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Trump urges Oz to declare victory despite Pennsylvania Senate race being too close to call

Former President Trump is urging celebrity physician Mehmet Oz to declare victory in Pennsylvania’s GOP Senate primary even as the race remains too close to call.

In a post on Truth Social, the social media platform that Trump founded last year, the former president said Oz should proclaim himself the winner of the contest, arguing that doing so would make it “much harder for them to cheat with the ballots that they ‘just happened to find.’”

Oz, whom Trump endorsed last month, is deadlocked with former hedge fund CEO David McCormick in the Republican Senate primary, with fewer than 3,000 votes separating the two. 

If Oz and McCormick finish within 0.5 percentage points of one another, it would trigger an automatic recount under Pennsylvania’s election rules. 

Trump’s insistence that Oz declare victory in the race echoes his own false claim that widespread election fraud cost him his 2020 bid for a second term in the White House. The former president declared victory on election night with multiple states yet to be called and then repeatedly insisted that fraudulent ballots contributed to President Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania and other states.

While the GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania remains too close to call, the race is seen as a must-win for Trump, especially after a handful of his endorsed candidates suffered losses elsewhere on Tuesday.

In North Carolina, for instance, Rep. Madison Cawthorn was denied a second term in the House after losing the GOP primary in the state’s 11th Congressional District. Similarly, Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, whom Trump had also endorsed, fell to incumbent Gov. Brad Little in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary.

If Oz ultimately falls short in Pennsylvania, it would likely deal a blow to Trump’s status as a kingmaker among Republicans. 

Source: TEST FEED1

Indigenous First Nations woman featured in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition for first time

Ashley Callingbull made history Monday, becoming the first Indigenous First Nations woman to be featured in a Sports Illustrated (SI) Swimsuit edition. 

Callingbull, who is a Cree First Nations woman from the Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada, celebrated her historic achievement on Instagram – first, by giving a shout out to her mom.  

“Mom I made history,” Callingbull wrote. “I’m the first Indigenous First Nations woman to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated and my heart is beaming with pride! 

“But most importantly, I will not be the last and I can’t wait to see who’s next,” she added.  

Callingbull elaborated to her 1.2 million followers in a separate post why she believes her accomplishment will pave the way for others.  

“This is a huge moment for Indigenous women because now the door is open for others to walk through and own this space,” Callingbull wrote.  

“I used to be a little insecure girl from the Rez that didn’t even dare to dream big. Now I’m a strong, empowered and fearless woman making history,” she concluded.  

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Si’s Swimsuit edition featured another history making model within its pages on Monday, Maye Musk – a model and mother of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. At 74, Maye Musk became the oldest model to make the issue.  

“I’ve been modeling for 50 years, and I wasn’t considered a ‘swimsuit model,’ but now Sports Illustrated has let me know that they have a wide diversity of swimsuit models,” Musk told the New York Post. “I think it’s wonderful.”   

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Watch live: Biden outlines priorities for equitable hurricane preparedness

President Biden will deliver remarks Wednesday afternoon on priorities for equitable emergency preparedness for hurricanes this season.

The event is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. ET.

Watch the video above.

Source: TEST FEED1

Harris tells Coast Guard cadets they must defend rule of law in 'unsettled' world

Vice President Harris on Wednesday told the cadets of the Coast Guard Academy’s 2022 class that they are graduating into an “unsettled” world and would play a critical role advancing American interests and upholding the rule of law.  

“President Joe Biden and I, we view our cadets as our eyes and ears and hands and hearts, wherever you serve,” Harris said in the keynote commencement address at the academy in New London, Conn.  

“You are doing the critical work, you will be doing the critical work to protect our country, to advance our interests, and to shape the trajectory of world affairs,” she said.  

Harris spoke about Russia’s war in Ukraine, saying it is testing the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and described other efforts to “undermine the rules-based order.” 

“The world you graduate into is unsettled. It is a world where long-established principles now rest on shaky ground. Where the rule of law in places is strained. Where rules and norms are under question,” the vice president said. 

She described the cadets as key players in helping uphold the rule of law abroad. 

“We must remember — upholding a system of laws, institutions and common understandings, this is how we ensure the safety and security and prosperity of the United States, and this is how we preserve stability in the world,” Harris told the graduating class.  

“Cadets, this is where you come in. In addition to the work you will do at home, you will serve a vital role in advancing our nation’s interests abroad.”   

Harris said the cadets that they represent “the very best of America” and expressed gratitude for their service and the sacrifices of their families.  

“Remember how you feel right now – you’re excitement about this journey, you’re excitement about the world, about your service, about your future. Remember how you feel in this moment because that will help guide you in each of your assignments ahead,” the vice president said. 

“President Biden and I have great faith in your ability. We know you are ready, you are ready to serve, and your country is so proud of you,” she said, concluding her remarks. 

Harris spoke at the Coast Guard commencement for the first time on Wednesday, having addressed the graduates of the Naval Academy last year. President Biden is due to speak at the Naval Academy commencement in Annapolis, Md., later this month.  

Source: TEST FEED1

Mark Cuban backing Biden proposal to cancel $10K in student debt per borrower

Entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said that he supports a reported proposal by the president to cancel at least $10,000 in student loans per borrower.

However, Cuban added that he believes the more urgent problem to address is ensuring that universities and colleges cannot continue to charge “ridiculous” fees.

“We don’t want this being a perennial problem,” Cuban told Insider. “It has to be fixed. As far as how much should be forgiven, I’m good with the Biden proposal.” 

Insider noted that Cuban has previously been against canceling student debt, saying in 2015 that “all it does is bail out the universities.”

The development comes as two sources confirmed to The Hill late last month initial reporting from Bloomberg that President Biden is weighing action to eliminate at least $10,000 of debt for each student borrower, though the White House has not announced any official plans.

Three sources told The Washington Post around that time that the president was considering placing income limits around who would be eligible for the partial student loan cancellation, including individuals who made less than either $125,000 or $150,000 and couples who jointly file taxes and make either around $250,000 or $300,000.

Should the president wipe out at least $10,000 per student borrower, it would fulfill a 2020 campaign promise he made as a then-candidate.

Source: TEST FEED1

Biden’s visit to Israel and Middle East presents opportunities — and perils

President Biden may travel to Israel in June after consultations in Europe. Israel is both the epicenter and a lightning rod for the Middle East, and Biden’s remarks and actions will be scrutinized by all regional players. Therefore, this is an excellent opportunity to articulate an American vision for the Middle East that balances engagement and withdrawal. President Obama used his first speech in Cairo, in 2009, to create daylight between the U.S. and Israel and reach out to Iran.  

Today the Middle East is undergoing a significant realignment following America’s withdrawal from the region. Each nation is considering what to do if Iran does or doesn’t rejoin a version of the 2015 nuclear agreement. The most striking success in response to Iranian hegemonic ambitions is the Abraham Accords bringing former enemies together. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is America’s priority for the moment, but the Middle East shouldn’t be neglected — or it will come back to bite us again.  

So, why is the Middle East in flux, and what are the issues Biden may address on this visit?

Because of its failures in Ukraine, Russia is moving troops out of Syria to Ukraine, leaving behind its military bases to its ally, Iran. Before invading Ukraine, Russia was a moderating influence in the conflict between Israel and Iran in the north. Iran now likely feels more empowered to entrench itself in its Syrian vassal’s territory, along with its growing stranglehold on Lebanon. Greater Iranian involvement in Syria increases the chance for a regional war that could dwarf previous Israel-Hamas confrontations.  

The U.S. and Europe have not given up hope for a return to the Iran nuclear deal, putting America’s regional allies on edge. A strange dynamic resulted: Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are paradoxically moving closer to Israel, while hedging their bets and engaging their Shiite nemesis in Iran. 

The other prominent non-Arab actor is Turkey, which is in economic turmoil and is consequently extending an olive branch to Israel. This presents a U.S. opportunity to bring its NATO ally back into the fold and encourage it to distance itself from Hamas, which reportedly plans terrorist attacks in Turkey. 

In Egypt, the most populous Arab nation, ISIS is again rearing its ugly head in the Sinai, challenging another U.S. ally. Additional American military support for Egypt should be considered.

King Abdullah of Jordan and his foreign minister have chosen to stoke incitement on the volatile Temple Mount, hoping that scapegoating Israel will deflect the people’s attention from their precarious economic position. Additional humanitarian aid in exchange for lowering the flames of incitement would be a good Middle East bargain.  

And, the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan still echoes with regional autocrats, who likely have concluded that America no longer is a reliable ally. Biden’s visit must strengthen the trust of longstanding partners before they begin the march toward nuclear weapons proliferation.

Following are suggested “Do’s and Don’ts” for the president as his foreign policy team hashes out objectives for a successful visit to the Middle East:

• Avoid off-the-cuff remarks that could undermine any positive achievements; 
   
• Avoid meddling in Israel’s politics;
• Publicly commend the importance of the Abraham Accords as an outstanding achievement to advance regional stability;
• Publicly encourage the Saudis, Omanis, Kuwaitis and Qataris to join the Abraham Accords;
• Placate the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in exchange for opening up the taps to their fossil fuels;
• Reach out to Turkey to encourage its outreach to Israel;
• Avoid regurgitating the failed paradigms of ways to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
• Don’t visit East Jerusalem without an equivalent gesture to see a Jewish area of the city beyond the Green line (1949 Armistice Line);
• Don’t reopen a U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem for Palestinians unless you receive a tangible concession from the Palestinian Authority to permanently end its incentives for terrorism;
• Avoid using morally equivalent terms such as the “cycle of violence”; 
• Don’t promise U.S. taxpayer money to the Lebanese Armed Forces, which are under the thumb of Iran, unless there is a way to ensure that Hezbollah cannot siphon it off; and
• Offer support for Israel’s new relationships with its Mediterranean neighbors Cyprus, Greece and Italy, and encourage Egypt, Jordan and Israel to work together beyond security arrangements.

America has a lot on its plate, and the Middle East has fallen a few rungs lower on the ladder of U.S. priorities. With runaway inflation, an unpredictable Russian war in Ukraine, and the pending pivot toward China, Biden’s trip to the Middle East boils down to this: Be modest in your goals. Support your allies. Remind the world that America still cares about the region’s affairs and prosperity, and wants to remain a partner that helps to steer the region toward greater stability for everyone’s benefit. 

Dr. Eric R. Mandel is the director of MEPIN, the Middle East Political Information Network. He regularly briefs members of Congress and their foreign policy aides. He is the senior security editor for the Jerusalem Report. Follow him on Twitter @MepinOrg.

Source: TEST FEED1

Biden says he will press Congress, allies on NATO membership for Sweden, Finland

President Biden on Monday voiced his support for Finland and Sweden applying to join the NATO alliance and said he would work with Congress and other member nations to “quickly” approve their membership.

“Sweden and Finland have made the important decision to seek NATO membership after thorough and inclusive democratic processes in each country,” Biden said in a statement.

The alliance has become a focal point of international discussion in the months since Russia invaded Ukraine. Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an attack on one member will be interpreted as an attack on all members, providing some protection for neighboring nations of Ukraine such as Poland.

Others in the region, including Sweden and Finland, have pushed to join the alliance in hopes of providing a stronger defense against the threat of Russian aggression should Moscow choose to expand its offensive.

Both countries have announced in recent days that they are seeking NATO membership, and Biden will host Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the White House on Thursday to discuss the issue.

“NATO guarantees the security of one billion people in Europe and North America — united by our shared commitment to democratic principles and our vision of peace and prosperity in Europe and around the world. And my commitment to NATO and Article 5 is ironclad,” Biden said.

“While their applications for NATO membership are being considered, the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against any threats to our shared security, and to deter and confront aggression or the threat of aggression,” the president added, calling the two nations “stalwart partners of the United States.”

The administration is trying to assuage concerns from Turkey, another NATO member that has objected to Sweden and Finland seeking membership in the alliance. 

Source: TEST FEED1

Colin Kapernick planning memoir for young adults

Former NFL quarterback and activist Colin Kaepernick has announced plans to publish a new memoir targeted at young adults. 

In a press release on Wednesday, Kaepernick and multinational publishing company Scholastic said the former NFL player’s forthcoming memoir, “Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game,” will detail his life as a high school senior, when he was faced with the decision of whether to pursue a promising career in baseball or find a way to play football.

Kaepernick was then a highly-touted baseball prospect who was being heavily scouted by colleges and MLB teams, but felt that football — despite his lack of any offers to play the sport —was better suited for him and would allow him to embrace his identity as a Black athlete, according to the release.

Kaepernick ultimately chose to pursue football, playing in college for the University of Nevada before being drafted into the NFL in 2011. 

Kaepernick and Chicago-based writer Eve L. Ewing, who previously wrote multiple Marvel Comics projects, among other works, wrote the graphic novel memoir, and Colombian artist Orlando Caicedo provided the illustrations to the book. 

“I’m excited to continue to grow and expand Kaepernick Publishing’s relationship with Scholastic,” said Kaepernick said in a statement. “Change the Game is the true story of my high school years–a period punctuated by the trials and triumphs of adolescence. It was during this time that I began to grow unapologetically into my own identity, into my own sense of self. I hope this graphic novel encourages readers to nurture their own evolution and to trust their power—in a phrase—to change the game.”

“Following the incredible success of I Color Myself Different, we are thrilled to work with Colin again on the publication of this second book based on his life experience,” Scholastic’s Vice President and Publisher of Global Licensing, Brands & Media Debra Dorfman said in a statement, referencing the picture book about Kaepernick’s childhood published in April. “Everyone faces a crossroad in their life—Colin’s teenage years were defining and his inspirational story reminds readers of all ages not to conform to others’ expectations. These pivotal moments are expertly portrayed in the graphic novel format, and with Graphix as the category market leader, this story will draw in a wide readership.”

Last month, Kaepernick said during an appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast that he still has “unfinished business” in the NFL. It has been nearly six years since he has played professional football. 

Kaepernick, who played professionally for the San Francisco 49ers, sparked controversy in 2016 for kneeling during the national anthem at multiple games to raise awareness of police brutality and racial inequality in the U.S. 

Former President Trump referred to Kaepernick’s protest during a 2017 rally, calling on league owners to punish players who protested during the national anthem.

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said last month he would welcome Kaepernick “with open arms” to his team, though he indicated the decision lies with the Raiders’ coaches and executives.

Kaepernick is also set to receive an honorary degree honoring vanguards of social justice and the African-American experience from Baltimore-based historically Black college Morgan State University during its spring commencement ceremony on Saturday. 

Kaepernick’s new memoir is set to hit bookshelves in March 2023.

Source: TEST FEED1

Louisiana House passes transgender athlete ban

Louisiana House lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill aiming to prevent transgender women and girls in the state from competing on school sports teams aligning with their gender identity. The measure now heads back to the Senate, where it was first introduced in February, for final approval before it is sent to the governor’s desk.

Under the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” Louisiana K-12 schools, as well as universities, would be required to designate sports teams according to the “biological sex of the team members.”

“Teams designated for females are not open to participation by biological males,” the measure, sponsored by Louisiana Senate President Pro Tempore Beth Mizell (R), reads. Mizell’s bill does not include a similar clause for athletes assigned female at birth. 

The legislation argues that inherent biological differences exist between females and males, and transgender women and girls hold a natural advantage over cisgender women and girls in athletic competition because of greater strength, speed and endurance developed by going through male puberty.

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“This is all about women having fair competition in sports,” Mizell wrote earlier this month on Facebook. “Let’s get it done this time.”

A nearly identical bill – also introduced by Mizell – was vetoed last year by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who called it “a solution in search of a problem.”

“This bill will not be signed into law because it is targeted, unfairly, at children,” Edwards wrote in a veto message at the time. “This legislation will make life more difficult for children who are going through unique challenges gaining acceptance into their schools, communities, and sometimes even their own families. It should be our role, as leaders in this state, to reach out to and lift up these children, rather than to ostracize them.”

Edwards argued that Mizell’s measure was especially unnecessary because the Louisiana High School Association already has a policy in place stating that student athletes may only compete on sports teams that match the gender listed on their birth certificate. The policy does not apply to transgender students who have undergone gender-affirming surgeries – which are not recommended for minors.

Should Edwards’ imminent veto be overridden by the legislature, Louisiana would be the ninth state this year to enact a law expressly banning transgender athletes from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity.

Eighteen states since 2020 have passed similar laws, although temporary injunctions are currently blocking the enforcement of transgender athlete bans in Idaho and West Virginia. A lawsuit is currently pending against another ban in Florida that prevents biological males from competing on women’s or girl’s sports teams in the state.

Source: TEST FEED1