Latest news with #Louisiana
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Johnson says Bondi needs to ‘explain' Epstein statement in break from Trump
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Tuesday that Attorney General Pam Bondi needs to explain her statements regarding Jeffrey Epstein after the Department of Justice announced it would not make any more disclosures in the case of the disgraced financier. The statement marks a notable break from President Trump, who has stood by his attorney general and urged his supporters to drop the matter, even as Johnson stressed that he trusts the president. In an interview Tuesday with conservative influencer and commentator Benny Johnson, the Speaker was asked about the prospect of Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein's one-time girlfriend who was convicted for trafficking young girls — testifying before Congress, or the prospect of subpoenaing documents from the Department of Justice about the matter. 'I'm for transparency,' Speaker Johnson responded. 'We're intellectually consistent in this. Look, [former President] Reagan used tell us, we should trust the American people, and I believe in that principle, and I know President Trump does as well. I trust him. I mean, he put together a team of his choosing, and they're doing a great job. It's a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it.' 'The White House and the White House team are privy to facts that I don't know. I mean, this isn't my lane, I haven't been involved in that. But I agree with the sentiment that we need to put it out there,' he continued. The Louisiana Republican referenced Bondi's statement from earlier this year in which she said on Fox News that an Epstein client list was 'sitting on my desk right now for review' — a quote that those angry with her subsequent move against disclosure have repeatedly referenced. Bondi has since said she was referring to the Epstein case files more generally, not a specific 'client list.' 'She needs to come forward and explain that to everybody,' Johnson said. 'I like Pam. I mean, think she's done a good job. We need the DOJ [Department of Justice] focusing on the major priorities, so let's get this thing resolved so that they can deal with violent crime and public safety and election integrity and going after ActBlue and the things the president is most concerned about, as we are.' The Justice Department and FBI asserted in a memo last week that Epstein's death was a suicide and that he did not have a client list. Officials declined to release any more details, saying information under seal 'served only to protect victims and did not expose any additional third-parties to allegations of illegal wrongdoing.' That decision enraged many conservatives, who have long viewed the Epstein matter as a case of the rich and powerful covering up horrendous crimes and had hoped Trump would release more information on the case. While the Speaker is usually in lockstep with Trump on major issues, his statement marks an unusual departure from the president's line. Trump has urged his supporters to drop the Epstein matter. On Tuesday, he said the Epstein files were 'made up' by Democrats, and said Bondi has handled the situation 'very well.' But the conservative base's fury has persisted, causing worry — and frustration — among Republicans. 'I'm anxious to get this behind us,' Johnson said, lamenting that 'we're having to spend our time talking about this' after Congress sent Trump's major tax and spending legislation to his desk. 'Let's get it resolved.' 'What Epstein was involved in was an unspeakable evil. We need to stand against it not just in word, but in deed,' Johnson said. 'I do trust the president. I know his heart and his head is in the right place. I don't question that at all. And I'm convinced they're going to sort this out.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dustin Poirier's last stand at UFC 318 as family awaits a new champion
The post Dustin Poirier's last stand at UFC 318 as family awaits a new champion appeared first on ClutchPoints. Dustin Poirier, the pride of Lafayette, Louisiana, has confirmed what MMA fans have long dreaded: win or lose, his July 19th clash with Max Holloway at UFC 318 will be his final walk to the Octagon. The announcement is as heartfelt as it is seismic. Poirier's decision is rooted not just in the wear and tear of 19 years in the cage but in the joy of family, as he and his wife await the arrival of their baby boy. 'This is the last one. 19 years in, man. Had my first cage fight in 2007… my wife's pregnant right now… my wife's pregnant with a boy. So there's a lot going on, man,' Poirier shared, his words echoing across the MMA world and signaling the end of an era. UFC 318, set in New Orleans' Smoothie King Center, is more than just another PPV; it celebrates Poirier's legacy and a high-octane send-off against a familiar foe. Max Holloway, the BMF champion and former featherweight king, stands across from Poirier for the third, and likely final, time, with the 'Baddest Motherf***er' belt on the line. Their rivalry is storied: Poirier submitted a young Holloway in their 2012 featherweight debut, then outdueled him in a five-round war for the interim lightweight title in 2019. Now, with the series at 2-0 for Poirier, Holloway seeks redemption, and Poirier seeks closure in front of his home crowd. UFC CEO Dana White has clarified that UFC 318 is Poirier's night. 'He has achieved a great deal in this sport. To be honest, this event is for him. He expressed a desire to have his final fight in New Orleans, and that's precisely what we're doing,' White said. The card, though criticized for lacking depth, is anchored by this main event, which promises fireworks and emotion in equal measure. For Poirier, the chance to retire in Louisiana, where his journey began, is a fitting bookend to a remarkable career. From Lafayette to Legend: The Poirier Story Poirier's professional journey began in 2007, and by 2009 he was already making waves, racking up seven finishes in his first seven fights. He entered the UFC in 2011, quickly establishing himself as a fan favorite thanks to his relentless style and willingness to embrace chaos. His first UFC main event came against 'The Korean Zombie,' Chan Sung Jung, in a Fight of the Night war that, despite ending in defeat, only cemented his reputation for heart and grit. Poirier's career is a testament to resilience. He rebuilt after tough losses, moved up from featherweight to lightweight, and embarked on a run that saw him topple legends like Anthony Pettis, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez, and Conor McGregor. His 2019 interim lightweight title win over Holloway stands as a career highlight, and though the undisputed gold eluded him in battles with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, Poirier's legacy is secure. Poirier's impact goes beyond wins and losses. He's tied for fourth most post-fight bonuses in UFC history, a testament to his all-action style. He's a philanthropist, a role model, and a fighter's fighter, respected by peers and adored by fans. His career is a highlight reel of grit, adversity, and triumph, and his willingness to step away for family only adds to his legend. Poirier's Retirement Is MMA's Most Bittersweet Goodbye In a sport defined by comebacks and retirements that rarely stick, Poirier's decision feels different. He's walking away on his terms, with his health, his dignity, and his family as his next championship. 'I'm going to lay the gloves down in Louisiana where it all started for me. The whole journey started there and I'm just honored to have the UFC on the same page and the state of Louisiana on the same page to make all this work,' Poirier said. As the MMA world braces for one last 'Diamond' performance, the stakes are clear: legacy, family, and the chance to say goodbye in front of those who matter most. Whether his hand is raised or not, Poirier's place among the all-time greats is secure—and his next chapter, as a father and legend, begins the moment the cage door closes behind him. Related: Elijah Smith vs. Toshiomi Kazama headlines new UFC Vegas 109 clash on August 9th Related: UFC Atlanta crowd sets the bar high by shattering gate and attendance records
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dustin Poirier to walk out with Lil Wayne at UFC 318
The post Dustin Poirier to walk out with Lil Wayne at UFC 318 appeared first on ClutchPoints. Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier, one of UFC's most respected veterans, will commemorate the end of his MMA career at UFC 318 with a grand gesture. In a highly anticipated retirement bout, Poirier (30-9, 1 NC) will face UFC BMF champion Max Holloway (26-8) in the main event at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday and will be accompanied to the Octagon by rap legend Lil Wayne. Poirier, a Louisiana native, began his UFC journey walking out to Lil Wayne's 'Drop the World' back in 2011. Although he has more recently used James Brown's 'The Boss' as his walkout anthem, Poirier confirmed during Media Day on Wednesday that this final walk will combine both tracks. 'It will be a little bit of James Brown, a little bit of Wayne,' Poirier said. 'Yeah, Wayne's walking out with me. I have to (stick with the James Brown song). I've paid the cost to be the boss. On my last one, I can't go that far away from it. I need to hear that. I need to feel that vibe before I fight someone.' The inclusion of Lil Wayne, a lifelong UFC fan and fellow New Orleans icon, fulfills a promise Poirier hinted at during an April episode of The Ariel Helwani Show. At the time, he said: 'If Lil Wayne wants to walk me out in New Orleans, I'll walk out to Lil Wayne in my last fight and switch it up from James Brown. If he does 'Drop the World,' I'll come out to it.' Wayne has frequently shown support for Poirier on social media during fight nights. This fight will be the fourth meeting between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway. Their first clash was at UFC 143 in 2012, where Poirier handed Holloway his first professional loss. The rematch took place at UFC 236 in April 2019, with Poirier capturing the interim UFC lightweight title and snapping Holloway's 13-fight win streak. At UFC 318, they meet again for the coveted BMF title, which Holloway earned after knocking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 200. Poirier previously fought for the BMF belt at UFC 291, where he lost to Gaethje. This fight comes shortly after both fighters experienced recent losses. Poirier last fought at UFC 302 in June 2024, where he was defeated by Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion. Holloway's last bout was a loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 in October 2023. While UFC President Dana White typically avoids live music performances during fighter walkouts, he has allowed celebrity companions in the past. Examples include Jack Black and Kyle Gass walking with Stephen Thompson at UFC 296, and Mark Zuckerberg walking out with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. It remains unclear if Lil Wayne will perform live, but his presence alone is expected to energize the crowd. UFC 318, available on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View, also features fights including Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov, Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez, Dan Ige vs. Patricio Pitbull, and Michael Johnson vs. Daniel Zellhuber. Related: Dana White teases Jon Jones, Conor McGregor UFC White House card Related: 5 best light heavyweight UFC fighters ever
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Garrett Nussmeier on staying at LSU and how he is more focused than ever
LSU's Garrett Nussmeier spoke to Yahoo Sports' Jason Fitz about his decision not to leave LSU, how often players talk about the transfer portal, and how focused he is on the upcoming season. Garrett joined Yahoo Sports on behalf of EA Sports College Football. View more Video Transcript Jason Fitzs with Yahoo Sports hanging out with Garrett Nussmeyer, superstar quarterback for LSU. Let's be honest, there are a lot of players that, when they didn't get on the field earlier, would have transferred. Looking back at that decision, what impact did your decision to stay have and how do you feel about it now? Yeah, I mean, for one, as I speak on all the time, I think, you know, it's important to have an idea of who you are and have a foundation, you know, for me, that's been my faith, and, you know, trusting in God and His timing and His plan for me, and, you know, just being able to keep my head down and, and, go to work, you know, and try to get better at the things that, you know, I knew I needed to work on. Um, you know, I think it's been a huge advantage for me to be able to stay in the same system and at the same school. And be around the same coaches and, and similar teammates, and, um, it's something that, you know, I'm very grateful, um, that I made that decision. I'm very, very blessed and very thankful, and, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than LSU. The portal conversation is so new to college football. When you guys are in the locker room, how much are you guys talking to each other about these decisions and what's right for everybody and how to go about the process? Yeah, well, you know, just because I stayed, doesn't mean that, you know, it's gonna work out for everybody. You know, Um, and it's very situational. Um, it's very different, and so I'm very thankful that I had the opportunity to stay, and I was allowed to make that decision, you know, and so, uh, there's definitely conversation in the locker room about, guys and who might leave and, you know, trying to talk to your teammates to, to pick their mind and see how they're feeling about things, if there are ways you can, you know, help them out or make them feel better about situations, um, it's definitely a different dynamic than it was in the past. A lot of attention is going to be paid to you this year because people are already talking about the NFL draft. How do you approach your season knowing that there are things that you have to be focused on for school? There are things that you have to be focused on for your team, but there is also a thing called your future that you have to be focused on. Yeah, well, you know, for me, uh, I'm just focused on our team. You know, I'm focused on our team goals. Um, I mean, I'm focused on being the best that I can be, uh, for my teammates, um, and so, uh, you know, you obviously, you can't, uh, completely ignore all the outside noise, you know, you're lying if you say that you don't hear, you know, um, and so I, I definitely hear, um, and, you know, as I spoke about our team with the expectations coming from within, uh, you know, I obviously have expectations for myself as well. Um, and so, uh, the way that I kind of stra and keep those in check is, you know, focusing on our team. Um, you know, my main goal is to help lead the LSU Tigers to a national championship, um, and let the rest fall in place. Joining us on behalf of EA Sports College Football, what's it like when you pull out a video game and you're playing as yourself? I'm very blessed to be on the cover, uh, first off, I mean, that's an unbelievable feeling, um, just to even see that, you know, along with the other coaches and players on the game. And, uh, to be able to use myself in the game, I will say it's, uh, it's an unreal feeling. Um, you know, it's, it's a lot of fun. Um, you know, I'm somebody who plays the video game a lot. Uh, so, uh, you know, to be able to hop on that and, and be able to play with my buddies, uh, as myself, it's pretty funny, um, and it's a lot of fun and there's a lot of jokes made, you know, when I maybe throw an interception in the game or something, you know, my buddies are like, you know, it's you twice, you know, it's, it's your fault twice. So, uh, it's pretty funny. Close
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LSU football QB Garrett Nussmeier names favorite former LSU wide receivers in NFL
LSU football senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier discusses which former Tiger wide receivers in the NFL that are his favorites.
