China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief

China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief

BEIJING (Reuters) -China's ruling Communist Party has appointed the head of an ethnic affairs panel as its new party secretary in the vast northwestern region of Xinjiang, the official news agency Xinhua said on Tuesday. Chen Xiaojiang has also held a vice ministerial role since 2020 in the party's United Front Work Department, his profile on China's Wikipedia equivalent, Baidu's Baike, shows. The department runs influence operations related to ethnic minorities, religious groups and on the Taiwan issue at home and abroad. In 2020, he also became the first individual with an ethnic Han majority background to be appointed director of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission since it was re-established in 1978, the Caixin business outlet said. Xinhua did not say when Chen will officially take up the role. In 2022, the United Nations reported finding "serious human rights violations" against mainly Muslim Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang under China's national security and counter-terrorism policies, as well as forced labour accusations. China has repeatedly countered that the rights of all ethnic groups in the region were protected, while denying forced labour. It has dismissed the report as "groundless" and a part of the West's attempts to contain China. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom; Additional reporting by Claire Fu in Singapore; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Clarence Fernandez)

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief

China appoints ethnic affairs head as Xinjiang Communist Party chief BEIJING (Reuters) -China's ruling Communist Party has appointed the...

Read More

Senate holds "vote-a-rama" on Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill"

Senate holds "vote-a-rama" on Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill"

Washington —A marathon vote series continued into the wee hours Tuesday on President Trump's massive tax bill as Republicans worked to pass thecenterpiece legislationof Mr. Trump's second-term agenda. The Housenarrowly passedthe bill last month and Senate Republicans have been working to put their mark on the legislation, treading carefully so as not to throw off the delicate balance in the lower chamber. The House will need to approve the Senate's changes to the bill before it can head to the president's desk for his signature. And lawmakers are trying to move quickly, with a self-imposed July 4 deadline to get the measure signed. The Senate worked through the weekend as the GOP entered a final sprint on the legislation ahead of the deadline. Titled "One Big, Beautiful Bill," the legislation includes increased spending for border security, defense and energy production, which is offset in part by cuts to healthcare and nutrition programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimated Sunday that the legislation would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the next decade. Senate Republicansadvanced the legislationlate Saturday, with all but two voting in favor following hours of delay as the GOP worked to iron out last-minute details and dispel concern among holdouts. The vote on the motion to proceed stayed open for more than three hours as holdouts sought assurances from GOP leaders. Some tweaks were made to the bill before Republicans ultimately received enough votes to move forward. Senate Democrats further delayed the legislation's path forward by forcing the bill to be read in its entirety, starting late Saturday. After nearly 16 hours, the Senate clerks concluded their reading of the bill on the floor, starting the clock on debate. Each side then had up to 10 hours for debate, before voting kicked off Monday morning. The "vote-a-rama" Following debate, and a break until the morning, the Senate began what's known as a "vote-a-rama" Monday in which senators may offer an unlimited number of amendments and force the chamber to cast vote after vote. Democrats have been using the opportunity to put their GOP colleagues on the record on a number of controversial issues ahead of the midterm elections. But before the chamber could get to the amendment votes, senators had to address an outstanding disagreement over the current policy baseline, an accounting approach that would make it appear that extending the current tax policy would cost nothing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune maneuvered Sunday to allow the use of the current policy baseline, before Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer quickly appealed the move, requesting a vote as Democrats railed against it as the "nuclear option." The chamber voted 53-47, along party lines, to affirm the use of the current policy baseline on Monday. Schumer said that Democrats would bring "one amendment after the other" Monday, and began the process by offering an amendment to send the bill back to the Finance Committee to revisit some of its health care provisions. The chamber voted down the amendment in a party-line vote. Democrats proposed a number of amendments to attempt to roll back some of the bill's more controversial provisions. Sen. Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, proposed an amendment to remove the bill's provisions that he said would force rural hospitals to limit their services or close their doors. And Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, proposed an amendment to eliminate what he called "red tape" around Medicaid eligibility. Other amendments proposed by Democrats concerned cuts to food assistance and state provider taxes, among a number of related issues. The amendments fell short. GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas offered the first Republican-led amendment, which would have reduced federal Medicaid expansion payments to states that provide coverage to undocumented immigrants charged with specific crimes. The Senate's rulemaker, known as the parliamentarian, determined that the provision would require a 60-vote threshold. The amendment fell short, though it picked up support from a handful of Democrats. Amid the slew of votes, anticipation swirled around a consequential amendment expected to be put forward by GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida later Monday. The amendment would significantly reduce the federal Medicaid expansion match made under the Affordable Care Act, barring new enrollees after 2030, in a move that would make the bill more palatable to some fiscal hawks. Thune has backed the amendment, calling it "great policy," and forecasted that it will get significant support among the Senate GOP. But whether it has enough support to be added to the bill remains to be seen. The chamber's pace began to slow Monday evening. As the amendment votes dragged on, Democrats accused Republicans of stalling."They're delaying, they're stalling, they're cutting a lot of back-room deals," Schumer told reporters. "But we're just pushing forward, amendment after amendment — they don't like these amendments." Asked by reporters about the holdup Monday night, Thune said, "We're just kind of figuring out what everybody has to have in terms of votes." He added that Senate GOP leaders are working to construct a list, and expressed confidence that the chamber could still vote on final passage overnight. The path to passage Senate Republicans have been pursuing the legislation through the budget reconciliation process, which enables the party in the majority to move ahead without support from across the aisle. With only a simple majority required to advance the measure, rather than the 60-votes needed to move forward with most legislation, Senate Democrats have few mechanisms to combat the bill's progress. With a 53-seat majority, Senate GOP leaders can only afford to lose support from three Republicans — and would then still require a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. And although a number of senators who had expressed opposition to the measure ultimately decided to advance it Saturday, how they will vote on the measure in a final form remains unclear. Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina were the two Republicans to oppose the bill's advancement Saturday, and are expected to oppose the legislation on final passage. Tillis, whoannouncedSunday that he is not seeking reelection, took to the Senate floor that night to outline his opposition to some of the bill's cuts to Medicaid, claiming "Republicans are about to make a mistake on health care" and arguing that the GOP is "betraying our promise." "It is inescapable that this bill in its current form will betray the very promise that Donald J. Trump made" to target only waste, fraud and abuse in the entitlement program, Tillis said, claiming that the president has been "misinformed" The North Carolina Republican argued that the July 4 deadline is an "artificial" one, saying Senate Republicans are rushing, while encouraging the chamber to "take the time to get this right" and align more closely with the House's Medicaid provisions. But Senate GOP leaders are still moving ahead. Thune, a South Dakota Republican, delivered a defense of the bill on the Senate floor ahead of the vote-a-rama Monday, pushing back on criticism over Medicaid cuts, the impact on the deficit and the use of the current policy baseline. "Let's vote," Thune said. "This is good for America." When asked whether he's confident Senate Republicans have the votes to pass the legislation, the majority leader told reporters, "Never, until we vote." Vance was on hand to break a possible tie vote Saturday, though his vote ultimately wasn't needed. Still, the vice president met with GOP holdouts in the majority leader's office Saturday as the White House put pressure on lawmakers to get the bill across the finish line. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that the president has "been in touch with lawmakers all weekend long to get this bill passed.""The White House and the president are adamant that this bill is passed and that this bill makes its way to his desk," Leavitt said. "Republicans need to stay tough and unified during the home stretch, and we are counting on them to get the job done." Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, warned Sunday that the legislation would be a "political albatross" for Republicans, while suggesting that the bill could even lose support among the GOP, saying "it's not over until it's over." "I think many of my Republican friends know they're walking the plank on this, and we'll see if those who've expressed quiet consternation will actually have the courage of their conviction," Warner said Sunday on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan." Saving money vs. saving lives The true cost of the Senate spending bill New Tennessee laws make it illegal to shelter undocumented immigrants

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Senate holds "vote-a-rama" on Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill"

Senate holds "vote-a-rama" on Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" Washington —A marathon vote series continued into the wee...

Read More

Turkey opposition crackdown spreads to Izmir with 157 detentions, NTV says

Turkey opposition crackdown spreads to Izmir with 157 detentions, NTV says

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish authorities detained 157 people including opposition party members and a former mayor in Izmir early on Tuesday, broadcaster NTV reported, expanding a months-long legal crackdown on the opposition that had been focused on Istanbul. The Izmir prosecutor ordered the detentions in the early morning hours as part of an investigation into corruption, tender rigging and fraud in the west-coast city, NTV reported. Murat Bakan, an Izmir MP from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) - which has faced waves of arrests since late last year - said former Izmir Mayor Tunc Soyer was detained along with senior bureaucrats and a party provincial chairman. "We woke up to another dawn operation today," he said on X. "We are facing a process similar to what happened in Istanbul," Bakan said, adding that it appeared to be "a judicial system acting on instructions". Those arrested in the broader crackdown include Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival. Imamoglu was jailed in March pending trial on corruption charges, which he denies. That sparked the largest street protests in a decade and a sharp selloff in Turkish assets. The CHP denies the charges. It and some Western countries have called the crackdown a politicised move to eliminate electoral challenges to Erdogan and silence dissent. The government denies these claims, saying the judiciary and Turkey's courts are independent. NTV said the investigation into Izmir municipality in part looks at potential corruption involving subcontractor companies. (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Turkey opposition crackdown spreads to Izmir with 157 detentions, NTV says

Turkey opposition crackdown spreads to Izmir with 157 detentions, NTV says ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish authorities detained 157 people inclu...

Read More

Diamondbacks fan removed from win over Giants after controversial interference review

Diamondbacks fan removed from win over Giants after controversial interference review

An Arizona Diamondbacks fan was escorted out of Chase Field on Monday night after he interfered with what was nearly a home run for Christian Koss. The San Francisco Giants infielder hit a deep fly ball to center in the eighth inning that went all the way to the wall and appeared to be on track to give him a solo home run. That would have tied the game up at the time, too. But as Diamondbacks outfielder Tim Tawa jumped up to try and make the catch at the wall, a man in a red Diamondbacks shirt reached out and actually made the grab above Tawa with his own glove. The fan seemed to lose his balance while making the grab, but he caught himself in time before flipping over the wall and falling down onto the field. Initially, it was ruled an out due to fan interference. But the Giants challenged the play, and it was later determined that there was no fan interference as Tawa wasn't actually in a position to make the catch. The fan didn't appear to make contact with Tawa, either, which helped back that argument up. But that led to Koss receiving a double instead of a home run, as the ball wasn't quite on track to cross the outfield wall. That kept the tying run off the board. Umpires initially ruled this an out because of fan interference. After review, they called it a doubleThe fan was ejectedpic.twitter.com/FgAgLDmoaF — Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia)July 1, 2025 After everything, the fan in question was then escorted out of the stadium. Both Rafael Devers and Heliot Ramos then struck out after Koss, which ended the inning and kept the Diamondbacks out in front. Arizona then added another run in the bottom of the inning after Eugenio Suárez hit a solo home run. That put them up by two and sealed the 4-2 win. That snapped a four-game losing skid from the Diamondbacks, who were just swept by the Miami Marlins before Monday night's series-opener with the Giants. They now sit at 42-42 on the year. The Giants, at 45-40, have also lost three straight and six of their last seven. While the fan's interaction undoubtedly altered the game in the moment, the ball was short of the wall anyway, the Giants still had work to do to actually tie the game up, and they missed an opportunity to hit the game-tying run in even after the incident.

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Diamondbacks fan removed from win over Giants after controversial interference review

Diamondbacks fan removed from win over Giants after controversial interference review An Arizona Diamondbacks fan was escorted out of Chase ...

Read More

Has the USMNT found its next No. 10? Malik Tillman has the keys once earmarked for Gio Reyna

Has the USMNT found its next No. 10? Malik Tillman has the keys once earmarked for Gio Reyna

MINNEAPOLIS — The buzzword was "generational talent." The possibilities, everyone agreed, were limitless. The U.S. men's national team had been starving for a creative No. 10, and up through the ranks came a blessing,Gio Reyna. He broke into Borussia Dortmund teams before his 18th birthday. He broke several of Christian Pulisic's "youngest to" records. He cracked countless lists of soccer's top teens, and by 2026, everyone assumed, he'd be driving the USMNT. But with 2026 near, Reyna's career is on ice, and instead, another languid playmaker born in 2002 is seizing control of the U.S. attack. Malik Tillman has the keys, and he's using them. In a span of less than nine hours Sunday and Monday, here in the Midwest and across the pond in Europe, two events further established Tillman as a potential USMNT centerpiece. First, hehelped drive the U.S. to a Gold Cup quarterfinal victory. Then, by the time he awoke — or perhaps before he went to sleep — Bayer Leverkusenreportedlyreached an agreement to buy Tillman for well over $40 million. He will likely become the second-most expensive American soccer player ever, behind only Pulisic, when the deal is finalized. And an ocean away, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, he showed why. Tillman was far from perfect in adramatic win over Costa Rica. (And yes, it wasonlyCosta Rica.) But he glided around a subpar pitch, dictated the USMNT's most dangerous moves, contributed to two goals, and also won a penalty (which he missed). He spent much of the game lurking, on the prowl for space between Costa Rican lines, and when his teammates found him, he did things that very few players in the U.S. pool are capable of doing. Some might argue the list includes only Tillman and Reyna. Maybe Christian Pulisic. Reyna, though, hasn't played 90 minutes of competitive soccer in a year. Over the lastfouryears, he has played 70-plus minutes in only seven official matches for his clubs. He has only played once, for 21 minutes as a sub, under U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino. He is currently at the Club World Cup, but, as per usual, he is stuck on Dortmund's bench. Tillman, meanwhile, is rising. Born in Germany to an American father, he first rose through Bayern Munich's academy. He learned on loan at Rangers in Scotland. Then he really rose at PSV Eindhoven. In 2024-25, despite missing three months with an ankle injury, he was one of the very best players in the entire Dutch Eredivisie. That's when Leverkusen came calling; that'swhyLeverkusen apparently sees him as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Florian Wirtz. For the U.S., Tillman had never quite justified the hype. Entering this summer, he'd never scored or assisted a senior national team goal. Nonetheless,with ranks depleted, Pochettino built a makeshift Gold Cup squad around Tillman. And the 23-year-old has repaid Poch's faith. He scored twice in abeatdown of Trinidad and Tobago. Hedazzled in an inconsequential win over Haiti. Sunday, though, brought the first true-ish test … and Tillman dazzled again. Throughout the 90 minutes, his full repertoire was on display. He combined with Patrick Agyemang several times on the edge of the box. In the 31st minute, with U.S. possession stagnant, he enlivened it with a lovely flick, a bursting run into the box, and a dangerous cross that earned the U.S. a penalty. On paper, he started as a right winger; but in reality, he lives in the so-called "half-spaces," in the interior "pockets" between an opponent's fullback, center back and midfielders. He roamed those spaces on Sunday, with the "freedom" that Pochettino has given him. He found space, but far too often, the U.S. didn't find him — and on a few occasions, he appeared frustrated. But at halftime, coaches showed players a few instructive clips. The message, Tillman said, was to "find different spaces" and "the opposite side." Sure enough, less than two minutes after halftime, when the U.S. circulated the ball from left to right, Chris Richards activated Tillman with an expertly disguised pass. Tillman, with the ball en route to his feet, glanced ever so briefly over his left shoulder; saw he had time and space to turn; played a 1-2 with Agyemang, and set up Max Arfsten's first career USMNT goal. This was a beauty 🔥Another look at Max Arfsten's first international goal for the@USMNT🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/WWNdQg2ZdJ — FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)June 30, 2025 That you saw. What you probably don't recall is how the U.S. gained possession in the first place. That, too, was thanks to Tillman. His pressing — including his back-pressing, as seen above — is an underrated part of his game. The nonchalant, almost leisurely way Tillman moves can fool some first-time observers. Statistically, at PSV, compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers in mid-tier leagues, his tackling and interceptions ranked in the 97th and 99th percentile, respectively, this past season. Even compared to true midfielders, he's in the 81st percentile,per FBref. And he's been similarly active defensively for the U.S. He is hardly flawless. He bore some fault on Costa Rica's second goal, when he tried to force a through ball into a non-existent window. And then, when it was intercepted, rather than race back into position, he brought his hands to his head and almost sulked, enablingLos Ticosto build their possession. His utility, though, outweighs his shortcomings. He has even added long-range shooting to his arsenal, and nearly scored a banger Sunday. He'll probably be the chief goal threat when the U.S. meets Guatemala in Wednesday's semifinal (7 p.m. ET, FS1/Univision). It's his off-ball movement, though, that is perhaps his best trait. And it's less about dynamism, more about intelligence. It's sneaky, and often slow, almost Messi-like. As 19 other players jog side to side, following the ball, Tillman will often walk — because he knows that alackof movement, coupled with the movement of opposing midfielders, is sometimes the best way to create passing lanes. He can also run off a target man like Agyemang. He can join strikers in the box, as he did for a goal against Haiti. He does not have Reyna's vision or creativity. In fact, all in all, the two are very different players. But he currently has the spot that once seemed earmarked for Reyna, and a chance to make it his own ahead of the World Cup next summer. The question, of course, is how he'll cope with higher levels. Costa Rica isn't Colombia; Haiti isn't Japan. And Heracles Almelo isn't RB Leipzig. Eredivisie stardom, historically, is notoriously not predictive of stardom elsewhere. There is a chance that Tillman's occasional slowness and inconsistent sharpness humble him in the Bundesliga and against better national teams. There's a chance that all this success is a mirage. There is also a chance he doesn't mesh with Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and the rest of the USA's A-squad. There's a chance he doesn't ultimately fit in Pochettino's starting 11. For now, however, there is genuine excitement that the USMNT has found a No. 10, a playmaker who can operate between lines and pick locks that, in the past, have proven unbreakable. "Malik is an unbelievable talent," Pochettino said last fall, shortly after taking the U.S. job. Perhaps not generational, but, as Pochettino said more recently, "one of the most talented players that we have in the USA."

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Has the USMNT found its next No. 10? Malik Tillman has the keys once earmarked for Gio Reyna

Has the USMNT found its next No. 10? Malik Tillman has the keys once earmarked for Gio Reyna MINNEAPOLIS — The buzzword was "generation...

Read More

Diamondbacks snap a 4-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Giants

Diamondbacks snap a 4-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Giants

PHOENIX (AP) — Alek Thomas went 3 for 3 with two runs scored, Ryne Nelson struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. One pitch after Nelson was pulled in the seventh after exceeding his pitch count, Tyler Fitzgerald sent a shot to the warning track in center — just past a diving Thomas — to score two runs and tie it at 2. The Diamondbacks answered with a run in the seventh on Geraldo Perdomo's bloop single to score Thomas. A controversial call for fan interference came in the top of the eighthon Christian Koss' deep shot to left-center field, resulting in a ground-rule double. John Curtiss struck out Rafael Devers and Shelby Miller came in to get Heliot Ramos looking. Eugenio Suarez added a solo shot in the eighth — his 11th home run in June. The Giants have lost three in a row. Nelson allowed two earned runs and five hits, while not giving up a walk. Curtiss (1-0) got his first win of the season and Miller earned his first career four-out save. Diamondbacks pitchers combined to hold the 1-2-3 hitters to 1 for 12 with seven strikeouts. San Francisco stater Logan Webb (7-6) allowed three earned runs and seven hits, while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings. Key moment San Francisco manager Bob Melvin was ejected in the ninth inning after arguing with the home plate umpire. Key stat Webb allowed just his seventh home run of the season when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit his 11th in the sixth for a 2-0 lead. Up next Arizona will start RHP Zac Gallen (5-9, 5.75 ERA) on Tuesday night against the Giants, who he has beaten twice in a row with a 0.75 ERA. San Francisco will go with RHP Hayden Birdsong (0-0, 4.13 ERA). ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Diamondbacks snap a 4-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Giants

Diamondbacks snap a 4-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Giants PHOENIX (AP) — Alek Thomas went 3 for 3 with two runs scored, Ry...

Read More

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers has improved slightly, according to a survey by Japan's central bank released Tuesday, although worries persist overPresident Donald Trump's tariffs. The Bank of Japan's quarterly tankan survey said an index for large manufacturers rose to plus 13 from plus 12 in March, when it marked the first dip in a year. The survey is an indicator of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic. Major manufacturers include auto and electronics sectors, whoseexports to the U.S.drive the Japanese economy. U.S. autotariffsare a worry for major manufacturers likeToyota Motor Corp., but some analysts note global auto sales have held up relatively well in recent months. The U.S. has imposed 25% tariffs on auto imports. Japanese automakers have plants in Mexico, wherePresident Donald Trumphas announced a separate set of tariffs. The U.S. has also imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum. Japanese officials have been talking frequently with the Trump administration, stressing that Japan is a key U.S. ally. Trump posted on his social media site Monday that Japan wasn't buying enough rice from the U.S. "They won't take our RICE, and yet they have a massive rice shortage," the president wrote, adding that a letter to Japan was coming. Also on Monday, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett told reporters at the White House that Trump "is going to finalize the frameworks we negotiated with a whole bunch of countries after the weekend." The Bank of Japan, which has kept interest rates extremely low for years to encourage growth, is expected to continue to raise interest rates, but some analysts expect that to wait until next year. The central bankraised its benchmark rate to 0.5%from 0.1% at the start of this year and has maintained that rate. The next Bank of Japan monetary policy board meeting is at the end of this month. The tankan findings work as important data in weighing a decision. The weak yen has raised the cost of materials for Japan at a time when the U.S. dollar has been trading at around 140 yen, up considerably from about 110 yen five years ago. A weak yen is a boon for Japan's exporters by boosting the value of their earnings when converted into yen. The tankan showed sentiment for large non-manufacturers fell to plus 34 from plus 35. That was better than some forecasts, which projected a deeper decline. The Japanese government reported last week that the nation's unemployment rate in May stood at 2.5%, unchanged from the previous month. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries

Japanese manufacturers are slightly more optimistic despite Trump tariff worries TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufa...

Read More

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Every Philosophy 101 student knows the dilemma. If given the chance to kill Adolf Hitler years before his tyrannical ambitions unleashed death and destruction, would you be willing to pull the trigger and end the life of the innocent Austrian art student he seemed to be? For most of us, the answer was clear. Given what you know now - that Hitler would be responsible for the deaths of millions - the life of that aspiring but not very talented art student would be a small price to pay to at least attempt to prevent the Holocaust and World War II. Of course, there would be unforeseen and unintended consequences. No war means no war heroes, for instance. Cancel the presidencies of Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. But that would just be the beginning. There would be no way to gauge whether the death of Hitler before he came to power would actually improve the world or not. Still, considering the 70 million to 85 million deaths caused by WWII, most of us would probably roll the dice. But that was yesterdays moral dilemma. Cue the Iranian nuclear bomb scenario. For the past three weeks, every social influencer, Hollywood celebrity, cable TV news panelist, and Twitter user has weighed in on the wisdom of the United States going to war on the side of Israel in order to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat. The arguments against it have ranged from the vacuity of "orange man bad" to the more reasoned approach of "show me the evidence." But when confronted with the awful possibility of Irans "Death to America" mullahs having access to nuclear weapons, almost everyone agreed thats just not a good idea. But before we ever got to that point, it was amusing to watch otherwise sane people twist themselves into pretzels in order to justify doing nothing when the alternative could likely lead to death and destruction just as widespread as Hitlers war. My favorite twisted thinking was the argument that proposed that as long as Iran wanted a nuclear bomb, it should have the right to get one - consequences be damned - because we have no right to interfere with the decisions of a "sovereign nation." Of course, there was a legitimate concern that a United States attack on Iran could lead to a long-term ground war, and if any other president had made the decision, it very likely could have. President Trump, on the other hand, has a long track record of avoiding war, using American military power to end conflicts, not to begin them. Yet even many of Trumps allies seemed to walk away from him in the buildup to the B-2 bombers dropping "bunker busters" on Irans nuclear facilities. Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon were convinced that Trump was being manipulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or by so-called neo-con commentators such as Mark Levin or by the Murdoch media empire or the invisible deep state into committing to a brand-new "forever war." With friends like those, Trump was right to keep his own counsel. Or keep to the position he had held for years - Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. What about MAGA? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green and other self-righteous conservatives claimed for weeks that President Trump, the inventor of MAGA, had betrayed the movement and violated his own campaign promises. But wait a minute. MAGA is Make America Great Again, not Make America Grovel Again. A large portion of that slogans appeal is restoring Americas greatness abroad. Under Presidents Obama and Biden, the American profile in foreign affairs shrank to a slim shadow of its former greatness. Whether it was Obama airmailing pallets of U.S. dollars to Tehran or Bidens disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, everyone knew that America had become a handmaiden to globalist interests. Under Trump 2.0, those days are over. Trump never said he was against foreign military engagement. He said he would protect American soldiers and American interests from foolish foreign entanglements, the same warning that George Washington issued in his farewell address. And Trump has been good to his word. The result so far has been magnificent. Not only did President Trump deliver a significant blow to the Iranian nuclear ambitions, but he also forced Israel and Iran to accept a ceasefire after 12 days of war (and decades of bellicose propaganda and terrorist activity). Following Trumps negotiation of a peace deal between India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed enemies, the Iran operation made Trump the heads-on favorite for the Nobel Peace Prize (were it decided by honest judges). And just last week, in a clear victory for MAGA and America First, Trump was hailed by our European allies as a conquering hero, not for his Iran policy, but for finally convincing NATO countries to pay their fair share of our common defense costs. No wonder Democrats are remaining mostly silent about Trumps foreign policy successes. As for history, hopefully it will speak loud and clear in praise of this presidents willingness to take action to protect future generations when others have dithered and doddered. And every patriotic American should be rooting for him, because its not a philosophy quiz this time; its real life. Frank Miele, retired editor of the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell, Mont., is a columnist for RealClearPolitics. His book"The Media Matrix: What If Everything You Know Is Fake"is available from his Amazon author page. Visit him atHeartlandDiaryUSA.comor follow him on Facebook @HeartlandDiaryUSA and on X/Gettr @HeartlandDiary.

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma

Bombs Now or Nukes Later: The New Moral Dilemma Every Philosophy 101 student knows the dilemma. If given the chance to kill Adolf Hitler yea...

Read More

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

British punk-rock and hip-hop duo Bob Vylan will not be able to perform in the U.S., where they were scheduled to open for American singergrandson's tour in October and November, after a controversial performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England over the weekend. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landaupostedon X on Monday that the Department has revoked the duo's visas "in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants." Landau added: "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country." At the Glastonbury Festival, which is aired annually on BBC, one of the group's members, Bobby Vylan, led the crowd on Saturday to chant, "Death to the IDF," referring to theIsrael Defense Forces, to the shock of organizers and onlookers. The duo has faced a firestorm of criticism in the U.K., and British policesaidthey are examining videos of the incident for possible criminal violations. The Israeli embassy in the U.K.saidit was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage" and that "when such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence." "We are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday," Emily Eavis, the co-organizer of Glastonbury and daughter of the festival's founder, said in astatement. "Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence." U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Vylan's actions on the Glastonbury stage,saying, "There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech." He also demanded that the BBC answer questions about streaming the controversial remarks. In a statement, the BBCsaidVylan's expressions "were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves." It explained that the performance was aired on its channels because the BBC team was dealing with "a live situation" but added that "with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance." Starmer had previously said that it was "not appropriate" for Irish rap trioKneecap, who have accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and accused the U.S. and U.K. of enabling it, to be performing at the festival, and the BBC haddecidedin advance not to broadcast Kneecap's performance live to "ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines." Bob Vylan performed before Kneecap's set, where festival attendees had gathered in anticipation with Palestinian flags. Singer Bobby Vylan first led the crowd to chant, "Free, free, Palestine!" Then he interjected: "Alright, but have you heard this one though?" before leading a chant of "Death, death to the IDF!" The chant recalled the phrasing of "Death to Israel" and"Death to America" chants by Iraniansas well as"Death to Arabs" chants by Israelis. Following the controversy that ensued, Bobby Vylan wrote "I said what I said"on Instagram, where he shared a statement that explained: "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place." Here's what to know. Bob Vylan is composed of singer-guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, and they collectively refer to themselves as "the Bobs." The two have used stage names reportedly to maintain privacy, but some U.K.mediahave since identified Bobby Vylan as 34-year-old Pascal Robinson-Foster. The duo, which formed in Ipswich in 2017 and has more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, is known for its politically charged music and performances. According totheIndependent, their songs "often speak out against racism, homophobia, toxic masculinity and far right politics," and in past performances Bobby would preface their song "Pretty Songs" by saying "violence is the only language that some people understand." The paper also said that Bobby has been deliberately provocative in past performances, such as by swinging a baseball bat at the crowd or wearing the soccer jersey of the rival team of where they were performing. Last year, Bobbytold theIrish Timesthat he was infuriated by bands that didn't speak up more about Gaza. The U.K. and U.S. governments' response, he said, "but also the people's response – the people of these countries … will be remembered forever. It will be documented throughout history. If you're asking yourself, 'Oh, what would you have done during slavery? What would you have done throughout the Holocaust?' You're doing it now – right now. With what it is happening over there in Palestine, you're doing it." Since the Glastonbury performance, the duo wasreportedlydropped by United Talent Agency. Sen. Ted Cruz (R, Texas)repostedvideo of the incident on X, and commented: "Truly sick. Thousands of people screaming 'Death to the IDF.' This is the base of the Democrat Party." StopAntisemitism, an advocacy group in the U.S.,flaggedon X that the duo has scheduled performances in the U.S. later this year and said of Bobby Vylan: "This antisemite must have his visa denied/rescinded - his hate is not welcome here." Republican Rep. Randy Fine of Floridarespondedto the post, saying "On it." Leo Terrell, who chairs the Justice Department's task force to combat antisemitism, also responded to StopAntisemitism's post, which he was tagged in. "These abhorrent chants, which included calls for the death of members of the Israeli Defense Forces, are abhorrent and have no place in any civil society," Terrellpostedon X. "We understand that Mr. Vylan is planning to travel to the United States as part of the Inertia Tour. In response, Mr. Terrell's Task Force will be reaching out to the U.S. Department of State on Monday to determine what measures are available to address the situation and to prevent the promotion of violent antisemitic rhetoric in the United States." After Landau's announcement, Terrellthankedthe State Department for "moving so fast on this." Bobby Vylan "is a person who wants to incite violence and we're not going to allow that under the Trump Administration," Terrell said on Fox News. "The Trump Administration is not going to allow antisemitism to exist in this country." A State Department spokesperson told TIME before Landau's announcement that it does not publicly discuss the details of individual cases but that the Department "is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety." The spokesperson added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been clear that "a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right." Trump Administration immigration officials announced in April that they would screen visa applicants' social media accounts for "antisemitic" content. "There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world's terrorist sympathizers, and we are under no obligation to admit them or let them stay here,"saidDepartment of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin at the time. The Administration has also claimed to reject censorship at home and abroad, with the State Departmentannouncingvisa restrictions in May for foreign officials who restrict "protected expression" in the U.S. "Free speech," Rubio said in the announcement, "is among the most cherished rights we enjoy as Americans." Contact usatletters@time.com.

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy

Bob Vylan Banned From U.S. Over Glastonbury Controversy British punk-rock and hip-hop duo Bob Vylan will not be able to perform in the U.S.,...

Read More

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shea Langeliers smashed a three-run homer in his first plate appearance sincecoming off the injured list,and Lawrence Butler broke a ninth-inning tie with a two-run triple that lifted the Athletics over the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4 on Monday night. The Athletics made two key defensive plays in the bottom of the eighth to keep it tied at 4. The Rays had runners on first and second with no outs when Junior Caminero hit a hard grounder to third, but Max Muncy stepped on the bag and threw to first for a double play. Josh Lowe then singled to left field but Colby Thomas threw a dart to home plate to get Brandon Lowe. Butler sent a shot to the wall in left-center field to score runners from second and third on his second triple of the season. Sean Newcomb (2-4) got the final out in the eighth, and Mason Miller worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 16th save. Brent Rooker had an RBI single for the Athletics, who had lost six of eight. The Rays, coming off a defeat at Baltimore, had won five straight and 10 of their last 11 following a loss. Pete Fairbanks (3-2) allowed three hits and two runs in the ninth. Key moment The first hit for the Rays came in the fourth on Caminero's two-run homer — his 21st of the season — over the center-field wall. Jonathan Aranda and Jose Caballero added RBI singles to tie it at 4. Key stat The Athletics, who allowed four home runs Sunday, have given up 125 longballs this season, the second-most in team history before the All-Star break. Up next Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (6-6, 4.30 ERA) starts Tuesday against his former team. RHP Shane Baz (8-3, 4.37) goes for the Rays. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays

Langeliers and Butler lead Athletics past Rays TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shea Langeliers smashed a three-run homer in his first plate appearance si...

Read More

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run

Fresh off an NHL championship, Brad Marchand is staying with the Florida Panthers long term. The veteran left wing, whojoined the team after a late-season tradefrom the Boston Bruins in March, has agreed to a six-year extension with the Panthers, per multiple reports. The deal is reportedly worth just under $32 million. BREAKING: Brad Marchand has agreed to a six-year extension with the Florida Panthers, per@PierreVLeBrun.pic.twitter.com/YzRNcV3Bh8 — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)June 30, 2025 Marchand, 37, was traded to the dominant Panthers after 16 seasons with the Bruins, including the past three as team captain. The winger's eight-year contract with Boston, which started in 2016, expired this offseason. Afternegotiations for a new contract fell throughwith Boston, the team opted to trade him. But Marchand thrived with the Panthers, becoming a key part of Florida's postseason run. He scored a career-high 10 playoff goals, plus 10 postseason assists; six of those goals came in the Panthers' 4-2 series win over the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. With Marchand sticking around, Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk seemed prettypleasedwith the re-signing. pic.twitter.com/ovamczDLWu — Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_)June 30, 2025 It's been a busy weekend for Florida, which has managed to keep its back-to-back championship-winning team together so far this offseason. The Panthersre-signed forward Sam Bennetton Saturday, with defenseman Aaron Ekbladreportedly signing a multi-year extensionas well. With those three deals, the team will now have eight of its key players — including Tkachuk, forward Sam Reinhart, defenseman Seth Jones and more — locked up through 2030, setting the stage for a dominant couple of seasons in Florida.

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run

Brad Marchand reportedly agrees to 6-year extension with Florida Panthers after championship run Fresh off an NHL championship, Brad Marchan...

Read More

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters

Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collierare already headed to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game as this year's captains. Now, the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx star have learned who will be sharing the court with them as starters for the WNBA's annual showcase. The league announced Monday, July 1 the starters for the 2025 All-Star Game, which has a blend of veteran and young stars that will be on the court for tip-off. Notably making the list isPaige Bueckers, who will be an All-Star in her first season in the league. TheNo. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draftleads all rookies in scoring and assists, and has six games of at least 20 points in her young career. Joining Bueckers are three WNBA champions: three-time MVP A'ja Wilson, two-time MVP Breanna Stewart and three-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu. Also on the list as a starter, the Seattle Storm's Nneka Ogwumike, who earned her 10th All-Star selection, tying her for third-most in WNBA history. Clark and Collier are the captains of the All-Star Game as the leading vote getters, and will draft their teams during "WNBA Countdown" on July 8. They will select among the rest of the starters before picking from the 12 reserves. The reserves will be determined by the league's head coaches, which will include three guards, five frontcourt players and four players at either position. The reserves will be announced on July 6. The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game will be held July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, on Clark and the Fever's home court. The Game will be the centerpiece of All-Star weekend activities, which also includes the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge on Friday, July 18. HOW THE PLAYERS RANKED:WNBA All-Star Game voting results Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever(2nd selection, captian) Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx(5th selection, captain) Aliyah Boston, Indiana Fever(3rd selection) Paige Bueckers, Dallas Wings(1st selection Allisha Gray, Atlanta Dream(3rd selection) Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty(4th selection) Nneka Ogwumike, Seattle Storm(10th selection) Satou Sabally, Phoenix Mercury(3rd selection) Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty(7th selection) A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces(7th selection) The 2025 WNBA All-Star Game take place July 19 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Date:Saturday, July 19 Time:8:30 p.m. ET TV:ABC Stream:ESPN+, Disney+ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters: Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson selected

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters

Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson headline 2025 WNBA All-Star Game starters Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collierare already headed to the 2025 W...

Read More

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that scientists predict will be submerged by rising seas, said it is seeking written assurance from the United States that its citizens will not be barred from entry after being apparently mistakenly included in a list of 36 countries facing visa bans. An internal diplomatic cable signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio showed the United States, which has already barred entry for citizens from 12 countries, was considering expanding travel restrictions to the 36 countries, including three Pacific Island states, Reuters and other media reported last month. Nations on the list would have 60 days to take corrective action, the cable showed. The news had caused significant concern in Tuvalu, whose population of 11,000 is at risk from rising sea levels, and where a third of residents have applied to an Australian ballot for a landmark climate migration visa. Tuvalu's ambassador to the United Nations, Tapugao Falefou, said he had been told by a U.S. official that Tuvalu's inclusion on the list was "an administrative and systemic error on the part of the U.S. Department of State". In a statement on Tuesday, Tuvalu's government said it had not received any formal notification that it was on the list, and had also been assured by the United States embassy in Fiji it was "an error within the system". "The Embassy has provided verbal assurances that there are no current restrictions on Tuvaluan nationals entering the United States, and that the matter is being reviewed with authorities in Washington," the statement from Tuvalu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade said. It added Tuvalu was seeking a "formal written confirmation to that effect and continues to engage the U.S. Government to ensure Tuvaluans are not unfairly affected". The embassy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. A U.S. official familiar with visa policy who is not authorized to speak publicly told Reuters "no decisions have been made, and any speculation is premature". "Tuvalu's public statement mischaracterizes and omits some of the valid concerns the United States has with travelers from that country," the official added. The other Pacific Islands listed in the cable were Vanuatu and Tonga. Tonga's government had received an official U.S. warning, and was working on a response, Tonga media reported. Vanuatu's government did not respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Saad Sayeed)

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred

Tiny Tuvalu seeks assurance from US its citizens won't be barred By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Tuvalu, a tiny Pacific nation that...

Read More

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahufor talks at the White House next Monday as the U.S. leadersteps up his pushon the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The impending visit was confirmed by two U.S. administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly on it. The trip will be Netanyahu's third visit to the White House sinceDonald Trumpreturned to office in January, and it comes after the United States inserted itself into Israel's war against Iran byattacking Iranian nuclear sites. Afterbrokering a ceasefirebetween the two countries, Trump has signaled that he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that "we think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire" in Gaza, but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. "It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end," Leavitt added. "He wants to save lives." Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is in Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive. With Netanyahu's visit, the timing of which was first reported by Axios, Trump will embrace the Israeli leader while continuing to push back against skeptical questions from Democratic lawmakers and others about how far U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran's nuclear program. A preliminary report issued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikesdid significant damageto the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, butdid not totally destroy the facilities. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday that the three Iranian sites with "capabilities in terms of treatment, conversion and enrichment of uranium have been destroyed to an important degree." But, he added, "some is still standing," and that because capabilities remain, "if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again." He said assessing the full damage comes down to Iran allowing inspectors access. Trump in recent days has also inserted himself into Israeli domestic affairs, calling for charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial to be thrown out. He has condemned the trial as a "WITCH HUNT" and vowed that the United States will be the one who "saves" Netanyahu fromserious corruption charges. The decision by Trump toplunge himself into one of Israel's most heated debateshas unnerved some in its political class. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday approved a new half-billion-dollar arms sale to Israel to resupply its military with bomb guidance kits for precision munitions. The State Department said the sale is worth $510 million. It includes more than 7,000 guidance kits for two different types of Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs. The deal is relatively small given that the U.S. provides Israel with more than $3 billion annually in military aid. But Israel has relied on JDAMs and other related US weaponry in its war against Hamas in Gaza and its recent strikes against Iran. "The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability," the department said in a statement. "This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives." ___ Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza

Netanyahu will visit the White House next Monday as Trump presses for a ceasefire in Gaza WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpwill host I...

Read More

Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court

Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court

President Donald Trump on Monday dropped his federallawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzerand The Des Moines Register over a poll that found Democratic nomineeKamala Harrisleading in Iowa shortly before Election Day in November, before refiling it hours later in state court. Trump had initially filed the lawsuit in Iowa District Court in Polk County in December. The case was later moved to federal court. Earlier this month, a federal judge denied Trump's request to move the case back to state court. Follow live politics coverage here Bob Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit civil liberties group that is representing Selzer, said in a statement that Trump's effort to dismiss the federal case after having lost his earlier attempt to remand it to state court "is a transparent attempt to avoid federal court review of the president's transparently frivolous claims." "Whatever court ultimately reviews this matter, FIRE will defend J. Ann Selzer's First Amendment rights, and we remain confident the courts will see through this sham lawsuit," Corn-Revere said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The refiling of the lawsuit at the state level shields it from being subject to an "Anti-SLAPP" measure that Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed in May and takes effect Tuesday. So-called SLAPP lawsuits, also known as strategic lawsuits against public participation, are cases brought against news organizations in an effort to prevent public speech and reporting on an issue by engaging in expensive and extensive legal battles. Lark-Marie Anton, a spokesperson for the Register, said in a statement that Trump's move to drop the case in U.S. district court was "clearly intended to avoid the inevitable outcome of the Des Moines Register's motion to dismiss President Trump's amended complaint currently pending in federal court." "After losing his first attempt to send his case back to Iowa state court, and apparently recognizing that his appeal will be unsuccessful, President Trump is attempting to unilaterally dismiss his lawsuit from federal court and re-file it in Iowa state court," Anton said before Trump refiled his lawsuit. "The Des Moines Register will continue to resist President Trump's litigation gamesmanship and believes that regardless of the forum it will be successful in defending its rights under the First Amendment." The newspaper previously said Trump's federal lawsuit was "without merit" and acknowledged that the Selzer/Des Moines Register pre-election poll "did not reflect the ultimate margin of President Trump's Election Day victory in Iowa." Trump in December sued Selzer; her polling firm, Selzer & Co.; The Des Moines Register; and the newspaper's parent company, Gannett, alleging consumer fraud over the poll, which found Harris up by 3 percentage points in the state. Trump defeated her in Iowa 55.7% to 42.5% last year. Trump has carried the state in the past three presidential contests, beating Hillary Clinton 51.7% to 42.2% in 2016 and besting Joe Biden 53.1% to 44.9% in 2020. Trump's lawsuit against Selzer and the Register was one of many he filedover 2024 campaign coverage. He filed a similar suit against Paramount, the parent company ofCBS News, in which he accused "60 Minutes" of selectively editing an interview segment with Harris ahead of the election. In a filing Monday, attorneys for Trump and Paramount asked the court for a pause in the proceedings for the $20 billion lawsuit, saying the parties "are engaged in good faith, advanced, settlement negotiations."

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court

Trump drops federal lawsuit against Iowa pollster Ann Selzer, refiles in state court President Donald Trump on Monday dropped his federallaw...

Read More

New England Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye Marries Ann Michael Hudson. Then Goes Viral with His Groomsmen

New England Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye Marries Ann Michael Hudson. Then Goes Viral with His Groomsmen

Drake Maye/Instagram New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye married longtime girlfriend Ann Michael Hudson on Saturday, June 21 The couple announced the news via a joint Instagram post, sharing photos of their outdoor ceremony and reception Maye and Hudson, whose love story began back in their middle school days, got engaged in January 2025, shortly after the athlete wrapped his rookie NFL season NFL starDrake Mayesaid "I do" to his longtime sweetheart. The New England Patriots quarterback, 22, marriedAnn Michael Hudsonon Saturday, June 21. The newlyweds announced the happy news with a jointInstagram postfeaturing a series of photos of their scenic outdoor ceremony. One image featured the couple posing by a large, flower-adorned wooden cross in front of a lake with a green mountain landscape in the background. The athlete sported a classic black tux for the occasion, and Hudson wore a strapless gown with a lace-covered bodice, along with a tulle veil. Other photos capture the pair sharing their first kiss as husband and wife, holding hands while walking across a bridge and smooching on the dance floor. "What a night! Cheers to forever🥂I love you!" Maye wrote in the caption. Hudson commented on the post, "Best day ever!!!! I love you❤️❤️." Drake Maye/Instagram Hudson also shareda videoof the wedding festivities on her Instagram, showing an aerial view of the wedding venue, the couple walking with their wedding party, the bride having an emotional moment with her father and the newlyweds swaying together on the dance floor under twinkling lights. "1 week married to you calls for a little glimpse of the most special day ❤️. I love you!" Hudson wrote. A number of Maye's NFL friends offered their congratulations in the comments, including Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Patriots offensive tackle Will Campbell and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs. In one memorable moment at the wedding — which has since gone viral — Maye and his tuxedo-clad groomsmen posed fora photoas they lined up in a football formation. Sports journalist Dov Kleiman shared the snapshot on X, writing, "What an awesome picture 🔥." Patriots' star QB Drake Maye with his Groomsmen at his wedding this past weekend.What an awesome picture 🔥pic.twitter.com/rDXVKMMa6K — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman)June 26, 2025 The couple's love story took root all the way back in middle school when the two began dating at 12 years old. Throughout Maye's high school and college football careers — he played for the University of North Carolina Tarheels from 2021 to 2023 — Hudson was on the sidelines, cheering him on as his biggest supporter. Maye was later selected by thePatriotsin the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. At the time, Hudson shared her excitement — and pride — for his achievement. "Drake, words cannot describe how proud I am of you. What an incredible blessing it has been to be by your side through all of this," she wrote onInstagram. "I love you and can't wait for this next chapter! GO PATS!!" Shortly after concluding his rookie season, Mayepopped the questionto Hudson in a sunset beach proposal in January 2025. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Love doing life with you. Can't wait to marry you! ❤️," Maye wrote onInstagramas the couple announced the news and shared photos of the romantic moment. The couple recently celebrated another special occasion together —Hudson's graduationfrom UNC, where she was a business school student with a double minor in entrepreneurship and conflict management, per herLinkedIn. Hudson shared photos of herself in a light blue graduation gown and cap on Instagram, prompting Maye to comment, "Grad szn❤️." As for Maye, he is off to a promising career in the NFL, according to Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, who described the 22-year-old as a "young, dynamic quarterback" on ESPN'sSportsCenterin January. "I think he's young, talented, willing to learn. I think there's a toughness to him. There's an amazing skillset in which to mold and to have him lead our football team and lead our offense," Vrabel said. Read the original article onPeople

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

New England Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye Marries Ann Michael Hudson. Then Goes Viral with His Groomsmen

New England Patriots Quarterback Drake Maye Marries Ann Michael Hudson. Then Goes Viral with His Groomsmen Drake Maye/Instagram New England ...

Read More

Years after learning soccer in their basement, brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson both play for US

Years after learning soccer in their basement, brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson both play for US

Brenden and Paxten Aaronson play on better soccer fields these days than the New Jersey basement known as "The Dungeon" where they used to practice penalties and free kicks. "We had to put in special lights so they wouldn't kick the light bulbs and break them," mom Janell Aaronson recalled. "We had to do some padding on some of the poles that are in the basement so they didn't get hurt. We made it as safe as we could." On June 10, she was in the stands at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, watching them become just the fourth pair of brothers to start the same match together for the U.S. national team, the first since George and Louis Nanchoff against the Soviet Union in 1979. "I played with this guy since, I don't know, 5 — he was probably actually 2 at that time," Brenden said. "Maybe 7, I was, and he was probably 4." Brenden, 24, already is a World Cup veteran, appearing as a substitute in all four U.S. matches at Qatar three years ago, Paxten, who turns 22 in August, hopes to make the World Cup roster for the first time when the U.S. co-hosts next year's tournament. "Completely different players. Both in different ways can perform," U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. Both are on the roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where the Americans play Guatemala on Wednesday night and hope to advance to a final against Mexico or Honduras on Sunday. Both are midfielders and wingers who made their way up through the Philadelphia Union academy system and moved to Europe after two seasons in Major League Soccer, Paxten at age 19 and Brenden at 20. At the start of their national team camp together, they reflected on learning the sport in their backyard and the downstairs room given its nickname by their dad, Rusty. "We always played in the basement, right before or after dinner," Paxten said. "We had a basement with kind of like a mini-pitch that we built off of carpet and goals that we taped on the wall and stuff like that. So we would always just play down there and then come up for dinner, then after dinner go down and play, We broke a lot of lights." And learned competition. "Toes have been stepped on," Paxten said. Their dad, Rusty, played college soccer at Monmouth, ran a risk management firm and is sporting director of Real Futbol Academy in Medford, New Jersey. In addition to the brothers, 18-year-old sister Jaden will be a freshman on Villanova's soccer team this fall. "I don't know how these guys do it without having a younger brother or someone to train with," Brenden said. "When you're in a shooting drill, sometimes you can take times off. But you know he's going to want to beat me and I'm going to want to be him, so you go that extra mile to keep even getting better at it." Brenden scored in his MLS debut with Philadelphia in March 2019 and has played for Salzburg (2021-22), Leeds (2022-25) and Union Berlin (2023-24). He made his U.S. debut in 2020 and has nine goals in 51 international appearances. Paxten debuted in MLS with the Union in May 2021 and has played for Eintracht Frankfurt (2023-24), Vitesse (2024) and Utrecht (2024-25). He made his first U.S. appearance in 2023 and scored against New Zealand at last year's Olympics. Before the match against Switzerland, they hadn't played on the same team together since the youth academy. Theyfaced each other briefly on Nov. 4, 2023, when Brenden entered in the 83rd minute for Eintracht Frankfurt and Paxten in the 85th for host Union Berlin. "There's been some fights throughout the years," Brenden said, with Paxten sitting adjacent and laughing. "It's more in the one v. ones when I would get beat by him. Because you're the older, you feel like you have to win. But he's beat me a handful of times where I had a temper tantrum. I was kicking the ball against the wall. I literally — I can't take it sometimes." But afterward, they resumed playing the FIFA video game. Having the common "E" in the names of the siblings was mom's idea. "We spelled Brenden `E-N. I just liked the spelling of that vs. 'A-N. Just visually. It looked better to me,'" Janell said. "When we ended up having our other kids, I just made sure that they all ended in `E-N.' I don't know why. I just did that." After the Gold Cup and brief time off, Brenden will return to England to prepare for the Premier League season with newly promoted Leeds. Paxten will report to Eintracht Frankfurt unless he's loaned again. Trying to watch all their matches is daunting for their parents, who also will be at Villanova for Jaden. "Sometimes when the games are on, I don't like to get the updates because I do like to go back and watch," Rusty said. "Sometimes I've looked at my phone, something good has happened and then the cat's out of the bag and there's no need to watch the game." Streamed replays are not for mom. "I don't even know how to work any of that," she said. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Years after learning soccer in their basement, brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson both play for US

Years after learning soccer in their basement, brothers Brenden and Paxten Aaronson both play for US Brenden and Paxten Aaronson play on bet...

Read More

Steelers don't want to trade T.J. Watt despite other teams' interest, per reports

Steelers don't want to trade T.J. Watt despite other teams' interest, per reports

Teams are free to call thePittsburgh Steelersto ask ifT.J. Wattis available. They just shouldn't expect them to pick up. ESPNreportedMonday that "multiple teams have been discussing whether they can trade for Steelers' standout T.J. Watt" after the star edge rusher sat out of the Steelers' mandatory minicamp. However, both ESPN andNFL Networkwent on to report that the Steelers are committed to keeping Watt in the Steel City. Watt, 30, is entering the final year of the four-year, $112 million contract extension he signed in 2021. His refusal to attend minicamp earlier this month is reportedly related to his desire to secure a renewed extension before the 2025 season begins. Steelers have been adamant they want T.J. Watt to finish his career in Pittsburgh.https://t.co/eRVzeuTjZo — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)June 30, 2025 STEELERS NEWS:Dolphins deal Jalen Ramsey to Pittsburgh in blockbuster move In addition to Watt's current contract expiring after 2025, there's the added context that two other star edge rushers – the Raiders'Maxx Crosbyand Browns'Myles Garrett– signed massive extensions earlier this offseason. As of Monday, Watt has not reached a new deal to stay with the Steelers past the 2025 season. Pittsburgh's blockbuster trade to acquire cornerbackJalen Ramsey– who's under contract through 2028 – and tight endJonnu Smith– whom the Steelers extended through 2026 – on Monday fanned the flames of trade speculation for Watt. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that "outside team interest [to trade for Watt] is likely to increase given (Monday)'s trade." However, he went on to post on the social media website X that the "Steelers have been adamant they want T.J. Watt to finish his career in Pittsburgh." NFL Network's Tom Pelissero corroborated the follow-up report, writing, "The Steelers have no intention of trading star pass rusher T.J. Watt and their focus remains on extending Watt's contract." The#Steelershave no intention of trading star pass rusher T.J. Watt and their focus remains on extending Watt's contract, per sources.Watt, who turns 31 in October, is due $21.05 million in the last year of his current deal.pic.twitter.com/ta0jMQVHGj — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)June 30, 2025 In 2024, Watt played all 17 regular-season games for a second straight season after sustaining a knee injury in Week 18 of the 2023 season. He recorded 61 tackles, 11.5 sacks and four pass deflections, and his six forced fumbles led the league. Watt earned a seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod as well and finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Barring a new contract, Watt is set to make $21.05 million in 2025. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:T.J. Watt trade rumors: Steelers don't want to move star edge rusher

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Steelers don't want to trade T.J. Watt despite other teams' interest, per reports

Steelers don't want to trade T.J. Watt despite other teams' interest, per reports Teams are free to call thePittsburgh Steelersto as...

Read More

USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says

USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Deep funding cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development and its potential dismantling could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, according to research published in The Lancet medical journal on Monday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT President Donald Trump's administration, since taking office in January, has made funding cuts to USAID and its aid programs worldwide in what the U.S. government says is part of its broader plan to remove wasteful spending. Human rights experts and advocates have warned against the cuts. USAID funding has had a crucial role in improving global health, primarily directed toward low and middle-income countries, particularly African nations, according to the study. BY THE NUMBERS The study estimated that over the past two decades, USAID-funded programs have prevented more than 91 million deaths globally, including 30 million deaths among children. Projections suggest that ongoing deep funding cuts - combined with the potential dismantling of the agency - could result in more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including 4.5 million deaths among children younger than 5 years, the study in The Lancet said. Washington is the world's largest humanitarian aid donor, amounting to at least 38% of all contributions recorded by the United Nations. It disbursed $61 billion in foreign assistance last year, just over half of it via USAID, according to government data. KEY QUOTE "Our estimates show that, unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030," the study said. CONTEXT U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in March the Trump administration canceled over 80% of all programs at USAID following a six-week review. The remaining approximately 1,000 programs, he said, would now be administered "more effectively" under the U.S. State Department and in consultation with Congress. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;Editing by Mary Milliken and Jamie Freed)

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says

USAID cuts may cause over 14 million additional deaths by 2030, study says By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Deep funding cuts to the ...

Read More

G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

By Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) -Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven nations said on Monday they supported the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and urged for negotiations to resume for a deal to address Iran's nuclear program, according to a joint statement. Since April, Iran and the U.S. have held talks aimed at finding a new diplomatic solution regarding Iran's nuclear program. Tehran says its program is peaceful and Israel and its allies say they want to ensure Iran cannot build a nuclear weapon. "We call for the resumption of negotiations, resulting in a comprehensive, verifiable and durable agreement that addresses Iran's nuclear program," the G7 foreign ministers said. Last week, Trump announced a ceasefire between U.S. ally Israel and its regional rival Iran to halt a war that began on June 13 when Israel attacked Iran. The Israel-Iran conflict had raised alarms in a region already on edge since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023. Before the ceasefire was announced, Washington struck Iran's nuclear sites and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Qatar in retaliation. The G7 foreign ministers said they urged "all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region." U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff has said talks between Washington and Tehran were "promising" and that Washington was hopeful for a long-term peace deal. The G7 top diplomats denounced threats against the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Monday, after a hardline Iranian newspaper said IAEA boss Rafael Grossi should be tried and executed as an Israeli agent. On June 12, the U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in almost 20 years. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons. Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. nuclear watchdog, which carries out inspections in Iran, says it has "no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Chris Reese and Lincoln Feast.)

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program

G7 urges talks to resume for deal on Iran nuclear program By Kanishka Singh and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON/OTTAWA (Reuters) -Foreign minister...

Read More

Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'

Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'

Legislation making its waythrough the Senatestands to have wide-ranging effects across the economy — bolstering tax benefits for businesses and higher-income households while threatening health insurance for millions of Americans and putting thousands of clean energy and health care jobs at risk. The bill,which is more than 900 pages longand Republicans have dubbed the "big, beautiful bill," passed a keyprocedural voteover the weekend in the Senate largely along party lines, with all but two Republicans voting to advance it. Follow live coverage here The Senate is debating the measurebefore taking a final vote. If the bill passes the Senate, it will then go back to the House for another vote and ultimately must be signed by President Donald Trump before becoming law. While changes could still be made and its passage isn't certain, here are some of the key winners and losers under the latest version of the bill. The legislation would make permanent trillions of dollars in corporate tax cuts enacted in 2017 during Trump's first term and expand other tax breaks for businesses. That includes permanently lowering the corporate tax rate to 21% from the 35% level before the 2017 tax cuts. The bill would also extend or increase other tax breaks for business investments, like those on new machinery, equipment and research and development, whichbusiness groups have saidwould encourage business investments in the U.S. The bill would also extend through 2033 tax incentives enacted in 2017 for businesses that invest in disadvantaged areas, called Opportunity Zones. The tax cuts would add around $3 trillion over the next decade to the national debt, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. That means the U.S. would have to borrow more money to cover its expenses, requiring it to pay an estimated $600 billion to $700 billion in additionalinterest payments, according to an analysis by the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget. The amount of money Americans pay toward interest on the country's debt is expected to increase sharply in the coming years, totaling $78 trillion over the next 30 years and accounting for 34% of federal revenues,according tothe Congressional Budget Office. Paying for that added interest will fall to future generations, likely in the form of higher taxes and less spending on other programs younger generations could benefit from, like early childhood education, more affordable housing or improved infrastructure. It will also give the U.S. less flexibility to borrow if there is a future crisis, such as a pandemic or war. As U.S. debt has ballooned — with the current ratio of debt to gross domestic product at similar levels to those seen during World War II — it has also increased concern among investors about the country's ability to make its debt and interest payments on time. That means investors are starting to seek a higher interest payments, or yield, in exchange for buying U.S. debt, which could also drive up interest rates for other private loans — with higher mortgage rates or interest on a small business loan. The bill would greatly expand the amount of state and local taxes households are able to deduct from their federal taxes from the current cap of $10,000 to up to $40,000. The biggest beneficiaries from the change would be households making $200,000 to $500,000 a year and those that own property, because they are likelier to pay higher property and income taxes,according to an analysisby the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. It would also disproportionately benefit households in higher-tax states, like New York, New Jersey and California. Wealthy households and business owners would also benefit from a permanent reduction in the estate tax. Under the legislation, heirs of estates valued at less than $15 million would not have to pay a tax on their inheritance. That cap is set to drop to $7 million in 2026. Provisions in the latest version of the bill would cause nearly 12 million low-income people to lose their health insurance over the next decade by cutting around $1 trillion from Medicaid, the health insurance program for poor and disabled people,according to the CBO.The Senate bill includes steeper cuts to Medicaid than an earlier version passed by the House. The cuts would take a particular toll on people in rural areas who are more likely to receive their health insurance through Medicaid than those in urban or suburban areas. Researchers atGeorgetown University foundthat 40% of children in small and rural towns receive their health insurance from Medicaid. The bill could also reduce the number of people who receive their insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The version of the Senate bill released over the weekend also includes cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, by requiring adults ages 18 to 64 without disabilities to work at least 80 hours a month unless they are caring for children under 10. The added requirements could lead to $300 billion in cuts to food stamp spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The legislation would carry through on a campaign promise by Trump to exempt income from tips and overtime from federal income taxes. Tipped workers make up about 2.5% of the workforce, and about 12% of hourly workers clock some overtime each year, according to ananalysis by the Yale Budget Lab. Both tax exemptions are structured as deductions that workers would claim when they filed their taxes the following year. The tax exemption would apply only to federal income tax, so workers would still have to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on their income, along with any state or local taxes. As many as 40% of tipped workers already don't make enough money to have to pay federal income tax on any of their earnings, so the benefit would be relatively limited, the Yale Budget Lab found. Less funding for Medicaid and fewer people with health insurance would mean a drop-off in doctor's office visits, prescription refills and medical procedures — and, as a result, fewer workers needed to support those types of services. That could lead to the loss of nearly500,000 health care jobsover the next decade, according to an analysis by George Washington University and the Commonwealth Fund. The Senate bill would also prohibit Medicaid funding for entities that provide abortions, including Planned Parenthood, which could cause cuts backs or the closure of those health care centers. The Senate legislation seeks to mitigate some of that pain for rural health care providers, who care for a disproportionately high number of Medicaid patients, with a $25 billion fund for rural hospitals. Both the House and the Senate bill include wins for the fossil fuel industry, stripping away numerous provisions put in place during President Joe Biden's administration to shift energy consumption away from fossil fuels. Both bills would delay a fee on excess methane pollution by oil and gas companies, roll back Biden-era rules to curb vehicle emissions and include provisions intended to speed the development of new fossil fuel projects. The Senate bill also includes a new tax workaround for oil drillers that would enable many of them to avoid having to pay a corporate alternative minimum tax of 15%. Clean energy companies say the bill could cripple their businesses by stripping away tax subsidies and funding made available during the Biden administration. The Senate bill would go further than the earlier version passed in the House by imposing new tax penalties on wind and solar farm projects started after 2027, unless they met certain requirements. That could jeopardize billions of dollars in investments in clean energy projects — along with the thousands of jobs that would come along with those projects, including in Republican-led states like Georgia and South Carolina. Other provisions would reduce benefits for consumers buying electric vehicles, solar panels and appliances to make their homes more energy efficient.

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill'

Who would win and who would lose in Republicans' 'big, beautiful bill' Legislation making its waythrough the Senatestands to hav...

Read More

Who's playing where? A cheat sheet on college sports realignment

Who's playing where? A cheat sheet on college sports realignment

The upcoming year for college sports has at least a modest sense of stability: The$2.8 billion House settlementhas been approved, clearing the way for schools to share millions in revenue with their athletes, and major conferences are inyear two of realignmentafter welcoming new programs across the country. There is still of urgency and uncertainty. The settlement has brought a new set of questions about compensating athletes and managing rosters, while realignment has not vanished by any means.The Pac-12 next seasonwill be home to a number of programs fromthe Mountain West,moves that prompted a domino effect. Football membership in the Power Four and the Group of Five over the past three decades: ACC 1996 (9): Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Virginia. 2023 (14): Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest. 2025 (17): Boston College, California, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, SMU, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest. BIG TEN 1996 (11): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin. 2023 (14): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin. 2025 (18): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Southern California, UCLA, Washington, Wisconsin. BIG 12 1996 (12): Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech. 2023 (14): BYU, Baylor, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, West Virginia. 2025 (16): Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Baylor, Cincinnati, Central Florida, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah, West Virginia. PAC-12 1996 (10): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Southern California, Stanford, UCLA, Washington, Washington State. 2023 (12): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Southern California, UCLA, Utah, Washington, Washington State. 2024-25 (2): Oregon State, Washington State. 2026 (9): Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State,Gonzaga (non-football),Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State, Washington State. SEC 1996 (12): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt. 2023 (14): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt. 2025 (16): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt. AMERICAN ATHLETIC 2013 (10, first season): Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Rutgers, SMU, South Florida, Temple. 2023 (14): Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Rice, SMU, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UTSA. 2025 (14): Army, Charlotte, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Rice, South Florida, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UTSA. CONFERENCE USA 1996 (6): Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Tulane. 2023 (9): Florida International, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP, Western Kentucky. 2024 (10): Florida International, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP, Western Kentucky. 2025 (12): Delaware, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, UTEP, Western Kentucky. MID-AMERICAN 1996 (10): Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan. 2023 (12): Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Western Michigan. 2025 (13): Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan. 2026 (12): Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Massachusetts, Miami (Ohio), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan. BIG WEST/WAC/MOUNTAIN WEST 1996 (Big West, 6): Boise State, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico State, North Texas, Utah State. 1996 (WAC, 16): Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, New Mexico, Rice, San Diego State, San Jose State, SMU, TCU, Tulsa, UNLV, Utah, UTEP, Wyoming. 2025 (MWC, 12): Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming. 2026 (MWC, 11): Air Force, UC Davis (non football), Grand Canyon (basketball), Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP, Wyoming. SUN BELT 2001 (7, first season): Arkansas State, Idaho, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Middle Tennessee State, New Mexico State, North Texas. 2025 (14): Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Texas State, Troy. 2026 (13): Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Mississippi, Troy. INDEPENDENTS 1996 (11): Arkansas State, Army, Central Florida, East Carolina, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Navy, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame, UAB. 2023 (4): Army, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Notre Dame. 2024 (3): Connecticut, Massachusetts, Notre Dame. 2025 (2): Connecticut, Notre Dame. ___ AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Who's playing where? A cheat sheet on college sports realignment

Who's playing where? A cheat sheet on college sports realignment The upcoming year for college sports has at least a modest sense of sta...

Read More

Jalen Ramsey trade grades: Who won deal between Steelers, Dolphins?

Jalen Ramsey trade grades: Who won deal between Steelers, Dolphins?

So much for a slow summer in the NFL. With all teams on break until training camps open in mid-to-late July, this stretch would seem like a natural window for a break in action for a league that seemingly never rests. Yet on Monday, two teams brokered an ultra-rare swap of star players. The headline of the deal: The Miami Dolphins traded cornerback Jalen Ramsey to thePittsburgh Steelersin exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Also headed to Pittsburgh aretight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round pick,while Miami also receives a 2027 seventh-round draft pick. Jalen Ramsey trade details: Dolphins deal star CB to Steelers in blockbuster move The shake-up brings an end to the uncertainty that had prevailed for months since the Dolphins first acknowledged they were looking to part with Ramsey, the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback. And for Pittsburgh, it served as the latest marquee addition – and departure with the exit of Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowl selection – for a franchise reshaped by the arrivals ofAaron RodgersandDK Metcalf. How did each team fare in the deal? Here are our trade grades: When news of the Ramsey trade first broke, it seemed to be a fitting move for an organization clearly embracing a truncated timeline for competing with Rodgers at the helm. The surprising return, however, muddled the outlook a bit. Cornerback play tends to be volatile year to year, but there's little question that Ramsey raises both the floor and ceiling for Pittsburgh at this vital position group. The Steelers in March signed reliable veteran Darius Slay to fill the void opposite Joey Porter Jr., seemingly settling one of the more pressing deficiencies of the defense. But trusting a 34-year-old to run with the likes of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins within the division was always going to be a stretch. With Ramsey on board, the Steelers now size up as one of the most imposing matchups for opposing wide receivers. Ramsey can handle the lion's share of reps in base looks alongside Porter, and his experience working inside should pay off massively in allowing him to kick inside to get all three standout corners on the field in nickel packages. That sort of rotation can keep the team fresh down the stretch, with both of its matchups against the rival Baltimore Ravens and a trip to face the Detroit Lions all coming in the final six weeks. Still, given the loss of Fitzpatrick, does this trade truly move the needle much in reshaping the secondary for a defense that ranked 25th in passing yards allowed (228 per game)? The Steelers will try to scrape by on the back end with Juan Thornhill seemingly stepping in alongside Deshon Elliott, but there's little question that the unit will miss Fitzpatrick's playmaking range, though he has recorded just one interception in the last two years combined. Of course, the outlook shifts considerably if Pittsburgh utilizes Ramsey in this role, but it'd be yet another adjustment for all involved. Adding Smith might seem like a natural move, as the tight end will be reunited with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who first helped the pass catcher flourish with the Tennessee Titans and later helped him bounce back with the Atlanta Falcons. But even with an abundance of multiple tight end sets, it's still unclear exactly how he'll be incorporated alongside established starter Pat Freiermuth. "It would be complicated having (Smith) and Pat. They're kind of the same type of tight end," Steelers tight end Connor Heyward said earlier in June,according to PennLive, when discussing the rumors of a potential Smith trade. "They both got to have 100 balls a year thrown their way." Maybe the doubling down in Pittsburgh isn't so much a bet on Rodgers as it is on Mike Tomlin finding a way to bring all these disparate pieces together. Regardless, it's a lot of upheaval – even if it largely appears for the better – for the coach to navigate. With the Dolphins in April broadcasting their intention to move on from Ramsey, it seemed as though the organization could only expect a modest return. Instead, it addressed its biggest hole by bringing on one of the top players at his position. Fitzpatrick returns to the franchise nearly six years after it dealt him amid his clash with then-coach Brian Flores regarding his utilization. This time around, there shouldn't be any issues regarding his role. Miami was preparing to enter the season with perhaps the most unstable safety tandem in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. Fitzpatrick isn't at his peak as he prepares to enter a season in which he'll turn 29 in November, but with Ramsey's departure essentially looking inevitable, he's probably the most meaningful addition who could have been acquired at this point in the calendar. Yet it's difficult to feel good about the state of Miami's secondary overall given the outlook after the trade. With Ramsey gone, the Dolphins will depend on the likes of 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, 2024 undrafted free agent Storm Duck and fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall Jr. on the outside, with nickel Kader Kohou providing the lone bit of stability. Fitzpatrick can only do so much to compensate for a group that doesn't seem up to the task of running with the AFC's best. Sending off Smith also further ups the challenge for an aerial attack that lacks much depth in its pass-catching options beyond Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Julian Hill could see a sizable leap in action as a potential replacement at starter, but the move likely necessitates an addition sometime before the season (NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported the team is scouring the trade market). A fine return for Miami on the whole, but the prevailing issue of the top-heavy roster remains as pervasive as ever. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Jalen Ramsey trade grades: Did Steelers or Dolphins win deal?

byAdministrator

in

June 30, 2025

Jalen Ramsey trade grades: Who won deal between Steelers, Dolphins?

Jalen Ramsey trade grades: Who won deal between Steelers, Dolphins? So much for a slow summer in the NFL. With all teams on break until trai...

Read More