Chaos broke out on the streets of Portland after opposing groups clashed outside The Sports Bra, a women’s sports bar that had asked patrons to leave after they wore shirts suggesting transgender women should be barred from competing in women’s sports.

The Sports Bra, which broadcasts women’s sporting events, drew attention earlier this month after asking a group wearing anti-transgender shirts to cover the clothing or leave the establishment.

About two weeks later, on Sunday, right-wing demonstrators gathered outside the LGBT-friendly bar to protest its actions. Counter-protesters soon arrived, and tensions quickly escalated.

Bear mace was used during the confrontation against people defending the bar, according to KOIN 6 News.

Reporter Ariel Salk said she was struck by the mace while attempting to question protesters as they moved away from the bar.

Several videos shared on X appeared to show people defending the bar following the right-wing activists and throwing objects as the group tried to leave the area.

The confrontation later shifted to the area outside a Fred Meyer grocery store. In one video, people identified as right-wing protesters ducked for cover as apparent counter-protesters threw objects toward them.

The grocery store’s glass sliding doors were smashed as screams and bullhorns amplified the disorder.

Another video appeared to show a man wearing an XX-XY Athletics shirt throwing an object during the confrontation.

In another parking-lot exchange, a right-wing protester was heard saying, ‘Get the f*** away from me b****,’ before spraying mace at a person defending the bar, with a police officer standing nearby.

When another counter-protester challenged the officer, he responded, ‘She’s walking away while you guys are clearly approaching her.’

‘She’s trying to walk away while you guys are right behind her,’ the officer added.

A separate video appeared to show an independent right-wing journalist being struck in the head by an object thrown by a woman from only a few feet away.

The journalist then threw the woman to the ground and appeared to strike her as the scene descended into further disorder, with people running, pepper spray filling the air and screams heard in the background.

‘We’re going to continue to fight back against any hate in Portland,’ Holly Brown of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization told KOIN.

‘You know, we kind of see this as these people are emboldened by Trump, and so we can’t allow it to stand here in Portland. So as long as they’re coming out and attacking any marginalized community, we’re also going to come up and stand back and fight back against them,’ Brown said.

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According to the outlet, the Portland Police Bureau reported that officers responded to a disturbance near Northwest 24th Avenue and Broadway Street around 3.30pm.

Officials described the scene as two groups clashing and used de-escalation techniques to calm the opposing groups.

‘Two groups of people with opposing views were causing a disturbance and were reported to be pepper spraying each other,’ the Portland Police Bureau said in a press release.

‘The two groups eventually separated.’

The Sports Bra, a bar fully dedicated to women’s sports, initially shared a statement on Instagram shortly after asking the patrons to leave in early September.

The bar also claimed that it instructed the group to cover the messages on their shirts or leave.

‘On Sunday, Sept. 6, a group entered wearing apparel with messages advocating for the exclusion of trans women from sports,’ it read. ‘When our team respectfully gave the group the choice to cover the anti-trans messaging or leave, they chose to leave.’

The Sports Bra later shared another statement on Instagram.

‘At The Sports Bra, our mission is simple: support, promote, and empower ALL girls and women in sports. To be clear: trans girls are girls, and trans women are women.

‘Since day one, we’ve built our space to be inclusive, especially for people who don’t feel comfortable at a traditional sports bar. That includes LGBTQ+ community members. As a reminder, the T stands for trans. We welcome people of every identity and background, but we do not tolerate messages or conduct that demean or exclude the very community we exist to serve and celebrate,’ the business said.

The bar concluded by saying that it is ‘firmly committed to inclusion and belonging for everyone who walks through our doors.’

A previous protest was held on September 11, just days after the group was banned from the bar.

The incidents come as the debate over transgender athletes’ space in sports, particularly women’s sports, rages.

The legal and cultural debate is about whether transgender girls and women should be allowed to participate in female athletic teams. 

Advocates for transgender rights claim the fight is a direct attack on a person’s civil rights, while their opposition believes it is unfair if transgender females play in sports that biological girls and women are in. 

In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that states now have the authority to ban transgender athletes from female school sports. 

A pointed question from journalist Latika Bourke, who asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese whether he felt like a “fraud”, has fuelled a political row and prompted criticism of her occasional role as a co-host on an ABC radio program.

Mr Albanese faced reporters in New York on Sunday evening before the Atlantic Council Awards. He is due to accept a Global Citizen Award on Wednesday for his international leadership, particularly his work across the Pacific.

Bourke, a journalist-at-large for The Nightly, challenged the Prime Minister over whether he was a fitting recipient of the honour. Her question referred to a recent Newspoll indicating a decline in his popularity.

“Prime Minister, here in New York on Wednesday night, you will receive an award for being a global citizen,” she began.

She then pointed to domestic political difficulties, including the government’s response to what she described as the worst massacre since Port Arthur, Labor’s polling position compared with the period before Julia Gillard was removed as leader, and Mr Albanese’s net approval rating being below Scott Morrison’s. She asked whether he felt “a bit of a fraud” accepting the award.

After briefly pausing, Mr Albanese answered with a single word.

“No,” he replied, before the press conference continued.

The exchange rapidly spread across social media, drawing both condemnation and support from commentators on opposing sides of politics. Some critics also focused on Bourke’s occasional appearances as a co-host of ABC Radio National’s Global Roaming program.

Economist and former adviser to Julia Gillard, Stephen Koukoulas, accused Bourke of showing insufficient respect for the office of Prime Minister.

“A disgusting lack of respect for the office of PM,” he wrote.

Mr Koukoulas added that he assumed the ABC would dismiss her over the incident, arguing that the broadcaster had disciplined other staff for less serious conduct.

Former ABC Four Corners producer Peter Cronau also criticised the journalist’s approach.

Referring to Bourke’s Ukrainian military cap and the tone of her question, Mr Cronau said she had turned an opportunity to question the Prime Minister before the international media into a direct accusation by asking whether he felt like “a bit of a fraud”.

Simon Banks, chief executive of Labor-aligned lobbying group Hawker Britton, meanwhile questioned the motivation behind the intervention.

“I see a certain ‘journalist’ attacking the PM for receiving an independent international prize,” he wrote.

Mr Banks said the award specifically recognised Mr Albanese’s efforts to rebuild Australia’s economic, defence and security relationships with its Pacific partners, asking who could oppose that achievement and why.

Veteran commentator and author Mike Carlton also questioned the purpose of Bourke’s intervention, suggesting it had been designed to generate headlines.

“And what, exactly, was the point of the question?” he posted.

‘What information did she hope to elicit? Anything? Or was it just a show-off..?’

Former Australian Democrats senator turned Labor MP Cheryl Kernot was also critical of Bourke’s question. 

‘Respect is earned – and not like this,’ she wrote.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson meanwhile praised Bourke for challenging Albanese on the world stage.

‘Anthony Albanese has jetted off to New York where he will be receiving an award for being a good ‘Global Citizen’,’ Hanson said.

‘While he collects a trophy from elites on a world stage, Australians’ lives are only getting worse.

‘Credit to journalist Latika Bourke for confronting him about the hypocrisy on the world stage and visibly rattling the PM.’

The Daily Mail understands that One Nation is running Bourke’s question to Albanese on social media as a paid advertisement.  

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor also backed Bourke’s question, saying that he thought Albanese has ‘been fraudulent to Australians,’ referencing the government’s budget changes on negative gearing and capital gains tax, which they promised not to touch at the 2025 election. 

‘He’s lied to the Australian people time and time again. He’s in denial about the state of the country right now,’ Taylor said.  

Liberal Senate Leader Michaelia Cash said the question was a ‘very accurate character assessment,’ in a video shared to social media. 

‘The truth hurts Albo, but not nearly as much as the pain that you’ve inflicted upon Australians,’ Cash said. 

Conservative commentator Prue MacSween also applauded Bourke’s intervention.

‘Excellent question. Disgraceful answer,’ she wrote about Albanese.  

Daily Mail approached the ABC and Bourke for comment. 

A Kentucky man who won a $167.3 million Powerball jackpot has been arrested for the fifth time since collecting his life-changing prize.

James Farthing, 51, was taken into custody early Sunday after Scott County deputies allegedly found him asleep in a running Ford Mustang at a Walmart parking lot in Georgetown, about 15 miles north of Lexington.

Deputies were dispatched shortly before 3 a.m. following a report of a white Mustang with a temporary license tag stopped in the middle of an intersection. The caller later told dispatchers that the vehicle had moved and was now parked at a nearby Walmart.

According to a citation from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found the Mustang near an electric-vehicle charging station with its engine running. Farthing was alone inside the car and appeared to be asleep.

Authorities said they knocked on the window several times before Farthing woke up. When he stepped out of the vehicle, deputies reported multiple signs that he was intoxicated.

The citation states that Farthing smelled of alcohol and marijuana, had bloodshot and watery eyes, spoke with slurred speech and struggled to maintain his balance.

Farthing reportedly told deputies that a woman had driven him to Walmart and left him there. Surveillance video, however, allegedly showed the Mustang entering the parking lot without anyone getting out before law enforcement arrived.

Deputies described Farthing in the citation as “manifestly under the influence of alcohol.” They said he posed a risk to himself and others because he may have driven while impaired.

He was arrested shortly after 4 a.m. and charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place.

Farthing was booked into the Scott County Detention Center. The latest case is pending in Scott County District Court.

The arrest marks the fifth time Farthing has encountered law enforcement since winning Kentucky’s record Powerball jackpot in April 2025.

Farthing bought the winning ticket at Clark’s Pump N Shop in Georgetown and chose to split the $167.3 million prize with his mother.

Shortly after his win, Farthing appeared overwhelmed by the sudden windfall. “I still don’t believe it’s real,” he told WLKY.

He also said he had caused his mother “a lot of stress,” while insisting that he had “kept my faith and done right.”

But the dramatic change in his financial circumstances was followed almost immediately by legal trouble.

Only days after claiming his jackpot winnings, Farthing was jailed in Florida following an altercation at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach.

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According to police, officers were attempting to break up a fight when Farthing allegedly kicked a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy in the face.

He then allegedly tried to flee before officers used a Taser. Farthing later pleaded guilty and received a sentence of time served and a $1,000 fine.

But his legal troubles did not end there, his second arrest came in February 2026 in Georgetown when woman called 911, telling authorities she feared for her safety as people inside a home might harm her.

Authorities found the woman hiding beneath a desk. She told investigators that Farthing had picked her up for a gathering and allegedly pressured her into taking a ‘gummy.’

During a search of Farthing’s home, authorities reported finding a handgun, ammunition, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

And Farthing was arrested again in March and charged with second-degree burglary and marijuana possession.

Police alleged that security-camera footage showed him entering a Lexington home, where he was accused of stealing around $12,000 in cash.

One of the Fayette County criminal cases involving burglary and marijuana possession was later dismissed, according to WLEX.

His fourth arrest came in July where he was charged with first-degree strangulation and fourth-degree assault following allegations involving a woman with whom he had been on a boat trip.

According to the criminal complaint, the pair argued after returning from the trip before Farthing allegedly put both hands around the woman’s neck and restricted her breathing.

Farthing pleaded not guilty. A judge set his bond at $15,000, ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim and required him to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Now, only months later, Farthing has been arrested again on account of alcohol intoxication in a public place.

The circumstances are markedly different from some of the more serious allegations he has previously faced, but the arrest nevertheless makes it the fifth time he has been taken into custody since winning his multimillion-dollar jackpot.

He is now facing the public intoxication charge in Scott County District Court and is due to be arraigned on the latest charge Tuesday.

Farthing’s latest case remains pending, and the allegations in his various criminal cases have not all resulted in convictions. 

Former Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch has challenged the Reserve Bank to identify the Albanese government’s contribution to Australia’s inflation problem, warning millions of mortgage holders could soon face another rate rise for a bill they “did not run up”.

Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and ANZ have each warned borrowers to prepare for another interest rate increase next week.

Financial markets are pricing in a rise in the cash rate to 4.6 per cent on September 29. A further increase to 4.85 per cent is expected early next year, while traders also see a strong possibility of another hike later in 2027.

In an open letter to RBA governor Michele Bullock, Koch called on the central bank to explain in its board decision why households should bear the cost of inflation.

“There’s an increasing likelihood a great many Australians are likely to be handed a bill they did not run up,” he said.

“The June quarter national accounts came in hotter than expected: growth of 0.4 per cent against a forecast of 0.3, and 2.1 per cent over the year against forecast 1.8.”

Before the board votes, Koch said it should examine what drove the unexpectedly strong growth, arguing that households were not responsible.

Instead, he attributed the expansion to federal, state and territory government spending, along with public sector hiring and wage growth.

Koch said policymakers should first consider where the recent economic growth originated before requiring mortgage holders to absorb even higher repayments, warning another rate rise could target the wrong part of the economy.

He argued households were already exercising caution, pointing to a 0.4 per cent increase in spending during the June quarter and a rise in the household saving ratio to 6.5 per cent.

The financial expert also highlighted that unemployment had climbed to 4.5 per cent, consumer sentiment was weakening and business conditions had fallen into negative territory.

“So who did the growing? Government, and not by a little,” Koch said.

“Commonwealth government spending has climbed to 26.8 per cent of GDP… the highest level outside the pandemic since 1986.”

“State government spending isn’t helping either. The public sector has also.”

Koch cited Australian Bureau of Statistics figures that he said showed government-influenced prices had increased far faster than prices driven by market forces.

He said those categories included childcare, education, healthcare, utilities and insurance.

“In other words, some of the stickiest price pressure isn’t coming from shoppers splurging… it’s coming from prices governments set, subsidise, regulate or index,” Koch said.

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“Governor, that last point deserves emphasis. A meaningful slice of the inflation your board is trying to contain is not being generated in a shopping centre. It is being set in a cabinet room.”

Koch added that petrol price shocks are already a ‘tax on every household’, and a rate rise won’t fix the situation but only harm ordinary Australians. 

‘A meaningful slice of the inflation your board is trying to contain is not being generated in a shopping centre. It is being set in a cabinet room,’ he said.

‘Australians have absorbed three rate rises this year, taking the cash rate to 4.35 per cent. Interest payments now consume 5.8 per cent of household gross income… higher than the 5.7 per cent peak of 1990, when mortgage rates were near 17 per cent.

‘Today’s borrowers are carrying a heavier interest burden than the generation we all cite as the horror story.

‘Households complied. Governments didn’t seem to. Yet only one of those two gets the higher interest rate bill.’

Koch asked that the RBA governor follow through on four steps, starting with publishing an estimate of how much of the cash rate is attributable to government spending fuelling demand within every Statement of Monetary Policy. 

He called on Bullock to show where the rate would be if government spending had grown in line with GDP rather than ahead of it.

He added there should be a fiscal statement signed by federal and state treasurers committing to a public spending path consistent with the RBA’s inflation target. He also said Bullock should explain the impact of any rate rise in terms of mortgage repayments. 

Expectations of another increase intensified after stronger-than-expected inflation data and Bullock’s recent comments to parliament. 

AMP deputy chief economist Diana Mousina said Bullock’s appearance before the House of Representatives provided a fresh insight into the RBA’s thinking on the economic outlook.

‘I thought she sounded a little more overt in her discussion around inflation, noting that “developments since [the August board meeting] suggest that although growth in the Australian economy is slowing, some of these upside risks to inflation appear to be materialising”,’ she said.

‘That sounds like a central bank preparing to raise rates at its next meeting.’

Koch said if another increase proves necessary, Australians deserve a clear explanation of what is forcing the decision.

‘If the board must move on September 29, please do Australians the courtesy of naming who forced your hand,’ he said.

‘A rate rise won’t pump a single extra barrel, or fix a thing in the Middle East. It simply hits the same kitchen table twice.’

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