CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jesús Luzardo made his first start of the spring on Thursday. He did not disappoint. The Phillies left-hander recorded five strikeouts with two hits in three scoreless innings in a 6-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Luzardo needed only 38 pitches for his Grapefruit League debut. His velocity ticked up a bit — he hit 98 and 97 mph a few times on his four-seam fastball and his sinker — while his sweeper averaged 87.2 mph.
“Maybe a little bit of adrenaline, getting back out there for my first spring start,” Luzardo said. “But just health. I feel good. Worked hard this offseason to really prepare for this year. Body is in a good spot.
“So I’m glad to see the velocity coming, nice and easy, without having to overthrow.”
Luzardo said he took it easy earlier in the offseason, which was different from previous winters. He thinks giving his body a little break might have helped him.
“Normally I would start getting after it pretty early,” he said. “The season went a little long last year, so kind of started slow and progressively built up to the work that I wanted to.”
Who stood out
Otto Kemp went 2-for-3 with two hard-hit doubles. Leading into Thursday’s game, he only had two hits over his previous 16 at-bats.
“He’s swung the bat pretty good the last few times out,” manager Rob Thomson said. “It’s good to see. One of the games in Fort Myers [on Sunday and Monday], he’s going to play third base, and then he’s going to play left field.
“So, we’re going to move him around a little bit, but concentrate most on left field. But yeah, he’s been really having good at-bats.”
Chase Shugart, who pitched the fifth inning and recorded the first out of the sixth, made a strong impression. The 29-year-old righty, who was traded from the Pirates to the Phillies in January, pitched 1⅓ innings, allowing no hits or runs, with two strikeouts.
“Really good,” Thomson said. “He throws strikes. He attacks. Fastball is mid-90s at times. Cutter is really good, the curveball is good. And he competes. He’s not afraid. He trusts his stuff.”
Quotable
“Tremendous,” Thomson said of Luzardo’s outing. “Velocity was up. Think he touched 98. Got ahead, pounded the zone. First-pitch strikes were great. All of his pitches were working.
“Changeup is really improving, there’s some swing and miss to it, there’s some bottom to it. Everything about him was good.”
On deck
The Phillies will play the Pirates in Bradenton, Fla., on Friday at 1:05 p.m. The audio of the game will be livestreamed on MLB.com.
A corpse was discovered on a Central Bucks West High School practice field on Wednesday night, school officials said.
Police discovered the body on Pettine Field, near the edge of the Doylestown school’s campus, the officials said.
Officials did not provide information about the identity, gender, or age of the deceased. Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesperson for the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said the office had not been assigned to investigate the death as of Thursday afternoon, and that it did not appear to be the result of foul play.
The person who was found dead was homeless, the spokesperson said.
Interim Superintendent Charles Malone and principal Lyndell Davis said in a joint statement that there was no threat to the safety of students or staff.
The school campus is secure and police are investigating, their statement said.
Despite St. Joseph’s ending the regular season with consecutive losses, it did not waver against Duquesne in the second round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.
The Hawks built a 14-point first-quarter lead on Thursday and, after seeing that lead whittled to six at halftime, turned up their defense to hold the Dukes scoreless for the first 4 minutes, 43 seconds of the third quarter.
That defense allowed St. Joe’s to push its lead back to double figures to secure a 66-45 win over Duquesne (12-19, 4-14) and earn a spot in the A-10 quarterfinals.
The Hawks (20-10, 10-8) will face fourth-seeded Davidson in the quarterfinals on Friday (1:30 p.m., USA app).
Statistical leaders
Guard Gabby Casey missed the Hawks’ regular-season finale with an ankle injury but returned to the lineup on Thursday. She showed no signs of rust and finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting. Guard Jill Jekot delivered a strong all-around performance with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Forward Faith Stinson and guard Aleah Snead each chipped in 10 points.
St. Joe’s guard Jill Jekot made 3 of 4 shots from deep on Thursday.
The Hawks were red-hot from downtown, shooting 10-for-23 on three-pointers, which is the first time they made double-digit threes since Jan. 24 against Duquesne. St. Joe’s held the Dukes to 30.8% shooting from the field and forced 20 turnovers.
What we saw
St. Joe’s jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind a pair of three-pointers from Casey and Jekot. The Dukes tried to battle back, but the Hawks kept the offensive intensity high. Casey and Snead hit another pair of threes to spearhead a 10-0 run midway through the first quarter.
The Hawks made five three-pointers in the first five minutes and held a 21-7 lead. However, their luck from downtown faded, which allowed Duquesne to hang around. The Dukes entered the second quarter trailing, 25-14. They used a 6-0 run in the final two minutes of the first half to head to the locker room down, 34-28.
Defense dominated the first half of the third quarter as both teams struggled to make shots. Amid Duquesne’s drought, St. Joe’s connected on five of its last seven shots in the third quarter.
The Hawks entered the fourth quarter with a 53-35 advantage and never allowed the Dukes to mount a real comeback as they extended their lead to as many as 23 points.
Game-changing play
St. Joe’s led, 43-31, with over four minutes remaining in the third quarter and was looking to put the game out of reach. Jekot stepped up to deliver the basket the Hawks were looking for with a three-pointer that pushed their lead to 15 with 3:33 left in the period.
Then with 18 seconds left in the third, Casey dealt the Dukes’ comeback hopes another blow when she got free for a three and nailed it to give the Hawks an 18-point advantage, their largest of the game to that point.
The forecast may show signs of showers this weekend, but don’t let the skies rain down on your weekend parade.
This week, there will be a treasure trove of events to kick off Women’s History Month. That includes the opening of a reimagined Shakespearean classic, a watch party for F1 fanatics, a competition for the pun-obsessed, and an expo for pet lovers across the region.
Philadelphia Ballet dancer Mayara Pineiro in Angel Corella’s “Carmen.”
Philadelphia Ballet’s 2026-27 season brings the fireworks for America’s 250th birthday
As the nation prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial, my colleague Ellen Dunkel writes that the Philadelphia Ballet will be bringing the fireworks in its 2026-27 season opener.
For the upcoming season, the company is leaning into American classics and other favorites, while also establishing a home for itself on North Broad Street.
The season opens Oct. 8 with a celebratory, all-Americana program called, “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The following programs will feature Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse,Wayne McGregor’s Chroma, and Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room.
🐕 Animal lovers, rejoice: The Greater Philadelphia Expo will be filled with pets in all shapes and sizes. This year’s Greater Philadelphia Pet Expo will feature pet product and service vendors, animal training demos, pet agility courses, dog acrobats, and more family-friendly attractions.
🏎️ F1 season opener celebration: For the 2026 Australian Grand Prix opener, Center City’s F1 Arcade is kicking off the start of racing season with a late-night watch party, complete with small bites, live DJs, and prizes for F1 fanatics.
🎭 Is something, punny?: Stop by Helium Comedy Club this Saturday for some afternoon pun. The region’s best punners will go head-to-head on stage at Philly’s first and only pun comedy competition.
📅 My calendar picks this week: Passyunk Restaurant Week, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and First Friday at Cherry St. Pier.
A platter of taco dorados, huevos rellenos, croquetas, naranjas enchiladas, empanadas de mariscos, and chicarrones at Mi Vida in Philadelphia, Pa., on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
The thing of the week: East Market gets a splashy Mexican restaurant from D.C.
Inquirer restaurant reporter Michael Klein writes about the opening of Mi Vida, a new Mexican restaurant located at East Market.
The original Washington D.C.-based eatery comes from restaurateur Jason Berry, who runs Knead Hospitality & Design, with his husband, Michael Reginbogin.
In 2022, Berry came up to Philadelphia for a Wharton reunion. He was approached by a real estate broker, who mentioned an available space at the $400 million East Market project.
Four years later, Berry and Reginbogin have opened Mi Vida, a “splashy Mexican restaurant with moody lighting and rich pops of color,” Klein writes.
👭🏽 All things women’s history: For the next few weeks, there will beWomen’s History Month celebrations taking place across the region. The Museum of the American Revolution has also revealed an exhibition that honors revolutionary women. There’s also a monthlong program series at Eastern State Penitentiary, and an additional slate of programs at the National Constitution Center for those looking to dig deeper into the history of women change makers.
🖊️ Remembering Elie Wiesel: Eliezer “Elie” Wiesel was born in Romania and then came to the US where he became a writer, professor, and political activist. In 1986, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. A documentary honoring the Holocaust survivor’s life, Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire, plays on March 9, 7 p.m. at Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church.
💫 Walk among the stars: An outdoor celestial light show, featuring lights, projections, sound effects, and music, will guide visitors through an illuminated forest at Astra Lumina Philadelphia as part of the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series.
🎭 What would you do for love?: Award-winning director Amina Robinson reimagines the classic Shakespearean classic, Romeo and Juliet. The production will play at Arden Theatre Company through April 5.
🇺🇸 The forgotten freedom: The new exhibit, “The Forgotten Freedom: American Assembly at 250,” explores the freedom of assembly’s history, artistic expression, and future at the National Liberty Museum. The exhibit, officially opening on Friday, will feature artifacts of the nation’s founding to iconic moments like Woodstock and Live Aid. For a sneak peak, here are tickets to the VIP preview party happening on Thursday.
🎸 Thursday: Top-notch shoegaze-slash punk rock will be served at Nikki Lopez on this double bill. The Brooklyn band Mx Lonely, fronted by singer Rae Haas, will headline the show with Philly punk quartet Wax Jaw as the opening act.
🎤 Friday: Robert Glasper, the pianist, producer, and bandleader, has music that spans R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and beyond. The five-time Grammy winner will bring his musical magic to Union Transfer Friday night.
🎤 Sunday:Cat Power, the remarkable song interpreter Chan Marshall, will lead a six-piece band featuring Philly guitarist and former Delta 72 leader Gregg Foreman, at Union Transfer for her “The Greatest Tour” stop.
There’s a mixed bag of pet-friendly, pun-filled, and racing die-hards this weekend. Don’t miss out before the weekend-finish.
After more than six months of searching, The Stoop Pigeon has finally found its home. The women’s sports hub will be located at the intersection of Broad and Pine Streets — giving Philly fans a view of City Hall, and the perfect place to reminisce on past championship parades.
“It’s a location that people immediately identify with,” said Lori Albright, the managing partner of The Stoop Pigeon. “As soon as we say Broad and Pine, people are like, ‘Oh my God, that’s where I watched the Phillies parade.’”
The Stoop Pigeon has been in the making for a few years. It all started with Jen Leary’s creation in spring 2024: Watch Party PHL, which hosted monthly events at local sports bars to bring fans together and provide a safe and inclusive place to watch women’s sporting events — with the sound on..
Since then, they’ve continued to grow — and so has the city’s women’s sports team, including the announcement of its own WNBA team — and Leary realized it was time for a brick-and-mortar location.
“It’s been truly amazing to go from where we were two-and-a-half years ago when I started doing this,” Leary said. “I could not find a single place in the city showing women’s sports at all, let alone with the sound on, to where we are now — packing places with like 700 people wanting to watch women’s sports. It’s incredible.
“It just shows you that if you give people a space, they will come out and support women’s sports, but you have to give them the opportunity to do that. And we are doing that here in Philly.”
Watch Party PHL founder Jen Leary holds the “Philly is a women’s sports town” shirt that went viral after Aubrey Plaza wore it to a Liberty game.
The women’s sports hub, which will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to midnight, will double as a cafe by day and a watch bar at night. The cafe includes partnerships with several Philly-based companies, including coffee from Rival Bros, pastries from Crust Vegan Bakery and Second Daughter, and drinks, including locally brewed beers, ready to drink cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, from Sterling Pig Brewery, with whom they previously partnered for a women’s sports themed beer.
They’ll serve a number of items named after women athletes and Philadelphia favorites. Some of the items include: The Dawn Staley latte, the Victory Veggie Burger (named after Victory Brewing), Ora-cini balls (named after Ora Washington), Vivian Shoe-Stringer fries, a KFC pulled-chicken sandwich in honor of Kahleah Copper’s “KFC” nickname, and a Tastykake bread pudding as an homage to the Philadelphia-based snack brand.
“The goal was to have a local take on a menu,” Leary said. “This isn’t going to be a restaurant, but we’re definitely going to have things that will make people want to come back. We want to make sure they enjoy their time with us and stay. So we’re going to have vegetarian options, we’re going to have vegan options, we’re going to have allergy-free options.”
With a number of big sporting events coming to Philly in 2026 — including the MLB All-Star Game, the PGA Championship, and the FIFA World Cup — Leary, Albright, and their partners, Fawn McGee and Megan DiTolla, plan to open in June.
“We really want everyone to feel welcome,” Leary said. “So we want it to be family-friendly. You can bring your kids. The whole reason we’re very intentional about not calling it a bar is because we want people who don’t drink to feel comfortable there.”
When The Stoop Pigeon opens, it will join Marsha’s on South Street, which opened in September, as the latest sign that “Philly is a women’s sports town.”
Jefferson Health is closing four legacy Einstein pediatric practices, including one at Jefferson Einstein Hospital Philadelphia in a low-income area of the city, and moving three others to True North Pediatrics, a private group with a dozen mostly suburban locations.
The nonprofit health system did notrespond to questions Thursday about how many children the practices serve, how many jobs will be cut, or why it was making the change, which is expected to significantly reduce the amount of pediatric care in North and Northeast Philadelphia.
This week’s pediatric cutbacks are a significant move affecting patient care amid a yearslong effort to make the system with more than $15 billion in annual revenue financially sustainable. From 2015 through 2024, Jefferson grew from three hospitals to more than 30 and now stretches from South Jersey to near Scranton.
The locations scheduled to close June 30 are the Pediatric & Adolescent Ambulatory Center at Einstein Philadelphia and three Holland Pediatrics locations (Center One/Bustleton in Northeast Philadelphia, Buck Road in Southampton, and Frankford in Torresdale), Jefferson said in a statement.
The three clinics going to True North are Trappe Pediatric Care at Iron Bridge, Pennypack Pediatrics, and Einstein Pediatrics Elkins Park. Jefferson did not provide details on transaction terms.
A practice manager at True North, which is based in suburban Philadelphia, did not respond to a request for more information. True North’s website said the practice is independent, “not managed by any big business or larger institution.”
Jefferson said in a statement that it will continue offering pediatric services through its primary care network, urgent care centers, emergency departments, and Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Reilly Children’s Hospital.
“With three excellent inpatient pediatric hospitals right here in our region, partnering with True North Pediatrics — an organization whose singular focus is pediatric care — allows us to ensure that families across our region continue to receive the specialized, dedicated attention they deserve,” Jefferson said in an internal communication Monday.
It’s possible that St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, which is about 3½ miles by car from Einstein Philadelphia, will pick up many of the thousands of dislocated patients.
St. Chris already serves almost exclusively patients with Medicaid insurance for low-income families and struggles to make ends meet because of the low rates it receives.
“We are committed to delivering trusted, compassionate care for every patient who walks through our doors,” St. Chris said in a statement. “Families can access care at our nearby locations, including our Center for the Urban Children and Northeast Pediatrics office.”
The investigation into the cause of a Wednesday afternoon explosion at a Logan Township, N.J., cocoa butter processor continues, though the conditions have improved for some victims injured in the blast.
Following the explosion, which rocked Gloucester County and the surrounding area just after 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, five people were hospitalized. Three people were transported to Cooper University Hospital, which has since treated and released one patient, and stabilized two others, who were later transported to Temple Burn Center in Philadelphia, Cooper spokesperson Wendy Marano said.
The conditions of the other two people injured in the blast were not immediately clear Thursday. In the immediate aftermath of the explosion Wednesday, four people were in critical condition, and a fifth person in a neighboring building experienced a medical incident that required treatment, Gloucester County officials previously said.
“This is the largest industrial accident that I can recall,” Logan Township Police Chief Joseph Flatley said at a news conference Wednesday. “It was a terrible tragedy that took place out here.”
Emergency workers responded to an explosion at 617 Heron Drive in Logan Township at about 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday. The blast prompted a shelter-in-place order for homes and businesses within a two-mile radius of the facility, impacting roughly 7,200 people living within the affected area.
What caused the explosion was not yet clear Thursday. Gloucester County officials and officials in the Logan Township Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Officials on Wednesday, however, indicated that the blast emanated from a building operated by Savita Naturals, a company that describes itself on its website as a “provider of specialty oil extractions and related services.”
The scene outside Savita Naturals in Logan Township, N.J. Thursday Mar. 5, 2026, where at least four people were critically injured the day before after a large explosion destroyed the commercial production facility.
The company, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Rebecca Forand said Wednesday, serves as a processor in the cocoa and chocolate industry. As part of its work, the company utilizes propane — a highly flammable gas Savita Naturals has called its “solvent of choice” for botanical extractions.
Propane, officials said Wednesday, was used in the company’s production processes, and a large amount of it was stored on the facility’s premises. In the aftermath of Wednesday’s blast, a ruptured propane tank could be seen burning amid the collapsed building’s wreckage.
A highly flammable gas, propane is a commonly preferred solvent for extraction of natural compounds and oils. The chemical, Savita Naturals indicates on its website, “produces the highest yields at intermediate cost without sacrificing quality.”
It does, however, present some dangers. In high concentrations, it can decrease the amount of oxygen in the air, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Propane is also naturally colorless and odorless, and often has an odorant added to aid in detection. Airborne exposure can result in headaches and dizziness, as well as fainting.
Savita Naturals could not immediately be reached for comment.
Officials on Wednesday lifted the shelter-in-place order shortly after the explosion, noting that there were no ongoing hazards, despite ongoing monitoring efforts from emergency responders. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was notified of the situation, and burn-off of remaining gas continued on-site early Thursday.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill indicated Wednesday that her office was informed about the situation, and was monitoring developments.
“We are actively supporting with resource coordination and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of residents and support those impacted,” Sherrill said.
Just days before the release of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s city budget, it is unclear whether it will include money to continue Zero Fare, a program that gives free transit passes to low-income Philadelphians.
Transit advocates and political leaders say they have not heard from the administration on the issue and are concerned it may be cut or have its funding reduced.
A rally is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday on the north apron of City Hall to push for Zero Fare’s survival — and for city government to continue participating in SEPTA’s Key Advantage, which provides free transit passes for municipal workers.
Parker is scheduled to deliver her annual budget address next Thursday to a session of City Council.
A spokesperson for the administration declined to comment.
“We don’t care who gets the credit,” said Stephen Bronskill, coalition manager for Transit Forward Philadelphia, a nonprofit that advocates for public transportation that is organizing the event. “We want to see that this program gets funded … so people can get where they need to go.”
City Council members, state lawmakers, activists for transit funding and service, and users of the Zero Fare passes are expected to speak Friday.
Zero Fare, which serves about 60,000 eligible people with incomes at or below 150% of the federal poverty standard, would end June 30 unless the fiscal 2026-27 budget funds it.
Officials also must decide whether to fund Key Advantage benefits for city workers, though SEPTA’s program provides subsidized passes free to the employees of nonprofit organizations and private businesses.
Deja vu?
Both programs have faced city budget uncertainty in the past.
City officials said they had begun meeting with SEPTA to find a funding solution to continue both programs before the uproar. The administration also continued Key Advantage last year.
“From our standpoint, they’ve both worked well, and we’d like to see them continue,” SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said Thursday.
A path forward
Zero Fare began as a pilot, started by Kenney using $30 million of federal COVID relief money to get it off the ground. The program was nationally recognized because it proactively sent transit fare cards to Philadelphians eligible for the benefit.
Automatic enrollment eliminated the red tape “time tax” for people who wanted to use the benefit, making it unusual on the local level, according to public policy analysts.
“It can’t be yanked away at a moment’s notice when somebody wants to shift something around in the budget,” O’Rourke said last November at a community meeting on the proposal.
This story has been updated to remove an outdated figure for the number of participants in Zero Fare.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro joined Democratic leaders from nearly two dozen states in challenging President Donald Trump’s latest global tariffs.
In a lawsuit filed Thursday, Shapiro and the other state leaders argue Trump’s plan to impose 15% tariffs, which comes after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked his last round of global tariffs, oversteps his powers.
“The Supreme Court got it right — but instead of following the law, Trump decided to double down,” Shapiro said in a statement.
“This President’s tariffs have done nothing but cause chaos and raise prices for our farmers, small businesses, and families,” Shapiro said. “I’ve gone to court before to protect Pennsylvanians from the costs of this disastrous trade war — and I’m ready to do it again.”
The suit, which is being led by the attorneys general of Oregon, Arizona, California, and New York, marks the 21st legal action Shapiro has filed or joined against the administration during Trump’s second term, including two suits he has led.
Trump’s first round of tariffs sent shock waves through the U.S. economy as prices rose. Exports, including Pennsylvania’s lumber sales, also suffered.
Shapiro, who is up for reelection this year, has long highlighted his willingness to go up against Trump in court. That record began during Trump’s first term, when Shapiro was state attorney general.
In Trump’s second term, Shapiro has repeatedly stepped in to sue on behalf of Pennsylvania when Republican Attorney General Dave Sunday has not.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, the only other governor signed onto the case, faces similar circumstances in his Republican-leaning state. Both Beshear and Shapiro are seen as likely contenders for the Democratic nomination in 2028.
New Jersey and Delaware, which have Democratic attorneys general, also joined the suit.
“Tariffs raise prices for hard-working families and businesses across New Jersey,” New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement. “I will keep fighting against the imposition of unnecessary and illegal costs on our consumers. We’re going to court to protect our state from these illogical and illegal tariffs.”
Trump criticized the high court during last week’s State of the Union address, calling the ruling “very unfortunate.” Trump said in the speech that his new tariffs would be “a little more complex but actually probably better.”
Section 122, which had never been invoked, allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15%. They are limited to five months unless extended by Congress.
The states’ new suit argues that Trump cannot pivot to Section 122 because it was intended to be used only in specific, limited circumstances — not for sweeping import taxes. It also contends the tariffs will drive up costs for states, businesses, and consumers.
Many of those states also had successfully sued over Trump’s tariffs imposed under a different law: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Four days after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping IEEPA tariffs Feb. 20, Trump invoked Section 122 to slap 10% tariffs on foreign goods. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Wednesday that the administration would raise the levies to the 15% limit this week.
The Democratic states and other critics say the president cannot use Section 122 as a replacement for the defunct tariffs to combat the trade deficit.
The Section 122 provision is aimed at what it calls “fundamental international payments problems.’’ At issue is whether that wording covers trade deficits, the gap between what the U.S. sells other countries and what it buys from them.
Section 122 arose from the financial crises that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, when the U.S. dollar was tied to gold. Other countries were dumping dollars in exchange for gold at a set rate, risking a collapse of the U.S. currency and chaos in financial markets. But the dollar is no longer linked to gold, so critics say Section 122 is obsolete.
Awkwardly for Trump, his own Justice Department argued in a court filing last year that the president needed to invoke the emergency powers act because Section 122 did “not have any obvious application” in fighting trade deficits, which it called “conceptually distinct” from balance-of-payment issues.
Still, some legal analysts say the Trump administration has a stronger case this time.
“The legal reality is that courts will likely provide President Donald Trump substantially more deference regarding Section 122 than they did to his previous tariffs under IEEPA,” Peter Harrell, visiting scholar at Georgetown University’s Institute of International Economic Law, wrote in a commentary Wednesday.
The specialized Court of International Trade in New York, which will hear the states’ lawsuit, wrote last year in its own decision striking down the emergency-powers tariffs that Trump did not need them because Section 122 was available to combat trade deficits.
Trump does have other legal authorities he can use to impose tariffs, and some have already survived court tests. Duties that Trump imposed on Chinese imports during his first term under Section 301 of the same 1974 trade act are still in place.
Staff writer Aliya Schneider contributed to this article, which contains information from the Associated Press.
As dispiriting as the Union’s loss to New York City FC on Sunday was, something manager Bradley Carnell said afterward felt just as significant.
“We know we’re not quite where we need to be, and that’s totally understandable, but it’s no excuses either,” he said. “Obviously, the team’s not happy, and a lot of it is self-inflicted over the last two weeks, if you look at that — two red cards in two games. And this is something [where] when one guy’s disconnected, or when one red card happens, then we’ve created a mountain [for] ourselves to climb.”
He then added a believe that “we have a young, hungry, squad, and sometimes the moment gets to us a little bit. And this we have to learn, we have to grow [from], and we have to have these experiences.”
With no midweek game this week, Carnell had time to address that, and he said during his meeting with media on Thursday that he did so.
Olwethu Makhanya was sent off from Sunday’s loss to New York City FC after drawing his second yellow card of the game.
“We’ve expected more out of ourselves in terms of being sharp, mentally and cognitively,” he said in a news conference ahead of Saturday’s game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). “Just thinking about an ‘if’ moment or a follow-on from a set piece or a follow-on from an attacking sequence.”
There was some good news, as new left back Philippe Ndinga arrived in Chester. But he isn’t ready to play yet, and Carnell signaled it might be a few more days.
“He’s raring to go, but there’s a bit of paperwork to get through, a bit of medical stuff to get through,” Carnell said. “Push comes to shove, we can get him squad-ready, potentially. But I don’t want to just make a claim like that just yet.”
So for now, the Union are going to have to sort things out with what they have. After hosting the Earthquakes on Saturday, Mexican power Club América will come to town Tuesday to start the Concacaf Champions Cup’s round of 16.
One step can come at the attacking end of the field. Carnell said he counted 20 instances in just Sunday’s first half “where we had a positive transition moment, where we turned over the ball and started a sequence in an overload [man advantage], and we don’t come to fruition [with] that.”
Agustín Anello (right) and the Union have yet to score a goal from open play in MLS games this season.
The other can come anywhere, but it starts in the head.
“Self-inflicted red cards, I would say, this is not the way that it should be done,” Carnell said. “Very cheap ways to let your teammates down, and, you know, I think [Olwethu] Makhanya’s learned a good lesson, I think ‘Eze’ [Alladoh]’s learned his lesson, and we can continue to grow as a team.”
When former Union striker Julián Carranza joined Mexican club Necaxa in January, it felt inevitable that his new and old teams would cross paths. Right on cue, it will happen this summer.
Necaxa is one of three teams the Union will face in the group stage of the Leagues Cup, the annual tournament pitting MLS squads against those from Mexico’s Liga MX. The game is Sunday, Aug. 9 at Subaru Park.
The Union dealt Carranza to Dutch club Feyenoord in July 2024, as he wanted to raise his stock for Argentina’s World Cup team. But it didn’t work out for him, as he scored just five goals in 30 games.
JULIÁN CARRANZA STUNS THE SAN SIRO! 😳
The former Philadelphia Union and Inter Miami forward pops up with a massive strike for Feyenoord 💥 pic.twitter.com/5CMGnUC8FE
Then he went on loan to English second-division club Leicester City, and that was even worse: zero goals in nine games, and a lot of time on the bench. Necaxa offered around $4 million to bring him to Mexico, and Feyenoord accepted. Carranza has three goals in six games there so far.
The reunion will be the Union’s second contest of the group stage. All three group games will be against Mexican opponents, and all will be at Subaru Park. The opener will be against traditional power Cruz Azul on Thursday, Aug. 6, and the finale will be Thursday, Aug. 13, against Santos Laguna.
Leagues Cup groups are set based on a combined table of the 18 MLS teams that qualify (the 18 that make the playoffs) and the 18 teams of Mexico’s Liga MX. They are ranked by last year’s regular-season standings, then split in half based on geography.
From there, each mixed pot of 18 teams is ranked again, then split into three groups of six. Each group has one MLS team and one Mexican team from the top third, one each from the middle third, and one each from the bottom third. Each team then plays three games, all against teams from the other country. (The other MLS teams in the Union’s group are Chicago and NYCFC.)
The Seattle Sounders won last season’s Leagues Cup trophy last season after beating Inter Miami.
Yes, this is complex, but we’re almost done. Tournament results are counted in one big table, similar to Europe’s Champions League. The top four MLS teams and the top four Mexican teams advance to the quarterfinals.
The point of it is to have as many MLS vs. Liga MX games as possible, since they’re more interesting than matchups of teams within each league.
For all the technicalities, the big prize at the end is clear. The top three finishers qualify for next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, with the winner earning a bye into the round of 16.
