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LADERA RANCH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 20, 2023--

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A former aide to Donald Trump has condemned his use of the word “riggers”, saying that it is “not a racial dog whistle” – it’s actually a racist “bullhorn”. After he was indicted on charges over his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state of Georgia this week, the former president launched into an angry rant on his Truth Social platform. In it, he claimed that he would announce a “large, complex, detailed but irrefutable REPORT” proving his election fraud claims in Georgia in a press conference slated for Monday 21 August. But, in the tirade, he also spewed what appeared to be a racist dog whistle. “There will be a complete EXONERATION!” Mr Trump wrote. “They never went after those that Rigged the Election. They only went after those that found to find the RIGGERS!.” The comment was widely condemned on social media while many said the use of the word “rigger” was clearly intentional and part of his “racist attacks” against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, the Black woman prosecuting the case against him. On Wednesday, Mr Trump’s former White House Director of Strategic Communications Alyssa Farah weighed in on the matter, describing the use of the term as “a bullhorn”. “With Trump, you don’t need to look for a dog whistle – it’s a bullhorn when it comes to race, and I do think that’s deliberate,” Ms Farah told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Wednesday. “We’ve seen the, I mean, slanderous attacks that he’s put out against Fani Willis. You know, alleging things I won’t even repeat, so he’s not really hiding that he’s going to lean into that element and this is, you know, taking place just outside of Atlanta. When you saw the courtroom, it was a lot of Black men and women who were serving in that courtroom.” While Ms Farah said that Mr Trump knows exactly what he’s doing in using the “disgusting” term, she said she was somewhat surprised. “The fact that he’s introducing race into this prosecution surprises me, it’s disgusting, it’s textbook Donald Trump, but it comes as no surprise,” she said. Her comments come after Keith Boykin, a former White House aide to Bill Clinton, said that “the use of the word ‘rigger’ is not unintentional”. “It’s not an accident after spending days making racist attacks against Fani Willis, the Black woman leading the prosecution against him in Atlanta,” he said. Whether or not Mr Trump intended to describe his political enemies using a word that is one letter away from being an exceptionally offensive slur is unclear. What is clear is that plenty of observers noted his use of the word. Arieh Kovler, a current affairs and politics writer, collected a sampling of responses from a group of Trump supporters who post anonymously at a Reddit-like forum. "I don't know if Trump deliberately uses 'RIGGERS!' as a dog whistle, but his supporters hear it either way," he wrote. “Worth noting here that the ‘riggers’ as a racist codeword has been used for a while in MAGA circles.” Mr Kovler included a screenshot from the site showing one user who said "I love [Trump] so much" because "he just used the word RIGGERS!" In other posts, supporters made clear they were not discussing alleged election manipulators while using the word. Similar responses could be found on Twitter when searching about Mr Trump’s use of the word. Mr Trump making racist-adjacent remarks is hardly novel. During his presidency he reportedly questioned why the US would allow Haitians and African immigrants to cross the border, referring to their homes as "s***hole countries." His niece, Mary Trump, has stated publicly that she heard the former president use racial slurs growing up and claimed racism was normal for his family. And he has given special nicknames for his Black opponents — like calling New York Attorney General "peekaboo James," which may or may not be a reference to a racist insult aimed at Black people. He also called Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg an "animal" and a "criminal" who works for George Soros. He called both Ms James and Mr Bragg "racists" and extended that charge to the woman leading Georgia's case against him, DA Willis. Ms Williams is Black, and Mr Trump has baselessly accused her of having an affair with a "gang member" she was prosecuting. “They say there’s a young woman, a young racist in Atlanta. She’s a racist. And they say, I guess they say that she was after a certain gang and she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member,” Mr Trump said in his remarks to a group of veterans on 8 August. “And this is the person that wants to indict me. She’s got a lot of problems.” In contrast, when referring to DOJ special counsel Jack Smith, the white litigator leading the federal government's case against Mr Trump, the former president refers to him as "psycho" and "unhinged." Mr Trump has denied all accusations of being racist. On Monday, Mr Trump and 18 of his closest allies were hit with a sweeping 41-count indictment, over their efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Charged under Georgia’s RICO statute, the 19 defendants are accused of running a criminal enterprise with the goal of ensuring that Mr Trump remained in power at all costs. The other co-defendants are: former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, “Kraken” lawyer Sidney Powell, attorneys John Eastman, Kenneth Cheseboro, Jenna Ellis, Ray Smith III, and Robert Cheeley, former US Department of Justice official Jeffrey Clark, former Trump campaign official Michael Roman, former state senator and the former chair of the Georgia Republican Party David Schafer, Georgia state senator Shawn Still, Lutheran pastor Stephen Lee, mixed martial artist Harrison Floyd, Kanye West’s former PR Trevian Kutti, former head of the Republican Party in Coffee County Cathleen Latham, Atlanta-area bail bondsman Scott Hall, and former election supervisor of Coffee County Misty Hampton. DA Willis has spent more than two years investigating efforts by Mr Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in the crucial swing state. The investigation came following the release of a 2 January 2021 phone call Mr Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger where he told him to “find” enough votes to change the outcome of the election in the state. Mr Biden won the state by less than 12,000 votes. The investigation then expanded from that phone call to include a scheme whereby a group of fake Republican electors planned to falsely certify the results in Mr Trump’s favour instead of Mr Biden’s. The plot failed and the fake electors have since reached immunity deals with DA Willis’ office. Ms Willis said she would like to try the defendants altogether and within the next six months. In total, the former president is now facing 91 charges from four separate criminal cases. On 1 August, he was hit with a federal indictment charging him with four counts over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the events leading up to the January 6 Capitol riot, following an investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith’s office. This came after Mr Smith’s office charged Mr Trump in a separate indictment over his alleged mishandling of classified documents on leaving office. Back in April, Mr Trump was charged for the first time with New York state charges following an investigation into hush money payments made prior to the 2016 election. Read More Trump Georgia trial date proposed as woman arrested over Jan 6 judge ‘death threats’ – live updates New video shows Roger Stone ‘working to overturn 2020 election’ Trump judge makes barbed comment about Elon Musk as contents of Jack Smith’s Twitter warrant revealed Can Donald Trump still run for president after charges over 2020 election? China says it would welcome a visit by US commerce secretary after imposition of investment controls What is an arraignment and what is an indictment?

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It was in Charles Oliveira’s final round of sparring, according to Dana White, that the skin over the Brazilian’s right eye was torn apart – and with it, his chance of redemption against Islam Makhachev. Days out from one of the most-anticipated rematches in recent MMA history, Oliveira suffered a chasmic cut, and from the bloody sinews, Alexander Volkanovski emerged. With that, one tantalising rematch was replaced by another; the MMA gods had taken away Oliveira’s opportunity for redemption against the lightweight champion, but in an instant, they had granted Volkanovski his own opportunity at the same atonement. There were only a handful of grains left to fall on Oliveira, brooding inside his metaphorical sandglass, when the injury occurred; it was on 22 October 2022 that the former champion was submitted by Makhachev, and it was to be 364 days later that he would be locked in a cage with the Russian again – in the very same arena, no less, in Abu Dhabi. But for a reason known only to them, the MMA deities decided to deny this cult hero his chance of defeating Makhachev, and of regaining the UFC lightweight title. Oliveira, for his part, does not acknowledge these gods – only his own. “Once you realise that it’s all part of God’s plan, it’s easier to accept things,” Oliveira told The Independent, coincidentally, days before suffering his injury. “It took me a long time to understand that, but you just have to be able to learn to digest it. God wouldn’t give me something that I can’t carry.” Oliveira will lean all of his weight on that sentiment in the weeks to come, while 145lbs champion Volkanovski will be leaning his own weight – plus an extra 10lbs – on Makhachev in their second clash in eight months. When the Australian, fighting on home turf in February, was ruled a decision loser against Makhachev, the result hardly relayed the razor-close nature of the fight. Volkanovski, 35, landed more strikes than Makhachev, 30, but was marginally less clinical. Makhachev secured four of his nine attempted takedowns, though that actually inspired more praise of Volkanovski than the Russian; in repeatedly denying Makhachev – and in repeatedly rising from the mat when needed – Volkanovski had proven that the defending champion was not the unstoppable force that his friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov so often seemed. Volkanovski even knocked down Makhachev and finished the fight on top, denting the Dagestani’s daunting reputation. The impressiveness of Volkanovski’s performance was only augmented by the fact that he was moving up in weight. In fact, the Australian remained the Indy Sport pound-for-pound No 1 despite his loss to Makhachev. It was a showing in stark contrast to Oliveira’s against Makhachev, in which the jiu-jitsu specialist was beaten at his own game: submitted by the Russian wrestler in Round 2. Oliveira did not do himself justice that night, but justice was on the agenda for UFC 294. Instead, Volkanovski will bring his well-rounded game to the Etihad Arena, where he weighed in as a back-up fighter for Oliveira’s defeat by Makhachev one year ago. Since that fateful evening, Oliveira has bounced back with a dismissive knockout of Beneil Dariush, while Volkanovski also got back to winning ways by stopping interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in July. While Oliveira vs Makhachev 2 was, for some time, official, Volkanovski vs Makhachev 2 also felt inevitable, just not at this time nor under these circumstances. Those circumstances complicate the question of whether Volkanovski can go one better than he did in his initial clash with Makhachev; this time, the Aussie will challenge the Russian on just 11 days’ notice, having recently undergone hand surgery. Volkanovski is a consummate professional who will arrive as fight-fit as his body will allow, but even “Alexander The Great” has admitted that he does not want to find out how his cardio will hold up. “We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t go five rounds,” he told Australian media last week. “I want to finish it early, I don’t want to test his gas tank. Don’t get me wrong, I think I can do it, but let’s not try and test it.” Oliveira would have snapped your hand off for such a finish. Better yet, he would have snapped Makhachev’s arm off for one. If Volkanovski can secure a stoppage, it will be one of the most arresting visuals in UFC history, in part due to the factors surrounding this new main event. The same would apply to the co-main event, in which Kamaru Usman is on a similar venture to Volkanovski. The former welterweight champion will fight at 185lbs for the first time as he replaces Paulo Costa against Khamzat Chimaev, perhaps the fiercest prospect in MMA, on 10 days’ notice. For all of the attributes that the Nigerian-American has exhibited in a Hall of Fame-worthy career, never has his courage been as clear as it is now. The same goes for Volkanovski, although he believes that his rematch with Makhachev is a win-win scenario. “I didn’t get that big moment of the whole underdog story,” he said last week, discussing the pair’s first bout. “I remember thinking just a few days ago: ‘I’m not gonna really get that moment if I fight him again, I’m not gonna be this crazy underdog.’ People [have seen] what I can do, so they’re gonna back me. But now on 11 days’ notice, I’m sort of in the same position, where people are gonna say: ‘There’s no way – short notice, he’s crazy.’” Volkanovski may just be. He is also one of the most courageous fighters in a field full of them. Of course, Makhachev also deserves credit; he, too, is fighting a pound-for-pound talent on short notice. Indeed, many fans have remarked on how the fighters’ gambles have made UFC 294 an even stronger card than it already was. It is the sort of rebound against adversity that boxing, for example, would never be able to execute. However, that is in large part due to the lower prize money on offer in the UFC, and the resultant need for fighters to take risks. Yet it is also partly down to the overemphasis on losses in boxing. If Volkanovski were to suffer a third career loss on Saturday, he would still be in the conversation around modern UFC greats – perhaps all-timers, too. Would a champion or contender in boxing risk their record and reputation by fighting an elite opponent on a compromised camp? There is little evidence for it, monetarily there is no need for it, but there also shouldn’t be an expectation of it; just as there should be no expectation for a UFC fighter to accept a short-notice fight, even when the alternative is fans disputing their bravery. Make no mistake: Although Volkanovski is one of the most-respected fighters in the UFC and is being heralded as a hero right now, he would have had his detractors if he had turned down this fight – even on 11 days’ notice. It is as true as it is hard to believe. When fan favourite Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson refused to fight Michel Pereira in July, after the Brazilian missed weight, Thompson was criticised for not going ahead with the bout and accepting a slight bump to his purse. Never mind the danger to Thompson’s health and prospects of ever challenging for a UFC title again, many fans were quick to turn on the veteran. On that occasion, it was too late for a replacement to be found, and the bout collapsed. Even Oliveira and Costa have had their fair share of criticism for withdrawing from UFC 294, despite their injuries and the calibre of their opponents. Volkanovski has gotten credit in the build to UFC 294, but the last week has highlighted how fans tend to praise the UFC’s recovery in situations like this, rather than focusing on the unideal factors that allow the company to adapt in this manner. And so, a cut above Charles Oliveira’s eye became a tear in the fabric of UFC 294, only for the promotion to stitch the card back together as only they can. Read More UFC 294 live stream: How to watch Volkanovski vs Makhachev online and on TV this weekend Alexander Volkanovski admits it’s ‘crazy’ to fight Islam Makhachev on short notice Kamaru Usman to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 after Paulo Costa withdraws UFC 294 card in full as Chimaev and Usman clash in tantalising co-main event What time does UFC 294 start tonight? How to watch UFC 294 online and on TV tonight

The Miami-Dade Police Department is investigating Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill for allegedly striking a man at the Haulover Marina.Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is currently under investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department for allegedly punching a man at the Haulover Marina thi...

SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 25, 2023--

FIFA 23 Ultimate Team is set to be revealed this month, and should feature plenty of changes to the way we play the game mode. While we wait for EA Sports to reveal the new changes to the FUT Champions format and rewards, here are our predictions.