President Donald Trump speaks during an event signing a proclamation honoring the fourth anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan, in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2025-08-26T14:41:13Z BALTIMORE (AP) A federal judge on Tuesday threw out the Trump administrations lawsuit against Marylands entire federal bench over an order by the chief judge that stopped the immediate deportation of migrants challenging their removals.U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen granted a request by the judges to toss the case, saying to do otherwise would run counter to overwhelming precedent, depart from longstanding constitutional tradition, and offend the rule of law.In their wisdom, the Constitutions framers joined three coordinate branches to establish a single sovereign, Cullen wrote. That structure may occasionally engender clashes between two branches and encroachment by one branch on anothers authority. But mediating those disputes must occur in a manner that respects the Judiciarys constitutional role.The White House had no immediate comment. Cullen was nominated to the federal bench by Trump in 2020. He serves in the Western District of Virginia, but he was tapped to oversee the case because all 15 of Marylands federal judges are named as defendants, a highly unusual circumstance that reflects the Republican administrations harsh response to judges who slow or stop its policies. Cullen expressed skepticism of the lawsuit during a hearing in August. He questioned why it was necessary for the Trump administration to sue all the judges as a means of challenging the order. Signed by Chief Maryland District Judge George L. Russell III, the order prevents the Trump administration from immediately deporting any immigrants seeking review of their detention in Maryland district court. It blocks their removal until 4 p.m. on the second business day after their habeas corpus petition is filed. The order says it aims to maintain existing conditions and the potential jurisdiction of the court, ensure immigrant petitioners are able to participate in court proceedings and access attorneys and give the government fulsome opportunity to brief and present arguments in its defense. The Justice Department, which filed the suit in June, says the automatic pause violates a Supreme Court ruling and impedes the presidents authority to enforce immigration laws. The department has grown increasingly frustrated by rulings blocking Trumps agenda, repeatedly accusing federal judges of improperly impeding his powers.The lawsuit was an extraordinary legal maneuver, ratcheting up the administrations fight with the federal judiciary.Attorneys for the Maryland judges argued the lawsuit was intended to limit the power of the judiciary to review certain immigration proceedings while the Trump administration pursues a mass deportation agenda.The executive branch seeks to bring suit in the name of the United States against a co-equal branch of government, attorney Paul Clement said during the hearing. There really is no precursor for this suitClement is a prominent conservative lawyer who served as solicitor general under Republican President George W. Bush. He listed several other avenues the administration could have taken to challenge the order, such as filing an appeal in an individual habeas case. Justice Department attorney Elizabeth Themins Hedges said the government was simply seeking relief from a legal roadblock preventing effective immigration enforcement.The United States is a plaintiff here because the United States is being harmed, she said.In an amended order pausing deportations, Russell said the court had received an influx of habeas petitions after hours that resulted in hurried and frustrating hearings in that obtaining clear and concrete information about the location and status of the petitioners is elusive. Habeas petitions allow people to challenge their detention by the government.Attorneys for the Trump administration accused the Maryland judges of prioritizing a regular schedule, writing in court documents that a sense of frustration and a desire for greater convenience do not give Defendants license to flout the law. Among the judges named in the lawsuit is Paula Xinis, who found the Trump administration in March illegally deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador a case that quickly became a flashpoint in Trumps immigration crackdown. Abrego Garcia was held in a notorious Salvadoran megaprison, where he claims to have been beaten and tortured. Trump has railed against unfavorable judicial rulings, and in one case called for the impeachment of a federal judge in Washington who ordered planeloads of deported immigrants to be turned around. In July, the Justice Department filed a misconduct complaint against the judge. LEA SKENE Skene is an AP reporter based in Baltimore. She writes about poverty, policing and general news. twitter mailto

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)2025-08-26T13:31:42Z BRUSSELS (AP) President Donald Trump vowed to impose new tariffs and export curbs on countries with digital taxes or regulations that affect American technology companies. Trump didnt mention specific places but his comments were taken as a threat against the European Unions digital rules to rein in companies like Google, Apple, and Meta. In a post on Truth Social late Monday, Trump said he would stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies.Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology. The 27-nation EU has cracked down on Big Tech companies with sweeping rules. The blocs Digital Services Act aims to clean up social media and online platforms and its Digital Markets Act is designed to prevent digital monopolies, under threat of hefty fines for breaches. Some individual European Union countries like France, Italy and Spain have a digital services tax, as does Britain. The Trump administration has long held the EUs tech regulations in contempt and tech companies have chafed against them. Trump also complained that big Chinese tech companies get a complete pass from the rules. This must end, he said and vowed that unless these discriminatory actions are removed, he would impose substantial additional Tariffs on the offending nations exports to the U.S. and also institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips. The EUs executive Commission pushed back. It is the sovereign rights of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory, which are consistent with our democratic values, Commission spokesperson Paulo Pinho said at a regular press briefing. Trumps latest salvo comes a week after Washington and Brussels released a joint statement on their trade deal that included a pledge to address unjustified digital trade barriers. In June, Trump threatened to suspend trade talks with Canada forced Prime Minister Mark Carney over Ottawas plan to impose a digital services tax on technology companies, forcing Carney to abandon the tax. ___Chan reported from Toronto#___This version corrects the name of the European Commission spokesperson to Paulo Pinho. SAM McNEIL McNeil covers Europe and beyond with a focus on conflict and the environment. twitter instagram facebook mailto KELVIN CHAN Chan covers technology and innovation in Europe and beyond for The Associated Press. twitter mailto

President Donald Trump speaks during an event signing a proclamation honoring the fourth anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan, in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2025-08-26T11:09:45Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump says the Senates century-old tradition of allowing home state senators to sign off on some federal judge and U.S. attorney nominees is old and outdated. Republican senators disagree. Trump has been complaining about whats called the blue slip process for weeks and has pushed Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to abandon the practice. But the veteran senator hasnt budged. On Monday, Trump said he may sue, arguing that he can only get weak judges approved in states that have at least one Democratic senator. This is based on an old custom. Its not based on a law. And I think its unconstitutional, Trump told reporters. And Ill probably be filing a suit on that pretty soon.A look at the blue slip process and why Republicans are holding on to it, for now: Trump faces rare pushback from RepublicansIts unclear who Trump would sue or how such a lawsuit would work since the Senate sets its own rules. And Senate Republicans have been unbowed, arguing that they used the process to their own benefit when Democrat Joe Biden was president. They say they will want the practice to be in place if they are in the minority again. Republicans also note that judges who dont receive approval from their home state senators are unlikely to have enough votes for confirmation, anyway. In Biden admin Republicans kept 30 LIBERALS OFF BENCH THAT PRES TRUMP CAN NOW FILL W CONSERVATIVES, Grassley posted on X shortly after Trumps remarks on Monday. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, arrives to advance President Donald Trumps nominees for the federal bench, including Emil Bove, Trumps former defense lawyer, at the Capitol in Washington, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, arrives to advance President Donald Trumps nominees for the federal bench, including Emil Bove, Trumps former defense lawyer, at the Capitol in Washington, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican member of the judiciary committee, posted on X that getting rid of the blue slip is a terrible, short-sighted ploy that paves the path for Democrats to ram through extremist liberal judges in red states over the long-term. Republicans shouldnt fall for it, Tillis wrote. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has also defended blue slips, saying in the past that he had used the process himself and worked with the Biden administration when there was a judicial vacancy in South Dakota. I dont sense any rush to change it, Thune said. Its a longstanding practice, though its evolvedThe blue slip is a blue-colored form that is submitted to the two home state senators after the president nominates someone to become a district judge or U.S. attorney, among other federal positions that are contained within one state. The home state senators can individually return the slips with a positive or negative response. If there is a negative response, or if the form is not returned, the chairman of the judiciary panel can choose not to move forward. Democrats have opposed several of Trumps nominees this year, including Alina Habba, a nominee for U.S. attorney in New Jersey, and two prosecutors nominated in New York who have been blocked by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. The blue slip tradition has been in place since at least 1918, according to the Congressional Research Service. But like many Senate traditions, it has evolved over the years to become more partisan. Until 2017, at the beginning of Trumps first term, blue slips were also honored for nominees to the circuit court, which oversee multiple states. But the Republican-led judiciary panel, also led then by Grassley, did away with that tradition. In the past, the White House has often worked with home state senators as they decide who to nominate. But Trump and Democrats have shown little interest in working with each other. Trump is growing frustratedTrump has focused his ire on Grassley, a longtime ally who is the senior-most Senate Republican. In a July post on social media, Trump called on Grassley to have the courage to stop honoring the blue slips.Chuck Grassley, who I got re-elected to the U.S. Senate when he was down, by a lot, in the Great State of Iowa, could solve the Blue Slip problem, Trump posted. Grassley responded by defending the practice, and he said he was offended by what the president said, and Im disappointed that it would result in personal insults. Trump revived his complaints this week, culminating with the threat to sue. On Sunday, he posted that I have a Consultational Right to appoint Judges and U.S. Attorneys, but that RIGHT has been completely taken away from me in States that have just one Democrat United States Senator. Its all part of a broader nominations fightEven as Republicans have defied Trump on blue slips, they have agreed with him that the nominations process needs to move faster especially as Democrats have slowed votes on all of his nominees. Trump and Republicans pressured Senate Democrats to lift some of their holds on nominees ahead of the traditional August recess, threatening to force them to remain in session all month. But the effort was unsuccessful, and the Senate left town anyway, with Trump posting on social media that Schumer can GO TO HELL!After that standoff, Thune said the chamber will consider in the fall Senate rule changes that would make it harder for Democrats to block or slow votes on nominations. I think that the last six months have demonstrated that this process, nominations, is broken, Thune said. And so I expect there will be some good robust conversations about that.___Follow the APs coverage of President Donald Trump at https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) painted over the same Orlando Pride crosswalk a second time on Sunday morning after protestors restored the rainbow colors to the road. At first, protestors had only used chalk, but when rain washed it away, they turned to paint. Police are now monitoring the site, which was originally established to honor the 49 victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub tragedy. Related Delray Beach to defy Ron DeSantis & fight to keep its Pride crosswalk But the FDOTs move didnt stop protestors from returning on Sunday to again chalk the crosswalk as four highway patrol vehicles and three police cars surveilled, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. Its silly, said state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D). The amount of money and time being spent by the state on a crosswalk when theres so many better uses for it to fix potholes, for example. 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 Youre creating controversy over a sidewalk, she added. No one cared about it before you made it a deal.Eskamani has been outspoken against the Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) administrations obsession with covering Pride crosswalks across the state. She said people all over the world have sent her boxes of chalk in support.Robby Dodd, who lost friends in the Pulse tragedy, showed up with chalk on Sunday morning and called the police presence ridiculous. It feels weird because there could be anything else they could be doing right now other than watching us color. I mean, its chalk, itll wash away, and we understand that too, but meanwhile, taxpayer dollars are putting state troopers and OPD out here. Last week, FDOT painted over the crosswalk in the dead of night without notifying city officials after repeatedly ordering municipalities across the state to remove their Pride intersections or face financial consequences. In July, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged governors to remove any political messages, artwork, and markings on intersections not directly related to pedestrian or driver safety. He wrote on social media, Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks.GOP officials claim the crosswalks distract drivers, but data says otherwise.The Bloomberg Philanthropies 2022 Asphalt Art Safety Study found that crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists drop 50% at painted intersections. It also reported a 25% decrease in conflicts between drivers and pedestrians, a 27% increase in drivers immediately yielding to pedestrians, and a 38% decrease in pedestrians crossing when the walk signal was not lit at intersections involving public art. The data also revealed that injuries resulting from crashes drop 37% in painted intersections. Nevertheless, cities across Florida are grappling with the mounting pressure to remove their Pride crosswalks. Two were removed by Gainesville city officials this week, and in July, Boynton Beach officials did the same to its once colorful intersection at East Ocean Avenue and Southeast First Street.But some cities are fighting back. Delray Beach continues to resist the DeSantis administrations efforts to remove its Pride crosswalk, most recently announcing they would fight the directive in a state administration hearing on September 2. My guess is were gonna lose, Delray Beach Mayor Tom Carney, an attorney,toldGwen Filosa Media Key West. Maybe well win, so who knows. Lets give it a shot.Lets be honest. We all know this is not about traffic safety. This is political, Vice Mayor Rob Long told fellow commissioners when encouraging them to resist. Its part of the same culture war climate where symbols of inclusion are targeted precisely because they represent acceptance. Its about erasing the visibility of our LGBTQ+ people at the same time when their rights are again under direct threat.Florida Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue confirmed the true motivation behind the campaign to remove the crosswalk art while praisinga lawsigned by DeSantisbanning nonstandard surface markings, signage, and signals that do not directly contribute to traffic safety or control can lead to distractions or misunderstandings, jeopardizing both driver and pedestrian safety.Floridas proactive efforts to ensure we keep our transportation facilities free & clear of political ideologies were cemented into law by @GovRonDeSantis, Perdueposted to socials. Great to now have our federal partners also aligned behind this same common-sense policy.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The adult entertainment industry isn't for the weak.Noah White has gone back and forth working as an erotic performer since he was 18 years old. Within the past couple of years, the star has created plenty of hot content as a Carnal Media model.As an established entertainer, White is sharing vital tips for anyone hoping to join the business in the near future."When it comes to the adult industry, I wish it would evolve more toward the pay structure. When you first get into it, it's so hard. You never really know what you're going to do. That's the beauty of getting with, in my opinion, a studio," White tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Although fan sites such as OnlyFans continue to rise in popularity for beginners, White believes a proper studio is a good way for stars to get their foot in the door."Some will tell tell you to start with OnlyFans, but when you can get into a good pay structure with a company, then it makes it something that you feel like you can continue to do and you're not a struggling artist. If everyone had a standardized rate, that'd be great."With quite a bit of experience under his belt, the performer is hoping to crank out more sexy videos for many more years to come."I've always been worried about an end date showing up, but hopefully not. I just now really fully got into it. It's been two years that I've really been doing it again. The sky's the limit! Hopefully I'll get bigger and better every year."Fans can follow Noah White on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Virginia Tech junior linebacker Caleb Woodson, a team captain who started 11 games last season, was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor driving while intoxicated.

The Cleveland Browns are set to release veteran receiver Diontae Johnson, a source tells ESPN's Adam Schefter.

There won't be an American behind the wheel of Cadillac's F1 car, but in Sergio Prez and Valtteri Bottas, there's plenty of race-winning experience.

A G.O.P. effort to carve up a Democratic stronghold ignored the will of voters, a judge said. The ruling, which Republicans can appeal, makes the state another battleground in the national fight over redistricting.

WASHINGTONAs they called attention to his alarmingly sallow complexion and rapidly deteriorating brain function, White House officials sought to quell speculation Monday over the bruising on President Donald Trumps right hand by dismissing it as one of the least concerning parts of his body. The discoloration on the presidents hand is superficial and no cause for worryin fact, it is probably one of his healthiest anatomical regions, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that the presidents doctors remain focused on far more urgent health issues, including his grossly bloated midsection, complete lack of bowel control, and hunched-over posture suggestive of a decomposing torso. Rest assured, his hand is not whats going to keep him from fulfilling his duties to the American people. Honestly, if all you are seeing is photos, you dont even know about the stench. That will stick in your nightmares forever. Theres so much gas trapped under the presidents skin that we are praying he doesnt rupture. Officials confirmed the hand would be iced to alleviate the bruising, while the rest of his body would be lightly embalmed.The post White House Downplays Trump Hand Bruise As Least Concerning Part Of Body appeared first on The Onion.

CORRECTS COMPANY NAME: Amanda Follett opens packages at A Sight For Sport Eyes, a brick-and-mortar and e-commerce store for sport goggles, Aug. 20, 2025, in West Linn, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)2025-08-26T14:05:18Z NEW YORK (AP) Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the United States this week as part of President Donald Trumps agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods and resetting global trade with tariffs. An executive order signed last month eliminates a widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less starting Friday, nearly two years earlier than the deadline set in the tax cuts and spending bill approved by Congress. Although the president previously ended the de minimis rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers.Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will require vetting and be subject to their origin countrys applicable tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%. For the next six months, carriers handling orders sent through the global mail network also can choose a flat duty of $80 to $200 per package instead of the value-based rate. In response, the national postal services of more than a dozen countries said they would temporarily suspend sending some or most U.S.-bound packages due to confusion over processing and payment requirements. Japan and Switzerland on Monday joined Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Thailand, the U.K. and New Zealand in saying they would pause shipments. Exemption created in 1938 for $1 importsThe Trump administration says the exemption has become a loophole that foreign businesses exploit to evade tariffs and criminals use to get drugs, counterfeit products and other contraband into the U.S. Former President Joe Biden and members of Congress also discussed the issue. Other countries have similar exemptions, but the threshold is usually lower. For example, 150 euros ($129) is the value limit in the 20 European Union countries that use the euro as their official currency. The U.K. allows foreign businesses to send parcels worth up to 135 pounds ($182) without incurring tariff charges. In the U.S., the de minimis Latin for lacking significance or importance exemption started in 1938 as a way to save the federal government the time and expense of collecting duties on imported goods with a retail value of $1 or less. U.S. lawmakers eventually increased the eligibility cutoff to $5 in 1990, to $200 in 1993 and to $800 in 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. Since then, the number of shipments claiming de minimis treatment has exploded. A total of 1.36 billion packages with a combined value of $64.6 billion reached the U.S. last year, compared to 134 million packages sent under the exemption in 2015, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported. About 60% of the 2024 shipments came from China and Hong Kong, according to an analysis logistics firm Flexport prepared based on U.S. government data. Multiple countries and regions accounted for the remainder, including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, India and Vietnam. Boutique owner anticipates higher costs for European apparel Proponents of limiting the exemption argue that it has served as a way for China-founded retail platforms like Temu and Shein to flood the U.S. with low-priced goods. The National Council of Textile Organizations said the move would help close a backdoor pipeline for cheap, subsidized, and often illegal, toxic and unethical imports. But some smaller American companies that rely on imported products and materials benefited from the exemption too. Kristin Trainor is worried the end of de minimis will also mean the end of Diesel and Lulus, her 3-year-old boutique in Avon, Connecticut. Over 70% of the womens clothes and accessories she stocks comes from small fashion houses in France, Italy and Spain. Trainor places small batch orders each week that fall under the $800 threshold.Our business model is to provide casual chic and unique clothes at affordable prices, she said. The added customs and duty charges that will go into effect on Aug. 29 will eliminate that affordability. Trainor said she was looking to replace her European vendors with ones based in the U.S. But her bestselling product categories, such as apparel made of Italian linen, come from other countries. She estimates a simple linen sundress that cost $30 wholesale at the beginning of the year will rise to $43 next month. After a corporate career, Trainor opened the store to have more time with her 9-year-old son and her 91-year old father. Raising the boutiques prices to absorb part of the import charges would help offset higher shipping and logistics costs, but Trainor worries her customers will balk at higher prices.I have not made any official announcements to my customers just yet, although they have started to ask if I will stay open as they understand the economic impacts that are occurring, she said. At this point, I am leaning more and more towards closing the boutique, sadly. Trade agreement doesnt shield products from Mexico and Canada Ken Huening started CoverSeal, his business making and selling protective covers for cars, motorcycles, grills and patio furniture, in 2020. The company is based in Los Gatos, California, and the covers are manufactured in Mexico and China. When a customer places an order, it ships from Mexico. Although a trade agreement that took effect in 2020 has made most goods from Mexico and Canada exempt from country-specific U.S. tariffs, the withdrawal of the de minimis rule applies to all countries. Huening said hell either have to raise prices or end free shipping now that his products will be taxed when they are sent from Mexico to U.S. customers. Hes looked at setting up a U.S. production and logistics network but says domestic sewing facilities and textile manufacturers do not exist for the engineered fabric used in CoverSeals products. We are often asked why we dont just establish a U.S. supply chain, he said. It is not possible in the short term. By the time the infrastructure is established, many companies and small businesses will be out of business.Shannen Knight imports hard-to-find sports goggles and glasses as the owner of A Sight For Sport Eyes, her online store and shop in West Linn, Oregon. She routinely received shipments from the U.K., the Netherlands and Italy that fell under the de minimis dollar cutoff. Knight estimated that she would need to raise the retail price of the rugby goggles she gets from Italy by 50%. It took the International Rugby Board two years of testing to approve the Italian-made goggles, a specialty item without strong prospects for stateside production, she said. There are products that it just makes sense to be made internationally, where there is the stronger demand for them, but there still is some demand for in the U.S., Knight said. MAE ANDERSON Anderson reports for The Associated Press on a wide range of issues that small businesses face. She is based in New York. twitter mailto

A firefighter battles the Canyon Fire on Aug. 7, 2025, in Hasley Canyon, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)2025-08-26T13:02:55Z WASHINGTON (AP) Two key documents from the Trump administration aimed at revoking the long-standing finding that climate change is dangerous were filled with errors, bias and distortions, according to dozens of scientists surveyed by The Associated Press.One of the reports argues that sea ice decline in the Arctic has been small, but uses data from the Antarctic to make the point. It uses a French-focused study on climate-related crop losses for a claim about the U.S. a generalization the author said didnt work because of significant differences in climate and agriculture. And after saying decades-old wildfire statistics arent reliable, the report reproduces them in a graphic anyway, making it appear fires were worse a century ago than they have been more recently.Scientists noted those basic errors, but the most common critique from the vast majority of the 64 who answered APs questions was that the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy ignored, twisted or cherry-picked information to manufacture doubt about the severity and threat of climate change. Jennifer Marlon, director of data science at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, was among those. read more Takeaways from scientists on the Trump administrations work on climate change and public health The work and conclusions appear biased. The data and graphs use classic mis- and disinformation techniques, she said. It is almost a users guide on how to lie with figures. The Trump administration in July proposed revoking a 2009 government finding that climate change is a threat to public health and welfare, a concept known as the endangerment finding that is backed by mainstream science. Overturning it could pave the way for cutting a range of rules that limit pollution from cars, power plants and other sources. A firefighter battles the Canyon Fire on Aug. 7, 2025, in Hasley Canyon, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) A firefighter battles the Canyon Fire on Aug. 7, 2025, in Hasley Canyon, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More One of the Trump administration reports, by the Department of Energy, suggests climate models used by scientists to predict warming have overreached, that long-term trends for disasters generally dont show much change and that climate has little impact on the economy. The DOE document also said there are advantages to a world with more carbon, like increased plant growth.AP reached out to some 350 scientists by email nearly all the lead authors of research cited in the Trump administrations work, plus another 139 climate experts in science, health and economics who are prominent in the field. Fifty-three of the 64 scientists who responded including outside researchers not mentioned by the reports gave the EPA and DOE documents a negative review. Seven praised them. The remaining four took no clear position. In 15 cases, scientists whose work was cited said it was misused, misinterpreted or taken out of context.When EPA was asked to respond to the scientists critiques, the agency said it had considered a variety of sources and information in assessing whether the predictions and assumptions baked into the 2009 finding that climate change is a public threat are accurate and consistent. The Energy Department said it was committed to a more thoughtful and science-based conversation.White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said the Trump administration is producing Gold Standard Science research driven by verifiable data and that the endangerment finding had long been misused to justify expensive regulations that have jeopardized our economic and national security.The public has until Sept. 2 to comment on the Energy Department report and until Sept. 22 for the EPAs proposal to revoke the endangerment finding. Then the Trump administration must consider that feedback before a final decision. Overturning the finding could undermine environmental standards such as a rule that requires reducing emissions from some coal-fired power plants by 90%, or one limiting methane releases from the heaviest polluting oil and gas wells. Another regulation at stake is a requirement that new car emissions be cut roughly in half by the 2032 model year.Environmental groups are already challenging the documents in court.The Trump administration argues that climate science is alarmistThe EPAs report arguing to overturn the endangerment finding relied heavily on the Energy Departments work. That DOE report is what most scientists surveyed by the AP focused on. Together, the two Trump administration documents maintain that while climate change is real, its future effects are unclear and likely weaker than projected by many mainstream scientists. The administration also contends that U.S. cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, which largely come from burning fuels like oil and coal, would mean little globally. The U.S. is the worlds second-largest emitter behind China.Marlon, the Yale researcher, singled out the flawed wildfire data and said the proper thing for scientists to do is not to show such information. The report instead plots this unreliable data, she said.The document also erroneously claimed that the area burned by wildfire in the U.S. hadnt increased since 2007. Marlon ran the data herself to confirm that it had, though more slowly than in prior years. Data from the National Interagency Fire Center shows that the 10-year average annual burn rate was 6.5 million acres in 2007; in 2024, it was almost 7.6 million acres. Pieces of ice move through the sea in Qoornoq Island, near Nuuk, Greenland on Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File) Pieces of ice move through the sea in Qoornoq Island, near Nuuk, Greenland on Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More When discussing sea ice, the Trump reports refer to the wrong part of the world. Arctic sea ice extent has declined by about 5% since 1980, the Energy Department report said. But the report linked to a National Snow and Ice Data Center chart for the Southern Hemisphere, which means Antarctica. Antarctic sea ice has in fact declined about 5% in that time, but Arctic sea ice shrank by more than 40%.It suggests sloppy work, said data center senior scientist Walt Meier.Report authors respond to criticismThat error and any others that are found will be corrected, the report authors said.The reports preface states clearly that it is not meant to be a comprehensive review of climate science but rather is focused on important data and topics that have been underreported or overlooked in media and political discussions, the DOE reports authors said in a joint statement provided by co-author Ross McKitrick, a professor at the University of Guelph in Canada specializing in environmental economics.Generic accusations of bias or cherry-picking are not helpful for serious scientific discussions, they said. Environmental Protection Agency employees take part in a national march against actions taken by the Trump administration March 25, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Environmental Protection Agency employees take part in a national march against actions taken by the Trump administration March 25, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The EPAs report drew heavily on the Energy Department document for its science, citing it twice as often as it cited the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which has hundreds of scientists and editors that produce a massive document written over several years and was a key source for the 2009 endangerment finding. The Energy Department document was begun in March and published in July. Its preface says the aim is to include evidence and perspectives that challenge the mainstream consensus.Pat Parenteau, an environmental law expert and former director of the Environmental Law School at Vermont Law & Graduate School, said agencies are required to make a reasoned analysis when they reverse a policy like the endangerment finding.Reasoned means objective. I dont know how it could mean anything else other than that, he said, adding that he didnt believe the Trump administration reports were objective.The National Academy of Sciences, a collection of private, nonprofit institutions set up to provide independent and objective analysis for policymakers, says its preparing a fast-tracked special report on the latest evidence on whether greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health.Many experts said the reports were biasedNineteen scientists used variations of the phrase cherry pick to describe the administrations reports.I will surely not be alone in saying these reports cherry-pick information to minimize the threat of climate change, said Steven Sherwood, a professor and climate researcher at the University of New South Wales. He said the reports were well written and easy to understand, then added: But being biased in selecting what to show, they are not honest efforts to portray the broader picture, but instead read as efforts to persuade against concern about carbon emissions.Francois Bareille, a French economist whose work was referenced in the Energy Departments report, said the work was fundamentally flawed. These documents do not reflect genuine scientific rigor, but rather a misleading reinterpretation of peer-reviewed research. Have a news tip?Contact APs global investigative team at [emailprotected]. For secure and confidential communications, use the free Signal app +1 (202) 281-8604. Bareille said the Energy report misused his research on French agriculture, which concluded that previous research on climate-related crop losses was overly pessimistic. Bareille said his findings cannot be generalized to other regions, such as the U.S., where both climate conditions and agricultural systems differ significantly.One portion of the Energy report argued that ocean acidification should more accurately be called ocean neutralization. The authors reasoned that ocean life appear to be resilient to such changes.Ocean acidification happens as waters absorb rising carbon dioxide, which damages marine life with shells, such as coral, oysters and mollusks. That harm risks disrupting food webs. A home sits near the Gen. James Gavin Power Plant, a coal-fired power plant, April 14, 2025, in Cheshire, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File) A home sits near the Gen. James Gavin Power Plant, a coal-fired power plant, April 14, 2025, in Cheshire, Ohio. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Stony Brook Universitys Stephen Schwartz, former chief scientist of the Department of Energys Atmospheric Science Program, said using a more benign term such as neutralization would be ludicrous. And Waleed Abdalati, who served as NASA chief scientist during the Obama administration, said: The simple fact is that carbon dioxide is making the oceans more acidic, which carries harmful effects.Tim Gallaudet, chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the first Trump administration, praised the recent administration reports and singled out the issue of ocean acidification. He agreed with the word neutralization and said recent studies have shown smaller or nonexistent harms when compared with previous science.One economics expert cited in the report praised it, saying it departed from unnecessarily alarmist findings of other national and international climate assessments.The problem is that mainstream climate science is pretty worthless. Hopelessly politicized, mired in groupthink and virtue signaling, said James Davidson, a professor at the University of Exeter. His work was cited to dispute the mainstream scientific finding that rising carbon dioxide levels in the past drove warming.Davidson said the Department of Energys authors are skeptical of the current consensus and hold beliefs that previously would have been ignored.In other words, they and the so-called mainstream have changed places for the moment, he said. Scientists grade the reports from A to FAsked to grade the administration documents as if they were produced by undergraduates, 19 of the 42 scientists who responded to that question assigned the work an F, for failing. The reports earned five As along with an A-minus. Some criticized the question as silly or ridiculous, with one saying it suggests your goal here is not journalism but team sport.I would give them both a D on truth and an A on deviousness, wrote climate scientist Jennifer Francis of the Woodwell Climate Research Center. She said the analysis was twisted to support the desired narrative.The EPA report gets an R for ridiculous, she said. Vehicles drive along a highway July 30, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File) Vehicles drive along a highway July 30, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The DOE report argues that worst-case climate models often used by scientists to describe the consequences of doing nothing to reduce emissions exaggerate how much the world has already warmed and how much more it will heat up. In that section, the Energy Department report cited climate scientist Zeke Hausfather four times, including a graphic of his.Hausfather wrote in a blog that the report used one less important figure to reinforce the point they were trying to make, and never actually referred to the broader conclusion of the paper that old models had by-and-large performed quite well, Hausfather wrote. The actual content of my paper went counter to the narrative they were trying to present, and thus was ignored. He added: Thats why Ive publicly called this process a farce.When asked to respond, a DOE spokesperson encouraged Hausfather to submit his concerns as part of the public comment process.___Data journalist M.K. Wildeman contributed to this story.___The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. SETH BORENSTEIN Borenstein is an Associated Press science writer, covering climate change, disasters, physics and other science topics. He is based in Washington, D.C. twitter mailto MICHAEL PHILLIS Phillis is an Associated Press reporter covering the environment with a focus on water. mailto

Sarah Palfrey Cook, left, chats with Althea Gibson, National Negro Women's Tennis Champion from Sumter, S.C., at the west side tennis club at Forest Hills, New York on July 29,1950. (AP Photo,File)2025-08-26T14:29:55Z NEW YORK (AP) Images of Althea Gibson are everywhere at the U.S. Open, 75 years since she became the first Black player at a major tennis tournament.The American Grand Slam events logo is multilayered artwork of her face in profile. Clips of Gibson flash across screens inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. A tribute narrated by Venus Williams is part of the soundtrack during breaks.The most important part is that we are celebrating it and recognizing it because Althea accomplished so much, Williams said. A lot of it has not been given the credit it deserves and the attention and the praise.While Gibson has been memorialized with a statue at the Flushing Meadows site since 2019, she is now at the forefront of the U.S. Open, with signs reading, Celebrating 75 years of breaking barriers and two weeks built around honoring her story, a complicated and difficult one without a happy ending.Personally, I feel like everybodys waited too long to really celebrate her, Billie Jean King told The Associated Press. She was the first, and when youre the first, you should be celebrated the most. Making it tough for Althea GibsonGibson fought with the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association just to get admitted in 1950 to what was then called the U.S. Nationals. It took a public letter from prominent white player Alice Marble to make it happen, and even then it wasnt easy.(Organizers) put her on a very back court, No. 14. Hard to get to. The area for people to watch was tiny. And they changed the rules and sent photographers to take pictures of her match, which was never allowed for other people, said Sally Jacobs, author of Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson. Of course many people thought, Well, this could distract her, this could cause commotion. This was to bring down her game. They really were making it tough for her.Gibson beat Barbara Knapp, anyway, before losing to three-time reigning Wimbledon champion Louise Brough. Even as Gibson won Grand Slam titles whats now the French Open in 1956, along with the U.S. Nationals and Wimbledon in 1957 and 58 success did not open doors. She grew up in the South and it was the Jim Crow era, so she spent most of her time out of the country playing, former player-turned-executive Katrina Adams said. I cant imagine her trying to compete in America in the 50s and 60s and not being treated as a normal human being, not being able to walk into the front door of these clubs and stadiums and being treated the way that she was, but still rising to the occasion and being the champion that she was.Althea Gibson was pushed to the marginsGibson played before the professional era, so even the top tournaments had no prize money. As a result, many of her accomplishments have been lost to time, and she wound up quitting to play golf, sing and act.She broke golfs color barrier, too, released a jazz album, appeared in a movie with John Wayne and performed on The Ed Sullivan Show twice. Yet shes far less known compared to other pioneers of the time.Her story has been pushed in many ways to the margins, National Womens History Museum president and CEO Frdrique Irwin said. You might think about Jackie Robinson. Everybody knows who Jackie Robinson was. Yet, does anyone, if you walk down the street, know Althea Gibsons name? Michelle Curry, the administrator of her estate, said Gibson sometimes becomes invisible because she was not loud about her plight. King, who idolized her before the two got to know each other as adults, saw the pressure of people wanting Gibson to speak up more about social justice and observed, She was trying to survive.Gibsons autobiography, released in 1958, was titled, I Always Wanted To Be Somebody. Zina Garrison, who reached the Wimbledon final in 1990, said Gibson never really got her due. The U.S. Open is trying to right a wrongThe USTA sought input from contemporaries and members of the Black community to come up with ways to honor Gibson all these years later and more than two decades since her death. Chief diversity and inclusion officer Marisa Grimes Galiber said the goal was to make sure people understood Gibsons history.This was an opportunity to maybe make right what we didnt do as good a job of celebrating Althea many years ago that we could right that wrong today, said Nicole Kankam, USTA professional tennis marketing and entertainment managing director.Curry wished Gibson could have seen fans lining up for photos with the tournament logo designed by artist Melissa Koby, the first Black woman responsible for the U.S. Opens feature art and figured shed be thankful, mixed with the thought: I dont know what took you guys so long.A luncheon in Gibsons honor took place Sunday, after which three Black women performed the opening night anthem. The band from Florida A&M the school Gibson attended is set to play Wednesday night when the U.S. Open celebrates historically Black colleges and universities. One other tribute to Gibsons legacy was more organic: Black tennis players such as Williams and Francis Tiafoe were on court Monday, and Coco Gauff is on Tuesdays schedule.___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis STEPHEN WHYNO Whyno has covered the NHL, international hockey, NFL and horse racing for The Associated Press since 2016. twitter facebook

Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook listens during an open meeting of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve, June 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)2025-08-26T15:46:12Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trumps attempt to fire one of the seven governors of the Federal Reserve will likely end up in court and could more clearly define the limits of the presidents legal powers over the traditionally independent institution. Legal experts say the Republican presidents claim that he can fire Lisa Cook, who was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden, is on shaky ground. But its an unprecedented move that hasnt played out in the courts before, and the Supreme Court this year has been much more willing to let the president remove agency officials than in the past. If Trump succeeds in removing Cook from the board, it could erode the Feds political independence, which is considered critical to its ability to fight inflation because it enables the Fed to take unpopular steps like raising interest rates. A less-independent Fed could leave Americans paying higher rates for mortgages, car loans and business loans, because investors could demand higher rates to own bonds to offset greater inflation, pushing up borrowing costs throughout the economy. Its an illegal firing, but the presidents going to argue, The Constitution lets me do it, said Lev Menand, a law professor at Columbia University and author of a book about the Fed. And that arguments worked in a few other cases so far this year. Menand said the Supreme Court construes the Constitutions meaning, and it can make new constitutional law in this case. The most likely next steps for Cook, who was appointed to the Feds board in 2022, are to seek an injunction against Trumps order that would allow her to continue her work as a governor. But the situation puts the Fed in a difficult position. They have their own legal obligation to follow the law, Menand said. And that does not mean do whatever the president says. ... The Fed is under an independent duty to reach its own conclusions about the legality of Lisa Cooks removal. Trump said in a letter posted on his Truth Social platform late Monday that he was removing Cook effective immediately because of allegations she committed mortgage fraud.Cook said Monday night that she would not step down. President Trump purported to fire me for cause when no cause exists under the law, and he has no authority to do so, she said in an emailed statement. I will not resign.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 in Atlanta -- in 2021 to get better mortgage terms. Mortgage rates are often higher on second homes or those bought to rent.Cook has retained Abbe Lowell, a prominent Washington attorney. Lowell said Trumps reflex to bully is flawed and his demands lack any proper process, basis or legal authority, adding, We will take whatever actions are needed to prevent his attempted illegal action. Cook is the first Black woman to serve as a governor. She was a Marshall Scholar and received degrees from Oxford University and Spelman College, and she has taught at Michigan State University and Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government. CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Rugaber has covered the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy for the AP for 16 years. He is a two-time finalist for the Gerald Loeb award for business reporting. twitter mailto

Israeli army vehicles raid currency exchange companies in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)2025-08-26T15:45:53Z RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) Israeli forces carried out a rare daytime raid on Tuesday in the heart of the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian Authority is headquartered. Dozens of Palestinians were wounded, according to local medics, as people throwing stones scattered after gunfire and tear gas.Israel said it targeted money exchanges linked to Hamas. But the raid was likely to further undermine the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority as it seeks to capitalize on the recent decision by some major Western countries to recognize Palestinian statehood.The Palestinian Authority, which is led by rivals of Hamas, did not immediately comment on the raid. It cooperates with Israel on security matters and exercises limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank. Many Palestinians view it as a corrupt and autocratic entity. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 58 people were wounded in the raid, eight of them by live fire and 14 by rubber-coated bullets. A few dozen people hurled rocks at a line of Israeli armored vehicles as they rolled into the city center. The military said it detained five people suspected of terrorist activity. Associated Press footage showed people running as tear gas canisters landed on busy streets and sidewalks, an Israeli soldier firing rifle shots into the air and people carrying a wounded youth to an ambulance. Violence in the West Bank has surged during the war in Gaza, with the Israeli military carrying out large-scale operations targeting militants that have killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced tens of thousands. There has also been a rise in Israeli settler violence and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.Israeli forces routinely operate in Ramallah and other cities administered by the Palestinian Authority, but daytime raids into downtown are rare.___Associated Press journalist Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem contributed.___Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

One morning in March, Lil Miss Hot Mess woke up to discover that a sitting member of Congress had called her a monster.Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) had used her as a prop to justify the GOPs nonsensical war on PBS. According to the MAGA congresswoman, the Public Broadcasting Service, known for beloved childrens shows like Sesame Street and Daniel Tigers Neighborhood, had become a radical left-wing echo chamberfocused on grooming and sexualizing children. Related When the going gets tough, the queens get going: Why drags rich history should fuel the resistance During her committee hearing on defunding the network, Greene aired a video of the Drag Story Hour icon reading an excerpt from her childrens book, The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish. Greene called it repulsive and called Lil Miss Hot Mess a child predator.The things that she said about me were especially nasty, and I think in any other context would have been considered a form of defamation or slander, Lil Miss Hot Mess told LGBTQ Nation. 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 "The hips go swish, swish, swish? that's repulsive" Marge Green is big mad[image or embed] Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) March 26, 2025 at 11:30 AMBut this was far from the veteran performers first time at the rodeo of hate. It wasnt even the first time shed been dangled as public bait by a federal politician. And like every other time before, she has used the moment as fuel to propel herself forward. After all, she emphasized, Republicans should know that it takes a lot more than name-calling to bring down a drag queen.Were larger than life and were not going to back down, she said.In some ways, the art of drag is forged through the kinds of oppression that weve experienced historically, and being able to find ways to reclaim the slurs that are used against us and to find joy and humor in the moments of sadness and pain. Were really good at it.Besides, she added, its time for America to rediscover its backbone.The country as a whole is in a moment where we have to relearn what it means to stand up to bullies, she said. A quick glance at her social media accounts confirms she has a knack for taking back power from those seeking to belittle her. Her posts mock the hate and the slurs and the ignorance. She jokes about the honor of being called out by hate groups and Fox News. She protests, speaks out, and encourages others to do the same. And perhaps most importantly, she radiates joy. Seriously, while wear it as a badge of courage to be listed among such cultural icons as Elmo, the lows this administration will go to try to erase LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrants, Muslims, disabled, and other marginalized people is disgusting. Get a new hobby! Lil Miss Hot Mess (@lilmisshotmess.bsky.social) April 16, 2025 at 7:51 PMAfter Greenes stunt, Lil Miss Hot Mess refused to let her have the last word. She responded with a biting essay in HuffPost. What is ironic about Greenes attacks is that while she accuses public media, childrens authors and drag storytellers like myself of brainwashing children, it is Greene who wants to control minds through censorship, she wrote. But drag can be an antidote. And thats exactly why drag performers belong in public education and media.They're just mad I'm a true multihyphenate: I'm out here publishing books and turning looks. Lil Miss Hot Mess (@LilMissHotMess) May 20, 2023 In a separate statement, she declared, Americans candecidefor themselves who thereal monsteris.She more than stands by her decision to speak out, voicing disappointment with the many institutions and leaders who claim to be working strategically against the current administration despite public silence.When they threaten you you need to stand up and loudly say no, she said. Here's my message to @GovStitt. We see what you're doing, and we're not going to stand for it. pic.twitter.com/MZBVZvNSLD Lil Miss Hot Mess (@LilMissHotMess) May 11, 2023Enraged & fabulousLil Miss Hot Mess was a drag queen before she even knew what one was. As a kid, she loved to dress up and perform, putting on shows with a towel over her head to mimic a big wig. These days, she said, Drag Story Hour allows her to connect with kids who are bursting with the same kind of imagination and creativity and who might be searching for permission to express themselves for who they are.She described the program as magic. Honestly, I'm glad at least she chose a really great photo of me. She's clearly not familiar with the concept of "never work with kids or animals or queens."[image or embed] Lil Miss Hot Mess (@lilmisshotmess.bsky.social) March 26, 2025 at 6:34 PMIts really helped me understand drag as a form of play, she said. Her passion for Drag Story Hour is so strong that, in addition to writing three childrens books of her own, she co-authored a research piece on its pedagogical benefits (When shes not in drag, shes Harris Kornstein, assistant professor in the Department of Public & Applied Humanities at the University of Arizona).To the unimaginative adult it might seem that the world of drag and the world of children are impossibly distant from one another, she wrote in the study, along with co-author Harper Keenan. Yet, their meeting has left many audiences wondering why they hadnt considered it before. Though I wrote it earlier this fall, in a different global political climate, several parts ring true differently now.Drag is neither a solution to, nor distraction from the horrors of the world. But it reminds us that we need play, creativity, and imagination to make change. Lil Miss Hot Mess (@LilMissHotMess) December 21, 2023The paper explains that Drag Story Hour is not about asking kids to imagine themselves as queer or not queer or even to walk in someone elses shoes. Rather, its about seeing what its like to walk in different versions of themselves and get to know different elements of their inner selves.Its perhaps not surprising, then, that Harris Kornstein doesnt see Lil Miss Hot Mess as a persona or alter-ego. Drag just allows me to let other aspects of my personality and identity shine, she said. In my everyday life, I tend to be a little bit more shy or reserved When I get in drag, it allows the loudness, over the topness, unabashedness to come out.While she tries not to let right-wing vitriol get to her, she hates to see her lifes work being used to justify the GOPs actions. Theyre certainly not trying to debate the merits of my work in any sort of meaningful, genuine way. But instead theyre using it to defund public institutions Its enraging.Indeed, anti-LGBTQ+ hate has become a major path to power for todays right-wing politicians who have found success using bigotry and fearmongering to justify dismantling federal programs. Lil Miss Hot Mess pointed out that Greene, herself, jump-started her political career by protesting none other than drag story hours. But the backlash once felt manageable until the GOP started whipping up its base over radical gender ideology.Over the past decade, Lil Miss Hot Mess has seen it escalate before her eyes, from small religious protests when the event first launched to todays onslaught of anti-drag bills and massive standoffs with neo-Nazis. Her own events have never experienced protests from dangerous groups like the Proud Boys, but plenty of others have.Lil Miss Hot Mess during a Drag Story Hour event at the Cortelyou Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library | Paolo QuadriniIn recent years, she has been mocked by the violence-inducing social media account Libs of TikTok, her events have been cancelled due to threats, and she has been slammed by Fox News for writing a book on how drag intersects with digital privacy. Shes been called a groomer and a predator, and she was even featured in a Marco Rubio senatorial campaign ad warning about the dangers of the left.The thought that I or other drag performers would be harming children is just so upsetting [and] even the insinuation that we are indoctrinating children is also just absurd. The whole project of Drag Story Hour is to open up kids imaginations. Its to encourage curiosity and creativity and critical thinking.The reality is the right wants to tell people what they should think, how they should act, who they should be. So to accuse us of indoctrination just really feels like a sort of reflection and misdirection of their own actions.But no matter how scary it feels or how hurtful the words can be, Lil Miss Hot Mess has only worked harder. She has only sought out more ways to be seen, hosting more events, writing more books, posting more photos. In turn, she helps others kids and adults alike feel seen, too. She emphasized that above all else, theres one big thing keeping her going: Knowing that Im right.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) slammed Republicans for not thinking for themselves, saying that its easy to be a Republican.Think of how easy it would be to be a damn Republican, Walz said at the DNC Summer Meeting in Minneapolis yesterday. Oh, what should I wear today? This stupid frickin red hat. What should I say today? I dont know, just make sure its cruel. Who do we listen to? That guy, oh the felon in the White House, listen to him and that will be fine.'Tim Walz: "Think of how easy it would be to be a damn Republican. 'Oh, what should I wear today? This stupid frickin' red hat. What should I say today? I don't know, just make sure it's cruel. Who do we listen to? That guy the felon in the White House.'" pic.twitter.com/QtNe40SqV5 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 25, 2025Walzs fiery speech included calling the president a wannabe king in the White House and the dictator-in-chief and said hes sick and tired of this Democratic Party bringing a pencil to a knife fight.We cannot be the only party that plays by the rules anymore, he said. 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 Walz, who was the vice presidential nominee last year, stood by Kamala Harris, saying she would have been a fantastic president.Look, we wouldnt wake up every day to a bunch of s**t on TV and a bunch of nonsense, he continued. We would wake up to an adult with compassion and dignity and vision and leadership doing the work, not a man-child crying about whatever is wrong with him. May his fat ankles find something today. Petty as hell.Walz was likely referring to the presidents cankles, which the White House says is the result of his Chronic Venous Insufficiency. Tim Walz says Kamala Harris "would have been a fantastic president and look, we wouldn't wake up every day to a bunch of shit on TV and a bunch of nonsense. We would wake up to an adult with compassion and dignity and leadership doing the work, not a manchild crying about pic.twitter.com/jZZ9v61cQn Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 25, 2025He also admonished Democrats to stand together. Dont take the bait, he said. It boggles my damn mind that in the midst of a military takeover of our cities and the attempt to go into others, the flaunting of the rule of law, the cruelness and the unconstitutional nature of the way theyre attacking our neighbors, that the press finds the need to talk about, Oh, theres a division in the Democratic Party. Theres a division in my damn house and were still married and things are good. Thats life.We are strong because we challenge each other, he said. We are strong because were held accountable. Were strong because we believe theres a place for everyone here. Walz: "Don't take the bait. It boggles my damn mind that in the midst of a military takeover of our cities and the attempt to go into others, the flaunting of the rule of law, the cruelness and the unconstitutional nature of the way they're attacking our neighbors, that the press pic.twitter.com/kxknuorihE Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 25, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Father Jordan, the newly appointed vicar at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Romford, London, posted a TikTok on Aug. 11 to introduce himself and invite parishioners to Sunday services. His words were standard for a church welcome, but viewers latched onto something else entirely, his appearance.The clip quickly racked up more than 1.4 million views, with thousands of comments ranging from lighthearted to flirty. One person joked, When is he dropping his Holyfans?. Another teased, Out here looking like the holy Scott Disick.The Hot Priest ComparisonsIt didnt take long for users to connect Father Jordan to pop cultures most famous clergy crush: Andrew Scotts Hot Priest in Fleabag. Many admitted theyd happily attend church if it meant seeing the real-life version. Some even speculated the video was an intentional thirst trap, though it was nothing more than a straightforward greeting.The sudden wave of suggestive replies eventually led the churchs TikTok account to disable comments.Father Jordan RespondsRather than shy away from the attention, Father Jordan leaned into the moment with a second video from a personal account on Aug. 19. In the since-deleted post, he thanked viewers for the response and addressed the jokes with humor.TikTok, are you okay? he asked. Ive read every single comment. Even my mom saw it. Shes so proud.He went on to mock the idea of intentionally courting viral fame, joking that he purposely staged his priest collar and pulled handsome stares outside the church. Thats baiting for you, he deadpanned.A Repeat PerformanceThe follow-up reached another million views, once again filling the comments section with playful confessions. Were just very thirstyfor God, one user wrote, while another admitted, Father, I assure you, winking at us will not help.For now, Father Jordan seems content to laugh along with his new online fan base, proving that sometimes, all it takes is a simple hello to make the internet swoon.Source

Nature, Published online: 26 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09551-5Scalable total synthesis of saxitoxin and related natural products

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The Jets are waiving wide receiver Malachi Corley, who was selected by the team with the first pick of the third round in the 2024 draft.

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On the town with the A-Gays of Washington, who have never been happier to be out, proud and Republican.

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A longtime advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams was suspended from his reelection campaign after she handed a reporter a potato chip bag containing cash, an occurrence she claimed was an accident. What do you think?Nobody hands over a bag of sour cream and onion chips accidentally.Calvin Tribalat, Timeline CondenserShell be back on her feet working for Cuomo in no time.Audrey Ware, UnemployedI hate when you buy a big bag of chips and it turns out to be mostly cash.Steven Ogbern, Lime JuicerThe post Eric Adams Aide Accused Of Bribing Journalist With Cash Inside Potato Chip Bag appeared first on The Onion.

The post Freshman Weak appeared first on The Onion.

SPRINGDALE, UTBeating himself up over a lifetime of wasted energy, a local hummingbird confirmed Tuesday that he felt like a huge fucking idiot after he saw a hawk gliding above him with close to no effort all. What the hell am I doing continuously flitting around like a complete maniac? said the male hummingbird, adding that his life would be so much easier if he simply let an air current carry him hundreds of miles and barely moved his goddamn wings at all. Fuck, I feel so stupid. I wouldnt need to eat so much nectar if I wasnt beating my wings 80 times per second like a total dipshit. Ugh!! Why didnt any of you assholes tell me about thermal drafts? The utterly humiliated bird was later spotted attempting to gulp a whole fish out of water before he realized his tiny shitty beak was only good for lapping up nectar.The post Hummingbird Feels Like Fucking Idiot After Seeing Other Bird Gliding appeared first on The Onion.

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Former members of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) and police officers who allegedly surrendered to M23 rebels arrive in Goma, Congo, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, file)2025-08-26T15:02:33Z GOMA, Congo (AP) U.S. President Donald Trump claims that the war in eastern Congo is among the ones he has stopped, after brokering a peace deal between Congo and Rwanda in June. But residents, conflict researchers and others say thats not true.Trump on Monday repeated claims that he ended the decadeslong conflict, describing Congo as the darkest, deepest part of Africa. For 35 years, it was a vicious war. Nine million people were killed with machetes. I stopped it. ... I got it stopped and saved lots of lives, he asserted.The Associated Press previously fact-checked Trumps claim and found the war far from over. Now residents report clashes in several hot spots, often between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who seized key cities earlier this year and militia fighting alongside Congolese forces.A final peace deal between Congo and the rebels, facilitated by Qatar, appears to have stalled. Each side has accused the other of violating peace terms.Heres what people say about Trumps latest claim: An inspector says people are still being displacedThe local human rights inspector in South Kivu provinces Kabare territory, Ciruza Mushenzi Dieudonn, said residents in the communities of Bugobe, Cirunga, Kagami and Bushwira continue to flee clashes between the M23 rebels and the Wazalendo militia.The problem now is that we do not have humanitarian assistance, hospitals operate during the day and health professionals find refuge elsewhere at night to escape the insecurity, Dieudonn said. Amnesty International says clashes reported this weekChristian Rumu with Amnesty International said the rights group learned of clashes during the past 24 hours in various locations. It is far from the reality to say that he has ended the war, he said of Trump.The U.S. president is misguided in his assessment because people on the ground continue to experience grave human rights violations, and some of these amount to crimes against humanity, Rumu said, urging Trump to speed up the peace process. A student says fighting has continuedAmani Safari, a student in Goma, the city first seized by the M23 and most affected by the fighting, said nothing has changed since the peace deal was signed in June.Unfortunately, when you look at this agreement, there are no binding sanctions against the two countries that violate it, Safari said. The United States only sees American interests.An activist in Goma says Trump needs to do moreEspoir Muhinuka, a activist in Goma, said there is no sign the war will end soon and urged Trump to take steps to achieve the permanent ceasefire the peace deal provided for.If this does not happen, it would deceive all of humanity, Muhinuka said.Civil society leader says residents are losing hope of peaceThe president of civil society in North Kivu province, John Banyene, said he and other residents are losing hope of permanent peace.The killings, the displacement of the population and the clashes continue, therefore, we are still in disarray, Banyene said. We, as civil society, encourage this dialogue, but it drags on.Analyst says peace efforts appear to have stalled Christian Moleka, a Congo-based political analyst, said the peace deal brokered by Trump initially helped to facilitate the peace process, but Congo and the M23 missed a deadline to sign a final peace agreement.For a conflict that combines the complexities of the structural weaknesses of the Congolese state, local identity and land conflicts, and the fallout of crises in neighboring countries Trumps approach may appear as a truce rather than a definitive settlement, Moleka said.___Asadu reported from Dakar, Senegal. Janvier Barhahiga in Bukavu, Congo contributed.

A trans womans court victory in Kenya could have wide-ranging implications for trans rights in the East African nation, after a judge agreed she suffered inhuman and degrading treatment at the hands of government authorities and directed Parliament to enact protections and recognition in law for trans Kenyans.The plaintiff, Shieys Chepkosgei, was detained in 2019 and charged with impersonation, despite the fact that she had held official documents, including a birth certificate and passport with female sex markers, while living in another country where she had also competed in womens athletics. Related What its like to celebrate Pride in a Kenyan refugee camp Chepkosgei was arrested by Kenyan police while visiting a teaching hospital, Q News reports.She was remanded to a womens facility, strip-searched, and ordered by a court to undergo gender determination, which included a genital examination, hormone testing, blood sampling, and radiological testing. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Chepkosgei challenged her detention and the nonconsensual medical examinations in court, arguing they were unconstitutional, violated her inherent dignity, and highlighted a legislative gap in the treatment of transgender persons in custody in Kenya.Justice R. Nyakundi of the Eldoret High Court agreed that Chepkosgeis rights to dignity, privacy, and freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment had been violated, according toJinsiangu, a Kenyan intersex, transgender, and gender non-conforming rights group. She was awarded the equivalent of about $8000. But the judge went a step further, directing the Kenyan government to initiate legislation in Parliament addressing the rights of transgender Kenyans, either with new protections or by amending current legislation on the rights of intersex people currently moving through Parliament.This is the first time a Kenyan court has explicitly ordered the State to create legislation on transgender rights, and a first on the African continent, Jinsiangus Lolyne Ongeri told Mamba Online.If implemented, it could address decades of legal invisibility and discrimination faced by transgender persons by establishing clear legal recognition of gender identity, protections against discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and education, and access to public services without bias or harassment. Kenya has a fraught history with LGBTQ+ rights, with colonial-era penalties for same-sex behavior still in effect, and discriminatory legislation modeled on Ugandas notorious Anti-Homosexuality Act which allows for the death penalty for homosexuality introduced in Parliament.Same-sex relations remain criminalized, with carnal knowledge against the order of nature and gross indecency punishable by up to 14 years in prison.Transgender people in Kenya face widespread stigma, discrimination, and violence. Current law bars trans Kenyans from legally changing their gender identity from the one assigned at birth. While LGBTQ+ people have found relief in the courts, homophobia pervades Kenyan society and the legislature.In 2023, Kenyas Supreme Court affirmed a decision granting an LGBTQ+ rights group official status and legal recognition as a non-governmental organization (NGO). The decision ignited protests in the countrys second-largest city, led by clerics and homophobic politicians.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Betty Who is facing some serious backlash after her decision to speak out "in defense" of bisexuality devolved into a regurgitation of homophobic talking points, although in doing so, she unintentionally brought a lot of the recent discourse about queer musicians and lesbian fans into focus.During a recent appearance on the Made It Out podcast, Who spoke with host Mallorie Glownke about her own experiences with queerness and becoming "obsessed with a boy," in relation to JoJo Siwa and Fletcher recently "coming out" as dating men themselves."It doesn't mean that I'm not queer and that I don't represent or love the queer community and exist in the queer community," she said.And if she had left it at that, everything would have been fine. It's unfortunate that queer women who are in relationships with men (or, in Who's case, are married to men) feel the need to reaffirm their bisexuality. But instead, she opted to go on some weird rant about the "alphabet mafia," claiming that the LGBTQ+ community "will never forget it" if someone's sexuality ends up being more fluid than they first thought, and complain that it's practically "a crime to be straight" now.Who then dragged Rene Rapp into the conversation, acknowledging that Rapp, who identifies as a lesbian, says she'll never date a man, but that Who will "also hold space for her if, in 10 years, she goes, 'Oops, I met the love of my life and it's this man, and I didn't mean to.' That's okay. It shouldn't be illegal for you to fall in love."Uh, newsflash Betty: it's not.Having both Siwa and Fletcher out themselves as dating men and making a whole to-do of it has sparked a ton of discourse about sexual fluidity and biphobia, specifically as pertains to celebrity. There's been debate over whether it's okay for queer women, and especially lesbians, to feel disappointed or hurt over pop stars who once celebrated their love of women now celebrating their love of men, and whether they should be embraced in the same way.But one thing that has never been present in that discourse is whether it should be "legal," or even just okay for them to date men. In failing to grasp the actual discussion that's happening, Who wound up falling into a pit of lesbophobia, fueled by her own blinders when it comes to the prejudice the LGBTQ+ community faces both internally and externally. "What grinds my gears as a singularly gay person, I don't have the social fallback, the social safety net of being like, 'Well, I am married to a straight white man,'" TikToker @horacegold said in response to Who's video. "But you do. So inherently, the situation's not the same. You are not speaking for me."There are struggles bisexual women face that lesbians will never understand, but the reverse is also true, as is the fact that bisexual women in relationships with men experience a certain amount of privilege. And while the idea of ranking struggles based on which ones may or may not be more difficult is rarely fruitful, we currently live in an age where queer rights are on the chopping block and same-sex marriage might be up for debate in the U.S. after being legal nationwide for a decade. And that's just the legal side of things. Nobody and I do mean nobody needs to be reminded that it's "okay" to fall in love with someone of the opposite gender. "There are white bisexual women who seem to always be fighting to be seen as valid as queer, whose pain around being queer is largely about the fear of losing community among queer people when theyre with a man," @arielvelz noted that. "So when they do date a man, theyre uncomfortable with the amount of privilege they gain because they still want to be aligned with being in this marginalized group."Anyone who has paid the slightest attention to Siwa's social media since she walked back her lesbian identity and started dating Chris Hughes can tell you how commenters have flocked to tell her how much happier she looks, and how much more like her old self she seems. That sentiment has been echoed in Fletcher's comment section as well, with both serving as a brutal reminder that the default assumption among the general public is still that being in a hetero-presenting relationship is what makes a person happy and healthy. Who's comments about how her own love story with a man is "the best thing that's ever happened to me" combined with how maybe Rapp will eventually fall in love with a man and feel similarly fulfilled only serve to crystallize that sentiment. It was a point of frustration in the public reaction to these other stories that felt more implied than stated outright before now, but Who changed that.And thats the real sting here. Nobody begrudges bisexual women their relationships with men, nor does anyone believe they should perform their sexuality in a way that satisfies fans. But when real life sapphic representation is already so scarce, its not unreasonable for lesbians to feel the loss when an artist who once sang about women suddenly pivots to centering men. Celebrities may view that hurt as an attack on their personal identity, but it's actually about a loss of what they were once putting into the world, through their work or their mere existence in the public eye.This is the heart of the discourse that Who entirely missed in her warped desire to seemingly try to educate queer people on sexual fluidity. Lesbians are constantly asked to "hold space" for bisexuality, and rightly so. But that space isnt reciprocated when lesbians express disappointment at losing visibility instead, it gets reframed as bitterness or biphobia. Who's decision to hold up Rapp as an example of someone who might eventually change her mind flips the burden onto lesbians to defend their identities, while bemoaning having to do the same herself."I do think there is a huge problem with specifically white bisexual women who have fallen in love with men and that has been their experience painting everybody else's experiences with the same brush," @noelleleahh said. "To say, well, this happened for me, so surely it could happen for you, too. Which, again, people are gay, honey. People are gay."The unfortunate fact is that, to the broader public, bisexual celebrities finding "true love" or whatever with someone of the opposite gender still reads as coming out of queerness and embracing the heterosexual destiny that was always waiting for them. It's not right, and it's not fair. It's also not a reason for anyone to deny their true self. But by actively contributing to the narrative that something like that is possible for anyone, all Who has done is highlight exactly why this whole discourse is so frustrating and personal for lesbians. Im sure most of us would love to make space for sexual fluidity and many of us already do, every day, with our own communities that include queer and bisexual people. But that deserves reciprocation. Immovable lesbian sexuality is just as valid, and so is the disappointment when sapphic representation in media and the public eye fades away. That grief isnt about policing anyones relationships. It's not a personal attack. Its about mourning what little space we have in the cultural landscape being chipped away. And "holding space" for us to fall in love with men in the future isn't going to help a damn thing.

Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Nas X has opened up about his experience being arrested and hospitalized.Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Hill, posted a 28-second video on his Instagram story around 8:55 am PT."Your girl is gonna be OK, y'all. OK? She's going to be all right; she's gonna be all right. Shit. That was fucking terrifying. That was terrifying. That was a terrifying last four days. But your girl is gonna be all right."After being spotted wandering the streets in his underwear in the early hours of August 21 in Studio City, officers responded, and Lil Nas X was taken into police custody and subsequently hospitalized on suspicion of a drug overdose. Police also claim Lil Nas X charged them, with a source saying that he "punched an officer twice in the face during the encounter," according to NBC News. Lil Nas X was reportedly handcuffed, thrown to the ground, and forcibly hospitalized. He was subsequently charged with three counts of battery with injury on a police officer and one count of resisting arrest. On Monday, August 25, Lil Nas X waived his arraignment and pleaded not guilty to those charges.After spending three days in jail, Lil Nas X was reportedly released on Monday on $75,000 bail. The judge is also requiring him to attend four Narcotics Anonymous meetings per week. He could also still face prison time, as felony level battery against a police officer is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, by imprisonment for up to three years.Lil Nas X's attorney, Drew Findling, released a statement on his behalf per The Hollywood Reporter. "He's never been in trouble for a split second in his existence, we're not going to let one little event change the trajectory of his amazing life," said Findling. "There's no way to have a sense of what happened this immediately, but we're going to look into it and do the right thing."Robert Stafford, Lil Nas X's father, told reporters Monday that his son is "doing great mentally.""He's in good spirits. He's all right," Stafford said in video posted by TMZ. "He's very remorseful for what happened." He added that Lil Nas X is "going to get the help that he needs" and that illegal drugs were "absolutely not" involved.

Which players have props that stand out? We looked at futures odds to find our favorite bets.

Given how much Premier League clubs spend these days, there are some curious moves under the surface that have major bust/boom potential. Let's review five of the most intriguing.

Journalists endure the same harrowing reality as other Gazans: hunger and the constant threat of death. Those challenges risk further stifling what the world hears about the war.

The news was announced on Instagram: Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.

President Trumps attempt to fire Lisa Cook, a Fed governor, will set off a long legal battle. Economists warn it could lead to higher inflation and government borrowing costs.

The two countries appear to be trying to raise political pressure on each other and send signals to Washington in case peace talks move forward.

For the first time, Russian forces seized villages in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a minor but symbolic gain that gives the Kremlin another bargaining chip.

After a California resident tested positive for bubonic plague, likely contracted from a flea bite while camping, local health officials urged the public to take precautions. What do you think?With the nations humors this out of balance, Im not surprised.Ray Dvorak, Systems AnalystAs hard as it is to resist, people need to stop petting wild fleas.Sarah Devine, Tomato SlicerI thought we eradicated the witches that cause plague years ago.Bill Maxwell, Salt MinerThe post California Resident Tests Positive For The Plague appeared first on The Onion.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and Taylor Swift kiss after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game on Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)2025-08-26T17:13:09Z Its a love story and, baby, she said yes: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged, they announced Tuesday.In a five-photo joint post on Instagram, the superstar singer and football player revealed their engagement, the fairytale culmination of a courtship that for two years has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world, but especially Swifties, the pop stars enormous and ardent fan base.Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married, the caption read, accompanied by an emoji of a dynamite stick.Kelce was a famous football player when they met a star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and a Super Bowl champion but Swifts unique level of fame catapulted him into a different orbit entirely. Their relationship was documented in countless shots of Swift celebrating at Chiefs games and fan videos of Kelce dancing along at Swifts Eras concert tour as it traveled the globe. There were those who speculated, with no evidence, that the relationship was not genuine but a cynical ploy for more fame, while some even theorized it was a plot to influence the U.S. elections. In the end, those voices were quieted by a happy couple who simply looked in love now with an engagement ring rivaling the size of Kelces three Super Bowl rings. Its unclear when and where the two got engaged. A representative for Swift did not immediately respond to The Associated Press request for comment. Its been just two weeks since Swift and Kelce last ignited a media frenzy, with the announcement of a new album, The Life of a Showgirl. Kelce and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, assisted Swift with the rollout, hosting her on their typically football-oriented podcast, New Heights. During the episode, she likened her career to her now-fiances, saying their jobs were to entertain people for three hours in NFL stadiums. When Jason Kelce asked his brother and Swift, sitting side-by-side, how they handled the discourse around their relationship, Swift said they just didnt.We dont, really. I dont see a lot of things, she said. My name can be in the actual headline, and its none of my business.The news broke in the middle of the Kansas City Chiefs media availability, though after head coach Andy Reid had departed. That left Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna to field questions about his teammates engagement.Man, its incredible. I was caught off guard but you know, great for them, Danna said, a few minutes after the news raced across social media. But you know, great for them. Thats a blessing. Any time you find that type of joy, blessing, love thats a beautiful thing. Like many of the Chiefs, Danna has hung out with Swift and Kelce at a New Years party and after most of their home games.Ill think of a good little engagement gift, Danna said. Maybe some Pop-Tarts back to her. It wont be homemade.The NFL, which has gained millions of fans since the relationship became public, posted the news on X with their congratulations then quickly deleted it and reposted it when they realized they tagged the wrong Swift account. Kelce and Swifts relationship featured prominently in the just-released six-part ESPN documentary The Kingdom, which chronicles the franchises pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title last season. Kelce was joined by his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, on the red carpet last Sunday for the premiere at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, Missouri.Shes very good for him. I dont hesitate in saying that, Ed Kelce said of his future daughter-in-law. They are two people that truly deserve each other.___Noveck reported from New York and Skretta from Kansas City, Missouri. JOCELYN NOVECK Noveck is an Associated Press national writer specializing in culture and gender, and a film critic. twitter mailto DAVE SKRETTA Skretta is a Kansas City-based sports writer for The Associated Press. He covers the Royals, the Chiefs and college sports along with auto racing, the Olympics and other sports.

After the president whipped up a national frenzy over a single trans teenager playing high school sports in California, teams in her volleyball league have begun to forfeit games due to her presence on the court. Earlier this year, AB Hernandez became the target ofnationwide hate and harassmentwhen the president of a local school board publicly doxxed the multi-sport athlete and outed her as transgender. Right-wing activists misgendered her and called her mom evil, swarms of adults showed up toheckleher at games, Charlie KirkpushedGov. Gavin Newsom (D) to condemn her, and the president threatenedto withhold federal funding from California over her participation. Related Pete Buttigieg says trans sports ban debate is especially hurtful for trans people 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 Now competing on the Jurupa Valley High School volleyball team, 17-year-old Hernandez has again become the subject of conservative ire. At least three schools have refused to play against Jurupa while shes on the team. At a recent board meeting of the Riverside Unified School District, tensions ran high as parents debated the decision to forfeit by Riverside Poly High School (in addition to Rim of the World High School and Orange Vista High School). Hernandezs mother, Nereyda Hernandez, spoke at the meeting to defend her daughter. She slammed board member Amanda Vickers for speaking to Fox News about the controversy. You actually entertained and welcomed harassment to my child, she said.You are a board member. You have an oath to protect, to support all children, not just the ones that fit your ideas, your beliefs. My daughter is not the problem. The problem is coordinated external efforts often led by individuals [who] travel from district to district to spread fear and put parents against each other, using religion as a shield for discrimination.This has nothing to do with fairness in sport and everything to do with erasing transgender children, she said.Vickers responded by appearing again on Fox News this morning and again to reinforce her point and denigrate trans athletes. She called the other athletes brave for refusing to play against Hernandez. Biological truth is not hate, she claimed. Another parent at the board meeting, Maria Correo, said she stood with the girls at the other schools and that these parents that support their confused child are the problem. A statement to Fox Sports from Jurupa Unified School District emphasized its dedication to following California law. 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.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 state of California has been sparring with the current administration over its trans athlete policy. The state of California has had a law allowing trans kids to participate in school sports as their gender since 2013 and has refused to violate it despite the administrations stance against trans sports participation.The administration is currently suing California over it. Amidst all of this is a real teenage girl who has been heckled, threatened, and put in danger by adults who are supposed to protect her. But Hernandez has said in the past that the president doesnt scare her. I can tune it out pretty well, she toldThe Guardian in June. I dont really care. Its weird when reporters come, and Im like, I forgot Im famous now. But for the most part, Im living a normal life, and then I go on social media and, Im like, wait, Im known.Hernandez said of the president and his transphobic right-wing supporters who have repeatedly targeted her and other trans athletes, They try to use intimidation tactics to push people to quit, but Im not scared of them. They bark, but we bite. I dont think they realized who they messed with, she added. People say, Ooh, they messed with the wrong kid. But at the same time, they messed with the right one. Because Im not keeping my mouth shut.Her mother also spoke to the publication, admitting that she previously supported the president (though she now calls herself nonpartisan). I wanted to put that out there so people know it doesnt matter what your political views are, she said. You can still be accepting and supportive of your family member.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

It's official: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged.The pop star shared the news in an Instagram post that read:"Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married." The note ended with an emoji of a dynamite stick. See on Instagram The engagement announcement included a series of photographs of the NFL player kneeling in front of the pop star in a rose-filled veranda as well as closeups of the couple embracing and a massive diamond ring.The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and the "Blank Space" singer, both 35, first began dating in 2023, when they became one of the most famous celebrity couples on the planet. Swift routinely made headlines for attending Kelce's football games, including two Super Bowls, and Kelce was a regular of Swift's Eras Tour, and even made a surprise performance once.Earlier this month, Swift announced her forthcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl, during an appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by Kelce and his brother, Jason Kelce.This story is developing...