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Bad Suns  

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Bad Suns is an Indie-rock band hailing from Southern California, USA, melding 80s post-punk with Elvis Costello's melodic sensibilities to create their angst-ridden, hook-heavy indie rock.

Bad Suns formed in 2012, featuring the members Christo Bowman (vocals), Miles Morris (drums/percussion), Gavin Bennett (bassist) and Ray Libby (guitar). The bad quickly honed their craft, writing songs that were rather accomplished considering the short space of time in which the band had been together, as well as the young age of the musicians.

Having signed to the Vagrant label, Bad Suns released their debut EP, "Transpose" in early 2014. The release captured a youthful angst, through their grinding riffs, with sensitive yet strong vocals reminiscent of Robert Smith. They also harnessed the energy of The Clash and other early punk bands into their music.

"Transpose" was followed by their debut full-length album, "Language & Perspective," later that year, an eleven track album that is full of memorable hooks and stadium-sized anthems. The album was produced by Eric Palmquist, who has worked previously on records for artists including The Mars Volta, Wavves and Trash Talk.

The band's first single, "Cardiac Arrest" made significant waves on the American music scene, receiving significant radio airplay. The band also performed the song on the Conan show, as well as becoming a popular track on Alt Radio. This airplay and television performance helped raise the profile of the band and find new audiences across the country. They also secured a high profile support slot with The 1975 on their nationwide tour of the US.

Live reviews

I went to Bad Suns' show at Ace of Spades last night with my parents. Aside from frustrations due to ADA seating being changed for the worse and leading me to not sit there (I am disabled and use a wheelchair when I attend concerts) the show was absolutely fantastic. The energy from both the opening band, Vista Kicks, as well as Bad Suns, was high during the whole show. There were some memorable moments; someone shouted "You guys fucking rock!" out to Vista Kicks, and Derek (the lead singer) replied "You fucking rock." Someone else yelled out to Trevor, the bassist, "I love you, Trevor!" and he made a silly face in response. Ace of Spades has a no stagediving or crowdsurfing rule, apparently; but Christo, the lead singer of Bad Suns, ended up in the crowd at one point, with fans holding him up—this happened twice, and I can't say I've ever seen anything as interesting as someone being held up by a crowd of people. He also reached out to both sides of the crowd and held hands with fans while he sung. Overall, the show was a wonderful experience and I will definitely be seeing Bad Suns next time they come to Ace of Spades; perhaps even sooner if time and money allow. I also look forward to seeing Vista Kicks in the future as well, as they were probably the best opening band I've ever seen.

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I saw Bad Suns on July 25th @ the Fox in Oakland. They, along with the White Arrows opened up for The Neighbourhood. Up until that night, I was only familiar with their song "Cardiac Arrest." However, while I was at the concert I immediately fell in love with them! So much, in fact, that I purchased their debut album, 'Language & Perspective,' the second I got home. Their sound is so unique compared to what's playing on the radio right now. Not to mention, the lead singer, Christo's, voice vaguely reminds me of the voice of Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of The Killers (which I also happen to LOVE). They have a great energy about them that when they're onstage, the aura in the room is electric. Everyone in the audience in the concert thought they were amazing as well. They showed different sides of their music in their setlist, which I thought was really cool. My new favorite song from their album is "We Move Like the Ocean". I would DEFINITELY go see them again. I can honestly say their performance left a remarkable impression on me and now I'm scouring the internet trying to find more music. Their album leaves so much more to be desired, but in a good way. Can't wait for them to release new music and to hopefully see them in concert again!

I LOVED last night’s show! And Christo said it was probably the best show of the tour :) The Van Buren is fantastic also. I also loved the first opening act (Ultra Q), they are adorable and energetic and very talented. The thing I did not enjoy was the second opening act. I understand everyone likes different things, but I felt like they were not similar enough to Bad Suns to be enjoyed by most of the fans there, and then people started moshing and pushing people who had waited in line for multiple hours to be closer to the front until we lost our spots. It was super uncomfortable and drinks were being spilled and it was just really unexpected for all the people going to see Bad Suns. And the lead singer was doing this weird thing where he was looking really strangely and creepily at the crowd and we were all really confused. But despite all that and losing the spots we worked so hard to get, Bad Suns completely made up for it. Every guy (Christo, Gavin, Ray, and Miles) were working so hard and having fun and looking great, and it was Ray’s birthday, which made it extra special. The dancing was great, they sounded great, the energy was great, and the interaction with the audience was great. I wish I could go all over again.

Didn't even get to see them because my friends and I were kicked out. Bad Suns have REALLY shit fans. They don't dance and look at you like you're crazy for ENJOYING and JAMMING out to the music. Ya'll need to market your stuff to older and more mature adults and not some high school playground crap. My friend and I were dancing and these two girls started talking sh*t. I would've loved to see Bad Suns but these dumb white girls made a scene once we approached them and of course got us kicked out. Like these girls literally got in my face... and once I called them out they went crazy, but at least not before my friend let them know that their disrespectful behavior would not be tolerated like that again :))

GUYS- it's a concert. ENJOY the music, be merry, and dance your a** off, stop worrying about others or putting them down for being themselves and enjoying the moment.

Can't wait for the next time they're around. And... at least now I have a vinyl of theirs.

It was my first time ever going to a concert. The opening was Carlie Hanson and she was absolutely amazing. I’ve never heard of her before but her voice gave me chills and the whole vibe she brought to the stage was very exciting. She brought a scooter on stage which was rather funny and she enjoyed interacting with the crowd. As it wasn’t my first time going to a concert I really didn’t know what to expect and thought that Bad Suns were probably going to match the way she performed. Yet they went above and beyond. There were flashing lights, different colors and I could never take my eyes off of the screen. I could feel the music throughout my nature body and was left a little deaf afterwards, but everything was completely worth it.

I had an amazing time. This was my third time seeing them. I love them so much!! They have great energy and put on such a good show. Christo interacts with the audience a lot and isn't afraid to jump into the crowd. Their music is amazing and Christo's voice is beautiful. Ray is so cute jamming on the guitar and doing the background vocals. I literally am in love with him <3 Gavin and Miles are also stellar and complete the whole band. My friends who didn't know their music went with me and they had a great time even though they didn't know any of the songs; that's how amazing they are. I love bad suns so much and recommend everyone and anyone see them live.

Bad Suns were perfection. This was my second time seeing them and they just keep getting better and better! The lead singer was nice enough to say hello to us before the show even started, then once we were inside the venue, all the live acts were stunning. But when Bad Suns took on the stage, you could feel the energy and excitement radiating in the small intimate venue. I would most definitely recommend seeing them live, it's magical and life changing! GO BAD SUNS.

I loved their show! I have been fans of them for a while now and they sound great live! There was a good balance with interaction with the crowd and music played. The tickets were very reasonably priced and they sounded just like they do on their albums! The only negative was I couldn't hear the lead singer very well, as his microphone was down lower than normal. This could be their style of performing, but it took away from the concert a little.

2nd time seeing BadSuns in concert. This time they opened for Halsey in Orlando but I only went to see them & left after they finished up. They rock, they jam and sounded great as always! I can't wait until they come back through as the headline band BC they only got to play like 37 mins. They did however play 2 new songs Disappear Here and Heartbreaker off of their 2nd album that comes out 9.16.16 both songs of which I loved, alot.

I saw them live on November 1, 2016. It was my first concert and it couldn't have been better. The aesthetic of the show is beyond beautiful. The ambience of the environment just adds to the experience. And they're so intense it's exhilarating. If you genuinely love their music you HAVE to see them live. Prkmise you won't regret it. And purchasing it through SongKick was super easy. 10/10 would do it again.

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Bobapalooza Music and Arts Festival 2024

House of Blues - Anaheim

Roxy Theatre

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Bad Suns is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 3 concerts across 1 country in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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• Morrison, CO, US
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• Los Angeles (LA) (63)
• New York (NYC) (23)
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• The Neighbourhood (35)
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Bad Suns Announce New Project 'Infinite Joy'; Share New Single 'Living Or Dying'

Bad Suns have announced their new project, 'Infinite Joy', set to release on November 17.

Los Angeles natives Bad Suns announce plans to release a new collection of songs called ‘Infinite Joy', out November 17th via Epitaph Records.

With Grammy award-winning producer Ben Allen (Washed Out, Walk The Moon) at the helm, the trio masterfully crafts a sublime union of alternative indie rock and synth funk with an emphasis on glossy production and accessible pop sheen.  

Alongside today's announcement the band has released the track “Living Or Dying”.  Accompanied by shimmering hi-hats and an undeniable groove, the song explores existentialist themes in an uplifting atmosphere. Written by frontman Christo Bowman as an expression of encouragement to his fiancé as she contemplates a major life decision, he expresses,  

“Living a life in a state of fear or regret is hardly living. Life is too beautiful to waste.”  

Last month Bad Suns released the upbeat single and music video for “The One I Used To Love”- “a polished, deceptively danceable track born from a transformative new chapter” as highlighted by American Songwriter. Their first new music since their 2022 album Apocalypse Whenever, the song was a cathartic release for Bowman and a wistful ode to the past after overcoming addiction. 

“The songs on Infinite Joy reflect an oceanic scope of emotions which colored the last year of my life,” the frontman comments. “In October of 2022 I got clean after a decade spent battling with alcohol abuse. In the direct aftermath, it was like experiencing an entire ten years' worth of growth, in a matter of months. Growth doesn't occur independent of pain, sorrow, joy - every emotion imaginable. I had to go through all of it, and resist none of it. It's a journey I will be on for the rest of my life.” 

To Bowman, “infinite joy” is more like a renewable resource than a feeling. He first encountered the phrase while reading scientist and author Carl Sagan's novel ‘Contact'. It initially seemed oxymoronic, but after stopping to consider the possibilities, it started to take on meaning.  He muses, “Joy is an infinite reservoir which exists beneath the surface of palpable reality - accessible in fragments, most purely when we cease our attempts to grasp it. This idea struck me, perhaps because it seemed so naive and yet I couldn't negate it.” 

The FADER explained that Apocalypse Whenever conceptualized “an existential questioning of the way fear, regret and self-reflection function when informed by the notions of love and loss”. With songwriting as vulnerable as ever, Infinite Joy is brimming with contemplative lyricism as Bowman continues to look inward for answers. “Music tends to serve as a gateway to our purest emotions,” he explains. “My goal was, and always is, to allow room for every possible reaction to take place.” 

Following a whirlwind tour with The Band CAMINO, Bad Suns will be playing an intimate set at The Roxy for its 50 Years Of The Roxy Celebration on Nov. 13th, and an Infinite Joy release show on Nov. 17th. Tickets are available HERE .

Bad Suns Tour Dates

11/13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy 

11/17 – Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues (Infinite Joy Release Show) 

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Bad Suns Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Apocalypse whenever tour, bad suns at bobapalooza 2024.

• Swimming in the Moonlight
• The One I Used To Love
• Dancing on Quicksand
• Heaven Is a Place in My Head
• Baby Blue Shades
• Off She Goes
• Heartbreaker
• This Was a Home Once
• Maybe You Saved Me
• Cardiac Arrest
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Bad Suns at House of Blues, Anaheim, CA, USA

• Disappear Here
• Lunar Shadows
• Astral Plans
• We Move Like the Ocean
• Sleep Paralysis

Bad Suns at The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA, USA

• Nightclub (Waiting for You)
• The World and I

Bad Suns at Dusk Music Festival 2023

• Disappear Here / Swimming in the Moonlight
• Living Or Dying

Bad Suns at Old Forester's Paristown Hall, Louisville, KY, USA

Bad suns at kemba live, columbus, oh, usa, bad suns at the sylvee, madison, wi, usa.

• Life Was Easier When I Only Cared About Me
• Daft Pretty Boys

Bad Suns at GLC Live at 20 Monroe, Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Bad suns at history, toronto, on, canada, bad suns at théâtre beanfield, montreal, qc, canada.

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“Apocalypse Whenever:” Bad Suns’ latest heartbreak album

Since their debut in 2012, California band Bad Suns has been producing catchy, alternative tracks for every first kiss, love and heartbreak. In anticipation of their ongoing headliner tour, the group released their fourth studio album “Apocalypse Whenever” on Jan. 28, 2022, evolving from their previous rock-beat cadences.

Perhaps most known by their 2014 single “Cardiac Arrest,” which became an instant hit within the indie music scene, Bad Suns has come a long way since the days of their first LP “Language and Perspective.” I first heard them perform as the opening act for The Neighbourhood’s “The Flood” tour in 2015, and needless to say, I walked out still humming to the opener’s electrifying setlist. Since then, the band has headlined three tours and has steadily grown a passionate and loyal fanbase.

“Apocalypse Whenever” differs from previous albums stylistically as it merges the band’s indie roots with refreshing pop synth tracks, creating a contemporary sound that still undeniably rides the Bad Suns beachy wave. While the changes are noticeable in comparison to their earlier music, it is vital for artists to diversify their brand if they want to expand the audience they reach. Bad Suns accomplishes this necessary shift without sacrificing what has made their music thrive in the constantly changing alt-rock world, a milestone for every up-and-coming indie band to mirror if they want to reach more ears.

What has remained consistent in this fourth LP is the theme of heartbreak accompanied by an upbeat backdrop. Lead singer Christo Bowman belts lyrics that exuberate self-love and growth following a devastating breakup, looking optimistically toward the future. In “Baby Blue Shades,” he sings confidently of his decision to leave the relationship that has been holding him back, serenading himself more than a former lover, “You hope that the old me / Might show up, he’s not coming back / I’m not coming back.” These positive lyrics encourage listeners, even outside of the relationship context, to trust themselves in the process of making a life-altering decision. 

Toward the conclusion of the album, Bad Suns leaves their fans with an important reminder— even after the pain and torment involved in breaking up with someone you may still care for, you will find love once again. “Apocalypse Whenever” takes the listener through a rollercoaster of emotions that those familiar with heartbreak will certainly understand. 

Bowman’s musicality ensures that fans aren’t left to wallow in their own despair, though, as the last two songs, “Grace (I Think I’m In Love Again)” and “Symphony of Lights,” cushion the listener with newfound hope. The album ends with a neatly tied bow as Bowman sings in “Grace,” “Make my heart beat / In the backseat of your car / I think I’m in love again,” which has some critics like Steve Beebee of Kerang calling it “ so sweet it could actually make you a little bit ill.” While Bad Suns’ new pop sound might not resonate with every fan, especially those who have been following them since the beginning, the alternative band can still say they have remained true to their post-heartbreak mantra—a much-needed message that remains timeless through every stage of love and loss.

“Apocalypse Whenever” is available on all music streaming platforms. 

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Fans livid as Phoenix Suns loss away from season of high expectations abruptly ending

The sixth-seeded Phoenix Suns are still alive, but fan Earl Clark has seen enough of them in this Western Conference first-round series against the third-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves.

“Hopefully, T Wolves will win Game 4 and put Suns fans out of their misery, myself included,” he wrote. “Boring coach, boring team, boring excuses.”

Clark is one of several fans to email his frustration with the Suns to The Republic after watching the T-Wolves take Friday’s Game 3 by 17 points, 126-109, at Footprint Center.

The Suns are down 3-0 heading into Sunday’s Game 4 at Footprint Center and a loss away from having a season of championship expectations abruptly end. Here are more fans expressing their disappointment with the Suns, particularly their team owner, Mat Ishbia and first-year head coach, Frank Vogel.

‘There’s only one reason and that is Vogel’

“The Suns had a rather rocky regular season, but we fans started actually thinking that maybe a championship was possible! Even when the team gave the first playoff game away, there was still a sliver of hope. After all, the Suns had beaten the Wolves in Minnesota during the regular season.  But when the team didn't put up a fight for game 2, the hope was almost gone. But we still held on knowing that the Suns are able to make lemonade.  Then Game 3 happened, but WHY??? After analyzing everything, looking for a reason, there is only one reason and that is Vogel. It seemed like the new owner (Mat Ishbia) had been able to set the team on a solid path to success, but unexplainable losses happened in spite of the talented team. That leads me to conclude that if Vogel isn't fired the Suns won't be able to reach championship potential in spite of the quality players on the team!! – Connie, Suns fan.

'We overreacted'

"We overreacted. We should have kept Coach Monty (Williams), CP3 (Chris Paul), Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Cam Payne, (Dario) Saric, and (Bismack) Biyombo. (Deandre) Ayton was the only player we needed to move on from. This version of the Suns will have its shining moments, big wins over top teams, lots of points scored, but without chemistry, we won't win. Fans are expecting a 40-point blowout in Game 4." – Mike, Suns fan.

‘Everyone knows you can’t do that’

“While Vogel will be the scapegoat, the blame falls to the owner spending all that money to try and buy a championship. Everyone knows you can’t do that.  It will be a long time before the Suns can compete with the elite again. – Neil, Suns fan.

‘Embarrassing’ and ‘ashamed’

“Embarrassing all three games!!! Frank Vogel needs to go!!!! I hope all the players are ashamed of the way they have played this season, VERY DISAPPOINTING!!!!!!!” – Dawn, Suns fan.

‘Sold more tickets than attended games’

My husband and I are season ticket holders. This year is the first time we have sold more tickets than attended games. Anyone can see that the team has no cohesion. It’s just a bad mix of players. I don’t know if it is entirely Vogel’s fault. I put the blame on the new owner. His player decisions look like those made by a man who sat at the end of the bench his whole life. He thinks his money has given him the knowledge to put together a roster. I would call for him to get real advice from outside sources, not friends, to hire a new GM and President of Basketball Operations, and keep his hands off the team. I feel the frustration from the players on the floor. Who puts a team on the floor without an experienced point guard. Devin Booker has never played the position, which is why he loses the ball. A selfish, lazy, player has been brought to the team, and paid a lot of money, and is being stuffed down the throats of fans who can see how he upsets the starting five. His agent pulled one over on the (Washington Wizards) by adding a no trade clause to (Bradley Beal’s) contract. Sad to see the season end as I’m sure it will. I hope next season will not be so disappointing for the players.” – Denise, Suns fan.

Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at  [email protected]  or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at  @DuaneRankin .

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What did Diana Taurasi say about Caitlin Clark and was it really controversial?

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark supporters are upset with the Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi over comments Taurasi made during the Women's NCAA Tournament Final Four earlier this month.

But what did Taurasi say that upset so many Clark fans?

“Look, SVP, reality is coming,” Taurasi told SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt about Clark on April 6. “There’s levels to this thing. And that’s just life. We all went through it. You see it on the NBA side, and you’re going to see it on this side. You look superhuman playing against 18-year-olds, but you’re going to (be playing against) some grown women that have been playing professional basketball for a long time.”  

Taurasi continued: "Not saying (Clark’s skills) are not gonna translate, because when you’re great at what you do, you’re just gonna get better. But there is gonna be a transition period where you’re gonna have to give yourself some grace as a rookie.” 

Wanna see Caitlin Clark play? Phoenix Mercury release tickets for Indiana Fever game

Diana Taurasi doubles down on Caitlin Clark comments

Was what Taurasi said of Clark really that bad?

Isn't it expected that the former Iowa superstar have at least a little bit of growing pains playing in the elevated competition of the WNBA?

Taurasi recently addressed her previous comments about Clark, saying that she was not taking anything away from the Fever's No. 1 WNBA Draft pick and that Clark fans were being "sensitive."

“The new fans are really sensitive these days and you can’t say anything," Taurasi said at media availability for the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. "It’s kind of like when you go from kindergarten to first grade there’s a learning adjustment, when you go from high school to college there’s a learning adjustment. I don’t think I said anything that wasn’t factually correct. Like anything, greatness is going to translate and she’s proven that in every level and I don’t see that being any different in the WNBA.”  

Related: Mercury star Diana Taurasi responds to criticism over Caitlin Clark comments

Taurasi and the Mercury are scheduled to host Clark and the Fever on June 30 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Jenna Ortiz contributed to this story.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter  @Jeremy_Cluff.

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The Secret Push That Could Ban TikTok

U.s. lawmakers have long worried that the chinese government could use the app to spread propaganda..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily.”

[THEME MUSIC]

American lawmakers have tried for years to ban the video app TikTok over concerns that its ties to China pose a national security risk. Last week, they passed a law that might finally do it. Today, my colleague, Sapna Maheshwari, on the secret effort behind the law and what a ban would mean for the company’s 170 million American users.

It’s Tuesday, April 30.

So Sapna, tell me about this law that just passed that potentially bans the social media app TikTok. We’ve seen efforts in the past to rein in TikTok, but this one really seems like the most substantial yet.

It’s a huge deal. What this law really does is it puts the future of this hugely popular app with 170 million American users into question. TikTok has reshaped the way many people listen to music. It’s changed the way we cook. It’s made a whole different kind of celebrity.

But it’s never been able to shake these concerns around the fact that it has really close ties to China. It’s owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance. And lawmakers, for years, have been worried that the Chinese government could somehow use ByteDance and TikTok to get information on Americans or possibly spread propaganda.

President Trump tried to ban it in 2020. The State of Montana tried to ban this app last year. TikTok has largely survived those challenges, but this time it could actually be banned in the United States.

So let’s talk about this. Why did this effort succeed where the other ones failed?

So it’s an interesting story.

Here we go.

The committee will come to order.

And it really dates back to this hearing about a year ago that Congress had with Shou Chew, the CEO of TikTok.

Mr. Chew, you are here because the American people need the truth about the threat TikTok poses to our national and personal security.

Members of the committee, thank you for your time.

— TikTok has repeatedly said that it has addressed these national security concerns and that there’s no issue here. And you can hear that when Shou Chew testified.

Let me start by addressing a few misconceptions about ByteDance of which we are a subsidiary. ByteDance is not owned or controlled by the Chinese government.

He’s saying American investors are behind ByteDance.

Now, TikTok itself is not available in mainland China. We’re headquartered in Los Angeles and in Singapore.

And I myself am Singaporean. I live in Singapore.

The bottom line is this — American data, stored on American soil, by an American company, overseen by American personnel.

And we are actually going above and beyond what American technology companies do to keep things safe.

And I look forward to your questions. Thank you very much.

And is Congress convinced by that?

Congress is not convinced by that.

ByteDance is a Chinese company?

Well, ByteDance owns many businesses that operates in China.

Is it or is it not a Chinese company?

Congressman, the way we look at it, it was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs.

No, no, no, no. I’m not asking how you look at it. Fact, is it a Chinese company or not? For example, Dell is a company —

It was this really fiery, five-hour hearing, where Republicans and Democrats asked really contentious questions.

We do not promote or remove content at the request of the Chinese government. Will you repeat —

The question is, are you percent certain that they cannot use your company to promote such messages?

It is our commitment to this committee and all our users that we will keep this free from any manipulation by any government.

OK. If you can’t say it 100 percent certain I take that as a no.

There’s this underlying sense of distrust around the company and its ties to China.

I will remind you that making false or misleading statements to Congress is a federal crime.

I understand. Again, you can go on our platform. You will find that content.

And it becomes clear through the hearing that, across the board, Republicans and Democrats largely feel the same way.

Mr. Chew, I got to hand it to you. You’ve actually done something that in the last three to four years has not happened except for the exception of maybe Vladimir Putin. You have unified Republicans and Democrats.

So within weeks of this hearing, this small group of lawmakers gets together. And they say, let’s come up with a law that works where all the other ones have failed and actually make TikTok answer to its Chinese connections once and for all.

So tell me about this small group of lawmakers. Who are they?

So it starts with Republicans. Among them is Steve Scalise, one of the most powerful Republicans in the House. And a small group sort of works together for a few months, but they realize that in order to really make this law work, they’re going to need Democrats. So they end up working through this House Committee that’s focused on China and competition. And this is where the bulk of the work on this bill takes place.

And just to note, this is a really small group. There’s less than 20 key players who are working on this. And all throughout, they are keeping this very, very secret.

And why exactly are they keeping it secret? What’s the point of that?

So this group really wanted to keep this out of the eyes of TikTok, which has a huge lobbying presence in DC, and has successfully worked to kill bills that targeted TikTok in the past. And what they’re really doing is looking at all of the past efforts to either force a sale or a ban of TikTok, and trying to work their way through why those plans didn’t succeed and what they can do differently.

But while the lawmakers are working on this bill, something big happens that kind of changes the politics around it. And that’s October 7.

Your social media feeds are unique to you, but could they be shaping how you view the Israel-Gaza War? The BBC’s —

As the war breaks out and people start getting information about it, a lot of people are getting information about the Israel-Hamas War on TikTok, especially young people.

Social media algorithms seem to be driving some users towards increasingly divisive posts —

And there’s this big messy argument spilling out into living rooms and all over the internet, and, of course on TikTok. And it’s getting very heated. For instance, there’s this moment in the fall where a bunch of TikTok users start sharing this old manifesto.

I read Osama bin Laden’s “Letter to America.”

It’s wild, and everyone should read it.

Go read “A Letter to America.” Seriously, go read it.

That was actually written by Osama bin Laden, defending the 9/11 attacks and criticizing the United States’ support of Israel. TikTok users start trying to tie it to the modern day conflict.

Reading this letter, it becomes apparent to me that the actions of 9/11 were all just the buildup of our government failing other nations.

The way this letter is going viral right now is giving me the greatest sense of relief. Now it’s all coming to light because of Palestine.

And there’s these accusations that TikTok may be promoting one side of the conflict over the other. And a couple of researchers look at hashtags around Palestine, and they say that the data they pulled shows that TikTok is showing way more pro-Palestine videos and not so much for Israel. And this sets off huge alarm bells for this small group of lawmakers.

But isn’t that just a function of the fact that TikTok, at this point, is the public square in the United States for young people? I mean, this is what young people were talking about, and this is where they’re doing the talking.

TikTok has pushed back really forcefully against these accusations. They said that Gallup polls show that young people view Israel differently than older generations. They say that they’re not the ones influencing what people post, that the hashtags and the videos are a reflection of the user base and nothing that they’re doing to influence.

But for lawmakers, this doesn’t really make their concerns go away. Instead, this conflict shows them how TikTok could be used to spread propaganda. It made lawmakers feel that TikTok could be really dangerous when it comes to shaping the views of Americans on foreign policy, on US elections. And what it also does is, it provides this driving force to this group that’s drafting this bill. And they suddenly see that this might be a way to bring more people into their effort.

And so heading into November against this backdrop, they even bring in the White House and the Justice Department to help work on this bill. And with the White House, they want to make sure that this is a bill that the president will support. And they work with the Justice Department to shore up the language in the bill to help defend against court challenges.

Because the Justice Department, of course, would be the one that would have to defend the bill, right?

That’s exactly right. And so they’re trying to make it as rock solid as possible so that they can win in court when TikTok challenges this law. And so March rolls around, and they decide that it’s time to unveil this bill that they’ve been working on for close to a year.

The battle over TikTok on Capitol Hill is intensifying.

This morning, House lawmakers have agreed unanimously to move a bill to a full floor vote.

And TikTok is caught completely flat footed. They didn’t see this coming. And this is just what the group wanted. So TikTok has this army of lobbyists that’s suddenly scrambling. And they go into damage control mode. They start reaching out to members of Congress.

This app is so much more than just an app for dumb TikTok dances.

They fly a group of TikTok stars and small businesses to come to DC —

This is a life-changing apps.

— and lobby on the steps of the Capitol and meet with lawmakers.

Standing up here with all these amazing TikTokers behind me is a complete honor, and every single one of them would voice their opinion just like this. This is how we feel. This has to stop.

They set up interviews between these TikTok creators, as they’re known, and big TV shows and news programs. And they’re doing everything they can to fight against this bill before it goes any further. And then they decide to do something unusual, which is use TikTok itself to try and derail this bill.

How exactly do they do that?

So days after this bill is announced, a ton of TikTok users get a message when they open the TikTok app that basically says, call Congress and tell them not to ban TikTok.

Hmm. OK. So like, literally this window comes up and says, call Congress. Here you go.

Exactly. You can enter your zip code, and there’s a button that appears. And you can press it, and the call goes straight to your representative.

So offices are quickly overwhelmed by calls. And TikTok sent out this message to users on the same day that a House committee is going into vote on this bill and whether to move it forward. And so the stunt happens. They go into vote, and they come out, and it’s 50 to 0 in support of the bill.

One of the representatives who worked on the bill said that this stunt by TikTok turned a lot of no’s into yeses and yeses into, quote, “hell yeses.”

[LAUGHS]: so the whole episode sounds like it actually backfired, right? Like, TikTok’s stunt essentially just confirmed what was the deepest fears of lawmakers about this company, that the app could be used to influence American politics.

That’s definitely how a lot of lawmakers viewed it. And when this bill is brought to the full House a week later, it passes by an overwhelming majority. And weeks later, it passes in the Senate as part of a broader aid package. And on Wednesday, it’s signed into law by President Biden.

But now the question is, what does it mean? Like, how will this actually work? And how will it affect the tens of millions of Americans who use TikTok every day?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

We’ll be right back.

So Sapna, now that Biden has signed this bill, what does it actually mean in practice for TikTok? What does the law do?

So the law is really trying to push ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, to sell to a non-Chinese owner. And the company basically has nine months for this sale to happen. There’s an option for President Biden to add another three months to that clock. And if the company doesn’t find a buyer or refuses to be sold, it will be banned.

And what would a ban actually mean, Sapna? I mean, people would still have the app on their phones, right? So it wouldn’t disappear overnight.

Yeah, no one’s coming to pick up your phone and to forcibly delete this thing. What the law says is that app stores and web hosting services wouldn’t be allowed to carry TikTok anymore. So basically, it would kind of die a slow death over time, where it wouldn’t be updated and just kind of peter out.

So the bottom line here is that the clock has started on this potential sale, right? They have 12 months to find a buyer. So what are the obstacles here? I mean, it sounds pretty ferociously complicated.

There’s a ton of challenges here. And it’s a very messy choose-your-own adventure. So one of the first big questions is who could buy this?

ByteDance and TikTok are private. We don’t know their financials. But analysts estimate that it will cost tens of billions of dollars. That narrows the buying pool pretty quickly. And a lot of the companies that could afford to buy it, like Meta, the owner of Facebook, or Google, which owns YouTube, would probably be kicked out of the running because they are simply too big. Regulators would say, you already own these big apps. You can’t possibly add this to your stable.

There’d be a monopoly concern there.

Exactly. And then, there’s a lot of questions around how this would work, technically. ByteDance and TikTok are very much global organizations. You have the CEO in Singapore. They have huge operations in Ireland. They have this big workforce in the US. And of course, they do have engineers in China.

So how do you extract all those things, make it all work? It’s a very big international transaction.

And then there is the chance that the Chinese government blocks this sale and says, you cannot do this, ByteDance. We will not allow it.

So Sapna, how does that actually work, though, in terms of China? I mean, can China actually just ban the sale of this company? I mean, it is a private company after all, right?

Well, here’s one way it could work. The Chinese government could block the export of TikTok’s algorithm. And let me explain that in kind of plain English.

They could basically block the technology that fuels the TikTokiness of this app, the recommendations, the magic of it, why you see what you see when you’re looking at TikTok.

TikTokiness, is that an adjective?

That is now an adjective.

[LAUGHS]: Nice.

And there’s a chance that Beijing could say, hey, you can’t export this technology. That is proprietary. And if that happens, that suddenly makes TikTok way, way less valuable.

So the Chinese government could let the sale go through potentially, but as a kind of an empty shell, right? The thing that makes TikTok TikTok, the algorithm, wouldn’t be part of the company. So that probably isn’t very appealing for a potential buyer.

Exactly. And I mean, the role of the Chinese government here is really interesting. I’ve talked to experts who say, well, if the Chinese government interferes to try and block a sale of this app, doesn’t that underscore and prove all the concerns that have been expressed by American lawmakers?

If you’re worried about China being in control of this thing, well, that just confirmed your fears.

Exactly. And I mean, it’s an interesting thing that ByteDance and TikTok have to grapple with.

So bottom line here — selling TikTok is quite complicated, and perhaps not even possible for these reasons that you’re giving, right? I mean, not least of which because the Chinese government might not allow the algorithm to leave the country. And that’s not something that the US Congress has a lot of control over.

So is this law fundamentally just a ban, then?

That’s what TikTok is calling it. Right after this bill was signed into law on Wednesday —

Make no mistake, this is a ban, a ban on TikTok and a ban on you and your voice.

— Tiktok’s CEO made a TikTok — what else?— that explained the company’s position.

Because the freedom of expression on TikTok reflects the same American values that make the United States a beacon of freedom.

He actually argued that TikTok reflects American values.

TikTok gives everyday Americans a powerful way to be seen and heard. And that’s why so many people have made TikTok part of their daily lives.

And he said that this law infringes on the First Amendment free speech rights of Americans who love it and who use it every day.

The facts and the Constitution are on our side, and we expect to prevail again.

So it’s very clear that TikTok plans to challenge this law in court. And the court fight to follow will determine the fate of TikTok’s future in the US.

So is that First Amendment argument that the TikTok CEO is making here going to work?

Nobody wants to put money on that. I mean, the company is really approaching this with the idea that the First Amendment rights of Americans are being infringed on. But if you remember, the government has been working on this law. They’ve been anticipating those challenges. And they can justify an infringing of First Amendment rights in certain cases, including with national security concerns. And so it’ll be up to a judge on whether those concerns pass muster and justify this sale and even a potential ban of TikTok.

Got it. So TikTok will argue free speech, First Amendment. And the government will counter by saying, look, this is about China. This is about America’s national security interests.

That’s right. And the legal experts that I’ve spoken with say this is a really big and sticky area of the law, and it’s a huge case. And they really think that this will go to the Supreme Court, regardless of who wins in the first round of this.

So where does that leave the millions of Americans who use TikTok, and many of them, of course, who earn a living on the platform?

I mean, it’s really uncertain what happens now with the company, and the clock has started ticking. When I’ve looked at TikTok and looked at videos from users —

This is about the impending TikTok ban. And it just triggered me so much. It makes my blood boil, and I have to get this out there.

There’s a lot of shock —

The most success I’ve had has been here on TikTok, and now they’re trying to take it away.

This is so stupid!

— and anger.

You can’t ban apps! You can’t ban things from people!

People are confused.

Word on the street is that in the next 9 to 12 months, TikTok could be banned.

And they’re also caught a bit off guard, just because there have been these years of efforts to do something about TikTok. People on the app have been hearing about a TikTok ban, really, since 2020.

The government can take away a literal app on our phones, and we’re supposed to believe we’re free?

A few TikTokers have said, how can this be the thing that the government is pushing through so quickly?

Can we stop funding a genocide? No. Can we get free COVID tests? No. Can we stop killing the planet? No. Can we at least watch videos on an app of people doing fun things and learn about the world around us? No.

So there’s this sense of distrust and disappointment for many people who love this app.

We got rid of TikTok. You’re welcome. Protecting you from China. You know that phone was made in China. Ah!

And I think there’s also this question, too, around what about TikTok makes it so harmful? Even though it has increasingly become a place for news, there’s plenty of people who simply use this app for entertainment. And what they’re seeing out of Washington just doesn’t square with the reality they experience when they pull out their phones.

And I wonder, Sapna, I mean, just kind of stepping back for a second, let’s say this ban on TikTok succeeds. If it goes through, would Americans be better off?

It depends who you ask. For the users who love TikTok, if it actually disappeared, it would be the government taking away a place where maybe they make money, where they get their entertainment, where they figure out what to read or what to cook next. To free speech advocates, this would be dystopian, unheard of for the government to crack down on an app with such wide usage by Americans.

But for the American political class And the National security establishment, this is a necessary move, one that was years in the making, not something that was just come up with on the fly. And ultimately, it all comes down to China and this idea that you can’t have a social media app like this, a source of news like this, that is even at all at risk of being influenced by the Chinese government and our greatest adversaries.

Sapna, thank you.

Here’s what else you should know today. On Monday, in its latest high-profile showdown with pro-Palestinian protesters, Columbia University gave students until 2:00 PM to clear out from an encampment at the center of campus or face suspension. It appeared to be an effort to remove the encampment without relying on New York City Police, whose removal of a previous encampment there two weeks ago inspired similar protests on campuses across the country.

Free Palestine!

Hi, this is Sharon Otterman reporting for “The New York Times.”

00 PM deadline for protesters to clear out of the encampment at the center of Columbia University has come and gone, and there’s still quite a large contingent inside the encampment.

But Monday’s warning seemed only to galvanize the Columbia protesters and their supporters.

And hundreds of students and others from around the campus have come out to support them. They are currently walking around in a picket around the encampment.

Hundreds of students, standing for or five people deep, encircled the encampment in a show of solidarity. They were joined by members of the Columbia faculty.

There’s also dozens of faculty members, who are prepared to stand in lines in front of the main entrance to the encampment, in case Public Safety or the NYPD move in. But as of 2:00, there was no sign of that happening.

Then, on Monday evening, Columbia announced it had begun to suspend students who had failed to leave the encampment. It was unclear exactly how many students had been suspended.

[PRO-PALESTINE CHANTING]:

Today’s episode was produced by Will Reid, Rachelle Banja, and Rob Szypko. It was edited by Marc Georges and Liz O. Baylen, contains original music by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sharon Otterman.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• May 1, 2024   •   35:16 The New Abortion Fight Before the Supreme Court
• April 30, 2024   •   27:40 The Secret Push That Could Ban TikTok
• April 29, 2024   •   47:53 Trump 2.0: What a Second Trump Presidency Would Bring
• April 26, 2024   •   21:50 Harvey Weinstein Conviction Thrown Out
• April 25, 2024   •   40:33 The Crackdown on Student Protesters
• April 24, 2024   •   32:18 Is $60 Billion Enough to Save Ukraine?
• April 23, 2024   •   30:30 A Salacious Conspiracy or Just 34 Pieces of Paper?
• April 22, 2024   •   24:30 The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu
• April 19, 2024   •   30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Sapna Maheshwari

Produced by Will Reid ,  Rachelle Bonja and Rob Szypko

Edited by Marc Georges and Liz O. Baylen

Original music by Marion Lozano and Dan Powell

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

American lawmakers have tried for years to ban TikTok, concerned that the video app’s links to China pose a national security risk.

Sapna Maheshwari, a technology reporter for The Times, explains the behind-the-scenes push to rein in TikTok and discusses what a ban could mean for the app’s 170 million users in the United States.

On today’s episode

Sapna Maheshwari , who covers TikTok, technology and emerging media companies for The New York Times.

Background reading

A tiny group of lawmakers huddled in private about a year ago, aiming to bulletproof a bill that could ban TikTok.

The TikTok law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing’s hostility .

Love, hate or fear it, TikTok has changed America .

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Special thanks to Sharon Otterman .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Sapna Maheshwari reports on TikTok, technology and emerging media companies. She has been a business reporter for more than a decade. Contact her at [email protected] . More about Sapna Maheshwari

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Anthony Edwards becomes a real NBA superstar, plus Rory McIlroy’s karaoke appearance

The Pulse Newsletter 📣 | This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox.

Good morning! Show some love to Candace Parker today.

While You Were Sleeping: An emphatic, game-changing sweep

I hate the overuse of the term “passing the torch,” but what occurred in Phoenix last night felt worthy of the phrase. The Minnesota Timberwolves, led by ascendant megastar Anthony Edwards, finished off a sweep of his childhood hero Kevin Durant’s Suns with a 122-116 win. 

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Zoom out and it’s huge two ways: 

1. Remember when we worried about how the Timberwolves , coming off a magical regular season, would fare in their first real playoff action as a core group? These are not the Wolves of the past. They are talented, terrifying and ready for the moment, no one more so than the 22-year-old Edwards , who does stuff like this in the closing minutes of a playoff game:

ANTHONY EDWARDS ARE YOU SERIOUS 🤯🤯🤯 WOLVES UP 4 WITH 2 MINUTES REMAINING ON TNT pic.twitter.com/P1DX4w8Cj4 — NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2024

Mercy. This is the first series win for the Timberwolves since 2004 , and they might be the biggest threat to Denver at this point. (Also, I hope Minnesota coach Chris Finch is OK after suffering this sideline collision with Mike Conley , which gave the coach a torn patellar tendon .) 

2. Kevin Durant ’s late career is so intriguing now. The man has two Finals MVPs, but ever since leaving Golden State in 2019, he has just two playoff series wins, both in the first round. NBA playoff success is fleeting, and it feels like the last four seasons have been squandered opportunities for the 35-year-old. 

And what about the Suns’ future? Shams Charania and Doug Haller gathered some juicy details about the turmoil inside this team all season , which is worth a read this morning. Sounds to me like Frank Vogel is toast, though he says he believes differently. 

I also loved Durant’s comments after the game on Edwards, whom he said is his “favorite player to watch.” A true torch-passing , if you will.

Let’s catch up with everyone else: 

• After tough wins yesterday, both the Knicks and Pacers (!) are one game away from advancing. Jalen Brunson put up a heroic 47 points in Philadelphia, while Indiana capitalized on the absence of both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard to push a preseason favorite to the brink.
• The Clippers and Mavericks are holding our most interesting NBA series right now. LA won yesterday, tying it at 2-2. With wins being traded by superstars (Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving against Paul George, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard), I have no idea who has the upper hand. See all of yesterday’s NBA action here .
• On the ice, the Rangers also closed out their series against the Capitals with a 4-2 win . Heady stuff, especially on the road. They await the winner of Canes-Islanders, which could wrap up with a Carolina win tomorrow.
• The Canucks, Avalanche and Oilers are also up 3-1 after massive wins yesterday, and few have been more impressive than Vancouver’s 4-3 overtime win in Nashville. The Canucks shocked the world, including our writers . Colorado’s blowout win ended in, ahem, blows. More on that later. 

Whew. By the end of the week, we will have fewer teams.

Overdue: Ding dong, the jerseys are gone

I will admit that I figured, no matter how bad the MLB jersey fiasco got, that the hard feelings would subside and we would all accept our small-lettered, see-through-pants future. I was wrong: 

• An MLB Players Association memo — obtained by The Athletic — indicates that Nike will largely restore the look and feel of last year’s jerseys , including the larger lettering, thicker pants and even the better zipper used in previous years.
• This comes after months of scrutiny . No one ever seemed overjoyed about the new duds, and we’ve seen multiple pants tears since the season began, not to mention the very obvious change in appearance. The criticism was loud and lengthy. 

Just don’t expect the jerseys to change this year — we’ll get the old look back by Opening Day of 2025. It can’t come soon enough.

News to Know

Parker retires There has never been a women’s basketball player like Candace Parker, who announced her retirement yesterday after 16 years in the WNBA. Her stardom started before that though, as she became a superstar at Tennessee, where she won two national championships and became the first woman to dunk in an NCAA Tournament game. She is a three-time WNBA champion, two-time WNBA MVP and also one of the best basketball analysts on TV. Sabreena Merchant properly captured the moment here .

Dell injured in shooting Texans wide receiver Tank Dell was shot in Florida this weekend , the team confirmed, adding that he sustained only minor injuries in the incident. There are no other public details about the shooting at this time. Dell became a star for the surprise Texans last season, catching 47 passes for 709 yards and seven touchdowns in just 11 games.

• Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault is officially one of the NBA’s best coaches , winning Coach of the Year.
• Former Colorado running back Dylan Edwards has landed at Kansas State .
• USMNT star and Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle scored in her first game action since her leg injury suffered at this year’s W Gold Cup.

Things You Need to See: Rory karaokes in New Orleans

I may be biased, but there is no city more fun than New Orleans. And Rory McIlroy clearly needed a fun weekend. 

He and Shane Lowry won the Zurich Classic yesterday in New Orleans via a dramatic playoff finish, then immediately went to the 19th-hole bar and started blasting out Journey with the house band:

This is not a drill. Rory McIlroy singing Don't Stop Believing pic.twitter.com/y5PkEDoqo4 — Brody Miller (@BrodyAMiller) April 28, 2024

I urge you to click through on that video to hear Rory completely drown out any singing attempt by Lowry. 

It was a cathartic weekend for McIlroy , as Brody Miller wrote, in a place where he could relax from the stressful two years he’s had. There was no LIV talk or awkward interactions with playing partners this week. Just one of the world’s best golfers, playing with one of his best friends, winning a golf tournament and rocking Mardi Gras beads. Perfect.

Watch This Game

NBA: Celtics at Heat 7:30 p.m. on TNT Miami is not the same caliber team as last year, but I still need to see Boston fully embrace its role as the East’s alpha and swat away the Heat, who have been a nightmare matchup in past seasons. 

NHL : Stars at Golden Knights 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN This series is fun again thanks to Dallas’ 20-year-old star, Wyatt Johnson, helping the Stars partially dig out of a 2-0 hole . 

Get tickets to games like these here .

Pulse Picks

Last year, Deion Sanders cut 20 Colorado players in a day, something unheard of in modern college football. Where are his castoffs now? Max Olson has a great story on the experience those players endured and how they feel about the whole ordeal now. 

Adam Jahns has a great, long-look feature on Caleb Williams , who’s been a superstar since high school. Good time to be a Bears fan. 

A worthy circle-back: the Angels are calling up Zac Kristofak , the prospect whose father murdered his mother. Sam Blum penned a wonderful piece on how Kristofak has tried to find the light ever since . 

Why are the Maple Leafs losing another playoff series? This time, the Bruins are just better , as Sean McIndoe writes. 

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday : NFL Draft winners and losers . Still relevant. 

Most-read on the website yesterday : Eric Duhatschek’s recap of the wild Jets-Avalanche Game 3, which ended with blood everywhere. Literally .

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Devin Booker, Kevin Durant Send Message to Suns Fans

The Phoenix Suns are down - but not out.

• Author: Donnie Druin

In this story:

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns now have the odds stacked against them.

Frank Vogel's squad travels back to Phoenix down 0-2 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with Game 3 (Friday) and Game 4 (Sunday). Teams who win the first two games have an eye-opening advantage in terms of statistics, as 92.7% of teams who are up 2-0 go on to advance.

Through two games of playoff basketball, it's fair to say the Suns haven't shined quite like most thought.

Now - almost more than ever - the Suns need their fans to believe.

"Don't count us out. It's a series for a reason. I don't think any road team's won so far. I know that doesn't have anything to do with us, but it's just the situation that it is," said Devin Booker after Game 2.

Kevin Durant also chipped in:

"Can't give up on us right now, sh--. We need it more than anything. I know we've been disappointing the last couple games - even the season for our fans, but we need you more than ever coming back home for Game 3."

Phoenix has all the talent to turn things around, and perhaps that's the most frustrating part with this organization. Led by a championship-winning coach in Frank Vogel with stars such as Bradley Beal, Booker and Durant, expectations haven't been met in any facet for a team that pushed their chips all-in to the middle of the table last summer.

The Suns say they simply need to regroup ahead of Friday:

"We just gotta re-group. We got two days to think about it, two days to sit with it. You know, we’ve showed that in spots this season, and it’s something that we need to correct and correct urgently," said Booker.

Vogel offered his own take on what's happened thus far in the postseason - you can read more about that here.

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