Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 14

September 16, 2025

Horoscopes Sept. 16, 2025: Amy Poehler, oppportunity knocks; greet it with gratitude

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Nick Jonas, 33; Alexis Bledel, 44; Amy Poehler, 54; Mickey Rourke, 73.

Happy Birthday: Opportunity knocks; greet it with gratitude. Showing respect to others gives them dignity and a willingness to pitch in and help. A change of attitude surrounding health, financial and moral issues will encourage you to see all sides of whatever you encounter this year and determine what’s right and best for you. Put your energy into self-improvement, saving time and money, and pursuing something that fills you with passion. Your numbers are 7, 10, 18, 26, 32, 37, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Focus, and finish what you start. Don’t take on too much, or overreact to situations that might cause relationship problems. Pay more attention to how you feel, and strive to channel your energy into developing a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen. Join groups that encourage you to choose an active lifestyle. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Spend more time working from home. Too much activity happening around you will be distracting. Working in conjunction with others will lead to pressure and disagreements. Confusion regarding events or activities you want to attend will leave you questioning what to do next. Avoid discussions with disgruntled associates. Take better care of your health. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Keep your thoughts to yourself until you are ready to proceed. Taking on a new adventure will require time, money and networking with the right people. A change will point you in a new direction and encourage you to acquire additional knowledge, certifications or other qualifications necessary to achieve your goal. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): An open and honest approach to personal and professional affairs will help avoid discord. Use your charm and intellect to persuade others to support your plans. A direct approach will make you appear strong and in control, making others feel comfortable and encouraging them to pitch in and become team members. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Hard work will pay off. Whether it’s self- or home improvement, what you do will be noticed. Stand tall and be proud of what you can offer, and you will receive more than anticipated in return. Stick to the most genuine path to avoid being coerced into doing for others what you should be doing for yourself. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take nothing for granted. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourself. Take pride in what you do, and the rewards will be forthcoming. An opportunity to spend time with someone seasoned in areas you are lacking will be informative and encourage you to rethink how you want to pursue your dreams. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Simplify your life and concentrate on getting things done on time, and you can avoid an altercation with anyone who may want to make you look bad. Keep your feet firmly planted on the ground and your mind focused on what’s necessary and how quickly you can achieve what you set out to do. Your attention to detail will pay off. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You need a break. Shake things up and redirect your energy toward something you feel enthusiastic about, and the tables will turn. Protect yourself from those who seek an altercation or offer temptations that are likely to jeopardize your career, reputation or health. Put yourself first and do something that brings out the best in you. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Change your surroundings to make your life easier and more comfortable. Stop worrying about what others want, say or do when your focus should be on doing what’s best for you. Equip yourself with the fundamentals you require to live the life that makes you feel good about yourself and look forward to each day with gratitude. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Get out and communicate with people who share your interests. What you learn will help you configure the best way to improve your life. Traveling, reuniting with people from your past and paying more attention to those you care about most will help you get your life in order and your plans in place. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Today is all about how you make and spend your cash. Cap your expenditures and lower your overhead by incorporating frugal habits into your lifestyle. Look for higher-paying jobs, send out resumes and network with people who share your skills, and you’ll gain insight into who’s hiring and what companies expect of you in today’s market. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Mix business with pleasure and expand your connections and ability to get ahead. Discipline and hard work alone aren’t enough; you also need allies and a desire to stay on top of the latest and greatest technology to take advantage of new opportunities. Trust your instincts and use your imagination, and doors will open. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are energetic, opportunistic and independent. You are hardworking and insightful.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.
2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.
3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.
4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.
5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 16, 2025 03:00

September 15, 2025

SF Giants lose third straight as top prospect Eldridge goes hitless in debut

PHOENIX — Taylor Rashi thought Bryce Eldridge got one.

In the top of the seventh, Rashi tried to sneak an 88.9 mph four-seam fastball past Eldridge for a strike. Eldridge sent the heater 407 feet to left-center field, the crack of the bat reverberating throughout Chase Field. Rashi lifelessly hunched over, likely believing he’d be responsible for Eldridge’s first hit, homer, run and RBI — all in one.

Luckily for Rashi, he was pitched at one of seven ballparks that could contain Eldridge’s blast, one that registered at 105.9 mph off the bat. Center fielder Jorge Barrosa tracked down the fly ball at the warning track, lightly jumped into the padding for style and Eldridge remained searching for his first hit.

Eldridge ended the night hitless over three at-bats as the Giants lost 8-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, their third straight defeat that puts them two games back of the Mets for the third and final NL wild card spot. But with that one loud swing, he provided a glimpse of the awesome power he possesses.

“I know I hit it good, so I was just hoping it was going to drop somewhere,” Eldridge said. “Barrosa made a good play, but definitely a confidence booster.”

“He looks good up there. He had some good swings,” said manager Bob Melvin. “It’s too bad he didn’t get the one hit there, but certainly didn’t look like he was overmatched. Didn’t look like he was nervous. I’m sure there were some nerves there, but looks pretty hitter-ish at the plate.”

Along with playing in his first career game, Eldridge had another rather obscure first experience: his first time using a team-issued bat.

After learning of his promotion on Sunday at the OKC Will Rogers International Airport, Eldridge re-routed from Sacramento to Phoenix. Eldridge’s gear, however, was already en route to Sacramento, leaving him without his tools of the trade. The only equipment Eldridge had on Monday was from what he left in his car at the nearby Papago Park, the team’s minor league facility.

The list of items in Eldridge’s locker on Monday included a black first baseman’s mitt with the inscription “Wayne,” one of Eldridge’s nicknames. People began calling him “Wayne” because his first name often auto-corrected to “Bruce,” prompting someone to call him “Bruce Wayne,” the alias of Batman.

No amount of familiarity with his gear would’ve helped him against the Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen, who allowed one run over six innings with six strikeouts.

Gallen, a one-time All-Star, won both battles against Eldridge, getting him to ground out in their first meeting and striking him out in their second meeting. Still, Eldridge held his own against one of the game’s better right-handed pitchers, having some impressive takes on changeups out of the zone.

“I think that’s a good start facing a guy like him,” Eldridge said. “I had fun. He had a good plan against me, and it as fun to get to face him and I felt like I belonged. I feel like I competed and did my best.”

Added Eldridge: “We have a good idea of what these guys are trying to do. I think just being able to spit on those definitely gave me some confidence, not going to try and reach down low for those ones.”

The 20-year-old’s deep drive and Casey Schmitt’s third-inning solo homer were just about all the Giants could celebrate on a night where they mustered two lone hits — both off Schmitt’s bat.

Right-hander Kai-Wei Teng pitched a serviceable four innings, allowing one unearned run on an errant pickoff attempt. Once Teng departed, the Diamondbacks tagged the Giants’ bullpen for seven runs, six of which came in a game-deciding six-run sixth.

San Francisco’s bullpen has been one of this team’s strengths even with a rotating cast of characters, but that unit’s lack of depth has been exposed in recent days. During this three-game losing streak, the Giants’ relievers have allowed 19 earned runs over 14 innings. On Tuesday, they’ll roll with what amounts to a quasi-bullpen game as Tristan Beck gets a start.

“(Joel) Peguero and (Joey) Lucchesi might be our most trusted arms down there (minus Ryan) Walker,” Melvin said. “We’re just trying to get through that inning and gave up a six spot. Just middle-of-the-plate pitches.”

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 21:09

SF Giants’ top prospect Bryce Eldridge discusses promotion to majors

PHOENIX — Bryce Eldridge was walking through security on Sunday night at the Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City when his phone, residing in a security tray, lit up. Thomas Gavello, Eldridge’s teammate with Triple-A Sacramento, recommended he take the call.

On the other line was Sacramento’s manager, Dave Brundage. Eldridge was aware that Dominic Smith, the Giants’ best defensive first baseman, recently sustained an injury that will likely end his regular season. Still, Eldridge kept his focus on his job with the River Cats.

As Eldridge awkwardly stood in the middle of the security line, Brundage reminded Eldridge that he would be heading to Papago Park in Phoenix after the season to work on his defense. Eldridge picked up that Brundage was stalling before delivering the real news — that Eldridge was going to the majors.

“It wasn’t really in my head at all,” Eldridge said Monday. “Then I got the call while I was in security. I saw my phone and kind of figured that was what was going on with the timing and everything.”

“He’s here to help us win games,” said Buster Posey, Giants president of baseball operations. “With Dom going down and missing that lefty bat, we felt like it fit nicely with our lineup. … He’s had a nice stretch where he’s been productive and we hope he continues it here.”

To make room for Eldridge on the roster, outfielder Luis Matos was optioned and infielder Brett Wisely was designated for assignment.

The last 24 hours have been quite hectic for the Giants’ top prospect, who arrived at Chase Field without any of his usual gear due to last-minute travel arrangements. Eldridge’s mother, Beth Kenney, missed her son’s first two calls, and Eldridge quipped that he can’t remember the last time she missed a call.

Eldridge did have the benefit of his car being parked at Papago Park, where some bats, cleats, and batting gloves were stored. When Eldridge spoke with reporters, he was wearing only socks — no shoes just yet.

“We’re going to use those for tonight and make do with what we got,” Eldridge said.

Eldridge joins the Giants at a crucial juncture in their season.

With 13 games remaining, San Francisco entered Monday’s game with the Arizona Diamondbacks 1.5 games back of the New York Mets for the third and final National League wild card spot. Should the Giants make the playoffs, Eldridge will be eligible for the postseason roster.

It’s not exactly a soft landing for the 20-year-old, but the Giants believe Eldridge is equipped for the challenge.

“I think he has the type of personality where he’ll probably embrace this environment,” Posey said. “He’s not going to be a guy that’s going to shy away from having some really big at-bats for us.”

“From the first time I met him, he didn’t really seem like anything overwhelmed him too much,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We saw that in spring training as well. … There’s a calmness about him, there’s a confidence about him. I think all that plays into evaluating whether or not we wanted to get him here.”

The Giants won’t put too much on the rookie’s plate, limiting the scope of Eldridge’s responsibilities to being the designated hitter against right-handed pitching. San Francisco faced Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen on Monday and will see fellow right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on Wednesday.

Eldridge, the 16th overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft, certainly has the potential to impact the Giants’ offense.

Over 102 games with Sacramento and Double-A Richmond, Eldridge posted a slash line of .260/.333/.510 with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs despite missing time due to wrist and hamstring injuries. There is a fair amount of whiff in Eldridge’s game — he has struck out in about 30 percent of his plate appearances this season — but Posey pointed to the rookie’s elite quality of contact.

“I think he’s got the highest hard-hit rate in all of Minor League Baseball or Triple-A,” Posey said. “There’s probably going to be some swing-and-miss, but he’s also going to make some really loud contact.”

“All the reports are that he’s swinging the bat really well right now, and we’re looking to increase some production,” Melvin said.

For the time being, the Giants will likely avoid playing Eldridge at first base as he continues learning the minutiae of the position. Rafael Devers, who is also new to first base, isn’t the same caliber of defender as Smith, but he’s held his own overall, despite some growing pains.

“I think I could go out and play an above-average first base in the big leagues. That’s how I feel,” Eldridge said. “I think a lot of people downplay, maybe not the work I’ve done on defense, but how well I think I’ve done on defense. I think I’ve had a great year over there. I’ve just been working my tail off to get better every day. I think any of the coaches who I’ve been with this year would tell you that I played a good first base over there.”

Added Posey: “He’s continuing to get better. Look, you’re never a finished product, no matter if you win multiple Gold Gloves or you’re still working to get better. I think that’s the same for him: just continue to keep working.”

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 19:04

Senate approves White House economist to serve on Fed board

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has approved one of President Donald Trump’s top economic advisers for a seat on the Federal Reserve’s governing board, giving the White House greater influence over the central bank just two days before it is expected to vote in favor of reducing its key interest rate.

The vote to confirm Stephen Miran was largely along party lines, 48-47. He was approved by the Senate Banking Committee last week with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed.

Miran’s nomination has sparked concerns about the Fed’s longtime independence from day-to-day politics after he said during a committee hearing earlier this month that he would keep his job as chair of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, though would take unpaid leave. Senate Democrats have said such an approach is incompatible with an independent Fed.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote that Miran “has no independence” and would be “nothing more than Donald Trump’s mouthpiece at the Fed.”

Miran is completing an unexpired term that ends in January, after Adriana Kugler unexpectedly stepped down from the board Aug. 1. He said if he is appointed to a longer term he would resign from his White House job. Previous presidents have appointed advisers to the Fed, including former chair Ben Bernanke, who served in president George W. Bush’s administration. But Bernanke and others left their White House jobs when joining the board.

Miran said during his Sept. 4 hearing that, if confirmed, “I will act independently, as the Federal Reserve always does, based on my own personal analysis of economic data.”

Last year, Miran criticized what he called the “revolving door” of officials between the White House and the Fed, in a paper he co-wrote with Daniel Katz for the conservative Manhattan Institute. Katz is now chief of staff at the Treasury Department.

Miran’s approval arrives as Trump’s efforts to shape the Fed have been dealt a setback elsewhere. He has sought to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden to a term that ends in 2038. Cook sued to block the firing and won a first round in federal court, after a judge ruled the Trump administration did not have proper cause to remove her.

The administration appealed the ruling, but an appeals court rejected that request late Monday.

Members of the Fed’s board vote on all its interest rate decisions, and also oversee the nation’s financial system.

The jockeying around the Fed is occurring as the economy is entering an uncertain and difficult period. Inflation remains stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% target, though it hasn’t risen as much as many economists feared when Trump first imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly all imports. The Fed typically would raise borrowing costs, or at least keep them elevated, to combat worsening inflation.

At the same time, hiring has weakened considerably and the unemployment rate rose last month to a still-low 4.3%. The central bank often takes the opposite approach when unemployment rises, cutting rates to spur more borrowing, spending and growth.

Economists forecast the Fed will reduce its key rate after its two-day meeting ends Wednesday, to about 4.1% from 4.3%. Trump has demanded much deeper cuts.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 17:26

Appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to unseat Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook ahead of rate vote

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court ruled Monday that Lisa Cook can remain a Federal Reserve governor, rebuffing President Donald Trump’s efforts to remove her just ahead of a key vote on interest rates.

The Trump administration is expected to quickly turn to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch bid to unseat Cook. The Fed’s next two-day meeting to consider its next interest rate move begins Tuesday morning. And Cook’s lawsuit seeking to permanently block her firing must still make its way through the courts.

The White House campaign to unseat Cook marks an unprecedented bid to reshape the Fed’s seven-member governing board, which was designed to be largely independent from day-to-day politics. No president has fired a sitting Fed governor in the agency’s 112-year history.

Separately, Senate Republicans on Monday confirmed Stephen Miran, Trump’s nominee to an open spot on the Fed’s board. Barring any last-minute intervention from the Supreme Court, the Fed’s interest rate setting committee will meet Tuesday and Wednesday with all seven governors and the 12 regional bank presidents.

Twelve of those 19 officials will vote on changing the central bank’s short-term rate: All seven governors plus five regional presidents, who vote on a rotating basis.

Chair Jerome Powell signaled in a high-profile speech last month the Fed would likely cut its key rate at this meeting, from about 4.3% to 4.1%. Other borrowing costs, such as mortgage rates and car loans, have already declined in anticipation of the cut and could move lower.

Trump sought to fire Cook Aug. 25, but a federal judge ruled last week that the removal was illegal and reinstated her to the Fed’s board. Trump appointee Bill Pulte has accused Cook of mortgage fraud because she appeared to claim two properties as “primary residences” in July 2021, before she joined the board. Such claims can lead to a lower mortgage rate and smaller down payment than if one of them was declared as a rental property or second home. Cook has denied the charges.

In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court found that Cook’s due process rights were violated because the administration did not give her a formal opportunity to respond to the charges.

The attempt to fire Cook is seen by many legal scholars as a threat to erode the Fed’s longtime political independence. Economists prefer independent central banks because they can do unpopular things like lifting interest rates to combat inflation more easily than elected officials.

Many economists worry that if the Fed falls under the control of the White House, it will keep its key interest rate lower than justified by economic fundamentals to satisfy Trump’s demands for cheaper borrowing. That could accelerate inflation and could also push up longer-term interest rates, such as those on mortgages and car loans. Investors may demand a higher yield to own bonds to offset greater inflation in the future, lifting borrowing costs for the U.S. government and the entire economy.

Separately, Miran chairs the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers and said earlier this month he would take unpaid leave but otherwise keep his job while serving on the Fed’s board. It will be the first time in decades that an executive branch official has served at the Fed.

Miran has been appointed to finish a term that expires in January, but he could remain in the seat if no replacement is chosen.

Cook has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, Cook did specify that her Atlanta condo would be a “vacation home,” according to a loan estimate she obtained in May 2021. And in a form seeking a security clearance, she described it as a “2nd home.” Both documents appear to undercut the administration’s claims of fraud.

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the administration had not satisfied a legal requirement that Fed governors can only be fired “for cause,” which she said was limited to misconduct while in office. Cook did not join the Fed’s board until 2022.

In their emergency appeal, Trump’s lawyers argued that even if the conduct occurred before her time as governor, her alleged action “indisputably calls into question Cook’s trustworthiness and whether she can be a responsible steward of the interest rates and economy.”

Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell and the other members of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee for not cutting the short-term interest rate they control more quickly. Trump has said he thinks it should be as low as 1.3%, a level that no Fed official and few economists support.

Cook is the first Black woman to serve as a Fed governor. She was a Marshall Scholar and received degrees from Oxford University and Spelman College, and prior to joining the board she taught at Michigan State University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 17:21

Trump wouldn’t call Minnesota governor after Democrat was slain but now blames him for raised flags

By WILL WEISSERT and STEVE KARNOWSKI

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump claimed Monday that he would have ordered flags lowered to half-staff following the assassination of a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker this summer had he been asked by the state’s governor. But Trump at the time refused to even call Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to express his condolences, saying it would only “waste time.”

Trump made the remark during an unrelated Oval Office event as he defended his decision to lower U.S. flags after last week’s slaying of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

After announcing that he was deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Trump was asked Monday why he signed an order lowering flags nationwide after Kirk’s killing during an event in Utah, but didn’t do so after former Democratic state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were shot and killed in June.

Trump replied, “Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that.”

“But the governor of Minnesota didn’t ask me,” the president said.

He continued, “I wouldn’t have thought of that. But I would have if somebody had asked me,” and added: “Had the governor asked me to do that, I would have done that gladly.”

Walz’s spokesperson did not immediately comment on the president’s remarks.

But Walz tweeted a video call for unity on Monday evening that featured references to Hortman’s assassination and the recent shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church that killed two students and injured 21 people. The video included feel-good scenes from the recent Minnesota State Fair but didn’t mention Kirk.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks outside the Annunciation Catholic School following a shooting Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

“The world feels crazy right now, but we won’t lose hope. We will get through this, together,” Walz said.

Trump’s assertions omitted the fact that — days after Hortman and her husband were shot dead in their home in the northern Minneapolis suburbs — the president was asked if he’d be calling Walz. Trump suggested that doing so would “waste time.”

Presidents often reach out to governors, mayors and other elected officials at times of tragedy, such as after mass killings or natural disasters, to offer condolences and, if needed, federal assistance. But Trump said then that Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee against Trump in last year’s election, was “slick.”

“I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him. Why would I call him?” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One in June. He then added, “The guy doesn’t have a clue” and “he’s a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him but why waste time?”

Teddy Tschann, a spokesperson for Walz, responded at the time with a statement saying, “Governor Walz wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans, but this tragedy isn’t about Trump or Walz.”

Trump also said Monday that he planned to attend Kirk’s funeral this weekend in Arizona and added that he’d likely be speaking.

“I guess I’ll say a few words, I don’t know,” he said. “But I guess I will.”

Karnowski reported from Minneapolis.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 17:08

Trump administration joins Republicans’ campaign to police speech in reaction to Kirk’s murder

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN

Vice President JD Vance on Monday jumped onto the conservative movement demanding consequences for those who have cheered Charlie Kirk’s killing, calling on the public to turn in anyone who says distasteful things about the assassination of his friend and political ally.

“When you see someone celebrating Charlie’s murder, call them out,” Vance urged listeners on the slain activist’s podcast Monday. “And hell, call their employer.”

Vance’s call also included a vow to target some of the biggest funders of liberal causes as conservatives stepped up their targeting of private individuals for their comments about the killing. It marked an escalation in a campaign that some warned invoked some of the darkest chapters of American history.

“The government involvement in this does inch this closer to looking like McCarthyism,” said Adam Goldstein of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, referring to the 1950s campaign to root out communists that led to false allegations and ruined careers. “It was not a shining moment for free expression.”

Campaign broadens to those who quote Kirk critically

Republican-controlled states such as Florida, Oklahoma and Texas have launched investigations of teachers accused of inappropriate statements after last week’s assassination. The U.S. military has invited members of the public to report those who “celebrate or mock” the killing and said some troops have already been removed for their comments.

At the same time, the Trump administration has vowed to target what it contends is a “vast” liberal network that inspired the shooter, even as authorities maintain it appears he acted alone and the investigation is ongoing.

The campaign has broadened to include even those whose statements were critical of Kirk without celebrating his assassination.

The Washington Post fired Karen Attiah, an opinion columnist, for posts on the day of the shooting that lamented how “white America” was not ready to solve gun violence and that quoted Kirk denigrating the intelligence of prominent Black women such as Michelle Obama.

PEN America, a press freedom group, warned in a statement that firings like Attiah’s “risk creating a chilling effect.”

Goldstein worried there were many cases of people targeted for simply quoting Kirk or failing to mourn his passing adequately. “That’s one of the key symptoms of cancel culture,” he said. “Trying to paint everyone with the same brush.”

Conservatives coined the term cancel culture for what they claimed was persecution of those on the right for their views, especially related to the COVID-19 pandemic and Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, leading to campaigns to get regular people fired.

It was a significant cause for President Donald Trum p, who pledged to end it during his campaign last year. But after the Kirk killing, he and his administration have instead leaned into it from the right.

A hero to conservatives, a provocateur to many Democrats

A father of two and a Christian conservative, Kirk was a hero to many Trump Republicans for his fiery warnings about the dangers of Democrats and ability to organize young voters. But Kirk also was a provocateur and supporter of Trump’s attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss who left a long record of partisan quips that enraged many on the left.

“According to Kirk, empathy is a made-up new-age term, so keep the jokes coming. It’s what he would have wanted,” read one post on X that Melvin Villaver Jr., a Clemson University music professor, re-posted the day of the killing, according to a screenshot circulated by college Republicans demanding his firing. Clemson eventually fired one staffer and suspended Villaver and another professor after intense pressure from elected South Carolina Republican officials.

Other targeted posters, such as Army Lt. Col. Christopher Ladnier, simply quoted Kirk on the day of his assassination. This included Kirk calling the Civil Rights Act a “beast” that “has now turned into an anti-white weapon,” his criticism of Martin Luther King Jr. and his statement that some gun deaths are the cost of a robust Second Amendment.

Ladnier, who has been targeted by conservative activists online, said in a Facebook message to The Associated Press that he would respond “when/if” his chain of command takes action.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott approvingly posted a video of a Texas Tech University student who was arrested Friday after a confrontation at a campus vigil for Kirk, writing: “This is what happened to the person who was mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Texas Tech.”

Some people targeted have been victims of mistaken identity.

A school district in rural Elkhorn, Wisconsin, reported receiving more than 800 messages after one conservative influencer mistakenly identified an associate principal at an elementary school as celebrating Kirk’s death.

Top Republicans vow to go after ‘domestic terrorist network’

Authorities say Kirk was shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who grew up in a conservative household in southern Utah but was enmeshed in “leftist ideology,” according to the state’s Republican governor, Spencer Cox.

Cox said investigators may reveal more about what motivated the attack after Robinson’s initial court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday. The governor said the suspect, who allegedly carved memes onto his bullet casings, appeared radicalized by the “dark corners of the internet.”

On Monday, Vance was joined on Kirk’s podcast by Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, who vowed to crack down on what he called the “vast domestic terrorist network” he blamed for Kirk’s death.

Alluding to free speech concerns, Vance said: “You have the crazies on the far left that say, ’Oh, Stephen Miller and JD Vance, they’re going to go after constitutionally protected speech.’”

But he added: “No no no! We’re going to go after the NGO network that foments, facilitates and engages in violence,” — a reference to non-governmental organizations.

The White House did not immediately return a request seeking clarity on the remarks, including which groups might be targeted.

The idea of a retribution campaign against individuals or groups for expressing a particular viewpoint has alarmed many.

“Just having that ideology, just believing differently than some other American is not illegal,” Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said on CNN on Sunday.

Instead, he said any groups that have been involved in illegal or violent acts should be targeted.

Killing as a pretext to go after political rivals

On Kirk’s show, Vance talked about the need for unity after the assassination, but then dismissed it as impossible given what he described as the left’s embrace of political violence. Naming two foundations that fund a wide range of liberal causes, Vance said: “There is no unity with the people who fund these articles, who pay the salaries of these terrorist sympathizers.”

Democratic officials have roundly condemned Kirk’s murder. Democrats also have been victims of political violence recently, including the June assassination of the speaker of the Minnesota House and her husband, and the 2022 beating of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in their San Francisco home.

Caitlin Legacki of Stop Government Censorship, formed to fight the Trump administration’s use of government against its political rivals, said it was one thing for people making abhorrent statements to face consequences.

“When we get concerned is when there appears to be a concerted effort in the government to use this tragedy to punish political opponents,” she said.

Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Chris Megerian in Washington; Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina; Juan Lozano in Houston, and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 16:25

The Democratic Party is in fits over Mamdani’s bid for NYC mayor. Republicans are loving it

By STEVE PEOPLES and JOEY CAPPELLETTI

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen stood before Iowa Democrats over the weekend and blasted his party’s leadership as “spineless” for refusing to endorse Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor.

“Many Democratic members of the Senate and the House representing New York have stayed on the sidelines,” Van Hollen said. “That kind of spineless politics is what people are sick of. They need to get behind him and get behind him now.”

It was another jab in an ongoing rift within the party over Mamdani’s campaign. Democratic leaders in Washington and moderate Democrats on the ballot this fall are actively distancing themselves from Mamdani, a 33-year-old self-described democratic socialist, while progressives rally behind him, noting Mamdani’s economic populism and youthful charisma have generated tremendous support from grassroots activists well beyond New York.

Meanwhile, Republicans, including President Donald Trump, are watching with delight and sometimes piling on, linking Mamdani and his far-left policies to the Democratic brand. That’s been the case in New Jersey and Virginia, the only states holding elections for governor this year, and GOP officials have signaled that the strategy will continue well into next year’s high-stakes midterm elections.

Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani on Sunday, declaring in a New York Times opinion piece that “New York needs leaders who will put aside differences, stand up and fight back against Mr. Trump.”

FILE – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers her first State of the State address in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol, on Jan. 5, 2022, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, Pool, File)

Trump responded Monday in a social media post where he inaccurately described Mamdani as a communist and implied federal funding could be withheld from the city if Mamdani is elected.

“This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City,” Trump wrote. “Washington will be watching this situation very closely. No reason to be sending good money after bad!”

Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill haven’t endorsed

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has repeatedly declined to endorse Mamdani when asked by reporters, saying, “I choose to make endorsements when I choose to make endorsements.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he met with Mamdani last week — but did not endorse him. Both are New Yorkers.

Schumer and Mamdani worked together on issues in the past, including debt relief for taxi drivers, and have spoken highly of each other. After Mamdani won the Democratic primary, Schumer praised him on social media for running a campaign that connected with New Yorkers.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, left, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, tell reporters that they are united as the Sept. 30 funding deadline approaches, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The lack of endorsement underscores the political pressure the leaders face, needing to win races not just in Democratic strongholds like New York but also in swing states or places that lean toward Republicans, such as Senate contests next year in North Carolina and Ohio.

Mamdani has been an outspoken critic of Israel. He called its military campaign in Gaza a “genocide” and said Palestine should exist as “a state with equal rights.” He also has called for tax increases on the wealthy to make life more affordable for everyday New Yorkers through initiatives like free buses.

The split also has deepened within the New York delegation itself. After Hochul’s endorsement, Rep. Tom Suozzi on Monday said he would not be endorsing Mamdani because he does not agree “with his proposed solutions.” In contrast, swing-district Rep. Pat Ryan endorsed Mamdani on Tuesday: “I know whose side I’m on. I’m with the people. I’m with Zohran.”

For many progressives, the Democratic establishment’s Mamdani snub has echoes of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ political rise. The independent Vermont senator struggled for decades to earn the support and respect of Democratic leaders, even as his popularity exploded and he emerged as a leading presidential candidate.

Perhaps that’s why Sanders himself has served as one of Mamdani’s fiercest defenders.

“I find it hard to understand how the major Democratic leaders in New York State are not supporting the Democratic candidate,” Sanders said last week. “So, we got another fight on our hands, and that is the future of the Democratic Party.”

National progressive groups have united behind Mamdani, sensing much larger stakes than New York City’s mayoral contest.

“I can’t overstate how angry grassroots voters are. It’s off the charts on this one,” said Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of Our Revolution, an activist group born of the Sanders movement.

The debate has spilled into contested primaries ahead of next year’s midterm elections. That includes a Senate contest in Michigan between establishment candidates like Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed, who is more of a political outsider.

“It’s odd to me that if a candidate were to win a Democratic primary that the Democratic party wouldn’t take notes and understand why that person won. And then shift accordingly,” said El-Sayed.

“Parties exist to funnel the will of the people and I think when you have a growing chasm between leadership in the party and what the people want, that only ever ends up in one way: Either the parties lose elections, or the party moves.”

How is it playing in looming elections?

Republicans are actively fighting to link Democratic candidates to Mamdani.

In New Jersey, Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli described Mamdani as a sign the “modern Democratic Party has lost its mind.”

The Republican’s campaign also made a digital ad showing video from Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s interview in which she was asked if she’d back Mamdani’s general election campaign. She said, assuming he’s the nominee, “I assume I will.”

Ciattarelli has posted the video on social media throughout the campaign, most recently last week.

Sherrill has disengaged when asked about Mamdani. She had earlier said she would back the eventual Democratic nominee in New York City’s mayoral race but later said she wasn’t wading into the contest and was letting voters there decide the race.

“As she’s said throughout the campaign, Mikie’s leaving the NYC mayoral race to the voters of New York,” Sherrill campaign spokesperson Carly Jones told The Associated Press.

Virginia Democratic governor candidate Abigail Spanberger’s team offered almost identical language when asked if she would endorse Mamdani, saying, “Abigail is laser-focused on Virginia.”

In New York, Mamdani faces former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams — both running as independents.

After Hochul’s endorsement, Mamdani said he was grateful “for her support in unifying our party.”

Earlier, he had a more pointed message for veteran Democratic officials like Cuomo, a powerhouse in New York politics for decades.

“What Andrew Cuomo doesn’t seem to understand is that him and Donald Trump are two sides of the same coin that New Yorkers want to throw away into the dustbin of history,” Mamdani said in a recent podcast. “We want a new kind of politics.”

Cappelletti reported from Washington. AP writers Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey and Olivia Diaz in Richmond, Virginia contributed.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 16:19

What to know after US says it has reached framework deal with China to keep TikTok in operation

TikTok users in the U.S. may get a reprieve from the threat of a shutdown after the Trump administration announced it has reached a framework deal with China for the ownership of the popular social video platform.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a press conference after the latest round of trade talks between the world’s top two economies concluded in Madrid that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping would speak Friday to possibly finalize the deal. He said the objective of the deal would be to switch to American ownership.

He did not disclose the terms of the deal, saying that it is between two private parties, but added that “the commercial terms have been agreed upon.”

What is the deal?

Little is known about the actual deal in the works, including what companies are involved and whether the United States would have a stake in TikTok. Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative, said the two sides have reached “basic framework consensus” to properly solve TikTok-related issues in a cooperative way, reduce investment barriers and promote related economic and trade cooperation, according to China’s official news agency Xinhua.

Oracle Corp. has been floated as a likely buyer for the platform. Representatives for the company did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Monday.

In Madrid, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the team was “very focused on TikTok and making sure that it was a deal that is fair for the Chinese,” but also “completely respects U.S. national security concerns.”

Wang Jingtao, deputy director of China’s Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, told reporters in Madrid there was consensus on authorization of “the use of intellectual property rights such as (TikTok’s) algorithm” — a main sticking point in the deal.

The sides also agreed on entrusting a partner with handling U.S. user data and content security, he said.

Extensions continue

Though he has no clear legal basis to do so, Trump has continued to extend the deadline for TikTok to avoid a ban in the U.S. This gives his administration more time to broker a deal to bring the social media platform under American ownership. The next deadline is on Sept. 17, and Trump has already signaled he would extend it if needed.

It is not clear how many times Trump can keep extending the ban as the government continues to try to negotiate a deal for TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance. While there is no clear legal basis for the extensions, so far, there have been no legal challenges against the administration. Trump has amassed more than 15 million followers on TikTok since he joined last year, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. He said in January that he has a “warm spot for TikTok.”

How do Americans view TikTok?

For now, TikTok continues to function for its 170 million users in the U.S. Tech giants Apple, Google and Oracle were persuaded to continue to offer and support the app, on the promise that Trump’s Justice Department would not use the law to seek potentially steep fines against them.

Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren’t sure.

Among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users’ data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report.

Why does the U.S. want China to divest?

During his first term as president, Trump led the effort to ban TikTok, saying it posed a threat to U.S. national security. But his tune changed when he returned to the White House a second time, signing an executive order on his first day in office to keep the app running.

During Joe Biden’s Democratic presidency, Congress and the White House used national security grounds to approve a U.S. ban on TikTok unless its Chinese parent company sold its controlling stake.

U.S. officials were concerned about ByteDance’s roots and ownership, pointing to laws in China that require Chinese companies to hand over data requested by the government. Another concern became the proprietary algorithm that populates what users see on the app.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 16:09

Fingerprint on rifle scope matches man accused of trying to assassinate Trump, FBI analyst testifies

By DAVID FISCHER

A fingerprint on the scope of a rifle found near where President Donald Trump was playing golf last year matches that of a man accused of trying to assassinate Trump that day, an FBI analyst testified Monday in a Florida courtroom.

Monday was the third day of testimony in the trial of Ryan Routh, who prosecutors said spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through the shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for the trial, but it could end sooner: Prosecutors said they should be able to rest their case by Thursday, and Routh’s witnesses have been subpoenaed to appear by Friday.

The day’s first witness testified about items collected from a black SUV that Routh had been driving and living in for several weeks before the attempted attack, according to local news outlets.

The FBI agent said the evidence recovered included six cellphones, three license plates, a bullet casing and notes on flights to Mexico and Colombia.

Later, an FBI analyst testified that Routh’s fingerprint was found on the scope of the SKS rifle found just outside the golf course. A weapons expert confirmed that the gun was in working order.

This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano holding up the weapon found in the bushes during opening statements in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)

This courtroom sketch shows lead government prosecutor John Shipley speaking during the opening statements of the during the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)

A pickup truck decorated in support of President Donald Trump sits parked outside the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse, after the start of jury selection in the trial of Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

A law enforcement officer from the Department of Homeland Security stands watch at the Alto Lee Adams Sr. U.S. Courthouse as jury selection began in the trial of Ryan Routh, charged with trying to assassinate Donald Trump while he played golf last year in South Florida, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)Show Caption1 of 4This courtroom sketch shows Secret Service agent Robert Fercano holding up the weapon found in the bushes during opening statements in the trial of Ryan Routh, who is charged with attempting to assassinate Donald Trump last year at a golf course in South Florida, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Fort Pierce, Fla. (Lothar Speer via AP)Expand

Routh, who is representing himself, has conducted relatively brief cross-examinations of the government witnesses.

Routh has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert, as well as several character witnesses. He hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.

Recounting the incident at the Trump International Golf Club, a Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witnesses said he confirmed it was the person he had seen.

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived an attempt on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear, before being fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

View more on Jeremy T. Ringfield's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on September 15, 2025 15:56

← Previous 1 2 … 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 … 493 494 Next →

Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog

Jeremy T. Ringfield's profile
185 followers