The Bhumjaithai Party, led by caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, has taken a substantial lead in Thailand’s general election held on February 8, 2026. The opposing People’s Party has conceded defeat, with its leader acknowledging that victory is unlikely.

As of 10:44 PM on election night, with 79% of the votes tallied, the provisional results from the Election Commission showed Bhumjaithai likely securing 177 House constituency MP seats. The top parties for constituency seats were:

• Bhumjaithai Party: 177 seats
• People’s Party: 81 seats
• Pheu Thai: 62 seats
• Klatham Party: 59 seats

For party-list votes, the People’s Party was leading with 7.16 million votes, followed by Bhumjaithai with 4.66 million and Pheu Thai with 4.31 million votes.

Based on these early returns, Bhumjaithai is projected to win the general election. It is anticipated that the Bhumjaithai Party will likely form the next stable government in a coalition with Pheu Thai and the Klatham Party, collectively commanding over 300 parliamentary seats.

The People’s Party leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, has stated his party will assume the role of opposition, affirming his previous commitment not to support Bhumjaithai in leading the government. These preliminary results are consistent with pre-election opinion surveys, where Bhumjaithai was favored to win in two out of three forecasts.

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The Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on Feb. 8, 2026, features Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny in a groundbreaking solo performance that marks the first time a primarily Spanish-language artist headlines the event, drawing massive anticipation alongside sharp cultural and political backlash that prompted Turning Point USA to launch a competing “All-American Halftime Show” featuring Kid Rock, Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett.

Bad Bunny, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, takes the stage at Levi’s Stadium during the New England Patriots-Seattle Seahawks matchup, following his historic Grammy win for Album of the Year for “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” — the first for a Latino artist. The 31-year-old reggaeton and Latin trap icon, Spotify’s most-streamed artist globally in 2025, promises a high-energy spectacle blending his hits with Puerto Rican cultural elements, potentially including surprise guests and elaborate staging.

The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Bad Bunny as headliner in September 2025 during a Sunday Night Football broadcast. His selection represents a milestone for Latin music representation on one of television’s largest stages, with expectations of record viewership among diverse audiences. Previews and trailers emphasize joy, unity and dance, with Bad Bunny teasing a performance that celebrates his roots while appealing globally.

The show runs approximately 13-15 minutes, timed to the traditional halftime break around 8 p.m. ET. Bad Bunny’s setlist remains closely guarded, but analysts predict staples like “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Moscow Mule,” “Dákiti” and tracks from his latest album, mixed with high-production visuals, choreography and possibly bilingual elements. His press conference in San Francisco highlighted his journey from Puerto Rico to global stardom, with collaborators Ebro Darden and Zane Lowe joining for reflections.

The performance has sparked controversy, particularly from conservative circles criticizing the choice of a Spanish-language artist and Bad Bunny’s past activism on issues like immigration. President Donald Trump and allies questioned his popularity and “American” appeal, fueling online debates about language and cultural representation in mainstream events. Some backlash focused on perceptions of division, though supporters hailed it as progress for inclusivity, noting previous Hispanic performers in group acts or features.

In response, Turning Point USA — the conservative youth organization founded by the late Charlie Kirk — announced its “All-American Halftime Show” as direct counterprogramming. The event, rooted in Kirk’s long-standing critiques of mainstream entertainment, features country and rock acts aligned with patriotic and traditional values. Kid Rock headlines, joined by Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice and Gabby Barrett, with performances emphasizing faith, family and freedom.

TPUSA promoted the show as a “celebration” of American ideals, streaming live on its YouTube, X and Rumble channels around the same halftime window. Organizers described it as organic evolution from Kirk’s advocacy, with spokesperson Andrew Kolvet noting it honors the founder’s vision. The lineup draws from country music’s conservative-leaning fanbase, with artists like Kid Rock — a vocal Trump supporter — bringing high-energy anthems.

The parallel events highlight deepening cultural divides, with Bad Bunny’s show poised for broad, international appeal and TPUSA’s targeting niche audiences seeking alternatives. Viewers can choose: NBC/Peacock for the official halftime or TPUSA platforms for the counter-show. Some may flip channels or multitask, amplifying the “clash” narrative in media coverage.

Bad Bunny’s historic role underscores Latin music’s mainstream rise, potentially setting records for non-English performances. His trailer emphasized unity and dance, countering critics with messages of love. TPUSA’s event, meanwhile, positions itself as pro-American counterbalance, with artists performing hits that resonate with themes of patriotism and tradition.

As Super Bowl Sunday unfolds, the halftime slot — traditionally a unifying cultural moment — splits into contrasting visions: Bad Bunny’s vibrant, global Latin fusion versus TPUSA’s country-rock celebration of American roots. The juxtaposition reflects broader societal tensions over identity, language and entertainment in polarized times.

Fans anticipate Bad Bunny breaking viewing records, while TPUSA’s stream draws dedicated followers. Regardless of preference, the dual shows ensure halftime remains appointment viewing in 2026.

Players who will take the field for Super Bowl LX on Sunday will face a significant tax bill due to the game’s location triggering what’s known as a “jock tax.”

Super Bowl LX will be played in Santa Clara, California, and the Golden State is one of a number of states that has implemented a so-called jock tax on professional athletes, which assesses taxes on players based on the number of days they spend playing or practicing in a given jurisdiction – including those away from their home state.

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement sets the bonuses paid to players on both the winning and losing sides of the Super Bowl – players on the winning team each receive a $178,000 pay day while players on the losing team will get $103,000.

Jeffrey Degner, a research fellow in economics at the American Institute for Economic Research, told FOX Business that while those bonuses are “nothing to sneeze at,” the amount that players will actually take home after taxes like the jock tax and other state and federal liabilities is considerably smaller.

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Super Bowl LX will air on Feb. 8 at the Levi’s Stadium in California. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images via Reuters)

“What that means here is that the winning team, their take-home pay will be approximately $86,000. If you’re on the losing side, the take-home would be about $49,800,” Degner said.

Jock taxes apply to NFL players throughout the season in jurisdictions when they’re in effect, so any time they play or practice in an area where a jock tax has been implemented, they’ll be subject to the tax on income earned that day. 

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Super Bowl LX will be held at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, triggering the state’s jock tax. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Both states and cities can implement jock taxes, adding layers of complexity to the player’s tax burden, though they remain more popular at the state level than in municipalities.

Most jock taxes are implemented using a “duty day” standard, as other frameworks have faced challenges in court as well as feasibility issues. 

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Super Bowl winners take home larger bonuses than players on the losing team, who still receive a significant check. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

The duty day format uses the number of days an athlete spends “on duty” playing in a game, practicing, participating in team meetings, travel days and – in the case of the Super Bowl – fulfilling team-related media obligations. 

The total earnings are multiplied by a ratio of duty days spent in a given jurisdiction out of the athlete’s total duty days to determine the jock tax liability.

“The days on duty include days when you’re practicing or, in the case of the Super Bowl, even the media day counts as a day on duty and if that activity is happening in California, you’re subject to those tax rules,” Degner said.

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“The players have a really complex tax situation where they can have 10 or more different states that they’re having to file taxes for,” he said. “This is why a lot of these young players, it’s really important for teams to settle them in with sharp financial advisors and tax advisors so that they don’t lose their shirts, so to speak.”