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Fraternity cocaine ring busted at Penn State

SEE PAGES 4-5

NY socialist boss who opposes private property gifted $1.5M B'klyn home by parents

The millionaire parents of a top DSA leader have set up their socialist son in a $1.5 mil- lion Brooklyn home — where he lives while railing against the rich and property ownership. The Post has learned, Gustavo Gordillo, 38, is peddling his anti-capitalist agenda while enjoying the life in the two-story, nearly 2,000-square-foot home in Bed-Stuy.

SEE PAGE 7

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New York Post, Wednesday, August 19, 2026 nypost.com

Toll fails to lower pollution: report

By CARL CAMPANILE, HALEY BROWN and GEORGETT ROBERTS

Told you so! A new city report that found congestion pricing failed to reduce air pollution in Manhattan — as backers claimed it would — proves the $9 toll on drivers was just a “money grab” to fund mass transit, opponents railed Tuesday. The analysis released by the Department of Health found the toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street did not reduce air pollution in the congestion zone, despite an 11% drop in car trips compared to before the tax was implemented.

“Did congestion pricing affect air quality in the congestion relief zone? No,” the report said.

Kathryn Freed, a Lower East Side resident and member of New Yorkers Against Congestion Pricing Tax, which sued the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to block the toll, said the report said nothing has changed in terms of pollution.

“There hasn’t been any change. Supporters said there would be less pollution if traffic went down in Manhattan. Apparently there’s no environmental benefit at all,” said Freed, a former state judge and councilwoman.

What’s the point, then?

“How can they say traffic went down but not air pollution?”

At a press conference in January, Gov. Hochul boasted that “pollution is down more than 20% in one year” because of congestion pricing.

Hochul initially paused congestion pricing in 2024 but then signed off on it after the November election and it went into effect in January 2025, overcoming opposition from President Trump and lawsuits.

“It was all bulls—t. It was to put money in the MTA’s pocket,” said Vinnie DiMino, owner of the Sea Breeze

Congest is a “dirty trick”

Fish Market on Ninth Avenue, near the Lincoln Tunnel. “The report just proved it wasn’t

about air pollution. It was all about transit. It’s all a lie. The Democratic politicians lie.”

He fumed, “I feel like I have been robbed. It cost me $50-$60 a day to go back and forth, in and out of the [congestion] zone for deliveries. They are killing us.”

The toll is scheduled to rise to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031.

Manhattan resident Jill Bowman, who drives to Brooklyn and New Jersey several times a week, said, “We know it’s bulls—t, but

we can’t do anything about it. “It’s not about saving lives. It’s about making money,” she said.

But the MTA, which operates the congestion toll and collects the revenue to fund its buses and trains, said the pollution report proves the program is working.

“Before we turned the cameras on, there was concern about the potential for increased pollution caused by drivers looking to avoid the toll,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.

NYers No. 1 ‘social’ animals

New Yorkers are on a scroll — as the nation’s No. 1 most social-media addicted state, says a new study.

The top ranking was based on residents’ average monthly Google searches related to social media platforms, according to the personal-injury firm Winder Law Firm.

New Yorkers reported 157,537 monthly searches per 100,000 residents for terms such as “Facebook login” and “TikTok desktop” — 16% higher than the national average, the study found.

All told, New Yorkers averaged 30,831,885 monthly searches for these terms, the third highest after California (56,670,340) and Texas (46,353,266).

New Yorkers’ five favorite platforms were YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X and Reddit, the study found.

After New York, other states in the top 10 for social-media engagement were Virginia (156,340), Washington (153,725), North Carolina (153,583), Georgia (153,418), Massachusetts (152,178), Texas (151,961), Oregon (147,383), Illinois (146,896) and Pennsylvania (145,650)

“While you might assume that people in more rural or isolated states would use social-media platforms more to stay connected, this data shows the opposite,” said Aaron Winder of the Winder Law Firm.

“We can see that social-media engagement is much more concentrated in high-density areas that are known more for their tech scene.” Ben Cost

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3

New York Post, Wednesday, August 19, 2026

nypost.com

STILL NO 2PAC SNITCH

Gang rival mum at trial

By JARED DOWNING

A notorious former gang-banger scoffed at lawyers asking him about Tupac Shakur's murder — daring the court to "treat me as a hostile witness" in fiery testimony on Tuesday.

"Mob James" McDonald — former member of Compton's Mob Piru Gang and private muscle for Death Row Records — scoffed at lawyers on both sides who peppered him with questions about the gang war that led to the rapper's 1996 murder on the Las Vegas Strip.

"I'm aware of a lot of things. Things that was going on. People ain't talked about it in 30 years. Today ain't one of them," McDonald said as the prosecution attempted to tie the now 63-year-old Duane "Keffe D" Davis — of the rival South Side Compton Crips gang — to the murder plot.

McDonald was a lieutenant for Suge Knight, a fellow Mob Piru member and the head of Shakur's label Death Row Records.

"Me or anybody else raising up the dead is wrong," McDonald said when asked to talk about the 30-year-old beef.

"I don't want to send [Davis] to prison. Even though we don't like each other," McDonald declared before ripping the court for forc-

ing him to dredge up memories of the old life he wants to put behind him and protect his grandchildren from.

Prosecutors say Davis (bottom inset) gave a gun to his nephew Orlando Anderson and told him to shoot Shakur (top inset) as an "act of revenge" after the rapper and his pals beat Anderson up.

It took more than 25 years to arrest and charge Davis, who has acknowledged that his nephew — now dead — was the one who fired the shots, but has denied giving the order.

McDonald had been managing security at Suge Knight's Las Vegas club, where Knight and Shakur were headed during the ambush.

He said he knew who was and wasn't present during the attack, but he wouldn't name names — nor answer questions about the skirmishes that erupted in Compton after the murder.

"You're asking me something that's gonna hurt this dude!" McDonald said to Davis' attorney Michael Sanft.

The testimony ended in a shouting match with McDonald throwing up his hands and saying "I'm not answering nothing. I don't know what you're talking about."

Then, turning to Davis, he said: "Cover your lawyer, man. That dude is trippin."

Shakur silent 'til the end

Tupac Shakur refused to say who shot him as he lay bleeding in an ambulance, according to a cop who tried to press the iconic rapper for answers.

Former Las Vegas police officer Garry Dale recalled asking for the names of attackers as he rode with Shakur in an ambulance to a hospital in September 1996 after the

hip-hop artist was wounded in a drive-by shooting.

"He responded, 'No, no, we'll take care of it.' Something like that," Dale testified on Monday in the murder trial against the now 63-year-old Duane Davis.

Shakur would die in hospital six days later from his injuries.

Jared Downing

Knick-ing back in Italy

Knicks coach Mike Brown is enjoying the post-championship life.

The coach and his wife Rochelle "Ro" Ledesma enjoyed some R&R in Porto Cervo, an Italian seaside resort in Northern Sardinia on Sunday in new beach photos obtained by The Post.

The couple, mostly private regarding their personal life, were seen canoodling in the ocean and laughing together while lounging under an umbrella.

Brown sported white swim shorts and sunglasses while Ledesma donned a blue bikini.

The pair's European vacation came after a whirlwind summer for Brown.

In his first year at the helm, Brown coached the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years against the Spurs in June. Jenna Lemoncelli

PIEZZA LAVAYA BACKGROUND

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nypost.com

LIKE FATHER . . . Pittsburgh lawyer Paul Robinson is facing charges along with son Thomas (inset) in the Penn State drug scandal.

By PAIGE KAHN and JORGE FITZ-GIBBON

A prominent Pittsburgh lawyer has been implicated in the Penn State first brother drug trafficking scandal — with his son among the alleged ringleaders.

Paul Robinson, an attorney with the firm of Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck and onetime first member, is charged with helping to hide evidence from an alleged multistate cocaine-trafficking ring in the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternities at Penn State run by his son, Thomas, and other current and former students.

In all, 14 people were charged, with Thomas Robinson and Agostino Abbatiello described as the alleged ringleaders.

Obstruction raps

Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence in the case, including a safe stuffed with cash and drugs and obstructing the investigation, state prosecutors said.

The elder Robinson earned a bachelor's degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from New England School of Law in 1992, according to his company profile, which also lists Thomas as one of his children. He was treasurer for Delta Sigma Phi as an undergrad, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta while in law school, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and specializes in transportation, commercial, construction and insurance law.

He is currently a managing attorney at Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck based in Pittsburgh. In a statement, the law firm told The Post it is aware of the charges filed against Robinson. "The allegations concern Mr Robinson individually and do not involve the Firm, its clients, or the legal services provided by the Firm," the statement said. "The Firm is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the matter."

Penn State announced Monday it is placing Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while an investigation is conducted, but said Sigma Chi operates outside of the university's oversight.

Prosecutors claim Thomas Robinson, a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, and Nassau County resident Agostino Abbatiello, a Sigma Chi first brother, were the alleged ringleaders of the drug-trading enterprise.

Abbatiello, 24, lives in a spacious single-family home in Westbury, valued at $1.4 million, according to property records.

The firsts allegedly coordinated with suppliers in New York and Philadelphia, trafficking in the cocaine and distributing it mainly to Penn State students.

Paul Robinson did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. His son could not immediately be reached for comment.

Penn State ring led by

By JORGE FITZ-GIBBON, DANIEL CODY and JARED DOWNING

The first bro's blew it. More than a dozen Penn State fraternity members were busted for running a complex cocaine trafficking ring out of two Happy Valley first houses — even forcing young pledges to cut and bag drugs to sell to classmates, according to prosecutors.

And the leader at the "very top of the chain" is allegedly a Long Island kid who grew up in a spacious $1.4 million Westbury manse, authorities said.

Agostino Abbatiello, 24, allegedly ran the ring with Thomas Robinson, the son of prominent Pittsburgh attorney Paul Robinson, who was also implicated in the ring and hit with felony charges of concealing evidence.

The elder Robinson, a former first brother who was a member of Delta Sigma Phi and Phi Alpha Delta while in college and law school, is a managing partner with Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck.

Both of the accused Pablo Pledgescobars graduated two years ago, but continued to deal even after leaving the first house, according to prosecutors.

Abbatiello was an accounting major on the dean's list with a "passion for numbers and financial storytelling," according to now-deleted pages on the Penn State site.

'Spoon-fed'

Neighbors told Fox News Digital that Abbatiello "had a good job in accounting" and was "doing well."

"They were all taken care of, spoon-fed," the neighbor told the outlet, adding that Abbatiello has two siblings around the same age.

"They weren't the kind of kids to take the garbage out or shovel the snow."

Abbatiello's father, who works in construction, emerged at the Westbury home Tuesday to yell at reporters outside after his son turned himself in to cops in Centre County, Pa.

"We have no comment. We have nothing to do with this. We have no comment. Please leave! You're making my wife nervous," he said.

The younger Abbatiello was ordered held without bail.

He and Thomas Robinson — of the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternities, respectively — were allegedly the main suppliers of cocaine for State College — with Abbatiello frequently traveling to Philadelphia and New York to pick up large quantities of cocaine from suppliers between 2023 and 2024.

When an undercover cop busted Robinson, the alleged dealer told authorities Abbatiello sold him

RINGLEADER: Agostino Abbatiello (circled, with family) — one of the 13 Penn State first bro's busted in the alleged cocaine trafficking ring — grew up in a $1.4 million Westbury, L.I. manse (far right). The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said the 24-year-old was "at the very top of the chain."

batches of cocaine of up to one kilogram — well over two pounds — for as much as $22,000, a criminal complaint claims.

Abbatiello allegedly distributed cocaine as recently as February 2026, according to the complaint.

Two other first members have been charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and related offenses, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office said.

More than a dozen Penn State

Facebook/Danielle Abbatiello

fraternity bro's were also charged with running the ring, which forced young pledges to cut and bag the drugs then sold to students, according to prosecutors.

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LI rich kid, son of Pitt. att'y: authorities

FRAT CAT 'COKE' KINGS

APPROVED BY K. KIRK

"This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers,

and pledges," Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement Monday. "In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some

pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities."

When he learned law enforcement was interviewing individuals about Penn State drug dealing, Ab-

batiello reportedly "begged them not to talk about his involvement."

A second Long Islander — Robert Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset — is also charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.

Raps for dad

Also charged, with misdemeanors, are: Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman.

Paul Robinson, Thomas' father, is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence in the case, including a safe stuffed with cash and drugs and obstructing the investigation, federal prosecutors said.

The elder Robinson was treasurer for Delta Sigma Phi as an

undergrad, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta while in law school, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He is currently a managing attorney at Meyer Darragh based in Pittsburgh.

Penn State has since suspended Delta Upsilon while it investigates the frat and said Sigma Chi is not recognized by the university and operates outside its supervision.

"We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students," said Andrea Dowhower, Penn State's vice president for Student Affairs.

"Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations." Additional reporting by Kevin Sheehan

5 New York Post, Wednesday, August 19, 2026 nypost.com

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6

ZUMA Press Wire

ELECTION 2026

Florida coaster

Fine beats bigot

Rep. Randy Fine of Florida easily turned back a Republican primary challenge Tuesday by far-right influencer Dan Bilzerian, who suggested in one campaign ad that Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler needed to be reassessed.

With two-thirds of the expected ballots in, Fine had scored 56.7% of the vote compared with Bilzerian's 18%.

Bilzerian's shocking commercial — which referred to Fine as a "fat Jew," "Shylock," "Jewish supremacist," "Satanic whore" and "Satan's creepy little minion" — drew a rare bipartisan rebuke from both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).

The spot also used artificial intelligence to make Fine appear fatter and show him hugging a bag full of cash, while frequently cutting to the Israeli flag.

As footage of Hitler played in the background, a singer asked: "Should we revisit that Austrian painter's opinions?"

During the campaign, Bilzerian — who initially gained a social-media following in the 2010s by posting photos purporting to show him living an extravagant lifestyle — shared a post reading: "It's not red against blue. It's us against the Jew." Ryan King

By VICTOR NAVA and JOSH CHRISTENSON

Rep. Byron Donalds trounced his opponents Tuesday night in the Florida Republican primary for governor and is now the heavy favorite to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis in Tallahassee.

Donalds, who was endorsed by President Trump, cruised to victory over 10 other opponents with 47.8% of the vote, nearly doubling up Sunshine State Lt. Gov. Jay Collins (25.2%), while far-right former investor James Fishback (10.5%) and former state House Speaker Paul Renner (8.5%) battled to finish a distant third.

"The primary is over," Donalds, 47, told supporters at a Universal Studios resort hotel in Orlando.

"Tonight we put aside our differences. Tonight we are one united Republican Party."

Notably, Donalds did not mention Trump's name or thank the president for his endorsement in his victory speech.

He told reporters afterward that he's grateful for the support from Trump but won't lean on it in a general election campaign.

"Obviously, he has the strongest following of anybody in our party," Donalds said. "You start with that."

But, he added, "You can't just sit back and think the president's endorse-

ment is going to carry you." Donalds will face former Rep. David Jolly in November.

Jolly served in the US House as a Republican from 2014 to 2017 — losing his bid for a second House term to another Republican-turned-Democrat, Charlie Crist.

He left the Republican Party in 2018 and initially registered as an independent. In 2022, Jolly joined former presidential candidate Andrew Yang's Forward Party.

In House races, it was a disappointing night for insurgent candidates.

Longtime Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) easily fended off four challengers in Florida's 20th District.

Debbie wins big

Wasserman Schultz, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, opted to run in that district — which is more than 60% black and Hispanic — after state Republicans reconfigured her former district, making it far more GOP friendly.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) triumphed over socialist challenger Oliver Larkin in Florida's 25th Congressional District primary, marking another setback for the Democratic Party's left wing.

Mills falls to TV anchor Fla. DSAer Nixon's upset win

Scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) lost his congressional primary race Tuesday night to former TV news anchor Ryan Elijah.

Elijah, the former host of "Good Day Orlando," led Mills by double digits — 46.9% to 34.4% — when the race was called by The Associated Press.

Mills is being probed by the House Ethics Committee over "serious and complex" accusations, including allegations of domestic assault, stolen valor and financial misconduct.

President Trump had endorsed Mills, but notably did not re-up the endorsement on Truth Social in recent days. Victor Nava

Far-left Florida state lawmaker Angie Nixon shocked retired Army Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in Tuesday night's special Democratic US Senate primary. With 92% of the expected vote in, Nixon led Vindman, 55.9% to 44.1%, giving the far left a major success

on an otherwise rough night in the Sunshine State. Nixon is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, while Vindman served as a key witness in President Trump's first impeachment trial over his demand that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zel-

ensky investigate then-former Vice President Joe Biden's family business entanglements in exchange for the release of $400 million in military aid. Nixon will take on incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) in November. The winner of that

race will serve the remainder of the six-year term that Secretary of State Marco Rubio won in 2022. Moody, the former attorney general of Florida, overcame token opposition in the Republican primary, netting nearly 80% of the vote. Victor Nava

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By CRAIG McCARTHY, HALEY BROWN, HANNAH FIERICK and STEVEN VAGO

The millionaire parents of a whiny top DSA leader have set up their socialist son in a \$1.5 million Brooklyn home — where he lives while railing against the rich and property ownership, The Post has learned.

Gustavo Gordillo, the 38-year-old co-chair of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, is peddling his anti-capitalist agenda while enjoying the life in the two-story, nearly 2,000-square-foot row home on a gentrifying tree-lined block in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

“I wish my family could afford to buy me a million-dollar home,” said local renter Faith Smith, 36 — who called the socialist Yale University grad a hypocrite.

“It’s a rich kid,” she said. “That’s basically people who don’t have to deal with the struggles we have to deal with.”

The Ivy League radical’s converted single-family home was bought in 2019 by his mommy and daddy through a dummy corporation, Chucuito LLC, for just under \$1 million, property records show.

Since then, it has undergone a major facelift, with renovations done to its entire front facade, the planting of lush landscaping, the revamping of the interior and the addition of a pair of decks on the roof and near the front door, according to plans filed with the borough in 2023.

Updates to the property continued Tuesday at least on its second floor, The Post observed.

Anti-landowner

“My son and my other son both live there,” Gordillo’s father said when reached by phone. “The LLC purchased the home, and then we did the renovations.”

Gordillo and his DSA comrades have meanwhile railed against property ownership, calling for a redistribution of land “from landowners to the landless.”

Gordillo, also recently attacked landlords in a vitriolic interview on Fox News last month, when he offered little sympathy for business and property owners who skate by with small margins.

“We don’t think that anybody should have the constitutional right to double-digit returns on their investment,” he said.

Gordillo has often touted himself as a blue-collar union electrician, with his X handle @UnionGordillo.

But since 2024, he has stopped referring to himself as an IBEW Local 3 member and instead identified as just some form of a union worker.

Reports show he joined the IBEW in 2019, but there are no

DSA BIG LIVES RENT’S FREE

BOURGEOISIE: Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the NYC Democratic Socialists of America, rails against property owners while living in this house in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, which his parents bought and renovated and is now worth \$1.5 million.

Socialist son given \$1.5M B’klyn house

records indicating he made it through the seven-year journeymen process.

He told The New York Times earlier this year that he was no longer an electrician.

It is unclear what he does to earn a paycheck.

Before coming to the Big Apple, Gordillo studied art at Yale University, where he graduated from in 2010.

Gordillo’s father confirmed to

The Post that the NYC-DSA co-chair and his brother live in the revamped Brooklyn spot — after admitting that the dad had rented a place for the DSA leader on the Lower East Side for \$2,600 a month through the same LLC between 2016 and 2019.

Gordillo worked at an art gallery during those years before becoming an electrician, according to City and State.

It was unclear whether Gor-

Gordillo, who listed the Lower East Side one-bed, one-bath as his primary residence at that time, repaid his parents for rent.

Calls to him were not returned.

Family estate

An immigrant from Peru, Gordillo grew up in South Florida with his parents, who ended up thriving in America.

The parents own a sprawling

5,000-square-foot, five-bed, six-bath home in Boca Raton that is currently on the market for \$3.1 million, records show.

They also own another \$3 million home in Weston, Fla., which is just slightly larger and has five beds and seven baths.

His dad, also Gustavo, made his money as the founder of Draft-pros Inc., which specializes in engineering and consulting services.

Fox News

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8

SMASH RECORDS

By MCKENZIE BEARD

"Jam session" just took on a whole new meaning.

A recent study found a link between major album releases and deadly car crashes in the US, with traffic fatalities spiking on the day hit records landed on streaming services.

The increase came with a star-studded soundtrack, including music from Taylor Swift, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, with the effect particularly pronounced among younger drivers.

In the study, researchers at Harvard University compared accident statistics on the release days of the 10 most-streamed albums between 2017 and 2022 with those from the 10 days before and after each release.

The albums included Taylor Swift's "Midnights," "Red (Taylor's Version)" and "Folklore"; Drake's "Certified Lover Boy," "Scorpion" and "Her Loss" with 21 Savage; Bad Bunny's "Un Verano Sin Ti"; Kendrick Lamar's "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers"; Harry Styles' "Harry's House"; and Kanye West's "Donda."

Using Spotify data, the researchers found an average of 123.3 million streams on the major album release days, compared with 86.1 million on the surrounding days.

Inside the numbers

The difference was striking on the roads, too. The researchers estimated an average of 139.1 traffic fatalities on album release days, compared with 120.9 on the surrounding days — an increase of 18.2 deaths.

Taken together, traffic fatalities were about 15% higher on the 10 release days, amounting to an estimated 182 excess lives lost.

But the effect varied by album. Drake's three records appeared to be linked to the largest jumps in deadly car accidents, while the uptick associated with Swift's three albums was comparatively smaller.

The release of West's "Donda," meanwhile, appeared to have essentially no effect on the fatality rate.

The researchers offered several possible explanations for the increase, including drivers handling their phones to stream new music, cranking up the volume and missing sounds they would normally

hear or simply becoming distracted by the excitement surrounding a highly anticipated release.

For the study's first author, this wasn't just a theory.

Vishal Patel, a surgical resident at Brigham and Women's Hospital and clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School, was inspired to investigate the phenomenon after his wife texted him to listen to a song that had just hit streaming services.

Researcher epiphany

He began scrolling through his phone. Moments later, he looked up and realized he was veering out of his lane.

"It hit me that a split-second longer with my eyes off the road could have meant a serious accident," Patel told The Harvard Gazette.

"Then I thought, if millions of people are doing the same thing at the same time — on the day a big album drops — the cumulative risk on the road must be enormous."

Even so, the study has some limitations. The researchers couldn't tell whether the drivers involved were actually streaming music or using their phones when they crashed.

Still, the characteristics of the people involved offered some clues.

For one, the increase was seen mostly among

drivers who were alone in the car — in other words, without a passenger to serve as a DJ.

The pattern was also more pronounced among younger drivers, who may be more likely to stream music than older generations that prefer traditional radio. The uptick was also concentrated among sober drivers and wasn't limited to nighttime.

THE BRAKE BEATS: Car accidents in the US go up on the days when albums are released by top stars such as Taylor Swift and Drake likely due to distracted drivers, according to a new study.

McD stab bail set at $150K

The knife-wielding nut accused of randomly stabbing an Australian tourist at an infamous Manhattan McDonald's was arraigned Tuesday on an attempted murder charge — as the teen victim remains hospitalized with a punctured lung.

Juan Mercedes, 25, was held on $150,000 bail

following the Manhattan Criminal Court hearing for allegedly stabbing the 19-year-old at what locals call the "murder McDonald's" on Eighth Avenue near Penn Station.

Mercedes calmly walked up to the tourist, who was eating with his pals, and knifed him twice in the back in an unprovoked attack around 2 a.m. Monday, prosecutors said, citing video footage and witnesses.

Prosecutors said Mercedes then walked out of the fast food joint and was found by cops nearby holding a knife.

The stab wounds punctured the victim's lung, according to the DA's office.

Ella Morrison

Ghoul bust in NASCAR rob

A Georgia man burglarized former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle's home after learning he and his family died in a plane crash, a North Carolina sheriff said Tuesday.

Terrell Williams, 44, has been charged with second-degree burglary and other felonies, said Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell.

Williams had been arrested in Cobb County, Ga., on suspicion of another burglary when police found items from Biffle's home on him, Campbell said.

Biffle, his wife and his two children, along with three others, died in the Dec. 18 crash. AP

Album drop 'link' to crashes

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9

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so you can get more anti-frizz hair spray.

Amazon helps make life more affordable for New Yorkers with prices an average of 14% lower than other retailers.¹ Plus, Prime Members have saved over $2B on grocery and household items, and nearly $500 a year on delivery costs. Amazon RxPass customers pay nearly 1/3 less out of pocket.²

Learn more at AboutAmazon.com/AffordableNewYork

1. Source: 2025 Profitero Price Wars Study. Based on national analysis of 10,000+ identical products across 23 leading U.S. online retailers.

2. Source: 2025 JAMA Network Study. Pharmacy Subscription Program and Medication Refills, Days' Supply, and Out-of-Pocket Costs.

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10

THE BATTLE FOR IRAN

Go Strait on through

By RYAN KING

WASHINGTON — President Trump proclaimed Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz has been fully de-mined and reopened, adding that no further talks are planned with Iran now that the 60-day period for negotiations has ended.

"There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect," Trump posted on Truth Social.

"The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated."

For months, Iran has been carrying out sporadic attacks and laying down mines meant to scare off ships from traversing the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil flowed in peacetime.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said some 9 million barrels of oil are going through the Strait of Hormuz almost every day, a sharp dip from the pre-war daily average of roughly 20 million barrels.

Hell or high water

The president's latest statement came one day after he threatened the nation of Oman if its rulers aided Tehran in its effort to control the critical waterway.

"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s-t out of them," Trump told Fox News on Monday.

"I don't think [Oman] behaved very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do others," the president later told reporters in the Oval Office.

In June, both Iran and Oman refused to rule out charging some sort of fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Last month, Oman floated the possibility of a voluntary fee to cover expenses related to environmental protection

NEW U.S. Territory

Russian weapon parts to Tehran

Truth Social / @realDonaldTrump / Reuters

Russia is shipping parts for drones, missiles and explosives to Iran to replenish its weapons stockpiles, which have been decimated by US and Israeli airstrikes, according to a new report.

More than two dozen Russian ships, many of them under US and European sanctions, traveled across the Caspian Sea to deliver the arms to Iran's port in Amirabad, NBC News reported, citing documents and a Western official.

While the development demonstrates Moscow and Tehran's deepening alliance, it also proves that the US-Israeli strikes against Iran's production plants have been largely successful, Jim Lamson, a former CIA analyst, told the outlet.

"Iran's procurement of drone components and small arms ammunition from Russia strongly suggests that Israeli and US military strikes on Iran's facilities that produce these items have degraded Iran's domestic capability to produce them," he said.

The Russian ships transporting military cargo are allegedly owned by MG-FLOT, a maritime company that was hit by Western sanctions in 2024.

Russia has been repeatedly accused of aiding Iran's war effort and sending upgraded drones to the Islamic Republic to bolster Tehran's ability to hit US targets.

The Kremlin has notably improved on Iran's war-defining Shahed suicide drones, which have plagued Ukraine for years.

It remains unclear how many supplies Russia has gifted Iran, with the Kremlin repeatedly slamming the allegations as "fake news."

Ronny Reyes

It's open & de-mined: Don

tion as well as search and rescue operations.

Washington and Iran agreed to a preliminary memorandum of understanding in June, which opened a 60-day window to hash out a full-f

ledged deal. But after Iran continued to carry out attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, the cease-fire imploded.

Also Monday, Trump's son-in-law and special envoy Jared Kushner told Fox News that "conversa-

tions between the US government and different areas of the Iranian government, at all areas, is probably more robust than it's maybe ever been, and so there's been a lot of good dialogues, which I think is very, very helpful."

However, Kushner added that "right now," Iran is "not showing any interest in doing something that makes sense for us."

Goodwin Page 15

Troubling omen from Oz tungsten mine

An Australian mine filled with tungsten, a key metal of war, is reopening — ominously coinciding with the start of major wars across the world.

Located on King Island, the Dolphin Mine is one of the world's largest deposits of tungsten, a resilient metal primarily used for powerful

armor-piercing ammunition and armor plating.

The mine has opened and closed throughout more than a century of war and subsequent peace, with the land now bustling with activity as investors eye a looming windfall and surge in demand.

The Dolphin Mine first

opened in 1917 to provide munitions needed in World War I, and it shut down just three years later when peace held and brought an upheaval to the tungsten market.

Activity renewed once again in 1938 as World War II loomed, with the mine dying and resurrecting

during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

The Cold War weapons boom kept the mine alive for a time, but it eventually fell to seemingly permanent ruin 12 months after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989.

The mine's open pit lay flooded with water for three decades before work

began to bring it back into operation, with the redevelopment beginning in January 2022, just weeks before Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.

The metal is one of the key components for America's air defense missiles.

Ronny Reyes

---

Drunk duo busted cruisin' for bruisin'

A drunk Ohio couple allegedly barged into a family's cabin on a cruise after being told to quiet down and attacked them, including striking their 9-year-old, police said.

Gannon Jacox, 29, and his girlfriend Brooklyn Hicks,

28, were arrested Saturday evening at Port Canaveral, about 40 miles from Orlando International Airport, following the dustup on the ship, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey wrote on the department's Facebook page.

The suspects "were appar-

ently arguing loudly after taking advantage of some adult beverages" when one of the victims asked them to quiet down — prompting the pair to confront the victim and get in their face outside the family's cabin door, Ivey wrote.

The allegedly drunken passengers "pushed their way into the victim's room," where Jacox began attacking two adults and their 9-year-old child, Ivey wrote, adding that none of the family members "were seriously injured." Richard Pollina

YOUNG 'WOF' MEN Down on guys

By ANTHONY BLAIR

Women are from Venus — and men can stay on Mars.

Female Gen Zers have far more negative views of men than young men do of women, according to a recent survey.

More than a fifth (21%) of women under age 30 have a negative view of the opposite sex, reveals a poll by the UK's New Statesman.

That's almost four times the 7% of men under 30 who feel the same way.

Just half of women of the same age, meanwhile, had a positive view of men, compared to 72% of men who had a positive view of women, the study shows.

For women under 25, 27% have a negative view, and 35% hold a positive one.

"I don't care for them. They're not bad people, but they refuse to call out their friends who make other girls uncomfortable," a young woman named Ruby told the outlet, referring to young men. "They'll laugh at jokes that are sexist, racist, homophobic."

The poll of young British people showed that women under 30 are far to the left of their male peers — and much less likely to date someone with differing views than men are.

"I don't think I'd even be friends with one. They don't see you as human,"

another young woman told the Statesman of a man who didn't share her views.

The data suggest the internet is a major factor. The women who spent more than five hours a day online held far more extreme left-wing beliefs about abortion, climate change and socialism, the poll noted.

Deal-breakers

A quarter of the young women surveyed said their partner having different political views would be a red flag, with some issues being particularly divisive.

Six in 10 young women said they couldn't date someone who disagreed with them on the Israel-Palestine conflict or who did not share their views on President Trump.

Almost three-quarters, or 74%, of young women said they'd find it difficult to date someone with different views about social justice.

More young women in the UK — as with their American counterparts — are in the workforce full-time than young men, with average young women earning 9% more than the average young man.

But the women were less likely to feel "happy," "ambitious," "excited" and "fulfilled," and were more pessimistic about the prospects of a happy life.

Cam ire 'Flocks' to NYC

Controversial Flock surveillance cameras are nowhere to be found in New York City, but critics are still complaining about similar "Big Brother" tech in the five boroughs.

Reddit users using the app DeFlock found no Flock cameras in the Big Apple. What the app instead revealed was the city's vast network of license plate readers maintained by the city DOT, MTA and NYPD. Brandon Cruz

11

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12

THE RED APPLE

HOMEOWNERS

By PETER SENZAMICI

More New Yorkers are joining the legal battle against the state's new pied-à-terre tax — with one claiming the city mailed his notice letter to a neighbor who lives nearly 30 stories below him, court documents show.

Four new plaintiffs jumped onto the lawsuit filed by attorney Randy Mastro that seeks to pause the surcharge on luxury second homes in the Big Apple due to the Mamdani administration's botched rollout of the new tax.

Among them is Kenneth Fishel, a real-estate executive, who claims he was targeted with a letter from the city Department of Finance alerting him that he could be subject to the levy — despite paying taxes for years out of his Park Avenue co-op on the Upper East Side, the Tuesday filing shows.

But the DOF allegedly mistakenly labeled the letter, mailing it to one of Fishel's neighbors who lives nearly 30 floors below him.

"Fishel only learned of and obtained a copy of the notice because he ran into his neighbor living 27 floors below him on the elevator," the suit states.

"If I hadn't run into him in the elevator, I never would have known, and I would have been billed for the full tax," Fishel told The Post on Tuesday.

'No exemptions yet'

When Fishel (inset) went to file his exemption, the city's database claimed one had already been submitted — "likely due to the fact that the mailed notice did not even list the correct names," according to the filing.

The 17,000 notices sent out by the DOF alert property owners that they could be subject to a five-figure tax bill — unless they file for an exemption — under the law approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Hochul in the spring.

As of last week, city officials said that about 4,290 homeowners who

Even more

News join

suit vs. tax

1 letter 'mislabeled'

got the warning letters contested them, and 1,906 had been approved so far.

All of the new plaintiffs on the suit — who claim primary homes in Chelsea and the Upper East Side — say they filed for exemptions to the tax, but haven't been granted them yet, the filing shows.

They claim they faced issues navigating the city's "tangled morass of an exemption regime," despite not being subject to the surcharge, which covers one- to three-family homes worth at least $5 million and co-ops and condos valued at $1 million or more that are unoccupied, non-primary residences.

The city's "messy, ill-considered and atextual 'exemption' scheme" has yet to get them removed from the potential tax list, the suit claims.

The plaintiffs will "continue to suffer irreparable harm in attempting to apply for an 'exemption' to a tax that was not

designed to burden them in any way," they claim in the suit.

All of the new homeowners were told to expect to pay a pied-à-terre tax between $45,000-$58,000, according to the mailed notices filed in court.

Chelsea residents Stephen and Sandra Shore said they've lived at their home for over 30 years, paid their taxes dutifully and yet were still hit with the dreaded notice.

Their attempts to file an exemption were repeatedly rejected by the Department of Finance's system, the suit claims, forcing them to send a registered letter "in an attempt to simply submit their application."

$55,000 extra

Carla Stearns, a Carnegie Hill neighbor of Mastro's, said she has lived at her brownstone — valued by the city at $6.8 million — since she bought it with her husband in 2017.

Despite paying taxes and not owning any other property, she too got a letter informing her of an estimated $55,000 in extra taxes — unless she filed for an exemption, per the filing.

City Hall did not return a request for comment.

By HANNAH FIERICK, CRAIG McCARTHY and MATT TROUTMAN

Fuming and flummoxed New Yorkers testified Tuesday that Mayor Mamdani's botched rollout of the new pied-à-terre tax left them flailing for answers — and feeling under "direct attack" from the government.

The testimony from roughly 30 homeowners and members of the real-estate industry made up the bulk of the three-hour oversight hearing by City Council pols hoping to take Mamdani to task — only to have the administration skip it. Robert Bertagna, an Upper East Side retiree who has lived in his home for 30 years, recounted receiving a notice from the city Department of Finance alerting him that he'd be on the hook for $52,000 annually under the surcharge, unless he successfully applied for an exemption.

"This is my primary residence. I pay taxes in New York. I vote in New York. My driver's license in New York. There's plenty of records to establish the fact that I'm a resident of New York," he told the council.

'Intimidation'

"This is a clear intrusion by our government, intimidation by our government and frankly a direct attack and a target on private wealth," he said. "I filed an exemption, but that's not the point. The point is the government is assuming that I'm guilty unless I can prove myself to be innocent."

Even supporters of the tax — which is meant to target only luxury second homes in New York City — argued the rollout by Mamdani administration officials was confusing and raised thorny questions.

Kyle Bragg, the former president of 32BJ SEIU, testified that a friend who purchased a brownstone 40 years ago recently called him to ask whether the tax would apply to him, especially because the property is likely now worth

over the levy's $5 million cutoff.

"He's concerned now because he kept his brownstone here so that he can keep in touch with his kids and his grandkids, whether or not he'll be subject to the pied-à-terre," Bragg said about his buddy,

who retired down south to stretch out his savings and for the weather.

"I want to be clear that any legislation that's proposed to hold the wealthy accountable to their fair share is a good thing," he also said, adding

the rollout has been "unclear."

'Where is the justice?'

The pied-à-terre tax applies to one- to three-family homes worth at least $5 million and co-ops and condominiums valued at $1 million or more that are unoccupied, non-primary residences, under the law approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Hochul in the spring.

But representatives of co-op groups warned the process for them was punitive — as the DOF will be sending the surcharge bill directly to cooperative boards or corporations, no individual shareholders.

"The smaller the building, the larger the portion of the non-residents' tax that each resident shareholder will have to find a way to pay," said Mary Ann Rothman, executive director of the Council of York Cooperatives and Condominiums. "Where is the justice and jeopardizing the financial stability of a cooperative in this way?"

The hearing drew competing rallies beforehand from supporters and skeptics alike, even as City Hall officials were no-shows, blaming the ongoing high-profile lawsuit seeking to halt the rollout.

DOF Director Richard Lee, who submitted written testimony in lieu of taking tough questions, defended the launch — arguing the 17,000 notices that went out to homeowners simply informed them they could be hit with the levy.

"Property owners who believe

---

THE RED APPLE

'UNDER ATTACK'

FUMING: Concerned citizens (from left) Kyle Bragg, Jason Haber, Mary Ann Rothman, Thor Thors and Robert Bertagna (below) were among those present at Tuesday's hearing.

Rail against rollout of pied-à-terre levy at council hearing

their property should not be subject to the surcharge have an opportunity to submit proof the property is used as a primary residence," his statement said.

But Kenneth Fishel, a longtime Upper East Side resident who just joined the lawsuit by homeowners aggrieved by the tax rollout, contended he only found out about his notice by accident.

His neighbor, who lives nearly 30 stories below him, received the

notice instead, he said.

"If I hadn't run into him in the elevator, I never would have known, and I would have been billed for the full tax," Fishel, who testified at the hearing, told The Post afterward.

'Mass doxxing'

A not-so-ragtag group of nearly 20 real-estate agents also gathered on City Hall's steps ahead of the

hearing, holding signs declaring "Guilty until proven resident" and "Dox you very much."

Jason Haber, president of the New York Residential Agent Continuum, railed against the administration's public release of a tax roll of 900,000 properties that could fall under the levy — saying it amounted to mass doxxing.

"Today we're here to say we are in the dox days of August," he said. "That is a gift to every scammer,

fraudster or person with bad intent out there."

Lee, the finance honcho, said the city publishes tax rolls each year and that it was required under the law.

The city's Democratic Socialists of America chapter sarcastically scoffed that "those who claim mansions or luxury condos as their primary residences" are complaining about uploading proof of residency to a city web-

site. "But, as anyone who has ever received unemployment insurance or SNAP benefits would know, working-class New Yorkers have to do a lot more than prove residency in order to receive basic public benefits," the group posted on X. "So why all this fuss over uploading a PDF?"

"We're not responsible for the rollout," Hochul said.

"We just were their — we are the facilitators."

Gregory P. Margo

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14

War on 'Dumocrat'

White House officials unloaded Monday on Sen. Jon Ossoff after the Georgia Democrat insinuated President Trump was shirking his "job" as commander in chief to go on taxpayer-funded trips with a favored female aide.

Ossoff's barb ruffled feathers inside the West Wing, with White House communications director Steven Cheung deriding "Jon Jerkoff" as "the biggest cuck loser in politics."

"Instead of denigrating hard-working people serving their country, Jon should look deep into his soul and ask himself why he's a miserable person who hates this country," Cheung wrote on X. "It's because he's a radical, extremist Dumocrat."

Ossoff, who is seeking a second Senate term and is seen by some analysts as a potential 2028 presidential contender, had accused Trump of preferring to "build his ballroom and travel with Natalie" — an apparent reference to White House aide Natalie Harp — over his presidential duties in a fiery rally speech Sunday.

Harp, 35, holds the title of executive assistant to the president, having come to Trump's attention in 2019 after crediting his "right-to-try" drug policy with giving her access to life-saving treatment for bone cancer.

"Jon Ossoff is a cringeworthy, feminine theater kid cosplaying as Barack Obama," White House spokesman Davis Ingle chimed in on X.

As a college student, Ossoff was a member of a Georgetown University singing group and once dressed up as Han Solo for a "Star Wars" parody film, footage of which was used in attack ads against him during his first Senate run.

WH rails at Ossoff barbs

"Nobody gives a s-t what this lightweight loser says," Ingle added.

Ossoff, who is running against Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) in November, also took issue with Trump's handling of the economy and the Iran war.

The senator accused Trump of "lying" the country into war with Iran, an offense he described as "uniquely despicable."

"While the sailors on the [USS Abraham] Lincoln fight his war, while he fruitlessly drains our munitions and oil reserves, the president sleeps through his meetings," Ossoff charged, going on to slam the president for his frequent golf outings and accusing him of trading stocks.

Asked about Ossoff's comments during an Oval Office event Monday, Trump quipped: "You mean Pee-wee Herman?" The president has repeatedly likened Ossoff to the Pee-wee Herman character famously played by late comedian Paul Reubens.

OUCH: Democratic Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff (inset) has zinged President Trump and aide Natalie Harp (above).

Key sens. petition DOJ on Biden kin

WASHINGTON — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has demanded the Justice Department and Office of the Director of National Intelligence release a trove of documents that were apparently "misclassified" to "downgrade"

alleged wrongdoing by former President Joe Biden's family.

In a Monday letter, Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) revealed that records obtained by Grassley's office indicated the FBI "misclassified information" to obstruct con-

gressional inquiries into Operation Round River, a bureau task force that compiled derogatory information on Joe and Hunter Biden in the lead-up to the 2020 election.

"To-date, the available records cause serious concerns about how federal

law enforcement and the Intelligence Community used its resources to downgrade allegations of criminality relating to the Biden family apparently without sufficient investigation," Grassley and Johnson wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI

Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton. "The records also cause concern about how federal records were stored and managed." Reps for the DOJ, FBI and ODNI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Josh Christenson

Ma saves son, then drowns

A heroic Illinois mother of three drowned after jumping into a river to save her 7-year-old son's life.

Angelina Khalimendik, 31, entered the Des Plaines River at Independence Grover Forest Preserve just after 7 p.m. local time on Sunday after her child got swept up in the water, CBS Chicago reported.

Khalimendik, of Hinsdale, was able to help her son reach another family member before she slipped underwater, per the outlet.

She had taken her three kids, including an 11-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son, on a fishing trip while her husband was out of town, the outlet reported.

Khalimendik was pulled from the water by a relative and bystanders before first responders got there, NBC 5 Chicago reported.

CPR was performed, but she had already taken in too much water and was pronounced dead at Advocate Condell Medical Center.

Khalimendik's death was "consistent with drowning," NBC 5 reported, citing examination results from the Lake County Coroner's Office.

Her death followed "torrential rains" in the area in the past week, Lake County Forest Preserves' Police Chief Ron Davis told CBS Chicago. Anthony Blair

US deports go to Liberia

Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the US in the next 12 months, with an initial group of 20 deportees expected to arrive on Thursday, the government said in a statement Tuesday.

Since taking office in January last year, the Trump administration has struck several deals with African countries on deporting people it cannot legally send to their home countries.

The deportees have in most cases obtained legal protection against repatriation after US immigration judges ruled they risked torture or other abuses in their home countries. Reuters

---

Michael Goodwin

mgoodwin@nypost.com

WITH Monday's quiet expiration of the 60-day cease-fire deal in Iran and no talks scheduled about a new agreement, the on-again, off-again war has entered a strange new phase.

A big indication came Tuesday when President Trump declared that the vital Strait of Hormuz is now and will remain under American control. He posted a map where the waterway was labeled "new U.S. territory."

In a quick and harsh reaction, Iran disputed his claim, with a deputy foreign minister calling it "delusional." He said the strait will only be "opened and closed under Iran's command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade."

If nothing else, the stalemate and hostile exchange suggest the possibility that while there is no settlement in sight, there is one dimension to the war that is taking on an air of finality. Namely, that there will not be any voluntary regime change in Tehran.

Regime no change

That likelihood is a bitter pill to swallow for Israel and the United States, but both appear to have reconciled themselves to that result, if only because despite the awful pounding Iran has taken, there is still no movement toward a fundamental reform of leadership. Although that was never a stated goal of the war, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly were hoping for it.

Neither wanted to commit ground troops to such a dangerous operation, but there were discussions between them and their staffs about persuading Kurdish fighters to serve as the boots on the ground. There was also a belief that given an opening, Iranian civilians would be able to rise up and help overthrow the government.

Israel reportedly pushed that idea to the US and believed it was a realistic option, although Trump and his national security team were not completely sold.

And reports in Israeli media now say there was never an actual, detailed plan that was shared with the Israel Defense Forces about how and when to help make that happen, and therefore the idea didn't have a serious chance of success.

Nonetheless, the possibility that the hardline Islamist leadership would be replaced with a more representative civilian government seemed inevitable on Day One of

THE BIG GUY: Iranian soldiers stand beneath a mural of Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the role of supreme leader after the killing of his father and underscored the continuation of a hardliner leadership.

Names change, but Iran's aim stays the same

the war that was launched last February. As many as 40 top Iranian leaders were killed instantaneously when they were gathered for a meeting that day.

Trump and Netanyahu both quickly said the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was among the dead. Iran disputed that, but within a day its controlled media confirmed that he and many top commanders had been killed.

The brazen targeting revealed that a major goal of the war was to wipe out the ruling mullals in hopes that a new generation of reformers would bring Iran back into the world of nations instead of pursuing the near 50-year aim of exporting its fundamentalist Shia revolution.

The existing government had never tried to conceal that its ultimate aim was to eliminate Israel and the United States, with the

mullals repeatedly calling them the Little Satan and the Big Satan.

Trump and Netanyahu agreed that Iran's development of ballistic missiles and long quest for nuclear weapons, which could have made those dreams a reality, could not be tolerated any longer.

Buildup to action

Still, despite those and other provocations, Trump had been careful not to call for regime change. He had shown incredible restraint during months of negotiations in the first year of his second term, until Iranian officials boasted at a meeting that they had enough enriched uranium to build perhaps a dozen nuclear weapons.

And they insisted, according to envoy Steven Witkoff, that they would never give up what they regarded as their right to

enrichment.

That provoked a noticeable change in Trump, as did the regime's brutal slaughter of protesters in the streets who were demanding economic reforms because of shortages of food, water and fuel and out-of-control inflation.

As the death toll mounted into the thousands, amid reports that protesters were being tortured and even executed in hospitals, and as the regime shut down the internet, Trump clearly lost hope that a negotiated settlement was possible.

In January, he posted on social media that "HELP IS ON ITS WAY" and urged protesters to take over their institutions.

Yet it was only after a huge American military buildup in the region, and just days before the initial attack, when Trump publicly allowed for the first time that re-

regime change might be the only way to achieve a settlement where Iran abandoned its quest to obtain nukes and regional dominance.

But here we are, six months later, and despite massive bombardments of Iranian officials and military facilities, all that has changed are the names and titles of the despots in charge.

Iran's B-team replacements, including the late ayatollah's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was said to have been seriously wounded in the Day One attack, have kept in place the hardline agenda of imposing brutal repression at home and seeking regional dominance.

An unmistakable sign is that public executions, including hangings of dissidents, have begun again.

And Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis are damaged but still determined to rid the region of Israel and the US.

Hardliners aplenty

The overall reality animates an analysis released last week by a conservative think tank in Washington called the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

It begins by saying, "The latest reshuffle of Iran's government looks less like renewal than a game of musical chairs among regime veterans."

It says Mojtaba Khamenei appointed officials to seven posts on Aug. 9, including the heads of war and internal security, which the report calls the most important institutions charged with defending the regime's survival.

It says the leadership under Mojtaba "remains every bit as hardline as it was under his father, with each appointee carrying a record of anti-Americanism and domestic repression."

It adds that the changes preserve the old chain of command and leave "Washington facing the same uncompromising hardliners — just in different seats."

In what seems like an aside to the White House, the author cautions against any temptation to believe there are officials and factions who are "more rational and therefore more trustworthy and approachable."

As the report puts it, "Washington should not mistake internal rivalries for an opening. These competing factions remain aligned on the policies that threaten the United States, its allies and the Iranian people."

It's a dispiring but sober assessment that anyone who still believes a voluntary regime change is possible is pursuing a fool's errand.

15

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16

Club to Jeff: Play the fairway

Ian Mohr

imohr@nypost.com

Oli Coleman ocoleman@nypost.com Mara Siegler msiegler@nypost.com Carlos Greer cgreer@nypost.com

'Top' rocker dies

FRANK Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top for over 50 years, has died. Beard, 77, died Monday after a stay in hospice, the Fort Bend County Medical Examiner's Office in Rosenberg, Texas, told The Post. His cause of death is unclear, the medical examiner said. TMZ was first to report Beard's death. 'Today ... I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas,' band co-founder Billy F. Gibbons said. ZZ Top canceled its upcoming show in Colorado Springs but will play this weekend at Austin City Limits, one of Beard's favorite venues.

Pharaoh spotted

YOU'RE nine months early! Anna Wintour was spotted surveying the Temple of Dendur, the scene of the annual Met Gala dinner, yesterday. According to a Page Six spy, the Vogue boss (above) strolled around the Egyptian Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with longtime lack ... er, colleague Andrew Bolton. We're told Condé Nast's chief content officer admired the ancient temple before strutting off to the Costume Institute, to discuss her 'offerings for next year.' The 2027 gala intends to honor the controversial John Galliano.

DON'T call it a snub. Page Six is told Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez will likely be accepted into the ultraexclusive Indian Creek Country Club eventually. But they won't cut the line just because he happens to be the third-richest person on Earth.

The Wall Street Journal ran 'The Rich and Famous Who Can't Get Into Miami's Most Exclusive Country Club' last week, revealing the Bezoses have not been accepted into the Florida spot.

'The old guard — many of them retirees — are mounting a last stand against what they often view as billionaire interlopers,' says the article.

But our source tells us the billionaire couple need not panic: They'll likely get in — they just have to bide their time and put in the work.

The Bezoses own $234 million worth of real estate spread out over three properties on the island, known as the Billionaire Bunker. The private and gated Indian Creek is known for privacy and security and has a police force, making it the perfect place for the top 1 percent.

The article notes the Bezoses mingled with club members at a dock party in February, but we hear it will take much more than one event to schmooze their way onto the club rolls.

'No one is going to make it easy because he

is Jeff Bezos,' says a source. 'You have to go to mixers. You don't just move there and think you can get in. For anyone.'

The club is known for having a 'slow process' for entry.

'There aren't that many golf clubs [in Miami] and there is huge demand,' says the source. 'It's very hard to get into any of them, but Indian Creek is the hardest.'

A source said the Bezoses just need to get to know the famously private members of their community.

'People need to know them,' says the source.

Suri's theater debut is a Scottish 'Dream'

SURI Noelle's 13-performance run of her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut 'Midsummer!' is selling out, we're told. One festivalgoer tells us the box office was turning away theatergoers hoping to catch today's final performance. The daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes takes on four roles in the modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream': Helena, Mustardseed, Francis Flute and Thisbe. Noelle, 20, stars alongside her fellow drama students from Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon Univer-

sity at the Assembly at St. Andrew Square venue. The reviews have been largely positive, with the Guardian awarding the production four stars, singling out the 'sparkling' Noelle. Meanwhile, 'The Quinnessential Review' wrote the buzz surrounding Noelle's stage debut put her 'under intense scrutiny' but that her Helena was 'alive with self-aware frustration.' The review added she was 'impressive' without stealing the spotlight.

Celine will go on

CELINE Dion got candid with Harper's Bazaar yesterday about treatments and workout routines as she prepares for 'unforgettable shows' in Paris amid her battle with stiff person syndrome. She said while there is no FDA-approved treatment for the neurological autoimmune disease, she underwent physical therapy, vocal therapy and immunotherapy and was prescribed new meds after her 2022 diagnosis. She also does Pilates up to three times a week and ballet classes as she gets ready for her return to Paris in the fall. Dion said she misses her fans, explaining she added another week of shows at the Paris La Défense Arena in September and October. 'I would like to offer them something to show how I've missed them,' she said.

Russian to see Ye

KANYE West is heading East. While Europe has turned its back on the troubled rapper, Russia is opening its arms. Despite the widespread cultural boycott of the country following its invasion of Ukraine, the 'Jesus Walks' star has booked shows in St. Petersburg. West (above) is scheduled to perform at Gazprom Arena Oct. 10 and 11. Tickets range from about $106 for the cheapest seats to $1,885 for VIP boxes. The cheapest tickets sold out within an hour. Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov suggested Ye swap his usual setlist for traditional Russian songs, telling the New York Times that perhaps it would help him 'stop his disgusting antics and become a normal person.'

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Power, politics, and the stories behind the headlines.

POD FORCE ONE WITH MIRANDA DEVINE

NEW EPISODE OUT NOW

FOUNDER OF EVIE MAGAZINE,

BRITTANY HUGOBOOM

NEW YORK POST

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Now it's time to fall apart

ONCE summer. Soon fall. Guys not working. Gals not dating. Nobody's earning. Everybody's churning. Kids attending school. Kids cutting school. Places closing. Races fighting. Nobody's getting married. Nobody's getting pregnant. Apartments tumbling. Wires crumbling. Kids in a funk. Now doing junk. Former prudes. Now nudes. Was handbags. Now weapons.

Season effect

Yesterday, fly the flag. Today, burn the flag ... Respect elections? Disrespect electees. Religion's hated. Praying's dated ... Rent's high. Jobs low ... Stars like Cruise, soon we snooze ... Patients not well, hospitals are hell ... Rents high, patients higher ... Jobs few, unemployed cues ... Traffic's terrible, scaffold's horrible ... Television's nothing. Telephone's everything ... Food's bad. Lettuce lousy.

Autumn for changemakers

Once skirts, now jeans. Once luggage, now backpacks. Once homes, now huts. Once flowers, now guns. Once houses, now home with mom. Once shoes, now sandals.

Once suits, now tees. Once barbers, now beards. Once belts, now ropes. Once respect, now hate. Once marriage, now not. Once dresses, now pants. Once college, now homeschool. Once jobs, now idle. Once patriotic, now hatred. Once books, now games. Once chewing gum, now shooting junk. Once wallets, now carrying weapons. Once crew cuts, now long hair. Once working, now not. Once to work, now to the moon. Once bras, now not.

SWEET land of history. Land where our Fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride and Marilyn Monroe's hide — our country is of thee.

Truth in the stars

SO what's everyone doing to celebrate summer's ending? One year Clint Eastwood gathered for an early evening with his wife and said: "Sometimes when we're alone I think, 'Y'know, this could be dangerous for us.'"

A Sharon Stone hot weather thought: "Women who lie about age are stupid. I find that appalling. When a 40-year-old female says she's 32, I want to go: 'Well, then, honey, you need a face-lift because you're looking really bad.'"

Looking into the windy future, Warren Beatty said: "In my 20s and 30s certain things were irresistible. Also beyond my 50s. Being adolescent never got boring to me."

And a long, long ago Marlon Brando memory on one warm afternoon: "Sinatra was the kind of guy that, when he died, he went up to Heaven just to give God a bad time for making him bald."

One autumn Madonna told designer Stella McCartney she won't wear anything she won't eat. Seen wearing a lambs-wool coat, designer McCartney said: "I didn't know you ate fetuses."

Sharon Stone thinks women shouldn't lie about their age — much easier to do if you look as fabulous as her.

Reuters

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Masked 'harasser' in Philly

A man wearing a Chucky doll mask allegedly targeted six people at random in Philadelphia — and chillingly asked a female jogger if she was ready to die, police have revealed.

The masked suspect — thought to be a black man between 16 and 20 — terrorized people going about their business within a crazed 15-minute window early Wednesday morning and remains at large.

The young man went into a Dunkin' store wearing the 'distinctive, Chucky doll Halloween-style face mask' (inset) just after 5:20 a.m., but was refused service because he was being erratic, Jason Smith, the Philadelphia police captain, told a news conference Monday.

He then allegedly started running up to people at nearby locations — all while filming, seemingly for his sick pleasure.

The masked individual allegedly uttered something to a man wearing a reflective vest before chasing him. He then allegedly harassed a female jogger, who later reported him to cops.

"He's holding his cell phone up in front of her, at which time he asks her, 'Are you ready to die?'" Smith said, describing the woman's encounter.

"[She] appears startled, at which time the male asks her again, 'Are you ready to die?' Clearly she's not ready to die, so she takes off," the cop added, revealing she injured her leg trying to flee.

The masked man is facing charges of terroristic threats, harassment, assault, reckless endangerment and intimidation, Smith said.

Chris Bradford

HELL'S 'BEL'S TOLL' Heat deaths top COV

By ANTHONY BLAIR

More than 16,000 people died in a single week during Europe's heatwave in late June — and in at least one area, the daily death toll spiked above the highs of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an analysis of mortality data.

In Wallonia, in southern Belgium, 313 deaths were recorded in just one day, June 28, compared to 245 daily deaths at the peak of COVID in November 2020, The New York Times found.

As temperatures soared to over 100 degrees, Wallonia recorded a death rate 77% higher than expected between mid-June and early July, leaving some hospitals overrun.

Despite the horrific toll, local leaders are still resisting installing air conditioning. Just 20% of European homes have the common technology — compared to 90% in the US.

Reject A

"Air conditioning can be appropriate in specific situations, particularly for vulnerable people or certain buildings," said a spokesperson for Wallonia's housing and energy minister, adding that their "long-term strategy is not based on its widespread use."

Sniffy Belgians also do not "want to be Americans," Belgian doctor Toon Ceyssens told the Times.

Around 16,000 excess deaths were recorded in Europe in just one week in late June, with Belgium, France and Germany most affected, according to figures from

the European Mortality Monitoring Network.

"Each crisis is becoming increasingly severe. That's what we're failing to anticipate," Wallonia's regional health minister Yves Coppieters told the Times.

Half of all emergency rooms in Wallonia's hospitals have no air conditioning, according to Dr. Philippe Devos, director general of a healthcare provider federation.

Sick lined up

In the region's overcrowded health centers, calls to emergency operators often took 10 minutes to get through, and many sick people were lined up in the hallways to allow privacy for the dead, the Times reported.

Around 85% of the excess deaths in Wallonia were among those ages 65 or over, with low-income seniors who lived alone particularly at risk, according to official statistics.

"It's a country that is considered cold, culturally. People think more about heating their house than cooling their house," Gilles Vanvolsem, managing director of the Belgian Green Building Council, told the Times.

The number of households with AC, which is lower than in most other developed economies, drops to between 4-6% in France, Germany and the UK, which have all seen blistering heatwaves this summer.

Some doctors are calling on older people to install AC units, despite many being reluctant.

"The mentality on air conditioning has to change," Ceyssens told the Times.

ablair@nypost.com

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nypost.com

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Hayden's 'drug sack' nearby as police

FOR all the sequels and remakes pumped out by Hollywood, the most overplayed storyline is the death or downfall of a once luminous child star — usually at the hands of addiction or mental illness.

Hayden Panettiere is now sadly one of them. The troubled actress passed away over the weekend from an apparent overdose. She was only 36, just five days short of her next birthday.

In May, Panettiere released her heartbreaking memoir, "This is Me: A Reckoning," where she laid bare her harrowing battles with addiction, domestic abuse and the postpartum depression that led her to give up custody of her daughter, Kaya, to her former partner, Ukrainian boxer Vladimir Klitschko.

The revelatory book was her story. But it was also an indictment of the industry that turned her into a household name.

Remember, Tinseltown is a place where its brightest stars not only make movies — they also export their values and morality and lecture us every chance they get.

But consider the source.

Identity crisis

Over at Variety, writer Marlow Stern argued it was Hollywood that "failed Panettiere."

Indeed, the actress provided ample evidence to support this theory, writing that someone on her team gave her "happy pills" at the tender age of 15.

"They were to make me peppy during interviews," Panettiere said. "I had no idea that this was not an appropriate thing, or what door that would open for me when it came to my addiction."

The showbiz blob with all its cretins and creatures, and its culture that treats child stars as commodities, is dangerous for impressionable young people.

But we must be honest. No sane person should allow their child to be raised by — or in — the industry.

The first line of defense against such predatory forces should be parents or primary caregivers. They should also be the second and third line. Parents should be an impenetrable fortress for their children, no matter how preco-

Child stars continue to face a dark script

cious and strong willed those offspring are.

In fact, that means they need parental guardrails even more.

But, over and over, many moms and dads abdicate their most meaningful role of protector.

Panettiere, a petite blonde with the million-dollar smile, was only 11 months old when she started earning a paycheck for work in commercials. She went on to act in a soap opera, movies like "Remember The Titans" and big network hits like "Heroes" and "Nashville."

Super exciting right? Except that, by the age of 12, she said, spending her formative years inhabiting different characters led to an identity crisis.

"But who the heck was I? Like, just without this, who would I be without this?" she told podcaster Jay Shetty in May.

She was sure of one thing. Her mother, Lesley Vogel, was her manager.

"She was my boss. That's how I saw her," Panettiere said, calling it a "tough pill to swallow."

At 19, she decided to end their professional relationship, hoping to forge a more normal one between mother and daughter.

Instead, her mother, according to Panettiere, walked away — informing her child, "You owe me."

Maybe there's another side to this story. But Hollywood has a habit of seducing parents with money and proximity to fame.

I think back to a 2023 interview with Corey Feldman, who

is a walking billboard for screwed-up childhood actors. In it, he admired the nurturing family unit around his "Goonies" co-star Ke Huy Quan.

'Remember' her best

"He had a very sheltered childhood, he had great parents, a great family — they never let him out of their sight," Feldman told Page Six. "If you went into his dressing room, there would be his mom, dad and grandma, the whole family, making wontons and cooking. There was always something cooking!"

It stood out to Feldman because such a scene was an anomaly in that town.

To me, Panettiere will always be the gridiron-loving tomboy in the iconic movie "Remember the Titans."

She was only 10 years old, but she stole the show and held her own next to the great Denzel Washington.

The movie was made just before she began to struggle with her identity. It was the pinnacle of her happiness.

"You have no idea how many times in my life I have wished and prayed — if I had wished to go back to any time in my life, it would be going back to 'Remember the Titans,' " she told Entertainment Tonight back in 2013.

It's worth noting she portrayed a daddy's girl from a tight-knit family in a tight-knit community.

If only her life imitated art.

By CHRIS NESI, ALEX DIAZ and BERNIE ZILIO

GREENVILLE, SC — Hayden Panettiere had a "bag of medication" she was taking around the time of her death, according to her boyfriend, who cops said did not appear upset even as EMS workers fought to save her life.

Brian Hickerson — whose brother, Zach, was also at the Greenville Airbnb where the 36-year-old died Sunday — broke down only after his on-again, off-again girlfriend was pronounced dead, according to police documents.

Cops arrived at the scene Sunday afternoon around 1:50 p.m. to find "multiple EMS and firemen performing CPR" on the "Heroes" actress, who appeared to be "unresponsive" and "did not seem to have any obvious physical reasons to be unresponsive."

The reporting officer noted Zach was "very emotional" as EMS "were working on Hayden," ultimately declaring the "Nashville" star dead at 2:32 p.m. It was only then that his brother, 37, became "emotional."

Brian showed officers a "bag of medication" the troubled actress was currently on, which — though the list is redacted in the Greenville City Police Department report — appears to include nine different drugs.

Narcan — an emergency medication used to reverse an opioid overdose — was also reportedly found inside the Airbnb.

An autopsy was performed on Panettiere's body Monday, but South Carolina coroners said it could take up to 12 weeks for the full toxicology results to be released.

Panettiere and Brian Hickerson had reconnected only about two weeks before her shocking death.

The pair — who had a documented tumultuous relationship since 2018 — were in Los Angeles for roughly a week before they flew to South Carolina, where the brothers are from, a source told Page Six.

"He was supposed to leave, but somehow, they ended up on a flight to South Carolina, where he is from," the insider said.

As for the nature of the pair's relationship, the source noted "things did not appear to be romantic" and cited Panettiere's own comments to podcaster Jay Shetty just three months ago.

Still, "Brian would always find a way to work his way back into Hayden's life as 'a friend,' " the source said.

'A real jerk'

The "Nashville" star's inner circle was "always concerned" about her relationship with Hickerson, whom the informant branded "bad news" and "a real jerk."

Reps for Hickerson and Panettiere did not respond to Page Six's requests for comment.

However, not everyone in Panettiere's life knew Hickerson was back in hers, as a separate source said, "If Brian was back in her life then it was something she was hiding because she wasn't speaking about it with many of her friends."

Panettiere and Hickerson's rocky relationship was marked by multiple allegations of domestic violence, several arrests and even criminal pleas.

Hickerson was first arrested in May 2019 in Hollywood and charged with felony domestic vio-

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note BF's odd reaction

TRAGIC END: Hayden Panettiere — with mother Lesley Vogel (left) and on-again, off-again boyfriend Brian Hickerson — died Sunday. Hickerson showed cops a "bag of medication" the troubled star was currently taking.

MEDICINE BAGGAGE

lence. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was dismissed four months later. Panettiere later described the incident as the beginning of a pattern of physical abuse.

LA prosecutors then alleged Hickerson injured the "Remember the Titans" star during separate incidents in December 2019 and January 2020, claiming he used a garage floor and stairs in a manner capable of causing injury.

Hickerson was arrested again on Valentine's Day 2020 in Jackson Hole, Wyo., after allegedly punching Panettiere in the face. The case was followed by additional

allegations he attempted to interfere with or intimidate a witness in the proceedings. He pleaded no contest to all charges. Panettiere has since described the Wyoming incident as a wake-up call.

Then in July 2020, LA prosecutors filed an eight-count case against Hickerson, including multiple felony counts of corporal injury, assault with a deadly weapon, battery and dissuading a witness. He initially pleaded not guilty, but in April 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or cohabitant, while the remaining

charges were dismissed.

Hickerson was sentenced to 45 days in jail, four years of probation, domestic violence classes, restitution and a five-year protective order.

On Aug. 13, the judge overseeing the case denied Hickerson's motions to expunge and reduce the charges to misdemeanors.

The duo's last public sighting was as recently as March, when paparazzi caught them at an LA airport together. At the time, Panettiere was using crutches to walk, insisting she was dealing with pinched nerves in her lower back.

'Second ma' blames fame

By PATRICK REILLY

The lifelong family friend who was a "second mother" to Hayden Panettiere said that the tragic actress "never stood a chance" of escaping her demons after being raised in Hollywood.

Lynsey Lonberg, who knew the actress since she was a toddler growing up in Rockland County, NY, suggested the actress' weekend death was all too predictable given the depression and addiction she'd pinned on growing up as a child actor.

"She tried and tried and tried to get past her struggles but she was an actress," Lonberg told the Daily Mail at a bar in Piermont, NY, where Panettiere's father lives and where she was seen by locals just a month ago.

"She told me that when you go working on a set, all kinds of pills, liquor, all kinds of things are available where you can get anything you want," Lonberg continued.

"This kid didn't have a chance," she said. "I don't think she would have gone down the road she went down if it hadn't been for Hollywood."

Panettiere described Lonberg as her "second mother" in her harrowing autobiography, "This Is Me: A Reckoning," in which she also revealed that she was offered "happy pills" at an event

when she was just 15.

She descended into serious addiction and checked into rehab in 2020 and spent eight months receiving treatment. She recalled that doctors told her she risked being dead within five years if she didn't stop drinking.

A haunting interview also resurfaced Sunday in which Panettiere talked about being betrayed by a friend and sex trafficked to a "very famous man" on a yacht when she was an 18-year-old up-and-coming star.

Dad mourning son

Lonberg said she knew Panettiere since she was a toddler, and recalled her and her brother Jansen — who died at the age of 28 in February 2023 from an undiagnosed heart condition — visiting her house to play with her children and animals.

She remains close with the actor's father, Alan "Skip" Panettiere, who was just getting over his son's death when he lost his daughter.

Lonberg called him on Sunday night after news of her death broke.

"I can't imagine losing a child, but for him to lose both of his children, I can't imagine how difficult that must be for a parent. It's just so devastating," she said.

preilly@nypost.com

'Struggling' on set

Troubled actress Hayden Panettiere was "struggling" and "really lonely" while making her final movie before her death from a suspected overdose, according to co-star Justin Chatwin.

Panettiere, whose death over the weekend was just days before her 37th birthday, filmed the psychological thriller "Sleepwalker" last February, playing a troubled mom grappling with the loss of her daughter who was killed in a car accident.

Panettiere — who gave up custody of her own daughter — also played a character who suffered domestic abuse, something the actress suffered at the hands of on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson.

"We hit it off great, and it was an awesome shoot but it was about domestic abuse and it was subject matter that may have hit close to home, because she did mention it," Chatwin, who played the char-

acter of Panettiere's abusive husband, told People on Monday.

Chatwin, who starred in "Shameless," knew Panettiere before the shoot — and noticed how she "seemed different" while filming what would turn out to be her final movie.

"I could tell she was struggling, and I was like, 'I don't think it's this movie,' " he said of likely troubles off the set.

"There's a handful of women that I've worked with that I really liked, and I really loved working with her, but I also know that she was really lonely."

Chatwin, 43, said Panettiere "was authentic . . . about her life and she opened up about her struggles with addiction" while on set of the movie, released in January.

"She was delightful and super open and we had a great time together," he said. Chris Bradford

21

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FAUCI AIDE SCHEMED

COVID record concealment

By VICTOR NAVA

An indicted former senior adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge Tuesday stemming from a scheme to conceal government records on coronavirus research grants from investigators probing the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Morens, a former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases official, copped to conspiracy to commit offenses and to defraud the United States. He faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing.

"By pleading guilty today, Dr. Morens has taken responsibility for what he did, and he will continue to do so," said his defense attorney Timothy Belevetz.

Admits conspiring

As part of the plea deal, Morens, 78, admitted that between April 2020 and June 2023 he conspired with two unnamed co-conspirators and others to "defraud the United States by hampering, hindering, impeding, or obstructing,

DAVID MORENS

Faces up to 5 years in jail, by craft, trickery, deceit or dishonest means, the lawful and legitimate functions" of public health agencies from complying with the Freedom of Information Act and Federal Records Act — including by destroying and concealing records related to the termination and restoration of a National Institutes of Health grant for research on bat coronaviruses.

Morens admitted to conducting government business through his personal Gmail account following the termination of the NIH bat coronavirus research grant to intentionally hide his communications with his co-conspirators from FOIA requests

and public view.

Morens, then a senior adviser to Fauci, pledged to help alleged co-conspirator 1 — believed to be Dr. Peter Daszak, the president of Manhattan-based nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance — counter the narrative that COVID-19 leaked from a lab in China.

Got illegal gifts

Over Gmail, Morens and his alleged co-conspirators exchanged "non-public NIH information," discussed "their efforts to influence NIH to fund" EcoHealth Alliance, exchanged edits to draft letters to NIH leadership on behalf of Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance and "back-channel" information to Fauci, referred to as "Senior NIAID Official 1" in court documents.

Morens further admitted in his guilty plea that Daszak provided him with "illegal gratuities," including two bottles of The Prisoner Red Napa Valley Wine — which retail for about $40.

The wine was delivered to the former public health official's Maryland home as a gift for his "shenanigans."

Robin Hood Luigi: ex-pal

Luigi Mangione saw himself as a Robin Hood-like hero and flashed a "proud" grin when UnitedHealthcare's stock price plummeted after he gunned down CEO Brian Thompson, a former inmate claimed.

Linus Fu, a former prisoner at Brooklyn's infamous Metropolitan Detention Center, told Courthouse News he befriended the 28-year-old admitted killer and witnessed his ascension to celebrity status in the lockup.

Fu — who was jailed from January 2025 to July 2026 for a low-level role in a bank fraud scheme — formed a

"really good relationship" with Mangione (above) in the intake wing and saw him daily, he told the outlet.

Mangione matter-of-factly pleaded guilty last week to two federal stalking counts

for fatally shooting Thompson on a Midtown street on Dec. 4, 2024.

Fu, 32, said some inmates dismissed Mangione as aloof and arrogant. He said he thought Mangione saw himself as a Robin Hood figure, and was "proud" after UnitedHealthcare's stock price dipped after gunning down the CEO.

When Fu asked whether Mangione wanted attention, the Maryland native denied the motive in the killing.

"He said, 'I didn't do that for the fame,' " Fu said. "He basically admitted he did it." Zoe Hussain

BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE

FREE SUMMER CONCERTS

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23

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24

Finally put on ICE

Immig with 4 drunk busts facing deport

By BRANDON CRUZ

A once-deported illegal migrant convicted of four felony DWIs on Long Island was busted again for driving without a license — and turned over to US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Suffolk County authorities said Tuesday.

Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez, 36, was busted by cops in Riverhead on Monday — less than two weeks after he was convicted of his fourth DWI in 10 years, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said.

"It is self-evident that given his history of multiple felony convictions, Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez is a clear and present danger to any Suffolk County citizen traveling on our roads," said District Attorney Ray Tierney in a statement.

"He is a repeat felony drunk driver who does not belong behind the wheel," Tierney said.

"Less than two weeks after his fourth felony DWI conviction, and despite explicit instructions not to drive, the defendant once again got behind the wheel of a vehicle."

Aguilar-Alvarez was convicted of felony drunk driving by jurors,

but was released without bail by Suffolk County Judge Bryan Browns on Aug. 10, pending his sentencing — where he faced up to seven years behind bars.

Less than 10 days later, Aguilar-Alvarez was pulled over in Riverhead and found to be driving without a license, the DA's office alleged. He was issued a summons for misdemeanor aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Aguilar-Alvarez had been barred by the court from operating a motor vehicle as he awaited sentencing on Oct. 2.

Prosecutors consulted with federal immigration authorities after his latest bust, and Aguilar-Alvarez was taken into ICE custody as he was leaving the DA's office following processing in the new charge, authorities said.

It is not clear when the migrant from El Salvador first entered the US, but he was deported in March 2024 after his third DWI conviction, and subsequently re-entered the country illegally after the DA's office said.

Tierney said he plans to bring Aguilar-Alvarez back to Suffolk County to face sentencing on the felony DWI conviction, as well as the new summons.

ONE FOR THE ROAD OUTTA HERE? Four-time DWI felon Pablo Aguilar-Alvarez was arrested by ICE in Riverhead Monday.

New bust for sprung offender

A career thief who's been arrested nearly 150 times was busted again — just weeks after he was let back out on the streets due to New York's lax bail laws, Queens prosecutors said Tuesday.

Shaquan Seth, 40, was picked up Monday for allegedly trying to steal $800 worth of Threshold candles from a Target store on Jackson Avenue in Queens — his favorite haunt and his preferred loot, prosecutors said.

The Post last week exposed his outrageous crime spree, which dates to 2009 and includes repeated thefts, including several at the Target outlet where he stole $600 in candles in June.

Despite his impressive rap sheet, the sticky-fingered candle-lover (inset) was cut loose on Aug. 7 because the state's criminal justice system bans judges from setting bail on non-violent crimes like petty larceny and burglary.

This time, Queens prosecutors invoked a stipulation in state bail laws known as "harm on harm," which allows judges to set bail in non-violent cases typically exempt from bail if the defendant commits multiple crimes and hurts someone or damages property. Jorge Fitz-Gibbon

Third Brooklyn bystander shot

A woman was grazed by a bullet on a Brooklyn street Monday — marking at least the third innocent bystander shot in the borough in less than 48 hours.

The 52-year-old woman was walking near the Glenwood Houses NYCHA complex in Flatlands when she was grazed by a bullet in the left arm at around 1:10 p.m., police said.

Three male suspects fled the scene on scooters, sources said. The victim was transported to Brookdale Medical Center in stable condition.

NYPD data show shooting incidents in the 63rd

Precinct — which contains the crime scene — plunged 60% compared to the same period in 2025.

But Monday's slaying follows the shooting of two other bystanders over the weekend: a 34-year-old man and Sofronie Hartzog, a mother of five, who died in a Crown Heights bar bathroom after she was hit by a stray bullet during a street brawl.

The deadly gunfire erupted when a fight broke out between a group of about 100 people outside the Ooh La La Lounge on Howard Avenue early Sunday, police said. Daniel Cody

Surrogate baby has heart surgery

The baby born to a surrogate who refused to have an abortion despite the biological parents' wishes has undergone surgery for the serious heart defect he was born with.

Little Rumi was born Wednesday in Texas after being diagnosed in utero with a rare congenital heart condition, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which results from the organ being underdeveloped.

The newborn had "complex palliative heart surgery" on Monday and "is now recuperating under the loving care of his parents," their attorney told NBC News.

McKenna West, the surrogate mother, claimed the child's biological parents wanted her to have an abortion after the diagnosis but she refused, sparking a legal battle.

The couple's attorney filed a response in an Alaska court alleging West was "clear and knowing in her intention to abide by" their request for termination if such an abnormality was revealed.

The surgery Rumi underwent is known as a Norwood procedure, said the attorney for biological parents Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar. Chris Nesi

Minn. demands Texas ICE 'killer'

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison wants Texas to hand over the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer accused of shooting an illegal immigrant in Minneapolis earlier this year — then lying about the circumstances of the confrontation.

Ellison filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a bid to compel the Lone Star State to turn over the agent, Christian Castro, to Minnesota authorities.

"Christian Castro has been charged with breaking the law in Minnesota," Ellison told reporters Tuesday. "He

must face justice in Minnesota. Gov. Abbott should have granted [Minnesota] Gov. [Tim] Walz's extradition request long ago and is required to do so now.

"Christian Castro is not above the law, and Greg Abbott isn't either."

Castro is accused of shooting Venezuelan migrant Julio Sosa-Celis amid a chaotic anti-ICE protest on the evening of Jan. 14, while President Trump's Operation Metro Surge was in full swing in Minnesota.

Abbott's office declined to comment when asked by The Post. Ryan King With Wires

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WIFE'S DIVORCE BLOW

Silenced for tycoon husband hacking

By PETER SENZAMICI and REUVEN FENTON

Billionaire John Overdeck testified in his record-breaking New Jersey divorce case Tuesday — but his estranged wife was barred from taking the stand because of alleged dirty tactics such as hacking his computer.

State Family Court Judge Bruce Buechler determined 56-year-old mom-of-three Laura Overdeck "engaged in multiple discovery abuses" — citing several examples of domestic espionage and evidence destruction — in what's been billed the state's most expensive contested split.

Her underhanded tactics included illicitly accessing her 56-year-old financier husband's private computer to take photos of emails he exchanged with his lawyers, breaking into his post office box and deleting evidence from her phone, the judge said, according to a transcript of a prior hearing at the Newark, NJ, courthouse.

The ruling means the wife will be unable to testify or call expert witnesses in the sensational case.

And that could throw a wrench into her attempts to claim 35% of her hubby's stake in his $80 billion hedge fund Two Sigma — or a mind-boggling $6.2 billion.

John Overdeck has offered his wife $633 million, her lawyers have said.

The husband looked like he

NO FUND: A NJ divorce court judge ruled Laura Overdeck can't testify as she seeks a chunk of billionaire John Overdeck's assets.

didn't have a care in the world outside court Tuesday — dressed in a blue suit and open-necked white shirt with no tie as he grinned for The Post and carried his phone with a playful game on it.

His wife appeared much more subdued and solemn as she made her way into the building.

The judge found in April that Laura Overdeck had snapped pics on her cell of her spouse's emails discussing legal strategy — and then failed to produce the phone, according to the transcript.

Despite court orders, she didn't turn over the phone "until at least 13 months later" — and the images had been deleted, with her claiming the device was running out of memory, according to Buechler.

"Whether Ms. Overdeck did it maliciously or accidentally is not relevant," Buechler said. "There's a cumulative effect here."

The ruling also found the wife convinced the post office to pro-

vide her with an extra key to her estranged husband's private P.O. box "so she could access the mail in that box" — but she refused to say what she took or to return it.

Her husband meanwhile testified Tuesday that his wife was well aware the company was his

before marriage.

"I remember that she, even before we were married, acknowledged that I owned a company, and that she wasn't the type of person who would claim that that would be hers," John Overdeck said from the stand.

"I remember when we bought our first house in June of 2004 and soon thereafter, when I decided to title it in joint name, that that was essentially taking something that had been mine and making it ours, and that [it] came up in that context," he said. "It came up when we were establishing trusts for our children, which first happened in about 2007. It came up when we later — well, regularly thereafter. After 2007, we hired an accountant, and the accountant prepared separate balance sheets for the company, and it had separate columns for, you know, 'John's assets' and whatever."

At issue is whether Overdeck can claim her husband's stake in Two Sigma as a marital asset.

John Overdeck's lawyers argue the Manhattan-based investment firm was founded two years before the couple's 2002 nuptials.

Prez pauses tariffs in deal with Canada

President Trump announced Tuesday evening that he was delaying the planned implementation of 50% tariffs on most imports from Canada for three days — teasing that Washington and Ottawa may have agreed to resurrect the dormant Keystone XL pipeline project.

"I have paused the 50% Tariffs against Canada, that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three day period," Trump wrote on Truth Social, "based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!"

"The great Keystone XL Pipeline, long ago killed by Sleepy Joe Biden, may be awoken from the grave!" added the president, who subsequently posted an AI-generated image of him yanking a pipeline labeled "Keystone" out of the ground next to a cracked tombstone

reading: "Buried by Biden." The announcement came fewer than two hours before the new duties were to take effect and followed all-day conversations between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The 50% tariff would apply to some $20 billion

worth of Canadian products, about 5% of what the country ships south every year. Wine, hockey sticks, and cement would have been among the affected products, while items such as critical minerals, fish potash and energy products would have been exempt.

Canada had threatened to retaliate against any new tariffs with levies of its own, aggravating a trade fight between countries that sold each other $880 billion worth of goods and services last year. Samuel Chamberlain and Victor Nava

25

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Millennial upward mobility. Improved finances

By JARED DOWNING

Nearly half of millennials say their financial situation has improved since five years ago under former President Joe Biden, according to a new poll.

This comes after the generation, now between 29 and 45 years old, suffered through a series of economic blows, including the Great Recession, the student debt crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forty-nine percent of millennials reported they are financially better off than in 2021, according to a survey of 3,000 US adults released by Chime financial services on Tuesday.

Only 44% of Gen Xers and 40% of baby boomers said the same.

And around a quarter of surveyed millennials said they were worse off, compared to roughly a third of boomers and Gen X.

Millennials are earning money at a faster pace — their net worth has grown 134% since 2021, versus 32% for boomers and 40% for Gen X, according to a survey from the Fed Board of Governors.

They're also turning to the stock market to generate wealth.

In the first three months of 2026, Millennials owned about $4.94 trillion in stocks, according to federal data.

But their overall net worth is still five times less than Boomers' due to a lag in home ownership. Only 25% of Millennials own a home compared to about 40% of

baby boomers, per the National Association of Home Buyers.

The median age for first-time home buying has risen to 40, the Association reported, and millennials are also slower to reach other traditional milestones representing financial security, such as having children, according to the Chime survey.

Millennials' goals and financial philosophy seem to differ based on when exactly they were born.

"Where older millennials learned to survive, younger millennials are finding different definitions of success," Chime wrote in a summary of its survey results.

Younger millennials are more likely to view renting as a freedom, not failure, and they have more faith in the traditional career paths, whereas more older millennials said they have given up on the idea of the "career ladder."

One explanation could be that older millennials were finishing high school and college just in time for the 2008 crash and "Occupy Wall Street"-era cynicism.

Yet those jaded elder millennials are making money hand over fist.

"As long as you go to age 30 or higher, the incomes of millennials are higher than the incomes of any previous generation at the same age," Kevin Corinth, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute's Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility, told Bloomberg.

Border opens as weather clears

An international crossing in the Andes mountain range that connects Argentina with Chile reopened Tuesday after being closed for a record 34 days due to heavy snowfall and strong winds during the El Niño phenomenon.

The closure of the Cristo Redentor tunnel had left hundreds of trucks stranded. Those on the Argentine side were authorized to move in the first hours of the reopening, according to a statement from the Argentine government. Reuters

Harvard morgue suit $ettle

Harvard has agreed to pay $53 million to resolve lawsuits by families alleging it mishandled the bodies of loved ones donated to its medical school and whose parts were then sold on the black market by the former manager of its morgue.

A state court judge in Boston on Tuesday preliminarily approved a class action settlement that would resolve lawsuits filed against the institution following the arrest in 2023 of Cedric Lodge, the former manager of Harvard Medical School's morgue.

Lodge, who had worked in Harvard's morgue for almost three decades, was sentenced by a federal judge in December to eight years in prison for stealing and selling organs and other parts of cadavers that were donated to the school for medical research.

Prosecutors said since 2018 he had been stealing parts from cadavers including heads, faces, brains, skin and hands and transporting them from Harvard's morgue in Boston to his home in Goffstown, NH, where he and his wife sold them. Dozens of relatives of individuals whose bodies were donated to Harvard filed lawsuits accusing the school of negligence, contending it turned a blind eye to Lodge's years-long misconduct until he was indicted in 2023.

A judge initially dismissed the cases, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in October revived them, saying the plaintiffs had sufficient claims that Harvard failed to act in good faith in handling the bodies. Reuters

Baby 'killer' dad charged

A Utah father was charged with killing his baby daughter after reportedly leaving her alone for nearly an hour in his basement littered with drugs.

Neal English Colby, 32, was cuffed on first-degree child abuse homicide and child abuse charges over the death of his nearly 7-month-old daughter, Celia Aurora Colby, in 2025, according to local outlet KSL.

Officers rushed to Colby's home in Murray on the morning of Jan. 17, 2025, and discovered the infant's mother performing CPR on her in an unfinished basement, the outlet reported.

The baby was taken to the hospital but died in the ambulance, according to authorities.

Zoe Hussain

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Mass. wife wanted in hub death

An "armed and dangerous" Massachusetts woman is wanted by authorities after her veteran police officer husband was found dead in her home.

A large manhunt is underway for Karen Solomon, 58, after cops arrived at her Worcester home for a call about a medical emergency and found the dead off-duty patrolman, according to police and reports.

The local police union identified the dead cop as 57-year-old Kurt Solomon, a veteran cop with the Worcester Police Department.

Authorities said state laws around domestic violence prevent them from saying what Solomon's relationship was with the slain officer, but sources told WBZ-TV that Kurt was Karen's husband.

Karen also has said that she's married to a Worcester police officer, according to a 2016 interview with the TV station. David DeTurris

MINNY 'FRAUD'

Honored refugee busted

By DAVID DeTURRIS

An alleged Minnesota fraudster once hailed as an "outstanding refugee" by the state was reportedly part of a massive Medicaid fraud and sex-trafficking ring that swindled victims out of over $4.5 million.

Salman Ahmed Elmi, who was honored by the state's Department of Human Services in 2021 with the Outstanding Refugee Award for Entrepreneurship, was slapped with a total of eight counts of aiding and abetting theft last week, the National Review reported.

Prosecutors said Elmi, an immigrant from Somalia, was one of four associates who ran four phony agencies in Minnesota — Reva Health, Reva Autism, Helpful Housing, Homefelt As-

sisted Living — that scammed the government healthcare program out of more than $4.5 million since 2023.

Elmi himself billed Medicaid for more than $1 million in unprovided or illegible services, according to prosecutors.

'Sex trafficking'

Meanwhile, Elmi and his associates — Frank Reeves, Viktoriya Komonash and Andrea Sampson — were also running a related pay-for-sex scheme, where they would recruit homeless and drug-addicted young women and rent apartments in their name, according to prosecutors.

The crew would then steal the identities of the men paying for sex and bill Medicaid in their names,

court records show.

Investigators had been tracking the pay-for-sex con since 2019, prosecutors said.

Sampson and Reeves were busted for their alleged role in the sex-trafficking ring last week, the outlet reported.

Elmi, meanwhile, had been championed by Minnesota's Department of Human Services as a rags-to-riches story of refugee success in the state.

The alleged fraudster had started a business "to help inspire other people" in a since-deleted profile celebrating him as an "outstanding refugee" on the state's website.

Besides allegedly helping to create the bogus businesses used to rip off Medicaid, Elmi was also the founder of Tavolo, an AI

SALMAN ELMI Medicaid "scam" bust.

marketing app for restaurants.

Elmi's partial ownership in Tavolo allowed him to secure a loan and start Reva Health, one of the fake agencies, the National Review reported.

He was released from custody on Monday but was required to give up his passport and remain in the state.

He's due back in court on Oct. 4.

ddeturris@nypost.com

Suspicious teen death in SI home

A 19-year-old man was found dead with suspicious injuries to his body inside his Staten Island home Tuesday morning — in a disturbing case investigators are treating as a suspected homicide, sources told The Post.

Police were called to a New Springville residence on Elmwood Park Drive at 11:10 a.m. for reports of an unconscious person. He was declared dead at the scene, according to the NYPD.

The victim's body was cold and had protruding ribs. He also had swelling and bruising around his wrists and ankles — as well as signs consistent with malnourishment, sources familiar with the investigation said.

The teen's mother, who called 911, provided first responders with a narrative sources said was inconsistent with the physical findings at the scene. Joe Marino and Amanda Woods

Post Weather Report

Wednesday	Thursday
Today: Mostly sunny and less humid. High 84 to 90.	Tomorrow: Variable cloudiness with brief showers. High 79 to 85.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Low 69 to 75.	Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy. Low 64 to 70.
Friday Partly sunny. High 77 to 83.	Saturday Showers possible. High 75 to 81.
Evening A shower late. Low 65 to 71.	Evening Partly cloudy. Low 65 to 71.

Almanac

YESTERDAY'S CONDITIONS AT CENTRAL PARK THROUGH 6PM
Temperature High: 86, Low: 72, Mean: 79
Departure from Normal Yesterday: +3 degrees
Precipitation Yesterday: 0.32", Month: 4.21", Year: 26.92", Normal year to date: 31.04"
Cooling Degree days yesterday ... 14
Total for the month (normal) ... 237 (213)
Total since Jan. 1 (normal) ... 997 (914)
Last year to date ... 997
Heat index (at noon) ... 84
UV index (for Wed.) ... 8 (Very High)
Humidity (at noon) ... 71%
AIR QUALITY Pollen: Moderate Predominant pollen: Weeds
AQI rating: (for Wed.) ... Moderate

Weekday		Thursday
Sussex 86/63	Preekskill 87/66	White Plains 85/67	Stamford 87/69
Paterson 88/69	Thurston 86/70	Huntington 86/70	Huntington 86/70
Newark 89/73	Garden City 86/71	Deer Park 85/70	Deer Park 85/70
Friday Partly sunny. High 77 to 83.	Sandy Hook 84/73	Long Beach 82/73	Sandy Hook 84/73
Evening A shower late. Low 65 to 71.	Forecast data is current as of 6 p.m. yesterday. Temperatures are today's highs and tonight's lows.
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, ab-showers, r-rain, t-thunder-storms, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, Rice
Sun and Moon Sunrise today ... 6:10 a.m. Sunset tonight ... 7:48 p.m. Moonrise today ... 1:47 p.m. Moonset today ... 11:02 p.m.
Sun and Moon First Full Last New Aug 19 Aug 28 Sep 4 Sep 10
Wind cities Athens 90/72/s 94/75/s Baghdad 109/88/s 112/91/s Beijing 88/75/t 88/72/t Berlin 68/59/sh 77/56/t Cairo 94/74/pc 94/74/pc Dublin 66/51/sh 62/46/pc Geneva 91/66/s 80/62/sh Hong Kong 93/82/t 87/81/r Jerusalem 86/68/s 89/72/s Kabul 93/68/pc 94/67/pc London 75/57/pc 72/55/pc Madrid 96/68/s 87/66/s Mexico City 79/58/sh 77/59/sh Montreal 73/60/t 76/56/s Moscow 67/52/r 71/57/r Paris 83/60/t 77/60/pc Rio de Janeiro 82/70/s 79/71/pc Rome 90/74/pc 91/77/sh Sydney 69/54/s 72/58/sh Tokyo 92/75/s 91/77/pc

AccuWeather

From: Superior Accuracy Visit AccuWeather.com

New York Tides	TODAY	TOMORROW
High Tide for	1st 2nd	1st 2nd
Coney Island	1:07a 1:39p	1:57a 2:27p
Fire Island	1:05a 1:41p	1:49a 2:33p
Hampstead	4:49a 5:08p	5:50a 6:10p
Huntington	4:45a 5:06p	5:40a 6:02p
Jones Inlet	12:51a 1:23p	1:41a 2:11p
Montauk Point	2:25a 2:58p	3:19a 3:57p
Port Washington	4:55a 5:12p	6:00a 6:15p
Sandy Hook	1:11a 1:43p	2:01a 2:31p
Regional cities	TODAY	TOMORROW
Albany	84/64/pc	78/55/pc
Danbury	85/65/s	78/56/sh
Glens Falls	82/59/t	79/53/pc
Gr Burlington	83/61/pc	78/53/pc
Kingston	87/63/pc	81/56/pc
Liberty	81/60/pc	75/52/sh
Monticello	82/61/pc	76/52/sh
Newburgh	87/65/pc	79/57/sh
Poughkeepsie	86/65/pc	77/56/sh
Saratoga Springs	83/60/t	80/53/pc
Stroudsburg	86/64/pc	80/55/sh
Torrington	85/63/pc	77/57/pc
Syracuse	79/59/t	77/53/pc
World cities	TODAY	TOMORROW
Athens	90/72/s	94/75/s
Baghdad	109/88/s	112/91/s
Beijing	88/75/t	88/72/t
Berlin	68/59/sh	77/56/t
Cairo	94/74/pc	94/74/pc
Dublin	66/51/sh	62/46/pc
Geneva	91/66/s	80/62/sh
Hong Kong	93/82/t	87/81/r
Jerusalem	86/68/s	89/72/s
Kabul	93/68/pc	94/67/pc
London	75/57/pc	72/55/pc
Madrid	96/68/s	87/66/s
Mexico City	79/58/sh	77/59/sh
Montreal	73/60/t	76/56/s
Moscow	67/52/r	71/57/r
Paris	83/60/t	77/60/pc
Rio de Janeiro	82/70/s	79/71/pc
Rome	90/74/pc	91/77/sh
Sydney	69/54/s	72/58/sh
Tokyo	92/75/s	91/77/pc

27 New York Post, Wednesday, August 19, 2026 nypost.com

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28

Call for B'klyn 'hate peddler' to resign

By CARL CAMPANILE

A Brooklyn Democratic district leader peddled antisemitic conspiracy theories and blamed "Zionists" for her personal property dispute — prompting Jewish leaders to demand her resignation Tuesday.

Carmella Charrington, who represents socialist friendly turf in Bedford-Stuyvesant, is a key vote in an ongoing fight over who will be the next chair of the powerful Kings County Democratic Party.

Charrington has been embroiled in a legal inheritance fight over her family's brownstone home in Bed-Stuy and outrageously pointed the finger at "Zionists" with ties to the West Bank for her troubles.

"They're Zionists that basically did this. Same thing that they're doing in the West Bank, it's the same thing. There's a connection," Charrington recently told Egyptian podcaster Raha Zein, an interview that was picked up by the Jewish Insider on Tuesday.

'Scapegoating'

Charrington also stirred outrage last year when she shared a video on Instagram promoting notoriously antisemitic industrialist Henry Ford's "The International Jew" booklets, which falsely claimed Jewish people control business, media and banking.

"Repeatedly invoking 'Zionists' as a collective villain, particularly after previously promoting Henry Ford's 'The International Jew,' is not legitimate policy criticism. It traffics in some of the oldest and most dangerous forms of antisemitic scapegoating," said Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

"Rhetoric has consequences. Jewish New Yorkers continue to be disproportionately targeted by hate crimes," Treyger said.

"Carmella Charrington should resign as district leader."

Charrington has claimed she's a victim of deed theft, but a Georgia conservator accused her of kidnapping her elderly father, who suffers from dementia. In the pod-

250 antisemitic incidents at city schools

There have been at least 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents in New York City public schools since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks that sparked the Gaza war, according to a Jewish educators' group.

The deeply disturbing number comes as the city experiences a rise in overall hate crimes citywide

this year — with more than half of the incidents deemed antisemitic, show the latest NYPD data.

"The data reveal a persistent pattern of hostility directed at Jewish students, educators, and staff," said the United Jewish Teachers, referring to its school findings, in a report sent to Mayor Mam-

dani and schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels.

The UJT's report found that 65% of the incidents involved "direct acts" — harassment, vandalism, assaults, the drawing of symbols such as swastikas and verbal threats.

"Significant shares also involve biased curriculum and instructional materials,

as well as disruptive events such as walkouts and protests," the group said. "These incidents have created hostile learning and working environments."

While city schools don't report hate episodes based on certain religions, student-on-student incidents of bullying, harassment and discrimination based on re-

ligion overall have been skyrocketing — from 151 incidents in the pre-COVID 2018-2019 school year to 367 incidents in 2022-2023, 398 incidents in 2023-2024 and 319 in 2024-2025.

A rep for Samuels said the DOE has "zero tolerance" for discrimination, including antisemitism.

Carl Campanile

Afridida Ecommood

Brunch crunch closure

Sarabeth's is closing in on two fronts.

The beloved brunch brand pulled the plug on its Park Avenue South and Greenwich Village locations last weekend, with both restaurants serving their final plates Sunday — as the chain's Upper West Side eatery is being hauled into court by its landlord over alleged months of unpaid rent.

In a statement on Instagram, Sarabeth's thanked "the teams, guests, and neighbors" who made the two now-shuttered locations "such vibrant, beloved parts of New York City."

The 45-year-old company said that "despite everything that was working well, the economics of running these two locations are no longer sustainable."

It will keep operating its two remaining locations on Central Park South and the Upper West Side.

Sarabeth's long-standing Upper West Side outpost, at 423 Amsterdam Ave., has troubles of its own.

Landlord 423 AMCO sued the restaurant's operator in Manhattan Supreme Court in late July, accusing Sarabeth's of blowing off $43,432 in rent payments.

This month, the landlord secured a court order directing Sarabeth's to start paying up. Mary K. Jacob

Fatal stab in park

A 30-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in a Brooklyn park early Tuesday, authorities said.

The stabbing happened inside Lincoln Terrace-Arthur S. Somers Park on Rochester Avenue and Eastern Parkway at around 12:41 a.m. after police received a report of a dispute.

Police said they found the woman suffering from multiple stab wounds and she was rushed to Brookdale Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of her family.

No arrests have been made. Richard Pollina

POL BLAMES ZIONIST PLOT

cast interview, she mentioned Joseph and Elliot Ambalo and Daniel Gazal, who bought stakes in the property from the conservator for Charrington's dad.

'Reprehensible'

State Sen. Sam Sutton, who reps southern Brooklyn, said Charrington's smears cannot be condoned.

"As the first Sephardic Jewish state senator ... I cannot remain silent when antisemitism is legitimized," he said. "Carmella Charrington has demonstrated that she is unfit for public duty. She should resign immediately."

A spokesman for Mayor Mamdani said, "Suggesting that an alleged deed theft in Brooklyn is part of a global conspiracy involving

Jewish people is blatant, reprehensible antisemitism."

The Post reached out to Charrington for comment.

There is an ongoing tug-of-war in the Brooklyn Democratic Party as progressive members look to oust its moderate chair, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte.

Charrington is aligned with Bichotte's challenger Julio Pena.

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POSTOPINION

Socialist Scam

Reject the false promises of Medicare for All

ABDUL El-Sayed in Michigan is building his US Senate campaign on Medicare for All, promising health care coverage for all Americans "cradle-to-grave." In Minnesota, Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan has made Medicare for All a central plank of her progressive platform. In New York, more than 100 state lawmakers have co-sponsored legislation to establish a statewide single-payer system.

Single-payer health care is back on the political agenda, pushed by Democratic Socialists and their leftist allies as the answer to Americans' frustrations with private medical insurers. But while excoriating insurance companies may be good politics, forcing everyone into a government insurance monopoly would be disastrous policy.

Today's insurance market has flaws, granted — but at least Americans aren't trapped. Employers can move their workers to a different insurer; those who buy their own coverage can compare competing plans and switch during open enrollment.

Even Medicare beneficiaries — whose coverage is financed by the federal government — still enjoy real choices. They can enroll in traditional Medicare or choose among competing Medicare Advantage plans run by private insurers, and many can also shop among competing Part D prescription-drug plans.

Choice and competition matter, and even one of America's largest government health programs recognizes that. Medicare for All would eliminate all those choices by effectively outlawing private insurance.

Competing insurers would no longer negotiate payments and prices with providers — leaving Washington as the nation's single payer for health care.

The Medicare for All bill Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VL) introduced last year would require the federal government to establish a national health budget. From that amount, Washington would set payment rates for physicians, hospitals and other care providers, with federal bureaucrats deciding what they may be paid for every service they deliver.

The sums Washington would

Budget buster: Sanders' proposal would cost $3.2 trillion every year.

have to raise and spend on such an endeavor would be staggering roughly $32 trillion over a decade, according to independent estimates from the left-leaning Urban Institute and the libertarian Mercatus Center based on previous versions of Sanders' plan. Not even doubling all projected federal individual and corporate income taxes would be enough to cover the tab.

Single-payer systems abroad show that even enormous government health budgets don't eliminate scarcity. The British government spent about $380 billion in public money on health care last year, while Canada is projected to spend roughly $204 billion. Yet patients in both countries still endure extraordinary waits and shortages.

That's the unavoidable tradeoff Medicare for All advocates rarely acknowledge. Government can promise comprehensive health care to everyone, but it cannot conjure an unlimited supply of doctors, nurses, hospital beds or taxpayer dollars. When demand exceeds what the government's budget can finance, something has to give — and usually, it's access to care.

Britain's National Health Service shows what those tradeoffs look like at the bedside. NHS England reported in June that an average of 2,241 patients a day were receiving "Corridor Care" — treatments in emergency-department hallways due to chronic

overcrowding — and another 669 were treated daily in other inappropriate hospital spaces.

The strain isn't confined to emergency departments: At the end of May, about 6.2 million people in England were waiting to start non-emergency specialist treatment. More than 104,000 of those patients had been waiting over a year.

It's the same in Canada's single-payer system. Last year, the median wait for treatment from a specialist following referral by a general practitioner was more than 28 weeks. Canadian patients faced a median of more than eight weeks' wait for a CT scan and 18 weeks for an MRI.

Single-payer doesn't spare physicians, either — a longitudinal study that tracked emergency physicians in Canada over nearly five years found persistently high burnout. By 2025, almost half had reduced their clinical hours, and one in 10 had left emergency medicine entirely.

At least Britain has preserved an escape hatch: Private medical insurance covered 6.5 million people there in 2024, giving many patients another option when the NHS could not deliver timely treatment. Medicare for All would offer Americans no comparable way out.

Americans frustrated with insurers deserve the power to fire them. Medicare for All would leave them stuck with the one insurer they could never fire — Washington, DC.

Sally C. Pipes is CEO of the Pacific Research Institute.

THE WEEK'S BEST OF The Babylon Bee Headlines from America's satirical news source, babylonbee.com

AOC Struggling To Meet Single Men Under Age 90 At Work

"I'm trying to put myself out there, but it's been a struggle," said AOC. "Every time I start texting with a guy, it turns out he's in an iron lung."

Karoline Leavitt Prepared For Motherhood After Spending Last Two Years Answering Millions Of Stupid Questions

"Karoline will hardly notice a difference," said family friend Janice Wilkerson. "All the shouting over one another, nonsensical statements, the constant stream of inane queries. Being a toddler mom will be just like any other day."

Mormon Teen Takeover Leaves Three New Houses Built For Homeless

The teens were seen swarming public spaces and engaging in general public politeness before constructing houses for the homeless and fleeing the scene.

"Is a horse a man? Is a horse a badger? These are just some of the questions we will be deliberating. It is important to us that we answer this question in order to protect the right of all horses to compete."

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30

nypost.com

NEW YORK POST

America's oldest continuously published daily newspaper

Clean Up 'the Blade'

Butal pimps victimize women constantly in the Penn Track open-air sex market; human trafficking is a daily affair ... and City Hall's response is to have its tiny Office of Community Safety talk with the Brooklyn DA's Office about 'approaches that will deliver durable solutions.'

That was the comment Mayor Zohran Mamdani's people provided for Megan Palin's Post exposé on 'the Blade' blocks of East New York.

It is grim reading indeed. Hard men control the streets around Pennsylvania Avenue, running strings of next-to-naked prostitutes — each renting her body for as little as $85 a trick to make a 'quota' of perhaps $1,000 a night for the pimp who holds her in de facto slavery.

'Leaving sounds easy until you think about it,' one Penn Track victim told The Post. 'You got no money — he got it all. You got no phone — it's in his name. Where you gonna go?'

The NYPD did some citywide cracking down on prostitution-related sex trafficking amid this summer's World Cup, rescuing 43 suspected victims and arresting some al-

leged traffickers. But it doesn't try to shut down the Track market; it only posts officers in the area to try to spot underage and trafficking victims, and then ... connect them with services that could help.

Its Human Trafficking Squad has also done four sweeping 'outreach operations' along the Penn Track this year, a department spokesman told The Post.

That hands-off policy predates the Mamdani mayoralty, and no change is in immediate sight.

The mayor says he opposes legalizing 'sex work,' though he previously backed 'full decriminalization,' which eases up on pimps and johns as well their victims.

Yet his spokefolk say his 'administration takes human trafficking, coercion, and exploitation extremely seriously,' and his favored approach 'is one that deploys the full range of city resources to keep people safe and hold those responsible for trafficking and exploitation accountable.'

That could easily justify a serious crackdown, with police and social workers, to rescue the women now being victimized every day in 'the Blade': How about it, Mr. Mayor?

A Sudden Sympathy for the Navy

Critics have a bizarre new cudgel to use on Team Trump: living conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln.

The nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier has been at sea with 5,000 service members for more than 260 days, including more than 150 in a combat zone. Reports of food and supply shortages and slipping morale went viral after one sailor apparently had to be rescued after jumping overboard (wearing a life-vest) and a few others reportedly had suicidal thoughts.

The left is painting the carrier's conditions as unusually bleak, linking them to the ship's long deployment and blaming President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Please. Yes, the Lincoln's deployment has been long, but its conditions are hardly rare for the military, especially in wartime. This got so much attention simply because it's a way to slam Trump & Co.

Just a few months back, the Trump-haters were griping about 'luxury spending' for servicemen to enjoy steak and lobster —

feasts that are traditional before long deployments. Now, Hegseth's not feeding sailors well enough!

Military life is hard, and extended time at sea is often necessary even in peacetime — and service in a war zone is tougher still.

Yet the Navy reports the Lincoln has not seen 'an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship.' CentCom's chief, Adm. Brad Cooper, visited the ship Saturday and notes: 'Issues related to food, hot water and other concerns raised months ago were addressed by leadership and resolved.'

'The crew is tired, but they continue to fire on all cylinders,' he adds — and the USS George Washington is on its way to relieve the Lincoln, which will soon be home.

Americans should be enormously proud of this crew and grateful for their sacrifices. Hail the heroes — on the Lincoln and around the world — for stepping up.

And damn the cynics who only stop to consider the privations of military service when it offers a chance to bash the president.

Hochul's Tolls Have Just One Success

Gov. Hochul considers her congestion-pricing scheme a huge success, but the City Health Department just exposed the scam by blowing up one of the main supposed benefits.

'Measured pollution levels were not significantly different because of congestion pricing,' it reported Friday.

Worse, the activists at South Bronx Unite have published preliminary data suggesting that congestion pricing has worsened air quality in their neighborhood, with added traffic as trucks, etc. avoid the tolls.

That's exactly what the federal environmental review predicted long before Hochul imposed the $9 (and rising!) tolls — i.e., that overall traffic wouldn't drop, but only shift from the zone's ritzy Manhattan nabes into rougher outer-borough areas.

The only 'good' it really did was allow Hochul impose a new tax (under another name) to bail out the MTA without upsetting any of the special interests that feed off the agency — while also winning points with elite car-hating donors. Of course she's happy to call it a big 'success.'

letters@nypost.com

Socialists for Shoplifting: Emily Advocates Anarchy

• Insanity rules in New York. State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher has hit a new low for Democrats ('DSA idea is 'steal'ly bad,' Aug. 16).

Is inciting theft not a crime? Arrest her.

It's devastating for a community to have stores close. The people suffer, and the workers lose their jobs. Corporate doesn't suffer.

A biological need to steal toothpaste and soap opens the door to a need to steal a TV or a coat. Maybe even a biological need to shoot someone.

Gallagher should be sanctioned. I am ashamed New York has put such a disgusting woman in office. Anarchy is occurring. Wake up!

Maureen Sharkey Brooklyn

• Allowing shoplifting will cause stores to close due to financial losses. This will permit the government to take over. Socialist mission accomplished.

Jackie Biaggi The Bronx

• Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher may very well be the dumbest person ever elected to serve in public office.

She advocates that in some circumstances it's justified to shoplift. I wonder if she would feel the same way if she had to earn a living working in retail rather than being paid by New York state taxpayers.

New Yorkers who supported and elected this person got what they deserve: an idiot.

Jim Kilduff Rockville Centre

• Gallagher is a user, a taker and a hypocrite. She earns over $142,000 in salary, yet has the gall to launch a GoFundMe for her cat's emergency surgery? Did she use GoFundMe to pay for the

THE ISSUE: Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher's claim that shoplifters have a 'biological need' to steal.

Emily Gallagher

various tattoos she brazenly sports?

This is a lawmaker who thinks stealing soap and toothpaste should be allowed. No wonder so many are fleeing New York. It is disgraceful.

Patricia Keane Eastport

• Now we have Gallagher imparting her wisdom for all New Yorkers to share: Rip off stores for toiletries and other items she sees as biological needs. Does she really think corporate stores are going to absorb the cost of these items? They won't. Costs will be the responsibility of paying customers.

Gallagher and her comrades would be better off addressing a failed educational system, crime in minority neighborhoods, drugs and more.

Yakov Moshe, Brooklyn

• A country ruled by law is unacceptable to DSA operatives. Therefore, it must be eliminated in phases. They've already started the process.

Handcuff, defund or eliminate law enforcement. Add a rotating-door judicial system with soft-on-crime policies.

Next: Don't consider stealing necessities to be a crime — and it is not

limited to just toiletries. Robert Neglia The Bronx

• Assemblywoman Gallagher: If you are committed to this cause, I respectfully suggest that you consider utilizing personal funds to purchase and distribute these items directly, rather than pursuing your current legislative or policy approach.

Alfred Bonnabel Manhattan

• There is actually an assemblywoman who believes people who shoplift have a biological need to do so, and therefore shoplifting should be legal.

Why should companies make money? I would like to see people explain how one can vote for someone who says this. How do we elect people like this, with these kinds of ideas?

Mindy Rader New City

• How do people like Gallagher get elected to important positions?

She is a member of the Assembly, getting paid handsomely for part-time work. If she thinks stealing from pharmacies and other stores is right, maybe she should list her address so that someone can steal something that they need from her.

Maybe an IQ test should be required to vote. It's time to take out the trash from the Assembly.

Sylvia Kane, Brooklyn

• Hey, crazy lady, here is an idea: If you want to brush your teeth, get a job and buy toothpaste. Does Gallagher want the government to come to people's homes and put deodorant under their armpits for them?

Carol Meltzer Manhattan

E-MAIL: letters@nypost.com or WRITE to The Editor, The New York Post, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. Include name, address and daytime phone number. No unverifiable letters will be published. The Post reserves the right to edit all letters.

The New York Post is published by N.Y.P. Holdings Inc., 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. Lachlan Murdoch, Chair; Rupert Murdoch, Chairman Emeritus; Sean M. Giancola, Publisher; Keith Poole, Editor-in-Chief; Stephen Lynch, Print EIC; Mark Cunningham, Editorial Page Editor

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POSTOPINION

Dumping on Our Allies

Trump's snub of South Korea

IT'S hard to believe that Kim Jong Un is really this charming.

President Trump touted his fond relationship with the North Korean dictator in a Truth Social post calling for scaling back a long-running annual military exercise with the South Koreans.

"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un," Trump wrote, "I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea."

According to Trump, the exercises "send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful." Then he added that South Korea had recently declined to take a role in the Iran war — clearly irking Trump, as he subsequently explained to reporters at the White House.

The joint exercises have been a key element of the US-South Korea military alliance for decades. They are meant to ensure that the two countries are prepared in the event of a North Korean assault, and perhaps now have an added importance given the experience North Korea has gained in high-intensity modern warfare by bolstering Russian forces in Ukraine.

Much more important than the practical effect of Trump's fusillade, though, is the signal it sends, yet again, that he is easily disenchanted with long-time allies whose friendship should be con-

sidered a strategic boon to the United States.

Whether musing about making Canada the 51st state, briefly campaigning to take control of Greenland, imposing tariffs on friend and foe alike, or hammering NATO, Trump has been careless of the good will of our allies.

They need us more than we need them, which means they are willing to put up with a lot — but sowing dissension unnecessarily is a foolhardy game at a time of growing international threats.

South Korea has been a treaty

ally since 1953, and is a wealthy, technologically advanced democracy that occupies strategically important ground in Northeast Asia. It is obviously both threatened by and a bulwark against potential North Korean adventurism.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited South Korea last year and said, "Our alliance is stronger than ever before, 72 years strong." He described the inspiring sight of US and South Korean soldiers standing "shoulder to shoulder working together."

South Korea has been committed to increasing its defense spending, to 3.5% of GDP. In light of this, Hegseth subsequently averred, "Model allies that step up, like Israel, South Korea, Poland . . . will

receive our special favor." Yet such assurances by administration officials are always subject to change, depending on Trump's animosities at any given time.

It's certainly true that South Korea owes its existence to us. We fought to preserve its independence at a great cost in blood and treasure during the Korean War, and we have nearly 30,000 troops on the peninsula to deter North Korea from assaulting the South again.

Seoul has lent support to recent US military operations, typically in non-combat roles — but it's understandable that it wouldn't be enthused about taking part in an Iran war that hasn't gone as planned and that has no clear end game.

As for the North, it isn't our friend. It is firmly within the China and Russia axis, and has been developing its nuclear and missile arsenal space.

There is no reason to believe that any blandishments from Trump will change its behavior, and Kim has been clear that the United States needs to abandon its "obsession" with denuclearization.

What we most need from South Korea is for it be as strong as possible to deter North Korea — and we shouldn't be lending any credence to Kim's claim that US-South Korean exercises are provocations, or sowing doubt about our commitment to allies.

Such diplomatic episodes, though, are an inherent part of Trump's governance. To paraphrase the Roman writer Publius Syrus, prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them, and Trump distresses them — unnecessarily.

X: @RichLowry

A DEADBEAT PREZ?

AOC'S LOAN MESS

BETTYING markets show Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as the frontrunner to snag the Democrats' 2028 presidential nomination. But despite earning $173,000 a year as a member of Congress, AOC refuses to pay back her student loans — a red flag that she has no respect for taxpayers.

Her supporters claim her college loans make her relatable. "This is what happens when we elect normal people to Congress," leftist activist David Hogg posted approvingly.

Relatable to the elite, maybe, but not to everybody. Households in the top fifth for earnings are three times more likely to have college debt than households in the bottom fifth. That means when doctors, lawyers and members of Congress don't pay their college loans, working stiffs who never got to go to college — bus drivers, waiters and sanitation workers — end up on the hook. Totally unfair.

If we elect a student-loan deadbeat to our nation's highest office hold onto your wallet, and prepare for financial calamity.

Political analyst Doug Schoen last week warned that AOC "carries massive ideological baggage," but in truth she's hardly a Marxist scholar. She's a poster child for the economic illiteracy of Gen Z and Millennial Democratic Socialists.

The congresswoman, who graduated in 2011, owes between $15,000 and $19,000 in student loans — after owing $19,000 in 2019. Seven years and she's barely made a dent in her obligation. She's single, with no dependents. But she's announced with great fanfare that she's planning to freeze her eggs — an expensive proposition.

And she spends plenty on her personal presentation — paying $25 a pop for her signature Stila bright-red lipstick, about twice the cost of a drugstore brand, and win-

Linda McMahon told 9 million Americans with delinquent student loans last March, reminding them that taxpayers are on the hook for the $425 billion they owe.

AOC's foot-dragging on her student loan reveals a stunning lack of respect for taxpayers. That same disrespect is why she's an outspoken opponent of work requirements for able-bodied people on Medicaid — that is, for couch potatoes who are capable of working but refuse.

In 2010, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi championed expanding Medicaid to able-bodied adults, arguing it would free Americans from the burden of staying in a job for the health insurance. Aspiring poets could quit the drudgery of

Don't send an economically illiterate freeloader to the White House.

ning praise for her cutting-edge fashion and "power tailoring."

Yet she can't manage her personal finances well enough to pay back her student loans? It's crazy to trust her with the nation's finances.

"It was literally easier for me to become the youngest woman in American history elected to Congress" than to "pay off my student loan debt," she said during her first year in the House. That was plausible when she was a bartender. Not anymore. Now, her ongoing indebtedness is disqualifying.

Millions of Americans have delayed marriage, childbearing and homeownership because of student-loan debt. It's a serious problem — but that doesn't mean the debts should simply be erased.

In 2020 AOC pressed President Joe Biden to offer $50,000 loan "forgiveness" to every debt holder. They blasted him for not getting it done by executive order. But the word "forgiveness" is a hoax. You may ask the Almighty for "forgiveness"; you may ask it of a friend you've offended. But when a student-loan borrower doesn't pay, the debt isn't forgiven — it's transferred. And the rest of us get gouged.

That's what Education Secretary

work and find themselves — on your dime. So the poets and couch potatoes are in their heyday, with the latest data showing almost six out of every 10 non-disabled adults on Medicaid don't work at all.

That's why the Republican Congress enacted reforms last year requiring healthy adults without dependents to work, volunteer, or attend 20 weekly hours of addiction treatment or job counseling to qualify for Medicaid. But AOC vehemently opposes this reform.

"Everyone should have health care in America, regardless of who you are and what you're doing," she's said — oblivious that work is essential to people's well-being, and the nation's, too.

Our shrinking workforce participation puts the US on a course of long-term financial failure, sapping productivity and imperiling Social Security and Medicare. AOC couldn't care less. AOC's a moochier, and she sides with the moochers.

If you want to keep what you earn and keep this nation economically viable, elect a president who'll be a responsible steward of taxpayers' money. Don't send an economically illiterate freeloader to the White House.

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Dow Jones Indust. Avg. Down 116.38 53,343.40

Business

Nasdaq Comp. Down 355.20 26,289.71

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Marts sink

Stocks fell Tuesday as a worldwide bond sell-off pushed long-term yields to their highest levels in years. Chip stocks came under heavy pressure, and the expiration of a US-Iran cease-fire rekindled fears of renewed Middle East escalation.

Housing hit

July housing starts, a gauge of new residential construction, dropped 12.4% from June to 1,239 million, well below estimates. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of home-building, slid 9.9%.

Just for teens

OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens with parental controls and enhanced security features, as online platforms face scrutiny over the risks of AI chatbots.

Drone drama

XTI Aerospace said Chairman and CEO Scott Pomeroy resigned amid an internal review of the executive and other related corporate-governance matters. Shares of the drone company slumped 16%.

Treat recall

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream recalled certain Outshine Fruit Bars due to the possible presence of glass. The recall includes six-count 2.5 ounce bars and a 24-count variety pack.

Sources: Reuters, Dow Jones, AP

Follow us on

Cookies and 'scheme'

'Nepo baby' Phoebe Gates, youngest daughter of Bill (inset) and ex Melinda, touched down by helicopter in New York City repping her Phia brand following the news that her multimillion-dollar shopping startup was accused of an ugly 'cookie stuffing' scandal.

Getty Images for TIME, TheImageDirect.com

'Branded' Phoebe lands in Big Apple

By TAYLOR HERZLICH

Bill Gates' 'nepo baby' daughter Phoebe Gates, 23, was spotted hopping off a helicopter in New York City clad in merch repping Phia, her multi-million-dollar startup that was accused of an explosive 'cookie stuffing' scandal just days earlier.

The youngest Gates wore a Phia-branded sweatshirt with the words 'the future of fashion is nothing new' on the back, gray sweatpants, a blue baseball cap and black ballet flats as she was escorted to a chauffeured limousine, toting along a brown purse and a small dachshund on a leash. She was joined by a friend and bodyguards.

The photo agency that snapped the shots on Sun-

day told The Post it suspected the Microsoft princess was returning to NYC after a trip to Westchester County, where her sister Jennifer owns a 124-acre, $16 million North Salem horse farm — a gift from parents Bill and Melinda following her graduation from Stanford University.

Accusations

Phoebe, a recent Stanford alum herself, reportedly lives in a loftlike two-bedroom New York City pad with pink walls and 20-foot ceilings.

The Gen Zer — who insisted she wanted to succeed without her billionaire parents' help, saying she has 'such a desire to prove myself' — has come under fire after her

digital shopping startup was accused of 'cookie stuffing.'

The illicit scheme comes with a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, though legal experts told The Post that Gates — the youngest child of Microsoft founder Bill, who is worth about $108 billion, per Forbes — would more likely face financial penalties than jail time.

Phia — a digital personal shopping assistant co-founded by Gates with fellow Stanford alum Sophia Kianni — reacted with shock in July following reports that it was dropping more web 'cookies' than it should, effectively taking undue credit for driving sales at retail partners.

therzlich@nypost.com

META'S CHILD 'TRAP'

29-state trial begins

By THOMAS BARRABI

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta built its apps to be addictive for kids and then lied to the public about health risks so it could rake in massive profits, a California prosecutor said as a historic federal trial kicked off Tuesday.

A coalition of 29 state attorneys general is trying to force unprecedented changes to how Facebook and Instagram operate as part of the landmark case in Oakland, Calif. The trial could upend Meta's business model and result in up to $1.4 trillion in damages, according to the company.

Meta's business model comes down to four simple 'H' words, Megan O'Neill of the California Attorney General's Office said in her opening statement, according to Bloomberg: 'Hook the user, hold them for as long as they can, harvest their data and then hide the truth.'

'The young ones are the best ones — they are the ones most likely to get hooked, they're the ones that are most likely to make money in the long run.'

Meta, which earns the vast bulk of its revenue from digital advertising, is accused of violating federal law by harvesting kids' data without parental consent.

The states claim that certain core features of Facebook and Instagram, such as the 'like button' and rec-

recommendation algorithms, are intentionally addictive and have fueled a teen health crisis that includes anxiety, depression, self-harm and even suicide.

'Drug pushers'

O'Neill referenced internal Meta emails as evidence of the company's intentions — including internal chat logs in which Meta employees compared Instagram to a 'drug' and said 'we're basically pushers.'

'Meta found the younger a kid is when they start using the app, the better,' O'Neill said. 'The more likely they are to remain a user, the more likely they are to make Meta money in the long run.'

Four lead states — Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey, in addition to California — also allege Meta misled the public about the extent of those safety risks.

Attorneys for Meta have strenuously denied wrongdoing and accused the state attorneys general of seeking penalties that far outstrip the scope of their case.

In his opening statement, Meta's lawyer Paul Schmidt argued that Zuckerberg and his allies have aimed to improve Facebook and Instagram and taken many steps to protect kids online — including parental oversight tools and time limits for social media use. With Wires tbarrabi@nypost.com

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34

Walter co.'s $6.5B invest cut

Mark Walter's Delaware Life Insurance plans to cut as much as $6.5 billion in investments in his businesses after facing regulatory heat over the billionaire's financial dealings, a holding company of the Los Angeles Dodgers owner said Tuesday.

TWG Global, Walter's holding company, said it had agreed to swap up to $6.5 billion of Delaware Life's related-party investments for an equivalent amount of assets

classified as independent.

Federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating Walter's business empire to determine whether Walter (right) or his businesses committed fraud by concealing financial connections while borrowing billions of dollars from insurers he controls, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.

In February, Walter's Delaware Life and Clear Spring Life & Annu-

ity received grand jury subpoenas in connection with an investigation being conducted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. The SEC has also been conducting a parallel investigation.

After receiving the subpoenas, Delaware Life conducted an internal investigation and found errors relating to the presentation of certain related-party investments. Reuters

Canned writer Zo book nix

Penguin Random House has slammed the brakes on sales and promotions for a forthcoming book by disgraced journo Ross Barkan, who was recently fired from New York Magazine over dozens of instances of plagiarism.

The tome praising Mayor Mamdani — who counted Barkan as one of his biggest fans in NYC journalism — had been set for an October release.

But the book, titled "The Revolutionary: Zohran Mamdani and the Remaking of American Politics," has vanished from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart's websites, as the Washington Post first reported.

The book had been billed as "a behind-the-scenes, deeply reported window into Zohran Mamdani's campaign and early days as Mayor of New York, and the impact his socialist platform will have on a local and national scale — from a New York magazine journalist with unparalleled access."

The halt to the book roll-out comes just days after New York Mag axed Barkan for ripping off other writers an astonishing 67 times, though he showed little remorse.

The Nation said Monday it was reviewing Barkan's past work and indicated he could lose his gig there, too. Alexandra Steigrad

AA high-end seating plan

American Airlines said Tuesday it would add more premium seats and restore seatback entertainment screens on its narrowbody jets, stepping up its bet on higher-spending travelers as it tries to narrow a wide profit gap with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

The carrier expects more than 800 narrowbody aircraft to ultimately have seatback screens. Retrofits will begin in 2028.

The overhaul includes adding more rows in first class and extra legroom in narrowbody planes. Reuters

Risottoh no for icon

Italian eatery group seeks Chap. 11 in COVID fallout

THE COVID pandemic's long shadow threatens the future of Fireman Hospitality Group, which runs some of Manhattan's most iconic and venerable Italian restaurants.

In a stunning move this month, Fireman filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, citing cash-flow problems that started before the 2020 lockdowns and turned critical when the group's large restaurants lost much of their business.

It's the largest Big Apple restaurant-empire crisis since 2020. The company's high-profile eateries have more than 2,000 seats combined — Trattoria Dell'Arte, Cafe Fiorello,

Bond 45, Paris Bar in Le Méridien, Cafe Paradiso, Le Jardin Rooftop and two Brooklyn Diner outposts in Manhattan, as well as a spot in Washington, DC.

The restaurants are known not only for crowd-pleasing menus, but also

for whimsical artworks such as the "wall of noses" at Trattoria Dell'Arte and racy bronze female sculptures at Bond 45, some created by company founder Shelly Fireman himself.

After Fireman died at age 93 last October, the

cash crunch left the company facing nearly $10 million in secured claims including $6 million in rent and $3 million in sales taxes.

When some lenders told Amex and other credit card processors to with-

hold payments, it left the company with less than $100,000 in cash on hand, according to the bankruptcy filing.

Now it's urgently trying to restructure its debt to keep its nine eateries afloat and pay more than 800 employees, according to restructuring officer Jordan Meyers of Sierra Constellation Partners. The filing was first reported in FSR magazine.

Fireman had struggled to make rent payments to some of its landlords despite tapping federal Paycheck Protection Program loans issued to stabilize the battered restaurant business during the pandemic.

"I do think it's important to note that all existing restaurants remain open for business and we look forward to continuing to provide great dining experiences to our customers," Meyers told The Post on Tuesday.

Repairs lift Home Depot Costco in Medi-venture

Home Depot beat Wall Street estimates for second-quarter sales and profit on Tuesday, as strong demand from customers for repair and maintenance helped offset sluggish spending on big-ticket projects such as kitchen renovations.

Stubbornly high interest rates have forced customers to cut back on large home-improvement projects, typically funded by loans, and do painting, yard upkeep and similar work.

Sales increased 5.7% to $47.86 billion in the three months ended Aug. 2, while same-store sales jumped 1.7%, their best gain since 2022.

Chief Financial Officer Richard McPhail told CNBC the company is operating in what he referred to as "frozen housing-market conditions."

He described the retailer's customers as "healthy" but said they have not yet returned to larger projects. Wires

Costco announced Tuesday that it will start selling store-branded Medicare plans, the first in a slew of insurance products it will release over the coming years to bring "greater value" to seniors.

The Issaquah, Wash.-based wholesaler — which already sells gasoline, gold bars, caskets, luxury resort packages and jumbo snack and cereal boxes — is working with SCAN Group, a nonprofit insurer,

to enter the Medicare market.

The new Costco-branded Medicare plans won't come in a package deal with Costco memberships, but will be sold in Costco stores, as well as through insurance agents and online.

Costco and SCAN said they would start selling their jointly named Medicare Advantage plans in two states and a Medicare supplement in a third as part of a limited rollout. Taylor Herzlich

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BRENDAN CARR Initiated review of network.

ABC sues FCC over review

Disney's ABC on Tuesday sued the Federal Communications Commission, accusing the Trump administration of a "retaliatory campaign" to silence the network's lefty shows as the battle over its broadcast licenses heats up.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Washington, DC, federal court, seeks a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on the FCC's review of eight of Disney's licenses — including ABC channels in New York and Los Angeles.

"Acting through the [FCC], the Administration has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts," the lawsuit said.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr initiated the review in April, accusing the network of failing to cooperate with a DEI probe. "The FCC will continue to follow the facts and law wherever they lead," a rep said. Taylor Herzlich

Klarna falls as bigs exit

Klarna stock plunged 23% Tuesday after the buy-now, pay-later provider abruptly announced the departure of its chief financial officer and chief marketing officer.

The company styled the changes as "planned transitions" taking effect in early 2027.

The executive shake-up coincided with Klarna's second-quarter earnings release. Klarna swung to a profit of $9 million, and revenue surged 27% to $1.04 billion. But its forecast underwhelmed. Dow Jones

By ALEXANDRA STEIGRAD

"CBS Mornings" star Gayle King is "not happy" that Norah O'Donnell could return to co-anchor the struggling show — even as Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss weighs a possible "Morning Joe"-style overhaul of the broadcast, The Post learned.

A source said King was upset over new promos for the show that included O'Donnell, who has been substituting periodically, as Weiss and News President Tom Cibrowski look to replace Tony Dokoupil, who decamped for "CBS Evening News" earlier this year.

"Gayle was not happy," the source said. "She does not want Norah to return to the show."

Another source described King and O'Donnell as cordial colleagues bordering on "frenemies," and cited the duo's strained relationship when they co-anchored the network's morning show from 2012 to 2019.

"Gayle is an authentic person. She loves the news," the person said. "Norah loves the idea of being on the news."

A network source stressed that King is central to "the process of finding a new co-host," and that "nothing will happen without her blessing."

'Mornings' relaunch

While O'Donnell isn't yet a shoo-in for the empty slot, she has been long rumored to be a leading candidate, as first reported by The Post in February. Other contenders include Eva Pilgrim, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and CBS News anchor Kelly O'Grady, Status reported.

Aside from naming a third anchor, two sources told The Post that Weiss plans to relaunch "CBS Mornings" and has been mulling modeling the program after MS NOW's "Morning Joe," which mixes opinion and commentary on current events.

While no drastic overhaul is expected this fall, Cibrowski and Jon Tower, the interim executive producer of "CBS Mornings," are hoping to name a permanent co-host as soon as September, along with some programming tweaks to start, according to a source with knowledge.

"Tom is telling people that it's going to be more of a live show with fewer people and Jon is saying he wants it to be more loose

King is 'not happy' O'Donnell may return

like 'Morning Joe,' an insider said.

The person added that they expect the show to be more "chat-driven in the vein of 'Morning Joe,'" pointing to Tower's past working on the Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski-helmed program.

The person noted that instead of a single news segment with eight

to nine short news stories, the hosts will delve into topics more deeply.

"The show is f-ked. They need to try something!" the person said, citing the show's recent historic ratings lows, when it dropped to 1.59 million total viewers the week of July 13.

CBS News declined to comment.

A network source said a "Morning Joe"-style format has been discussed internally but denied that the revamp will include such a drastic change.

O'Donnell — whose career had stalled under the previous CBS News boss — has lately seen her prospects improve under Weiss, who took the helm last October.

After being ousted as anchor of "CBS Evening News," O'Donnell went from being a mere senior correspondent to grabbing a plum correspondent job on "60 Minutes," a new podcast — and potentially returning to the morning show, which she once co-anchored with King and Charlie Rose.

Amazon 'ruining' rare books while training AI

Amazon is reportedly buying massive quantities of rare books, scanning their pages to train its AI models and destroying the tomes in the process — joining Anthropic, Meta and other tech giants in operating massive book scan-and-destroy operations.

The goal, according to a

report by news site 404 Media, is to train AI on well-written texts as opposed to low-quality internet slop, which AI models have already largely devoured. Slicing machines sever the book spines to speed up the process and cut costs, according to reports that have detailed operations by Am-

azon and others playing out in non-descript warehouses. 404 Media said it uncovered Amazon's book-buying operation by hiding a tracking device in a rare volume that it suspected an AI firm would purchase. Its movements were traced across states to its final destination — an Amazon ware-

house in Las Vegas.

"Amazon purchases books through commercial channels to help develop and improve the products and services our customers use," an Amazon spokesperson said.

Warehouse workers at the Las Vegas location said their days are spent taking

in heaping shipments of printed books and preparing them for AI scanning.

The mascot of the Amazon team that works at the warehouse, named VGT3, is a Tyrannosaurus rex showing its chompers while holding a book, according to 404 Media.

Marc Vartabedian

35

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36 New York Post, Wednesday, August 19, 2026 nypost.com

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Investment Banking Associate 3 sought by Paper Sandler & Co., NY, NY to collaborate on origination & execut of investment banking mandates for M&A, capital among advisory, etc. Depl & applents exp'd in M&A buy & sell side, IPO, complex structured deals incl SPAC & MRT, etc. $225K/yr. 10% US &/or Int'l travel. Apply online at www.pipersandler.com.

PROFESSIONAL

Analyst, Event Manager w/ BNP Paribas RCC, Inc. in Jersey City, NJ. Strategy & Planning. Responsible for event budgets & events calendar allg'd w/ corp. with mktg & Corp & Salo-tions Sales & Global Equities (Global Mkt) bus goals. Posits reps a Bach / US or For Equiv in Communicatns, RM & 3 yrs of exp w/ Mktg & Communicatns. Must have 3 yrs of exp w/ Strategy & Planning. Project mgmt of event budgets & calendar allg'd w/ bus goals. Project Mgmt (Project mgmt & executn. from bldg budget & kick-off meeting to executn & debited). Mktg & Commis rel exp (Wldg w/ stakeholders in the planning & executn for Marccomm campaigns & understand) Events role). Executn & Operatn (Ownersing logistics & mng on site executn & dectin-mktg. Budget & Finand Comitl (preparg & mng event budgets, processing invoices, trading expenses, & actions cost efficiencies). Measurement & Appurg (Defting KPI & conductg post event surveys, RZA Indycs, & Post event recapt for Mgmt & lessons learnt). & Vendor & Stakeholder Mgmt (Soundg, negotiating, onboard & mng vendors from different cities, countries, at multi scales -budgt, variety of services, etc). Must have 1 yr of exp w/ (Eloqua (Mass mailer tools for mktg & communicatns), & frontings know (Understanding) of Events tool for budget approval & project mgmt). "10% dom travel reqt to cities amongst the following states, but not limited to: CA, TX, FL, IL, & NY." Telecommung permitted 40% will may be performed w/in normal commuting distance from the BNP Paribas RCC, Inc. office in Jersey City, NJ. Sal 592,352-5105,000/yr. Actual sal may vary based on factors such as exp level, loc of role, etc. Benefits incl medical, dental & vision coverage, a 401(k) Savings Plan, backup childcare, life, accident & disability insurance, mental health support & paid time off. Add'l details about our benefits offerings, inclusive of eligibility for a discretionary bonus, will be providied during the hiring process. Qualified Applicants. Apply at http://newcome.nt.bnpparibas/ en. US/extenalcareers/ JellGenish [obtish-WA]96source=BNP+Paribas+website

Product Manager 8 w/ The Trade Desk, Inc. in NY, NY. Telecommung permitted with may be performed w/in normal commuting distance from The Trade Desk, Inc. off, in NY, NY. Mng the executn of a to-priority Accnt. Planning reporting launch by defing scope in collaboratn w/ bus stakeholders (C-suite, VP of RevOps, GM of Sales Transg), allgng on reps & overseeing delivery timelines while ensuring adherence to empty capacity constraints in sprint planning sessions. Posits reps a Bach deg 0.5 or for equiv in Info Systems, Bus Admin or rel field & 1 yr of exp in the job offered or rel role. Must have 1 yr of exp w/ product ownership for Salesforce feature enhancements & new projects, product ownership for control lifecycle mgmt (CLM) system feature enhancements & new projects, working closely w/ key intent bus stakeholders to understand existing bus processes & identify system enhancements & new features to remove from & other efficiencies in those processes, conducting wily backgrnging sessions w/ sepgg to review Jira epics, settg mng roadmgr priorities hard on bus needs & monitoring updated roadmgr reporting visible to all key stakeholders & working closely w/ training teams to ensure that feature delivery & launchers are successful. Sal 5151.400-5227.000/yr. Qualified Applicants. Apply online at https://careers.thetradedesk.com/jobs/5204410007/product-manager-ii

PROFESSIONAL

US Tiger Securities, Inc. seeks Assistant Vice President in NY, NY to work w/traders & trade support team to process daily recalls, buy-ins, & sell-outs. Req'rsn & Bachelor's or foreign equiv in Bus. Admins, Econ., Fin'ce, or rel. field, & 3 yrs of progressively responsible exp in job offered or in rel. occupation (shizing M&A & Python programming skills to automate reconciliation, options exercise & assignment processes). Telecommung &/or work from home may be permissible pursuant to company policies. When not telecommung, must report to work site. Submit resume to song food/surgeryacurters.com & indicate job code 2C3815202699. Offered salary is between $128,600.00 & 3148.670.00/year.

International Dispute Resolution and Cross-Border Transactions Counsel (RCL) are RCLC, New York, NY 10001 Under the support of a prior, atty, represent Turk & Int'l clients in complex legal disputes, incl int'l comm. arb., dem. arb., & U.S. litig. across mult sectors such as bank & fin., shipping, comtn., & email law. Advise Turk & Int'l clients on cross-border trans. incl. venture cap. inv., by draft & negot. trans. docs., & coord. with clients & retire parties. Master of Laws (LLM.) deg. in Law, & 24 months of exp. in Int'l dispute resolution & cross-border trans. in U.S. Law. Special skills in using Office pregs., Werdow legal research platform & CoCounsel. Fluency in Turkish is req'd License to practice law from NY. State Bar. 40 hr./wk. Ann. Sal 3.165.464.00. Email Res. jineman@rolawyer.com

Art Dir ($128,396/yr). NYC, NY. Lead creative dir. for pkg. digit aligned w/ brand & campaign goals. Dir. visual concepts, typography, tyoud & qual. Collab. w/ clients & teams to dvlp. digit volume. Oversee prod. ready artwork, print specs, materials & finishing. Review samples & apply final prod. Maintain visual systems across product lines. Reps. MA in Graphic. Dsgn., Visual Dsgn. or rtd.; 2 yrs. exp. as Pkg Digiver, Art Dir. or rtd. role in country/fashion incl. Send CV to: Ying Eliason, Pearl World Inc, 152 W 57TH ST, FL 48, NY, NY, 10019. Code: 0739

TECH CAREERS

Senior Engineer II w/ CoreWeave, Inc. in NY, NY 971. Architect. eWeave systems supporting the CoreWeave Cloud Platform. Lead new product engin initiatives. Posits reps a Bach/US or For Equiv in Comp Sci, Comp Engg, Math, Sftware Engg, or rel field & 8 yrs of exp in Software Engg. Must have 7 yrs of exp w/ writing sftware unit tests, integratn tests, & end to end tests. Must have 5 yrs of exp w/ writing maximable code w/ Python or Go, mrming it engineers, ltrdg product engin initiatives, wrtg tech specs for distributed systems, proficiency in designing & implementing h performance AFRs uag giff/C & Protocol Buffers; & extensive exp in dvlpmg, drafting, & mng apps on a Kubernetes platform. Telecommung permitted 20% of the time. wrk may be performed w/in normal commuting distance from the CoreWeave office in NY, NY. This posits reps access to export controlled info. Sal: $243,800-$303,000/yr. To apply go to: http://www.coreweave.com/careers. Search the job title & click on the matching job & follow directions to submit resume. Ref ID: IDNY

Data Scientist o Bloomberg LP (New York, NY) P/T. Dsgn, cfm, mgmt & mng prod analytics that levelg ing & vaned math datasets, bth.bnl & nom-bnl. Pntn reps a Mdn's deg or the frgn equiv in Fin, Math, Info Sys, Bus Admin, Stats, or rtd & 1 yr of exp in the job off or as a Quant Anlyst, Data Anlyst, or frgn. Must hve 1 yr of exp in each of the fllwng skills: Python, SQL, Data Analytics, Relational databases, and Machine Learning. Rte of pay: $135,000-$230,000/yr. Sed resume to Bloomberg HR at recruit2@bloomberg.net. Indictle (8128-2026). EOE.

TECH CAREERS

Senior Engineer I w/ CoreWeave, Inc. in Livingston, NJ (PT). Design, dvlp, & mantn's lge scale data ingents, storage, & querying system supports, AI/ML expansion tracking & analysis. Posits reps a Bach / US or For Equiv in Comp Sci Comp Engg, Electrical Engg, Sftware Engg, or rel STEM fields & 5 yrs of exp in the job offered or rel role. Must have 5 yrs of exp w/ Maintng & deplng Go & Python code in live sftware systems, Maintng & adaptg systems that use MySQL & Postgres, Deploy & optimizing distributed systems on cloud platforms, such as GCP, AWS, Azure, Buildg & maintaing org Kubernetes & Docker, Buildg, deplng, & dvlpmg new features & API (Rest or giff/C & Maintng & adaptg systems that use MIRA or Pubsub). Telecommung permitted 100% of the time from anywhere in the U.S. This posits reps access to export controlled info. Sal: $215,000-$254,000/yr. The starting sal will be determined based on job-related know, skills, exp, & mkt location. In addl'm to have salary, our total rewards package incl a discretionary bonus, equity awards, & a comprehensive benefits program (all based on eligibility). Qualified Applicants. Visit http://www.coreweave.com/careers. Search the job title and click on the matching job and follow directions to submit resume. Ref ID: SKNJ

Quantitative Developer (multiple, openings) at NIPC Operations LLC in New York, NY will dvlp smtn. fireworks that use histnl mkt data, ord actry, & trd execution data to eval the efficacy of algorithms; lge. Sal 5175,000-$250,000/yr. Reps a Bach's deg or Comp Sci, Find Engrg, or a dctly rtd fld, + 2 yrs in a profl quantitative dvlpr, sftw dvlpr, or rtd, ocuap in quantitative trdg, mdtys. Must incl 2 yrs of exp w/ each of the following: C++ sftw dvlpmt for perf-snts, latency mtrs, & high-thngt sys, Dtlg elec trdg sys, incl algorithms; execution tools, mkt data sys, exch connectivity, & ord mgmt sys, Dtlg smtn, or play, & backtesting fireworks for trdg strategies; ord flow, fills, & mkt behavior anlys; Python for data anlys, smtn, automation, testing, & quantitative exch workflows; find mkts & trdg flows, incl executions, mkt data, exch behavior, lqdty, trans costs, & trdg risk, Bld prodn-grd sys aligned to operator in live trdg, enviro, Obs & time-sens techs, incl SQL, KDB, & MongoDB; machine learning & statistical modeling for trdg anlys, incl regression & time-sens mdtgs, & Dsgn APIs, data pipelines, & dtdg sys using object-oriented language incl Java & Rust. To apply please send resume to wrong/defnng.com & rel job code 0810 when applying.

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NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. QUEENS COUNTY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTE FOR NRZ PASS-FIREDIGH TRUST IS B, PHT vs. EILEEN BUSH A/K/A EILEEN A. BUSH, et al. Deft., Index #701877/2014. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered July 1, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the front steps of the Queens County Courthouse, RR-11 Sudphre Blvd., Jamaica, NY on September 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., prem. k/a 137-16 169th Street, Jamaica, NY a/k/a Block 125/4, Lot 50. Said property located at a point on the westerly side of 169th Street, distant 111-87 ft. southerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of 169th Street with the southerly side of 137th Avenue as said Street and Avenue are shown on the final topographical Map of the City of New York, being a plat 95.025 ft. x 37.29 ft. Approx. amt. of judgment is $444,087.47 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. STEPHANIE GOLDSTONE, Referee, HILL WALLACK LLP, Attys. for PHT, 261 Madison Avenue, 9 th Floor, Ste. 940, New York, NY. File No. 20292-1260-#103076

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Notice of Formation of Marawed LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 7/14/2026. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as an agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to Brian Mulada, muladadunclom, our purpose. Any lawful purpose.

T-Mobile USA is proposing to modify an existing wireless telecommunications facility on a Building located at 684 East 222nd Street, Bronx, Bronx County, New York 10467. The modifications will consist of replacing antennas at an approximate top height of 82 ft above ground level on the 86-ft building (measured) to the chimney. Any interested party wishing to submit comments regarding the potential effects the proposed facility may have on any historic property may do so by sending comments to Project 2067/183RPR, EBI Consulting, 21 B Street, Burlington, MA 01803, or at (617) 715-1822

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Bieniem: Wife

'truly a soldier'

By BRIDGET REILLY

Eric Bieniemy is back with the Chiefs and spoke for the first time since his wife, Mia, was allegedly shot by their son in July.

"She is on a road to recovery," the offensive coordinator told reporters Tuesday. "She is doing great. It's one of the main reasons why I'm back here, because of her recovery. She is truly a soldier. She's a saint. It's been incredible to watch, but I know I was driving her and a bunch of family members crazy in the house.

"She was like, 'You have my blessing to leave.' So it was time to come back."

Mia was shot in the chest and arm at the couple's home in Ashburn, Va., on July 26 while Eric was with the Chiefs for training camp in St. Joseph, Mo. She was rushed to the hospital where she was in stable condition.

Elijah Zion Bieniemy, 27, was arrested in connection with the shooting and was charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling.

A few days after the shooting, Mia, 57, was released from the intensive care unit.

Eric Bieniemy declined to give

any updates on his son in the news conference.

"Obviously, the unfortunate circumstances, which took place [were] very hurtful, in a way."

Eric Bieniemy said. "I'd also like to say thank you to the entire Chiefs family for the outpouring [of] love and support that my family has evolved through this particular situation."

Elijah Bieniemy is being held without bond at a detention center in Loudoun County and is set to undergo a competency evaluation involving his case, per ESPN.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.

Following the shooting, Eric Bieniemy, 57, rushed back home to tend to his wife at the hospital, where he said he "had an opportunity to tap in" to practice remotely.

During his two-week absence, he missed 11 training camp practices.

Earlier this year, the Chiefs brought back Bieniemy after three years away from the team, including a stint last year spent as the running backs coach for the Bears on Ben Johnson's staff.

He will be helping the Chiefs make a comeback after going 6-11 in 2025, missing the playoffs for the first time in 10 years.

breilly@nypost.com

ESPN founder dies at 93

By MATT EHAIT

ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen died at age 93 at his Florida home Tuesday from the effects of Parkinson's disease, according to the network.

Rasmussen's creation changed sports coverage forever and cemented his place as one of history's most influential sports television figures.

"Bill was a remarkable man — a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitani said in a release. "Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn't for Bill's passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s — key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day."

Sports media would not be what it is today without the Worldwide Leader, and Rasmussen developed the idea

alongside his son, Scott.

The pair reportedly first viewed it as a Connecticut-only idea before believing it could be a national network.

Rasmussen, the former Hartford Whalers communications director, maxed out his credit card and used the 90/60s advance he received to acquire "valuable space on a communications satellite," according to ESPN.

That idea and execution led to the creation of the first around-the-clock sports network Sept. 7, 1979, and he reportedly served as the company's first president and CEO.

He estate ESPN after just a few years, per the release, although he set the wheels in motion for "Monday Night Football" to air on the network.

"Bill was our George Washington and a good friend," ESPN legend Chris Berman said in the company's story.

mehait@nypost.com

---

NEW YORK POST ACTION

Post Time: 1:10 p.m. vcangialos@nypost.com

Saratoga

Analysis by Vic Cangialosi

Lock of the Day Gardiner (4th) Lock Record: 13 for 28 (46%) Meet Record: 74/290 $479.50

1 7 fur; $59,000; clm($40,000); 3up(f)

Pick Six carryover of $154,000 + starts in Race 3. Good luck. SAVE US MELANIA moves lower off the layoff for Rice in the opener. Outrun twice at Aqueduct prior to the break. Rider change to J Ortiz. ALL CLASS drops for Dutrow after finishing 4th of 5. Handy winner racing for 75k at the Spa last summer. Hasn't won since. Santana rides. SNIDE is also saddled by Rice. Moved lower and missed by a neck. Has now hit the board 6 of 8. Again, getting Carmouche back.

PN	Horse Wt.	Jockey	Last 3	Trainer	Odds
1	Thirteen Red Flag(1),126	O Hendz Mreno	11-4-5	Chichakly	20-1
2	Save Us Melania(1),126	J Ortiz	4-3-4	Rice	9-5
3	Snider(1),126	K Carmouche	3-2-1	Rice	3-1
4	Street View(1),126	M Franco	4-3-6	Schauer	9-2
5	All Class(1),126	R Santana, Jr	4-5-3	R Dutrow	2-1
6	Malu(1),126	F Prat	3-4-2	Rodriguez	8-1

2 1 mile; $125,000; alw; 3up(f)

Jose Ortiz sweeps the early double with PRONGHORN. Ships from Oaklawn for Asmussen. Winner tackling optional claimers, then a this close 2nd in a 200k. Chad Brown's CONCURRENTLY has won 2 of her last 3. The loss was in the longer Grade 2 Demoiselle. PURDON Wide 5th in the Ladies Cup before going on the shelf in February. Beat comparable company 2 back. Using in exotics with ULTIMATE AUTHORITY. Raced evenly, a length short. Spent to route for Saffie Joseph.

PN	Horse Wt.	Jockey	Last 3	Trainer	Odds
1	Purloin(1),126	J Lezcano	5-1-2	Rice	12-1
2	Low Country Magic(1),126	M Franco	3-2-4	De Paz	9-2
3	Ultimate Authority(1),126	T Gaffalone	2-7-5	Joseph	6-1
4	Ballerina d'Oro(M),126	D Davis	10-1-3	C Brown	4-1
5	Midtown Lights(1),126	E Zayas	3-3-3	Joseph	15-1
6	Ponghorn(1),126	J Ortiz	2-1-2	Asmussen	8-5
7	Concurrently(1),121	F Prat	1-3-1	C Brown	7-2

3 7 fur; $78,000; alw; 3YO(f)

The 1st leg of the Pick 6 and the BASEBALL LADY bats lead off. Rice's 6th extra a wide 5th of 8. Won comfortably 2 back at this longer distance. Dutrow's LECLAR was 4th, a length back of Schauer's CRAVINGS win was 2nd at 21-1. Both 2 for 8. J Ortiz on Leclair; Santana on Cravings. CELESTIAL BODY and HOT GOSSIP ran home 2-3 here last month. Hot Gossip is 2 for 3 at this shorter distance; Celestial Body is 6 for 1.

PN	Horse Wt.	Jockey	Last 3	Trainer	Odds
1	Huck's Agenda(1),123	J Velazquez	6-3-1	McPeek	4-1
2	Baseball Lady(1),123	K Carmouche	5-1-2	Rice	6-1
3	Sparkling Mama(1),123	E Zayas	8-1-4	Schettino	15-1
4	Cravings(1),123	R Santana, Jr	2-4-3	Schauer	5-1
5	Pinky Brien(1),123	F Prat	5-6-2	Rodriguez	6-1
6	L'Eclair(1),121	J Ortiz	4-2-3	R Dutrow	3-1
7	Hot Gossip(1),123	M Franco	3-4-5	Rice	4-1
8	Celestial Body(1),123	L Saez	2-1-2	Bartkowski	8-1

4 5 fur; $65,000; alw; 4up

A perfect 3 for 3 at this sprint distance. GARDNER returns from Churchill for Joe Sharp. Scored at the Spa last summer. Keeps record clean. TREATY OBLIGATION Turf to dirt for Rudy Rodriguez. Won narrowly on dirt in January. Runnerup, lone start at this shorter distance. PROTECTED Outrun last pair racing comparable company at Monmouth.

Yonkers results for Tuesday

FIRST-1-mile pace; fm20000clm; purse $18,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 6:52 TIME-27.1; 56.0; 1:24.1; 1:53.0
3 Fghthtrfight(Mrth) 3.36 2.10 2.10
2 OneedryLubeach (A Miller) 1.42
4 Exacta (3/1) $1.86 • Triple (3/1/2) $6.19 • 1.10 Superfecta (3/1/2) $3.56
SECOND-1-mile pace; fm5000clm; purse $24,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 7:13 TIME-28.1; 56.4; 1:25.3; 1:53.4
5 SurvoneFed(Brennan) 28.98 8.52 5.40
3 Th Rizzo (J Moehn) 3.04 2.30
6 Over Ice (A Miller) 3.12
• Exacta (5/1) $63.56 • Triple (5/3/6) $171.66
• 5.10 Superfecta (5/3/6) $130.04 • Daily double (3/5) $14.15

THIRD-1-mile pace; fm20000clm; purse $18,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 7:37 TIME-28.0; 56.3; 1:24.4; 1:53.2
4 IdealInfun (T Buter) 3.58 2.66 2.44
1 Diazenno Hill (J Moehn) 3.92 2.56
5 Big City Daisy (D Dube) 5.40
• Exacta (4/1) $4.71 • Triple (4/1/5) $26.30 • 5.10 Superfecta (4/1/5) $15.33
FOURTH-1-mile pace; mv7561f5; purse $19,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 7:58 TIME-27.4; 56.4; 1:24.2; 1:52.3
6 KeyingTicoA(Dirtton) 6.96 3.36 3.14
3 Its A Me Mario (T Buter) 3.54 3.06
8 The Greek Freak (M Kakaley) 6.08
• Exacta (6/3) $12.51 • Triple (6/3/8) $105.14

• $10 Superfecta (6/3/8/1) $36.86 • $1 Pick 3 (5/4/6) $24.57 • $1 Pick 4 (3/5/4/6) $123.30
FIFTH-1-mile pace; chgm2pm; purse $21,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 8:23 TIME-28.1; 57.0; 1:25.8; 1:52.4
8 SweetJoel(MKakaley) 16.48 6.42 3.50
2 Adonis Blue Chip (T Buter) 2.90 2.32
6 He Is Stingin (A Miller) 3.94
• Exacta (8/2) $24.21 • Triple (8/2/6) $92.86 • 5.10 Superfecta (8/2/6/4) $79.18 • $1 Pick 3 (4/6/8) $58.23
SIXTH-1-mile pace; hgw2bm4pm; purse $23,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 8:49 TIME-28.0; 56.2; 1:24.2; 1:53.0
1 Reincarnated (CKelly) 9.92 3.76 2.78
4 DarkstormyDee(MKakaley) 4.96 3.52

5 Loumelo Ball (T Buter) 11.64
• Exacta (1/4) $11.92 • Triple (1/4/5) $109.61
• 5.10 Superfecta (1/4/5/2) $49.54 • $1 Pick 3 (6/8/1) $114.66
SEVENTH-1-mile pace; mv2000f5; purse $28,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 9:11 TIME-27.1; 56.4; 1:23.2; 1:52.2
5 MyrHothos(NCKelly) 12.38 5.78 5.04
1 Always Bet On Me (T Buter) 11.66 4.58
2 Specializing A (A Siegelman) 5.04
• Exacta (5/1) $51.11 • Triple (5/1/2) $188.79
• 5.10 Superfecta (5/1/2) $62.67
EIGHTH-1-mile pace; mv1518f5; purse $23,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 9:31 TIME-27.3; 56.2; 1:25.0; 1:53.0
3 AlwaysAThrl(MKakaley) 7.06 2.76 2.12

4 Smooth Dream (J Stratton) 2.14 2.10
1 Royal Desire (P Lachance) 3.78
• Exacta (3/4) $5.85 • Triple (3/4/1) $21.37 • 5.10 Superfecta (3/4/1/7) $11.71
Scr. In Excess N.
NINTH-1-mile pace; mv2319f5; purse $28,000
TRACK: CONDITION-FT OFF: 9:55 TIME-28.3; 57.1; 1:25.0; 1:52.4
3 PlayActor(PsstTButer) 8.94 3.90 2.58
4 Neverstopdremn(MKakaley) 3.48 2.62
1 Dunkin' (G Brennan) 3.30
• Exacta (3/4) $13.11 • Triple (3/4/1) $44.82 • 5.10 Superfecta (3/4/1/5) $10.95 • Late double (3/3) $14.87 • $1 Pick 3 (5/3/3) $98.00 • $1 Pick 4 (1/5/3) $58.74 • $1 Pick 5 (8/1/5/3) $961.89
Total Handle-$387,538.

NFL Exhibition

Week 2- Thursday Las Vegas at Houston, 8pm San Francisco at La. Chargers, 10pm

Friday Jets at Pittsburgh, 7pm Carolina at Jacksonville, 7:30pm Green Bay at Denver, 9pm

Saturday Giants at Miami, 4pm Washington at Detroit, 12pm Atlanta at Indianapolis, 1pm Baltimore at Minnesota, 1pm Buffalo at Cleveland, 1pm New Orleans at L.A. Rams, 4pm Chicago at Cincinnati, 7pm Philadelphia at New England, 7pm Kansas City at Tampa Bay, 7:30pm Dallas at Arizona, 10pm

Sunday Seattle at Tennessee, 8pm

NWSL

	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
Gotham FC	13	3	4	43	26	13
Washington	11	5	4	37	30	18
Utah Royals FC	11	6	3	36	35	23
Portland	10	6	4	34	34	29
San Diego	10	7	3	33	25	21
North Carolina	9	7	3	30	34	29
Kansas City	9	8	3	30	31	28
Seattle	8	7	3	27	23	23
Angel City	7	7	4	25	27	20
Denver Summit FC	6	7	6	24	25	25
Houston	6	8	5	23	23	28
Orlando	7	11	2	23	24	31
Louisville	6	11	2	20	28	36
Boston Legacy FC	5	10	5	20	23	32
Bay FC	5	10	4	19	20	27
Chicago	4	14	1	13	9	34

NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.
Wednesday
Seattle at Louisville, 6:30pm
Chicago at Houston, 8pm
Friday
Utah Royals FC at San Diego, 10pm
Saturday
Seattle at Kansas City, 6:30pm
Boston Legacy FC at North Carolina, 7:30pm
Denver Summit FC at Portland, 8:45pm
Sunday
Louisville at Chicago, 2pm
Orlando at Washington, 4pm
Houston at Bay FC, 6pm
Gotham FC at Angel City, 8pm
Wednesday, August 26
Angel City at North Carolina, 8pm
Friday, August 28
Portland at Gotham FC, 8pm
Louisville at San Diego, 10pm
Saturday, August 29
North Carolina at Kansas City, 6:30pm
Utah Royals FC at Orlando, 7pm
Chicago at Denver Summit FC, 8:45pm

Soccer

English EFL Trophy
Leyton Orient 1, AFC Wimbledon 1
Leyton Orient wins 6-5 on penalties)
Brighton & Hove Albion (U1), Northampton Town 0
Reading 1, Wycombe Wanderers 1
Wheeling wins 1-1 on penalties)
Stockport County 6, Everton (U1) 3
Wigan Athletic 1, Aston Villa (U1) 2
Barnet 5, Arsenal (U1) 1
UEFA Champions League - Qualifying 1st Leg
Dinamo Zagreb 2, Viking FK 2
Fenerbahçe 1, Lyon 1
Levski Sofia 0, AEK Athens 0
Saudi King's Cup
Al Jabalain 1, Al Eltifag 0
Al Ittihad 3, Al Najma 0
Al Okhdod 2, Al Khaleej 0
Al Nassr 4, Al Diriyah 3
Neum SC 3, Al-Faisaly 1
CONMEBOL Libertadores
Independiente Rivadavia 1, Fluminense
1 2nd Leg ( tied 1-1 on aggregate)
Flaminense win 5-4 on penalties)
Estudiantes de La Plata 3, Universidad
Catalica 0 (Estudiantes win 4-1 on aggregate)
Independiente del Valle 1, Deporos
Tolima 0-1st Leg
Club Friend's
Bayern Munich 4, L FC Heidenheim
1846 2

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AL Standings

East	W	L	Pct.	GB	*WGB	L10	Streak	Home	Away
Tampa Bay	75	50	.600	—	—	6-4	L-1	42-22	33-28
Yankees	70	55	.560	5	+8( \frac{1}{2} )	6-4	W-2	31-27	39-28
Boston	68	58	.540	7( \frac{1}{2} )	+6	4-6	W-2	31-31	37-27
Toronto	62	65	.488	14	( \frac{1}{2} )	7-3	W-1	33-33	29-32
Baltimore	61	65	.484	14( \frac{1}{2} )	1	5-5	L-2	32-31	29-34
Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	*WGB	L10	Streak	Home	Away
Chicago	65	60	.520	—	—	6-4	L-2	37-24	28-36
Minnesota	62	65	.488	4	( \frac{1}{2} )	4-6	W-2	34-31	28-34
Cleveland	61	65	.484	4( \frac{1}{2} )	1	4-6	W-1	36-33	31-32
Detroit	61	65	.484	4( \frac{1}{2} )	1	5-5	L-1	32-31	29-34
Kansas City	53	74	.417	13	( \frac{1}{2} )	5-5	W-3	31-30	22-44
West	W	L	Pct.	GB	*WGB	L10	Streak	Home	Away
Houston	63	63	.500	—	—	4-6	L-3	31-32	32-31
Texas	62	64	.492	1	—	4-6	W-1	33-27	29-37
Seattle	59	67	.468	4	3	3-7	L-1	33-29	26-38
Los Angeles	50	76	.397	13	12	5-5	W-1	29-36	21-40
Athletics	49	77	.389	14	13	4-6	L-2	23-40	26-37

*WGB: Games behind third-place team in wild-card race

Tuesday

Yankees 3, Baltimore 1Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 1Cleveland 8, San Francisco 1Toronto 10, Tampa Bay 5Minnesota 4, Atlanta 1Boston 9, Arizona 4Kansas City 4, Athletics 3Milwaukee 22, Seattle 0Texas 5, Washington 0L.A. Angels 3, Houston 1Cubs 4, White Sox 3	Yankees at Baltimore, 6:35Detroit at Pittsburgh, 12:35Atlanta at Minnesota, 1:40White Sox at Cubs, 2:20Arizona at Boston, 4:10San Francisco at Cleveland, 6:40Toronto at Tampa Bay, 6:40Athletics at Kansas City, 7:40Seattle at Milwaukee, 7:40Washington at Texas, 8:05L.A. Angels at Houston, 8:10

NL Standings

East	W	L	Pct.	GB	*WGB	L10	Streak	Home	Away
Atlanta	74	52	.587	—	—	4-6	L-2	42-23	32-29
Philadelphia	69	58	.543	( 5\frac{1}{2} )	+1	7-3	W-5	34-30	35-28
Miami	64	63	.504	( 10\frac{1}{2} )	4	6-4	L-2	38-25	26-38
Washington	60	67	.472	( 14\frac{1}{2} )	8	4-6	L-4	27-36	33-31
Mets	57	70	.449	( 17\frac{1}{2} )	11	6-4	L-1	29-35	28-35
Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	*WGB	L10	Streak	Home	Away
Milwaukee	78	48	.619	—	—	6-4	W-3	42-22	36-26
Chicago	74	53	.583	( 4\frac{1}{2} )	+6	6-4	W-2	38-26	36-27
St. Louis	65	62	.512	( 13\frac{1}{2} )	3	7-3	W-1	32-34	33-28
Pittsburgh	62	66	.484	17	( 6\frac{1}{2} )	5-5	W-1	33-32	29-34
Cincinnati	60	66	.476	18	( 7\frac{1}{2} )	4-6	L-1	31-35	29-31
West	W	L	Pct.	GB	*WGB	L10	Streak	Home	Away
Los Angeles	76	51	.598	—	—	6-4	W-2	37-26	39-25
San Diego	68	59	.535	8	—	8-2	W-1	37-26	31-33
Arizona	66	61	.520	10	2	4-6	L-3	36-27	30-34
San Francisco	51	74	.408	24	16	3-7	L-2	29-23	22-41
Colorado	50	76	.397	( 25\frac{1}{2} )	( 17\frac{1}{2} )	5-5	L-2	27-34	23-42

Tuesday

San Diego 5, Mets 2Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 1St. Louis 3, Cincinnati 1Cleveland 6, San Francisco 1Philadelphia 6, Miami 4Minnesota 4, Atlanta 1Boston 9, Arizona 4Milwaukee 22, Seattle 0Texas 5, Washington 0Cubs 4, White Sox 3L.A. Dodgers 7, Colorado 6	WednesdaySan Diego at Mets, 1:10Detroit at Pittsburgh, 12:35Atlanta at Minnesota, 1:40White Sox at Cubs, 2:20Arizona at Boston, 4:10Miami at Philadelphia, 6:05San Francisco at Cleveland, 6:40St. Louis at Cincinnati, 6:40Seattle at Milwaukee, 7:40Washington at Texas, 8:05L.A. Dodgers at Colorado, 8:40

POSTS SQUAD

2	8	5	3	6	9	7	4	1	8	2	1	4	7	3	9	5	6
9	4	3	1	5	7	2	6	8	6	3	4	8	5	9	7	1	2
6	7	1	8	2	4	3	9	5	9	7	5	6	1	2	4	3	8
1	2	6	5	4	8	9	7	3	4	1	3	2	6	5	8	7	9
7	5	8	9	3	6	1	2	4	5	6	7	3	9	8	1	2	4
3	9	4	7	1	2	5	8	6	2	8	9	7	4	1	5	6	3
4	3	7	2	8	5	6	1	9	7	9	8	5	2	6	3	4	1
8	1	9	6	7	3	4	5	2	3	5	2	1	8	4	6	9	7
5	6	2	4	9	1	8	3	7	1	4	6	9	3	7	2	8	5
Solution to Very Easy F7,375 Solution to Difficult F7,165

Yankees 3, Orioles 1

Yankees	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Grisham cf	4	1	2	3	0	1	1.24
Roe dh	3	0	0	0	0	1	1.249
Ramos lf	3	0	0	0	1	2	1.242
García lb	4	0	0	0	0	2	1.275
Jones rf	4	1	1	0	0	2	1.211
Chisholm 2b	4	0	0	0	0	2	1.214
Lombard ss	4	1	2	0	0	1	1.293
McMahon 3b	1	0	0	0	1	1	1.215
Goldschmidt ph	0	0	0	0	1	0	1.247
Caballero pr-3b	1	0	0	0	0	1	1.242
Wells c	2	0	0	0	0	0	1.177
Rosario ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	1.226
Sánchez c	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.262
Totals	32	3	5	3	3	14

Baltimore	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Holliday 2b	4	0	0	0	0	1	1.240
Alonso dh	4	0	1	0	0	1	1.267
O'Neill rf	2	0	0	0	1	1	1.221
Beavers ph-rf	1	0	0	0	0	1	1.237
Mayo 3b	3	1	1	1	0	0	1.214
Henderson ss	4	0	0	0	0	0	1.220
Encarnacion	3	0	0	0	1	1	1.262
Strand 3b	4	0	2	0	0	1	1.228
Tavresa cf	4	0	2	0	0	1	1.182
Franklin lf	2	0	0	0	0	1	1.182
Cowyer ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	1.215
Navalez c	2	0	0	0	0	1	1.172
Jackson ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	1.220
Pozo c	1	0	0	0	0	0	1.250
Totals	32	1	4	1	4	9

Yankees 001 000 200 - 3 5 1 Baltimore 001 000 000 - 1 4 0

E: Chisholm (9). LOB: New York 6, Baltimore 6. HR: Grisham (17), off Baz; Mayo (17), off Rodon. RBIs: Grisham 3 (54), Mayo (47). Runners left in scoring position: New York 3 (Grisham, Ramos 2; Baltimore 3 (Holliday 2, Alonso). RISP: New York 1 for 5; Baltimore 0 for 6.

Yankees	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Rodon	4.0	2	1	1	2	4	66	3.22
De los Santos, W.1-0	2.0	1	0	0	0	0	23	0.64
Hoathill, H.20	2.0	1	0	0	1	1	25	1.57
Cruz, H.19	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	3	2.79
Blackburn, H.5	0.0	0	0	1	2	10	1.83
Behar, S.28-31	0.0	0	0	0	2	2	8	2.44
Baltimore	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Baz, L.4-13	6.1	4	3	3	2	10	104	4.02
Walker	0.2	1	0	0	1	2	25	2.70
Suárez	2.0	0	0	0	2	2	21	3.91

T: 2:40, A: 23,257 (45,971).

Blue Jays 10, Rays 5

Toronto	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Balboman cf	6	1	2	1	0	1	1.283
Lukes cf	5	1	1	0	1	2	263
Kirk c	6	2	3	3	0	0	279
Springer dh	4	1	3	1	1	1	1.234
Sánchez fl	3	0	1	1	1	1	1.262
Straw fl	1	0	0	0	0	0	220
Okamoto 1b	5	1	1	1	0	1	1.227
Giménez ss	5	0	1	0	0	0	241
Clement 2b	5	3	3	0	0	0	285
Smith 3b	4	1	2	2	0	1	1.217
Totals	44	10	17	9	3	7

Tampa Bay	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Sprayom fl	5	0	2	0	0	0	1.310
Caminero 3b	5	0	2	0	0	0	275
Aranda 1b	5	0	1	0	0	2	285
Diaz dh	4	1	2	0	0	0	306
Hicks c	4	1	1	0	0	0	281
Mesa rf	0	0	0	0	0	0	214
Vitalls ph-rf	3	1	2	0	0	0	263
Mullins cf	3	1	1	1	0	0	210
Palacios 2b	3	1	1	1	0	0	243
Wallis ss	4	0	1	2	0	1	1.222
Totals	36	5	13	4	0	3

Toronto 202 220 200 -10 17 0 Tampa Bay 000 300 020 - 5 13 1

E: Caminero (17). LOB: Toronto 11, Tampa Bay 7: 28: Kirk (6), Sánchez (16), Springer (15). HR: Kirk (6), off Martinez; Okamoto (25), off Matz; Smith (3), off Scholtens. RBIs: Springer (38), Sánchez (33), Kirk 3 (25), Okamoto (27), Bateman (4), Smith 2 (11), Wallis 2 (30), Mullins (39), Palacios (37). SB: Springer (10), Bateman (1). SP: Mullins; Palacios. S: Smith. RISP: Toronto 4 for 14; Tampa Bay 4 for 8. BP: Toronto 2 (Okamoto, Giménez; Okamoto, Giménez).

Toronto	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Soriano, W.10-6	5.2	9	3	3	0	2	91	3.23
Fluharty	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	2	3.78
Waldron	2.0	4	2	2	0	1	26	7.04
Miles	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	10	3.08
Tampa Bay	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Martinez, L.12-4	3.2	9	6	6	2	5	82	3.05
Matz	1.1	3	2	2	0	0	17	6.17
Scholtens	4.0	5	2	2	1	2	58	4.03
T: 2:44, A: 12,387 (25,025).

Padres 5, Mets 2

San Diego	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Tatis rf	5	2	2	3	0	1	1.280
Rengifo f	2	0	0	0	2	0	2.343
Bowen pr-lf	1	1	1	0	0	0	2.169
Machado 3b	4	1	3	1	1	1	2.117
Americ 1b	5	0	1	1	0	2	2.290
Merrill cf	4	0	0	0	0	4	2.242
Bogartts ss	4	0	0	0	0	0	2.219
Hays dh	4	0	1	0	0	0	1.241
Fermin c	4	0	1	0	0	0	1.194
Cronenworth 2b	4	1	1	0	0	0	1.227
Totals	37	5	10	5	3	10

Cincinnati	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
De La Cruz ss	4	0	0	0	0	2	2.259
Stewart 1b	4	0	1	0	0	0	2.258
Roday f	4	0	0	0	0	2	2.220
Suárez dh	3	0	0	0	1	2	2.208
Stephenson c	3	0	0	0	0	3	2.245
Myers cf	3	0	1	0	0	0	2.260
McLain 2b	3	0	0	0	0	0	1.192
Rodriguez rf	3	0	0	0	0	0	0.097
Hayes 3b	3	0	1	0	0	0	0.149
Totals	30	0	3	0	1	9

St. Louis	000 010 110	-3	7	0
Cincinnati	000 000 000	-0	3	1
E: De La Cruz (15). LOB: St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 4. 2B: Wien 2 (19), Fermin (12), Burleson (33). HR: Wien (5), off Ashcroft. RBIs: Wien (51), Fermin (28), Báez (6). SF: Báez. Runners left in scoring position: St. Louis 5 (Fermin 2, Herrera 2, Wien); Cincinnati 1 (Hayes). RISP: St. Louis 2 for 9; Cincinnati 0 for 2.

St. Louis	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Leahy, W.10-4	5.0	3	0	0	0	6	90	3.24
Stroek, H.24	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	7	4.38
Gracetillo, H.6	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	15	3.16
Soriano, H.19	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	13	3.98
O'Brien, S.31-37	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	13	2.96
Cincinnati	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Abbott, L.6-8	6.1	4	2	2	6	9	98	4.07
Maxwell	2.2	3	1	1	0	2	38	8.53
T: 2:24, A: 21,757 (43,891).

Twins 4, Braves 1

---

Red Sox 9, Diamondbacks 4

Arizona	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Vargas 2b	4	1	1	0	0	1	265
Carroll rf	2	1	0	0	1	0	246
Moreno dh	3	1	1	4	1	1	308
Perdomo ss	3	0	1	0	1	0	246
Tawa 1b	4	0	1	0	0	1	246
Lawlar cf	4	0	0	0	0	2	261
McCance c	4	0	1	0	0	0	296
Fernandez 3b	4	0	1	0	0	1	256
Waltonlmidt	3	1	1	0	0	0	273
Totals	31	4	7	4	3	6

Boston	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Sogard 2b	3	2	0	1	0	0	259
Rafaela cf	5	1	1	0	0	0	287
Alenu rf	4	1	0	0	1	0	257
Contreras 1b	4	1	2	1	1	2	283
Rutschman c	4	1	2	3	1	0	245
Durbin 3b	3	1	1	1	0	0	258
Duran f	5	1	1	0	0	0	203
Monasterio ss	4	0	2	1	0	1	265
Gasper dh	2	1	2	2	2	0	254
Totals	34	9	13	8	6	3

Arizona	004	000	000	-	4	7	1
Boston	302	012	10x	-	9	13	1
E: Fernandez (5), Durbin (9). LOB: Arizona 4, Boston (10). 2B: Perdomo (17), Contreras (21). HR: Moreno (10), off Suarez; Rutschman (9), off Kelly; Gasper (2), off Ginkel. BBIs: Moreno 4 (60), Rutschman 3 (51), Durbin (62), Monasterio (27), Gasper 2 (11), Contreras (74). 5B: Durbin (16), Duran (18). CS: Carroll (3). SF: Durbin. S: Sogard. Rumers left in scoring position: Arizona 2 (McCann, Tawa); Boston 4 (Rafaela, Abreu, Duran 2). RISP: Arizona 2 for 5; Boston 4 for 13. Rumers moved up: Duran 2, Rafaela, Abreu. DP: Boston 3 (Durbin, Sogard, Contreras; Sogard, Monasterio, Contreras; Monasterio, Contreras).
Arizona	IP	H	R	BR	SO	NP	ERA
Kelly, L-8-11	4.0	7	6	4	2	8	5.27
LaJaliga	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	9.74
Ginkel	1.0	3	2	2	0	0	26.31
Clavien	1.0	2	1	1	1	1	26.41
Martinez	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	19.00
Boston	IP	H	R	BR	SO	NP	ERA
Sourez, W, 5-3	5.1	4	4	4	2	3	93.41
Guerrero, H, 18	1.2	2	0	0	0	1	19.83
Miller	1.0	0	0	0	1	1	18.31
Olds	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	11.00

T: 2:53. A: 36,592 (37,755).

Kansas City	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Lothin lf	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	232
Collins ph-lf	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	226
Witt ss	3	0	1	1	1	1	1	287
Caglianone rf	4	1	2	0	0	1	1	278
Garcia 3b	4	0	2	0	0	1	1	264
Pasquantino 1b	4	0	2	1	0	0	0	236
Perez dh	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	214
Rave pr	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	200
Massey 2b	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	272
Jensen c	2	1	1	0	2	0	0	220
Idel cf	3	0	0	0	0	1	1	229
Tolbert ph	1	0	1	2	0	0	0	312
Totals	31	4	9	4	5	6

T: 2:53. A: 36,592 (37,755).

Angels 3, Astros 1

Los Angeles	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Meckler lf	4	1	1	0	0	1	290
Spr lf	0	0	0	0	0	0	283
Trout cf	3	0	0	0	1	0	240
Schmuel 1b	4	1	2	1	0	0	281
Neto ss	4	0	2	1	0	1	224
Ballesteros dh	4	0	0	0	0	1	207
Orisono 2b	4	0	1	0	0	1	247
Pereza 2b	0	0	0	0	0	0	228
Lowe rf	4	1	1	1	0	1	202
Guzman 3b	4	0	1	0	0	2	233
Heineman c	3	0	0	0	0	1	180
Totals	34	3	8	3	1	8

Houston	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Peña ss	4	0	0	0	0	1	284
Alvarez dh	4	0	0	0	0	2	318
Paredes 3b	2	0	0	0	2	0	259
Altuve 2b	3	0	1	0	1	1	246
Vanble cf	4	0	0	0	0	1	228
Walker 1b	4	0	0	0	0	2	232
Trammell lf	3	0	0	0	0	3	219
Smith rf	3	1	1	1	0	0	223
Díaz c	3	0	1	0	0	0	252
Totals	39	1	3	1	3	10

Los Angeles	001	110	000	-	3	0	0
Houston	000	000	010	-	1	3	0

LOB: Los Angeles 5, Houston 5, 2B: Neto (24).HR: Lowe (10), off Javier; Smith (17), off Fermin. BBIs: Schmuel (48), Lowe (26), Neto (54), Smith (46). SB: Meckler (5). Rumers left in scoring position: Los Angeles 2 (Ballesteros, Neto); Houston 1 (Varabo). DP: Houston 1 (Peña, Walker).

Los Angeles	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Klassers, W, 2-1	7.0	1	0	0	3	7	86	3.74
Fermin, H, 6	0.1	2	1	1	0	0	10	3.24
Watson, H, 3	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	12	4.27
Joyce, S, 3-3	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	11	0.00

Houston	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Jones, L, 1-4	4.0	5	2	2	1	5	87	6.44
King	0.2	1	1	1	0	1	16	4.01
De Los Santos	1.1	1	0	0	0	0	15	4.14
Blubaugh	2.0	1	0	0	0	0	24	3.39
Ulloia	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	11	4.50

T: 2:44. A: 22,767 (41,000).

Royals 4, Athletics 3

Athletics	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Boite cf	4	1	1	0	0	0	267
Gidel dh	2	2	0	0	2	4	273
McNeil 1b	4	0	2	1	0	0	262
Heinz c	3	0	0	0	1	0	213
White 3b	4	0	1	1	0	1	267
Butler rf	2	0	1	0	1	1	211
Muncy lf	2	0	0	1	1	0	213
Cortes ph-lf	1	0	0	0	0	0	259
Williams 2b	2	0	0	0	0	0	262
Walton ph-2b	2	0	0	0	0	1	273
Hernolz ss	4	0	0	0	0	0	234
Totals	31	3	5	3	5	3

Kansas City	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Lothin lf	3	0	0	0	0	1	232
Collins ph-lf	1	0	0	0	1	0	226
Witt ss	3	0	1	1	1	1	287
Caglianone rf	4	1	2	0	0	1	278
Garcia 3b	4	0	2	0	0	1	264
Pasquantino 1b	4	0	2	1	0	0	236
Perez dh	3	0	0	0	0	0	214
Rave pr	0	1	0	0	0	0	200
Massey 2b	3	1	1	0	1	0	272
Jensen c	2	1	1	0	2	0	220
Idel cf	3	0	0	0	0	1	229
Tolbert ph	1	0	1	2	0	0	312
Totals	31	4	9	4	5	6

Athletics	100	002	000	-	3	5	1
Kansas City	000	000	103	-	4	9	0
Two outs when winning run scored. E: Heim (4). LOB: Athletics 6, Kansas City 8. 2B: Caglianone (22), Pasquantino (13). BBIs: White (4), McNeil (41), Manny (22), Pasquantino (34), Tolbert 2 (8), Witt (47). SB: Jensen (1). CS: Jensen (1). RISP: Athletics 2 for 8; Kansas City 4 for 13. DP: 3 (Hernolz, Williams, McNeil, Williams, Hernolz, McNeil, Hernolz, McNeil).

Athletics	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Bazus	2.1	2	0	0	0	1	32	3.91
Perkins	3.2	1	0	0	1	4	53	6.56
Rom, H, 3	0.1	2	1	1	0	1	8	3.38
Medina, H, 7	1.1	0	0	0	3	0	24	3.51
Harris, L, 3-2	0.2	3	3	2	1	0	30	3.79
Alvarado	0.1	1	0	0	0	0	2	4.62
Kansas City	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Lyndt	4.0	2	1	1	2	1	45	2.83
Black	3.0	2	2	2	3	1	51	3.77
Lange	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	11	6.10
Durun, W, 1-0	1.0	1	0	0	0	1	12	0.00

T: 2:42. A: 12,009 (38,427).

Brewers 22, Mariners 0

Seattle	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Donnson 1b	3	0	1	0	0	2	256
W.Wilson 3b	1	0	0	0	0	1	198
Antzaren 1f	4	0	0	0	0	1	274
Canzone dh	4	0	1	0	0	0	260
Rodriguez cf	4	0	0	0	0	2	256
Naylor 1b	4	0	1	0	0	1	267
Young 2b	4	0	0	0	0	2	258
Maheph c	1	0	0	0	2	1	257
Pereda c	1	0	1	0	0	0	268
Robles rf	2	0	0	0	2	0	260
Rodden ss	3	0	1	0	0	0	308
Totals	31	0	5	0	4	10

Milwaukee	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Turang 2b	2	2	0	0	2	0	265
Lockridge lf	2	1	1	0	0	0	273
Chourio lf	4	1	1	1	0	1	275
Vaughn 1b	2	1	1	1	0	0	302
Bauers 1b	3	3	2	2	1	1	278
Trinelas 2b	2	1	1	1	0	1	190
Contreras c	4	2	2	2	1	2	260
Yelich dh	5	2	2	4	0	1	228
Lara rf	6	2	3	4	0	0	242
Mitchell cf	6	2	4	0	0	0	255
Ortiz ss	4	3	2	0	1	0	247
Hamilton 1b	5	2	1	4	0	0	239
Totals	45	22	22	19	5	6

Seattle	000	000	000	-	6	5	4
Milwaukee	100	000	25s	-	22	2	8
E: Raleigh (2), Davila (1), Naylor (7), Rodriguez (3). LOB: Seattle 8, Milwaukee 6. 2B: Donovan (6), Canzone (20), Bauers (19), Contreras (18). HR: Yelich (9), off Miller; Hamilton (4), off Simpson; Bauers (22), off Simpson; Lara (1), off Rivas. BBIs: Chourio (50), Contreras 2 (63), Yelich 4 (44), Hamilton 4 (21), Bauers 2 (72), Lara 4 (15), Vaughn (36), Ornelas (1). SB: Rodden (8), Robles (8), Hamilton 2 (24), Turang (17). CS: Rodden (1). SF: Contreras, Yelich. RISP: and Little (9 for 6; Milwaukee) 11 for 18.

Seattle	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Millen, L, 1-4	4.0	7	6	5	2	3	92	3.71
Simpson	0.2	3	5	5	2	1	33	9.82
Durbin	1.2	3	2	1	0	2	41	4.10
Rivas	1.0	9	9	7	1	0	31	63.00
Milwaukee	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Harrion, W, 3/4	3.0	2	0	0	2	8	79	2.84
Drohan	2.0	1	0	0	2	1	39	3.86
Anderson	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	9	3.58
Sánchez	1.0	2	0	0	0	0	14	0.00

T: 2:55. A: 36,870 (41,700).

Rangers 5, Nationals 0

Seattle	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg
Donovan 1b	3	0	1	0	0	1	286
Devers dh	4	0	0	0	0	3	244
Bericoto rf	4	0	0	0	0	1	257
Eldridge 1b	4	1	2	1	0	2	250
Basabe 2b	3	0	0	0	1	0	268
Kennedy 3b	3	0	1	0	0	0	111
Hill ph	1	0	1	0	0	0	286
Gilbert lf	3	0	0	0	1	2	240
Knizner c	3	0	0	0	0	2	000
Koss ss	3	0	1	0	0	1	202
Totals	32	1	7	1	2	12

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40

NEW YORK POST ACTION

The POST Line

MLB Wednesday
Favorite	Money Line	Underdog
Yankees	$108-126	ORIOLES
Padres	$109-134	METS
RAYS	$180-224	Toronto
ROYALS	OFF	Athletics
ASTROS	$137-168	Angels
PHILLIES	$109-132	Dolphins
REDS	$114-139	Cardinals
Dodgers	$158-196	ROCKIES
PIRATES	$123-152	Tigers
Braves	-109-113	TWINS
CUBS	$152-175	White Sox
RED SOX	$125-153	Diamondbacks
GUARDIANS	$154-184	Giants
BREWERS	$105-129	Mariners
RANGERS	$108-126	Nationals
Home team in CAPS

WNBA Wednesday
Favorite	PTS (O/U)	Underdog
MYSTICS	9.5 (169.5)	Tempo
Lynx	2.5 (164.5)	VALKYRIES

NFL Preseason Thursday
Favorite	PTS (O/U)	Underdog
TEXANS	1.5 (40.5)	Raiders
49ers	1.5 (38.5)	CHARGERS
Friday
Favorite	PTS (O/U)	Underdog
STEELERS	3.5 (39.5)	Jets
JAGUARS	2.5 (38.5)	Panthers
BRONCOS	6.5 (40.5)	Packers
Saturday
Favorite	PTS (O/U)	Underdog
Giants	2.5 (37.5)	DOLPHINS
LIONS	4.5 (37.5)	Commanders
COLTS	3.5 (36.5)	Falcons
BROWNS	3 (36.5)	Bills
VIKINGS	3.5 (36.5)	Ravens
Saints	3 (37.5)	RAMS
Eagles	2.5 (36.5)	PATRIOTS
Bears	1.5 (36.5)	BENGALS
BUCCANEERS	5.5 (37.5)	Chiefs
CARDINALS	1.5 (37.5)	Cowboys
Sunday
Favorite	PTS (O/U)	Underdog
TITANS	4.5 (38.5)	Seahawks

SPORTS SHORTS

MLB: Brewers rout Mariners

The Brewers matched baseball's modern-era record for the biggest shutout, beating the Mariners 22-0 on Tuesday night in Milwaukee behind three-run homers from Christian Yelich, David Hamilton and Luis Lara and a two-run shot by Jake Bauers. The major league-best Brewers (78-48) matched a franchise record for runs in a game.

● In St. Petersburg, Fla., Kazuma Okamoto broke Toronto's rookie home run record with his 25th, Josh Smith and Alejandro Kirk also homered and the Blue Jays beat the AL-leading Rays 10-5 in the opener of their series. The Blue Jays have won 13 of their past 19 games.

● In Boston, Adley Rutschman hit his first homer as a member of the Red Sox, Ranger Suarez picked up his first win since late June and Boston beat the Diamondbacks 9-4.

● In Minneapolis, Josh Bell hit a two-run homer, Ryan Jeffers drove in Minnesota's other two runs, and the Twins beat the Braves 4-1.

● In Philadelphia, Bryson Stott put the Phillies ahead with a two-run single in the sixth inning, and Philadelphia rallied for its fifth straight victory, 6-4 over the Marlins.

● In Cincinnati, Mason Winn hit a home run and doubled twice and Kyle Leahy gave up three hits and struck out six in five innings as the Cardinals beat the Reds 3-0.

● In Cleveland, Jo Adell set a career high with six RBIs and hit a 455-foot, three-run homer in the first inning as the

Guardians defeated the Giants 8-1.

● In Pittsburgh, Braxton Ashcraft allowed five hits over eight efficient innings, Oneil Cruz homered in his return from the injured list, and the Pirates beat the Tigers 4-1.

Trey Mancini, the AL Comeback Player of the Year who returned from colon cancer in 2021 and later helped the Astros win the 2022 World Series, announced his retirement after his latest comeback lasted five games with the Angels.

NFL: Biadasz goes down with injury

Chargers center Tyler Biadasz was carted off the field with a left leg injury during a joint practice with the 49ers.

Biadasz went down after 49ers defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez fell into his leg during an 11-on-11 drill. Biadasz signed with the Chargers in March after starting 31 games over the past two seasons for the Commanders before being released.

WNBA: Fever hold on to beat Tempo

Kelsey Mitchell scored 16 points in the first quarter and finished with 29 before sitting out the fourth, Caitlin Clark added 24 points and the Fever beat the Tempo 101-95 in Toronto for their fifth straight victory. The WNBA's second-leading scorer, Mitchell sat out the fourth quarter because she was overheated, coach Stephanie White said.

● In Las Vegas, Rhyne Howard scored 23 points while leading the Atlanta Dream to a crucial 97-82 road victory over the Las Vegas Aces. With the win, Atlanta is one game back of Las Vegas in the WNBA standings.

TOP PLAY

Mets, Pads get right to it

By ERICH RICHTER

No, the Mets are not making the playoffs, but they are playing really solid baseball. They had won 10 of 13 games entering Tuesday, including the opener of this series against the Padres.

Interim manager Andy Green's red-hot bunch has opened Wednesday afternoon's contest as short home underdogs (46 percent, Polymarket) despite tossing out 36-year-old right-hander Robert Stock (0-2, 6.57 ERA).

The Padres counter with Michael King (8-8, 3.42 ERA) in what would profile as a clear advantage for San Diego.

San Diego has had an abnormally bad

season on the offensive side, ranking 21st in runs scored per game (4.25), just one spot better than the Mets, who land at 4.17.

Both teams are blistering with the bats of late. The Padres have scored 63 runs in their past 13 games (4.9 RPG), good for the eighth-best figure in the majors. Meanwhile, the Mets have scored 68 runs in the same time span (5.2 RPG), fourth most in MLB.

You can get Over 0.5 runs in the first inning at plus money on Kalshi (48 percent) and I think that's a solid wager considering King hasn't exactly been lights-out against the Mets lineup.

THE PLAYS: Yes runs first inning (48 percent, Kalshi); Over 8.5 total runs when released

Pitching Form

	(Game time)	2026		'26 vs OPP		CAREER vs OPP		LAST 3 STARTS
		W-L	ERA	*REC	W-L	ERA	vs OPP	W-L	IP	ERA
Yankees	Warren (R)	8-6	4.42	15-8	2-0	2.25	3-2	1-1	16.0	4.50
Orioles	Bassitt (R)	4-4	5.11	6-5	0-0	0.00	5-2	0-1	14.1	3.77
Padres	King (R)	8-8	3.42	11-14	0-1	6.00	0-3	2-1	17.0	3.71
Mets	Stock (R)	0-2	6.57	1-2	0-0	0.00	0-0	0-2	12.1	6.57
Tigers	Jobe (R)	1-1	6.23	1-1	0-0	0.00	0-0	1-1	13.1	6.08
Pirates	Skenes (R)	9-11	3.88	9-16	1-0	1.50	2-0	0-2	14.0	5.79
Braves	Smith-Shawver (R)	0-0	4.15	0-1	0-0	0.00	0-0	0-0	10.0	9.90
Twins	Bradley (R)	9-5	3.98	14-10	1-0	1.50	1-1	0-1	15.0	6.60
White Sox	TBD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Cubs	Holmes (R)	5-5	2.56	6-5	—	—	0-0	1-2	15.0	4.80
D'Backs	Pfaadt (R)	7-1	3.11	10-2	1-0	1.50	1-1	2-0	20.2	0.00
Red Sox	Tolle (L)	8-6	2.97	11-9	0-1	15.00	0-1	2-0	20.0	1.35
Giants	Houser (R)	3-7	4.28	6-9	0-0	0.00	1-0	0-1	11.1	3.97
Guardians	Messick (L)	9-7	2.59	13-11	0-0	0.00	0-0	1-1	17.0	2.65
Mariners	Gilbert (R)	9-7	3.28	15-9	1-0	0.00	1-0	1-1	19.2	2.29
Brewers	May (R)	6-7	4.13	11-12	0-0	0.00	0-1	1-0	18.0	1.50
Nationals	Cavalli (R)	10-5	3.36	12-14	0-0	0.00	0-0	2-1	20.0	2.25
Rangers	deGrom (R)	8-8	3.95	12-11	1-0	0.00	10-4	1-2	10.1	6.97
Blue Jays	Scherzer (R)	1-5	6.58	3-7	0-0	0.00	6-3	0-1	16.1	2.20
Rays	Rasmussen (R)	12-5	2.78	14-9	2-0	4.24	4-4	3-0	18.0	1.00
Athletics	TBD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Royals	Lugo (R)	5-7	4.59	12-13	0-0	0.00	2-0	1-1	15.2	7.47
Angels	Ureha (R)	8-8	2.68	10-10	1-1	0.71	1-1	2-1	14.1	2.51
Astros	TBD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Marlins	Alcantara (R)	13-7	3.43	16-10	2-0	1.38	8-11	2-1	20.0	0.45
Phillies	Nola (R)	4-9	5.33	11-14	1-1	0.77	6-13	1-0	16.0	3.38
Cardinals	Liberatore (L)	5-10	5.07	13-11	0-0	6.23	1-1	0-2	16.1	3.86
Reds	Burns (R)	14-2	2.47	17-6	0-0	0.00	0-0	2-1	18.1	2.95
Dodgers	Sasaki (R)	5-5	4.46	11-10	0-0	5.06	0-0	1-0	17.1	3.12
Rockies	Freeland (L)	4-10	6.26	9-13	0-1	14.00	5-13	2-0	21.1	1.27

• REC: Won-lost record of pitcher's team in games he has started.

STITCHES

Jobe, Tigers are live 'dogs

Chaos erupted at a city council meeting over Mayor Mamdani's pied-à-terre tax. If elected, we will be introducing the more city-friendly Stitch-a-terre tax. The tax applies to winning sports wagers of more than $10,000. So if you have been playing along, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Can the sub-500, Tarik Skubal-less Tigers win the AL Central? There is a better chance of Stitches becoming mayor, but Detroit can win as road 'dogs today at Pittsburgh. Paul Skenes is 9-11 after

back-to-back losses. The Tigers' Jackson Jobe has made two very different starts since completing his rehab. Jobe one-hit the Giants for five frames, but the White Sox unrobed Jobe — scoring six runs on nine hits. Thinking Jobe rebounds, we will take the Tigers for $50.

Canadian clubbed! The Blue Jays had 17 hits, three of those homers, and they slayed the Rays 10-5. Winner! Down -428 encarnations.

stitches@nypost.com

---

NEW YORK POST ACTION

Home Team Lineups HOME AWAY

	TODAY Aug. 19	THU Aug. 20	FRI Aug. 21	SAT Aug. 22	SUN Aug. 23
	Baltimore 6:35 Prime Video 660 AM 101.9 FM	Baltimore 6:35 YES 660 AM 101.9 FM	Toronto 7:05 YES 660 AM 101.9 FM	Toronto 1:35 YES 660 AM 101.9 FM	Toronto 1:35 YES 660 AM 101.9 FM
	San Diego 1:10 SNY 880 AM	NO GAME	White Sox 7:40 PIX11 880 AM	White Sox 7:10 SNY 880 AM	White Sox 2:10 SNY 880 AM
	NO GAME	NO GAME	NO GAME	Indiana 7:00 Prime Video	NO GAME

Saturday	Friday
Preseason: Miami 4:00 WNBC 4 101.9 FM	Preseason: Pittsburgh 7:00 WCBS 2 104.3 FM

Today	Today	Sunday
Nashville SC 7:30 Apple TV	FC Cincinnati 7:30 Apple TV	Angel City FC 8:00 ION

Today's Sports on the Air

MLB BASEBALL
1 p.m.	Tigers at Pirates (joined in progress)	MLBN
1:10 p.m.	Padres at Mets	SNY, 880 AM
6:30 p.m.	Blue Jays at Rays	MLBN
6:35 p.m.	Yankees at Orioles	Prime Video, 660 AM, 101.9 FM

MEN'S SOCCER
7 p.m.	Canadian Premier League: Supra du Québec at Forge	FS2
7:30 p.m.	Nashville SC at Red Bulls	Apple TV
7:30 p.m.	NYCFC at FC Cincinnati	Apple TV
8 p.m.	St. Louis City at Sporting Kansas City	FS1, Apple TV
10 p.m.	USL Championship: Colorado Springs at Phoenix Rising	CBSSN
10:30 p.m.	San Jose Earthquakes at LA Galaxy	FS1, Apple TV

WNBA BASKETBALL
10 p.m.	Lynx at Valkyries	USA

NWSL WOMEN'S SOCCER
8 p.m.	Chicago Stars at Houston Dash	CBSSN
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
6:30 p.m.	Worcester Red Sox at Syracuse Mets	SNY

TENNIS
11 a.m.	ATP/WTA Cincinnati Open: Singles Rd. of 16, Doubles 2nd Rd.	Tennis

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES
1 p.m.	Int'l Bracket: Leon, Nicaragua vs. Santiago, Dominican Republic	ESPN
3 p.m.	United States Bracket: Tacoma, Wash. vs. Phenix City, Ala.	ESPN
5 p.m.	Int'l Bracket: Vancouver, British Columbia vs. Seoul, South Korea	ESPN
7 p.m.	United States Bracket: Bridgewater, Mass. vs. Bayonne, N.J.	ESPN

MEN'S RUGBY
5:45 a.m. (Thu.)	Penrith at Melbourne	FS2

HORSE RACING
8:30 a.m.	2026 Juddmonte International	FS2
1 p.m.	Saratoga Live	FS2

GOLF

Favorites to win CPKC Women's Open

GOLFER	ODDS	GOLFER	ODDS
Nelly Korda	+440	Minami Katsu	35/1
Miyu Yamashita	12/1	Aki Iwai	35/1
Hyo Joo Kim	13/1	Jin Hee Im	40/1
Lydia Ko	20/1	Mao Saigo	45/1
Brooke M. Henderson	20/1	Allison Corpuz	45/1
Ruoning Yin	20/1	Andrea Lee	50/1
Sei Young Kim	22/1	Alison Lee	50/1
Somi Lee	30/1	Rio Takeda	50/1
Hye-Jin Choi	33/1	Ayaka Furue	50/1
Gaby Lopez	33/1	Jennifer Kupcho	55/1
Hannah Green	35/1	Chizzy Iwai	55/1
Nasa Hataoka	35/1	Pajaree Anannarukarn	55/1

ODDS & ENDS

GOLF Odds to win BMW Championship Thursday-Sunday, St. Louis

PLAYER	ODDS
Scottie Scheffler	+300
Rory McIlroy	16/1
Ludvig Åberg	16/1
Xander Schauffele	18/1
Sam Burns	20/1
Cam Young	20/1
Tommy Fleetwood	20/1
Matt Fitzpatrick	22/1
Hideki Matsuyama	27/1
Chris Gotterup	27/1
Si Woo Kim	27/1
Viktor Hovland	30/1
Patrick Cantlay	30/1
Wyndham Clark	30/1
Collin Morikawa	35/1
Justin Thomas	40/1
Jake Knapp	40/1
Tom Kim	40/1
Russell Henley	45/1
Maverick McNealy	45/1
Min Woo Lee	50/1
Michael Thorbjornsen	55/1
Kurt Kitayama	55/1
Ryan Gerard	55/1
Adam Scott	60/1
Ben Griffin	60/1
J.J. Spaun	60/1
Michael Brennan	60/1
Alex Noren	65/1
Robert MacIntyre	65/1
Nicolai Heijsaard	65/1
Justin Rose	70/1
Sungjae Im	70/1
Rickie Fowler	70/1
Kristoffer Reitan	80/1
Alex Smalley	80/1
Jacob Bridgeman	80/1
Gary Woodland	80/1
Ryan Fox	100/1
Aaron Rai	100/1
Akshay Bhatia	100/1
Bud Cauley	100/1
Alex Fitzpatrick	100/1
J.T. Poston	125/1
Nico Echavarria	125/1
Eric Cole	125/1
Ryo Hisatsune	150/1
Matt McCarty	175/1
Sahith Theegala	225/1
Sepp Straka	225/1

Tournament specials

WILL THERE BE A HOLE IN ONE (72 HOLES)?
Yes	+188
No	-250
WINNING MARGIN
1 stroke	+225
2 strokes	+350
3 strokes	+600
4 strokes or more	+350
Playoffs	+400

BET SMART

Bums, bar, bums at BMW

TEN SPOT: Sam Burns doesn't have to beat Scottie Scheffler to pay off on Dylan Svoboda's favorite bet for the BMW Championship. All the red-hot Burns has to do is land in the top 10 to pay -125. He has carded four top five finishes since early June.

By DYLAN SVOBODA

The PGA Tour's biggest stars head to Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis this week for the BMW Championship.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler enters as a heavy favorite after a dominant performance last weekend, when he won the FedEx St. Jude Championship by eight strokes.

This makes the outright market difficult to attack at the top. Scheffler is a runaway +300 at FanDuel to win the BMW, followed by Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Åberg at 16/1. Xander Schauffele is next at 18/1, followed by the 20/1 trio of Sam Burns, Cameron Young and Tommy Fleetwood.

But there's plenty of value all over the odds board.

Here are three BMW Championship placement picks worth considering this week, beginning with Burns:

Sam Burns to finish top 10 (-125, DraftKings)

Scheffler may be the only other golfer playing better than Burns coming into this week.

Burns was in the final pairing with Scheffler on Sunday and finished T-3 after a shaky final round.

His showing in Memphis extended one of the best stretches of his career.

Since the Memorial Tournament in early June, Burns has four top five finishes, plus a T-20 and T-12 finish.

The smaller field also makes this pick more appealing, with Burns needing to beat roughly 40 players to finish in the top 10.

It isn't the sexy bet, but Burns' form of late is about as good as it gets.

Hideki Matsuyama to finish top 10 (-140, FanDuel)

Here's another guy coming into this week in peak form. Matsuyama is quietly putting together one of the best stretches of golf in the field.

He's been solid all year, making the cut in every start this season, but the Japan native has taken his game to another level lately with four consecutive top seven finishes and six straight results inside the top 14.

There's little reason to expect the hot streak to suddenly disappear at Bellerive, especially with Matsuyama's teetop-green game clicking at the right time and his putter cooperating.

As long as the price stays at plus money, this is one of my favorite ways to play the BMW Championship.

Gary Woodland to finish top 20 (-150, BetMGM)

Sitting 31st in the standings, Woodland enters the week with plenty to play for as he tries to improve his FedEx Cup position and advance through the postseason.

The 42-year-old still possesses the distance needed to handle Bellerive, a course where he finished T-6 during the 2018 PGA Championship.

He may not contend against a field full of heavyweights, but this price gives us enough value to accept the volatility that comes with Woodland, who could just as easily finish closer to 50th this week.

At plus money, this is a strong lower-risk way to get exposure to a player whose game fits the course and who has plenty of motivation to finish high.

Getty Images

---

42

NEW YORK POST

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By DAN MARTIN

BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge is set to take the next step in his comeback from a fractured rib that's already kept him out for nearly three months.

Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Judge will be "introduced to his hitting progression this week." Judge, according to the manager, has been doing "swing-related stuff" in the pool in recent days.

"He's progressing," Boone said. "It's all part of the process. Hopefully it goes well. The fact that he's responded in this first week of added intensity, as far as being allowed to do some things upper-body-wise — playing catch, running — it's all part of his buildup."

YANKEES NOTES

Judge had been limited to lower-body and light resistance training before playing catch last week for the first time since hitting the IL.

Boone wasn't sure exactly when Judge would start swinging, but it's a sign that he at least hasn't suffered any setbacks.

There remains no timeline for Judge's return.

Cody Bellinger's return from a strained left hamstring to a lineup that has collapsed without him and Judge — as well as Giancarlo Stanton — is more imminent.

The outfielder was at Camden Yards Tuesday and said he will play a minor league rehab game with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

He anticipated needing more than just the one game before a return to the Yankees lineup, but didn't rule out getting back to the majors.

He's well aware of the lineup's struggles without their big bats.

"I've wanted to get back for a while," Bellinger said. "But you always want to be realistic. You want to come back and stay."

As for Stanton, out since April with

Judge ready to take next steps

ROAD TO RECOVERY: Aaron Judge, out since May, is set to begin his "hitting progression" this week, according to Aaron Boone. Robert Sabo

multiple calf strains, Boone said he was "towards the end of his running program. The intensity has picked up. He's responded well."

But it's Judge's absence that has hurt the most, as the Yankees entered Tuesday with the third-worst OPS and third-fewest runs scored since he's been out.

► George Lombard Jr. continues to impress with his glove and bat. He had a pair of singles in a 3-1 win Tuesday and made a strong throw from deep in the hole to get Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the fourth.

► The Yankees lost two challenges by the top of the fourth, as Heliot Ramos challenged a call in the first on a clear strike and Spencer Jones missed on a pitch to end the top of

the fourth.

"Those weren't good ones," Boone said.

But the manager noted Austin Wells' challenge from behind the plate on a Jackson Holliday strikeout in the second "might have [been] the best challenge of the season." It ended a bases-loaded threat.

► Clarke Schmidt pitched off a mound Tuesday as he progresses in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, while Luis Gil ended his rehab assignment and is now at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Both right-handers are potential options to join the bullpen down the stretch.

► Jazz Chisholm Jr. was back in the lineup after sitting against a right-hander Sunday in Toronto.

Iglesias returns to throw out 1st pitch

By ZACH BRAZILLER

Jose Iglesias was back at Citi Field, back in Queens, where he enjoyed one of the most memorable seasons of his major league career.

The former Met threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Padres and was warmly greeted by the crowd, given a standing ovation. The Mets played a highlight video on the big screen, accompanied by his hit song, "OMG."

"It's great, extremely happy to see smiles everywhere and the way they opened the door for me was special one more time," he said. "Extremely, extremely happy to be home. It's a lot of emotions right now. Being in

METS NOTES

this part of the field, sitting on this bench reminds me of great moments."

Iglesias, 36, threw the first pitch to Francisco Lindor. It was a strike.

Iglesias was a key part of the 2024 Mets, who after a poor first two months of the season reached the NLCS. He said it was a season he won't forget and one he will cherish.

Iglesias spent last season with the Padres and is now entering a new phase of his life, although he hasn't closed the door on his baseball career. He is set to join the cast of the Broadway musical Buena Vista Social Club on Aug. 27 in the role of the narra-

tor. Iglesias will make history as the first Latino MLB player to appear on Broadway.

"I did not expect that call at all. It was an automatic yes," he said. "Coming back to New York and delivering the energy and now in this case representing Cuban music as an immigrant, it's a privilege."

"I'm surrounded by great teammates. They support me on a daily basis, they know this is totally new for me. It's a fun responsibility I have with my hands. I'm grabbing it with two hands like I would a ground ball and I won't let it go."

► Christopher Morel, called up Monday from Triple-A Syracuse, got the start Tuesday. The 27-

year-old was hitting well in the minor leagues. He has bounced around after a hot start to his career with the Cubs, spending time with the Rays and Marlins. In 2023, Morel produced an .821 OPS and hit 26 home runs.

► Infielder Mark Vientos is nearing a rehabilitation assignment, according to Green. Vientos took batting practice and ran the bases ahead of the game Tuesday. He has been out since July 9 due to a fractured right hand.

► A.J. Ewing's struggles continued with three more strikeouts. He is in a 3-for-37 stretch with 17 strikeouts. "I'm confident he'll come out the other side of it," Green said.

---

43

Jeanie's siblings 'united' in decision to sell Lakers

"We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base," the statement from the Buss siblings added. "We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created."

Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is opposing her siblings' vote to sell the family's share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand, obtained by The Post, arguing her siblings can't legally execute a

sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be "void."

At the heart of Buss contending her siblings' vote to sell their share of the Lakers is a 2017 court order, with Streisand saying that no sale could happen "without approval by the co-trustees, i.e. Jeanie, Janie and Joey Buss."

The Buss family trust includes six of the late Dr. Jerry Buss' children: Johnny (69), Jim (66), Jeanie (64), Janie (62), Joey (41) and Jesse (37). The siblings believe they simply need a majority vote (four out of six) to allow the trustees to

sell the family's shares.

Jeanie didn't vote to sell the family's ownership stake in the Lakers, while the other five siblings in the trust did.

"Pursuant to the JAB Trust and the attached Court Order, the co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner," Streisand wrote in the letter. "Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court."

The letter added: "On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed 'vote' to sell the 17.8% stake."

kprice@callforniapost.com

By KHOBI PRICE

One day after Jeanie Buss contested her siblings attempting to sell the family's shares of the Lakers, the rest of the Buss family made it clear they aren't backing down.

Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss issued a statement Tuesday afternoon: "The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives. Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community."

"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."

Jeanie's siblings agreed to sell their 17.8 percent stake of the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who are slated to become the franchise's majority co-owners after agreeing to buy the Lakers from current majority owner Mark Walter at a historic valuation of $12.5 billion.

FAMILY ISSUES: Jeanie Buss' siblings — who include Jesse, Johnny and Janie Buss (right) — released a statement to reiterate their intention to sell their 17.8 percent stake in the Lakers. Getty Images (2)

Sally Brompton Daily Horoscope

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS AT SALLYBROMPTON.COM

LEO (July 24-Aug. 23)

You may be inclined to believe that the good times will last forever, but a moment's serious reflection will convince you that isn't true. Make use of the Sun's last few days in your sign to have fun and finish off a creative endeavor.

VIRGO (Aug. 24-Sept. 23)

You have been unusually touchy in recent weeks thanks to so much cosmic activity in the most sensitive area of your chart, but that phase is coming to an end and soon you will be smiling again. Why wait though? Start smiling again today.

LIBRA (Sept. 24-Oct. 23)

What happens over the next 24 hours will remind you that not everyone looks at the world the same way as you and not everyone wants to get involved in the same causes. That doesn't make them bad people, it simply makes them different.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

Resist the urge to argue with people in positions of power today, because at best you will merely annoy them and at worst they might do your career some serious harm. Tell yourself they are not worth the time or the effort.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21)

If someone who seems less deserving than you gets a reward of some kind today, don't let it upset you. The fact is you don't need the approval of other people to make your mark on the world. Being the best is good enough in itself.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)

The planets warn if you deliberately withhold information from someone who is entitled to it, you could be the

one to lose out in the long term. Why risk damaging your reputation when most of the information is already public knowledge?

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19)

If you find it hard to put your feelings into words today, that's OK. You have never been the sort to wear your heart on your sleeve and those who know and love you best are aware of that and won't expect too much of you.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)

You have nothing to fear and everything to look forward to, so stop worrying that too many chances have passed you by and prepare yourself mentally for the next one, or even the one after that. The universe will provide you with infinite opportunities.

ARIES (March 21-April 20)

You may have to postpone something you were looking forward to, but it's no big deal, so don't get angry. Come the end of the week, you may even be glad you were forced to change your plans. The universe has something better in store for you.

TAURUS (April 21-May 21)

Resist the temptation to make a rival look stupid, even if they clearly are. The planets warn if you damage their ego, they will hold a grudge and wait months or even years for a chance to get back at you. It's really not worth it.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)

You may be tempted to avoid a responsibility of some kind, but if you do, you could regret it

later on. People are looking to you to take a lead and show them the way forward, and if you refuse to do that, your reputation may suffer.

CANCER (June 22-July 23)

It may be annoying that you are being forced to wait for something you feel you are entitled to, but there is nothing you can do about it, so stay calm. You may find that what you think you desire today means nothing to you tomorrow.

BIRTHDAY WEDNESDAY

Use your persuasive skills to get people to join you in some sort of crusade this year. It doesn't have to be anything of earth-shattering importance, but it does have to be something that changes things for the better in your everyday environment.

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44

FOREVER MOMENT

Anunoby's iconic tip-in continues getting its deserved star treatment

By ANDREW CRANE

This time, the scene unfolded 10 blocks north of the Garden, two months after OG Anunoby first took off from just inside the paint and tipped in a Jalen Brunson miss — with 1.2 seconds left in Game 4 of the NBA Finals — to form his forever Knicks moment.

This time, Anunoby was at Times Square — inside the mesh surrounding an Essentia-created court as part of the water company's "Change the Equation" platform — taking shots as Gersh Park Basketball players cycled through a line, trying to flip Anunoby's misses in. A set of footprints on the court, with an "O" in one and "G" in the other, marked the approximate spot of Anunoby's historic moment. Fans along the outside tried to capture his presence with their phones.

Less than three years ago, Anunoby was in Toronto, already with a championship ring but without much of a celebrity presence on the Raptors. But now, two months removed from that iconic tip-in, Anunoby has become just that for the Knicks — a defining presence in the NYC sports lexicon and the main attraction of the takeover event in the tourist hub of the world.

"It's been really fun," Anunoby, near the end of his summer as a Knicks champion, told The Post.

The scene Tuesday, remembering the tip, was "really cool," Anunoby said. He could "feel all the fans, all the excitement after the win, all together" on the Essentia court. "OG, we're going back-to-back," a fan shouted as Anunoby posed for pictures. The most stoic Knicks player even cracked smiles as the Gersh Park Basket-

ball players kept trying to recreate his shot. Sometimes, they couldn't tip it in. Other times, Anunoby made his attempts.

But unlike some of his other public appearances that followed the title — when he won Best Play at the ESPYs with his Knicks teammates in attendance, when his reaction on a "Good Morning America" appearance alongside other players went viral, when he attended a World Cup match next to Mikal Bridges and Miles McBride — this spotlight belonged to Anunoby.

The challenge for the Knicks and Anunoby, though, has shifted to sustaining that success. In just over two months, their quest to repeat will begin. The 76ers, their Opening Night opponent, added Jaylen Brown from the Celtics via trade and LeBron James in free agency. The Heat won the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. The Pacers will get Tyrese Haliburton back after he missed the entire 2025-26 campaign.

"Every year, there's turnover, player movement," Anunoby said of the shifting landscape in the East. "So just usual."

So much went right for the Knicks to etch their place in NBA history. So much went right for Anunoby to become a featured piece of that with his Game 4 moment. He averaged 16.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during the regular season, and those numbers rose to 20.3 and 6.1, respectively, in the playoffs.

And along the way, Anunoby became more than just a complementary piece alongside Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Tuesday served as just the latest reminder of that.

acrane@nypost.com

New pictures from KAT's wedding / Page 3

St. John's adds some depth with transfer Bailey

By ZACH BRAZILLER

The NCAA's decision to add a year of eligibility for players without grandfathering it into last year's seniors has created the possibility for late roster additions, and St. John's isn't sitting that out.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Johnnies received a commitment from Indiana transfer Reed Bailey, a 6-foot-10 big man who can play both center and power forward. Bailey should strengthen a somewhat thin bench short on college experience.

"We think he fits in perfectly for what we need. He's a veteran basketball player," coach Rick Pitino told The Post by phone. "He has seen it all, done it all, and he knows how to play in a motion offense. He has good size. He really knows how to play the game."

A spot opened up for the Johnnies when European high school prospect Gildas Gimenez was ruled academically ineligible.

Bailey averaged 8.3 points and 3.4 rebounds in 19.1 minutes this past season at Indiana. He was mostly a reserve. He spent the first three seasons of his career at Davidson. As a junior, he tallied 18.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and shot 41.5 percent from 3-point range on a limited number of attempts. He was an All-Atlantic 10 first-team selection that year and the league's Most Improved Player.

This doesn't necessarily complete next year's roster. Pitino said Montenegro wing Djordije Jovanovic is dealing with ongoing issues obtaining a student visa, and St. John's could pivot to adding another fifth-year college player.

In June, the NCAA passed a new rule that allowed for five seasons of eligibility in five years. But it didn't grandfather in the rule for last year's seniors, like it did for juniors, sophomores and freshmen. Those players filed lawsuits for an extra year, and in most instances they have won. Bailey was one of the plaintiffs in a California case that was ruled on earlier Tuesday. A temporary restraining order was granted.

The TRO invalidates the NCAA's restriction, allowing the plaintiffs to immediately seek transfers or return to their original teams for the coming season. In July, U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a classwide preliminary injunction against the NCAA's age-based eligibility rules. The NCAA is appealing that decision.

---

By MADELINE KENNEY

CHICAGO — Sky guard Natasha Cloud sent a message Tuesday night.

Not just to her former team, the Liberty, whom she torched for a career-high 35 points en route to leading the Sky to a 93-86 win.

But Cloud's memo was for the entire league and anyone watching.

"I'm not a traditional one, I'm a two-way point guard," said Cloud, who also had nine rebounds and six assists. "I can score the ball, I really enjoy facilitating. That's my first thing that I want to do, but when it comes down to it, I can get a bucket."

SKY 93 Boxscore LIBERTY 86 Page 19

Cloud has been open about the heavy toll her lengthy free agency process had on her. The Liberty, a team she appeared to be fully committed to returning to, let her walk after one season. She didn't sign her next WNBA contract until after training camps opened.

But Cloud got a sweet dose of revenge Tuesday.

Cloud often plays with an edge. But the fierce style that's been a trademark of Cloud's career had been amplified.

Cloud didn't take plays off. She was a menace on defense, applying ample pressure on defense whether the person she was guarding had the ball in their hands or not.

On offense, she caught fire and never let up.

In the second quarter, Cloud made back-to-back 3s followed by another ex-Liberty player Courtney Vandersloot draining one of her own to give the Sky a nine-point lead with less than four minutes left in the first half.

The Liberty, playing without Jonquel Jones, who exited the first quarter with an ankle injury, didn't take a lead until late in the fourth quarter.

The Sky have struggled with late-game execution this season.

In each of the Sky's previous games against the Liberty, they

Dark Cloud

lost by one point.

When Marine Johannès hit a go-ahead 3 with just over two minutes left in the game, it felt like maybe the game was going to have an unsavory ending that the Sky were all too familiar with.

But Cloud refused to let that happen.

"She was in flow state," Azura Stevens said.

Cloud doubled down, saying, "I was just locked in."

The Sky went on a 10-2 run to

close out the game and seal the win. Cloud had seven points, three rebounds and an assist down the stretch.

"Ain't God good?" Cloud said after the win. "I still have so much love and respect for the New York organization. I truly loved my time there last year. But God has a way of just reminding you that when you stay dedicated and devoted to His plan for your life that He's going to reward you. And I know regardless of what

the season entailed for us, that my feet are exactly where they're supposed to be with the team that I'm supposed to be on, and with the people that are helping surround me through some sh-t right now. So just all encompassing, it's a good feeling."

The Liberty struggled to contain the Sky, who have the fifth-worst offensive rating in the league.

The Sky scored 20 second-chance points to the Liberty's six.

Chicago also won the rebounding battle, 44-35.

"It seemed like all of them were crashing," Breanna Stewart said of the Sky's aggressive rebounding. "A few of them were bad bounces, but we have to all five be in there before we can get out and leak out because we were able to get out in transition, but we would have been able to do that more if we were able to control the boards a little better."

mkenney@nypost.com

Yet another injury as Jones exits loss early

By MADELINE KENNEY

CHICAGO — Liberty center Jonquel Jones exited Tuesday's 93-86 loss to the Chicago Sky with a left ankle injury and never returned.

Jones appeared to know something was wrong the moment she hit the ground.

She pulled her left leg up to her body and held her ankle, grimacing in pain. She eventually was helped onto her feet, limped off the floor

and headed toward the locker room with 3:31 left in the first quarter.

The team initially said she was "questionable" to return during the second quarter.

But Jones didn't join the team on the floor after half-time, and a team spokesperson confirmed shortly after that Jones was ruled out.

Coach Chris DeMarco didn't have an immediate update on Jones following the game.

LIBS NOTES

"She's just going to be evaluated in the coming days," he said.

The Liberty have been hit badly by injuries this season. They've played just two complete games at full strength.

New York has been without Satou Sabally since late June and Leonie Fiebich since early July. Sabrina Ion-

escu and Marine Johannès, both healthy Tuesday, have also missed games this season with injuries.

"It's tough," Breanna Stewart said. "Obviously, we hope JJ will be back quickly but honestly I think Han (Xu) stepped up to the challenge pretty well. ... As a team ... we've been through this far too many times and our response needs to be better. When one person goes down, we need to just be

even better and next-one-up mentality."

▶ Stewart set another record.

She entered Tuesday needing only 14 points to reach 3,000 with the Liberty.

She finished with 22 points, making her the fastest player in WNBA history to score 3,000 points with a single franchise.

Stewart accomplished that feat in 145 games, edging out

Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale, who reached that milestone in 150 games.

"It's definitely tough with the loss, but I've really enjoyed playing in New York and representing the Liberty," Stewart said. "And I wanted to be able to kind of do all these things with (Ionescu), JJ, my teammates around me. So it's a cool thing. It would have been cooler if we would have won."

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46

Breece to miss just 2-3 weeks

By HOWIE KUSSOY

Breece Hall can breathe easy.

After leaving Monday's practice with a groin strain, the Jets running back is expected to be sidelined just two to three weeks and be ready to return in time for Week 1 at Tennessee on Sept. 13, according to head coach Aaron Glenn.

"Knowing how important he is to what we're doing, it was really exciting [news]," Glenn said following Tuesday's practice.

Hall, who signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract during the offseason, has missed only two games the past three seasons since tearing his ACL as a rookie in 2022.

JETS NOTES

Hall, 25, produced a career-best 1,065 rushing yards last season — plus 350 yards receiving — helping him land the eighth-highest average annual salary among running backs.

"It's definitely a relief," quarterback Geno Smith said. "We need Breece. He's a big part of our offense and our team. He's a leader on our team and on our offense. His presence is felt when we're out there. We appreciate him and we're hoping he comes back as soon as possible."

► Glenn is optimistic that rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) and rookie cornerback D'Angelo Ponds (calf) will be ready for the season opener.

"[Sadiq] and Ponds are getting closer to returning," Glenn said. "The goal has always been getting those guys ready for Week 1. ... We targeted Week 1 for [Ponds] from the very beginning. Hopefully he'll be in practice before that to make sure we get him as many reps as we can."

Ponds, a second-round pick out of Indiana, has been sidelined since July 29.

Sadiq, the 16th overall pick, suffered a setback from hernia surgery earlier this month but has shown signs of progress, including catching passes with a helmet on from the training staff Tuesday.

"Even though he's getting the mental reps, he has to get those live reps," Glenn said. "He's a very intelligent man and we don't think he's gonna miss a beat when he gets on the field."

► Glenn put the team through one of the most intense and physical sessions of training camp, giving the first-teamers at least 40 snaps during the two-hour practice to build "competitive stamina."

"Today was a dog day," Glenn said. "It was a ton of reps. It was meant to be that way. ... I think our guys did a really good job of that. Listen, we still have a ways to go, but we are improving on a daily basis."

By HOWIE KUSSOY

The Jets are starting to see what they envisioned.

Nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat, impossible to miss, clogging the interior during his second practice of training camp since returning from a hamstring injury. Joseph Ossai, flashing out wide, also participating in his second session since being removed from the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury.

There was defensive end Kingsley Enagbare and defensive tackle David Onyemata — two other offseason acquisitions — contributing to an intriguing front, which features No. 2 over-

Jets D looks different with Sweat, Ossai now on field

all pick David Bailey, Will McDonald IV and Harrison Phillips.

There has been so much change, enough to fuel belief within a group that had no connection to a defense that finished last season ranked 29th against the run, 31st in sacks and produced a league-worst four takeaways.

"You see all those boys flying around? It's exciting," Ossai said following Tuesday's practice. "There's a lot of dogs in that room for sure. ... I'm not trying to say too much, but we got something."

"I just want to pop out Week 1 and people see what we're all about."

Sweat, listed at 366 pounds, is

an intimidating sight and analytics darling, ranking fifth among 127 interior defensive linemen (according to Pro Football Focus) last season after being credited with 13 stops, 14 quarterback hurries, 34 tackles and two sacks for the Titans.

The 25-year-old former second-round pick met with the media Tuesday for the first time

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STS TRAINING DAY

SHOT OF BAILEY

David Bailey again showcased his explosiveness with an inside move to sack Geno Smith. The No. 2 overall pick also demonstrated his versatility in coverage, knocking the ball away from running back Kene Nwangwu after an apparent reception.

TURNOVER TROUBLE

Tight end Jeremy Ruckert made a handful of catches, but the Long Island native — who struggled in one-on-one blocking drills — also fumbled a catch in the middle of the field without being touched. Rookie Cade Klubnik was intercepted twice, including a practice-ending pick by Azareye'n Thomas after the ball was tipped by Will McDonald IV.

CAUGHT MY EYE

Some of Aaron Glenn's most celebrated Jets teammates — Vinny Testaverde, Keyshown Johnson and Kevin Mawae — visited training camp Tuesday. "It was good to see those guys," Glenn said. "I talk to all those guys quite a bit. Man, those guys love the Jets. They are supportive of this organization."

INJURY REPORT

Glenn said Breece Hall (groin) will be out two to three weeks and is expected to be ready for Week 1. The head coach also said that tight end Kenyon Sadiq (hernia) and cornerback D'Angelo Ponds (calf) are getting closer to returning. Glenn believes that both players will be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener. Garrett Wilson returned to practice after missing the previous day due to illness.

— Howie Kussoy

since he was acquired from Tennessee in a Feb. 26 trade for Jermaine Johnson II.

"It is what it is," said Sweat, who will face the Titans in Week 1. "I'm in a happy place. That's all I have to say about that. ... I'm back out there now, and I'm feeling good. I'm ready to go."

"I feel like the potential of the group is gonna be great. We got great run stoppers. That's what we preach, stopping the run. I feel like we got a great group of guys for that."

Ossai, 26, spent his first five seasons in Cincinnati, then signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract with the Jets on March 12, reuniting him with Sweat, his

former teammate at Texas.

"Big boy," Ossai said. "Love him to death."

Ossai, a former third-round pick, appeared in 14 games last season (starting nine), finishing with 43 tackles (nine for a loss), five sacks, two forced fumbles and 12 quarterback hits.

"After [missing practice] the last three weeks, it feels really good to be out there," Ossai said. "It was frustrating because I do want to be out there, but it was needed ... making sure I'm ready for the season."

"I'm a perfectionist. I want stuff right now. But I have to run my own race and get stuff done one day at a time. ... By the end

of the day, we'll be right where we need to be."

For now, Aaron Glenn is keeping Sweat and Ossai on pitch counts as they work their way back from lengthy absences.

"We have a management plan for those guys," Glenn said. "They just got back. It wouldn't be wise to just throw them out there and let them go."

But that day isn't far away. "The energy [Glenn] brings, the fire he brings, there's no way you leave a room or a defensive meeting and you don't want to run through a wall," Ossai said. "I can't wait to run through a couple walls this year."

hkussoy@nypost.com

Best way for Geno to prep is to play.

A CLEAR trend has emerged in recent NFL summers of teams sitting their starting quarterbacks in preseason games to prevent injuries.

It used to be commonplace — particularly when there were four preseason games instead of the three played now — for teams to play their starting units on both sides of the ball for at least a full first half in one of the first couple of games before resting them altogether in the finale.

In the 16 preseason openers last week, 20 of the 32 projected starting quarterbacks did not play a snap. In seven of the 16 games, neither starting quarterback played — including the Jets-Buccaneers game, where neither Geno Smith nor Baker Mayfield saw action.

Smith's absence stemmed from a sore ankle that he said swelled after the second of two joint practices with the Bucs last week. Otherwise, head coach Aaron Glenn planned to start Smith and have him play a series or two.

As the team nears its second of three preseason games — Friday night at Pittsburgh — Glenn's plan for Smith sounded somewhat unclear based on what he had to say after practice Tuesday.

"We'll see," Glenn said. "We want to make sure we get guys ready for Week 1, and we'll do whatever it takes for that. If [Smith] is playing because he feels up to it, is ready to go and wants to be with the other guys ... let's go."

Smith — as long as he's healthy (and he didn't look physically compromised in Tuesday's practice) — should "feel" like playing Friday, because it's best for him and the team.

This is a quarterback playing on a new team with a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator (Frank Reich) with a new system and with new personnel around him.

Nothing is going to get Smith more ready for the real stuff than game reps against an opponent other than his own team's defense. He needs to get himself in sync with his offensive line and skill-position teammates, and needs to build some confidence entering the season opener at Tennessee on Sept. 13.

If I were Glenn, I'd play Smith and the starting offense at least

into the second quarter Friday, perhaps for the entire first half.

As it is, Smith and the offense didn't exactly look sharp in either of the two joint practices against Tampa Bay last week, and not playing in the game did no good.

There's a high likelihood that none of the starters will play in the third and final preseason game, against the Giants on Aug. 28. So this is the week to get some quality reps against an opposing defense to hopefully build some confidence entering the real games.

Glenn sounded like he'd like to play Smith against the Steelers, which is good news. It seems his coaching philosophy is to get his players reps in preseason games.

"We played everybody last week," he said of the Buccaneers game. "If guys have nicks and bruises, we'll assess and decide whether they should play. [But] we're playing our guys. That's what we've done. Case by case, we'll see where guys are at with injuries and decide from there."

Smith said Tuesday that he's always played in preseason games when he was in Seattle and Las Vegas, based on coaching decisions. But he was evasive when asked about his desire to play Friday provided he's not hampered by the ankle.

"My job is to get ready and help this team get ready to be ready to play Week 1," he said. "But, whenever I get a chance to play, I look forward to it. Every rep is important, whether that's in practice or in a game. Every chance I get to play, every chance I get to practice, every opportunity is just as important as the next. So yes, I do feel like [playing] is very important."

So ... "I leave that up to Coach," Smith said. In that case, for Glenn, there's only one decision to make on that front when Friday comes: Play your starting quarterback.

mcannizzaro@nypost.com

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48

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET

Najee adds bulk, depth to Big Blue backfield

By RYAN DUNLEAVY

The Giants added a four-time 1,000-yard rusher — not a fourth-stringer — to their running back corps.

Tuesday's signing of Najee Harris will impact the division of labor across a position group that already had fan favorite and projected starter Cam Skattebo, two-time 1,000-yard-from-scrimmage dual-threat back Tyrone Tracy Jr., and former free agent splash Devin Singletary (who took a pay cut to stick around this season) jockeying for touches.

"I think this is a good opportunity here," Harris said after practicing for the first time since his torn Achilles in Week 3 with the Chargers last September. "I think the style of play that they're heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me. I'm just willing to put my foot in there and help out any way I can."

But Harris isn't here to replace fourth-stringer Dante Miller, who recently suffered a season-ending groin injury. And he isn't here because Tracy missed a pass block that led to Jaxson Dart getting walloped in the preseason opener.

The Giants pursued high-end running backs in free agency — Kenneth Walker III's three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Chiefs was too pricey — and in the draft, where Jeremiyah Love (No. 3 to the Cardinals) was off the board before their pick (No. 5).

Enter Harris, who was the best free-agent running back available and yet still had to wait two months after gaining medical clearance to sign a one-year, prove-it contract. He signed a below-market one-year, $5.7 million deal with the Chargers in 2025 after 1,097 career carries with Pittsburgh. The Giants booked a workout with Harris before facing the Vikings last week.

"I most definitely go into every year with a chip on my shoulder, but more so this year," Harris said. "I have a lot to prove. I'm coming back from a torn Achilles. Everything I did in the past is in the past. Everything I do now is really what matters. I know there's going to be a lot of questions on how I'll come back from it, and I'm ready to answer all those."

Giants head coach John Harbaugh didn't need any recommendations on Harris, though he received them from his brother (Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh) and Giants run-game coordinator (former Chargers offensive coordinator) Greg Roman — even though

TRAINING DAY

HOT CORNER

CB Paulson Adebo might be playing his way back into the top seat in the three-man first-team rotation with Greg Newsome II and Deonte Banks. Adebo had tight coverage throughout 11-on-11 drills, nearly leading to an interception of Jameis Winston and undercutting another route.

RED ALERT

The starting offense failed to score in its red-zone series, starting at the 17-yard line. Jaxson Dart threw a pass to Isaiah Likely at the front pylon of the end zone but Arvell Reese broke it up. A fourth-and-long ended with a checkdown to Devin Singletary.

CAUGHT MY EYE

After his fast start to training camp, projected starting DT Darius Alexander has slid down the depth chart and is taking a mix of second- and third-team snaps.

INJURY REPORT

CB Colton Hood did not practice after getting tangled up Monday. WR Jalin Hyatt (ankle/leg) and DL Josh Tupou also were on the sideline with trainers.

— Ryan Dunleavy

Harris had a fireworks incident that caused him to start last training camp on the non-football injury list (eye).

"Anybody that's watched him play knows what type of a back he is — a downhill runner, physical runner," Harbaugh said. "I have a good feel for who he is as a player. Everybody that's been around him, my brother, G-Ro, [former Steelers head coach] Mike Tomlin, love him as a teammate. Excited for the possibilities."

Harbaugh's Ravens had success both ways, with workhorses Ray Rice and Derrick Henry bookending years when Gus Edwards, Alex Collins and Justin Forsett led committee backfields. The Ravens ranked No. 2 in rushing in 2018 (2,441 yards) without a 720-yard rusher.

If anyone needs help checking their ego, re-

A LEG UP:

The Giants added RB Najee Harris on Tuesday to an already crowded backfield. It is unclear how the team plans to distribute carries.

port to Harbaugh's office.

"I think they understand," Harbaugh said. "I haven't talked to them about it. If there's any questions, we'll talk to them, but everybody understands. I mean, football's competitive, the NFL's competitive, and we're building the strongest team we can. And he's a really good football player, so that's it."

Harbaugh estimated that it will take Harris "two to three weeks" — or, "just in time" for Week 1 — to get into football shape. Harris is confident he will beat that timetable.

"Can I go out there and run some plays? Of course I can," Harris said. "But am I where Najee wants to be at? No, probably not. How long is it going to take? I don't know. But I mean, I'm going to be good. It's not going to take a long time. I take that seriously. ... Doing team work, that's kind of just going to put the cherry on top of it. But I know I'm confident in all that stuff."

What happens then? There is only one ball to go around.

"I feel like they've all got their own special talent, and they're all good players," Harris said of the rest of the room. "They're all guys who can be No. 1s, and I feel like we all could just elevate each other."

Harbaugh didn't convince Harris to sign after his workout with the Giants on Monday by buttering him up. There was an honest AFC North rivals scouting report.

"Nobody in the league really would know [me] better than Harbaugh," Harris said. "[Those were] probably the most physical games that I played against in the NFL. He knows all the stuff that I need to work on and all the stuff that I'm good at. To hear that and to have him coach me will be really good for me."

rdunleavy@nypost.com

---

IT IS clear as day that Abdul Carter is in the early stages of a second-year leap that makes him confident that a Blue York Sack Exchange is coming.

Carter was asked Tuesday whether the Giants pass rushers — Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, perhaps Arvell Reese and certainly himself — should lead the league in sacks, and he said:

“Absolutely. We’ve got to put the work in, though.

“I don’t want to talk about that. “We’re gonna be about it.”

Of course, you can’t achieve your goal of Defensive Player of the Year without registering double-digit sacks at the very least.

So I said to Carter: “I’ve got you down for double-digit sacks easy.”

“That’s a good bet,” he told The Post.

The John Harbaugh Giants will go as far as Jaxson Dart takes them.

Except that isn’t how new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson’s edge rushers group is looking at it. The 2025 Giants were tied for 15th in sacks (39). Carter finished with four. Burns with a career-best 16 1/2. Thibodeaux reached 11 1/2 sacks in his second season. Chauncey Golston’s career best is 5 1/2 with the Cowboys in 2024.

“We already say this team goes as far as we go. So, we already put that chip on our shoulder,” Carter said.

Carter’s explosiveness and relentless pursuit all across the field have been on full display every day this summer.

“I feel like I’m in my best shape right now,” he said.

Harbaugh is the right coach at the right time as Carter matures following his turmoil-filled rookie season.

Carter & Co. can create Blue York Sack Exchange

“The last time I had practices this long was in college [Penn State], so I feel like I’m getting that type of atmosphere back,” Carter said. “Just the dog days, every single practice out here is 2 1/2 hours, maybe more. So it kinda feels like a college practice, but it’s all good work.”

Carter is more than a freak athlete. Harbaugh raves about his football IQ.

“I think it’s really high,” Harbaugh said. “If you watch the plays, you’d have to say so ‘cause the results are really good right now. Studying the game, I don’t know that he’s made a mistake on a run read yet. Maybe I’ve missed one, but he’s done really well.”

Harbaugh has been impressed with Carter’s eagerness to lead.

“He’s had a couple of talks to the team, and he’s also leading by example,” Harbaugh said.

Carter: “I feel like leadership is something that’s like natural, so I don’t try to force or anything or be somebody that I’m not. I just try to do my job to the best of my ability and pull guys along.”

Carter takes every practice rep seriously and reviews them afterward with Andrew Thomas. It’s easy to see how they make each other better.

“I just try to chase perfection, I try to spread that first throughout my room then throughout the whole defense, just chasing perfection, try to do all the little things right so it can translate to the regular season,” Carter said.

Carter made a beeline for legendary visitor named Law-

rence Taylor during OTAs. He’s content trying to make his No. 3 famous now that he knows No. 56 is staying retired.

“I got to chop it up with him,” Carter said. “I just asked him a question about like rushing the passer, how his mindset was.”

Carter is encouraged that veteran NT D.J. Reader can help fill the run defense void left by Dexter Lawrence taking the money and running to Cincinnati.

“You can tell that he’s been in the league a long time,” Carter said. “He’s also smart. He’s a savvy veteran. Like just today in practice, I took an inside move, and without even communicating to him, he knew to replace me, coming back out from the edge. So, he’s going to be real big for us.”

Stop the run and have some fun.

“I feel like we can definitely be a little bit better there, but we’re just trying to find the right guys, the right fit,” Carter said. “Like I said, we’re all just chasing perfection, and once we stop the run, everybody knows what we can do rushing the passer.”

Burns and Carter can be Batman and Robin. Thibodeaux is in a contract year. Harbaugh has taken a liking to him. Golston (neck) played in 10 games last season (one sack). Reese can be an X factor rushing the passer.

“I feel like our room is probably the deepest on the team, and all the guys in our outside linebacker room, we all compete with each other, and we all learn from each other,” Carter said.

Blue York Sack Exchange. sserby4@nypost.com

Nabers’ progress capped by lack of contact

By RYAN DUNLEAVY

Malik Nabers is going to have to change out of red before he gets the green light from the Giants.

Practicing in team periods for the second straight day — a first in his recovery from a torn ACL — during training camp, Nabers made a leaping catch Tuesday as two defensive backs pulled up and heeded the team message not to bump the star receiver.

Nabers is wearing a non-contact red jersey. He won’t jump right from that

GIANTS NOTES

to playing Week 1 against the Cowboys.

“He won’t go through the rest of the summer in a red jersey,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s going to have to get bumped around and hit and fronted up. You just have to feel that and know how to deal with it to protect yourself.”

Harbaugh said, “there are certain formulas that we use that kind of tell us

what the risk factors are in practice” to determine Nabers’ workload. He had more team reps Tuesday than Monday, and “he handled it well.”

“I’ve always been hopeful that he would play in [Week 1 of] the regular season,” Harbaugh said. “Still don’t know for sure, so we just have to see where we go day to day.”

➤ The Giants cut WR Juju Smith-Schuster to make room for RB Najee Harris. Smith-Schuster suffered a knee injury and never gained traction in a

deep position battle, though he did make a nice back-of-the-end-zone toe-tapping touchdown catch when healthy.

➤ Harbaugh and Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley have discussed the rules of engagement heading into Thursday’s joint practice. Those settings tend to get chippy.

“We’ll emphasize protecting each other’s quarterbacks even more because as soon as somebody gets close — and the other team’s going to talk about getting close — we

can’t have that,” Harbaugh said. “Nobody can get close to the quarterback. That’s going to be a major point of emphasis.

“And we’re going to stay off the ground, and we’re going to be looking for no blindside shots of any kind. It’s a front-up tackle. It won’t be side shots and things like that. That’s the goal.

“So, we want to protect them as much as we protect our own players, and we want them to protect our players as much as they would protect their own players.”

49

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50

GRAND THEFT

Tatis' robbery of Lindor's would-be slam, two homers snap Mets' four-game streak

By ZACH BRAZILLER

Jose Iglesias was at Citi Field on Tuesday, as the Mets hoped to sprinkle some of that 2024 magic into the current, suddenly red-hot team.

Fernando Tatis Jr. had other ideas.

He set the tone on the first pitch of the game, creating his own version of "OMG."

PADRES 5 BORSCORE METS 2 Page 38

The Padres star outfielder sent Zac Thornton's first delivery over the wall in left field, an ominous sign for the evening ahead.

Thornton couldn't solve Tatis — he homered twice off the rookie — but even worse for the Mets, Tatis did more than just swing a power bat.

His robbery of a Francisco Lindor grand slam was ultimately the difference in the Padres' 5-2 victory in front of 35,508 at Citi Field that snapped the four-game Mets winning streak.

"Impressive and annoying, both of those things," interim manager Andy Green said of Tatis. "Put two good swings on, started the game off [with a home run]. I think there's probably enough superlatives that have already been thrown out at the robbed home run."

The Mets only managed a Luis Torrens solo homer off Robbie Ray in six innings. Luis Robert Jr. added another solo shot in the eighth.

Tatis was the unquestioned star. He rocketed a first-pitch fastball from Thornton over the wall at a blistering 113.2 mph. It traveled an estimated 452 feet and landed in the second deck. In the fifth, he went to the opposite field for a two-run shot, his 15th of the season. They were all the runs the Padres would need — thanks to Tatis.

The Mets loaded the bases in the second without a hit, as Ray lost the strike zone. After Tor-

DOING IT ALL: Not only did Fernando Tatis Jr. rob Francisco Lindor (left) of a grand slam — dramatically pausing before revealing that he had caught the ball — he also juiced two home runs in a 2-for-5 effort to help sink the Mets on Tuesday night. Jason Szenes (2); Robert Sabo

rens grounded into a force out, Lindor sent a fastball toward the right field line. Tatis brought it back, robbing the Mets of four runs.

Tatis ranged to the wall by the 330-foot sign in the right field corner. He leapt and stretched his glove over the fence as his hat flew off his head. Citi Field went quiet, unsure what had happened. Tatis stood motionless for a moment, then let everyone know he had come down with the ball, flipping it from his glove to his bare hand.

"I'm just going for it. I didn't know it was going out right away," Tatis said. "But I knew it was going to be a play at the wall. As soon as I was getting close to the wall, just great timing."

Thornton lasted five innings, giving up the two Tatis homers and striking out seven. It marked Thornton's eighth straight start of allowing three earned runs or fewer.

"Obviously, I'd like to get a lit-

tle bit deeper," he said. "I thought I wasted a few pitches there in the third. I had two outs, and [I gave up a] walk and a base hit. I could've saved 10 or so pitches there. I just got to get deeper into games."

It was a frustrating night for the Mets lineup, which went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. They wasted Bo Bichette doubles in the first and third innings, and a two-on, one-out situation in the seventh when Lindor and Bichette failed to come through against Padres lefty Adrian Morejon. Morejon put two on in the eighth, but struck out A.J. Ewing — the third time the rookie went down swinging.

The second inning was the big chance, though, and Tatis was responsible for the Mets coming up empty.

zbraziller@nypost.com

More Mets / Page 42

ON DECK: vs. Padres

Wednesday, 1:10 p.m., SNY, WHSQ (880 AM)

RHP Robert Stock

2026 stats: 0-2, 6.57 ERA ERA

Career vs. SD: First start

Last start: Fri., vs. WAS; 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 ER

PITCH BREAKDOWN

30% 24% 24% Cutter 4-Seamer Sinker

UP NEXT

FRIDAY: at White Sox, 7:40 p.m., PIX11, WHSQ LHP Sean Manaea vs. RHP Sean Burke

SATURDAY: at White Sox, 7:10 p.m., SNY, WHSQ RHP Christian Scott vs. RHP Luis Castillo

INJURY REPORT

■ Infielder Mark Vientos is nearing a minor league rehabilitation assignment, interim manager Andy Green said. Vientos took batting practice and ran the bases ahead of Tuesday's game. He has been out since July 9 with a fractured right hand.

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Reviving Senga's career would be an Amazin' feat

WE WILL make no bold predictions here. We will not succumb to the seductive siren of the small sample size. If we were so predisposed, we might've been inclined to believe that given the first three at-bats of his career Joshua Báez should break Henry Aaron's legitimate all-time home run record by the middle of next season (and shatter Barry Bonds' bogus one 107 at-bats later).

(Naturally, baseball's inherently draconian codes of Hammurabi quickly and inevitably disabused such folly and immediately caught up to young master Báez, and he has gone 1-for-his-past-18 through Tuesday's 3-0 Cardinals win in Cincinnati. The game is merciless that way.)

So we will not lose our minds about Kodai Senga. Not yet.

Not after all of three save opportunities as the Mets closer-of-the-moment, all of which he has converted, the latest Sunday in the Mets' 4-3 win over the Nationals. That one completed a feel-good weekend sweep and extended the feeling-better stretch of baseball the Mets have experienced since emptying their roster that now stands at 10-4 over their past 14 after Fernando Tatis Jr.'s one-man show Tuesday in a 5-2 Padres win.

Senga's success has brought about a version of the pitcher that seemed lost forever — not just the stuff that had vanished for the better part of a year after his terrific start a year ago, but his demeanor. Senga has his swag back. He actually smiles now. He even grinned broadly and laughed a week ago in Atlanta, when Carson Benge caught the final out against the Braves and then absentmindedly flung the ball for Senga's first career save into the stands.

In five August games since having his role switched to high-leverage short relief, Senga has yet to allow a run, has surrendered only four base runners in those five innings, has already chopped nearly a run off his ERA. He's made it plain he prefers to start, yes.

But the Mets see something else — Andy Green: "I do think that his right arm has 100 mph and a nasty forklift. That profile plays for a late-inning reliever" — and success does occasionally sway even a stubborn voice. And for the first time in a long, long time, Senga has sampled a few gulps of success. A guy can get used to the cheers that replace the alternate soundtrack in a hurry.

(Senga warmed up in the bottom of the eighth Tuesday night when it seemed the Mets might have some 10 o'clock lightning in them, but he never entered the game.)

If this really is more than a temporary mirage — and if Senga really can be convinced to buy into this new rendition of his

career — it makes the Mets' plans moving forward a lot clearer. If the late-game duo of Devin Williams and Senga can be an anchor going forward, it frees them up to do more creative things elsewhere on the roster. If this is real, it is big.

Is it real? Look, this isn't an unprecedented pathway the Mets are hoping Senga embraces. Ever since Dennis Eckersley went from fading starter to first-ballot closer 40 years ago, whatever old taboos and stigmas were attached to moving to the bullpen vanished. There was a time Mariano Rivera was ticketed to be a starter until he found another line of work, too.

There have been plenty of athletes who course-corrected due to need and circumstance. Ron Harper was going to be one of the greatest guards who ever played the game until his knee had other ideas; instead he became an essential glue guy on five champions in two cities. Bill Walton's last hurrah was as a sixth man. Vinny Testaverde's finest hour came in 1998, a season he started as a backup before Bill Parcells tossed him the ball and together they marched within 30 minutes of a Super Bowl.

There are a few reasons for the variance vibe that's taken hold for now around the Mets, even as they linger 10 games in arrears of the final wild card and 12 games south of .500 entering Tuesday. A lot of that has lately centered around Benge, whose two-way game has become something to behold and who's been tattooing the ball for a while now (.296/.356/.453 since April 22) — and who Monday night electrified Citi Field with back-to-back run-saving, first-inning strikes home to nail a pair of Pads.

A lot has to do with the kid pitching: the Big Three of Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thornton, who three games out of every five give the Mets a legit shot to win (Scott pitched into the seventh Sunday; McLean allowed seven of the first eight Padres to reach base Monday, but fueled by his defense buckled in and went six strong for the win).

Some might even be due to Bo Bichette (hitting .319 since June 2) and Francisco Lindor (an .834 OPS since coming off the IL) finally joining the season after extended sabbaticals. It's also a different game playing well outside the glare of a pennant race which, frankly, the Mets are still a 15-game-or-so winning streak away from officially joining the periphery of.

But if Senga is actually both salvageable and serviceable just weeks after it seemed he was a sunk cost? Add it to the list. Up near the top, in fact.

mvaccaro@nypost.com

51

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52

Montefiore Einstein Official Hospital of the New York Yankees

■ Angel Chivilli was diagnosed with a bone spur in his right elbow and is on Day 6 of 10 days without being able to throw, according to Aaron Boone. The right-hander was at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when he suffered the injury.

ON DECK

at Orioles Wednesday, 6:35 p.m., Amazon Prime, WFAN (660 AM, 101.9 FM)

RHP Will Warren

2026 stats: 8-6, 4.42 ERA

Career vs. BAL: 3-2, 3.94 ERA

Last start: Aug. 12, vs. SEA; 4 IP, 5 ER, 4 BB

PITCH BREAKDOWN

37% 27% 19% 4-Seamer Sinker Sweeper

RHP Chris Bassitt

2026 stats: 4-4, 5.11 ERA

Career vs. NYY: 5-2, 2.06 ERA

Last start: Fri., at TB; 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 BB

PITCH BREAKDOWN

37% 23% 22% Sinker Curve Cutter

UP NEXT

THURSDAY: at Orioles, 6:35 p.m., YES, WFAN RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Kyle Bradish

FRIDAY: vs. Blue Jays, 7:05 p.m., YES, WFAN TBD vs. TBD

By DAN MARTIN

BALTIMORE — The Yankees lineup was mostly a no-show again Tuesday night.

Luckily for them, Trent Grisham didn't get the memo.

The center fielder was a one-man offense in a 3-1 win, as he drove in all three runs with a solo homer and a two-run single.

The rest of the Aaron Judge/Cody Bellinger-less batting order was mostly nonexistent, but the return of Carlos Rodón and the bullpen made up for it.

Grisham homered in the third and came through with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh.

YANKEES 3 Basscore ORIOLES 1 Page 38

After pinch hitter Amed Rosario struck out to bring up Grisham, the left-handed bat fell behind 0-2 against lefty Josh Walker before coming through with a base hit to center to put the Yankees up for good.

"Stay in the fight," Grisham said of his mindset after the first two pitches of the at-bat.

It paid off, as the recently surging Grisham continued his improved production.

And the pitching staff made it stand up.

Rodón, on a pitch count in his return from an IL stint due to elbow inflammation, pitched well for four innings in his first start since June 28.

The lefty gave up just one run in four innings before being pulled after 66 pitches.

He might have made another rehab start if Max Fried didn't land on the IL with another elbow bone bruise.

Five relievers combined for five scoreless innings, as the Yankees won their second straight after dropping three in a row.

Rodón's lone mistake came with two outs in the third, when Coby Mayo took him deep to left field to tie the game 1-1.

At that point, the Yankees lineup was about as productive as it's been since Judge went down with a fractured rib.

Against right-hander Shane Baz, six of the first seven Yankees hitters whiffed, and they didn't get a hit until Grisham hit his 17th homer of the season with two outs in the top of the third to give them a 1-0 lead.

By the time Baz left with two on and one out in the seventh, he'd struck out a season-high 10 batters.

The Yankees threatened in the fifth, as George Lombard Jr. singled through the right side of the infield with one out and Ryan McMahon walked.

But with runners on first and

STACHE IS KING

Surging Grisham drives in all 3 Yankees runs in win over 0's

TRENT STABILIZED: Trent Grisham rounds the bases after hitting a 403-foot solo home run in the third inning (right) of the Yankees' 3-1 win over the Orioles on Tuesday. The outfielder also singled in the seventh (above) to drive in two runs and give the Bombers the lead for good. David Bednar (far right) celebrates with Ali Sánchez after collecting his 28th save of the season. Imagn Images; Getty Images (2)

second, Austin Wells popped out and Grisham flied to left to keep the game tied.

Rodón did well to keep the Orioles to just the one run in his outing, as he wasn't helped by Jazz Chisholm Jr. — or second base umpire Ryan Additon — in the second.

With runners on first and second and one out, Rodón got Christian Franklin to hit a seemingly

routine ground ball toward second. But Additon appeared to block Chisholm's view of the ball momentarily and the second baseman couldn't handle the grounder.

Instead of a potential inning-ending double play, everyone was safe.

Rodón struck out Carlos Narváez and then got Jackson Holliday looking, as Wells challenged a ball call for the third strike.

The lead provided by Grisham held up even after Brent Headrick allowed the first two batters to reach in the seventh.

The lefty retired the next two batters before Fernando Cruz entered and got Pete Alonso on a liner to right to end the threat.

dan.martin@nypost.com

Yankees notes / P. 42

Montefiore Einstein

Official Hospital of the New York Yankees

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Boone confident Fried can make quick return from left elbow injury

By DAN MARTIN

BALTIMORE — Max Fried made just five starts after his return from a left elbow bone bruise before hitting the injured list again Monday with what Aaron Boone called “low-level inflammation as a result of the bone bruise.”

But because the Yankees believe they caught the recurrence of the injury early, they feel confident the left-hander won’t miss nearly as much time as they prepare for the stretch run.

“I was told it was good news and this gives us the best chance to have him healthy the rest of the way,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Orioles.

Before Fried was placed on the 15-day IL Monday, the Yankees said they were considering having Fried make his scheduled start Wednesday.

Instead, an MRI exam showed inflammation and pitching coach Matt Blake said the organization decided to “err on the side of caution.”

And Boone added it’s “possible” Fried is back in the rotation by the end of the month, when he’s eligible to come off the IL.

He played catch again Tuesday in New York and depending on how the elbow responds, the Yankees will decide how to move forward. Fried could potentially throw off a mound in the coming days.

With Fried sidelined, Carlos Rodón returned Tuesday from his IL stint that was caused by elbow inflammation and Will Warren is set to start Wednesday. But the Yankees still need to determine why the injury popped up again.

“Any injury can be a precursor for another

injury,” Blake said. “I don’t think anyone is shocked this cropped up again. Obviously, we didn’t want it to and we’ll try to mitigate it with workload and delivery management.”

Blake called it “a little frustrating it got to this point,” but added that since he wasn’t forced out of a game — like he was with the initial injury — Fried won’t be out long.

Dr. Spencer Stein, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at NYU Langone, said the recurrence wasn’t unusual and the Yankees’ optimism could indicate a lack of severity of the injury.

When Fried suffered the injury in May, he was immediately shut down from throwing for weeks. That’s not the case this time around.

Initially, Fried said the injury was caused by “hyperextending” and “the banging of the two bones” around the elbow.

The Yankees hoped some mechanical adjustments might help avoid the issue arising again.

Since it hasn’t, Blake said he was unsure if Fried would have to deal with some kind of discomfort in the area the rest of the season.

“I don’t know,” Blake said. “It’s something we have to be aware of and try to stay ahead of. He felt good throwing his side [session] the other day [but] there was too much question about if he went out there [Wednesday], would he make it worse?”

As long as Fried is out, it means the Yankees remain without all five of their top starters at the same time, with Ryan Weathers and Warren remaining in the rotation for now.

The plan is still for Fried — as well as Rodón, Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler — to be able to go in the playoffs.

But so far, the Yankees haven’t been able to keep their potentially fearsome rotation together.

Montefiore Einstein

Official Hospital of the New York Yankees

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54

STREAM IT OR SKIP IT

A riveting lead performance and a story that has a lot of potential to show a virtuous character compromise their ethics make "Umtetho" (Netflix) a thriller that is interesting to watch. OUR CALL: STREAM IT

WHAT TO WATCH

Sunny Sandler (left) has already proved herself an accomplished actor in the charming Netflix coming-of-age movie "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah," and now Adam Sandler's youngest daughter has done it again in Netflix's "Don't Say Good Luck," a moving drama inspired by writer Laura Hankin's real-life experience getting cast in the lead of her high school's musical while her mom was battling terminal cancer.

DECIDER

WHAT TO WATCH. WHEREVER YOU WATCH

'I'M LOVING IT'

'RHOC' star Gina Kirschenheiter weighs in on Season 20

By KAREN KEMMERLE

Gina Kirschenheiter is starting off "The Real Housewives Of Orange County" Season 20 strong! Happily engaged to fiancé Travis Mullen and enjoying the beautiful family they've built together, Kirschenheiter is trying not to sweat the small stuff—but that's easier said than done with this group of women! However, Kirschenheiter believes the return of series OG Vicki Gunvalson "gave the group more synergy" this time around. "She just picked up right where she left off," said Kirschenheiter, which also included playing peacemaker with feuding friends Tamra Judge and Shannon Storms Beador. "Vicki was able to help mediate," said Kirschenheiter gratefully.

Gunvalson took umbrage with Kirschenheiter's best friend, Emily Simpson, after Simpson wrote that Gunvalson was a "Debbie Downer" during Judge's "Friend in a Box" game. "Vicki brought it up at every event, every table, and every place we went to this season," said Kirschenheiter. "She was really offended by that comment." Kirschenheiter knew that Gunvalson's knee pain was a factor in some of her behavior this season. "It was

hard for her to come to terms with the fact that her injury was slowing her down," explained Kirschenheiter. "It was affecting her personality, but she really didn't want it to."

Kirschenheiter had her own dustup with newbie Carmella Garcia after she gifted Simpson with a Dior clutch (with a vibrator inside) for her birthday. "I just thought it was weird," said Kirschenheiter. "She gave Emily a gift that would garner a response, and now everybody's surprised that I had one?" However, the two women were

quickly able to come to a resolution after hashing it out in front of the group after a wine tasting. "I saw her perspective; she saw mine. It's fine," said Kirschenheiter firmly.

Kirschenheiter stopped by the DECIDER studio to chat about the season so far, discuss the group dynamics, and more.

DECIDER: Gina, what are your thoughts on this season so far? 'Cause I have plenty!

GINA KIRSCHENHEITER: I'm loving it too! It's so nice to have Vicki. She just picked up right where she left off. She's so who she

is, whether she is right or wrong, for good or bad, or somewhere in between. It's cool to have her back. She gave the group more synergy, even though she didn't bond with everybody.

Vicki is the only person who could ever really wrangle Tamra and Shannon. Was brokering that peace between the two of them something that had to be done so the group could move forward this season?

I think so, yes. We were just really stuck with the Tamra and Shannon situation. Vicki was able to help

mediate, but both Tamra and Shannon are just so over the bad blood between them. They finally got to a point where they were both exhausted and just couldn't be mad at each other anymore. They want to move forward. I'm happy that that's the way that went.

Note to everyone: the worst thing you can call Vicki is a "Debbie Downer!" Were you surprised at how much Emily's comment during Tamra's "Friend in a Box" game bothered her?

Oh my God, the way she harped on that! I was so thankful that I did not put that in that box [laughs]. Vicki brought it up at every event, every table, and every place we went to this season. She was really offended by the comment.

Was Emily taken aback by how upset Vicki was?

I think she knew that Vicki wasn't going to be happy about it, but nobody could have predicted anything like this. There's something about boomers not wanting to be boring. That's a really big diss to them. They want you to know they are still a good time.

What are you most looking forward to fans seeing this season?

Our trip to Tokyo was just sensational. It was such a cool experience. I'm really looking forward to the fans seeing that. I'm also really happy that Emily and I both look good this season [laughs]. I'm really happy that people are gonna see us continue to look decent on television. That's very good for us.

We've come a long way since those extensions, haven't we?

Yes, and I love that for me.

TRENDING NOW

We spy with our little eye... the official trailer for "Slow Horses" Season 6! The next installment of Apple TV's spy thriller starring Gary Oldman (left) returns with its first episode on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

WHAT'S NEW

ON PARAMOUNT+ "Average Joe," the Season 2 premiere.

ON TLC "ER: Caught On Camera," a new reality medical series (left).

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What's on Tonight

ACTION

Bad Boys II: 5 p.m. on AMC. Martin Lawrence, Will Smith. Miami detectives investigate the flow of Ecstasy into Florida from a Cuban drug cartel.

ADVENTURE

Aladdin: 8 p.m. on DIS. Scott Weinger, Robin Williams. A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp.

THRILLER

Deep Blue Sea: 11 p.m. on SYFY. Saffron Burrows, LL Cool J. Searching for a cure, a group of scientists on an isolated research facility become the prey.

Wednesday August 19, 2026

SP = Spectrum, C = Cablevision, F = FiOS Movies Sports New

Evening	SP	C	F	6:30	7:00 pm	7:30	8:00 pm	8:30	9:00 pm	9:30	10:00 pm	10:30	11:00 pm	11:30
2 WCBS	2	2	2	CBS Evening News	Inside Edition	Entertainment Tonight	Big Brother		Survivor				CBS News New York	(11:35) Comics
4 WNBC	4	4	4	NBC Nightly News	News 4 New York At 7	Access Hollywood	America's Got Talent 'Quarterfinals 1 Results'	Chicago Fire 'Do Not Resuscitate'		Chicago P.D. 'The Wicked River'			News 4 New York At	(11:35) Tonight
5 WNYW	5	5	5	(6:00) 6 O'Clock	Extra	TMZ	MasterChef UK 'The Wall'	Nation's Dumbest Anthony Michael Hall, Jon Heder		The 10 O'Clock News			Good Night New York	Family Feud Favorites
7 WABC	7	7	7	ABC World News	Jeopardy!	Wheel of Fortune	Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?	Abbott 'April Fools'	Abbott 'Trip'	Abbott 'Night Out'	Abbott 'Ava & Fest'		Eyewitness News at	(11:35) Jimmy Kimm
9 WWOR	9	9	9	Family Feud	Family Feud	Family Feud	The News On My 9	Dateline 'The Landing'		Family Feud	Family Feud		Dateline
11 WPIX	11	11	11	(6:00) PIX11 News at 6PM	Seinfeld 'The Bris'	The Big Bang Theory	Police 24/7 'Naked Aggression'	Police 24/7 'Jaws of Life'		PIX11 News at Ten			New York (Live)	Seinfeld
13 WNET	13	13	13	Bbc World News	The PBS News Hour 'The PBS News Hour'		Nature 'Lions of the Skeleton Coast'	NOVA 'Cat Tales'		Resolve To Solve With Miles O'bri			Amanpour and Company '19.08.2026'
21 WLIW	21	21	21	(6:00) PBSNe.	Antiques Roadshow		Atomic People 'Atomic People'			Mister Rogers: It's You I Like ★★			BBC News	The Day
25 WNYE	25	25	25	Energy	Brooklyn	Her Big Idea	NYC Field	Bare Feet	Bric tv	What's	$9.99 w/	Neighborhood	Blueprint	Secrets
31 WPXN	31	31	31	(6:00) BlueBL	Blue Bloods 'Grave Errors'		Blue Blood 'Bones To Pick'	Blue Bloods		Blue Bloods			Blue Bloods 'Reckless'
41 WXTV	41	41	41	Noticiero N+	La rosa de Guadalupe		Tan Cerca de Ti, Nace	Guardian de Mi Vida		Corazón de oro			Noticias	Noticiero N+
47 WHJU	47	16	12	Noticias	Top Chef Vip 'Platos Que Dejaron Huella'		El Señor de los Cielos	El Señor de los Cielos		Lejos de Ti			Noticiero	Noticias
55 WLNY	55	10	10	Perfect	Last Man	Last Man	CBS News New York	48 Hours 'Fatal Crossing'		Judge Judy	Judge Judy		Neighborhood	Neighborhood
AAA	46	46	111	Live PD:	Live PD:	Live PD:	Live PD:	Booked: 'Road Rape'		Booked: First Day In			(11:05) Behind Bars:
AMC	54	43	231	(5:00) Bad Boys II ('03,Action) ★★			Jason Bourne (2016,Action) Matt Damon. ★★			(10:45) Con Air ('97,Action) ★★
BET	37	54	270	(6:00) Celebr.	Celebrity Family Feud		Celebrity Family Feud	The Oval		All The Queen's Men			OG Stories	(11:40) Martin
BBSAM	71	101	189	Jumanji (1995,Adventure) Robin Williams. ★★				The Princess Bride (1987,Fantasy) ★★					Criminal Minds 'Outfoxed'
BBAVO	18	44	185	(6:00) Valley	The Valley		The Valley	Next Gen 'No Effigiving'		The Valley			Next Gen 'No Effigiving'
CNBC	15	24	102	(6:00) MadM.	Shark Tank 'Episode 25'		Shark Tank	Shark Tank 'Episode 1'		Shark Tank 'Episode 8'			Shark Tank
CNN	78	25	100	(6:00) Lead w/	Erin Burnett OutFront		Anderson Cooper 360	Source w/ Kaitlan Collins		CNN NewsNight			Laura Coates Live
COM	45	50	190	Family Guy	Family Guy	Family Guy	Family Guy	Family Guy	Family Guy	Family Guy	Family Guy		Family Guy
DIS	49	31	250	(6:25) The Lion King ★★			Aladdin ('92,Family) Scott Weinger. ★★		(9:40) Phineas	Phineas	Kiff		Miraculous	Miraculous
DSC	66	27	120	(6:00) Expedit.	Expedition 'Frozen Aliens'		Expedition X	Expedition X 'Episode 2'		How to Catch a Dirtbag			How to Catch a Dirtbag
E!	24	51	196	How I Met	How I Met	How I Met	How I Met	How I Met	How I Met	Cocktail	Cocktail		Two & a	Two & a
ESPN	28	36	70	(5:00) ABCSp.	ABC Sports Little League World Series (Live)		LIVING ON	NFL Football		SportsCenter (Live)			SportsCenter
ESPN2	29	35	74	(6:00) Sports.	NFL Live		College	World Series Of Poker		World Series Of Poker			NFL Live
FBN	43	106	117	(6:00) Bottom	Kudlow		Fox Business in Depth:	Legends & Lies		Legends & Lies			Legends & Lies
FNC	44	26	118	(6:00) Special	The Ingraham Angle (Live)		Jesse Watters (Live)	Hannity (Live)		Gutfeld!			Fox News at Night (Live)
FOOD	50	97	164	(6:00) Guy'sG.	Guy's Grocery Games		Guy's Grocery Games	Guy's Grocery Games		Guy's Grocery Games			Guy's Grocery Games
FORBIN	38	49	199	(6:50) Cruella (2021,Comedy) Emma Stone. ★★						House of Stassi			The 700 Club
FS1	400	99	83	Greatest Games: FOX	Ew Paris:		MLS Soccer St. Louis City at Sporting Kansas City			Copa Ameri			MLS Soccer
FX	10	40	53	The Proposal (2009,Comedy) Sandra Bullock. ★★				The Shards		Thor (2011,Action) Chris Hemsworth. ★★
HALL	191	249		(6:00) Falling in Love in Niagara ★★			Aussie at Heart (2026,Romance) Daniel Lissing.			Golden			Golden
HITV	64	98	165	Beachfront	Beachfront	Beachfront	Beachfront	Renovation Resort		Worst Yard			Worst Yard
HIST	40	47	128	(6:00) Alone	Alone 'Tides of Fortune'		Alone 'Icebound'	Alone 'No Safe Haven'		(10:35) Forged In Fire			(11:35) Alone
ID	23	171	123	(6:00) HomicL.	Homicide 'Lady in Red'		Body Cam	Body Cam		911: Did The Killer Call?			See No 'Savage By Name'
LIFE	62	45	140	(6:00) Rizzoli	Rizzoli & Isles		Rizzoli 'Dirty Little Secret'	Rizzoli & Isles		(10:05) Rizzoli & Isles			(11:05) Rizzoli & Isles
MeTV	33	33	3	MAS*H	MAS*H	MAS*H	Andy Griff	Andy Griff	Everybody	Everybody	KCCI 8		Carol Burn	Perry Mason
MSG	27	87	78	(5:00) NHL	Team Boxin Quarterfinal 1: NYC Attitude at Philadelphia Smoke					Team Boxin Quarterfinal #2 - Atlanta Attack at Miami Assassins
MSG	48	88	80	(5:00) NBA	NBA Basketball			MSG PM	MSG PM	NBA Basketball
MSNOW	14	23	103	(6:00) Beat w/	The Weeknight (Live)		All in w/ Chris (Live)	Briefing w/ Jen (Live)		Last Word w/ (Live)			11th Hour w/ All (Live)
MTV	20	53	210	Big Bang	The Office	The Office	The Office	The Office	The Office	The Office	The Office		The Office
NATGEO	65	162	121	(6:50) Secrets	'Secrets of the Bees'		Secrets of the Bees	Lion		(9:55) Lion			(10:50) Secrets 'Secrets of the Bees'
NICK	6	121	252	SpongeBob	Friends	Friends	Friends	Friends	Friends	Big Bang	Big Bang		Big Bang
OWN	173	180	145	My Lottery	My Lottery	My Lottery	My Lottery	My Lottery	My Lottery	My Lottery	My Lottery		My Lottery
PARMT	36	56	54	(6:00) BarRes.	Bar Rescue		Bar Rescue	Bar Rescue		Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ★★
SNY	26	60	77	Minor League Baseball Worcester Red Sox at Syracuse Mets (Live)						Mets Specials			Mets Yearb
SYFY	17	48	180	Movie	Armageddon (1998,Action) Bruce Willis. ★★					The Ark			Deep Blue Sea ★★
TBS	8	39	52	Big Bang	Big Bang	Big Bang	All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite 'Dynamite 8/19/2026'			Impractica			Impractica
TCM	82	41	230	(6:00) Janie (1944) Edward Arnold. ★★			Gone with the Wind (1939,Drama) Clark Gable. ★★
TLC	52	28	139	(6:00) Untold	Untold 'Zombie Uprising'		Untold Stories of the E.R.	ER: Caught On Camera		The Bad Skin Clinic			Jay & Pamela
TNT	3	37	51	(5:00) The Equalizer ★★	(7:45) The Equalizer 2 (2018,Action) Denzer Washington. ★★					(10:15) Ocean's Twelve ('04,Crime Story) ★★
TVLAND	85	34	241	(6:25) AndyG.	Everybody	Everybody	Everybody	(9:20) Everybody Loves		Everybody			King of
USA	16	38	50	(6:00) 9-1-1	9-1-1 'Wrapped in Red'		9-1-1 'Outside Looking In'	9-1-1 'Boston'		WNBA Baske Minnesota Lynx at Golden State Valkyries
VH1	19	52	217	My Wife	My Wife	My Wife	The Social Network (2010,Drama) Jesse Eisenberg. ★★						The Secret Life of Bees
WE	59	42	149	(6:00) NCIS	NCIS 'Guilty Pleasure'		NCIS 'Moonlighting'	NCIS 'Obsession'		NCIS 'Borderland'			NCIS 'Patriot Down'
YES	53	89	76	Homegrown	Pinstripe	Home Plate	Breaking Par	Breaking Par	Brooklyn	Yankees			MLB Baseball
HBO	511	301	400	(6:00) The Drama ★★	(7:50) Lanterns 'Tbd'		(8:50) Normal ('25,Action) ★★			(10:20) Monsters Of God			(11:15) Monsters Of God
MAX	531	371	420	(6:10) Stoker ★★	(7:50) Bring Her Back (2025,Horror) Billy Barratt. ★★					(9:35) Contagion ('11,Drama) ★★			(11:20) The Terminator
MGM Plus	595	395	395	Movie	The Westies		Gangs of New York (2002,Drama) Leonardo DiCaprio. ★★			(10:50) Casino Royale ('06,Action) ★★
PARSHO	551	321	365	(5:00) Return	Gladiator (2000,Action) Russell Crowe. ★★					(9:35) Million Dollar Baby (2004,Drama) Hilary Swank. ★★

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READY, WILLING & STABLE

HARRIS READY TO DO WHATEVER ASKED AS VET JOINS CROWDED GIANTS RB CORPS / P. 48-49

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026

NEW YORK PO

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The Best Sr

Yanks unwrap needed win in another nail-biter as Trent drives in all the runs

12

VERBY

CRISTMAS

Trent Grisham is the gift that keeps on giving. The red-hot center fielder celebrates his third-inning homer with Ben Rice before delivering a tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh inning in the Yankees' 3-1 win at the Orioles. P. 52-53

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

BOMBERS BELIEVE FRIED WILL BE BACK FOR STRETCH RUN / PAGE 53

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