NEW YORK ( ███ ) - Wall Street sold off sharply on Wednesday as recession fears gripped the market after the U.S. Treasury yield curve temporarily inverted for the first time in 12 years .\nAll three major U.S. indexes closed down about 3 % , with the blue-chip Dow posting its biggest one-day point drop since October after 2-year Treasury yields surpassed those of 10-year bonds , which is considered a classic recession signal .\nDire economic data from China and Germany suggested a faltering global economy , stricken by the increasingly belligerent U.S.-China trade war , Brexit woes and geopolitical tensions .\nGermany reported a contraction in second-quarter gross domestic product , and China ’ s industrial growth in July hit a 17-year low .\n“ It was all negative and not much positive today , ” said Chuck Carlson , chief executive officer at Horizon Investment Services in Hammond , Indiana . “ We ’ re outside of the earnings season and markets are being batted around by news . ”\n“ It ’ s a reactionary market right now and probably will continue to be , ” Carlson added . “ My guess is we ’ re probably in for this until after Labor Day . ”\nWednesday was the first time that yields for 2-year and 10-year Treasuries had inverted since June 2007 , months before the onset of the great recession , which crippled markets for years .\nThe U.S. yield curve has inverted before every recession in the past 50 years .\n“ It could be different this time , ” Carlson said . “ When you ’ ve got $ 15 trillion in global government debt at negative yields , that ’ s a new animal .\n“ Even if it is accurate in foreshadowing a recession , that doesn ’ t mean it ’ s coming tomorrow , ” he added .\nA trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE ) in New York , U.S. , August 14 , 2019 . ███/Eduardo Munoz\nThe CBOE volatility index , a gauge of investor anxiety , jumped 4.58 points to 22.10 .\nThe Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 800.49 points , or 3.05 % , to 25,479.42 , the S & P 500 lost 85.72 points , or 2.93 % , to 2,840.6 , and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 242.42 points , or 3.02 % , to 7,773.94 .\nOver 300 of the S & P 500 ’ s components are down 10 % or more from their 52-week highs , according to Refinitiv data . More than 180 of those stocks have fallen more than 20 % from their 52-week highs , putting them in bear market territory .\nAll of the 11 major sectors in the S & P 500 closed in negative territory , with energy , financials , materials , consumer discretionary and communications services all falling 3 % or more .\nMacy ’ s Inc ’ s shares plunged 13.2 % after the department store operator missed quarterly profit estimates and cut its full-year earnings estimates .\nRival department store operators Nordstrom Inc and Kohls Corp slid 10.6 % and 11.0 % , respectively .\nA U.S. House of Representatives oversight panel called on Mylan NV and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd to turn over documents as part of a review into generic drug price increases .\nFacebook Inc slid 4.6 % on news that the European Union ’ s lead regulator is investigating how the social media company handled data during the manual transcription of users ’ audio recordings .\nDeclining issues outnumbered advancing ones on the NYSE by a 4.44-to-1 ratio ; on Nasdaq , a 5.33-to-1 ratio favored decliners .\nThe S & P 500 posted eight new 52-week highs and 51 new lows ; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 23 new highs and 282 new lows .\nVolume on U.S. exchanges was 8.68 billion shares , compared with the 7.47 billion average over the last 20 trading days .


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. , speaks about the so-called Heroes Act , Tuesday , May 12 , 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington . Pelosi unveiled a more than $ 3 trillion coronavirus aid package Tuesday , providing nearly $ 1 trillion for states and cities , “ hazard pay ” for essential workers and a new round of cash payments to individuals . ( Saul Loeb/Pool via AP )\nHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. , speaks about the so-called Heroes Act , Tuesday , May 12 , 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington . Pelosi unveiled a more than $ 3 trillion coronavirus aid package Tuesday , providing nearly $ 1 trillion for states and cities , “ hazard pay ” for essential workers and a new round of cash payments to individuals . ( Saul Loeb/Pool via AP )\nWASHINGTON ( AP ) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a more than $ 3 trillion coronavirus aid package , a sweeping effort with $ 1 trillion for states and cities , “ hazard pay ” for essential workers and a new round of cash payments to individuals .\nThe House is expected to vote on the package as soon as Friday . But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said there is no “ urgency. ” The Senate will wait until after Memorial Day to consider options .\n“ We must think big , for the people , now , ” Pelosi said Tuesday from the speaker ’ s office at the Capitol .\nLines drawn , the latest pandemic response from Congress will test the House and Senate — and President Donald Trump — as Washington navigates the extraordinary crisis with the nation ’ s health and economic security at stake .\nThe Democrats ’ Heroes Act is built around nearly $ 1 trillion for states , cities and tribal governments to avert layoffs , focused chiefly on $ 375 billion for smaller suburban and rural municipalities largely left out of earlier bills .\nThe bill will offer a fresh round of $ 1,200 direct cash aid to individuals , increased to up to $ 6,000 per household , and launches a $ 175 billion housing assistance fund to help pay rents and mortgages . There is $ 75 billion more for virus testing .\nIt would continue , through January , the $ 600-per-week boost to unemployment benefits . It adds a 15 % increase for food stamps , new subsidies for laid-off workers to pay health insurance premiums under a COBRA law and a special “ Obamacare ” sign-up period . For businesses , it provides an employee retention tax credit .\nThere ’ s $ 200 billion in “ hazard pay ” for essential workers on the front lines of the crisis .\nPelosi drew on U.S. history — and poetry — to suggest “ no man is an island ” as she called on Americans to respond to the crisis with a strategy of science , virus testing and empathy .\n“ There are those who said , ‘ Let ’ s just pause , ’ ” she said . “ Hunger doesn ’ t take a pause . Rent doesn ’ t take a pause . Bills don ’ t take a pause . ”\nBut the 1,800-page package is heading straight into a Senate roadblock .\nRepublicans are wary of another round of aid and McConnell declared the Democratic proposal a grab bag of “ pet priorities. ” He said Tuesday it is not something that “ deals with reality . ”\nHouse Republicans also took a pass . “ I can ’ t believe that that would be real , ” said Rep. Andy Biggs , R-Ariz. , leader of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus , said in an interview .\nThis would be the fifth coronavirus package . It ’ s a starkly partisan offering with no real input from Republicans , who prefer to assess the impact of earlier expenditures before approving more .\nBut the political peril of doing nothing during an election year could prove challenging for Congress and the White House . As states experience flareups of virus outbreaks , and more than 30 million Americans remain unemployed in the shutdown , the near-term health and economic outlook remains daunting .\nThe Senate Democratic leader , Chuck Schumer of New York , warned that Trump and Republicans risk the same path as Herbert Hoover , the former president roundly criticized for failing to act to stem the Great Depression .\n“ What is it going to take for Mitch McConnell to wake up and see the American people need help , and they need it now ? ” Schumer said .\nThe latest package extends some provisions from previous aid packages , and adds new ones .\nThere is $ 25 billion for the U.S . Postal Service . There is help for the 2020 Census , including the bureau ’ s request to delay deadlines for turning over apportionment and redistricting data . For the November election , the bill provides $ 3.6 billion to help local officials prepare for the challenges of voting during the pandemic .\nThe popular Payroll Protection Program , which has been boosted in past bills , would see another $ 10 billion to ensure under-served businesses and nonprofit organizations have access to grants through a disaster loan program .\nFor hospitals and other health care providers , there ’ s another $ 100 billion infusion to help cover costs and additional help for hospitals serving low-income communities .\nThere ’ s another $ 600 million in funding to tackle the issue of rapid spread of the virus in state and federal prisons , along with $ 600 million in help to local police departments for salaries and equipment\nMcConnell said he is working with the White House on next steps . His priority is to ensure any new package includes liability protections for health care providers and businesses that are reopening . Trump is expected to meet Tuesday with a group of Senate Republicans .\n“ I don ’ t think we have yet felt the urgency of acting immediately , ” McConnell told reporters earlier this week at the Capitol .\nAs states weigh the health risks of re-opening , McConnell said Tuesday the nation needs to find a “ middle ground between total lockdown and total normalcy . ”\nTop GOP senators flatly rejected the House bill . “ What Nancy Pelosi is proposing will never pass the Senate , ” said Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming , the third-ranking Republican .\nThe Senate recently reopened its side of the Capitol while the House remains largely shuttered due to the health concerns .\nSenators have been in session since last week , voting on Trump ’ s nominees for judicial and executive branch positions and other issues . The Senate majority , the 53-member Senate Republican conference , is meeting for its regular luncheons most days , spread out three to a table for social distance . Democrats are convening by phone . Many senators , but not all , are wearing masks .\nAt least a dozen Capitol police officers and other staff have tested positive for the virus , and at least one senator , Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , is in isolation at home after exposure from a staff member who tested positive . Other lawmakers have cycled in and out of quarantine .


Washington ( CNN ) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face voters on Tuesday , just two weeks after he took a major political gamble by giving a controversial speech to the U.S. Congress against the Obama administration 's wishes .\nThe White House , clearly angered by an address criticizing its Iran deal-making , denied Netanyahu an Oval Office meeting during the visit . The reason , according to an official statement , was to `` avoid the appearance of influencing a democratic election in a foreign country . ''\nSnubbing an Israeli prime minister , though , can influence Israeli voters as much as giving him a West Wing photo-op . And with U.S.-Israel tensions at a peak , many in Washington see telltale signs of an effort to oust a leader standing in the way of the Obama administration 's Middle East policies .\n`` This election cycle in Israel fits the hallmark of an American administration that seeks to influence the outcome , '' said David Weinberg , a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who has studied American influence in Israeli elections .\nThe White House denied it was attempting to influence the Israeli elections by rebuffing Netanyahu and pointed to the well-circulated statement on why the prime minister was n't offered a meeting : `` As a matter of long-standing practice and principle , we do not see heads of state or candidates in close proximity to their elections . ''\nBut such visits -- or the lack thereof -- have historically been one of the diplomatic weapons U.S. administrations have deployed to sway the Israeli public .\nLess than a month before the 1996 Israeli elections , President Bill Clinton organized the signing of an anti-terror pact before the cameras with Shimon Peres , the Labor Party prime minister whom Netanyahu ended up defeating for his first term in office . In 1999 , Clinton similarly pursued what some call `` snub diplomacy '' when his administration denied Netanyahu meetings amidst a tight race with Labor 's Ehud Barak , to whom Netanyahu ultimately lost .\nThe state of the `` special relationship '' with the United States is of crucial importance to Israeli voters , who see America as their closest and most important ally . So in risking a rupture with the White House , Netanyahu is also risking a break with Israeli voters .\n`` Traditionally , the Israeli public has been very sensitive to how the relationship is going and how well the Israeli leadership is managing that relationship , '' said Daniel Kurtzer , a former U.S. ambassador to Israel .\nJUST WATCHED Netanyahu rails against Iran nuclear deal - in 100 seconds Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Netanyahu rails against Iran nuclear deal - in 100 seconds 01:26\nBut Netanyahu 's move to address Congress on Iran , a top concern for the Israeli public , was also seen as a bid to boost his electoral appeal by reinforcing that he is a leader on the world stage and will do everything he can to protect Israel . When Republican House Speaker John Boehner extended the invitation to Netanyahu , many jumped on the House leader for helping the prime minister politically . This week , footage of Netanyahu being warmly received on Capitol Hill made it into a campaign ad .\nThe partisan nature of the invitation and that it was done without White House coordination -- Boehner is a chief Obama rival and disagrees emphatically with his Iran policy -- heightened Democratic pique over Netanyahu 's appearance .\nPrevious presidents have bristled at the hawkish , unflinching posture -- especially when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process -- that Netanyahu and other Likud party leaders have often struck . But the current antagonism , exacerbated by the speech , has become particularly personal .\nObama himself dismissed Netanyahu 's speech as `` theater '' and slammed his Israeli counterpart for offering `` nothing new . '' And a host of officials offered further criticism , including National Security Adviser Susan Rice , who called Netanyahu 's address `` destructive '' to the U.S-Israeli relationship .\nNetanyahu 's allies deny a political motive to the speech and have maintained that the hit to U.S.-Israeli ties was necessary because of the existential danger posed by Iran and fears that negotiations on its nuclear program would lead to a disastrous agreement as they reach a key deadline .\nFormer State Department official Aaron David Miller said the Obama administration is now sending `` certain unmistakable signals '' that Netanyahu is n't the right prime minister to manage the U.S.-Israel relationship .\nMiller witnessed the sending of similar signals in 1996 as one of the top officials coordinating Arab-Israeli negotiations in the Clinton administration .\n`` We clearly had our favorites and we wanted Peres to win , '' Miller recounted .\nIt has n't just been Netanyahu whom U.S. presidents have opposed . In the run-up to the 1992 Israeli elections that eventually saw Labor 's Yitzhak Rabin elected , George H.W . Bush tied up American loan guarantees to punish the right-wing Israeli government and pressure it to change its policy on settlements .\n`` [ The idea ] that we do n't intercede in Israeli politics is as foolish an assumption as that they do n't interfere in ours , '' Miller said .\nOne of many developments seen as souring the Obama-Netanyahu relationship was the widespread accusation that the prime minister all but endorsed Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in his campaign to unseat Obama in 2012 .\nBut just as Netanyahu -- if he indeed tried -- was unsuccessful in swaying that election , American presidents have also come up short .\nThere 's no clear indication right now that Netanyahu will be hurt by the U.S.-Israel row come Election Day . Netanyahu 's party saw a modest boost in one poll after Netanyahu 's speech to Congress . Several polls in recent days , however , suggest leading opposition party Zionist Union is gaining momentum in the wake of Netanyahu 's American saga . And the large number of undecideds and polling see-sawing throughout the race leave the final result very much in question .\nZionist Union leader Isaac Herzog has been taking every opportunity to use Netanyahu 's frayed ties with the U.S. administration against him .\n`` The painful truth is that after all the applause , Netanyahu is alone and Israel is isolated , '' Herzog said after Netanyahu 's speech to Congress .\nBut there are other issues -- such as economic woes and questions about Israel 's security -- that are also spelling trouble for Netanyahu .\nAnd for all those alienated from Netanyahu 's Likud party by the breach with the United States , there are many in Israel who could reward him for it . Israelis have been mistrustful of Obama and have disliked many of his Middle East positions . Some believe being seen as standing up to the U.S. president will work in the prime minister 's favor .\n`` I think the people of Israel understand that the prime minister is representing our needs , '' said Danny Danon , a Likud Knesset member . `` I do n't think criticism from the administration will affect them . ''\nAnd while Netanyahu faces condemnation from the Obama administration and top Democratic officials , he 's also enjoying widespread praise from Republicans . The White House may have panned Netanyahu 's speech , but on Capitol Hill , the prime minister got standing ovations reminiscent of State of the Union addresses .\nZalman Shoval , a former ambassador to the U.S. and Netanyahu confidant , said the lack of uniform condemnation and public wariness about Obama could cancel out any loss of support due to U.S.-Israel tensions .\n`` It 's very difficult to gauge how much of an influence any sort of statement or implication or whatever insinuation can really have on the election battle here , '' he said .\nSeveral Israeli lawmakers -- on both sides of the aisle -- doubted whether the Obama administration was actively trying to influence the election .\nA skeptical Danon was joined by Labor 's Nachman Shai . He said that U.S. officials had simply `` reacted and responded '' to the `` unprecedented '' nature of Netanyahu 's visit .\nErel Margalit , another Labor Knesset member , agreed . `` The administration responded to what was a frontal attack on its strategy in a way that was unprecedented . ''\nHe added , however , `` Let 's distinguish between two things : What they want in their heart and what they 're doing . ''\nObama 's unpopularity is part of the reason Netanyahu 's opponents on the left are careful not to play up any White House role in the elections . And Netanyahu and his allies are cautious not to reinforce the notion of a rift or go on the offensive against an administration they hope to mend relations with if Netanyahu is reelected .\nThe Netanyahu campaign would n't comment on whether the White House was trying to unseat the prime minister . But in the media , the candidate has lashed out at a `` worldwide effort '' to remove him from office .\nAides explained his remarks as referring to a campaign aiming to change the government . One Netanyahu campaign official said money was coming from `` every corner of the Earth . ''\nThat effort 's being led by V15 , a grassroots progressive movement with Obama campaign field director Jeremy Bird as a leading consultant .\nJUST WATCHED Some Israelis rally for political change Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Some Israelis rally for political change 02:08\nBird is just the latest in a long line of American political operatives and pollsters who have traveled across the ocean to help Israeli politicians .\nDemocratic consultants James Carville and Stanley Greenberg helped Barak in 1999 , and Democratic veteran Paul Begala ( who is also a CNN analyst ) is now aiding Herzog . On the Republican side , digital strategist Vincent Harris , who now works for Sen. Rand Paul , signed up to help Netanyahu 's campaign this year .\nProminent Republican donors have also offered him support , perhaps no one more so than Sheldon Adelson . Adelson , the American casino magnate who spent more than $ 200 million backing Republicans in the 2012 presidential election , launched an Israeli newspaper , `` Israel Today , '' that vocally supports Netanyahu .\nDistributed in the street and at train stations , the newspaper is free and has become the most-read in Israel .\nAdelson was also present as Netanyahu delivered his address to Congress . His support is yet another reason some Democrats in Washington are less than fond of the prime minister .\nWhile the Obama administration may not be leading an overt effort to undermine Netanyahu , Miller , the former State Department official , said there 's no doubt `` corks will be popping at the White House and State Department if Netanyahu loses . ''


Israel 's Election : Exit Polls Show Netanyahu 's Likud , Opposition In Tight Race\nExit polls released after the close of voting in Israel 's national election show that the race is too close to call .\nIsrael 's Channel 1 and Channel 10 both said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's Likud party and Isaac Herzog 's Zionist Union secured 27 seats each in the 120-seat Knesset . Channel 2 , meanwhile , have Likud 28 seats and the Zionist Union 27 . The numbers were published by Haaretz .\nWhat that is likely to mean is , as NPR 's Emily Harris tells our Newscast unit , Israel 's new government wo n't be immediately known .\n`` The new government will need approval from a majority of the newly elected parliament . No party has ever won a straight majority in Israel , so the leader of the party with the most votes gets several weeks to try to negotiate a coalition among parties with sometimes very different agendas . For a while during this tight race , there was talk that the center-left Zionist Union party led by Yitzak Herzog and the center-right Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could potentially join the same government . Netanyahu ruled that out in the last days of campaigning . ''\nAnd , the Israeli prime minister , in a Facebook post , claimed a `` great victory against all odds . ''\nHerzog , meanwhile , told his supporters : `` These results will bring Labor back into power . '' He called the results a `` big victory for the Labor Party , which has n't done this well since Yitzhak Rabin won in 1992 . '' The comments were reported by Haaretz .\nHe added that a negotiating team has been formed in an effort to form a government .\nPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party face challenges from the left and right in today 's Israeli elections — in which approaches to a potential Palestinian state and the economy have emerged as top issues .\n`` Netanyahu trailed in the final opinion polls [ behind ] the center-left Zionist Union ticket , which says it will focus on economic issues and trying to restart peace negotiations with the Palestinians , '' NPR 's Emily Harris reports from Jerusalem . `` Hours before voting started , Netanyahu came out against a Palestinian state at this time — a position long held by his main rival on the right . ''\nThe voting began this morning and will continue until 10 p.m. local time ; that 's when the first exit poll results should come out — around 4 p.m . ET .\nIsrael 's Election : Exit Polls Show Netanyahu 's Likud , Opposition In Tight Race Listen · 2:40 2:40\nIsraeli newspaper Haaretz is live-blogging today 's vote ; it reports that in the first three hours of polls being open , nearly 14 percent of eligible voters had cast their ballots . It adds that the rate is `` 20 percent higher '' than the previous two elections .\nNetanyahu has been the focus of controversy over his recent speech to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress , a trip that deepened tensions with the White House . The prime minister 's opponents seized on the opportunity to say they would work to strengthen ties with America 's leaders to ensure their country 's security .\nEmily tells Morning Edition that if his party does n't win outright , Netanyahu could still remain in power .\n`` Even if his Likud party does n't emerge with the most votes , '' she says , `` he could be the one who could negotiate successfully among the 11 or 12 parties that are supposed to get in parliament , and build a coalition government out of that , with him at the helm . ''\nBecause election day is a holiday in Israel , many people are expected to get outdoors to take advantage of what the Haaretz newspaper says will be nice weather .


In a parting , spiteful shot at Israel , the Obama administration permitted a U.N. Security Council resolution to pass that seeks to permanently change the international legal status of so-called Israeli “ settlements ” in Jerusalem and the disputed West Bank . Departing from almost 50 years of bipartisan American precedent — and from the administration ’ s own past practice — the Obama administration abstained from a vote for the resolution demanding that Israel “ cease all settlement activities ” and declaring that all existing settlements were in “ flagrant violation ” of international law .\nJust yesterday the resolution appeared dead , as Egypt , the resolution ’ s original sponsor , withdrew it under pressure from the incoming Trump administration . The president-elect took the unusual step of injecting himself into a U.N. controversy before taking office precisely because the Obama foreign-policy team was broadcasting its intent to abstain . Incredibly , however , four nations with precisely zero security interests at stake in the Middle East — New Zealand , Malaysia , Venezuela , and Senegal — revived the resolution and forced a vote .\nThe administration ’ s fecklessness has harmed Israel , endangers ordinary Israelis , and hurts the elusive quest for an enduring peace . Moreover , the Trump administration is powerless to revoke the resolution : It would have to introduce and pass a new resolution , and either Russia or China would be sure to veto it . Thus , Israel will find itself at the bargaining table in any future peace negotiation with Palestinian territorial demands backed by the U.N. ’ s most powerful body .\nBy declaring that settlements — including “ settlements ” in Israel ’ s capital — violate international law , the resolution purports to carve into stone the armistice lines that existed at the end of Israel ’ s war for independence . Yet these lines didn ’ t become lawful permanent borders precisely because hostile Arab nations specifically refused to recognize the existing battle lines as Israel ’ s border , specifically declined to create a Palestinian state , and instead maintained a posture of armed hostility to Israel . Indeed , since the West Bank hasn ’ t been part of a sovereign nation since the fall of the Ottoman Empire , the so-called occupied territories aren ’ t truly “ occupied ” under international law . They ’ re more accurately termed “ disputed ” territories , with the precise resolution of the dispute to be negotiated by the relevant parties .\nThe administration ’ s fecklessness has harmed Israel , endangers ordinary Israelis , and hurts the elusive quest for an enduring peace .\nThere are implications for ordinary Israelis as well . If an Israeli lives in a suburb of Jerusalem , is he or she now a criminal ? Can he be arrested and tried in activist courts in Europe or in international legal tribunals ? Radical U.N. action will only harden Palestinian intransigence and worsen already rising anti-Semitism ( thinly disguised as anti-Zionism ) on the international left . To put this radical resolution in context , under its terms , it is now an alleged violation of international law that the Western Wall remains in Israeli hands .\nIt ’ s difficult to interpret the Obama administration ’ s actions as anything other than a parting shot at Israel and its prime minister , Benjamin Netanyahu . The Obama administration ’ s frustrations with the Netanyahu government are well known , but now was hardly the time to break with almost 50 years of American policy , and frustration or spite were hardly sufficient reasons . As Trump said in his statement , if there is to be peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians , “ it will only come through direct negotiations between the parties and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations . ”\nThe world will soon move on from Barack Obama , but he ’ s doing his best to extend his legacy of failure and appeasement . The Palestinians deserved a rebuke . Instead they received a gift . Our closest Middle Eastern ally will pay the price .


Egypt 's president on Thursday issued constitutional amendments that placed him above judicial oversight and ordered the retrial of Hosni Mubarak for the killing of protesters in last year 's uprising .\nMohammed Morsi also decreed immunity for the Islamist-dominated panel drafting a new constitution from any possible court decisions to dissolve it , a threat that had been hanging over the controversial assembly .\nLiberal and Christian members withdrew from the assembly during the past week to protest what they say is the hijacking of the process by Morsi 's allies , who they saw are trying to push through a document that will have an Islamist slant marginalizing women and minority Christians and infringing on personal liberties . Several courts have been looking into cases demanding the dissolution of the panel .\nThe Egyptian leader also decreed that all decisions he has made since taking office in June and until a new constitution is adopted and a new parliament is elected -- which is not expected before next spring -- are not subject to appeal in court or by any other authority . He also barred any court from dissolving the Islamist-led upper house of parliament , a largely toothless body that has also faced court cases .\nThe moves effectively remove any oversight on Morsi , the longtime Muslim Brotherhood figure who became Egypt 's first freely elected president last summer after the Feb. 11 , 2011 fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak . They come as Morsi is riding high on lavish praise from President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for mediating an end to eight days of fighting between Israel and Gaza 's Hamas rulers .\nMorsi not only holds executive power , he also has legislative authority after a previous court ruling just before he took office on June 30 dissolved the powerful lower house of parliament , which was led by the Brotherhood . With two branches of power in his hands , Morsi has had repeated frictions with the third , the judiciary , over recent months .\n`` Morsi today usurped all state powers & appointed himself Egypt 's new pharaoh , '' pro-reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei wrote on his Twitter account . `` A major blow to the revolution that could have dire consequences . ''\nThe president made most of the changes Thursday by issuing a declaration amending what has become a patchwork interim constitution in effect since Mubarak 's fall . The military , which took power after Mubarak , set the precedent for the executive unilaterally issuing constitutional changes , which it did several times during its 16-month rule .\nMorsi on Thursday extended by two months the deadline for the assembly to produce a draft for a new constitution , apparently to give members more time to iron out their differences .\nThe moves are likely to fuel growing public criticism that Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood have monopolized power while doing little to tackle the country 's endemic woes . Thousands of demonstrators gathered in downtown Cairo for the fourth day running to protest against Morsi 's policies and criticize the Muslim Brotherhood , the fundamentalist group from which the Egyptian leader hails .\nThe decree for a retrial of Mubarak appeared aimed at making a gesture to the public . The decree called for `` new investigations and trials '' against those who held `` political or executive '' positions in the old regime and who are accused of killing protesters .\nMubarak was convicted in June to life in prison for failing to stop the killing of protesters during last year 's uprising against his rule , but many Egyptians were angered that he was n't convicted of actually ordering the crackdown and that his security chief , Habib el-Adly , was not sentenced to death . Several top police commanders were acquitted , and Mubarak and his sons were found not guilty of corruption charges .\nBut the decree would not mean retrials for the dozens of lower-level police officers who have been acquitted or received suspended sentences in trials for killing protesters -- verdicts that have outraged many Egyptians .\nThat exclusion will guarantee Morsi the loyalty of the powerful but hated police force which had abandoned the streets for more than a year after Mubarak 's ouster by a popular uprising motivated in large part by the human rights violations of the police and the notorious security services .\nMorsi on Thursday also fired the country 's top prosecutor , Abdel-Maguid Mahmoud , who has been in the job since 2006 . A Mubarak-era appointee , Mahmoud has faced widespread accusations that his office did a shoddy job collecting evidence against Mubarak , el-Adly and the police commanders .\nMorsi first fired Mahmoud in October but had to rescind his decision when he found that the powers of his office do not empower him to do so . So on Thursday , he decreed that the prosecutor general could serve in office only for four years , with immediate effect . Morsi replaced Mahmoud with Talaat Abdullah , a career judge .\nShortly before Morsi 's decisions were announced , hundreds of Morsi supporters gathered outside Mahmoud 's office chanting slogans against him and demanding the `` cleansing of the judiciary . ''\nThursday 's decisions were read on state television by Morsi 's spokesman , Yasser Ali . In a throwback to the days of the authoritarian Mubarak and his predecessor Anwar Sadat and Gamal Abdel-Nasser , the television followed up with a slew of nationalist songs . The introductions of the decrees declared that they were designed to `` protect '' the revolution and dismantle the old regime , a nod to the revolutionaries who have long complained that not enough was being done to reform the country after Mubarak 's 29-year rule .\nMorsi narrowly won the presidency -- about 52 percent of the vote -- to become Egypt 's first freely elected and civilian president , ending nearly six decades of de facto military rule .


Story highlights President Obama is visiting Israel , will meet with Benjamin Netanyahu\nAaron David Miller : Obama 's attempt to repair relationship with Netanyahu is smart\nHe says Netanyahu is mindful of his legacy to avoid being seen as a do-nothing leader\nMiller : Fighting has n't worked before ; Obama and Netanyahu can try to cooperate instead\nDo you want to understand why President Obama is visiting Israel so early in his second term ? Think of two words : Management and legacy . And they go together .\nRight now in the cruel and unforgiving foreign policy world in which America is trapped , Barack Obama stands to be the American president on whose watch two catastrophes loom : Bomb Iran or see Iran with a bomb , and the demise of the two-state solution .\nIsrael figures centrally in both issues . If the president is to manage these issues effectively , he needs to find a way to work with Benjamin Netanyahu and the new Israeli government . That effort begins this week .\nSince the state of Israel was created in 1948 , only four American presidents have visited the country while in office ( Nixon , Carter , Clinton and Bush 43 ) . And only one -- Jimmy Carter -- achieved a truly significant result by brokering the terms of an Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty that was signed at the White House in March 1979 .\nSo a visit by an American president can be important ; but it is rare . The logic behind Obama 's visit , however , is not to hammer out immediate results or to achieve a breakthrough in a box .\nObama is already an historic president -- but he is not yet a great one . If he were to achieve that status , it would probably be through big pieces of domestic agenda such as health care , immigration reform , gun control , and of course , economic recovery . He 's unlikely to get there by chasing windmills abroad like Syria or Israeli-Palestinian peace .\nStill , he ca n't forget about the world , least of all the broken , angry and dysfunctional Middle East that could cause him more headaches and undermine his domestic agendas if left unattended . The Iranian nuclear issue could rattle regional stability , send markets plunging and oil prices rising .\nObama needs a new approach . Trying to repair his relationship with Netanyahu is smart politics . If the president wants to regain control of the House in 2014 and take an issue away from the Republicans in the process , he needs to remove the image that somehow he 's against Netanyahu and does n't care emotionally about Israel . An early trip to Israel that allows him a chance to connect is just what the doctor ordered .\nJUST WATCHED Obama on Iran : 'All options on the table ' Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Obama on Iran : 'All options on the table ' 00:48\nJUST WATCHED What will 2013 bring for Iran , Israel ? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What will 2013 bring for Iran , Israel ? 03:17\nThe president spent most of his first term unsure of whether to pander to Bibi or pressure him . Now , he can test to see if he and Netanyahu can get on the same page .\nWill it work ? Israel , of course , is n't the only actor in these stories . There are Iranians and Palestinians , too . But working with Netanyahu may give the president the time he needs to pursue diplomacy with Iran and perhaps a deal with the Palestinians . The Israeli election has weakened Netanyahu and brought in new coalition partners who may well want to improve relations with a U.S. president .\nNetanyahu knows that his political career ca n't last forever . At the moment , he 's being challenged by two newcomers -- Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett . Both are remarkably popular . Netanyahu 's best chance in regaining momentum is to shift the conversations to Iran and foreign policy where he 's strongest . And for this , paradoxically , he needs Obama 's help .\nMoreover , next year Netanyahu will have served longer than any other prime minister in Israel 's history . He may be thinking about his legacy and avoiding the charge that he was a do-nothing leader . Again , the U.S. is the key ; and Bibi ca n't afford to alienate Obama .\nWhat makes all of this potentially realistic -- and not a fantasy -- is that the deals on the table are not transformational ones where weak and constrained leaders need to push for impossible goals or make decisions beyond their capacities .\nNo grand bargains or conflict-ending agreements are possible now with the mullahs or between Israelis and Palestinians . There 's not enough confidence , too little trust , too much domestic politics and too many gaps on the big issues . But smaller deals may be possible .\nFor example , the two leaders can pursue an interim approach that caps Iran 's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief which would give Iran and the international community a way out of the current choices -- bomb or allow Teheran to get the bomb .\nOn the Palestinian issue , the Israelis and Palestinians can quietly explore with the U.S. and with one another how much common ground they may have on the core final status issues while trying to improve the interim situation through security cooperation , loosening up of economic restrictions , and international support for Palestinian institutions .\nNone of these strategies are perfect , but they are starters . And so smartly and rightly , President Obama is going to Israel early ( when there are no expectations ) and with a view toward giving himself time to reshape his relationship with Netanyahu , building one with the Israeli public , and testing the proposition that he can try to develop some consensus in Israel .\nFighting off and on over the past four years clearly has n't worked . Maybe trying to cooperate over the next four just might .


Iran has backed Syria 's `` right to defend itself '' after Israel launched strikes on what it said was Iranian military infrastructure inside Syria .\nIn the first comments by Iran since Thursday 's wave of strikes , the foreign ministry condemned the `` blatant violation of Syria 's sovereignty '' .\nThe strikes were the heaviest carried out by Israel on Syria in decades .\nThey came after 20 rockets were fired at Israeli military positions in the occupied Golan Heights .\nIsrael said Iranian fighters had carried out that attack . Iran has neither directly confirmed or denied this but has said that Israel 's attacks on Syria were founded `` on self-proclaimed , baseless pretexts '' .\nIran has deployed hundreds of troops in Syria , ostensibly as military advisers to the Syrian military . Thousands of militiamen armed , trained and financed by Iran have also been battling rebel forces alongside Syrian soldiers .\nOn Thursday , in response to the Golan Heights attack , Israel said its fighter jets had struck almost all of Iran 's military infrastructure inside Syria - some 70 targets - in its biggest assault since Syria 's civil war started in 2011 .\nIran and Israel are enemies but have never fought a direct war .\nForeign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted on Iranian state TV as saying : `` Iran strongly condemns ... [ Israel 's ] attacks on Syria . The international community 's silence encourages Israel 's aggression . Syria has every right to defend itself . ''\nMr Qasemi said Israel `` can not stand peace and stability in the region and sees its own safety in making the region all the more unstable '' .\nHe said Israel 's `` baseless pretexts amount to a blatant violation of Syria 's sovereignty and goes against all international conventions '' .\nHe did not refer to Iran 's military presence inside Syria .\nMr Qasemi said the attacks were an attempt by international supporters of rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to shore them up after their `` many failures '' and to try to `` tip the scales in their favour '' .\nThe Syrian government , backed by Iran and Russia , has made significant gains over the rebel groups in the past year .\nA defiant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Iran had `` crossed a red line '' and Israel 's action `` was a consequence '' of that .\nHe said : `` We will not allow Iran to entrench itself in Syria . I delivered a clear message to the Assad regime - our action is directed against Iranian targets in Syria . However , if the Syrian military acts against us , we will act against it . ''\nHe added : `` Whoever hurts us , we will hurt them sevenfold , and whoever is preparing to hurt us , we will act to hit them first . ''\nVisiting the Golan Heights on Friday , Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman urged Mr Assad to `` throw the Iranians out '' , saying `` they are only hurting you '' .\nDanny Danon , Israel 's ambassador to the United Nations , called for a UN condemnation of Iran 's `` acts of aggression '' and for the Security Council to `` demand that Iran remove its military presence from Syria '' .\nThe Israel Defence Forces ( IDF ) said that early on Thursday morning 20 rockets had been launched at its forward posts in the Golan Heights by the Quds Force , the overseas operations arm of Iran 's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps .\nThe Golan Heights is a rocky plateau in south-western Syria , about 50km ( 30 miles ) from the capital Damascus . Israel occupied most of the area in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move not recognised internationally .\nThe IDF said four rockets were intercepted by the Israeli Iron Dome aerial defence system , while 16 fell short of their targets . No injuries or damage were reported .\nThe IDF has published satellite images of sites that it struck inside Syria in response . They include what it said were :\nInstallations at Tel Gharba , Tel Kleb , Nabi Yusha and Tel Maqdad\nAn `` Iranian Logistics Compound '' , 10km north-west of the capital ( pictured below )\nUS President Donald Trump 's abandonment on Tuesday of a landmark international deal to curb Iran 's nuclear programme - an agreement fiercely opposed by Mr Netanyahu - has certainly raised tensions .\nBut Israel had already become increasingly worried about Iran 's military support of Syria . Mr Netanyahu said the Revolutionary Guards had moved advanced weapons to Syria , including surface-to-surface missiles and anti-aircraft batteries that would threaten Israeli fighter jets .\nIsrael 's military had been anticipating an attack by Iranian forces after reportedly carrying out a number of strikes on their facilities in Syria in recent months .\nThey included one on an airbase in April that killed seven Iranian troops .\nThe deal lifted sanctions on Iran from 2015 , allowing some big names - Boeing , Airbus , Total and Peugeot - to start doing business again .\nThe re-imposition of sanctions has thrown all that into doubt . US firms have six months to stop trading with Iran . European companies , for instance Airbus , are affected too as they buy parts from the US .\nThe sanctions issue has added to tensions between the US and its European allies over the nuclear deal . French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says European companies should not have to pay for the US decision .\nThe economy of Iran , a big exporter of oil and gas , is likely to be adversely affected .


ROME–Just when you thought the Vatican ‘ s image problem couldn ’ t get any worse , what with endemic clerical child abuse and a near bankrupt American arm of the church , it does . A new report pulls back the red velvet curtain on a bizarre new tidbit about the Vatican ‘ s other dirty little secret : its finances .\nThe latest twist started to unravel in October when Pope Francis ordered Swiss Guard gendarmes to raid the Holy See ’ s Financial Information Authority ( AIF ) office inside Vatican City , carrying out boxes of papers and computer hard drives . They tacked up what amounted to a “ Wanted Dead or Alive ” sign on the Vatican ’ s fortified gates to keep out the administrators while they started sifting through reams of curious expenditures in the Vatican ’ s financial books .\nThey came up with quite a few surprises about the way money donated for the poor was being used , including some dubious real estate interests , connections to an even more dubious Maltese financier , and investments in movies that , good or bad , don ’ t exactly square with church doctrine .\nOne of the more peculiar items on the spreadsheet was property on Sloane Avenue in London . It included luxury apartments in a former Harrods warehouse . The Vatican press office said at the time further investigations would be “ carried out over time . ”\nAmong the latest of those investigations is a tie to the Centurion Global Fund based in Malta , which has proven itself to be a hotbed of corruption . The Maltese prime minister is currently spending most of his time blockaded in his office in Valletta while angry protesters demand he resign over his alleged ties to the assassination of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia two years ago .\n“ While investing in mainstream entertainment is hardly sinful , the great contradiction is that the Catholic Church preaches to the devout that homosexuality is a sin . ”\nAt least two-thirds of the Centurion Global Fund ’ s capital assets are fed by the Vatican Secretariat of State , under which the Vatican financial authority operated , according to documents seen by Corriere Della Sera newspaper in Italy . The fund is run by Enrico Crasso , a 71-year-old Italian with a Swiss fiscal address who also runs Sogenel Holding , referred to as a “ reference point ” for key financial transactions for the Vatican Bank .\nCrasso ’ s office walls are lined with personal letters signed by various Vatican secretaries of state and he has even been awarded a gold medal of merit from the pope . He alone decides how the Vatican money–about $ 78 million–entrusted to him through the Malta fund is spent to get the highest return .\nThe documents seen by Corriere Della Sera list his recent investments with the church ’ s money . Among them are around $ 2.2 million in a company called Italian Independent , run by Fiat founder Gianni Agnelli ’ s flamboyant grandson Lapo Elkann , who was arrested in New York in 2017 for faking his own kidnapping , allegedly to pay off a drug debt owed to a male escort .\nAnother $ 11 million went to an Italian businessman named Enrico Preziosi , who is an entrepreneur who owns the Genoa soccer team and who was caught up in a little legal trouble in the early 2000s for manipulating the price of soccer players to falsify accounting . He was fined around $ 15,000 and banned from soccer for four months .\n“ Investigations are in progress . ” — The Vatican Press Office\nBut the most curious item on the report to come out so far is a $ 4.5 million expenditure recorded in February of this year related to finance for the 2019 films Men in Black : International and Elton John ’ s rather steamy biopic Rocketman , which portrays the entertainer ’ s drug problems and is the first studio movie to portray gay sex between men in an authentic way .\nWhile investing in mainstream entertainment is hardly sinful , the great contradiction is that the Catholic Church preaches to the devout that homosexuality is a sin .\nThe ███ reached out to Crasso in both his Swiss and Maltese offices and was told that he did not wish to comment at this time .\nThe Vatican press office has issued a statement that sheds very little light on the matter . “ Investigations are in progress , and lines of enquiry which may help clarify the position of the Holy See with respect to the aforementioned funds and any others , are currently being examined by the Vatican judiciary , in collaboration with the competent authorities , ” the statement reads .\nThe money that feeds the Centurion Fund reportedly comes from investments made by the pope ’ s “ Peter ’ s Pence ” charity , which is fed by global dioceses that collect the money specifically for the poor on one given day of the year , often the last Sunday in June which is close to the feast days of saints Peter and Paul .\nPeter ’ s Pence is not part of a local church ’ s Sunday collection basket , but a separate collection earmarked specifically for the papal fund . According to the charity ’ s website , the money is supposed to be channeled directly to the poor .\n“ The Peter ’ s Pence collection is a gesture of solidarity , ” the site states . “ Through it , every member of the faithful can participate in the Pope ’ s activity . It is an activity that supports the most needy and ecclesial communities in difficulty who approach the Apostolic See for help . ”\nWednesday , the Wall Street Journal reported that the fund , which brings in more than $ 55 million annually and is worth about $ 700 million to date , is also spent on filling the gaps in the Vatican ’ s internal administrative budget . The paper alleges that just 10 percent is spent on charitable works , according to documentation it obtained .\nWhether the pope knows the intricate details about where the money goes that he entrusts to his charity is unclear . But when he was asked about the growing financial scandal related to Peter ’ s Pence on a papal flight last month , the pontiff did little to clear it up .\n“ When the money from Peter ’ s Pence arrives , what do I do ? I put it in a drawer ? No , ” he said . “ This is bad administration . I try to make an investment and when I need to give , when there is a need , throughout the year , the money is taken and that capital does not devalue , it stays the same or it increases a bit. ” Or , it goes to Elton John ’ s biopic .


As leaders sitting on two of Donald Trump 's business councils took stock of Trump 's repulsive defense of neo-Nazi and white supremacist violence , many concluded they just could n't stomach a continued alliance with Trump 's administration and decided to cut ties .\nBut what of religious leaders who also prize their access , like those sitting on Trump 's Evangelical Council ?\nx Not a single member of Trump 's Evangelical Council has resigned . We have learned corporate America has a greater moral compass . So so sad . — Matthew Dowd ( @ matthewjdowd ) August 16 , 2017\nThe fact that institutional leaders of conservative religious groups have entirely ceded their moral authority to the business community on issues of basic decency and human rights is a lesson LGBTQ Americans have learned repeatedly over the last decade . It was on full display last year in North Carolina , for instance , where businesses like PayPal led the charge in opposing HB2 , a bill targeting transgender individuals for discrimination .\nThe same was true the year before when companies like Salesforce and Angie 's List took on then-Gov . Mike Pence after he signed an Indiana law protecting businesses that discriminate against LGBTQ customers . That story repeated itself again this year during the right-wing push in Texas to prohibit transgender folks from using public restrooms corresponding to their gender . The bill just died this week .\nBut as all of those measures made national headlines , leaders of the evangelical and Catholic faiths fell silent , just like they have been in directly challenging Trump 's disastrous handling of the violence that took one life and injured 19 others last weekend .\nWhile the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , Cardinal Daniel DiNardo , swiftly issued a statement last Saturday condemning the `` abhorrent acts of hatred '' in Charlottesville as `` an attack on the unity of our nation , '' he has said nothing following Trump 's defense of that very same violence .


Media that focus on scandals and spread fake news to smear politicians risk becoming like people who have a morbid fascination with excrement , Pope Francis said in an interview published on Wednesday .\nFrancis told the Belgian Catholic weekly Tertio that spreading disinformation was “ probably the greatest damage that the media can do ” and using communications for this rather than to educate the public amounted to a sin .\nUsing precise psychological terms , he said scandal-mongering media risked falling prey to coprophilia , or arousal from excrement , and consumers of these media risked coprophagia , or eating excrement .\nThe Argentine-born pontiff excused himself for using such terms in order to get his point across while answering a question about the correct use of the media .\n“ I think the media have to be very clear , very transparent , and not fall into — no offense intended — the sickness of coprophilia , that is , always wanting to cover scandals , covering nasty things , even if they are true , ” he said .\n“ And since people have a tendency towards the sickness of coprophagia , a lot of damage can be done . ”\nThat section of the interview , all of which was distributed to reporters in an Italian translation of the interview in the pope ’ s native Spanish , contained some of the most blunt language the pontiff has ever used about the media .\nHe also spoke of the danger of using the media to slander political rivals .\n“ The means of communication have their own temptations , they can be tempted by slander , and therefore used to slander people , to smear them , this above all in the world of politics , ” he said . “ They can be used as means of defamation… ”\n“ No one has a right to do this . It is a sin and it is hurtful , ” he said .\nHe described disinformation as the greatest harm the media can do because “ it directs opinion in only one direction and omits the other part of the truth , ” he said .\nThe pope ’ s comments on disinformation followed widespread debate in the United States over whether fake news on the internet might have swayed voters toward Republican candidate Donald Trump .


Religion is apparently weakening in America . A new report from the Pew Research Center shows that the percentage of Americans who say they believe in God , pray daily and attend church regularly is declining .\nThe share of Americans who say they are `` absolutely certain '' that God exists has dropped 8 percentage points , from 71 percent to 63 percent , since 2007 , when the last comparable study was made .\nThe percentage of adults who describe themselves as `` religiously affiliated '' has shrunk 6 points since 2007 , from 83 percent to 77 percent .\nThe shares of the U.S. adult population who consider religion `` very important '' to them , pray daily and attend services at least once a month have declined between 3 and 4 percentage points over the past eight years .\nThe shift is small but statistically significant , according to the authors , given that the changes have taken place in a relatively short period of time , and the survey sample is large enough ( about 35,000 U.S. adults ) to be considered reliable .\nSkepticism about religion is especially evident among young people . The Pew study found that barely a quarter of `` millennials '' ( born between 1981 and 1996 ) attend church services on a weekly basis , compared with more than half of U.S. adults born before 1946 . Only about 4 in 10 millennials say religion is important in their lives , compared with more than half of those who are older , including two-thirds of those born before 1946 .\nThe Pew researchers acknowledge that some young people may become more religious as they grow older , but their data suggest that the generational differences in religiosity could well endure . `` The oldest Millennials , now in their late 20s and early 30s , are generally less observant than they were seven years ago , '' the authors write . `` If these trends continue American society is likely to grow less religious even if those who are adults today maintain their current levels of religious commitment . ''\nThe weakening of religious beliefs and practices has clear political overtones . The growth in the number of religiously unaffiliated people is largely benefiting Democrats , for whom `` nones '' are now the single largest religious constituency . Evangelicals , meanwhile , constitute the largest religious group in the Republican Party , and the share of evangelicals who identify with the Republicans has grown since 2007 .\nIndeed , the Pew report suggests that polarization along religious lines may be increasing in the United States . While the percentage of Americans who say they do n't affiliate with any religious tradition is growing , those people who still identify with a religion are becoming even more devout . A growing share of the `` religiously affiliated '' say they regularly read scripture , participate in prayer groups and share their faith with others .


A striking display of compassion from the brother of a murder victim to his killer was , to some , a heart-wrenching example of empathy . But to others , it was a painful example of African Americans forced to respond to acts of violence with understanding , writes Barrett Holmes Pitner .\nOn Wednesday , former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger , 31 , who is white , was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of her neighbour Botham Jean , who was black . She will be eligible for parole in 5 years .\nGuyger 's conviction was seen as a moment of justice for many observers since it is still relatively rare for police officers to be convicted of unlawful killings in America , yet many onlookers also thought her sentence was too lenient . However , the true shock occurred as Guyger received a profound - and controversial - amount of compassion from her victim 's family and the judge .\nFollowing Guyger 's sentencing , Jean 's 18-year-old brother Brandt took the stand and said `` I forgive you '' and `` I love you as a person and I do n't wish anything bad on you , '' before leaving the stand so that he could embrace Guyger .\nTheir hug lasted nearly a minute as those in the courtroom openly wept from this stunning show of compassion .\nSome seasoned court commentators described it as the most powerful moment they had ever seen in a courtroom . And it generated headlines all around the world .\nAfter Guyger and Brandt Jean 's embrace , Judge Tammy Kemp , who is black , left her judge 's bench and also embraced Guyger . Kemp gave Guyger a Bible and the two of them prayed together before Guyger was led away from the courtroom .\nIn most situations , compassion and empathy do not prompt heated debates , but in the US , the actions of Brandt Jean and Judge Kemp have rekindled a complex conversation about race and inequality . Some observers celebrated the humanity on display in the courtroom , and others questioned if it is just for African Americans to repeatedly take the moral high ground without an exception of reciprocity across America 's racial divide .\nFrequently , African American communities have responded to terror by expressing compassion and forgiveness to the perpetrators of terror , and have often invoked their Christian faith as the ideological foundation for their acts of forgiveness .\nFollowing the attack on Emanuel AME Church in Charleston , South Carolina by Dylann Roof on 17 June , 2015 that killed nine African American parishioners , the family members of the victims also told Roof that they forgave him . Roof has never admitted any remorse for his killings .\nDespite the clear religious overtones of the victim 's families actions , Justin Hansford , the executive director of the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center at Howard Law , contends that the culture of forgiveness that emanates from America 's black community derives from the US never condoning black anger when directed towards white Americans .\n`` We see the black community take the moral high ground because you do n't get the right to be angry with white people in America . If you 're angry it is seen as unjustified , '' says Hansford .\nAmerican culture has historically depicted slave rebellions as unwarranted acts of black aggression against white Americans , and as the black community has pursued freedom and equality there has always been a profound debate about the level of anger black America can constructively express towards white America .\nTitans of the black intelligentsia have long debated various approaches for black equality and the best ways to channel and express black anger . During the civil rights struggle of the 1960s , the conflicting philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X highlighted this tension .\n`` There has always been a dichotomy between the Christian way of responding to injustice - turn the other cheek - and the black Muslims and their willingness to express anger and have a dignity with their expression of anger , '' says Hansford .\nMany black Americans have embraced the black Muslim community and the Black Panther movement because they can provide a constructive platform for expressing black anger at the systemic racial oppression the white community has created .\nWhen looking at the facts of the case , there are ample reasons for the black community to be angry .\nOn 6 September , 2018 , Guyger returned home to her apartment complex after finishing work as a Dallas police officer . Guyger claims to have mistakenly parked her car on the wrong floor , and walked into Jean 's apartment believing it to be her own . Upon seeing Jean on his couch eating ice cream , Guyger claims to have thought he was an intruder and , in a moment of fear , used her government issued handgun to shoot and kill Jean .\nInitially , Guyger was only charged with manslaughter and kept on the police force , but following public outrage she was then charged with murder and fired .\nGuyger has always contended that the killing was a tragic accident , and former Dallas police chief Craig Miller said that Guyger 's killing of Jean was `` justified '' because Guyger suffered from a temporary condition called `` inattentional blindness , '' which is defined as `` the failure to notice a fully-visible , but unexpected object because attention was engaged on another task , event , or object . ''\nEssentially , Miller believed that Guyger should not be charged with murder because she was not paying attention when she murdered Jean .\nAccording to Hansford , America 's cultural stifling and stigmatising of black anger has made forgiveness one of the few recourses for the black community . The alleged illegitimacy of African American anger has many American manifestations - notably the `` Angry Black Woman '' and `` dangerous '' black men - and America has long mythologized the alleged benefit of the black community forgiving white America .\nEven Harriet Beecher Stowe 's Uncle Tom 's Cabin , published in 1852 , which re-shaped American views on slavery , professed the supposed benefit of Christian love and black forgiveness as a way to overcome the cultural degradation of American slavery . Yet over 150 years later black Americans are still being unjustly murdered and terrorised , and forgiveness is still depicted as an adequate solution .\nBrandt Jean 's decision to forgive Guyger remains a personal decision , but Judge Kemp 's decision forces America to contend with the tragic subjectivity of our justice system .\nUnless Judge Kemp normally embraces , prays , and gifts a Bible to those she sends to prison , America must ask why Guyger warranted this degree of compassion and others did not . Does this undermine Kemp 's impartiality ?\n`` What is justice in this case ? If you 're going to bust into someone 's house and shoot them dead , and then get five years in prison and a hug from the judge . Are you okay with that ? And why do n't similar sentences and shows of compassion happen more often ? '' says Hansford .\nFor many members of the black community , who also struggle to express their anger at America 's systemic oppression , this trial represents one of many examples of how precarious and under threat black life has always been in America . Compassion might feel right in the moment , but the debate still rages as to whether it brings America closer to a semblance of racial equality .\nBarrett is a writer , journalist and filmmaker focusing on race , culture and politics


Today , September 8 , I am holding a prayer vigil and rally for liberty in Grayson , Kentucky . I will call on Judge David Bunning to release Kim Davis on the grounds that her right to religious liberty has been grossly violated under the Constitution of these United States of America .\nWhen I warned that the Supreme Court ’ s decision on marriage would lead to the criminalization of Christianity in America I was dismissed by many as an alarmist and my comments were mocked by the chattering class . Now , just two months after the court 's lawless ruling , an elected county clerk has been put in jail by an unelected judge for refusing to issue a “ marriage '' license to a same-sex couple , removing all doubts about criminalization of Christianity in this country .\nWhen the people of Kentucky elected Democrat Kim Davis as county clerk , the state ’ s constitution affirmed that marriage is between one man and one woman . The amendment passed with 75 percent of the people ’ s vote .\nToday , I ask on behalf of Kim : “ Under what law is she authorized to issue homosexual couples a marriage license ? ” Can you site the specific right in the Constitution ? Is there a statute , passed by Congress that actually says that the five unelected lawyers in the majority of the court ’ s opinion were right to throw out the very definition of marriage and make up one on their own ?\nToday , I ask on behalf of Kim : “ Under what law is she authorized to issue homosexual couples a marriage license ? ” Can you site the specific right in the Constitution ?\nIn the Obergefell decision , the Supreme Court ruled same-sex couples have the right to get married . Whether you personally agree with that or not does n't matter in Kim ’ s case . What does matter , is that the Supreme Court can not and did not make a law . It only made a ruling on a law .\nKim 's stand for religious liberty is a pivotal moment in our nation 's history . Will we continue to pretend as though the Supreme Court is the `` Supreme Branch '' with the authority and ability to make laws ? It most certainly is not . The Supreme Court is one of three co-equal branches of government under our Constitution . It is no more the `` Supreme Branch '' than it is the `` Supreme Being '' with the authority to redefine the laws of nature or of nature 's God !\nWhat we know for sure is that The Judicial Branch is constitutionally prohibited from writing laws , there are religious liberty protections in the Kentucky constitution and Kentucky statute and the plaintiffs in the case did not seek Kim ’ s incarceration . Despite these facts , Kim Davis was thrown in jail for contempt , which means she was given no possibility of bail .\nThat seems even more ludicrous when you consider many of the America 's most evil and notorious serial killers , murderers , rapists , mafia bosses and presidential assassins were actually let out on bail :\n? John A. Gotti : Son of Gambino crime family leader\nAll of these dangerous criminals were given bail . A Democrat county clerk in Kentucky who is a Christian was not .\nNo one went to jail when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ordered city clerks to issue same-sex marriage licenses in direct disobedience to California law . More recently , No one went to jail when San Francisco was set up as a sanctuary city – sheltering dangerous illegal immigrant felons in defiance of federal law . Not only did Newsom NOT go to jail , he ’ s now the lieutenant governor of the state !\nI am appalled at our government ’ s willingness to accommodate the religious beliefs of all religions , but Christianity .\nWhen I traveled to Guantanamo Bay , I was amazed by how well we treated foreign Muslim terrorist detainees . The U.S. government provides prayer mats and special meals that conform to Islamic restrictions , but we can ’ t accommodate the religious beliefs of a popularly elected Christian county clerk in Kentucky ? We have lost our moral compass as a country when our government accommodates militant Muslims but not conservative Christians .\nAs a governor for ten and a half years , I followed the Constitution of my state and of the United States . The rule of law is a foundation of our democracy .\nBut the reason why our laws are respected by the American people is because our Constitution guarantees reasonable safeguards to protect the rights of dissenters .\nI refuse to sit silently as our Constitution is torched and the courts violate our fundamental rights . We did not fight a revolution against the tyranny of one unelected monarch so we could surrender our freedoms and abandon our Constitution to the tyranny of five unaccountable , unelected lawyers .\nThis shredding of the most fundamental civil rights of our citizens can not stand . I will fight for , and protect , the religious liberty of every American . This will go down as a seminal moment in American history if we do not free Kim Davis now and make sure this never happens again .


Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh on Wednesday voiced concerns about President Trump 's comments on NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem to protest racial injustice , saying Trump should not have the power to dictate who can kneel during the anthem .\n`` There ’ s a part of this story that ’ s starting to make me nervous , and it ’ s this : I am very uncomfortable with the president of the United States being able to dictate the behavior and power of anybody . That ’ s not where this should be coming from , '' Limbaugh said on his show .\nLimbaugh said he believed Trump 's motives were `` pure , '' but he argued that the president 's actions were unhelpful in the broader debate on players kneeling .\n`` Trump is continually tweeting — I know what he ’ s doing , and I understand why he ’ s doing it , and his motives are pure ; don ’ t misunderstand . But I don ’ t think that it is useful or helpful for any employee anywhere to be forced to do something because the government says they must , '' he continued .\n`` We don ’ t want the president being able to demand anybody that he ’ s unhappy with behave in a way he requires , '' Limbaugh added .\nLimbaugh 's comments come after the president said on Wednesday that `` it is about time '' NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is `` demanding '' players stand for the national anthem after the NFL chief said in a statement that he believed that everyone should stand during the anthem .\nIt is about time that Roger Goodell of the NFL is finally demanding that all players STAND for our great National Anthem-RESPECT OUR COUNTRY — Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) October 11 , 2017\nHowever , the NFL issued a statement later saying Trump 's tweet was not accurate .\n`` Commentary this morning about the Commissioner 's position on the anthem is not accurate , '' the statement read .\n“ The NFL is doing the hard work of trying to move from protest to progress , working to bring people together . ''


Yesterday , the Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision in Murphy v. NCAA , striking down a federal law that blocks states from legalizing sports gambling under their own state laws . The ruling is a major victory for federalism , and has important implications that go beyond the issue of sports gambling .\nMurphy invalidates a provision of the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act ( PASPA ) , which mandates that states may not `` sponsor , operate , advertise , promote , license , or authorize by law or compact '' sports betting . A coalition of sports leagues , including the NCAA , the NBA , the NFL , and Major League Baseball , filed a lawsuit arguing that New Jersey 's laws partially legalizing sports gambling within the state qualifies as `` authorization '' and thus violates PASPA . New Jersey argued that that PASPA violates the `` anti-commandeering '' principles of the Tenth Amendment . Under several longstanding Supreme Court precedents , the Tenth Amendment prevents the federal government from compelling the states to enforce federal law , including by forcing state legislatures to enact laws of their own . The Supreme Court majority ruled that PASPA is unconstitutional .\nMore : Winners & losers in Supreme Court sports betting decision : Vindication for Donald Trump ?\nMore : Listen up Supreme Court : Warrantless tracking of smartphones violates our rights\nTo get around the anti-commandeering rule , the sports leagues and the Trump administration claimed that there is a distinction between commandeering and federal laws blocking `` affirmative authorization '' of gambling under state law . By this reasoning , PASPA is not `` commandeering '' because it does not prevent complete legalization of sports gambling . It only bans state laws that affirmatively authorize gambling in some way , as New Jersey supposedly does by restricting it to some types of locations and limiting the range of teams that gamblers can bet on . Writing for a 7-2 Supreme Court majority , Justice Samuel Alito correctly concluded that “ this distinction is empty ” because laws banning affirmative “ authorization ” still violate `` the basic principle … that Congress can not issue direct orders to state legislatures . ”\nJustice Alito is right . The distinction between legalization and `` authorization '' makes little sense , because virtually any law that legalizes a previously banned activity , but does not completely abolish all restrictions on it , can be described as affirmative authorization . A decision upholding PASPA would essentially have gutted the anti-commandeering rule , as the federal government could easily get around it by adopting regulations preventing states from legalizing previously forbidden behavior , so long as the legalization law did not completely eliminate all legal constraints on it .\nThe ruling has obvious implications for sports betting , which states are now largely free to legalize as they see fit . Many may follow New Jersey 's example . Murphy is also significant for state policies legalizing other activities that the federal government may oppose , including marijuana , possession of some types of firearms , and others . The federal government can no longer block state legalization by passing laws that require states to continue to bar these activities under their own laws .\nMore : Supreme Court clerks are overwhelmingly white and male . Just like 20 years ago .\nThe federal government can still ban many such activities by making them directly illegal under federal law . But if it can not rely on the backing of the states and their own laws , enforcing such federal prohibitions in dissenting states can be expensive and difficult . In practice , federal prohibition of gambling , drugs and other activities relies heavily on state cooperation and support . Today 's decision reinforces the constitutional rule that empowers states to deny such assistance by refusing to enact state laws reinforcing federal prohibition . It also prevents the federal government from forcing the states to ban activities that Congress , for political reasons , does not want to forbid directly .\nPerhaps most importantly , Murphy v. NCAA makes clear that a solid majority of the Court is strongly committed to the anti-commandeering principle . The majority includes both the conservative justices and two liberals ( Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan ) . That bodes well for state efforts to oppose commandeering ( and perhaps other types of federal coercion ) in other areas . The most notable current examples are the sanctuary cities cases , in which the Trump administration has been trying to force state and local governments to assist federal efforts to deport undocumented immigrants .\nLegal battles over federalism will surely continue . We are still a long way from where we should be on enforcing constitutional constraints on federal power . But today 's ruling is an important step in the right direction .\nIlya Somin is a law professor at George Mason University , and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute . He is the author of Democracy and Political Ignorance : Why Smaller Government is Smarter .


“ “ I have never been in a more hostile , manipulative , passive-aggressive environment … and I worked in politics . ” ”\nThat ’ s Julia Payne , a former vice president of communications with Washington , D.C. ’ s , NFL team , quoted in a Washington Post report late Thursday describing a “ nightmare ” workplace for women amid a team culture of misogyny and rampant sexual harassment .\nFifteen women told the Post they were harassed while working in the NFL team ’ s front office between 2006 and 2019 , 14 of whom requested anonymity because they were fearful of legal reprisals from the team . The Post cited interviews with more than 40 current and former team employees , as well as internal documents and text messages .\nSee also : Two ways Washington changing its ‘ Redskins ’ nickname could make the team money\nOne woman who agreed to be named , former marketing coordinator Emily Applegate , told the Post she cried at work daily due to the constant harassment and verbal abuse she and other women experienced from top team executives , and the indifference she received after she complained .\n“ It was the most miserable experience of my life , ” she said . “ And we all tolerated it , because we knew if we complained — and they reminded us of this — there were 1,000 people out there who would take our job in a heartbeat . ”\nApplegate and the other women gave the Post numerous examples of receiving unwelcome sexual comments or overtures , and being told to wear revealing clothing and to flirt with clients . “ I was propositioned basically every day at training camp , ” one woman told the Post , claiming a coach and staffers invited her to their hotel rooms .\nThree male members of the team ’ s front office have left their jobs in the past week , all of whom were named in the Post report . Two other executives who were named left their jobs in 2015 and 2018 .\nThe team said Thursday it has hired a law firm to review the allegations .\nWhile team owner Daniel Snyder was not accused of harassment , many of the women said he set a poor example and tolerated a toxic corporate atmosphere , claiming he verbally abused top executives , even allegedly forcing a male executive to do cartwheels for his entertainment during a staff meeting .\nA number of women said their experiences with the team ruined lifelong ambitions . “ I am done with the NFL , ” one anonymous woman told the Post , saying it “ has killed any dream of a career in pro sports . ”\nLast week , the team dropped its longtime nickname following decades of complaints that it was racist , following a revolt by team sponsors .


The 2018 women 's U.S. Open final ended in unsettling fashion and controversy Saturday night , with both the winner and loser choking back sobs after an explosive sequence of events unlike anything witnessed in recent memory . Serena Williams was defeated in two sets by 20-year-old Japanese player Naomi Osaka , narrowly missing a chance to tie the all-time record for Grand Slam singles titles .\nWilliams ' defeat came after she was issued a questionable code violation for receiving coaching . She was then docked a point for breaking her racket , followed by a pivotal penalty in which she gave up a game because she accused the chair umpire of lying .\nRarely , if ever , have we seen Serena Williams , arguably the best player to ever step on the court , reduced to tears during a match . We 've seen her fiery . We 've seen her enraged . But eye filled with tears , voice cracking , as she defiantly defends her position and demands the respect she has more than earned ? This was new .\nSparring repeatedly with chair umpire Carlos Ramos , Williams refused to back down , and in doing so , highlighted the double standard in expectations and discipline that exists for men and women on the biggest stages in professional tennis . Several of her male peers took to Twitter to lament the unfortunate discrepancy .\nWorst refereeing I ’ ve ever seen ...... the worst ! ! ! — andyroddick ( @ andyroddick ) September 8 , 2018\nI will admit I have said worse and not gotten penalized . And I ’ ve also been given a “ soft warning ” by the ump where they tell you knock it off or I will have to give you a violation . He should have at least given her that courtesy . Sad to mar a well played final that way . https : //t.co/xhBzFZX8Wq — James Blake ( @ JRBlake ) September 9 , 2018\nNo matter how you think professional athletes should behave , Williams is right to be angry . Male players are often excused — celebrated , even — for putting their emotions on display in the heat of the moment . In fact , Ramos — the very same umpire who penalized Williams a game for calling him a `` thief '' and accusing him of lying — has tolerated similar , and arguably worse , outbursts from male players on numerous occasions .\nAt the 2016 French Open , Australian player Nick Kyrgios blew up at Ramos after he was given a warning for raising his voice at a ballboy . `` That 's bulls * * t. Are you kidding ? '' Kyrgios shouted at the official . `` Bulls * * t , f * * * ing bulls * * t. '' He was given neither a point penalty , nor a game penalty .\nAt the 2017 French Open , former world No . 1 Rafael Nadal threatened Ramos , `` Give me the warnings you can , because you will not referee me anymore , '' he said . Nadal referenced his comments in a post-match press conference . No penalties were given .\n“ Give me the warnings you can because you will not referee me any more. ” Rafael Nadal to Carlos Ramos . Not surprisingly , no point taken against Nadal . Thanks Ramos and  @ usopen for this master class on what it costs to be an assertive black woman . https : //t.co/GFchpFmiga — AnnieEllison ( @ AnnieEllison ) September 8 , 2018\nThat same tournament , defending champion Novak Djokovic got into an impassioned argument with Ramos , approaching the chair to tell him , `` You 're losing your mind . '' The skirmish came after Djokovic was docked a first serve for taking too long in the fourth set . He glowered at Ramos , motioned with his racket while uttering something in Serbian , then approached the chair to call the official 's sanity into question .\nWhile Djokovic was issued a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct , he was never officially penalized and ultimately went on to stage a five-set comeback . Perhaps Ramos considered Djokovic and Nadal 's outbursts as somehow less offensive than that of Serena Williams . Perhaps there is some sort of subconscious bias at play . But these sort of double standards extend far beyond a single chair umpire . They have been rampant for decades .\nDuring a semifinals match at the 2016 Cincinnati Masters in Ohio , British tennis star Andy Murray quite literally kicked a ball at the chair umpire 's head . And despite the ATP rulebook clearly stating that `` players shall not violently , dangerously or with anger hit , kick or throw a tennis ball while on the grounds of the tournament site except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match , '' Murray was not disqualified . The umpire simply hit him with a pointed look and Murray went on to win the match , advancing to the final .\nAt the 1991 U.S. Open , five-time champion Jimmy Connors got into a series of heated exchanges with chair umpire David Littlefield . Connors called Littlefield 's decisions `` bull crap '' and repeatedly shouted that Littlefield himself was `` an abortion . '' After each of Connors ' tirades , the crowd can be heard enthusiastically cheering along with him . Littlefield can be seen raising his eyebrows , occasionally extending prolonged , disapproving glances in Connors ' direction , but otherwise remaining measured and letting the outbursts slide . No penalties are given . No points taken . No games sacrificed . Connors goes on to win the match .\nPerhaps even more indicative of the gender disparity in this arena , is the fact that , at the start of the match , the CBS Sports commentator can be heard nonchalantly predicting , `` There will be some shouting and some emotional moments in this one . ''\nFor male players fired up by the heat of competition , this sort of behavior is simply shrugged off as normal . A testosterone-driven reality of the game . If you are one of the world 's top athletes , you have spent your entire life preparing for the highest level of competition . You have pushed your body to its limit . Of course you will become emotional when a pivotal point is on the line . Of course you will shout and call the umpire names . Those very same qualities got you to the top in the first place .\nIn fact , trash-talking is tolerated among male athletes in all sports . For athletes like MMA fighter Conor McGregor and NBA forward Draymond Green , it 's become an integral part of their persona . But when Hope Solo called the Swedish national team `` a bunch of cowards '' after a heated Women 's World Cup match , she was banned from U.S. soccer . Male athletes have done far worse and are still allowed to return . Numerous NFL players like Adrian Peterson , Michael Vick and Ray Lewis , have weathered controversies over child abuse , dog fighting and even a murder case , returning to multi-million dollar contracts and , in the case of Lewis , being inducted into the Hall of Fame .\nUnlike Solo , whose entire career and legacy were torpedoed by an instance of disciplined trash-talking , male players who achieve notoriety on the same grounds often go on to fame and fortune despite their unsportsmanlike behavior . What could serve as a better example than the fact that John McEnroe can be heard as a commentator in the Connors match above ?\nAfter years of quietly frustrating women around the world , this year 's Grand Slam tournaments — and the U.S. Open in particular — have thrust the issue of sexism in sports to the forefront . First , there was the controversy over Williams ' medically necessitated catsuit at the French Open . Then there was the penalty issued to Alize Cornet for taking off her shirt in the scorching heat at the U.S. Open , after her male peers were permitted to sit on the court shirtless for prolonged periods of time . Now Serena Williams has been fined 17,000 dollars for Saturday night 's polarizing code violations .\nThe stakes are dramatically high for all female athletes . However , they are even higher for Williams , who is barely a year out from nearly dying during childbirth , after yet again having to go above and beyond to be given equal treatment and receive the medical attention she desperately needed .\nSo , yes . She 's emotional . She 's frustrated . Williams is at , quite literally , the most important and hard-fought moment of her career , with the weight of viral ad campaigns and young players everywhere on her shoulders . The amount of criticism , disrespect and hardship she has overcome to dominate this sport would be enough to break other players , yet she has consistently proven herself in the face of it all .\nSo when she 's accused of cheating , of course she is angry . Who would n't be ? And when that accusation creates a domino effect that culminates in penalties dealt far less frequently to her male counterparts ? Of course she wants to scream at the top of her lungs .\nOn Saturday night , Naomi Osaka may have won the trophy , but tennis lost . And now sports fans across the globe are simply hoping this is the break point .


President Donald Trump was greeted by a thunderous round of applause and cheers on Saturday in Tuscaloosa , Alabama , during the college football match-up between rival SEC teams LSU and Alabama .\n“ I love Alabama , ” Trump said Friday . “ I ’ m going to go watch a very good football game , which is tomorrow with LSU , and it ’ s going to be great . ”\n“ Ahead of an expected visit from President Donald Trump , Alabama ’ s Student Government Association sent a letter to students warning that they could lose their block seating for the rest of the season if they ‘ engage in disruptive behavior ’ during the LSU game , ” The Tennessean reported . “ Jason Rothfarb , the SGA ’ s vice president of student affairs , sent out a letter citing the increased security at Saturday ’ s game between the second-ranked Crimson Tide and No . 1 LSU . President Donald Trump is expected to attend the game , and Alabama is warning fans to arrive early and expect longer waits getting into Bryant-Denny Stadium . ”\nThe letter stated in part : “ Any organizations that engage in disruptive behavior during the game will be removed from block seating instantly for the remainder of the season . ”\nMultiple reporters noted that there were repeated chants of “ USA ! ” after the crowd saw the president .\nDonald Trump and Melania in suite at 50 yard line behind LSU bench . Crowd cheers and chants USA . pic.twitter.com/1HAVzWHZ6s — Clay Travis ( @ ClayTravis ) November 9 , 2019\nAnother video from a different angle showed how the crowd reacted once the president arrived at his box suite to watch the game .\nNewsBusters ’ Vice President Dan Gainor tweeted , “ Welcome to real America ! ! ! ”\nWelcome to real America ! ! ! https : //t.co/Y4oSkEY9WA — Dan Gainor ( @ dangainor ) November 9 , 2019\nThe response that Trump got from the crowd is very different than the response he got while attending a Washington Nationals baseball game late last month , where the fans in the most Democrat part of the country booed him loudly on the same day that he announced that a military operation that he approved resulted in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi .\n“ His reception at the showdown between LSU and Alabama contrasted with the scene last month at Game 5 of the World Series in Washington , where was booed , and the mixed response to his appearance at UFC 244 in New York a week ago , ” ESPN reported . “ Trump , sitting one tier above the field , waved as fans turned around to look up at the president . He smiled , gave a thumbs-up a few times and threw a couple of fist bumps into the air as the Alabama fans waved red and white pompoms in response . First lady Melania Trump got an equally enthusiastic welcome . ”\nScotty Amos from Bossier City , Louisiana , told The Shreveport Times , “ It ’ s a big game . He ’ s a sports fan . Why would he not come ? The fans are excited . They are his people . Just imagine being a 19-year-old and getting to play in this game and the leader of the free world is here to watch you play . He wants to be here — to experience a big-time college game like this . ”\nWhen news broke that Trump was attending the game , LSU quarterback Joe Burrow said , “ You know , regardless of your political views , that ’ s pretty cool having the president at the game . Doesn ’ t matter whether you ’ re a Democrat or a Republican , the president at the game ’ s pretty cool . ”


The Philadelphia Eagles hadn ’ t planned on fielding a 40-year-old quarterback in Sunday ’ s wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks . But after starter Carson Wentz left with a concussion in the first quarter , all eyes turned to Josh McCown , who became the oldest part-time high school football coach to make his NFL playoff debut .\nPhiladelphia lost , 17–9 , but McCown performed about as well as you could expect from a quarterback of his caliber and age ( about as good as Tom Brady on Saturday , anyway ) . Coming into the game , the Eagles were already quite thin on offense , suffering injuries to their receivers and linemen throughout the season , so whoever was under center would ’ ve been dealt a tough hand . As shown with this surprisingly electric option play in the second quarter , head coach Doug Pederson placed no limitations on McCown—except for , you know , the fact that he ’ s 40 and had never been in the playoffs before .\nMcCown was 18-for-24 for 174 passing yards and no touchdowns or turnovers . The Eagles had a chance at a game-tying drive before the two-minute warning , but McCown was sacked on fourth down and that was basically that . Despite exceeding the expectations of everyone but possibly his mother , McCown took the loss hard . It was very clear that he cared .\nJosh McCown & Zach Ertz share a moment after @ Eagles season ends . pic.twitter.com/d2zflRRLtU — Dan Gelston ( @ APgelston ) January 6 , 2020\nWhat ’ s interesting about McCown ’ s case is that before this season , the Eagles basically had to coax him out of a short retirement . In June , he had gone through the standard steps of a tenured NFL player ’ s send-off : a Players ’ Tribune article and an analyst gig on ESPN . The only thing missing was a CBD sponsorship . He signed with Philadelphia in August , when the Eagles were desperate for an able-bodied backup . McCown agreed to join because Philly is somewhat close to Charlotte , where his family lives , and the team allowed him to continue coaching football at Myers Park High School . The Eagles agreed to this because they were using him as an insurance policy , and besides , Myers Park ’ s season ended in November . ( The Mustangs went 11–0 in the regular season but lost in the third round of the playoffs to Richmond . Those teens and McCown can now commiserate . ) During the regular season , as ESPN ’ s Tim McManus reported , McCown usually took private jets on Mondays to help out with the Mustangs ’ game plan and would head back to the high school team on Fridays for the actual games before returning to the Eagles on Saturday morning .\nThere ’ s nothing wrong with any of this . If anything , McCown ’ s competent performance in the wild-card round shows the league places too much emphasis on absolute , 24/7 commitment from its players . Sunday ’ s Seahawks-Eagles game should silence the notion that players must eat , sleep , breathe , and puke football in order to succeed in the NFL . That argument has been a principal excuse that league defenders have proffered to explain why Colin Kaepernick is still a free agent . Kaepernick , observers may notice , does not coach a high school football team . Nor has he threatened to start coaching any high school sports teams should he acquire an NFL job . And yet , unlike McCown , he ’ s regularly accused of not wanting to play in the NFL , this despite his continued avowals that he does really , truly want to be a professional football player .\nThere ’ s no valid reason as to why Kaepernick isn ’ t on an NFL roster . The “ he ’ s been out of the league too long ” argument became void when Josh Johnson signed with Washington in 2018 after a five-year layoff between actual game snaps and led the team to a win in his first start . The “ he ’ s not good enough ” argument has been debunked given that Nathan Peterman and many more bad QBs have been signed and re-signed over the past few seasons . The “ he ’ s not committed ” argument should ’ ve been dead when he held his own workout in November and looked like a fresh-armed quarterback ready to compete for a roster spot . But McCown ’ s retirement and unretirement really seals the deal . If a veteran quarterback can prepare for his primary job while also maintaining a coaching gig on the side , Kaepernick could surely handle his various interests . A pro football player doesn ’ t need to be a north-south meathead with blinders on to succeed , as has been proved not only by McCown but by Kenny Stills ( who ’ s on the Houston Texans and still in the playoffs ) , Eric Reid , Arian Foster , Chris Long , and others .\nThe NFL has gone to great lengths to pretend that Kaepernick—who became the target of every Facebook uncle ’ s ire when he began taking a knee during the national anthem and spoke out against social injustices against black Americans—is being held back only by his own skills . Meanwhile , someone like McCown is able to play competently and maintain an immensely more complicated work-life balance with little to no backlash from NFL personnel or fans . What , pray tell , could be the difference here ?