Anyone in the Ole Miss student section wearing LSU gear or purple and gold Saturday when the No. 8 Rebels face the No. 7 Tigers will be removed from the stadium, the athletics department said in a statement Thursday.
“No person wearing an opposing team’s gear or colors will be allowed entrance into the student section,” the Ole Miss statement read, per Tyler Konis on X. “Additionally, anyone found to be wearing opposing team apparel or colors in the student section will be removed.”
In April, an LSU fan, who was not a student, was arrested during an altercation with an Ole Miss student during a weekend baseball series at Swayze Field.
The student section mandate is just the latest of off-the-field issues surrounding the Saturday night game. Among the storylines:
Unprecedented security preparations.
A mysterious injury report.
Louisiana politics.
Kiffin’s checkered past.
A social media post by Kiffin’s daughter, Landry, in response to a bedsheet billboard on the Ole Miss campus that was designed to embarrass her (she remains enrolled at Ole Miss, but is finishing her degree online from Baton Rouge).
The packed crowd expected at 64,000-seat Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will represent a fraction of the 100,000 or so people that police in Oxford, Mississippi, say they expect to converge this weekend on their town of about 26,000.

When Ed Sheeran walks onto a Philadelphia stage Saturday, the people missing may be as noticeable as the person under the lights. There will be no opening act and no Beoga, the Irish band that once joined him midway through the show.
The tour began coming apart after Macklemore spoke about the war in Gaza.
During Sheeran’s Sept. 5 concert at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore said “free Palestine” and performed “Hind’s Hall,” named for Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli troops in Gaza City in January 2024. Images of Gaza’s destruction filled the screens behind him.
The performance drew quick criticism, including from the Anti-Defamation League. The Israeli-American Council circulated a petition urging Sheeran to drop Macklemore.
Macklemore said Sheeran later told him several stadiums would not host the tour if he remained. The rapper accused Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft of leading the effort. Kraft acknowledged barring Macklemore, citing what he called a history of antisemitic rhetoric and saying he would not “provide a platform for hate speech.” Sheeran said the promoter and venues made the decision.
Music journalist and critic Zach Schonfeld told Morning Edition that the episode showed the power venue owners can have over who performs and what artists can say.
“I think it does show that a billionaire venue owner like Robert Kraft holds a lot of power to dictate who is allowed to perform in his venue and what these artists are allowed to say,” Schonfeld said.
By Tuesday, other artists had begun leaving the tour in solidarity with Macklemore. Finneas, Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham and Beoga all withdrew from upcoming dates. The next day, Macklemore said he would donate his $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six organizations supporting Palestinians and invited Kraft to do the same.
The fight over a stadium stage offers a window into changing American views of Israel. A July Economist/YouGov poll found 43% of U.S. adult citizens said Israel was committing genocide against Palestinian civilians, including 68% of Democrats and 17% of Republicans. Among adults under 30, the share rose to 55%.
Sheeran said he has personal views about the war but does not want his concerts to become political forums. That answer drew fresh criticism online, including comparisons with his 2022 performance at a benefit for Ukraine and a video in which he told Ukrainians, “I stand with you.” He has also campaigned against racism in the U.K. and criticized the British government over cuts to arts funding.
Asked about precedents, Schonfeld pointed to Kneecap, the Irish rap trio that faced canceled shows after speaking about Gaza. The controversy also comes amid other cultural fights over speech about Israel and Gaza, including backlash against The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer after his Oscar speech addressed Israel’s occupation and the war, and protests surrounding No Other Land, the Oscar-winning documentary about displacement in the West Bank that initially lacked a mainstream U.S. distributor.
The pressure extends beyond public and online spaces in America. In Israel, the directors of the new documentary “NAZA,” an investigation by two Israeli journalists into how Israeli intelligence selected targets in Gaza and calculated expected civilian deaths from strikes, faced calls from the culture minister to lose their citizenship.
Still, Schonfeld said Sheeran’s enormous mainstream reach makes this the most high-profile example yet. He has tried to stay out of politics. In Philadelphia, the empty spaces onstage may make that position impossible to miss.
Editor’s note: Some material in this story was not included in the radio version that aired on Morning Edition. Lindsay Totty contributed reporting, and Suzanne Nuyen edited the digital story.

PHOENIX (AP/AZFamily) — Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a longtime Republican lawmaker from Arizona who shaped landmark water policies in the U.S. West and guided the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, has died. He was 84.
Kyl died Wednesday night from a neurological disorder, said Gordon James, a communications professional who is a longtime friend of the Kyl family.
Kyl served in the U.S. House from 1987 to 1995 and the Senate from 1995 to 2013. He had withdrawn from public life in December 2025 after announcing he had been diagnosed with dementia.
He was born in Oakland, Nebraska, on April 25, 1942, and grew up in a rural farming district in Iowa that his father represented in the U.S. House. At 18, he headed southwest to attend the University of Arizona, where he met his wife, Caryll, and earned a law degree.
Kyl remembered as a ‘giant’ in Senate
He represented Arizona in both chambers of Congress for nearly three decades, with his career spanning Ronald Reagan’s presidency to President Donald Trump’s first term.
After retiring from politics in 2013 and becoming a lobbyist, Kyl returned to Congress briefly in 2018, when Ducey appointed him to fill the vacancy left by the late U.S. Sen. John McCain.
Kyl rose to a leadership position during his last full term in the Senate, when his Republican colleagues selected him as minority whip.
Kyl’s appointment drew high praise from Trump, who said he was looking forward to working with “the extraordinary senator.” Kyl stayed for less than four months before rejoining lobbying firm Covington and Burling.
Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said Kyl was a “giant” in the Senate, further describing him as serious, engaging, forthright and thoughtful. His biggest impacts, Ducey said, came from the way he kept the Republican caucus together in opposition to Obamacare and his staunch support of Israel.
Kyl also backed legislation to authorize construction of a fence stretching hundreds of miles along the U.S.-Mexico border. He later joined with Democrats to support a bill that would provide a path to citizenship and temporary guest-worker status for those in the U.S. without authorization. The proposal ultimately failed.
As a lobbyist, Kyl helped guide the confirmation of Trump-picked U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. When Kyl returned to the halls of Congress in 2018, he was known as Kavanaugh’s chief Sherpa — an informal but widely known term for a nominee’s guide to the political tundra in the Senate.
In a statement disclosing his dementia diagnosis, Kyl harkened back to the words of Reagan, when the former president revealed his own Alzheimer’s diagnosis and said he was starting a journey that would lead him to the end of his life.
Kyl said he shared Reagan’s confidence for Arizona and the nation’s future, and that despite his diagnosis, he was a “very fortunate man.”
Shaped Arizona’s historic water policies
Before being elected for the first of his four terms in the House in 1987, Kyl was a key participant in shaping Arizona’s 1980 groundwater code as a lawyer representing a large water utility. The first-of-its-kind code created a regulatory framework for managing groundwater in the drought-stricken state, largely centering on the state’s population centers, including Phoenix and Tucson.
In 2004, Kyl authored legislation that provided one of the largest tribal water rights settlements, which, after a decades-long battle, gave the Gila River Indian Community enough water to fill nearly 313,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually.
Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who later served as majority leader, called Kyl’s work ethic “legendary” in a 2012 floor speech and said Kyl had labored mostly behind the scenes for 15 years to advance the settlement.
Arizona State University’s Kyl Center for Water Policy takes its name from him.
State, local leaders pay respects
Ducey, who considered Kyl a mentor, described the former senator in a February 2025 interview with The Associated Press as a true statesman and a “workhorse” among Washington, D.C.’s “showhorses.”
“Jon Kyl gave Arizona nearly three decades of principled, thoughtful leadership — and he gave me something just as valuable: his mentorship and friendship. I’ll miss him deeply. Rest in peace, Senator Kyl,” Ducey posted on X.
Gov. Katie Hobbs said Kyl was a dedicated leader who cared deeply for Arizona.
“Arizonans are mourning the loss of former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl. Throughout his decades of public service in the House and Senate, he was a dedicated statesman who always cared deeply for our state. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and loved ones, ”she said.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell also paid homage to the late political leader.
“Devastating news. Senator Kyl was, in the truest sense of the word, a statesman. In addition to his many, many accomplishments, some do not know the efforts he extended to help children and other victims of sex crimes by championing evidence rule changes which continue to have an incredibly positive impact. My prayers go out to his family,” Mitchell posted.
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes shared condolences to Kyl’s loved ones and highlighted his contributions to tribal water rights.
“He made a lasting contribution through his work on tribal water rights, helping bring stakeholders together and advance important water settlement in Arizona. His dedication to public service and to resolving some of the West’s most complex water challenges is his legacy. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all who had the privilege of knowing him. May he rest in peace,” Fontes said.
Former Republican Sen. Jeff Flake praised Kyl for his longtime work, adding that “Arizona has lost a giant.”
“Jon Kyl was one of the most diligent and effective public servants Arizona has ever had. I was honored to follow him in the U.S. Senate, where his example of seriousness, integrity and devotion to public service was known to all. Cheryl and I send our deepest condolences to Caryll and the entire Kyl family,” Flake posted on X.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said Arizona has lost “one of its finest statesman.”
“Whether he was negotiating complex water agreements or helping guide our nation’s security policy, Senator Kyl brought credibility, good judgment, and a determination to deliver results. He earned the respect of people across the political spectrum without compromising his principles. Just as important, Senator Kyl understood that public service is about more than holding office. It is about protecting the country, solving difficult problems, and leaving the next generation stronger than the one before it. He set an example that my colleagues and I continue to look to in our own service to Arizona,” a portion of Petersen’s statement said.
Former Gov. Jan Brewer praised Kyl, stating he served the state and nation with “extraordinary intellect.”
“Arizona has lost one of its finest public servants. Senator Jon Kyl served our state and nation with extraordinary intellect, integrity and humility. John and I extend our deepest condolences to Caryll and the entire Kyl family. May God comfort them, and may Jon rest in peace,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Brett Kavanaugh is not closing the door to the United States Postal Service (USPS), implementing Trump’s rules on ballot-mail in the future. However, he agrees with the majority of those who believe that it is premature for the USPS to implement them before the midterm elections 2026.
Kavanaugh stated in his concurrence in United States Postal Service et. al. that “in my opinion, based upon the briefing received by the Court at this interim phase, there’s at least a reasonable prospect” that the Postal Service has statutory authority to issue the final rule. v. California, et al.
This concurrence is coming roughly three months since Kavanaugh established a legal path for Trump to use his executive order that curtails birthright citizenship, in his concurrence on Trump v. Barbara. Kavanaugh offered an outline for Trump’s tariffs when he dissenting in Learning Resources, Inc. V. Trump.
I would like to point out that Justice Kavanaugh gave the government some breathing room by stating that it is likely they have the legal authority. You can also see the Justices Thomas, Alito’s position on this question if you look at their dissent,” Jason Snead told Fox News Digital.
TRUMP BLASTS SUPREME COURT ‘DISASTER’ AFTER JUSTICES RULE AGAINST HIM ON MAIL-IN VOTING
On Monday, the Supreme Court denied an emergency request by the Trump Administration to lift an injunction from a lower-court that blocked the U.S. The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration was unlikely to win on merits in its appeal of the U.S. Postal Service regulation.
After ballots were already sent, the decision blocks the rule for midterm elections in 2026. The case may return to the Supreme Court if the lawsuit continues.
Snead said to Fox News Digital that there was a good chance the case would end up before the Supreme Court at some point.
Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito wrote a dissenting opinion that raised concerns about the possibility of the policy surviving the legal challenge to take effect by 2028.
I do believe that the rule will not be implemented by the time of the midterm elections. At this point, I believe that is a fact. “I do hope there’ll be additional litigation that will allow for this rule to implement before the 2028 Presidential election”, Snead stated.
Postal Service Rule: Federal ballot-mail envelopes must include a logo for election mail, can be scanned by high-speed equipment and have a unique barcode. States will also be required to upload voter data to the Postal Service’s portal.
The lawsuit was filed by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general from 24 states, claiming that the new rule is in violation of the Constitutional Elections Clause which gives Congress the authority to regulate elections. Trump’s administration claimed that the USPS regulates mail and not election procedures.
TRUMP SCORES SUPREME COURT WIN ON MAIL-IN VOTING RESTRICTIONS BEFORE MIDTERMS
Snead said, “This case is alive, and Kavanaugh’s testimony has provided us with some hope. As it moves forward, we might see this rule come into force in 2028, if not sooner, since it was successfully killed by the left for 2026.”
Iowa’s Solicitor-General Eric Wessan cited timing as another major factor. He noted that earlier litigation in Massachusetts and an injunction delayed the Postal Service from publishing the final rule.
Wessan stated, “I’m not shocked that, as we approach the election deadline, the Supreme Court has decided to maintain the status quo. Although I believe that Justice Alito’s dissent raises many issues about the approach adopted by the majority. I am not sure if the Supreme Court will reach the same conclusion in the future, say, before the 2020 elections.”
Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. They argued that the government made a sufficient showing to warrant a stay. The Supreme Court had previously stated that plaintiffs who rely on “Hail Mary passes” rarely succeed.
FEDERAL JUDGE AGAIN BLOCKS TRUMP’S MEDITERM MAIL-BALLOT ORDER
Wessan stated that “the hail mary passes appear to be working to some extent.” The president issued his executive order five months ago and shortly thereafter, the injunction was filed. As the Supreme Court acknowledged in the earlier litigation, the injunction was unjust.
Wessan added, “But because of the time it took for that to be resolved, the Postal Service is in a difficult position in terms of timing, with the election in November. This is especially true since states will soon have to distribute ballots, to either the military or to anyone else.”
Abhishek kambil was surprised by the majority’s lack of explanation.
I think that the most surprising thing was how unreasoned the order was, particularly after the Missouri stay, also based on unreasoned orders. In cases such as this one, with so much at stake, it would be nice if the Supreme Court explained its reasoning in an opinion on a stay,” Kambil stated.
JACKSON RIPS INTO SUPREME COURT COLLEAGUES’ ‘SERIOUS LEGAL ERROR’ ON TRUMP MAIL-IN VOTING ORDER
Kambil, a Fox News Digital reporter, said: “I think that the most surprising thing was the absence of an explanation. Justice Alito wrote a methodical dissent pointing out all the mistakes the majority made. We don’t even know how they decided to reject the stay.”
Wessan stated that while he does not expect the rule to be implemented this year, he is open-minded about the possibilities of it being adopted in the future.
Wessan stated that the rule would not be implemented for the 2020 election but could very well end up being in place for the 2028 elections. This is one of the many steps the administration takes to ensure voter integrity.
Snead said that Democratic states might have an easier time fighting to implement the USPS regulations without an upcoming election.
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Snead said to Fox News Digital that “they’ll have a hard time explaining in 2027 why they couldn’t comply with these basic rules over two years.” Just to make sure everyone understands what we are talking about. “We’re talking making longstanding best practices for mail ballot envelope designs mandatory.”
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We’re also discussing getting the lists of mail-in voters, which states have already collected. This will enable them to create manifests that allow them to track those ballots. This is very easy and basic,” Snead said.

Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday, imploring North Carolina voters to “pretend I’m on the ticket” and “crush the communists” in the November elections at a rally in support of the Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley.
Despite Trump’s deep unpopularity, Republicans hope to once again turn the president’s loyal following into a political force as the party confronts an unforgiving midterm landscape.
“I’m not bragging, but when I’m on the ticket Republicans have always done really well,” Trump told supporters. “I just want you to go out and pretend I’m on the ticket, because essentially I am.”
The rally, Trump’s first campaign event since the Republican party’s unusual midterm convention in Dallas last week where he debuted a similar campaign message, was aimed at energizing Republican voters behind Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chair who is running in a crucial battleground race against the Democratic former governor, Roy Cooper.
With the Republican senator Thom Tillis retiring, Democrats see a rare opportunity to flip a seat in a state that has repeatedly dashed the party’s hopes in recent elections, but which could decide the balance of power in the Senate this November. To win control of the Senate, Democrats must prevail in at least four Republican-held seats.
In Gastonia, Trump sought to cast the Senate contest as a referendum on Cooper’s governorship, saying the election was about “safety” and “bad management”.
From the stage, he invoked the murder of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail train last year. Describing the attack in gruesome detail, he falsely claimed that the man arrested and charged with her killing, Decarlos Brown Jr, had been released from prison by Cooper.
He then showed dozens of mugshots on a video screen, explicitly comparing his attack on Cooper to the notorious “Willie Horton” attack ad used by George HW Bush’s 1988 presidential campaign against Michael Dukakis in a racially charged appeal to cast the Democratic nominee as weak on crime.
“Years ago in Massachusetts, there was a governor named Dukakis, Michael Dukakis, you remember, who had a very substantial lead for president,” Trump said. “He was going to win easily, but he allowed a man named Willie Horton out of jail. Willie Horton was a bad guy, really bad guy. Same thing as this. Same exact thing.”
Trump said Whatley was the “candidate of law and order” who preferred criminals be “executed, arrested or deported”.
Trump’s appearance underscored Republicans’ challenge in North Carolina, a place where Democrats have not won a Senate race since 2008 but where polls have consistently shown Cooper ahead of Whatley.
Nodding to Cooper’s edge, Trump claimed there was a misconception about the former governor’s politics.
“He tries to pretend he’s a moderate,” Trump said of Cooper. “He’s not.”
Trump lavished praise on Whatley, his hand-picked choice for Senate calling him a “ball-breaker” and “one of the greatest men I ever worked with in government”.
“I had my choice of the whole country,” Trump said. “I chose Michael Whatley.”
Whatley enthusiastically returned the embrace, praising Trump as the “greatest president of our lifetime”.
Ahead of the rally, local Democrats held a news conference to denounce Whatley for supporting Trump’s agenda.
“Why would Whatley back a war that is driving up prices for North Carolina families at a time when it’s already too hard for us to get by?” state senator Woodson Bradley said. “Let’s not find that out, North Carolina. He’s already shown us everything we need to know.”
By tying himself to the president, Whatley is hoping Trump’s command of the party’s base can translate into broader support in a state where independent voters make up a large share of the electorate and where concerns about prices, the economy and the administration’s handling of the war in Iran have complicated the political landscape.
Yet in a reminder of the significant economic headwinds Trump is facing, he spent time attacking the Federal Reserve, which on Wednesday raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point, its first increase since 2023. The Fed said persistent inflation warranted the move.
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac before the rally, Trump called the central bank “very hostile” to him and said its officials were a “bunch of politicians”.
“They’re doing the wrong thing,” he said, repeating several times that interest rates were “too high”.
Robert Mackey contributed reporting