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Trump’s Secret Plea to Resigning Army Boss Is Leaked The abrupt exit caps months of behind-the-scenes friction. President Donald Trump made a secret plea to his departing Army secretary, who clashed with self-styled “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth, according to insiders. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told Trump that he intended to step down, people familiar with the conversation told The Washington Post. Trump, 80, then urged him to stick around at least through the midterm elections, according to people familiar with the meeting. A White House official, speaking to the Daily Beast, disputed this version of events. Driscoll refused and reportedly used the same meeting to warn the president that Hegseth was damaging the Army, according to the insiders who spoke to the Post. Driscoll formally submitted his resignation on Monday. As the Post and other outlets have previously reported, he had repeated disagreements with firebrand Hegseth, who has fired several of the Army’s generals, halted the advancement of other top officers and stymied some of Driscoll’s top Army modernization initiatives. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on whether Hegseth had pushed Driscoll out, dismissing any suggestion that the former Fox & Friends Weekend host was hampering modernization as “a total fabrication.” “The premise that the Department is in disarray is completely baseless and an insult to every dedicated professional and warfighter in this building,” Parnell said. “This is what reform looks like.” It remains unclear why Trump asked Driscoll to stay, or why Driscoll chose to leave now. The president has generally given Hegseth wide latitude to reshape military leadership and has backed his defense secretary through previous departures. In a public statement posted to X, Driscoll credited Hegseth for his role in Army modernization and called serving as Army secretary “the honor of a lifetime.” The White House said his last day is Thursday. Trump’s request that Driscoll remain reflected the Army secretary’s standing in the West Wing, according to people familiar with the matter, who told the Post that Driscoll was at one point floated as a possible replacement for Hegseth after the defense secretary’s rocky start alarmed some officials close to the president. Driscoll has kept a direct line to the White House through his friendship with Vice President JD Vance, forged when the two Iraq War veterans crossed paths at Yale Law School. Two people familiar with the matter told the Post that Driscoll hopes to be involved in a future Vance presidential campaign. His departure lands at a fraught moment for the Army, which has tens of thousands of troops deployed across the Middle East amid ongoing hostilities with Iran. Driscoll was frustrated that many of his modernization initiatives had been reassigned to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, two people familiar with the matter told the newspaper. Hegseth, who served as an Army National Guard officer, has upended the military’s traditionally independent promotion process since taking office, halting the advancement of numerous officers and purging the ranks of those seen as at odds with the Trump administration. Many of those targeted have been women and minorities. In recent weeks, Hegseth removed seven of the 18 Army one-star generals slated for promotion to major general, according to a U.S. official, as reported first by NBC News. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican whose home state of North Carolina hosts a large Army presence, torched Hegseth’s leadership in a social media post. “I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,” the retiring and increasingly outspoken Tillis said. The senator actually cast the deciding vote to confirm Hegseth last year but has since said he regrets it, and urged Trump to name a new defense secretary. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly, in a statement earlier this week, credited Driscoll with “providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations” and “assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,” adding, “The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War.” The Daily Beast has contacted the White House to request an updated statement. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-secret-plea-to-resigning-army-boss-dan-driscoll-is-leaked/? ps:What a pathetic administration!!

ICE Whistleblower Exposes Chilling Truth of Trump’s Recruitment Blitz The agency rushed scores of potentially dangerous and underqualified applicants through its hiring process last year. The Trump administration put lives at risk by failing to properly vet people seeking to become ICE agents during a frantic hiring spree, a whistleblower has alleged. An official who oversaw the vetting of thousands of ICE recruits said the Department of Homeland Security could have broken the law and exposed the country to “grave national security risks” by cutting corners during last summer’s hiring spree, The New York Times reported. Among the major concerns about the lax vetting process was that waves of dangerously unqualified candidates were being fast-tracked into ICE ranks so they could carry out Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies. The whistleblower, a unit chief and 17-year ICE veteran before retiring from the agency in July, cited other “unprecedented” reductions in vetting standards, including ICE applicants receiving job offers before passing basic fingerprint, identity, or credit checks. “We chose as an agency to be more convenient rather than thorough,” the whistleblower told the Times. “By doing so, there was a potential to put lives at risk and to jeopardize national security.” The actions of masked ICE agents and the training they undergo have come under increased scrutiny following the killings of multiple U.S. civilians. Last year’s questionable hiring practices, overseen by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi “ICE Barbie” Noem, were placed under the microscope earlier this year when an agent shot and killed Joan Sebastian Guerrero in front of Guerrero’s 3-year-old daughter in Biddeford, Maine. It was later revealed that the two ex-wives of David Brouillette, the ICE agent involved in the shooting, had accused him of having a troubling mental health history, including allegations of domestic abuse. A relative also told The Portland Press Herald that Brouillette was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after being trained to become a “killing monster” for his military deployment to Afghanistan. Before becoming an ICE agent, Brouillette applied for jobs with the Hallowell Police Department in 2024 but was denied because there were “too many red flags.” Rather than relaying his concerns about the ICE vetting process to his superiors, the unit chief filed a formal whistleblower complaint with the DHS Office of Inspector General. The complaint, obtained via a public records request, described how much of the preliminary vetting process had been scrapped during last year’s hiring spree to churn out new ICE agents and rapidly increase migrant detentions. Vetting officials were told to determine whether an applicant would be suitable to become an ICE agent without even seeing the security form, their fingerprints, or the results of any polygraph testing. The whistleblower said this meant candidates were rushed into becoming armed ICE agents without their criminal histories and other basic information being checked and verified. The training program was also drastically reduced from around 10 weeks to six, meaning some agents were starting in their roles while their full background checks were still pending. Former ICE lawyer Ryan Schwank had warned that the agency’s training program had become “deficient, defective and broken” while testifying before Congress in February. “We were concerned about ICE recruiting a loose cannon or somebody who was just mentally unfit for the role,” Schwank told the Times. “We knew that kind of person would get through. But the thing that I think kept some of the other instructors up at night was the possibility of organized crime getting access to the agency or penetrating the agency.” An ICE spokesperson said there is “no credible evidence” that any of its trainees were linked to a common criminal gang. The spokesperson added to the Daily Beast: “DHS does not comment on matters regarding personnel who are no longer with the agency. “The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility diligently applies the proper personnel vetting regulations, including guidelines for national security, and evaluates all available information for every applicant based on these factors. “As we have said all along, ICE training does not end when recruits graduate from the academy. New hires take what they learn at Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers and apply it to real-life scenarios while on duty, preserving ICE’s reputation as one of the most elite law enforcement agencies not only in the U.S., but the entire world.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/ice-whistleblower-exposes-chilling-truth-of-trumps-recruitment-blitz/? ps:It's not chilling at all? This is how trump administrations do things!!!!!

👋 Good morning! We have officially entered the "late 2020s." So far, not my favorite decade! In today's edition: NBA punishes Clippers, Tiger pleads guilty, the Year of the QB, Kroenke gets his wings, PCA's stance adjustment, College Football Challenge (make your picks!), and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports...   🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⛳️ Tiger pleads guilty: Tiger Woods has pleaded guilty to a chods has pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving stemming from his March wreck near his home in Jupiter, Florida. As a result, his license will be suspended for five years, which raised an interesting question: Can he still drive a golf cart? 🎾 Historic victory: Unseeded Bu Yunchaokete made history at the US Open on Wednesday, knocking off No. 12 Rafael Jódar to become the first "lucky loser" to beat a top-15 seed at a grand slam in the Open Era. A "lucky loser" is a player who lost the final qualifying match but still got added to the field due to a player withdrawing. 🏀 War divides LSU: Kate Koval, the former LSU center who left the program last week due to personal reasons, confirmed that her decision was made due to the signing of Russian center Anna Minaeva. "For me, this war is not distant or abstract," wrote Koval, whose father serves in the Ukrainian military. 🏈 Cousins named QB1: The Raiders have officially named Kirk Cousins as their starting QB for Week 1, a long expected move that will allow No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza to learn from the bench behind the 14-year veteran. ❤️ Honoring legends: Notre Dame will honor Lou Holtz with a helmet decal this season after their former coach passed away in March; Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State will both honor Dolly Parton with a helmet decal and uniform patch.   SPORTS MOVE FAST. SO DO THE MARKETS. Polymarket turns sports predictions into markets you can trade. Find the matchup or future you like, take your position, then watch the price move as the action unfolds. Stay in or trade out before it's over. Your call.   🏀 KAWHI PROBE NBA DROPS THE HAMMER ON THE CLIPPERS (Yahoo Sports) The NBA came down hard on the Clippers following a yearlong probe into claims that they circumvented the salary cap to pay Kawhi Leonard, allegations first brought to light by journalist Pablo Torre. Among the punishments: The franchise has been stripped of five first-round picks, and owner Steve Ballmer has been fined $30 million and suspended for a year. Leonard, who was traded to the Raptors this offseason, must pay $700,000 in restitution. Tom Haberstroh, Yahoo Sports: Adam Silver didn't just drop the hammer on the Clippers. He busted out the sledgehammer and called in the wrecking ball for good measure. Make no mistake about it, the commissioner sent a message on Wednesday. Not just to the Clippers. He CC'd the entire NBA and anyone who dared to even think about the words, "cap circumvention." Consider this: When you combine these sanctions and the assets the Clippers gave up to acquire Paul George to be Leonard's wingman, here's what it cost them: 2021 first-round pick 2022 first-round pick 2023 first-round pick 2023 first-round pick swap 2024 first-round pick 2025 first-round pick swap 2026 first-round pick 2029 first-round pick 2030 first-round pick 2031 first-round pick 2032 first-round pick 2033 first-round pick Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Danilo Gallinari $30 million fine Ballmer suspension Frank suspension Zucker suspension And what'd they get? Leonard averaged 47 games in his seven seasons, and the team won three total playoff series (none since 2021) and made one Western Conference Finals appearance. What's next: The Clippers will, of course, be raising a stink. The team released a statement slamming the probe as a "witch hunt" and vowed to explore "every legal remedy to address this gross injustice." Dive in: The Clippers, Kawhi Leonard and the most damaging swing-and-a-miss in NBA history   🏈 ARMS RACE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: THE YEAR OF THE QB (Hayden Hodge/Yahoo Sports) A record six QBs have been taken in the first round of the NFL Draft twice before (1983, 2024), and while breaking that mark will be a tall task, some believe the Class of 2027 could be the one to make history. Top prospects: For seven QBs to go in the first round, you need not only a deep well of talent but also enough teams interested in adding a rookie signal-caller, which it looks like we might have. Here are the top 12 prospects at the position, according to Yahoo Sports' Eric Edholm. Arch Manning (Texas): We might not talk about him quite the same way if he had a different last name, but his talent is undeniable. He has better raw traits than his uncles Peyton and Eli, and looks like an early favorite to go No. 1. Dante Moore (Oregon): Many felt he could have been the second player taken in this year's draft had he gone that route. Instead, he'll get one more year of seasoning while leading one of top preseason title contenders. Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State): A year after leading FBS in passing yards and touchdowns at North Texas, he's followed head coach Eric Morris to Stillwater where he'll bring his raw but enticing skills to the Power Four. CJ Carr (Notre Dame): Carr flourished as a redshirt freshman (24 TD, 6 INT), but he faces a big challenge this season following the departure of first-round RBs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and third-round pass-catchers Malachi Fields and Eli Raridon. LaNorris Sellers* (South Carolina): The supremely talented Sellers took a surprising step back last year after entering the season as the potential No. 1 pick. Can the hulking junior (6-4, 245 lbs) right the ship this fall? Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss): The former D-II star erupted for an SEC-best 3,937 passing yards last year, leading the Rebels all the way to the CFP semifinals. The dual-threat may no longer have Lane Kiffin on the sidelines, but his talent is inescapable. Darian Mensah (Miami): Jack of all trades, master of none, last year's ACC touchdown leader (34) transferred from Duke for a gargantuan $6.5 million NIL package. With a significantly better supporting cast, there's a clear path to Round 1. Julian Sayin (Ohio State): Last year's fourth-place Heisman finisher threw for 32 touchdowns and led the nation in completion rate (77%) as a sophomore, and has now been named captain of a team with championship-or-bust expectations. Drake Lindsey (Minnesota): The redshirt sophomore isn't yet a first-round prospect, but he has the size (6-5, 230 lbs) and tools to get there if he builds on the best bits we saw from him last season in the Twin Cities. CJ Bailey (NC State): The good news is that he's 6-foot-6, athletically blessed and entering his third full year as the Wolfpack's starter. The bad news is he struggled badly in last week's opener, turning the ball over twice in an ugly 34-8 loss at Virginia. Sam Leavitt (LSU): Coming off a season-ending foot injury at Arizona State, the junior is now under the tutelage of Kiffin, who will be tasked with harnessing the best parts — and rooting out the bad habits — of his new QB's hyper-aggressive play. Nico Iamaleava (UCLA): The 6-foot-6 junior with a cannon arm and speedy legs is a first-round athlete with too much fifth-round tape. One big season in Westwood could considerably change his career arc. *School's out: Sellers will be living the dream this fall, as he's already completed his class requirements to graduate in December. His only off-field responsibility during football season? An internship at a local driving range.   ⚾️ SMALL TWEAK, BIG LEAP GRAPHIC OF THE DAY Pete Crow-Armstrong was hitting .224 two months into the season. Since changing his batting stance, the Cubs center fielder has been the best player in baseball, and this Wall Street Journal graphic illustrates it perfectly. Full story: The risky mechanical overhaul that built a baseball MVP (Jared Diamond, WSJ)   ⚾️ SPORTS EMPIRE KROENKE GETS HIS WINGS (Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports) The biggest empire in sports just got bigger: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is acquiring the Angels, rounding out a portfolio that already included the NFL (Rams), NBA (Nuggets), NHL (Avalanche), Premier League (Arsenal) and MLS (Rapids). Company of one: With the purchase, Kroenke becomes the only owner with majority stakes in each of the Big Four North American sports leagues. In comic book parlance, Thanos just added the missing stone to his infinity gauntlet. Deal deluge: Kroenke's purchase comes at a reported $4 billion valuation, exceeding the $3.9 billion paid for the Padres, a deal which just closed last month. The Angels' sale is the fifth in 2026 among the Big Four leagues, and the third since the beginning of August. Merciful end of an era: Outgoing owner Arte Moreno bought the Angels in 2003, with the team fresh off a World Series title, paying a reported $183.5 million. 23 years and 14 losing seasons later, he's selling for $4 billion. The team appreciated by 14% annually, but fans haven't appreciated the franchise's direction. Their patience with Moreno's ownership had worn thin, given poor performance, perceived underinvestment in the organization, and comments made earlier this year that deemphasized winning. Glass half full: Angels fans who have longed for on-field success have reason to be optimistic. Though patience has been required at times (Arsenal fans wanted #KroenkeOut just five years ago), Kroenke's portfolio has shown a recent penchant for filling trophy cases. Arsenal: 2026 Premier League Champions Nuggets: 2023 NBA Champions Avalanche: 2022 Stanley Cup Champions Rams: 2021 Super Bowl Champions New ballpark incoming? Kroenke reportedly intends to build a new $2.5 billion ballpark to replace Angel Stadium, which is the fourth-oldest in MLB (1966). This story first appeared in Yahoo Sports Biz, our new sports business newsletter.   📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, SEPT. 3 Coco during her first round victory. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) 🎾 US Open, Second Round The second round (11am ET, ESPN+/ESPN) should conclude tonight as long as rain doesn't yet again delay the proceedings. No. 17 Alex Eala (12:40pm), No. 9 Taylor Fritz (1pm), No. 4 Coco Gauff (7pm) and No. 1 Alexander Zverev (8:10pm) headline the action. Dan Wolken: Coco Gauff has found her game at exactly the right time Since the start of Wimbledon, Gauff is 16-2 and won the Cincinnati title in dominating fashion — similar to the run of form she found in 2023 when she rode the wave all the way to her first Slam. The other thing in Gauff's favor: There are major questions about the rest of the field. More to watch: 🏈 NCAAF: Colorado at Georgia Tech (8pm, ESPN); Idaho at No. 21 Utah (9pm, ESPNU) … Two of 11 games tonight kicking off Week 1. ⚾️ MLB: Red Sox at Orioles (7:15pm, Fox); Brewers at Cubs (7:15pm, Fox) … Two great games between playoff contenders, depending where you are in the country. 🚴 Vuelta a España: Stage 12 (6:45am, Peacock) … Today's 104-mile mountain stage through Andalusia ends in Calar Alto at the largest astronomical observatory in Europe.   🏆 WHO YA GOT? MAKE YOUR PICKS In lieu of trivia today, we're sharing our new game: College Football Challenge. This is your chance to flex your knowledge week after week and see where you stack up at the end of the season. How it works: Each week, you'll make 10 picks about Saturday's best matchups. If you have a rough week, don't worry: your stats accumulate throughout the season, so you can rebound the next week and get back into the title race. Join us: Make your picks now on the Yahoo Sports app, and join the Yahoo Sports AM group to compete against Kendall, Jeff and fellow subscribers.   🏎️ START YOUR ENGINES YAHOO SPORTS x APPLE TV (Apple) This weekend's Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia 2026 continues our season-long partnership with Apple TV for F1 coverage. Tune in: All three practice sessions (Fri. 6:30/10am ET; Sat. 6:30am) and Saturday's qualifying (10am) will air for free on Yahoo Sports, while Sunday's race will stream on Apple TV, the new U.S. home of Formula 1.

DeSantis takes victory lap with Donalds and presses him to continue his policies TAMPA — There’s no question Ron DeSantis has been one of the consequential governors in the United States during his nearly eight-year run in Tallahassee. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/02/desantis-takes-victory-lap-with-donalds-and-presses-him-to-continue-his-policies/? ps:Taking credit for something he had no part in! Just like his idol!! Voting groups file federal challenge against Florida’s ‘SAVE’ Act Two voting advocacy groups filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, challenging Florida’s new law requiring proof of citizenship to vote. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/02/voting-groups-file-federal-challenge-against-floridas-save-act/? Two Florida Democrats join every Republican in Congress in voting to condemn socialism and the DSA Two Florida Democrats who are fighting for their political lives after seeing their congressional seats redistricted voted Tuesday for a resolution denouncing “socialism in all of its forms.” https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/09/02/two-florida-democrats-join-every-republican-in-congress-in-voting-to-condemn-socialism-and-the-dsa/?

Elon Musk Named in Bombshell Election Meddling Claim We know Musk is powerful. But how much does he influence our elections, exactly? Elon Musk appeared unusually certain about the outcome of the 2024 presidential election before the results came in, according to a new documentary. The bombshell claim comes from the mother of one of Elon Musk’s (many) children, Ashley St. Clair, who alleged in a forthcoming documentary that the Tesla tycoon had a “degree of certainty” about the 2024 election results before they came in that “I had never seen before.” “He had told me [before the election] he was going to unleash the ‘anomaly in the matrix,’ ” St. Clair says in championed documentarist Alex Gibney’s film, Musk, which was previewed by The Hollywood Reporter. According to the outlet, the film shows a text exchange between Musk, 55, and St. Clair, 28, onscreen, backing up her claims. “I have ten thousand lasers in space,” the SpaceX founder allegedly wrote. A spokesperson for SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast. In the documentary, an off-camera Gibney can be heard asking St. Clair if Musk was referring to Starlink in their conversation, to which she replies, “I mean, I don’t know where else he has space lasers.” Musk made no secret of his involvement in the 2024 presidential election, funneling more than $290 million into Donald Trump’s last presidential campaign and hosting town halls in swing states. He famously gave away a $1 million check to a rallygoer selected at random after they signed a petition to support a PAC he created. However, questions about his obscure data-collecting efforts and the role he plans to take in forthcoming elections remain unclear. In his documentary, Gibney hammers home that Musk’s brief stint at the helm of an army of twentysomething men known as the “DOGE” squad involved more than what was publicly known. In addition to carelessly slashing federal government jobs and stripping USAID from countries around the world, the X owner gained access to the data of tens of millions of Americans. What, exactly, he does with that information is unknown. But combined with the data he’s already obtained through his control of X, it makes him an undeniable and inescapable force in American politics. The documentary comes as Musk has reentered the MAGA movement, following his explosive public feud with Trump, 80, after his exit as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. St. Clair, for her part, has publicly denounced the hard right after years of championing its causes. Musk, who is the father of at least 14 children with four different women, publicly questioned whether St. Clair’s second child, Romulus, was his, as she claimed after he was born in September 2024. Then, after St. Clair expressed solidarity with Musk’s 20-year-old daughter, Vivian Wilson, who is transgender, Musk responded: “I will be filing for full custody today, given her statements implying she might transition a one-year-old boy.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-named-in-bombshell-election-meddling-claim-in-alex-gibney-documentary/?

Trump Makes Desperate Move as Republicans Snub His Big Event The president is pulling out all the stops to keep his midterm convention from flopping. Donald Trump will now speak on both nights of his midterm convention as he desperately tries to drum up enthusiasm. The president, 80, was originally supposed to headline only the second night of the two-day televised party convention in Dallas next week. The event was organized to try to give the GOP a much-needed election boost and mobilize Trump’s MAGA base, even though his name will not be on the ballot in November. However, with scores of Republicans already confirming their intentions to skip the Sept. 9-10 event—amid concern that viewers at home would much rather watch the opening games of the NFL season airing at the same time—Trump will now deliver a speech on Wednesday and Thursday night. “President Trump wants to set the tone for the entire convention,” a party official told Reuters about the plan. Dozens of Republican lawmakers have confirmed that they have no intention of attending the so-called “Trumpapalooza” event in Dallas, giving an array of excuses. These include deciding their time could be better spent campaigning in their home districts, prior engagements, and concerns about the eye-watering $25,000 entrance fee. Others have decided it might be wise to distance themselves from the increasingly unpopular president, who is facing dire approval ratings over the Iran war and voter backlash over his handling of the economy, in order to improve their election chances. Even Max Miller, the embattled Ohio congressman accused of domestic abuse against his ex-wife and of harming their 2-year-old daughter, has decided that not attending the convention would be better for his re-election hopes. “I was invited, but staying home to campaign and spend time with family,” he told The New York Times. One House Republican also told Politico they are not attending the event because it will be a “waste of time.” The lawmaker questioned why Trump and the Republican National Committee are putting on an event that only interests those already planning to support the GOP in November. “You shouldn’t be having to rally your base at this point,” the House Republican said. “You should be trying to convince independents. Independents are not attending nor watching the midterm convention.” Other Republicans have expressed concern about who will even watch the convention. The opening night, which will now feature the ratings-obsessed Trump, will coincide with the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks playing in a primetime rematch of this year’s Super Bowl. On Thursday night, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play in Melbourne, Australia, in a game streaming exclusively on Netflix. A Republican operative familiar with the event told Reuters he had heard suggestions the convention would allow more regular people to attend because organizers had not been able to find enough Republican officials and donors to fill the seats. The White House and Trump’s team are also said to be stepping up efforts to convince Republicans to attend the convention. Trump appearing on both nights of the midterm convention doubles the chances that he will deliver one of his typical rambling, incoherent speeches. Some Republicans fear that, rather than using the convention to boost their election hopes, he will waste his headline appearances discussing obsessions such as his White House ballroom or damage their re-election campaigns by dismissing the affordability concerns faced by tens of millions of Americans as a “hoax.” “I can’t control what the president’s going to say at the convention, but I can control where I’m at, what I’m doing,” Rep. Tom Barrett, a non-attendee fighting to retain his competitive Michigan seat in November, told Politico. The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and the Republican National Committee for comment. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-makes-desperate-move-as-republicans-snub-his-big-midterm-event/? ps:I guess I was wrong! He can!!

Trump Goons Issue Bonkers New Threat in Smithsonian War The president is bent on molding the museum’s presentation of history to his liking. The Trump administration has escalated its attempt to micromanage the Smithsonian’s curation of American history by threatening to withhold support from federal agencies. In a letter Friday to the institution’s Board of Regents, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Vince Haley griped about “an ideological agenda that seeks to transform both the Smithsonian and the country,” saying administration officials “cannot in good conscience continue to support the Smithsonian under current leadership” by “loaning artifacts for exhibits, enabling procurement processes, and making discretionary grants.” Burgum and Haley take issue with the National Museum of American History’s Interpretive Plan, which they say “illustrates how Smithsonian and NMAH leadership has sanctioned a radical institutional ideology to permeate NMAH operations.” “The Interpretive Plan instructs Museum staff to, ‘whatever the topic,’ tie everything to ‘the core issues of our time,’ namely, ‘race and identity,’ ‘gender and sexuality,’ ‘environmental change,’ ‘immigration and migrations,’ ‘economic inequality,’ ‘technological change,’ and ‘nationalism and globalism,’ stating that ‘To do anything less is to shirk our commitment to relevance,’” they write. That is “alarming,” they claim, and is reflected in educational materials, exhibit language, and “sending Museum staff to Mexico to interview deported illegal aliens,” for instance. The Daily Beast has contacted the Smithsonian, the White House and Interior Department for comment. A Smithsonian spokesperson declined to comment to The Washington Post. The White House sent the Daily Beast a lengthy statement from Haley. “Very few Americans want the Smithsonian National Museum of American History to be used, in the words of its director, as a ‘prime tool of social justice’ and as an instrument of ideological activism and advocacy,” it reads. “Unfortunately, the Saving America’s Story report demonstrates, using the statements of Museum leadership and the interpretive guidelines adopted by the Museum, that this is exactly what the Smithsonian’s flagship museum has become.” It continued, “During this 250th anniversary year of our heroic founding, the least our citizens are owed is an honest and inspiring account of American history. It should begin by telling the story of our Founding Fathers — who they were, what they did, and what they built. It is our hope and expectation that the Smithsonian will eventually rise once again to that noble obligation—to tell America’s story for our children, the world, and future generations of Americans.” The administration’s threat is the latest in a series of attacks on the Smithsonian that began last March, when Trump signed an executive order with the stated goal of “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.” In July, the White House released a 162-page report titled “Saving America’s Story,” in which it accused the “radical activists” in charge of the Smithsonian of moving “from straightforward historical education and scholarship toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country.” It pointed to alleged “anti-White activism,” “illegal alien activism,” and “transgender activism.” Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, 73, rejected the report’s characterization. The White House’s report “is not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History,” Bunch told staffers in an email obtained by the Washington Post. “At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy, and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America’s story.” A spokesperson for the institution later told the Daily Beast in a statement, “For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so.” The Organization of American Historians issued a more biting statement, saying the report was “part of an ongoing and multi-pronged assault by the Trump administration against accurate and evidence-based history in American public life.” Last August, Trump raged on Truth Social that the Smithsonian was “out of control.” “The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE,’” he wrote. “Everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been—Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.” He didn’t explain how history museums should go about exhibiting “the future.” https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-goons-issue-bonkers-new-threat-in-smithsonian-war/? ps:Can't get anymore pathetic!

Sounds like you are describing "celebration" worship, not spiritual formation. "Ideally spiritual formation is about people developing a relationship with Christ based on grace and forgiveness of sin, a relationship that will bring them comfort and victory over sin." I have never seen or heard anything like what you describe in SDA churches. I have read false reports of such happenings. I know they were false because I was at the very church when such things were reported to be taking place there. Absolutely false in the case of which I am aware. Are you saying that SDA churches on Sabbath morning feature music louder than a Zeppelin concert, gyrating performers and saints grinding and shaking? If so, I'd be interested in what church or churches and when this took place.

So is he a U.S. citizen?

Oh my. It destroyed many of the Adventist churches and left others in shambles. I have had to leave or exit from several churches where the drums and music were louder than a Led Zeppelin concert to say nothing of the grinding and shaking of the saints and gyrations of the performers. I went to a mens meeting in Camp Kulagua in Florida, and my guys and I had to spend the majority of it, out on the parking lot as we just couldnt take the smoke on the stage and jamming going on to say nothing of lack of spirituality or reverence. Call me a hater or whatever, but that was bad at all levels.

Well if one looks closer, this tends to be more of an excuse to cover the true reason of a 'single woman giving birth'. Just to give you a little insight, in talking to some of the kids I came across what I found a shocking response. I asked what background and insight they could give on what was happening currently in school. Well the response was that for one thing, the young girls were having intimate relations when they were reaching the age of puberty and the many had already experienced abortions. Now I had come across this before in another part of the country but didnt grasp how vast it was. We met a young lady who by all appearances was nice and proper, and she was interested in one of our young men from church. I think she was 14 and he was 15 if I remember right. The parents reacted strangely so I called to try to help him out and arrange a formal meeting at a nice place with proper chaperonin. Well, it turns out the young lady had already gone through 3 abortions and the parents liked the young man, but needless to say, we could not advised him to continue to pursue the relationship he sought. It took a while for him to get over and we were heartbroken and shocked at the same time. Its much more prevalent than you can imagine....

If you want to say it that way that's up to you!! To me it shows an example of how they dealt with diseases? Or how God had them deal with diseases.

Adventist know what Jude says about Enoch and we see him in the lineage. Genesis 4:18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. Luke 3:37 Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan, However, the Book of Enoch itself is not recognized as the inspired Word of God or a part of the Biblical Canon and there is a good reason. It seems that parts of it were added later or corrupted by other writers as its shifts in tone that don't fit the style and narrative of the book and the other parts of Enoch could have been authored by others so does not meet the standards for Canon. The book diverges from a biblical view, and the early church did not consider it consistent with the other books of the Biblical Canon. The book that is held to be and is even found to exist now was not written during the lifetime of Enoch, and it shows not one but many authors from the style and uneven content, and it got widespread attention in the Jewish circles because of people thinking it was from the real Enoch. And if you notice it dwells on a area that only demons or fallen angels are concerned and mixes in just a hint of the spiritual themes to give it a cover of a religious or inspired book. But its not... Thus, the fact that the book was written only a couple hundred years before Jesus was born makes it extremely unlikely that anything in it could be from the real Enoch. Now Christ clearly spoke about those of that time, we see it on Noah. Matthew 24:37-39 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. And it came to the point at the time of Noah that God was sorry that He made man because their thoughts were now evil continually. Now the fact is that the Pre-incarnate Christ was been seen by men. Enoch and Noah both "walked with God" so they were both intimately known by Him. Genesis 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Yet nothing on Enoch, Jesus never quotes the Book of Enoch as canonical scripture using introductory formulas like "it is written", and it was circulated widely during this period, but not before. Notice it says that Enoch prophesized so they knew what Enoch had given about Christ. Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, From my look into it, the book that was circulating tried to lay claim that it picked up the original writings of Enoch which appear to be the Epistle of Enoch, but then mixed in doctrines of demons and evil angels in the Book 1 The Watchers Book 2 Parables Book 3 Astronomy Book 4 Dreams to confuse what the original Enoch said. Thus Christ kept silent as He knew the truth of the matter.

A lot of the issues which lead to conflict are more about culture than about race.

I don't know anything about the Calvary Chapel other than what a simple YouTube a wiki search showed but it doesn't seem to be as off the rails as the Westboro Baptist Church is: Maine is, as far as States go very VERY liberal so perhaps the Supreme Court does need to address this.

This is going to be an interesting one.

(Reuters) – The U.S. has requested the extradition of a Philippine celebrity pastor accused of sex trafficking and sexually abusing his followers, Philippine officials said on Thursday. Apollo Quiboloy, the self-styled “Appointed Son of God” who founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church, is on the “most wanted” list of the FBI in the U.S., where he was charged with running a sex-trafficking operation that threatened young victims with “eternal damnation” and physical abuse. Quiboloy has denied any wrongdoing. Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez and Manila’s foreign ministry said that a formal request for the extradition of Quiboloy has been transmitted to the Department of Justice. Quiboloy’s lawyer said they could not yet comment on the request since they had not received a formal notice. Extradition is not immediate, as the Philippine justice ministry must first assess the U.S. request before filing a petition with a Philippine court, which then reviews the case. Quiboloy is also facing several criminal charges in the Philippines, including sexually abusing a child. He was arrested at the KOJC’s 30-hectare compound in the southern Philippine city of Davao in September 2024. He denies wrongdoing. Quiboloy, a longtime friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is followed by millions of people in the Philippines, where church leaders hold heavy sway in politics. --------------------------------- His name is pronounced key bo loay He has a big beautiful church in southern Philippines. He teaches he is the son of god. Some people in his church pray in the name of Quiboloy He is being held in a luxury prison following a 6 month manhunt. He was found in a bunker of the church compound. These charges stem from when he traveled to USA on a private jet.

In the Midwest of USA there are mixed churches and solid black churches. I have been to both. The worship service in the solid black churches is very different. A different culture. The clock has little purpose there. One service I was at, I left at 1 pm and there were not close to done. The preaching seems more personal in those churches. Walter Person is one on my favorites. He could articulate the human character so well. CD brooks was good too. But P. Pearson could drive the point home. Praise God we still have their sermons on YouTube.

It's a great story. I will use it in a sermon.

I have always wondered about this. Clearly he is the creator of our planet. But are we sure of the whole universe? Then what is the role of the Father? This is a great thread BTW.

After more than 10 years, the question remains.

Today Sept 5, 2026 in all churches in SSD, was a commitment service. People made commitments to the program (Onevoice27). Some for daily Bible study and prayer, some for a deeper relationship with God, some to spread the good news. Special SS and worship message. Ours our service was done by the youth. Very nice. Very impressive.

In every Adventist church in SSD today, was a special service. It was a commitment service to the Onevoice27 program. SSD is the following countries: BANGLADESH UNION MISSION (1997-2025) CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNION CONFERENCE (1997-2025) EAST INDONESIA UNION CONFERENCE (1998-2025) Malaysia Union Mission (2023-2025) MYANMAR UNION MISSION (1997-2025) North Philippine Union Conference (2009-2025) Northern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (2025-2025) Pakistan Union Section (2011-2025) Singapore Conference (2023-2025) SOUTH PHILIPPINE UNION CONFERENCE (1997-2025) SOUTHEAST ASIA UNION MISSION (1997-2025) Southeastern Asia Union Mission (2022-2025) Southeastern Philippine Union Mission (2024-2025) Southern Luzon Philippine Union Mission (2025-2025) Southwestern Philippine Union Conference (2023-2025) Sri Lanka Mission of Seventh-day Adventists (2013-2025) Timor-Leste Mission (2011-2025) WEST INDONESIA UNION MISSION (1997-2025) What a blessing to be here !