Stephen Colbert rips CBS, invokes dog excrement in tirade against network over Senate candidate i...

Colbert said his team &34;can't find one example&34; of the &34;equal time rule&34; for political talk show interviews being enforced in the past, after his Rep. James Talarico interview was relegated to YouTube. Stephen Colbert rips CBS, invokes dog excrement in tirade against network over Senate candidate interview Colbert said his team &34;can't find one example&34; of the &34;equal time rule&34; for political talk show interviews being enforced in the past, after his Rep. James Talarico interview was relegated to YouTube.

Colbert said his team "can't find one example" of the "equal time rule" for political talk show interviews being enforced in the past, after his Rep. James Talarico interview was relegated to YouTube.

Stephen Colbert rips CBS, invokes dog excrement in tirade against network over Senate candidate interview

Colbert said his team "can't find one example" of the "equal time rule" for political talk show interviews being enforced in the past, after his Rep. James Talarico interview was relegated to YouTube.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

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February 18, 2026 10:13 a.m. ET

Stephen Colbert lashes out at CBS over reaction to James Talarico interview. Credit:

Late night icon Stephen Colbert has invoked the symbolic power of dog excrement in a new tirade against his *Late Show* network CBS and its alleged handling of his interview with Texas Senate candidate Rep. James Talarico.

One day after the 61-year-old TV staple alleged that CBS blocked him from broadcasting an interview with Talarico due to the FCC's longstanding "equal time rule" about giving equal telecast time to all of any given political interviewee's opponents during an election cycle, Colbert addressed the network's reasoning in a lengthy criticism of CBS on Tuesday night's show.

Colbert mounted a special segment to discuss the issue, telling his audience that he put the interview with Talarico on YouTube to avoid the broadcast stipulation, adding that there's historically been an exception to the equal time rule for talk shows.

"We looked, and we can't find one example of this rule being enforced for any talk show interview, not only for my entire late night career, but for anyone's late night career going back to the 1960s," Colbert said. "But on Jan. 21, we heard from FCC chairman Brendan Carr [who] issued a letter saying he was thinking about getting rid of that talk show exception. He'd not gotten rid of it yet, but CBS generously did it for him."**

Rep. James Talarico speaks with Stephen Colbert.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

The audience booed as Colbert continued, alleging that the network "told me unilaterally that I had to abide by the equal time rules, something I've never been asked to do for an interview in the 21 years of this job. That decision, I want to be clear, is their right, just like I have the right to talk about their decision on air."

He then recalled finding out that CBS had put out a statement on the controversy Tuesday afternoon, alleging that "without ever talking to me," the network issued comment on the matter. He read the statement from a piece of paper: "*The Late Show* was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. *The Late Show* decided to present the interview through its youtube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal time options."

Colbert turned back to the camera to address the lawyers he speculated wrote the statement.

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"I am well aware that we can book other guests. I didn't need to be presented with that option. I've had Jasmine Crockett on my show twice. I can prove that to you, but the network won't let me show you her picture without including her opponents," he said, "So I'll have to show you this picture of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein instead. They made me do it! I didn't want to!"

The talk show host said that "every word" of his script alleging that the interview was banned "was approved by CBS' lawyers," whom he said approve "every script that goes on the air" in general.

"Very specifically, in fact, between the monologue I did last night and before I did the second act talking about this issue, I had to go backstage. I got called backstage to get more notes from these lawyers, something that has never ever happened before, and they told us the language they wanted me to use to describe that equal time exception, and I used that language," he claimed. "So I don't know what this [statement] is about."

He finished the seven-minute segment by voicing shock that the "global corporation would not stand up to these bullies," and that "I don't even know what to do with this crap," with regard to the statement on the piece of paper before him.

"Hold on," he said, before putting a black plastic bag over his hand and scooping the statement into it as if he were picking up dog excrement from the sidewalk while the studio audience applauded.

** has reached out to representatives for CBS for comment on Colbert's latest comments on the issue.

The controversy comes as* The Late Show* enters its final stretch on the air ahead of its series finale on May 21. CBS previously called the show's cancellation a "financial decision," though Colbert — a staunch critic of Trump — and others have called the network's motives into question, particularly as the decision came amid parent company Paramount's merger with Skydance. Many speculated that the show was canceled to sweeten the deal, which needed FCC approval under the conservative Carr's direction.

Stephen Colbert on 'The Late Show'.

Scott Kowalchyk/CBS

One of such critics included former *Late Show *host David Letterman.

"There's no fairness to these goons," Letterman said last year on *The Barbara Gaines Show*. "These guys are bottom feeders. That's exactly what this is. Of course they know that broadcast television is withering. They just want to make sure that on top of buying something that doesn't have the same value as it had 30 years ago, they don't want to be hassled by the United States government. So they want CBS to take care of all of that mess."

Colbert's isn't the only talk show that has come under fire from political entities. Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily suspended from ABC amid conservative pushback to his comments about Charlie Kirk's assassination. Additionally, in an exclusive statement to EW following Joy Behar's claim on *The View* that Trump is jealous of Barack Obama's physical appearance and marriage, a White House spokesperson warned that the show might be "next to be pulled off the air."

*The Late Show *airs weeknights on CBS. Watch Colbert address recent controversy in the clip above.

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Which one of these absurd roles should make it onto the HBO hit? Survivor 50 cast members pitch their White Lotus cameo characters to Mike White (exclusive) Which one of these absurd roles should make it onto the HBO hit? By Dalton Ross :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DaltonRossauthorphoto2e15b12006e2438a99fb06db6d682421.jpg) Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. Survivor is kind of his thing. EW's editorial guidelines February 18, 2026 11:16 a.m.

Which one of these absurd roles should make it onto the HBO hit?

*Survivor 50 *cast members pitch their *White Lotus *cameo characters to Mike White (exclusive)

Which one of these absurd roles should make it onto the HBO hit?

By Dalton Ross

Dalton Ross is a writer and editor with over 25 years experience covering TV and the entertainment industry. *Survivor* is kind of his thing.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 11:16 a.m. ET

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'Survivor 50' meets 'The White Lotus'. Credit:

Robert Voets/CBS; Fabio Lovino/HBO

Congratulations are in order to the players who made it through a grueling multi-year casting process to be selected to appear on *Survivor 50*, which premieres Feb. 25. Of course, that is only half the casting battle. The next half is parlaying that CBS appearance into an HBO one.

*Survivor 50* contestant and Hollywood hotshot Mike White has made a habit of granting guest-starring spots to reality TV cast mates over the years. He first brought some of his *Amazing Race* cast mates over to his criminally under-appreciated gem *Enlightened,* and has more recently put several of his *Survivor: David vs. Goliath* cast mates on a little cultural juggernaut by the name of *The White Lotus*.

Who from the *Survivor 50* cast will land a coveted *White Lotus* cameo? Before filming on *Survivor 50* began, we had each of the players pitch their character on camera. Which one would you like to see on season 4 of *The White Lotus?* Check out the full batch of video pitches below!

'Survivor 50' Cast.

Colby Donaldson as… Trevor Gaines, the sexually active Scuba instructor

0:22 Colby Donaldson Pitches a Scuba Instructor for 'The White Lotus'

Emily Flippen as… Edith, the off-the-wall waitress

0:14 Emily Flippen Pitches a Desperate Waitress for 'The White Lotus'

Ozzy Lusth as… Skeeter, the surfer-turned-drug mule

0:21 Ozzy Lusth's 'White Lotus' Pitch Involves Cartels and Surfing

Cirie Fields as… the lottery winner from Harlem

0:30 Cirie Fields Pitches a Lottery Winner for 'The White Lotus'

Jonathan Young as… John, the thief who runs the gym

0:19 Jonathan Young Pitches a Thieving Gym Bro for 'The White Lotus'

Aubry Bracco as… Daria, the bartender who enjoys a drink herself

0:18 Aubry Bracco Wants to Watch the Drama as a 'White Lotus' Bartender

Q Burdette as… the guy hitting on a married woman

0:42 Q Burdette Pitches a 'White Lotus' Character Who Wants a Q Skirt

Chrissy Hofbeck as… Celeste St. James, the wealthiest hotel guest

0:24 Chrissy Hofbeck Wants to Be "Loaded" in 'The White Lotus'

Joe Hunter as… Matt, the ex-CIA agent on the run

0:25 Joe Hunter Pitches an Ex-CIA Character for 'The White Lotus'

Tiffany Ervin as… the eccentric artist who uses a symbol for a name

0:21 Tiffany Nicole Ervin Pitches an Eccentric Artist for 'The White Lotus'

Benjamin "Coach" Wade as… the main villain

0:15 Coach Wade Wants to Be the Main Villain in 'The White Lotus'

Kamilla Karthigesu as… Jimmy, the "very bad" pool boy

0:37 Kamilla Karthigesu Pitches an Unhelpful Character for 'The White Lotus'

Kyle Fraser as… Kyle, the disbarred attorney

0:20 Kyle Fraser Pitches a Conman Character for 'The White Lotus'

Savannah Louie as… Sabrina, the travel influencer

0:15 Savannah Louie Pitches an Influencer for 'The White Lotus'

Rick Devens as… the loudmouth at the bar

0:19 What Would 'Survivor 50' Star Rick Devens' Character Be Like in 'White Lotus'?

Angelina Keeley as… the coat check girl (naturally)

0:24 Angelina Keeley Pitches the Perfect Role for Her in 'The White Lotus'

Charlie Davis as… the dude who finds the body

0:24 Charlie Davis Has a Strategy to Survive 'The White Lotus'

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty as… Lexi Curren, a widow with a secret

0:28 Jenna Lewis-Dougherty Pitches a Black Widow Character for 'The White Lotus'

Rizo Velovic as… RizGod, the pizza delivery guy

0:54 What Would 'Survivor 50' Star Riz Velovic's Character Be Like in 'White Lotus'?

Genevieve Mushaluk as… the caterer

0:17 Genevieve Mushaluk Wants to Play the Caterer in 'The White Lotus'

Christian Hubicki as… Party Goer #3, now on Greg's party boat

0:32 Christian Hubicki Pitches a Deep 'White Lotus' Conspiracy

Dee Valladares as… Jessica, the choatic single girl with 10 boyfriends

1:03 Dee Valladares Wants "Main Character Energy" in 'The White Lotus'

Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick as… the stay-at-home mom on a new adventure

***Want to be kept up with all things Survivor? Dig deep and sign up for 's free Survivor Weekly newsletter to have all the latest news, interviews, and commentary sent right to your inbox. ***

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Survivor 50 cast members pitch their White Lotus cameo characters to Mike White (exclusive)

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The View cohosts shake heads, shut down Savannah Chrisley's false claim about AOC on air: 'No, no...

Chrisley is filling in at the Hot Topics table for conservative cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin, who's on maternity leave following the birth of her first baby. The View cohosts shake heads, shut down Savannah Chrisley's false claim about AOC on air: 'No, no, no!' Chrisley is filling in at the Hot Topics table for conservative cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin, who's on maternity leave following the birth of her first baby. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

Chrisley is filling in at the Hot Topics table for conservative cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin, who's on maternity leave following the birth of her first baby.

The View cohosts shake heads, shut down Savannah Chrisley's false claim about AOC on air: 'No, no, no!'

Chrisley is filling in at the Hot Topics table for conservative cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin, who's on maternity leave following the birth of her first baby.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 12:07 p.m. ET

Whoopi Goldberg shuts down Savannah Chrisley on 'The View'. Credit:

Mere days into her week-long guest-cohosting gig on *The View*, reality star Savannah Chrisley has already been shut down by the permanent panelists over a false claim she made about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The moment came at the top of Wednesday's broadcast, as the cohosts led the show's Hot Topics discussion about Ocasio-Cortez's heavily criticized handling of a question about Taiwan at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 13.

As Joy Behar countered pushback to AOC's response — which included the New York congresswoman pausing for several moments during the scattered reply — she urged critics to focus on Donald Trump's multiple on-camera mishaps instead: "Check him out before you start attacking AOC," the 83-year-old quipped.

"Mispronouncing a word is totally different than not knowing your position on Taiwan. What's important is how you recover from something. Trump, he's done things, and then he's continued on with his speech, and then continued on to meet with world leaders. So, the recovery is what matters, and AOC just didn't have a recovery," the *Chrisley Knows Best* personality said, while Behar stressed, "He does it over and over again, how about the quantity?"

Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Savannah Chrisley on 'The View'.

Moderator Whoopi Goldberg replied to Chrisley by stressing that Trump "is the president," and that she can put up with fumbled answers "from congresspeople" because in that case "that's on you." But, she "can't take it from the guy who says he's the leader of the free world."

Still, Chrisley dug in, claiming, "I understand that wholeheartedly. AOC, though, is also the Democrats' pick for the next election."

The panel quickly pushed back at Chrisley's assessment, with Goldberg and Sara Haines shaking their heads while the Oscar-winning *Ghost* actress repeated, "No, no, no!" while Behar added, "You better tell that to Gavin Newsom!"

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Legal expert Sunny Hostin then elaborated, pointing out that Ocasio-Cortez has "made it pretty clear that she's not running for president" in 2028.

Ocasio-Cortez recently maintained that she's not entering the 2028 race for president following Trump's second term, stressing to the *New York Times* that she attended the conference in Munich "not because I'm running for president, not because I've made some kind of decision about a horse race or a candidacy, but because we need to sound the alarm bells that a lot of those folks in nicely pressed suits in that room will not be there much longer if we do not do something about the runaway inequality that is fueling far-right populist movements."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Stephani Spindel/VIEWpress via Getty

Chrisley is at the Hot Topics table through the week, filling in for fellow conservative personality Alyssa Farah Griffin, who temporarily departed the show last week after the birth of her first son.

Other guest panelists slated to sit in Griffin's seat during her maternity leave include Amanda Carpenter, Sheryl Underwood, comedian Whitney Cummings, and former *View* cohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who publicly slammed Behar and the show in early 2025.

*The View* airs weekdays on ABC.

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Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for laughing at ANTM model falling off runway 15 years ago: 'One of th...

Goldberg apologized to cycle 14 contestant Alexandra Underwood, though she maintained that the oftenmeme'd pendulum runway moment was still funny to her. Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for laughing at ANTM model falling off runway 15 years ago: 'One of the funniest things' Goldberg apologized to cycle 14 contestant Alexandra Underwood, though she maintained that the oftenmeme'd pendulum runway moment was still funny to her. :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/JoeyNolfiauthorphotoba4923fec03a4027868306485696ef41.jpg) Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at .

Goldberg apologized to cycle 14 contestant Alexandra Underwood, though she maintained that the often-meme'd pendulum runway moment was still funny to her.

Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for laughing at ANTM model falling off runway 15 years ago: 'One of the funniest things'

Goldberg apologized to cycle 14 contestant Alexandra Underwood, though she maintained that the often-meme'd pendulum runway moment was still funny to her.

Joey Nolfi is a senior writer at *. *Since 2016, his work at EW includes *RuPaul's Drag Race* video interviews, Oscars predictions, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 12:47 p.m. ET

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Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for laughing at 'ANTM' contestant Alexandra Underwood. Credit:

After finding herself caught up in the ongoing *America's Next Top Model* reckoning, *The View* cohost Whoopi Goldberg has publicly apologized for laughing at a former *ANTM* contestant's expense on Tyra Banks' modeling reality show.

In response to finding out that Netflix's new *Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model *docuseries included brief 2010 clip of Goldberg laughing at cycle 14 contestant Alexandra Underwood falling off of a runway plagued by moving pendulums, the Oscar-winning *Ghost* actress offered an apology to the model on Wednesday's live episode of the talk show.

"Here's something I want to do, because in this documentary there's a clip from our show, where I had showed the ladies this thing. Now, this was, to me, one of the funniest things I had ever seen in my life," Goldberg, 70, said as old footage played of her on *The View* laughing at Underwood's spill — which saw a giant pendulum knock the model off of a runway during the cycle 14 competition.

"You still say that," panelist Sara Haines added, which Goldberg confirmed.

Tyra Banks on 'America's Next Top Model' and 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model'.

Daniel Garriga/CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Netflix

"I do. I know, but I wanted to apologize, because there's a person who got knocked off there, and her name is Alexandra Underwood from cycle 14. I'm sorry I laughed at this," Goldberg said. "I couldn't help it, it was funny as hell. But, I am telling you it's one of the funniest things, if I had to point to something, it is one of the funniest thing I've sever seen."

Haines again cut in to save Goldberg's apology, hugging Goldberg as she quipped, "What she means is she's sorry she's still laughing about it!"

Guest cohost Savannah Chrisley jumped in to add, "Back then, I'm sorry, we're held to a different standard now. People tip-toe a lot more in today's day and age," which prompted Goldberg to clarify her words again.

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***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

"I have fallen down. You have to take it when people are laughing, but this is maybe 10 years ago, and she's a grown-up now, a grown woman, maybe she's got kids, and I just wanted her to know that I wasn't laughing [at her], I was laughing because to me people slipping and falling [is funny]," Goldberg said.

Comedian Joy Behar finished the segment by voicing a long-standing adage: "When I fall, it's tragedy. When you fall, it's comedy."

* *has reached out to Underwood for a response.

Rebecca and Heather have medical issues on 'ANTM'.

Hulu; Amazon Prime

*The View* cohost's words join a wealth of *ANTM* personalities who also spoke out about the show. *Reality Check *includes multiple interviews with Banks, former judges Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker, and Miss J. Alexander, as well as multiple contestants and producer Ken Mok.

Topics covered include allegations of sexual harassment and instances where models were tasked with darkening their skin to portray women of different races in photo shoots.

EW previously conducted a 20th anniversary oral history on *ANTM* with 14 past contestants speaking out on shocking moments from the program, including the switching-races shoots that took place on cycles 4 and 14.

"I kept saying, 'You guys are putting me in blackface,'" cycle 13's Jennifer An previously told EW, alleging that the show's team pinned her hair "so they could 'fro my hair out" to complete her evolution into a woman with African heritage. "They definitely didn't show any of that footage."

In a statement to EW at the time of the 2023 interviews, a spokesperson for Banks said that the intention of the shoots were to combat an industry where "lighter skin and straight hair were pervasive beauty standards," which "perpetuated deep insecurities within women." The spokesperson maintained that such shoots were "meant to be a moment celebrating and spotlighting underrepresented ideologies of beauty — textured hair and darker skin — on a global scale."

*Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model* is now streaming on Netflix.

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Ukraine protests as Russians cleared to fly their flag at Paralympics

Ukraine protests as Russians cleared to fly their flag at Paralympics Mariia KashchenkoWed, February 18, 2026 at 5:04 PM UTC 0 Ukraine's national sports minister said Wednesday that officials from the country would not attend the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, in protest over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags. The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags.

Ukraine protests as Russians cleared to fly their flag at Paralympics

Mariia KashchenkoWed, February 18, 2026 at 5:04 PM UTC

0

Ukraine's national sports minister said Wednesday that officials from the country would not attend the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, in protest over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.

The International Paralympic Committee has lifted a ban in place for three years on athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus competing under their national flags. The ban was issued in response to Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"The IPC can confirm that NPC [National Paralympic Committee] Russia has been awarded a total of six slots: two in Para alpine skiing (one male, one female), two in Para cross-country skiing (one male, one female), and two in Para snowboard (both male)," the committee said in a statement. "NPC Belarus has been awarded four slots in total, all in cross-country skiing (one male and three female)."

The 2026 Paralympics begin on March 6.

Immediately after the invasion in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee effectively barred Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in Olympic and Paralympic Games under their national flags.

A decision the following year permitted athletes from those countries to participate in Olympic Games as neutral competitors, but national symbols, including flags, anthems and team uniforms, remained prohibited.

Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvii Bidnyi, strongly condemned the decision and said officials from the country would not take part in any Paralympic events, though Ukrainian athletes would still compete.

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin signs autographs to Russian Paralympians, medalists from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games following a state awards ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Dec. 16, 2024. / Credit: Alexander KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP/Getty (Alexander KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP/Getty)

"The decision by the Paralympics organisers to allow killers and their accomplices to compete at the Paralympic Games under national flags is both disappointing and outrageous," he wrote on social media.

He stressed that Ukrainian athletes — who have often performed well in Paralympic competition, finishing second on the medals table at the 2022 Beijing Games — would not take part in the boycott.

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Some European officials also condemned the decision to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under their flags - which could, if the country takes a gold medal, see the first playing of Russia's national anthem at an Olympic or Paralympic event in years.

European Union Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef said he would join Ukraine in boycotting the Paralympics opening ceremony, calling the decision to allow Russian athletes to compete under their national flag "unacceptable."

"While Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine continues, I cannot support the reinstatement of national symbols, flags, anthems and uniforms that are inseparable from that conflict," Micallef said.

Lisa Nandy, the U.K. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, also condemned the decision.

"Allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete under their own flags while the brutal invasion of Ukraine continues sends a terrible message," Nandy said, calling it "completely the wrong decision" and urging the IPC to "reconsider this decision urgently."

The debate highlights the challenge for Games organizers of keeping the Olympics as free as possible of politics. Earlier this month, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics for wearing a "helmet of memory" depicting Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia.

CBS News has asked the International Paralympic Committee to comment on the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their flags.

Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall dies at 95

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Ukraine protests as Russians cleared to fly their flag at Paralympics Mariia KashchenkoWed, February 18, 2026 at 5:04 P...

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Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school

Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY Wed, February 18, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC 0 Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school Mark Pope is attempting to pull off the unthinkable, a feat Mark Stoops never had a prayer of achieving. He's turning Kentucky into a football school. Seriously, after Kentucky lost to Georgia inside Rupp Arena on Feb. 17 for the first time since 2009, spring practice can't get arrive quickly enough in the Bluegrass State.

Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school

Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY Wed, February 18, 2026 at 5:15 PM UTC

0

Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school

Mark Pope is attempting to pull off the unthinkable, a feat Mark Stoops never had a prayer of achieving. He's turning Kentucky into a football school.

Seriously, after Kentucky lost to Georgia inside Rupp Arena on Feb. 17 for the first time since 2009, spring practice can't get arrive quickly enough in the Bluegrass State.

OK, so one look at the Rupp environment tells you Big Blue Nation remains ravenous for hoops — and particularly hungry for a team that plays better than this one did in an 86-78 upset loss that serves as the latest rebuke of Pope's second season.

John Calipari once made sure everyone, including Stoops, knew Kentucky is "a basketball school," and Georgia is a football school.

Well, that makes this weird, then.

March Sadness: College basketball's 10 most disappointing teams

Bracketology: Who is rising in latest March Madness predictions

Kentucky is unranked and not about to be ranked after a home loss to a bubble team.

"We feel like we got a beautiful Ferrari, and we can't wait to take it for a spin," Pope told reporters before the season.

Those mega millions bought a team that keeps stalling.

Mark Pope: 'Disappointing effort' in Kentucky loss to Georgia

What went wrong against Georgia?

"We were not good defensively," Pope said.

Also:

"Disappointing effort."

And:

"They got us on our heels."

Yep, this too:

"We fell apart."

One more:

"You cannot take plays off in this league. You can't get distracted."

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Other than that, coach, how was the game?

Buck up, Kentucky. Will Stein's first season on the way

In Pope's defense, multiple injuries haven't helped Kentucky. Also, there's no quit in these 'Cats, at least. Kentucky nearly rallied past another double-digit deficit, just as it did in a pair of critical victories against rival Tennessee.

Kentucky is consistent. It's perfected the art of falling behind by big margins and then furiously trying to erase the deficits.

Question is, why was Kentucky losing by double digits to Georgia in the first place?

Maybe, because Pope's team had 13 turnovers. Or, because Georgia drilled 14 3-pointers.

Best thing you can say about this Kentucky season is it could be worse. These are tough times for basketball royalty. Take it from UCLA. The Bruins are a bubble team. After their latest loss, Mick Cronin said he could "give a rat's ass" about Michigan State's student section, as UCLA's cantankerous coach popped off at a reporter. At least Kentucky's coach isn't a jerk.

Speaking of ass, the Bruins played like it in a 23-point loss to the Spartans.

This came on the same night North Carolina lost by 24 points to rival NC State.

Banners hanging inside historic arenas don't carry the weight they once did. Just don't tell blue-blooded fans that. Though the Wildcats are still pointed toward the NCAA Tournament, this is not the product Kentucky expects, and Pope knows that better than most. Heavy is the head that wears his alma mater's crown.

Hey, it's not all bad around Kentucky. The snow finally melted. How long 'til fall?

New football coach Will Stein signed a top-10 transfer class.

As for Pope's 2026 recruiting class, well, it doesn't include a single commitment.

Not that Calipari is keeping score. Well, maybe he is. He's got three five-stars lined up for Arkansas.

What day do the shoulder pads go on in Lexington?

Stoops, Stein's predecessor, could tell you all about just how much Kentucky invested in basketball and how much he wished it invested in his football program. In Stoops' final seasons, he bemoaned Kentucky's football cheapness.

That didn't stop Stein from lining up Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey, who's got the potential to be Kentucky's most exciting quarterback in years.

"We have plenty of (money) here," Stein said after Kentucky hired him.

There's a refreshing new energy at the head of a football program that badly needed it.

Used to be in Kentucky, Midnight Madness would provide a necessary distraction from the doldrums of football season. Times change. When's the spring game?

Blake Toppmeyer is a columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After latest Mark Pope loss, is Kentucky now a football school?

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Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school

Mark Pope can do what John Calipari never did — make Kentucky a football school Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY Wed, Febr...

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Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the cross-country ski course at the Milan Cortina Games

Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the crosscountry ski course at the Milan Cortina Games Wed, February 18, 2026 at 5:23 PM UTC 0 1 / 0Milan Cortina Olympics Cross CountryIn this image taken from video provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services, OBS, a dog runs onto the track near the finish during the heats of the crosscountry skiing women's team sprint free at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.

Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the cross-country ski course at the Milan Cortina Games

Wed, February 18, 2026 at 5:23 PM UTC

0

1 / 0Milan Cortina Olympics Cross CountryIn this image taken from video provided by Olympic Broadcasting Services, OBS, a dog runs onto the track near the finish during the heats of the cross-country skiing women's team sprint free at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Tesero, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (Olympic Broadcasting Services via AP) ()

TESERO, Italy (AP) — A surprise participant in Wednesday's action at the Milan Cortina Olympics had four legs and zero concern for race times.

As elite cross-country skiers pushed to the finish in the women's team sprint heats, a dog wandered onto the course and ran with athletes down the straightaway.

Racers stayed focused as spectators cheered on the canine intruder before it crossed the finish line and was restrained by venue officials.

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The dog had slipped away from a local owner while out on a nearby walk, officials later said.

The incident came on the same day and the same course where Olympic history was made: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo of Norway won his record 10th gold medal and his fifth of the Milan Cortina Games.

___

AP Winter Olympics: https://ift.tt/zyKdPDA

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Source: Sports

Published: February 18, 2026 at 12:28PM on Source: PRIME TIME

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byPrime Sky

in

February 18, 2026

Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the cross-country ski course at the Milan Cortina Games

Loose dog makes Olympic cameo on the crosscountry ski course at the Milan Cortina Games Wed, February 18, 2026 at 5:23...

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