Federal prosecutors are set to ask that a man convicted of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 be sentenced to life in prison at a hearing on Wednesday.Ryan Routh is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce. Her courtroom erupted into chaos in September shortly after jurors found Routh guilty on all counts, including attempting to kill a presidential candidate and several firearm-related charges. Routh tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen, and officers quickly dragged him out.Routh’s sentencing had initially been scheduled for December, but Cannon agreed to move the date back after Routh decided to use an attorney during the sentencing phase instead of representing himself as he did for most of the trial.Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum filed last month that Routh has yet to accept any responsibility for his actions and that he should spend the rest of his life in prison, in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.“Routh remains unrepentant for his crimes, never apologized for the lives he put at risk, and his life demonstrates near-total disregard for law,” the memo said.Routh’s new defense attorney, Martin L. Roth, is asking the judge for a variance from sentencing guidelines: 20 years in prison on top of a seven-year, mandatory sentence for one of the gun convictions.“The defendant is two weeks short of being sixty years old,” Roth wrote in a filing. “A just punishment would provide a sentence long enough to impose sufficient but not excessive punishment, and to allow defendant to experience freedom again as opposed to dying in prison.”Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as the then-Republican presidential candidate played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.At Routh’s trial, a Secret Service agent helping protect Trump on the golf course testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and run away without firing a shot.In the motion requesting an attorney, Routh offered to trade his life in a prisoner swap with people unjustly held in other countries and said an offer still stood for Trump to “take out his frustrations on my face.”“Just a quarter of an inch further back and we all would not have to deal with all of this mess forwards, but I always fail at everything (par for the course),” Routh wrote.In her decision granting Routh an attorney, Cannon chastised the “disrespectful charade” of Routh’s motion, saying it made a mockery of the proceedings. But the judge, nominated by Trump in 2020, said she wanted to err on the side of legal representation.Cannon signed off last summer on Routh’s request to represent himself following two hearings. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have the right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney.Routh’s former federal public defenders served as standby counsel and were present during the trial.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. —
Federal prosecutors are set to ask that a man convicted of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 be sentenced to life in prison at a hearing on Wednesday.
Ryan Routh is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in Fort Pierce. Her courtroom erupted into chaos in September shortly after jurors found Routh guilty on all counts, including attempting to kill a presidential candidate and several firearm-related charges. Routh tried to stab himself in the neck with a pen, and officers quickly dragged him out.
Routh’s sentencing had initially been scheduled for December, but Cannon agreed to move the date back after Routh decided to use an attorney during the sentencing phase instead of representing himself as he did for most of the trial.
Prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum filed last month that Routh has yet to accept any responsibility for his actions and that he should spend the rest of his life in prison, in accordance with federal sentencing guidelines.
“Routh remains unrepentant for his crimes, never apologized for the lives he put at risk, and his life demonstrates near-total disregard for law,” the memo said.
Routh’s new defense attorney, Martin L. Roth, is asking the judge for a variance from sentencing guidelines: 20 years in prison on top of a seven-year, mandatory sentence for one of the gun convictions.
“The defendant is two weeks short of being sixty years old,” Roth wrote in a filing. “A just punishment would provide a sentence long enough to impose sufficient but not excessive punishment, and to allow defendant to experience freedom again as opposed to dying in prison.”
Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as the then-Republican presidential candidate played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.
At Routh’s trial, a Secret Service agent helping protect Trump on the golf course testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and run away without firing a shot.
In the motion requesting an attorney, Routh offered to trade his life in a prisoner swap with people unjustly held in other countries and said an offer still stood for Trump to “take out his frustrations on my face.”
“Just a quarter of an inch further back and we all would not have to deal with all of this mess forwards, but I always fail at everything (par for the course),” Routh wrote.
In her decision granting Routh an attorney, Cannon chastised the “disrespectful charade” of Routh’s motion, saying it made a mockery of the proceedings. But the judge, nominated by Trump in 2020, said she wanted to err on the side of legal representation.
Cannon signed off last summer on Routh’s request to represent himself following two hearings. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have the right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney.
Routh’s former federal public defenders served as standby counsel and were present during the trial.
Celebrate 15 years at The Emotion Machine with our ‘Best of 2024’ roundup, featuring top articles and worksheets on psychology, personal growth, relationships, and philosophy — then get excited for another year of self-improvement!
2024 marks the fifteenth year of self-improvement at The Emotion Machine, making it one of the oldest and largest independent psychology websites on the internet – with zero plans to stop or slow down anytime soon.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no matter the ups and downs we face over the year, a steady commitment to growth always pays off on a long enough timeline. Over the past 15 years, I’ve had many rewarding highs and devastating lows, but at the end of the day, I’m better off today than I was before — and that’s the truest measure of growth. It’s the benchmark I’ll continue to use as I move forward in life.
This year, as always, we’ve explored a huge range of topics related to psychology and self-improvement: from practical tips for emotional regulation to in-depth movie reviews to social analyses about the current state of the world. A quick look at the list below shows that The Emotion Machine is far more than just your everyday self-help blog, it’s a vast resource dedicated to education and knowledge in all its forms.
Without further ado, here are our best articles and worksheets of 2024!
Articles
Our best articles of the year, broken down by category.
Why the belief that “emotions are weakness” leads to suppression and dysfunction — and why accepting and embracing emotions plays an important role in happiness, health, and well-being.
The same brain regions handle both rumination (negative replay) and savoring (positive replay) — here’s how to use this part of your brain in a new and healthier way.
How the overload of misinformation on the internet is eroding trust, intelligence, and sanity.
Worksheets
At the start of 2024, I pledged to create at least one new worksheet every month. By year’s end, I exceeded that goal, creating a total of 16 new worksheets, including:
Focus: These worksheets help users structure their daily lives, track progress, and maintain a focus on long-term goals and habits.
An Evergrowing Resource for Self-Improvement
We now offer a total of 29 self-improvement worksheets, cementing our long-term commitment to providing practical, actionable advice. These worksheets are exclusively available to members — join today to gain full access to these transformative tools.
Enter your email to stay updated on new articles in self improvement:
Election offices across Northern California are preparing for a rush of voters, with Election Day in just three days. Many offices have taken extra steps to ensure transparency and trust this election cycle.Ballots are being cast and counted in Placer County elections.”We want to make sure that it’s counted and not tampered with anywhere along the lines,” said voter Bryan Keenan.Keenan said he always votes on election day, but didn’t want to take any chances this time.And he wanted to see his ballot scanned into the system.”We don’t know what’s going to happen, so I’m just being cautious and making sure that we can make sure that our votes are counted,” he said.Placer County has started what it calls “sign, scan and go.”People can fill out their ballots at home, but instead of dropping it in the ballot box, they bring it inside to get scanned.”You can open that envelope and just scan your ballot right there in front of you,” said Registrar of Voters, Ryan Ronco. “You get to see your ballot counted so you don’t have to worry about when is the ballot going to be counted. You know it’s counted and part of the election night results for this Tuesday.”If voters want to see the counting in action, Ronco will also give people a tour and share the process. “We want people to understand that this process is their process. It’s not my process. It’s not Placer County’s process. It’s the people’s process,” said Ronco.Other voters, like the Boyetts want to stick to the voting booths.It’s Michaelle’s first time ever casting a ballot at age 57.”I do feel secure here, doing pen to paper and having it, acknowledged here in person,” she said.”I did the original way because I feel that’s the best way to go about it,” said Brian Boyett. Ronco said election officials want people to know they have a say. They also have live cameras set up in certain areas of the building, where people can watch a livestream from home 24/7.”Transparency is very, very important to us,” said Ronco. So far, Placer County has 50 percent voter turnout. It expects to reach at least 90 percent turnout. For more information about the November election, including key issues and other races on the ballot, check out the KCRA 3 Voter Guide.Find more political news from our national team here.
ROCKLIN, Calif. —
Election offices across Northern California are preparing for a rush of voters, with Election Day in just three days.
Many offices have taken extra steps to ensure transparency and trust this election cycle.
“We want to make sure that it’s counted and not tampered with anywhere along the lines,” said voter Bryan Keenan.
Keenan said he always votes on election day, but didn’t want to take any chances this time.
And he wanted to see his ballot scanned into the system.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen, so I’m just being cautious and making sure that we can make sure that our votes are counted,” he said.
Placer County has started what it calls “sign, scan and go.”
People can fill out their ballots at home, but instead of dropping it in the ballot box, they bring it inside to get scanned.
“You can open that envelope and just scan your ballot right there in front of you,” said Registrar of Voters, Ryan Ronco. “You get to see your ballot counted so you don’t have to worry about when is the ballot going to be counted. You know it’s counted and part of the election night results for this Tuesday.”
If voters want to see the counting in action, Ronco will also give people a tour and share the process.
“We want people to understand that this process is their process. It’s not my process. It’s not Placer County’s process. It’s the people’s process,” said Ronco.
Other voters, like the Boyetts want to stick to the voting booths.
It’s Michaelle’s first time ever casting a ballot at age 57.
“I do feel secure here, doing pen to paper and having it, acknowledged here in person,” she said.
“I did the original way because I feel that’s the best way to go about it,” said Brian Boyett.
Ronco said election officials want people to know they have a say. They also have live cameras set up in certain areas of the building, where people can watch a livestream from home 24/7.
“Transparency is very, very important to us,” said Ronco.
So far, Placer County has 50 percent voter turnout. It expects to reach at least 90 percent turnout.
For more information about the November election, including key issues and other races on the ballot, check out the KCRA 3 Voter Guide.
Credit: The United States Senate, Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia
The number of polls that show an exact tie in the presidential race is unbelievably high.
I don’t mean that in a “there’s a whole lot of them” way, but quite literally: they’re unbelievable.
Polling’s track record lately has been about as reliable as a coin toss. They whiffed completely on Trump’s 2016 victory. They did even worse in 2020, predicting Biden would win in a landslide. In 2022, they promised us a “Red Wave” that turned out to be more of a ripple. And let’s not forget how they totally missed Brexit across the pond.
Here’s what fascinates me: there’s a pattern to these misses. The polls don’t just get it wrong – they get it wrong in exactly the way you’d expect if, in a world without polls, you followed the conventional wisdom of the moment.
And People Are Political
Think back to the examples above, starting in 2016. The media consensus was clear: Trump had zero chance. The polls? Surprise, surprise – they showed exactly that. In 2020, after four years of media dogpiling and Covid chaos, the polls showed Trump getting crushed. In England, the educated elite couldn’t imagine their countrymen would actually vote to leave the EU. Again, the polls agreed.
Pollsters are quick to blame their misses on a technical flaw. ‘Shy Trump voters’ wouldn’t answer their phones. They overcounted college-educated voters. Turnout patterns shifted. But maybe there’s a simpler explanation: they’re human beings subject to the same biases as the rest of us.
The real polling problem isn’t about math. It’s about human nature.
Today, the conventional wisdom says this race is too close to call. Considering standard sampling error for polls, even if the race were actually an exact 50-50 tie, polls would be widely ranging, showing an average difference of about 3%. That’s not what we see at all, only a tight clustering of polls where as of today, nearly half of them show an exact tie.
The polling industry has a term for when surveys mysteriously cluster around the same number: “herding.” It’s when pollsters, seeing results that differ from their peers, double-check their methodology and – surprise! – find reasons to adjust toward the consensus.
Polling analyst Nate Silver – who essentially has made a career out of number crunching surveys – spotted the obvious trend and is freaking out a bit. “I kind of trust pollsters less,” he said on a podcast. “Your numbers aren’t all going to come out at exactly 1-point leads when you’re sampling 800 people over dozens of surveys. You are lying! You’re putting your f*$%* finger on the scale!”
He’s right about the herding. Pollsters are deathly afraid to be seen as fools on election night and keeping their numbers close to others will avoid that. The analogy of running safely in the middle of an animal herd is spot-on.
How It Truly Works
But the entire herd of pollsters always has fingers on the scale. There’s no such thing as raw data.
See, polling isn’t just about counting responses, but requires hundreds of judgment calls. How many young voters will show up? What percentage of the electorate will be college-educated women? Should they weigh based on past voting behavior?
These aren’t clear mathematical decisions. They’re hunches—educated guesses about human behavior. And like all hunches, they’re influenced by what we believe to be true.
It’s just human nature. We all tend to see what we expect to see and find ways to justify our existing beliefs. Pollsters, despite their scientific pretensions, aren’t immune to these psychological functions.
When you have to make dozens of judgment calls in designing and interpreting a poll, those biases creep in. If you “know” Trump can’t win, consciously or not, you choose methodologies that confirm that belief. If you’re “certain” the race is neck-and-neck, you “refine” your assumptions until they show exactly that.
I’ll go out on a limb here and say the entire herd is wrong. It’s only a hunch – since the data obviously disagrees – but I don’t buy that this is a neck-and-neck race. I suspect, the trends of 2016 and 2022 will continue, and that they’re vastly underestimating Trump’s strength. Of course, you can’t say that aloud at most Washington insider cocktail parties.
So when you see yet another poll showing an exact tie in the presidential race, remember: behind all those decimal points and margin-of-error calculations are people making judgment calls. And those people, just like you and me, can’t help but be influenced by what they think they already know.
Ken LaCorte writes about censorship, media malfeasance, uncomfortable questions, and honest insight for people curious how the world really works. Follow Ken on Substack
Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings:
Tavola, 1800 Post Oak, invites guests to a luxurious White Truffle Wine Dinner on Tuesday, October 29 ($285 per person). Crafted by chef de cuisine Michael Lara in celebration of the prized white truffle, highlights include Texas wagyu beef tartare, white truffle ravioli and beef tender medallion, complemented by wines from historic Italian winery Cascina Principe – Vacca. Reservations are available on OpenTable, and the dinner starts at 6:30 p.m.
Belly of the Beast, 5200 FM 2920, is celebrating its first anniversary with an exclusive dinner on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, with seatings at 5:30 or 7:30 p.m. Guests can toast to one year with a specially curated menu and handpicked wines.
On Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Money Cat, 2925 Richmond, will host a Sando pop-up in celebration of National Sandwich Day. Enjoy Japanese-inspired sandos crafted by Chef Yeung, paired with a selection of Japanese coffee from Kohiko Coffee House, with highlights including the Money Cat Sando with chicken thigh katsu, the Egg Salad Sando, the Wagyu Sando and more.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Urban Harvest will host a Sunday Supper at St. John’s School, 2401 Claremont, on Sunday, November 3 beginning at 4 p.m.. Top local chefs will curate a hyper-seasonal menu for the family style, farm-to-table dinner, showcasing products by Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market vendors, local farmers, ranchers and fisherman. Tables start at $2,500 with seating for four.
On Monday, November 11, Recipe for Success Foundation’s19th annual Delicious Alchemy Banquet will celebrate Houston’s culinary diversity with an all-female chef brigade presenting ten courses against the beautiful backdrop of Hope Farms, 10401 Scott. Guests can start with botanical cocktails and twilight bites in the Cavnar Family Foundation Chefs Garden before taking their seats at a long “kings” table set for just 80 guests in the United Healthcare Foundation Gathering Barn. The evening runs from 7 to 10 p.m. and Tickets start at $2,500 per person.
Post Malone F-1 Trillion Tour The Woodlands, Texas October 22, 2024
Since the beginning of his career, Post Malone has been a mystery. The skinny white kid who started rapping on Soundcloud with “White Iverson” is now an almost 30-year-old father releasing country albums. He lives somewhere in between the genres of rap, rock, pop, and country, and does a damn fine job of combining all of those sounds into a fun, loud, and exciting live show.
A few years back, Post delivered the following on X (formally Twitter):
“When I turn 30 I’m becoming a country/folk singer“
His predictions came true a little early, delivering his F-1 Trillion country album to the world in August of this year. He has always performed covers of country and country-adjacent songs throughout his career, my favorite being his cover of Brad Paisley’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her” which he posted on YouTube in 2021.
Post’s set in The Woodland began with the songs “Wrong Ones” and “Finer Things’” the two opening tracks of his latest album. The stage was lit with a wall of lights behind the band, and two large spotlights on each end resembling prison guard towers. It was clear that Malone wanted a more down to earth vibe for this tour, ditching the LEDs and lasers for one large platform that supported his band while he walked around barefoot in jeans and a Bud Light T-shirt.
Post Malone lives somewhere in between the genres of rap, rock, pop, and country, and does a fine job combining those sounds into an exciting live show.
Photo by Cody Barclay
“Its so wonderful to be back in Texas!” declared Post as he waved to his fans, holding a blue Solo cup of Bud Light in his hand. “Cheers motherfuckers!”
He spend most of the first half of the night showcasing the new music from his country album, but he would pepper the evening with pop hits such as “Circles” and “Chemical,” each sounding extra cool with the slide guitar adding some country twang to the background of each song.
Malone took a break to intro his band, which included a fiddle player and a slide guitarist, which kept the show mostly grounded in the country genre. He also covered Toby Keith’s “Wish I Didn’t Know” and shouted out his friends Jelly Roll, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs.
Mid-show, Post invited a young fan named Courtney to play acoustic guitar on stage with him for the song “Stay.” She was visibly nervous, but Malone calmed her down with a genuine smile and encouraging words of support.
Post Malone delivered several motivational messages to his fans.
Photo by Cody Barclay
“I hate to keep beating you guys up with sad songs, but I need to sing this one!” he said as the notes to “I Fall Apart” rang out. It was super emotional and a powerful performance, which he did while kneeling down, almost in a prayer position while singing. This mini emotional set ended with “Better Now” and “Psycho”.
Post then had these words for his fans:
“Before I leave I just want to say…. You are loved, don’t give up! If you think that you are a loser, well that makes two of us! Keep going!”
The evening came to a close with a now shirtless Postie performing his hits “Rockstar,” “Congratulations” and “Sunflower.”
“Do whatever you want to do in life,” he told the crowd. “Because no one can fucking stop you!”
Post Malone ladies and gentlemen: Rapper, Country Singer, and Motivational Speaker.
(FOX40.COM) — The 2024 general election is on Nov. 5 and although the next president of the United States may be the most popular race, there are several other important decisions for California voters to make.
This year, there are 10 statewide propositions concerning topics such as gay marriage, indentured servitude in state prisons, California minimum wage, healthcare, and housing. Tap here for information on those propositions.
In addition, Yuba County voters will also decide on statewide and local races and measures. Here is what will appear on the ballot:
Congress
U.S. Senate – Full Term
• Adam Schiff (D) • Steve Garvey (R)
U.S. Senate – Partial/unexpired term (until Jan. 2025)
• Adam Schiff (D) • Steve Garvey (R)
United States Representative District 1
• Doug La Malfa: Farmer, Member of the U.S/ House of Representatives • Rose Penelope Yee: Businesswoman, Nonprofit Leader
United States Representative District 3
• Jessica Morse: Former Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildland Resilience • Kevin Kiley: United States Representative
*Measure titles and descriptions below are from the briefing section of the county election guide.
Wheatland Union High School District Bond Measures:
• Measure A: Wheatland Union High School District – SFID 2
“To improve the quality of education at Wheatland High; modernize/ renovate/ construct classrooms, restrooms, and school facilities; repair/ replace leaky roofs; make health, safety, and security improvements; shall the Wheatland Union High School District (SFID No. 2) measure authorizing $9,000,000 of bonds at legal interest rates be adopted, generating approximately $555,800 annually, at average rates of $28.50 per $100,000 assessed value, while bonds are outstanding, with annual audits, independent citizens’ oversight committee, NO money for salaries and all money staying local?“
• Measure B: Wheatland Union High School District – SFID 1
To continue construction on a new high school for Plumas Lake students, shall the Wheatland Union High School District (Plumas Lake SFID No.1) measure authorizing $19,700,000 of bonds at legal interest rates be adopted, generating on average $1,100,000 annually at average rates of approximately $26.70 per $100,000 assessed value, with annual audits, independent citizens’ oversight committee, NO money for salaries and all money staying local?
• Measure C: Wheatland Union High School District – SFID 1
“To construct classrooms, restrooms and other necessary high school facilities, shall the Wheatland Union High School District (Plumas Lake SFID No.1) measure authorizing $20,300,000 of bonds at legal interest rates be adopted, generating on average $1,200,000 annually at average rates of approximately $27.25 per $100,000 assessed value, with annual audits, independent citizens’ oversight committee, NO money for salaries and all money staying local?“
Plumas Lake Elementary School District Bond Measures
• Measure D: Plumas Lake Elementary School District
“Core Academic Classrooms Measure. To insure safe facilities and quality education for District students and qualify for State matching funds by constructing and equipping core curriculum classrooms, bathrooms and other essential school facilities, shall Plumas Lake Elementary School District’s measure issuing $18,000,000 of bonds at legal rates, by levying approximately $30 per $100,000 of assessed value (raising $970,000 annually while bonds are outstanding) be approved, with independent oversight, annual audits, and all funds staying local?“
• Measure E: Plumas Lake Elementary School District
“STEAM and High School Readiness Measure. To insure quality education for District students and qualify for State matching funds by constructing and equipping facilities for science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) classrooms and labs, shall Plumas Lake Elementary School District’s measure issuing $18,000,000 of bonds at legal rates, by levying approximately $30 per $100,000 of assessed value (raising $970,000 annually while bonds are outstanding) be approved, with independent oversight, annual audits, and all funds staying local?“
• Measure F: Plumas Lake Elementary School District
“Student Health and Physical Education Measure. To insure safe facilities and quality education for District students and qualify for State matching funds by constructing, equipping required physical education facilities including a gymnasium, athletic fields and playgrounds, shall Plumas Lake Elementary School District’s measure issuing $18,000,000 of bonds at legal rates, by levying approximately $30 per $100,000 of assessed value (raising $970,000 annually while bonds are outstanding) be approved, with independent oversight, annual audits, and all funds staying local?“
City of Marysville Transactions and Use Tax Renewal
• Measure G: City of Marysville Transactions & Use Tax Renewal
“Shall the measure, without raising taxes, to protect and maintain City of Marysville’s services, including Police and Fire Departments, neighborhood police patrols, 911 emergency response times, street repaving and pothole repairs, emergency preparedness and for general government use, to continue an existing voter-approved one-cent sales tax, until ended by voters, providing an estimated $3.9 million a year, within dependent audits, an oversight committee and all money locally controlled, be adopted?”
Credit: Screenshot Via The Art Of Dialogue Youtube
Lord Jamar, a popular rapper and actor who has appeared on The Sopranos, tore into Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she is “insulting to black people.”
Jamar, a founding member of the hip-hop group Brand Nubian, made the comments in an interview with “The Art of Dialogue” on Saturday.
“This woman, to me, is not qualified to run, you know, a Dunkin’ Donuts or a 7-Eleven, let alone the corporation that we call the United States of America,” he declared.
In his expletive-laden analysis of the election, Jamar focused on elements that often lead to Harris being declared unlikable.
“She cackles all the […] time. She lies. She doesn’t answer a […] question — not once during that debate did she answer anything that was asked of her,” he added.
Kamala Harris Is Having Trouble Convincing Black Men To Vote For Her
Lord Jamar, whose real name is Lorenzo Dechalus, is exposing a major problem for Kamala Harris – she has no credibility with black voters, particularly men.
Barack Obama recognizes that fact. It’s why he lectured black men and called them sexist for not wanting to cast their vote for the Vice President.
Harris struggles immensely in trying to connect with minority communities. A rich history of trying to prosecute parents in low-income minority families for their kids’ school attendance doesn’t help. Nor does an extensive past of prosecutions involving marijuana.
And her recent plan to help the black community by enticing them with weed and crypto is further damaging her poll numbers with black male voters.
She doesn’t have an authentic bone in her body. Jamar recognizes that.
“She (Harris) thinks we are stupid and that we’re going to vote for her off of identity politics,” he said.
“I feel that she’s so bad … she’s the one that scares me. I feel that she’s so bad that guess what? I might just go […] around and vote for Trump and this is my first time saying this out loud,” he added.
Jamar chastised Democrats for “think(ing) you’re gonna shame” somebody into voting for Harris.
Jamar’s comments were more than just ripping Kamala Harris. They were also about defending Trump a little bit from lies coming out of her campaign.
For instance, the ‘he said he’s going to be a dictator’ hoax.
“People want to act like Trump is the worst […] in the world, but guess what? He was already president and all this […] that you’re talking about didn’t happen,” he said.
“He didn’t make himself a dictator and this whole […] about ‘he’s going to make himself a dictator’ is really taken so out of context that it’s ridiculous,” added Jamar.
“He said he’d make himself a dictator on the first day, you know, to do some – implement some […] and then, you know, but that was, trust me, said tongue-in-cheek, it was not said seriously.”
Hannity: Now, just to be clear, you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody, right?
As reported by The Political Insider, Trump’s comments were meant in jest. Somehow Democrats, the Harris campaign, and the media all turned that into ‘he’s literally telling you he’s Hitler.’
Jamar believes that it’s not just black men who aren’t with Kamala Harris either.
“Trust me the sentiment on the street in the real world is a lot of people are not […] with this woman,” he said. “They see right through her, and they’re trying to blame it on Black men, but no, I see a lot of Black women that are not […] with her neither.”
Harris is heading for an election nightmare where she scores a lower percentage of the black vote than Joe ‘white as the driven snow’ Biden.
A record number of early votes were cast in Georgia on Tuesday as residents headed to the polls in a critical battleground state that is grappling with the fallout from Hurricane Helene and controversial election administration changes that have spurred a flurry of lawsuits.More than 300,000 ballots were cast Tuesday, Gabe Sterling of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office said on X. “Spectacular turnout. We are running out of adjectives for this.”The previous first-day record was 136,000 in 2020, Sterling said.Related video above: Could AAPI voters help candidates win Georgia?The swing state is one of the most closely watched this election, with former President Donald Trump trying to reclaim it after losing there to President Joe Biden by a small margin four years ago, leading Trump and his allies to unsuccessfully push to overturn his defeat.Those efforts have loomed large this year as new changes to how the state conducts elections have been approved by Republican members of the State Election Board, leading Democrats and others to mount legal challenges, many of which have yet to be resolved even as Election Day nears.Despite the massive turnout on Tuesday, the process appeared to go smoother this year for some Atlanta-area voters who spoke with CNN.“Last time I voted, I voted in the city and the lines were out the door. They only had like, maybe like three people working,” said Corine Canada. “So people honestly just started leaving because it was like that. Yeah, like, ‘This is too long. I can’t sit here (and) wait, I have to go back to work.’ But here, no, it was easy.”Parts of the state are continuing to recover from Hurricane Helene, which hit the U.S. last month and wreaked havoc on several other states in the Southeast. Georgia election officials say absentee ballots went out by the U.S. Postal Service as scheduled and were not impacted by the storm.“So far, we have seen just over 250,000 voters request absentee ballots. Perhaps in the next week or so, we’ll see that rise up to 300,000 – and that we think will probably look like around 5-6% of all voters will be voting absentee this cycle,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said on Tuesday.Experts say that some new state laws that tightened rules for absentee ballots and cracked down on the availability of drop boxes may make the option less appealing than early in-person voting.While many drop boxes were available 24/7 in 2020, this year there will be fewer of them, and they will be in election offices or early vote locations with hours that tend to mimic normal business hours.It’s also possible that the state could continue to see high numbers of early votes given that Georgia law now mandates two Saturdays of early voting and allows for two Sundays of early voting if a county desires.Raffensperger said Tuesday that safeguards are in place for a safe election and that in addition to every race being audited, officials will also randomly audit voting equipment.“Pulling out a piece of equipment, a random audit on Election Day, bring it to headquarters and then verify that it is recording the votes accurately, that it has not been hacked by any bad actors out there,” Raffensperger told reporters.Raffensperger, who was in Trump’s crosshairs following the 2020 election, re-certified the results after a statewide machine recount in December 2020 that confirmed that Biden beat Trump by just 11,779 votes out of nearly 5 million ballots cast in the Peach State.Legal fights continueMeanwhile, state judges are scrutinizing a number of new rules passed by the Trump-backed Republican majority on the State Election Board that Democrats warn could inject post-election “chaos” into Georgia.During a marathon court hearing Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney suggested that a rule requiring ballots cast on Election Day be hand-counted by poll workers might have been passed too “late in the game” to remain in effect for this cycle. That rule will be under another state judge’s microscope Wednesday as part of cases brought against it by state and national Democrats and civil rights groups.McBurney is also still considering a separate rule passed by the board in August that requires local election officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” into election results before certifying them – a mandate that Democrats say could give county election officials broad authority to delay or decline altogether their certification of the results “in a hunt for purported election irregularities.”But McBurney sought to clear up any uncertainty around certification in a ruling this week in which he said that local election officials have “a mandatory fixed obligation to certify election results” in the days following the election – dealing a blow to a GOP election official who had asked him to rule that her duties around certification are “discretionary.”What voters are sayingIn line at an Atlanta-area precinct, two voters who identified as Democrats said they were casting ballots for Harris in an effort to avoid the kind of “chaos” they said surrounds Trump.“It is essential that we vote today simply because we want to prevent as much chaos as possible because Donald Trump has proved to be the most vicious, uneducated, racist individual that we have encountered,” said Fay Ainsworth.“Well, we’ve got a crazy person running to be president and a very competent young woman opposing him,” said Joseph Henry King Jr., 77.Kareem Rosshandler, 32, who identifies as an independent, said he was voting for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein to send a message to Democrats over their support for Israel in its war with Hamas.“We’ve been calling for an arms embargo for the last year and they haven’t been responding, and all the protests and the placards won’t matter if we don’t deliver that message where it really counts, which is at the ballots.”“I mean, the Green Party wants to get rid of the Electoral College,” Rosshandler added. “And that I think is fantastic because right now we have a two-party system, and the only thing worse than that is a one-party system and we’re not that far from that.”
A record number of early votes were cast in Georgia on Tuesday as residents headed to the polls in a critical battleground state that is grappling with the fallout from Hurricane Helene and controversial election administration changes that have spurred a flurry of lawsuits.
More than 300,000 ballots were cast Tuesday, Gabe Sterling of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office said on X. “Spectacular turnout. We are running out of adjectives for this.”
The previous first-day record was 136,000 in 2020, Sterling said.
Related video above: Could AAPI voters help candidates win Georgia?
The swing state is one of the most closely watched this election, with former President Donald Trump trying to reclaim it after losing there to President Joe Biden by a small margin four years ago, leading Trump and his allies to unsuccessfully push to overturn his defeat.
Those efforts have loomed large this year as new changes to how the state conducts elections have been approved by Republican members of the State Election Board, leading Democrats and others to mount legal challenges, many of which have yet to be resolved even as Election Day nears.
Despite the massive turnout on Tuesday, the process appeared to go smoother this year for some Atlanta-area voters who spoke with CNN.
“Last time I voted, I voted in the city and the lines were out the door. They only had like, maybe like three people working,” said Corine Canada. “So people honestly just started leaving because it was like that. Yeah, like, ‘This is too long. I can’t sit here (and) wait, I have to go back to work.’ But here, no, it was easy.”
Parts of the state are continuing to recover from Hurricane Helene, which hit the U.S. last month and wreaked havoc on several other states in the Southeast. Georgia election officials say absentee ballots went out by the U.S. Postal Service as scheduled and were not impacted by the storm.
“So far, we have seen just over 250,000 voters request absentee ballots. Perhaps in the next week or so, we’ll see that rise up to 300,000 – and that we think will probably look like around 5-6% of all voters will be voting absentee this cycle,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a Republican, said on Tuesday.
Experts say that some new state laws that tightened rules for absentee ballots and cracked down on the availability of drop boxes may make the option less appealing than early in-person voting.
While many drop boxes were available 24/7 in 2020, this year there will be fewer of them, and they will be in election offices or early vote locations with hours that tend to mimic normal business hours.
It’s also possible that the state could continue to see high numbers of early votes given that Georgia law now mandates two Saturdays of early voting and allows for two Sundays of early voting if a county desires.
Raffensperger said Tuesday that safeguards are in place for a safe election and that in addition to every race being audited, officials will also randomly audit voting equipment.
“Pulling out a piece of equipment, a random audit on Election Day, bring it to headquarters and then verify that it is recording the votes accurately, that it has not been hacked by any bad actors out there,” Raffensperger told reporters.
Raffensperger, who was in Trump’s crosshairs following the 2020 election, re-certified the results after a statewide machine recount in December 2020 that confirmed that Biden beat Trump by just 11,779 votes out of nearly 5 million ballots cast in the Peach State.
Legal fights continue
Meanwhile, state judges are scrutinizing a number of new rules passed by the Trump-backed Republican majority on the State Election Board that Democrats warn could inject post-election “chaos” into Georgia.
During a marathon court hearing Tuesday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney suggested that a rule requiring ballots cast on Election Day be hand-counted by poll workers might have been passed too “late in the game” to remain in effect for this cycle. That rule will be under another state judge’s microscope Wednesday as part of cases brought against it by state and national Democrats and civil rights groups.
McBurney is also still considering a separate rule passed by the board in August that requires local election officials to conduct a “reasonable inquiry” into election results before certifying them – a mandate that Democrats say could give county election officials broad authority to delay or decline altogether their certification of the results “in a hunt for purported election irregularities.”
But McBurney sought to clear up any uncertainty around certification in a ruling this week in which he said that local election officials have “a mandatory fixed obligation to certify election results” in the days following the election – dealing a blow to a GOP election official who had asked him to rule that her duties around certification are “discretionary.”
What voters are saying
In line at an Atlanta-area precinct, two voters who identified as Democrats said they were casting ballots for Harris in an effort to avoid the kind of “chaos” they said surrounds Trump.
“It is essential that we vote today simply because we want to prevent as much chaos as possible because Donald Trump has proved to be the most vicious, uneducated, racist individual that we have encountered,” said Fay Ainsworth.
“Well, we’ve got a crazy person running to be president and a very competent young woman opposing him,” said Joseph Henry King Jr., 77.
Kareem Rosshandler, 32, who identifies as an independent, said he was voting for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein to send a message to Democrats over their support for Israel in its war with Hamas.
“We’ve been calling for an arms embargo for the last year and they haven’t been responding, and all the protests and the placards won’t matter if we don’t deliver that message where it really counts, which is at the ballots.”
“I mean, the Green Party wants to get rid of the Electoral College,” Rosshandler added. “And that I think is fantastic because right now we have a two-party system, and the only thing worse than that is a one-party system and we’re not that far from that.”
Carin León Boca Chueca Tour Toyota Center October 6, 2024
In Spanish, the word sorono is an adjective that means “imposingly deep and loud.” Carin León is from the Northern Mexican state of Sonora, which is absolutely perfect because that man is loudness personified. From his big, imposing body structure and swagger, Carin uses his voice as a tool of celebration, honoring the musical traditions of his country and his city of birth, which is Hermosillo.
On Sunday evening at Houston’s Toyota Center, Carin León and his banda took the stage for an after-party celebration. This crew played the main stage at ACL Music Festival on Friday, then taped an episode of Austin City Limits on Saturday. Now I’m not saying that Toyota Center isn’t as special as those other two stages, but I would have understood if Carin would have performed a more subdued show here in Houston.
However, the exact opposite occurred. It seems that after the pressure-filled shows in Austin, Houston received a show full of special surprises and an abundance of energy. León appeared on stage with his customary cowboy hat tilted to the side, a brown jacket with fringe, and enough energy to rival the sun. He strolled and danced his way across the stage to the opening track “Frene Mis Pies” which opens with a funky guitar riff that repeats throughout the song.
Carin León’s Boca Chueca Tour, which translates as “crooked mouth,” includes songs from many genres such as banda, tejano, rock, country, and more.
Photo by Violeta Alvarez
“Muchas gracias por siempre aguantarme Houston!” he thanked the crowd (Thank you for always supporting and putting up with me). The set list continued with “Te Vi Con El,” “Según Quién,” and the duo “The One” with Kane Brown. León is such a fan of music of many genres, that he will skip around from banda to country, tejano to rock, keeping the party going until the venue says its time to go.
And then the bottle of Claze Azul tequila made an appearance. Leon took a few drinks and it fueled his vocals, which he needed in order to complete his extensive set list. “Quien quiere llorar esta noche?!” he asked the audience (who feels like crying tonight?). This question led into the Colombian vallenato song “Si Tu Amor No Vuelve,” which was a welcome and interesting selection.
Halfway through the concert, León changed into a personalized Houston Rockets jersey. He continued to thank Houston for all the support declaring that he will carry Houston in his heart with him until the day he dies. He then picked up an acoustic guitar, sat on a bar stool, and sang a beautiful cover of “You’re Still The One” by Shania Twain. Unexpected but really beautiful.
Carin León thanked his Houston fans throughout the evening, declaring to hold Houston in his heart until the day he dies.
Photo by Violeta Alvarez
And the covers kept coming! Songs by Bobby Pulido, Los Cadetes de Linares, Chalino Sanchez, and Cheyenne made the crowd stand up and dance in their seats and in the aisles of the nearly full arena. I especially loved the medley of Banda music from the ’90s, including “Nina Fresa,” “La Noche Que Murio Chicago” and “Ramito De Violetas.” And of course, we can’t forget “La Boda Del Huitlacoche,” which was definitely a highlight of the night.
But by far, the most sentimental tribute was the set in honor of the late Joan Sebastian, who Carin has previously called one of his heroes.
As the night came to a close, we were serenaded with “Tennessee Whiskey” and then Carin’s biggest hit “Primera Cita.”
León is a spectacular talent with a sincere love for music of all genres, and we are lucky to celebrate this love together during his performances. Viva Mexico, viva Carin León!
Election Day is right around the corner. With national polls pointing toward a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, all eyes are on a handful of swing states. However, the swing state roster has changed since the 2020 presidential election. So, what are the key states to watch come Election Day? Swing states are typically defined as areas that have similar levels of support for each political party’s candidate that can have a key role in the outcome of the presidential race.Seven states in two regions of the U.S. could have a major impact on the outcome of the 2024 election. The ‘Blue Wall’ statesThe so-called “Blue Wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are on the list of swing states. Trump won all three states in 2016, but President Joe Biden gained them back in 2020. Wisconsin is specifically seen as one of the most competitive states, as President Joe Biden had previously won by fewer than 21,000 votes in the 2020 election.The Sun Belt statesThe Sun Belt states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina have also made it onto the list. This is due to a combination of an increase of Latino, Asian American and young Black voting demographics in the region. But North Carolina and Georgia could still be wild cards, as North Carolina has historically leaned Republican. Most notably missing from the list of swing states is the industrial midwest: Ohio and Iowa have recently leaned more Republican. According to an analysis by NPR, the change is due to the shift toward the GOP among white voters without college degrees. Prior to the Trump era, Ohio and Iowa were considered competitive for decades.Both presidential candidates have intensified their campaigns in key swing states in the past few months.As voters cast their ballots, watching these regions will be key to determining the electoral college winner in 2024.
Election Day is right around the corner. With national polls pointing toward a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, all eyes are on a handful of swing states.
However, the swing state roster has changed since the 2020 presidential election.
So, what are the key states to watch come Election Day?
Swing states are typically defined as areas that have similar levels of support for each political party’s candidate that can have a key role in the outcome of the presidential race.
Seven states in two regions of the U.S. could have a major impact on the outcome of the 2024 election.
The ‘Blue Wall’ states
The so-called “Blue Wall” states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are on the list of swing states.
Trump won all three states in 2016, but President Joe Biden gained them back in 2020.
Wisconsin is specifically seen as one of the most competitive states, as President Joe Biden had previously won by fewer than 21,000 votes in the 2020 election.
The Sun Belt states
The Sun Belt states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina have also made it onto the list.
This is due to a combination of an increase of Latino, Asian American and young Black voting demographics in the region.
But North Carolina and Georgia could still be wild cards, as North Carolina has historically leaned Republican.
Most notably missing from the list of swing states is the industrial midwest: Ohio and Iowa have recently leaned more Republican.
According to an analysis by NPR, the change is due to the shift toward the GOP among white voters without college degrees. Prior to the Trump era, Ohio and Iowa were considered competitive for decades.
Credit: Shaleah Craighead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
By Elyse Apel (The Center Square)
In many battleground states, former President Donald Trump is in better position this election cycle compared to the same time in the 2020 election cycle when he lost to Joe Biden.
In six of the seven consensus states, Trump’s polling average is better than the same point four years ago. Ninety-three electoral college votes ride on Pennsylvania (19), North Carolina (16), Georgia (16), Michigan (15), Arizona (11), Wisconsin (10) and Nevada (six).
Biden won six of those states in 2020 – North Carolina was the exception – and the electoral college 306-232.
Polling information from Project 538 is included in the following state by state summaries.
Michigan
Michigan is a perfect example of this trend.
At this point in 2020, Biden led Trump by nearly 8%. This year, Vice President Kamala Harris leads Trump by only 1.8%, which is well within the margin of error.
Harris polls better than Biden when he was in the race in June and July. Michigan has the trifecta of Democrats for governor and majorities in both chambers of the Legislature.
Biden was leading Trump by 7.9% in polling heading into Election Day. He then won by just 2.8%.
This year, Harris’ 5% behind Biden could be pivotal.
Arizona
Arizona is seeing a very similar trend to Michigan.
In 2020, Biden led Trump by an average of 4.8%. Compared to Trump’s lead today in the state of nearly 1%, polling has Trump up nearly 6% compared to his 2020 average.
Harris is still within the margin of error, usually about 3% to 4% on most polls.
Biden led the polls by 2.6% going into Election Day and won by 11,000 votes, or just 0.3%.
Georgia
In Georgia, Trump is polling just 0.4% ahead of Harris – down from 1.4% over Biden four years ago.
In 2020, Biden began leading Trump on Oct. 1. By Election Day, he was 1.2% ahead of Trump. The winning difference was about 11,000 votes, or just 0.2%.
Since 1980, this was only one of two times that the Republican presidential candidate lost in Georgia.
Nevada
While Harris is ahead of Trump in Nevada by 0.5%, it is 5% less than Biden’s lead at the same time. Trump never led in polling in the final three months.
This election season, Trump has led the polls numerous times since early August.
In 2020, Biden was polling 5.3% ahead of Trump on Election Day. Yet, he won by only 2.4%.
North Carolina
North Carolina is particularly interesting. It has been the focus of both campaigns over the last few weeks, and Democrats believe they can win the state for the first time since Barack Obama won it in 2008.
Trump outperformed the polls here both four and eight years ago, winning the state twice.
In 2020, Biden was polling 1.8% ahead of Trump going into Election Day and lost by 1.3%. The Democrat never trailed in the final months, and was 1.2% ahead at this same time.
Trump has led all four polls in the last week since his debate against Harris, and his consensus lead is a slim 0.3%.
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, Harris is polling 3% behind where Biden was polling at this point in 2020. She is leading Trump by 1.4%, while Biden was leading him by 4.8%.
On Election Day, Biden was nearly 5% ahead of Trump, and won by 1.2%.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Trump has significantly narrowed Harris’ recent lead.
At this point in 2020, Biden was leading by 6.7%, but he eventually finished on Election Day with polling a whopping 8.4% ahead of Trump. He won by just 0.8%.
This time around, Harris is ahead only 1.6%, or within the margin of error. Since August, Trump has slowly been narrowing her lead over him.
While getting through a tough trophy list can be rewarding, sometimes we all want an easygoing experience. We’ve dug through the PlayStation Store and used our own experiences to figure out what PS5 games in 2024 have an easy trophy list and platinum.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
Image Source: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio via Twinfinite
Infinite Wealth puts players back in the shoes of Ichiban Kasuga as he attempts to help the ex-Yakuza after the previous game’s events. Though he must detour on that path, a new journey takes him (and the series) to America for the first time. He must now navigate the culture of Hawaii to unravel a whole new conspiracy.
Though the Yakuza-verse games are notorious for lengthy trophy lists, Infinite Wealth breaks that trend. You don’t have to deal with a difficulty trophy or worry about finishing out the completion list. Plus, the level 99 dungeon that cranked up the trophy difficulty in Yakuza 7 is also completely absent. Instead, you need to do a fair bit of side content, but by no means everything.
The game doesn’t even require you to complete every substory, so you only have to clear out 40. From the perspective of mainline titles, this one is even easier to platinum than Yakuza 6. The only difference is you’re probably looking at a pretty lengthy completion, but it is worth the ride. The hardest trophy is Legendary Dragon, which is for getting Kasuga to level 70. As enemy levels cap out at roughly 55, it’s a bit of a grind.
Tekken 8
Image Credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
It’s pretty fitting that Tekken 8 belongs in here, as Tekken 7 is still one of the easiest fighting game platinum trophies I have ever gotten. The game picks up a few months after the end of the previous title and focuses on a different father-and-son clash between Jin and Kazuya. As you can expect with that family, things get pretty dicey.
Overall, you’re looking at a very easy path to platinum. You can play story mode The Dark Awakens in easy mode. While there isn’t an easy option for Arcade Quest, it isn’t all that difficult to begin with. Both of these modes will run you roughly two hours each and will probably be where you get the bulk of the miscellaneous trophies.
Other than those, you just need to finish out the Super Ghost Battles and the Character Episodes, which give more of the story. As for online-only trophies, you need to win one Ranked, Player, and Group match and then play 10 additional online matches that you don’t have to win. This isn’t a lengthy trophy list at all, and it can probably be knocked out in one eight-hour marathon.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Image Source: Ubisoft
It’s been 14 years since The Forgotten Sands was released, and the series has returned to its 2D roots with The Lost Crown. After the Persian prince has been kidnapped, the new hero, Sargon, must delve into the depths of Mount Qaf and the Citadel to bring him back home.
The Lost Crown platinum has two major things going for it. First, it lacks a difficulty trophy, so you can play the whole game on easy if you’d like. Second, there aren’t any missable trophies at all. Couple that with the game’s post-story free roam, and you can take this platinum at your own pace.
This means you are completely free to enjoy the narrative, and you can set out to pick up collectibles and complete sidequests at your own convenience. The average completion time for the story seems to be 25 hours or so, so cleaning up afterward (assuming you didn’t really do much) should take you less than half of that.
Resistance: Retribution
Image Source: Bend Studio via Twinfinite
The Classics Catalogue for February has added a PSP title that, when it was released, enhanced an already terrific PS3 FPS franchise. In Resistance: Retribution, you play as James Grayson, who joins the European faction of the resistance to avoid a court martial. Unlike the PS3 games, Retribution is a third-person shooter developed by the studio that later made Days Gone.
Resistance: Retribution continues a trend in which the classic games that get trophy support often get easy lists. Most of the list is simply for beating the game, as each mission/chapter has a trophy for completing it, and there isn’t a difficulty trophy. Otherwise, you just need to kill 50 enemies, use the Auger WS 100 times, die once, and use 10 different weapons.
The added benefit is that all classic games include a rewind function that lets you go back several steps if you make a mistake. This makes it incredibly easy to get the trophy for dying and then reset a little bit before that. Overall, the campaign takes about 10ish hours to complete, so it’s not a long platinum journey.
Rise of the Ronin
Image Source: Team Ninja via Twinfinite
This might seem like a weird place for a Soulslike, but Rise of the Ronin is a very unique one. For the first time, a mainstream game of the Soulslike genre offers difficulty options, and it is all the better for it. If it were not for the difficulty options, it would be an unlikely fit on this list, but it provides a fun and easy platinum worth earning.
In the game, you play as a member of the Veiled Edge, an elite group of warriors operating in Japan’s shadows to take down any threats. Every Veiled Edge warrior is trained alongside a Blade Twin. After a mission goes wrong, you are separated from your Blade Twin and venture out of the shadows and into the light of Japan to find them.
Just about every trophy can be gained before you even beat the story. Though every region across the game’s three maps has a to-do list of things to collect, there are only two things you need to collect for individual trophies. The toughest trophy is for finishing a mission on the hardest difficulty, Midnight, which is unlocked once you beat the game. However, you can do the tutorial mission on this difficulty, which is pretty simple.
Mystic Pillars Remastered
Image Source: Holy Cow Productions
Mystic Pillars was originally released on the Nintendo Switch in 2019, though that still feels a little soon to be labeled a ‘remaster.’ This puzzle-game adventure takes players on a trip through ancient India, with plenty of colorful cutscenes. Players even have the choice to hear all dialogue spoken in the Kannada language. However, one trophy requires you to watch every cutscene in this language and not skip any, so it’s best not to change it.
Mystic Pillars has a pretty simple core mechanic. You are given a layout to follow as you move gold from one pillar to another. The game starts off easy enough but steadily builds as more pillars are involved, with a more confusing path to completion. There are 100 total levels to complete across several different regions.
If you aren’t too great at puzzle games, the trophy list might have one specific issue for you. There is a trophy for not using the restart more than 50 times across all 100 levels. I can’t tell if you can simply back out of a trophy instead of using the restart. If you find yourself stuck, there are plenty of guides out there to give you the needed solution.
Cat Quest III
Image Source: The Gentlebros via Twinfinite
Cat Quest returns with a swashbuckling adventure that takes you to brand-new lands. Upon arriving, you find a special rune that your companion suggests might take you to the North Star Treasure. Your first boss battle victory gets you access to a ship that you can use to sail to nearby islands.
The world in Cat Quest III is a bit more fractured than in previous games due to the ship traversal aspect of the game. However, every other series staple continues with chests dotting various areas and plenty of dungeons to explore.
As you might expect, the trophy list is similar to the previous two games. Nothing is missable, and you’ll eventually be at the right level to tackle any dungeon you haven’t yet tried. Your final trophy will likely be one of those that requires you to collect all of a specific type of gear.
Vampire Survivors
Image Source: Poncle
Vampire Survivors exists for those gamers who are too familiar with bullet hell-type games. Instead of being the one dodging the endless projectiles and bullets, the enemies become the hunted. Every weapon in Vampire Survivors is designed to climb to insane heights until a combined (and maxed out) loadout entirely drowns out whatever is happening on screen.
You are only given access to one map when you first start Vampire Survivors, but the game is very generous with details to unlock further content. The goal from the start is simply to survive the endless hoards of enemies for 30 minutes as they get stronger and larger.
The trophies are very straightforward with what you need to do while taking on the game’s many maps. They are things like upgrading weapons to a certain level or finding the right item to evolve them into a better form. The game keeps track of all this for you in various menus, so you shouldn’t ever feel lost without an idea of what to do next.
The Plucky Squire
Image Source: All Possible Futures via Twinfinite
The Plucky Squire follows the story of Jot and his adventures and plays out within a storybook. Jot initially sets out on a mini-quest to find wax so Moonbeard can press more records. The game is unique and takes place in 2D and 3D, with storybook visuals and many different types of gameplay. Most of it takes place as if you were reading a picture book.
Most of the trophies are story-related, with the rest unlocked by finding all the collectibles. The game features a chapter select that can help you clean up anything you missed. To get all trophies, you do need to play the game on Adventure mode, but doing that from the start will help you avoid needing two playthroughs.
This shouldn’t be too difficult as long as you read through the trophy list to know what to look for with the miscellaneous trophies. The collectibles can be slightly hidden, but they are never obscured. If you finish everything, your final trophies should be for completing Adventure and Story modes, which should take around 8-10 hours.
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A judge announced on Thursday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s request to be removed from the ballot in North Carolina has been denied.
Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Waters Holt did allow Kennedy a 24-hour stay on ballot delivery, giving his legal team time to appeal the decision to the state’s Court of Appeals.
Due to the decision, the North Carolina State Board of Elections ordered counties to temporarily pause ballot distributions, which were set to begin on Friday.
“Make preparations to not send out ballots tomorrow morning, unless you hear otherwise from the State Board,” said a statement from State Board of Elections general counsel Paul Cox to the counties.
Cox told the counties to “stay tuned” for more information.
“The bottom line is: make plans to not send ballots out tomorrow morning, but be ready if that situation changes and we need to send out ballots later tomorrow,” he said.
This all comes after the board narrowly voted on Aug. 29 against Kennedy’s request to be removed from the ballot.
Members of the board claimed it was “impractical” to remove him from the ballot, especially in light of the “approximately 2 million ballots statewide [that] have already been printed with Kennedy’s name on them.”
Kennedy’s lawsuit against the board following that decision was the fifth lawsuit filed against the board in 40 days, rounding up a summer of controversy.
In his lawsuit, Kennedy said not removing him impeded his freedom of speech. He announced his withdrawal on Aug. 23 and the board did not vote until Aug. 29. His litigation was filed the next day.
Holt ruled that it would cause North Carolina “considerable cost and effort” to remove Kennedy from the ballot, siding with the majority of the board.
Kennedy was granted access to the ballot on July 16 affiliated with the We The People Party, after first being denied access by the board.
Kennedy decided to remove his name from the ballot following his decision to suspend his presidential campaign on Aug. 23, less than 24 hours after the Democratic National Convention wrapped. In the press conference, he blamed “shadowy DNC operatives” for fighting his campaign’s access to the ballot at every turn and announced that he would endorse former President Donald Trump.
Since then Kennedy’s name has been removed from the ballots in four of seven consensus battleground states, while he continues on the ballot in North Carolina, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Both the board and the court plan to release more details and information about the decision and its impact on Thursday afternoon.
Charley Crockett $10 Cowboy Tour 713 Music Hall September 3, 2024
Have you ever met a stranger and been completely amazed by their entire demeanor? The kids these days would call it “swag” or “vibes,” which is something magical and intangible about the person’s attitude. That’s exactly how I feel about Charley Crockett. His chiseled jawline and piercing green eyes attract your attention, and then BOOM!… His voice and southern twang grabs a hold of your soul and doesn’t let go.
Crockett began his set at 713 Music Hall with $10 Cowboy, where he sings “people always ask me, if I’m a rodeo star / doubt if I got 8 seconds / but I can sing you a song!” He definitely fits the casting call for a vintage cowboy film: leather jacket, Stetson on his crown, wranglers and boots. He carries his guitar around the stage like dancing partner, flashing his pearly-white smile with the precision of a heart surgeon.
The singer-songwriter is a native of San Benito, Texas – the same hometown as Freddy Fender of Texas Tornados fame. He later moved to Dallas and also spent time with family in New Orleans, no doubt absorbing every character and experience he encountered into his repertoire of inspiration.
Crockett is a native of San Benito, Texas – the same hometown as Freddy Fender of Texas Tornados fame.
Photo by Violeta Alvarez
The amber colored accent lights that flanked him and his band on stage added to the warm feel of the show. This wasn’t a modern country set with pyro, lasers, and songs about your dog dying in your truck down by the river. This was more subdued, classic country music with heavy blues influence. “I used to think I was a folk singer” he told the audience. “But then I realized this ain’t nothing but The Blues!”
Crockett mostly sings in a low baritone voice, almost like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson. But peppered in between verses and jam sessions with his band The Blue Drifters, he sometimes allows a yelp and a yee-haw ring out, shifting from serious to rowdy in a split second. In that regard, he reminds me more of Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr.
“Some publication once called me a stylistic man” Crockett told the crowd. “The way I see it, I’m always just myself… and I’m the only person that can do that!” A lady named Juliet, who was enjoying the show next to me, said “He definitely looks like a character from the movie Giant (1956) starring Rock Hudson, James Dean, and Elizabeth Taylor. I quickly added the film to my “must watch” list.
Crockett mostly sings in a low baritone voice, like Johnny Cash or Kris Kristofferson, but his stage presence is that of Waylon Jennings or Hank Williams Jr.
Photo by Violeta Alvarez
By the time the set list arrived at “The Man From Waco,” Crockett was in total control. There were couples two-stepping around the venue, friend groups drinking beer and singing along to the tracks, and girlfriends holding their boyfriends tight around the waist. I go to a lot of shows, but outside of Rodeo season, this was the most Houston show I’ve seen in a very long time.
There were 2 large, old school neon letters on the stage behind the band, and they read “CC.” It was so cool to see them glow behind Crockett throughout the performance, and they added to the western theme of the tour. As the evening came to a close, the crowd chanted “Charley! Charley! Charley!”
Outside of Rodeo season, this Charley Crockett concert was the most Houston show I’ve seen in a very long time.
Photo by Violeta Alvarez
Of course Charley and his band returned for an encore, offering Jamestown Ferry before bringing out opening act Vincent Neil Emerson for an awesome cover of Good Hearted Woman by Waylon and Willie.
“But she never complains of the bad times Or the bad things he’s done, Lord / She just talks about the good times they’ve had And all the good times to come“
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump are set to appear miles apart in Arizona on Friday as speculation grows that Kennedy could drop his independent presidential bid and endorse the Republican nominee.Kennedy is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. Eastern time in Phoenix “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” according to his campaign. Hours later, Trump will hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. Trump’s campaign has teased that he will be joined by “a special guest,” though neither campaign responded to messages about whether Kennedy would be that guest.Kennedy withdrew from the ballot in Arizona late Thursday, less than a week after he submitted well more than the required number of signatures to appear on the ballot. But his critics raised questions about the validity of some of the signatures, and the involvement of a pro-Kennedy super PAC to collect them risked potentially running afoul of rules against coordination between candidates and independent political groups. A year ago, some would have thought it inconceivable that Kennedy — a member of the most storied family in Democratic politics — would work with Trump to keep a Democrat out of the White House. Even in recent months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticized Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”But the two campaigns have ramped up their compliments to each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts. Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponizing the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting the election chances of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy’s son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.Talks between the two camps have continued, with close Trump allies quietly lobbying Kennedy to drop out of the race and support the Republican nominee, according to a person familiar with the efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would “love” an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a “brilliant guy.” He also said he would “certainly” be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy drops out and endorses him. Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also openly suggested on a podcast this week that his campaign might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” While she clarified that she is not personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the idea that Kennedy could join Trump’s administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.”I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent,” Shanahan said. “I fully support it. I have high hopes.”Kennedy, a son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, hasn’t disclosed the reason for his Friday remarks, but they come as his campaign’s momentum has slipped. Kennedy Jr. first entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but left the party last fall to run as an independent. He built an unusually strong base for a third-party bid, fueled in part by anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics who have followed his anti-vaccine work since the COVID-19 pandemic. But he has since faced strained campaign finances and mounting legal challenges, including a recent ruling from a New York judge that he should not appear on the ballot in the state because he listed a “sham” address on nominating petitions.Recent polls put his support in the mid-single digits. And it’s unclear if he’d get even that in a general election, since third-party candidates frequently don’t live up to their early poll numbers when voters actually cast their ballots.There’s some evidence that Kennedy’s staying in the race would hurt Trump more than Harris. According to a July AP-NORC poll, Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to have a favorable view of Kennedy. And those with a positive impression of Kennedy were significantly more likely to also have a favorable view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%). In an interview with MSNBC at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Harris communications director Michael Tyler said her campaign welcomes Kennedy voters should the independent candidate drop out.For voters who see Trump as a threat, who are looking for a new way forward, or who want “government to get the hell out of the way of their own personal decisions, there’s a home for you in Kamala Harris’ campaign,” Tyler said.For Trump, Friday will mark the end of a week’s worth of battleground state visits in which he has sought to draw attention away from Democrats’ celebration of Harris’ presidential nomination in Chicago.He traveled to Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona’s U.S.-Mexico border for events focused on his policy proposals on the economy, crime and safety, national security and the border. He will close out the week Friday with stops in Las Vegas and Glendale.___Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York, Michelle L. Price in Phoenix, Meg Kinnard in Chicago and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.
PHOENIX —
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump are set to appear miles apart in Arizona on Friday as speculation grows that Kennedy could drop his independent presidential bid and endorse the Republican nominee.
Kennedy is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. Eastern time in Phoenix “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” according to his campaign. Hours later, Trump will hold a rally in neighboring Glendale. Trump’s campaign has teased that he will be joined by “a special guest,” though neither campaign responded to messages about whether Kennedy would be that guest.
Kennedy withdrew from the ballot in Arizona late Thursday, less than a week after he submitted well more than the required number of signatures to appear on the ballot. But his critics raised questions about the validity of some of the signatures, and the involvement of a pro-Kennedy super PAC to collect them risked potentially running afoul of rules against coordination between candidates and independent political groups.
A year ago, some would have thought it inconceivable that Kennedy — a member of the most storied family in Democratic politics — would work with Trump to keep a Democrat out of the White House. Even in recent months, Kennedy has accused Trump of betraying his followers, while Trump has criticized Kennedy as “the most radical left candidate in the race.”
But the two campaigns have ramped up their compliments to each other and engaged in behind-the-scenes discussions in recent weeks, according to those familiar with the efforts. Both campaigns have spent months accusing Democrats of weaponizing the legal system for their own benefit. And both have hinted publicly that they could be open to joining forces, with the shared goal of limiting the election chances of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Last month, during the Republican National Convention, Kennedy’s son posted and then quickly deleted a video showing a phone call between Kennedy and Trump, in which the former president appeared to try to talk Kennedy into siding with him.
Talks between the two camps have continued, with close Trump allies quietly lobbying Kennedy to drop out of the race and support the Republican nominee, according to a person familiar with the efforts who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
Trump told CNN on Tuesday that he would “love” an endorsement from Kennedy, whom he called a “brilliant guy.” He also said he would “certainly” be open to Kennedy playing a role in his administration if Kennedy drops out and endorses him.
Kennedy’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, also openly suggested on a podcast this week that his campaign might “walk away right now and join forces with Donald Trump.” While she clarified that she is not personally in talks with Trump, she entertained the idea that Kennedy could join Trump’s administration as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I think that Bobby in a role like that would be excellent,” Shanahan said. “I fully support it. I have high hopes.”
Kennedy, a son of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, hasn’t disclosed the reason for his Friday remarks, but they come as his campaign’s momentum has slipped.
Kennedy Jr. first entered the 2024 presidential race as a Democrat but left the party last fall to run as an independent. He built an unusually strong base for a third-party bid, fueled in part by anti-establishment voters and vaccine skeptics who have followed his anti-vaccine work since the COVID-19 pandemic. But he has since faced strained campaign finances and mounting legal challenges, including a recent ruling from a New York judge that he should not appear on the ballot in the state because he listed a “sham” address on nominating petitions.
Recent polls put his support in the mid-single digits. And it’s unclear if he’d get even that in a general election, since third-party candidates frequently don’t live up to their early poll numbers when voters actually cast their ballots.
There’s some evidence that Kennedy’s staying in the race would hurt Trump more than Harris. According to a July AP-NORC poll, Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to have a favorable view of Kennedy. And those with a positive impression of Kennedy were significantly more likely to also have a favorable view of Trump (52%) than Harris (37%).
In an interview with MSNBC at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Harris communications director Michael Tyler said her campaign welcomes Kennedy voters should the independent candidate drop out.
For voters who see Trump as a threat, who are looking for a new way forward, or who want “government to get the hell out of the way of their own personal decisions, there’s a home for you in Kamala Harris’ campaign,” Tyler said.
For Trump, Friday will mark the end of a week’s worth of battleground state visits in which he has sought to draw attention away from Democrats’ celebration of Harris’ presidential nomination in Chicago.
He traveled to Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona’s U.S.-Mexico border for events focused on his policy proposals on the economy, crime and safety, national security and the border. He will close out the week Friday with stops in Las Vegas and Glendale.
___
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York, Michelle L. Price in Phoenix, Meg Kinnard in Chicago and Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report.
Currently, here is the compilation of the most affluent owners of NBA teams.
20. Clay Bennett | Oklahoma City Thunder
Clay Bennett, chairman of the Professional Basketball Club LLC, became the principal owner of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. Under his leadership, the Thunder has emerged as one of the premier franchises in the NBA, known for its player development and community engagement.
Full name: Clayton Ike Bennett
Date of birth: 24th November 1959
Age: 64 years
Place of birth: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Net worth: $400 million
Bennett’s leadership of the Thunder has been transformative. The team’s move from Seattle to Oklahoma City and its subsequent success, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012, are testaments to Bennett’s vision and commitment.
His emphasis on fostering a strong team culture and his dedication to the Oklahoma community have made the Thunder a model franchise in the NBA. After a long rebuild, OKC has a respectable team that fought hard in this year’s playoffs and managed to reach the Western Conference semis, where they were eventually knocked out by the Dallas Mavericks.
Personal Insights: Clay Bennett’s leadership with the Oklahoma City Thunder reflects his deep connection to the team’s roots. He values community engagement and the importance of maintaining strong ties to the Oklahoma community.
Quote: “The Thunder represents the heart of Oklahoma. We’re committed to building a team that embodies the resilience and spirit of our community.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with The Oklahoman, Bennett stated, “Oklahoma City is a city with a strong sense of pride, and we want the Thunder to be a source of that pride.”
19. Jeanie Buss | Los Angeles Lakers
Jeanie Buss, daughter of the legendary Jerry Buss, has seamlessly taken over the reins of the iconic Los Angeles Lakers. As one of the most influential women in sports, her leadership has been marked by a deep understanding of the game and a commitment to maintaining the Lakers’ legacy.
Full name: Jeanie Marie Buss
Date of birth: 26th September 1961
Age: 62 years
Place of birth: Santa Monica, California, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Net worth: $500 million
Jeanie Buss’s tenure as the Lakers’ owner has seen the team return to its championship-winning ways. Her decision to bring in key figures like LeBron James and Anthony Davis has solidified the Lakers’ position as title contenders. Buss’s leadership style, which emphasizes collaboration and respect, has made her one of the most respected figures in the NBA.
Personal Insights: Jeanie Buss’s ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers reflects her deep understanding of the team’s legacy. She values tradition, collaboration, and the importance of preserving the Lakers’ iconic status.
Quote: “The Lakers are a symbol of excellence, and we’re committed to upholding that legacy. We’re not just a team; we’re a tradition.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Buss stated, “The Lakers are a family, and we want our fans to feel like a part of that family. Our goal is to deliver championship basketball and unforgettable moments.”
18. Vivek Ranadivé | Sacramento Kings
Founder of TIBCO Software became the majority owner of the Sacramento Kings in 2013. With a vision of making the Kings a global brand and a commitment to innovation, Ranadivé’s influence has been transformative.
Full name: Vivek Yeshwant Ranadivé
Date of birth: 7th October 1957
Age: 66 years
Place of birth: Mumbai, India
Nationality: American
Team: Sacramento Kings
Net worth: $700 million
Under Ranadivé’s leadership, the Kings have embraced a forward-thinking approach, from investing in analytics to building the state-of-the-art Golden 1 Center. His global perspective and emphasis on community engagement have redefined the Kings’ brand, positioning them as one of the most innovative teams in the NBA.
Personal Insights: Vivek Ranadivé’s leadership with the Sacramento Kings is marked by innovation and a global perspective. He values the importance of technology and community engagement.
Quote: “The Kings are more than just a basketball team; they’re a platform for innovation. We’re connecting with fans locally and globally.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with the Sacramento Bee, Ranadivé stated, “Sacramento is a vibrant community, and we’re determined to make the Kings a source of pride for the city.”
17. Glen Taylor | Minnesota Timberwolves
Glen Taylor, a self-made billionaire who started his journey in the printing business, has been at the helm of the Minnesota Timberwolves since 1994. His tenure has seen the team go through various phases, but his commitment to the Wolves has never wavered. In 2024, the Wolves reached the Western Conference Finals, which was their biggest success in years.
Full name: Glen A. Taylor
Date of birth: 20th April 1941
Age: 83 years
Place of birth: Springfield, Minnesota, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Net worth: $2.9 billion
Taylor’s leadership of the Timberwolves has been marked by a deep commitment to the Minnesota community. While the team has faced its challenges on the court, Taylor’s dedication to building a competitive roster and enhancing the fan experience remains unwavering. His recent efforts to revamp the team’s front office and coaching staff signal a new era for the Wolves.
Personal Insights: Glen Taylor’s leadership with the Minnesota Timberwolves is characterized by his strong sense of loyalty and commitment to the team. He values patience and believes in the power of building a winning culture from the ground up.
Quote: “Success with the Timberwolves is not just about immediate results; it’s about laying the foundation for lasting success. We’re building a team for the long haul.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with Star Tribune, Taylor stated, “Minnesota is home, and the Timberwolves are a reflection of the state’s spirit. We’re working to create a team that Minnesotans can be proud of.”
16. Ted Leonsis | Washington Wizards
Ted Leonsis, a tech industry titan and founder of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, has been the guiding force behind the Washington Wizards since 2010. His emphasis on community, innovation, and fan engagement has redefined the Wizards’ brand in the modern NBA era.
Full name: Theodore John Leonsis
Date of birth: 8th January 1957
Age: 67 years
Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Washington Wizards
Net worth: $3.1 billion
Leonsis’s tenure with the Wizards has been marked by a commitment to building a competitive team and enhancing the overall fan experience. His investments in the team’s infrastructure, including the state-of-the-art Capital One Arena, and his focus on community initiatives have solidified the Wizards’ place in the heart of Washington, D.C.
Personal Insights: Ted Leonsis’s ownership of the Washington Wizards reflects his commitment to innovation and fan engagement. He values transparency and building a strong community.
Quote: “The Wizards are more than just a team; they’re a source of inspiration for Washington, D.C. We’re investing in the future and delivering exciting basketball.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with The Washington Post, Leonsis stated, “Washington, D.C. is a diverse and passionate city, and we’re working to make the Wizards a reflection of its spirit.”
15. Wes Edens | Milwaukee Bucks
Under the leadership of Wes Edens, the Milwaukee Bucks experienced significant achievements and growth. Edens, who acquired a stake in the team in 2014, played a pivotal role in transforming the franchise. Under his co-ownership, the Bucks won the NBA championship in 2021, marking their first title in 50 years.
Full name: Marc Lasry
Date of birth: 30th October, 1961
Age: 62 years
Place of birth: Helena, Montana
Nationality: American
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Net worth: $3.3 billion
Edens was instrumental in the development of the Fiserv Forum, the team’s state-of-the-art arena, which has bolstered both team performance and fan engagement. His leadership extended beyond the court, emphasizing a positive work culture and strategic investments that have elevated the Bucks to a prominent position in the NBA.
Personal Insights: Edens’ leadership with the Milwaukee Bucks reflects his willingness to adapt and innovate. He values the importance of analytics and building a winning team with a global perspective.
Quote: “What I want to do is see things for what they are, not how other people see them.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview Wes Edens stated, “Guys in Philly want to talk about the process, I’d rather talk about the results.”
14. Mark Cuban | Dallas Mavericks
Mark Cuban, the charismatic entrepreneur, and Shark Tank star is perhaps one of the most recognizable NBA owners. His passion for the game and his team, the Dallas Mavericks, is palpable every time he’s courtside, cheering, and sometimes even arguing calls with referees.
Full name: Mark Cuban
Date of birth: 31st July 1958
Age: 66 years
Place of birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Net worth: $5.4 billion
Cuban’s tenure as the Mavericks’ owner has been marked by innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Under his watch, the Mavs secured their first NBA championship in 2011, led by Dirk Nowitzki. Cuban’s forward-thinking approach, be it in embracing analytics or in player welfare, has made the Mavericks a model franchise in the NBA.
Mavericks came real close to winning another championship in 2024. However, they lost to Boston Celtics in the Finals, and will look to bounce back in the upcoming season.
Personal Insights: Mark Cuban’s ownership of the Dallas Mavericks reflects his entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to challenge the status quo. He values transparency and fan engagement.
Quote: “The Mavericks are a platform for innovation. We’re embracing technology and analytics to build a team that competes at the highest level.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with ESPN, Cuban stated, “Owning the Mavs is a constant learning experience. We’re here to disrupt, innovate, and, of course, win.”
13. Gayle Benson | New Orleans Pelicans
Gayle Benson, after the passing of her husband Tom Benson, took over the reins of the New Orleans Pelicans. As one of the few female owners in the NBA, her leadership has been marked by resilience, community engagement, and a commitment to excellence.
Full name: Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird Benson
Date of birth: 26th January 1947
Age: 77 years
Place of birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Net worth: $6.1 billion
Gayle Benson’s stewardship of the Pelicans has been commendable. With a focus on community engagement, she has ensured that the team remains an integral part of New Orleans’ fabric. The drafting of young superstar Zion Williamson and the team’s ongoing development under her watch signal exciting times ahead for Pelicans fans.
Personal Insights: Gayle Benson’s leadership with the New Orleans Pelicans reflects her dedication to maintaining the team’s place in the heart of New Orleans. She values community and unity.
Quote: “The Pelicans are a source of pride for New Orleans. We’re investing in the team and our community to create a brighter future.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with NOLA.com, Benson stated, “New Orleans is a unique city, and we want the Pelicans to be a reflection of its spirit and resilience.”
12. Micky Arison | Miami Heat
Micky Arison, the chairman of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator, has been steering the Miami Heat with the same precision he manages his fleet of cruise ships. Under his leadership, the Heat has seen some of its most glorious moments, including multiple NBA championships.
Full name: Micky Meir Arison
Date of birth: 29th June 1949
Age: 75 years
Place of birth: Tel Aviv, Israel
Nationality: American-Israeli
Team: Miami Heat
Net worth: $8.4 billion
Micky Arison’s leadership of the Miami Heat has been nothing short of legendary. With Pat Riley at the helm and stars like Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh gracing the court, the Arison era has been golden for the Heat. His business strategies, combined with a deep passion for basketball, have made the Miami Heat a force to reckon with in the NBA.
Personal Insights: Micky Arison’s leadership with the Miami Heat is marked by a strong sense of loyalty and family. He values consistency and stability, evident in his long-standing commitment to the team.
Quote: “The Heat is more than just a team; it’s a family. We’re dedicated to maintaining the Heat culture and delivering championship basketball to our fans.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with the Miami Herald, Arison stated, “Winning is in our DNA. It’s not just about the trophies; it’s about the journey and the passion we bring to every game.”
11. Joe Tsai | Brooklyn Nets
Joe Tsai, co-founder of the e-commerce giant Alibaba, brought his global perspective to the NBA when he became the owner of the Brooklyn Nets. With a vision of making the Nets a global brand, Tsai’s influence has been transformative.
Full name: Joseph Chung-Hsin Tsai
Date of birth: 1st January 1964
Age: 60 years
Place of birth: Taipei, Taiwan
Nationality: Taiwanese-Canadian
Team: Brooklyn Nets
Net worth: $8.7 billion
Tsai’s ownership has seen the Brooklyn Nets rise to prominence, especially with the acquisition of superstars like Kevin Durant and James Harden. However, this Superteam failed to capitalize and win championships.
Personal Insights: Joe Tsai brings a global perspective to the Brooklyn Nets, emphasizing diversity and inclusivity. He values the power of sports in uniting people across borders.
Quote: “The Nets are more than a team; they’re a bridge between cultures. We’re building a global brand that resonates with fans worldwide.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with CNBC, Tsai stated, “Owning the Nets is a privilege. We’re committed to delivering an exciting brand of basketball to Brooklyn and beyond.”
10. Tilman Fertitta | Houston Rockets
Tilman Fertitta, a self-made billionaire, is known for his ventures in the hospitality industry. His acquisition of the Houston Rockets showcased his passion for sports and his commitment to bringing success to the team.
Tilman Fertitta’s net worth is an impressive $7.9 billion. He owns the Golden Nugget Casinos and Landry’s, Inc. His business acumen is evident in his ventures, and his ownership of the Rockets has been marked by significant investments in the team’s success.
Personal Insights: Tilman Fertitta is known for his hands-on approach to team management. He values a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, which he brings from his business ventures to the Rockets.
Quote: “Success in business and in sports requires a hunger to win. We’re not here to participate; we’re here to win championships.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with CNBC, Fertitta stated, “Owning the Rockets is a dream come true. We’re focused on delivering an exciting brand of basketball to Houston fans and competing at the highest level.”
9. Joshua Harris | Philadelphia 76ers
Private equity titan Joshua Harris co-founded Apollo Global Management and brought his financial acumen to the Philadelphia 76ers. Since acquiring the team, Harris has been instrumental in its resurgence, making the 76ers a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference.
Full name: Joshua J. Harris
Date of birth: 12th February 1965
Age: 59 years
Place of birth: Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Philadelphia 76ers
Net worth: $8.9 billion
Under Harris’s ownership, the 76ers have embraced the “Trust the Process” mantra, which has seen them draft young talents like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Harris’s commitment to building a championship-caliber team is evident, and Philly fans have every reason to be optimistic about the future.
Personal Insights: Joshua Harris brings his financial acumen to the 76ers, but his leadership style is also marked by a dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and growth within the team.
Quote: “The 76ers are a symbol of resilience and determination. We’re investing in the future and working to create a winning legacy.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with Bloomberg, Harris stated, “Philadelphia is a city of champions, and we’re committed to delivering another championship to this passionate fan base.”
8. Robert Pera | Memphis Grizzlies
Robert Pera is the founder and CEO of Ubiquiti Networks, a wireless equipment manufacturer. His involvement in the NBA began with his purchase of the Memphis Grizzlies, and he has since been a significant figure in the league.
Full name: Robert J. Pera
Date of birth: 10th March 1978
Age: 46 years
Place of birth: United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Memphis Grizzlies
Net worth: $9.1 billion
With a net worth of $16.1 billion, Robert Pera is one of the youngest and wealthiest NBA owners. His business ventures outside the NBA have been successful, and his commitment to the Memphis Grizzlies has been evident in the team’s performance and management.
Personal Insights: Robert Pera is known for his hands-on approach to team management. He values innovation and is open to adopting unconventional strategies to achieve success, both on and off the court.
Quote: “In the tech world, you have to adapt quickly to stay competitive. The same applies to the NBA. We’re constantly exploring new ways to enhance the fan experience and improve our performance.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with ESPN, Pera stated, “Owning the Grizzlies is not just a business venture; it’s a passion. We want to build a team that Memphians can be proud of.”
7. Tom Gores | Detroit Pistons
Tom Gores, founder of the private equity firm Platinum Equity, has been the driving force behind the Detroit Pistons since he acquired the team in 2011. With a keen business sense and a passion for revitalizing the Motor City, Gores has been instrumental in the Pistons’ recent endeavors.
Full name: Tom Gores
Date of birth: 31st July 1964
Age: 60 years
Place of birth: Nazareth, Israel
Nationality: American
Team: Detroit Pistons
Net worth: $9.1 billion
Under Gores’ leadership, the Pistons have made significant strides both on and off the court. His commitment to Detroit’s community is evident in the team’s move back to downtown Detroit with the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena. With a focus on building a competitive team and enhancing fan experience, Gores has reinvigorated the Pistons’ legacy.
Personal Insights: Tom Gores’ leadership with the Detroit Pistons emphasizes a deep commitment to the city of Detroit. He values community engagement and revitalizing the Motor City.
Quote: “The Pistons are a symbol of Detroit’s resilience. We’re investing in the team and the community to create a brighter future.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with Detroit Free Press, Gores stated, “Detroit has a rich sports history, and we’re working to add another chapter to it with the Pistons.”
6. Ann Walton Kroenke | Denver Nuggets
Source: Getty
Ann Walton Kroenke, an heir to the Walmart fortune, is a significant figure in the sports industry. Along with her husband, Stan Kroenke, she owns multiple sports teams, with the Denver Nuggets being one of their prized possessions.
Full name: Ann Walton Kroenke
Date of birth: 18th December 1948
Age: 75 years
Place of birth: United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Denver Nuggets
Net worth: $10.9 billion
With a net worth of $10.9 billion, Ann Walton Kroenke is one of the wealthiest women in sports. Apart from the Nuggets, the Kroenke family owns teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Colorado Rapids, Colorado Avalanche, and the Arsenal Football Club. Their influence in the sports world is vast, and their commitment to excellence is evident in the performance of their teams.
Personal Insights: Ann Walton Kroenke’s leadership style is characterized by a commitment to excellence and a global perspective. She values teamwork and collaboration, both within her sports portfolio and her business ventures.
Quote: “Sports have the power to unite people from all walks of life. We want the Nuggets to represent the best of Denver and inspire the next generation of athletes.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with The Denver Post, Kroenke stated, “The Nuggets are a source of pride for Colorado. We’re dedicated to building a championship team and giving back to the community.”
5. Antony Ressler | Atlanta Hawks
Antony Ressler, co-founder of the private equity firm Ares Management, took over the Atlanta Hawks in 2015. With a keen eye for business and a passion for basketball, Ressler has been instrumental in the Hawks’ resurgence in recent years.
Full name: Antony P. Ressler
Date of birth: 16th July 1959
Age: 65 years
Place of birth: Washington, D.C., United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Net worth: $11.3 billion
Under Ressler’s ownership, the Hawks have undergone a significant transformation. The team’s recent success in the playoffs, led by young star Trae Young, is a testament to Ressler’s vision and commitment. Off the court, his focus on community engagement and fan experience has redefined the Hawks’ brand, making them one of the most exciting teams in the Eastern Conference.
Personal Insights: Antony Ressler’s leadership with the Atlanta Hawks reflects his commitment to innovation and fan engagement. He values teamwork and the importance of building a strong organization from top to bottom.
Quote: “The Hawks are more than just a basketball team; they’re a source of inspiration for Atlanta. We’re investing in the future and building a winning culture.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Ressler stated, “Atlanta is a city with a rich sports history, and we’re working to make the Hawks a central part of that history.”
4. Matt Ishbia | Phoenix Suns
Matt Ishbia’s tenure as the owner of the Phoenix Suns has been marked by significant changes and high-profile decisions. On February 7, 2023, Mat Ishbia completed the purchase of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury, taking over from the previous owner, Robert Sarver, after receiving approval from the NBA Board of Governors.
Full name: Mathew Randall Ishbia
Date of birth: 6th January 1980
Age: 44
Place of birth: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Phoenix Suns
Net Worth: 12 billion
Ishbia has expressed ambitions beyond basketball, such as his interest in bringing an NHL team back to Arizona, indicating a vision for broader sports investment in the region. Under his leadership, the Suns traded for star player Bradley Beal, reflecting an aggressive approach to strengthening the team.
Personal Insights: Ishbia’s ownership began with a series of swift changes, including the firing of the Suns’ coach Frank Vogel after just one season, which drew significant attention and some criticism.
Quote: “You can’t win without happy people. You can’t win unless your people care. You can’t do anything without people caring and being happy.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview for Cronkite News, Ishbia stated the following: “The narrative that the house is burning is incorrect. The Phoenix Suns are doing great. Excellent. Not as good as we want to be, but we are in a great place.”
3. Jody Allen | Portland Trail Blazers
Jody Allen, sister of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers. Her vast wealth is not just from the NBA but also from her inheritance and other business ventures.
Full name: Jo Lynn Allen
Date of birth: 1959
Age: 65 years
Place of birth: Seattle, Washington, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Net worth: $20.3 billion
Jody Allen’s net worth stands at an impressive $20.3 billion. Apart from the Trail Blazers, she also owns the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. Her business acumen and dedication to sports make her one of the most influential figures in the NBA.
Personal Insights: Jody Allen’s leadership style reflects her commitment to maintaining her late brother Paul Allen’s legacy. She places a strong emphasis on sustainability and philanthropy, aligning the team’s values with broader social and environmental goals.
Quote: “The Trail Blazers are not just a basketball team; they are a force for good in our community. We want to win, but we also want to make a difference.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with The Oregonian, Jody Allen stated, “Paul’s love for the Blazers was deep, and I am honored to continue his legacy. Our focus is on building a championship-caliber team and creating lasting positive change.”
2. Daniel Gilbert | Cleveland Cavaliers
Daniel Gilbert, the co-founder of Quicken Loans, America’s largest mortgage lender, is a prominent figure in both the business and sports worlds. His ownership of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been marked by significant investments in the team and the community.
Full name: Daniel Gilbert
Date of birth: 17th January 1962
Age: 62 years
Place of birth: Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
Nationality: American
Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Net worth: $31.1 billion
Daniel Gilbert’s net worth is a commendable $15.7 billion. Apart from his ventures in the mortgage industry, he has diversified his portfolio with investments in various sectors, including the tech industry with StockX, an online sneaker sale platform. His commitment to the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland is evident in his community initiatives and the team’s success.
Personal Insights: Daniel Gilbert is known for his resilience and commitment to the city of Cleveland. He values loyalty and hard work, traits that have shaped his leadership style with the Cavaliers.
Quote: “Cleveland is a city of champions, and we’re committed to keeping that legacy alive. We want to bring more championships to this great city.”
Interview Excerpt: In an interview with The Plain Dealer, Gilbert stated, “Owning the Cavs is a dream come true. We’re focused on building a championship culture and making a positive impact in Northeast Ohio.”
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign is shaking up the presidential race in the final stretch as both sides race to redefine the likely Democratic nominee.With exactly 100 days to go until Election Day, Democrats say Harris is injecting new energy into the campaign while Republicans are ramping up attacks. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump tested new talking points at a series of events this weekend. Just short of one week since President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid, the Harris campaign reported recruiting more than 170,000 new volunteers and raising $200 million.Harris added to the cash haul on Saturday with her first fundraiser since taking over the Democratic ticket. Her campaign announced the event in Pittsfield, Massachusetts was expected to bring in more than $1.4 million, exceeding the original goal set before President Biden’s departure by $1 million. Harris is also working to expand support with key parts of the Democratic base that appeared to be eroding under Biden, including people of color and young voters. “We know young voters will be key and we know your vote cannot be taken for granted, it must be earned and that is exactly what we will do,” the Vice President said in a video message Saturday at the Voters of Tomorrow Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Social media is a growing part of that strategy, with Harris launching a new TikTok account in recent days. Her latest post features NSYNC’s Lance Bass asking Harris, “What are we going to say to Donald Trump in November?” as the boy band’s hit song “Bye, Bye, Bye” plays in the background. There are some early signs the Harris playbook may be working. A new Emerson College/The Hill poll suggests she’s closing the gap in five swing states, though Trump maintains a slight lead in most of them. “Harris has recovered a portion of the vote for the Democrats on the presidential ticket since the fallout after the June 27 debate,” wrote Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Young voters have shifted toward Harris: her support compared to Biden increased by 16 points in Arizona, eight in Georgia, five in Michigan, 11 in Pennsylvania, and one in Wisconsin since earlier polling this month.”Another new survey from Fox News finds Harris and Trump are tied in the key swing states of Pennsylvania and Michigan. Trump leads by one point in battleground Wisconsin. “I think what she does is put all the states that Biden won last time back into play,” said Peter Loge, director of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. ‘As polls tighten, Trump spoke at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, followed by a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Trump’s attacks towards Harris ranged from personal to political. He said he is running against a “low IQ individual” and that she will be “the most extreme radical liberal president in American history.” Trump is also seeking to tie Harris to Biden’s record on inflation and immigration, both weaknesses for Democrats according to polling. “Under ‘Border Czar Harris’, millions of migrants are pouring across our border,” Trump told the crowd in Minnesota. It’s a message that’s flooding the airwaves. An analysis from The Associated Press published earlier this week found Trump and his allies are outspending Harris’ team 25-to-1 on television and radio advertising. In her first campaign ad, Harris positioned herself as a defender of freedom, from reproductive rights to the “freedom to be safe from gun violence.” “There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate. But us? We choose something different. We choose freedom,” Harris says in the ad. The national Democratic Party is expected to begin a virtual voting process to nominate its ticket this week. Harris could be approved as the nominee as early as Aug. 1st and she’s expected to choose a running mate by Aug. 7.
Vice President Kamala Harris‘ campaign is shaking up the presidential race in the final stretch as both sides race to redefine the likely Democratic nominee.
With exactly 100 days to go until Election Day, Democrats say Harris is injecting new energy into the campaign while Republicans are ramping up attacks. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump tested new talking points at a series of events this weekend.
Harris added to the cash haul on Saturday with her first fundraiser since taking over the Democratic ticket. Her campaign announced the event in Pittsfield, Massachusetts was expected to bring in more than $1.4 million, exceeding the original goal set before President Biden’s departure by $1 million.
Harris is also working to expand support with key parts of the Democratic base that appeared to be eroding under Biden, including people of color and young voters.
“We know young voters will be key and we know your vote cannot be taken for granted, it must be earned and that is exactly what we will do,” the Vice President said in a video message Saturday at the Voters of Tomorrow Summit in Atlanta, Georgia.
Social media is a growing part of that strategy, with Harris launching a new TikTok account in recent days. Her latest post features NSYNC’s Lance Bass asking Harris, “What are we going to say to Donald Trump in November?” as the boy band’s hit song “Bye, Bye, Bye” plays in the background.
There are some early signs the Harris playbook may be working.
A new Emerson College/The Hill poll suggests she’s closing the gap in five swing states, though Trump maintains a slight lead in most of them.
“Harris has recovered a portion of the vote for the Democrats on the presidential ticket since the fallout after the June 27 debate,” wrote Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. “Young voters have shifted toward Harris: her support compared to Biden increased by 16 points in Arizona, eight in Georgia, five in Michigan, 11 in Pennsylvania, and one in Wisconsin since earlier polling this month.”
Another new survey from Fox News finds Harris and Trump are tied in the key swing states of Pennsylvania and Michigan. Trump leads by one point in battleground Wisconsin.
“I think what she does is put all the states that Biden won last time back into play,” said Peter Loge, director of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. ‘
As polls tighten, Trump spoke at a Bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, followed by a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Trump’s attacks towards Harris ranged from personal to political. He said he is running against a “low IQ individual” and that she will be “the most extreme radical liberal president in American history.”
Trump is also seeking to tie Harris to Biden’s record on inflation and immigration, both weaknesses for Democrats according to polling.
“Under ‘Border Czar Harris’, millions of migrants are pouring across our border,” Trump told the crowd in Minnesota.
It’s a message that’s flooding the airwaves. An analysis from The Associated Press published earlier this week found Trump and his allies are outspending Harris’ team 25-to-1 on television and radio advertising.
In her first campaign ad, Harris positioned herself as a defender of freedom, from reproductive rights to the “freedom to be safe from gun violence.”
“There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate. But us? We choose something different. We choose freedom,” Harris says in the ad.
The national Democratic Party is expected to begin a virtual voting process to nominate its ticket this week. Harris could be approved as the nominee as early as Aug. 1st and she’s expected to choose a running mate by Aug. 7.
Biden, Trump to face off in historical presidential debate
Updated: 9:00 PM PDT Jun 26, 2024
Tonight’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump differs from any other in U.S. history. The first-ever debate between a sitting president and a former president, which begins at 9 p.m. ET, is also a matchup of the two oldest candidates in U.S. history. There will be no audience and the candidates’ microphones will be muted when it’s not their turn to speak.The debate is also the first since 1988 not sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Instead, it’s being hosted by CNN and moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.Lastly, tonight’s debate is the earliest in history. The prior record was Sept. 21, 1980.The last time Biden and Trump shared the stage was for their last debate on Oct. 22, 2020. Check back for live updates during tonight’s debate.
Tonight’s debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump differs from any other in U.S. history.
The first-ever debate between a sitting president and a former president, which begins at 9 p.m. ET, is also a matchup of the two oldest candidates in U.S. history.
The debate is also the first since 1988 not sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Instead, it’s being hosted by CNN and moderated by Jake Tapper and Dana Bash.
Lastly, tonight’s debate is the earliest in history. The prior record was Sept. 21, 1980.
The last time Biden and Trump shared the stage was for their last debate on Oct. 22, 2020.
Check back for live updates during tonight’s debate.
Clay Bennett, chairman of the Professional Basketball Club LLC, became the principal owner of the 
