WASHINGTONApproaching cautiously after waiting for an opportune moment to pose his question, Vice President JD Vance reportedly asked a National Guardsman patrolling the nations capital Monday if he could touch the mans service rifle. Sorry to bother you, siris that thing real? Vance said to a newly armed member of the Ohio National Guard on a D.C. street corner, adding that he was a little scared, but if it wasnt any trouble, he would also love to feel the weight of the privates M4 rifle in his hands for a couple seconds. Boy, this puppy is way lighter than it seemsbet its got a loud bark, though! What is it, plastic? Metal? So this is the trigger, right? And this is the barrel? Hey Usha! Usha, come take my picture, please! At press time, reports confirmed Vance had been rushed to Walter Reed hospital after accidentally blowing his head off with the weapon.The post JD Vance Asks National Guard Member If He Can Touch Gun appeared first on The Onion.

Renata Zarazua, of Mexico, reacts after defeating Madison Keys, of the United States, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)2025-08-25T19:12:16Z NEW YORK (AP) Australian Open champion Madison Keys was undone by 89 unforced errors and was upset in the first round of the U.S. Open 6-7 (10), 7-6 (3), 7-5 by Renata Zarazua of Mexico on Monday.The sixth-seeded Keys, who was the runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2017, made so many mistakes, including 14 double-faults, that Zarazua needed to produce just eight winners to earn the biggest victory of her career.The 82nd-ranked Zarazua had lost in either the first or second round in all eight of her previous Grand Slam appearances.Keys earned her first major championship at Melbourne Park in January, defeating No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final.In addition to her run to the final in New York eight years ago before losing to good friend Sloane Stephens, Keys also was a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in 2018 and 2023.But with her left thigh heavily taped Monday, the big-hitting Keys struggled for stretches in Arthur Ashe Stadium against the 5-foot-3 Zarazua, who came into the day with a 0-6 record against opponents ranked in the top 10. Im a little bit small in height, so coming in here, it was like: Oh, my God. This is huge, Zarazua said about the largest stadium in Grand Slam tennis, which holds nearly 24,000 spectators. When I retire, Im going to be really happy about it, Zarazua said, so I was like, Just enjoy it.She certainly did.When the match ended with Keys missing yet another forehand, Zarazua smiled as wide as possible, held her racket atop her head as she began walking forward for a handshake, then placed a hand over her face. This one certainly was memorable, in part because it did not come easily even though Keys kept having problems and Zarazua kept moving ahead across the 3 hours, 10 minutes of action.The trouble for Zarazua was that she had a hard time closing the deal.She went up 4-2 in the first set, then was a point from owning it five times, but couldnt convert any of those opportunities. Eventually, Keys converted her third set point. In the second set, Zarazua fell behind 3-0, then took five games in a row to lead 5-3. She trailed 6-5 after another run by Keys, but this time came through in the tiebreaker to force a third set.Zarazua led in the decider and served for the win at 5-3, but Keys broke there and then held for 5-all.At the end, though, Zarazua took the last two games.While Keys was one of 25 American players in the womens singles draw at their home Grand Slam tournament, Zarazua is Mexicos lone entrant in the bracket.Its a country that we dont have many tennis players, as you can see, Zarazua said. We just try to give our best. But definitely, I could hear some Mexicans cheering, so that was very nice.What else happened at the US Open on Monday?Brazilian teenager Joo Fonseca, who turned 19 on Thursday, won his U.S. Open debut, defeating Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3 in front of a raucous crowd of his countrymen. That makes Fonseca 4-0 in first-round matches in majors in 2025. Another precocious player, 18-year-old Canadian Vicky Mboko, who was seeded 22nd, was eliminated by two-time major champion Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-2. Two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, who is 35, played her last match before retirement, losing to Diane Parry 6-1, 6-0. Frances Tiafoe, Venus Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were scheduled to be on court later Monday. Who is on Tuesdays schedule at the US Open?A packed program for Day 3 of the first round includes Grand Slam champions Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Gauffs opponent is Ajla Tomljanovic, who beat Serena Williams at the U.S. Open in the last match of 23-time major title winners career. This is Gauffs first match since she began working with biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan in a bid to improver her serve. ___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis HOWARD FENDRICH Fendrich is an Associated Press national writer based in Washington, D.C. He reports on tennis and other sports. twitter mailto

Maren Morris is currently embarked on The Dreamsicle Tour across North America, and after Friday's show in Michigan, she says a fan behaved inappropriately during a meet-and-greet. The singer took to her Instagram stories, sharing that the incident had occurred. (@) "Hi yall. Tonights show was so fun, but someone grabbed my ass during [the] meet-and-greet before the show, the text reads. "Im going to continue them because one person shouldnt ruin it for everyone, but please know Im there to connect, share, hug, all the things, but please dont override someones personal space. Love you.The singer, who is touring her most recent album Dreamsicle which came out in May, came out as bisexual during a performance in Phoenix, Arizona during Pride month last year following her split from her ex-husband, Ryan Hurd. She shared a now-deleted post to her Instagram, which she captioned, "Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+, happy pride."As one of the Out 100 honorees last year, Morris reflected on her bisexual identity and the experience of coming out. "I dont know if Id consider it an accomplishment but its certainly something Im proud of; coming out publicly," she said at the time. "It was sort of the last domino of me holding my true self back. You can say it to yourself for decades but saying it to the world is a choice. I just didnt want any piece of myself locked in a corridor."She said she did a lot of work to "reset a lot of 'comfortable' elements [her] my life that were getting very stale the last few years." Morris continued, " I feel like the whole world was getting shaken up around me and I was desperately trying to clamp down on the few things I felt I had control of instead of just letting the world change me for the better and not fighting the nature of things."

Less than 1%No matter where transgender people live, they share one thing in common their legislators are passing laws that target less than one percent of the population. Over 2.8 million people in the U.S. are trans, according to a new report from the Williams Institute, including 724,000 youth ages 13 to 17. This accounts for one percent of the nation's total population 13 and older, 0.8 percent of adults (over 2.1 million people), and 3.3 percent of young people.Related: Which state has the most transgender people? Here are the top 10There isn't one state or one region where trans people tend to gather the amount of those 18 and older who identify as trans are "similar across regions and range," according to the report, with the lowest being 0.7 percent in the South and the highest 0.9 percent in the Northeast.That doesn't mean laws targeting the trans community don't have an impact on where they live. The majority of states with low amounts of trans people are aggressively proposing and passing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, suggesting that the community could be avoiding these areas. Related: These are the 5 states with the smallest amount of LGBTQ+ peopleHere are the states with the lowest number of trans people per capita, and the laws they've passed so far this year targeting them. 10 (tie). VirginiaTrans people only make up 0.64 percent of Virginia's adult population, amounting to 44,100 total. The state is one of just two on this list that have not passed an anti-LGBTQ+ law so far in 2025. 10 (tie). IdahoIdaho's total percentage of trans people is tied with Virginia at 0.64 percent, though the state has a smaller population at 9,600. The state has enacted seven anti-LGBTQ+ laws in 2025, including a trans bathroom ban and protections for employers who do not wish to provide access to gender-affirming care. 9. AlabamaAlabama's adult trans community accounts for 0.63 percent of its total population 25,100 people. The state has passed one anti-LGBTQ+ law this year, which bans trans people from single-sex spaces that do not align with their sex at birth.8. KentuckyThe trans adults in Kentucky make up 0.62 percent of the state's population, totaling 21,900. The state has passed four anti-LGBTQ+ laws so far this year, including a ban on gender-affirming care for youth, restrictions against the care for incarcerated people, and policy prohibiting Medicaid from covering the care. 7. LouisianaLouisiana's adult trans community makes up 0.61 percent of the state's population, totaling 21,600. The state has passed one anti-LGBTQ+ law so far this year, which creates religious exemptions for those discriminating against anti-LGBTQ+ people.6. OklahomaOklahoma has 18,000 trans adults, accounting for 0.58 of the state's population. The state has passed three anti-LGBTQ+ laws so far this year, including policies allowing anti-LGBTQ+ parents to foster LGBTQ+ children, banning incarcerated trans people from facilities aligning with their gender identities, and requiring biological sex to be listed on birth certificates while prohibiting nonbinary designations.5. GeorgiaThe trans adults in Georgia account for 0.56 percent of the state's population, amounting to 47,400 total.The state has passed three anti-LGBTQ+ laws this year, including policies banning trans students from facilities and sports teams that align with their gender identities and restricting gender-affirming care for incarcerated people4. North DakotaNorth Dakota's trans community accounts for 0.53 percent of the population 3,300 total.The state has passed one anti-LGBTQ+ law so far this year, which bans trans students from facilities that align with their gender identities.3. North CarolinaThe trans adults in North Carolina make up 0.45 percent of the population, totaling 38,600.The state has passed two anti-LGBTQ+ law so far this year, incorrectly recognizing male and female as the only sexes, restricting sex marker changes on birth certificates, banning trans college students from facilities that align with their gender identity, and limiting state funding for gender-affirming care for adults.2. ArkansasTrans adults make up 0.44 percent of Arkansas' population. That's 10,500 people.The state has passed six anti-LGBTQ+ laws this year, including policies banning trans people from using single-sex spaces that do not align with their sex at birth, allowing doctors to refuse gender transition treatments, defining gender-affirming care for youth as "malpractice," and restricting public funds from covering the care.1. New MexicoThe state with the smallest amount of trans adults per capita is New Mexico, with 6,900 people accounting for 0.41 percent of the population.The state has not passed any anti-LGBTQ+ laws so far in 2025.

Even if youre not terminally online, theres a meme youve likely seen floating around the internet. Taken from the 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, it features two side-by-side panels. In the first, Fred stands in front of a tied-up masked criminal, hand poised to pull off the mask. In the second panel, the mask has been torn away, revealing the face of a mustachioed villain. Known as the Lets See Who This Really Is meme format, it was co-opted by the internet and has become a go-to way of skewering ironic unmaskings.Its hard not to think of this meme when reading about the Department of Health and Human Services new alternative to gender-affirming care: Gender Exploratory Therapy. In practice, its just a masked and rebranded version of gender conversion therapy, a practice that has been thoroughly discredited as both pseudoscience and as deeply harmful to queer and trans people, the point at which it has been likened to torture. To better understand what Gender Exploratory Therapy is and why its such a dangerous practice, PRIDE spoke with experts: Dr. Michael Grey, a trauma therapist specializing in sexual and gender minority mental health; Lucas Saiter, a licensed psychotherapist and founder of Manhattan Therapy NYC; and Edward Reese, a gender and sexuality expert at Taimi.What is Gender Exploratory Therapy?On May 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report that sought to discredit gender-affirming care, a medical intervention for gender dysphoria, and instead promoted exploratory therapy for transgender and nonbinary people. Trans and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups were quick to point out that this was simply a rebranding of gender conversion therapy, and they criticized the reports lack of transparency, including the omission of the reviews authors names.So what exactly is it? Gender Exploratory Therapy (GET) is a phrase created by organizations that believe talk therapy should always come before and often instead of gender-affirming care, Saiter tells PRIDE. Its the opposition to gender-affirming approaches and instead uses talk therapy to explore what they deem as the pathological roots of trans identities and gender dysphoria.Dr. Michael Grey explains that the practice should not be conflated with gender-affirming care and that it is, in fact, in direct opposition to it. While gender-affirming care is guided by the preferences of the client, GET discourages affirmation and instead promotes an exploratory approach using talk therapy to identify potential pathological origins of individuals transgender identity and gender dysphoria, he tells PRIDE. Primarily aimed at youth and young adults, GET may also be experienced by older adults.Its also nothing new, Reese tells PRIDE. In fact, this idea has roots stretching back to the earliest days of modern healthcare and transphobia, when doctors worldwide tried to cure individuals who were either gay or transgender. What has changed in recent years is the language. Conservative healthcare professionals and their allies have sought softer terms to describe their harmful practices. The agenda behind GET is not about genuinely supporting patients, but rather about delaying transitions as long as possible, ultimately aiming to alter how these patients view themselves.If theres any question about the agenda of GET, simply look to whos behind it. The term was popularized by the Gender Exploratory Therapy Association (now called Therapy First), which has ties to groups like Genspect and the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM) that have historically opposed affirming medical care for trans and nonbinary people, says Saiter.Who is being targeted for GET?While anyone questioning their gender may find themselves being sucked into GET, Saiter says it's young people in particular who are being targeted.This approach is often marketed to young people questioning their gender identity, especially teens and young adults, he explains. But thats not all: Parents who are looking for providers that will take a more cautious or skeptical stance toward affirmation, may also find themselves falling down the GET rabbit hole, he warns.What does it entail, and how is it similar to conversion therapy?Whats insidious about GET is how it presents initially, which can lull people into a false sense of safety with the practice. On the surface, GET looks like regular talk therapy, warns Saiter. But the difference is that it emphasizes searching for underlying causes of gender dysphoria like trauma, autism, or anxiety while casting doubt on affirmation or transition, he explains. The idea is that transition should be delayed or avoided until every other possible explanation has been exhausted.It is framed as open-ended exploration, adds Dr. Grey. There is no set protocol, which means this could be indefinite, and never really affirm someones identity.That makes it very similar to gender identity conversion efforts attempts to change, suppress, or prevent someones authentic gender identity or expression, adds Saiter. This is why many clinicians, ethicists, and advocacy groups view GET as a modern rebranding of conversion therapy.Like conversion therapy, the experts say that there are dangers associated with GETWe know from research that gender identity conversion efforts are linked to higher rates of depression, distress, and suicide attempts, says Saiter. For young people, delaying or denying gender-affirming care can mean missing out on interventions that are actually shown to reduce suicidality and improve mental health. In short: GET doesnt just slow things down. It can put people at greater risk.The purpose of GET, in part, is about delaying actual gender-affirming care, and that in and of itself puts trans and nonbinary individuals at risk. Research supports that there is not only an increase in distress and dysphoria, but there are delays in accessing medical care, which can worsen mental health care outcomes, for a group of individuals who already experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, says Dr. Grey. It also reinforces stigma, shame, and weaponizes therapy, making people feel pathologized or not believed. You need to justify your existence to people who are already committed to misunderstanding you.The result, says Dr. Grey, is that survivors of GET end up feeling gaslit, shamed, and some have reported experiencing long-term harm from the practice.Is GET effective?The risks of conversion therapy and its ilk are well documented, but is there a reward to the risk? Is it actually effective? No surprise: the experts all agree it is not.There is no credible evidence that suggests that it does, and there is no evidence that supports that GET improves long-term mental health outcomes, says Dr. Grey.However, the opposite is true for gender-affirming care. There is growing evidence that gender-affirming care when chosen and supported by the individual is associated with better outcomes, including less depression and suicidality, says Saiter.Dr. Grey also points out that gender-affirming care is strongly associated with lower depression and suicidality, improved quality of life, and overall better mental health care outcomes and well-being. There are claims that GET prevents regret or de-transitioning, while evidence supports that most transgender folks who have access to affirming care are satisfied with their choices.What should LGBTQ+ people, and those who care about them, know about this practice?With the Department of Health and Human Services rallying behind this treatment approach for gender dysphoria, its more important than ever to recognize the red flags. Saiter says to be wary of any therapy groups that insist you prove your gender identity.However, that doesnt mean that gender-affirming care cant include exploration, he adds. Any good therapist explores history, identity, trauma, and relationships. The difference is that affirming care doesnt frame someones identity as a problem to be solved.Saiter offers some advice for finding an affirming therapist: ask them both how they approach gender-affirming care, and who decides when therapy is enough? You deserve therapy that sees your identity as real, your autonomy as valid, and your safety as the priority.Affirming care doesnt mean rushing or skipping over reflection it just means holding someones identity with respect instead of suspicion, he continues. Therapy should never serve a political agenda. The goal should always be centering the clients well-being and autonomy.

Connor Franta made the video that everyone has been waiting for since 2014. He finally shared details about his long-rumored relationship with pop star Troye Sivan and talked about where the two stand after they broke up, leaving them on what seemed like not great terms.Now, in a new video uploaded to YouTube on Sunday, Franta talked about his ex-boyfriend who he dated for two years, his interpretation of the song, and about being ahead of the curve on finding budding pop divas.He starts the video out saying, "What in the 2014 is going on? I'm just as baffled as all of you are right now... Occasionally, I kind of get thrown back into the zeitgeist, and its just as confusing for me as it is for you. He continued, "People still care, not only about me, but about a relationship I had for two years.Franta smiles as he confirms that there is no bad blood between him and Sivan, whom he never names in the video, but it's obvious who he's talking about. "There is no drama. There is no tea." Franta and Sivan were already popular creators back in 2014 and were hanging out with all of the big YouTubers at the time. But at the height of their YouTube fame, fans began to notice they were hanging out often and appearing in each other's videos, which evidently led to relationship rumors.However, they slowly stopped hanging out and in 2018, Sivan released a song called "The Good Side" that seemed to detail the end of their relationship but it was never confirmed from either party until recently when an old photo resurfaced of Sivan and Franta with Chappell Roan. @lucasscottswife #TRONNOR this is so tumblr im sorry the final words i have are actually FOR HIM. blue neighborhood you will always be famous #troyesivan #connorfranta #edit He then shifts gears to talk about the song and says, "The fucking horrible thing about that song, is that he was right, but he was also completely wrong," adding, "I think he got the good side of things emotionally, but a song like that neglects the idea that people are individuals and everyone chooses their own path in life.Franta says that the two actually met much later than the song would suggest when they bumped into each other at an event and for the first time, he says, engaged in a conversation in years and it went over very smoothly. "I think in many ways, I felt he was the boogeyman to me and I felt like when you're running away from wanting to talk to someone, confront someone or have a hard conversation, it could feel like climbing Mt. Everest. And then inevitably you make it out to be something much scarier and larger than it actually is."The 32-year-old YouTuber goes on to confirm that he has no bad blood with anyone from the 2014 era of YouTube (though the jury may still be out on Daniel Preda who Franta eviscerated in a video after Preda called him "boring"). Franta also jokingly apologized to Roan for dragging her in the middle of this drama, saying, "Obsessed with the fact that Chappell Roan was dragged into this twink issue unwarranted, unsolicited, solidarity for my girl.He ended the video saying, "The final words I have are actually for him, so if you happen to be watching this, I just want to let you know that Im proud of you, too. For every single thing that youve done. These words cut deep to Tronnor (the pair's ship name online) fans because it references two Sivan songs. (@) The first being the "For Him," a song on Sivan's debut album, Blue Neighborhood, that is said to be about Franta because the song was dedicated to Sivan's boyfriend at the time in the album's liner notes, and "The Good Side," where he directly responds to Sivan's lyrics where he sings, "I'm sure we'll meet in the spring/And catch up on everything/I'll say I'm proud of all that you've done."

Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers has requested a trade, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Texans running back Joe Mixon won't be activated from the non-football injury list by Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, making him ineligible to play at least the first four games this season due to an ankle injury.

An executive order released on Monday directs the creation of specialized Guard units to quell civil disturbances in each state and seeks civilian volunteers to assist federal agents in Washington.

A bipartisan pair of members of Congress made the first official U.S. visit there since the fall of the Assad government, arguing that it was time to permanently lift American sanctions.

Two of the objects in the arrangement are cold brown dwarfs, which will serve as a benchmark for others throughout the Milky Way.

Schools across the country face increasing threats, but many students with disabilities dont have a way to evacuate.

With the deployment of the National Guard, owners say business is down drastically.

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An American flag is burned during a march for Jayland Walker, July 6, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)2025-08-25T17:08:39Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order requiring the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute people for burning the American flag, an activity that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled is legitimate political expression protected by the U.S. Constitution. The order the Republican president signed in the Oval Office acknowledged the courts 5-4 ruling in a case from Texas in 1989, but said there is still room to prosecute flag burning if it is likely to incite imminent lawless action or amounts to fighting words.In that case, the justices ruled 5-4 that the First Amendment protects flag burning as legitimate political expression. The late Justice Antonin Scalia, the conservative icon who Trump has repeatedly praised, was in the majority. Trump said Monday that burning the U.S. flag incites riots at levels weve never seen before, with some people going crazy over burning it and others expressing anger at people for burning it. He did not offer examples. An American flag is burned during a march for Jayland Walker, July 6, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) An American flag is burned during a march for Jayland Walker, July 6, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The text of the executive order states that desecrating the American flag is uniquely offensive and provocative. It is a statement of contempt, hostility, and violence against our Nation the clearest possible expression of opposition to the political union that preserves our rights, liberty, and security. Burning this representation of America may incite violence and riot. The order calls on the attorney general to prioritize enforcement to the fullest extent possible of criminal and civil laws against flag burning that cause harm unrelated to the First Amendment. Trump said the penalty for flag-burning would be one year in jail with no opportunity for early release.The order also states that foreign nationals who burn the flag could face having their visas, residency permits, naturalization proceedings and other immigration benefits revoked. They could also be deported. Trump said the court that ruled that flag burning is constitutionally protected was a very sad court.I guess it was a 5 to 4 decision. They called it freedom of speech, the president said. But theres another reason, which is perhaps much more important. Its called death.Because what happens when you burn a flag is the area goes crazy, Trump said. If you have hundreds of people, they go crazy.___Associated Press writer Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report. DARLENE SUPERVILLE Superville covers the White House for The Associated Press, with a special emphasis on first ladies and first families.

Camper's belongings sit outside one of Camp Mystic's cabins near the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area, July 7, 2025, in Hunt, Texas. (AP Photo/Eli Hartman, file)2025-08-25T15:15:15Z More than 180 current and former employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency published a letter Monday warning that debilitating cuts to the agency charged with handling federal disaster response risks a catastrophe like the one seen after Hurricane Katrina.Our shared commitment to our country, our oaths of office, and our mission of helping people before, during, and after disasters compel us to warn Congress and the American people of the cascading effects of decisions made by the current administration, the letter states. The statement in it is noteworthy not only for its content but for its overall existence; a fierce approach toward critics by the Trump administration has caused many in the federal government to hesitate before locking heads with the White House. The letter coincides with the 20th anniversary week of Hurricane Katrina, when more than 1,800 people died and profound failures in the federal response prompted Congress to pass the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The letter warns that poor management and eroded capacity at FEMA could undo progress made to improve the agency through that law.Two decades later, FEMA is enacting processes and leadership structures that echo the conditions PKEMRA was designed to prevent, it states. It comes amid uncertainty for FEMAThe letter is addressed to the FEMA Review Council, a 12-person group of elected officials, emergency managers and other leaders from mostly Republican states that President Donald Trump appointed to suggest reforms to an agency he has repeatedly threatened to eliminate. It comes after months of upheaval at FEMA. One-third of the agencys full-time workforce has left or been fired, including many high-level staff. The agencys acting chief, Cameron Hamilton, was fired in May and replaced by another acting head, David Richardson. Neither has prior emergency management experience. FEMAs response to the July Texas floods that killed at least 136 people came under criticism after reports that survivor calls to FEMA went unanswered and Urban Search and Rescue teams deployed late because of a policy by which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem must personally approve expenditures above $100,000.The letter contains six statements of opposition to current policies at FEMA, including the expenditure approval policy, which the signatories say reduces FEMAs ability to perform its missions.It also critiques the DHS decision to reassign some FEMA employees to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the failure to appoint a qualified FEMA administrator as stipulated by law, and cuts to mitigation programs, preparedness training and FEMA workforce.In an email Monday, FEMA spokesperson Daniel Llargues said that the Trump Administration has made accountability and reform a priority so that taxpayer dollars actually reach the people and communities they are meant to help.It is not surprising that some of the same bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency are now objecting to reform, Llargues said. Change is always hard. Letter seeks to establish FEMA as a Cabinet-level agencyThe letter was also sent to multiple Congressional committees and calls on lawmakers to establish FEMA as a Cabinet-level independent agency in the executive branch. The bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans, or FEMA Act, introduced in the House last month, proposes the same.Thirty five signatories included their names. The 141 anonymous signatories choose not to identify themselves due to the culture of fear and suppression cultivated by this administration, according to the letter.Employees at other agencies including the National Institutes of Health and Environmental Protection Agency have issued similar statements. About 140 EPA staff members at the were placed on administrative leave for signing an opposition letter. The FEMA Review Council will meet for the third time this week on Thursday. GABRIELA AOUN ANGUEIRA Gabriela covers philanthropys role in disaster resilience and recovery. She is based in San Diego, California. instagram mailto

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regularly searched more than 80,000 Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, according to data released by three police departments. The data shows that CBPs access to Flocks network is far more robust and widespread than has been previously reported. One of the police departments 404 Media spoke to said it did not know or understand that it was sharing data with CBP, and Flock told 404 Media Monday that it has paused all federal pilots.In May, 404 Media reported that local police were performing lookups across Flock on behalf of ICE, because that part of the Department of Homeland Security did not have its own direct access. Now, the newly obtained data and local media reporting reveals that CBP had the ability to perform Flock lookups by itself.Last week, 9 News in Colorado reported that CBP has direct access to Flocks ALPR backend through a pilot program. In that article, 9 News revealed that the Loveland, Colorado police department was sharing access to its Flock cameras directly with CBP. At the time, Flock said that this was through what 9 News described as a one-to-one data sharing agreement through that pilot program, making it sound like these agreements were rare and limited:The company now acknowledges the connection exists through a previously publicly undisclosed program that allows Border Patrol access to a Flock account to send invitations to police departments nationwide for one-to-one data sharing, and that Loveland accepted the invitation, 9 News wrote. A spokesperson for Flock said agencies across the country have been approached and have agreed to the invitation. The spokesperson added that U.S. Border Patrol is not on the nationwide Flock sharing network, comprised of local law enforcement agencies across the country. Loveland Police says it is on the national network.New data obtained using three separate public records requests from three different police departments gives some insight into how widespread these one-to-one data sharing agreements actually are. The data shows that in most cases, CBP had access to more Flock cameras than the average police department, that it is regularly using that access, and that, functionally, there is no difference between Flocks nationwide network and the network of cameras that CBP has access to.According to data obtained from the Boulder, Colorado Police Department by William Freeman, the creator of a crowdsourced map of Flock devices called DeFlock, CBP ran at least 118 Flock network searches between May 13 and June 13 of this year. Each of these searches encompassed at least 6,315 individual Flock networks (a network is a specific police department or citys cameras) and at least 82,000 individual Flock devices. Data obtained in separate requests from the Prosser Police Department and Chehalis Police Department, both in Washington state, also show CBP searching a huge number of networks and devices.A spokesperson for the Boulder Police Department told 404 Media that Boulder Police Department does not have any agreement with U.S. Border Patrol for Flock searches. We were not aware of these specific searches at the time they occurred. Prior to June 2025, the Boulder Police Department had Flock's national look-up feature enabled, which allowed other agencies from across the U.S. who also had contracts with Flock to search our data if they could articulate a legitimate law enforcement purpose. We do not currently share data with U.S. Border Patrol. In June 2025, we deactivated the national look-up feature specifically to maintain tighter control over Boulder Police Department data access. You can learn more about how we share Flock information on our FAQ page.A Flock spokesperson told 404 Media Monday that it sent an email to all of its customers clarifying how information is shared from agencies to other agencies. It said this is an excerpt from that email about its sharing options:The Flock platform provides flexible options for sharing:National sharingOpt into Flocks national sharing network. Access via the national lookup tool is limitedusers can only see results if they perform a full plate search and a positive match exists within the network of participating, opt-in agencies. This ensures data privacy while enabling broader collaboration when needed.Share with agencies in specific states onlyShare with agencies with similar laws (for example, regarding immigration enforcement and data)Share within your state only or within a certain distanceYou can share information with communities within a specified mile radius, with the entire state, or a combination of bothfor example, sharing with cities within 150 miles of Kansas City (which would include cities in Missouri and neighboring states) and / or all communities statewide simultaneously.Share 1:1Share only with specific agencies you have selectedDont share at allIn a blog post Monday, Flock CEO Garrett Langley said Flock has paused all federal pilots.While it is true that Flock does not presently have a contractual relationship with any U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies, we have engaged in limited pilots with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), to assist those agencies in combatting human trafficking and fentanyl distribution, Langley wrote. We clearly communicated poorly. We also didnt create distinct permissions and protocols in the Flock system to ensure local compliance for federal agency users [] All federal customers will be designated within Flock as a distinct Federal user category in the system. This distinction will give local agencies better information to determine their sharing settings.A Flock employee who does not agree with the way Flock allows for widespread data sharing told 404 Media that Flock has defended itself internally by saying it tries to follow the law. 404 Media granted the source anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the press.They will defend it as they have been by saying Flock follows the law and if these officials are doing law abiding official work then Flock will allow it, they said. However Flock will also say that they advise customers to ensure they have their sharing settings set appropriately to prevent them from sharing data they didnt intend to. The question more in my mind is the fact that law in America is arguably changing, so will Flock just go along with whatever the customers want?The data shows that CBP has tapped directly into Flocks huge network of license plate reading cameras, which passively scan the license plate, color, and model of vehicles that drive by them, then make a timestamped record of where that car was spotted. These cameras were marketed to cities and towns as a way of finding stolen cars or solving property crime locally, but over time, individual cities cameras have been connected to Flocks national network to create a huge surveillance apparatus spanning the entire country that is being used to investigate all sorts of crimes and is now being used for immigration enforcement. As we reported in May, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been gaining access to this network through a side door, by asking local police who have access to the cameras to run searches for them.9 Newss reporting and the newly released audit reports shared with 404 Media show that CBP now has direct access to much of Flocks system and does not have to ask local police to run searches. It also shows that CBP had access to at least one other police department system in Colorado, in this case Boulder, which is a state whose laws forbid sharing license plate reader data with the federal government for immigration enforcement. Boulders Flock settings also state that it is not supposed to be used for immigration enforcement.This story and our earlier stories, including another about a Texas official who searched nationwide for a woman who self-administered an abortion, were reported using Flock Network Audits released by police departments who have bought Flock cameras and have access to Flocks network. They are essentially a huge spreadsheet of every time that the departments camera data was searched; it shows which officer searched the data, what law enforcement department ran the search, the number of networks and cameras included in the search, the time and date of the search, the license plate, and a reason for the search. These audit logs allow us to see who has access to Flocks systems, how wide their access is, how often they are searching the system, and what they are searching for.The audit logs show that whatever system Flock is using to enroll local police departments cameras into the network that CBP is searching does not have any meaningful pushback, because the data shows that CBP has access to as many or more cameras as any other police department. Freeman analyzed the searches done by CBP on June 13 compared to searches done by other police departments on that same day, and found that CBP had a higher number of average cameras searched than local police departments.The average number of organizations searched by any agency per query is 6,049, with a max of 7,090, Freeman told 404 Media. That average includes small numbers like statewide searches. When I filter by searches by Border Patrol for the same date, their average number of networks searched is 6,429, with a max of 6,438. The reason for the maximum being larger than the national network is likely because some agencies have access to more cameras than just the national network (in-state cameras). Despite this, we still see that the count of networks searched by Border Patrol outnumbers that of all agencies, so if its not the national network, then this pilot program must have opted everyone in the nation in by default.CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has appeared at least four times on the Reformation Red Pill podcast, a far-right podcast hosted by Joshua Haymes, an anti-LGBTQ+ extremist who was also a former pastor at the church that Hegseth attends, The Guardian reported. The publication noted that Haymes wants to execute adulterers and people who have abortions, that he seemingly called for the deaths of LGBTQ+ Pride marchers, and also considers liberalism a greater threat to the nation than neo-Nazism. Related Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praises pastor who wants to criminalize homosexuality Haymes is aligned with theCommunion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a Christian Nationalist denomination that believes the United States should be subject to biblical law, and is both a member and former pastoral internof the Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship church inGoodlettsville, Tennessee, where Hegseth and his family are members.On August 5, Haymes posted a statement on X, which said, I used to say homosexuality is no worse than other sins. All sin separates us from God after all! I was wrong. Sexual sin is uniquely evil. Sodomy is an abomination to God, along with crossdressing Its important for Christians to say so. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today While Haymes post included a Bible verse calling cross-dressing an abomination, Biblical laws also require the death penalty for anyone who practices fortune telling, curses their mother or father, accidentally kills someone elses animal, or commits blasphemy. Other Old Testament laws demand death for anyone who charges interest on loans or works on Saturdays.Most contemporary Christians dont follow these ancient Biblical laws and say that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ made them obsolete. However, conservative Christians tend to cite anti-LGBTQ+ Bible verses as proof that God shares their hatred of LGBTQ+ people while ignoring Bible verses against other sins, like eating shellfish and wearing clothing made of two different fabrics.I used to say homosexuality is no worse than other sins.All sin separates us from God after all!I was wrong.Sexual sin is uniquely evil.Sodomy is an abomination to God, along with crossdressing (Deut. 22:5)Its important for Christians to say so. Joshua Haymes (@haymes_joshua) August 5, 2025 On August 13, Haymes posted an image praising Italy for banning lesbian couples from becoming parents, writing, By the grace of God, we will see this done in these United States.By the grace of God, we will see this done in these United States. https://t.co/FUXuhUWPzb Joshua Haymes (@haymes_joshua) August 13, 2025 In October 2024, Haymes wrote on X, Mutilating children, Or being an accomplice to mutilating children should be a capital offense. Jesus recommends execution by drowning. The post included an image of a man being drowned in the ocean with a large millstone tied to his neck. The image refers to a New Testament Bible verse that says those who cause children to stumble or sin would be better off being drowned in the sea with a large millstone hung around their neck. Mutilating children,Or being an accomplice to mutilating children should be a capital offense.Jesus recommends execution by drowning (Mat. 18:6). May God have mercy on those children. https://t.co/hMpw0p09po pic.twitter.com/1JW8karOjr Joshua Haymes (@haymes_joshua) October 9, 2024 In a June 28 post, Haymes posted footage of marchers in the Nashville, Tennessee Pride Parade and wrote, Were short on millstones at the Nashville Pride parade. This is sick. This is child abuse.When asked about his post, Haymes told the aforementioned publication, I do not advocate for violence against Pride marchers. I do not advocate for violence of any kind. I do not believe that anyone should be drowning anyone in this scenario My role is simply to give that warning. Pride marchers who are sexualizing children are in for a very, very harsh judgment when they stand before their maker.When asked for a comment about Haymes, a Pentagon spokesperson pointed to a statement declaring that [Hegseth] is a proud member of a church that is affiliated with the Congregation of Reformed Evangelical Churches which was founded by Pastor Doug Wilson. He is a very proud Christian and has those traditional Christian viewpoints. Earlier this month, Hegseth reposted a video in which Wilson said hed like laws against homosexuality to be reinstated in all 50 states.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The current presidential administration is slashing the lifesaving PEPFAR program for HIV relief, despite earlier public assurances to lawmakers and advocates that funding for the program was secure.Funding will be cut by half for both this and next years federal budgets, before he shuts down the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) completely, according to members of the programs staff as well as budget documents viewed by The New York Times. Related The GOP wants to end a life-saving HIV program & sell poor countries U.S meds instead PEPFAR has saved an estimated 26 million lives since it was introduced by President George W. Bush in 2003.The massive cuts come after PEPFARs supporters were lulled into thinking that the program was secure. Last July, the White House relented and restored $400 million in cuts to the program. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today That fight, in the face of bipartisan Senate opposition, was a distraction, according to staff members who work for PEPFAR, because theyve been repeatedly told by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that the program would be receiving less than half of the $6 billion appropriated by Congress for the 2025 fiscal year even after the $400 million was officially restored.But even that money hasnt been restored, according to a federal budget tracking website that was disappeared by the presidential administration in January and restored by court order just last week. Failure by OMB Director Russell Vought to appropriate the money is a de facto spending cut, according to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who serves as vice chair of the Senates Appropriations Committee.Even after promising Republican lawmakers that the program would be protected, Russ Vought has choked off a huge chunk of funding provided by Congress for PEPFAR, she said. And hes managed to hide this cut from lawmakers and the public until now because he took down a key spending transparency website.According to PEPFAR staff, they were told that the program would be given a maximum amount of $2.9 billion out of the original $6 billion commitment to the program. PEPFAR staff were told that they should make plans with implementing partners around the globe accordingly. Those staffers spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal. Further dilution of PEPFARs mission, mandated by Congress to cover HIV prevention alone, is occurring alongside budgetary cutbacks for preventing other diseases worldwide. Funds are being cut for Global Health security, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Polio eradication and prevention, according to an OMB document.The massive funding cuts coincide with Secretary of State Marco Rubios plan to shut PEPFAR down completely, cutting some countries off within just two years, and shuttering the entire program within eight.Observers have said that the cuts will worsen HIV epidemics abroad, destabilizing African regions, and making them more susceptible to warlords and other national security risks.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The controversy surrounding a transgender high school volleyball player in California has intensified after two more schools forfeited upcoming matches against Jurupa Valley High School, all due to the presence of 17-year-old athlete AB Hernandez on the team.Hernandez, a transgender girl and standout athlete, helped lead Jurupa Valley to an undefeated season and a league championship last year, and recently earned gold medals in the high jump and triple jump at the state track championships. Now, as her volleyball team embarks on a new season, opponents are walking off the court before the first serve.The forfeits have escalated tensions in the Riverside area, where school board meetings have become emotionally charged battlegrounds over transgender rights, student safety, and inclusion in youth sports. The most recent meeting of the Riverside Unified School District Board saw Hernandezs mother, Nereyda Hernandez, speak out publicly in defense of her daughter and against what she called targeted harassment and fear-mongering.This has nothing to do with fairness in sports and everything to do with erasing transgender children, she added. My daughter is a student, an athlete, and a girl and she deserves the same protections and dignity as every other child.More Schools Forfeit in ProtestFollowing Riverside Poly High Schools decision to forfeit a match against Jurupa Valley earlier this month, two additional schools, Rim of the World High School and Orange Vista High School, have now canceled their scheduled games on August 25 and 29, respectively.Jurupa Valley parent Maribel Munoz confirmed the forfeits, sharing a message from coach Liana Manu notifying families that the matches were canceled due to the opposing teams decisions to not play against Hernandez.In a statement to Fox Sports, a spokesperson for the Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) addressed the situation:We understand and acknowledge the disappointment of our Jurupa Valley High School athletes who are ready and prepared to play. Decisions to cancel matches were made by teams in other districts. It went on to say, As a public school district in California, JUSD is compelled to follow the law, which protects students from discrimination based on gender identity and requires that students be permitted to participate on athletic teams that are consistent with their gender identity (California Education Code 221.5 (f)).The district added that it is working to schedule replacement matches so that the team, and Hernandez, can continue their season.National Spotlight, Local PainHernandez has found herself at the center of a growing national conversation around transgender athletes in youth sports. Her participation in track and volleyball competitions has been met with protests, public condemnation, and now, active forfeitures.Earlier this year, she faced protesters wearing Save Girls Sports T-shirts at state championship meets. More recently, her name has surfaced in lawsuits, political talking points, and conservative media outlets making her a national figure in a debate few teenagers are prepared to navigate.At Thursdays school board meeting, her mother directly criticized board member Amanda Vickers, who had appeared on Fox News Digital to discuss the forfeits.Other parents raised concerns for ABs safety. One speaker accused the board of gross negligence, claiming the teen had been stalked and followed as a result of the ongoing backlash.But the room was divided. One parent, Maria Correo, spoke in support of the Riverside Poly players and condemned parents affirming their transgender childrens identities.She went on to compare affirming trans youth to enabling drug use: If my child was on drugs, I would love him, but guess what? I would tell him the truth: drugs are bad for you. I would not feed him more drugs.The Legal and Political BackdropCalifornia law currently protects transgender students rights to participate in school sports aligned with their gender identity, but challenges continue to mount. In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation for those same policies.Former President Donald Trump has also entered the fray, posting on Truth Social that any school district in California failing to comply with his executive order banning trans girls in girls sports would face funding cuts.Despite the vitriol and political pressure, Nereyda Hernandez remains focused on her daughters well-being.Jurupa Valley High Schools volleyball team continues to search for willing opponents. All matches are governed by California state law, which currently supports full inclusion of transgender athletes in youth sports.Source

The Commanders' offense got its juice back with McLaurin's long-awaited new deal Monday.

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Forty-four attorneys general signed an open letter to 11 chatbot and social media companies on Monday, warning them that they will answer for it if they knowingly harm children and urging the companies to see their products through the eyes of a parent, not a predator.The letter, addressed to Anthropic, Apple, Chai AI, OpenAI, Character Technologies, Perplexity, Google, Replika, Luka Inc., XAI, and Meta, cites recent reporting from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters uncovering chatbot interactions and internal policies at Meta, including policies that said, It is acceptable to engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual.Your innovations are changing the world and ushering in an era of technological acceleration that promises prosperity undreamt of by our forebears. We need you to succeed. But we need you to succeed without sacrificing the well-being of our kids in the process, the open letter says. Exposing children to sexualized content is indefensible. And conduct that would be unlawfulor even criminalif done by humans is not excusable simply because it is done by a machine.Earlier this month, Reuters published two articles revealing Metas policies for its AI chatbots: one about an elderly man who died after forming a relationship with a chatbot, and another based on leaked internal documents from Meta outlining what the company considers acceptable for the chatbots to say to children. In April, Jeff Horwitz, the journalist who wrote the previous two stories, reported for the Wall Street Journal that he found Metas chatbots would engage in sexually explicit conversations with kids. Following the Reuters articles, two senators demanded answers from Meta.In April, I wrote about how Metas user-created chatbots were impersonating licensed therapists, lying about medical and educational credentials, and engaged in conspiracy theories and encouraged paranoid, delusional lines of thinking. After that story was published, a group of senators demanded answers from Meta, and a digital rights organization filed an FTC complaint against the company.In 2023, I reported on users who formed serious romantic attachments to Replika chatbots, to the point of distress when the platform took away the ability to flirt with them. Last year, I wrote about how users reacted when that platform also changed its chatbot parameters to tweak their personalities, and Jason covered a case where a man made a chatbot on Character.AI to dox and harass a woman he was stalking. In June, we also covered the addiction support groups that have sprung up to help people who feel dependent on their chatbot relationships.The rush to develop new artificial intelligence technology has led big tech companies to recklessly put children in harms way, Attorney General Mayes of Arizona wrote in a press release. I will not standby as AI chatbots are reportedly used to engage in sexually inappropriate conversations with children and encourage dangerous behavior. Along with my fellow attorneys general, I am demanding that these companies implement immediate and effective safeguards to protect young users, and we will hold them accountable if they don't.You will be held accountable for your decisions. Social media platforms caused significant harm to children, in part because government watchdogs did not do their job fast enough. Lesson learned, the attorneys general wrote in the open letter. The potential harms of AI, like the potential benefits, dwarf the impact of social media. We wish you all success in the race for AI dominance. But we are paying attention. If you knowingly harm kids, you will answer for it.Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Out rapper Lil Nas Xhas been charged with four felonies for allegedly punching a police officer twice in the face after the rapper strutted around downtown Los Angeles during last Thursdays early morning hours wearing nothing more than briefs and boots.after the alleged altercation with officers, the 26-year-old musician was reportedly handcuffed, thrown to the ground, and forcibly hospitalized,NBC News reported. He has been charged with four felony counts: three counts of battery against a police officer and one count of resisting an executive officer. Related Stereotypes & media about Black masculinity made it harder to come out as asexual As such, he faces up to $40,000 in fines and up to 12 years in prison, according to theCalifornia Penal Code. He is being held without bail and faces a court arraignment this afternoon. He has not yet publicly released any statement about the alleged incident. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In 2020, the BET Awards nominated Lil Nas X for Best New Artist, but he didnt win. He also stole the spotlight at the 2021 BET Awards show bykissing his male dancerswhile performing his song, Montero (Call Me by Your Name). The kiss causedsome viewers to complainto the Federal Communications Commission.Nass work has also been recognized by other awards shows. In 2022, the Grammys nominated the rappers aforementioned song for Song of the Year, its video for Video of the Year, and his album for Record of the Year. Unfortunately for him, he didnt win any of the awards. His music has also previously won honors from the MTV Music Awards, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, the GLAAD Media Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and the BET Hip Hop Awards.On June 16, 2022, Nas received the Hal David Starlight Award at the 2022 Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony. The award recognizes gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A Tennessee man with the same name as New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth is facing charges alleging that he used the names of hundreds of dead or retired pro baseball players to make phony claims for payouts in class action settlements.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said he's "got confidence" and is not losing sleep over whether Pro Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons will play in the opener vs. the Eagles.

Angels manager Ron Washington said Monday that he is recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery and hopes to return to his position next season.

The Bengals and Trey Hendrickson reached agreement Monday on a $14 million raise for this year, boosting his 2025 salary to $30 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Free agent wide receiver Amari Cooper is returning to the Raiders organization on a one-year contract, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

In the Oval Office, President Trump met his South Korean counterpart as the relationship between their countries has been strained.

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Brolesque is reclaiming its stage in Manhattan with Fortunes of Love, a weekly strip revue that blends humor, mysticism, and plenty of skin. The production takes over Balcon Salon every Thursday at 10 p.m., serving up cocktails and queer spectacle without a cover charge.The show, created by choreographer Lockhart Brownlie, is more than a night of dancing, its a tongue-in-cheek exploration of romance through tarot readings and theatrical striptease. Each performance guides audiences through a playful journey in pursuit of Mr. Right (or at least Mr. Right Now.)From California to Fire IslandSince its debut in Orange County, Brolesque has built a reputation for touring nightlife hotspots. After runs in West Hollywood and New York, the production has landed in destinations like Wilton Manors, Puerto Vallarta, Las Vegas, and Fire Islands Ice Palace.The New York residency marks a homecoming for Brownlie, who also directs and choreographs the show. The current cast includes Christopher Patterson-Rosso, Felipe Ocampo, Gabriel Reyes, and Jason Carroll.Brolesque has always been about celebrating queer desire and connection without apology, Brownlie said. Balcon Salon has become the perfect space to continue growing that vision.Balcon Salons Rise in Queer NightlifeOpened in 2023, Balcon Salon is the newest sibling of popular venues Pieces, Hardware, and Playhouse. With its emphasis on live performance and community-centered programming, the Hells Kitchen hotspot has quickly carved out its place in the citys nightlife renaissance.The bars calendar features an eclectic mix: Apocalypse Noir, a drag-theater cabaret; the Unhinged Talent Show, where locals take the stage with comedy, music, and more; and the long-running drag contest Open Call, now over a decade strong.The venue has also attracted RuPauls Drag Race alumni, with stars like Jimbo, Luxx Noir London, Jackie Cox, Jan Sport, and Alaska making appearances.Cocktails and CampDrinks are as much a draw as the performances. Balcons menu highlights seasonal cocktails, staples like the Espresso Martini and White Negroni, and a curated selection of mocktails for sober patrons. Happy hour runs daily from 2 to 8 p.m. with $6 wells, beer, and wine.With Fortunes of Love anchoring its Thursday nights, Balcon Salon continues to expand its reputation as one of the citys most dynamic queer spaces.Source

With the talk prematch being about Newcastle's Alexander Isak, it was Liverpool's 16-year-old sensation Rio Ngumoha that stole the spotlight at St James' Park.

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Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve member Lisa Cook, speaks during a conversations with leaders from organizations that include nonprofits, small businesses, manufacturing, supply chain management, the hospitality industry, and the housing and education sectors at the Federal Reserve building, Sept. 23, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)2025-08-26T00:24:24Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook late Monday, a sharp escalation in his battle to exert greater control over what has long been considered an institution independent from day-to-day politics.Trump said in a letter posted on his Truth Social platform that he is firing Cook because of allegations that she committed mortgage fraud. Bill Pulte, a Trump appointee to the agency that regulates mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, made the accusations last week.Pulte alleged that Cook had claimed two primary residences -- in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Atlanta -- in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Mortgage rates are often higher on second homes or those purchased to rent.The announcement came days after Cook said she wouldnt leave her post despite Trump previously calling for her to resign. The Feds board has seven members, meaning Trumps move could have deep economic and political ramifications. Trump said in announcing the move that he had the constitutional authority to remove Cook, but doing so will raise questions about control of the Fed as an independent entity. The firing is likely to touch off a legal battle and Cook could be allowed to remain in her seat while the case plays out. Cook would have to fight the legal battle herself, as the injured party, rather than the Fed.It is the latest effort by the administration to take control over one of the few remaining independent agencies in Washington. Trump has repeatedly attacked the Feds chair, Jerome Powell, for not cutting its short-term interest rate, and even threatened to fire him.Forcing Cook off the Feds governing board would provide Trump an opportunity to appoint a loyalist. Trump has said he would only appoint officials who would support cutting rates.