Why Kamala Harris Won’t Be Asked About the Suicide of a Newspaperman She Persecuted

Published

2 years ago

August 10, 2023

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The sitting vice president, shortly before moving to Washington, D.C., successfully scapegoated through heavily publicized if legally unsuccessful pimping prosecutions a career newspaperman who last week shot himself to death at age 74 rather than sit through yet another prostitution-facilitation trial that he insisted to his dying days was an attack on free speech.

Yet the chances of Kamala Harris being asked this weekor any weekabout the late James Larkin, or her starring role in the demonization of his and Michael Lacey’s online classified advertising company Backpage as “the world’s top online brothel,” are vanishingly small. That’s because people have a natural revulsion toward anything associatedhowever falselywith child prostitution or sex trafficking, true. But it also stems from something far less excusable: When it comes to conflicts between the feds and those from the professionally unpopular corners of the free speech industry, journalists have been increasingly taking the side of The Man.

You could see this dynamic in stark relief last month in the elite-media response to U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty’s Independence Day injunction against the federal government from pressuring social media companies to censor individuals for allegedly spreading “misinformation.” As catalogued at Reason by Robby Soave, J.D. Tuccille, Jacob Sullum, and Robert Corn-Revere, and as I experienced during a bizarre panel discussion on CNN, the default journalistic reaction was anxiety that the ruling (in the words of theNew York Times news department) “could curtail efforts to combat false and misleading narratives about the coronavirus pandemic and other issues.” Sure, there may be First Amendment implications, but, well, have you seen that dangerous whackaloon Alex Berenson?

Far too often, journalists reserve their free speech defenses for people they actually like. And man, did they not like Jim Larkin and Mike Lacey.

This antipathy for Larkin/Lacey and the New Times alt-weekly chain the duo launched in Phoenix was obvious long before politicians began moving on from Craigslist to Backpage in their morally panicked crusade against technology companies that allegedly promote “sex trafficking.” (I use quotation marks here not to intimate that sex trafficking does not exist, but rather that, as Reason’s Elizabeth Nolan Brown has documented better than any living reporter, the term is overwhelmingly deployed by politicians and law enforcement to describe and punish conduct that has nothing whatsoever to do with forcing unwitting adults, let alone minors, into the sex business.)

The New Times honchosespecially Lacey, who was always the more public and pugilistic face of the franchisewere resented because they threw sharp elbows at both the graybeard alternative weeklies to their left and at the big-city dailies that were originally to their right but then tacked over time to the kind of bloodless lefty respectability space inhabited by NPR. The New Times papers hurled buckets of snark onto anyone perceived as Establishment, which pissed off boomer lefty journalists almost as much as elected Republican officials such as Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Arizona Sen. John McCain.

The New Times “view of who was the establishment and who [was] the outsider,” sniffed LA Weekly windbag Harold Meyerson in 2003, “was classically neocon.” (The game of pin-the-inaccurate-political-insult on the New Times never did fall out of fashion.)

Having mocked, then beaten, then eventually subsumed a Village Voice Media chain revered for its foundational role in postwar alternative journalism, Lacey and Larkin and co. found themselves relatively friendless during various scrapes with the legal system. When the independent hippie alt-weekly San Francisco Bay Guardian won a lawsuit in 2008 against the New Timesowned SF Weekly for “predatory pricing” of advertising (yes, one free paper sued another free paper over charging lower ad rates), and when that $21 million settlement (after having been tripled by the presiding judge) was upheld in 2010, I noted that “the journalistic thumbsucker community outside of the Bay Area has been almost completely silent about this potentially momentous precedent.”

You can almost hear the journalistic eyerolls at Backpage’s frequently successful series of legal defenses that the third-party speech and commerce that the now-defunct company facilitated were protected under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act of 1996, i.e., “the Internet’s First Amendment.”

“As Trial for Backpage’s Founders Begins,” snarked a September 2021 Gizmodo headline, “Their Free Speech Defense Is Flailing.” (The case was declared a mistrial less than a weeklater due to prosecutorial misbehavior.) The Washington Post in 2022 published a laudatory review of prosecutor Maggy Krell’s book Taking Down Backpage: Fighting the World’s Largest Sex Trafficker, with Section 230 treated as a deviously exploited loophole. “Krell and her fellow crusaders,” concluded E.J. Graff, thenmanaging editor of the Post’s Monkey Cage blog,”are rightly proud of the strides they’ve made in cracking down on this scourge.”

This is not to say that there haven’t been good (and appropriately skeptical) examinations of the Backpage side of the story, though it’s interesting to note that they often come from people who used to work for the New Times chain. And there has been a smattering of free-speecher support and outrage over the years, including last week from TechDirt’s Mike Masnick.

But the overarching journalism-industry response to the past seven years of Backpage founders being hounded by ambitious politicians and prosecutors and thrown into courtroom cages; their family members being pulled out of the shower; their bank accounts seized; their ankle bracelets affixed; and now one of the defendants offing himself has been studious indifference and silence. You will see 100 times more ink spilled this year on chimerical right-wing book bans than you will on the vice president’s scapegoat blowing his brains out.

Journalists tend to be pretty good about looking backward through the decades and recognizing that, Oh shit, we kind of went overboard during that whole Satanic Panic thing. While better late than never, such correctives should lend urgency to the quest of finding injustices that are depriving people’s liberty right the hell now.

Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is still serving two life sentences in federal prison. President Joe Biden is sitting on a backlog of approximately 19,000 clemency petitions, most for nonviolent crimes and/or violations of laws that no longer exist. And Mike Lacey still faces trial, scheduled for later this month. It’s too late for Jim Larkin’s kids to get their dad back, but it’s never too late for people in the free speech business to recognize that one of their own is getting railroaded. I just wouldn’t bet on it.

Sports

Canes leap to 2; OU to 7th; IU, Texas Tech surge

Published

11 mins ago

September 21, 2025

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Canes leap to 2; OU to 7th; IU, Texas Tech surge

Associated Press

Sep 21, 2025, 02:18 PM ET

Miami jumped LSU and Penn State into the No. 2 spot behind Ohio State in the Associated Press college football poll Sunday, while Oklahoma climbed into the top 10 for the first time in two years.

Indiana and Texas Tech also made big moves after lopsided wins over Top 25 opponents.

The Hurricanes have beaten two ranked opponents, and they turned in another complete performance in a 19-point home win over Florida to earn their highest ranking since 2017.

The last time Miami was ranked as high was in back-to-back polls in November 2017, when Mark Richt’s Hurricanes were 9-0 and 10-0. That team lost three straight to end the season.

School	Rec.	LW
1. Ohio State (52)	3-0	1
2. Miami (7)	4-0	4
3. Penn State (5)	3-0	2
4. LSU	4-0	3
5. Georgia	3-0	5
6. Oregon (1)	4-0	6
7. Oklahoma (1)	4-0	11
8. Florida State	3-0	7
9. Texas A&M	3-0	10
10. Texas	3-1	8
11. Indiana	4-0	19
12. Texas Tech	4-0	17
13. Ole Miss	4-0	13
14. Iowa State	4-0	12
15. Tennessee	3-1	15
16. Georgia Tech	4-0	18
17. Alabama	2-1	14
18. Vanderbilt	4-0	20
19. Michigan	3-1	21
20. Missouri	4-0	23
21. USC	4-0	25
22. Notre Dame	1-2	24
23. Illinois	3-1	9
24. TCU	3-0	NR
25. BYU	3-0	NR

Penn State, which had been No. 2 since the preseason, was idle and slipped to No. 3. LSU fell one spot to No. 4 after an easy win over FCS Southeastern Louisiana.

No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Oregon held their positions and were followed by No. 7 Oklahoma, which beat previously ranked Auburn at home and returned to the top 10 for the first time since it started 7-0 in 2023.

Florida State, Texas A&M and Texas round out the top 10.

Ohio State had an open date and received 52 of 66 first-place votes from the media panel. Miami got seven first-place votes, four more than a week ago. Penn State had five first-place votes, and Oregon and Oklahoma each received one.

The Sooners are the lowest-ranked team to receive a first-place vote in a regular season since then-No. 7 Washington got one on Sept. 24, 2023.

Indiana had played one of the softest schedules in the country through three games before raising eyebrows with its 63-7 hammering of then-No. 9 Illinois. The Hoosiers made the biggest move up, climbing eight spots to No. 11.

Illinois’ 56-point loss was the most lopsided in coach Bret Bielema’s five seasons and caused the Illini to tumble from No. 9 to No. 23.

Texas Tech got a five-rung promotion to No. 12 for its 24-point win at Utah. The Red Raiders won easily despite playing backup quarterback Will Hammond most of the second half in place of an injured Behren Morton.

It is the Red Raiders’ highest ranking since Kliff Kingsbury’s first team was No. 10 following a 7-0 start in 2013.

No. 24 TCU beat SMU to go 3-0 and earn its first regular-season ranking since it was a fixture in the top 10 the second half of the 2022 season. The Horned Frogs, beaten 65-7 by Georgia in the national title game that season, were No. 17 in the 2023 preseason poll and hadn’t been back since.

No. 25 BYU, which finished last season No. 13, picked up a road win at East Carolina and is ranked for the first time this season.

Utah (16) and Auburn (22) dropped out.

CONFERENCE CALL

SEC (10): Nos. 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20
Big Ten (7): Nos. 1, 3, 6, 11, 19, 21, 23
Big 12 (4): Nos. 12, 14, 24, 25
ACC (3): Nos. 2, 8, 16
Independent (1): No. 22

RANKED VS. RANKED

No. 4 LSU at No. 13 Ole Miss: They have split the past four meetings. Garrett Nussmeier dealt the Rebels a crushing overtime loss last year, throwing the tying touchdown with 27 seconds left in regulation.

No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State: It’s a rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship game, a 45-37 Oregon win that made the Ducks 13-0 and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The Ducks have beaten four overmatched opponents by an average of 41.5 points per game. Penn State’s schedule has been even easier.

No. 17 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia: The Crimson Tide have won nine of 10 meetings since 2008. The loss was the 2021 season’s national championship game. Georgia has won 33 straight at home, the nation’s longest active streak.

No. 21 USC at No. 23 Illinois: Two teams on different tracks. The unbeaten Trojans are averaging 52.5 points per game. The Illini were riding high until they gave up 63 at Indiana. First meeting since the 2008 Rose Bowl.

Sports

Sources: Cuse QB Angeli has torn Achilles tendon

Published

11 mins ago

September 21, 2025

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Sources: Cuse QB Angeli has torn Achilles tendon

Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli will miss the remainder of the season after tearing his Achilles in the Orange’s authoritative win at Clemson on Saturday, sources told ESPN.

An MRI revealed the Achilles tear, which will end Angeli’s season. Despite leaving in the third quarter on Saturday, Angeli ranks No. 2 in the country in passing yards; his 1,316 yards are four yards behind Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson.

With the injury coming in the fourth game of the year, he’s expected to be able to apply for an additional year of eligibility via a medical redshirt. That would give him two more years of eligibility.

Angeli is a first-year starter at Syracuse after transferring from Notre Dame following spring practice, winning the job in fall camp in a close battle with Rickie Collins.

Angeli took over an offense that led the nation in passing last year with Kyle McCord under center and transitioned seamlessly. He has 10 touchdown passes, two interceptions and his 156 attempts are third in the country.

Syracuse will turn to Collins, an LSU transfer who played well in place of Angeli in the second half. He threw a touchdown pass and completed 3-of-8 passes for 34 yards as Syracuse played conservative to salt away the 34-21 win.

Angeli had torched Clemson for 244 yards and two touchdowns before his injury.

Syracuse hosts Duke on Saturday, which will be the first career start for Collins.

Sports

AP Week 4 poll reaction: What’s next for each Top 25 team

Published

1 hour ago

September 21, 2025

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AP Week 4 poll reaction: What's next for each Top 25 team

Sep 21, 2025, 02:25 PM ET

The latest AP poll is out.

With some enormous matchups next week, Week 4 was light on ranked matchups. The Ohio State Buckeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Georgia Bulldogs and Texas A&M Aggies were off this week.

The Oklahoma Sooners, now ranked No. 7, opened their SEC schedule with a 24-17 win over the Auburn Tigers. The Sooners’ defense was outstanding, finishing with 10 sacks and holding the Tigers to just 67 yards rushing.

In the Big 12, the now-No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders pounded the Utah Utes to stake an early claim as the best team in the conference. Texas Tech backup QB Will Hammond was exceptional while filling in for an injured Behren Morton. Hammond went 13-of-16 passing and had 230 total yards and two scores in the 34-10 win.

The week’s only other ranked matchup was the No. 11 Indiana Hoosiers crushing the then-No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini. In the win, QB Fernando Mendoza became the first Indiana player with at least four passing touchdowns in three straight games.

What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

All times Eastern

Previous ranking: 1

2025 record: 3-0

Week 4 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday at Washington

Previous ranking: 4

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Florida 26-7

Stat to know: Miami had both more rushing yards and passing yards than Florida had total yards.

What’s next: Oct. 4 at Florida State

Previous ranking: 2

2025 record: 3-0

Week 4 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Oregon, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Previous ranking: 3

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Southeastern Louisiana 56-10

Stat to know: LSU has held all four of its opponents this season to 10 points or fewer, its longest such streak to start a season since 2006.

What’s next: Saturday at Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 5

2025 record: 3-0

Week 4 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Alabama, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 6

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Oregon State 41-7

Stat to know: Oregon has had consecutive wins by at least 30 points against Oregon State for the third time in series history (2018-19, 1898-99).

What’s next: Saturday at Penn State, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Previous ranking: 11

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Auburn 24-17

Stat to know: OU sacked Auburn QB Jackson Arnold 10 times, the most in a game in program history.

What’s next: Oct. 4 vs. Kent State, 4 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 7

2025 record: 3-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Kent State 66-10

Stat to know: FSU had eight rushing touchdowns against Kent State. The Seminoles had eight rushing scores in 2024.

What’s next: Friday at Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 10

2025 record: 3-0

Week 4 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Auburn, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 8

2025 record: 3-1

Week 4 result: Defeated Sam Houston 55-0

Stat to know: The 55-point win was Texas’ largest margin of victory since its 58-0 win over Rice in 2021.

What’s next: Oct. 4 at Florida

Previous ranking: 19

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Illinois 63-10

Stat to know: Indiana’s 63 points against Illinois was its most ever against a ranked opponent.

What’s next: Saturday at Iowa, 3:30 p.m., Peacock

Previous ranking: 17

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Utah 34-10

Stat to know: This was Texas Tech’s first win as a ranked team since 2008, and the Red Raiders have started the season 4-0 for the first time since 2013.

What’s next: Oct. 4 at Houston

Previous ranking: 13

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Tulane 45-10

Stat to know: Trinidad Chambliss, who had 307 yards passing and 112 yards rushing against Tulane, became the fourth player in school history with 300 passing yards and 100 rushing yards in a game, joining Archie Manning, Chad Kelly and Jordan Ta’amu.

What’s next: Saturday vs. LSU, 3:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 12

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arizona, 7 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 15

2025 record: 3-1

Week 4 result: Defeated UAB 56-24

Stat to know: Joey Aguilar, who had 218 yards and three touchdowns Saturday, has had at least 200 passing yards in all 28 of his career starts, the longest active streak in the FBS.

What’s next: Saturday at Mississippi State, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 18

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Temple 45-24

Stat to know: This is Georgia Tech’s first 4-0 start to a season since 2014.

What’s next: Saturday at Wake Forest, noon, ESPN

Previous ranking: 14

2025 record: 2-1

Week 4 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday at Georgia, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 20

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Georgia State 70-21

Stat to know: This is Vanderbilt’s first 4-0 start since 2018.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Utah State, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 21

2025 record: 3-1

Week 4 result: Defeated Nebraska 30-27

Stat to know: Justice Haynes, who rushed for 149 yards and a score against Nebraska, is the first Michigan player in the past 30 seasons with a rushing score in each of his first four games.

What’s next: Oct. 4 vs. Wisconsin

Previous ranking: 23

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated South Carolina 29-20

Stat to know: Missouri held South Carolina to minus-9 rushing yards, the fewest it has allowed since 2009 when it held Colorado to minus-14 rushing yards.

What’s next: Saturday vs. UMass, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU

Previous ranking: 25

2025 record: 4-0

Week 4 result: Defeated Michigan State 45-31

Stat to know: USC has scored 210 points through four games, the fourth-highest total in program history.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Michigan State, 11 p.m., Fox

Previous ranking: 24

2025 record: 1-2

Week 4 result: Defeated Purdue 56-30

Stat to know: Notre Dame has scored 122 points in its past two games against Purdue. That’s the most over a two-game span against a single opponent in the AP poll era (since 1936).

What’s next: Saturday at Arkansas, noon, ABC

Previous ranking: 9

2025 record: 3-1

Week 4 result: Lost to Indiana 63-10

Stat to know: The loss to Indiana was its worst-ever loss as an AP-ranked team.

What’s next: Saturday vs. USC

Previous ranking: NR

2025 record: 3-0

Week 4 result: Defeated SMU 35-24

Stat to know: Against SMU, wide receiver Eric McAlister became the second player in school history to record 250 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in a game.

What’s next: Friday at Arizona State, 9 p.m., Fox