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New York Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Simone Biles' social media post ‘good thing guys don't compete against girls' resurfaces as Riley Gaines feud takes a twist
Riley Gaines and Simone Biles' feud took a new twist on Sunday as an old social media post from the Olympic gymnast came to light. Biles, in a 2017 post, appeared to be thankful that men don't compete in women's gymnastics. 'ahhhh good thing guys don't compete against girls or he'd take all the gold medals !!' she wrote in October 2017. Biles' post came days after the 2017 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships finished in in Canada. Biles did not participate but American females Morgan Hurd and Jade Carey both medaled. Hurd won gold in the individual all-around. China's Xio Ruoteng won gold in the men's individual all-around. Gaines, who hosts the 'Gaines for Girls' podcast on OutKick, fired off her own reaction. 'Oop don't you hate it when your past self completely undermines your current nonsensical argument?' Gaines wrote on X. 'How has 2025 Simone reconciled with the fact 2017 Simone was a 'truly sick bully' by her own standard?' 4 An old social media post from Olympic gymnast Simone Biles resurfaced amidst her feud with Riley Gaines over transgender athletes. Getty Images 4 Gaines hosts the 'Gaines for Girls' podcast on OutKick, and has been outspoken about transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Independent Women's Forum The back and forth started on Friday as Biles, seemingly out of the blue, fired off a post on X aimed at Gaines amid the uproar over a transgender athlete's dominance in Minnesota high school softball. '@Riley_Gaines_ You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race,' Biles wrote. 'Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! 'But instead… You bully them… One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!' 4 'Oop don't you hate it when your past self completely undermines your current nonsensical argument?' Gaines wrote on X in response to the 2017 post. Getty Images 4 Simone Biles poses with the bronze medal during the Women's Balance Beam Final medal ceremony on day eleven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Getty Images Biles then added: 'bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male @Riley_Gaines_' The post drew fierce backlash over the last few days.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's idea to make Americans have babies again gets mixed reviews from experts
President Donald Trump called himself the "fertilization president" during Women's History Month, but some experts cited claims that "baby bonuses," such as the $5,000 plan Trump floated, have been tried in the past and had mixed results. Singapore, Hungary and Australia are three examples of countries where such programs have been instituted. Singapore has been subsidizing parenthood for decades, with the latest endowment per child reaching S$ 11,000 (US $8,000) as of 2023, but the tiny Asian nation still has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. Gabriella Hoffman, an official at the Independent Women's Forum, wrote on social media that baby bonuses did not work in Hungary. Dnc Vice Chair Slams Trump As 'Punk', Would-be Dictator At Fiery Pa Town Hall "Why would we replicate this here?" she asked. Read On The Fox News App That country, led by Trump-favored President Viktor Orban, also incentivizes its residents to have more kids, including through tax breaks for families with three or more offspring. Hungary's birth rate rose slightly about a decade ago but returned to and remains close to one. Australia's program began in 2004 and indexed to inflation in 2008 what was then an A$ 5,000 (US $3,180) for parents per birth. The government's self-reported birthrate statistic was about 1.5 as of 2023. Paula Lantz, a social demographer from the University of Michigan, told the Guardian that in the U.S., the percentage of families having more than one child has dropped and that "there is something else going on" – including non-financial considerations like quality of life effects. An official at the liberal Center for American Progress told the outlet she had a child a few months ago and that the promised $5,000 credit "wouldn't do much" even with good insurance and paid occupational family leave. Obama Slams Pro-trump Men At Philadelphia Rally While Springsteen Warns Gop Nominee Is 'An American Tyrant' Andrea Ippolito, founder of maternal health tech platform SimpliFed, told Fox News Digital that while the $5,000 is a "nice boost," the initiative "just lightly scratches the surface of the support that is needed for families, especially in the early years with childcare and healthcare support that is largely missing from the postpartum care experience." "In order to increase the birth rate, much more is needed to support and ensure that both mom and baby's health is prioritized," Ippolito said. "That means both physical health needs (which are not right now as demonstrated with doubling the preeclampsia rate doubling) and mental health needs." On the other hand, Emily and Nathan Berning – co-founders of crisis-pregnancy support site said that the baby bonus touted by Trump "is a positive step, but it doesn't go far enough." "Financial aid after delivery is helpful, but the real need is stability throughout pregnancy—rent, food, counseling, and emotional support," the Bernings said. "If we want to raise birthrates and protect children, we must act earlier and ensure no woman feels forced into a decision out of fear or isolation." They touted the benefits of pregnancy clinics that are founded by both pro-life and pro-choice advocates, saying that is how to prioritize "compassion over politics." Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced a proposal for the feds to provide $1,000 in an account for each American child. The "Invest America Act" would create "a private tax-advantaged account," and Cruz said in a statement last week the investments can be placed in a broad, low-cost fund that tracks the S&P 500, growing tax-deferred until the individual reaches age 18. Distributions after age 18 would be taxed at the capital gains rate. Fox News Digital reached out to Cruz for any comment on claims from critics that past iterations of the accounts have not been successful. Fox News Digital also reached out to the White House for comment on article source: Trump's idea to make Americans have babies again gets mixed reviews from experts
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's $5,000 ‘baby bonus' will never work
Donald Trump's plan to give women $5,000 to have children is a 'symbolic gesture' which will fail to curb the United States' crumbling birth rate, experts have warned. The push for more babies comes amid decades of falling birth rates. The total fertility rate in 2023 was just 1.62 births per woman, well below the 2.1 required to keep the population even. Mr Trump told reporters that a cash reward plan suggested by aides 'sounds like a good idea to me', while Elon Musk, who is thought to have at least 14 children, has previously warned 'civilisation is going to crumble' if fertility rates do not climb. The US's pro-natal proposals are inspired by the rewards offered by a number of nations dotted around the globe, including Australia, South Korea and Hungary. But policies have posted mixed results, with birth rates failing to significantly increase. Gabriella Hoffman, the director of the Center for Energy and Conservation at Independent Women's Forum, questioned why the American policy was under consideration. Ms Hoffman wrote on X: 'Baby bonuses have not worked for Hungary. Why would we replicate this here in [the US]?' Joseph Osborne, of US legal firm Osborne & Francis, said the incentives drawn up by the Trump administration 'risk becoming symbolic gestures'. He said: 'Global evidence suggests that baby bonuses on their own are rarely effective in reversing declining birth rates. 'Countries like South Korea and Russia have introduced generous financial incentives for over a decade, including cash payments, housing subsidies, and tax breaks. Yet, both nations remain among those with the lowest fertility rates in the world.' Russia's birth rate of 1.41 is described as 'catastrophic' by the Kremlin, while South Korea has recorded just one yearly birth rate increase in the past decade. Mr Osborne argues, 'these policies often fail because they treat the symptom, not the cause.' Figures from analysts LendingTree show the average cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is $297,674, the equivalent of $29,419. This marks a 25pc jump in costs compared with 2023 when the total stood at $237,482. Mr Osborne said: 'People aren't simply having fewer children due to upfront costs; they're making decisions based on long-term economic pressures, such as unaffordable childcare, stagnant wages, housing insecurity, and the lack of parental leave. 'A one-time payment of $5,000 may help with early expenses, but it does little to shift these deeper structural realities. Incentives risk becoming symbolic gestures rather than sustainable solutions.' In the US, maternity leave is inferior to other leading countries as there is no national statutory paid maternity, paternity or parental leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act enables some employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave, but only 60pc of workers are eligible. States can pass their own maternity laws, but a postcode lottery as to whether mothers receive support has been a key factor harming the nation's fertility rate. Oliver Chapman, chief executive of global supply chain procurement company OCI, said that while a cash perk may benefit parents in developing countries, higher earners are unlikely to be swayed. 'In developed nations, a baby bonus has only tended to result in a short-term increase in birth rates,' he said. 'Middle or upper-income families are much less likely to respond to this type of incentive, especially in the US.' Australia rolled out a $3,000 baby bonus in 2002, and while the fertility rate increased from 1.7 to 2 in the space of six years, it soon began to slump. By 2014 it had fallen to 1.5 and the policy was scrapped. Stefania Marcassa, a professor of economics at Université de Cergy-Pontoise, said: 'Studies suggest that while cash transfers can influence the timing and short-term patterns of fertility – especially among disadvantaged groups – their ability to produce sustained increases in overall fertility remains limited and context-dependent.' Rather than offer a one-off cash payment, demographics expert Paul Morland, believes the US should explore tax reliefs for parents. 'Payments are part of the solution, however, doing things through the tax system is more effective,' he said. 'A $5,000 payment is a lot of money to some people but tax relief is more relevant to higher earners and would benefit people across the income spectrum.' Tax relief, however, can come at a greater cost to government budgets, with France spending between 3.5pc and 4pc of GDP annually on a mixture of handouts, services and tax breaks. Families with one or two children can shave up to £1,700 a year off their tax bills, while those with three or more can save £3,400. Means-tested childcare allowances of up to £810 and a birth bonus of £892 are also offered. France is one of Europe's most fertile countries, yet, since 2011, there has been a continuous decline despite the perks. The number of births recorded last year was the lowest since 1919. Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a 'demographic rearmament', with adults offered greater incentives to have children. As France struggles to plug its falling birth rate despite devoting vast sums of GDP, experts believe Mr Trump's $5,000 incentive could be a mere drop in the ocean. 'There are other ways to spend money on this, such as changing housing regulations to create more affordable homes – that might give the government more bang for its buck,' Mr Morland said. As for Britain, the fertility rate of 1.44 is even below that of the US. The number of children born in England and Wales has been falling for the past decade and is at its lowest since 1977, while the average age of first-time mothers is at an all-time high. Women are thought to be choosing to prioritise careers or buying a house over having a baby, meaning many are having children later in life or not at all. Despite the decline, cash lump sum incentives for adults to have children are not on Britain's radar. Figures published at the end of last year showed that the number of children born to British mothers has fallen by a quarter in 15 years. Meanwhile, the fertility rate for foreign-born mothers has jumped to 2.03 children per woman. It means Britain has a reliance on immigration to boost its birth rate, according to Sarah Harper, professor of gerontology at Oxford University. The South Korean birth rate fell to just 0.72 children per woman in 2023, the lowest in the world. It recorded a 3.1pc jump last year but it's unclear whether the government's pro-parent policy push is behind the rebound. Economists believe it may be down to the mini-boom of babies born in the 1990s who are now reaching their early 30s and becoming parents themselves. The country has spent over £200bn on baby-making incentives in the past 20 years, including state-sponsored dating. A much more radical scheme under consideration would mean cash handouts worth around £56,000 per baby. Elsewhere, Hungary is planning to grant mothers with one child an income tax exemption until they turn 30, while those with at least two children will pay no income tax for life. In Spain a €2,500 universal child benefit introduced in 2007 and withdrawn in 2010 led to a 3pc increase in births, according to one study. But this did not provide clear evidence of a sustained increase in the fertility rate. Meanwhile, another recent working paper found that a child-related transfer launched in Italy in 2022 had no impact. With mixed results around the world, there is scepticism that a $5,000 bonus will work in the US. Rather than using a 'blunt tool' cash perk, experts believe deeper-rooted socio-economic issues need resolving. Mr Chapman said: 'I do not see Trump's latest policy reversing declining fertility trends and increasing the birth rate.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
02-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Trump's $5,000 ‘baby bonus' will never work
Donald Trump's plan to give women $5,000 to have children is a 'symbolic gesture' which will fail to curb the United States' crumbling birth rate, experts have warned. The push for more babies comes amid decades of falling birth rates. The total fertility rate in 2023 was just 1.62 births per woman, well below the 2.1 required to keep the population even. Mr Trump told reporters that a cash reward plan suggested by aides 'sounds like a good idea to me', while Elon Musk, who is thought to have at least 14 children, has previously warned 'civilisation is going to crumble' if fertility rates do not climb. The US's pro-natal proposals are inspired by the rewards offered by a number of nations dotted around the globe, including Australia, South Korea and Hungary. But policies have posted mixed results, with birth rates failing to significantly increase. Gabriella Hoffman, the director of the Center for Energy and Conservation at Independent Women's Forum, questioned why the American policy was under consideration. Ms Hoffman wrote on X: 'Baby bonuses have not worked for Hungary. Why would we replicate this here in [the US]?' Joseph Osborne, of US legal firm Osborne & Francis, said the incentives drawn up by the Trump administration 'risk becoming symbolic gestures'. He said: 'Global evidence suggests that baby bonuses on their own are rarely effective in reversing declining birth rates. 'Countries like South Korea and Russia have introduced generous financial incentives for over a decade, including cash payments, housing subsidies, and tax breaks. Yet, both nations remain among those with the lowest fertility rates in the world.' Russia's birth rate of 1.41 is described as 'catastrophic' by the Kremlin, while South Korea has recorded just one yearly birth rate increase in the past decade. Mr Osborne argues, 'these policies often fail because they treat the symptom, not the cause.' Figures from analysts LendingTree show the average cost of raising a child to the age of 18 is $297,674, the equivalent of $29,419. This marks a 25pc jump in costs compared with 2023 when the total stood at $237,482. Mr Osborne said: 'People aren't simply having fewer children due to upfront costs; they're making decisions based on long-term economic pressures, such as unaffordable childcare, stagnant wages, housing insecurity, and the lack of parental leave. 'A one-time payment of $5,000 may help with early expenses, but it does little to shift these deeper structural realities. Incentives risk becoming symbolic gestures rather than sustainable solutions.' In the US, maternity leave is inferior to other leading countries as there is no national statutory paid maternity, paternity or parental leave. The Family and Medical Leave Act enables some employees to take up to 12 weeks unpaid maternity leave, but only 60pc of workers are eligible. States can pass their own maternity laws, but a postcode lottery as to whether mothers receive support has been a key factor harming the nation's fertility rate. 'Lump sums aren't the solution' Oliver Chapman, chief executive of global supply chain procurement company OCI, said that while a cash perk may benefit parents in developing countries, higher earners are unlikely to be swayed. 'In developed nations, a baby bonus has only tended to result in a short-term increase in birth rates,' he said. 'Middle or upper-income families are much less likely to respond to this type of incentive, especially in the US.' Australia rolled out a $3,000 baby bonus in 2002, and while the fertility rate increased from 1.7 to 2 in the space of six years, it soon began to slump. By 2014 it had fallen to 1.5 and the policy was scrapped. Stefania Marcassa, a professor of economics at Université de Cergy-Pontoise, said: 'Studies suggest that while cash transfers can influence the timing and short-term patterns of fertility – especially among disadvantaged groups – their ability to produce sustained increases in overall fertility remains limited and context-dependent.' Rather than offer a one-off cash payment, demographics expert Paul Morland, believes the US should explore tax reliefs for parents. 'Payments are part of the solution, however, doing things through the tax system is more effective,' he said. 'A $5,000 payment is a lot of money to some people but tax relief is more relevant to higher earners and would benefit people across the income spectrum.' Tax relief, however, can come at a greater cost to government budgets, with France spending between 3.5pc and 4pc of GDP annually on a mixture of handouts, services and tax breaks. Families with one or two children can shave up to £1,700 a year off their tax bills, while those with three or more can save £3,400. Means-tested childcare allowances of up to £810 and a birth bonus of £892 are also offered. France is one of Europe's most fertile countries, yet, since 2011, there has been a continuous decline despite the perks. The number of births recorded last year was the lowest since 1919. Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a 'demographic rearmament', with adults offered greater incentives to have children. As France struggles to plug its falling birth rate despite devoting vast sums of GDP, experts believe Mr Trump's $5,000 incentive could be a mere drop in the ocean. 'There are other ways to spend money on this, such as changing housing regulations to create more affordable homes – that might give the government more bang for its buck,' Mr Morland said. As for Britain, the fertility rate of 1.44 is even below that of the US. The number of children born in England and Wales has been falling for the past decade and is at its lowest since 1977, while the average age of first-time mothers is at an all-time high. Women are thought to be choosing to prioritise careers or buying a house over having a baby, meaning many are having children later in life or not at all. Despite the decline, cash lump sum incentives for adults to have children are not on Britain's radar. Figures published at the end of last year showed that the number of children born to British mothers has fallen by a quarter in 15 years. Meanwhile, the fertility rate for foreign-born mothers has jumped to 2.03 children per woman. It means Britain has a reliance on immigration to boost its birth rate, according to Sarah Harper, professor of gerontology at Oxford University. The South Korean birth rate fell to just 0.72 children per woman in 2023, the lowest in the world. It recorded a 3.1pc jump last year but it's unclear whether the government's pro-parent policy push is behind the rebound. Economists believe it may be down to the mini-boom of babies born in the 1990s who are now reaching their early 30s and becoming parents themselves. The country has spent over £200bn on baby-making incentives in the past 20 years, including state-sponsored dating. A much more radical scheme under consideration would mean cash handouts worth around £56,000 per baby. Elsewhere, Hungary is planning to grant mothers with one child an income tax exemption until they turn 30, while those with at least two children will pay no income tax for life. Meanwhile, another recent working paper found that a child-related transfer launched in Italy in 2022 had no impact. With mixed results around the world, there is scepticism that a $5,000 bonus will work in the US. Rather than using a 'blunt tool' cash perk, experts believe deeper-rooted socio-economic issues need resolving. Mr Chapman said: 'I do not see Trump's latest policy reversing declining fertility trends and increasing the birth rate.'
USA Today
11-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Women refuse to compete against transgender athletes. They shouldn't have to.
Women refuse to compete against transgender athletes. They shouldn't have to. | Opinion Women athletes are forfeiting games to avoid competing against transgender athletes. I wish they didn't have to sacrifice so much to make their point. Show Caption Hide Caption Pro disc golfer refuses to play against transgender opponent Professional disc golfer Abigail Wilson refused to compete against a transgender opponent at a competition in Nashville, TN. If you need another example of how absurd it is for transgender athletes to be competing against women, look no further than what happened at a recent women's pool tournament in the United Kingdom. The title match featured two transgender athletes, as allowed by the governing body, the English Pool Association. The two biological male players had defeated the biological women to reach the championship. What a coincidence. While that incident is maddening for anyone who cares about fairness in women's sports, there have been recent examples of women standing against the gender insanity that's crept into their lives. Since late last year, women in several high-profile instances have refused to compete – or forfeited a game – to protest transgender-lenient policies that undermine the entire point of women's athletics. And these women – many of them young women – deserve our full support. Faced with a transgender opponent? This woman took a knee. On March 30, Stephanie Turner created an online stir when she refused to compete against her transgender opponent at a USA Fencing-sanctioned tournament in Maryland. Turner did it in a respectful manner. She didn't cause a scene. She took a knee. Shame on @USAFencing‼️ This female fencer courageously took a stand + refused to compete against a male athlete. Athletes like her are true heroes! — Independent Women's Forum (@IWF) April 2, 2025 And for that – standing up for herself – she was disqualified from the event. Refusing to compete earned her a black card, meaning she was out of the tournament. 'I told them that I was refusing to fence because this person is a man, and I'm a woman, and this is a women's tournament and I refuse to fence on principle,' Turner said on Fox News after the incident. USA Fencing has said that it stands for 'inclusion' and 'fair competition,' but if it is disqualifying a female athlete at a women's event to accommodate a biological male competitor, it's hard to square its mission with its actions. Opinion: Trump is '1,000% doing the right thing.' Former Democrat speaks up for women. Just days after the fencing tournament, Abigail Wilson walked off the disc golf course at the Music City Open in Tennessee to protest being forced to compete against a transgender opponent. 'Females must be protected in our division,' Wilson said. 'This is unfair. I refuse to play.' Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. In November, the women volleyball players at Boise State University chose to give up their shot to reach the NCAA tournament when they refused to play San Jose State, a team with a transgender player, in a championship game. Separately, there's a related lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference related to its transgender policy. How many more women will have to give up opportunities? When I see these examples of women standing for themselves and other women, I'm proud of their bravery. But I also feel for them and what they're giving up. Whether it's a competition at the college or professional level, women who choose not to compete in an unfair situation are forgoing all the sweat, time and money they've devoted to their sport – not to mention other lost opportunities. Opinion: Trump is winning for women and girls by preserving Title IX's original intent Kiersten Van Kirk, a volleyball player for Boise State, told Outkick the decision not to play was 'disheartening and heartbreaking' but that she's looking beyond herself: 'I know that we are all working towards future generations being able to have a safe place for female athletes to compete and putting that above ourselves, which is a really hard thing to do because obviously our goal was to win a championship. And I think that it's extremely unfair and really terrible that it had to come to that.' It is unfair. And that's why more attention needs to be brought to what's happening. Thanks to the efforts of female athletes like Riley Gaines, who has become famous for speaking out after she had to compete against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas while in college, more people are taking notice. That includes President Donald Trump, who has made keeping women's sports for women a priority. He signed an executive order in January protecting women's athletics at schools that receive federal funding. Republicans in Congress are seeking to do the same, but Democrats are unwisely blocking the effort. In the meantime, women are taking matters into their own hands. But I wish they didn't have to give up so much to make their point. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
