May 2026 is loaded with strong Jordan drops, from retro heat to highly anticipated collaborations. Whether you are after a bold classic, a clean seasonal pair, or one of the month’s biggest hype releases, there is plenty to circle on the calendar.
Note: Release dates and pricing are always subject to change.
1. Air Jordan 4 GS “Infrared 23”
Release Date: May 1, 2026 Price: $165
The month starts off with the Air Jordan 4 GS “Infrared 23,” a grade-school exclusive that mixes a black upper with bright mango, barely volt, and infrared accents. It is one of the louder Jordan drops on the May calendar and should stand out immediately on foot.
2. Air Jordan 4 “Toro Bravo”
Release Date: May 2, 2026 Price: $220
One of the biggest retro returns of the month, the Air Jordan 4 “Toro Bravo” brings back its signature fire red suede upper with black, white, and cement grey detailing. This is the kind of release that longtime Jordan fans have been waiting to see return.
3. Air Jordan 11 Low WMNS “Mother’s Day”
Release Date: May 2, 2026 Price: $195
The Air Jordan 11 Low WMNS “Mother’s Day” gives the classic low-top silhouette a softer seasonal feel with a white upper and metallic gold finish. It is one of the cleaner lifestyle-focused Jordan releases scheduled for May.
4. Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned”
Release Date: May 16, 2026 Price: $145
The iconic black and varsity red look lands on the Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned,” giving one of Jordan Brand’s most famous color stories a low-top summer-ready format. For many sneaker fans, this is easily one of the best value pickups of the month.
5. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Muslin/Shy Pink”
Release Date: May 22, 2026 Price: $155
The Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Muslin/Shy Pink” is one of the most anticipated May 2026 drops. The pair combines muslin, shy pink, sail, and university red while continuing the run of Travis Scott Jordan 1 Low releases that always draw major attention.
6. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Sail/Tropical Pink”
Release Date: May 22, 2026 Price: $155
Jordan Brand is also expected to drop a second Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low on the same day in a “Sail/Tropical Pink” makeup. With both pairs landing on May 22, that release date could become the biggest Jordan launch day of the month.
7. Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best Dad”
Release Date: May 30, 2026 Price: $215
Closing out the month is the Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best Dad,” a themed release dressed in Sail, Black, University Red, Pale Ivory, and Palomino. It brings a more story-driven feel to the end of May and offers a different lane from the louder retro and collaboration drops earlier in the month.
Final Thoughts
May 2026 has a little bit of everything: a bold retro in the “Toro Bravo” 4, a seasonal Air Jordan 11 Low, a classic-inspired “Banned” low, and two Travis Scott collaborations that will likely dominate the conversation. Add in the “World’s Best Dad” Air Jordan 3 and it is easy to see why May is shaping up to be one of the strongest Jordan release months of 2026.
With the 2025-26 NBA regular season entering its final stretch, the MVP race has come down to three truly elite candidates: Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic. All three have delivered seasons worthy of serious consideration, and in many years, each one would have a legitimate argument to win the award.
But if I had to predict the winner today, I would pick Victor Wembanyama.
That is not a slight to Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been the best scoring guard in basketball on a dominant Oklahoma City team, or to Jokic, who has once again produced one of the most extraordinary all-around offensive seasons the league has ever seen. It is simply a recognition that Wembanyama’s combination of elite production, team success, defensive dominance, and late-season momentum gives him the strongest overall MVP case right now.
The Top Three MVP Candidates
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama has turned the MVP conversation into a true debate because his impact goes far beyond traditional box-score volume. He is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, while leading a Spurs team that has surged to 59-18 and the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
Those numbers are impressive on their own, but the context makes them even stronger. Wembanyama is anchoring one of the league’s best teams while providing game-changing value on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he creates matchup problems no defense can comfortably solve. Defensively, he alters entire game plans. That matters in an MVP race where the margins are this small.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander has been brilliant all season and remains a completely credible MVP pick. He is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game for an Oklahoma City team that owns the league’s best record at 61-16.
His case begins with consistency. Night after night, Gilgeous-Alexander delivers efficient, controlled offense and has been the engine of the NBA’s most successful regular-season team. There is tremendous value in being the best player on the best team, and that reality is why he remains so close to the top of this race.
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic is having another historic season, averaging 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game for Denver. A center averaging a triple-double is remarkable enough. Doing it for a second straight season places him in rare territory even by his own standards.
From a purely offensive standpoint, Jokic may still be the most impactful player in basketball. He controls pace, creates efficient shots for everyone on the floor, and remains the most versatile offensive hub in the league. The issue for his MVP case is not production. It is team standing. Denver, at 49-28, simply has not matched the regular-season dominance of Oklahoma City or San Antonio.
Why I Think Wembanyama Will Win
The strongest MVP argument this year comes down to total impact, not just offensive excellence or scoring volume. That is where Wembanyama separates himself.
Gilgeous-Alexander has the edge in scoring and has led the team with the best record. Jokic has the most historic all-around offensive stat line. But Wembanyama offers something neither of them quite matches: elite value on both ends of the floor at the same time, on a team that has won at an MVP-worthy level.
His 24.7 points and 11.5 rebounds already put him in superstar territory. Add 3.1 blocks per game, and the picture changes from “great season” to “franchise-defining dominance.” He is not just a productive defender. He is a defense by himself. That kind of impact is difficult to overstate. When voters are comparing players this close, defense becomes a major separator.
That is the key point in Wembanyama’s favor. Gilgeous-Alexander has been phenomenal, but his MVP case is built mostly on elite offense, efficiency, and team success. Jokic’s case is built mostly on historic offensive control and statistical brilliance. Wembanyama combines high-end offensive production with defensive influence that can completely reshape a game.
And unlike many past candidates whose defensive value came with lower team results, Wembanyama’s team success is fully in the MVP range. The Spurs are not a feel-good surprise story anymore. They are one of the league’s top teams. That matters.
Why Wembanyama Deserves It More Than Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander’s argument is straightforward and powerful: he scores more, he creates efficiently, and he has led the NBA’s best team. In many seasons, that would be enough to make him the clear favorite.
But this season, Wembanyama closes the gap in team success while providing a much larger defensive edge. Oklahoma City’s record is better, but San Antonio’s record is also elite. The difference between first and second in the West is meaningful, yet it is not so overwhelming that it should erase Wembanyama’s advantage as a rim protector, rebounder, and overall defensive force.
If the question is which player does more to affect every possession on both sides of the ball, Wembanyama has the stronger answer. Gilgeous-Alexander may be the more polished offensive closer right now, but Wembanyama influences the game in more dimensions.
Why Wembanyama Deserves It More Than Joki?
Jokic has the most historically unusual stat line of the three candidates, and no serious MVP discussion can dismiss a center averaging a triple-double. He remains one of the most unique players the league has ever seen.
However, MVP is rarely awarded in a vacuum. Team performance matters, and Denver’s record lags behind both Oklahoma City and San Antonio. When one candidate is producing at a superstar level on a 59-win team and another is doing the same on a team outside the top two in its conference, that difference becomes difficult to ignore.
Wembanyama also has the far stronger defensive case. Jokic orchestrates offense at a historically high level, but Wembanyama can control an entire game defensively in a way almost no player in the league can. That two-way edge gives Wembanyama the cleaner overall MVP profile.
Final Prediction
This has been one of the deepest MVP races in recent memory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the best player-on-the-best-team argument. Nikola Joki? has the most statistically historic offensive season. But Victor Wembanyama has the most complete case.
He has produced star-level offense, elite rebounding, dominant rim protection, and top-tier team success. He has not just been spectacular. He has been the kind of player who changes both ends of the floor every single night.
My prediction: Victor Wembanyama wins the 2025-26 NBA MVP.
In a race this close, the deciding factor should be total value. And no candidate has provided more complete value this season than Wembanyama.
The press conference for Epstein survivors we covered earlier this year felt claustrophobic.
It was the afternoon before President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in February. The women who had suffered at the hands of the world’s most infamous predator were crammed into a small meeting room in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC.
They had gathered to demand acknowledgement that evening from both Congress and the President. The venue was so tiny, there was barely room for the survivors to gather around the podium.
The assemblage stood in stark contrast to what we found in the emails we had been poring over after the Justice Department released an often-opaque database of documents gathered during several investigations of the historic sex predator.
Based on what we’ve read, Epstein and his associates inhabited a world of material and social abundance. They weren’t constrained or forced to plead for anything. Their lives were full of easily obtained wealth, which afforded plenty of space to commit crimes.
This contrast reveals what this scandal is ultimately about: not just one man’s crimes, but the unimaginable inequality that made asking for tens of millions of dollars as easy as writing a poorly worded email. In fact, all Epstein had to do to enrich himself was to ask.
Consider what Epstein sent to media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman in July of 2014:
I’m happy to hear from you, happy to see your stock at the 120 level. an increase in over 100
million in new net worth in only a few months. (how long did it take for the first 100?) I
assume, by your email, that as I predicted, you have not found a solution to your very complex
problem that meets all of your needs. I’m really sorry. I cherish our friendship and I know the
feeling is mutual. That being said, we have been down this road many times before.
Here Epstein is flattering Zuckerman, extolling his apparent exponential increase in net worth as the result of an exuberant stock market. A few sentences later, he proposes a cut for himself to manage the newly appreciated riches. A whopping $40 million.
my fee has always been and will continue to be 40 million dollars. payable up front now. and refunded in part, if unsuccessful. As you recall, I have already found hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars of issues, charity clauses etc. as per our past emails. You have in the past, in your words been unable emotionally to come to grips with paying large fees. I respect that view as I respect you. If you still have hesitations lets not even begin again…
The request is rendered in a dense, grammatically erratic block of text—no detailed explanation, no detailed justification for the fee. It’s an amazingly casual request, given the amount of money at stake.
Zuckerman didn’t take the bait. But the exchange is par for the course in a world where the top 1 percent’s share of wealth continues to grow without limit.
In the early 2010s, Epstein persuaded private equity magnate Leon Black to hire him to manage his so-called “family office” ironically called Elysium, the Greek utopian afterlife where the heroic and righteous spend eternity. Family offices are employed by the ultra-wealthy to manage their fortunes in lieu of an independent investment firm. Here is Epstein’s pitch for a $15 million fee to run it:
you said, i have no trouble paying you for value. I am glad. I am glad you say that but it appears when the time comes you change your mind. you take a 600 million dollar tax savings 1.5 billion dollar Deduction and pay less than 15 m
And later, pushing Black for more:
i asked about the large transaction and the past year and he said he had relied on you to tell him the 20m for the 600 million benefit was the right number
Again, Epstein proposes a stunning sum with no accounting of services rendered.
It was a pattern of casual requests that caught the attention of the Senate Finance Committee. In a letter to the executors of Epstein’s estate in 2023, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) asked for more details on why extracting huge sums from Black was so uncomplicated.
“The Committee also requested an explanation of how compensation amounts for Epstein were decided in payments made on an ad hoc basis where no formal services agreement was negotiated,” wrote ranking member Wyden.
The cost of idle wealth
But the emails reveal something else beyond the fluid mechanics of fee extraction. They also document what extreme wealth actually purchases: time, immunity, and the operational freedom to commit crimes on an industrial scale.
This is why a significant number of the emails we reviewed have nothing to do with finance at all. They concern logistics—the movement of private planes between New Mexico and Paris, the scheduling of lunches with billionaires, the maintenance of a network of apartments used to house young women. Cash transfers to unnamed recipients abroad in need of visas and airfare. The mundane administration of a trafficking operation, rendered in the same casual shorthand as a request for $40 million.
From: Jeffrey Epstein<jeevacation@gmail.com> On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 8:21 AM
“And tomorrow I’m organizing a dinner for some new russian girls there.. See you at 10 with…”
On Dec 30, 2010, at 3:27 PM, visas@rnto.org wrote: to: Jeffrey Epstein
Hi
The quickest official turnaround time with the Russian Consulate is 3 business days. We can do it sooner using our personal connections. The charge will be as follows if you decide to do that:
1. Same-day service $1000.
2. Next-day service $600.
3. 2-day service $500
4. 3-day (regular) service $320.
Let me know your decision.
Thank you.
Visa section
Russian National Group
From: Redacted
To: Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation@gmail.com>
Sent: Sun 8/5/2012 11:25:41 PM
“I have 2 russian girls for you to meet, one 21, another 24. One skinny, another curvy and supercute… Both exited. Let me know whe” [sic]”
No investment memos. No PowerPoint decks. No evidence of the financial genius his associates later claimed.
That absence is significant. When wealth is concentrated enough, it doesn’t require justification or effort—and apparently, neither do the crimes it enables.
Investigators in Palm Beach, where the Epstein saga first catalyzed, determined he had three encounters per day with underage girls. That process included managing a household staff, authorizing cash withdrawals, and coercing victims to recruit more victims.
We asked Danielle Bensky, a survivor who was lured by Epstein with promises to help her mother who was suffering from brain cancer. She told us the emails revealed the potency of Epstein’s power, which she had not fully grasped until the documents were released.
“He had incredible power,” she said shortly after a roundtable discussion on Capitol HIll with other survivors and Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17).
“It was always in the background, but we never saw it written in black and white. And to see in those emails how deep the power goes, I think it explains a lot.”
That’s the key point. A society that affords a single man the excessive power, wealth, and spare time to rape children is clearly incapable of conveying economic fairness to the rest of us.
That’s why the Epstein scandal won’t die, even if Epstein did. We are all still living in the world that made him possible. The emails reveal how it was constructed at our expense.
This story originally appeared in Common Dreams on May 07, 2026.It is shared here under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license.
Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives voted during a special session on Thursday to adopt a new congressional map that would carve up the state’s lone majority-Black district, a move that came amid raucous protests from angry residents and Democratic lawmakers.
The Tennessee House approved the new congressional map, which would likely draw the only Democrat in Tennessee’s US congressional delegation out of his seat, by a party-line vote of 64 to 25. Following the vote, The Tennessean reported that “Democrats linked arms and walked out of the room. Seconds later, the chamber adjourned.”
Shouts of rage flooded the Tennessee House chamber after the map passed, and protesters booed and jeered Republican lawmakers as they exited.
⚡️ WATCH — JUST NOW — 99% white Tennessee House Republicans pass a racist 9-0 map stripping majority Black Memphis of congressional representation pic.twitter.com/OYwTWZK2i1
House passage of the map came after lawmakers voted to repeal a 1972 ban on mid-decade redistricting after limited debate, clearing the way for approval of the new district lines, which are expected to draw US Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)—the only Democrat in Tennessee’s congressional delegation—out of his seat.
The Tennessee Senate is expected to approve the new map on Friday.
State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-86), whose brother was among the demonstrators arrested during a protest against the new map, said in the wake of Thursday’s vote that “this is what evil looks like.”
“I told a colleague today that you’re all going to have a lot to repent for, because these actions are evil,” Pearson told Zeteo. “And we have to use that language.”
Ahead of Thursday’s vote, state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-90) said that “this is not a special session—this is a white power rally, and a white power grab.”
Democracy Docket reported that the new map “splits Memphis, a majority-Black city that made up most of the state’s 9th Congressional District, between three districts.”
“It also further fractures Nashville, another Democratic stronghold in the state,” the outlet added.
The ACLU of Tennessee called the redrawn district lines a “Jim Crow” map with the “specific goal of targeting the state’s only majority-minority district in Memphis.”
“The moment politicians manipulate the map,” the group warned, “the power begins to leave your hands.”
Tennessee’s special session came days after Louisiana’s Republican governor suspended his state’s US House primaries to allow lawmakers to redraw district lines following the US Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the high court’s latest hammer blow to the Voting Rights Act.
Republican lawmakers in Alabama and Mississippi are also moving to redraw their states’ district lines following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“By weakening protections against racial gerrymandering, the court made it easier for politicians to draw voting maps that look neutral but quietly weaken the voices of communities of color,” warned the pro-democracy group Common Cause. “When that happens, certain voters have less of a say in who represents them, and that’s exactly how power gets skewed.
May 2026 is loaded with strong Jordan drops, from retro heat to highly anticipated collaborations. Whether you are after a bold classic, a clean seasonal pair, or one of the month’s biggest hype releases, there is plenty to circle on the calendar.
Note: Release dates and pricing are always subject to change.
1. Air Jordan 4 GS “Infrared 23”
Release Date: May 1, 2026 Price: $165
The month starts off with the Air Jordan 4 GS “Infrared 23,” a grade-school exclusive that mixes a black upper with bright mango, barely volt, and infrared accents. It is one of the louder Jordan drops on the May calendar and should stand out immediately on foot.
2. Air Jordan 4 “Toro Bravo”
Release Date: May 2, 2026 Price: $220
One of the biggest retro returns of the month, the Air Jordan 4 “Toro Bravo” brings back its signature fire red suede upper with black, white, and cement grey detailing. This is the kind of release that longtime Jordan fans have been waiting to see return.
3. Air Jordan 11 Low WMNS “Mother’s Day”
Release Date: May 2, 2026 Price: $195
The Air Jordan 11 Low WMNS “Mother’s Day” gives the classic low-top silhouette a softer seasonal feel with a white upper and metallic gold finish. It is one of the cleaner lifestyle-focused Jordan releases scheduled for May.
4. Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned”
Release Date: May 16, 2026 Price: $145
The iconic black and varsity red look lands on the Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned,” giving one of Jordan Brand’s most famous color stories a low-top summer-ready format. For many sneaker fans, this is easily one of the best value pickups of the month.
5. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Muslin/Shy Pink”
Release Date: May 22, 2026 Price: $155
The Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Muslin/Shy Pink” is one of the most anticipated May 2026 drops. The pair combines muslin, shy pink, sail, and university red while continuing the run of Travis Scott Jordan 1 Low releases that always draw major attention.
6. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Sail/Tropical Pink”
Release Date: May 22, 2026 Price: $155
Jordan Brand is also expected to drop a second Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low on the same day in a “Sail/Tropical Pink” makeup. With both pairs landing on May 22, that release date could become the biggest Jordan launch day of the month.
7. Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best Dad”
Release Date: May 30, 2026 Price: $215
Closing out the month is the Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best Dad,” a themed release dressed in Sail, Black, University Red, Pale Ivory, and Palomino. It brings a more story-driven feel to the end of May and offers a different lane from the louder retro and collaboration drops earlier in the month.
Final Thoughts
May 2026 has a little bit of everything: a bold retro in the “Toro Bravo” 4, a seasonal Air Jordan 11 Low, a classic-inspired “Banned” low, and two Travis Scott collaborations that will likely dominate the conversation. Add in the “World’s Best Dad” Air Jordan 3 and it is easy to see why May is shaping up to be one of the strongest Jordan release months of 2026.
With the 2025-26 NBA regular season entering its final stretch, the MVP race has come down to three truly elite candidates: Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic. All three have delivered seasons worthy of serious consideration, and in many years, each one would have a legitimate argument to win the award.
But if I had to predict the winner today, I would pick Victor Wembanyama.
That is not a slight to Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been the best scoring guard in basketball on a dominant Oklahoma City team, or to Jokic, who has once again produced one of the most extraordinary all-around offensive seasons the league has ever seen. It is simply a recognition that Wembanyama’s combination of elite production, team success, defensive dominance, and late-season momentum gives him the strongest overall MVP case right now.
The Top Three MVP Candidates
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama has turned the MVP conversation into a true debate because his impact goes far beyond traditional box-score volume. He is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, while leading a Spurs team that has surged to 59-18 and the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
Those numbers are impressive on their own, but the context makes them even stronger. Wembanyama is anchoring one of the league’s best teams while providing game-changing value on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he creates matchup problems no defense can comfortably solve. Defensively, he alters entire game plans. That matters in an MVP race where the margins are this small.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander has been brilliant all season and remains a completely credible MVP pick. He is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game for an Oklahoma City team that owns the league’s best record at 61-16.
His case begins with consistency. Night after night, Gilgeous-Alexander delivers efficient, controlled offense and has been the engine of the NBA’s most successful regular-season team. There is tremendous value in being the best player on the best team, and that reality is why he remains so close to the top of this race.
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic is having another historic season, averaging 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game for Denver. A center averaging a triple-double is remarkable enough. Doing it for a second straight season places him in rare territory even by his own standards.
From a purely offensive standpoint, Jokic may still be the most impactful player in basketball. He controls pace, creates efficient shots for everyone on the floor, and remains the most versatile offensive hub in the league. The issue for his MVP case is not production. It is team standing. Denver, at 49-28, simply has not matched the regular-season dominance of Oklahoma City or San Antonio.
Why I Think Wembanyama Will Win
The strongest MVP argument this year comes down to total impact, not just offensive excellence or scoring volume. That is where Wembanyama separates himself.
Gilgeous-Alexander has the edge in scoring and has led the team with the best record. Jokic has the most historic all-around offensive stat line. But Wembanyama offers something neither of them quite matches: elite value on both ends of the floor at the same time, on a team that has won at an MVP-worthy level.
His 24.7 points and 11.5 rebounds already put him in superstar territory. Add 3.1 blocks per game, and the picture changes from “great season” to “franchise-defining dominance.” He is not just a productive defender. He is a defense by himself. That kind of impact is difficult to overstate. When voters are comparing players this close, defense becomes a major separator.
That is the key point in Wembanyama’s favor. Gilgeous-Alexander has been phenomenal, but his MVP case is built mostly on elite offense, efficiency, and team success. Jokic’s case is built mostly on historic offensive control and statistical brilliance. Wembanyama combines high-end offensive production with defensive influence that can completely reshape a game.
And unlike many past candidates whose defensive value came with lower team results, Wembanyama’s team success is fully in the MVP range. The Spurs are not a feel-good surprise story anymore. They are one of the league’s top teams. That matters.
Why Wembanyama Deserves It More Than Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander’s argument is straightforward and powerful: he scores more, he creates efficiently, and he has led the NBA’s best team. In many seasons, that would be enough to make him the clear favorite.
But this season, Wembanyama closes the gap in team success while providing a much larger defensive edge. Oklahoma City’s record is better, but San Antonio’s record is also elite. The difference between first and second in the West is meaningful, yet it is not so overwhelming that it should erase Wembanyama’s advantage as a rim protector, rebounder, and overall defensive force.
If the question is which player does more to affect every possession on both sides of the ball, Wembanyama has the stronger answer. Gilgeous-Alexander may be the more polished offensive closer right now, but Wembanyama influences the game in more dimensions.
Why Wembanyama Deserves It More Than Joki?
Jokic has the most historically unusual stat line of the three candidates, and no serious MVP discussion can dismiss a center averaging a triple-double. He remains one of the most unique players the league has ever seen.
However, MVP is rarely awarded in a vacuum. Team performance matters, and Denver’s record lags behind both Oklahoma City and San Antonio. When one candidate is producing at a superstar level on a 59-win team and another is doing the same on a team outside the top two in its conference, that difference becomes difficult to ignore.
Wembanyama also has the far stronger defensive case. Jokic orchestrates offense at a historically high level, but Wembanyama can control an entire game defensively in a way almost no player in the league can. That two-way edge gives Wembanyama the cleaner overall MVP profile.
Final Prediction
This has been one of the deepest MVP races in recent memory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the best player-on-the-best-team argument. Nikola Joki? has the most statistically historic offensive season. But Victor Wembanyama has the most complete case.
He has produced star-level offense, elite rebounding, dominant rim protection, and top-tier team success. He has not just been spectacular. He has been the kind of player who changes both ends of the floor every single night.
My prediction: Victor Wembanyama wins the 2025-26 NBA MVP.
In a race this close, the deciding factor should be total value. And no candidate has provided more complete value this season than Wembanyama.
The press conference for Epstein survivors we covered earlier this year felt claustrophobic.
It was the afternoon before President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in February. The women who had suffered at the hands of the world’s most infamous predator were crammed into a small meeting room in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC.
They had gathered to demand acknowledgement that evening from both Congress and the President. The venue was so tiny, there was barely room for the survivors to gather around the podium.
The assemblage stood in stark contrast to what we found in the emails we had been poring over after the Justice Department released an often-opaque database of documents gathered during several investigations of the historic sex predator.
Based on what we’ve read, Epstein and his associates inhabited a world of material and social abundance. They weren’t constrained or forced to plead for anything. Their lives were full of easily obtained wealth, which afforded plenty of space to commit crimes.
This contrast reveals what this scandal is ultimately about: not just one man’s crimes, but the unimaginable inequality that made asking for tens of millions of dollars as easy as writing a poorly worded email. In fact, all Epstein had to do to enrich himself was to ask.
Consider what Epstein sent to media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman in July of 2014:
I’m happy to hear from you, happy to see your stock at the 120 level. an increase in over 100
million in new net worth in only a few months. (how long did it take for the first 100?) I
assume, by your email, that as I predicted, you have not found a solution to your very complex
problem that meets all of your needs. I’m really sorry. I cherish our friendship and I know the
feeling is mutual. That being said, we have been down this road many times before.
Here Epstein is flattering Zuckerman, extolling his apparent exponential increase in net worth as the result of an exuberant stock market. A few sentences later, he proposes a cut for himself to manage the newly appreciated riches. A whopping $40 million.
my fee has always been and will continue to be 40 million dollars. payable up front now. and refunded in part, if unsuccessful. As you recall, I have already found hundreds upon hundreds of millions of dollars of issues, charity clauses etc. as per our past emails. You have in the past, in your words been unable emotionally to come to grips with paying large fees. I respect that view as I respect you. If you still have hesitations lets not even begin again…
The request is rendered in a dense, grammatically erratic block of text—no detailed explanation, no detailed justification for the fee. It’s an amazingly casual request, given the amount of money at stake.
Zuckerman didn’t take the bait. But the exchange is par for the course in a world where the top 1 percent’s share of wealth continues to grow without limit.
In the early 2010s, Epstein persuaded private equity magnate Leon Black to hire him to manage his so-called “family office” ironically called Elysium, the Greek utopian afterlife where the heroic and righteous spend eternity. Family offices are employed by the ultra-wealthy to manage their fortunes in lieu of an independent investment firm. Here is Epstein’s pitch for a $15 million fee to run it:
you said, i have no trouble paying you for value. I am glad. I am glad you say that but it appears when the time comes you change your mind. you take a 600 million dollar tax savings 1.5 billion dollar Deduction and pay less than 15 m
And later, pushing Black for more:
i asked about the large transaction and the past year and he said he had relied on you to tell him the 20m for the 600 million benefit was the right number
Again, Epstein proposes a stunning sum with no accounting of services rendered.
It was a pattern of casual requests that caught the attention of the Senate Finance Committee. In a letter to the executors of Epstein’s estate in 2023, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) asked for more details on why extracting huge sums from Black was so uncomplicated.
“The Committee also requested an explanation of how compensation amounts for Epstein were decided in payments made on an ad hoc basis where no formal services agreement was negotiated,” wrote ranking member Wyden.
The cost of idle wealth
But the emails reveal something else beyond the fluid mechanics of fee extraction. They also document what extreme wealth actually purchases: time, immunity, and the operational freedom to commit crimes on an industrial scale.
This is why a significant number of the emails we reviewed have nothing to do with finance at all. They concern logistics—the movement of private planes between New Mexico and Paris, the scheduling of lunches with billionaires, the maintenance of a network of apartments used to house young women. Cash transfers to unnamed recipients abroad in need of visas and airfare. The mundane administration of a trafficking operation, rendered in the same casual shorthand as a request for $40 million.
From: Jeffrey Epstein<jeevacation@gmail.com> On Thu, Sep 16, 2010 at 8:21 AM
“And tomorrow I’m organizing a dinner for some new russian girls there.. See you at 10 with…”
On Dec 30, 2010, at 3:27 PM, visas@rnto.org wrote: to: Jeffrey Epstein
Hi
The quickest official turnaround time with the Russian Consulate is 3 business days. We can do it sooner using our personal connections. The charge will be as follows if you decide to do that:
1. Same-day service $1000.
2. Next-day service $600.
3. 2-day service $500
4. 3-day (regular) service $320.
Let me know your decision.
Thank you.
Visa section
Russian National Group
From: Redacted
To: Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation@gmail.com>
Sent: Sun 8/5/2012 11:25:41 PM
“I have 2 russian girls for you to meet, one 21, another 24. One skinny, another curvy and supercute… Both exited. Let me know whe” [sic]”
No investment memos. No PowerPoint decks. No evidence of the financial genius his associates later claimed.
That absence is significant. When wealth is concentrated enough, it doesn’t require justification or effort—and apparently, neither do the crimes it enables.
Investigators in Palm Beach, where the Epstein saga first catalyzed, determined he had three encounters per day with underage girls. That process included managing a household staff, authorizing cash withdrawals, and coercing victims to recruit more victims.
We asked Danielle Bensky, a survivor who was lured by Epstein with promises to help her mother who was suffering from brain cancer. She told us the emails revealed the potency of Epstein’s power, which she had not fully grasped until the documents were released.
“He had incredible power,” she said shortly after a roundtable discussion on Capitol HIll with other survivors and Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17).
“It was always in the background, but we never saw it written in black and white. And to see in those emails how deep the power goes, I think it explains a lot.”
That’s the key point. A society that affords a single man the excessive power, wealth, and spare time to rape children is clearly incapable of conveying economic fairness to the rest of us.
That’s why the Epstein scandal won’t die, even if Epstein did. We are all still living in the world that made him possible. The emails reveal how it was constructed at our expense.
This story originally appeared in Common Dreams on May 07, 2026.It is shared here under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license.
Republicans in the Tennessee House of Representatives voted during a special session on Thursday to adopt a new congressional map that would carve up the state’s lone majority-Black district, a move that came amid raucous protests from angry residents and Democratic lawmakers.
The Tennessee House approved the new congressional map, which would likely draw the only Democrat in Tennessee’s US congressional delegation out of his seat, by a party-line vote of 64 to 25. Following the vote, The Tennessean reported that “Democrats linked arms and walked out of the room. Seconds later, the chamber adjourned.”
Shouts of rage flooded the Tennessee House chamber after the map passed, and protesters booed and jeered Republican lawmakers as they exited.
⚡️ WATCH — JUST NOW — 99% white Tennessee House Republicans pass a racist 9-0 map stripping majority Black Memphis of congressional representation pic.twitter.com/OYwTWZK2i1
House passage of the map came after lawmakers voted to repeal a 1972 ban on mid-decade redistricting after limited debate, clearing the way for approval of the new district lines, which are expected to draw US Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)—the only Democrat in Tennessee’s congressional delegation—out of his seat.
The Tennessee Senate is expected to approve the new map on Friday.
State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-86), whose brother was among the demonstrators arrested during a protest against the new map, said in the wake of Thursday’s vote that “this is what evil looks like.”
“I told a colleague today that you’re all going to have a lot to repent for, because these actions are evil,” Pearson told Zeteo. “And we have to use that language.”
Ahead of Thursday’s vote, state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-90) said that “this is not a special session—this is a white power rally, and a white power grab.”
Democracy Docket reported that the new map “splits Memphis, a majority-Black city that made up most of the state’s 9th Congressional District, between three districts.”
“It also further fractures Nashville, another Democratic stronghold in the state,” the outlet added.
The ACLU of Tennessee called the redrawn district lines a “Jim Crow” map with the “specific goal of targeting the state’s only majority-minority district in Memphis.”
“The moment politicians manipulate the map,” the group warned, “the power begins to leave your hands.”
Tennessee’s special session came days after Louisiana’s Republican governor suspended his state’s US House primaries to allow lawmakers to redraw district lines following the US Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the high court’s latest hammer blow to the Voting Rights Act.
Republican lawmakers in Alabama and Mississippi are also moving to redraw their states’ district lines following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“By weakening protections against racial gerrymandering, the court made it easier for politicians to draw voting maps that look neutral but quietly weaken the voices of communities of color,” warned the pro-democracy group Common Cause. “When that happens, certain voters have less of a say in who represents them, and that’s exactly how power gets skewed.
May 2026 is loaded with strong Jordan drops, from retro heat to highly anticipated collaborations. Whether you are after a bold classic, a clean seasonal pair, or one of the month’s biggest hype releases, there is plenty to circle on the calendar.
Note: Release dates and pricing are always subject to change.
1. Air Jordan 4 GS “Infrared 23”
Release Date: May 1, 2026 Price: $165
The month starts off with the Air Jordan 4 GS “Infrared 23,” a grade-school exclusive that mixes a black upper with bright mango, barely volt, and infrared accents. It is one of the louder Jordan drops on the May calendar and should stand out immediately on foot.
2. Air Jordan 4 “Toro Bravo”
Release Date: May 2, 2026 Price: $220
One of the biggest retro returns of the month, the Air Jordan 4 “Toro Bravo” brings back its signature fire red suede upper with black, white, and cement grey detailing. This is the kind of release that longtime Jordan fans have been waiting to see return.
3. Air Jordan 11 Low WMNS “Mother’s Day”
Release Date: May 2, 2026 Price: $195
The Air Jordan 11 Low WMNS “Mother’s Day” gives the classic low-top silhouette a softer seasonal feel with a white upper and metallic gold finish. It is one of the cleaner lifestyle-focused Jordan releases scheduled for May.
4. Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned”
Release Date: May 16, 2026 Price: $145
The iconic black and varsity red look lands on the Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Banned,” giving one of Jordan Brand’s most famous color stories a low-top summer-ready format. For many sneaker fans, this is easily one of the best value pickups of the month.
5. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Muslin/Shy Pink”
Release Date: May 22, 2026 Price: $155
The Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Muslin/Shy Pink” is one of the most anticipated May 2026 drops. The pair combines muslin, shy pink, sail, and university red while continuing the run of Travis Scott Jordan 1 Low releases that always draw major attention.
6. Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Low OG SP “Sail/Tropical Pink”
Release Date: May 22, 2026 Price: $155
Jordan Brand is also expected to drop a second Travis Scott Air Jordan 1 Low on the same day in a “Sail/Tropical Pink” makeup. With both pairs landing on May 22, that release date could become the biggest Jordan launch day of the month.
7. Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best Dad”
Release Date: May 30, 2026 Price: $215
Closing out the month is the Air Jordan 3 “World’s Best Dad,” a themed release dressed in Sail, Black, University Red, Pale Ivory, and Palomino. It brings a more story-driven feel to the end of May and offers a different lane from the louder retro and collaboration drops earlier in the month.
Final Thoughts
May 2026 has a little bit of everything: a bold retro in the “Toro Bravo” 4, a seasonal Air Jordan 11 Low, a classic-inspired “Banned” low, and two Travis Scott collaborations that will likely dominate the conversation. Add in the “World’s Best Dad” Air Jordan 3 and it is easy to see why May is shaping up to be one of the strongest Jordan release months of 2026.
With the 2025-26 NBA regular season entering its final stretch, the MVP race has come down to three truly elite candidates: Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic. All three have delivered seasons worthy of serious consideration, and in many years, each one would have a legitimate argument to win the award.
But if I had to predict the winner today, I would pick Victor Wembanyama.
That is not a slight to Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been the best scoring guard in basketball on a dominant Oklahoma City team, or to Jokic, who has once again produced one of the most extraordinary all-around offensive seasons the league has ever seen. It is simply a recognition that Wembanyama’s combination of elite production, team success, defensive dominance, and late-season momentum gives him the strongest overall MVP case right now.
The Top Three MVP Candidates
1. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama has turned the MVP conversation into a true debate because his impact goes far beyond traditional box-score volume. He is averaging 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game, while leading a Spurs team that has surged to 59-18 and the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference.
Those numbers are impressive on their own, but the context makes them even stronger. Wembanyama is anchoring one of the league’s best teams while providing game-changing value on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he creates matchup problems no defense can comfortably solve. Defensively, he alters entire game plans. That matters in an MVP race where the margins are this small.
2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander has been brilliant all season and remains a completely credible MVP pick. He is averaging 31.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game for an Oklahoma City team that owns the league’s best record at 61-16.
His case begins with consistency. Night after night, Gilgeous-Alexander delivers efficient, controlled offense and has been the engine of the NBA’s most successful regular-season team. There is tremendous value in being the best player on the best team, and that reality is why he remains so close to the top of this race.
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Jokic is having another historic season, averaging 27.7 points, 13.0 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game for Denver. A center averaging a triple-double is remarkable enough. Doing it for a second straight season places him in rare territory even by his own standards.
From a purely offensive standpoint, Jokic may still be the most impactful player in basketball. He controls pace, creates efficient shots for everyone on the floor, and remains the most versatile offensive hub in the league. The issue for his MVP case is not production. It is team standing. Denver, at 49-28, simply has not matched the regular-season dominance of Oklahoma City or San Antonio.
Why I Think Wembanyama Will Win
The strongest MVP argument this year comes down to total impact, not just offensive excellence or scoring volume. That is where Wembanyama separates himself.
Gilgeous-Alexander has the edge in scoring and has led the team with the best record. Jokic has the most historic all-around offensive stat line. But Wembanyama offers something neither of them quite matches: elite value on both ends of the floor at the same time, on a team that has won at an MVP-worthy level.
His 24.7 points and 11.5 rebounds already put him in superstar territory. Add 3.1 blocks per game, and the picture changes from “great season” to “franchise-defining dominance.” He is not just a productive defender. He is a defense by himself. That kind of impact is difficult to overstate. When voters are comparing players this close, defense becomes a major separator.
That is the key point in Wembanyama’s favor. Gilgeous-Alexander has been phenomenal, but his MVP case is built mostly on elite offense, efficiency, and team success. Jokic’s case is built mostly on historic offensive control and statistical brilliance. Wembanyama combines high-end offensive production with defensive influence that can completely reshape a game.
And unlike many past candidates whose defensive value came with lower team results, Wembanyama’s team success is fully in the MVP range. The Spurs are not a feel-good surprise story anymore. They are one of the league’s top teams. That matters.
Why Wembanyama Deserves It More Than Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander’s argument is straightforward and powerful: he scores more, he creates efficiently, and he has led the NBA’s best team. In many seasons, that would be enough to make him the clear favorite.
But this season, Wembanyama closes the gap in team success while providing a much larger defensive edge. Oklahoma City’s record is better, but San Antonio’s record is also elite. The difference between first and second in the West is meaningful, yet it is not so overwhelming that it should erase Wembanyama’s advantage as a rim protector, rebounder, and overall defensive force.
If the question is which player does more to affect every possession on both sides of the ball, Wembanyama has the stronger answer. Gilgeous-Alexander may be the more polished offensive closer right now, but Wembanyama influences the game in more dimensions.
Why Wembanyama Deserves It More Than Joki?
Jokic has the most historically unusual stat line of the three candidates, and no serious MVP discussion can dismiss a center averaging a triple-double. He remains one of the most unique players the league has ever seen.
However, MVP is rarely awarded in a vacuum. Team performance matters, and Denver’s record lags behind both Oklahoma City and San Antonio. When one candidate is producing at a superstar level on a 59-win team and another is doing the same on a team outside the top two in its conference, that difference becomes difficult to ignore.
Wembanyama also has the far stronger defensive case. Jokic orchestrates offense at a historically high level, but Wembanyama can control an entire game defensively in a way almost no player in the league can. That two-way edge gives Wembanyama the cleaner overall MVP profile.
Final Prediction
This has been one of the deepest MVP races in recent memory. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has the best player-on-the-best-team argument. Nikola Joki? has the most statistically historic offensive season. But Victor Wembanyama has the most complete case.
He has produced star-level offense, elite rebounding, dominant rim protection, and top-tier team success. He has not just been spectacular. He has been the kind of player who changes both ends of the floor every single night.
My prediction: Victor Wembanyama wins the 2025-26 NBA MVP.
In a race this close, the deciding factor should be total value. And no candidate has provided more complete value this season than Wembanyama.
