Latest news with #Harris
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Black Astronaut Made Space History in 1995. Now He's Getting Inducted into Hall of Fame (Exclusive)
Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. is being inducted into NASA's Astronaut Hall of Fame on Friday, May 31 He made history in 1995, becoming the first Black astronaut to perform a spacewalk "To be part of the foundation for what we're doing in space now is really fulfilling," he tells PEOPLEDr. Bernard Harris Jr. grew up in Texas as NASA was developing and always had an interest in science – but once he watched man land on the moon, even at 13, he began to have astronaut dreams. 'I knew what I wanted to do,' he tells PEOPLE. 'I wanted to follow the footsteps of these great men, human beings, that had done something for the very first time in human history.' That's exactly what he did. Now Harris — who became the first Black person to perform a spacewalk and recently released his second book, Embracing Infinite Possibilities — will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 31. Before going to college at the University of Houston, Harris, now 68, tells PEOPLE he realized he wanted to become a doctor so he could practice medicine on Earth – and in space. Following his residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Harris pursued a fellowship in endocrinology because he was 'advised to find the most critical aspect of humans in space that needed to be solved' — and one of those is bone loss. (Astronauts lose 1% of bone per month in space, he says.) By 1990, Harris applied and spent a year of astronaut basic training. About three weeks later, he was assigned to his first mission: the STS-55 on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1993. During that trip, Harris says he did the first medical examination in space and even the first intravenous line. 'It was only natural for me to say, 'Okay, if we're going to be in space for long periods of time, how do we ensure that humans can survive up there?' " he recalls. For his second mission, STS-63 on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1995, Harris completed his historic spacewalk. That mission was also notable because Eileen Collins made history as the first female space commander. 'To be part of the foundation for what we're doing in space now is really fulfilling,' he says, adding that he loves to see younger astronauts taking over – and having longer stays in space. Speaking of those longer stays, although the International Space Station wasn't built during his career as an astronaut, some of the devices that crews use today were originally developed in his laboratory. After his two space missions — which included logging 438 hours and traveling over 7.2 million miles — he ventured into philanthropy with the launch of his nonprofit, which supports youth programs in math and science education and crime prevention. Then it was time to go after his dream of becoming an entrepreneur – and his work has always been a bit ahead of the curve. As CEO and managing partner of Vesalius Ventures, Harris focused on telemedicine before many even knew how that would work and was previously hired by Spacehab (now the Astrotech Corporation), one of the first commercial private space companies. 'That was way ahead of SpaceX and Blue Origin, and what we're doing now," he adds. As for the future of space tourism and where he believes the space program is headed, Harris says he continues to be excited that there are more avenues to get to space. 'There'll be tremendous opportunities on the moon. And I think that when we then take that bigger leap to go to Mars,' he believes. He ultimately sees the continued progress as a way to unify. 'When I was out on my spacewalk," he says, 'looking back at the earth, [I realized] how important this spaceship that we live on planet Earth is to us all. From that distance, you can't see the divisions that divide us here on earth. And my hope is that space will be an opportunity for us to come together as a people." Embracing Infinite Possibilities is out now. You can purchase it here. Read the original article on People
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Dems want to spend $20 million to learn how to talk to men. Have they tried mansplaining?
The national Democratic Party has decided to spend $20 million to figure out a way to talk to men. Let me know if they find out anything that dating sites haven't yet. On Wednesday night, the San Francisco Democratic Party weighed in, endorsing the idea as well. The resolution noted that Donald Trump got 56% of the votes of men aged 18-29, and that 'addressing the challenge experienced by boys and men is not only a moral imperative, but is essential to fostering a more inclusive and responsive political movement that truly speaks to the needs of all individuals, and countering the resultant rise polarization and disinformation.' This effort is intriguing to be sure. Polling after the 2024 presidential election showed former Vice President Kamala Harris coming up short with men as well. According to Navigator Research, men voted for Trump, 54-43 against Harris, a four-point improvement from 2020, when the Democratic nominee, former President Joe Biden, came closer: Trump only won by two points. Women voted for Harris 51-46 in 2024, but Biden carried women by 10 points in 2020. Let's factor in age. According to the Navigator polling 'Men under the age of 45 voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election by an 8-point margin (44% Harris, 52% Trump), a 16-point shift from 2020, where the group voted for Biden by an 8-point margin.' If you break the numbers down by race, Harris got 82% of the black male vote. Not bad, and close to the 86% Joe Biden got in 2020. What about Latino men? Here's where it gets more interesting. 'Trump made gains across the board. Of particular note, Trump won 47% of votes among Latino men, according to AP projections. He also produced double-digit gains in majority-Hispanic counties along the Mexico border in Texas and in Southern Florida. According to a survey by Edison Research, 'In 2020, Joe Biden won among Latino men by 23 percentage points: 59%-36%. Our latest estimate for the 2024 vote among Latino men is Trump winning by 10 points, 54% to 44%. This change of 33 points on the margin is a rather extraordinary shift in four years' time.' Rather. What's the problem? Democratic support for trans youth in sports? Naw, not really. Democratic support for basic social service programs? Nope. Democratic support for a robust U.S. foreign policy? Unlikely. It may be this simple: as unfair and irrational as it is, men like voting for men for president. This country has never had a woman president, and now looks even further away from that goal based on the 2024 results. The question is, how do the Democrats spend that $20 million? The New York Times reported last week that the plan 'is code-named SAM — short for 'Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan' — and promises investment to 'study the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces.' It recommends buying advertisements in video games, among other things. 'Above all, we must shift from a moralizing tone,' it urges. Well. God knows what those video game ads are going to look like. No moralizing in video games, I guess. Fundamentally, according to the data, younger voters, be they men, women, Black or Latino, voted on the economy. So, it's the economy, stupid, again. Younger voters have a particularly bleak worldview on the economy. Talk to any young person, and they don't really have IRAs, own homes, or have a lot of disposable income while they're working two or three jobs. The Biden economy worked well for some, and very poorly for others. My guess is that Trump's performance on the economy will make Biden look like FDR, his hero. The big, beautiful tariffs are already contributing to stock market uncertainty, likely inflation — or even stagflation, where prices rise while the economy stays flat. Oh, and interest rates are going to stay high for the time being, which doesn't help. I was talking to two men the other day about Trump. One voted for Harris, reluctantly, because he thinks Trump is erratic. If the GOP had nominated a good ol' 25 years ago Republican, he'd probably have voted for that candidate. He never said anything about Harris being a woman. 'Oh, he's (bleeping) crazy.' Well, that's the partial right answer. But do the Democrats have a response to them? The next GOP presidential nominee (if there is one) will not be Trump, and then the world looks a bit different, and by that I mean, maybe the country is just shifting right organically, Trump or no Trump. It happens. The country that elected JFK, Clinton and Obama also elected Nixon, Reagan and, gulp, Trump. Again. Historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. wrote about a 30-year reset cycle in America that's been rather consistent: reaction begets over-reaction. Bring on the video game ads, the outreach to men (without the 'moralizing tone,' whatever that means), the appearances on Joe Rogan, all of it. Can't hurt. Maybe the Democrats need to mansplain to men. After all, it worked for Trump.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Maitland, Gloucester and MidCoast earmarked for war memorial funding in wake of floods
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said. The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said. The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said. The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Disgraced Democrat Anthony Weiner roasts Kamala Harris for blowing up her campaign on ‘The View'
Despite going to prison for a sex scandal involving minors, disgraced former congressman and former New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner said on Friday he can still do a better job than his Democratic colleagues did in the 2024 election. During an appearance on ABC's "The View," Weiner explained that he is attempting to get back into politics by running for New York City Council because he believes, despite his baggage, that he's a better politician than current Democratic figures. He also mocked former Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of ruining her 2024 presidential campaign while appearing on the same show. "By the way, was this where Kamala Harris was sitting when she blew up her campaign?" he asked as soon as he took his seat between the four co-hosts. Anthony Weiner Says Voters Don't Want What 'Democrats Are Selling,' Talks About Comeback As Fiery Centrist "Is this the spot?" Weiner asked, gesturing to his chair. "I hope I don't have the same fate." Read On The Fox News App Harris told "The View" last year that there "is not a thing that comes to mind" when asked what she would have done differently than then-President Biden. The moment was widely seen as a turning point that led to the downfall of her campaign. Later in the interview, Weiner hit Harris again. He responded to co-host Joy Behar's suggestion that even though men like Weiner and President Donald Trump have problematic pasts, a woman like the former vice president still can't make it to the highest office. Though the aspiring city council member admitted female politicians are often judged harshly, he maintained that Harris made an obvious blunder in response to "The View's" "softball" question last year. "The problem is, it's a little bit too easy an answer, though, because also there were things that Kamala Harris – I made a joking reference to the answer she gave on this show: 'Is there anything you would do different?' That is the softest of softball that – every politician dreams to have that question," Weiner replied. "You still have to be a good candidate." Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Tapper Admits Feeling 'Humility' About Past Biden Coverage As Liberals Disparage New Book Weiner left Congress in 2011 following a photo of the married then-congressman leaking on one of his social media accounts. Additional sex scandals mounted in the following years, culminating in an FBI investigation that led to Weiner serving 21 months in prison and registering as a sex offender after sending sexually explicit images to a minor. After his dig toward Harris at the top of the segment, Behar pressed Weiner on why he believes he can get back into politics considering his scandal-plagued background. The aspiring city councilman said it's because he believes he's a better politician than many current Democratic lawmakers. "I think what I said at the time was I couldn't imagine there would ever be a chance that either people would want me back or that I would want to get back into that again," he replied. "But when I woke up in November of '24 and saw the election results, but more than who won, I looked around New York City and saw how many fewer Democrats even turned out to vote. And I started to say to myself, 'Something is seriously wrong here.'" Weiner said too many Democratic candidates were running "frictionless" campaigns and playing it too safe. He told the co-hosts that he felt compelled to jump back into politics because his contemporaries were not answering the public's "cry that they wanted things to change." He added that his past was not a "good enough reason… not to get off the couch and try." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Co-host Ana Navarro pressed him on his specific scandals, asking, "Why should New Yorkers give you a chance at a political comeback?" He replied, "I'm doing the opposite of what a lot of politicians do in my position – ignore that problem, pretend it didn't happen, blame someone else. I am saying, yes, I did these things. I got into recovery. I tried to make my life better. And now, if I can be of service – and I'm a damn good politician. I come up with answers, I talk to people directly, I don't try to butter over things, I try to be direct." "Look, all I can ever be is who I am right now and that brought me to this space," Weiner article source: Disgraced Democrat Anthony Weiner roasts Kamala Harris for blowing up her campaign on 'The View'
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Missouri special session could be an ‘absolute mess': Poli-sci professor
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More reaction to the stadium situation for the Chiefs and the Royals as Missouri lawmakers head back to Jefferson City on Monday for a special session. The State Senate opens things up as lawmakers are expected to take up a package aimed at trying to keep both teams in the Show-Me State for the 2031 season and beyond. Their leases at Jackson County-owned Truman Sports Complex end in January of that year. An argument Thursday in the State Senate over how they adjourned furthers the point that there's bad blood between Republicans and Democrats. Jackson County says budget compromise finally reached nearly 5 months later Friday, a Spokesman for Democratic State Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck said that Beck wanted to make sure that Republicans had a quorum, so he could make sure the bills they were signing were done in an open session. Republicans then huddled and ended their work for the day without signing them, so they couldn't be sent to Republican Governor Mike Kehoe. Missouri Democratic State Senator Stephen Webber of Columbia was upset about the way Republican State Senate President Cindy O'Laughlin of Shelbina adjourned for the day, saying it was against the rules. While Republicans weren't successful in sending the bills off on Thursday, they were on Friday. 'There's a motion on the floor. There's a motion on the floor. You're disrespecting the Senate. You're disrespecting. I'm disappointed in you,' Webber said. 'You know better than that. There's a motion on the floor. You know better than that. That's disgusting.' Park University Political Science Professor Dr. Matt Harris said that what happened on Thursday probably doesn't mean much when it comes to the signing of bills. 'But I think what it does say is it speaks to how the special session could be an absolute mess because you've got the Democrats who feel burned,' Dr. Harris said Friday. The Park University employee was talking about how, at the end of the session, Republican lawmakers approved a new referendum placing abortion rights back on the ballot. They also repealed the paid sick leave portion of Proposition A. That item was also approved by Missouri voters in the November 2024 election. 'You've also got the far right who says, 'We're not going to sign off on any stadium deal without tax cuts,' so it's a real mess with a ticking clock for the stadium deal, so I think that's what this probably speaks to.' Celebrities prep to entertain masses, raise money at KC's Big Slick Later Friday afternoon, FOX4 spoke to Republican State Senator Rick Brattin over Zoom. Brattin, the Chair of Missouri's Freedom Caucus, seemed to agree with Dr. Harris. Brattin said giving taxpayer dollars to sports teams in a proposal for something like the Chiefs and the Royals stadium projects is a terrible optic. 'If we're able to get broad-based tax relief for all Missourians, in potential unison with a bill like this, we're willing to play ball, you know, no pun intended,' he said. Also, Friday afternoon, FOX4's John Holt talked to Republican State Senator Mike Cierpiot of Eastern Jackson County. Cierpiot says he's talked to several Republican groups about this stadium issue. 'When I explain to them, 'We're not taking your tax dollars or my tax dollars, what we're taking is the money that actually is generated on the property and reinvesting that in the stadiums.'' Holt's full interview with Cierpoit will air Sunday at 10 a.m. FOX4 will be in Jefferson City, for the special session as well. It starts Monday at noon. About half an hour after our interview with Brattin ended, Governor Kehoe posted a message on social media about what he hopes lawmakers will accomplish. He spoke about the Chiefs and the Royals but did not use the team names or the word 'stadium.' Man charged in bank robbery near KC's Country Club Plaza: DOJ 'We have an economic development package for our Kansas City friends that are very, very important right now for the jobs it creates, for the economic impact it has on that side of our state,' Governor Kehoe said. 'We're hoping that legislators will understand how important it is to keep those businesses here in the state of Missouri.' Kansas leaders passed a Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond package last year aimed at attracting either the Chiefs or the Royals to their side of the state line. Lawmakers did that in their own special session. The STAR Bond offer expires at the end of June but can be extended. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
