#no i would never want the current failure img replaces but i also want These.
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handyman arc...
#we couldve had this. i shake the team#no i would never want the current failure img replaces but i also want These.#OOC. → ⸢ also a sleep enjoyer. ⸥
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#USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day
By BRYAN CARMODY, MD
Well, it happened.
Beginning as soon as 2022, USMLE Step 1 scores will be reported pass/fail.
I’m shocked. Starting around two weeks ago, I began hearing rumors from some well-connected people that this might happen… but I still didn’t believe it.
I was wrong.
The response thus far has been enormous – I haven’t been able to clear my Twitter mentions since the news broke. And unsurprisingly, the reaction has been mixed.
In the future, I’ll post more detailed responses on where we go from here – but for now, I’d like to emphasize these five things.
1. By itself, making USMLE Step 1 pass/fail doesn’t fix much.
Simply getting rid of three digit scores doesn’t improve medical education. And it doesn’t make residency selection any better, either.
It does give us the opportunity to make changes. And the importance of that should not be understated.
Put simply, this is the greatest opportunity for medical education reform since Flexner, and the greatest opportunity to re-design residency selection since… ever.
“WHAT WILL REPLACE STEP 1?” IS A HARD QUESTION. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE FACT THAT IT’S A HARD QUESTION IS ONE OF THE VERY REASONS MANY CLUNG TO STEP 1 SCORES SO DOGGEDLY.
2. The path of least resistance does not take us where we want to go.
Most of the commentary on social media thus far has taken the following form:
Now only Ivy League medical students will get into competitive specialties.
Don’t worry! USMLE Step 2 CK will just be the new Step 1.
I guess DOs and IMGs can forget about getting into top residency programs.
And you know what? Most of these concerns are justified.
If we do nothing, Step 2 Mania is the natural result of a pass/fail Step 1. And unless we give program directors more useful information – and the time to thoughtfully review all the applications they receive – they’ll gravitate to another convenience metric out of necessity.
But that does not mean it’s inevitable.
3. We all have a say in what comes next.
If the rise and fall of a scored Step 1 teaches us nothing else, it should clearly demonstrate these two things.
First, advocacy works. There is no way that the NBME’s entrenched, out-of-touch bureaucracy would have ever voluntarily changed Step 1 to pass/fail – unless their feet had been repeatedly been held to the fire by the public over the past year. Change is possible – but you have to speak up.
Students, I’m looking at you – especially those from “non-elite” or international medical schools. You have a say in what comes next. How should residency programs evaluate you? Surely, answering multiple choice questions with peripheral relevance to real patient care is neither the best nor the only way to identify your talent. It’s time to dream bigger – and demand more meaningful evaluation.
Second, medical students will rise to whatever bar we set for them.
Ask them to memorize an 800 page review book so they can excel on a multiple choice question test of basic science esoterica? Done and done. Students knew most of what they were learning was pointless – but they worked tirelessly because we told them it mattered.
So program directors, now I’m looking at you. Whatever you tell students to do, they’ll do. You want high Step scores? Students will give them to you. But what really matters to you? Do you want residents who will serve the underserved? Contribute to research? Arrive on July 1 with specialty-specific knowledge? Whatever you say, goes. If you choose to grump about the loss of the bad old days, you’re abdicating your authority to set the standards you want.
YOU WON’T FIND ME SHEDDING ANY TEARS OVER THE DEMISE OF A SCORED STEP 1.
4. No one should mourn the loss of a scored Step 1.
Look around my Twitter mentions, and you can find touching testimonials mourning the demise of Step 1 scores. There are tales of useful factoids brought to bear on patient care decades later; of students inspired to consume as much (mostly useless) scientific knowledge as possible; of doors opened and careers launched because of one shining moment on test day years ago.
Give me a break.
The Step 1 score was the biggest false god in medical education, and no one should be too sad that it’s going away.
Was it objective? Sure. But the ability of three-digit scores to discriminate between applicants was actually fairly imprecise.
Did it test some useful concepts? Of course. But scoring highly required memorizing esoteric information that would never benefit an actual human patient.
Did some students benefit from scoring highly? Absolutely. But did Step 1 scores really “level the playing field” for students from international or non-prestigious medical schools overall? I doubt it.
Did it give program directors an easy way to screen applications? Yup. But was that way meaningful? Probably not. The main value of Step 1 was that it gave you a number. But if the content of the test doesn’t matter, why not just have medical students throw darts, or race go karts, or memorize digits of pi?
And of course, our idol worship of Step 1 came at a significant opportunity cost. The fact that most of us turned out okay doesn’t prove that Step 1 was the best way, or that that we wouldn’t have been better off under another system.
Here’s the thing:
Whether you liked a scored Step 1 or not, the current system is not what any of us would have designed if we were building something from the ground up.
In the scored Step 1 era, we sat back and watched as preclinical medical education turned into a glorified USMLE prep course with a five-figure/year tuition bill attached. We did nothing as residency applications spiraled out of control and program directors’ outsourced their most important decision-making to the NBME.
We shouldn’t be proud of any of this. And we shouldn’t mourn the loss of the three-digit score that enabled us to neglect the need for reform for so long.
More importantly, there is no turning back now.
If you opposed #USMLEPassFail, do your grieving for the scored USMLE – and then get to work. Saying “I told you not to make Step 1 pass/fail!” is a hollow victory. There is an opportunity here to engage our students in tasks that could actually lead them to be better physicians – but we have to seize it.
And if you supported #USMLEPassFail, now is not the time to dance on the three-digit score’s grave. We need to get to work, too – or this hard-won victory will go for naught.
5. The way forward… my opinion
Expect more from me on these topics in the future, but for now, let me put these three thoughts in your head.
WE NEED MEANINGFUL EVALUATIONS.
My 5th grader’s report card provides more useful information than any medical school transcript I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t get an “A” in math – I get to see a lengthy list of math skills and an assessment of where he’s at with all of them. Maybe he’s comfortable dividing fractions, but still developing proficiency with using variables to set up algebraic equations.
Letter grades are nice – but they don’t tell me what he knows and what he doesn’t. (I don’t get a histogram of other students’ performance and where he falls – because how other students performed is kind of irrelevant if my goal is to help him become better in math.)
The fact that elementary schools provide more information-rich evaluations than medical schools is shameful. In the past, we’ve justified this because of Step 1. Starting in 2022, that excuse will ring hollow.
Let’s be honest: there should never be a medical school evaluation in which a students is exceptional in every area. (If there is, it tells you more about the school than the student.)
Our goal should be to make medical school formative, not performative; to help learners maximize their potential without fearing failure; to provide and communicate honest feedback that leads to improvement and growth along the spectrum of medical education. (For their part, program directors need to focus less on relative accomplishment and more on potential to grow and thrive in that program/field.)
We don’t need another arms race. We do need more thoughtful evaluation. We should require students to engage in tasks that leave them – and their future patients – better off. And schools that refuse to participate in this process should be penalized by program directors and medical school applicants alike.
WE NEED HOLISTIC REVIEW.
I don’t think we need a one-size-fits-all metric to tell us who are the “best” applicants. Honestly, we don’t.
Certain talents and traits get you a lot farther in certain disciplines than others. Even within the same discipline, different programs have different needs and serve different missions. What makes a good doctor? It’s complicated. And trying to reduce that complexity down to a single three digit number is silly.
Holistic review is possible. It’s what we do at the residency program at which I’m an associate program director. But it’s labor intensive – and it requires human judgment. That last part makes some people uncomfortable, and I understand why. Holistic review has the potential to devolve into bias and cronyism. But that’s not a reason to not do it – it’s a reason to strive to do it well, to make decisions deliberately, and to build some checks and balances to make sure you stay aligned with your values.
WE ALSO NEED APPLICATION CAPS.
The only way to get away from screening metrics and treat every applicant as an individual is to limit the pile of applications that program directors receive.
THE EXISTENCE OF A SCORED STEP 1 ALLOWED US TO PRETEND THAT THIS WASN’T HAPPENING.
Look, I’ve preached this sermon before. But you’d better believe I’m gonna be carrying this particular gospel to the people again in the near future.
Afraid of application caps? Worried that they’ll disadvantage students from non-elite schools? Stay tuned for a data-driven expose of the misinformation surrounding caps coming soon.
Dr. Carmody is a pediatric nephrologist and medical educator at Eastern Virginia Medical School. This article originally appeared on The Sheriff of Sodium here.
The post #USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day appeared first on The Health Care Blog.
#USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day published first on https://wittooth.tumblr.com/
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#USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day
By BRYAN CARMODY, MD
Well, it happened.
Beginning as soon as 2022, USMLE Step 1 scores will be reported pass/fail.
I’m shocked. Starting around two weeks ago, I began hearing rumors from some well-connected people that this might happen… but I still didn’t believe it.
I was wrong.
The response thus far has been enormous – I haven’t been able to clear my Twitter mentions since the news broke. And unsurprisingly, the reaction has been mixed.
In the future, I’ll post more detailed responses on where we go from here – but for now, I’d like to emphasize these five things.
1. By itself, making USMLE Step 1 pass/fail doesn’t fix much.
Simply getting rid of three digit scores doesn’t improve medical education. And it doesn’t make residency selection any better, either.
It does give us the opportunity to make changes. And the importance of that should not be understated.
Put simply, this is the greatest opportunity for medical education reform since Flexner, and the greatest opportunity to re-design residency selection since… ever.
“WHAT WILL REPLACE STEP 1?” IS A HARD QUESTION. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE FACT THAT IT’S A HARD QUESTION IS ONE OF THE VERY REASONS MANY CLUNG TO STEP 1 SCORES SO DOGGEDLY.
2. The path of least resistance does not take us where we want to go.
Most of the commentary on social media thus far has taken the following form:
Now only Ivy League medical students will get into competitive specialties.
Don’t worry! USMLE Step 2 CK will just be the new Step 1.
I guess DOs and IMGs can forget about getting into top residency programs.
And you know what? Most of these concerns are justified.
If we do nothing, Step 2 Mania is the natural result of a pass/fail Step 1. And unless we give program directors more useful information – and the time to thoughtfully review all the applications they receive – they’ll gravitate to another convenience metric out of necessity.
But that does not mean it’s inevitable.
3. We all have a say in what comes next.
If the rise and fall of a scored Step 1 teaches us nothing else, it should clearly demonstrate these two things.
First, advocacy works. There is no way that the NBME’s entrenched, out-of-touch bureaucracy would have ever voluntarily changed Step 1 to pass/fail – unless their feet had been repeatedly been held to the fire by the public over the past year. Change is possible – but you have to speak up.
Students, I’m looking at you – especially those from “non-elite” or international medical schools. You have a say in what comes next. How should residency programs evaluate you? Surely, answering multiple choice questions with peripheral relevance to real patient care is neither the best nor the only way to identify your talent. It’s time to dream bigger – and demand more meaningful evaluation.
Second, medical students will rise to whatever bar we set for them.
Ask them to memorize an 800 page review book so they can excel on a multiple choice question test of basic science esoterica? Done and done. Students knew most of what they were learning was pointless – but they worked tirelessly because we told them it mattered.
So program directors, now I’m looking at you. Whatever you tell students to do, they’ll do. You want high Step scores? Students will give them to you. But what really matters to you? Do you want residents who will serve the underserved? Contribute to research? Arrive on July 1 with specialty-specific knowledge? Whatever you say, goes. If you choose to grump about the loss of the bad old days, you’re abdicating your authority to set the standards you want.
YOU WON’T FIND ME SHEDDING ANY TEARS OVER THE DEMISE OF A SCORED STEP 1.
4. No one should mourn the loss of a scored Step 1.
Look around my Twitter mentions, and you can find touching testimonials mourning the demise of Step 1 scores. There are tales of useful factoids brought to bear on patient care decades later; of students inspired to consume as much (mostly useless) scientific knowledge as possible; of doors opened and careers launched because of one shining moment on test day years ago.
Give me a break.
The Step 1 score was the biggest false god in medical education, and no one should be too sad that it’s going away.
Was it objective? Sure. But the ability of three-digit scores to discriminate between applicants was actually fairly imprecise.
Did it test some useful concepts? Of course. But scoring highly required memorizing esoteric information that would never benefit an actual human patient.
Did some students benefit from scoring highly? Absolutely. But did Step 1 scores really “level the playing field” for students from international or non-prestigious medical schools overall? I doubt it.
Did it give program directors an easy way to screen applications? Yup. But was that way meaningful? Probably not. The main value of Step 1 was that it gave you a number. But if the content of the test doesn’t matter, why not just have medical students throw darts, or race go karts, or memorize digits of pi?
And of course, our idol worship of Step 1 came at a significant opportunity cost. The fact that most of us turned out okay doesn’t prove that Step 1 was the best way, or that that we wouldn’t have been better off under another system.
Here’s the thing:
Whether you liked a scored Step 1 or not, the current system is not what any of us would have designed if we were building something from the ground up.
In the scored Step 1 era, we sat back and watched as preclinical medical education turned into a glorified USMLE prep course with a five-figure/year tuition bill attached. We did nothing as residency applications spiraled out of control and program directors’ outsourced their most important decision-making to the NBME.
We shouldn’t be proud of any of this. And we shouldn’t mourn the loss of the three-digit score that enabled us to neglect the need for reform for so long.
More importantly, there is no turning back now.
If you opposed #USMLEPassFail, do your grieving for the scored USMLE – and then get to work. Saying “I told you not to make Step 1 pass/fail!” is a hollow victory. There is an opportunity here to engage our students in tasks that could actually lead them to be better physicians – but we have to seize it.
And if you supported #USMLEPassFail, now is not the time to dance on the three-digit score’s grave. We need to get to work, too – or this hard-won victory will go for naught.
5. The way forward… my opinion
Expect more from me on these topics in the future, but for now, let me put these three thoughts in your head.
WE NEED MEANINGFUL EVALUATIONS.
My 5th grader’s report card provides more useful information than any medical school transcript I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t get an “A” in math – I get to see a lengthy list of math skills and an assessment of where he’s at with all of them. Maybe he’s comfortable dividing fractions, but still developing proficiency with using variables to set up algebraic equations.
Letter grades are nice – but they don’t tell me what he knows and what he doesn’t. (I don’t get a histogram of other students’ performance and where he falls – because how other students performed is kind of irrelevant if my goal is to help him become better in math.)
The fact that elementary schools provide more information-rich evaluations than medical schools is shameful. In the past, we’ve justified this because of Step 1. Starting in 2022, that excuse will ring hollow.
Let’s be honest: there should never be a medical school evaluation in which a students is exceptional in every area. (If there is, it tells you more about the school than the student.)
Our goal should be to make medical school formative, not performative; to help learners maximize their potential without fearing failure; to provide and communicate honest feedback that leads to improvement and growth along the spectrum of medical education. (For their part, program directors need to focus less on relative accomplishment and more on potential to grow and thrive in that program/field.)
We don’t need another arms race. We do need more thoughtful evaluation. We should require students to engage in tasks that leave them – and their future patients – better off. And schools that refuse to participate in this process should be penalized by program directors and medical school applicants alike.
WE NEED HOLISTIC REVIEW.
I don’t think we need a one-size-fits-all metric to tell us who are the “best” applicants. Honestly, we don’t.
Certain talents and traits get you a lot farther in certain disciplines than others. Even within the same discipline, different programs have different needs and serve different missions. What makes a good doctor? It’s complicated. And trying to reduce that complexity down to a single three digit number is silly.
Holistic review is possible. It’s what we do at the residency program at which I’m an associate program director. But it’s labor intensive – and it requires human judgment. That last part makes some people uncomfortable, and I understand why. Holistic review has the potential to devolve into bias and cronyism. But that’s not a reason to not do it – it’s a reason to strive to do it well, to make decisions deliberately, and to build some checks and balances to make sure you stay aligned with your values.
WE ALSO NEED APPLICATION CAPS.
The only way to get away from screening metrics and treat every applicant as an individual is to limit the pile of applications that program directors receive.
THE EXISTENCE OF A SCORED STEP 1 ALLOWED US TO PRETEND THAT THIS WASN’T HAPPENING.
Look, I’ve preached this sermon before. But you’d better believe I’m gonna be carrying this particular gospel to the people again in the near future.
Afraid of application caps? Worried that they’ll disadvantage students from non-elite schools? Stay tuned for a data-driven expose of the misinformation surrounding caps coming soon.
Dr. Carmody is a pediatric nephrologist and medical educator at Eastern Virginia Medical School. This article originally appeared on The Sheriff of Sodium here.
The post #USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day appeared first on The Health Care Blog.
#USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day published first on https://venabeahan.tumblr.com
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The Light at the End of the Tunnel …
Well the NBA season is still several weeks away and the league itself will have a great deal to offer us this upcoming season. Star players have found new homes and the salary scales for those players are now at an all-time high along with the team payrolls . Meanwhile, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will have a great deal to think about , along with the NBPA (union) seeking to rework their current collective bargaining agreement. On the court it will be interesting to see which of the Los Angeles’ based franchises will be viewed as the best team in the league this season. Both have made big splashes, with the acquisition of key players , likely to add to the efficiency and productivity of both teams.. Who would have guessed that Finals MVP , Kawhi Leonard would have left the Toronto Raptors to join the Los Angeles Clippers , with the franchise also adding Paul George into the mix on the team’s roster that’ll be coached by Doc Rivers ? GM Lawrence Frank and Rivers were able to work wonders in getting both players to make the Clippers their destination. Countering that move the Los Angeles Lakers got their man when Anthony Davis was acquired in exchange for Lonzo Ball and a bunch bye products no longer wanted by the franchise. Los Angeles also saw the departure of Luke Walton as the team’s Head Coach , with his being replaced by Frank Vogel . From my own perspective , I do not believe that Vogel will be able to put enough wins to actually seal the deal, where the Lakers are considered a top contender for the NBA title .
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Slide show.
Opening night of the NBA regular season will tip off on October 22nd with the opening games being the Toronto Raptors facing the New Orleans Pelicans as the Raptors begin the defense of their NBA title won last season. The other opening night game features the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Los Angeles Clippers.
LeBron James continues to chase history, with the four-time League MVP seeking to surpass the legacy of his idol Michael Jordan as a player . There are some who now believe James to be the equal Jordan, albeit that James has yet to beat Jordan’s feat of six championship winning NBA Finals and six Finals’ MVP Awards. I think that sums up every reason , why LeBron James will never been seen as Michael Jordan’s equal.
There are a number of teams that I feel can compete for the NBA title this season, with everything being equal . The team likely to have the most difficult task could very well be the Houston Rockets , whose window of opportunity becomes more difficult with each passing season. Having n James Harden team up with Russell Westbrook makes this roster a formidable one , but it remains to be seen whether or not they have what it takes to derail the hopes of their opponents during this upcoming season. Houston will begin their preseason with a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on the 4th October .Their regular season opener will see the Rockets tip off against the Milwaukee Bucks , in a game where Harden will match wits with Giannis Antetokounmpou , the reigning League MVP .
Dave Dombrowski was summarily fired by the Boston Red Sox , with the team having failed to seal a berth for the postseason . Such was the failure of this team , that there’s a growing feeling that a number of their high-priced players could very well be on the move at the end of this season. Much of the blame for the Red Sox’s malaise can be laid firmly on the shoulders of Dombrowski, who felt it was best to overpay for a number of stars whose best years might well be behind them. Boston and team manager Alex Cora will have the rest of September to prove to their fans that the team can still play with pride. In their next game the Red Sox will be on the mound to face the Toronto Blue Jays on the road. It will be interesting to see how they will fare against their divisional rivals in this contest.
Zack Scott is likely to take over the duties relinquished by Dave Dombrowski after his firing and it will be interesting to see the moves that Scott could very well make , which will likely determine the future of this ball-club .
Zack Scott , front office executive with the Boston Red Sox
Throughout the history of the New England Patriots , team Head Coach Bill Belichick has never been afraid to take a chance on a player , from Corey Dillon to Randy Moss , to Donte’ Stallworth and now Antonio Brown . The wide receiver was signed by the Patriots after he was cut by the Oakland Raiders , The Players Union are now in the midst of filing a grievance , concerning Brown’s dismissal by the Raiders. Having been signed to a one-year , $15 million deal of which $9 million is guaranteed money. It will be interesting to see what the Patriots will be able to get out of Antonio Brown over the course of this season. One thing for sure , this Patriots ‘ offense is a hell of a lot more potent than any of their rivals within their division , the AFC as well as the rest of the league. Having demolished the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-3 in their regular season opener , the New England Patriots will line up in week two to meet the Miami Dolphins . . Antonio Brown is likely to be in the team’s lineup with the Patriots’ coaching staff looking to assess the player’s worth to the team .
One looming issue which could threaten Antonio Brown’s time with the Patriots this season , is that of a possible lawsuit being filed against him by Jon Gruden , Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders. This stems from the player having recorded a private conversation between himself and his former coach. Under California state law , a private telephone conversation between two private parties , cannot be deemed legal unless consent is given by both parties. How this is viewed by the courts has yet to be played out , while it’s unclear that Gruden as such, can claim that if this was actually a conversation where he was representing the interests of the Raiders , or that it was solely one of privacy . Brown also faces claims of sexual assault by a former personal trainer , Britney Taylor , hired by the player. Taylor claims that she was sexually assaulted by Brown on three separate occasions , but at no time had she made those assertions public , having informed law enforcement of these three incidents. I can only surmise that Taylor having seen that Brown signed his deal , is now seeking some form of compensation from Antonio Bryant.
As optimistic as it was thought that this season was going to be for the Jacksonville Jaguars . The loss of the team’s starting quarterback Nick Foles has led to an even bigger dilemma for the coaching staff and front office , is whether not they should now acquire a free agent quarterback currently on the market , or call up one of Foles’ backup on the Jaguars’ depth chart. Gardner Minshew and Joshna Dobbs are two players with minimal experience on the team’s roster at the quarterback position .
Heading into week two the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Houston Texans on the road in an AFC match-up . All signs point to the fact that this could be a very entertaining game, with the Jaguars being definitely in need of a victory .
Far be it for me to suggest , but it is becoming abundantly clear that the window of opportunity for Jameis Winston to prove himself as a leader for the Tampa Buccaneers closing extremely fast . Ever since being drafted by the franchise in 2015, Winston has continually struggled in his role as a starting quarterback. Week one saw an abysmal performance by Jameis Winston as the Buccaneers succumbed to the San Francisco 49ers , with the Bucs’ starting quarterback being hit and throwing interceptions unwantedly . With their next game being a divisional contest , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jameis Winston are going to be tested when they face the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening , 12th September, 2019. Bruce Arians might well feel it prudent not to start Winston given his record against the Panthers since his becoming a starter for the franchise. For the Panthers they are likely to be without their starting quarterback Cam Newton for this contest. Newton for his part would like nothing better than to be on the field for this game as he seeks to regain the form that made him a League MVP in 2015. For both teams a win is of vital importance moving forward.
Jameis Winston having recently being given a contract extension , must now know that he’s playing for his long-term future and that of the Buccaneers’ own livelihood, as they can ill-afford to start off their season on a two-game losing streak. . Becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2020 , the veteran quarterback has to be looking to commensurate a deal that would provide for his long-term future , but given his inconsistency , I seriously doubt that the front office of the Buccaneers will be so forthcoming.
Since his acquisition of the Miami Dolphins , current team owner , Stephen M Ross , has seen the ongoing demise of a franchise that hasn’t seen any semblance of real success in over a decade. Their last postseason appearance came in 2016 , and prior to that it was in 2009 , when Ross finally took control of the Dolphins from previous owner H D Wayne Huizenga . Miami’s season opening loss might well have been the franchise’s worst defeat of regular season football over the last ten years. The performance of this team was in deed an embarrassment for first year Head Coach Brian Flores and his coaching staff . The Baltimore Ravens led by their quarterback Lamar Jackson laid waste to a Dolphins’ defense which so was brutal in their lack of execution and play , with their offense being equally inept . Things won’t be getting any easier as the Dolphins will have to face a red-hot New England Patriots’ team looking to improve off their season opening win when these two AFC East rivals meet in week two of the regular season.
When pressure is being brought to bear on an NFL rookie , especially one who is a Heisman Trophy winner . The expectations continue to be high through much of their career with few of those aspirants really ever being able to live up to or meet those expectations. Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals , now finds himself in such surroundings , with the fans and front office
expecting a great deal from the rookie quarterback this season . . Murray and the Cardinals in their week one opener tied with the Detroit Lions , 27-27 , in a game which went into overtime. . With the rookie and sophomore quarterbacks’ Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson meeting for the very first time, these two players should bring out the best in each other.
What story of late within the world sports has you riveted by way of its unfolding ?
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Byron Scott, the now fired former coach of the Hornets. GM , Jeff Bower who has now assumeed the position of head coach on an interim basis. And assistant coach , Tim Floyd. It’s safe to assume that the reins may well be handed over to Floyd at some time in the future given the fact Bower has no experience as a coach of any kind with regard to the NBA . picture apears courtesy of nbae/ getty images / Richard Tyson …………..
Rays’ third baseman , Evan Longoria at the plate for team. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Vic Hallam
Carl Crawford’s three-run home run in the sixth inning highlighted Tampa Bay���s three-game sweep of the Angels. The Rays are five games over .500 for the first time in team history. photo appears courtesy of the Associated Press/ Mike Carlson ………….
Gatots’ player Tim Tebow (15) and his coach Urban Meyer discuss their options during a game. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Chris Dickson ……………….
Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig’s steroids proposal, made to the union last month, calls for a 50-game ban for first offenders, a 100-game penalty for second offenders and a lifetime ban for a third positive test. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Adam Roundtree …….
Carolina Panthers’ Julius Peppers saluting fans as he walks off the field after the Panthers’ 23-10 win over the New Orleans Saints in an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers have decided the price is too steep to keep their all-time sacks leader. It means five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers is about to become one of the top prizes in free agency. Agent Carl Carey says the Panthers have told him they won’t place the restrictive franchise tag on Peppers for a second consecutive year at a cost of more than $20 million. The move Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, comes two days before the tag deadline. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Rick Havner ……
Mike Dunleavy (#17) of the Indiana Pacers goes up for the lay up against Brendan Haywood (#33) of the Dallas Mavericks during a game at the American Airlines Center on February 22, 2010 in Dallas, Texas. photo appears courtesy of NBAE/ Getty Images/ Glenn James ……………….
University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman, left, and head football coach Rich Rodriguez, right, are shown at a news conference in Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. The NCAA has found that Michigan’s storied football program was out of compliance with practice time rules under coach Rodriguez. Incoming athletic director David Brandon disclosed the finding Tuesday. He says there were no surprises in the NCAA findings. He also says Rodriguez remains the coach. Michigan has 90 days to respond and will appear at an NCAA hearing on infractions in August. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Paul Sancya ……
Los Angeles -January 13th 2010. New head coach of the USC Trojans Lane Kiffin shakes a hand as he makes his way to his press conference at Heritage Hall in Los Angeles, California. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Harry How ……………..
Duke’s Jon Scheyer collides with Virginia Tech’s Malcolm Delaney, left, during the first half. Scheyer scored 25 points and collected 10 rebounds in the win. The Blue Devils defeated Virginia Tech (Hokies) 67-55 in the game . photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Sara Davis ……………..
Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts speaks to the media Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 at the Chicago Cubs spring training facility in Mesa, Ariz. photo appears Assoc. Press/ Matt York ….
Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella, right, along with coaches Matt Sinatro, middle, and Lester Strode watch pitchers warm up during spring training baseball camp practice Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, in Mesa, Ariz. photo appears courtesy of Assoc. Press/ Ross D. Franklin ………..
Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Mauer swings in the batting cage at baseball spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010. photo appears courtesy of Assoc Press/ Nati Harnik …….
Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, left, watches batting practice with Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez during spring training baseball Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, in Jupiter, Fla. With the smallest payroll in the majors last year, the Marlins won 87 games and finished six games behind eventual league champion Philadelphia in the NL East. Visiting spring training to watch the first full-squad workout, Loria said the 2009 Marlins underachieved. photo appears courtesy of Assoc Press/Jeff Roberson ……..
Israeli model Bar Refaeli seen here doing a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition phot-shoot.
Ray Allen (#20) of the Boston Celtics looks for a play against LeBron James (#23) of the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 25, 2010 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. photo appears courtesy of NBAE/ Getty Images/ Brian Babbineau …..
Floyd Mayweather, left, and current WBA welterweight super champion Shane Mosley exchange words during a news conference in New York, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The press conference was to promote their May 1, 2010 fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. photo appears courtesy of Assoc Press/ Seth Wenig ……..
Floyd Mayweather, left, and current WBA welterweight world champion Shane Mosley pose for a picture during a news conference in New York, Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The news conference was to promote their May 1, 2010 fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. photo appears courtesy of Assoc Press /Seth Wenig
Scott Boras, chided for bonus demands for amateur clients, says the Major League Baseball draft needs restructuring. “In this system, everybody thinks this is about money. No, this is about saving money. It allows for less mistakes,” he says. photo appears courtesy of USA Today Jason M. Millstein ………………..
Commissioner of Major League Baseball Bud Selig and actress Sarah-Jessica Parker take part in an on field presentation during the 79th MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on July 15, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images North America / Jim McIsaac ……………
Stacey Dash , actress , designer and entrepreneur .
Jennifer Aniston shows us that she’s more than willing to be your ‘friend’ ?
Model & Playboby playmate Naureen Zaim . Who wouldn’t mind teaching her a lesson or two on human anatomy ?
Cuban American actress & model Natalie Martinez
Martinez again looking good as only she possibly can !
Oh mon ami ! she possibly can ! Je t’aime !</strong
Who wouldn’t want to play with Natalie Martinez ?
Well hello there !
Model & actress Natalie Martinez ……….
Actress & model Natalie Martinez …….. Who wouldn’t want to get ahold of her rims ? I know I would !
New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez watches his fly-out in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, March 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. photo appears courtesy of Assoc Press / Mike Carlson ….
Sarasoata , Fl ,. Infielder Adrian Beltre (29) of the Boston Red Sox throws over to first for an out against the Baltimore Orioles during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 27, 2010 in Sarasota, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ J Meric ……….
St. Louis , Bobby Maze (3) of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to shoot the ball against Mike Kebler (20) and Draymond Green (23) both of the Michigan State Spartans during the midwest regional final of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Edward Jones Dome on March 28, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. Michigan State beat Tennessee 70-69. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Dilip Vishwanat …
The Duke Blue Devils hold up the trophy after a 78-71 win over the Baylor Bears in the south regional final of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Sunday. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Ronald Martinez …
Butler’s Nick Rodgers hold up the West Regional trophy as the team returned home to Indianapolis amid a throng of fans after earning a spot in the Final Four with a victory over Kansas State Saturday. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ A J Mast ………..
West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler and Joe Mazzulla hug after the game. Butler scored 18 points and Mazulla pitched in a career-high 17 to help West Virginia hold off the Wildcats. The Mountaineers would defeat the Kentucky Wildcats 73-66 to make their way the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Jim McIsaac ……….
Russian actress & model Anya Monzikova . Who wouldn’t want some of Monzikova alongside some fresh Beluga caviar ?
2008 Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford. The player is widely expected to be taken number one overall in the upcoming NFL Draft. The team with the first pick are the NFC’s St Louis Rams . photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Chris Rogers ………..
Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb. The player is said to want to remain with the Eagles but it’s becoming clear that he will be traded sooner rather than later. Eagles’ coach Andy Reid and team President Joe Banner are willing to listen to offers for the Pro Bowler. photo appears courtesy of US Presswire/ Jody Gomez ………….
Tebow (15) left is seen here alongside his former college coach Urban Meyer. The two proved to be very sucessfule as a team combining to win two national titles in four years. photo appears courtesy of boston.com/ articles …………
DeMaurice Smith Executive Director of the NFLPA. Smith who assumed the position after the death of his predecessor Gene Upshaw. He was elected to the position by the board members of the Players’ Association. Smith was a corporate litigation attorney for the DC law firm Patton Boggs. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Phillip Mitchell
Carlos Boozer #5 of the Utah Jazz has his shot challenged by Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on April 2, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers would go on to defeat the Jazz 102-96 in the game . photo appears courtesy of NBAE/ Getty Images/ Andrew D Bernstein ………..
Donovan McNabb of the Philadelphia Eagles. The player was traded to the Washington Redskins a divisional rival in the NFC East. It adds to the flavor this upcoming season when the player meets his ‘former team’ . photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Hugh Malcolm ………………..
Baylor’s Brittney Griner and U Conn’s Maya Moore are seen here during the women’s Final Four game between the two teams. Geno Auriemma’s Huskies would go on to defeat the Baylor Lady Bears 70-50 in the game played at the Alamodome in San Antonio , Texas , Sunday April 4th 2010. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Alicia Mack ………..
Cleveland Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers and his lawyer Patrick D’Angelo, center, talk to reporters after leaving Cleveland Police Headquarters where Rogers was charged with one felony count of carrying a concealed weapon on Friday, April 2, 2010, in Cleveland, Ohio. Rogers was arrested at Cleveland Hopkins International airport on Thursday after he tried to take a loaded handgun through airport security. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Jason Miller …..
Butler head coach Brad Stevens , left to right, Gordon Hayward and Ronald Nored smile during an interview session for the men’s NCAA Final Four college basketball championship Sunday, April 4, 2010, in Indianapolis. The Butler Bulldogs will face Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils in the championship game Monday night to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium , Indianapolis, Indiana. This in many ways will be very much a “home game” for the small and in-obtrusive college team from Indiana. The furor over over their improbable journey has resonated within the state and across the nation. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Mark J Terrill ……………
Los Angeles, April 4th 2010. Manu Ginobil (20) of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Luke Walton (4) of the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on Sunday. The San Antonio Spurs would go on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 100-81 in a game played at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. photo appears courtesy of NBAE/ Getty Images/ Noah Grahame …………….
Tiki Barber and his wife Gina Cha. Barber’s wife is six months pregnant with twins and is now in the midst of separating from the former NFL star. photo appears courtesy of Wire Image/ Duffie Marie Arnoult ………….
23 year old Traci Lynn Johnson an intern with NBC Universal and who works alongside Tiki Barber on the NBC morning show “The Today Show” . Barber and Johnson are romantically involved and the former NFL star has now separated from his wife of 11 years , Gina Cha. The couple have two children with twin now on the way in terms of Cha’s pregnancy. photo appears courtesy of Social Media SEO ……….
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-round/dt-by-round-input:1
Playboy Playmate Kayle Collins …………August 2008. Is there a need to proceed further concerning Kayle’s attributes ?
Jameer Nelson of the Orlando Magic goes for the layup in the Eastern Conference semi-final game played against the Atlanta Hawks. NBAE/ Getty Images/ Fernando Medina ………
Head Coach Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz fields questions from the media following his team’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NBAE Getty Images _ Andrew D Bernstein
Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against Deron Williams (8 )of the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NBAE Getty Images/ Noah D Bernstein
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 24: (L-R) Robert Vittek, Martin Skrtel and Radoslav Zabavnik of Slovakia celebrate victory after knocking Italy out of the competition during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group F match between Slovakia and Italy at Ellis Park Stadium on June 24, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images ……
Johannesburg , South Africa – June 24 th 2010. Kamil Kopunek of Slovakia celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group F match between Slovakia and Italy at Ellis Park Stadium on June 24, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images ……
Fabio Cannavaro, captain of Italy, leaves the field dejected after being knocked out of the competition by Slovakia during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group F match between Slovakia and Italy at Ellis Park Stadium on June 24, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images ………
In this Sept. 18, 2010, photo, Florida Marlins’ Dan Uggla bats in a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Miami. Uggla has been traded from the Marlins to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Omar Infante and left-hander Mike Dunn. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
This is a 2008 file photo of Dan Uggla of the Florida Marlins baseball team. Uggla and the Atlanta Braves have reached a preliminary agreement on a $62 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011 on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not yet final. (AP Photo/Rob Carr, File)
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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Wei-Yin Chen (16), of Taiwan, comes into the dugout following the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
ST. PETERSBURG – AUGUST 04: Designated hitter Jeff Keppinger #7 of the Tampa Bay Rays fouls off a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the game at Tropicana Field on August 4, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
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Picture gallery. Click on an individual image to see the accompanying narrative.
The Light at the End of the Tunnel …. The Light at the End of the Tunnel ... Well the NBA season is still several weeks…
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The Premier League sack race: Roy Hodgson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer favourites to be fired first
A ball has yet to be kicked in the new Premier League season, but some managers are al
Roy Hodgson is in the lead as a favorite to get the first boat, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard are both not far behind.
[19459002WiththenewcampaignthatthisweekendfinallystartsSportsmaillooksatwhoseworkisinsecurethechancesthattheygettostartandwhatmanagerhastodotoproveitisworthyofit
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Some managers are under pressure Already under pressure before the start of the new Premier League season
Roy Hodgson – 6/1
Crystal Palace has endured a frustrating summer and a slow start to the season will only put more pressure on Hodgson. Palace has lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka and also saw Wilfried Zaha leave for the deadline day and with only Jordan Ayew and goalkeeper Stephen Henderson arriving there are huge gaps in an aging team.
Palace play Everton, Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves in their first six games and if points are hard to come by, the hierarchy may be looking for a new manager sooner.
Roy Hodgson is currently the favorite as the first manager fired in the Premier League
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 6/1
When the notable run of Manchester United reigned from the beginning of the Solskjaer government. A disappointing end of last season, in which they saw only one of their last seven games win, seems to have been forgotten amid constant transfer speculation and the arrivals of Harry Maguire, Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
is a huge pressure from the United fans to get the season off to a good start and, as Jose Mourinho discovered last season, a sloppy opening can see you out the door for a few months.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a tough task to roll back The bad shape of United late last season
Graham Potter – 8/1
Brighton has previous only two points survived the season and a decision was made early in the summer to replace Chris Hughton with Graham Potter. The former Swansea manager impressed his debut season as a coach in English football, but the time will tell if his appointment came too quickly.
The seagulls do not want to scrap again to survive and any early signs that they can be dragged into a relegation battle, perhaps enough for Brighton to pull the plug out of their experimental appointment.
Graham Potter has to prove that he is the right man is to lead Brighton forward in the first few weeks
Dean Smith – 14/1
Aston Villa spent a lot of money this summer and welcomed 12 new signings as they try to re-establish themselves as a regular Premier League. Smith led the club with a remarkable series of results that brought them to the Premier League through the play-offs and if they could maintain that momentum in the first few weeks, they should be fine.
However, as we saw with Fulham last season, heavy investments cannot always translate into results on the field and Smith has to settle his side in the first weeks of the campaign.
Dean Smith has spent a lot of money this summer so far and needs to be fast getting results
Chris Wilder – 16/1
Sheffield United has a strong imagination to go down before a ball is kicked. Their work on the transfer market has not been particularly spectacular with some deals for good champion players who have never played in the top flight before.
Phil Jagielka bringing back and his experience can be a master at the heart of defense and, with fans satisfied with survival this season, Wilder could take advantage of low expectations.
Sheffield United is going very far down so Chris Wilder has a huge job on his hands
Daniel Farke – 16/1
Norwich won the championship with five points in the second season of Just Farke in English and played an attractive brand of English football. Like Sheffield United, Norwich will just want to survive and that means that a slow start may not make him lose his job.
The goals of Teemu Pukki were crucial for the Canary Islands last season and if he can achieve double digits in the top flight then you would think Farke will be safe.
Daniel Farke hopes to bring his successful plan of the Top flight
Frank Lampard – 16-1
Installing Lampard as the manager of a Champions League team after just one season in the dugout was a huge appeal from Chelsea. It is no secret that Roman Abramovich demands immediate success and it remains to be seen whether his expectations will change with the obstacles that have been set for Lampard this summer.
He was unable to buy players and lost Eden Hazard to Real Madrid with enormous pressure on the club's key players and young stars. It remains to be seen whether they, and their manager, can handle the extent of the challenge.
Frank Lampard has had to deal with the Chelsea transfer ban and Eden Hazard already lost
Javi Gracia – 1/16
Watford had a good season last year. They finished 11th in the table and reached the FA Cup final, despite being hit hard by an unbridled city side. It remains to be seen what this time is considered successful for the Hornets. They seem far away from the top six and still a few steps behind, such as Everton, Leicester and Wolves.
Gracia's failure to overtake those teams just outside of the division's elite or a sloppy start can easily cost his job, just as we've seen with his predecessors.
Javi Gracia faces the heavy demand for the gap between Watford and the Premier League elite
Manuel Pellegrini – 16/1
West Ham lingers in that space between teams just outside the top six and on the spit of a relegation battle. However, they have bought well this summer in Pablo Fornals and Sebastian Haller and are trying to have enough firepower to touch this season.
Despite their abundance of offensive talent, there are question marks about their defensive abilities and the failure to sign a reliable partner for Issa Diop might return in central defense to pursue Pellegrini.
Manuel Pellegrini has invested a lot in his team this summer and Expected to deliver results
Marco Silva – 16/1
Everton and Silva must kick this year and finally take on a challenge to break into the top six. They have a team of players to do it and with European football this season they must have enough in the tank to take on a challenge.
Silva has invested heavily in midfield this summer and he will hope he finally found the club a long-term replacement for Romelu Lukaku in Moise Kean. However, there are concerns about the defense personnel and the time is ticking on the transfer market to bring more new faces.
Marco Silva has invested heavily this summer invested in midfield, but still wants more recruits
[19459102]
Ralph Hasenhuttl – 20/1
Southampton was in a mess when the Austrian camera arrived, But he showed how good he is to turn them around and guide them in safety. There is no doubt about Hasenhuttl's qualities, but if he fails to build on that recovery from the back of last season, he might get into trouble.
Saints also signed only two players this summer in Che Adams and Moussa Djenepo, not exactly names to determine the race pulse, and a lack of activity could come back to the & # 39; Alpine Klopp & # 39 ; to chase.
Southampton was in a mess when Ralph Hasenhuttl came in , but he showed how good he is
Mauricio Pochettino – 20/1
The Argentinian hinted that he would probably have left Spurs if he was in June had won the Champions League. With at least three managers in the top six you get the feeling that their destiny is in their own hands and it seems hard to think that Spurs would fire Pochettino.
He can leave if there is a chance to manage a European heavyweight during the season, but expects Pochettino Spurs to lead an entire campaign in their new £ 1 billion stadium.
Mauricio Pochettino can leave Spurs if an opportunity arises occurs to manage a European giant
Unai Emery – 25/1
Emery & # 39; s first season in English football was relatively successful . They were hunting for Champions League football and made the Europa League final. Now it's time for him to step up and break into the top four.
They have one of the most powerful attacks in Europe in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe and questions can be asked if they do not pose a serious challenge.
Questions can be asked by Unai Emery if Arsenal is not serious top four challenge provides
Sean Dyche – 25-1
Burnley have the same target this season: survival. The Carets will be happy to maintain their Premier League status and that means that the work of Sean Dyche must be guaranteed unless relegation becomes a realistic possibility.
Dyche will feel that he has to prove something after being overlooked again for high-profile jobs at Leicester and Newcastle in recent months.
Sean Dyche's job at Burnley must be safe unless relegation is a realistic possibility
Brendan Rodgers – 33-1
Rodgers is perhaps the best manager outside the top six and his extensive experience in the Premier League will be beneficial. He showed it after arriving from Celtic in February when he saw this Leicester team play and, with a summer on the training field under his belt, he expects to fully implement his style.
A lack of adequate replacement of Harry Maguire in the defense can be a huge problem with the time running on the transfer window
Brendan Rodgers is perhaps the best manager outside the top six of the Premier League
Eddie Howe – 33- 1
Bournemouth has the opportunity to be regulars in the top 10 of the Premier League and has to get the best out of their talent that they have available before the big clubs Callum Wilson, David Brooks and Nathan Ake coming in.
is no doubt about Howe & # 39; s talent as a manager, but does he have to prove that he can compete with those right outside the top six regularly to get a job at a larger club?
Bournemouth must get the best out of their talent that they have available before big ones clubs come to call
Nuno Espirito Santo – 40-1
The Portuguese boss was one of the outstanding managers last season when he led Wolves to seventh at Nuno has used the club's deep pockets again to add Patrick Cutrone to his team, as he appears to be competitive in the Europa League as well.
However, we have seen this before that the European competition extends teams and Nuno has to balancing his priorities in an effort to be competitive on all fronts.
Nuno Espirito Santo was one of the outstanding managers last season and the expectations are high again
Jurgen Klopp – 100-1
At the back of securing the sixth European cup from Liverpool the position of Knock currently impenetrable. His focus will now be on bringing the Reds back to the top of English football, but Manchester City is in the way again, just like last season.
There has not been enough transfer activity at Anfield to please any supporter, but Klopp knows that he has a team capable of challenging, convinced that they can close again.
Liverpool hierarchy is confident that Jurgen Klopp can win the Premier League finally title
Pep Guardiola – 100-1
The odds show that there is very little chance that Guardiola will be shot through the city. It would take a remarkable turn of events for the Spaniard to leave in a decision that was not his.
Guardiola still misses continental glory in Manchester and another failure of the Champions League saw his frustration boil over. After having only spent three seasons in Bayern Munich, it remains to be seen how long Guardiola is in England. However, it is quite clear that City will not pull the trigger on its future.
It would take a remarkable series of events for Pep Guardiola to be fired by Manchester City
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Original Post from SC Magazine
Author: Doug Olenick
Frankly I never thought that securing the elections would be a partisan issue. But then, why am I surprised? Anything that touches Washington becomes a partisan issue. Securing the elections, ensuring ballot machines can’t be hacked, and ensuring voter registration data isn’t altered or deleted should be a common goal for everyone in Washington.
Elections are the core of a democracy; if we lose faith in that process, our very existence as a democratic country is in jeopardy. And yet, politicians find ways to spar also on these issues. The GOP wants to just send money to the states and allow them to do what they choose, as long as they generically “secure the infrastructure.” I guess they forget that we have 50 states and this approach would likely lead to 50 different approaches, an enormous waste of money and resources, and poor results across the board.
It
is clear that I prefer the Democrats’ approach. States need to be told
what to do, i.e. they need to be held to a certain level of security standards;
and this is achieved by setting clear policies and precise
requirements.
What is wrong with imposing well defined security standards for the vendors of election equipment? I would think we’d all agree on this? And yet, apparently someone doesn’t like that idea. Could it be that lobbying is at work here? My hunch is that it is. Otherwise, for what other reason would anyone say that the vendors of electoral equipment don’t need to be held to specific minimum requirements? I’m not always in favor of the central government dictating rules, overreaching. But this is a case where, in my opinion, there should be zero doubt. All states must be held accountable the same way, to meet the same minimum requirements, and you can do this solely (and only) if you impose procedures and policies that are the same for everybody.
Uniformed, across the board. Grants for replacing the old infrastructure are a good idea too. If I may be allowed to suggest things that, to me, should seem obvious – why do these machines need to be connected to the Internet? Are they even connected? I would assume that the polling station shouldn’t even need an internet connection at all. The machines could collect the votes; the results once the polls close should be downloaded to a central server, and from here, uploaded elsewhere. We do this with the lotto every day. Why is it so difficult to do it with the election hardware? Isn’t that more important than the lotto? I’d likely to hope that it is.
I don’t think I want to go into a litany of what should be done to protect this process. To me, certain things are obvious, and I’m sure the NSA has plenty of brilliant people who can design proper protection for the entire process. It is only a matter of resources.
One thing is very important: if there is any doubt that a station has been in any way compromised, that should immediately be reported. That station should be isolated and checked, and closed if necessary. If we want to use electronic voting, we need to be prepared for such occurrences and have procedures in place so that local officials can’t hide their failures. Accountability is always the key. People pay more attention when they have something on the line. Someone needs to be held accountable if something goes wrong. Imposing minimum standards on the type of protection to be put in place is important as well. We can’t have a site protected by a simple firewall, one not protected and another set up with 3 IPSs. If we can’t afford proper protection then we can’t afford electronic ballots. It’s as simple as that.
I
like the idea of leaving a paper trail of every vote. In my opinion,
once I vote, that machine should print a piece of paper with everything I’ve
voted, and I should put that paper into an urn. So if there is any doubt
that the machines may have been hacked, we simply do what we used to do before
the dawn of the digital world – we count the ballots manually!
After
all, Europeans still vote manually, and no one has ever heard of hacking
issues! We used to do that here too. Electronic voting allows
for immediate release of the results, as soon as the polls close. But if
this instant availability of the results has to come with the doubt that the
results may not even be legal because maybe, just maybe, they’ve
been hacked, then I prefer the manual count. Would you rather wait a
day or two to know who won, and be assured that the result is safe,
correct, legal, and can’t be challenged? Or would you rather know almost
instantly, but always doubt whether it was real or Russia had anything to do
with it?
I’m
not going to express an opinion on our current President. At least not
today and not in this piece.
Whether
one likes him or not, he’s the President, and in a democratic country that
means that we should all get behind him because we have democratically elected
him. We should be arguing about his policies, as is normal in a
democratic nation. But not about the legitimacy of his
victory. Instead, his entire tenure has been marred by allegations
that he was practically elected by the Russians; that he’s not really our President
but a puppet of Russia. That his presidency isn’t legitimate and he
should be removed. That is not a good way to run a democracy. That
is a path to anarchy and revolution. A path causing people to
lose faith in the process, and which will trigger only two possible
reactions – either they won’t go to the polls, or they will take to the
streets. Neither option is good.
Now
imagine what would happen if, instead of a mere doubt about foreign mingling,
we had an almost certainty that the polls were hacked and results were
altered. It’d be chaos. We’d have to run the whole election process
again, we’d be without a new president for months, we’d likely resort to manual
ballots, and the economic crisis ensuing from this chaos would cause incalculable
damage. Need I continue? This is not something we can risk.
We must be able to think of the election results as something definitive
and that cannot even be questioned let alone disputed. And
the only way to do so is to leave a paper trail, which can be used in
case of doubts. And if that means I need to wait even a week to know
who’s my new President, so what? As long as when everything is said
and done, we all know that he or she won legitimately and will be able to
govern for four years without his or her authority constantly being called into
question.
The
survival of the nation is at stake here.
We
can’t take this lightly and argue across political boundaries.
We
need to find the best way to control the process to ensure its legitimacy and
dispel any doubt.
The post Why is election security a partisan issue? appeared first on SC Media.
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Author: Doug Olenick Why is election security a partisan issue? Original Post from SC Magazine Author: Doug Olenick Frankly I never thought that securing the elections would be a partisan issue.
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Ultraman Geed Magnificent is almost upon us, and the tension is building towards its debut! Since a new form is soon to appear that means this episode, and the next are about to elevate the series. More information on Ultraman Geed’s overall plot will be revealed such as how was Riku conceived, and what is Belial’s one true goal. Hopefully these revelations do not end up backfiring on the production…
Summary:
Kei Fukuide meets with his editor to discuss his next book. However, the two are being watched by AIB. During the meeting his editor leaves, and Kei mediates at the table to communicate with Belial. Yet, what he does not know is that AIB is tracing the call, until Belial realizes Kei has been set-up. Kei awakens to discover the meeting with his editor was a sting operation, as operatives move in to arrest him. Kei manages to flee while taking his editor with him, but Kei then kills his editor off-screen for the betrayal. Meanwhile, Laiha and REM examine the results of base’s cultivation plant, as well as the remains of a broken vacuum. Riku is nowhere to be found as he has left to purchase a new one, but reminds Laiha of Riku’s nature of buying unwanted items. Laiha leaves to cut off Riku, before he makes another huge mistake such as buying a Playstation 4, instead of a vacuum.
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Reito is on his way to work when Moa, and Zena detain him. Reito tries to escape, but Zero realizes the situation, and takes over. Zena begins to inform Zero that Kei is an Alien Sturm, and AIB may have located the whereabouts of Belial. Zero asks why has AIB not gone to Geed instead, but Zena quickly replies the organization continues to view Geed as a possible threat. Zero then understands he must go and investigate, even if Reito is against the entire ordeal. While Zero leaves the Earth, Riku and the others run into Kei. Kei has come to reveal to Riku the origins of his birth; that origin being Kei created Riku/ Ultraman Geed as a method to collect the Ultra Capsules for Ultraman Belial. In addition, Kei has hired a sniper to keep Laiha at bay, but Pega comes to her aid. Kei then gives Riku the ultimatum of handing over his Ultra Capsules, or to die by his hands. Riku opts out of handing over his capsules, and a battle ensues; Riku becomes Geed and Kei becomes Pedanium Zetton.
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Now, while Riku and Kei battle throughout the city, Laiha contends with her assassin. However, the assassin is killed due to debris from Geed’s battle. Kei explains that everything that has happened up to this point is Geed’s fault, and two finally give it their all in one final attack. Their attacks result in massive collateral damage, and leaving Riku badly injured. Kei stumbles over Riku’s incapacitated body to steal the Ultra Capsules and finish the job, but Laiha stops him as well as saves one Capsule. That night REM notifies Laiha, a letter has been left at the observatory and its address to them. The following morning Belial orders Kei to make the ultimate sacrifice to make up for his failures, as Zero arrives to Belial’s location. Kei then proceeds to follow through with his master’s plans to destroy the world…
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My Thoughts:
The Geed Identity is currently the best episode in the series, as it did not require Reito, Zero, or Laiha to carry it. The episode is mostly dwelling on mostly Kei Fukuide, as well as Riku. However, Riku does not entirely do much until Kei reveals Riku’s origins, and literally what others see Riku as, A DUDE JUST FILLING A ROLE! Since the beginning Riku’s role was to just “play” the hero, while ultimately unknowing he is a pawn to be thrown away in Belial’s master plan, or at least that is what Kei sees in him. Yet, the show wants viewers to understand Riku is seeking to shape his own destiny, and that is one of the themes to the series.
Now, the actual revelation of Riku’s origins being that he was an experiment created by Kei, was one the most interesting aspects for the series. Aside from the initial method on how the Ultra race was born, only a few Ultras or Ultra-like entities have ever been created through genetic research and science since then. An example of a man-made Ultra could be Dark Zagi who was meant to be an artificial copy of Ultraman Noa; another example could technically be Evil Tiga too. Never the less, the concept seems like a fresh breath of air for in franchise, especially since Riku was only created to assist Belial’s return to power. There is also an obvious sense of jealousy from Kei, as he fears Belial may seek to replace him and attempt to persuade Geed to be his right hand. The animosity Kei has for Riku is highly visible during Kei’s meeting with Belial, and during the battle. This all leads to an interesting dynamic where the creator realizes his creation is a threat to his own existence.
The battle between Ultraman Geed, and Pedanium Zetton is one of the best thus far. I would even go as far by saying it is the best one, besides Geed and Zero versus the Galactrons. I expected the battle to be very one-sided with Kei having the advantage the entire time. However, Riku managed to hold his ground, with only a few moments of visible exhaustion. I also thought Riku would need to cycle through all his forms to make any attempt in defeating Kei’s Pedanium Zetton, like Orb’s fight with Maga Orochi. The sequences and visuals are the most impressive in the battle too; highlights include a close-up of the two trudging through the traffic, the overlay with Laiha versus the sniper, and the clash of their signatures. To be honest I was surprised the battle ended in a situation where the protagonist is shown to lose, even when the main battle seemed to end in a stalemate. The near stalemate like conclusion to their battle could also be meant to be a sign of Kei’s own arrogance in almost underestimating Riku.
Overall episode 11 does a lot to boost my liking for the series at hand. The only issue I have is that episode 12 could end up like when the series went from episode 7 to 8. What I am referring to is that the second part could result in being a lackluster conclusion to this impressive first part. Now, I am still hopeful that episode 12 will be a great conclusion, and proper advance the plot. I have faith because of the letter left at the Nebula House, and the teaser revealing the man behind it. This mystery man is portrayed by Minori Terada, who has been in other Ultra series, but he is best remembered as Ryubee Sonozaki (Kamen Rider W). Let us hope Minori Terada is not bringing “terror” to Ultraman Geed, unless it is in the form of beating Riku on the PS4!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Ultraman Geed Episode 11 – The Geed Identity Review
Ultraman Geed Magnificent is almost upon us, and the tension is building towards its debut! Since a new form is soon to appear that means this episode, and the next are about to elevate the series.
Ultraman Geed Episode 11 – The Geed Identity Review Ultraman Geed Magnificent is almost upon us, and the tension is building towards its debut! Since a new form is soon to appear that means this episode, and the next are about to elevate the series.
#Crunchyroll#Geed Riser#Hero Club#Kei Fukuide#King Joe#Laiha Toba#Pedanium Zetton#Riku Asakura#Simulcast#Tatsuomi Hamada#Tsuburaya Productions#Ultra Capsules#Ultraman#Ultraman Belial#Ultraman Geed#Ultraman Zero#Wheelchair21#Zetton
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A little Mullet Wrapper for today – President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare
See, even in their headline (faltering House Republican plan), they push their agenda, phraseology and FAKE NEWS is all they know. But that is Mr. HOHMANN for ya, a FAKE NEWS Typist and operative for the democrat party.
Mullet Wrapper @ Hoax And Change
FAKE NEWS uncovered at HoakAndChange.com
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Trump will use bully pulpit to counter conservative revolt over Obamacare replacement
Trump: ‘I’m proud to support the replacement plan’
BY JAMES HOHMANN with Breanne Deppisch
THE BIG IDEA:
After appearing to project some ambivalence earlier in the day, President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare. He told the group of about 20 lawmakers who will be charged with whipping up support for the legislation that he wants the Paul Ryan bill to be approved largely intact. He said he plans to become personally involved in persuading wavering lawmakers. And he warned that Republicans will suffer badly in the midterms if they fail to deliver on their campaign promises to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. One member who was in the private meeting told CNN that he even spoke of an electoral “bloodbath.”
Offering a taste of what’s to come, POTUS took to Twitter a few hours later to nudge Rand Paul, a 2016 rival for the GOP nomination who is now a potentially pivotal vote in the Senate:
The Kentucky senator described the draft language, which will be marked up in committee hearings today, as “Obamacare Lite” and pronounced it “dead on arrival.”
The president is also trying to use carrots, not just sticks, stepping up outreach to other 2016 foes. Tonight he’s having dinner with Ted Cruz. Yesterday he lunched with Lindsey Graham. The South Carolina senator, as a gesture of goodwill, gave the president his new cell phone number. This is notable because, during a 2015 rally, Trump read Graham’s old number aloud to a crowd and asked people to call him.
Trump has negotiated big deals, but he’s never done anything quite like this. There will be a steep learning curve. “Following late-afternoon votes Tuesday, several Republican senators privately groused that they felt rushed by their GOP colleagues in the House and by Trump, who they said does not fully grasp the Senate’s slower pace or its concerns,” Mike DeBonis, Robert Costa and David Weigel report. “The senators also expressed skepticism that key White House officials with deep ties to Congress’s conservative wing would eventually be able to lock up the votes for the current plan. Instead, they said there is confusion over who is managing the process and which administration figures, if any, have power to sway Trump on the issue.”
Just how much political capital Trump is willing to spend is an open question that could determine the fate of the 2010 law. Will he keep his tweets gentle like the one aimed at Paul last night or will they take on a harder, more personal edge? You could imagine him lashing out at leaders of Freedom Caucus on a Saturday morning, for instance, blaming them for the failure of his agenda. Perhaps the fear of drawing his ire – a credible threat based on his track record – will get some members off of the fence. There are other ways he could use his power: Would he have rallies in the states or districts of wavering lawmakers? Will his new outside group run ads promoting the bill or criticizing those who oppose him?
There’s an emerging sense among some in Trump World that repeal and replace will not happen without muscular leadership from the president, but there’s also a growing recognition of the political risks that come with wading in deeply. Four are top of mind:
Donald Trump enters a meeting with the House Deputy Whip team in the East Room at the White House yesterday. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
1. RUNNING AFOUL OF CONSERVATIVES IN THE GOP CIVIL WAR:
The battle lines are drawn. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Wall Street Journal editorial board support the Ryan plan. The Koch network (led by Americans for Prosperity), the Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action and Breitbart vocally opposed it. People on the right have dubbed the plan “Obamacare Lite” or “RyanCare.”
Many of these groups opposing the draft bill have never viewed Trump as an authentic movement conservative. If they see him as joining forces with the establishment to ram through something that is tantamount to a new government entitlement, it will only bolster their skepticism. It’s not out of the question that Trump will have a primary challenger from his right to contend with in three years, and this could be a data point.
2. BACKLASH FROM SENIORS:
Seniors constitute Trump’s core base of support. Exit polls showed that the septuagenarian really ran up the score with older people vis-à-vis Mitt Romney, and this might have made the difference in several states.
The draft legislation Trump embraces would undo a rule from the ACA that allows insurers to charge their oldest customers no more than three times what they charge their youngest and healthiest ones. Insurers could now charge five times as much.
AARP has already begun mobilizing its members on this point. David Certner, the senior lobby’s legislative counsel, said the group is particularly concerned about the effect on Americans ages 50 to 64 if that age-charge differential is to increase. Low-income Americans in that older group would “get hammered,” he said, per Amy Goldstein and Juliet Eilperin.
Expect to see hundreds of anecdotes like this one over the coming months: “Martha Brawley of Monroe, N.C., said she voted for President Trump in the hope he could make insurance more affordable. But on Tuesday, Ms. Brawley, 55, was feeling increasingly nervous based on what she had heard about the new plan from television news reports,” the New York Times reports. “She pays about $260 per month for a Blue Cross plan and receives a subsidy of $724 per month to cover the rest of her premium. Under the House plan, she would receive $3,500 a year in tax credits — $5,188 less than she gets under the Affordable Care Act. ‘I’m scared, I’ll tell you that right now, to think about not having insurance at my age,’ said Ms. Brawley, who underwent a liver biopsy on Monday after her doctor found that she has an autoimmune liver disease. ‘If I didn’t have insurance, these doctors wouldn’t see me.’”
3. THE 2020 FACTOR:
Timing is everything in politics. If the disastrous rollout of healthcare.gov happened in Oct. 2012, instead of Oct. 2013, Obama very well might have lost reelection. Recognizing the risks of implementation, they postponed a lot of deadlines until after elections.
The most striking thing about studying the draft House bills is how much stuff comes due in 2020, when Trump has already announced he will be running for reelection and Republicans will be fighting to preserve their narrow majority in the Senate.
“The changes to the Medicaid expansion and the subsidy system would take hold at the beginning of 2020,” Greg Sargent observes. “Democratic candidates will be able to blast Republicans who voted for the GOP replacement, on the grounds that it is resulting in their states’ residents getting tossed off of coverage, while vowing to replace the spending. Some GOP senators up for reelection in 2020 in swing states also happen to represent states that already opted into the Medicaid expansion. That includes Joni Ernst in Iowa and Cory Gardner in Colorado. There’s also Thom Tillis in North Carolina (which didn’t expand Medicaid but could lose a lot in subsidies). ‘The Republican health-care plan as it stands today would certainly endanger some Republican incumbents up in 2020,’ said Jennifer Duffy, who tracks Senate races at the Cook Political Report. Some of these senators got elected by campaigning against the ACA’s rollout problems amid the shriveled midterm electorate of 2014 and will now face reelection in a presidential year, as repeal’s impact takes hold.”
4. HE FULLY OWNS FAILURE:
The more aggressively he sells the bill, the more he will be identified with its collapse if things don’t work out.
The margin for error is small: They can afford to lose 21 Republicans in the House and just two in the Senate. The House Freedom Caucus has about 30 members. Several of them held a press conference outside the Capitol to say they’d never vote for the measure as it stands now. They ideally want straight repeal with nothing else, which is just never going to happen. In addition to Paul and Cruz, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) opposed the House draft yesterday. If the three of them voted no, the measure would fail.
But, but, but: Every concession that’s made to win over the Freedom Caucus and that trio in the Senate makes it harder to lock down the votes of someone like Susan Collins or Rob Portman. The Ohio senator who was one of four Republicans to declare this week that he’ll oppose any plan that hurts lower-income folks who benefited from expanding Medicaid under the law. The others are Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
Mitch McConnell said yesterday that the Senate will pass a repeal bill before Easter recess: “Senior GOP sources said the leadership team will employ an ‘arm-breaking’ whip strategy to get the required 50 votes,” Politico’s Burgess Everett reports.
This “arm-breaking” approach could backfire, however. One Republican senator said on background last night that several senators are asking their leadership to “take it easy” in terms of the timeline, allowing space to debate and analyze the proposal with a “clear understanding of the costs involved,” per DeBonis, Costa and Weigel’s story on the state of play. “If that takes months or a year, so be it,” the senator said. A second GOP senator said the party was making a “mistake” in its rollout by taking “too much ownership” of health care after years in which Democrats were identified with Obamacare.
Mike Pence speaks to reporters after joining Senate Republicans for their weekly policy lunch yesterday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
KEY POINT: MIKE PENCE WILL NEED TO BE THE CLOSER.
The vice president will be crucial to winning over recalcitrant House Republicans he once served with. He has credibility because he voted against Medicare Part D when the Bush White House was heavily pressuring Republicans to fall in line.
Pence, an Indiana talk radio host before getting elected to Congress, has several interviews scheduled this afternoon to sell what’s been branded as The American Health Care Act. He’ll talk to Sean Hannity for his radio show and then sit-down with local TV affiliates from Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.
But the VP is best at the inside game, especially compared to Trump, which is why the most important thing on Pence’s calendar today is a 7 p.m. “legislative affairs dinner” at the Naval Observatory to schmooze lawmakers. Dave Weigel relays a telling anecdote from the Capitol yesterday: “The House Freedom Caucus was ready for the spotlight. Dozens of reporters and cameramen had set up at the House Triangle. Some cable networks were taking their news conference live. But a few reporters were being held inside the Capitol by security guards because Pence was wrapping a visit to the Hill, talking to Freedom Caucus members. When the vice president left, some of the conservative rebellion’s leaders were taking a more measured — if still skeptical – stance.”
As Trump embraced the specific bill, his top aides clarified that he is very open to changes and amendments to make it better. In his conversations with members yesterday, Pence stressed that the Ryan plan is “the framework for reform.” OMB directorMick Mulvaney, a member of the Freedom Caucus until just a few weeks ago, carried a similar message when he went to the Hill to reassure the right flank of the conference that the president is open to amendments. “This is a work in progress and continues to be so,” HHS secretary Tom Price said on Fox News last night. “Let me make clear to people that this single bill is not the entire plan.”
Ryan speaks on American Health Care Act
FIVE MORE OBAMACARE STORIES FROM OUR TEAM:
— “Obamacare repeal guts crucial public health funds,” by Lena H. Sun: “The Republican health-care bill would eliminate funds for fundamental public health programs, including for the prevention of bioterrorism and disease outbreaks, as well as money to provide immunizations and heart-disease screenings. As part of the ACA, the Prevention and Public Health Fund provides almost $1 billion annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2010, the fund has been an increasingly important source of money for core CDC programs, today accounting for about 12 percent of the CDC’s total budget. The GOP bill would eliminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund starting in October of next year. No clear replacement has been proposed. Cuts in those funds, combined with potential federal budget cuts at the CDC and other health agencies, ‘could amount to a catastrophic year for public health funding,’ according to a statement from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.”
— “Here are five ways the GOP proposal would change the tax system,” via WaPo budget reporter Kelsey Snell: 1. This is a major tax cut for the rich. 2. Lower-income workers are going to feel the biggest squeeze. 3. There may be more tax changes to come. 4. All of these tax changes could create a big deficit headache. 5. Democrats and even some conservatives are skeptical the math will work out in Republicans’ favor.
— “Income separates the winners and losers in Republicans’ health-care plans,” by Amy Goldstein and Juliet Eilperin: “An analysis by S&P Global predicts the legislation would lead to a loss of coverage for 2 million to 4 million of the roughly 16 million Americans who bought their own health plans through the ACA’s marketplaces or separately. More adults 35 and younger would gain coverage, while fewer adults 45 and older would be insured, according to the analysis. Specifically, the current subsidies take into account the cost of insurance in a given area, and they are linked to premiums for the next-to-lowest ‘silver’ health plan — the second rung among four ACA tiers that supply different levels of coverage. Under House Republicans’ plans, those tiers would disappear and the tax credits would no longer vary depending on geography. As a result, the largest credits, $4,000 for people 60 and older, would cover more than half the typical insurance premiums in New Mexico, for example, but less than a third of the cost in Wyoming.”
— Bigger picture –> “The debate over the Affordable Care Act is really a debate over wealth redistribution,” by Karen Tumulty: “What makes the latest health-care battle different from past ones is that it is not about building a new government program. This time, the question is whether to abolish one … That means it is harder to gloss over a bedrock philosophical and ideological question that has always been in the background of any argument about the government’s role in health care: What is the minimum that society should provide for its poorest, most vulnerable citizens, and how much should be taken from the rich and powerful to do it? ‘Even though it is a technical discussion, it’s a really big value discussion,’ said Robert Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at Harvard University…
“There were many ways that Obamacare redistributed the burden of medical costs — from the sick to the healthy, with provisions such as the one denying insurers the ability to refuse coverage to people with preexisting conditions; from the old to the young, with a mandate that everyone have coverage or pay a penalty; from the rich to the poor, with an array of new taxes.”
How do Americans say they feel about Trump and Congress?
— “The most popular (and unpopular) parts of House Republicans’ health-care plan,” by WaPo polling director Scott Clement: “The Republicans’ plan keeps several of the law’s most popular provisions, but also scales back or repeals several others that enjoy majority support. As widely expected, the law also repeals the individual mandate to buy insurance (or pay a fine), the least popular part of the ACA.”
Popular parts the GOP plan keeps: “The House Republicans’ replacement plan preserves four parts of the ACA that at least 60 percent of adults favored keeping in a January Associated Press-NORC poll. The survey found 77 percent supported the ACA’s requirement that private insurance companies offer preventive health services at no out-of-pocket cost, while 60 percent supported requiring plans to cover the full cost of birth control. The plan also includes the signature ACA rule prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more to people with preexisting medical conditions, which was supported by 69 percent. More than 70 percent supported allowing adult children up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ health plans, which the GOP plan keeps.”
Popular parts the GOP plan changes: “A McClatchy-Marist poll last month found that 72 percent of adults said lawmakers should keep financial help for lower-income people; in November, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 80 percent favorably viewed the law’s subsidies for those with lower and middle incomes. Two-thirds of Americans (66 percent) in the AP-NORC poll supported expanding Medicaid to more low-income, uninsured adults … The bill would also cap the amount of federal Medicaid funding a state receives per person. … While this issue is fairly complex, a February Kaiser Family Foundation poll found roughly 32 percent of the public supported such a change, while 63 percent preferred maintaining federally guaranteed benefits.”
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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:
Teachers take part in a “A Day Without A Woman” demonstration outside the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia this morning. Organizers of January’s Women’s March are calling on women to stay home from work and not spend money in stores or online to show their impact on American society. (Matt Rourke/AP)
— Today is International Women’s Day and “A Day Without A Woman,” in which many plan to stay home as a form of protest. Several local schools are closed today, including in Alexandria and Prince George’s County. The Maryland district announced the closure last night after 1,700 teachers and 30 percent of the transportation staff asked for the day off. With those numbers, the system said, it could not transport students and provide proper learning environments. (Marty Weil)
Hawaii to sue Trump administration over second travel ban
— The state of Hawaii will ask a federal judge to block Trump’s revised executive order barring issuance of new visas to citizens of six Muslim-majority countries. The suit, which lawyers plan to file today, will be the first formal legal challenge to the second ban. (Matt Zapotosky)
— Nigeria advised its citizens against non-essential travel to the United States, warning that people have had their visas canceled and been denied entry without explanation. The Nigerians claim an American customs official told one guy that he didn’t “look like” a software engineer and demanded he prove expertise in his field. (CNN)
— Trump nominated Noel Francisco to be U.S. solicitor general. He comes from Jones Day and has been working on the re-launch of the travel ban. He once clerked for Antonin Scalia and has argued several times before the high court in private practice. Last year, he successfully represented former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell during his appeal to SCOTUS.
In Sept. 2005, then-FEMA Chief Michael Brown looked on as Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff defended the Bush administration’s botched response to Hurricane Katrina. Bush told Brown he was doing a heck of a job in what became one of the low points of his presidency. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
— The Trump administration, searching for money to build a border wall and fund a deportation force, is weighing significant cuts to the Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA and other federal agencies focused on national security threats. Dan Lamothe, Ashley Halsey III and Lisa Rein report: “The Coast Guard’s $9.1 billion budget in 2017 would be cut 14 percent to about $7.8 billion (under a working draft proposal), while the TSA and FEMA budgets would be reduced about 11 percent each to $4.5 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively. The plan puts the administration in the unusual position of trading spending on security programs for other security priorities at the southern border, raising questions among Republican lawmakers and homeland-security experts. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who supported Trump’s presidential bid and oversees the House Transportation subcommittee on the Coast Guard and maritime transportation, questioned whether OMB officials are on the same page as the White House, citing the sea service’s roles in stopping illegal immigration and the flow of drugs into the country.”
GET SMART FAST:
American adults are having less sex than they did a quarter century ago, with married people showing the most dramatic decline of all. A new study shows a drop across gender, race, region, education level and work status. Possible factors including increased access to entertainment and social media, a decline in happiness among people age 30 and over, higher incidence of depression, and use of antidepressants. (Tara Bahrampour)
Turkey ordered the Oregon-based Mercy Corps to immediately shut down operations in Ankara, shuttering a U.S. aid group that the State Department says has been providing “critical” help to refugees. Reasons were not immediately made clear. (Karen DeYoung and Dan Lamothe)
A 34-year-old activist pleaded guilty to conspiring to disrupt an inaugural event for Trump supporters known as the “DeploraBall” with an acid attack inside the National Press Club. In an agreement with prosecutors, his criminal record will be expunged if he performs 48 hours of community service. (Peter Hermann)
The owners of an office building in Jacksonville have declined to renew a lease for Marco Rubio – effectively booting the Florida senator from his second state office in a week due to disruptive protests. Building owners in Tampa cited the same factor. (Kristine Phillips)
All 100 U.S. senators penned a letter urging Trump to “swiftly” denounce a recent spike in anti-Semitic violence, following a new wave of bomb threats that were made against Jewish schools and community centers. (Mark Berman)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti cruised to reelection last night in one of the biggest landslides in the city’s history. (LA Times)
About one in four American adults suffers from arthritis, according to a new CDC study, much higher than originally thought. Of the 54 million people who reported suffering from arthritis, some 60 percent are working age. (Jia Naqvi)
Israel’s parliament imposed an “entry ban” on foreign boycott activists on Monday, approving a law that denies entry visas to foreign nationals who publicly back or call for any kind of boycott against Israel or its West Bank settlements. It’s a measure aimed at battling the “BDS” movement, which has found growing support in Europe and the U.S. in recent years. (Ruth Eglash)
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is in critical condition after undergoing two brain surgeries. A tumor was originally detected in 2011. (AP)
Nike will release a specifically-designed performance hijab, seeking to allow women to compete in sports of their choice while remaining covered. The headgear was inspired by a number of world-class Muslim athletes who have recently competed in hijabs on the global stage, including at the London and Rio Olympic games. (Cindy Boren)
Officials at a New Orleans zoo are investigating a freak accident after a large female gorilla lobbed a block of wood at a pregnant woman, hitting her in the head and causing her to fall down on her stomach. (WWL-TV)
A French zoo is mourning the loss of its four-year-old rhino Vince, after he was killed by a group of poachers who broke into his exhibit. His death has stunned wildlife experts, who say it underscores the lengths poacherswill go to meet insatiable demand for rhino horns. (Peter Holley)
WikiLeaks says it has the CIA’s hacking secrets. Here’s what you need to know.
WIKILEAKS STRIKES AGAIN:
— A vast portion of the CIA’s computer hacking arsenal appears to have been exposed by WikiLeaks, which posted thousands of files revealing highly-classified CIA hacking tools used to convert cellphones, televisions and other ordinary devices into implements of espionage. Greg Miller and Ellen Nakashima report: “The trove appeared to lay bare the design and capabilities of some of the U.S. intelligence community’s most closely guarded cyber weapons, a breach that will likely cause immediate damage to the CIA’s efforts to gather intelligence overseas and place new strain on the U.S. government’s relationship with Silicon Valley giants. … [Officials said] the breach could undermine the CIA’s ability to carry out key parts of its mission, from targeting the Islamic State and other terrorist networks to penetrating the computer defenses of sophisticated cyber adversaries.”
“It looks like really the backbone of their network exploitation kit,” said one former hacker who worked for the NSA.
“Any exposure of these tools is going to cause grave if not irreparable damage to the ability of our intelligence agencies to conduct our mission,” a former senior U.S. intelligence official said.
— There is no good rationale for this disclosure: WikiLeaks claimed to have gotten the files from a former CIA contractor and touted the trove as comparable in scale and significance to the NSA leaks exposed by Edward Snowden. “But while the Snowden files revealed massive surveillance programs that gathered data on millions of Americans, the CIA documents posted so far by WikiLeaks appear mainly to unmask hacking methods that many experts already assumed the agency had developed,” Greg and Ellen note.
— Meanwhile, Trump’s approach to WikiLeaks has taken a full 180 now that he is the one occupying the White House. Only a few months ago, he praised the organization during his rallies and once lauded it as a “treasure trove.” Jenna Johnson and Ashley Parker report: “Back then, Trump loved anything that made his rival Hillary Clinton look bad — even if the information had been hacked, stolen or leaked. But now that he is in the White House, Trump is having to confront the threat of hacking, along with leaks from within his own administration — and, suddenly, he is not a fan. Trump and his aides have angrily railed against leakers, threatening to find and prosecute them and urging congressional allies to investigate, while being uncharacteristically quiet when it comes to WikiLeaks. … The breach could pose a serious challenge for Trump, who has been feuding with the intelligence community over probes into alleged ties between his campaign and Russia.”
Former Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said he hopes Trump finally realizes that the hacking in the election is “an anti-American problem,” rather than a partisan one: “The problem at its core is that a country that our own Joint Chiefs of Staff said was our greatest enemy and greatest threat to our security stole information from one of our national political parties and used it against one of the candidates,” he said, referring to Russia. “Do I believe that this is going to come back to haunt the Republicans? Absolutely, I do.”
Sean Spicer declined to comment on the latest WikiLeaks dump during his press briefing, saying that the issue “has not been fully evaluated.”
John McCain said that, if the group “can hack the CIA, they can hack anybody,” and urged the White House to place more focus on the issue: “I’d like to see a greater emphasis, to tell you the truth.”
— The mole hunt has begun. Devlin Barrett reports: “In the wake of revelations from Army private Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, officials sought to tighten security procedures, and federal agents came under greater pressure to find and prevent secrets from spilling out of the government. But cracks keep appearing in the system. Now, U.S. intelligence agencies are [again] rushing … to determine whether they again have suffered an embarrassing compromise at the hands of one of their own. … Once investigators verify the accuracy of the WikiLeaks documents, a key question to answer is who had access to the information, according to veterans of past leak probes.”
Vladimir Putin marks International Women’s Day at the Kremlin in Moscow a few hours ago. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
THERE’S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:
— The first open hearing on Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election has been set for March 20. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said he has invited FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, as well as former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former acting Attorney General Sally Yates to testify. (CNN)
— Trump’s then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski personally approved foreign policy adviser Carter Page’s now-infamous trip to Moscow last summer on the condition that he would “not be an official representative” of the Trump campaign.Politico reports: “A few weeks before he traveled to Moscow to give a July 7 speech, Page asked J.D. Gordon, his supervisor on the campaign’s National Security Advisory Committee, for permission to make the trip, and Gordon strongly advised against it. … Page then emailed Lewandowski and spokeswoman Hope Hicks asking for formal approval, and was told by Lewandowski that he could make the trip, but not as an official representative of the campaign, the former campaign adviser said. The trip is now a focus of congressional and FBI investigations into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election.” Lewandowski said he did not recall the email exchange but “did not deny” that it occurred. “Is it possible that he emailed me asking if he could go to Russia as a private citizen?” Lewandowski said Tuesday. “I don’t remember that, but I probably got 1,000 emails a day at that time … And I wouldn’t necessarily remember if I had a one-word response to him saying he could do something as a private citizen.”
— Trump’s nominee for deputy attorney general declined to endorse Democratic calls for a special prosecutor to investigate Russia’s election interference during his confirmation hearing. Matt Zapotosky, Sari Horwitz and Sean Sullivan report: “Under insistent questioning from Democrats, deputy attorney general nominee Rod J. Rosenstein refused to commit Tuesday to appoint a special counsel to oversee investigations of Russian meddling … though he stressed that he did not yet know the facts of the matter. At a tense Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing that lasted more than 3 1/2 hours, Rosenstein said that he was ‘not aware’ of any reason he would not be able to supervise such probes. “You view it as an issue of principle, that I need to commit to appoint a special counsel in a matter that I don’t even know if it’s being investigated,” he told Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who had vowed to try to block his nomination should he not make such a commitment. “And I view it as an issue of principle that as a nominee for deputy attorney general, I should not be promising to take action on a particular case.”
— Al Franken says he has concluded that Attorney General Jeff Sessions definitely committed perjury during his confirmation hearing when he failed to disclose his meetings with the Russian ambassador. “It’s hard to come to any other conclusion than he just perjured himself,” the Minnesota Democrat said on CNN, telling host Jake Tapper that Sessions should come before the Senate Judiciary Committee again to explain himself.
— Christopher Steele, the former British spy who authored the controversial dossier on Trump, which was widely circulated and eventually sent him and his family into hiding, has reemerged. London journalists said he was spotted outside his company’s building on Tuesday, appearing relaxed – albeit tight-lipped — about his recent whereabouts. “I’m now going to be focusing my efforts on supporting the broader interests of our company here,” Steele told reporters. “I’d like to say a warm thank you to everyone who sent me kind messages and support over the last few weeks,” he added. (Karla Adam)
— Before spending $30 million to help Trump, the NRA sent a delegation to meet with Putin’s deputy in Moscow. The Daily Beast’s Tim Mak reports: “In March 2014, the U.S. government sanctioned Dmitry Rogozin—a hardline deputy to [Putin], the head of Russia’s defense industry and longtime opponent of American power— in retaliation for the invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Eighteen months later, the [NRA], Trump’s most powerful outside ally during the 2016 election, sent a delegation to Moscow that met with him. David Keene, the former NRA president and current board member who was on the Moscow trip, insisted the meeting …. had nothing whatsoever to do with geopolitics. But Rogozin is no ordinary Russian official, and his title extends far beyond being merely the chairman of a shooting club. His portfolio as deputy prime minister of Russia includes the defense industry. One issue where Rogozin seems particularly interested is cyberwarfare, which he has heralded for its ‘first strike’ capability.”
Barack Obama leaves the National Gallery of Art in Washington on Sunday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)
WIRETAPPING FALLOUT:
— “The rapport between [Barack Obama and Trump] is unraveling, with the president convinced that Mr. Obama is undermining his nascent administration and the former president furious over Trump tweets accusing him of illegal wiretapping,” the Wall Street Journal’s Carol E. Lee and Peter Nicholas report: “The budding feud between two men who share the unique bond of membership in the commander-in-chiefs’ club is a fresh distraction in a Trump presidency that has been struggling to enact its agenda. The rift also is distancing Mr. Trump from a former two-term president who had offered to give private advice and counsel as the onetime businessman settles into his first job in public office.”
— The New York Times’ Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman report on the turmoil Trump’s tweets often create among his closest circles: “[His Saturday tweet, for example], led to a succession of frantic staff conference calls, including one consultation with the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, as staff members grasped the reality that the president had opened an attack on his predecessor. Mr. Trump, advisers said, was in high spirits after he fired off the posts. But by midafternoon, after returning from golf, he appeared to realize he had gone too far, although he still believed Mr. Obama had wiretapped him.” He reportedly asked staff about hiring someone on the outside to try corroborating his claims.
— House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) said he has not seen any evidence supporting Trump’s claim that he had been “wiretapped” by the Obama administration, but said his committee would “look into it anyway.” Karoun Demirjian reports: “The bigger question that needs to be answered is whether or not Mr. Trump or any of his associates were in fact targeted by any of the intelligence agencies or law enforcement authorities,” Nunes told reporters Tuesday. “At this point we don’t have any evidence of that,” Nunes said. “But we also don’t have any evidence of many people who have been named in multiple news stories that supposedly are under some type of investigation.”
Ranking committee Democrat Adam B. Schiff (Calif.) also told reporters that he was “happy” to look into Trump’s allegations – but warned that, if proven false, could pose much bigger problems for the new commander-in-chief. “If a sitting U.S. president alleging that his predecessor engaged in the most unscrupulous and unlawful conduct … that is also a scandal, if those allegations prove to be false,” Schiff said. “And we should be able to determine in fairly short order whether this accusation was true or false.”
Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Doral in Florida, one of the clubs where industry groups now want to hold conferences. (Evan Vucci/AP)
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
— “‘Big Candy’ is lobbying the Trump administration. It’s also holding events at Trump hotels,” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell: “As U.S. candymakers descended on South Florida for their industry conference this week, they were scheduled to plot lobbying strategy in the ‘Ivanka Trump ballroom.’ A dessert networking event was planned for the ‘Donald J. Trump grand patio.’ Between meetings, attendees were eligible to enjoy outings on a Trump-owned golf course and massages at a Trump spa. The National Confectioners Association is doing a lot of business with President Trump’s company. In addition to this week’s gathering of 600 attendees … the group has booked two upcoming meetings, in September and again in 2018, at the Trump International Hotel down the street from the White House…
“At the same time, the organization, representing candy titans Hershey, Mars and Jelly Belly, among other companies, is optimistic about scoring big, early policy wins from the Trump administration. Among the industry’s priorities: a long-sought rollback of government sugar subsidies that candy firms say drive up the costs of making their products. The group said it booked the venues in 2014 and 2015, long before Trump won the presidency. But the arrangement illustrates a repercussion of Trump’s decision to retain ownership of his business during his time in the White House — that he can become financially intertwined with a special interest that is simultaneously seeking to influence policy decisions by his administration.”
Boris Epshteyn, White House Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations, huddles with Omarosa, the White House Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
WEST WING INTRIGUE:
— “White House official Boris Epshteyn, a combative Trump loyalist tasked with plugging the president’s message on television, threatened earlier this year to pull all West Wing officials from appearing on Fox News after a tense appearance on anchor Bill Hemmer’s show,” Politico’s Annie Karni reports: “Epshteyn … got in a yelling match with a Fox News booker after Hemmer pressed him for details of [Trump’s] controversial executive order cracking down on immigration from Muslim-majority countries — a topic he was not expecting to be grilled on. ‘Am I someone you want to make angry?’ Epshteyn told the booker, the sources said. When he threatened to pull White House officials from the network, the fed-up booker had had enough. ‘Go right ahead,’ the booker fired back, the sources said. Epshteyn’s rise to a position of prominence in the Trump White House reveals how the president has rewarded his loyalists. But Epshteyn … has added to the impression of an antagonistic White House by throwing his weight around in a manner that has further strained the relationship between the administration and the television networks.”
— Two front-runners have emerged to be Trump’s next Navy secretary after his previous pick, Philip Bilden, pulled out due to investment conflicts. The Wall Street Journal’s Gordon Lubold reports: “The White House is considering Richard V. Spencer, an investment banker with extensive business experience and ties to the Pentagon, and Randy Forbes, a former Virginia congressman and onetime chairman of an important naval subcommittee, to head the Navy, the officials said. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other senior officials at the Pentagon favor Mr. Spencer, a former Marine aviator with extensive investment and business experience. Vice President Mike Pence backs Mr. Forbes, a Virginia Republican who lost a primary bid for his re-election campaign last year.
— National security adviser H.R. McMaster has invited top council staff back into the Oval Office for calls between Trump and foreign leaders — reversing a decision by his ousted predecessor Michael Flynn to exile senior directors to the Situation Room during such conversations because of fears they’d get leaked. (Politico)
Afghan security forces re-secure the Kabul Military Hospital. (Jawad Jalali/EPA)
THE WORLD IS ON FIRE:
— Insurgents struck Afghanistan’s largest military hospital, leaving at least four dead and at least 60 more injured after a suicide bomber and gunmen attacked the medical compound. ISIS has claimed responsibility. Sayed Salahuddin and Pamela Constable report: “Officials said at least four gunmen stormed the Sardar Dawood medical complex, located near the U.S. embassy and government buildings in the heart of the city. One security official said the attackers were disguised in white doctors’ uniforms. The battle stretched on four hours through much of the day with the attackers holed up in the upper floors of the hospital where they were engaged by special forces. … The double assault followed a familiar pattern by Taliban insurgents in which an official target is bombed at its entrance and armed fighters quickly follow.”
— China warned of “consequences” for South Korea and the U.S. over the newly-deployed U.S. antimissile system known as THAAD, further raising tensions in the region. Emily Rauhala reports: “The stern words came a day after North Korea launched four missiles that landed off the Japanese coast — an exercise, the North Korean government said, designed to practice for an attack on U.S. military bases in Japan. While American and South Korean officials say the Kim regime’s continued launches demonstrate why the new antimissile system is necessary, Beijing sees the system as a threat to the Chinese military and evidence of U.S. ‘meddling’ in East Asian Affairs.”
— Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is going on a trip to China, Japan and South Korea next week. “But he is traveling without the usual symbolism of the big blue and white ‘United States of America’ plane past secretaries of state have routinely used, and without the usual U.S. press corps,” Anne Gearan and Carol Morello report. “The State Department has said only that a smaller plane is more convenient and reliable, and that there is not room to bring reporters.” That’s not even good spin…
Katy Perry and Richard Simmons attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
WAPO HIGHLIGHTS:
— THE BEST NON-POLITICS STORY YOU’LL READ ALL DAY: “Is Richard Simmons missing? Or is he just dearly missed?” by Dan Zak: “On Feb. 15, 2014, the flamboyant fitness guru did not show up to teach his regular $12 exercise class at his studio, which was called Slimmons. He cut off contact with friends and hasn’t been seen in public since. One of his regular students was a filmmaker-writer named Dan Taberski, who last month launched a podcast called ‘Missing Richard Simmons.’ ‘I think he’s important,’ Taberski says in Episode 1, justifying his loving invasion of Simmons’s privacy. Richard Simmons is many things: manic, brilliant, troubled, tough, hilarious, ridiculous. But important too? …. Simmons is a gaudy rhinestone embedded in American culture: a true original whose commercial sorcery summoned the forces of positive thinking and negative self-imaging. He cast his spell using old-fashioned vaudeville techniques that he must’ve inherited. He also helped the world gain something. ‘…God could have made you a butterfly that lasts three months, but he made you a human being,’ [he said on CNN in 2014]. Six weeks later, poof.”
Alejandra Campoverdi waits for her food at Grand Central Market in Los Angeles.(Kyle Monk/For The Washington Post)
— “Alejandra Campoverdi is running for Congress. And facing down the threat of cancer,” by Manuel Roig-Franzia: Within a few minutes, a nurse will be X-raying [Alejandra Campoverdi’s] chest and pumping a dye into her veins that will leave her a little lightheaded, but that might give her some answers. Two years ago, Campoverdi learned that she has a genetic mutation, known as BRCA2, that means she is extremely likely to develop breast cancer, the disease that took the lives of her grandmother and great-grandmother. … Campoverdi’s diagnosis and her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy in the near future … forms the emotional and intellectual foundation of her campaign to represent a portion of her native Los Angeles in Congress. She’s been an [Ivy League-pedigreed] Obama White House staffer … a poor kid surviving on welfare, a reality show contestant, a Maxim model in skimpy lingerie, a Harvard graduate, a groundbreaking first-ever deputy director of Hispanic media at the White House. Now her underdog candidacy in an overflow field to succeed longtime Democratic congressman Xavier Becerra is turning into another test of whether [Obama] spawned a generation of future leaders.”
SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:
Trump celebrated International Women’s Day with some early morning tweets:
Ad his most prominent female surrogate:
A cheeky response from singer Lily Allen to Trump:
A conservative #NeverTrumper also trolled Trump over the above tweets:
Teachers in Alexandria, Va., are marking a Day Without a Woman by joining the protests, thereby shutting down some public schools. One conservative pundit reacted:
Continued reaction to the House GOP’s Obamacare repeal rollout:
“The Americans” is back on TV at a surreal life-imitates-art-imitates-life moment:
A debate over the border adjustment tax played out on Twitter:
A family of four from Pakistan walk down Roxham Road in Champlain, New York, towards the US-Canada border. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)
GOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:
— New York Times, “Since Trump, Quiet Upstate Road Becomes a Busy Exit From U.S.,” by Rick Rojas: “Chris Crowningshiele has been driving a cab, on and off, for 30 years in this rural corner of upstate New York known as the North Country. But in recent weeks, riders have been asking him — two, three, sometimes as many as seven times a day — to bring them to the end of Roxham Road. He is carrying them on the last leg of their journey out of the United States. ‘You wonder what’s going through their heads, you know?’ he said. … Many of his passengers have been families, with parents carrying young children and whatever possessions they could take with them. Some were migrants from Yemen and Turkey. They confided that they were fearful, of what was happening in the countries they wanted to leave behind — not just their homeland but now also the United States — and of what they faced once they stepped out of Mr. Crowningshiele’s cab.”
HOT ON THE LEFT:
“A $2.5 trillion asset manager just put a statue of a defiant girl in front of the Wall Street bull,” fromBusiness Insider: “The world’s third-largest asset manager installed a bronze statue of a defiant girl in front of Wall Street’s iconic charging bull statue on Tuesday morning as part of its new campaign to pressure companies to add more women to their boards. State Street Global Advisors, a nearly $2.5 trillion investor and unit within State Street Corp., is rolling out the campaign ahead of International Women’s Day on Wednesday. The money manager said it would vote against boards if a company failed to take steps to increase its number of members who are women. State Street plans to send a letter to 3,500 companies on Tuesday asking the companies to act. “There has been a lot of discussion on this topic, but the needle hasn’t moved materially,’ [said one company official] … State Street wants every company it’s targeting to have at least one female board member and to take steps toward fixing its gender gap, Heinel said.”
HOT ON THE RIGHT:
“Son of Sen. Tim Kaine is one of six arrested after protesters disrupt Trump rally at state Capitol Saturday,” from the Pioneer Press:“The youngest son of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate, was one of six people arrested Saturday after counter-protesters disrupted a rally in support of [Trump] at the Minnesota State Capitol. Linwood Michael Kaine, 24, and four others were arrested on suspicion of second-degree riot after the ‘March 4 Trump’ rally in St. Paul; a sixth person was cited for disorderly conduct. Counter-protesters clashed with Trump supporters in the Capitol rotunda after they disrupted the proceedings with air horns, whistles and chants. At one point, someone set off a smoke bomb. Linwood Kaine, a Minneapolis resident who attended Carleton College and goes by Woody, was released from the Ramsey County jail on Tuesday morning pending further investigation, law enforcement officials said.” “We love that our three children have their own views and concerns about current political issues,” Sen. Kaine said in a statement. “They fully understand the responsibility to express those concerns peacefully.”
DAYBOOK:
At the White House: In the morning, Trump will meet with Laurene Powell Jobs before hosting a strategic affairs lunch regarding infrastructure. He will then meet with Rep. Elijah Cummings. Later, Trump will meet with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Sens. Lisa Murkowski, and Dan Sullivan, as well as a group of conservative leaders about healthcare. Later, Trump and Melania will have dinner with Ted and Heidi Cruz.
Pence will join Trump for his infrastructure lunch before conducting a radio interview with Sean Hannity, by a series of regional satellite interviews focused on the American Health Care Act. In the evening, Pence will host a legislative affairs dinner at the Vice President’s Residence.
On Capitol Hill: The Senate will convene at 9:30 am and resume consideration of H.J.Res.58. House committees are marking up the health bill.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) brushed aside questions about Trump’s wiretapping claims: “A lot of the things he says, you guys take literally.” (CNN)
NEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:
— Spring still remains (happily) in full swing. Today’s Capital Weather Gang forecasts: “Showers exit to the east by 7 a.m. or so. Skies turn mostly sunny thereafter, and that helps temperatures rise from morning 50s to afternoon highs in the mid-60s.”
— A Maryland police officer was suspended after making a “highly inappropriate” Facebook comment about two teens who were slain last week in a car crash. “F—‘em, shouldn’t have been driving that fast,” he wrote on his social media page. (Dana Hedgpeth)
— Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a 35-year-old man with impersonating a police officer. Authorities said they were first tipped off to his case in February, and upon searching his home, found seven handguns, two assault rifles and a shotgun, as well as body armor, tactical vests, ammunition and a Baltimore County Police Department badge. He was never employed by the department. (AP)
— The Wizards beat the Suns 131-127.
VIDEOS OF THE DAY:
Stephen Colbert did a segment on how the CIA isn’t spying on us through our TVs:
General Michael Hayden Says The CIA Is Not Spying On Us Through Our Televisions
See why Anderson Cooper has muted Trump on Twitter:
Anderson Cooper And Kellyanne Conway Are ‘Rethinking’ Their Relationship
The lights illuminating the Statue of Liberty turned off for more than an hour last night:
Lady Liberty mysteriously goes dark
Margarita Zavala, a leading presidential hopeful in Mexico and former first lady, spoke with The Post about why her country will never pay for the wall. Read her op-ed. Watch some highlights:
Zavala: ‘It makes no sense’ for Mexico to pay for the border wall
A little Mullet Wrapper for today – President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare A little Mullet Wrapper for today - President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare…
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#USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day
By BRYAN CARMODY, MD
Well, it happened.
Beginning as soon as 2022, USMLE Step 1 scores will be reported pass/fail.
I’m shocked. Starting around two weeks ago, I began hearing rumors from some well-connected people that this might happen… but I still didn’t believe it.
I was wrong.
The response thus far has been enormous – I haven’t been able to clear my Twitter mentions since the news broke. And unsurprisingly, the reaction has been mixed.
In the future, I’ll post more detailed responses on where we go from here – but for now, I’d like to emphasize these five things.
1. By itself, making USMLE Step 1 pass/fail doesn’t fix much.
Simply getting rid of three digit scores doesn’t improve medical education. And it doesn’t make residency selection any better, either.
It does give us the opportunity to make changes. And the importance of that should not be understated.
Put simply, this is the greatest opportunity for medical education reform since Flexner, and the greatest opportunity to re-design residency selection since… ever.
“WHAT WILL REPLACE STEP 1?” IS A HARD QUESTION. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE FACT THAT IT’S A HARD QUESTION IS ONE OF THE VERY REASONS MANY CLUNG TO STEP 1 SCORES SO DOGGEDLY.
2. The path of least resistance does not take us where we want to go.
Most of the commentary on social media thus far has taken the following form:
Now only Ivy League medical students will get into competitive specialties.
Don’t worry! USMLE Step 2 CK will just be the new Step 1.
I guess DOs and IMGs can forget about getting into top residency programs.
And you know what? Most of these concerns are justified.
If we do nothing, Step 2 Mania is the natural result of a pass/fail Step 1. And unless we give program directors more useful information – and the time to thoughtfully review all the applications they receive – they’ll gravitate to another convenience metric out of necessity.
But that does not mean it’s inevitable.
3. We all have a say in what comes next.
If the rise and fall of a scored Step 1 teaches us nothing else, it should clearly demonstrate these two things.
First, advocacy works. There is no way that the NBME’s entrenched, out-of-touch bureaucracy would have ever voluntarily changed Step 1 to pass/fail – unless their feet had been repeatedly been held to the fire by the public over the past year. Change is possible – but you have to speak up.
Students, I’m looking at you – especially those from “non-elite” or international medical schools. You have a say in what comes next. How should residency programs evaluate you? Surely, answering multiple choice questions with peripheral relevance to real patient care is neither the best nor the only way to identify your talent. It’s time to dream bigger – and demand more meaningful evaluation.
Second, medical students will rise to whatever bar we set for them.
Ask them to memorize an 800 page review book so they can excel on a multiple choice question test of basic science esoterica? Done and done. Students knew most of what they were learning was pointless – but they worked tirelessly because we told them it mattered.
So program directors, now I’m looking at you. Whatever you tell students to do, they’ll do. You want high Step scores? Students will give them to you. But what really matters to you? Do you want residents who will serve the underserved? Contribute to research? Arrive on July 1 with specialty-specific knowledge? Whatever you say, goes. If you choose to grump about the loss of the bad old days, you’re abdicating your authority to set the standards you want.
YOU WON’T FIND ME SHEDDING ANY TEARS OVER THE DEMISE OF A SCORED STEP 1.
4. No one should mourn the loss of a scored Step 1.
Look around my Twitter mentions, and you can find touching testimonials mourning the demise of Step 1 scores. There are tales of useful factoids brought to bear on patient care decades later; of students inspired to consume as much (mostly useless) scientific knowledge as possible; of doors opened and careers launched because of one shining moment on test day years ago.
Give me a break.
The Step 1 score was the biggest false god in medical education, and no one should be too sad that it’s going away.
Was it objective? Sure. But the ability of three-digit scores to discriminate between applicants was actually fairly imprecise.
Did it test some useful concepts? Of course. But scoring highly required memorizing esoteric information that would never benefit an actual human patient.
Did some students benefit from scoring highly? Absolutely. But did Step 1 scores really “level the playing field” for students from international or non-prestigious medical schools overall? I doubt it.
Did it give program directors an easy way to screen applications? Yup. But was that way meaningful? Probably not. The main value of Step 1 was that it gave you a number. But if the content of the test doesn’t matter, why not just have medical students throw darts, or race go karts, or memorize digits of pi?
And of course, our idol worship of Step 1 came at a significant opportunity cost. The fact that most of us turned out okay doesn’t prove that Step 1 was the best way, or that that we wouldn’t have been better off under another system.
Here’s the thing:
Whether you liked a scored Step 1 or not, the current system is not what any of us would have designed if we were building something from the ground up.
In the scored Step 1 era, we sat back and watched as preclinical medical education turned into a glorified USMLE prep course with a five-figure/year tuition bill attached. We did nothing as residency applications spiraled out of control and program directors’ outsourced their most important decision-making to the NBME.
We shouldn’t be proud of any of this. And we shouldn’t mourn the loss of the three-digit score that enabled us to neglect the need for reform for so long.
More importantly, there is no turning back now.
If you opposed #USMLEPassFail, do your grieving for the scored USMLE – and then get to work. Saying “I told you not to make Step 1 pass/fail!” is a hollow victory. There is an opportunity here to engage our students in tasks that could actually lead them to be better physicians – but we have to seize it.
And if you supported #USMLEPassFail, now is not the time to dance on the three-digit score’s grave. We need to get to work, too – or this hard-won victory will go for naught.
5. The way forward… my opinion
Expect more from me on these topics in the future, but for now, let me put these three thoughts in your head.
WE NEED MEANINGFUL EVALUATIONS.
My 5th grader’s report card provides more useful information than any medical school transcript I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t get an “A” in math – I get to see a lengthy list of math skills and an assessment of where he’s at with all of them. Maybe he’s comfortable dividing fractions, but still developing proficiency with using variables to set up algebraic equations.
Letter grades are nice – but they don’t tell me what he knows and what he doesn’t. (I don’t get a histogram of other students’ performance and where he falls – because how other students performed is kind of irrelevant if my goal is to help him become better in math.)
The fact that elementary schools provide more information-rich evaluations than medical schools is shameful. In the past, we’ve justified this because of Step 1. Starting in 2022, that excuse will ring hollow.
Let’s be honest: there should never be a medical school evaluation in which a students is exceptional in every area. (If there is, it tells you more about the school than the student.)
Our goal should be to make medical school formative, not performative; to help learners maximize their potential without fearing failure; to provide and communicate honest feedback that leads to improvement and growth along the spectrum of medical education. (For their part, program directors need to focus less on relative accomplishment and more on potential to grow and thrive in that program/field.)
We don’t need another arms race. We do need more thoughtful evaluation. We should require students to engage in tasks that leave them – and their future patients – better off. And schools that refuse to participate in this process should be penalized by program directors and medical school applicants alike.
WE NEED HOLISTIC REVIEW.
I don’t think we need a one-size-fits-all metric to tell us who are the “best” applicants. Honestly, we don’t.
Certain talents and traits get you a lot farther in certain disciplines than others. Even within the same discipline, different programs have different needs and serve different missions. What makes a good doctor? It’s complicated. And trying to reduce that complexity down to a single three digit number is silly.
Holistic review is possible. It’s what we do at the residency program at which I’m an associate program director. But it’s labor intensive – and it requires human judgment. That last part makes some people uncomfortable, and I understand why. Holistic review has the potential to devolve into bias and cronyism. But that’s not a reason to not do it – it’s a reason to strive to do it well, to make decisions deliberately, and to build some checks and balances to make sure you stay aligned with your values.
WE ALSO NEED APPLICATION CAPS.
The only way to get away from screening metrics and treat every applicant as an individual is to limit the pile of applications that program directors receive.
THE EXISTENCE OF A SCORED STEP 1 ALLOWED US TO PRETEND THAT THIS WASN’T HAPPENING.
Look, I’ve preached this sermon before. But you’d better believe I’m gonna be carrying this particular gospel to the people again in the near future.
Afraid of application caps? Worried that they’ll disadvantage students from non-elite schools? Stay tuned for a data-driven expose of the misinformation surrounding caps coming soon.
Dr. Carmody is a pediatric nephrologist and medical educator at Eastern Virginia Medical School. This article originally appeared on The Sheriff of Sodium here.
The post #USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day appeared first on The Health Care Blog.
#USMLEPassFail: A Brave New Day published first on https://wittooth.tumblr.com/
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Gareth Bale news: Carlos Tevez shows why China move is a risk for Real Madrid star
Gareth Bale the possible switch to China has led to fears that he wastes his peak years in a Mickey Mouse competition. Carlos Tevez brought that to another level during his time there.
If Bale moves to one of Shanghai Shenhua, Beijing Guoan or Jiangsu Suning, settled with £ 20 million sign-up bonus and more than his current £ 350,000 a week in the process, he will become the biggest star ever in China plays.
And the former Manchester City striker would have some warnings for him. First – don't try to be pictured on a day out with your family at Disneyland if you are allegedly injured.
Gareth Bale is considering a money-moving movement to China prior to the new campaign
But he would well do the warnings from Carlos Tevez & # 39; s own difficult time there
Tevez later admitted that he wanted to leave from the moment he arrived arrived in China
Tevez did that when his party, Shanghai Shenhua, played Changchun Yatai and became a pariah.
It had already started badly for Tevez. He was harassed on arrival at Shanghai airport in January 2017 after completing a move that earned him £ 32 million over the course of a season.
Not that he enjoyed the acclaim: & When I landed in China, I realized that I wanted to go back to Boca (Juniors). I was on vacation for seven months & # 39 ;.
He signed for Shanghai Shenhua in January 2017, earned a £ 32m salary over the season
Those seven months ended with a return to boys' club Mouth, after a spell in which he scored only four goals over 16 appearances.
The Chinese Super League was equal to cash but £ 8m was an excessive goal.
Tevez arrived with an entourage of 20 people, excluding his family, and struggled to settle out of the field.
Gus Poyet was his manager and said: "The language is complicated – but with food there are people who suffer more and that happened with Tevez."
But the former Manchester City striker had a difficult time of on and off the field
& # 39; In the beginning he ate almost nothing. We had a barbecue … and we had to remove the Chinese food. & # 39;
It didn't get much better on the field. Shanghai was eliminated in the Asian Champions League after losing 2-0 to Brisbane Roar in February 2017. Although he was impressed by his league debut, a 4-0 win against Jiangsu Suning, he soon got injured.
Then came the trip to Disneyland. His team played and Tevez seemed to take the mickey. Meanwhile, Shanghai set aside a dubious series and won for the first time in 10 years over Changchun Yatai.
Fans started Tevez & # 39; Homesick Boy & # 39; to name. They wanted him to leave. Tevez was able to return to Argentina in August 2017 for treatment of an injury, but that only caused more problems.
Tevez was criticized after a photo of a day trip out in Disneyland with his team that played
Poyet was replaced by Wu Jingui and the new manager was not happy with the state in which Tevez returned. & # 39; I will not choose him now. He is not physically ready. He is not fit to play, "he said.
& # 39; He is too heavy … I also have to take responsibility for the team and the players.
& # 39; If you are unable to play your way, it makes no sense to choose you. I have coached many big stars and my players have never been praised for reputation. & # 39;
Shanghai Shenhua Chairman Wu Xiaohui then came out and publicly criticized Tevez: & due to a lack of winter training and competitive fitness, he did not meet our expectations. & # 39;
The Arg entinese striker doubted the quality of playing around him in the Chinese league
That led to Tevez questioning the Chinese game: & # 39; Chinese footballers are not naturally capable like South -American or European players … like players who learned football when they were children. They are not good. Even in 50 years they will still not be able to compete. & # 39;
Tevez was omitted from the two-legged Chinese FA Cup final and just a year after moving to China, Boca announced that he would return to La Bombonera
His efforts were praised by Diego Maradona: & he went to China, filled Santa's bag with dollars and cam back to Boca. Perfect. & # 39;
In China, they still regard Tevez as a failure. Not settling, poor performance on the field and his rapid exit all mean that he remains the biggest mistake Chinese football has made
Bale would do well to heed the warnings. At first glance, Chinese money may seem like a good deal, but Tevez has shown that it can turn sour in an instant.
Bale wants to leave Real Madrid and a move to China would allow him to escape from the club
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What do England, Leicester and France have in common? A real muddle
France and Leicester Tigers
Three of the big rugby institutions found themselves in a real mess due to their recruitment of a head coach.
The general theme is that people at the top are not qualified or responsible to make the most important decision: choosing the man with responsibility for the success or failure of their team.
[19459108] <img id = "i-4be0079508186c3a" src = "https://dailym.ai/2Uk0tSF 21 / 11978500-6896567-image-a-82_1554668693357.jpg "height =" 528 "width =" 634 "alt =" The process of replacing the English coach Eddie Jones has become unnecessarily messy
Let's start with England, who, who are you, who are you, who are you,
After the 2015 World Cup, Twickenham identified Eddie Jones after the wonderful victory on his part against Japan, and they successfully won him in the prices of the Stormers.
Since then it has been an extraordinary ride and England has every chance to become successful about four years later.
If I were Jones I & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39 ; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; & # 39; I'm going ballistic.
Rugby is currently focused in the very short term. All this talk about Warren Gatland with the job in England – what if Wales loses during the World Cup of Australia? Suddenly he is not a superstar coach, it is just as fickle as that.
<img id = "i-313d038aea8a8c94" src = "https://dailym.ai/2U2tfSM RFU_chief_executive_Nigel_Melville_wants_to_lead_the_search_for_-a-102_1554669122023.jpg "height =" 387 "width =" 634 "alt =" RFU chief Nigel Melville wants to lead the search for the successor of Jones as a coach "
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The RFU has no great track record in hiring or firing coaches. Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton, Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster were all installed without a really coordinated process.
Rob Andrew appointed Johnson, Ian Ritchie appointed.
Rob Andrew appointed Johnson, Ian Ritchie appointed Lancaster and Jones and it seems that Melville wants to make the decision about the next coach, despite the fact that he has zero qualifications to make this appointment.
Incoming Bill Sweeney may not arrive at the British Olympic Association until the World Championship – I should be fully involved when it starts. My advice to them is calm, think about what is happening in Japan, there is no rush.
There seems to be a total lack of responsibility between these guys. They must be responsible. If they do not take any responsibility, they should not be involved.
<img id = "i-b90becf9b77b6eb3" src = "https://dailym.ai/2YWBlQz image-a-98_1554668930930.jpg "height =" 546 "width =" 634 "alt =" Geordan Murphy became parachutant by Leicester but he did not have the experience of being No. 1 "class =" blkBorder img-share "
Geordan Murphy was parachuted in Leicester but he did not have the experience of being No. 1
Leicester has similar problems. Richard Cockerill, Aaron Mauger and Geordan Murphy
What are, just as with the RFU, those qualifications that should actually appoint a coach? I am a former Leicester player, former board member and a fan – I would like to know who makes these coaching decisions and why.
Tigers are in a hole and have brought in Mike Ford, who is an excellent coach, but it feels like they stick to straws. It's incredibly tough to ask him to turn everything around – as evidenced by their 52-20 defeat by Exeter. He is not the head coach.
That's Murphy, who invaded when the tigers fired Matt O & Connor after one game of the season, a big call. He has never had full responsibility for leading a team of this size.
The difference in skills between being an assistant and the headman is huge.
Parachute-jumping coaches expose them terribly. [Bewerken] See also Of course they will take the job if it is the chance of their life, but if it doesn't work out, the people who have it in this position will go free.
Leicester has one of the best back I've seen it on paper, but they might disappear, which could be a disaster for England.
<img id = "i-b632fed6987ca3d5" src = "https://dailym.ai/2U3J1gm image-m-100_1554668958231.jpg "height =" 592 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-b632fed6987ca3d5" src = "https://dailym.ai/2CXoYdR /07/21/11978788-6896567-image-m-100_1554668958231.jpg "height =" 592 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-b632fed6987ca3d5" src = "https: //i.dailymail. co.uk/1s/2019/04/07/21/11978788-6896567-image-m-100_1554668958231.jpg "height =" 592 "width =" 634 "alt =" There is a discussion about whether a foreign coach is French boss Jacques Brunel has to replace coach has to replace France boss Jacques Brunel
France is in a similar mess. The FFR have said that they have a referendum under all their clubs will ask if there is support for a foreign coach to replace the current Jacques Brunel.
I have last weekend saw the Racing 92 against the Champions Cup quarterfinals and saw two sets of great coaches put together two exceptional sides that contributed to a great spectacle
Racing has a coaching duo of Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit and Toulouse has Ugo Mola. The teams put down a display that I have not seen against an English club for a long time. It was a class above Premiership.
All those coaches are also backs, of which I have always thought I would make the best executives. Travers, Labit and Mola have good records and have earned the right to coach those teams.
France has no shortage of top coaches – they don't necessarily have to top international big-hitters, only someone who understands the teams differ between the club and test games.
The only nation that does this well is New Zealand. It's like a company, and former players, such as Sean Fitzpatrick, consider themselves the passionate shareholders in the All Blacks. They will not allow a bad decision to be made.
It is not a whim of a man, it is a thorough process. This is how top companies handle recruitment. If you were a shareholder in England, Leicester or France, you would not accept the decision-making process. Still in rugby there are too many examples of the game that lives in the amateur age.
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Lionel Messi was back but Argentina are still atrocious… can they get better soon?
Injury or no injury, it always seemed unlikely that Tangier would take in Lionel Messi on Tuesday evening.
After an absence that stretched from the World Cup until last week, Messi returned for Argentina against Venezuela and managed to injure his pelvic bone. But stories prior to that game in Madrid had already suggested the Barcelona man would not be playing against Morocco.
Morocco's FA are now planning to query his absence because they had been promised a star- studded side as part of their preparations for the Africa Cup of Nations. Without Messi, Argentina have nothing that shines.
Lionel Messi featured as Argentina lost 3-1 to Venezuela on Friday evening last week
It was his first appearance for the national team since they exited the World Cup in summer
This is the reality confronting a country of footballing colossi. They are utterly reliant on Messi, unable to assemble anything even close to a dangerous side without him, and yet his presence does not seem seem to help.
That much was clear when they lost 3-1 to Venezuela. They were battered. Little of that is with Messi but, in a sense, everything is with him.
Take a look at the team and the problems are clear. Their defense of Juan Foyth, Gabriel Mercado and Lisandro Martinez are a much lower class than Messi. The wing-backs, Gonzalo Montiel and Nicolas Tagliafico are not exactly world beaters. Midfield is a problem area still.
The flaws in defense remain for Argentina, despite Messi's decision to return to the side
The team has still not got the players around Messi to bring the best out of the forward
As Diego Maradona ranted after the game: 'I prefer not to watch horror films but I d on the know how the inept bunch who are in charge of Argentina thought they were going to beat Venezuela. "
He added:" It hurts me because I feel Argentinean to the core, but with the generation of players like [Oscar] Ruggeri, [Gabriel] Batistuta, [Claudio] Caniggia … the current team don't deserve to wear the shirt and those players had it tattooed on them. "
Argentina seemingly choose to cast aside some of the talents they do have – Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi jump to mind – in favor of lesser names.
Lautaro Martinez scored and worked well with Messi up front. Yet he would not be in the team at his club Inter Milan if Icardi was not currently in a contract battle with them. Icardi's playing absence has been reflected by its nation, without the same logic behind it.
Mauro Icardi is absent from the national team amid his contract dispute with Inter Milan
When it comes to Dybala and Icardi, there is always a sense that Messi does not like playing with them, so they miss out.
This has been a long-term problem. Getting the ball to Messi and hoping for the best is not the route to international success. It has been tried, tried and tried again.
Beyond that, they have not really sought to develop a plan B about his entire career.
As Barcelona fans will tell you, he needs support . He may be one of the greatest players of all time, if not the greatest, but he has never had a unit around him for his country to bring that out of him.
There is always a sense that Argentina pick players that Messi most wants to play with
The World Cup failure was an opportunity for a real reset. It should have been ground zero. It has not happened.
The problem is that Argentina are in a holding position.
Jorge Sampaoli failed as manager but should have been the one to lift them to new heights. He is a disciple of Marcelo Bielsa and believes in the Leeds manager's philosophy of the collective.
Still doing anything that would have damaged Messi's individual freedom would not have been allowed in the eyes of the country at large, so he was hamstrung.
Lionel Scaloni has been left in the caretaker charge of Argentina since the World Cup
Sampaoli's expensive exit after the failure in Russia is still being dealt with. His pay-off has left the FA's finances in a difficult position – and they were not great beforehand.
That means Lionel Scaloni has been in a caretaker charge since the World Cup. There seems to be little appetite to announce a replacement for Sampaoli before the Copa America, which means his interim spell could last for over a year.
Scaloni is not in a position of strength. He has publicly spoken about Messi and Dybala playing together – 'They are both compatible but we have to work it out in a while, I am sure we can make it within some time' – yet does not seem able to mesh it together.
He also seems to have an ongoing feud with Sergio Aguero, one of the most in-form strikers in the world. Aguero and Scaloni reportedly fell out during the World Cup.
Paulo Dybala sits on the bench for Argentina – they need to mesh him with Messi better
Sergio Aguero was not even called up amid suggestions he is in a feud with manager Scaloni
The striker's father Leonel del Castillo said: 'It hurts me that Aguero is not in the national squad team. If there is any logic, he has to be at the Copa America. ”
So, amid issues with Aguero, Icardi's absence, Dybala being out of the starting XI, Messi still not playing at his best for the nation , problems in defense and midfield – Scaloni has very little to go ahead of this summer's tournament in Brazil.
And, if you want a symbol of the scope of their issues, with Messi out, Gabriel Mercado will be the most experienced player in Morocco. He has just 24 caps to his name.
The shambles continues. They do not seem to have a Batistuta or a Cannigia to go with their Maradona.
Yet you could argue they do. Really, at this point, Argentina would just settle for everyone being asked to show up. Morocco would be happy with the same.
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Gareth Southgate’s England side must evolve… just ask Terry Venables
Jordan Pickford is not the current keeper in the country. Kieran Trippier is not the best right back, Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier are no longer the smartest option to hold midfield.
It seems strange that a team has stepped out of England capable of reaching the semifinals of the World Cup. Gareth Southgate & # 39; s smart option.
However, if Terry Venables' influence on him is as strong as it often seems, that will not happen. The mantra of Venables was that it would be difficult to get out of the English squadron to get in, and Southgate is just as determined to forge a bond with its players.
Venables made it clear that he would not throw individuals overboard because of a bad run of club form, or the odd par performance.
Like Southgate, he could have made the tough calls – he effectively ended Peter Beardsley & # 39; s international career for the 1996 European Championship, just as Southgate did for Joe Hart for the 2018 World Cup, but Venables reminded those who had not allowed
One image Southgate feels the same about Pickford, Trippier, Henderson and animal.
But the start XI? It would be a great surprise not to see their names when the team is announced on Wednesday for games against the Czech Republic and Montenegro. That is another matter. No manager gives guarantees about the team; and Southgate has many more options than it did in the summer.
The most obvious is Declan Rice.
Rice has the option to head straight in the direction and is accepted that he will soon be forced into the English squad after he has rejected the Republic of Ireland. He is the player England has been looking for, because it was short-sighted that Rio Ferdinand was nothing more than a central defender. Rice is a middle half that can play in midfield; to midfielder who can play half.
makes him a potential game changer , giving England more than Henderson & # 39; s serious intensity. Rice can be the long-term replacement for Fernandinho in Manchester City or Nemanja Matic in Manchester United.
His reading of the game is excellent for a 20-year-old, passing his range of good and ambitious, he even begins to achieve goals. Rice's breakthrough season invalidates the idea that Henderson & # 39; s only replacement is that elusive English Andrea Pirlo.
Rice, with creative players around him, can guard the defense of England, as N&G 39 does for France. I can take a step back to make three if necessary. And the way he quickly adapted to the first team soccer with West Ham – he won this season only because he was injured – suggests he is a fast learner. He could also be for England.
Trippier & # 39; s decline is enigmatic. He had been beautiful
He had been magnificent, he had been great, he had been fantastic, he had been great.
Trippier quickly established himself as England's best free-kick entrepreneur and scored the opener for Tottenham since Walker & # 39; s move to Manchester City, his crosses, the first time hit, the most effective wide-ranging games since top by David Beckham. in the semi-final of the World Cup. Since then I have not been consistent at best.
Yet it is perhaps not Walker who poses the greatest threat to his place, or even the excellent Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He is old school – in that he is strongly defensive as he progresses. A converted winger, it fits the profile of the modern full-back, but with a difference. Wan-Bissaka has a tendency towards physical challenge that is unlike the majority of contemporaries
Statistically, he is the leading tackler in Europe. In a competition in which 62 percent of the tackles contain the errors, that is a great record for a player who only made his debut on 25 February 2018. This season, he has grown up, eliminated the sliding challenges and played with intelligence
No opponent has passed him by more than once in a match, and while England does not need a full defense in every match, with the Nations League finals coming with fixtures with the Netherlands, and possibly Portugal, a defense by Wan-Bissaka & # 39; s maturity than necessary? If so, is there a better possibility than introducing him to international football?
But perhaps Southgate & # 39; s greatest dilemma is the position that was previously considered safe. If Pickford & # 39; s performance in goal for Everton this season were unconvincing, the 90 minutes against Newcastle on Saturday were downright frightening.
The quality manager who respects the most in a goalkeeper is calm. Pickford played as if he had consumed a pre-match meal of blue Smarties, washed down with six cans of Red Bull.
He should have been broadcast for a rugby tackle on Salomon Rondon, and seemed to be engaged in joking and gurning competition with the crowd.
As a former Sunderland player, he would always be a target , his goalkeeper focused. Pickford became a vaudeville act.
Southgate's problem is that while Rice and Wan-Bissaka are in excellent shape, where are the challengers for Pickford's role? Tom Heaton was the best of Burnley this season, although he had a bad game against Liverpool on Sunday, while Jack Butland was in the wrong division and struggled with Stoke.
Promoting Heaton could at least focus on Pickford, or Southgate could decide that there is no excellent alternative this time. Pickford has made more mistakes that lead to goals – four – than any other Premier League player this season, however, and sticking to him remains a risk.
For all the stories of Venables about belief in a small group, I was not completely averse to change.
& # 39; Southgate came up and played very well & # 39 ;, Venables wrote in his book, The Making of the Team . & # 39; He got stuck and went straight into it. I really liked his attitude. He shows many promises and has a chance to win the selection for the final. "
He was right. Indeed, Southgate ended by starting every race. Can you make similar notes about Rice and Wan-Bissaka after this international break? Venables was a loyal man, but his England evolved, and For the benefit of the Southgate team, too.
Comic Strip's title? Probably not!
This is strange about the investigation in Manchester City: nobody has ever about removing their titles, fines, prohibitions, deportations – but never a sanction that would match the alleged seriousness of the offense.
If Manchester City cheats, they have won trophies by cheating If they have blatantly ignored the Financial Fair Play rules, then the obvious gain is their recent success.
It is almost as if the rulers knew that FFP regulations were only the product of an establish ment, protectionist, cartel and that they could enforce too much. provides a legal challenge that would tear up the entire building.
Why else would they tolerate this?
If Manchester City cheats, they have won trophies by cheating
It is almost as if the footballers are rulers who give priority to protecting the brand The Premier League does not want the brilliant title van City with his shattering of so many records is scratched, and instead the Manchester United by Jose Mourinho, 19 points and 39 goals drift, with an asterisk to indicate that second place later became first.
Also UEFA. If City has submitted misleading accounts – a statement that the club denies – why is the potential punishment next year a ban and not an outdated disqualification in this campaign?
Indeed, it is almost as if they tacitly acknowledge FFP is an obvious sham, which is precisely in place manipulated clubs that would benefit most from its presence.
Scratch the surface and it looks like they all know it. Perhaps that is what is meant by transparency.
Who can afford to bear the costs of Carroll?
Andy Carroll & # 39; s failure to even make the West Ham team at Cardiff is seen as a sign that his time is over. Is it a miracle?
Apart from the frequent injuries, this is a striker who has scored in two league games since April 1, 2017 and whose contract guarantees an improvement of his £ 90,000 per week wage if he signs again. Which club could pay that bang-to-buck ratio?
Assuming good behavior, the football season is not over as Paul Mitchell, the cowardly crook Jack Grealish from behind attacked.
His 14-week sentence is sufficiently daunting, and the melancholic assessment of magistrates did nothing to address the extraordinary circumstances of this attack.
Mitchell was treated like a hero by many Birmingham fans when he was deported on Sunday, and he should be free in early May to enjoy this celebrity status.
It is clear that football will hardly get any support from the law in addressing the growing threat to players, and must therefore act independently. Lifelong prohibitions for individuals do not go far enough; ends will also be paid.
At Arsenal on Sunday, a fan entered the field and confronted Chris Smalling of Manchester United after the second goal was scored. Imagine that instead of Arsenal winning 2-0, the result was turned back 3-0 to Manchester United.
Would he be his own hero; or if the land was then closed for the visit of Newcastle and Crystal Palace in April; or points deducted so that Arsenal fell out of the Champions League places? Why punish the majority for the actions of one?
Because nothing else seems to work; Sir Alex Ferguson was present at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but he was powerless as Manchester United.
fell back to their first league defeat since December 16.
There is a reason for this: Ferguson does not manage Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does.
In France, Solskjaer changed his strategy three times in the game last week, including a masterly switch to two right backs – one that works conventionally, the other more a wing – back – that Paris Saint-Germain after the break closed.
Ferguson was not to blame for this switch, no more than any other impressive call from Solskjaer.
Ferguson & # 39; s inspiration recalls the time when Sergio Garcia won the Masters, but the victory was somehow attributed to the spirit of Seve Ballesteros. Even Garcia became frustrated with mythologizing after a while.
Solskjaer would be a fool not to seek Ferguson's advice, but it is even more irrational to think that the young coach is only dangling his strings. ]
Some fans may dream that sugar daddy buys their club and takes it to the top, in Blackpool all they wanted was an owner who was not called Oyston. Now they have that.
Terry McPhillips, the manager, did a great job of avoiding calamities until the happy day arrived. Good luck to everyone.
The Derby struggle to maintain their play-off place, we'll see if Frank Lampard was right to trust owner Mel Morris with his first job in management. If there is any consolation, he certainly didn't work for West Brom.
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A little Mullet Wrapper for today – President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare
See, even in their headline (faltering House Republican plan), they push their agenda, phraseology and FAKE NEWS is all they know. But that is Mr. HOHMANN for ya, a FAKE NEWS Typist and operative for the democrat party.
Mullet Wrapper @ Hoax And Change
FAKE NEWS uncovered at HoakAndChange.com
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Trump will use bully pulpit to counter conservative revolt over Obamacare replacement
Trump: ‘I’m proud to support the replacement plan’
BY JAMES HOHMANN with Breanne Deppisch
THE BIG IDEA:
After appearing to project some ambivalence earlier in the day, President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare. He told the group of about 20 lawmakers who will be charged with whipping up support for the legislation that he wants the Paul Ryan bill to be approved largely intact. He said he plans to become personally involved in persuading wavering lawmakers. And he warned that Republicans will suffer badly in the midterms if they fail to deliver on their campaign promises to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. One member who was in the private meeting told CNN that he even spoke of an electoral “bloodbath.”
Offering a taste of what’s to come, POTUS took to Twitter a few hours later to nudge Rand Paul, a 2016 rival for the GOP nomination who is now a potentially pivotal vote in the Senate:
The Kentucky senator described the draft language, which will be marked up in committee hearings today, as “Obamacare Lite” and pronounced it “dead on arrival.”
The president is also trying to use carrots, not just sticks, stepping up outreach to other 2016 foes. Tonight he’s having dinner with Ted Cruz. Yesterday he lunched with Lindsey Graham. The South Carolina senator, as a gesture of goodwill, gave the president his new cell phone number. This is notable because, during a 2015 rally, Trump read Graham’s old number aloud to a crowd and asked people to call him.
Trump has negotiated big deals, but he’s never done anything quite like this. There will be a steep learning curve. “Following late-afternoon votes Tuesday, several Republican senators privately groused that they felt rushed by their GOP colleagues in the House and by Trump, who they said does not fully grasp the Senate’s slower pace or its concerns,” Mike DeBonis, Robert Costa and David Weigel report. “The senators also expressed skepticism that key White House officials with deep ties to Congress’s conservative wing would eventually be able to lock up the votes for the current plan. Instead, they said there is confusion over who is managing the process and which administration figures, if any, have power to sway Trump on the issue.”
Just how much political capital Trump is willing to spend is an open question that could determine the fate of the 2010 law. Will he keep his tweets gentle like the one aimed at Paul last night or will they take on a harder, more personal edge? You could imagine him lashing out at leaders of Freedom Caucus on a Saturday morning, for instance, blaming them for the failure of his agenda. Perhaps the fear of drawing his ire – a credible threat based on his track record – will get some members off of the fence. There are other ways he could use his power: Would he have rallies in the states or districts of wavering lawmakers? Will his new outside group run ads promoting the bill or criticizing those who oppose him?
There’s an emerging sense among some in Trump World that repeal and replace will not happen without muscular leadership from the president, but there’s also a growing recognition of the political risks that come with wading in deeply. Four are top of mind:
Donald Trump enters a meeting with the House Deputy Whip team in the East Room at the White House yesterday. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
1. RUNNING AFOUL OF CONSERVATIVES IN THE GOP CIVIL WAR:
The battle lines are drawn. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Wall Street Journal editorial board support the Ryan plan. The Koch network (led by Americans for Prosperity), the Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action and Breitbart vocally opposed it. People on the right have dubbed the plan “Obamacare Lite” or “RyanCare.”
Many of these groups opposing the draft bill have never viewed Trump as an authentic movement conservative. If they see him as joining forces with the establishment to ram through something that is tantamount to a new government entitlement, it will only bolster their skepticism. It’s not out of the question that Trump will have a primary challenger from his right to contend with in three years, and this could be a data point.
2. BACKLASH FROM SENIORS:
Seniors constitute Trump’s core base of support. Exit polls showed that the septuagenarian really ran up the score with older people vis-à-vis Mitt Romney, and this might have made the difference in several states.
The draft legislation Trump embraces would undo a rule from the ACA that allows insurers to charge their oldest customers no more than three times what they charge their youngest and healthiest ones. Insurers could now charge five times as much.
AARP has already begun mobilizing its members on this point. David Certner, the senior lobby’s legislative counsel, said the group is particularly concerned about the effect on Americans ages 50 to 64 if that age-charge differential is to increase. Low-income Americans in that older group would “get hammered,” he said, per Amy Goldstein and Juliet Eilperin.
Expect to see hundreds of anecdotes like this one over the coming months: “Martha Brawley of Monroe, N.C., said she voted for President Trump in the hope he could make insurance more affordable. But on Tuesday, Ms. Brawley, 55, was feeling increasingly nervous based on what she had heard about the new plan from television news reports,” the New York Times reports. “She pays about $260 per month for a Blue Cross plan and receives a subsidy of $724 per month to cover the rest of her premium. Under the House plan, she would receive $3,500 a year in tax credits — $5,188 less than she gets under the Affordable Care Act. ‘I’m scared, I’ll tell you that right now, to think about not having insurance at my age,’ said Ms. Brawley, who underwent a liver biopsy on Monday after her doctor found that she has an autoimmune liver disease. ‘If I didn’t have insurance, these doctors wouldn’t see me.’”
3. THE 2020 FACTOR:
Timing is everything in politics. If the disastrous rollout of healthcare.gov happened in Oct. 2012, instead of Oct. 2013, Obama very well might have lost reelection. Recognizing the risks of implementation, they postponed a lot of deadlines until after elections.
The most striking thing about studying the draft House bills is how much stuff comes due in 2020, when Trump has already announced he will be running for reelection and Republicans will be fighting to preserve their narrow majority in the Senate.
“The changes to the Medicaid expansion and the subsidy system would take hold at the beginning of 2020,” Greg Sargent observes. “Democratic candidates will be able to blast Republicans who voted for the GOP replacement, on the grounds that it is resulting in their states’ residents getting tossed off of coverage, while vowing to replace the spending. Some GOP senators up for reelection in 2020 in swing states also happen to represent states that already opted into the Medicaid expansion. That includes Joni Ernst in Iowa and Cory Gardner in Colorado. There’s also Thom Tillis in North Carolina (which didn’t expand Medicaid but could lose a lot in subsidies). ‘The Republican health-care plan as it stands today would certainly endanger some Republican incumbents up in 2020,’ said Jennifer Duffy, who tracks Senate races at the Cook Political Report. Some of these senators got elected by campaigning against the ACA’s rollout problems amid the shriveled midterm electorate of 2014 and will now face reelection in a presidential year, as repeal’s impact takes hold.”
4. HE FULLY OWNS FAILURE:
The more aggressively he sells the bill, the more he will be identified with its collapse if things don’t work out.
The margin for error is small: They can afford to lose 21 Republicans in the House and just two in the Senate. The House Freedom Caucus has about 30 members. Several of them held a press conference outside the Capitol to say they’d never vote for the measure as it stands now. They ideally want straight repeal with nothing else, which is just never going to happen. In addition to Paul and Cruz, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) opposed the House draft yesterday. If the three of them voted no, the measure would fail.
But, but, but: Every concession that’s made to win over the Freedom Caucus and that trio in the Senate makes it harder to lock down the votes of someone like Susan Collins or Rob Portman. The Ohio senator who was one of four Republicans to declare this week that he’ll oppose any plan that hurts lower-income folks who benefited from expanding Medicaid under the law. The others are Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska).
Mitch McConnell said yesterday that the Senate will pass a repeal bill before Easter recess: “Senior GOP sources said the leadership team will employ an ‘arm-breaking’ whip strategy to get the required 50 votes,” Politico’s Burgess Everett reports.
This “arm-breaking” approach could backfire, however. One Republican senator said on background last night that several senators are asking their leadership to “take it easy” in terms of the timeline, allowing space to debate and analyze the proposal with a “clear understanding of the costs involved,” per DeBonis, Costa and Weigel’s story on the state of play. “If that takes months or a year, so be it,” the senator said. A second GOP senator said the party was making a “mistake” in its rollout by taking “too much ownership” of health care after years in which Democrats were identified with Obamacare.
Mike Pence speaks to reporters after joining Senate Republicans for their weekly policy lunch yesterday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
KEY POINT: MIKE PENCE WILL NEED TO BE THE CLOSER.
The vice president will be crucial to winning over recalcitrant House Republicans he once served with. He has credibility because he voted against Medicare Part D when the Bush White House was heavily pressuring Republicans to fall in line.
Pence, an Indiana talk radio host before getting elected to Congress, has several interviews scheduled this afternoon to sell what’s been branded as The American Health Care Act. He’ll talk to Sean Hannity for his radio show and then sit-down with local TV affiliates from Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida.
But the VP is best at the inside game, especially compared to Trump, which is why the most important thing on Pence’s calendar today is a 7 p.m. “legislative affairs dinner” at the Naval Observatory to schmooze lawmakers. Dave Weigel relays a telling anecdote from the Capitol yesterday: “The House Freedom Caucus was ready for the spotlight. Dozens of reporters and cameramen had set up at the House Triangle. Some cable networks were taking their news conference live. But a few reporters were being held inside the Capitol by security guards because Pence was wrapping a visit to the Hill, talking to Freedom Caucus members. When the vice president left, some of the conservative rebellion’s leaders were taking a more measured — if still skeptical – stance.”
As Trump embraced the specific bill, his top aides clarified that he is very open to changes and amendments to make it better. In his conversations with members yesterday, Pence stressed that the Ryan plan is “the framework for reform.” OMB directorMick Mulvaney, a member of the Freedom Caucus until just a few weeks ago, carried a similar message when he went to the Hill to reassure the right flank of the conference that the president is open to amendments. “This is a work in progress and continues to be so,” HHS secretary Tom Price said on Fox News last night. “Let me make clear to people that this single bill is not the entire plan.”
Ryan speaks on American Health Care Act
FIVE MORE OBAMACARE STORIES FROM OUR TEAM:
— “Obamacare repeal guts crucial public health funds,” by Lena H. Sun: “The Republican health-care bill would eliminate funds for fundamental public health programs, including for the prevention of bioterrorism and disease outbreaks, as well as money to provide immunizations and heart-disease screenings. As part of the ACA, the Prevention and Public Health Fund provides almost $1 billion annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2010, the fund has been an increasingly important source of money for core CDC programs, today accounting for about 12 percent of the CDC’s total budget. The GOP bill would eliminate the Prevention and Public Health Fund starting in October of next year. No clear replacement has been proposed. Cuts in those funds, combined with potential federal budget cuts at the CDC and other health agencies, ‘could amount to a catastrophic year for public health funding,’ according to a statement from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.”
— “Here are five ways the GOP proposal would change the tax system,” via WaPo budget reporter Kelsey Snell: 1. This is a major tax cut for the rich. 2. Lower-income workers are going to feel the biggest squeeze. 3. There may be more tax changes to come. 4. All of these tax changes could create a big deficit headache. 5. Democrats and even some conservatives are skeptical the math will work out in Republicans’ favor.
— “Income separates the winners and losers in Republicans’ health-care plans,” by Amy Goldstein and Juliet Eilperin: “An analysis by S&P Global predicts the legislation would lead to a loss of coverage for 2 million to 4 million of the roughly 16 million Americans who bought their own health plans through the ACA’s marketplaces or separately. More adults 35 and younger would gain coverage, while fewer adults 45 and older would be insured, according to the analysis. Specifically, the current subsidies take into account the cost of insurance in a given area, and they are linked to premiums for the next-to-lowest ‘silver’ health plan — the second rung among four ACA tiers that supply different levels of coverage. Under House Republicans’ plans, those tiers would disappear and the tax credits would no longer vary depending on geography. As a result, the largest credits, $4,000 for people 60 and older, would cover more than half the typical insurance premiums in New Mexico, for example, but less than a third of the cost in Wyoming.”
— Bigger picture –> “The debate over the Affordable Care Act is really a debate over wealth redistribution,” by Karen Tumulty: “What makes the latest health-care battle different from past ones is that it is not about building a new government program. This time, the question is whether to abolish one … That means it is harder to gloss over a bedrock philosophical and ideological question that has always been in the background of any argument about the government’s role in health care: What is the minimum that society should provide for its poorest, most vulnerable citizens, and how much should be taken from the rich and powerful to do it? ‘Even though it is a technical discussion, it’s a really big value discussion,’ said Robert Blendon, a professor of health policy and political analysis at Harvard University…
“There were many ways that Obamacare redistributed the burden of medical costs — from the sick to the healthy, with provisions such as the one denying insurers the ability to refuse coverage to people with preexisting conditions; from the old to the young, with a mandate that everyone have coverage or pay a penalty; from the rich to the poor, with an array of new taxes.”
How do Americans say they feel about Trump and Congress?
— “The most popular (and unpopular) parts of House Republicans’ health-care plan,” by WaPo polling director Scott Clement: “The Republicans’ plan keeps several of the law’s most popular provisions, but also scales back or repeals several others that enjoy majority support. As widely expected, the law also repeals the individual mandate to buy insurance (or pay a fine), the least popular part of the ACA.”
Popular parts the GOP plan keeps: “The House Republicans’ replacement plan preserves four parts of the ACA that at least 60 percent of adults favored keeping in a January Associated Press-NORC poll. The survey found 77 percent supported the ACA’s requirement that private insurance companies offer preventive health services at no out-of-pocket cost, while 60 percent supported requiring plans to cover the full cost of birth control. The plan also includes the signature ACA rule prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more to people with preexisting medical conditions, which was supported by 69 percent. More than 70 percent supported allowing adult children up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ health plans, which the GOP plan keeps.”
Popular parts the GOP plan changes: “A McClatchy-Marist poll last month found that 72 percent of adults said lawmakers should keep financial help for lower-income people; in November, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 80 percent favorably viewed the law’s subsidies for those with lower and middle incomes. Two-thirds of Americans (66 percent) in the AP-NORC poll supported expanding Medicaid to more low-income, uninsured adults … The bill would also cap the amount of federal Medicaid funding a state receives per person. … While this issue is fairly complex, a February Kaiser Family Foundation poll found roughly 32 percent of the public supported such a change, while 63 percent preferred maintaining federally guaranteed benefits.”
Welcome to the Daily 202, PowerPost’s morning newsletter.
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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING:
Teachers take part in a “A Day Without A Woman” demonstration outside the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia this morning. Organizers of January’s Women’s March are calling on women to stay home from work and not spend money in stores or online to show their impact on American society. (Matt Rourke/AP)
— Today is International Women’s Day and “A Day Without A Woman,” in which many plan to stay home as a form of protest. Several local schools are closed today, including in Alexandria and Prince George’s County. The Maryland district announced the closure last night after 1,700 teachers and 30 percent of the transportation staff asked for the day off. With those numbers, the system said, it could not transport students and provide proper learning environments. (Marty Weil)
Hawaii to sue Trump administration over second travel ban
— The state of Hawaii will ask a federal judge to block Trump’s revised executive order barring issuance of new visas to citizens of six Muslim-majority countries. The suit, which lawyers plan to file today, will be the first formal legal challenge to the second ban. (Matt Zapotosky)
— Nigeria advised its citizens against non-essential travel to the United States, warning that people have had their visas canceled and been denied entry without explanation. The Nigerians claim an American customs official told one guy that he didn’t “look like” a software engineer and demanded he prove expertise in his field. (CNN)
— Trump nominated Noel Francisco to be U.S. solicitor general. He comes from Jones Day and has been working on the re-launch of the travel ban. He once clerked for Antonin Scalia and has argued several times before the high court in private practice. Last year, he successfully represented former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell during his appeal to SCOTUS.
In Sept. 2005, then-FEMA Chief Michael Brown looked on as Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff defended the Bush administration’s botched response to Hurricane Katrina. Bush told Brown he was doing a heck of a job in what became one of the low points of his presidency. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?
— The Trump administration, searching for money to build a border wall and fund a deportation force, is weighing significant cuts to the Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA and other federal agencies focused on national security threats. Dan Lamothe, Ashley Halsey III and Lisa Rein report: “The Coast Guard’s $9.1 billion budget in 2017 would be cut 14 percent to about $7.8 billion (under a working draft proposal), while the TSA and FEMA budgets would be reduced about 11 percent each to $4.5 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively. The plan puts the administration in the unusual position of trading spending on security programs for other security priorities at the southern border, raising questions among Republican lawmakers and homeland-security experts. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), who supported Trump’s presidential bid and oversees the House Transportation subcommittee on the Coast Guard and maritime transportation, questioned whether OMB officials are on the same page as the White House, citing the sea service’s roles in stopping illegal immigration and the flow of drugs into the country.”
GET SMART FAST:
American adults are having less sex than they did a quarter century ago, with married people showing the most dramatic decline of all. A new study shows a drop across gender, race, region, education level and work status. Possible factors including increased access to entertainment and social media, a decline in happiness among people age 30 and over, higher incidence of depression, and use of antidepressants. (Tara Bahrampour)
Turkey ordered the Oregon-based Mercy Corps to immediately shut down operations in Ankara, shuttering a U.S. aid group that the State Department says has been providing “critical” help to refugees. Reasons were not immediately made clear. (Karen DeYoung and Dan Lamothe)
A 34-year-old activist pleaded guilty to conspiring to disrupt an inaugural event for Trump supporters known as the “DeploraBall” with an acid attack inside the National Press Club. In an agreement with prosecutors, his criminal record will be expunged if he performs 48 hours of community service. (Peter Hermann)
The owners of an office building in Jacksonville have declined to renew a lease for Marco Rubio – effectively booting the Florida senator from his second state office in a week due to disruptive protests. Building owners in Tampa cited the same factor. (Kristine Phillips)
All 100 U.S. senators penned a letter urging Trump to “swiftly” denounce a recent spike in anti-Semitic violence, following a new wave of bomb threats that were made against Jewish schools and community centers. (Mark Berman)
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti cruised to reelection last night in one of the biggest landslides in the city’s history. (LA Times)
About one in four American adults suffers from arthritis, according to a new CDC study, much higher than originally thought. Of the 54 million people who reported suffering from arthritis, some 60 percent are working age. (Jia Naqvi)
Israel’s parliament imposed an “entry ban” on foreign boycott activists on Monday, approving a law that denies entry visas to foreign nationals who publicly back or call for any kind of boycott against Israel or its West Bank settlements. It’s a measure aimed at battling the “BDS” movement, which has found growing support in Europe and the U.S. in recent years. (Ruth Eglash)
Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is in critical condition after undergoing two brain surgeries. A tumor was originally detected in 2011. (AP)
Nike will release a specifically-designed performance hijab, seeking to allow women to compete in sports of their choice while remaining covered. The headgear was inspired by a number of world-class Muslim athletes who have recently competed in hijabs on the global stage, including at the London and Rio Olympic games. (Cindy Boren)
Officials at a New Orleans zoo are investigating a freak accident after a large female gorilla lobbed a block of wood at a pregnant woman, hitting her in the head and causing her to fall down on her stomach. (WWL-TV)
A French zoo is mourning the loss of its four-year-old rhino Vince, after he was killed by a group of poachers who broke into his exhibit. His death has stunned wildlife experts, who say it underscores the lengths poacherswill go to meet insatiable demand for rhino horns. (Peter Holley)
WikiLeaks says it has the CIA’s hacking secrets. Here’s what you need to know.
WIKILEAKS STRIKES AGAIN:
— A vast portion of the CIA’s computer hacking arsenal appears to have been exposed by WikiLeaks, which posted thousands of files revealing highly-classified CIA hacking tools used to convert cellphones, televisions and other ordinary devices into implements of espionage. Greg Miller and Ellen Nakashima report: “The trove appeared to lay bare the design and capabilities of some of the U.S. intelligence community’s most closely guarded cyber weapons, a breach that will likely cause immediate damage to the CIA’s efforts to gather intelligence overseas and place new strain on the U.S. government’s relationship with Silicon Valley giants. … [Officials said] the breach could undermine the CIA’s ability to carry out key parts of its mission, from targeting the Islamic State and other terrorist networks to penetrating the computer defenses of sophisticated cyber adversaries.”
“It looks like really the backbone of their network exploitation kit,” said one former hacker who worked for the NSA.
“Any exposure of these tools is going to cause grave if not irreparable damage to the ability of our intelligence agencies to conduct our mission,” a former senior U.S. intelligence official said.
— There is no good rationale for this disclosure: WikiLeaks claimed to have gotten the files from a former CIA contractor and touted the trove as comparable in scale and significance to the NSA leaks exposed by Edward Snowden. “But while the Snowden files revealed massive surveillance programs that gathered data on millions of Americans, the CIA documents posted so far by WikiLeaks appear mainly to unmask hacking methods that many experts already assumed the agency had developed,” Greg and Ellen note.
— Meanwhile, Trump’s approach to WikiLeaks has taken a full 180 now that he is the one occupying the White House. Only a few months ago, he praised the organization during his rallies and once lauded it as a “treasure trove.” Jenna Johnson and Ashley Parker report: “Back then, Trump loved anything that made his rival Hillary Clinton look bad — even if the information had been hacked, stolen or leaked. But now that he is in the White House, Trump is having to confront the threat of hacking, along with leaks from within his own administration — and, suddenly, he is not a fan. Trump and his aides have angrily railed against leakers, threatening to find and prosecute them and urging congressional allies to investigate, while being uncharacteristically quiet when it comes to WikiLeaks. … The breach could pose a serious challenge for Trump, who has been feuding with the intelligence community over probes into alleged ties between his campaign and Russia.”
Former Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said he hopes Trump finally realizes that the hacking in the election is “an anti-American problem,” rather than a partisan one: “The problem at its core is that a country that our own Joint Chiefs of Staff said was our greatest enemy and greatest threat to our security stole information from one of our national political parties and used it against one of the candidates,” he said, referring to Russia. “Do I believe that this is going to come back to haunt the Republicans? Absolutely, I do.”
Sean Spicer declined to comment on the latest WikiLeaks dump during his press briefing, saying that the issue “has not been fully evaluated.”
John McCain said that, if the group “can hack the CIA, they can hack anybody,” and urged the White House to place more focus on the issue: “I’d like to see a greater emphasis, to tell you the truth.”
— The mole hunt has begun. Devlin Barrett reports: “In the wake of revelations from Army private Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden, officials sought to tighten security procedures, and federal agents came under greater pressure to find and prevent secrets from spilling out of the government. But cracks keep appearing in the system. Now, U.S. intelligence agencies are [again] rushing … to determine whether they again have suffered an embarrassing compromise at the hands of one of their own. … Once investigators verify the accuracy of the WikiLeaks documents, a key question to answer is who had access to the information, according to veterans of past leak probes.”
Vladimir Putin marks International Women’s Day at the Kremlin in Moscow a few hours ago. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
THERE’S A BEAR IN THE WOODS:
— The first open hearing on Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election has been set for March 20. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said he has invited FBI Director James Comey and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, as well as former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former acting Attorney General Sally Yates to testify. (CNN)
— Trump’s then-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski personally approved foreign policy adviser Carter Page’s now-infamous trip to Moscow last summer on the condition that he would “not be an official representative” of the Trump campaign.Politico reports: “A few weeks before he traveled to Moscow to give a July 7 speech, Page asked J.D. Gordon, his supervisor on the campaign’s National Security Advisory Committee, for permission to make the trip, and Gordon strongly advised against it. … Page then emailed Lewandowski and spokeswoman Hope Hicks asking for formal approval, and was told by Lewandowski that he could make the trip, but not as an official representative of the campaign, the former campaign adviser said. The trip is now a focus of congressional and FBI investigations into Russian influence in the 2016 presidential election.” Lewandowski said he did not recall the email exchange but “did not deny” that it occurred. “Is it possible that he emailed me asking if he could go to Russia as a private citizen?” Lewandowski said Tuesday. “I don’t remember that, but I probably got 1,000 emails a day at that time … And I wouldn’t necessarily remember if I had a one-word response to him saying he could do something as a private citizen.”
— Trump’s nominee for deputy attorney general declined to endorse Democratic calls for a special prosecutor to investigate Russia’s election interference during his confirmation hearing. Matt Zapotosky, Sari Horwitz and Sean Sullivan report: “Under insistent questioning from Democrats, deputy attorney general nominee Rod J. Rosenstein refused to commit Tuesday to appoint a special counsel to oversee investigations of Russian meddling … though he stressed that he did not yet know the facts of the matter. At a tense Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing that lasted more than 3 1/2 hours, Rosenstein said that he was ‘not aware’ of any reason he would not be able to supervise such probes. “You view it as an issue of principle, that I need to commit to appoint a special counsel in a matter that I don’t even know if it’s being investigated,” he told Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who had vowed to try to block his nomination should he not make such a commitment. “And I view it as an issue of principle that as a nominee for deputy attorney general, I should not be promising to take action on a particular case.”
— Al Franken says he has concluded that Attorney General Jeff Sessions definitely committed perjury during his confirmation hearing when he failed to disclose his meetings with the Russian ambassador. “It’s hard to come to any other conclusion than he just perjured himself,” the Minnesota Democrat said on CNN, telling host Jake Tapper that Sessions should come before the Senate Judiciary Committee again to explain himself.
— Christopher Steele, the former British spy who authored the controversial dossier on Trump, which was widely circulated and eventually sent him and his family into hiding, has reemerged. London journalists said he was spotted outside his company’s building on Tuesday, appearing relaxed – albeit tight-lipped — about his recent whereabouts. “I’m now going to be focusing my efforts on supporting the broader interests of our company here,” Steele told reporters. “I’d like to say a warm thank you to everyone who sent me kind messages and support over the last few weeks,” he added. (Karla Adam)
— Before spending $30 million to help Trump, the NRA sent a delegation to meet with Putin’s deputy in Moscow. The Daily Beast’s Tim Mak reports: “In March 2014, the U.S. government sanctioned Dmitry Rogozin—a hardline deputy to [Putin], the head of Russia’s defense industry and longtime opponent of American power— in retaliation for the invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Eighteen months later, the [NRA], Trump’s most powerful outside ally during the 2016 election, sent a delegation to Moscow that met with him. David Keene, the former NRA president and current board member who was on the Moscow trip, insisted the meeting …. had nothing whatsoever to do with geopolitics. But Rogozin is no ordinary Russian official, and his title extends far beyond being merely the chairman of a shooting club. His portfolio as deputy prime minister of Russia includes the defense industry. One issue where Rogozin seems particularly interested is cyberwarfare, which he has heralded for its ‘first strike’ capability.”
Barack Obama leaves the National Gallery of Art in Washington on Sunday. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)
WIRETAPPING FALLOUT:
— “The rapport between [Barack Obama and Trump] is unraveling, with the president convinced that Mr. Obama is undermining his nascent administration and the former president furious over Trump tweets accusing him of illegal wiretapping,” the Wall Street Journal’s Carol E. Lee and Peter Nicholas report: “The budding feud between two men who share the unique bond of membership in the commander-in-chiefs’ club is a fresh distraction in a Trump presidency that has been struggling to enact its agenda. The rift also is distancing Mr. Trump from a former two-term president who had offered to give private advice and counsel as the onetime businessman settles into his first job in public office.”
— The New York Times’ Glenn Thrush and Maggie Haberman report on the turmoil Trump’s tweets often create among his closest circles: “[His Saturday tweet, for example], led to a succession of frantic staff conference calls, including one consultation with the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, as staff members grasped the reality that the president had opened an attack on his predecessor. Mr. Trump, advisers said, was in high spirits after he fired off the posts. But by midafternoon, after returning from golf, he appeared to realize he had gone too far, although he still believed Mr. Obama had wiretapped him.” He reportedly asked staff about hiring someone on the outside to try corroborating his claims.
— House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) said he has not seen any evidence supporting Trump’s claim that he had been “wiretapped” by the Obama administration, but said his committee would “look into it anyway.” Karoun Demirjian reports: “The bigger question that needs to be answered is whether or not Mr. Trump or any of his associates were in fact targeted by any of the intelligence agencies or law enforcement authorities,” Nunes told reporters Tuesday. “At this point we don’t have any evidence of that,” Nunes said. “But we also don’t have any evidence of many people who have been named in multiple news stories that supposedly are under some type of investigation.”
Ranking committee Democrat Adam B. Schiff (Calif.) also told reporters that he was “happy” to look into Trump’s allegations – but warned that, if proven false, could pose much bigger problems for the new commander-in-chief. “If a sitting U.S. president alleging that his predecessor engaged in the most unscrupulous and unlawful conduct … that is also a scandal, if those allegations prove to be false,” Schiff said. “And we should be able to determine in fairly short order whether this accusation was true or false.”
Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Doral in Florida, one of the clubs where industry groups now want to hold conferences. (Evan Vucci/AP)
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
— “‘Big Candy’ is lobbying the Trump administration. It’s also holding events at Trump hotels,” by Amy Brittain and Jonathan O’Connell: “As U.S. candymakers descended on South Florida for their industry conference this week, they were scheduled to plot lobbying strategy in the ‘Ivanka Trump ballroom.’ A dessert networking event was planned for the ‘Donald J. Trump grand patio.’ Between meetings, attendees were eligible to enjoy outings on a Trump-owned golf course and massages at a Trump spa. The National Confectioners Association is doing a lot of business with President Trump’s company. In addition to this week’s gathering of 600 attendees … the group has booked two upcoming meetings, in September and again in 2018, at the Trump International Hotel down the street from the White House…
“At the same time, the organization, representing candy titans Hershey, Mars and Jelly Belly, among other companies, is optimistic about scoring big, early policy wins from the Trump administration. Among the industry’s priorities: a long-sought rollback of government sugar subsidies that candy firms say drive up the costs of making their products. The group said it booked the venues in 2014 and 2015, long before Trump won the presidency. But the arrangement illustrates a repercussion of Trump’s decision to retain ownership of his business during his time in the White House — that he can become financially intertwined with a special interest that is simultaneously seeking to influence policy decisions by his administration.”
Boris Epshteyn, White House Assistant Communications Director for Surrogate Operations, huddles with Omarosa, the White House Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
WEST WING INTRIGUE:
— “White House official Boris Epshteyn, a combative Trump loyalist tasked with plugging the president’s message on television, threatened earlier this year to pull all West Wing officials from appearing on Fox News after a tense appearance on anchor Bill Hemmer’s show,” Politico’s Annie Karni reports: “Epshteyn … got in a yelling match with a Fox News booker after Hemmer pressed him for details of [Trump’s] controversial executive order cracking down on immigration from Muslim-majority countries — a topic he was not expecting to be grilled on. ‘Am I someone you want to make angry?’ Epshteyn told the booker, the sources said. When he threatened to pull White House officials from the network, the fed-up booker had had enough. ‘Go right ahead,’ the booker fired back, the sources said. Epshteyn’s rise to a position of prominence in the Trump White House reveals how the president has rewarded his loyalists. But Epshteyn … has added to the impression of an antagonistic White House by throwing his weight around in a manner that has further strained the relationship between the administration and the television networks.”
— Two front-runners have emerged to be Trump’s next Navy secretary after his previous pick, Philip Bilden, pulled out due to investment conflicts. The Wall Street Journal’s Gordon Lubold reports: “The White House is considering Richard V. Spencer, an investment banker with extensive business experience and ties to the Pentagon, and Randy Forbes, a former Virginia congressman and onetime chairman of an important naval subcommittee, to head the Navy, the officials said. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and other senior officials at the Pentagon favor Mr. Spencer, a former Marine aviator with extensive investment and business experience. Vice President Mike Pence backs Mr. Forbes, a Virginia Republican who lost a primary bid for his re-election campaign last year.
— National security adviser H.R. McMaster has invited top council staff back into the Oval Office for calls between Trump and foreign leaders — reversing a decision by his ousted predecessor Michael Flynn to exile senior directors to the Situation Room during such conversations because of fears they’d get leaked. (Politico)
Afghan security forces re-secure the Kabul Military Hospital. (Jawad Jalali/EPA)
THE WORLD IS ON FIRE:
— Insurgents struck Afghanistan’s largest military hospital, leaving at least four dead and at least 60 more injured after a suicide bomber and gunmen attacked the medical compound. ISIS has claimed responsibility. Sayed Salahuddin and Pamela Constable report: “Officials said at least four gunmen stormed the Sardar Dawood medical complex, located near the U.S. embassy and government buildings in the heart of the city. One security official said the attackers were disguised in white doctors’ uniforms. The battle stretched on four hours through much of the day with the attackers holed up in the upper floors of the hospital where they were engaged by special forces. … The double assault followed a familiar pattern by Taliban insurgents in which an official target is bombed at its entrance and armed fighters quickly follow.”
— China warned of “consequences” for South Korea and the U.S. over the newly-deployed U.S. antimissile system known as THAAD, further raising tensions in the region. Emily Rauhala reports: “The stern words came a day after North Korea launched four missiles that landed off the Japanese coast — an exercise, the North Korean government said, designed to practice for an attack on U.S. military bases in Japan. While American and South Korean officials say the Kim regime’s continued launches demonstrate why the new antimissile system is necessary, Beijing sees the system as a threat to the Chinese military and evidence of U.S. ‘meddling’ in East Asian Affairs.”
— Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is going on a trip to China, Japan and South Korea next week. “But he is traveling without the usual symbolism of the big blue and white ‘United States of America’ plane past secretaries of state have routinely used, and without the usual U.S. press corps,” Anne Gearan and Carol Morello report. “The State Department has said only that a smaller plane is more convenient and reliable, and that there is not room to bring reporters.” That’s not even good spin…
Katy Perry and Richard Simmons attend the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV)
WAPO HIGHLIGHTS:
— THE BEST NON-POLITICS STORY YOU’LL READ ALL DAY: “Is Richard Simmons missing? Or is he just dearly missed?” by Dan Zak: “On Feb. 15, 2014, the flamboyant fitness guru did not show up to teach his regular $12 exercise class at his studio, which was called Slimmons. He cut off contact with friends and hasn’t been seen in public since. One of his regular students was a filmmaker-writer named Dan Taberski, who last month launched a podcast called ‘Missing Richard Simmons.’ ‘I think he’s important,’ Taberski says in Episode 1, justifying his loving invasion of Simmons’s privacy. Richard Simmons is many things: manic, brilliant, troubled, tough, hilarious, ridiculous. But important too? …. Simmons is a gaudy rhinestone embedded in American culture: a true original whose commercial sorcery summoned the forces of positive thinking and negative self-imaging. He cast his spell using old-fashioned vaudeville techniques that he must’ve inherited. He also helped the world gain something. ‘…God could have made you a butterfly that lasts three months, but he made you a human being,’ [he said on CNN in 2014]. Six weeks later, poof.”
Alejandra Campoverdi waits for her food at Grand Central Market in Los Angeles.(Kyle Monk/For The Washington Post)
— “Alejandra Campoverdi is running for Congress. And facing down the threat of cancer,” by Manuel Roig-Franzia: Within a few minutes, a nurse will be X-raying [Alejandra Campoverdi’s] chest and pumping a dye into her veins that will leave her a little lightheaded, but that might give her some answers. Two years ago, Campoverdi learned that she has a genetic mutation, known as BRCA2, that means she is extremely likely to develop breast cancer, the disease that took the lives of her grandmother and great-grandmother. … Campoverdi’s diagnosis and her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy in the near future … forms the emotional and intellectual foundation of her campaign to represent a portion of her native Los Angeles in Congress. She’s been an [Ivy League-pedigreed] Obama White House staffer … a poor kid surviving on welfare, a reality show contestant, a Maxim model in skimpy lingerie, a Harvard graduate, a groundbreaking first-ever deputy director of Hispanic media at the White House. Now her underdog candidacy in an overflow field to succeed longtime Democratic congressman Xavier Becerra is turning into another test of whether [Obama] spawned a generation of future leaders.”
SOCIAL MEDIA SPEED READ:
Trump celebrated International Women’s Day with some early morning tweets:
Ad his most prominent female surrogate:
A cheeky response from singer Lily Allen to Trump:
A conservative #NeverTrumper also trolled Trump over the above tweets:
Teachers in Alexandria, Va., are marking a Day Without a Woman by joining the protests, thereby shutting down some public schools. One conservative pundit reacted:
Continued reaction to the House GOP’s Obamacare repeal rollout:
“The Americans” is back on TV at a surreal life-imitates-art-imitates-life moment:
A debate over the border adjustment tax played out on Twitter:
A family of four from Pakistan walk down Roxham Road in Champlain, New York, towards the US-Canada border. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)
GOOD READS FROM ELSEWHERE:
— New York Times, “Since Trump, Quiet Upstate Road Becomes a Busy Exit From U.S.,” by Rick Rojas: “Chris Crowningshiele has been driving a cab, on and off, for 30 years in this rural corner of upstate New York known as the North Country. But in recent weeks, riders have been asking him — two, three, sometimes as many as seven times a day — to bring them to the end of Roxham Road. He is carrying them on the last leg of their journey out of the United States. ‘You wonder what’s going through their heads, you know?’ he said. … Many of his passengers have been families, with parents carrying young children and whatever possessions they could take with them. Some were migrants from Yemen and Turkey. They confided that they were fearful, of what was happening in the countries they wanted to leave behind — not just their homeland but now also the United States — and of what they faced once they stepped out of Mr. Crowningshiele’s cab.”
HOT ON THE LEFT:
“A $2.5 trillion asset manager just put a statue of a defiant girl in front of the Wall Street bull,” fromBusiness Insider: “The world’s third-largest asset manager installed a bronze statue of a defiant girl in front of Wall Street’s iconic charging bull statue on Tuesday morning as part of its new campaign to pressure companies to add more women to their boards. State Street Global Advisors, a nearly $2.5 trillion investor and unit within State Street Corp., is rolling out the campaign ahead of International Women’s Day on Wednesday. The money manager said it would vote against boards if a company failed to take steps to increase its number of members who are women. State Street plans to send a letter to 3,500 companies on Tuesday asking the companies to act. “There has been a lot of discussion on this topic, but the needle hasn’t moved materially,’ [said one company official] … State Street wants every company it’s targeting to have at least one female board member and to take steps toward fixing its gender gap, Heinel said.”
HOT ON THE RIGHT:
“Son of Sen. Tim Kaine is one of six arrested after protesters disrupt Trump rally at state Capitol Saturday,” from the Pioneer Press:“The youngest son of U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate, was one of six people arrested Saturday after counter-protesters disrupted a rally in support of [Trump] at the Minnesota State Capitol. Linwood Michael Kaine, 24, and four others were arrested on suspicion of second-degree riot after the ‘March 4 Trump’ rally in St. Paul; a sixth person was cited for disorderly conduct. Counter-protesters clashed with Trump supporters in the Capitol rotunda after they disrupted the proceedings with air horns, whistles and chants. At one point, someone set off a smoke bomb. Linwood Kaine, a Minneapolis resident who attended Carleton College and goes by Woody, was released from the Ramsey County jail on Tuesday morning pending further investigation, law enforcement officials said.” “We love that our three children have their own views and concerns about current political issues,” Sen. Kaine said in a statement. “They fully understand the responsibility to express those concerns peacefully.”
DAYBOOK:
At the White House: In the morning, Trump will meet with Laurene Powell Jobs before hosting a strategic affairs lunch regarding infrastructure. He will then meet with Rep. Elijah Cummings. Later, Trump will meet with Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Sens. Lisa Murkowski, and Dan Sullivan, as well as a group of conservative leaders about healthcare. Later, Trump and Melania will have dinner with Ted and Heidi Cruz.
Pence will join Trump for his infrastructure lunch before conducting a radio interview with Sean Hannity, by a series of regional satellite interviews focused on the American Health Care Act. In the evening, Pence will host a legislative affairs dinner at the Vice President’s Residence.
On Capitol Hill: The Senate will convene at 9:30 am and resume consideration of H.J.Res.58. House committees are marking up the health bill.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) brushed aside questions about Trump’s wiretapping claims: “A lot of the things he says, you guys take literally.” (CNN)
NEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU LIVE IN D.C.:
— Spring still remains (happily) in full swing. Today’s Capital Weather Gang forecasts: “Showers exit to the east by 7 a.m. or so. Skies turn mostly sunny thereafter, and that helps temperatures rise from morning 50s to afternoon highs in the mid-60s.”
— A Maryland police officer was suspended after making a “highly inappropriate” Facebook comment about two teens who were slain last week in a car crash. “F—‘em, shouldn’t have been driving that fast,” he wrote on his social media page. (Dana Hedgpeth)
— Montgomery County police have arrested and charged a 35-year-old man with impersonating a police officer. Authorities said they were first tipped off to his case in February, and upon searching his home, found seven handguns, two assault rifles and a shotgun, as well as body armor, tactical vests, ammunition and a Baltimore County Police Department badge. He was never employed by the department. (AP)
— The Wizards beat the Suns 131-127.
VIDEOS OF THE DAY:
Stephen Colbert did a segment on how the CIA isn’t spying on us through our TVs:
General Michael Hayden Says The CIA Is Not Spying On Us Through Our Televisions
See why Anderson Cooper has muted Trump on Twitter:
Anderson Cooper And Kellyanne Conway Are ‘Rethinking’ Their Relationship
The lights illuminating the Statue of Liberty turned off for more than an hour last night:
Lady Liberty mysteriously goes dark
Margarita Zavala, a leading presidential hopeful in Mexico and former first lady, spoke with The Post about why her country will never pay for the wall. Read her op-ed. Watch some highlights:
Zavala: ‘It makes no sense’ for Mexico to pay for the border wall
A little Mullet Wrapper for today – President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare A little Mullet Wrapper for today - President Trump came out strongly last night for the faltering House Republican plan to replace Obamacare…
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