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NBA tries justifying egregious, game-changing no-call in Pistons-Cavs in final seconds
The NBA says the officials were correct not to call a foul on the Cavaliers in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter against the Pistons, in a game Cleveland won in overtime.
"[Jarrett] Allen and [Ausar] Thompson legally step to the same spot while pursuing the loose ball [before either player has possession], and both lose their balance from the marginal contact," the league said via its Last Two Minutes Report on Thursday.
Except that is not what happened.
As the video below shows, Allen tripped Thompson and committed a foul. Had the foul been called, Thompson would have gone to the free-throw line with the score tied 103-103 with less than a second to play.
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That's a trip right there," said game analyst Tim Legler on the replay. "There's a couple of tenths left when that happens."
Though Thompson is just a 60% free-throw shooter, the odds would have heavily favored a Detroit win had the officials properly called the foul.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff agreed.
"[Allen] fouled Ausar -- clearly," Bickerstaff said after the game. "He tripped him when he was going for a loose ball."
Bickerstaff came into the game already displeased with the officiating in the series, noting the free-throw disparity in Game 4.
"It’s unacceptable, it is," Bickerstaff said, via the Detroit News’ Coty Davis. "We didn’t do enough honestly to help ourselves, and I’ll start there. But ever since we came to Cleveland, the whistle has changed. There’s no way that one guy on their team shoots more free throws than our team."
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For context, the Pistons shot just 12 free-throw attempts in Monday night's loss to the Cavaliers. Cleveland guard Donovan Mitchell shot 15 free throws himself.
Still, crew chief Tony Brothers stands by his poor officiating.
"During live play, both players were going for the ball, and there was incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball," he said about the no call on Wednesday.
"There was incidental contact on the play. The play will be reviewed by the league office tomorrow, and it will be posted in the L2M," he added.
The Cavs host the Pistons on Friday for Game 6. Detroit would like some makeup calls.
US moving to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro: source
The United States is moving to indict Raúl Castro, the former Cuban president, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The potential charges against Castro, 94, come after CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Thursday with counterparts from Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior during a high-level visit to the island nation.
CBS News first reported on the potential charges.
CUBA SAYS CIA CHIEF RATCLIFFE MET WITH OFFICIALS IN HAVANA AMID US TENSIONS
Raúl Castro is the younger brother of longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who died in 2016.
Castro is reportedly being indicted in connection with the downing of planes 30 years ago, U.S. officials familiar with the matter told CBS News.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Trans athlete AB Hernandez's mother says criticism is politically motivated ahead of midterm elections
As the debate over transgender athletes continues in California, concerns surrounding competitive fairness remain at the center of the conversation.
Jurupa Valley senior AB Hernandez, born male, delivered three dominant performances in girls' events at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 preliminaries.
Save Girls’ Sports activists gathered outside Yorba Linda High School in protest, which OutKick documented firsthand through conversations with parents and attendees at the meet.
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One attendee acknowledged that debate surrounding a high school athlete can become contentious, but argued the issue of fairness is straightforward. The results, they said, spoke for themselves after Hernandez’s dominant showing.
As criticism over competitive disparities intensified following the meet, pro-trans activists pushed back with the familiar argument that inclusion matters more than results, while opponents argued female athletes lose opportunities in the process.
Hernandez will continue competing under CIF rules permitting transgender participation and is scheduled to compete Saturday, May 16, before advancing to the CIF finals in Clovis later this month.
CALIFORNIA GIRLS' TRACK ATHLETE OPENS UP ON LOSING FIRST-PLACE TITLE TO TRANS COMPETITOR
AB Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda, declined to speak with OutKick about fairness in women’s sports, but told the Los Angeles Times in an exclusive interview that criticism directed at her child is being fueled by politics during a midterm election cycle.
Addressing the backlash from the May 9 preliminaries, Nereyda said she encouraged AB to ignore activists and dismissed much of the criticism as politically motivated.
Nereyda told the Times, "Once they started posting [online] about their protest, I thought, ‘Wow, it’s going to be another crazy year,’" she said. "But no, on the outside, they had maybe, maybe 10 people. … They’re there to target one child, but they affect all of them."
Nereyda also suggested the controversy surrounding AB has become increasingly politicized as the national debate over transgender athletes intensifies.
"I told AB, this is a [midterm] election year," Nereyda said. "They’re gonna hit us hard, because they’re using us for their campaigns."
Hernandez’s standout performance at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 preliminaries included victories in the triple jump by more than four feet and the long jump by over a foot.
TRANS ATHLETE LAUGHS OFF BACKLASH AFTER WINNING CALIFORNIA GIRLS' TRACK AND FIELD TITLES
Those margins are substantial at the elite high school level.
Supporters of Save Girls’ Sports say Hernandez’s results highlight the competitive advantages created by biological differences in girls' athletics.
Nereyda and activists supporting AB have defended CIF policies allowing transgender athletes to compete based on gender identity, even as California Gov. Gavin Newsom has publicly acknowledged concerns surrounding fairness.
"I think it’s an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that," Newsom told Charlie Kirk during a podcast appearance in early 2025.
The California governor continued, "It is an issue of fairness. It’s deeply unfair," he said. "I’m not wrestling with the fairness issue. I totally agree with you."
Despite growing backlash, Nereyda Hernandez remains unwavering in criticizing protestors for disrupting her family’s peace. She dismissed much of the criticism as outside agitation rather than concern from families directly involved in the competition.
"She has been doing this sport since freshman year [of high school]," Nereyda said. "She’s not doing anything wrong."
"It’s just the outsiders," Nereyda added. "They’re infiltrating, pretending they’re parents or they know people, but I’m the mom. I know who they are."
Supporters of Save Girls’ Sports often point to high-profile collegiate cases as evidence of what they believe is a widening competitive gap in women’s athletics.
Critics portray the movement as politically motivated, but many athletes and parents involved insist their concerns center on competition rather than ideology.
They argue women’s sports exist to preserve opportunities and protected competition for female athletes under Title IX.
Among the most frequently cited examples is former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who transitioned from competing on the men’s team, where Thomas ranked 462nd nationally before winning an NCAA Division I women’s national championship.
Advocates argue retained physical advantages still created disparities female athletes could not overcome through training alone.
The movement also points to San Jose State volleyball player Blair Fleming, whose presence on the court sparked national controversy and prompted opponents to forfeit matches over safety concerns and the integrity of the women’s category.
In a separate statement released through TransFamily Support Services, Nereyda Hernandez said much of the harassment directed at AB has come from adults, including some "in positions of power who should be protectors of our youth."
MOST CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS OPPOSE TRANS INCLUSION IN GIRLS AND WOMEN'S SPORTS: SURVEY
She said AB has been "attacked for simply being who they are," while noting competitors themselves have generally shown respect.
While the emotional weight of a mother defending her child is undeniable, supporters of Save Girls’ Sports argue compassion for one athlete should not come at the expense of opportunities for other young women.
They point to widening performance gaps as evidence supporting those concerns as transgender participation expands in girls and women’s sports.
For years, athletes and parents who questioned transgender participation in women’s sports were often labeled transphobic.
But as the debate gains national attention, more families argue that acknowledging biological differences is not an act of hatred.
Supporters say girls are losing podium spots, titles and scholarship opportunities to competitors with measurable physical advantages.
Nereyda Hernandez told the Times that her family is looking forward to the meet, despite expected protests.
TRANSGENDER ATHLETE FIRES BACK AT CRITICS AS SPOTLIGHT INCREASES ON GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL PARTICIPATION
Meanwhile, supporters insist their goal is not to attack a student, but to defend women’s sports.
For supporters of Save Girls’Sports, the answer is clear: protected competition for female athletes must come first.
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Chargers troll the Patriots in schedule release video with a not-so-subtle Vrabel-Russini reference
The Los Angeles Chargers have the reputation of producing the NFL's best schedule release videos and the only people they disappointed Thursday evening might be the New England Patriots, that team's fans, coach Mike Vrabel and former reporter Dianna Russini.
Because in their video, the Chargers went there.
They referenced the relationship between the Patriots' head coach and the former reporter in their video.
The entire Halo-themed video is worth your 6:13 viewing time.
But in Week 12, when the Chargers host the Patriots at SoFi Stadium, the video makes that point by showing a couple of militiamen on ATVs headed into the playoffs when suddenly they get a message.
"NYPost sent you a message," pops up on the screen.
And suddenly the militia guys wipe out.
It was, you'll recall, the New York Post's Page Six that first published photos of Vrabel and Russini lounging by a pool, and in a hot tub, and holding hands and embracing on the roof of a private bungalow in Sedona, Ariz., the first week of April.
Those photos and several others, released by both the Post and other online publications, eventually led to Russini resigning from The Athletic and deleting her social media presence.
Vrabel, meanwhile, stumbled though multiple press conferences while trying to both avoid and explain the issue without ever really providing details. He missed the final day of the NFL Draft while flying to Utah and seeking "counseling" after what he called painful conversations with his family.
This was not the first time the Patriots got tagged as the team with a coach who had a cozy "relationship" with a reporter. The club was swamped with snarky comments when it saluted fans on Mother's Day.
PATRIOTS MOTHER'S DAY SALUTE TURNS INTO A TROLL FRENZY
The Chargers didn't merely pick on the Patriots and their "situation."
They went after every opponent in some form or fashion.
They mocked the Ravens for their aborted trade for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby. They went after the New York Jets for their inability to intercept passes after that team failed to collect even one interception on defense in 2025.
And aside from making reference to the Vrabel-Russini situation, the Chargers also pointed out the Patriots played an easy schedule last season.
"Conquer the cupcakes," the video flashes.
The NFL, by the way, does not oversee, approve or disapprove of team schedule release videos. So, the league is washing its hands of what the Chargers or any other teams might do to troll the Patriots.
And if the Patriots are upset with this mere 10 seconds of video on an opposing team's video because it brings up an uncomfortable situation, they're probably in for a long season of mocking by opposing fans.
Cardinal Dolan thanks New York faithful at golden jubilee Mass: 'Without Jesus, I could have done nothing'
Archbishop Emeritus of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday: the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, which he celebrated with a special Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
Flanked by several clergy members of various denominations, Dolan, 76, thanked his former colleagues, as well as civic and community officials, before praising Jesus Christ for his lengthy career in the church.
"After 17 happy years, you're my family. You're my friends, and I love you. And I thank you. I thank you so much," he said. "My years as a priest and a bishop might be worthwhile. If so, it's because of you. Without Jesus, I could have done nothing; without you, none of the meager accomplishments you so graciously pointed out could have ever, ever happened."
The Mass held special significance because Thursday fell on the Feast of the Ascension, a major Christian festival celebrating the bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, occurring 40 days after Easter Sunday.
During the service, various clergy members read from Scripture, including the Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book of the New Testament, and the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, which calls for unity in the church.
Dolan led the Archdiocese of New York beginning in 2009 before stepping down in December. He was replaced by Bishop Ronald Hicks of Joliet, Illinois.
According to his biography on the New York archdiocese website, Dolan was ordained into the priesthood by the Archdiocese of Saint Louis on June 19, 1976. He served as associate pastor at Immacolata Parish in Richmond Heights, Missouri, until 1979, when he began studies for a doctorate in American Church History at The Catholic University of America.
CARDINAL DOLAN GIVES INSIDE LOOK INTO CONCLAVE, HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN SELECTING A NEW POPE
In May 2025, he participated in the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.
Hicks, whom Pope Leo once dubbed his "Mini-Me," spoke in Spanish before transitioning back to English to praise Dolan. Both Hicks and Leo grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and served as missionaries in Latin America and are fluent in Spanish.
"Regarding being a bishop for Cardinal Dolan, you might be wondering why right now—why I'm the one giving the homily," Hicks said of Dolan. "Well, after 50 years of being a priest, I think you deserve a little break now."
Hicks recalled an archdiocese board meeting this week in which the board president shared how he had been involved with the Catholic Church for many years. Though he was not Catholic, his involvement led him to decide that "the Lord was calling him to become Catholic."
"So he turned to his good friend Cardinal Dolan and said, 'Cardinal, it's time. I want to become Catholic. Do you know a priest you can recommend to me who could help me?'" Hicks recalled. "And without missing a beat, Cardinal Dolan said back to him, 'Well, you know, you're in luck. I am a priest. And I am happy to help you.'"
"Those words reflect who and what Cardinal Dolan is to his core," Hicks added. "He is a priest who is happy to help. He is a priest following the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd."
Much of the Mass followed Biblical readings and songs.
In his final remarks, Dolan thanked his parents, who were married in Missouri on May 14, 1949, as well as his brother, Pat, who provided a reading during the service. He then thanked everyone in attendance.
"To be close to you here in New York is a gift I will treasure forever," he said to end the Mass. "Now, it may be Ascension Eve, but for me, it's Christmas Eve, and I'm a kid looking out at a lot of gifts under the tree. Thank you."
Edwin Diaz reportedly appeared in cockfighting tournament graphics wearing his Dodgers uniform
The Los Angeles Dodgers could face a massive PR nightmare from LA vegans as star pitcher Edwin Diaz finds himself at the center of a federal animal cruelty scandal.
A USA Today investigation linked the $102 million closer to an illegal cockfighting ring in Puerto Rico through incriminating social media posts and promotional materials.
Despite the federal ban on the blood sport that took effect in 2019, Diaz reportedly appeared in tournament graphics ... wearing his official Dodgers uniform. The controversy also took a turn after the discovery of a March 2026 interview with outlet El Nuevo Día in which Díaz openly discussed his family’s involvement in the underground circuit.
Diaz described cockfighting as a pastime he has followed since childhood and confirmed that his family entered four roosters into a recent tournament.
NYC RADIO HOST RIPS METS OWNER STEVE COHEN AFTER HOMEGROWN STAR LEAVES: 'SOLD US A BILL OF GOODS'
While cockfighting has long been part of local tradition in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a total federal ban in 2021, making participation a potential federal crime.
But the star reliever known for his "Timmy Trumpets' intro wasn't the only high-profile name caught in the crosshairs of the investigation.
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Champion jockeys Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr. were also identified in social media footage tied to the events. According to the report, the Ortiz brothers, who recently dominated the Kentucky Derby, appeared on video collecting cash bets at one of the alleged cockfighting gatherings.
Although no criminal charges have been filed against Diaz, MLB’s personal conduct policy allows the league to impose significant discipline regardless of the legal outcome.
It won't be long until PETA comes after Major League Baseball and the Dodgers with escalating pressure to respond to allegations involving animal cruelty and illegal gambling.
For a Dodgers team already resented for buying up baseball with its massive payroll, watching its star closer stroll through a cockfighting pit in full uniform feels tailor-made to ignite outrage back home.
In a city where animal rights are practically civic doctrine and oat milk has a stronger lobby than most politicians, Diaz showing up at a bird fight lands as a direct shot to LA culture.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Shohei Ohtani might be on his way to even more history with 0.82 ERA and Cy Young discussion
If it seems like there's a new astonishing fact about Shohei Ohtani every few days, that's because there is.
Ohtani is a one-of-one player, someone who's already accomplished virtually everything a player can accomplish in Major League Baseball.
He's won back-to-back World Series championships after joining the Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. He's won three straight Most Valuable Player awards, becoming the first player ever to win multiple MVPs in different leagues. His most recent win, for the 2025 season, made him the second player ever to win four MVP awards, along with Barry Bonds.
Ohtani won the Rookie of the Year award in 2018 with the Los Angeles Angels. Then followed it up by getting selected to five straight All-Star teams. He's a four-time Silver Slugger winner. He's been selected to six straight All-MLB first teams.
DO THE DODGERS GET AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE WITH 'BIZARRE' RULE IMPACTING SHOHEI OHTANI?
In 2024, Ohtani had one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, becoming the first player ever to hit more than 50 home runs and steal more than 50 bases. And it wasn't close; he finished with 54 home runs and 59 steals. Oh, and he hit .310, with a .390 on-base percentage and .646 slugging percentage. Good for 79 runs of production above an average player, per FanGraphs.
Then, he followed it up in 2025 by hitting 55 more home runs, setting a new career high. All while returning to the mound for the first time since 2023, putting up a 2.87 ERA and 1.90 FIP, with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings and 1.9 wins above replacement.
What could possibly be left to accomplish? Just one thing: a Cy Young Award. And after yet another outstanding start on Wednesday night, Ohtani might be well on his way to making more history there too.
Ohtani faced off against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, and was once again dominant. He went seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits and two walks, while striking out eight hitters. The performance lowered his ERA through mid-May to an incredible 0.82.
It's still early, of course. The Dodgers have played 43 games out of 162, meaning there's just over 73% of the season remaining. But if the season were to end today, it's hard to argue with Ohtani as the National League Cy Young winner. And if that happens, it would be the latest in a long line of historic accomplishments for baseball's best player.
Ohtani, should he win, would become the first player ever to win an MVP as a hitter and pitcher. He'd become the first player ever to win multiple MVP awards, and win a Cy Young. There have been 11 pitchers who won a Cy Young and MVP in the same season, but no pitcher has ever won a second MVP. And his manager and teammates are already talking about it.
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"Like I've said for a long time, he's a different person when he's pitching," manager Dave Roberts said after the 4-0 win over the Giants. "I think he wants to win the Cy Young. I think that that helps the Dodgers, too, in 2026. When he's pitching, I just sort of let him go and…he's in a zone."
Santiago Espinal, who hit a home run to give LA the lead, added, "When he's pitching, everybody expects a Cy Young. When he's hitting, everybody expects an MVP and all that stuff. That's what he showed tonight. It’s just Cy Young-caliber."
Again, there's a long way to go. And the National League has several other pitchers having great starts to the 2026 season. Defending Cy Young winner Paul Skenes has seen his ERA drop from 1.97 in 2025 all the way to ... 1.98 so far in 2026. Christopher Sanchez has once again been excellent, and Jacob Misiorowski has often looked unhittable with over 14 strikeouts per nine innings.
But it's yet another reminder that what Ohtani does, night in and night out, is essentially unprecedented. A top five pitcher in the sport, and a top two or three hitter. At the same time. It's remarkable, and his already remarkable career may somehow become even more historic this year.
NYC Republican lawmaker slams Mamdani antisemitism office as a ‘black hole’ lacking public-facing resources
As anti-Israel agitators take to the streets in New York City, a councilwoman is calling out the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism, saying that it lacks public-facing resources.
"Mayor Mamdani continues to gaslight the Jewish community in New York City by creating a black hole of an office — the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism — an office that has no website, no phone number, no resources," New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, R-District 48, told Fox News Digital. "There's nobody to reach out to, there's nobody to talk to. The public has no sense of how this office can help Jewish New Yorkers."
The councilwoman said that after a recent hearing, she feels that "the office does nothing to combat antisemitism."
However, Vernikov said that the issue was not merely a matter of access and stated that even those who reach out to the mayor's office "really don't get a response that makes them feel safer or their children feel safer."
NYC LAWMAKER SLAMS MAMDANI OVER RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITIC GRAFFITI, SYNAGOGUE CLASHES: 'NOT A LEADER'
Vernikov, a Jewish Republican, serves as a co-chair of a bipartisan task force aimed at combatting antisemitism alongside Councilman Eric Dinowitz, D-District 11. The task force, which was formed earlier this year, is separate from the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism.
An online search for the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism leads to a page on the New York City government's website that includes a press release announcing the office, a description of its goals and a list of "recent events and services." One of the items on the events and services list is a "listening tour," the findings of which will be used to "inform a report and a subsequent strategy on combatting antisemitism in New York City."
Other events and services include Mayor Zohran Mamdani's visit to the Jewish Children's Museum in Crown Heights, Passover Seders, Food Distribution with Chasdei Lev and an Orthodox Community Leaders Roundtable.
VIDEO SHOWS CLASHES ERUPT OUTSIDE SYNAGOGUE AS ANTI-ISRAEL MOB WREAKS HAVOC AT REAL ESTATE EXPO
In recent weeks, New York City has seen a slew of antisemitic incidents, including swastika graffiti in Queens and protests outside a Manhattan synagogue and in a Jewish neighborhood of Brooklyn. Following the protest outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan, Mamdani said that his administration was committed to ensuring New Yorkers could safely enter or exit a house of worship. However, he said that he "firmly" disagreed with the event taking place inside the synagogue, a statement that critics interpreted as support for the protesters.
"When we have a real estate expo that is promoting the sale of land which includes the sale of land in the occupied West Bank, in settlements that are a violation of international law, that is something that I firmly disagree with," Mamdani said in response to a reporter's question. The mayor added that he saw the land sales as something that "has been at the heart of an ongoing effort to displace Palestinians from their homes."
The proximity of the protests to Jewish institutions has many Jewish New Yorkers concerned for their safety, something Vernikov said she has heard from her constituents. Vernikov argued that the debate over where protests take place is not about restricting freedoms, but preventing intimidation.
"This has nothing to do with the First Amendment. It has everything to do with trying to intimidate and harass Jews, and that's all these protesters are fighting for," Vernikov said.
Amid the protests and vandalism, Mamdani has faced criticism for his decision to veto a bill that would have created a "buffer zone" around educational institutions to protect them from protests. The City Council also passed a version of the bill aimed at protecting houses of worship, which Mamdani did not veto.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office for comment.
McMaster revives Trump-backed push to oust Biden kingmaker from Congress
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a top Trump ally and fellow Republican, announced Thursday that he is convening the state legislature in Columbia, South Carolina, starting Friday for a special session to "address the state budget and congressional districts" in his largely Republican state.
"I have issued an Executive Order calling the General Assembly back for an extra legislative session to address the state budget and congressional districts beginning Friday, May 15, at 11:00 AM," McMaster wrote on X.
The move comes amid intraparty Republican tensions over the Trump-backed effort to redraw the state’s congressional map — a push that could threaten the tenure of longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn, the man credited with reviving former President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, and four other senators earlier this week joined Democrats to defeat a proposal that would have allowed the chamber to vote on redistricting after the South Carolina legislative session closed Thursday.
The roadblock came hours after President Donald Trump warned he is "watching closely" the redistricting effort. Trump's message came a week after five Indiana Republican state senators who in December helped sink congressional redistricting in the solidly red Midwestern state were ousted by Trump-backed challengers in GOP primaries.
Proponents of the South Carolina redraw hope that the new map will ultimately rid the state’s congressional delegation of its lone Democrat, while advising lawmakers to move the primary for House members to August.
SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICANS DEFY TRUMP, TANK REDISTRICTING, FOR NOW
Clyburn, the octogenarian Orangeburg, South Carolina, lawmaker considered a kingmaker in Palmetto State Democratic politics — and credited with reviving then-candidate Biden’s floundering campaign with his endorsement in 2020 — may not be long for Capitol Hill, as a redraw would almost certainly redistribute the state’s heavy Republican advantage across its seven districts.
Clyburn said he remains confident he can win re-election even under a new map.
"I don’t know why people think I could not get re-elected if they redistrict South Carolina," Clyburn said in a CNN interview. "I have a district that’s about 45 percent African American. I have no idea what the number will be after the legislature finishes, but whatever that number is, I will be running on my record and America’s promise."
Massey argued in a floor speech that following Trump’s lead on redistricting would run counter to the interests of the Palmetto State.
"South Carolina has always punched above their weight," Massey said. "Doing this will diminish that influence."
But he also acknowledged that he will likely face political payback from Trump and the president's allies.
TRUMP TARGETS RED STATE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN PUSH FOR CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
"There are likely consequences for me, personally, taking the position that I am right now," Massey said. "I’m comfortable with that. I may not like it, but I’m comfortable with it. ... My conscience is clear on this one."
The recent Callais decision at the Supreme Court — which eliminated Louisiana’s race-conscious map that provided for two largely minority-heavy Democratic strongholds — has already spurred action in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, and with Clyburn’s district itself reportedly the product of a George H.W. Bush Justice Department request regarding racial makeup, its days may be numbered.
The DOJ in 1992 recommended creating a majority-Black district in South Carolina, and Clyburn swiftly won the seat upon the retirement of fellow Democratic Rep. Robin Mooneyhan Tallon of Hemingway, according to a Government Printing Office publication on Black Americans in Congress.
Clyburn is also reportedly a relative of the previous Black South Carolina congressman, Republican George Washington Murray, who served in the 1890s.
The 85-year-old recently signed documents to make his run for re-election official, quipping that he is in good health and simply celebrating the 47th anniversary of his 39th birthday soon.
If redistricting fails and Clyburn is able to run again, he will join a growing list of octogenarian — and some nonagenarian — lawmakers who remain bullish about their political prospects.
The oldest sitting member is Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who is 92, while elderly lawmakers facing re-election in 2026 besides Clyburn include Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., who is 88, and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who is 87. Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, is 83 and running for re-election, which would make him 89 at the end of his next term.
Four of the leading South Carolina Republicans running for governor this year, Lt. Gov. Pam Evette, Attorney Gen. Alan Wilson, and Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, earlier this week criticized the redistricting setback in the state Senate.
Evette called McMaster's move "a critical step for President Trump and the people of South Carolina."
And Wilson said, "South Carolina has the opportunity to lead, and lawmakers should move quickly to pass new maps before the June primary."
Alabama convened a special session earlier in May that House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, correctly predicted would force the courts to rule on the validity of a special-case redistricting referendum there.
Tennessee successfully redrew its map, which is likely to result in the ouster of longtime Shelby County Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, while Mississippi hit a snag in its own efforts after Gov. Tate Reeves pumped the brakes on a Callais-spurred effort to boot former House Jan. 6 Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson in the Delta.
Republican state senators in Louisiana on Thursday advanced a plan to eliminate one of the state's two majority-Black congressional seats ahead of the midterms.
Louisiana's state House will likely vote on the map next week. The state holds its primary on Saturday, but the state's congressional primaries are being postponed until November.
Mother's Day chaos at a steakhouse includes knives thrown at waiters and a touching mother-daughter arrest
An upscale steakhouse in West Little Rock, Arkansas, descended into chaos on Mother's Day when the staff failed to show the proper level of respect to the TikTok food influencers who entered their establishment.
Words were exchanged between the influencers and staff; other customers got involved in the verbal exchange; it got heated and turned physical. According to the Little Rock Police Department, knives were thrown.
Asia, Allyssia and Alivia Yarbrough, who, according to the Daily Mail, all have large numbers of followers, had an issue with how their steaks had been cooked at Arthur's Prime Steakhouse on Sunday.
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They asked the restaurant staff to have all three of the steaks remade to their specifications, reports KATV. The manager initially refused to remake one of them, then later brought it out and shoved it in one of their faces, saying, "this is how it's done."
There's a chance you can get away with that when dealing with regular customers, but it's not going to fly with disrespected food influencers. They have millions of followers and can't stand for that.
At minimum a scene will be caused. A scene where you're going to find out from a proud momma that her kids have tens of millions of social media followers.
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Allyssia, 25, reportedly said that she shoved her phone into a 62-year-old waiter's face. He grabbed the phone, and she said she responded by punching him in self-defense.
She added that the elderly waiter slapped her back using two hands and that's when another waiter, 57, jumped in to assist his co-worker. The LRPD's investigation into the matter found that a third steak could not be fixed because it had already been cut into.
The police department’s reports also stated that the security camera footage showed the Yarbroughs "causing a disturbance throughout the restaurant."
According to the police report, Asia Yarbrough, 22, threw knives at two waiters during the madness. None of the videos that went viral on social media after the incident appear to show the alleged knife throwing.
The same can’t be said for Kimberly Forga, the mother of the influencers. She's accused of causing $2,500 in damage to the restaurant's grand piano by slamming the top of it. In one of the videos, it does appear as if the piano's top is being slammed.
Although it's hard to tell what, if any, damage was done. The legal system will have to sort all of that out.
According to the Arkansas Times, the daughter was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. Mom was hit with a felony charge of criminal mischief and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
That's about as touching as a Mother's Day visit to an upscale steakhouse gets. On Monday, both mom and daughter pleaded not guilty and were released on bond. They're due back in court on July 7.
They've created a real problem for themselves, aside from any upcoming legal issue they may face. The bigger problem is how do you make Mother's Day next year as memorable as this one?