Latest news with #JonathanAllen
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Keys for the Minnesota Vikings' defense against the Texans offense
The Minnesota Vikings play a game on Saturday. They host the Houston Texans at 3 PM CST. And although we may not see a ton of their starters play, there will be plenty of intrigue with the Vikings' depth players. Here are three keys for the Vikings' defense on Saturday. Generate an interior pass rush Free agent additions Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave likely won't be playing Saturday, but the Vikings would love to see their backup interior defensive linemen rush the Texans' passers. The three top backups-- Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins-- are all young, promising players who could give Brian Flores even more flexibility if they can show they can be counted on to get to the quarterback. Find the fourth EDGE rusher The Vikings' top three EDGE rushers are set, but the battle for the fourth spot is more hotly contested. Second-year players Gabriel Murphy and Bo Richter appear to be the top candidates for the spot. But don't be surprised to see undrafted rookie free agent Tyler Batty make a case for himself if he can splash on Saturday. Who can step up to start at cornerback? Byron Murphy, Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers are entrenched as starters at cornerback, but the spots behind them are up for grabs. Mekhi Blackmon and Jeff Okudah appear to be battling for CB3, but could second-year undrafted free agent Dwight McGlothern surprise everyone and leapfrog the competition? McGlothern intercepted a pass in three straight practices last week. He splashed last preseason. Can he gain additional trust from the coaching staff if he shows out again? This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Keys for the Vikings' defense against the Texans offense
NBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
A red-state Democrat test-drives a 2028 message: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Alexandra Marquez files a dispatch from the not-so-subtle 2028 shadow primary campaign trail. Plus, Jonathan Allen explores what the Jeffrey Epstein files fight reveals about the future of the MAGA movement — and Donald Trump's role in it. — Adam Wollner A red-state Democrat test-drives a 2028 message GREENVILLE, S.C. — In an early preview of a potential 2028 presidential campaign, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear hit the road across South Carolina this week, testing a message focused on how to grow the Democratic coalition. Beshear laid out a blueprint for the party to win back rural voters, union voters, independent voters and even Republicans — music to the ears of Democrats still feeling the sting of 2024's losses and eager to hear about how the party can rise again. 'The actions of the Trump administration are providing a huge opportunity for Democrats to go out and regain the trust of the American people to be the party of common sense, common ground and getting things done,' Beshear, 47, told union members gathered at the South Carolina AFL-CIO convention in Greenville. 'When we deliver and make people's lives better, they're willing to vote in different ways. They're willing to support different people, and that's where we've got to be,' added Beshear. Red-state credentials: At stop after stop, Beshear noted that he knows how to win voters in traditionally Republican areas. After all, he's done it twice. The first time was in 2019, when he won his first gubernatorial election by less than half a percentage point, beating GOP Gov. Matt Bevin. In 2023, Beshear improved his margins, beating then-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, by 5 points. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump won Kentucky by almost 26 points in 2020 and by over 30 points in 2024. South Carolina focus: Though he insisted that his travel to South Carolina came about partly because of his son's baseball tournament near Charleston, Beshear hasn't been coy about his presidential aspirations before arriving in the state that voted first in last year's Democratic presidential primaries. In an interview with 'Meet the Press' just days before he arrived in South Carolina, Beshear said he would ' take a look ' at launching a presidential campaign in 2028. He's at least the fourth Democratic elected official to publicly visit the state this year, arriving just a week after California Gov. Gavin Newsom and several weeks after Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Tim Walz of Minnesota. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also has an event planned in the state later this week. Analysis by Jonathan Allen Whatever is in the Jeffrey Epstein files, Americans haven't learned much about the content because the Justice Department hasn't released them and appears to be in no rush to do so. But the fight over them has told the public a lot about the future of the MAGA movement and President Donald Trump's place in it. The truth that grows more glaringly obvious with each passing day is that Trump is a temporary leader of a modern Republican base that fashioned itself in his image. But countless elected officials and right-wing influencers hope to remain prominent once Trump has exited the presidency. Their timeline simply isn't the same as his. These folks, from Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk to megabroadcasters Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones, simply can't afford to alienate the hardcore MAGA base that is calling for transparency on a matter that speaks directly to their antipathy for powerful institutions and players. That's the most logical explanation for echoing criticism of Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi. It's not that Trump's longtime allies don't support his presidency — Kirk went so far as to say this week that pushing the Epstein issue is done out of love for Trump — but they aren't about to risk their own credibility with his voters. Trump, who watched some of his most prolific backers distance themselves from him on arming Ukraine and bombing Iran, can expect more of the same as his second term progresses. Over time, ambitious figures in the MAGA wing of the GOP are sure to cling tighter to the base than to Trump. That's the new reality for a president who faces a constitutional bar to running for another term. The lesson for him is that despite being the most powerful person in the world, his political capital will continue to diminish each time he picks a fight with his own movement. The Epstein files represent the first major MAGA rift of his second term. If he's not careful, it won't be the last. DOJ fires Maurene Comey, daughter of James Comey and a prosecutor in Sean Combs' and Ghislaine Maxwell's cases, by Ryan J. Reilly, Jonathan Dienst, David Rohde and Zoë Richards
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders' Daron Payne Tabbed as 'Player to Root For' in 2025
Commanders' Daron Payne Tabbed as 'Player to Root For' in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. For the past seven seasons, both Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne have plugged the middle of the Washington Commanders' defensive line. Heading into 2025, Payne will be doing it without Allen, who has moved on to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency. Both head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. have been vocal with praise about Payne this offseason, and most think he can take a leap in 2025 now that he's out of Allen's shadow on the defensive line. Payne is an easy guy to root for, and Tom Blair placed him on a list with the "players to root for" in 2025. "Many of us are already rooting for Jayden Daniels, because, duh, and for Terry McLaurin, because he's A) very good and B) paid his dues in the extreme as a mainstay of the franchise's pre-Daniels days," Blair wrote. "How about giving some love to the other roster stalwart who has Really Gone Through It in Washington? Jonathan Allen's departure this offseason leaves Payne (drafted 13th overall in 2018) as one of the longest-tenured Commanders, someone who's started 84 straight regular-season games for the team -- just 38 of which ended in victory, including 12 last season. The 28-year-old is as deserving as anyone of reveling in Washington's transformation into a legit contender. "All the better if Payne, whose pressure rate and sack totals dipped after an 11.5-sack 2022 season, can translate the positive buzz he's been generating to a renewed dominance on the field." ESPN stopped just short of adding Payne to its "top 10 defensive tackles" in the NFL, but he did receive votes. And he should be easy to root for on an offense with a lot of other fun players to cheer for in 2025. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
The not-so-subtle 2028 shadow primary intensifies: From the Politics Desk
Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, Bridget Bowman looks at the not-so-subtle beginnings of the 2028 presidential contest, from the online list-building to the on-the-ground appearances in early primary states. Plus, Jonathan Allen analyzes Trump's recent reckonings with the limits of his power on foreign policy. — Scott Bland The shadow 2028 primary gains momentum By Bridget Bowman (with Alexandra Marquez contributing) It might be way too early to be thinking about the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. But potential contenders are already jockeying to boost their profiles and their campaign coffers. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., is the latest potential contender to boast a strong fundraising report, announcing today that he raised a whopping $10 million through his Senate campaign and a joint fundraising committee after his marathon speech on the Senate floor in April. As a reminder, Booker did not rule out another presidential run during an April appearance on 'Meet the Press,' saying he's focused on his 2026 re-election race. He also told NBC News' Julie Tsirkin today that he hopes the big fundraising haul 'can scare away competition in New Jersey and I can do what I've done in previous cycles, which is help as many other people as I can.' Fundraising reports for the second quarter are due to the Federal Election Commission next week, so we'll see how other potential presidential hopefuls are faring. Some high-profile progressives like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted some big numbers in the first quarter of the year. Meanwhile, potential presidential contenders are also hitting the campaign trail, popping up in states that also just happen to be traditionally early primary states, though the 2028 calendar isn't set yet. California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was on a two-day tour of South Carolina this week with the state's Democratic Party. Both Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., will be in South Carolina next week, with Beshear appearing at an AFL-CIO convention and county party fundraiser, and Khanna hosting a 'Benefits Over Billionaires' town hall meeting. This weekend, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., will head to New Hampshire to campaign with Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Senate. And next month, Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego will head to Iowa, touting his trip with a hype video that has 'We Will Rock You' blaring in the background. These potential candidates aren't wasting any time to show off their fundraising strengths and get some face time with voters in early primary states — and maybe enjoy some Charleston barbecue, Iowa fair food and New England clam chowder along the way. Trump confronts the limits of his power on foreign policy Analysis by Jonathan Allen President Donald Trump keeps expecting powerful sovereign nations to bend to his will, and they continue to disappoint. With a presidential term under his belt already, and a lifetime of cutting business deals, he should have seen that coming. While the U.S. is the biggest kid on the international playground, it is not powerful enough to override the national interests of other major players. U.S. views are a factor in their decisions, but not the only factor — and usually not the most important factor. That's especially true at a time when the people of many nations, including neighbors Canada and Mexico, see the U.S. as both their top ally and the top threat, according to new survey data from the Pew Research Center. If Trump is learning the limits of American dominance, he's doing so the hard way. The most obvious examples are on twin pillars of foreign policy: war and trade. Trump famously vowed during his campaign that he would resolve the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. It's been nearly six months, and there is no sign of progress toward peace. That has Trump on the warpath. He vented about Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, accusing the Russian president of selling 'bulls---' to American negotiators. 'I'm not happy with Putin,' Trump said. Russia launched massive strikes on Ukraine on Thursday anyway. A few months ago, Trump said his administration would sign 90 trade deals in 90 days. That hasn't happened. He's got frameworks for agreements with China and the U.K., but those modest advances have not stopped him from issuing more threats to impose tariffs on foreign goods. Though he has kicked the can down the road a few times, he insists that won't happen again when his latest deadline arrives in August. The risk that tariffs will backfire by jacking up prices on U.S. consumers is high, and foreign countries are free to trade with one another at the expense of Americans' access to goods. The world will have to wait and see whether Trump actually takes that plunge. But what is already clear is that, except in isolated circumstances, he can't just wave his hand and expect other nations to dance for him.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rescue teams find three more bodies after central Texas floods
By Rich McKay and Jonathan Allen (Reuters) -The death toll in Kerr County crept up to 87 on Tuesday as search and rescue teams recovered three more bodies in the flood-ravaged hills of central Texas, according to officials in the county worst hit by the disaster. Rescue teams from federal agencies, neighboring states and Mexico have joined local efforts to search for survivors, which have been hindered by thunderstorms and downpours. As they work through lists of people reported missing, the teams have not found a living survivor in Kerr County since Friday. The floods have killed at least 109 people including dozens of children. "The work is extremely treacherous, time-consuming," Lieutenant Colonel Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens said at the press conference. "It's dirty work. The water is still there." Torrential rains before dawn on Friday deluged the Guadalupe River, which burst its banks and killed dozens of people, leaving behind mangled piles of debris, trees and cars. Local and federal emergency officials have faced days of angry questions about whether they could have warned people in flood-prone Texas Hill Country sooner. At least 56 adults and 30 children have been killed in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a press conference in Kerrville, the county seat, with more than two dozen victims yet to be identified. Authorities have not determined if the 87th victim was an adult or child. Some of the flood victims were sleeping at Camp Mystic, a riverside Christian girls' summer camp near the town of Hunt; five children and one camp counsellor were still unaccounted for on Tuesday. The sheriff rebuffed several questions about the county's emergency management operations and preparedness, and declined to say who in the county was ultimately in charge of monitoring weather alerts and issuing a flood warning or evacuation order. He said his office first started getting 911 emergency calls between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Friday, several hours after the local National Weather Service station issued a flash-flood alert. "We're in the process of trying to put (together) a timeline," Leitha said. The floods killed at least another 22 people outside Kerr County, according to local sheriffs' and media reports, with seven dead in Travis County, seven dead in Kendall County, five dead in Burnett County, two in Williamson County and one in Tom Green County. U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican, plans to visit the devastated region this week, a spokesperson said. Democrats in Washington have called for an official investigation into whether the Trump administration's job cuts at the National Weather Service affected the agency's response to the floods.
