
What we can learn from the senator who nearly died for democracy
Zaakir Tameez is the author of 'Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation,' to be released on June 3.
On May 13, a man who made death threats against Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) for her foreign policy views was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. Last month, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she was 'afraid' of using her voice to speak about political controversies. A month before that, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) released audio recordings of death threats he received while he was considering how to vote on Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
ACC, Florida State, Clemson file to dismiss cases against each other
The ACC's legal infighting is officially over after Florida State, Clemson and the ACC filed to dismiss the cases against each other Tuesday. The move formally, finally, ends more than 17 months of litigation that played out in Florida (where the Seminoles sued the ACC), South Carolina (where the Tigers sued the conference) and North Carolina (where the Charlotte-based league separately sued both schools). Both schools and the league approved the settlement's terms in March, and Florida State's counsel estimated the agreements would be finalized in 30 days. The whole process took almost three months, approaching a June 9 deadline in one of the Florida courts. Advertisement The initial settlement terms clarified issues if/when Florida State, Clemson or other ACC members moved to leave the conference. Schools, not the league, would get to keep their TV rights, which are worth hundreds of millions of dollars between now and 2036 (when the ACC's ESPN contract expires). The exit fee, according to a presentation to Clemson trustees in March, would drop annually from $165 million in the 2026 fiscal year to about $75 million in 2030-31. That's a critical window as TV contracts with the SEC, Big Ten and College Football Playoff will expire — potentially setting the stage for another massive round of conference realignment. The agreement reported in March also created a new way for the ACC to share revenue with its members. About 60% of conference payouts would be divided based on TV viewership in football and men's basketball. That amounts to more than $15 million in extra revenue for the top earners — a significant bonus as ACC paydays lag behind those in the SEC and Big Ten. Florida State officials previously said that the gap would exceed $30 million in the coming years unless things changed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
House Judiciary panel approves controversial concealed weapons bill
(Photo by Aristide Economopoulos/NJ Monitor) The North Carolina House Judiciary 2 Committee voted 6-5 along party lines Tuesday to pass a bill to allow the permitless carry of concealed firearms, one of the most controversial topics of the current legislative session. Senate Bill 50, 'Freedom to Carry NC,' would allow individuals who are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, and not otherwise prohibited by law, to carry concealed weapons without applying for a permit. It's backed by Republican leadership and would make North Carolina the 30th state to approve of so-called 'constitutional carry.' Having previously cleared the Senate, the bill now proceeds to the House Rules Committee for further consideration. Though the Judiciary 2 Committee has only 10 members — six Republicans and four Democrats — House Minority Leader Robert Reives II (D-Chatham, Randolph) took the unusual step of using his position as a committee 'floater' to attend the meeting and narrow the margin. 'Nine states have allowed constitutional carry at age 18, North Carolina would be the 10th that this bill became law,' primary sponsor Rep. Danny Britt (R-Hoke, Robeson, Scotland) said. One amendment to the legislation increases the public safety employee death benefit to $150,000. Another calls for the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to develop a scholarship program for any child of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or first responder who is permanently and totally disabled as a result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. These scholarships would be available for children between the ages of 17 and 28. The bill received opposition from a several lawmakers and members of the public. No one other than Britt spoke in favor of the measure. Rep. Ya Liu (D-Wake) is the mother of two teenagers. She said there's a huge difference between individuals at the age of 18 and 21. At schools, students like Liu's son conduct drills for active shooter and lockdown situations. 'Our children are scared,' Liu said. 'We shouldn't accept it as a way of life, that they have to live with this.' Rep. Laura Budd (D-Mecklenburg) said this morning she told her 15-year-old son on the way to school that SB 50 was on the committee hearing docket today. He was shocked that an 18-year-old at his high school, potentially his classmate, would be allowed to buy a gun, according to Budd. She added that 18-year-olds in the United States can't drink a beer or rent a car. 'But yet, when it comes to something as a lethal as a gun… we want to lower the age and remove more restrictions,' Budd said, pointing out the irony. Anne Enberg, a local legislative leader for Moms Demand Action, said bills like SB 50 won't make communities safer. Enberg brought up a poll conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety in September that found 77% percent of likely North Carolina voters were against removing permit requirements from concealed carry laws. 'We should be looking for solutions that make us safer, not bills that would push crime and public safety's staff in the wrong direction,' she said. John Vanmeter-Kirk is a rising second-year student at North Carolina State University, a volunteer with Students Demand Action, and a lifelong Raleigh resident. He said he was speaking in front of the committee because SB 50 would put his home and community in danger. On Sunday, Vanmeter-Kirk noted, two North Carolina communities experienced mass shootings: one in Hickory and one in Asheville. 'Two innocent North Carolinians are dead, numerous injured, my community torn apart by senseless gun violence that could've been prevented,' Vanmeter-Kirk said. 'Even after two North Carolinians are dead, you're considering this incredibly dangerous bill that will only lead to the loss of more North Carolinians, dishonoring the memory of those we lost two days ago.'

Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
The Ultimate Fighter turns 20: UFC's signature show's new season stars coaches Cormier, Sonnen
The fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar has been mythologized for 20 years as the one that saved UFC. The spectacular, bloody brawl so masterful — the main event on the first season of a new reality show, aired live on Spike TV — that UFC soon skyrocketed from a weakened MMA promotion potentially on the brink of new ownership into a sports and pop culture phenomenon. (And yes, a billion-dollar empire.) It's billed as the fight that forever changed UFC. Right? 'The whole thing is complete BS but I'm happy to play along,' retired UFC fighter and noted trash-talker Chael Sonnen said. 'It does get too much credit. It didn't change the world just because it was on Spike TV.' Hold up, former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier would like a word. 'I don't think it gets enough credit for what it did to the sport,' Cormier said. 'I watched that as a wrestler and I knew that I was watching something happen. I didn't know what it was. But it was something.' The two can debate the fight's spot in MMA history all they want — Griffin won the decision, but the viral attention gained by the highly entertaining bout is widely credited with exposing the little-known sport to a larger worldwide audience — since the verbal sparring is part of each fighter's appeal. What neither can deny is how the show responsible for the fight — 'The Ultimate Fighter' — has become a UFC staple and is widely regarded as one essential in the survival and eventual expansion of UFC. 'I don't know why they ever let this be called a reality show,' Sonnen said. 'I really do feel it's a miss. This is a documentation of the toughest tournament in all of sport. You will not find a harder sports process anywhere, aside from possibly the Olympic Games.' Cormier and Sonnen returned as coaches in the show more commonly known as TUF's 20th anniversary year. Though the show debuted on Jan. 17, 2005, UFC counts 31 seasons of the show that has launched prospects such as Griffin and Rose Namajunas into future champions. 'The Ultimate Fighter' — which airs Tuesday nights on ESPN and ESPN-plus — features Cormier and Sonnen coaching 16 men's flyweight and welterweight prospects that live and train together in Las Vegas with the winner (and sometimes the losers) earning a UFC contract. While the coaches often fight at the end of each season, Cormier and Sonnen are both retired and have shifted into broadcasting and their 'Good Guy/Bad Guy' podcast. 'The show is about the guys,' Cormier said. 'Chael and I not fighting doesn't take away from that because I think ultimately the experience for the athlete is going to be better. We aren't fighting. We can compete against each other and make them do the fighting. They ultimately do take the spotlight and it's on them, as it's supposed to be.' Sonnen coached against Wanderlei Silva and again against UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones in 2013 and was soundly defeated by the champ. Cormier was the UFC light heavyweight champion when he agreed to coach against heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in 2017. Cormier would go on to defeat Miocic at UFC 226 and became only the second fighter to be champion in two divisions simultaneously. The move worked out for Cormier. Not so much for his students. 'They either had to do what I was doing to keep up in most instances or it felt like a failure,' Cormier said. 'They were getting hurt. They were overtraining them. When you're an athlete, you've got to be selfish. While I was still in the show, I was worried about fighting Stipe Miocic and winning the heavyweight championship. This time, I don't have that. I can literally just coach and give them my all as a coach.' Cormier wins the coin flip Cormier won a coin flip and drafted first last week in the first episode and picked Brazilian fighter Eduardo Henrique. Sonnen would draft Diego Bianchini — a fighter appropriately known as 'The Brazilian Bad Boy.' 'Once you get inside here,' UFC President Dana White told the fight prospects, 'this competition is an absolute pressure cooker. But don't forget why you came here and what the prize is at the end of this.' Cormier was surely glad more fights and episodes are ahead — Henrique was choked out by Sonnen's Joseph Morales. The days of having to save UFC are long over. The thrill of winning TUF and earning that contract continue into the show's next decade. 'That ending still feels special,' Cormier said. 'You win the tournament, you get a contract. That's what makes 'The Ultimate Fighter' work. That's why it's worked for 20 years.' ___ AP sports: