Johnny Depp sold the yacht to J.K. Rowling in 2015. It has played a role in Amber Heard's testimony against Johnny Depp. Johnny Depp; Amber Heard; Depp's former yachtShawn Thew/POOL/AFP/Getty Images; Steve Helber/POOL/AFP/Getty Images; Barbara Zanon/Getty Images Johnny Depp bought a yacht for an undisclosed price in 2007. The yacht is known for its art deco-style interior and "pirate-ship" design. Depp sold the yacht to J.K. Rowling in 2015 for $27 million. Johnny Depp bought a yacht from Turkish shipyard Proteksan Turquoise yacht in 2007. The yacht is known for its art deco-style interior and "pirate-ship" design.Johnny Depp's yacht at Zattere on April 26, 2010.Barbara Zanon/Getty ImagesDepp purchased the Turkish-made yacht for an undisclosed amount and named it "Vajoliroja." At the time, he was dating Vanessa Paradis. The yacht name is a combination of their names, along with their children's, Lily-Rose and Jack.Depp and Paradis were seen enjoying the yacht on several occasions with their daughter Lily-Rose in 2011. The couple split up in 2012.When Depp married Amber Heard in 2015, he renamed the yacht "Amphitrite." Fifteen months after the wedding, Heard filed for divorce. The pair is now embroiled in a bitter trial that began in April.The yacht has played a role in Heard's testimony against Depp. Heard claimed Depp slammed her against the wall in one of the yacht's cabins. Heard said Depp was drunk and upset that he had to sell the boat. Depp has denied that he ever abused or assaulted Heard.Depp sold the yacht to J.K. Rowling in 2015 for $27 million. The yacht has since been sold to a US businessman and is now named "Arriva."Depp hired California-based interior designer LM Pagano to renovate the yacht in 2008. A post shared by LM Pagano Design (@lmpaganodesign) Pagano, who designed the yacht, said she wanted the 47.6-meter (156-foot) yacht to feel like "the Orient Express on the ocean.""There's so much going on in there, but it all works. I had some of those velvet patterns rewoven for me on original art deco looms!" she told Steinway in an undated interview.Pagano did not respond to Insider's requests for comment.The yacht, which can accommodate 10 guests and nine crew members, has a home cinema and salon. A post shared by LM Pagano Design (@lmpaganodesign) The yacht has four decks, according to Yacht Harbour. Its seven-meter beams give it the silhouette of a pirate ship. It's equipped with a Kaleidescape entertainment system.A video tour of the yacht shows velvet decor and an antique-style wooden interior. The yacht's interior is made of vintage textiles and silk, according to a 2021 Facebook post by Pagano."I was graced to be working with Johnny, who has extraordinary knowledge and serious appreciation of historic decorative arts," she wrote in the post. The boat also has a 1930s-inspired dining hall. The yacht has five large staterooms. A post shared by LM Pagano Design (@lmpaganodesign) Three of the cabins have double beds, while two have twin beds. All of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, according to Charter Index. In a 2019 Facebook post, Pagano wrote that the bedroom's decor featured items procured from around the world.The yacht also has a helicopter pad, swimming pool, and Jacuzzi.Depp chartered the yacht when he wasn't using it in 2013. A post shared by LM Pagano Design (@lmpaganodesign)  Depp reportedly charged charterers $130,000 a week during peak seasons and $110,000 during low seasons.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"If Martian attacks had come across the radar, he would have happily added them to his ever-bulging portfolio," Conway wrote of Kushner. Jared Kushner (left), a White House senior adviser during the Trump administration, (left), and Kellyanne Conway (right), a former Trump aide.AP Photo/Andrew Harnik Former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway slammed Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in her new book. She called Kushner "shrewd and calculating" and criticized his sprawling portfolio.  Kushner knew he wouldn't be held accountable for personnel or legislative disasters, Conway wrote. Former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway has harsh words for the former president's son-in-law Jared Kushner in her new memoir.On Sunday, The Washington Post reported on an excerpt of Conway's new book, "Here's the Deal: A Memoir," which is a re-telling of her experiences in the Trump White House, where she served as a senior aide to former President Donald Trump. Per The Post, Conway wrote in her book that Kushner, a senior adviser to Trump, was a "shrewd and calculating" individual and "a man of knowing nods, quizzical looks, and sidebar inquiries."According to Conway, Kushner also operated with the knowledge that he was unlikely to be held accountable for any personnel or legislative disasters that took place on his watch, the outlet reported."There was no subject he considered beyond his expertise. Criminal justice reform. Middle East peace. The southern and northern borders. Veterans and opioids. Big Tech and small business," she wrote in her book, per The Post.Criticizing Kushner's sprawling portfolio, Conway wrote, per outlet: "If Martian attacks had come across the radar, he would have happily added them to his ever-bulging portfolio.""He'd have made sure you knew he'd exiled the Martians to Uranus and insisted he did not care who got credit for it," she added.Per The Post, Conway also claimed that Kushner had misunderstood the Constitution and believed that "all power not given to the federal government was reserved to him."Kushner's White House portfolio was known to have spanned a large gamut of responsibilities, from the country's COVID-19 response to an attempt to secure peace in the Middle East.Conway's criticism of Kushner isn't the first occasion that a former Trump aide has unloaded on him. Stephanie Grisham, Trump's former press secretary, also slammed Kushner and called him "Rasputin in a slim-fitting suit" in her 2021 book "I'll Take Your Questions Now." Representatives for Kushner did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The former New York City mayor can be heard yelling back at the heckler, "I reduced crime, you jackass!" Rudy Giuliani, former lawyer for President Donald TrumpWilliam B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Rudy Giuliani yelled at a heckler during a pro-Israel parade Sunday in New York City. "I am a class act, and you're probably as demented as Biden," Giuliani said to the heckler.  On Friday, Giuliani reportedly met with the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.  Rudy Giuliani took the time to exchange a few choice words with a heckler as he walked down the street during a pro-Israel parade. The former New York City Mayor and Trump attorney was confronted as he marched in the JCRC-NY Celebrate Israel Parade in New York on Sunday.—Jacob Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) May 22, 2022 "I reduced crime, you jackass!" Giuliani can be heard saying in a video after he turns around to confront the person shouting at him. Giuliani also calls the person yelling at him a "brainwashed asshole." The heckler, seen wearing a yellow shirt, calls Giuliani a "class act.""I am a class act, Giuliani replies, "and you're probably as demented as Biden." Giuliani then walked away smiling and waving a tiny Israeli flag.On Friday, Giuliani reportedly met with the January 6 committee for nine hours after previously backing out of a scheduled appearance in early May.The former politician was subpoenaed in January for promoting "claims of election fraud" after the 2020 election and "sought to convince state legislators to take steps to overturn the election results." according to a statement from the committee.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"The house has been occupied by the same family, generation after generation, since 1907," the listing agent told Insider. The house's exterior.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International Realty For 115 years, a townhouse on NYC's Upper East Side has been owned by the same family. Now, the family is selling the five-story residence for $13 million. Constructed in 1884, the house has six bedrooms and four full bathrooms. A New York City townhouse that has been in the same family for the past 115 years has been listed for $13 million.Steps leading up to the front door of the townhouse.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International RealtyThe five-story townhouse is located at 38 East 70th Street in the Upper East Side, blocks away from Central Park, per the listing. Kristi Ambrosetti with Sotheby's International Realty holds the listing.The median home price on the Upper East Side is $1.5 million, per Realtor.com. The most expensive listings in the wealthy enclave are an $80 million Fifth Avenue townhouse and a $70 million townhouse formerly owned by late fashion designer Gianni Versace.The house was designed by architect Charles Graham in 1884. It's been occupied by the same family, generation after generation, since 1907, Ambrosetti told Insider.The living area.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International RealtyThis is not the first time the family has tried to sell the house: It was first listed in July 2020 for $12.5 million and again in April 2021 for $11 million, property listing records show. The residence has also been listed for rent multiple times between 2012 and 2019.The 5,000-square-foot residence features high ceilings and restored original woodwork.The home office.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International Realty"There is a carefully curated team of individuals servicing, restoring, and repairing the house to maintain its condition," Ambrosetti said. "38 East 70th Street offers pristine woodwork throughout the house as seen in the original banister, staircase, pocket doors, and crown moldings."The dining room is attached to a butler's pantry, and has a fireplace and a skylight.The dining room.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International Realty"There is a working dumbwaiter in the kitchen that goes up to the dining room level; very Downtown Abbey," Ambrosetti said.The chef's kitchen comes with wood cabinets and a full suite of appliances.The kitchen.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International RealtyThere's also a small garden on the same floor as the kitchen, per the listing.There are six bedrooms in the house.One of the bedrooms in the house.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International RealtyThe bedrooms are found on the top three floors, per the listing.The bathrooms have minimalist designs.One of the bathrooms.David DuPuy/Sotheby’s International RealtyThe basement houses the laundry area and a fifty-case wine cellar, per the listing."This is one of the very best blocks on the Upper East Side, and a house in this location so rarely comes to market," Ambrosetti told The New York Post earlier this month.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Trump's post drew swift rebukes from critics like GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who tweeted: "Any of my fellow Republicans wanna speak out now?" Former President Donald Trump attends the Rally To Protect Our Elections conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 24, 2021.Brandon Bell/Getty Images Trump re-posted a comment on Truth Social that suggested or predicted civil war in America. The post shared by Trump included the El Salvadoran president's remarks on inflation in the US. Trump's re-post was swiftly rebuked by his critics, like GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger. Former President Donald Trump this weekend re-shared a comment on Truth Social that appeared to predict or suggest a civil war in America in response to inflation. Trump re-posted a suggestion from a Truth Social user called "MAGA King Thanos," who commented on a screenshot of a tweet from El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele. In the tweet, Bukele wrote: "The most powerful country in the world is falling so fast, that it makes you rethink what are the real reasons. Something so big and powerful can't be destroyed so quickly, unless the enemy comes from within.Bukele's remarks came in response to a Bloomberg tweet on coping with inflation in the US if one earns under $300,000 a year.The post that Trump re-shared captured the Truth Social user's comment on Bukele's tweet, which read "Civil war." Trump re-posted a Truth Social user's suggestion of civil war in the US.Screengrab/Truth SocialBukele is El Salvador's millennial president — a controversial figure who once switched up his Twitter bio to call himself "the coolest dictator in the world."Trump's re-post was picked up on by conservative political activist George Conway, the husband of former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway. "Nothing to see here. Just a former president of the United States sharing a social media post advocating or predicting civil war in the United States. No biggie," he tweeted.Trump's comment was also swiftly rebuked by Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of Trump's staunchest critics in the GOP. "Any of my fellow Republicans wanna speak out now?" Kinzinger tweeted. "Or are we just wanting to get through 'just one more election first...?"Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell also weighed in on Trump's post, tweeting: "Donald Trump is calling for Civil War. Of course, like Vietnam and the walk to the Insurrection, he won't be man enough to fight it." Trump's post-presidential press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

At a campaign event, former schoolteacher Kandiss Taylor delivered an anti-abortion speech that criticized the separation of church and state. Kandiss Taylor, Georgia Republican gubernatorial candidate participates in a republican primary debate on Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Atlanta.AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, Pool Kandiss Taylor, a GOP candidate for Georgia Governor, delivered an anti-abortion speech on Sunday. Running on a "Jesus, Guns, Babies" platform, she criticized the separation of church and state. "They're not gonna tell us 'separation of church and state.' We are the church! We run this state!" At a Sunday campaign event, GOP candidate for Governor Kandiss Taylor delivered an anti-abortion speech that  criticized the separation of church and state, saying "the church runs the state of Georgia.""We're gonna do a political rally and we're gonna honor Jesus," Taylor said while standing in front of her campaign bus, which has her "Jesus, Guns, Babies" slogan boldly painted on the side. "They're not gonna tell us 'separation of church and state.' We are the church! We run this state!"Taylor's speech criticized the "Luciferian regime" taking over the state of Georgia and accused current Gov. Brian Kemp of selling out the state to the Chinese Communist Party, but did not offer specifics how is doing so.Taylor is challenging incumbent Kemp and Trump-backed candidate David Purdue for the Republican nomination for Governor. The primary election will be held Tuesday."The church runs the state of Georgia. This state is sovereign. This is our state. We decide what happens. We decide if we kill babies," Taylor added in her Sunday speech. "That's our choice. I pray Roe versus Wade gets overturned, it should be. But let's get one thing straight: The States didn't give them the right to have Roe versus Wade to begin with!"Taylor's campaign did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"The investigation uncovers a reality far more evil and systemic than I imagined it could be," Russell Moore, a former Southern Baptist leader, said. This Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 file photo shows the headquarters of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tenn.Mark Humphrey, File/Associated Press A new report details decades of sexual abuse cover up by the Southern Baptist Convention. The report found SBC leaders kept a secret list of sex offenders and dismissed victims. With 13 million members, the SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in the US. An independent investigation released by the Southern Baptist Convention on Sunday found leaders covered up or ignored sexual abuse allegations and treated victims with hostility for decades.The nearly 300-page bombshell report, which was ordered by the 13-million-member SBC, sent shockwaves through the largest Protestant denomination in the US.The investigation found survivors and other Southern Baptists reported child molesters and abusers who were in the pulpit or church employees to SBC leadership "only to be met, time and time again, with resistance, stonewalling, and even outright hostility."The report outlined specific sexual abuse allegations and the response of leaders, finding that a few senior leaders on the SBC Executive Committee and outside counsel determined how reports of abuse were handled. The report said they were "singularly focused on avoiding liability for the SBC.""In service of this goal, survivors and others who reported abuse were ignored, disbelieved, or met with the constant refrain that the SBC could take no action due to its polity regarding church autonomy – even if it meant that convicted molesters continued in ministry with no notice or warning to their current church or congregation," the report said.The report also found that SBC leaders lied about a database of offenders. They had said the church could not maintain such a database due to how the SBC operated, despite calls for one to prevent future abuse. However, SBC leaders secretly kept their own list, according to the report.Russell Moore, a prominent evangelical and former president of the SBC's policy arm, wrote in Christianity Today on Sunday that "the investigation uncovers a reality far more evil and systemic than I imagined it could be."Moore, who departed the SBC last year, wrote that even though he had called for such an investigation the extent of the report's findings shook him.The third-party firm that conducted the investigation, Guidepost Solutions, recommended that SBC create an online database of abusers, establish a unit focused on sexual abuse, compensate survivors, and limit non-disclosure agreements.Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Allowing "combat-ready forces" to work new tactics and techniques is helping solve "key operational problems" the top SEAL officer wrote recently. A US Naval Special Warfare combatant-craft crewman mans an M2 machine gun during an exercise near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, April 25, 2022.US Army National Guard/Staff Sgt. Connie Jones US special operators are adjusting to new roles as the military shifts to great-power competition. For Naval Special Warfare Command, that means updating its tactics, techniques, and procedures. Some combat-ready SEALs are now working to solve "key operational problems," the top SEAL officer wrote recently. The US Navy SEALs are developing new ways to remain relevant and prepare for near-peer warfare against China or Russia.After two decades of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, US Naval Special Warfare Command is going back to the drawing board to come up with new or updated tactics, techniques, and procedures to take on the most difficult targets.Naval Special Warfare Command in is the naval component of US Special Operations Command and is composed of Navy SEALs and Navy Special Warfare Combatant-Craft crews.A US Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Europe member does VBSS training with a Cypriot Underwater Demolition Team, in Cyprus, September 9, 2021.US Army/Sgt. Patrik OrcuttThe SEAL component of Naval Special Warfare is composed of 10 "regular" SEAL Teams — eight active duty and two reserve — two SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams, which operate stealthy mini-submarines, and two Special Reconnaissance Teams.The Naval Special Warfare Development Group — formerly known as SEAL Team 6 — operationally falls under the secretive Joint Special Operations Command.The SWCC component is composed of three Special Boat Teams that specialize in maritime direct action, maritime special reconnaissance, inserting and extracting other special-operations forces, and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations.Rear Adm. Hugh W. Howard III, commanding officer of Naval Special Warfare Command, described how his Navy SEAL Teams and Special Boat Teams carrying out this shift in a recent article for the US Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine.Developing new conceptsRear Adm. H.W. Howard III at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, January 28, 2022.US Navy/Stacy GodfreyTypically, all available Naval Special Warfare combat-ready units are deployed overseas.However, the head of Special Operations Command, Army Gen. Richard Clarke, recently decided to hold about one-third of combat-ready Navy SEAL platoons and SWCC boat detachments in reserve for "experimentation, concept development, and high-return deploy-for-purpose (DfP) missions," Howard wrote.The reserve elements in deploy-for-purpose status "increase our agility to respond to crises around the globe and — perhaps most critical — provide combat-ready forces to experiment and generate new concepts at lower training risk after they have mastered core mission-essential tasks," the top SEAL officer wrote."Allowing combat-ready forces to experiment with new tactics, techniques, and procedures for the most stressing hard targets and environmental conditions is helping answer the Navy's and joint force's key operational problems," Howard added.Like the rest of SOCOM, Naval Special Warfare Command has continued some missions related to counterterrorism and countering violent extremist groups, but it is shifting more attention and resources great-power competition and to countering the critical systems and capabilities of China and Russia, such as their command-and-control systems and their ability to find and track rival forces.US Air Force Special Tactics operators and US Navy Special Warfare operators perform joint dive training at Souda Bay, Greece, May 25, 2021.US Air Force/Army Staff Sgt. Brandon NelsonReflecting that shift, Navy SEALs and SWCC operators have worked more with the conventional forces of "Big Navy," especially with aircraft carriers, training to help those forces survive and be more effective in combat."We are learning how to integrate our capabilities to complement the F-35 Lightning II, littoral combat ships, Zumwalt-class destroyers, Military Sealift Command assets, and Navy unmanned vehicles," Howard wrote.Naval Special Warfare and "Big Navy" are also working together to test new concepts, technologies, and tactics to enhance the Navy's manned and unmanned capabilities. In a recent testimony to Congress, Howard emphasized Naval Special Warfare's commitment to a closer relationship with its parent branch.Naval Special Warfare's closer integration with "Big Navy" promotes technological and conceptual advancements, including in "maritime reconnaissance and scouting; strike, mine, undersea, and seabed warfare; strategic sabotage against critical infrastructure; and deception," Howard wrote.In addition, Naval Special Warfare is cooperating with the Navy's submarine force to hone its underwater special-operations capabilities. Howard highlighted a training event between Navy SEALs and a Virginia-class nuclear fast-attack submarine in the eastern Mediterranean last year.Naval Special Warfare Command divers train with Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS North Carolina off of Oahu, June 18, 2021.US Navy/MCS2 Alex PerlmanHoward wrote that Naval Special Warfare has enjoyed "a special relationship with the submarine force" for decades and that the command's clandestine capabilities coupled with advanced stealthy submarines "create an unrivaled asymmetric advantage."The US military's first sub-launched commando raid was carried out during World War II, and in the decades since the SEALs were formed in 1962, SEAL Vehicle Delivery teams and their unique mini-subs have often been paired with US submarines to get SEALs closer to targets and carry out underwater operations.That first sub-launched raid was carried out by Marine Raiders, the Marine Corps' special-operations force. Now, Howard wrote, SEAL and Special Boat teams are "partnering with the Marine Corps on complementary concepts, expeditionary sustainment, and staging for inside force operations in contested battlespace."The changes and initiatives underway reflect the US military's growing concern about a new environment of competition and potentially conflict with capable adversaries that are able to challenge it at every level — something the US hasn't faced for much of the past 30 years.Leaders are responsible for understanding their organizations' strengths and weaknesses and the changes in the landscape around them "and then boldly, fearlessly lead their organizations to adapt," Howard wrote.Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Sir Richard Dearlove's prediction echoes other reports of Russian President Vladimir Putin losing power amid rumors of illness. Russian President Vladimir Putin.MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Former MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove said Wednesday Putin could be out of power by next year. He said Putin will likely enter a long-term medical facility and not return to power once he is out. His predictions line up with other reports of Putin losing power and receiving medical treatment. The former head of British intelligence predicted Russian President Vladimir Putin will be out of power by next year and in a medical facility for long-term illness.Sir Richard Dearlove was head of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, from 1999 to 2004. He made the predictions about Putin on Wednesday during an episode of the podcast One Decision, which he co-hosts."I'm really going to stick my neck out. I think he'll be gone by 2023. But probably into the sanatorium, from which he will not emerge as the leader of Russia," he said, adding that the sanatorium would be a way to move Putin out of power without a coup.Dearlove's prediction is in step with other recent reports suggesting Putin is ill and could soon lose power.—onedecisionpodcast (@onedecisionpod) May 22, 2022 Bellingcat's Christo Grozev, an expert on Russian security, said last week top Kremlin security officials believe the war in Ukraine is "lost" and that Putin is losing his grip on power.Ukraine military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told Sky News last week Putin was in "a very bad psychological and physical condition and he is very sick." Budanov also said he was "optimistic" Ukraine would prevail and that the war would be "over by the end of the year."Former British spy Christopher Steele recently said sources told him Putin is seriously ill and regularly leaves meetings for medical treatment, contributing to "increasing disarray in the Kremlin." Steele, who led MI6's Russia desk for years, compiled the infamous Trump-Russia dossier, much of which was discredited.The state of Putin's health cannot be confirmed, though his rumored conditions include ailments like dementia, Parkinson's disease, and blood cancer.Dearlove also said there is no succession plan in Russian leadership, but said if Putin did enter a medical facility, the most likely person to step up is Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the Security Council of Russia.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

During a podcast segment on "toxic femininity," Cruz shared his shock at Davidson's past relationships, including with actress Kate Beckinsdale. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former SNL comedian Pete DavidsonMichael M. Santiago/Getty Images // Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue Ted Cruz said he doesn't understand how former "SNL" actor Pete Davidson dates "hot women." Cruz also brought up Davidson's previous relationship with Kate Beckinsale: "Really? The 'SNL' dude?" The comments were part of a "Verdict with Ted Cruz" podcast segment on "toxic femininity." Texas Senator Ted Cruz asked how someone like former "SNL" actor Pete Davidson gets "all of these, like, hot women" during a recent podcast episode of the "Verdict with Ted Cruz."Cruz' co-host, Michael Knowles, read a viewer question asking Cruz about "toxic femininity," in a segment of the podcast that was published on Thursday.—The Recount (@therecount) May 20, 2022 "The Women's March was this weekend. We are seeing women like Amber Heard, Jada Pinkett Smith, Megan Markle, Kim Kardashian. Is it time we start talking about toxic femininity?" the question read.When Cruz got to speaking about Kardashian, who he said "seems fine," Knowles replied that he was "Team Kanye," to which Cruz began sharing his thoughts on Davidson. "Pete Davidson, alright, how come that dude gets all of these, like, hot women?" Cruz asked.Knowles replied, laughing: "Because of toxic femininity, Senator. That is the evidence that something has gone wrong.""Pete Davidson was dating Kate Beckinsale," Cruz continued. "I mean, you're talking 'Underworld.' You're talking, like, super hot vampire in black leather trench coat. And you're like 'Really? The 'SNL' dude? Like wow.'"Cruz was referring to Beckinsale's 2003 role in "Underworld," in which she played a vampire. Beckinsale and Davidson briefly dated for a month in 2019.Cruz has a history of commenting on pop culture, from his mention of Thanos from The Avengers as a "rabid environmentalist" on a previous podcast episode to his speculations on who the Simpsons would vote for.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Ahead of the Georgia primary on Tuesday, Trump-backed GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker said he "is pro-life and will not apologize for that." Herschel Walker speaks at a September 2021 Trump rally in Georgia.Sean Rayford/Getty Images Herschel Walker on Wednesday said he supports a total abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest. "There's no exception in my mind," Walker said. "Like I say, I believe in life. I believe in life." The Georgia primary takes place on Tuesday with Trump-backed Walker ahead in the polls. Following a campaign event on Wednesday, Georgia GOP candidate for Senate Herschel Walker said he supports a total abortion ban with no exception for rape, incest, or the health of the mother. "There's no exception in my mind," Walker said after a campaign speech, The Hill reported. "Like I say, I believe in life. I believe in life."Walker's campaign confirmed to The Hill the former professional football player turned politician "is pro-life and will not apologize for that."The Georgia state primary election is set to take place Tuesday, with Herschel, a Trump-endorsed GOP candidate, leading in the polls and likely to secure the Republican nomination for Senate. Should he secure the nomination, Walker will face off against incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in November.Walker's campaign did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.  Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Reelecting Gov. Brian Kemp is as offensive to MAGA as handing Democrat Stacey Abrams control of Georgia, Team Perdue says ahead of Tuesday's primary Former U.S. Senator and Republican candidate for Governor of Georgia David Perdue waves to supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump after speaking at a rally at the Banks County Dragway on March 26, 2022 in Commerce, Georgia.Megan Varner/Getty Images Trump-backed Perdue is trailing Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ahead of Tuesday's GOP primary. Perdue's camp says Trump's support was a big reason Kemp became governor in 2018. Splitting the party now, Perdue argues, gives Democrats an edge this fall. ATLANTA, Georgia — Republican gubernatorial hopeful David Perdue is telling Georgia voters still on the fence ahead of Tuesday's primary that backing incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp is futile because Kemp won't be able to unite the MAGA and establishment wings of the GOP in time to beat presumptive Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams this fall. "He has divided the party. So I'm very concerned that he's gonna have a hard time pulling us together again in November," Perdue, who recent polls show is trailing Kemp by 30 points, told supporters during a campaign event in Augusta, Georgia. Whether he's trying to convince himself or others about the relevance of Trump's endorsement power, the last-minute pitch has resonated with locals who view Kemp's break with the former president over the 2020 election as disqualifying.  Perdue supporter Sharon Fry, 65, told Insider she worked on Kemp's first gubernatorial bid in 2018. And the only reason he narrowly defeated Abrams last time was because the MAGA world lent its support. "It took Donald Trump's endorsement. It took everyone getting behind Brian Kemp — even people that did not support him in the runoff," she said of the concentrated effort it took to shore up the 50,000 votes that kept the state from flipping blue. "Brian Kemp does not have all the support this time." Trump has orchestrated much of that erosion, spending the last few years lashing out against Kemp, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Republican officials in other swing states where Joe Biden beat him in 2020.Trump's non-stop attacks on RINOs, which stands for "Republican in name only," still carry weight with diehard fans who miss the chaos he created while in Washington. Bikers for Trump founder Chris Cox aired his grievances against RINOs Friday night, proclaiming that by defying Trump's wishes, Kemp, former Vice President Mike Pence, and former President George Bush have proven they are more aligned with Biden than MAGA. "We've already got someone in the 'Let's Go Brandon' administration who's doing the opposite of Donald Trump," Cox told attendees during a rally for Perdue and freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. Cox added that being part of the status quo means Kemp's got to go. "Georgia deserves a governor more like Ron DeSantis," Cox said, praising the combative Florida Republican and potential 2024 presidential contender for relentlessly sticking it to the establishment. Gordon Country resident Christie Ellis, 50, talked Insider through her reservations about Kemp. She started out saying that she wasn't sure Kemp could beat Abrams in the anticipated rematch this November, but the conversation then took a darker turn. "What good does it do? What's it matter?" Ellis said of giving Kemp a shot at reelection, given that he only "represents the Stacey Abrams areas" anyway.   "I don't think it would matter if he did beat her. Because, I mean, it's a wash," Ellis predicted. Amy Rose, 44, who said she voted for Kemp in 2018, expressed a similar sense of alienation.Rose told Insider she's supporting Kandiss Taylor — the woman running on the "Jesus, Guns, and Babies" platform — for governor because every other GOP candidate has left her behind. "It's just the same old thing, over and over again, whether it's Democrats or Republicans," Rose said of her disillusionment with mainstream politics. "They're all in the same boat."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Dark MAGA is a recent online movement pushing for former President Donald Trump to return to power and take revenge against his enemies. Ronna McDaniel, the GOP chairwoman, speaks during the Republican National Committee winter meeting Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Salt Lake City.AP Photo/Rick Bowmer After losing his primary, Rep. Madison Cawthorn referenced an ominous "Dark MAGA." On Sunday, RNC chair Ronna McDaniel said she had no idea what that was.  "It's time for the rise of the new right, it's time for Dark MAGA to truly take command," Cawthorn said.  Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee chair, said she had no idea what "Dark MAGA" is."I don't know what "Dark MAGA" is," McDaniel said on Fox News Sunday. "It sounds like the Star Wars thing, like the dark side of the force. I don't know. I don't know what that is."So-called Dark MAGA is a recent online movement pushing for former President Donald Trump to return to power and take revenge against his enemies, Insider's Alia Shoaib reported. Experts say this movement, which often features white nationalist and neo-Nazi imagery, appears to be the most recent iteration of far-right online extremism.McDaniels was responding to a question about remarks made by GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn after he lost his North Carolina primary. In a statement on social media, Cawthorn referred to the need for a new political movement dubbed "Dark MAGA" to take command.  A post shared by Madison Cawthorn (@madisoncawthorn)  "It's time for the rise of the new right, it's time for Dark MAGA to truly take command," Cawthorn said in an Instagram post. "We have an enemy to defeat, but we will never be able to defeat them until we defeat the cowardly and weak members of our own party. Their days are numbered. We are coming."Cawthorn lost to state Sen. Chuck Edwards. The freshman congressmen faced a number of controversies and scandals since taking office.Cawthorn was accused of sexual harassment by former college classmates last year, charged with driving with a revoked license. He's defended rioters who stormed the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection and called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyya a "thug" and said the Ukrainian government was "evil."McDaniel said the North Carolina primary was a "well-fought" race and said Cawthorn did the right thing by conceding. "Madison had some issues that came out. He was a rising star in our party, and we need to make sure we retain that seat with Edwards, who defeated him," she said.  Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"He is someone who wants to overturn not just the last election, but has made clear that he would pick the winner of the next one," Shapiro warned. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.AP Photo/Matt Rourke Pa. AG Josh Shapiro on Sunday blasted GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano as "dangerous" and "divisive." "He thinks climate change is fake," Shapiro said on CNN. "The contrast couldn't be clearer." Shapiro ran unopposed in the Democratic party's gubernatorial primary, and will face Mastriano in November.  Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the state's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, blasted his Republican general election opponent, conservative state Sen. Doug Mastriano, as "dangerous" and "divisive."During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Shapiro pointed to a range of issues from abortion to election integrity in contending that Mastriano's views are outside of the political mainstream."He is extreme and he is dangerous," the two-term attorney general told host Dana Bash. "He would ban all abortion and jail doctors who perform it. He was there on January 6, and when the police told him to stop at the barricades, he kept marching. He is someone who wants to overturn not just the last election, but has made clear that he would pick the winner of the next one."Shapiro — who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination — also called out Mastriano on marriage equality and his stance on climate change.—CNN (@CNN) May 22, 2022"He wants to make it illegal to have same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania," he said. "He thinks climate change is fake. He is a danger. The contrast couldn't be clearer."He continued: "We will continue to point out those clear differences. I've been focused on a future for Pennsylvania that grows our economy, that improves our schools, that makes sure that we have safe communities. He's been focused on re-litigating the past. He is dangerous and he is divisive."Mastriano — who has been a huge proponent of former President Donald Trump's debunked election claims and has pledged to take the swing state in a deeply conservative direction — was endorsed by the former president earlier this month.In winning the multicandidate GOP primary, Mastriano secured 43 percent of the vote — well ahead of the second-place finisher, former Rep. Lou Barletta, who received 20 percent of the vote.The winner of the general election will succeed Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who cannot run again due to term limits.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"It would concern me," Gates told CBS News in an interview regarding former President Trump pursuing the White House again. "That's where I am." Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates endorses retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly during the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on Kelly's confirmation to be Secretary of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill on January 10, 2017.AP Photo/Cliff Owen "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan asked Robert Gates if a Trump presidential bid would be a national security threat. During the CBS interview, the ex-defense secretary expressed "concern" about another Trump candidacy. "That's where I am," he said regarding his feelings about the ex-president. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates during an interview that aired on Sunday said a 2024 White House candidacy by former President Donald Trump would "concern" him.When asked by CBS "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan if Trump's potential return to the Oval Office would pose a national security threat, Gates expressed some hesitancy."It would concern me," said Gates, who served as the director of Central Intelligence from 1991 to 1993 and was the nation's defense secretary from 2006 to 2011 under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.When Brennan said his response was "a very diplomatic phrase," Gates conceded that was his current sentiment."That's where I am," he responded.His comments came as Brennan mentioned Mark Esper's bombshell book about his time in the Trump administration, in which the ex-defense secretary said that the former president wanted to shoot demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd and alleged that allies of the former commander-in-chief called him disloyal for refuting Trump's claims about the slain Iranian Maj. Gen.Qassem Soleimani.Gates in past interviews has not had the warmest words for the former Republican commander-in-chief.In a January 2020 PBS interview, Gates blasted Trump as divisive."It's quite clear that being a unifying president is pretty low on the priority of our current incumbent," he said at the time. "I think he is a divider, and I think he does so quite consciously."The longtime Washington official also had critical words for the Republican Party, declaring in a May 2021 "Face the Nation" interview that the presidents whom he served under would not recognize the current iteration of what the party has become."I worked for eight presidents. Five of them were Republicans. I don't think any of them would recognize the Republican Party today," he said at the time.He added: "The values and the principles that the Republican Party stood for under those five presidents are hard to find these days."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The pilot involves Amazon Flex drivers making deliveries from retail stores in Las Vegas; Chandler, Arizona; and Tysons Corner, Virginia, per reports. An Amazon Flex signPhoto by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images Amazon is testing a program that involves Flex drivers making deliveries from mall retailers, Bloomberg and CNBC reported Friday. The trail is expected to run in Chandler, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Tysons Corner, Virginia. A spokesperson told CNBC participating retailers include a handful of "existing Amazon sellers." Amazon is experimenting with expanding its driver services to make deliveries from mall retailers, according to Bloomberg.The outlet was first to report the news Friday that the e-commerce giant is testing a program that allows retailers to tap Amazon's massive logistics network to get products into customer homes quicker. The trial involves using Amazon Flex drivers, gig workers who make deliveries in their own cars, picking up packages from retail locations instead of Amazon delivery stations.The pilot has been running since at least last year. Participating retailers are located in at least three cities, according to communications with drivers viewed by Bloomberg: Chandler, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tysons Corner, Virginia.In Las Vegas, Amazon sent a notice about the program to drivers, CNBC later reported Friday. "Amazon Flex is testing a new offer type near you," the memo to staffers said, according to CNBC. "Retail delivery offers will allow you to pick up and deliver pre-packaged orders directly from non-Amazon retail stores in participating local shopping centers."Amazon spokesperson Kate Kudrna told CNBC participating retailers include a handful of "existing Amazon sellers.""We have been delivering from third-party stores for years," Kudrna told the outlet. "This is another way we are able to connect Amazon sellers with customers via convenient delivery options."Amazon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Incumbent Rubio has the endorsement of several police groups and he's facing Demings, who was in law enforcement for almost three decades. Rep. Val Demings (L) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R) are running for Senate in Florida.Getty Images Rubio is up for reelection in November and has received endorsements from three police groups. He's likely to face off against Democratic Rep. Val Demings. She worked in law enforcement for 27 years and was Orlando's first female police chief. MIAMI — Pro-police messaging is set to dominate the US Senate race in Florida as incumbent Republican Sen. Marco Rubio prepares to face off against a Democratic opponent who spent almost three decades in law enforcement. On Saturday, Rubio secured the endorsement of the Florida Police Benevolent Association, a union that represents more than 30,000 members. Steadman Stahl, South Florida PBA president, called Rubio a "true champion for law and order" during a Saturday evening press conference at Trump National Doral. The endorsement is key for Rubio. In November, he's likely to face off against Democratic Rep. Val Demings, who was Orlando's first female chief of police and is married to a former sheriff. Two other law enforcement groups have endorsed Rubio: the Florida Police Chiefs Association and 55 of Florida's sheriffs. The pro-police message has been effective for Republicans in past races. As Democrats pushed police reforms and violence soared during the pandemic, Republicans sought to cast all Democrats as being weak on crime and supportive of progressives' unpopular rallying cry to "defund the police." Rubio slammed the stance in remarks he made Saturday. "It was in vogue among some to sort of go out and criticize and attack law enforcement, and talk about the need to dramatically transform it," said Rubio, who is Cuban-American and made his remarks first in English and then in Spanish. But debate over the issue is likely to play out differently in Florida than in other states. Demings's campaign has embraced and even played up her police experience during the race, calling her "Chief Demings" in press releases and other campaign materials instead of "Congresswoman Demings." Demings oversaw a 40% drop in violent crime when she was chief of police, said Christian Slater, spokesman for the Demings campaign, when asked to respond to the Rubio endorsements. "Unlike lifelong politician Marco Rubio, she has an actual record of fighting crime and making communities safer," he said. "As Florida's next senator, Chief Demings will always have law enforcement's back as she works to keep the public safe and ensure law enforcement officers have the resources they need to fight crime."Demings, who has been in the US House since 2017, was one of the managers in then-President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial in the Senate. While in Congress, she has introduced legislation to increase federal grants to police departments. She also voted in favor of the Thin Blue Line Act, a bill that would invoke the death penalty on people who murder law enforcement officers. A bipartisan bill she introduced that would have increased penalties for people who harm police passed the House but wasn't considered in the Senate. Rubio's most recent legislation on law enforcement was a bipartisan bill to help police officers with housing affordability. On Saturday, Rubio said he feared "we're not doing enough" to support police officers, saying it was leading to "a spirit of criminality" and that it would be more difficult for people to enter the profession."This is a very difficult job," he said. "We need to honor and respect the people who do it, who are willing to do it." The pro-police stance in the US Senate in Florida race comes in the shadow of a nationwide reckoning on systemic racism and police brutality. Demings, who is Black, has talked openly about racism in America and in 2020 wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post in which she called for police accountability after Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. She voted in favor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would have required police departments that use federal funding to have body cameras and would have restricted the use of chokeholds by federal officers. The bill passed the House but was defeated in the Senate under full GOP opposition.  Still, the topic has been a political balancing act for Demings. President Joe Biden initially considered her to be on the shortlist for his running mate in the 2020 elections, though several news stories raised questions about whether her background in law enforcement would be considered a vulnerability among Black voters. Biden ultimately settled on then-Sen. Kamala Harris of California.The extent of support she'll receive from Black voters in Florida will begin to play out in the August 23 primary. At a campaign reelection kick-off in Miami Gardens for state Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, on Thursday, several attendees told Insider that they planned to support Demings and had been closely watching her candidacy. Miami Gardens is the largest Black district in Florida. "She'll be the first Black US senator to represent Florida," predicted Jones. Demings faces several Democratic opponents in the primary but she's expected to be the nominee because she's massively out-fundraising them all. The latest polling on the race, from the University of North Florida, shows Rubio is favored to win reelection. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Garland joined attorneys general from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in calling for support for Ukraine's prosecutor general. A view of the corpse of a civilian killed, before being transported to the morgue, in the cemetery in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022.Rodrigo Abd/AP Five attorneys general from across the globe issued a statement supporting Ukraine's prosecutor general. The generals condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and promised war crimes investigations.  They called for "prompt, fair and effective" investigations into Ukraine's accusations of Russian war crimes. Attorney General Merrick Garland joined an international cohort of attorneys general issuing their support for the Ukrainian prosecutor general investigating Russian war crimes. "The Attorneys General of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand join in support of Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova, her Office, and the Ukrainian people in ensuring accountability for war crimes committed during the Russian invasion," the generals said in a statement. Russia has been accused of committing numerous human rights violations and war crimes in Ukraine since its February invasion. The United Nations human rights office called Russia's war against Ukraine a "horror story of violations" against civilians, Insider's Natalie Musumeci reported. In early May, Prosecutor General Venediktova said Russia had committed over 9,800 war crimes since the beginning of the invasion. In the joint statement supporting Venediktova, Garland was joined by the United Kingdom's Suella Braverman; Australia's Michaelia Cash; Canada's David Lametti; and New Zealand's David Parker. The generals said they support investigations by Ukraine and other international bodies, like the United Nations and International Criminal Court, to "ensure prompt, fair and effective investigation and prosecution of such offences under Ukrainian, domestic or international law.""We join in condemning the Russian Government for its actions, and call upon it to cease all violations of international law, to halt its illegal invasion and to cooperate in efforts to achieve accountability," the statement continued. "We look forward to working together with the Prosecutor General and her Office to ensure every perpetrator faces justice."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

If no candidate receives over 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's GOP primary, then the top two vote-getters will advance to a June 21 runoff. Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on the Fire Fauci Act on Tuesday, June 15, 2021.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Mo Brooks has surged in recent polling despite Trump rescinding his support of the GOP lawmaker. In the latest Cygnal poll, Katie Britt led with 30.8% of the vote, with Brooks at 28.5 percent. Brooks has repeatedly made the case that he is the only true conservative in the race. Two months ago, former President Donald Trump rescinded his endorsement of conservative Rep. Mo Brooks' Senate bid, claiming that the longtime political ally went "woke" in saying that the party needed to look to the future.At the time, Brooks was lagging in fundraising and his polling numbers had stalled in the Republican primary against former Business Council of Alabama president and CEO Katie Britt — who was endorsed by retiring GOP Sen. Richard Shelby — and former US Army pilot Michael Durant. But Brooks has made a major rebound — a development that might have seemed improbable after Trump bailed on his onetime preferred candidate.Alabama is one of the most deeply Republican states in the country, and Trump — who easily won the state in both 2016 and 2020 — retains a huge amount of goodwill among its huge swath of conservative voters.However, despite Trump's snub of Brooks, the congressman finds himself near the top of the pack in the most recent polling for the race.If no candidate receives over 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary, which most observers feel is the likeliest outcome, then the top two vote-getters will advance to a June 21 runoff.Britt has been a polling leader in recent months, with the latest survey conducted by Cygnal and commissioned on behalf of Alabama Daily News and Gray Television showing her ahead with 30.8 percent of the vote. However, Brooks is not far behind, with 28.5 percent of the vote; Durant comes in third place, garnering 24.3 percent of the vote.The poll, which surveyed 634 likely GOP primary voters in the Republican primary and had a margin of error of 3.88 percent, also revealed that 6.4 percent of respondents opted for another candidate while 10 percent of respondents were undecided.In a March Cygnal poll, Durant came out on top, with 34.6 percent of support from respondents, with Britt in second place at 28.4 percent and Brooks in a distant third place, garnering support from 16.1 percent of respondents.The latest Emerson College poll showed Britt in the lead with the support of 32 percent of respondents, with Durant at 26.4 percent and Brooks at 25.1 percent, with 14 percent of respondents undecided.In an Emerson survey from March, Brooks only registered with 12 percent support, which shows that the congressman has more than doubled his support since that time.Despite the very public Trump rejection, Brooks continues to repeat unsubstantiated claims that there was election fraud in the 2020 presidential race.He also has continued to call for the ouster of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as the leader of the party's caucus.And his focus on immigration issues and election integrity continue to endear him to many voters who have been unrelenting in their support of Trump.While speaking with The New York Times, Brooks called Durant "a John McCain-type of Republican" and branded Britt as "a Mitch McConnell-establishment, open-borders, cheap-foreign-labor, special-interest-group Republican.""Slowly but surely, conservatives are figuring out I'm the only conservative in this race," he added.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"He is not killing folks. But he bears responsibility in terms of the context. Have no doubt, he is still the dominant figure," West said. President Donald J. Trump uses his cellphone at the White House on Thursday, June 18, 2020 in Washington, DC.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Cornel West said racism in America won't be resolved in a matter of weeks.  In a Guardian op-ed, West said Trump was responsible for the hate campaign against people of color.  West also slammed Biden and Democrats for not doing enough.  Activist and scholar Cornel West said while former President Donald Trump isn't the one actively killing Black and Brown Americans, he's leading a "campaign of war against" them. In an op-ed in The Guardian following the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, West said things haven't changed even after a summer of protests after the killing of George Floyd in 2020. "After the death of George Floyd, there was a marvellous display of multiracial solidarity, not just here but around the world. But the US has been unable to fight against this neofascist challenge," West wrote. West said that Trump's forces have gotten "bigger" and their targets are people of color and other minorities. Last weekend, a gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, killing 10 people. Authorities said the suspect, an 18 year-old white man, drove hours to the predominantly black community and was motivated by hate. The suspect is allegedly a white nationalist who believes in the replacement theory, according to a manifesto posted online. "Trump is not out there with a gun, but he is leading a campaign continuing what Malcolm X called a war against black and coloured people. He is doing it within the electoral political system. He is not killing folks. But he bears responsibility in terms of the context. Have no doubt, he is still the dominant figure," West wrote. The political activist, however, was not only critical of Trump but also of Democrats and the Biden administration. West said that while there was solidarity following Floyd's death, it was "fickle" and Democrats have been unable to pass any meaningful legislation to protect Black people. "The Democratic party was not even able to act decisively to uphold voting rights for black people," he wrote. West slammed Biden for saying he doesn't think America is a "racist country," and said Democratic leaders need to realize that racism won't be resolved in a "matter of weeks.""Race is the most explosive issue in the history of this country: from war to civic strife to Buffalo," he said.He added that while the president can't prevent racist killings, they can "send a message.""He can say: 'I am being consistent because one of my major priorities is to ensure black people have their rights. If, after all the demonstrations and the campaigns, racists pick up the message that politicians don't really care about black people, we end up exactly where we are today," West said. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»