Midwest
Will ‘One Battle After Another’ ride the anti-ICE protest wave to Best Picture at the Oscars?
‘One Battle After Another’ trailer
The trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson’s action thriller “One Battle After Another,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor. Released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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The film that’s been praised by critics for its timeliness may be benefiting from the news cycle at the right time.
“One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged thriller, has maintained its frontrunner status for Best Picture at this year’s Oscars since the fall. If you read my review, then you’d know I recommended it for those who are able to compartmentalize their personal politics, because it’s very left-wing.
It’s about a group of self-described revolutionaries on the run from a cabal of white nationalist authoritarians. The opening scene literally depicts them freeing illegal migrants from a detention center — not to mention that they also bomb courthouses and offices of anti-abortion lawmakers. One man’s revolutionary is another man’s domestic terrorist.
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Leonardo DiCaprio as Bob Ferguson in “One Battle After Another.” A Warner Bros. Pictures Release. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
Putting that aside, “OBAA” is a well-made film. Despite its nearly three-hour running time, it never lags. The performances from the cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, the score, the editing were top-notch. Would I give it Best Picture? No. 2025 was a weaker year for films overall — I’d vote for “Hamnet” if I were a member of the Academy — nonetheless, a Best Picture win was always feasible.
Now, with all the turmoil that’s unfolded in Minnesota, a Best Picture win may already be locked up.
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“OBAA” won the Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical (it’s neither a comedy nor a musical. Don’t even get me started on how films and TV shows are classified at the Golden Globes). It has since received 13 Oscar nominations, more than any other film besides Ryan Coogler’s vampire thriller “Sinners,” shattering records with its 16 nominations.
(L-R) Benicio del Toro, Teyana Taylor, Sara Murphy, Chase Infiniti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Paul Thomas Anderson and Sean Penn accept the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Award for “One Battle After Another” onstage during the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 11, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California.
But the current political climate will likely propel “OBAA” in the Best Picture race. Liberal Hollywood isn’t shy about making a statement. Just look at all the “Be Good” pins worn at the Golden Globes honoring Renee Good and the marathon ICE bashing at the Grammys last week. They’ll use “OBAA” as a giant “F you” to Donald Trump and his administration despite the irony that “OBAA” would’ve been released regardless of whether Trump or Kamala Harris had won the 2024 election.
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On top of that, many in the Academy probably feel that Paul Thomas Anderson is finally owed an Oscar. Anderson is now a 14-time nominee and was previously snubbed for films like “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “There Will Be Blood.” In other words, he’ll get the same treatment as Christopher Nolan did two years ago with his Best Picture winner “Oppenheimer” after going decades without a win.
Between national politics and Academy politics, the wind is surely hitting the back of “OBAA.”
The unrest in Minneapolis has been top of mind in Hollywood between the “Be Good” pins worn at the Golden Globes and the anti-ICE rhetoric at the Grammys. (Getty Images)
Are there chances for there to be an upset? Of course, “Sinners” — surpassing previous record holders “Titanic,” “La La Land” and “All About Eve” in total nominations — is clearly adored by the Academy and will likely nab a few trophies in the craft categories. But as we’ve seen before like last year with “Emilia Pérez,” having the most nominations doesn’t always translate to a Best Picture win. And the Academy may believe that since 39-year-old Coogler will likely have a long career ahead of him as a writer and director, voters will wait before giving him an Oscar and hand it to 55-year-old Anderson instead.
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“Hamnet” may be the darkest of dark horses in this race. It did pull an upset over “Sinners” in winning Best Drama at the Golden Globes, though notably has an entirely different body of voters (mostly foreign press). However, the Academy has increasingly welcomed more and more foreign filmmakers and actors in recent years, which is why we’ve seen more and more foreign films being nominated for Best Picture. They may rally behind the Shakespeare family drama over the very America-centric “OBAA” and “Sinners.” However, perhaps working against “Hamnet” is the fact that its writer/director Chloé Zhao just won two Oscars for her work on the 2021 Best Picture winner “Nomadland.”
Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of “One Battle After Another,” is a 14-time Oscar nominee spanning decades, but with zero wins, perhaps encouraging Academy voters to finally give him a trophy. (John Shearer/WireImage)
The only true indicators that will affirm the frontrunner status of “OBAA” between now and the Oscars are how the various guild awards play out in the coming weeks, mainly the Producers Guild Awards, the Directors Guild Awards, the Writers Guild Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards (now called the Actor Awards) since many guild voters are also Academy voters. If “OBAA” sweeps those, it will be incredibly likely a Best Picture win will follow. If other films like “Sinners” and “Hamnet” emerge as big winners, that could spice up the race.
With all of that in mind, “OBAA” still has the edge. And since the firestorm over ICE isn’t likely to melt away anytime soon, “OBAA” will almost certainly be our next Best Picture winner.
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Detroit, MI
Terrion Arnold ‘maintains complete innocence’ in kidnapping, theft case
I represent Mr. Terrion Arnold in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on February 4, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, which resulted in the arrest of five individuals on serious felony charges.
To be clear, Mr. Arnold had no involvement whatsoever in the activities that led to those arrests. He did not participate in, nor was he present for, any conduct related to the alleged offenses. There is no evidence in police reports, text messages, or witness statements that implicates Mr. Arnold in any way.
In fact, after direct communication with the lead prosecutor, it has been confirmed that no charges have been filed against Mr. Arnold in connection with this matter.
Recent media coverage has referenced an Order issued by Circuit Judge J. Logan Murphy, which improperly suggests Mr. Arnold’s involvement in the incident. That same Order also incorrectly identifies Ms. Devalle as Mr. Arnold’s girlfriend. Both assertions are false, misleading, and entirely unsupported by the record.
Mr. Arnold categorically denies these unfounded claims and maintains his complete innocence. He was not involved in the crimes allegedly committed on February 4, 2026, in Tampa, Florida.
We strongly urge members of the media to refrain from perpetuating inaccurate or speculative narratives. The facts are clear, and they do not support any claim of wrongdoing by Mr. Arnold.
Milwaukee, WI
Sheriff’s Office backpedals on controversial facial recognition deal
Drone view shows Milwaukee’s County Courthouse
Built in 1931, Milwaukee’s historic County Courthouse is in dire need of repair and upgrades. Here’s a recent drone view of the MacArthur Square building.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office will not move forward on a potential deal to use facial recognition technology, Sheriff Denita Ball announced Friday.
In a statement on Feb. 27, Ball said after “thoughtful evaluation” and “meaningful dialogue” with community stakeholders and leaders, she decided to stop pursuing a contract with Biometrica, a Las Vegas-based company whose technology allows authorities to compare photos to a large database of photos for matches.
“While we recognize the potential of this software as an investigative tool, we also recognize that trust between the MCSO and the people we serve is important,” she said.
“My discussions with local advocates highlighted valid concerns regarding how such data could be accessed or perceived in the current national climate. This decision is not a retreat from innovation but rather an understanding that timing matters, too,” Ball said.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Feb. 17 that the Sheriff’s Office was on the verge of signing off on the use of facial recognition technology after news broke at a community advisory board meeting held by the office.
The update on the office’s sign-off on an intent to enter into a contract with Biometrica blindsided local officials and advocates because it contradicted earlier claims that the office had not moved forward with a controversial contract.
At the time, supervisors on the county’s judiciary and legislation committee called for more information from the Sheriff’s Office about the nature of the then-potential contract.
Supervisor Justin Bielinski, who chairs the committee, said Ball’s decision to step away from the deal was good news, but said he was still feeling wary.
“I would like to see more I guess,” he said of the two paragraph statement from Ball. “At what point would she reconsider, right?”
County Executive David Crowley, who is running for governor as a Democrat, had also voiced concerns about a possible contract when news came to light earlier this month.
After learning of Ball’s decision to not move forward with Biometrica, Crowley thanked community members who voiced concerns about facial recognition technology, saying he will “continue doing everything in my authority to ensure our residents’ First Amendment rights, civil liberties, and personal data are protected.”
In recent months, Milwaukee politicians and residents rebuffed local law enforcement’s efforts to pursue the use of such technology at both the city and county levels, with many citing concerns over racial bias and unjust surveillance of residents.
The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted last summer to recommend the development of a policy framework for the use of facial recognition technology as worries about its use by local law enforcement grew in the community.
The policy emphasized that the use of such technology doesn’t “suppress First Amendment-related activities, violate privacy, or otherwise adversely impact individuals’ civil rights and liberties,” and called for a pause on acquiring new facial recognition technology until regulatory policies were in place to monitor any existing and new surveillance technology.
In early February, the Milwaukee Police Department paused its pursuit of facial recognition technology after almost a year of pushback from activists and some public officials at public meetings. The department also noted that community feedback was a part of its final decision as well as a volatile political climate amid the federal government’s immigration crackdown.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Minneapolis, MN
Fan behind Anthony Edwards’ orange bracelet has beaten cancer
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The story behind Anthony Edwards wearing a bright orange bracelet since last season has received a positive development, after Timberwolves fans learned Luca Wright has beaten leukemia.
Anthony Edwards, Luca Wright connection
What we know:
Last January, the 6-year-old Minnesotan met “Ant” for the first time following a game against the Detroit Pistons, proclaiming him to be his favorite player, and asking him to wear a bracelet that symbolizes leukemia awareness, resilience and support for those affected. During the interaction, the fan had created a sign with a to-do list: “1. Beat Cancer. 2. Be The Next MJ.”
Leukemia is a type of cancer that spreads throughout the bloodstream, infecting bone marrow and a person’s lymphatic system by rapid production of abnormal white blood cells that can’t fight infection.
Since then, the Wolves’ MVP has worn a bracelet that proclaims, “Love Like Luca” on it for every game he has played, vowing to wear it “until he hangs up his sneakers.”
Ant has gone on to explain how the gesture connected with him given that he lost both his mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley, to cancer when he was 14 years old. The No. 5 jersey he wears currently is a tribute to them both.
Luca bracelet latest
Dig deeper:
More than a year later, Wolves fans have received the update they hoped for – now 7-year-old Luca has beaten his cancer.
What’s next:
Ant has since responded to the news with his own social media video, calling it “God’s gift” and saying, “Let’s do this Luca.”
No word yet on whether he intends to keep wearing the bracelet, though he’s previously said he has a stash of replacements near the team bench should one ever be broken.
The Source: Information provided by the Minnesota Timberwolves public relations department.
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