Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 6

Horoscopes Oct. 16, 2025: Tim Robbins, size down

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Caterina Scorsone, 44; John Mayer, 48; Kellie Martin, 50; Tim Robbins, 67.

Happy Birthday: Size down, not up, this year. Too much of anything will work against you. Pay attention to detail and budgets, and set priorities that have meaning and value to you. Establish health goals, investments and peace of mind while eliminating waste and avoiding unnecessary situations that distort your priorities. Be the master of the changes you consider mandatory, and fine-tune your life to fit your needs. Choose love and the comfort of home. Your numbers are 8, 13, 24, 28, 33, 39, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You know what others expect, so do your part and move along. Trying to avoid the inevitable will weigh you down mentally and emotionally and rob you of precious time to do the things and be with the people you love most. Get your priorities straight, and set your sights on what you want to achieve. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Base your actions on facts, not emotions. Your best recourse is to pursue events that allow you to grow. Latch on to the people, places and pastimes that encourage better relationships and a disposition that offers the freedom to navigate your way through life without hassle, interference or loss. A positive attitude will yield good results. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): A change will brighten your day. Engaging in social activities, attending networking events that offer a platform for lively conversations or spending time with someone special will put you in the right frame of mind to excel at whatever you pursue. Set the stage for stardom, and do what you do best. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be open to suggestions, and you’ll discover how you can raise your income through diverse and innovative alternatives. Participate in events that help you promote something you’re passionate about, and you’ll attract the attention of someone with influence. Negotiations will lead to positive change. Get what you want in writing to avoid discrepancies and vulnerabilities. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Even out the playing field if you want to compete. Observe any competition or situation that might compromise you, and adjust accordingly before engaging. Preparation is key to getting what you want without overpaying or overcompensating. Emotions will be close to the surface, and it serves you best to deal with your feelings before meeting face-to-face with controversy. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Listen and learn. The information you gather will play a direct role in helping you and others. Volunteering for something that concerns you will encourage you to mesh with like-minded people who validate your quest for change. Join forces, and it will transform how you utilize your skills or earn a living. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Take nothing for granted. Tidy up loose ends and buy yourself time to relax and enjoy life. Walk away from no-win situations and indulgent temptation. Choose to work on yourself instead of trying to change others. Avoid impulsive spending and decision-making, and allocate more time to activities that bring you happiness and joy. Romance is favored. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Refuse to let emotions stand between you and greatness. You have plenty to offer by allowing yourself room to grow. Speak up, and your intelligence will mesmerize those you conduct business with. Trust your instincts, follow your dreams and stop at nothing when excellence awaits you. Be confident, and make changes for yourself, not others. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Envision what you want, and proceed. Work behind the scenes, and concentrate on details and your budget to ensure you come out on top. Review your progress and adjust as needed to offset potential conflicts that arise. Refuse to let outside influences dictate outcomes when maintaining control is your jurisdiction. Trust your instincts, and only make changes that are necessary. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Excess is the enemy. No matter what you are dealing with, it is best to keep it simple, affordable and within the confines of the rules, regulations and restrictions you encounter along the way. Time is of the essence, and slowing down to fix shortsighted mistakes will cut into your proceeds. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Put more time and effort into personal change and growth. Build a strong foundation for what you want to pursue, and you’ll gain momentum and confidence to carry you forward. Fact-finding will reveal false information that can deter you from reaching your expectations. Leave nothing to chance; do the legwork yourself. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Think twice before you implement change. Take the initiative to source the best instruction and help possible. Don’t settle for secondhand information or knockoffs that offer false claims. You only get what you pay for, so don’t scrimp when your life, finances or credibility depends on your actions. Use common sense and consult experts to avoid setbacks. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are progressive, brave and insightful. You are unique and imaginative.

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.

Trump declares US-China trade war, Bessent floats long truce

By Daniel Flatley and Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Bloomberg News

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said he saw the U.S. as locked in a trade war with China, even as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent proposed a longer pause on high tariffs on Chinese goods to resolve a conflict over critical minerals.

Related Articles Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela Federal government to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English requirements What to know about deporting family members of US troops How the government shutdown is thwarting efforts to shed light on Epstein’s case JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

“Well, you’re in one now,” Trump said Wednesday when asked by a reporter if the world’s two largest economies are in for a sustained trade war if they cannot reach a trade deal. “We have a 100% tariff. If we didn’t have tariffs, we would be exposed as being a nothing.”

Trump spoke just hours after Bessent dangled the possibility of extending a pause of import duties on Chinese goods for longer than three months if China halts its plan for strict new export controls on rare-earth elements. The U.S. and China have agreed to a series of 90-day truces since earlier this year, with the next deadline looming in November.

“Is it possible that we could go to a longer roll in return? Perhaps. But all that’s going to be negotiated in the coming weeks,” Bessent said during a press conference in Washington.

The dueling remarks underscored the whiplash investors have felt as tensions have flared in the relationship between Washington and Beijing. U.S. equities extended gains after Bessent’s comments, while Trump’s remarks came after trading closed in New York.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer cast doubt that Beijing would go ahead with the plan, which he said would choke off trade in a wide variety of consumer products that contain even a trace of rare earths.

“The scope and the scale is just unimaginable, and it cannot be implemented,” Greer said.

In the meantime, Bessent predicted a coordinated response to China’s move from the U.S. and several allies.

“We’re going to have a fulsome, group response to this, because bureaucrats in China cannot manage the supply chain or the manufacturing process for the rest of the world,” Bessent said earlier Wednesday at a CNBC-hosted forum in Washington.

Coordinated response

Pointing out that “all my counterparts” are in Washington for the annual gathering of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank this week, he said, “We’re going to be speaking with our European allies, with Australia, with Canada, with India and the Asian democracies.”

An escalating tit-for-tat between Washington and Beijing has renewed investors’ fears that world’s two largest economies could soon be locked in a full-blown trade war.

China’s new rules, announced last week, require overseas firms to obtain Chinese government approval before exporting products containing even trace amounts of certain rare earths that originated in China.

Trump responded by threatening to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods by Nov. 1. He floated the idea of scrapping a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping and warned the U.S. could cut off trade in cooking oil, a key input in biofuels.

The Treasury chief said that as far as he’s aware, Trump “is a go” on meeting Xi later this month in South Korea. Bessent said there’s a “very good chance” that he travels to Asia before Trump and meets with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Asia trip

Bessent said he expected trade announcements to be made during Trump’s Asia tour. The president is expected to attend a summit with Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia before going on to Japan and South Korea, which will be hosting the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders meeting.

The U.S. is “about to finish up” negotiations with South Korea, Bessent added. Those talks have lately revolved around the contours of a giant investment program. U.S.-Canada talks are “back on track,” Bessent also said. He also indicated progress with India.

Bessent dismissed the notion that a slide in the stock market would force the Trump administration into a negotiating position with Beijing, saying that what spurs such talks is instead the economic interest of the nation. The U.S. won’t negotiate with China “because the stock market is going down,” he said.

He also rejected the idea that the rising price of gold reflects some fundamental concern with regard to the dollar. He flagged that U.S. interest rates have come down relative to other economies, and said with regard to the euro that it “should be strong,” given how currency theory would suggest exchange-rate appreciation when fiscal expansion is underway.

‘Unhinged’ official

Bessent also on Wednesday singled out a Chinese vice Commerce minister, Li Chenggang, for particular criticism, referencing comments he made during an August visit to Washington. He said Li had shown up “uninvited.”

“Perhaps the vice minister who showed up here with very incendiary language on August 28 has gone rogue,” Bessent said during the press conference at Treasury. “This individual was very disrespectful,” he said, after earlier calling him “unhinged” in the CNBC event.

Li had warned China would “cause global chaos” if the U.S. went ahead with plans for port fees for Chinese ships, Bessent said. “Maybe he thinks he’s a wolf warrior,” he said, referring to a term used for aggressive Chinese diplomats.

Bessent also said that China had initially ascribed a slowdown in the supply of rare earth magnets to a holiday — an argument that suggested “they can’t be trusted with the global supply chain.”

“If China wants to be an unreliable partner to the world, then the world will have to decouple,” he said. “The world does not want to decouple,” he said. “We want to de-risk. But signals like this are signs of decoupling, which we don’t believe China wants.”

With assistance from Catherine Lucey, Phil Kuntz, Lauren Dezenski and Derek Wallbank.

©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela

By AAMER MADHANI

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela and said he was weighing carrying out land operations on the country.

Related Articles Trump declares US-China trade war, Bessent floats long truce Federal government to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English requirements What to know about deporting family members of US troops How the government shutdown is thwarting efforts to shed light on Epstein’s case JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

The acknowledgement of covert action in Venezuela by the U.S. spy agency comes after the U.S. military in recent weeks has carried out a series of deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. U.S. forces have destroyed at least five boats since early September, killing 27 people, and four of those vessels originated from Venezuela.

Asked during an event in the Oval Office on Wednesday why he had authorized the CIA to take action in Venezuela, Trump affirmed he had made the move.

“I authorized for two reasons, really,” Trump replied. “No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea.”

Trump added the administration “is looking at land” as it considers further strikes in the region. He declined to say whether the CIA has authority to take action against President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump made the unusual acknowledgement of a CIA operation shortly after The New York Times published that the CIA had been authorized to carry out covert action in Venezuela.

Early this month, the Trump administration declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and pronounced the United States is now in an “armed conflict” with them, justifying the military action as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States.

The move has spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties that Trump was effectively committing an act of war without seeking congressional authorization.

On Wednesday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said while she supports cracking down on trafficking, the administration has gone too far.

“The Trump administration’s authorization of covert C.I.A. action, conducting lethal strikes on boats and hinting at land operations in Venezuela slides the United States closer to outright conflict with no transparency, oversight or apparent guardrails,” Shaheen said. “The American people deserve to know if the administration is leading the U.S. into another conflict, putting servicemembers at risk or pursuing a regime-change operation.”

The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that the boats targeted by the U.S. military were in fact carrying narcotics, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the administration has only pointed to unclassified video clips of the strikes posted on social media by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and has yet to produce “hard evidence” that the vessels were carrying drugs.

Lawmakers have expressed frustration that the administration is offering little detail about how it came to decide the U.S. is in armed conflict with cartels or which criminal organizations it claims are “unlawful combatants.”

Even as the U.S. military has carried out strikes on some vessels, the U.S. Coast Guard has continued with its typical practice of stopping boats and seizing drugs.

Trump on Wednesday explained away the action, saying the traditional approach hasn’t worked.

“Because we’ve been doing that for 30 years, and it has been totally ineffective. They have faster boats,” he said. ”They’re world-class speedboats, but they’re not faster than missiles.”

Human rights groups have raised concerns that the strikes flout international law and are extrajudicial killings.

Federal government to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English requirements

By JOSH FUNK

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday he will withhold $40 million from California because it is the only state that is failing to enforce English language requirements for truckers.

Related Articles Trump declares US-China trade war, Bessent floats long truce Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela What to know about deporting family members of US troops How the government shutdown is thwarting efforts to shed light on Epstein’s case JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

An investigation launched after a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn on Aug. 12 found what Duffy called significant failures in the way California is enforcing rules that took effect in June after one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders. California had issued the driver a commercial license, but these English rules predate the crash.

Truckers are supposed to be disqualified if they can’t demonstrate English proficiency, and Duffy said the driver involved in the crash should not have been given a commercial license because of his immigration status. The crash has become increasingly political, with the governors of California and Florida criticizing each other and Duffy highlighting the administration’s immigration concerns in interviews.

“California is the only state in the nation that refuses to ensure big rig drivers can read our road signs and communicate with law enforcement. This is a fundamental safety issue that impacts you and your family on America’s road,” Duffy said.

California defended its practices in a formal response to the Transportation Department last month, but federal officials weren’t satisfied.

The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom quickly pushed back after the announcement Wednesday. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for the governor, said statistics show that California commercial truck drivers have a lower crash rate than the national average.

But Duffy said when he announced his concerns in August that California had conducted roughly 34,000 inspections that found at least one violation since the new language standards took effect. But only one inspection involved an English language rules violation that resulted in a driver being taken out of service. And 23 drivers with violations in other states were allowed to continue driving after inspections in California.

The Transportation Department said that to get this funding reinstated, California must adopt regulations to enforce the English rules and ensure that state inspectors are testing truck drivers’ English skills during roadside inspections and pulling anyone that fails out of service.

In addition to this English language issue, Duffy has threatened to pull another $160 million from California because of the way the state issues commercial drivers licenses. Duffy significantly restricted who can qualify for those licenses last month.

Three people died when truck driver Harjinder Singh made an illegal U-turn on a highway about 50 miles north of West Palm Beach and a minivan slammed into his trailer, according to Florida’s Highway Patrol. Singh and his passenger were not injured.

He is being held without bond after being charged with three state counts of vehicular homicide and immigration violations. His lawyer has previously declined to comment on the case.

The crash received intense scrutiny because of questions about Singh’s immigration status and because investigators said he failed an English proficiency test afterward. Duffy and Florida officials blamed California as well as Washington state for issuing him a commercial driver’s license.

But California officials said he had a valid work permit at the time. And New Mexico released video of a traffic stop that showed Singh communicating with an officer effectively after he was pulled over there in July.

Duffy, President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have all be trading barbs with Newsom over the crash and whether Singh should have been driving a truck.

Newsom’s office said California followed all the rules when it issued a license for Singh in July 2024, while the federal government confirmed at that time that he was in the country legally.

Duffy and Florida authorities have said Singh, who is from India, entered the country illegally from Mexico in 2018.

What to know about deporting family members of US troops

By JESSE BEDAYN

The deportation of a U.S. Marine’s father in California is bringing new attention to President Donald Trump’s apparent changes to a longstanding policy seeking to protect military families from deportation.

Related Articles Trump declares US-China trade war, Bessent floats long truce Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela Federal government to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English requirements How the government shutdown is thwarting efforts to shed light on Epstein’s case JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

Trump’s new immigration tactics follow years of the military recruiting from immigrant communities to fill out its ranks and touting the immigration benefits for enlistees’ families.

Here’s what to know.

What was the policy?

Along with possible protection from deportation, enlisting in the military often meant deference in your family’s immigration cases and a better shot at a green card.

Those benefits were used by the armed forces to recruit more people, and, as of last year, an estimated 40,000 people were serving in the military without citizenship.

Under President Joe Biden, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement considered your and your immediate family’s military service as a “significant mitigating factor” when making immigration decisions, such as removal from the country.

The idea was to boost recruitment and maintain morale, fearing that it could take a hit if a service member’s family was deported.

What did the Trump administration change?

The administration issued a memo in February doing away with the older approach.

It said that immigration authorities “will no longer exempt” categories of people that had been afforded more grace in the past.

That included families of service members or veterans, said Margaret Stock, a military immigration law expert.

FILE – Margaret Stock, an immigration lawyer, poses with a copy of her book, “Immigration Law and the Military” at her office in Anchorage, Alaska, July 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)Do certain crimes void the protections?

They can, but Stock said there’s no explicit list of convictions that would make someone ineligible for protections and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services can waive factoring in criminal convictions in making an immigration decision.

Have other military members’ families been detained?

Yes. A Marine Corps veteran’s wife, who was seeking a green card, was detained in May in Louisiana but a judge barred her removal.

And veterans without citizenship are increasingly worried about deportation.

Will this impact recruitment to the U.S. Armed Forces?

Stock says it will.

The military has struggled in the past to meet recruitment numbers.

That’s partly because there aren’t enough U.S. citizens without immigrant family members to meet the need, said Stock, a retired lieutenant colonel in the military police, U.S. Army Reserve, who taught law at West Point during the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

The immigration benefits for a recruit and their family were key to expanding the military’s ranks, said Stock, and recruitment would suffer without them.

The Marine Corps told The Associated Press last month that recruiters have been told that they “are not the proper authority” to “imply that Marine Corps can secure immigration relief for applicants or their families.”

How the government shutdown is thwarting efforts to shed light on Epstein’s case

By Emily Goodin, Miami Herald

The government shutdown is delaying proceedings in Congress’ investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, affecting a measure to require the release of files in the possession of the federal government and holding up testimony from key figures.

Related Articles Trump declares US-China trade war, Bessent floats long truce Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela Federal government to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English requirements What to know about deporting family members of US troops JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has kept the House of Representatives out of session for two weeks and counting as part of his party’s strategy to pressure Senate Democrats into voting for their resolution to fund the government.

That has slowed down the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into the late pedophile and held a petition demanding the release of the files at bay.

Bill and Hillary Clinton were expected to testify before the panel over the past few weeks but have yet to appear.

And Johnson has declined to swear into office Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona who would be the crucial 218th vote on a discharge petition from Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie that would demand a vote on the release of the government’s Epstein files.

Republicans on the Oversight panel argue there are no delays and the Clintons will eventually appear.

“There are no delays and the postponement of the depositions has nothing to do with the government shutdown. We are in communication with the Clintons’ attorneys to schedule their appearance before the Committee,” a spokesperson for the Republicans on the committee told the Miami Herald.

Both Clintons were subpoenaed in early August by Republicans. Hillary Clinton had been expected to testify on Oct. 9 and Bill Clinton was scheduled for Tuesday.

Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s private jet and was one of many figures who contributed a message to a “birthday book” for him. The former president has said he wishes he had never met Epstein.

A spokesperson for the Clintons didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Democrats on the panel fault the Republicans and the shutdown for the delay.

“House Republicans would rather keep our government shut down than further this Epstein investigation,” said Sara Guerrero, a spokesperson for Oversight Committee Democrats.

“The majority should be having hearings, enforcing subpoenas like the one they sent to [Epstein associate] Ghislaine Maxwell, and working day and night to get to the bottom of this. Oversight Democrats are here and ready to work for the American people.”

Other committee hearings have been affected due to the shutdown. Attorney General Pam Bondi was scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Oct. 8, but that was postponed.

Meanwhile, Arizona is threatening to sue Johnson for not seating their newly-elected congresswoman. Grijalva’s victory was officially certified on Tuesday. She is replacing her late father in his House seat.

Johnson said he will swear her into office once the government reopens.

“She won her election after the House was out of session, so we’ve not had a full session,” the speaker told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

“She deserves to have all the pomp and circumstances everybody else does. She deserves to have a full House of members and go down and do the speech and have her family and friends in the balcony. That hasn’t been scheduled because we haven’t had that session.”

Democrats argue Johnson, using his power as speaker, can swear her in at any time. They point out two Florida Republicans — Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis — were sworn in during a pro forma session on April 2, the day after their special elections.

There is no formal rule requiring the House to be in session to seat a member of Congress.

“This is a massive White House coverup and now Mike Johnson is involved,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the Oversight panel.

Garcia is also demanding Republicans on the committee call in Maxwell to testify. She was subpoenaed by the panel but Committee Chairman James Comer allowed her to postpone her testimony until the Supreme Court decided whether to hear her case. Earlier this month the high court declined to add it to their docket.

Grijalva’s case may be in court soon.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said she will file suit if Johnson doesn’t swear Grijalva in over the next two days.

Grijalva would be the final signature needed on the procedural measure called a discharge petition. Once the petition hits the 218 mark, it will force a vote by the full House on a measure by Massie requiring the Department of Justice to release all its unclassified Epstein documents, bypassing party leadership, which typically decides what legislation is voted upon.

“Speaker Johnson is stalling because he knows I will be the 218th signature on the discharge petition to release the Epstein files,” Grijalva has said.

She and her supporters have enacted a pressure campaign on the speaker, including a march through the Capital on Tuesday to Johnson’s office, demanding a swearing-in ceremony.

“What is he afraid of? Epstein!” the group of Democrats sang during their march.

Fellow Arizona lawmakers are also piling on, holding a rally in front of the Capital on Wednesday morning.

“Speaker Johnson is protecting pedophiles, that’s what this is about,” Senator Ruben Gallego, Democrat of Arizona, said. “The only thing that’s been consistent the whole time is that Speaker Johnson is covering up for pedophiles.”

Both political parties, however, have dug in when it comes to the shutdown, each wanting the other to give.

Democrats are demanding protections for Obamacare subsidies to keep health insurance premiums from increasing.

And Republicans want Democrats to accept their stopgap bill to fund the government through Nov. 21. The House has already passed the stopgap, which is why Johnson is keeping his lawmakers home — to increase the pressure on the Senate to approve it.

President Donald Trump is also weighing in and said on Tuesday he’ll use the opportunity the shutdown brings to close “Democrat programs that we want to close up or we never wanted to happen.”

“The Democrats are getting killed on the shutdown because we’re closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we were opposed to. So, we’re being and — and they’re never going to come back in many cases,” Trump said, when asked when he’d bring the parties together to negotiate.

The longest government shutdown on record was 35 days. It took place in Trump’s first administration.

©2025 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

JD Vance dismisses bipartisan outrage over racist and offensive Young Republican group chat

By MEG KINNARD

The public release of a Young Republican group chat that included racist language, jokes about rape and flippant commentary on gas chambers prompted bipartisan calls for those involved to be removed from or resign their positions.

Related Articles Trump declares US-China trade war, Bessent floats long truce Trump confirms the CIA is conducting covert operations inside Venezuela Federal government to withhold $40M from California for not enforcing trucker English requirements What to know about deporting family members of US troops How the government shutdown is thwarting efforts to shed light on Epstein’s case

The Young Republican National Federation, the GOP’s political organization for Republicans between 18 and 40, called for those involved to step down from the organization. The group described the exchanges, first reported by Politico, as “unbecoming of any Republican.”

Republican Vice President JD Vance, however, has weighed in several times to speak out against what he characterized as “pearl clutching” over the leaked messages.

Politico obtained months of exchanges from a Telegram conversation between leaders and members of the Young Republican National Federation and some of its affiliates in New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont.

Here’s a rundown of reaction to the inflammatory group chat, in which the operatives and officials involved openly worried that their comments might be leaked, even as they continued their conversation:

Vance

After Politico’s initial report on Tuesday, Vance posted on X a screen grab from 2022 text messages in which Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s attorney general race, suggested that a prominent Republican get “two bullets to the head.”

“This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia,” Vance wrote on Tuesday. “I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence.”

Jones subsequently said he took “full responsibility” for his comments and offered a public apology to Todd Gilbert, who then was speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates.

Vance reiterated his initial sentiment Wednesday on “ The Charlie Kirk Show ” podcast, saying when asked about the reporting that a “person seriously wishing for political violence and political assassination is 1,000 times worse than what a bunch of young people, a bunch of kids say in a group chat, however offensive it might be.”

Vance, 41, said that he grew up in a different era where “most of what I, the stupid things that I did as a teenager and as a young adult, they’re not on the internet.”

The father of three said he would caution his own children, “especially my boys, don’t put things on the internet, like, be careful with what you post. If you put something in a group chat, assume that some scumbag is going to leak it in an effort to try to cause you harm or cause your family harm.”

“I really don’t want to us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke, telling a very offensive, stupid joke is cause to ruin their lives,” Vance said.

Republicans

Other Republicans demanded more immediate intervention. Republican legislative leaders in Vermont, along with Gov. Phil Scott — also a Republican — called for the resignation of state Sen. Sam Douglass, revealed to be a participant in the chat. A joint statement from the GOP lawmakers termed the comments “unacceptable and deeply disturbing.”

Saying she was “absolutely appalled to learn about the alleged comments made by leaders of the New York State Young Republicans,” Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York called for those involved to step down from their positions. Danedri Herbert, chair of the Kansas GOP, said the remarks “do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not of Kansas Republicans at large.”

In a statement posted to X on Tuesday, the Young Republican National Federation said it was “appalled” by the reported messages and calling for those involved to resign from their positions within the organization. Young Republican leaders said the behavior was “disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents.”

Democrats

Democrats have been more uniform in their condemnation. On Wednesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, asking for an investigation into the “vile and offensive text messages,” which he called “the definition of conduct that can create a hostile and discriminatory environment that violates civil rights laws.”

Speaking on the Senate floor, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Tuesday described the chat as “revolting,” calling for Republicans including Trump and Vance to “condemn these comments swiftly and unequivocally.”

Asked about the reporting, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called the exchanges “vile” and called for consequences for those involved.

“Kick them out of the party. Take away their official roles. Stop using them as campaign advisers,” Hochul said. “There needs to be consequences. This bulls—- has to stop.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

New Monterey Parks and Recreation director announced

MONTEREY — A new director is stepping in to lead Monterey’s Parks and Recreation Department.

City Manager Hans Uslar announced Mike Pacheco as the Parks and Recreation Director Wednesday. He is slated to start the position Nov. 3. Pacheco comes to Monterey from Vista in Southern California, where he served as Recreation and Community Services Director.

He replaces former director Karen Larson, who retired in July after years of service with the city. Pacheco’s annual salary will be $205,656.

“Mike brings a great deal of leadership experience and a proven ability to strengthen community programs,” Uslar said in a press release. “We are thrilled to have him join our executive team and the Monterey community. His expertise will help our recreation programs continue to thrive and our parks stay healthy and well maintained.”

Pacheco has worked in municipal recreation and community services since 1997, beginning his career in Albuquerque, New Mexico as an assistant pool manager.

In Vista, Pacheco oversaw a $13.5 million budget and managed a team of more than 300 employees across six divisions. He also helped launch the city’s first Age-Friendly Plan, a long-term strategy to support inclusive community spaces and programming.

According to the city, Monterey’s Parks and Recreation Department operates with a nearly $19 million budget, supported by 47 full-time employees and about 350 seasonal and part-time staff across five divisions.

“I’m excited to join Monterey’s Parks and Recreation team,” Pacheco said in the press release. “I look forward to working alongside the dedicated staff to ensure the city’s continued success and to contribute to the vision of Monterey as a beautiful, special place to live, work and visit.”

The city said community meet-and-greet events with the new director will be scheduled in the coming months.

Imjin Parkway project waits for PG&E confirmation for power outage date

MARINA – Waiting for confirmation from Pacific Gas and Electric Company for a power outage date to complete the transfer of equipment and tie-in for upgrades, the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project continues work on conduits and vaults for relocated and upgraded equipment.

According to the city of Marina, the lead agency on the widening and roundabout project, a request for a daytime power outage on Oct. 27 has been submitted to PG&E to finish work, but it has not yet been confirmed. The outage, which will last about 12 hours, will enable workers to complete the transfer of old equipment and installation of new equipment on Abrams Drive. PG&E will make the official notification regarding date and duration to all affected customers.

The Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project is a two-year effort to widen and increase safety on a traffic artery for about 30,000 daily motorists moving between the Salinas area and the Monterey Peninsula. The project is on a 1.7-mile stretch of roadway between Reservation and Imjin Road, includes the construction of four roundabouts and increases the stretch of roadway to four lanes. The completion of the project is expected to be June 2026.

From now to the end of the month, day shift work includes continue installing minor irrigation elements and planting native plants and trees, begin paving final layer of asphalt pavement starting Oct. 27, and install remaining pedestrian signal and streetlight foundations and poles.

MGE Underground, a subcontractor with PG&E, continues work on conduits and vaults for relocated and upgraded equipment.

Phase one construction on the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout project began in February 2024.

The project moved into phase two in early March this year, moving traffic onto the newly-built north side of the parkway so that work could focus on the south side of Imjin Parkway.

The Imjin Parkway project moved into phase three when it opened the roundabouts to their current configuration of single-lane traffic in August.

The Imjin Parkway project is expecting to begin its phase four final paving and striping in late October provided the weather holds and PG&E has relocated its equipment. Paving is expected to take from 8-10 days, at which time sections of Imjin Parkway will be closed to allow for continuous paving operations during the day. The project is moving into its fall weather conditions which may affect the ability to perform paving and striping work. Closures and detours will be posted as the project moves closer to the paving dates.

Upon completion, the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project will add on-street buffered bike lanes, stormwater treatment areas, retaining walls and a sound wall.

The improvements aim to benefit commuters who travel through the corridor, as well as those who live along Imjin Parkway at Cal State Monterey Bay and the neighboring homes in Marina Heights, Sea Haven and Preston Park.

The widening and roundabout project, is the second regional Transportation Agency for Monterey County Measure X project to be built. Measure X was the November 2016 ballot measure approved by 67.7% of Monterey County voters for the Transportation Agency’s Transportation Safety and Investment Plan. The Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project’s $40.5 million in funding sources include $2 million from Marina generated from development impact fees, around $18.2 million from Transportation Agency for Monterey County’s Measure X and about $20.2 million from California’s SB1 local partnership program.

To stay informed about the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project, visit the project website at www.imjinparkway.com or call Edrie De Los Santos, Marina, at (831) 884-1212.

Community College sports: Bates to retire as MPC’s Dean of Athletics

MONTEREY – During the interview process, Wendy Bates took out a faded piece of paper with notes that she had written to herself 13 years earlier. She showed the Monterey Peninsula College selection panel what her long-term goals were.

On the bucket list was to become an athletic director.

“It was a position where I believed I could make a bigger difference,” Bates said, recalling the 2020 interview.

Navigating through a pandemic wasn’t exactly how Bates envisioned the job. Yet, her guidance as an athletic director enabled MPC to become a model for others to follow.

“When you’re at the lowest of lows, you have to get creative,” Bates said. “Everyone bought in. We stayed engaged with our student-athletes. We (coaches) all stayed connected. And it worked.”

Bates is leaving a legacy in her brief stint at MPC, as she announced that she is retiring after five years as the school’s dean of athletics.

“She kept our athletic programs going during COVID,” said MPC men’s basketball coach Blake Spiering, who is beginning his 23rd year. “She’s done a good job in getting our brand out there, creating a good image.”

Bates, who is a member of the Chico State basketball Hall of Fame,  has actually been a part of the MPC family since 2004, arriving to resurrect the women’s basketball program, winning over 200 games.

For someone who spent her entire life around sports, Bates didn’t envision herself as a coach or anything involving athletics after her playing career ended at Chico State.

“I wanted to become a counselor or a psychologist,” Bates said. “But it was clear early on when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, that I couldn’t stay away from athletics. So maybe I should look into this coaching thing.”

Bates had coaching stints at Santa Rosa, Hartnell and Feather River before landing at MPC, where she has spent the last two decades, the last five as the school’s athletic director.

“We have made some changes in the last four years to advance the programs in a different way,” Bates said. “We were a team (coaches) that was intact. I feel like we’re in a good place.”

During Bates’ tenure, MPC has replaced the turf on  its football field, as well as resurfacing the track. The softball field was redone, along with renovations to the swimming pool, and the tennis and pickleball courts that the community has access to.

“She gave the place a facelift that it deserved,” said Nick Cunningham, the school’s track and field coach. “She put our facilities on a level to hold big events.”

In some regards, the pandemic was a blessing for Bates. Because no one had a clue how to proceed in the beginning, there was also no expectation or anyone for her to be compared to.

“I had to pave my own way,” Bates said. “Coming right into a pandemic was challenging. But in some ways, it was a gift. I wasn’t being compared to anyone. It hadn’t been done before.”

Working closely with all her coaches, Bates put together a program during the pandemic with the mindset of keeping student-athletes mental health strong.

“It was tough,” Bates said. “Honestly, sports is what was going to save our student-athletes. That is what they really needed. But we couldn’t do it in the same way obviously.”

Instead, video meetings were set up weekly for all 12 sports on campus. The school continued to pay its coaches, who conducted virtual workouts.

“I still remember we’d have them drive by and hand out equipment through car windows to enable our athletes to engage with us during workouts,” Bates said.

Bates met weekly through video meetings with athletic directors across the state in an effort to create better ideas going forward.

A return to sports protocol was put in place and implemented in a cost-effective way for athletes to return to the field, gym or track in the fall of 2021.

“I still remember having to put gowns, gloves and masks on and test these kids,” Bates said. “Nurses needed help. We just had to do it. And we had to keep testing ourselves.”

The Lobos came out of the pandemic strong, with its football program winning the first of four straight conference titles, and the softball program pulling off a pair of 30-plus win seasons.

“She came in and really was a big proponent of helping our program get up to speed,” Cunningham said. “She allowed me to show my visions and not hold me back in what I wanted to create here. She’s been a big advocate in building the program.”

Two years ago, the Lobos women’s track and field team brought home the school’s first Coast Conference title, while last season saw three athletes podium at the state finals.

“We have six healthy sports for both men and women,” said Bates, who brought the women’s basketball program back this winter.

If there was one thing Bates wishes she could have improved upon, it was the hiring of more female coaches. Currently, there are no female head coaches and just three assistants on staff.

“Some of the positions that have opened up, we haven’t had a female candidate,” Bates said. “It continues to be an area of concern across the state. Women’s sports in general are down. The pandemic played a part in that. But I don’t think it’s all that. It’s a discussion across the state.”

Bates, whose role includes being the dean of student health and student activities, has had discussions about starting a flag football team for women.

“I think we’re the only college in the region to create a flag football class,” Bates said. “There’s interest up and down the state. It’s become extremely popular. And it’s going to be an Olympic sport.”

Bates isn’t sure who will replace her, or if anyone in the athletic department is interested in the position, as she will remain the dean of athletics until the end of the school year next June.

“To be honest, there was a retirement incentive,” Bates said. “My colleagues have become my friends. I’ll miss the interaction with students-athletes. But it made sense to do it now.”