Michigan
Harris, Oprah hold Michigan campaign event in talk show format
Using a similar format to her former long-running talk show, Oprah Winfrey hosted a campaign event with Vice President Kamala Harris in suburban Detroit Thursday evening which featured a mix of celebrities, campaign organizers and a crowd of battleground state voters.
The event in Farmington Hills, Michigan — which had an in-person crowd of a few hundred and also featured virtual attendees — opened with talk of a “new day” and the sense of “joy” Democrats have associated with the Harris campaign. But the conversation later steered towards issues featuring personal, intimate stories of people impacted by state abortion bans and school shootings.
The parents of Natalie Griffith, a 15-year-old injured in the deadly Apalachee High School shooting earlier this month in Winder, Georgia, spoke. Griffith’s mother, Marilda, made an emotional plea for a “change to be made” to address gun violence. Her father, Doug — who noted that he was not a registered Democrat — called for metal detectors to be placed inside schools.
Harris did not explicitly say if she agreed with the call for metal detectors, but said “we just need to apply common sense.” She repeated her calls for an assault weapons ban and universal background checks. When Winfrey made note of Harris being a gun owner, as she revealed in prior campaigns and repeated in her debate with Trump, Harris said that “if somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot.”
“Sorry, probably should not have said that,” Harris joked. “My staff will deal with that later.”
The mother and sisters of Amber Thurman — a Georgia woman who died in 2022 after medical care was delayed due to the state’s abortion ban — also spoke for the first time publicly since the ProPublica report about Thurman was released.
“I’m beyond hurt, disappointed…we trusted them to take care of her, you know?” said CJ, Thurman’s sister. “And they just let her die because of some stupid abortion ban. They treated her like she was just another number.”
Harris called Thurman’s death “preventable,” and as she has throughout her campaign and vice presidency, blamed former President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court appointments for leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She also criticized states with abortion restrictions but have exceptions “to save the life of the mother,” arguing it should not reach that point.
“So is she on death’s door before you actually decide to give her help, Is that what we’re saying?” Harris asked. “Like, literally, a doctor or a nurse has to say, ‘She might die any minute, better give her care.’”
Hadley Duvall, a Kentucky woman who was impregnated by her father at 12-years-old and was able to get an abortion, also spoke. Duvall had been featured in several of Harris’ campaign ads, and also spoke at the Democratic National Convention.
The event was livestreamed and conducted in an interview-style discussion similar to Winfrey’s old talk show. It was billed as a way to bring together many pro-Harris coalitions, including “Win with Black Women,” “White Dudes for Harris” and “Swifties for Harris.”
All are groups that have been holding Zoom conference calls to raise money for Harris’ campaign and mobilize voters. Harris campaign advisers saw the event as a way to reach persuadable voters, and Winfrey often structured her questions to be geared towards undecided voters.
Several celebrities also appeared by video, including Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez, Julie Roberts, Tracee Ellis Ross, Bryan Cranston and Meryl Streep.
Earlier Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley panned the event, saying in a statement that Harris was campaigning with “an out-of-touch celebrity, further confirming that the Democrat party is not the party of hardworking Americans – it is the party of elitists.”
Streep asked Harris what her plan would be if she wins in November and there is another push to try and overturn the election results, as Trump and some Republicans are criminally charged with allegedly doing in 2020.
“We will be ready,” Harris said, pointing to Republicans disaffected by the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection that may vote for her. “To try and upend a free and fair election where the American people voted, that was a bridge too far for a lot of people…I think there is absolutely no tolerance whatsoever from the vast majority of Americans for that, and they’ve seen the lies.”
Harris made a quick reference to her campaign’s legal team, and pleaded for the audience to help curb misinformation and support poll workers.
Winfrey, an independent who has endorsed Harris and spoke at the DNC last month, closed the program with a call to undecided voters to choose Harris.
“This is the moment for people who are tired of all of the bickering and all of the name calling, people who are exhausted by the craziness and the made up stories and the conspiracies. This is the moment you want to get on with your life, because you know that we can do better and that we deserve better.”
After three consecutive home games, Nebraska football will begin conference play on the road in East Lansing against Michigan State.
The Spartans, after going a combined 9-15 under Jonathan Smith in two years at the helm, are welcoming in a new head coach. Pat Fitzgerald, a familiar name to Husker fans, led the Northwestern Wildcats for 17 years, becoming one of the winningest head coaches in Big Ten history. Now, he’ll look to revive a program that went 11-2 just five years ago.
Here’s an early look at what Michigan State is expected to bring to the table this fall, including key returners, transfer additions, and what Nebraska will need to do to start 1-0 in conference play against a new regime.
Previously Covered: Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota
Offensive Outlook
The Spartans’ offensive struggles in 2025 were well documented, though injuries at quarterback certainly played a role. In 12 games, Michigan State finished the regular season ranked 98th nationally in total offense, averaging 345.5 yards and 24.6 points per game.
Aiden Chiles started the first eight contests of the season and provided the Spartans with a dual-threat presence each and every play. The then-junior threw for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 63.1% of his passes. He also added 227 rushing yards and six scores on the ground before a season-ending injury, suffered after being sacked 21 times, forced him to prematurely end the year.
That opened the door for Alessio Milivojevic, who appeared in nine games and made the first four starts of his career as a redshirt freshman. Milivojevic threw for 1,267 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 63.8% of his attempts. Even in his limited role, however, he was sacked 16 times behind a struggling offensive line.
Following the coaching transition, Michigan State aggressively pursued the transfer portal, bringing in 45 new scholarship players ahead of the 2026 season. With a revamped roster and an attempt at improved depth, there’s at least reason for optimism that the Spartans’ offense could take a step forward this fall.
Offensive Player to Watch: Alessio Milivojevic
It’s difficult to argue that any player on Michigan State’s offense will have a greater impact on the program’s success in year one under Fitzgerald than Milivojevic. As a redshirt freshman, the Naperville (IL) native was thrown into action against some of the toughest opponents on the Spartans’ 2025 schedule and gained valuable experience as a result.
Michigan State went 1-3 across his four starts while averaging 21.25 points per game. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound quarterback averaged 246.5 passing yards per contest during that stretch, with seven of his 10 touchdown passes coming as a starter.
Now entering his third season of college football, Milivojevic is more battle-tested than ever and will likely become the centerpiece the Spartans staff leans on throughout 2026. For Nebraska, drawing him early in his first full season as the unquestioned starter could prove beneficial, even if the Huskers already saw flashes of his potential firsthand inside Memorial Stadium last fall.
Defensive Outlook
A season ago, Michigan State fielded the 72nd-ranked defense in the FBS, allowing 378.7 yards and 29.9 points per game. Those numbers are expected to be an area of improvement as the Spartans begin a new era under Fitzgerald’s guidance.
In 2025, MSU surrendered 231.3 passing yards and 147.3 rushing yards per contest while struggling to complement an offense that averaged just 24.6 points per game. The Spartans held only two conference opponents below that scoring mark all season, highlighting the inconsistency that ultimately defined Smith’s tenure in East Lansing.
Still, there’s reason to believe the roster could look significantly different in 2026. Michigan State underwent noteworthy offseason turnover, losing 51 players to the transfer portal while returning only 36 scholarship players from last year’s team. In some ways, the reset may benefit the program. A new coaching staff, a fresh scheme, and an overhauled locker room could allow the Spartans to quickly reshape their identity entering the fall. Fitzgerald has made a career doing less with more and finally has a program with competitive resources to lead.
Defensive Player to Watch: Jordan Hall
Rising senior linebacker Jordan Hall is one of the most important returning pieces for Michigan State entering 2026. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound former IMG Academy star captained the Spartans’ defense last season and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition after leading the team with 88 tackles in 12 games. He also totaled 2.5 sacks, tied for the team lead, while adding a pass breakup, an interception, and three forced fumbles.
Hall has now appeared in 35 career games, including 19 starts, giving Michigan State a proven veteran presence in the middle of its defense. Beyond the production, his decision to remain with the program through multiple coaching changes and difficult seasons speaks volumes about his investment in the team he continually chose.
The then-junior finished 11th in the Big Ten in total tackles during the 2025 regular season and will look to build upon that production this fall. If he takes another step forward in 2026, Hall will almost certainly position himself to become an NFL draft pick, assuming he hasn’t already done so.
Biggest Question Mark Heading in 2026
Fitzgerald led Northwestern to 10 bowl appearances in 17 seasons as head coach, a noteworthy accomplishment considering the challenges tied to recruiting limitations the program has. During his tenure, the Wildcats also produced 11 All-Americans and 22 NFL Draft picks, proving Fitzgerald could develop talent at a high level despite academic restrictions that few other schools face.
Now the conversation shifts toward what he can accomplish with greater resources at Michigan State. While the Spartans have struggled in recent years, the program is not far removed from total success. Michigan State reached the four-team College Football Playoff in 2015 and won 11 games in 2021. Fitzgerald himself guided Northwestern to Big Ten Championship Game appearances in both 2018 and 2020. There’s precedent suggesting he can elevate a program within the Big Ten.
However, college football has changed dramatically since Fitzgerald last coached. The transfer portal, NIL, revenue sharing, and roster management created an entirely different landscape than he once had. Even so, Fitzgerald was selective about where he would return to coaching, and Michigan State ultimately became the program he believed in enough to take over.
The biggest question surrounding the Spartans may not be tied strictly to 2026, but rather the timeline of their rebuild overall. How quickly Fitzgerald can stabilize and reshape MSU will likely determine whether the program can once again emerge as a legitimate contender in the Big Ten.
My Outlook for the Game
Entering year four under Matt Rhule, Nebraska will need to show tangible progress as a program in 2026. The contract extension likely removes any “do-or-die” pressure surrounding the season overall, but opening conference play against a first-year head coach is still the type of game the Huskers simply cannot afford to lose.
NU will, in all likelihood, enter the matchup as the favorite despite being on the road. Now the challenge becomes proving the oddsmakers right in doing so. Staff continuity, roster depth, and overall culture should all work in the Big Red’s favor heading into the game against Michigan State. The Huskers need to capitalize on those advantages.
Starting 1-0 in conference play feels especially important, knowing the schedule only becomes more difficult to follow. This doesn’t project to be a game Nebraska will run away with, but the Huskers already found a way to beat Michigan State in 2025 despite surrendering five sacks. There’s little reason to believe they can’t do it again this fall.
Ideally, NU’s offensive line takes a step forward, and the team plays a cleaner, more disciplined brand of football overall. If that happens, the Huskers should like their chances. It may not come easy, but among Nebraska’s conference matchups in 2026, this remains one of the more favorable opportunities on the schedule. Find a way to get the job done.
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PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan house explosion early Tuesday left one person dead and one in critical condition, authorities said.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the fire and explosion, which happened around 4 a.m. in Plainfield Township, north of Grand Rapids.
When authorities arrived, the home was destroyed and the debris was on fire, according to the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. One person was dead.
Two neighbors pulled a woman out of the home after hearing her yelling.
“I had to get in there and get her out,” one of the neighbors, Tim Johnson, told WOOD-TV. He said they “grabbed her arms and pulled her out as far as we could.”
The woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
The blast shook Johnson’s house and he had second-degree burns on his head and a hand.
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