Pelican Press

James Harden disappoints again as Clippers are eliminated by Nuggets in Game 7 rout – Los Angeles Times James Harden disappoints again as Clippers are eliminated by Nuggets in Game 7 rout – Los Angeles Times James Harden disappoints again as Clippers are eliminated by Nuggets in Game 7 rout Los Angeles TimesNuggets get desired ‘result’ from surprise firings ESPNClippers vs. Nuggets odds, prediction, where to watch: Game 7 TV channel, time, NBA playoffs live stream CBS SportsNBA playoffs: Game 7 predictions! Who wins Clippers-Nuggets and Warriors-Rockets? Yahoo SportsNuggets destroy Clippers in Game 7 to set up NBA playoffs showdown vs. Thunder New York Post Source link #James #Harden #disappoints #Clippers #eliminated #Nuggets #Game #rout #Los #Angeles #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alvarez is undisputed super middleweight champion again Alvarez is undisputed super middleweight champion again Canelo Alvarez has beaten William Scull in a unanimous points decision to become boxing’s undisputed super middleweight champion again. Alvarez is a four-weight world champion and entered Sunday’s fight in Riyadh with the WBA, WBC and WBO titles at 168 pounds. He was stripped of the IBF belt last July when he declined to make a mandatory defence against Scull. He’d owned that title since November 2021 when he defeated Caleb Plant. Alvarez became an undisputed titlist in the division for the second time when the judges scored their fight 115-113, 116-112, 119-109. The 34-year-old ******** champion improved to 63-2-2, with 39 knockouts, and is unbeaten in 10 fights in the super middleweight category. The fight against IBF champion Scull didn’t live up to the hype. The Cuba-born Scull entered unbeaten in 23 professional fights. He constantly moved around, dodging, shuffling and frustrating Alvarez, who later said he hated fighting that style of boxer. Moments after the decision was declared, the promotion for a proposed September 12 fight between Alvarez and Terence Crawford began, with both men facing each other in the ring. Alvarez was fighting outside the US or Mexico for the first time and had to make plenty of adjustments, including to the time zone. The fighters walked into the ring and the anthems started around 6.20am local time for the main bout in Riyadh, timed so it was in prime time on the US West Coast. The opening rounds were slow with both boxers feeling for range and the intensity gradually lifted with Scull throwing many more punches but not landing enough. Alvarez, by contrast, stayed patient and was landing body shots. In the end, Alvarez threw almost half as many punches as Scull (152-293) but landed one more (56-55), predominantly power shots to the body. “It’s OK, we won. We’re here with the title as the champion,” Alvarez said, adding that neither the timing of the bout nor the quality of the contest was a problem because he’d plenty of time to prepare. “I’m a champion. I’m a professional, so that’s all, no excuse or anything.” As for the September showdown against Crawford, who will be stepping up a weight to take on Alvarez? “I feel great. Crawford is one of the best out there and, you know, I like to share the ring with that kind of fighter,” he said. “It’s my pleasure.” Crawford was in the crowd watching in the Saudi capital. “I’m feeling great. I’m feeling blessed. Things happen for a reason, and there’s a reason why I’m here,” he said. “In September I’m showing the world what greatness look like.” Source link #Alvarez #undisputed #super #middleweight #champion Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sovereignty reigns in the slop at the 151st Kentucky Derby – The Washington Post Sovereignty reigns in the slop at the 151st Kentucky Derby – The Washington Post Sovereignty reigns in the slop at the 151st Kentucky Derby The Washington PostSovereignty outduels Journalism to capture Derby ESPNKentucky Derby: Sovereignty beats favourite Journalism to win 151st race BBC2025 Kentucky Derby prize money, payouts: What winner, top five horses earned for the first Triple Crown race CBS SportsBLOG: Sovereignty wins the 151st Kentucky Derby WLKY Source link #Sovereignty #reigns #slop #151st #Kentucky #Derby #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Anna Hay: The good, bad and ugly as Fremantle fail to fire and West Coast show WAFL green shoots Anna Hay: The good, bad and ugly as Fremantle fail to fire and West Coast show WAFL green shoots The only consistency in the Dockers’ 2025 season has been their inconsistency and it is beyond frustrating writes Anna Hay. Source link #Anna #Hay #good #bad #ugly #Fremantle #fail #fire #West #Coast #show #WAFL #green #shoots Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Bo Nickal vs Reinier De Ridder UFC Des Moines RESULT: Nickal suffers first loss ever after shock KO – Bloody Elbow Bo Nickal vs Reinier De Ridder UFC Des Moines RESULT: Nickal suffers first loss ever after shock KO – Bloody Elbow Bo Nickal vs Reinier De Ridder UFC Des Moines RESULT: Nickal suffers first loss ever after shock KO Bloody ElbowMain Card Results | UFC Des Moines UFC.comUFC’s Reinier de Ridder ready for big fights after TKO win over Bo Nickal in Des Moines The Des Moines Register‘Needed this humble pie’: Pros react to Bo Nickal’s lopsided loss at UFC Des Moines MMA FightingNickal Vs. De Ridder Odds, Full Fight Preview & Prediction MMAmania.com Source link #Nickal #Reinier #Ridder #UFC #Des #Moines #RESULT #Nickal #suffers #loss #shock #Bloody #Elbow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Fortnite x Star Wars Crocs release date and price have been revealed Fortnite x Star Wars Crocs release date and price have been revealed Tim Sweeney: “We will return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week. Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court’s friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we’ll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic.” Source link #Fortnite #Star #Wars #Crocs #release #date #price #revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cory Sandhagen stops Deiveson Figueiredo in 2nd round Cory Sandhagen stops Deiveson Figueiredo in 2nd round Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen has beaten Deiveson Figueiredo in unexpected fashion in their MMA bout, forcing the former two-time flyweight champion to submit due to injury to his left knee after a leg lock gone wrong. Round 1 of the top-five main event at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night was all Sandhagen. He took Figueiredo to the ground and overwhelmed him with strikes while not allowing Figueiredo to get comfortable. The fight was over at 4:08 of round 2. Sandhagen (18-5 MMA) called for a title shot later this year, noting beating someone of Figueiredo’s calibre greatly increased his credibility. Figueiredo (24-5-1) goes back to the drawing board. “I want the winner,” Sandhagen said, as he plans to keep tabs on the UFC 316 main event between bantamweights Merab Dvalishvilli and Sean O’Malley on June 7 in Newark. In the co-main event, former ONE Championship star Reinier de Ridder handed former Penn State wrestling standout Bo Nickal his first loss in MMA, earning a second-round TKO. Middleweight de Ridder (20-2) used a wide-ranging combination and a plethora of knees to finish Nickal (7-1) at 1:53. Welterweight Daniel Rodriguez got the last laugh over Santiago Ponzinibbio, earning a third-round KO in a back-and-forth affair that had spectators on their feet. Rodriguez (19-5) gave respect to Ponzinibbio (31-9) and is seeking to remain active for the rest of the year. Bantamweight Montel Jackson had little issue defeating Daniel Marcos, securing a unanimous decision by 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards. Jackson (15-2) handed Marcos his first loss in 18 fights, while Jackson has won six in a row and showcased a well-rounded skillset with constant pressure in Rounds 2 and 3. Source link #Cory #Sandhagen #stops #Deiveson #Figueiredo #2nd Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Examining Switch 2's launch and how it stacks up to other recent Nintendo debuts Examining Switch 2's launch and how it stacks up to other recent Nintendo debuts NE: “Today, we’re examining the Switch 2’s launch lineup compared to other Nintendo consoles to predict how release day will go.” Source link #Examining #Switch #2039s #launch #stacks #Nintendo #debuts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

3 No-Brainer Gold Stocks to Buy Right Now 3 No-Brainer Gold Stocks to Buy Right Now Gold is trading near all-time highs, resulting in it receiving much attention from investors. Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti are leading gold mining companies. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF is a great option for cautious investors who are uninterested in assuming the risks of a single gold mining company. While rare earth minerals and other critical minerals have recently become flashpoints in the escalating trade war between the United States and China, gold has also remained at the top of investors’ minds. But for those interested in becoming gold bugs themselves, where is there to turn? Instead of bulking up on bullion, investors would be wise to consider clicking the buy button on Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU), and the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (NYSEMKT: GDX). Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Newmont Mining is the only gold mining stock included in the S&P 500. It’s the largest gold stock by market cap available on major U.S. exchanges, helping to make it a glittering choice for those interested in a more conservative gold investment. In addition to North and South America, Newmont operates assets in Australia, Africa, and Papua New Guinea. While some gold companies rely heavily on leverage to fund their various mining operations, Newmont has an investment-grade balance sheet thanks, in part, to its retiring of $1.4 billion in debt in 2024. Moreover, as of the end of first-quarter 2025, Newmont had a net debt-to-earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) ratio of 0.3. Newmont has numerous growth projects in its pipeline to ensure it continues producing plenty of the yellow metal in years to come. NEM Free Cash Flow (Quarterly) data by YCharts. With the company generating strong free cash flow during this ******* of high gold prices, it seems likely that the company will be able to fund these projects with organic cash instead of relying on debt or issuing equity to raise capital in the near future. For the most part, those looking to supplement their passive income streams are rushing to gold stocks. Because gold producing operations and activities to identify new resources are incredibly capital-intensive, businesses will often retain the cash they generate to fund future growth. But not AngloGold Ashanti. Instead, the company — whose stock offers an alluring 3.5% forward yield — is dedicated to returning capital to shareholders in addition to maintaining its financial health. Story Continues The company’s recently revised dividend policy targets a base quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share. Additional dividend payments will also be made so that the company is returning about 50% of free cash flow to shareholders in total. All this comes under the condition that the company maintains a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio under 1.0. AngloGold Ashanti reported $942 million in free cash flow for 2024 — a year-over-year improvement of 764%. With the company projecting gold production of 2.9 million to 3.225 million ounces for 2025 and 2026 and gold prices remaining high, the future looks bright for AngloGold Ashanti. Risk-averse investors may find an exchange-traded fund (ETF) a more appealing way to gain gold exposure. For these individuals, the VanEck Gold Miners ETF presents a great opportunity. Unlike the risks that investors assume with buying shares of a single mining company, the VanEck Gold Miners ETF mitigates the potential downside of a single company, thanks to the 63 holdings in the fund. As of the end of March, Agnico Eagle Mines and Newmont represented the two largest positions, each with weightings of about 11.6%. Royalty and streaming companies — businesses that act as specialized financiers providing upfront financing to mining companies in exchange for things like a portion of the mined metal — also figure prominently in the fund. Leading royalty and streaming companies Wheaton Precious Metals and Franco-Nevada Corporation are the third and fifth largest holdings in the ETF. The VanEck Gold Miners ETF has a 0.51% net expense ratio, but it’s important to note that the distributions, made annually, help to defray the management costs. As of this writing, the ETF had a 12-month yield of 0.82%. While investors eager to boost their passive income streams with the help of the yellow metal will find AngloGold Ashanti to be a lustrous opportunity, those looking for a bargain will be more drawn to Newmont, which is trading at a discount to its historical valuation. It has a five-year average operating cash flow multiple of 9.7, but it’s now changing hands at 7.6 times operating cash flow. On the other hand, those who are more circumspect in their approach to a gold investment will want to dig deeper into the VanEck Gold Miners ETF, which brands itself as the “nation’s first gold miners ETF.” Before you buy stock in Newmont, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Newmont wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $610,327!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $667,581!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 882% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 161% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 28, 2025 Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 No-Brainer Gold Stocks to Buy Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool Source link #NoBrainer #Gold #Stocks #Buy Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

After 100 Years, Britain’s Two-Party Political System May Be Crumbling – The New York Times After 100 Years, Britain’s Two-Party Political System May Be Crumbling – The New York Times After 100 Years, Britain’s Two-Party Political System May Be Crumbling The New York TimesSir John Curtice: The map that shows Reform’s triumph was much more than a protest vote BBCWhat we have learned so far from England’s local elections and byelection The GuardianCan Nigel Farage keep on winning, all the way to Downing Street? politico.euThe fallout from Reform ***’s big win in local elections The Economist Source link #Years #Britains #TwoParty #Political #System #Crumbling #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Can holy men really stop the rain in Bali? Can holy men really stop the rain in Bali? Dave Smith with an insider story Source link #holy #men #stop #rain #Bali Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

DeSantis signs law creating new hurdles for Florida’s citizens’ initiative process DeSantis signs law creating new hurdles for Florida’s citizens’ initiative process TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida voters have long been able to use the citizens’ initiative process to bypass the Republican-dominated Legislature and advance progressive policies such as raising the minimum wage, legalizing medical ********** and restoring the voting rights of people with felony convictions. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law Friday creating new hurdles for citizen-driven initiatives, changes critics say would make it prohibitively expensive and effectively impossible for grassroots campaigners to get them onto the ballot. Legislatures in dozens of states have advanced bills recently to crack down on the public’s ability to put measures up for a vote, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Voting rights advocates say the trend betrays the promise of direct democracy. Under Florida’s measure, voters could be charged with a felony if they collect more than 25 signed ballot petitions, other than their own or those of immediate family members, and don’t register with the state as a petition circulator. Months before the bill advanced in the Legislature, Florida voters supported ballot initiatives to protect abortion rights and legalize recreational **********, though the measures fell short of the 60% needed to pass. DeSantis signed the measure Friday evening, hours after lawmakers gave the bill final approval. He marshaled state resources and the power of his office in an aggressive campaign to oppose the measures on the ballot last November. “This bill has been intentionally designed to make it impossible for any statewide citizen initiative to make it to the ballot ever again,” said state Sen. Carlos Smith, a Democrat from Orlando, who called the measure “the final kill shot against direct democracy.” The bill’s Republican sponsors argued the measure is meant to protect rather than restrict the citizens’ initiative process, which Florida’s Republican Senate president has repeatedly called “sacrosanct.” Instead, they say the aim is to reform a process they see as tainted by outside petition-gatherers who they allege have forged petition signatures or misled voters. “This bill is not an attack on the citizen initiative process,” said co-sponsor state Sen. Don Gaetz, a Panhandle Republican. “It’s an attack on those who have corrupted it.” A state election crimes unit created under the DeSantis administration in 2022 helped secure two dozen felony election-related convictions, according to a January report. State officers have made at least 17 arrests of paid petition circulators working on behalf of four different ballot initiatives, the agency says. The measure “does not address imaginary, hypothetical fraud, but known fraud,” said Republican state Sen. Jennifer Bradley. One of the reforms lawmakers said was needed aims to rein in the DeSantis administration, which used public funds to create ads opposing the 2024 measures and threatened television stations with criminal penalties for airing commercials in support of the proposals. “They engaged in behavior that will now be unlawful and will now be prevented,” Gaetz said, under a provision that outlaws the use of public funds for political ads on any proposed constitutional amendment. Under the law, more people will be banned from collecting petitions, including Floridians with felony convictions who haven’t had their voting rights restored. Noncitizens and people who don’t reside in Florida will also be prohibited from gathering signatures, in a state with a significant population of part-time workers and foreign-born residents. Floridians will have to provide their driver’s license number, voter ID card number, or the last four digits of their Social Security number in order to fill out a petition. The form will ultimately become a public record. Campaigners will face shorter deadlines to return petitions to local election officials, and stiffer fines if they don’t return them to the correct county — an issue advocates say can occur due to voter error in filling out the forms. Former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, a frequent critic of his former colleagues in Tallahassee who now leads the nonprofit Florida Policy Project, criticized the bill in a post on X. “It should be difficult to change the constitution, but not impossible,” Brandes wrote. “Unless you’re the Florida Legislature — then you just keep moving the goalpost until only you can keep score.” ___ Associated Press writer Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida contributed to this report. Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Source link #DeSantis #signs #law #creating #hurdles #Floridas #citizens #initiative #process Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tarrant Co. health officials confirm 1st cases of measles – WFAA Tarrant Co. health officials confirm 1st cases of measles – WFAA Tarrant Co. health officials confirm 1st cases of measles WFAATarrant County confirms first local cases of measles FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort WorthFirst measles cases confirmed in Tarrant County, officials say CBS NewsMeasles in Denton County, infected person visited Rangers game, church, restaurant NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthTarrant County reports two measles cases, in a child and an adult Dallas News Source link #Tarrant #health #officials #confirm #1st #cases #measles #WFAA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Garbin stars as Vixens top Mavericks in Melbourne derby Garbin stars as Vixens top Mavericks in Melbourne derby Star goalshooter Sophie Garbin has produced a match-winning display to ensure the Melbourne Vixens maintained full bragging rights over the Melbourne Mavericks with a 67-59 Super Netball win. Garbin nailed 45 goals from 52 shots and Kiera Austin chipped in with 16 goals and three Super Shots to ensure the Vixens improved their head-to-head record against the Mavericks to 3-0. Importantly, it squared up the Vixens’ season record at 2-2, helping to make up for last week’s 10-goal home loss to the West Coast Fever. “I thought everyone did an amazing job,” Garbin told Fox Sports after Sunday’s match at John Cain Arena. “I think for us, we’ve probably been focusing a bit too much on trying to change and have a bit of variety, whereas what we do best wins us games, and we got to the grand final last year doing that. “Today was about coming out, having our own individual strengths and working to them. “We know we’ve got a really tough month coming up with the Swifts, Lightning and Firebirds. “It’s going to be a really tough month, but getting the win today was the start of it.” Vixens coach Simone McKinnis said a win over the team’s cross-town rivals was always significant. “It’s a rivalry that’s growing,” McKinnis said. “We don’t want to get beaten by the Mavericks. You know that’s something they really want. “They fought really hard and they were going for it out there today.” McKinnis was full of praise for Garbin. “That’s Sophie at her best – when she’s demanding that ball in that circle, and sometimes you’ll hear her screaming for it,” McKinnis said. “She’s so strong as a shooter, and when she’s positioned and takes that on, no one can get near her. I enjoyed seeing that from Soph today.” The Mavericks are now 1-3 and face a battle to work their way back into the finals mix. The opening quarter was an even affair, with the Vixens just doing enough to take a 16-15 lead into the first break. It was late in the second quarter when the Vixens flexed their muscles. The Mavericks trailed by just three goals entering the five-minute Super Shot *******, but two long-range bombs from Austin helped inspire a 9-3 run to give the Vixens a 35-26 lead at half-time. Although star Mavericks goalshooter Shimona Jok (43 goals from 47 attempts) was proving hard to stop, Vixens duo Garbin and Austin were just as lethal at the other end. The lead swelled to 13 by late in the third quarter, with the Mavericks unable to launch any meaningful fightback. Source link #Garbin #stars #Vixens #top #Mavericks #Melbourne #derby Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Quick, to the Bat Computer! There's a Batmobile on Bring a Trailer – Yahoo! Autos Quick, to the Bat Computer! There's a Batmobile on Bring a Trailer – Yahoo! Autos Quick, to the Bat Computer! There’s a Batmobile on Bring a Trailer Yahoo! AutosView Full Coverage on Google News Source link #Quick #Bat #Computer #There039s #Batmobile #Bring #Trailer #Yahoo #Autos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal Election 2025: Key Voice campaigner Thomas Mayo hails Labor victory as support for welcome to country Federal Election 2025: Key Voice campaigner Thomas Mayo hails Labor victory as support for welcome to country A key supporter of the Voice to Parliament has hailed Labor’s barnstorming Federal Election victory as an endorsement of welcome to country ceremonies and a rejection of “ignorance” and “xenophobia”. Thomas Mayo was one of the most prominent campaigners for the Yes vote in the failed 2023 referendum on amending the *********** constitution to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. “Tonight, Australia voted no to ignorance and yes to acknowledgement,” the Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander posted on X on Saturday night. “No to xenophobia and yes to welcomes, no to regression and yes to progress.” If you’d like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton last week said he thought Aboriginal welcome to country ceremonies had become “overdone”. Feel like giving the politicians a rating this Federal election? Our Pollie Rater lets you do just that. Rate the politicians The issue of the failed Voice was also reignited last week when Foreign Minister Penny Wong hinted in a podcast there was a chance it could be revived — though she later backed away from those comments. Mr Mayo added that leading figures from the Coalition, One Nation, Trumpet of Patriots and right-wing campaign groups had been rejected resoundingly by voters. “Peter Dutton, Jacinta Price, Clive Palmer, Pauline Hanson, the IPA and Advance henceforth have no mandate,” he wrote. “They’ve been thoroughly told no.” Source link #Federal #Election #Key #Voice #campaigner #Thomas #Mayo #hails #Labor #victory #support #country Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump Allies Sue John Roberts To Give White House Control Of Court System Trump Allies Sue John Roberts To Give White House Control Of Court System Close allies of President Trump are asking a judge to give the White House control over much of the federal court system. In a little-noticed lawsuit filed last week, the America First Legal Foundation sued Chief Justice John Roberts and the head of the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts. The case ostensibly proceeds as a FOIA lawsuit, with the Trump-aligned group seeking access to judiciary records. But, in doing so, it asks the courts to cede massive power to the White House: the bodies that make court policy and manage the judiciary’s day-to-day operations should be considered independent agencies of the executive branch, the suit argues, giving the President, under the conservative legal movement’s theories, the power to appoint and dismiss people in key roles. Multiple legal scholars and attorneys TPM spoke with reacted to the suit with a mixture of dismay, disdain and laughter. Though the core legal claim is invalid, they said, the suit seems to be a part of the fight that the administration launched and has continued to escalate against the courts over the past several months: ignoring a Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of a wrongly removed Salvadoran man, providing minimal notice to people subject to the Alien Enemies Act, flaunting an aggressive criminal case against a state court judge. The executive branch has tried to encroach on the power of the judiciary in other ways too, prompting a degree of consternation and alarm unusual for the normally-staid Administrative Office of U.S. Courts. As TPM has documented, DOGE has already caused disorder at the courts and sent out mass emails to judges and other judiciary employees demanding a list of their recent accomplishments. Per one recent report in the New York Times, federal judges have expressed concern that Trump could direct the U.S. Marshals Service — an executive branch agency tasked with protecting judges and carrying out court orders — to withdraw protection. These are all facets of an escalating campaign to erode the independence of the judiciary, experts told TPM. The lawsuit demonstrates another prong of it: close allies of the president are effectively asking the courts to rule that they should be managed by the White House. “It’s like using an invalid legal claim to taunt the judiciary,” Anne Joseph O’Connell, a professor at Stanford University Law School, told TPM. “To the extent this lawsuit has any value other than clickbait, maybe the underlying message is, we will let our imaginations run wild,” Peter M. Shane, a constitutional law scholar at NYU Law School, told TPM. “The Trump administration and the MAGA community will let our imaginations run wild in our attempts to figure out ways to make the life of the judiciary **********, to the extent you push back against Trump.” A FOIA from America First The America First Legal Foundation filed the suit on April 22. It came after the group first filed a FOIA request in July 2024 to the Judicial Conference of the United States and the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts asking for “all records referring or relating to (1) Clarence Thomas or (2) Samuel Alito” and all communications with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), starting in April 2023. Both Democrats have led investigations into the influence of wealthy political donors’ money on the court, the conservative legal movement’s long-term plan to capture the high court, and alleged ethical violations by Justices Thomas and Alito. The Judicial Conference, which is composed of senior federal judges and operates via an array of committees, sets policy for the judiciary. Ethan V. Torrey, legal counsel of the Supreme Court, rejected the request in a September 2024 letter, per an exhibit filed along with the complaint. Daniel Z. Epstein filed the FOIA request, and is listed as lead attorney on the lawsuit. Epstein currently represents President Trump in his personal capacity in the lawsuit against CBS over an October 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris. Stephen Miller, the longtime Trump aide, founded the America First Legal Foundation in April 2021, describing it as the “long-awaited answer to the ACLU.” Over the next few years, the group succeeded in slowing down or blocking several Biden administration policies, often by filing in the Northern District of Texas’s Amarillo courthouse, which is presided over by a judge who is notably receptive to conservative arguments. Its priorities often match those of Trump’s second term; it attacked diversity programs, protections for LGBT students, immigration, and supposed “wokeness” in corporate America. Miller himself has been a public driving force in the most aggressive and lawless elements of the second Trump administration’s effort to bulldoze through civil liberties in the name of increasing the tempo of deportations. In an email after publication, an America First Legal spokesperson cited a 1991 9th Circuit decision in a case brought by a federal judge seeking to force the Administrative Office to pay for a private defense attorney he wanted to hire in a lawsuit brought over his work as a judge. In that ruling, the 9th Circuit found that AO was a “non-Article III adjunct,” akin to a magistrate judge or special master: a body that serves the courts, but is not a court itself. America First Legal didn’t immediately reply to a follow-up question from TPM about whether it could address its claim that the Judicial Conference is also an independent agency of the executive branch. When the suit was filed in April, it received a small round of coverage that focused on FOIA element of the claim. Legal experts suggested to TPM that the FOIA piece is something of a ******* horse. The Judicial Conference and Administrative Office’s denial of the FOIA request provides standing to sue, and thereby ask a federal judge to declare that the two judicial bodies “are subject to the FOIA as independent agencies within the executive branch.” In terms of importance, a judge finding that core parts of the judiciary are independent agencies of the executive branch would dwarf any FOIA material America First Legal might receive. The lawsuit itself seems to acknowledge this. At one point, in language channeling that of a protection racket, America First Legal observes that “Federal courts rely on the executive branch for facility management and security. Federal judges, as officers of the courts, need resources to fulfill their constitutional obligations.” New extreme for an old theory There is a level of irony here. For years, conservative legal scholars have pushed the idea that power in the executive is unitary, granting the President the ability to exert direct control over all federal officials who carry out federal law. It opens the door to a level of presidential power that hasn’t been seen until this administration, and which the Supreme Court may ratify this term. This lawsuit asks the judiciary to extend that logic to its own operations, potentially dealing a fatal blow to judicial independence. This argument reaches a provocative peak when it comes to the Judicial Conference of the United States. There, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court can appoint members to committees. The lawsuit says that this means Roberts may, at times, fall under the President’s power — for FOIA purposes, of course. “Accordingly, if the Chief Justice does indeed have this power to appoint officers, then he must be acting as an agency head, subjecting the Judicial Conference to the FOIA,” the suit reads. Melissa Murray, a professor at NYU Law, pointed out that the suit raises a number of bizarre scenarios. If it makes it to the Supreme Court, “does the Chief Justice have to recuse himself?” she asked. “It does seem like poking the bear,” she added. As of this writing, lawyers for Roberts and the U.S. Courts director have not appeared on the docket. In other cases filed against parts of the judiciary, the Justice Department’s Civil Division has appointed attorneys. The DOJ did not return a request for comment. The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts declined to comment. The Supreme Court also did not return requests for comment. This doesn’t necessarily mean that federal courthouses will soon start serving Trump steaks, or that Kid Rock will be called on to provide filler sound during sidebar sessions. Blake Emerson, a professor at UCLA Law, called the suit’s claims “outlandish,” and said that if it somehow succeeded, it would grant the White House control over “the means by which the judicial branch functionally operates.” O’Connell, the Stanford Law Professor, described it to TPM as more of an attempt to tell a story about “how much power they think the executive should have” than a serious legal claim. “There is no chance that this will prevail,” she said. Read the lawsuit here: Source link #Trump #Allies #Sue #John #Roberts #Give #White #House #Control #Court #System Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Australia’s voters reject right-wing politics – The Economist Australia’s voters reject right-wing politics – The Economist Australia’s voters reject right-wing politics The Economist’Trump was the game-changer’: Three things to know about the *********** election result BBCAustralian PM shrugs off questions about Donald Trump as other world leaders congratulate him The GuardianFirst Canada, Now Australia: The Trump Factor Boosts Another World Leader in an Election WSJAustralia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heads to a second 3-year term NPR Source link #Australias #voters #reject #rightwing #politics #Economist Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Chad Warner stars as Swans down Giants in bitter derby Chad Warner stars as Swans down Giants in bitter derby Sydney have bounced back from consecutive AFL losses to defeat GWS in their qualifying final rematch and hold onto local bragging rights. Source link #Chad #Warner #stars #Swans #Giants #bitter #derby Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Sweeping cuts hit NEA after Trump administration calls to eliminate the agency – NPR Sweeping cuts hit NEA after Trump administration calls to eliminate the agency – NPR Sweeping cuts hit NEA after Trump administration calls to eliminate the agency NPRTrump Administration Highlights: President Begins Pulling Back Money for the Arts The New York TimesTrump proposes eliminating the NEA and NEH as arts grants are canceled The Washington PostThe NEA is on Trump’s chopping block again, amid Doge review The Art NewspaperTrump Cancels NEA Grants for Many Bay Area Arts Nonprofits KQED Source link #Sweeping #cuts #hit #NEA #Trump #administration #calls #eliminate #agency #NPR Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ancient Greek Historian Plutarch Was Among the First Vegetarians Ancient Greek Historian Plutarch Was Among the First Vegetarians A bust of Plutarch. Credit: Odysses/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0 The ancient Greek historian Plutarch, who was also a philosopher and a high priest at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, could be considered the first outspoken vegetarian in the West, as he believed that it is “immoral” to eat animal flesh. In his book Morals, Plutarch has a chapter on meat eating in which he writes that since man has access to so many fresh fruits, vegetables, and nuts, it is inconceivable that he is forcing himself to eat bloody animal flesh “trying to cover the taste of blood with thousands of spices.” In words that resemble the statements of quite strict vegans and vegetarians today, Plutarch described the act of eating meat in off-putting and visceral terms: “Ι wonder what sensation the first man who put his lips on the blood of a dead animal felt. He put his mouth on the flesh of an animal that was killed. Lining up on his table stale carcasses. He called delicacies those parts the animal was using to roar, speak, move and see…” Plutarch inquires: “How could his eyes stand the sight of the blood of slaughtered, skinned and quartered creatures? How could his nose bear the stench? How could his mind not avert his tongue to touch foreign ulcers, to enjoy juices and fluids of mortal wounds?” Plutarch was a staunch vegetarian Plutarch also argues that man was not made to eat meat: “The fact that man was not made to eat meat is evident in his body structure. Indeed, the human body does not look at all like the bodies of animals made to eat meat…” “Man has no protruding lips, sharp teeth, sharp nails, hard stomach and hot breath able to process and digest the heavy components of meat,” he added. “Man’s nature, with the flat teeth, small mouth, soft tongue and weak breath for digestion precludes meat eating.” The historian and essayist adds that if man insists on eating meat, he should kill the animal with his bare hands rather than using an ax, arrow, or knife. He argues that animals that are made to eat flesh kill other animals on their own without the use of weapons or other devices. If man were designed to eat meat, then he must tear the animal with his teeth and eat it raw like natural carnivores do. Plutarch also argues that by roasting or boiling the meat, he alters its taste and then fools himself by using spices and honey to cover the taste of blood and hide his guilt for eating something that had a soul. He also fools his tongue for tasting something that is foreign. The ancient Greek diet From Plutarch’s words, one might think that ancient Greeks ate meat at nearly every meal. But was this actually the case? Records from antiquity paint an entirely different picture. The diet of the ancient Greeks is fascinating for many reasons. They had impressively varied eating habits, but they naturally contrasted in many ways to ours—with the most characteristic difference being that they ate much less than we do today. In ancient Greece, people would begin their day with a very lean breakfast, which included a little barley bread dipped in lukewarm wine and figs. Greeks of that time were very fond of fish, perhaps even more so than we are today. For lunch, they would routinely dine on any fresh fish that was available, including sea bream, mullet, sardines, and eels. There was always an assortment of legumes from which to choose, including lentils, beans, chickpeas, peas and broad beans, to eat with their fish. The eternal European staple of bread was always part of the midday meal, accompanied by cheese, olives, eggs, nuts, and fruits. Ancient Greeks considered dinner to be the most important and enjoyable meal of the day, and it often contained many vegetables, grains, and fish. Regarding meat, it was in fact not often consumed in ancient Greece. In their diet, the ancient Greeks showed a particular affinity for pork and veal while they rarely ate goat or lamb. They also loved hunting, especially small birds such as thrush and quail, but they were not averse to hunting deer as well, so venison was not unheard of at the ancient Greek table. Source link #Ancient #Greek #Historian #Plutarch #Among #Vegetarians Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Liberals left reeling after defeat Liberals left reeling after defeat Australia’s opposition party has been left reeling after a bruising defeat in Saturday’s federal election, with a result that is shaping up to be its worst ever loss. Peter Dutton, the Liberal party leader, also lost his own seat of Dickson, which he had held for the past 24 years. Labor’s landslide victory means the Liberal party is now scrambling to find a new leader – and figure out what went wrong for them this election cycle. Some Liberal party members have called for a “serious review”, with one adviser summing up the loss as a failure of “the Dutton experiment”. Dutton has also become the first federal opposition leader to ever lose their own seat at the same time as losing an election, which means he has been ousted from parliament. Labor’s Ali France defeated Dutton in his home base of Dickson in Queensland. In his first public appearance after Labor’s emphatic win, prime minister Anthony Albanese told media outside a Sydney cafe on Sunday that “the *********** people voted for unity rather than division”. The Liberal party’s most crushing losses were in Australia’s major cities, where party members have been all but wiped out in metropolitan areas including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. Liberal MP Keith Wolahan has called for a “serious review” of the systemic issues that led to the party’s shock defeat. “You have to acknowledge things went wrong,” he told the *********** Broadcasting Corporation’s Insiders program. “We have to listen to Australians. They have sent us a message, and our first task is to hear it. And that often takes time.” Wolahan represents the seat of Menzies in Victoria, and said it was very likely he would also lose his seat. When asked if Peter Dutton himself was the problem, Wolahan declined to answer directly, but said he has great respect for the Liberal leader. Some were more blunt, like Andrew Carswell, a former adviser to Australia’s last Liberal prime minister, who told the ABC “the Dutton experiment failed”. He Carswell went on to describe Saturday’s as “a complete catastrophe for the Coalition”, which he said showed that Australians had “clear hesitation with Peter Dutton.” The looming presence of Donald Trump has also been cited as a major factor for thwarting Dutton’s already inconsistent campaign, with many people drawing parallels between him and the American president. Dutton’s loss has now set in motion the scramble for a new Liberal party leader. Carswell was hopeful about the prospect of some “very good up-and-coming Liberal MPs” stepping into leadership roles. Those tipped as most likely contenders for the top job include shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and deputy leader Sussan Ley. Shadow immigration minister Dan Tehan and shadow minister of defence Andrew Hastie have also been mentioned. But without a clear frontrunner, the Liberal party will have to try to regroup in the coming days – as well as develop a new strategy to win back the voters they lost. Source link #Liberals #left #reeling #defeat Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Federal election 2025: Trumpet of Patriots leader Suellen Wrightson shuts down social media accounts Federal election 2025: Trumpet of Patriots leader Suellen Wrightson shuts down social media accounts The leader of the Clive Palmer-backed Trumpet of Patriots party has shut down her social media accounts following its poor election performance, despite bombarding voters with spam text messages and spending millions on advertising. Suellen Wrightson, who stood in the NSW seat of Hunter and was dubbed by Mr Palmer as “Australia’s next prime minister”, achieved just 3.4 per cent of the vote by Sunday morning. She shut down and locked her Facebook and Instagram accounts after the election. In a final post on X, she congratulated Labor leader Anthony Albanese on his victory and gave her commiserations to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who lost his Queensland seat of Dickson. “The *********** people have spoken,” she wrote on X. Feel like giving the politicians a rating this Federal election? Our Pollie Rater lets you do just that. Rate the politicians “Importantly, we will use this decisive Labor victory to reevaluate our position, listen, learn and continue to present the important political issues to the *********** people.” Businessman Clive Palmer launched Trumpets of Patriots in February — promising to adopt many policies of US President Donald Trump — after losing a bid to re-register his United Australia Party in the High Court. The party splurged more than $6.8 million on advertising and prompted widespread complaints after it sent voters multiple unsolicited text messages in the lead-up to Saturday’s poll. Source link #Federal #election #Trumpet #Patriots #leader #Suellen #Wrightson #shuts #social #media #accounts Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Canelo cruises, locks up Sept. clash with Crawford – ESPN Canelo cruises, locks up Sept. clash with Crawford – ESPN Canelo cruises, locks up Sept. clash with Crawford ESPNCanelo Alvarez beats Scull to reclaim undisputed super-middleweight title Al JazeeraCanelo Alvarez vs. William Scull predictions, odds, full card preview: Does Scull stand a chance? Yahoo SportsWhat time is Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull? Ring walk time for fight on Saturday USA TodayCanelo Alvarez turns attention to superfight with Terence Crawford after win vs. William Scull The New York Times Source link #Canelo #cruises #locks #Sept #clash #Crawford #ESPN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Alvarez vs Scull: ******** to fight Crawford in super-fight after dull points win Alvarez vs Scull: ******** to fight Crawford in super-fight after dull points win Fighting outside of Mexico or America for the first time as a professional, Alvarez made his ring walk at the unusually early 06:20 local time to cater for audiences back home. As he often does, Alvarez started slowly to feel out his opponent. He landed right and left hooks to the body in the second round and Scull sneaked an uppercut through Alvarez’s guard in the third. But Alvarez was unable to apply any real pressure and was being made to miss by 32-year-old Cuban Scull’s movement. Scull walked back to the corner smiling after the seventh, as if he felt he was on course for the upset. With little action happening inside the ring, the cameras panned to a bored-looking Crawford at ringside. “Let’s fight, there’s too much running around,” British referee Kieran McCann told both fighters before the ninth. Visibly annoyed with his opponent’s approach, Alvarez shook his head as he walked back to his corner after the 10th. Scull complained about low blows, most of which were legitimate punches, and Alvarez was warned for punching when his opponent had his back turned in the 11th. The closer scorecards reflected how neither fighter asserted their dominance in the tedious contest. “He came just to survive until the 12th round,” Alvarez said after his 63rd career win. “I hope September will be another kind of fight.” Source link #Alvarez #Scull #******** #fight #Crawford #superfight #dull #points #win Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]