Browns coach Kevin Stefanski accepted blame for a failed 2-point conversion attempt in his team's 31-29 loss to the Titans on Sunday that saw rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders watching from the sideline on the decisive play.

After a critical 27-22 loss to the rival Steelers, many of the Ravens questioned calls made by the referees -- notably an overturned touchdown reception by Isaiah Likely in the fourth quarter -- that ultimately could cost them a chance at the postseason.

Yes, the antique clawfoot tub got to stay.READ MORE...

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear waves to a cheering crowd after his speech during the Ben Nelson Gala Nov. 7, 2025, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)2025-12-08T00:23:58Z PHOENIX (AP) Democratic governors met this weekend in Arizona, looking to parlay last months big victories for the party in New Jersey and Virginia into campaigns for next years midterms, when a majority of governors seats will be up for election.Those elections helped Democrats zero in on what they see as a strategy to help grow their ranks in office and recover from big losses in 2024, when voters put Donald Trump back in the White House and gave Republicans majorities in both houses of Congress.The plan is to focus intently on making life more affordable, a message they hope will work even in some conservative-leaning states.We have to be laser focused on peoples everyday concerns and how hard life is right now for the American people, said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, the new chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and a possible candidate for president in 2028. Everybody wants the economy of tomorrow, but paying the bills today is absolutely critical. He and other governors said Democrats can use the affordability message as a cudgel against Trump without making him the central focus of their campaigns.Yes, we can judge a president, and we should judge this president, Beshear said. But we never judge those voters. Democrats hone in on costsThe meeting of Democratic governors comes as blue states have been under fire from the Trump administration, which is exercising power in novel ways against the presidents perceived enemies.Trump has deployed the National Guard in California, Oregon and Illinois over the objections of their Democratic governors. His administration has demanded detailed voter data and threatened to cut off food assistance for states that dont provide information to support his immigration crackdown.Heading into a primary season in which factions will battle over the future of the party, Democratic governors largely sang from the same sheet over the weekend. A dozen candidates and sitting governors all said they plan to talk extensively about the costs of housing, child care, utilities and groceries during Trumps second term. But the unified focus on affordability papers over real divisions in the partys ranks over how aggressively to confront Trump, who won all of the presidential battleground states last year, and how to deal with the rising costs that are squeezing Americans.On the same day Democratic moderates with national security credentials, Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, won their governors races, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won election as New York mayor. All ran on promises to tackle affordability, but they offered very different visions for how to deliver.The affordability strategy isnt without risk. Economic conditions could change, making concerns about prices less salient or urgent.And Democrats could be setting themselves up for disappointment down the road if they win in 2026 but are unable to bring down costs to voters satisfaction, allowing Republicans to capitalize on the same buyers remorse Democrats are now seeking to stoke. For Democratic incumbents seeking reelection, they cant rest on fighting the Trump administration, said two-term Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico. They need to show results. Deliver for me. But dont forget to fight this, said Lujan Grisham, who is barred by term limits from seeking reelection. They do want both, and finding ways to cross-cut those and marry that I think is going to be a winning set of messages. Affordability also becomes a focal point for TrumpAfter the New Jersey and Virginia elections last month, the White House began shifting its message to focus more on affordability. Trump, who has not done much domestic travel during his second term, is scheduled to visit Pennsylvania on Tuesday to highlight his efforts to reduce inflation.The president has talked more about affordability recently, and he reduced tariffs on beef and other commodities that consumers say cost too much. But Trump also has said the economy is better and consumer prices lower than reported by the media.The word affordability is a Democrat scam, he said during a Cabinet meeting last week.He continues to blame his Democratic predecessor, former President Joe Biden, for the increase nationwide in inflation rates that occurred this year after his return to the White House. Overall, inflation is tracking at 3% annually, up from 2.3% in April when Trump rolled out a sweeping set of import taxes.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said the administration will be intent on reducing inflation, after tackling immigration and pushing to have interest rates cut.I expect inflation to roll down strongly next year, he said on CBSs Face the Nation.Democratic governors and candidates were largely aligned in the conclusion that many voters in 2024 didnt feel as if their party was focused on their concerns or shared their anger at a system they believe is failing average Americans. I think if there was any failure in the presidential election, its we forgot what real people care about, said Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, who is expected to seek a second term next year.Weve got to listen to people, said Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta who is running for Georgia governor.Democrats believe some red states could be in playOnce Spanberger takes office in January, Democrats will control 24 governors offices, a significant improvement from the low point of just 16 following the 2016 election but still slightly behind the Republicans 26 seats. Thirty-six states will hold elections for governor next year.Among the hardest-fought contests will be in swing states that flipped between supporting Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024. Those include Arizona, where Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is seeking a second term, and Nevada, where Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo is up for reelection. Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia all have open seats that are widely expected to attract a large field of candidates and big spending.The retirement of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in Kansas, an overwhelmingly Republican state in presidential contests, gives the GOP the upper hand there. But Democrats are talking about expanding the field by competing in states such as Iowa or Ohio, where the party used to be competitive but has struggled in the Trump era.Gina Hinojosa, a Texas lawmaker running for governor in the nations second-most populous state, is making the case to Democratic donors that investing in Texas will be crucial to her partys hopes of winning power in Washington before the 2030 census. Her state is projected to pick up at least four House seats and Electoral College votes at the expense of blue states such as California and Illinois. If we dont flip before the end of the decade, there wont be Democratic control of Congress or the White House, Hinojosa said. Because the math doesnt work. JONATHAN J. COOPER Cooper is a national politics reporter based in Phoenix. He previously covered news and politics in Arizona, California and Oregon. mailto

Los Angeles Dodgers Jeff Kent hits a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sept. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)2025-12-08T00:47:41Z ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Jeff Kent was elected to baseballs Hall of Fame on Sunday by the contemporary era committee, while steroids-tainted stars Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were among seven players who fell short once again.Kent appeared on 14 of 16 ballots, two more than the 12 ballots needed for the 75% minimum.Carlos Delgado received nine votes, followed by Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy with six each.Bonds, Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela each received fewer than five votes.Kent will be inducted at the hall in Cooperstown, New York, on July 26 along with anyone chosen by the Baseball Writers Association of America, whose balloting will be announced on Jan. 20.A five-time All-Star second baseman, he batted .290 with 377 homers and 1,518 RBIs over 17 seasons with Toronto (1992), the New York Mets (1992-96), Cleveland (1996), San Francisco (1997-2002), Houston (2003-04) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2005-08). His 351 home runs as a second baseman are the most by a player at that position.Kent received 15.2% in his first BBWAA appearance in 2014 and a high of 46.5% in the last of his 10 times o the ballot in 2023. The Hall in 2022 restructured its veterans committees for the third time in 12 years, setting up panels to consider the contemporary era from 1980 on, as well as the classic era. The contemporary baseball era holds separate ballots for players and another for managers, executives and umpires. Each committee meets every three years. Contemporary managers, executives and umpires will be considered in December 2026, classic era candidates in December 2027 and contemporary era players again in December 2028.Under a change announced by the Hall last March, candidates who received fewer than five votes are not eligible for that committees ballot during the next three-year cycle. A candidate who is dropped, later reappears on a ballot and again receives fewer than five votes would be barred from future ballot appearances. Bonds and Clemens fell short in 2022 in their 10th and final appearances on the BBWAA ballot, when Bonds received 260 of 394 votes (66%) and Clemens 257 (65.2%). Sheffield received 63.9% in his final BBWAA vote in 2024, getting 246 votes and falling 43 shy.Bonds denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs and Clemens maintains he never used PEDs. Sheffield said he was unaware that substances he used during training ahead of the 2002 season contained steroids.A seven-time NL MVP and 14-time All-Star outfielder, Bonds set the career home run record with 762 and the season record with 73 in 2001.A seven-time Cy Young Award winner, Clemens went 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA and 4,672 strikeouts, third behind Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Randy Johnson (4,875).The December 2027 ballot is the first chance for Pete Rose to appear on a Hall ballot after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred decided in May that Roses permanent suspension ended with his death in September 2024. The Hall prohibits anyone on the permanent ineligible list from appearing on a ballot.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

null

Did Josh Allen put Buffalo in position to win its division again? We overreact to Week 14, plus fantasy takes.

Jeff Kent was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the contemporary era committee on Sunday. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were named on fewer than five ballots.

If Matt LaFleur said anything to Bears coach Ben Johnson after Sunday's game at Lambeau Field, it couldn't have been much considering the Packers coach barely broke stride.

The plane, carrying about 50 Iranians and other deportees, took off from Arizona on Sunday, under a deal the Trump administration reached with Iran two months ago.

Sunday was a special night for Jeff Kent -- and a telling one for the keepers of Cooperstown.

Will coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard survive a late-season freefall? What's next at QB in Indy?

Chinas renminbi is lagging the currencies of key trading partners, making Chinese goods and services cheap and helping to drive exports.

President Trumps tariffs werent enough to hold back the global export flood by China, which pushed past last years record in just 11 months.

Huge reductions in foreign aid by the United States and Europe have led the U.N.s emergency relief coordinator to slash its fund-raising targets for next year.

A traditional Japanese festival is being adapted for poodles and Pomeranians, amid a booming pet industry and a dearth of children.

Poland has charged a little-known Russian opposition figure with espionage and participating in a bomb plot. His friends are perplexed.

After his arrival for Major League Baseball's winter meetings Sunday night in Orlando, Florida, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters that new Boston starter Sonny Gray expressed a desire to play in New York to raise his free-agency value.

A traditional Japanese festival is being adapted for poodles and Pomeranians, amid a booming pet industry and a dearth of children.

A game after he failed to reach 10 points for the first time in 17 years, LeBron James authored an impressive fourth quarter on Sunday night, posting 10 straight points in lifting the Lakers to a 112-108 victory over the 76ers.

Each side accused the other of firing first. The fighting came weeks after President Trump had cast himself as a peacemaker in the decades-old border dispute.