I would estimate 5000+ to hear her speak tonight. Low keyed “conversation” format. Pretty much what one would expect.

She argued that the nation you will always survive political disagreements but it will never survive 4 more years of Trump “trashing” the Constitution.

She feels it is important that Trump be tried for his part in January 6th insurrection….Trump has “all the information the committee ands prosecutors have” and he knows how embarrassing this evidence will be to him once he goes to trial….he’ll will not be able to withstand the embarrassment it will cause him..

She believes the Republicans made a grave tactical error walking away from the “immigration deal” bartered by the Senate a couple of weeks ago. Now the Republicans have no real advantage over Dems regarding immigration as they refused to agree to what they have demanded the past year.

The good folks (Republicans) of Wyoming screwed up by allowing her to be “primaried” out of office.

Wish I would have known they were playing in Sioux Falls. I woulda went. Oh well. Nice to have more of it televised at least.

Truly a crisis

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The Hyball: Carry That Weight​

Bobby Loesch • Go Iowa Awesome
Staff Writer
@bobbystompy

The Hyball is a weekly basketball column.

I keep drifting back to the Minnesota game.

You remember that one -- exactly one month ago today. Iowa won 108-60. The nets in that gym are still sitting there in ashy piles.

Almost a full regular season removed from Iowa's drama with LSU in the national title game, I wonder if we will look back at that as the last pure time of the Caitlin Clark era.

Since then? Clark declared for the pros. Senior night. An epic comeback in the Big Ten title game. Getting bashed in the face against Holy Cross. A West Virginia game so stomach churning, its vibes could only be compared to the devilish sport that is college football.

And I'm just talking about the game itself. Now we've got the the refs thing. And the -- /gulp -- backlash to Caitlin Clark. Backlash? Pardon? I've been around the block to know every high level hooper not named Steph Curry is going to have some detractors (hi, LeBron and KD!), so it really doesn't worry me about some sort of big picture narrative changing on Clark, but still -- it feels shitty.

This team, as often as they make us feel coated in freshly fallen snow, isn't perfect. Nothing, really, is perfect. They lack size. Athleticism. Clark does complain a lot (and has been on that for a while).

READ MORE HERE:

Does the first depth chart of spring football mean a whole lot? No. Absolutely not. Two guys atop the listed two-deeps are out this spring due to injury rehab.

Still -- it's something and it gives us a (very) early idea of what the 2024 depth chart will look like when it matters, five months from now.

Some takeaways from the first depth chart:

A federal appellate court on Thursday rejected an emergency challenge to North Carolina’s Republican-drawn legislative map, all but ensuring elections will go forward this year under contested lines drawn up in late 2023 that Democrats and voting rights advocates say were created to weaken Black representation.

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That means 2024 elections will go forward with a map experts say will help Republicans retain a supermajority in the state legislature that can block North Carolina’s Democratic governor from vetoing bills. The new maps are also expected to give Republicans at least three more seats in Congress. There are challenges in federal court to those changes as well, but none with a chance at being heard before this fall’s elections, for which primaries have already occurred.

“The election is ... happening right now,” Judge Allison Jones Rushing wrote for herself and J. Harvie Wilkinson III. They agreed with U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III that these maps did not create “the extraordinary circumstances necessary for a preliminary injunction that would disrupt the status quo and compel the race-based sorting of voters for the 2024 Senate elections.”



The case was heard first by a George W. Bush appointee who represented Republicans in North Carolina redistricting disputes before becoming a judge, and then by a panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit that included two GOP nominees. The ruling comes the same day a federal court in South Carolina ruled that state could hold this year’s elections under a map the same judges had declared an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, because an appeal is still pending in the Supreme Court.

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This cycle is the first time North Carolina is drawing new maps after two key, seemingly contradictory Supreme Court rulings. In the first, from 2013, the court said places with a history of racial discrimination no longer need approval from the Justice Department or federal court to change district lines. But last year, the court surprised observers by ruling that states still cannot draw lines that prevent minority voters from electing their preferred candidates.
Republicans in North Carolina argued, and Dever agreed, that the new lines were drawn with partisanship in mind rather than race. The Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that gerrymandering that is partisan, not racial, is something federal courts have no power to correct.



Minority votes can be diluted in two ways — “packing” them into a small number of districts where they dominate or “cracking” them across several where they have little sway. In past cases, the 4th Circuit and the Supreme Court have ruled that North Carolina Republicans illegally “packed” Black voters into the fewest possible districts to limit their voting power. Dever used those decisions to argue that the GOP cannot now be faulted for “cracking” the state’s Black Belt in a way that leaves no seat in the area with a Black majority.
“Instead of making that same mistake,” Dever wrote, this time Republican leaders “did not have race in the computer.” He added that evidence of racial animus in the state is “outdated” or unconvincing, as is evidence of racially polarized voting, because both White and Black voters show no particular loyalty toward candidates of their own race.
Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a voting rights expert at Harvard University, said that’s not how the law works. “It’s way too simplistic to say, ‘Because on a certain fact pattern a decade ago, one or two particular districts were found to have a predominantly racial purpose; therefore, North Carolina never has to consider race again when it’s redistricting’ — one doesn’t follow at all from the other,” he said. Under the Voting Rights Act, states cannot engage in racial gerrymandering — unless there is evidence that a White majority regularly defeats the candidates preferred by a minority group.



If that is the case, Stephanopoulos said, “the motives or the data that the line-drawers used are irrelevant.” Minority votes must then be protected either through majority-minority districts or “crossover” districts where enough White voters support minority-backed candidates.
The ruling drew a sharp dissent from Judge Roger L. Gregory, who warned that the ruling further weakened the voting rights protections already diminished in recent years by the Supreme Court.
“A conclusion that polarization is explained by partisan affiliation is not a conclusion that polarization is not explained by race,” he said. “… Permitting evidence of partisan motivation to explain away racial polarization converts Black voters’ motivations for voting into an impediment to Black voting power.”

Gregory, who in 2001 became the first Black judge on the 4th Circuit, said Dever “went out of [his] way to minimize the racial appeal” in Republican campaigns from as recently as 2020, “defying common sense.”


He agreed with the advocates that a new primary could and should be held in versions of the two state Senate districts that are similar to how they looked before redistricting. (Neither seat was contested when primaries were held on March 5).
Rushing said that the fact that the groups challenging the map took a month to file their lawsuit undercut any argument for urgency, and that the evidence was too ambiguous to justify intervention before a full trial. Voting rights activists say the Republicans who control the state legislature intentionally waited until October to put out the maps, with only a week of comment beforehand, making it harder to mount challenges before the election.

“They did it all behind closed doors; we had to go back and figure out what they did,” said Hilary Klein, an attorney for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.


North Carolina’s Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that drawing districts for political advantage violated the state constitution’s commitment to free and fair elections. But when Republicans took control of the court last year, they threw out that ruling, saying that “courts are not intended to meddle in policy matters.”
Paul Shumaker, a senior Republican consultant in North Carolina, said while the ruling will have a direct effect on this year's election, he doesn't expect the legal challenge to go away.
“It is just the final page of one chapter of one book in the ongoing saga of gerrymandering and redistricting in North Carolina,” he told The Washington Post.
“They’re going to write a new chapter starting now,” he said of opponents of the latest redistricting map.

In the tapestry of life, romantic love weaves a thread of enchantment, binding hearts in a timeless dance of passion and devotion. Like a melody that lingers in the soul, romantic love sings of longing, hope, and boundless possibility. It is the spark that ignites the flames of desire, drawing two souls together in a symphony of emotions that transcends time and space.

In the embrace of romantic love, every moment becomes a cherished memory, every glance a silent declaration of affection. It is a journey of discovery, where two souls embark on an adventure of intimacy and connection, navigating the twists and turns of life's labyrinth hand in hand. In the sanctuary of love's embrace, vulnerabilities are laid bare, fears are quelled, and hearts beat as one in a harmonious rhythm of love.

As the sun sets on the horizon of life, romantic love remains a beacon of light, illuminating the path of shared dreams and aspirations. It is a celebration of the human spirit, a testament to the enduring power of love to conquer all obstacles and triumph over adversity. In the tapestry of life, romantic love is the golden thread that binds hearts together, weaving a legacy of love that echoes through eternity.

damn it

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The electric vehicle (EV) market has been touted as the future of the automotive industry, with ambitious growth forecasts and government incentives driving the push towards widespread adoption.

However, recent indicators suggest a more challenging road ahead for the EV industry, with several factors contributing to potential headwinds in the market.

The once bullish forecasts for EV sales are encountering obstacles that are impeding the anticipated growth. While initial projections indicated a continuous surge in demand, the reality appears to be different. Reports from Germany and the U.S. highlight declining sales following the reduction or withdrawal of government subsidies, indicating that affordability plays a crucial role in consumer decision-making.

The rollback of governmental incentives, which previously provided tax credits for EV purchasers, has resulted in a price differential of 5.5% between electric vehicles and their internal combustion counterparts. This price disparity, combined with the reduction in models qualifying for tax credits, poses a significant challenge to sustaining the rapid sales growth experienced in previous years.

Technological limitations have also emerged as a barrier to broader EV adoption. Instances of EVs being left stranded at charging stations during extreme weather conditions underscore the challenges associated with battery performance in adverse climates.

While advancements in technology may eventually address these issues, they currently contribute to consumer apprehensions about the practicality and reliability of EVs, particularly in regions with harsh weather conditions.

The EV market's trajectory is also influenced by broader market dynamics and consumer behavior. Rising interest rates and loan delinquencies in the auto finance sector have added financial strain for potential EV buyers, potentially curbing their willingness to invest in more expensive electric vehicles.

Additionally, the industry is grappling with the challenge of appealing to a broader consumer base beyond early adopters, who have already embraced EVs, posing a significant hurdle to sustaining rapid growth 2.

The recent indications of a potential slowdown in the EV market raise important questions about the industry's trajectory and its ability to meet previously lofty growth projections.

As manufacturers navigate these challenges, a critical reevaluation of market strategies and technological advancements will be crucial in addressing affordability concerns, enhancing infrastructure, and overcoming consumer hesitations.

The future of the EV market hinges on the industry's ability to adapt to these evolving dynamics, innovate to address technological limitations, and engage with consumers to build confidence in the viability and practicality of electric vehicles.

As these challenges persist, the ability of the EV market to sustain its growth trajectory will depend on its responsiveness to these critical factors.

By closely monitoring these developments and responding with strategic initiatives, the EV industry can chart a path towards overcoming the hurdles it currently faces, ensuring a more sustainable and successful future.

In the US, Elon Musk's success with electric vehicles centers around his leadership at Tesla, where he has been instrumental in driving the company's innovation, growth, and market impact.

Under Musk's guidance, Tesla has achieved milestones such as the production of the mass-market Model 3, the development of cutting-edge battery technology, and the expansion of its global charging infrastructure.

Musk's vision and strategic acumen have played a pivotal role in popularizing electric vehicles, catalyzing industry-wide advancements, and reshaping perceptions of sustainable transportation.

Just got an email from Iowa that Griffin Liddle is taking a medical scholarship. He's ineligible to compete at Iowa, but in return he can keep his scholarship without it counting against the 85. Updated depth chart is here.

Ferentz had been asked about it at yesterday's presser.

Crew of in-state visitors and a three-star DL from Florida will be on campus tomorrow.

STORY:

Deplorable:

Following Tuesday’s deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, some Republican officials, candidates and right-wing pundits attempted to connect the tragedy to some of their most frequent political targets: diversity initiatives, illegal immigration, coronavirus lockdowns and the Biden administration. And early reaction to the incident also provided fresh ground for unfounded theories that the collapse was not an accident at all.


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The collapse along a key East Coast corridor early Tuesday sent at least eight people into the Patapsco River. The remains of two people have been recovered, and four others have been presumed dead. They were immigrant construction workers making bridge repairs at the time of the collapse.
Since the incident, several sitting Republican officials have sought to tie the Biden administration to the collapse of the nearly 50-year-old bridge.



Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) told Newsmax on Tuesday that the government is focusing on spending federal funds on “waste,” “when it could be going to things that are the government’s purpose, just like this.”

“We’re not spending it on roads and bridges. Look at the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that was done a couple of years ago that the left hails as this massive success. But it was mostly Green New Deal, actually, in that bill,” Mace said, referencing the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden.
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Baltimore bridge collapse​

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Republicans previously criticized Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as not visiting East Palestine, Ohio, quickly enough after a toxic train derailment there last year. But after the secretary visited Baltimore on the day of the bridge collapse, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) suggested without evidence that the visit was politically motivated and that Buttigieg was preoccupied with diversity policies.



“Well, this is an election year, so he probably, if it was two years ago might have been a month before he went at all,” Van Drew told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo on Wednesday. “He’s worried too much about pronouns, worried too much about DEI policies, worried too much about being the cool kid on the block. … I’m disappointed in the job that he does.”
Along with Van Drew, conservative political candidates and right-wing media personalities have turned to blaming diversity, equity and inclusion policies — a loosely defined term broadly used to refer to efforts to diversify the workforce and academia — for the collapse. It’s the latest in a series of issues that the right has blamed on DEI.
Utah state Rep. Phil Lyman (R) blamed DEI policies for the bridge collapse. The Utah gubernatorial candidate running against Gov. Spencer Cox (R) shared a post online attacking Port of Baltimore Commissioner Karenthia Barber, a Black woman whose biography says she owns a consulting practice that takes on work related to DEI. Responding to the post about Barber’s background, Lyman wrote on X on Tuesday morning that “this is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens.” In a subsequent post referencing the collision, he said: “DEI = DIE.”



Lyman told the Salt Lake Tribune later Tuesday that he had not authorized the comments before they were posted by his team, saying the post about Barber “was not our best moment” and that it “was a knee-jerk reaction to some of the things others were putting out there.”
Anthony Sabatini, a Florida congressional candidate, also blamed DEI for the bridge collapse in a post on X the morning of the collapse.


Maryland officials have repeatedly said that there is no credible evidence linking the collapse to terrorism and that the evidence points to the collision being an accident. But Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a far-right member of Congress who has promoted baseless and debunked claims, took to X on Tuesday to question whether the collision was “an intentional attack.”

Popular far-right social media accounts and right-wing media personalities, including some with close ties to former president Donald Trump and Republicans in office, have similarly sought to link what they see as liberal policies to the Baltimore incident. Some accounts even turned to racist tropes about Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D), which have been shared thousands of times.


In an interview with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Tuesday morning, Bartiromo, the Fox Business Network host, attempted to connect the incident to broader questions about “the potential for wrongdoing or the potential for foul play given the wide-open border.” And also that morning, Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, discussed his concerns about an unqualified, “drug-addled” workforce hamstrung by covid lockdowns.
“I’m one of these people that believes we’ve never fully come out of all the lockdowns and the covid issues. … I’m no expert on what’s going on in the seas, but all I would say is that if you talk to employers in America they’ll tell you that filling slots with employees who aren’t drug-addled is a very huge problem. So I’m making no specific charges here, because we don’t know. … We have to kind of wake up as a country and deal with the fact that we have too many people who aren’t ready to do the job,” Schlapp said on Newsmax.

Maryland Republicans have sought to send a more unifying message in response to the tragedy.


The Baltimore City Republican Party in a statement on Tuesday vowed to “stand with” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) in what they called “the biggest challenge of his term of office.”
Dennis Betzel, the second vice chair of the Baltimore City Republican Central Committee, emphasized that at the end of the day, “six people lost their lives.”
“That’s the beginning and the end of that conversation. I don’t care what political bent you are,” he added.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...timore-bridge-collapse-republican-conspiracy/

Shot

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Chaser

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Might as well consolidate like we do everything else around here.

Pew Pew Juneteenth


Consolidation: