Kid Rock‘s Congressional testimony about unfair ticketing practices was personal and persuasive. The country-rocker took aim at agencies such as Ticketmaster and Live Nation and fired.
Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn invited Kid Rock (real name Robert Ritchie) to speak on Wednesday (Jan. 28). During his allotted five minutes he spoke of a decades long (or longer) fight for fairness in event ticket sales and distribution.
Secondary markets that inflate prices are just part of the problem, he says, labeling the merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster a failure. While he stopped short of accusing either of collusion, he stopped just short.
Kid Rock’s Solution To Unfair Event Ticketing Practices
“It’s no secret this industry is full of greedy snakes and scoundrels — too many suits lining their pockets off talent they never had and fans they misled,” he says during the sharpest portion of his five-minute testimony.
Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images
Anna Moneymaker, Getty Images
Read the full transcript below. Kid Rock’s solution is to break up Ticketmaster and Live Nation, mandate a 10 percent price cap on resale markets and use technology to eliminate bots.
“No artist should be forced to sell their tickets without a say in who sells them and how they are sold,” Kid Rock — a proud capitalist — says. “What other business in America doesn’t control — or at least have a say in — its own inventory?”
His testimony is rare, but representative, he suggests. “Unlike most of my peers, I am beholden to no one,” Kid Rock says early on. “To put it plainly, I ain’t scared to speak out on these issues like many artists, managers, and agents are for fear of biting the hand that feeds them.
Kid Rock’s Testimony To Congress — Full Transcript
On Social media, Kid Rock provided the full text of his prepared remarks. The actual speech included very few deviations.
Kid Rock Testimony to Congress
Instagram/KidRock
Kid Rock Testimony to Congress
Instagram/KidRock
Kid Rock Testimony to Congress
Instagram/KidRock
Kid Rock Trivia: 17 STUNNING Facts, Ranked Level 1 to 100
As the levels get higher, the facts get wilder! Here are 17 things you probably didn’t know about Kid Rock, including the truth about his son, why he divorced Pam Anderson and whether or not he’s friends with Eminem.
Myron Medcalf covers college basketball for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 2011.
Multiple Authors
Jan 29, 2026, 09:15 AM ET
The start of the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season feels like years ago. Before it tipped off, we ranked 80 teams based on how we expected them to end the year, including whether they would be real factors in the NCAA tournament.
Some of those projections held strong. UConn still looks like it could capture its third national title in four tries. Duke and Texas Tech have shaped into the Final Four contenders we forecasted them to be. And Nebraska has lived up to its billing as a comeback candidate, following up last season’s 7-13 Big Ten run to win its first 20 games of this campaign. The Cornhuskers have a real chance to be the men’s basketball version of Indiana football — a turnaround champion.
There were also misses. Arizona as just a second-weekend threat? The Wildcats have spent seven straight weeks atop the AP Top 25. We were also low on Vanderbilt, pinning the Commodores as a bubble team; they won their first 16 games.
There was no way to know then what we know now. But we did leverage the information we’ve gathered to this point to take another shot at ranking teams into their proper categories. This time, we’ve reduced the list to just 47.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Myron Medcalf try to make some sense of what has unfolded thus far.
Each of these teams cracked this tier at different points during the nonconference stretch of the season.
For Arizona, it was its road win at UConn in mid-November — after already notching wins away from home over Florida and UCLA (Auburn and Alabama would soon join that group). For Michigan, it was the historically impressive performances at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas during Feast Week, particularly the 40-point win over Gonzaga in the event’s championship game. UConn’s came later, but a string of wins over BYU, Illinois, Kansas and Florida — none at home — combined with a return to full health clearly put the Huskies in the top tier nationally.
Arizona currently sits at 21-0 after beating BYU in Provo on Monday, leading by as many as 19 points and looking utterly dominant for most of the game. Tommy Lloyd has a clear national championship favorite, with an ideal balance of youth and experience, guards and bigs and the best defense he has had since taking over in Tucson — by far. The Wildcats can beat teams in different ways, with Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries anchoring the perimeter, and Koa Peat, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka controlling the paint. Ivan Kharchenkov‘s emergence as one of the elite defenders in the Big 12 takes the Wildcats to another level at that end of the floor, too.
Michigan, meanwhile, suffered its first loss of the season in early January after opening the season with 14 straight wins, many of them by 30-plus points. Dusty May has leaned heavily on size, starting three players 6-foot-9 or taller, but the Wolverines are still able to defend as well — and get up and down the floor as fast — as any team in the country. Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara form an elite frontcourt, while Elliot Cadeau has made strides as a shooter and decision-maker.
UConn’s efficiency numbers aren’t quite up to par with the other two teams in this tier, but the Huskies have found a way to win close games throughout Big East play, and they’re already battle-tested from a brutal nonconference schedule. Dan Hurley’s crew took some time to get fully healthy, but now that it is, he has a team much more in line with his two title-winning groups of 2023 and 2024. There’s depth, size, point guard play and plenty of shotmakers on the perimeter with the likes of Alex Karaban, Solo Ball, Braylon Mullins and Silas Demary Jr. — Borzello
The NCAA tournament is often defined by the performances of players who step up in high-stakes moments, which means success in March depends on talent capable of shifting into a higher gear. The teams in this tier certainly are not without their flaws, but they could close the gap between them and the national championship favorites if their respective stars reach their ceilings in the weeks ahead.
Cameron Boozer is, at least statistically speaking, having a season that rivals those of the greatest Duke players over the past 25 years. His offensive rating is currently higher than the offensive ratings JJ Redick, Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg had during their National Player of the Year campaigns. Boozer is a household name, in part because his father Carlos Boozer helped Duke to a national title in 2001, but the rest of these teams are here without any of their own thanks to breakout performances by emerging stars.
play
1:08
Cameron Boozer’s 19-point double-double leads Duke rout of Louisville
Cameron Boozer’s 19-point double-double leads Duke rout of Louisville
After recording a career-high 32 points in a narrow but critical win over Illinois in December, Nebraska’sPryce Sandfort gave the Cornhuskers a chance at another important victory at Michigan on Tuesday despite being down two starters to injury and ultimately falling 75-72. Illinois’Keaton Wagler has had similar head-turning performances, having led the Fighting Illini to a road win over Purdue with a program-record 46 points while standout Kylan Boswell was sidelined this past Saturday.
At Houston, Kingston Flemings has emerged as a projected top-five NBA draft pick and had a career-high 42 points in the loss to Texas Tech this past Saturday. He is notably the first freshman whom coach Kelvin Sampson has trusted to act as a catalyst for the Cougars. At Purdue, Braden Smith leads the nation in assists (9.0 per game) as the spark that has kept us believers amid a Boilermakers slump. And at Iowa State, Tamin Lipsey has found Joshua Jefferson — a legit contender for national Player of the Year — for a flurry of buckets as the Cyclones joust for the Big 12 title.
If Graham Ike (ankle) is healthy soon and Braden Huff (knee) returns to form in time for the NCAA tournament, a Gonzaga team that could have one of the best defenses of the Mark Few era will have a chance to enjoy postseason success. And finally, Texas Tech stars JT Toppin and Christian Anderson — who combined for 43 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists in this past Saturday’s win over Houston — could be a winning combination for the Red Raiders again in March. — Medcalf
play
1:16
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Game Highlights
Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Game Highlights
This tier is full of teams that have notable strengths but glaring weaknesses that could prevent them from advancing beyond the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight despite being capable of reaching those second-weekend rounds.
We know what Kansas is capable of when Darryn Peterson (21.6 points per game) is available. The Jayhawks are a top-15 defensive team with the luxury of a high-level star, but Peterson’s injury concerns could be an issue if they linger into March (he’s missed 10 of their 20 games so far).
On paper, BYU has arguably all the talent a head coach could want. AJ Dybantsa is in the running for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft. Richie Saunders is one of the top shooters in the country. And Rob Wright III is averaging 5.2 assists for a top-10 offense. Yet, the Cougars are also 13th in turnover rate in the Big 12, surrendering the ball on 17% of their possessions.
Tom Izzo loves this Michigan State roster and Jeremy Fears Jr. (8.9 assists per game) is the right leader for a team that’s playing some of the best defense in America. The Spartans have also committed turnovers on one-fifth of their possessions in Big Ten play.
Florida has gotten its act together over the past six weeks in a reversal that has rebooted talk of a back-to-back national championship run for the Gators. But their lineups that include Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee together are rated 126th in overall efficiency among the two-player lineups in the SEC, per EvanMiya.
Darius Acuff Jr. is a projected NBA draft lottery pick who leads Arkansas and the best offense in the SEC. John Calipari’s problem? Opposing conference opponents have made 57% of their shots inside the arc against the Razorbacks, who rank 15th out of 16 SEC teams in that metric at KenPom.
Vanderbilt had drawn comparisons to Indiana football as an underdog that won at an unexpected rate, and with Tyler Tanner — who wasn’t ranked as a high school recruit by ESPN — evolving into a potential first-round NBA draft pick. But the Commodores, with the worst SEC defense inside the arc, might not have the defensive chops to advance past the Sweet 16 despite having the talent to get there. You could say the same for first-year coach Ryan Odom Virginia or Labaron Philon Jr. (22.2 PPG) and Alabama’s high-powered offense. — Medcalf
We haven’t quite figured out this group yet, despite being nearly three months into the season. They could lose on the first day of the NCAA tournament, or they could be among the four teams left standing in Indianapolis. Nothing would surprise us.
St. John’s had a rocky first two months, with inconsistent guard play and an atypical Rick Pitino defense. But with six wins in a row entering the week and better role allocation in recent weeks, we’re not counting out this preseason top-five team.
Kentucky was considered the most disappointing team in the country when it was 5-4, and again when it was 9-6; then the Wildcats rattled off five wins in a row prior to Tuesday’s 25-point road loss to Vanderbilt. Injuries have really hindered Mark Pope’s team, but what if Kam Williams and Jayden Quaintance come back? The Wildcats would get an offensive boost from Williams’ shooting while Quaintance would be an immediate upgrade defensively.
Louisville will hope to get things rolling again now that Mikel Brown Jr. has returned from the lower back injury that kept him out for more than a month. The Brown and Ryan Conwell backcourt is as good as it gets. Even with the star freshman available, however, the Cardinals have only one win over a surefire NCAA tournament team.
North Carolina showed its ceiling and floor over the weekend when it trailed by 16 against Virginia and couldn’t guard anyone … and then came back to win, overpowering the Cavaliers with size and shotmaking. Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar are an elite post duo, but Hubert Davis needs consistent point guard play and defense.
play
0:24
Caleb Wilson throws down two-handed slam for UNC
Caleb Wilson throws down two-handed slam for UNC
Under Rick Barnes, Tennessee has typically had elite defenses and been prone to droughts offensively. Not this season’s team — although neither unit has been particularly impressive in SEC play. There’s still potential with Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament leading the way, and the Vols showed it at Alabama last weekend. And if the defense turns around to play at the level of previous Barnes-coached teams, suddenly the Vols can go toe-to-toe with most teams in the country. — Borzello
This is a deep group, but all of these teams have shown flashes of being able to win a game in the NCAA tournament — even if some find themselves sweating on Selection Sunday.
Some have already shown they can beat high-level teams on a given night: Auburn won at Florida over the weekend and has wins over Arkansas and St. John’s. Wisconsin handed Michigan its lone loss thus far, in Ann Arbor. UCLA has been mostly inconsistent, especially against good teams, but beat Purdue and has won four of five entering the week. And Georgia blew out Arkansas.
Others have elite players who are good enough to carry them to a win: Iowa has Bennett Stirtz, NC State has Darrion Williams. Ohio State has plenty of talent in its starting five, and Bruce Thornton is a bona fide star. Boopie Miller puts SMU in this group as well.
For others, it’s simply a fact of us believing in their talent, coaching or general identity.
Randy Bennett’s Saint Mary’s teams are always a threat in March. Saint Louis is a legitimate top-25 squad and could find itself in position to win more than one game in the tournament. Utah State is annually destined to be in a coin-flip first-round matchup. Villanova, Texas A&M and Miami are all better than expected in Year 1 under new head coaches. UCF owns a win over Kansas and isn’t going away as a competitive Big 12 team. And San Diego State struggled early, but the Aztecs find themselves atop the Mountain West and have March pedigree. — Borzello
Over the past three NCAA tournaments, 10 teams outside the five high-major conferences — that were also double-digit seeds — won at least one game. The teams on this list all have the potential to join them, beginning with Miami (OH), a team that has won its first 21 games of the season. The RedHawks have made 39% of their 3-point attempts and 62% of their shots inside the arc, both top-20 marks nationally.
Under first-year head coach Bill Armstrong, McNeese has forced turnovers on 25% of its opponents’ turnovers, exceeding the tally of last season’s Cowboys team that reached the second round under Will Wade.
Murray State guard Javon Jackson (17.0 PPG) is one of the best mid-major players in America. UNC-Wilmington has seven players averaging at least nine points per game, depth that could make the team dangerous in March. Liberty is shooting 52% from the field, No. 2 in the country. And Yale has made 41% of its 3-point attempts, also second in the nation.
If your favorite team has to go through one of these squads in March, they might go home earlier than anticipated. — Medcalf
This decision comes at *** moment of growing pressure on the Federal Reserve. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized the institution, and there are questions about its future independence. That tension now colliding with the central bank that says it’s not yet ready to cut rates. As President Trump touts the economy as booming, just this morning as I’m running out, I see the S&P 500 hit 7000 for the first time ever. The Federal Reserve hitting pause today, holding interest rates steady. Inflation has eased significantly from its highs in mid-2022 but remains somewhat elevated. If you were thinking about buying *** car next week, what the Fed does today shouldn’t matter. It’s *** decision likely to find disapproval in the White House. It’s too late. Jerome, too late, pal. He’s too late. This was the first rate decision since the Justice Department launched an investigation into the Fed chairman and the central bank’s renovation project. In *** separate case, the Supreme Court is weighing whether President Trump can fire one of the Fed decision makers, Governor Lisa Cook. Chairman Jerome Powell said despite the political pressure, the central bank remains independent. We at the Fed will continue to do our jobs with objectivity, integrity, and *** deep commitment to serve the American people. Jerome Powell’s term as Federal Reserve Chairman ends in May. The president has yet to announce who he’d like to see as the successor. In Washington, I’m Christopher Seles.
Map: Census estimates show nearly 40% of homeowners have no mortgage. See where
There are now more than 33 million homeowners without a mortgage, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau, making up about 40% of all homeowners.That is an increase from the 26.7 million from estimates released 10 years ago.While most homeowners have a mortgage, the majority has been growing smaller. This is because the number of homeowners paying off their homes is rising faster than the number of people who are becoming homeowners with a mortgage, an analysis from the Get the Facts Data Team found.The trends are “a possible reaction to higher interest rates and home prices that tend to discourage moves to new homes,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.The data released this week were American Community Survey estimates for the five-year period ending in 2024. Survey responses are collected over a five-year time frame to identify long-term trends.The scope of the analysis focused on owner-occupied homes, so people who own homes they do not primarily live in are not included. So, second homes, vacation homes and homes rented to tenants are not counted.Homeowners in West Virginia had the highest percentage, 54%, of people owning their homes free and clear. That is about 294,000 out of the 545,600 housing units occupied by homeowners in the state. Mississippi followed West Virginia, with about 51% of homeowners not having a mortgage. In New Mexico, about 586,000 housing units are occupied by homeowners, and 49% of those homes are owned free and clear. Roughly 76% of homeowners in Washington, D.C., still have mortgages, the highest rate in the nation. Maryland and Colorado followed, ranking second and third at 71% and 69%. Explore the map below to see which counties had the most homeowners without mortgages.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
WASHINGTON —
There are now more than 33 million homeowners without a mortgage, according to new estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau, making up about 40% of all homeowners.
That is an increase from the 26.7 million from estimates released 10 years ago.
While most homeowners have a mortgage, the majority has been growing smaller. This is because the number of homeowners paying off their homes is rising faster than the number of people who are becoming homeowners with a mortgage, an analysis from the Get the Facts Data Team found.
The trends are “a possible reaction to higher interest rates and home prices that tend to discourage moves to new homes,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The data released this week were American Community Survey estimates for the five-year period ending in 2024. Survey responses are collected over a five-year time frame to identify long-term trends.
The scope of the analysis focused on owner-occupied homes, so people who own homes they do not primarily live in are not included. So, second homes, vacation homes and homes rented to tenants are not counted.
Homeowners in West Virginia had the highest percentage, 54%, of people owning their homes free and clear. That is about 294,000 out of the 545,600 housing units occupied by homeowners in the state.
Mississippi followed West Virginia, with about 51% of homeowners not having a mortgage. In New Mexico, about 586,000 housing units are occupied by homeowners, and 49% of those homes are owned free and clear.
Roughly 76% of homeowners in Washington, D.C., still have mortgages, the highest rate in the nation. Maryland and Colorado followed, ranking second and third at 71% and 69%.
Explore the map below to see which counties had the most homeowners without mortgages.
The anonymous Trump parody/protest project originally emerged during Donald J. Trump‘s first presidential term, releasing an absurdly prolific run of roughly 100 ultra-short grind tracks aimed squarely at political outrage and satire. Now, the band has returned with a brand-new EP titled Fuckin’ Bitch and yeah – it’s exactly as pissed as it should be.
The release features 10 tracks of signature blast-driven chaos, staying true to the project’s confrontational ethos. More importantly, the EP carries a clear activist purpose: 100% of all proceeds — both digital and physical — will be donated to the Immigrant Defense Project and the National Immigration Law Center.
The EP is available now on vinyl via Bandcamp, with digital purchases also contributing fully to the two organizations. Here are the song titles as well, because you need to read ’em.
“Not So Funny Now, Is It Motherfuckers?”
“Me First!”
“Body Camera Malfunction”
“ICE!”
“Roman Salute!”
“Fuckin’ Bitch”
“Let Me Talk!”
“Sad! “
“Show Some Spine!”
“You Know, Soon As Nobody’s Looking, I’m Going To Fuck This Flag.”
Want More Metal? Subscribe To Our Daily Newsletter
Enter your information below to get a daily update with all of our headlines and receive The Orchard Metal newsletter.
The third event of the PGA Tour season brings some of the world’s best to famed Torrey Pines in San Diego, California, for the 2026 Farmers Insurance Open. Headlining the field this week is Brooks Koepka, who is making his first PGA Tour start in four years after leaving for LIV Golf.
Koepka was reinstated earlier this year in a surprisingly quick fashion after getting his release on Dec. 23, 2025, becoming the first star to return to the PGA Tour since LIV Golf launched.
Koepka spoke Tuesday about his return decision, pointing multiple times to his family situation and highlighting the role Tiger Woods played in his comeback. He also opened up about the nerves he felt, not for the actual golf itself but the reactions he may receive from fans and players, as well as having to get through that first press conference.
With that out of the way, Koepka can now focus on playing golf, which has always been where he’s comfortable. Koepka has serious work to do to climb the rankings and get himself into the signature events on the PGA Tour schedule this season, and that “grind,” as he called it, begins on Thursday against a strong field.
Playing with Koepka this week are Ludvig Åberg, who withdrew with an illness last week, and Max Homa; that trio tees off at 12:32 p.m. ET on Thursday and 1:38 p.m. on Friday. Other notables in the field this week include Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, Harris English, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Rose, Jason Day, Cameron Young and Patrick Cantlay.
They will all be looking to remind Koepka of the strength of the Tour by keeping him out of the winner’s circle in his return event, while Brooks has his sights set on making a statement that he’s back and still a major threat.
Here’s how you can watch Koepka, Schauffele and the rest of the stars contend with Torrey Pines this week.
Early TVcoverage: 12-3 p.m. — ESPN, Fubo (Try for free) Afternoon TV coverage: 3-7 p.m. on Golf Channel, Fubo (Try for free) Live streaming: 3-7 p.m. on NBC Sports App
Early TVcoverage: 12-3 p.m. — ESPN, Fubo (Try for free) Live TV coverage: 3-7 p.m. on Golf Channel, Fubo (Try for free) Live streaming: 3-7 p.m. on NBC Sports App
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Bernalillo County is working to make sure veterans experiencing homelessness have better access to vital resources. The Office of Bernalillo County Assessor recently visited the new Veterans Integration Center, where they authorized property tax exemptions for the facility. Veteran property owners with a “federally and state-recognized service-connected disability” can receive a disability […]
Scientists have reported some rare good news from the Arctic. As the climate changes and the ice melts, in one region at least, polar bears are thriving — finding new ways to survive, and even packing on the pounds.
“A fat bear is a healthy bear,” Jon Aars, a senior scientist with the Norwegian Polar Institute, told CBS News on Thursday.
He’s been tracking polar bears on the remote, arctic Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard for more than 20 years. He led a team of researchers who meticulously tracked the weight and size of nearly 800 bears between 1992 and 2019.
They found the polar giants to be in good shape, able to survive and to continue raising new cubs.
The head of the Polar Bear Program at the Norwegian Polar Institute (left), and Norwegian veterinarian Rolf Arne Olberg (right) measure a male polar bear in eastern Spitzbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago, in an April 17, 2025 file photo.
OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty
“I was quite surprised,” Aars admitted, “because we have lost so much sea ice since I started.”
For years scientists have raised the alarm that shrinking sea ice cover could put polar bears at risk, as they use the ice as a platform from which to hunt for seals.
“Some of us would predict that they should be in trouble already,” Aars said.
But what his team has found suggests the bears are adapting to smaller ice patches, and it may even be helping them hunt more efficiently as their prey, which also relies on the ice, is concentrated in smaller areas.
“I think what this shows is they need less sea ice than we thought,” Aars told CBS News.
His team’s research also found that the melting ice is pushing polar bears to get creative on land — where they’re increasingly feasting on other prey, such as reindeer and walruses.
“Some of them would be on land as much as 90% of the time now, which is a lot,” he said.
A view of a polar bear during the 5th National Arctic Scientific Research Expedition in Svalbard, Norway, July 16, 2025.
Sebnem Coskun/Anadolu/Getty
While thriving bears is undeniably good news, Aars stressed that more research is needed to understand how polar bears in other parts of the Arctic are adapting to a warming climate. And he cautioned that his team’s research does not attempt to predict how the animals will handle the continuing warming of the Arctic.
“Bears are still able to cope with the situation as it is today,” he said. “The bad news is that predictions [are that] we’re going to lose sea ice fast in Svalbard.”
Aars and many other scientists remain concerned, in other words, that the gains by the Svalbard bears will be temporary, and could be reversed.
