento timeout. You could tell the Kings knew their chances were fading. Still, they kept punching, but the Warriors punched back, with Butler once again putting the team on his back late in the third quarter.

It was a fully in-control, 100-83 lead going into the fourth quarter. But we’ve seen the Warriors squander those before; this is a team that has not afforded us the luxury of putting our feet up when there’s a late lead.

Perhaps that will change going forward. Hield drained a three on the first possession to push the lead back to 20 points. Led by fantastic rebounding, the Warriors controlled not just the score but the energy and flow of the game. A few minutes into the quarter and it was a 24-point lead. A fading three in the corner by Curry made it 117-90 as we neared the halfway mark, and signaled that the only thing left to be determined was the final score.

A few minutes after that, both teams turned things over to the back of the bench. And a few minutes after that, the buzzer rang, marking an emphatic and impressive 24-point victory.

While Curry, Butler, and Green were the backbone of the success, it was the role players who showed up and showed out. The three leading scorers were Moody (22 points), Hield (22), and Podziemski (21). Moody was wildly efficient (8-for-11 shooting, 5-for-8 threes, 1-for-1 free throws) and played exceptional defense while drawing an opening assignment on Zach LaVine. Hield was equally efficient (quite literally: he had the exact same shooting line), and brought tremendous energy all night long, with tons of little hustle plays that set the tone. Podziemski struggled a little with efficiency (9-for-20 shooting, 2-for-9 threes, 1-for-1 free throws), but his playmaking, defense, and the timeliness of his buckets more than made up for it.

Curry finished with 20 points and six assists on 7-for-13 shooting, while Butler had 17 points and seven assists on 5-for-10 shooting, once again living at the line (he went 7-for-7). Green had six points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, and finished with a game-high plus/minus of +23.

But nothing showed how much the team has changed quite like the points off turnovers. Turnovers killed the Warriors early in the season, as did their inability to capitalize on other team’s mistakes, or minimize damage from their own turnovers. That seems to have changed with Butler’s arrival, and Friday was a shining example, with the Warriors ending the game with an eye-opening 38-5 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Dubs are now 4-1 since Butler debuted and, despite all five of those games being on the road, they’ve outscored their opponents by 62 points during that span. They’ve moved up to the ninth seed in the West, and will get a chance to exact some revenge from last week’s frustrating loss to the Dallas Mavericks, as they host Dallas on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT on ABC.

Here they come, folks.

The Trump administration is enmeshed in a long and rapidly growing list of legal challenges to the novel powers it has claimed for itself. But to try to understand the situation in terms of the individual cases, and the legal questions they implicate, is to miss the forest for the trees. The larger picture is that Donald Trump refuses, or is simply unable, to grasp any distinction between the law and his own whims.

That conflation was on display once again today at a meeting of governors at the White House. As Trump lectured the audience on his executive order banning transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s sports, he paused to single out Maine Governor Janet Mills.

“Are you not going to comply with it?” he demanded of her. “I’m complying with state and federal laws,” she replied. To this, Trump shot back, “We are the federal law.”

It is entirely possible that, if the state of Maine challenges the executive order, Trump will prevail legally. But what is important about this exchange is not whose interpretation of Title IX and the Administrative Procedure Act has a better chance to win five votes on the Supreme Court. It is that Trump is treating the law as coterminous with his own desires.

Trump then threatened Mills with the prospect of stripping away federal funding for her state: “You better do it, because you’re not going to get any federal funding at all if you don’t.” Legally, it is possible for the federal government to deny states certain funding streams under certain conditions. But Trump cannot simply cut Maine off financially because the state chooses to challenge a federal policy. Distinctions like this, however, seem totally lost on the president, who sees himself as national king—note his use of the royal we—and every other American, including each of the 50 states, as one of his quavering subjects.

Jonathan Chait: Trump says the corrupt part out loud

Trump has grown ever more brazen about his belief that his activities are by definition legal, and activities he opposes by definition criminal. That belief is implied by a long, long list of statements and actions, stretching from his career in business, when he routinely treated laws (forbidding him from discriminating against Black tenants or committing tax fraud) as suggestions; to the final days of his presidency, when he attempted to overturn his election defeat; to his post-presidency, when he flagrantly disregarded requirements that he turn over classified documents. It is also implied by his habit of describing a long list of political opponents as criminals.

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Trump recently summarized this belief by writing on X, “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law.” (The possibly apocryphal quote is commonly attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, who was, famously, a dictator.) His statement to Mills is utterly consistent with this belief: Since Trump cannot violate the law, it follows that the law means whatever he says. He has progressed from demonstrating his disregard for the law to stating it as a doctrine.

Trump’s supporters have followed his lead. When the White House announced a spending freeze last month, Matthew J. Vaeth, acting director of Trump’s budget office, wrote, “Career and political appointees in the Executive Branch have a duty to align Federal spending and action with the will of the American people as expressed through Presidential priorities.” Of course, the Constitution does not say that the will of the people is expressed exclusively through the president. It divides legitimate authority between three branches of government, resting the spending authority in the hands of Congress.

Paula White, the newly appointed White House faith adviser, has gone further, once stating, “To say no to President Trump would be saying no to God.” Far from reassuring the American people that they continue to live in a democratic republic, Trump and the White House have lately leaned into the divine-right theme with a series of social-media posts depicting Trump as a king for overruling New York City’s congestion-pricing system.

David A. Graham: The world’s most powerful unelected bureaucrat

Last week, the Wall Street Journal editorial board, which has occasionally scolded Trump for his naughtiness, dismissed fears that the country is entering a constitutional crisis as “overwrought.” Trump, the editors insisted, was merely testing the bounds of his executive authority, in this case by destroying a series of federal programs and agencies authorized by Congress. It is true, as the Journal argues, that previous presidents have tested the boundaries of their authority. But there is a point at which the executive branch moves so far and so fast that the eventual promise of legal redress means little. If you fire all the employees of a department and cancel its contractors, they’ll go broke waiting for the Supreme Court to rule in their favor. Imagine a Democratic administration setting out to replace every white Evangelical church in America with EV-charging stations—even if they agreed to abide by the courts in the event of an adverse ruling, this wouldn’t offer much comfort.

But the larger dynamic is that Trump isn’t merely pushing to redefine the boundaries of the law or even the Constitution. He is rejecting the principle that the law constrains him at all. The existence of a constitutional crisis cannot be understood solely in terms of the discrete claims of the executive branch vis-à-vis the other two. A president who maintains that the law means whatever he wants it to mean is a constitutional crisis.

Photo: The Canadian Press

Rogers Communications Inc. says it has laid off some of its customer service staff amid a shift in customer habits. Rogers store signage shown in Mississauga, Ont., Monday, Dec.16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Buchan

Rogers Communications Inc. says it has laid off employees from its customer service department amid a shift in customer habits.

The Toronto-based company says the cuts affect “a small percentage of roles in our customer service team,” however it declined to clarify how many employees were let go.

It says the majority of positions affected are based in Ontario.

Spokesman Zac Carreiro says Rogers is investing in digital tools and self-serve options that help customers “find what they’re looking for faster,” noting this reflects evolving customer habits.

He says those investments have reduced interactions with Rogers’ customer care chat team by 20 per cent over the past year.

Rogers, which has previously touted having its customer service team based entirely in Canada, also offers support through virtual assistant tools.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took a victory lap on social media after Canada defeated the USA in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey tournament.

Trudeau took to X, formerly Twitter, shortly after three-time NHL MVP Connor McDavid gave Canada a 3-2 overtime victory in Boston.

“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game,” Trudeau wrote.

The message was short but powerful — and unmistakably pointed at President Donald Trump.

Trump has floated the idea of annexing Canada and said in his Super Bowl interview he thinks “Canada would be much better off being the 51st state.” The comments, combined with an ongoing tariff battle, has led to “The Star-Spangled Banner” being booed in Canada.

Opinion:US athletes now treated as ugly Americans, thanks to President Trump

That gained particular attention during the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the countries in Montreal with some U.S. fans returning the favor during the Canadian anthem Thursday night in Boston.

“O Canada” did not appear to be booed a second time as the Canadians celebrated their victory.

Trump was not in attendance for Thursday’s game, but he did call the team in the locker room after the morning’s practice. 

If there was any belief left in the Phoenix Suns, it would have to be rewarded coming out of the All-Star break with a light six-game stretch before a daunting close to the schedule.

It began on Thursday with a 120-109 loss to a San Antonio Spurs team that had just found out earlier that day that All-Star center Victor Wembanyama would miss the rest of the season, only for them to never trail against a team that should be incredibly desperate.

But the only thing you saw from the Suns (26-29) is the look of a group that is destined to miss the postseason entirely. It has gone far beyond asking how this is happening and instead is now about accepting that it is if you haven’t already.

The first quarter was a microcosm for how deep into the struggles the Suns are. That’s because their energy and intent on both ends was actually better than usual. But a 3-for-14 start shooting the ball and a few turnovers still resulted in a 31-21 deficit even though you saw what you wanted to with effort.

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• Kevin Durant and Chris Paul exchange words, have to be separated during 1st half of Suns-Spurs

In other words, the Suns are not afforded the luxury of just deciding to try really hard and having that be the solution to all their problems. That can do the trick earlier in the year but we’re in late February. The ship sailed on that type of fix two months ago. It’s not as simple as, “Oh let’s lock in” and then this team is suddenly one that executes at a consistent level. We will never see that consistency.

Shortly later in the early second quarter, San Antonio had a back-breaking stretch of two offensive rebounds followed by getting diced by Spurs wing Julian Champagnie twice in transition to put the Spurs back up 13. With 7:24 to go in the second quarter, it felt like a potential breaking point.

That’s when Phoenix went small and immediately responded with a 13-0 run to tie the game. Again, for as frustrating as a watching experience the Suns prove to be, it is not the easy answer of just them folding and quitting whenever they have these inexcusable stretches. Which makes them even more incomprehensible of a basketball team.

The Suns trailed by six at halftime and continued to go small, starting Bol Bol over Nick Richards to begin the second half. That did not resolve their issues defending ball screens, as the ever-savvy Chris Paul knew exactly who to pick on and when. Phoenix had four straight horrific defensive possessions on ball screens that resulted in three open shots at the rim and a wide-open corner 3 to put the Spurs back up 11.

Awful turnovers, transition defense and ball screen defense were constant negatives weighing down the Suns heavily enough to trail by 15 going into the fourth quarter. All San Antonio had to do was keep taking advantage of that to score enough in order to hold on despite a severe gap in talent.

A spurt did come rather soon, with the Suns surging on a 17-4 run to get within three not even halfway into the final frame. Again, though, could they avoid those problem areas long enough?No. They could not. The defense stumbled to allow a 7-0 Spurs run and put Phoenix back to chasing the game. San Antonio’s size on the perimeter against small Suns lineups featuring four guards and Durant was problematic.

It was 109-103 Spurs with 2:49 to go when the Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox hunted Grayson Allen three straight possessions to score on drives to the rim. A fourth for good measure in transition off a Suns turnover sealed it. The Suns have had no answer all year for dribble penetration, nor counters to that weakness like heavy helping toward an opposing star that can’t be effortlessly dissected. It’s mind-blowing.

With the All-Star break offering a chance for coaches to make more serious tweaks to their system, the Suns were a notable case given the issues with the starting lineup and lack of playing time recently for rookie Ryan Dunn.

Ever since the emergence of Dunn, the Suns have only had one sustained stretch of a fully healthy group of guards and wings, presenting the challenge of finding Dunn playing time amongst veterans that hold more trust from a coaching staff pushing everything to its limits.

In six games from Jan. 25 to Feb. 4, here was the minutes allotment on the perimeter: Devin Booker (39.1 MPG), Kevin Durant (37.8), Bradley Beal (31.3), Allen (27), Tyus Jones (25), Royce O’Neale (24) and Dunn (11.3). This did not include Bol, who reached 30 minutes in each of the last three games prior to the All-Star break.

There has been an understandable push from the fanbase to reduce Jones’ role and have him come off the bench given how little he is now involved on the ball and how he is targeted defensively, but Jones remained in the starting lineup. So did O’Neale, who replaced Dunn in the starting lineup after Dunn was the guy to get Beal’s spot.

Dunn did not play until the late third quarter and just for 20 seconds, with Allen, Bol, O’Neale and Mason Plumlee making up the reserves to go nine-deep. Sitting Dunn would make sense in Phoenix’s situation if he was raw and didn’t have immediate skills that translate but he has proven he can positively impact games in the areas the Suns lack. And that’s if the Suns were seen as a contender both this year and next! But they are not and must start developing talent for the future. Now.

Richards cannot play only nine minutes, Dunn cannot play only 20 seconds and rookie Oso Ighodaro also needs to start getting minutes.

This was a bizarre Booker game we’ve seen a few times over the years, where he’s clearly focused and putting in maximum effort, only for his offensive game to result in uncharacteristic mistakes.I can’t remember the last time I saw him called for traveling off a catch from the perimeter but that happened on Thursday. This all came on a night when his defense was back at the level it should have been all year, and yet, it was one of his worst overall performances of the year. He was 4-of-14 for 17 points with eight assists and four turnovers.

Durant was hardly involved in the second half to finish with 22 points on 9-for-13 shooting while O’Neale scored a career-high 27 points. Durant was briefly fiddling with the left thumb that forced him to miss a game recently while Booker dealt with some discomfort in this right knee. Both guys kept playing.

Jones got 23 minutes and was 1-of-9 from the floor. Beal was a bright spot with 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

San Antonio had all nine guys getting minutes reach at least eight points, led by Fox’s 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

Points off turnovers were 25-7 Spurs.

Wembanyama out for year

The biggest news of the day was Wembanyama coming down with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, more simply known as a blood clot.

With this obviously being such a scary thing to pop up, Wembanyama thankfully has just a short-term diagnosis and is expected to be ready for the start of next season.  Some additional info from ESPN when it comes to this type of injury and how he should be OK going forward:

There have been a number of high-profile athletes, including  numerous basketball players, who have been diagnosed with blood clots and were able to proceed with great careers. When a blood clot is diagnosed, two things become important: First, you must get on anticoagulant medication immediately to prevent more clotting and mitigate the risk of a clot traveling to your heart or lungs. This medication is typically needed for around six months and comes with a restriction on certain activities, including contact sports. That is why it is known today that Wembanyama will be out for the rest of the season.

Wembanyama entered the day listed as doubtful on the injury report due to an illness and was coming off a stretch at the start of February when he noticeably lacked his same energy, with fatigue that kept him out of a contest back on Feb. 1. San Antonio’s was recently getting smoked when Wembanyama was on the floor, which combined with the illness indicated something wasn’t quite right for one of the best bigs in basketball.

The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported the Spurs wisely had Wembanyama undergo testing when this persisted after the All-Star break.

San Antonio (24-29) was poised to make a late run at a play-in spot in the Western Conference with Fox now in the fold, albeit while working from behind and requiring a strong closing pace. Without Wembanyama, the Spurs aren’t absolutely cooked, but will need Fox at the All-NBA level he’s reached in the past combined with some breakout stretches from others to stay in that mix. If they cannot, that would essentially leave 11 teams competing for 10 spots.

A minor subplot absolutely worth noting is if San Antonio sinks down the standings, it not only has its own first-round pick but Atlanta’s as well. The Hawks, currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, are five games ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets in the loss column, two teams below the play-in line. Atlanta lost star wing Jalen Johnson for the year and sold heavy at the trade deadline, so it will fall, but it’s a matter of if anyone in the East can win enough games for it to matter.

To paint a realistic expectation of where the Spurs and Hawks could land, let’s slot them ninth and 10th in the reverse standings. Add up the lottery odds and that would give San Antonio a 34.2% chance at a top-4 pick and a 7.5% opportunity for the No. 1 overall selection. It’s the type of talent bump that can push a long-term core over the edge.

Some canned tuna has been linked to botulism concerns, with major grocers including Costco, Trader Joe’s and Walmart pulling the items from their shelves, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday. Tri-Union Seafoods is recalling select products from Genova, Van Camp’s, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s brands due to a defect in the “easy-open” pull-tab lids. This manufacturing issue could lead to leakage or for the product to become contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal bacteria that results in food poisoning. No illnesses have been reported to date, and consumers are advised not to use the affected products, even if they appear normal, and to seek medical attention if feeling unwell.

Worried your tuna may be impacted? Here are the stores and states where the products have been recalled:

• H-E-B label: Texas
• Trader Joe’s label: Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin
• Genova 7 oz.: Costco in Florida and Georgia
• Genova 5 oz.: Harris Teeter, Publix, H-E-B, Kroger, Safeway, Walmart and independent retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, Tennessee and Texas
• Van Camp’s label: Walmart and independent retailers in Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey

Recalled products also have specific can codes, as well as “best if used by” dates, on the bottom of the cans. The FDA has a list of those numbers here.

At a glance

Foodborne illnesses are shockingly common in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 48 million people get sick from foodborne diseases every year.

The best ways to avoid foodborne illness, no matter the type, is to practice proper hand hygiene, cook food to safe temperatures, store food correctly, avoid cross-contamination and stay informed about food recalls. Most foodborne illnesses improve with rest and hydration, but severe cases — such as ones causing a high fever, or symptoms like breathing issues — require medical attention.

Here’s a quick overview of each illness. Click the links to jump to read more.

• Botulism: A rare but deadly toxin from Clostridium botulinum. Typically found in improperly canned or sealed foods. Causes a variety of symptoms including dry mouth, facial muscle weakness and trouble breathing and speaking.
• E. coli: A bacteria found in contaminated food or water. It causes stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Can lead to kidney failure in severe cases.
• Listeria: Bacteria typically found in raw produce, deli meats and unpasteurized dairy. Causes fever and nausea and can lead to meningitis or complications in pregnant women. It thrives under cold temperatures, such as your fridge.
• Salmonella: Bacteria from poultry, eggs, and dairy causing diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
• Hepatitis A: A liver infection spread by contaminated food or water. Causes nausea, fatigue and jaundice. Vaccines can prevent it.
• Norovirus: A highly contagious virus sometimes called the stomach flu. It leads to vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain. Spreads easily in group settings and usually resolves in a few days.

Botulism

What it is: A potentially fatal foodborne illness caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The neurotoxin is one of the most dangerous known, and it thrives in low-oxygen environments, such as improperly canned, jarred, or vacuum-sealed foods.

Foodborne botulism is commonly caused by homemade foods that are improperly canned, preserved or fermented. Store-bought foods can become contaminated with botulinum toxin as well, though this is more rare.

What the symptoms are: Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, drooping eyelids and slurred speech, as well as difficulty swallowing, speaking and breathing. In more severe cases, botulism can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and death.

What experts want you to know: “All kinds of botulism can be fatal and are medical emergencies,” per the CDC. “If you or your child has signs and symptoms of botulism, immediately see your doctor or go to the emergency room. Do not wait.”

E. coli

What it is: A bacteria that lives in the intestines of people and animals, and is known as Escherichia coli, or E. coli. Though it is harmless while in the gut, ingesting certain types of E. coli — such as E. coli O157:H7 — can cause severe gastrointestinal issues, according to the Mayo Clinic. One way E. coli is spread is when feces contaminate food and water. Since animals can potentially carry pathogenic E. coli, touching animals, such as at a petting zoo, can potentially put you at risk.

What the symptoms are: Stomach issues include severe cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Fever is also common. In extreme cases, E. coli may lead to a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and neurologic problems, according to the FDA.

“If people develop bloody diarrhea or have a decline in urine output or are pale, they should seek medical attention,” says Shaw.

What experts need you to know: Consuming ground beef can potentially put you at a greater risk of E. coli exposure. “If you cook your steak, and you cook the outside, you’re usually safe from it,” says Parsonnet. “But if you make hamburgers, you’re taking the outside of the meat that’s been contaminated, and you’re mixing it in the middle.” (The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to a safe minimum internal temperature of 160°F to destroy harmful bacteria.)

But it’s not just ground beef that’s linked to outbreaks. “A few years ago, there was an E. coli outbreak in apple juice because it was probably contaminated by feces,” says Parsonnet. Anything that’s contaminated with animal feces, such as produce grown in fields, has the potential to expose you to E. coli, she says.

Listeria

What it is: A disease-causing bacteria called listeria monocytogenes. It can survive and grow under refrigeration. The disease people develop after eating food contaminated with this bacteria is called listeriosis.

What the symptoms are: Mild symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, while symptoms for the more severe form of listeriosis include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What experts need you to know: “Listeria has the unfortunate property to grow under refrigeration temperatures, which is uncommon for foodborne illness,” Dr. Albert Shaw tells Yahoo Life. Shaw is an infectious diseases specialist and professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Shaw added: “It can contaminate any food really, but we see outbreaks in raw fruits and vegetables, as well as improperly heated hot dogs and things like deli meats. Unpasteurized milk or soft cheeses, especially Brie and queso that are made with potentially unpasteurized ingredients, have been associated with outbreaks in the past.”

While listeriosis symptoms can typically be treated at home, Dr. Julie Parsonnet notes that the disease can be serious in certain individuals. Parsonnet is a professor of infectious diseases at Stanford University School of Medicine. “Pregnant women are at risk because the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and the placenta, and there’s a high risk of fetal loss due to the infection,” she tells Yahoo Life. “The elderly can also get listeria in their blood and their brain, causing meningitis. It’s not a common cause of disease, but among the foodborne illnesses, listeria is one of the more common causes of death.”

Salmonella

What it is: A group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness. It’s typically associated with meat and poultry as well as undercooked eggs, but dairy products, fruits and leafy greens can also be contaminated.

What the symptoms are: Gastrointestinal illness, which includes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. More severe illnesses associated with salmonella include high fever, lethargy, a rash and blood in the urine or stool, according to the FDA.

What experts need you to know: In the U.S., poultry and eggs — as seen with this recent outbreak and recall — are the most common sources of salmonella, says Parsonnet. You can typically avoid the bacteria by cooking your food. It’s also important to avoid cross contamination while preparing food, making sure that raw ingredients don’t touch anything you will be consuming.

Shaw says that for those with a normal immune system, salmonella typically runs its course in two to three days. Though most people recover at home, Parsonnet says it’s possible to see “severe illness in people who are immunocompromised or have sickle cell anemia.”

Hepatitis A

What it is: A highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Exposure typically happens when people come into close contact with an infected person, as well as through eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the virus.

What the symptoms are: Lethargy, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, joint pain and dark-colored urine are all common symptoms. Clay- or gray-colored stool, as well as intense itching and jaundiced skin, are signs that can distinguish a hepatitis A infection from other foodborne illnesses.

What experts need you to know: Hepatitis A is rare in the U.S., thanks to vaccinations, notes Parsonnet. Adults who get hepatitis A typically recover within one to two weeks, but it’s possible for the disease to become chronic, which can lead to liver failure and death.

Shaw says that hepatitis A “is usually foodborne, either from contamination in the fields or with a food handler who is preparing food without sufficient precautions. Transmission can come from someone going to the bathroom and not washing their hands sufficiently and then preparing food.”

Recent hepatitis A outbreaks have been linked to strawberries, as well as raw scallops, frozen tuna and conventional blackberries.

Norovirus

What it is: A highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

What the symptoms are: Norovirus causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. “It usually resolves within two to three days,” says Shaw. These symptoms typically last one to three days, according to the Mayo Clinic.

What experts need you to know: Typically, people become infected after coming into contact with the virus by consuming food or drink contaminated by another person with the virus, or by coming into contact with a surface or object with the virus and then touching their mouth.

According to the CDC, norovirus is responsible for about 50% of all outbreaks of food-related illness, most of which happen in food-service settings such as restaurants.

“This is the virus that’s associated with outbreaks on cruise ships,” Shaw points out. “It is highly contagious because the dose that you need to become infected is really low.”

Parsonnet agrees, adding: “If you have it, you can easily give it to your family and to other people in the household” through being in close contact, such as sharing food or eating utensils. Most people recover without treatment, but symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting can cause severe dehydration.

How to recover from foodborne illnesses

The treatment for mild foodborne illness is typically rest and drinking plenty of fluids in order to avoid dehydration. In rare and severe cases, listeria and salmonella may be treated with antibiotics.

It’s also important to keep an eye on your symptoms, notes Parsonnet. A fever greater than 102°F, bloody diarrhea or diarrhea with mucus, bad abdominal cramps, weakness or confusion, and symptoms that don’t improve within 48 hours warrant reaching out to a health care provider.