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4 moments from the California U.S. Senate debate that will have people talking

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4 moments from the California U.S. Senate debate that will have people talking

The top four candidates hoping to succeed the late Dianne Feinstein and represent the Golden State in the United States Senate squared off Monday in a debate hosted and moderated by Inside California Politics.

Democrat Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee tried to stand out from one another and pitch themselves to voters as they hope to advance to the November runoff. Meanwhile, Republican Steve Garvey looked to make his case as the alternate choice for Californians who have grown tired of the Democratic status quo.

While Schiff, Porter and Lee seemed to operate with an unspoken truce, the Democrats took several swings at the Los Angeles Dodgers legend, hoping to knock him off balance and paint him as a MAGA Republican who aligns closely with Donald Trump.

Here are four moments that people will be talking about after the California U.S. Senate debate.

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TRUMP

The 45th President of the United States, and the frontrunner for the GOP nomination, was a major topic in Monday’s debate.

The three Democrats were united in their belief that Trump should not be allowed to be on the 2024 ballot, but said they would not hesitate to certify a Trump win if it were to happen.

“Donald Trump engaged in an insurrection and should not be on the ballot,” Porter said.

Schiff, a major thorn in the side of Trump during his single term as POTUS, called his former rival the “greatest threat to democracy.”

Garvey disagreed with Schiff’s proclamation, calling the “deconstruction of the constitution” as the greatest threat to democracy, specifically citing removing the filibuster from Senate procedure and “packing” the Supreme Court.

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The four candidates for California’s U.S. Senate seat sparred during a debate hosted by Nexstar and Inside California Politics on Feb. 12, 2024. (Nexstar)

Garvey’s non-denouncement of the former president came into focus again just as it did weeks earlier the first time the four candidates sparred on the debate stage.

For the second time, Garvey, who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, refused to say whom he would be voting for in the 2024 Presidential election.

“I think it’s personal. I’ll make that decision when the time comes,” Garvey said. “And I hope this puts to an end the constant badgering and the use of the former president’s name as an attack against me.”

The baseball legend did say that he hadn’t talked to the former president since his campaign began and was mum about whether he would accept a Trump endorsement.

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CRIME

The topic of retail theft and smash-and-grab burglaries led to arguably the most contentious moment of an otherwise civil debate.

Schiff agreed that burglaries and crime were a problem, adding that he’s worked to build safe communities dating back to his time as a prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office, saying that he’s been prosecuting criminals since “back when Mr. Garvey was playing baseball.”

As a non-politician, Garvey took an even harder stance and blamed crime in California on the powers that be, specifically singling out his debate opponents.

“There’s never been more crime on the streets of California than today. And my opponents here, career politicians, it’s been on their watch. They are responsible,” Garvey said.

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MINIMUM WAGE

Rep. Lee made waves recently for saying she believed that the federal minimum wage should be raised, possibly as high as $50 per hour.

On Monday, she didn’t back down from that stance, citing a recent survey that found the cost of living in the Bay Area required an income in the six figures; a $50 minimum wage would land around $104,000.

While $50 per hour eclipses any of the other suggested raises from her Democrat colleagues, Lee said any raise to the federal minimum is desperately needed as long as affordability is taken into consideration.

“Just do the math. Of course we have national minimum wages that we need to raise to a living wage,” Lee said. “We’re talking about $20, $25, fine.”

Garvey dismissed the idea, saying that the federal minimum wage was “where it is and should be.”

“Instead of a Big Mac for $9, it’s going to be $15,” Garvey said.

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ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

Perhaps no topic has a wider range of opinions than the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel’s war with Hamas.

Schiff has been outspoken in his support of Israel and its right to defend itself, saying of Hamas, “they wanted this kind of response.”

“Hamas is threatening to attack them over and over and over again, no nation could endure that,” Schiff said. “At the same time, the President is right to continue pressing Israel to try to avoid civilian casualties to try to minimize the loss of civilian life.”

Porter called on the United States and Israel to commit to rebuilding war-torn Gaza once the dust has settled and Hamas has been removed from power.

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“I think the people of Gaza absolutely need different leadership,” Porter said. “I think that any peace should come with the release of the hostages as well as a commitment by the United States and Israel to help rebuild Gaza and position it to flourish in the future.”

Schiff, Lee and Porter all advocated for the “two-state solution,” that would establish an independent state of Palestine alongside Israel.

Garvey called that idea “naïve.”

“Israel will determine … whether Hamas will survive,” he said. “And to think there could be a two state state solution is naïve because one of those states will always try to annihilate Israel.”

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FAVORITE MEDIA

Another topic that came up, although not one that will likely determine the future of our nation, the four candidates were asked two simple questions: what is your favorite film and the last book you read.

Garvey said his favorite film was, fittingly, the Robert Redford baseball flick, “The Natural.” The last book he read, Garvey said, was “The Case for Civility,” by Os Guinness.

Schiff picked “The Big Lebowski,” and said the last book he read was Ron Chernow’s “Grant,” a biography of the 18th President.

Lee’s favorite film was “The Color Purple,” and her most recently read book was “Beloved” by the late Toni Morrison.

The last book Porter read was “The Latecomers” by Helen Klein Ross and her favorite film was “Star Wars,” although she didn’t specify which one.

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Who do you think won Monday’s debate? Let us know here.

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested after grand jury indictment: report

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested after grand jury indictment: report

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday evening in Manhattan after being indicted by a grand jury, according to multiple reports.  

According to reporting by the New York Times, the charges against the 54-year-old were not entirely clear, but the rapper, producer and entrepreneur has been embroiled in in a federal investigation and sexual assault lawsuits.  

Agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security raided a mansion in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills in March, along with another one of his homes in Miami.  

Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo told TMZ that they were disappointed with “what we believe is the unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”  

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“He is an imperfect person but is not a criminal,” his lawyer told TMZ. “To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.” 

This is a developing story. Please check back for additional details.  

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Palmdale Sheriff's Station closes to honor fallen deputy

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Palmdale Sheriff's Station closes to honor fallen deputy

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Palmdale station announced it will be closed Monday in honor of fallen Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer.

“Today, September 16, 2024, marks the one year anniversary of our fallen brother, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s passing,” the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station posted on Instagram.

In honor of Clinkunbroomer, the Sheriff’s Station closed its lobby doors so its personnel could stand watch in front of the station.

“We will not be open to provide our residents with vehicle/repo releases, copies of reports or other inquiries until 12:01 AM on September 17, 2024,” the post read.

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Clinkunbroomer was ambushed and fatally shot one year ago while sitting at a red light in his patrol vehicle. 

The shooting was described as “cowardly and senseless” by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.

The man accused in the shooting has been charged with murder.

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'Shogun' and 'Hacks' win top series Emmy Awards and 'The Bear' and 'Baby Reindeer' take 4 apiece

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'Shogun' and 'Hacks' win top series Emmy Awards and 'The Bear' and 'Baby Reindeer' take 4 apiece

LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Shogun” had historic wins in an epic 18-Emmy first season, “Hacks” scored an upset for best comedy on what was still a four-trophy night for “The Bear,” and “Baby Reindeer” had a holiday at an Emmy Awards that had some surprising swerves.

“Shogun,” the FX series about power struggles in feudal Japan, won best drama series, Hiroyuki Sanada won best actor in a drama, and Anna Sawai won best actress. Sanada was the first Japanese actor to win an Emmy. Sawai became the second just moments later.

”‘Shogun’ taught me when we work together, we can make miracles,” Sanada said in his acceptance speech from the stage of the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Along with 14 Emmys it claimed at the precursor Creative Arts Emmys, it had an unmatched performance with 18 overall for one season.

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“Hacks” was the surprise winner of its first best comedy series award, topping “The Bear,” which most had expected to take it after big wins earlier in the evening.

Jean Smart won her third best actress in a comedy award for the third season of Max’s “Hacks,” in which her stand-up comic character Deborah Vance tries to make it in late-night TV. Smart has six Emmys overall.

Despite losing out on the night’s biggest comedy prize after winning it for its first season at January’s strike-delayed ceremony, FX’s “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White won best actor in a comedy for the second straight year, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach repeated as best supporting actor.

And Liza Colón-Zayas was the surprise best supporting actor winner over competition that included Meryl Streep, becoming the first Latina to win in the category.

“To all the Latinas who are looking at me,” she said, her eyes welling with tears. “keep believing, and vote.”

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Netflix’s darkly quirky “Baby Reindeer” won best limited series. Creator and star Richard Gadd won for his lead acting and his writing and Jessica Gunning, who plays his tormentor, won best supporting actress.

Accepting the series award, Gadd urged the makers of television to take chances.

“The only constant across any success in television is good storytelling,” he said. “Good storytelling that speaks to our times. So take risks, push boundaries. Explore the uncomfortable. Dare to fail in order to achieve.”

“Baby Reindeer” is based on a one man-stage show in which Gadd describes being sexually abused along with other emotional struggles.

Accepting that award, he said, “no matter how bad it gets, it always gets better.”

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The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Gadd has.

Jodie Foster won her first Emmy to go with her two Oscars when she took best actress in a limited series for “True Detective: Night Country.”

Foster played a salty police chief investigating a mass killing in the round-the-clock dark of an Alaskan winter on the HBO show. While her castmate Kali Reis missed out on becoming the first Indigenous actor to win an Emmy in the supporting category, Foster praised her, and the show’s collaboration with Indigenous contributors.

“The Inupiaq and Inuit people of northern Alaska who told us their stories, and they allowed us to listen,” Foster said. “That was just a blessing. It was love, love, love, and when you feel that, something amazing happens.”

Greg Berlanti, a producer and writer on shows including “Dawson’s Creek” and “Everwood,” received the Television Academy’s Governors Award for his career-long contributions to improving LGBTQ visibility on television. He talked about a childhood when there was little such visibility.

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“There wasn’t a lot of gay characters on television back then, and I was a closeted gay kid,” Berlanti said. “It’s hard to describe how lonely that was at the time,”

The long decline of traditional broadcast TV at the Emmys continued, with zero wins between the four broadcast networks.

In the monologue that opened the ABC telecast, Dan Levy, who hosted with his father and “Schitt’s Creek” co-star Eugene Levy, called the Emmys “broadcast TV’s biggest night for honoring movie stars on streaming services.”

Though other than Foster, movie stars didn’t fare too well. Her fellow Oscar winners Streep and Robert Downey Jr. had been among the favorites, but came up empty.

“Robert Downey Jr. I have a poster of you in my house!” said Lamorne Morris, who beat Downey for best supporting actor in a limited series, said from the stage as he accepted his first Emmy.

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The evening managed to meet many expectations but included several swerves like the win for “Hacks.”

“We were really shocked,” “Hacks co-creator Jen Statsky, who also won for writing, said after the show. ”We were truly, really surprised.”

And “Shogun” got off to a quiet start, missing on early awards and not getting its first trophy until past the halfway point.

Still, it shattered the record for Emmys for one season previously held by the 2008 limited series “John Adams” in 2008. And its acting wins would have been hard to imagine before the series became an acclaimed phenomenon.

Sanada is a 63-year-old longtime screen star whose name is little known outside Japan, even if his face is through Hollywood films like “The Last Samurai” and “John Wick Chapter 4.” Sawai, 32, who was born in New Zealand and moved to Japan as a child, is significantly less known in the U.S. She wept when she accepted best actress.

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“When you saw me cry on stage, it was probably the 12th time I cried today,” Sawai said backstage. “It was just mixed emotions, wanting everyone to win all that. I may cry again now.”

“The Bear” would finish second with 11 overall Emmys, including guest acting wins at the Creative Arts ceremony for Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal.

The Levys in their opening monologue mocked the show being in the comedy category.

“In honor of ‘The Bear’ we will be making no jokes,” Eugene Levy said, to laughs.

Elizabeth Debicki took best supporting actress in a drama for playing Princess Diana at the end of her life in the sixth and final season of “The Crown.”

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“Playing this part, based on this unparalleled, incredible human being, has been my great privilege,” Debicki said in her acceptance. “It’s been a gift.”

Several awards were presented by themed teams from TV history, including sitcom dads George Lopez, Damon Wayans and Jesse Tyler Ferguson and TV moms Meredith Baxter, Connie Britton, and Susan Kelechi Watson.

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For more on this year’s Emmy Awards, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards

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