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From ‘Donald Duck’ insults to who Pence is ‘sleeping with,’ here’s what happened at the Republican debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

The second Republican debate had contentious moments and attacks on Trump — but it seems destined to end up the same way the first did: with no tangible impact on the race.Donald Trump spent the night elsewhere. And the proceedings at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif., produced little that would seem to knock him off his clear path to the nomination.But that didn’t mean it lacked for moments — combative, policy specific and occasionally weird.Unlike that first gathering, the candidates this time threw some early haymakers at Trump, who ditched the affair in favor of speech before auto workers in Michigan. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took his usual swipes, accusing the former president of spending liberally while in office. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a jab too, calling Trump “missing in action.”But, as is often the case, the field had trouble keeping its eye on the prohibitive favorite. And by the latter half of the evening, the af...

Foxed: Michael Wolff on politics and media after Rupert Murdoch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Acast The exit of the most powerful player at News Corp has made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. At 92, Rupert Murdoch has decided to step down as executive chairman, making way for his son Lachlan. But will much change, given Rupert Murdoch’s reputation for being close to the action?In this week’s episode of Power Play, host...

Action on critical minerals is needed now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

Joris Teer is a strategic analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. Chris Miller is an associate professor at the Fletcher Schhol, Tufts University and the author of “Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology.”As tensions between China and its major trading partners escalate, Beijing has a powerful card to play — its near monopoly on the mining and processing of a wide variety of critical minerals.Weaponizing trade in the materials that advanced industries require could have immense economic consequences. And to address this, Western countries need to do more to finance and build alternative supply chains for critical minerals.The recently announced EU investigation into Chinese subsidies for electric vehicles (EV) illustrates the country’s powerful role in critical mineral value chains. When it comes EVs, China controls much of the value chain — from mining to refining, to processing, to battery-making, to manufacturing vehicles. Even EVs manufactured ab...

Editorial: Where’s the compassion for crime victims & families?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

The extension of convicted murderer John “Zip” Connolly’s medical furlough by a Florida parole board this week has pushed the compassionate release program back into the spotlight.The overarching question it raises: compassionate for whom?As The Herald reported, disgraced former FBI-agent Connolly was convicted of second-degree murder in 2008 for wearing his FBI-issued sidearm when he met with Whitey Bulger in Boston. Connolly was Whitey’s FBI handler.While in prison, doctors diagnosed Connolly with cancer and diabetes and concluded he likely had less than a year to live. He was allowed to return to Massachusetts on a medical release on Feb. 17, 2021.Now he’s collecting his pension and going for strolls.Connolly isn’t the only convicted killer to receive a dire diagnosis and subsequent medical release. Earlier this year a 78-year-old former California attorney serving a 46-year-to-life sentence for killing three people was granted a compassionate releas...

Treat your shelf to great seasonal decor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

When we think of seasonal decorating, we often think of over-the-top florals and elaborate table settings. But what about our shelves?Whether you prefer the extravagant look for your room or a more subdued approach to seasonal decorating, shelves are a great way to tuck in elements of fall.The art of juxtaposition: a contemporary traditional shelfieIn the world of autumnal shelves, the first look we’re exploring is a delightful fusion of modernity and tradition, primarily centered around a captivating color palette of brown and white.What really steals the show in this setup are the vases that introduce a dash of contemporary flair. The vases are riding the wave of a checkerboard moment that’s been making waves in the design world.A clever touch is the inclusion of fabric covered books, echoing the color scheme and aiding in the seamless integration of textiles throughout the space. However, my true favorite piece in the larger composition is the pastoral vase adorned with a quail m...

Top-tier ‘Jeopardy’ winner shares her life ‘secrets’ in memoir

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

After becoming the most successful woman ever on “Jeopardy,” winning $1.6 million and making a statement as trans, Amy Schneider was asked to write a book.The result, a funny, adult, eye-opening memoir, “In the Form of a Question: The Joys and Rewards of a Curious Life” (Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster) goes on sale Oct. 3.“It was pretty much up to me to figure out what that book might be,” Schneider, 44, said in a Zoom interview. “I’d been talking about ‘Jeopardy’ nonstop at that point. I didn’t really want to just write about that.“And I definitely wanted to talk about my experience as a trans person.  It’s something I knew I needed to do. A lot of people have been ‘introduced’ to me as the first trans person that they’ve kind of ‘gotten to know.’ Especially, Japanese and older audiences. A lot of people just haven’t really encountered a trans person before.“So I wanted to really talk about what that experience is, from the inside. Because it&#...

Henck: IRS must be called out for its abuses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

Because of a lack of accountability dating back decades, the Internal Revenue Service has become a corrupt and dysfunctional shell of its former self. It has lost the ability and the moral authority to enforce the Internal Revenue Code.I know this because, unfortunately, I had a front-row seat.I was an IRS attorney for 30 years until I was forced out in 2017 for being a whistleblower. The theory used by the IRS and its Mr. Fix It, the IRS inspector general (TIGTA), was that I violated taxpayer privacy because my name appeared in a Washington Post article. It was a ludicrous argument, but that did not matter.Unfortunately, this is now par for the course for the IRS. In the last two years, numerous tax returns have illegally leaked out of the IRS to ProPublica (TIGTA has “investigated” the leak for two years even though it could have solved the case within a week because of a system called UNAX). The IRS flat-out lied about middle-class tax audits not increasing despite an $87 billion...

Welcome autumn into your home with fresh colors, textures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

Of all the seasonal redecorating opportunities out there go, fall is almost always one of the loveliest. Everything about it just feels so good. The deep, rich colors of the trees and fall skies are a delight, and the textures of nature — from crisp foliage and soft grasses — inspire all the comforting textures with which we fill our homes.So are you ready? Set? Get cozy.Fall demands sumptuous pillows, as well as tones both vibrant and earthy. And for menswear-inspired patterns. That includes the likes of Ralph Lauren Home’s Althea Throw Pillow ($250 on ralphlauren.com). With its structured plaid patterns and leather-knotted buttons, it works on beds as well as it does on sofas.Also irresistibly soft — and also pretty in plaid — is the Lambswool Pillow Cover ($99 on williams-sonoma.com). The luxurious accent pillow takes traditional patterns and modernizes them into a new multicolored configuration in yarn-dyed wool in a twill weave.The comfort zone certainly doesn’t end there. Find...

Chicago Cubs lose another vital game to the Atlanta Braves in extra innings: ‘We’ve got 4 games left to get this thing done’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

The Chicago Cubs again found themselves holding a lead late against the Atlanta Braves.And again they were on the wrong end of a vital game Wednesday at Truist Park, losing 6-5 in 10 innings after twice failing to maintain a one-run lead in the ninth and 10th innings.Marcell Ozuna slugged the tying solo home run off Mark Leiter Jr. with one out in the ninth in the right-handed reliever’s first appearance in a week. José Cuas cleaned up the traffic in relief of Leiter, retiring both Braves batters to strand the winning run in scoring position.The Cubs reclaimed the lead in the 10th on Ian Happ’s sacrifice fly, but their one-run lead didn’t hold. Ronald Acuña Jr. tied it with an RBI single, swiped second base for his 70th stolen base of the year, and scored on Ozzie Albies’ single off Daniel Palencia to end it.“We’ve got to do some little things a little bit better,” manager David Ross said. “Trying to get runners in fr...

Lucas: Democrats put climate before crime & costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:56:34 GMT

If you were looking for information about skyrocketing gas and grocery prices, increased crime or the illegal immigrant influx, you came to the wrong place.While those are the issues everyone else is talking about, speakers at the 2023 Massachusetts Democratic convention in Lowell last weekend instead talked about everything else, especially abortion, green energy, climate change, saving the planet and the Republican threat to democracy.No one, including Gov. Maura Healey, nor local Lowell politicians like U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan or state Sen. Edward Markey or Lowell Mayor Sokhary Chau  even mentioned the 900 illegal migrants from Venezuela and Haiti who are moving into the city’s only downtown hotel. Lowell City Manager Tom Golden did not even show up.That hotel, the UMass-owned Lowell Inn and Conference Center, is a short walk from the Tsongas Convention Center where the Democratic gathering was held. Dormitory students were kicked out and immigrants are moving in.But it was unmenti...