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MIAMI GARDENS — Defense and the run game have received most of the attention during the Miami Dolphins’ four-game winning streak. The fact is Miami’s success goes deeper. The Dolphins are also getting a big boost from playing smart, clean football.

Take a look at the statistical categories coach Mike McDaniel and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver value most — turnover margin and points allowed, respectively. The numbers are hugely favorable recently and offer another glimpse into why the Dolphins have won five of their past six games heading into their Monday night game against the Steelers (7-6) in Pittsburgh.

Also, take a look at penalties. Those numbers are hugely favorable, too.

It’s all connected, these ancillary elements to winning — turnover margin, scoring defense and penalties.

But when you want to understand the true depth of this Dolphins (6-7) midseason turnaround start at the beginning, meaning the beginning of the game.

When the Dolphins have won the toss during the past six games, McDaniel has taken the ball, a change in strategy, instead of deferring his option to receive until the third quarter. Consequently, the Dolphins have scored first in every game of this six-game stretch although not always on their first possession. They’ve scored first-quarter touchdowns in four of the six games. Playing with the lead has allowed McDaniel to stick with running back De’Von Achane and the running game, which leads the league during the past five weeks at 192.3 yards rushing per game.

Additionally, the run game success reduces the burden on inconsistent quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (18 touchdowns, career-worst 14 interceptions, career-worst 86.4 passer rating). Tagovailoa’s success, and the success of the passing game, has been much different this season than previous seasons and a primary reason is likely the absence of injured star wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

But just as importantly as winning the coin toss, taking the ball, scoring first, and utilizing the ground game, the Dolphins are plus-seven in turnover margin over the past six games. They’re now plus-one for the season. McDaniel regards turnover margin as the best statistical indicator of wins and losses.

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“I think it’s no coincidence what came first, the chicken or the egg,” McDaniel said. “I think our play style is leading to the takeaway margin, and we’ll need to continue that to hope to have the same success.”

When it comes to points allowed consider the Dolphins have only allowed more than 17 points once during the past six games, that being the 28-6 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. The scoring defense success represents a huge turnaround considering the Dolphins allowed at least 21 points in each of their first seven games, and four opponents scored 30 or more.

“We have unwavering faith and conviction in what we do,” Weaver said, “and we knew that if we would just keep taking small incremental steps forward in whatever that was, whether that was schematically, effort, focus on takeaways, technique and fundamentals, eventually the dam would break and we’d start getting the results that we were looking for.”

When it comes to penalties the Dolphins have had fewer penalty yards than each of their past six opponents. They haven’t had more than five penalties in any game during this stretch.

Dolphins now facing elimination at Pittsburgh on Monday after NFL’s Sunday slate

The bottom line is the Dolphins are playing smart, clean football along with executing when it comes to run games and defense.

McDaniel attributes all of the improved numbers and better results to more convicted efforts.

“We’re talking about takeaways every week,” he said, “but it’s all connected to high-effort strain, conviction, the style of play that is very violent in nature. The game of inches that lead to touchdowns versus field goals, first downs versus fourth downs, and then those tips and overthrows that lead to takeaways, they’re all packed into a style of play that is very much convicted and high effort.”

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — Will Miami win Monday at Steelers? | VIDEO

Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., Monday, Acrisure Stadium

TV: ESPN, CBS (Ch. 4 in Miami-Dade, Broward counties; Ch. 12 in Palm Beach); RADIO: Westwood One, NFL+, WBGG (105.9-FM), WINZ (940-AM), WTZU (94.9-FM, Spanish); Palm Beach: ESPN (106.3 FM); WEFL (760-AM, Spanish)


Coaches: The Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel is 34-32, including the playoffs, in his fourth season as a head coach; the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin is 198-124-2 in his 19th season.

Series: The Steelers lead the all-time series, 15-14, including 2-2 in the postseason. The Dolphins have won four of the past five regular-season meetings. These teams last met in the regular season in 2022, a 16-10 Miami victory at Hard Rock Stadium. Their postseason meeting after the 2016 season was Pittsburgh’s last playoff win, a 30-12 Steelers decision. Miami has lost its past two games in Pittsburgh (2016 playoffs, 2019 regular season).

Weather: 20 degrees (feels-like temperature of 12 degrees), 74 percent humidity; 0 percent chance of precipitation, 8 mph winds from the SW with gusts up to 22 mph.


Line: The Steelers are 3-point favorites; the over-under is 42 points.

Injuries: Dolphins — Doubtful: S Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee); Questionable: OL Andrew Meyer (triceps). Physically unable to perform: OL Liam Eichenberg; Injured reserve: WR Tyreek Hill (knee), RG James Daniels (pectoral), K Jason Sanders (hip), CB Storm Duck (knee), CB Kader Kohou (knee), RB Alexander Mattison (neck), CB Artie Burns (knee), TE Jalin Conyers, CB Jason Maitre, OL Obinna Eze, OL Germain Ifedi, OL Yodny Cajuste …

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Steelers — Out: OL Andrus Peat (concussion), CB James Pierre (calf), LB T.J. Watt (lung). Questionable: DT Derrick Harmon (knee), TE Darnell Washington (concussion). Injured reserve: S DeShon Elliott, QB Skylar Thompson are among 12 players on the list.

Noteworthy: This is another “cold-weather” game for the Dolphins with the line of delineation for this purpose being 45 degrees or colder at kickoff. The Dolphins are 1-5 in cold-weather games under McDaniel and QB Tua Tagovailoa with the most recent victory being last week’s 34-10 win at the New York Jets. Aside from that game, the Dolphins lost at Buffalo (32-29) in the 2022 regular season, at Buffalo (34-31) in the 2022 playoffs, at Kansas City (26-7) in the 2023 playoffs, at Green Bay on Thanksgiving last season (30-17), and lost at the Jets (32-20) in last season’s finale. …

A win would be the fifth consecutive for the the Dolphins, matching their longest winning streak in the McDaniel era, achieved in 2022. …

A victory would improve Miami’s record to 7-7, making the Dolphins the fifth team in NFL history to reach .500 after starting 2-7. The 2021 Dolphins also turned the trick. …

The Dolphins are 7-7 in December games under McDaniel. …

This is usually a troubling time of the season for the Dolphins, who are 8-10 in December-January games under McDaniel, including 3-7 on the road. …

The Steelers and Dolphins had a high-profile offseason trade that involved Pittsburgh sending S Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami in exchange for CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith. Each player will want to show that their former team was wrong to let them go. …

RB De’Von Achane (1,126 yard rushing, No. 3 in NFL) ranks No. 2 among RBs in the NFL for receiving TDs (four) and No. 4 in receptions (55) and receiving yards (383). …

Pittsburgh is without OLB T.J. Watt, and that will certainly hurt its defense, especially the pass rush. …

QB Aaron Rodgers is playing with a left (non-throwing) wrist injury. …

WR DK Metcalf will have to be monitored closely because he brings a combination of speed and size that’s rarely seen. …

DL Cameron Heyward, a future Hall of Famer, will have spirited matchups with C Aaron Brewer, who is having a Pro Bowl-caliber season. …

The Dolphins played the song “Renegade” by Styx on a loop during Friday’s practice. Renegade is a song played at Acrisure Stadium to get the crowd fired up. …

Former Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey, the twin brother of ex-Dolphins C Mike Pouncey, is being inducted into the Hall of Honor so both will be at Monday’s game. QB Ben Roethlisberger and S Joey Porter, another former Dolphins player, are also being inducted in the Hall of Honor.

Top Dolphins-Steelers prop bets from Chris Perkins and David Furones

MIAMI — For the Miami Heat, Monday represents more than a return to action after a five-day break. It also opens an additional window for transactions.

Dec. 15 is the first day that most players signed in the offseason can be traded.

For the Heat, that makes Monday that first day that guard Dru Smith and Jahmir Young can be dealt, not that the team has offered any such indications.

Typically, the Heat would have a higher number of players trade-eligible on Dec. 15, but this, by their standards, was a relatively tame offseason.

While guard Davion Mitchell also was signed this past offseason, because he received a raise higher than 20% and was retained by Bird Rights, his trade window does not open until Jan. 15.

That does not mean the Heat are poised for a deal, only that transaction dates now are at hand ahead of the Feb. 5 NBA trading deadline.

While Young is one of three Heat players on two-way contracts, the NBA limit, he does not become trade eligible until Monday because he was converted from a standard contract during the preseason. The Heat’s other two-way players — Vlad Goldin and Myron Gardner — were trade eligible 30 days after they were directly signed to two-way deals in July.

All of the Heat’s other offseason signings either were a matter of picking up player options or picking up guarantees, such as with Keshad Johnson and Pelle Larsson.

The Heat currently have one spot vacant on their standard roster, with teams eligible to carry up to 15. While they also have enough space below the luxury tax to sign an additional player — a window that opened Saturday — such additional space also can now be utilized in a trade.

In all, about 77 players will turn trade-eligible on Monday, about 17% of the NBA, a list that also includes the likes of former Heat forward Duncan Robinson, former Heat guard Kyle Lowry, and recently banished Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul.

Among offseason signings in addition to the Heat’s Mitchell that won’t be trade eligible until Jan, 15 are Jonathan Kuminga, Naz Reid and Josh Giddey.

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Worth noting amid Giannis Antetokounmpo speculation, with the Heat listed as potential landing spots if such a trade is considered, is that the Milwaukee Bucks have 10 players who become trade eligible Monday, creating significant optionality.

Similar situations

Monday’s 7:30 p.m. game at Kaseya Center was added to the schedule when the Heat and Toronto Raptors were knocked out in Tuesday night quarterfinals of the NBA Cup. The game is in Miami because the Raptors otherwise had been scheduled only once in South Florida (Dec. 23). The Heat play in Toronto on April 7 and April 9.

Both teams have struggled after unexpectedly hot early starts, the Heat entering at 14-11, on a four-game losing streak, the Raptors at 15-11, also on a four-game losing streak.

“This year, it’s been almost a mirror image of the style of play, where we’ve been in the conference,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, “the aggressiveness, commitment to defense. But I would say any year that the Heat and Toronto face each other, it always ends up being competitive games.”

Among the reasons for the Raptors’ revival has been the play of forward Brandon Ingram, who was acquired at last season’s trade deadline and then signed to a contract extension. He is coming off a 31-point NBA Cup performance against the New York Knicks.

“He’s healthy,” said Spoelstra, with Ingram not having played since Feb. 10, 2022 against the Heat. “I think that’s a big part of the success. Whenever he’s been healthy, he’s been an explosive scorer. He’s a tough guard. He gets to his spots and raises up above most defenses and he’s in a great system, a great rhythm right now.”

Only Larsson

Larsson, who sprained his left ankle in last week’s loss in Orlando, was the lone Heat player not to practice Sunday, as the Heat completed three consecutive days of work on their practice court at Kaseya Center, their longest training period since the preseason.

The only other player listed as out by the Heat for Monday is Terry Rozier, who remains on league-mandated leave.

Otherwise on the Heat injury report, rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis is listed as probable with a sprained left ankle, with Tyler Herro (toe) and Dru Smith (hip) both listed as available.

For the Raptors, RJ Barrett (knee) is out, with the balance of their rotation healthy and not on their injury report.

Save on Home Maintenance Services From Your Home Inspector This Season  CandysDirt.com

Today is Saturday, Dec. 13, the 347th day of 2025. There are 18 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Dec. 13, 2014, thousands of protesters marched in New York, Washington and other U.S. cities to call attention to the killing of unarmed Black men by white police officers.

Also on this date:

In 1862, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside launched failed frontal assaults against entrenched Confederate soldiers during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg; the soundly defeated Northern troops withdrew two days later after suffering heavy casualties.

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In 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese soldiers captured the Chinese city of Nanjing and began what would be a weekslong massacre of an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 citizens, war prisoners and soldiers.

In 1996, the U.N. Security Council chose Kofi Annan of Ghana to become the world body’s seventh secretary-general.

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida; Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.

In 2001, the Pentagon publicly released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the Sept. 11 attacks exceeded his “most optimistic” expectations.

In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.

In 2019, the House Judiciary Committee approved two articles of impeachment accusing President Donald Trump of abuse of power in his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress in the investigation that followed. He would later be acquitted by the Senate.

In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act providing federal recognition and protection for same-sex and interracial marriages, calling it “a blow against hate in all its forms.”

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 100.
• Music/film producer Lou Adler is 92.
• Singer-TV host John Davidson is 84.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins is 83.
• Rock musician Jeff “Skunk” Baxter is 77.
• Rock musician Ted Nugent is 77.
• Country singer-musician Randy Owen (Alabama) is 76.
• Actor Wendie Malick is 75.
• Country musician John Anderson is 71.
• Actor Steve Buscemi (boo-SEH’-mee) is 68.
• Singer-actor Morris Day is 68.
• Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent is 65.
• Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 58.
• Actor-reality TV star NeNe Leakes is 58.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Sergei Fedorov is 56.
• Rock singer-musician Tom Delonge (Blink-182) is 50.
• Rock singer Amy Lee (Evanescence) is 44.
• Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is 36.
• Actor Maisy Stella is 22.

GAINESVILLE — UCF defensive backs coach Brandon Harris reportedly will join new UF coach Jon Sumrall’s staff instead of heading to Florida State.

According to Matt Zenitz of CBSSports, Harris is headed to Gainesville after the 35-year-old appeared bound for Tallahassee to replace Patrick Surtain Sr.

Harris is the younger brother of former UCF offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., who also coached the Knights’ receivers in 2024 under former head coach Gus Malzahn. Tim Harris Sr. was a highly successful coach at Miami’s Booker T. Washington Senior High School.

Under Brandon Harris, UCF ranked 25th in the country in passing defense, allowing an average of 185.1 yards.

Harris inherited a secondary with veteran safety Braeden Marshall among a dozen returners. Nine newcomers  included seven transfers, including cornerbacks Jayden Bellamy, who led UCF with nine passes defended, and Phillip Dunham, who had a team-leading three interceptions.

Harris signed a two-year agreement in February to serve under Scott Frost, earning $275,000 annually. Harris’ buyout is 50% of the remaining balance of his payable salary, except if he resigns for a head coaching or coordinator position (collegiate or higher) or an NFL coaching job.

After the 2024 season, the Gators hired Deron Wilson, who earned $300,000 to coach cornerbacks, and Vinnie Sunseri to coach safeties at a salary of $400,000.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Two minors were arrested this week after a fight near a Plantation school ended with one person shot in the shoulder, the police department said Friday.

On Monday afternoon, officers were called about a group of minors fighting near the intersection of Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 16th Street, which is across the street from Plantation High School. When they arrived, officers saw multiple minors running away and one who had been shot in the shoulder, Plantation Police said in a news release.

The victim was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover. The police department did not provide the person’s age or gender.

Investigators said during the fight, one minor “approached the group, produced a handgun, and pistol-whipped the victim,” causing the gun to go off and a bullet to hit the victim’s shoulder, according to the news release. The crowd dispersed after hearing the gunshot.

Plantation Police collect evidence at the scene of a shooting at the intersection of Northwest 70th Avenue and Northwest 16th Street in Plantation, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The minor who initially had the gun gave it to another minor, and both ran away, the police department said. Investigators later found and recovered the gun from a canal in Lauderhill.

Both minors were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Plantation Police did not provide their ages or genders or specify what charges they are facing.

Police do not believe that the gun was ever on the nearby school campus, the news release said. The fight and shooting happened after school hours and off campus.

There may be additional arrests, the police department said.

By JOSH FUNK

New York is the eighth state found to routinely issue commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants that are valid long after they are no longer legally authorized to be in the country, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday, and he threatened to withhold $73 million in highway funds unless the system is fixed and any flawed licenses are revoked.

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New York was the fourth state run by a Democratic governor called out publicly by Duffy in his effort to make sure truck and bus drivers are qualified to either haul passengers or 80,000 pounds of cargo down the highway. He previously questioned similar practices in California, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.

But letters have gone out to other states as well without fanfare, or comments from Duffy, including Republican-run Texas and South Dakota.

In addition to finding licenses that remained valid longer than they should have, these federal audits have also discovered instances where the states may not have even checked a driver’s immigration status before issuing a license. Investigators check a small sample of licenses in each state.

Duffy launched the review this summer, but it became more prominent after a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people in August. The rules on these licenses the Transportation Department is enforcing have been in place for years.

The AP discovered letters online Friday that were sent to Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington in October.

Most of the states that have been the focus of the investigation so far have defended their practices and said they were following the federal rules. But Duffy has said the high percentage of problems in some states, combined with the defensive responses from officials, suggests a systematic problem, and he insisted Friday this effort is about safety — not politics.

“When more than half of the licenses reviewed were issued illegally, it isn’t just a mistake — it is a dereliction of duty by state leadership,” Duffy said about New York on Friday.

Investigators also found that nearly half of the 123 licenses reviewed in Texas were flawed. Some of the other states involved small numbers, but most of the problems were similar. Since Duffy pressed the issue in California, the state has revoked some 21,000 commercial driver’s licenses that were issued improperly.

The Transportation Department has threatened to withhold federal highway funding from these states — including $182 million in Texas and $160 million in California — if they don’t reform their licensing programs and invalidate any flawed licenses.

So far, no state has lost money because they complied or because they have more time to respond. But as part of a separate review, California lost $40 million for failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers that the Trump administration began enforcing this summer.

States defend their licensing practices

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles spokesperson Walter McClure said the state is following all the federal rules.

“Secretary Duffy is lying about New York State once again in a desperate attempt to distract from the failing, chaotic administration he represents. Here is the truth: Commercial Drivers Licenses are regulated by the Federal Government, and New York State DMV has, and will continue to, comply with federal rules,” McClure said in a statement.

Duffy has previously threatened to pull federal funding from New York if the state did not abandon its plan to charge drivers a congestion pricing fee in New York City and if crime on the subway system was not addressed. The Transportation Department also put $18 billion of funding on hold for two major infrastructure projects in New York, including a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey, because of concerns about whether the spending was based on diversity, equity and inclusion principles.

A spokesperson for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that “public safety is the Governor’s top priority, and we must ensure that truckers can navigate Texas roadways safely and efficiently. To support this mission, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to strictly enforce English language proficiency requirements and to stop issuing intrastate commercial driver’s licenses to drivers who do not meet those standards.”

Most of the other states have said they are working to address the concerns the Transportation Department raised.

Previous efforts to restrict immigrant truck drivers

Immigrants account for about 20% of all truck drivers, but these non-domiciled licenses only represent about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses or about 200,000 drivers. The Transportation Department also proposed new restrictions that would severely limit which noncitizens could get a license, but a court put the new rules on hold.

Trucking trade groups have praised the effort to get unqualified drivers and drivers who can’t speak English off the road along with the Transportation Department’s actions last week to go after questionable commercial driver’s license schools. But immigrant advocacy groups have raised concerns these actions have led to harassment of immigrant drivers and prompted some of them to abandon the profession.

“For too long, loopholes in this program have allowed unqualified drivers onto our highways, putting professional truckers and the motoring public at risk,” said Todd Spencer, who is president of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Associated Press writers Sarah Raza in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, and Bruce Shipkowski in Trenton, New Jersey, all contributed to this report.

By Nilesh Christopher, Los Angeles Times

Chatty bots are sharing their hot takes through hundreds of thousands of AI-generated podcasts. And the invasion has just begun.

Though their banter can be a bit banal, the AI podcasters’ confidence and research are now arguably better than most people’s.

“We’ve just begun to cross the threshold of voice AI being pretty much indistinguishable from human,” said Alan Cowen, chief executive of Hume AI, a startup specializing in voice technology. “We’re seeing creators use it in all kinds of ways.”

AI can make podcasts sound better and cost less, industry insiders say, but the growing swarm of new competitors entering an already crowded market is disrupting the industry.

Some podcasters are pushing back, requesting restrictions. Others are already cloning their voices and handing over their podcasts to AI bots.

Popular podcast host Steven Bartlett has used an AI clone to launch a new kind of content aimed at the 13 million followers of his podcast “Diary of a CEO.” On YouTube, his clone narrates “100 CEOs With Steven Bartlett,” which adds AI-generated animation to Bartlett’s cloned voice to tell the life stories of entrepreneurs such as Steve Jobs and Richard Branson.

Erica Mandy, the Redondo Beach, California-based host of the daily news podcast called “The Newsworthy,” let an AI voice fill in for her earlier this year after she lost her voice from laryngitis and her backup host bailed out.

She fed her script into a text-to-speech model and selected a female AI voice from ElevenLabs to speak for her.

“I still recorded the show with my very hoarse voice, but then put the AI voice over that, telling the audience from the very beginning, I’m sick,” Mandy said.

Mandy had previously used ElevenLabs for its voice isolation feature, which uses AI to remove ambient noise from interviews.

Her chatbot host elicited mixed responses from listeners. Some asked if she was OK. One fan said she should never do it again. Most weren’t sure what to think.

“A lot of people were like, ‘That was weird,’ ” Mandy said.

In podcasting, many listeners feel strong bonds to hosts they listen to regularly. The slow encroachment of AI voices for one-off episodes, canned ad reads, sentence replacement in postproduction or translation into multiple languages has sparked anger as well as curiosity from both creators and consumers of the content.

Augmenting or replacing host reads with AI is perceived by many as a breach of trust and as trivializing the human connection listeners have with hosts, said Megan Lazovick, vice president of Edison Research, a podcast research company.

Jason ⁠Saldanha of PRX, a podcast network that represents human creators such as Ezra Klein, said the tsunami of AI podcasts won’t attract premium ad rates.

“Adding more podcasts in a tyranny of choice environment is not great,” he said. “I’m not interested in devaluing premium.”

Still, platforms such as YouTube and Spotify have introduced features for creators to clone their voice and translate their content into multiple languages to increase reach and revenue. A new generation of voice cloning companies, many with operations in California, offers better emotion, tone, pacing and overall voice quality.

Hume AI, which is based in New York but has a big research team in California, raised $50 million last year and has tens of thousands of creators using its software to generate audiobooks, podcasts, films, voice-overs for videos and dialogue generation in video games.

“We focus our platform on being able to edit content so that you can take in postproduction an existing podcast and regenerate a sentence in the same voice, with the same prosody or emotional intonation using instant cloning,” said company CEO Cowen.

Some are using the tech to carpet-bomb the market with content.

Los Angeles podcasting studio Inception Point AI has produced its 200,000 podcast episodes, accounting for 1% of all podcasts published on the internet, according to CEO Jeanine Wright.

The podcasts are so cheap to make that they can focus on tiny topics, like local weather, small sports teams, gardening and other niche subjects.

Instead of a studio searching for a specific “hit” podcast idea, it takes just $1 to produce an episode so that they can be profitable with just 25 people listening.

“That means most of the stuff that we make, we have really an unlimited amount of experimentation and creative freedom for what we want to do,” Wright said.

One of its popular synthetic hosts is Vivian Steele, an AI celebrity gossip columnist with a sassy voice and a sharp tongue. “I am indeed AI-powered — which means I’ve got receipts older than your grandmother’s jewelry box, and a memory sharper than a stiletto heel on marble. No forgetting, no forgiving, and definitely no filter,” the AI discloses itself at the start of the podcast.

“We’ve kind of molded her more towards what the audience wants,” said Katie Brown, chief content officer at Inception Point, who helps design the personalities of the AI podcasters.

Inception Point has built a roster of more than 100 AI personalities whose characteristics, voices and likenesses are crafted for podcast audiences. Its AI hosts include Clare Delish, a cooking guidance expert, and garden enthusiast Nigel Thistledown.

The technology also makes it easy to get podcasts up quickly. Inception has found some success with flash biographies posted promptly in connection to people in the news. It uses AI software to spot a trending personality and create two episodes, complete with promo art and a trailer.

When Charlie Kirk was shot, its AI immediately created two shows called “Charlie Kirk Death” and “Charlie Kirk Manhunt” as a part of the biography series.

“We were able to create all of that content, each with different angles, pulling from different news sources, and we were able to get that content up within an hour,” Wright said.

Speed is key when it comes to breaking news, so its AI podcasts reached the top of some charts.

“Our content was coming up, really dominating the list of what people were searching for,” she said.

Across Apple and Spotify, Inception Point podcasts have now garnered 400,000 subscribers.

©2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

By STEPHEN GROVES

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee threatened Friday to begin contempt of Congress proceedings against former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton if they refuse to appear for depositions as part of the committee’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

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Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, said in a statement late Friday that the Clintons had “delayed, obstructed, and largely ignored the Committee staff’s efforts to schedule their testimony” for several months and said the committee would begin proceedings to try to force them to testify if they don’t appear next week or schedule an appearance in January.

Comer’s statement came just hours after Democrats on the committee had released dozens of photos they had received from Epstein’s estate, including images of Clinton and President Donald Trump.

Contempt is one of U.S. lawmakers’ politically messiest and, until recent years, least-used powers. But the way Congress has handled demands for disclosure in the investigation into Epstein has taken on new political significance as the Trump administration faces a deadline next week to release the Department of Justice’s case files on the late financier.

Bill Clinton was among a number of high-powered people connected to Epstein, a wealthy financier, before the criminal investigation against him in Florida became public two decades ago. Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing by any of the women who say Epstein abused them.

One of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, once gave a newspaper interview in which she described riding in a helicopter with Clinton and flirting with Trump, but she later said in a deposition that those things hadn’t actually happened and were mistakes by the reporter. Clinton has previously said through a spokesperson that while he traveled on Epstein’s jet, he never visited his homes and had no knowledge of his crimes.

Multiple former presidents have voluntarily testified before Congress, but none has been compelled to do so. That history was invoked by Trump in 2022, between his first and second terms, when he faced a subpoena by the House committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot by a mob of his supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

By EDITH M. LEDERER and MARK BANCHEREAU

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States accused Rwanda on Friday of violating a U.S.-brokered peace agreement by backing a deadly new rebel offensive in the mineral-rich eastern Congo, and warned that the Trump administration will take action against “spoilers” of the deal.

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The remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz came as more than 400 civilians have been killed since the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels escalated their offensive in eastern Congo’s South Kivu province, according to regional officials who also say that Rwandan special forces were in the strategic city of Uvira.

Waltz told the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. is “profoundly concerned and incredibly disappointed with the renewed outbreak of violence” by M23.

“Rwanda is leading the region towards increased instability and war,” Waltz warned. “We will use the tools at our disposal to hold to account spoilers to peace.”

He called on Rwanda to respect Congo’s right to defend its territory and invite friendly forces from neighboring Burundi to fight alongside Congolese forces. He also said the U.S. is engaging with all sides “to urge restraint and to avoid further escalation.”

M23’s latest push

The rebels’ latest offensive comes despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed last week by the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Washington.

The accord didn’t include the rebel group, which is negotiating separately with Congo and agreed earlier this year to a ceasefire that both sides accuse the other of violating. However, it obliges Rwanda to halt support for armed groups like M23 and work to end hostilities.

The rebels’ advance pushed the conflict to the doorstep of neighboring Burundi, which has maintained troops in eastern Congo for years, heightening fears of a broader regional spillover.

Congo’s ministry of communication confirmed in a statement Friday that M23 has seized the strategic port city of Uvira in eastern Congo, on the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika and directly across from Burundi’s largest city, Bujumbura.

Uvira was Congo’s government’s last major foothold in South Kivu after the provincial capital of Bukavu fell to the rebels in February. Its capture allows the rebels to consolidate a broad corridor of influence across the east.

M23 said it had taken control of Uvira on Wednesday afternoon, following a rapid offensive since the start of the month. Along with the more than 400 killed, about 200,000 have been displaced, regional officials say.

Concerns over an escalation

Civilians fleeing eastern Congo have also crossed into Burundi, and there have been reports of shells falling in the town of Rugombo, on the Burundian side of the border, raising concerns about the conflict spilling over into Burundian territory.

• Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo)
• Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo)
• Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo)

Show Caption1 of 3Thousands fleeing fighting in Congo’s South Kivu arrive in Cibitoke, Kansega, Burundi, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo) Expand

More than 100 armed groups are vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo, near the border with Rwanda, most prominently M23. The conflict has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises, with more than 7 million people displaced, according to the U.N. agency for refugees.

Congo, the U.S. and U.N. experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23, which has grown from hundreds of members in 2021 to around 6,500 fighters, according to the U.N.

Waltz said Rwandan forces have provided “logistics and training support to M23” and are fighting alongside the rebels in eastern Congo, with “roughly 5,000 to 7,000 troops as of early December.”

Congo calls for more pressure on Rwanda

Congo’s Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner accused Rwanda of trampling on the peace agreement, which she described as bringing “hope of a historic turning point.”

FILE – Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner attends a signing ceremony for a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at the State Departmentin Washington, June 27, 2025. (AP Pho to/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

She warned, however, that the “entire process … is at stake,” and urged the Security Council to impose sanctions against military and political leaders responsible for the attacks, ban mineral exports from Rwanda and prohibit it from contributing troops to U.N. peacekeeping missions.

“Rwanda continues to benefit, especially financially but also in terms of reputation, from its status as a troop-contributing country to peacekeeping missions,” Wagner told The Associated Press.

Rwanda currently is one of the largest contributors of U.N. peacekeepers, with nearly 6,000 Rwandan troops.

Wagner also said economic agreements signed with the Trump administration as part of the peace deal will hinge on stability. “We have told our American partners that we cannot envision any path toward shared economic prosperity without peace,” she told the AP.

Eastern Congo, rich in critical minerals, has been of interest to Trump as Washington looks for ways to circumvent China to acquire rare earths, essential to manufacturing fighter jets, cell phones and more.

Wagner said the economic partnership is still at an early stage.

“Everything will start to take shape and become much more tangible once the joint governance mechanisms are put in place,” she said. “What we want is a win-win partnership … far beyond the single issue of minerals and their transfer,” she added.

Rwanda accuses Congo of ceasefire violations

Rwanda’s Ambassador to the U.N. Karoli Martin Ngoga accused Congo of repeatedly breaking the ceasefire. He also accused the Congolese government of supporting the mostly Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which “threatens the very existence of Rwanda and its people.”

Nearly 2 million Hutus from Rwanda fled to Congo after the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed 800,000 Tutsi, moderate Hutus and others. Rwandan authorities have accused Hutus who fled of participating in the genocide, alleging that the Congolese army protected them.

“Rwanda reiterates its full commitment to implement its part of the agreement,” Ngoga told the Security Council.

While Rwanda denies the claim that it backs M23, it acknowledged last year that it has troops and missile systems in eastern Congo, allegedly to safeguard its security. U.N. experts estimate there are up to 4,000 Rwandan forces in Congo.

Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press writer Jean-Yves Kamale in Kinshasa, Congo, contributed to this report.

General Daily Insight for December 13, 2025

Conversations could open doors we didn’t expect. Early missteps from fiery Mars challenging unpredictable Uranus may test patience and plans, but stubborn standoffs shouldn’t be necessary once we see the smarter adjustments available. With clever Mercury sextiling transformative Pluto at 11:32 am EST, we’re likely to find serious thoughts linking with real resolve, empowering us to make meaningful decisions. Later, the emotional Moon sextiles romantic Venus, making room for simple warmth expressed through kind gestures. Speak clearly, because honest words invite honest support.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

A bigger map unfolds before you today. As intellectual Mercury in your 9th House of Travel and Higher Learning sextiles powerful Pluto in your 11th House of Social Networks, plans and conversations are likely to click into place. You may finally be ready to schedule a trip or course of study that you’ve been considering for a long time. Try to avoid going it alone, though. At this time, allies are especially happy to open doors! Spread the word about what’s on your mind.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Today calls for calm, grounded choices. As action-oriented Mars in your 8th House of Shared Resources stirs up trouble with radical Uranus in your sign, your financial arrangements and intimate interactions may genuinely need some adjustments. Indulging every vision of sweeping overhaul that pops into your head probably isn’t a wise move, though. At heart, all you really want is fairness and a clear path forward! Keep that in mind as you work to bridge different needs. Avoid knee-jerk reactions that strain trust and budgets.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Identifying what’s necessary to move forward in a significant relationship or negotiation is possible at this time. Chatty Mercury, energizing your 7th House of Partnerships, sextiles intense Pluto in your philosophical 9th house, empowering you to dig deep. You might revisit or rewrite a contract because you value lasting clarity more than quick peace. It’s crucial to see the potential good in others’ motives rather than defaulting to fear and suspicion. Still, remember to stay firm about what fits your needs and schedule right now!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Quiet focus can keep you on track through a busy day. Your 6th House of Work and Wellness gains momentum as cerebral Mercury there reaches out to powerful Pluto, so you’re in a great place to implement a new system to keep your attention from getting scattered. Although you still might come in contact with heavier topics, maintaining a steady rhythm can keep discussions of money and other contentious subjects calm and helpful for everyone involved. No matter what happens, not everything has to change!

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Leo, your voice lights hearts and rooms. Your kind words can travel far as the nurturing Moon in your 3rd House of Communication sextiles romantic Venus. Perhaps you’ll write a heartfelt thank-you note to someone who showed up for you. If you’re looking to interact further, support from Venus in your 5th House of Romance and Creativity helps conversations turn into fun plans, even with shy folks who need extra encouragement. Your joyful energy becomes the spark others gladly follow.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Knowing your limits can help you now. Your 4th House of Home and Family takes center stage as information-gathering Mercury there sextiles cosmic detective Pluto, inviting honest talks that finally clear the air. You might revisit holiday plans with a family member if it starts to look like you’ve taken on more than you can handle. A simpler approach could ease their nerves too! Remember that sticking to your usual routine as much as possible keeps everything moving smoothly and protects your energy.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Today, you’re likely to glow without even having to think about it! Charm could come naturally as the intuitive Moon lights up your 1st House of Self and sextiles sensual Venus, allowing your presence to soothe and attract without effort. Perhaps you’ll smooth a moment of tension between friends because you sense what makes everyone comfortable and safe. This ability to read the room helps texts and emails land kindly, even when discussing touchy topics. Offer grace, and people will probably reciprocate.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Scorpio, your resolve could find the right target today. Combative Mars, stirring your 2nd House of Money and Self-Worth, provokes reactive Uranus, turning your attention toward pricing, payments, or possessions. You might renegotiate a rate with a client, cancel an order, or talk with a partner about cutting costs. Although there may be many opinions in the mix, you’ll be best served by thoughtful adjustments instead of all-or-nothing moves. Let your sharp instincts sense the workable compromise before tempers flare.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Fresh confidence can rise as you clarify your message. Mental Mercury in your sign sextiles transformative Pluto, boosting your sense of identity. Rewriting your bio because you want the outside to match the inside is a great way to invite new opportunities. Your words carry weight, and they’ll help you get what you want. Having a firm grasp of your top priorities helps you nail timing and details without losing excitement. Thoughtful humor keeps listeners engaged, so don’t be afraid to have a little fun!

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Being goal-oriented doesn’t have to make you scary, Capricorn. Your reputation could soften in a good way as the emotional Moon, lighting your 10th House of Career and Status, sextiles compassionate Venus in your selfless 12th house. Bringing kindness into public conversations is especially likely to make your name shine. You may feel moved to thank a mentor whose generous leadership gave you opportunities as well as a warm example to follow. Small courtesies are likely to open bigger doors!

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Your quiet leadership can provide needed direction to a group effort at this time. As intellectual Mercury in your 11th House of Friends and Community sextiles intense Pluto in your sign, you’re likely to be surrounded by companions who have plenty to say. Turning their flurry of ideas into shared goals will require a little more effort, though. Remembering what you’ve learned from a past project might hold the key. As you advise, maintain a collaborative tone that keeps everyone engaged and eager to contribute.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Stepping into a bigger role is an option now. As cerebral Mercury in your 10th House of Career and Public Image activates unearthing Pluto in your private 12th house, the growth you’ve undergone behind the scenes lately might be ready for display. When you speak from experience, your message is likely to land with authority and thoughtful depth. Old doubts may still haunt you, but your courage should expand once you get going. Let good work be seen, and kind support is likely to follow!

The Transportation Security Administration is renewing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s push to end a collective bargaining agreement with airport screening officers — the second such attempt this year and one that comes just a month after the longest government shutdown on record.

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The agency said Friday the move is based on a September memo from Noem that says TSA screeners “have a primary function of national security” and therefore should not engage in collective bargaining or be represented by a union.

The American Federation of Government Employees swiftly vowed to fight the decision, calling it illegal and a violation of a federal judge’s preliminary injunction issued in June that blocked Noem’s first attempt to terminate the contract representing 47,000 workers. Emailed requests for comment were sent to TSA and Homeland Security.

TSA said it plans to rescind the current seven-year contract in January and replace it with a new “security-focused framework.” The agreement was supposed to expire in 2031.

Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator, said in a statement that airport screeners “need to be focused on their mission of keeping travelers safe.”

“Under the leadership of Secretary Noem, we are ridding the agency of wasteful and time-consuming activities that distracted our officers from their crucial work,” Stahl said.

The announcement also comes weeks after Noem held a news conference in which she handed out $10,000 bonus checks to TSA officers who she said went “above and beyond” during the 43-day shutdown, when thousands of airport screeners continued reporting for duty despite missing more than six weeks of pay during the lapse in funding.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, right, shakes hands with Transportation Security Administration Officer Monica Degro at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill)

“Merely 30 days ago, Secretary Noem celebrated TSA officers for their dedication during the longest government shutdown in history,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement. “Today, she’s announcing a lump of coal right on time for the holidays: that she’s stripping those same dedicated officers of their union rights.”

AFGE entered into the collective bargaining agreement with TSA last May. But Noem issued a memo on Feb. 27 rescinding that agreement, and TSA notified the union a week later that the contract had been terminated and all pending grievances would be deleted.

The union sued, claiming the move was retaliation for AFGE’s resistance to the Trump administration’s attacks on federal workers. A trial is currently scheduled for next year.

The Trump administration has been laying the groundwork to weaken or eliminate protections for federal workers as it moves swiftly to shrink the bureaucracy.

In granting a preliminary injunction in June, U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman of Seattle said the order was necessary to preserve the rights and benefits TSA workers have long held under union representation.

Pechman wrote that AFGE had shown in its lawsuit that Noem’s directive “constitutes impermissible retaliation,” likely violated the union’s due process, and was “arbitrary and capricious” — findings that the judge said make it likely AFGE will ultimately prevail.

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN

WASHINGTON (AP) — After a spate of deadly accidents that have claimed the lives of 20 service members in the past four years, a Navy report acknowledges that the military failed to address a growing series of issues with the V-22 Osprey aircraft since it took flight almost 20 years ago.

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“The cumulative risk posture of the V-22 platform has been growing since initial fielding,” according to the report by Naval Air Systems Command released Friday. It added that the office in charge of the aircraft “has not promptly implemented … fixes to mitigate existing risks.”

“As a result, risks continue to accumulate,” the report said.

The Associated Press reported last year that the most serious types of accidents for the Osprey, which is the only aircraft to fly like a plane but convert to land like a helicopter, spiked between 2019 and 2023 and that, unlike other aircraft, the problems did not level off as the years passed.

“As the first and only military tiltrotor aircraft, it remains the most aero-mechanically complex aircraft in service and continues to face unresolved legacy material, safety, and technical challenges,” the report said.

Commissioned in 2023 by NAVAIR, the Navy command responsible for the purchase and maintenance of aircraft, the investigation reveals that the Osprey not only has the “second highest number of catastrophic risks across all Naval Aviation platforms” but that those risks have gone unresolved for an average of more than 10 years.

By contrast, the average across other aircraft in the Navy’s inventory is six years.

The Navy’s response

Vice Adm. John Dougherty, commander of NAVAIR, said the service is “committed to improving the V-22’s performance and safeguarding the warfighters who rely on this platform.” He offered no details on any actions taken for years of failing to address the Osprey’s risks.

The command did not respond to questions about what, if any, accountability measures were taken in response to the findings.

• FILE – A Boeing V-22 Osprey is seen on Aug. 13, 2022, in Senja, Norway, after an emergency landing due to a clutch issue. (Norwegian Armed Forces via AP, File)
• FILE – U.S. MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft are parked at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, south of Okinawa, southern Japan, Sept. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)
• A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey, carrying first lady Melania Trump, lands before a Toys for Tots charity drive event at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, in Quantico, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Show Caption1 of 3FILE – A Boeing V-22 Osprey is seen on Aug. 13, 2022, in Senja, Norway, after an emergency landing due to a clutch issue. (Norwegian Armed Forces via AP, File) Expand

The lack of details on accountability for missteps also came up when the Navy recently released investigations into four accidents during a U.S.-led campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. A senior Navy official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity to offer more candid details, said that he didn’t believe the service had an obligation to make accountability actions public.

Risks were allowed to build up, the report says

The investigation lays much of the responsibility for the problems on the Osprey’s Joint Program Office. Part of the mission for this office, which operates within NAVAIR, is making sure the aircraft can be safely flown by the Marine Corps, the Navy and the Air Force, all of which use different versions of the aircraft for different missions.

The report found that this office “did not effectively manage or address identified risks in a timely manner, allowing them to accumulate,” and it faced “challenges” in implementing safety fixes across all three services.

Two major issues involve the Osprey’s complicated transmission. The aircraft has a host of gearboxes and clutches that, like a car’s transmission, are crucial to powering each propeller behind the Osprey’s unique tilting capability. The system also helps connect the two sides of the aircraft to keep it flying in the event of engine failure.

One problem is an issue in which the transmission system essentially shreds itself from the inside due to a power imbalance in the engines. That brought down a Marine Corps Osprey, killing five Marines in California in 2022.

The other issue is a manufacturing defect in the gears within the transmission that renders them more brittle and prone to failure. That was behind the crash of an Air Force Osprey off the coast of Japan in November 2023 that killed eight service members.

The report reveals that this manufacturing issue went back to 2006 but the Osprey’s Joint Program Office did not formally assess or accept this risk until March 2024.

Besides these mechanical issues, the report found that the program office failed to ensure uniform maintenance standards for the aircraft, while determining that 81% of all the accidents that the Ospreys have had on the ground were due to human error.

Recommendations for the issues revealed

The report offers a series of recommendations for each of the issues it uncovered. They range from rudimentary suggestions like consolidating best maintenance practices across all the services to more systemic fixes like developing a new, midlife upgrade program for the Osprey.

While fixes for both mechanical issues are also in the report, it seems that it will take until 2034 and 2033 for the military to fully deal with both, respectively.

Naval Air Systems Command did not reply when asked if it had a message for troops who will fly in the aircraft in the meantime.

Watchdog also releases Osprey report

The Government Accountability Office, an independent watchdog serving Congress, made similar conclusions and recommendations in a separate report released Friday.

The GAO blamed most Osprey accidents on part failures and human error while service members flew or maintained the aircraft. It determined that the military hasn’t fully “identified, analyzed, or responded” to all of the Osprey’s safety risks.

The GAO said the Pentagon should improve its process for addressing those risks, while adding more oversight to ensure they are resolved. Another recommendation is for the Navy, Air Force and Marines to routinely share information on hazards and accidents to help prevent mishaps.

Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

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Auditor finds 'critical' failures in special-care home inspection system, high-risk facilities went years without oversight  DiscoverMooseJaw

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