A plurality of Americans believe President Joe Biden’s presidential pardons are “inappropriate,” according to the latest weekly survey from the Economist /YouGov. The survey asked , “Do you think the way President Biden has used the power to pardon or commute the sentences of people convicted of federal crimes has been appropriate or inappropriate?” A plurality, 46 percent, described it as “inappropriate,” while 28 percent said it is “appropriate.” Just over a quarter, 26 percent, remain unsure. There is major partisan divide on this matter, as a majority of Democrats, 55 percent, believe Biden’s actions on these pardons has been “appropriate.” Only 17 percent said it is not. However, most Republicans, 71 percent, deem Biden’s actions on this matter “inappropriate,” and a plurality of independents, 48 percent, agree. Only 12 percent of Republicans and 19 percent of independents believe Biden’s actions regarding pardons has been “appropriate” in nature. The survey was taken December 15 – 17, 2024, among 1,553 U.S. adult citizens. It has a +/- 3.4 percent margin of error. It follows Biden issuing presidential pardons to 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes and commuting the sentences of close to 1,500 individuals. As Breitbart News reported , this makes it the “largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.” Notably, the survey came ahead of Biden doubling down and commenting the sentences of 37 of 40 individuals on federal death row. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” Biden claimed in a December 23 statement, asserting that he was “guided by [his] conscience and [his] experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President” to make that decision. “I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted,” he added. A presidential pardon that received the most pushback was that of his own son, Hunter Biden. The 82-year-old pardoned his criminal son in his final weeks in office after years of denying he would do so. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son – and that is wrong,” Biden concluded in a December 1 statement. “There has been an effort to break Hunter – who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution,” he said, adding, “In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me – and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.” Notably, Biden’s pardon extends all the way back to 2014, which includes Hunter’s role in Ukraine, serving on the board of corrupt Ukrainian gas company Burisma. RELATED — Jill Biden: “Of Course” I Support Pardon for Hunter Biden That pardon came despite Biden and his administration lying to the American people repeatedly throughout the years, as both denied his intentions to pardon Hunter. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre lied about it as recently as November 7, 2024, flatly telling a reporter, “No,” when asked if Biden had any intention of pardoning his son. “We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no,” she claimed. RELATED — Karine Jean-Pierre: “No” Possibility Joe Biden Pardons His Son Hunter
SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Macy's, Inc. - MGiants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26.
Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. "NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix" begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second game. The streaming giant agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Netflix's 282.3 million subscribers in over 190 countries will be able to stream the games, marking the first time one outlet has distributed an NFL game globally. Netflix will have the games available in five languages — English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The games will also air on CBS affiliates in Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston. NFL policy dictates that games on cable or being exclusively streamed must also be on an over-the-air station in the competing teams' markets. It will also be available on mobile devices in the U.S. for those who have NFL+. The biggest reason is money. The league is getting $150 million from Netflix for the two games this season. It also continues the NFL's moves into streaming — Thursday night games are in their third season on Amazon Prime Video and the "Sunday Ticket" package moved to YouTube TV last year. But Christmas is on a Wednesday when games usually aren't played. That's true, but the league wasn't about to give up Christmas after seeing the ratings. Last year's three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million. The Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens and Texans played on Saturday, giving them the same turnaround they would have if they played on Sunday and then Thursday. All four have clinched playoff spots in the AFC, but seeding remains up for grabs. Kansas City (14-1) can clinch the top seed — which would mean a first-round bye and home field throughout the playoffs — with a win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are tied atop the AFC North at 10-5, with the Steelers holding the tiebreaker due to a better conference record. Houston (9-6) has wrapped up the AFC South and holds the fourth seed. Netflix hopes so. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's vice president of nonfiction series and sports, said the system was stress tested, and then some, during the Nov. 14 bout, along with internet service providers reporting they were also overwhelmed by the surge that occurred before and during the fight. The bout peaked at 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million concurrent streams in the United States. According to the website Down Detector, nearly 85,000 viewers logged problems with outages or streaming leading up to and during the fight. Possible? Yes. Likely? No. The largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game was 23 million on Peacock for last season's AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs. Nielsen will measure the ratings for the Christmas Day games, with early numbers expected late afternoon on Thursday. It will probably be at kickoff for both games, but especially around 5:45 p.m. EST. That would be near halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, and when Beyoncé will be performing. Mariah Carey will kick off the day with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." There is no word if Taylor Swift will make the trip to Pittsburgh to watch her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Swift has been spending time in Kansas City since she wrapped up her Eras Tour two weeks ago. How many Christmas games will Netflix carry in the next two seasons? The NFL will have at least two games on Dec. 25 in 2025 and '26, with Netflix slated to have at least one each year. Amazon Prime Video will have a night game with Christmas on a Thursday next year. Netflix's worldwide partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will begin on Jan. 6 when "Monday Night Raw" moves to the streaming service. On Friday, Netflix secured the U.S. rights for the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup. Get local news delivered to your inbox!REPEAT/ZoomInfo Named To Newsweek’s 2025 Excellence 1000 Index
A chorus of support is growing behind actress Blake Lively after she filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni. Actress Amber Heard on Monday became the latest celebrity to speak out on behalf of the "Gossip Girl" alum over what she says was a coordinated social media effort to tarnish her name. Over the weekend, Lively filed a complaint claiming that Baldoni and a lead producer had behaved unacceptably during the filming of box office hit "It Ends With Us." The allegations included that Baldoni -- who also directed the film -- had spoken inappropriately about his sex life, and had sought to alter the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed to. They also detailed how lead producer Jamey Heath had watched Lively while she was topless, despite having been asked to turn away. But the complaint goes into great detail -- including with texts and emails -- on a PR campaign to wreck her reputation and to divert attention from any public comments she might make about the men's alleged misbehavior. This was "a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others from speaking out about the hostile environment that Mr Baldoni and Mr Heath created," the complaint says. It includes allegations that the two men hired a crisis PR team that amplified or planted negative stories about Lively on social media platforms. "You know we can bury anyone," Melissa Nathan, a member of the team, is alleged to have said, according to messages contained in the complaint. Heard's ex-husband Johnny Depp hired the same PR team during the high-profile defamation trial between the couple in 2022, in which a jury unanimously found that Heard defamed Depp over allegations he abused her. "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying 'A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,'" Heard said in a statement carried by NBC News. "I saw this firsthand and up close. It's as horrifying as it is destructive." Heard's support came on the heels of a joint statement by America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel, who starred with Lively in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." "As Blake's friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation," they wrote on Instagram. "Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us', we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice." A lawyer for Wayfarer, the studio behind the film, said in a statement released to the New York Times that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively. "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media," lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote. The complaint was lodged with the California Civil Rights Department, and is a precursor to a lawsuit. Major Hollywood talent agency WME -- which represents Lively -- has reportedly dropped Baldoni as a client. hg/aha
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LONDON (AP) — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the “modest award.” Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. “She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice,” she said. “I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. “He’s not a man, he’s a coward,” attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. “A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is.” Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him “no” as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, “now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times,” referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. “I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn’t tell anyone so he wouldn’t hurt me again,” she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman’s complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said “she never said ‘no’ or stopped” and testified that everything she said was a lie. “It is a full blown lie among many lies,” he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. “How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings.” McGregor’s lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. “You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise,” attorney Remy Farrell said. “I’m not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch.” The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor’s arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked “happy, happy, happy.” McGregor said he was “beyond petrified” when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor’s friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.(The Center Square) - Entrepreneur Elon Musk filed for an injunction against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to keep the AI industry leader a non-profit. Musk’s motion alleges Microsoft and OpenAI are both blocking investments into xAI, his competing artificial intelligence company, and profiting from his early substantial funding and public support of OpenAI as a nonprofit. OpenAI maintains Musk sought to transform OpenAI into a for-profit company headed by Musk himself. Musk has long shared his fears about the possible danger artificial intelligence could pose to humanity, and supported OpenAI on the basis of his belief that the world’s leading AI firm should be dedicated to safety, transparency, and the public good. He has since launched xAI with the goal of surpassing OpenAI. Musk’s motion alleges OpenAI and Microsoft have violated antitrust laws, especially by allowing investment only by firms that vow to not invest in other AI companies, while profiting from technology developed when OpenAI was a Musk-bankrolled nonprofit. “Musk made absolutely clear that his donations—which established and sustained OpenAI, Inc. for years—were conditioned on Altman and [OpenAI President George] Brockman’s firm commitment to operate as a non-profit, devoted to the public good,” said the motion. The motion, filed in California, alleges Altman “approached Musk with a detailed plan to form an AI charity” and promised OpenAI would “remain a non-profit dedicated to the development and broad distribution of open and safe AI for the public benefit, not concentrated for shareholder profit.” More from this section The motion says Musk donated over $10 million to OpenAI based on Altman and Brockman’s promises. OpenAI then partnered with Microsoft to access the tech giant’s computing power, which led to large Microsoft ownership stakes in Altman’s for-profit enterprises, to which the motion says “he and Microsoft siphoned the non-profit’s staff and intellectual property,” which ultimately “transformed OpenAI into everything Altman promised Musk it would never be—a closed-source, for-profit monopoly, that rushes unsafe AI products to market, for private commercial gain.” Earlier this year, Microsoft acquired a 49% stake in the profits of OpenAI’s for-profit subsidiary for $13 billion. Musk’s motion says Microsoft and OpenAI now control 70% of the generative-AI market. OpenAI responded to the motion by referring to an earlier statement detailing its relationship with Musk, and said, “Elon’s fourth attempt, which again recycles the same baseless complaints, continues to be utterly without merit.” “In late 2017, we and Elon decided the next step for the mission was to create a for-profit entity,” wrote OpenAI. “Elon wanted majority equity, initial board control, and to be CEO. In the middle of these discussions, he withheld funding.” “We couldn’t agree to terms on a for-profit with Elon because we felt it was against the mission for any individual to have absolute control over OpenAI,” continued OpenAI. In November 2023, OpenAI’s board of directors fired Altman, citing his conflicts of interest, leading hundreds of employees to say they would leave for Microsoft unless Altman were reinstated. The board members who ousted Altman then reinstated him and resigned, allowing Altman to install new board members.
How Ryan Reynolds has been Blake Lively's 'rock' amid sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By SAMEER SURI and KIRSTEN MURRAY FOR MAILONLINE Published: 22:16 GMT, 24 December 2024 | Updated: 22:21 GMT, 24 December 2024 e-mail 9 shares View comments Ryan Reynolds has acted as a 'rock' for his wife Blake Lively amid her high-profile legal battle against Justin Baldoni. Lively sued Baldoni last week, accusing him of sexually harassing her and fostering a toxic work environment on the set of their movie It Ends With Us, in which he both directed her and acted with her . He has staunchly denied the allegations. In her complaint, Lively claimed Baldoni worked to tarnish her reputation with a team that included his publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis PR expert Melissa Nathan, who previously worked with Johnny Depp . Abel has denied waging a 'smear campaign.' Now it has emerged that Reynolds, whom she has been married to for over a decade, has been a sturdy source of support for her. The pair have emerged as one of Hollywood's foremost power couples and are parents to four children - James, 10, Inez, eight, Betty, five, and Olin, one. 'Ryan is always her rock. They have such a special relationship. He's very proud of her in so many ways,' a source informed People . Ryan Reynolds has broken his silence with a cryptic post as he hints at difficult time amid Blake Lively's sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni Reynolds broke his Instagram silence on Monday, two days after Lively filed a lawsuit for sexual harassment against Justin Baldoni . The actor, 48, hinted at it being a difficult time as he took to social media to raise awareness for him and his wife's campaign with children's charity Sick Kids Hospital. Read More Justin Baldoni now sued by ex-publicist amid legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively Dressing up in his iconic Deadpool suit for the short clip, which also featured Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter , he admitted the campaign was filmed 'during a time I really didn't feel like putting the suit on.' The couple have promised they will match donations up to $500,000 until Christmas Eve. The whole caption read: 'It's almost Christmas Eve. Last day to donate to @sickkids. @blakelively and I are matching any donation to $500k. 'This organization is a sanctuary for so many kids and their parents traversing the unimaginable. 'Thank you @rowlandbb for directing this amazing little piece during a time I really didn't feel like putting the suit on. 'Thank you @reallyndacarter for your time, grace and talent. Thank you to my daughter for being such a good person despite your dad asking you to swear (for a good cause).' Reynolds, 48, hinted at it being a difficult time as he took to social media to raise awareness for him and his wife's campaign with children's charity Sick Kids Hospital (pictured Justin Baldoni) Dressing up in his iconic Deadpool suit for the short clip he admitted the campaign was filmed 'during a time I really didn't feel like putting the suit on' On Friday, December 20, Blake filed a lawsuit against Justin in the California Civil Rights Department, accusing him of sexual harassment and spearheading an alleged smear campaign as retaliation for her raising concerns about his inappropriate behaviour on set. The Gossip Girl star, 37, alleges that Justin, 40, created a toxic workplace environment during the film's production— a claim he has vehemently denied . And on Sunday it was reported that Ryan blocked Justin on Instagram, months before his wife filed the lawsuit. According to Page Six , Justin stated in a text to his publicist in May that Ryan had blocked him and his production company Wayfarer Studios on Instagram. Justin reportedly was 'worried' Blake might 'follow suit.' 'We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out,' read Justin's text, per the outlet. 'Just want you guys to have a plan. Plans make me feel more at ease.' Taking to his Instagram Story the whole caption urged fans to donate The clip also featured Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter Kidpool also starred in the clip as she also wore a mini Deadpool suit Read More Read the text messages in Blake Lively's lawsuit as she sues Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for Blake, Ryan and Justin for comment. While it appears Blake has not blocked Justin, as he still follows her on Instagram, she does not follow him back. Ryan and Justin, however, do not follow each other. The social media report comes after disturbing new details from the lawsuit have surfaced. Earlier reports included allegations that Justin showed Blake nude videos and images of other women, discussed his alleged porn addiction, and made inappropriate remarks about her weight, her late father, and other members of the cast and crew. Recently revealed details in the lawsuit allege even more egregious behavior, with court documents obtained by People claiming Justin 'improvised physical intimacy' during a scene without prior discussion or choreography. One incident reportedly involved Justin 'discreetly biting and sucking on Ms. Lively's lower lip' during multiple takes, allegedly insisting on reshooting the scene repeatedly despite Lively's clear discomfort. The lawsuit alleges Justin made sexual inquiries, including asking Blake if she and her husband experienced simultaneous climaxes— a question she found intrusive and refused to answer. On Friday, December 20, Blake filed a lawsuit against Justin in the California Civil Rights Department, accusing him of sexual harassment and spearheading an alleged smear campaign as retaliation for her raising concerns about his inappropriate behaviour on set Recently revealed details in the lawsuit allege even more egregious behaviour, with court documents obtained by People claiming Justin 'improvised physical intimacy' during a scene without prior discussion or choreography These new allegations add to the already troubling claims against Justin, who has continued to deny all accusations. The lawsuit claims that before filming began, Justin 'inserted improvised gratuitous sexual content and/or scenes involving nudity into the film (including for an underage character) in highly unsettling ways.' Among the alleged changes were a 'scene in which Blake was to orgasm on-camera' and a 'detailed scene' depicting Lily Bloom, the younger version of Blake's character, losing her virginity—neither of which appeared in the original novel. According to the complaint, these additions were made without Blake's consent after she had already committed to the project. When Blake raised objections, Justin allegedly defended the changes by claiming they were added because he was crafting the story 'through the female gaze.' While he ultimately agreed to remove most of the scenes, he reportedly fought to retain one depicting Lily and Ryle Kincaid, his character, climaxing together on their wedding night, stating it was 'important to him because he and his partner climax simultaneously during intercourse.' The allegations extend to the film's producer, Jamey Heath, who is accused of compounding the toxic environment. The lawsuit claims Heath pressured Blake to simulate nudity during a childbirth scene, despite prior agreements that no nudity was required. Bombshell text messages included in Blake's lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin show how his crisis management team allegedly launched an smear campaign against her The scene allegedly lacked standard industry protections, leaving Blake 'mostly nude with her legs spread wide in stirrups and only a small piece of fabric covering her genitalia.' Heath is also accused of showing Blake and her assistant a graphic, fully nude video of his wife giving birth, which Blake initially mistook for pornography. Additionally, both Justin and Heath allegedly entered Blake's trailer unannounced on multiple occasions while she was undressed, breastfeeding, or otherwise vulnerable. The complaint details an incident where Heath entered Blake's makeup trailer uninvited while she was topless. Although Blake requested he wait until she was clothed, Heath allegedly stared at her despite her explicit request that he avert his eyes. Another unsettling claim involves Justin improvising an intimate moment during a slow-dance scene. According to the lawsuit, Justin leaned in as himself, not in character, and 'slowly dragged his lips from her ear to her neck' saying, 'It smells so good.' When Blake objected to his actions, Justin allegedly retorted, 'I'm not even attracted to you.' Following a meeting in January 2024 between Blake, Justin, producers, and Ryan, Wayfarer Studios reportedly agreed to have an intimacy coordinator on set for all scenes involving nudity or simulated sex. The studio also assured that no further improvised kissing or physical intimacy would occur. Meanwhile, bombshell text messages how how Justin's crisis management team allegedly launched an smear campaign against Blake. Blake's team say messages included as part of the legal complaint reveal, 'a multi-tiered plan that Justin and his team described as 'social manipulation' designed to 'destroy' Blake's reputation', which they say began after she raised concerns about conditions on set. Rumors of a rift between the movie's leads began to swirl amid its press run, after eagle-eyed fans noted a frostiness between the pair on the red carpet. But Blake was wary of Justin even prior to filming according to her legal complaint and claims they clashed over him trying to add 'gratuitous' nudity and sex scenes to the movie . Many of the messages included in the complaint show exchanges between publicist Jennifer Abel and crisis management expert Melissa Nathan Relations soured even further during filming, and culminated in a HR meeting where various conditions were agreed to by Justin and his Wayfarer studio before Blake would consider resuming filming after the writers' strike, the filings state. Then sometime before August 2, Justin hired crisis management expert Melissa Nathan, whose previous clients have included Jonny Depp, as part of his PR team which also included publicist Jennifer Abel. Many of the messages in the lawsuit, obtained by a subpoena, are between the women, including one exchange in which Nathan states that she can 'bury anyone'. The message was sent in reply to Abel's text which says that Justin, 'wants to feel like she [Blake] can be buried'. 'Of course - but you know when we send over documents we can't send over the work we will or could do because that could get us in a lot of trouble,' Nathan responds, adding, 'We can't write we will destroy her'. She followed up the message with another which reads, 'Imagine if a document saying all the things that he wants ends up in the wrong hands. 'You know we can bury anyone but I can't write that to him. I will be very tough.' Another back and forth on August 2 appears to show Nathan joking about murdering Blake. 'I also sent you a present. Don't worry, I didn't kill her and send her in a box to your house. It's a congratulations present,' the message from Nathan reads, to which Abel responds: 'DAMNIT'. Later that same day, Abel wrote that she is, 'having reckless thoughts of wanting to plant pieces this week about how horrible Blake is to work with'. Meanwhile, Justin appears to have suggested that it would be beneficial if they could orchestrate a targeted social media campaign. He sent a message showing a screenshot of a Twitter thread about allegations of bullying against Hailey Bieber with the caption: 'This is what we would need'. When reports began to emerge of tensions between Blake and Justin, it was suggested that the differences were merely creative. The Gossip Girl star claims Justin fostered a toxic workplace environment during filming which included sexual harassment She claims that she was subjected to a smear campaign after she raised her concerns with Justin and his studio. This exchange appears to show Abel and Nathan joking about killing Blake Justin wanted to market the movie by spotlighting the domestic abuse which forms the heart of the story, while Blake felt it should be more hopeful and uplifting. Blake was subsequently criticized for the 'tone deaf' way she promoted the film after she failed to mention domestic abuse in several interviews. It is unclear if this reaction was engineered, but Justin's messages appear to show he was at least ready to capitalize on the negative press. 'What is the TikTok strategy?' Justin writes in one message. 'I'd like you guys to start posting me ONLY talking about domestic violence and clips and why this movie is so important'. But as the controversy around the film raged on, some of the more nefarious allegations Blake had privately levelled at Justin began to appear in the press. They included that he made inappropriate comments about her weight and 'lingered' too long during kissing scenes. The texts show how the crisis management team scrambled to try and 'shift the narrative' by reverting coverage back onto Blake . On August 11, Abel sent Justin a message reassuring him that the stories were not a threat. The duo starred opposite each other in the hotly-anticipated adaptation of the popular Coleen Hoover novel by the same name earlier this year Justin also appears to wade in at times and suggest his own tactics to discredit Blake The messages show the publicists celebrating after they manage to minimize reports about Blake's allegations in the press 'Very little pick up. Fans remain supportive of you and believe the issue of the 'feud' is because she took control of the movie,' she wrote. The day before, Nathan remarked to Abel that: 'The majority of socials are pro Justin and I don't even agree with half of them lol'. In another, Nathan revels in the 'genius' strategy. 'Jen this went so well I am f***king dying. I have to call you in a bit bit and tel you how this went. It was genius.' Further allegations about Justin's unwelcome behaviour are included in the legal complaint. They include claims that Justin showed Blake an explicit video of his wife, barged into the star's trailer while she was nude or breastfeeding, openly discussed his alleged porn addiction and made her and other female staffers uncomfortable with overtly sexual comments. The issues were dealt with during a January meeting between Blake, Justin and several studio representatives where several changes were agreed including the addition of an intimacy coordinator on set. 'Although our perspective differs in many aspects, ensuring a safe environment for all is paramount,' Wayfarer acknowledges, according to the legal complaint. However, a media strategy document apparently from the crisis management team also included in the legal complaint outlines how the team plans to protect Justin's reputation, along with that of lead producer Jamey Heath and Wayfarer. The document outlines several possible talking points to boost Justin, but also discredit Blake. One of the alleged strategies was to suggest that Blake had created a 'imbalance of power' on set by involving her husband Ryan Reynolds They include her, 'less than favorable reputation in the industry', how she involved her husband Ryan Reynolds to 'create an imbalance of power'. In post-production, Blake brought in her own editor to recut a version of the film which was the one ultimately chosen for distribution. In another message, Justin appears to suggest capitalizing on Reynolds' involvement as another means of targeting Blake. 'My partner asked about flipping the narrative from this leak this AM about Ryan saying script was a disaster and he saved the movie,' the message reads before suggesting, 'using their own words against them'. The document also suggests some crew members allegedly lost their jobs due to Blake's insistence on creative control. Justin has refuted the claims through his lawyer Brian Freedman. 'It is shameful that Ms. Lively and her representatives would make such serious and categorically false accusations against Mr. Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios and its representatives, as yet another desperate attempt to 'fix' her negative reputation which was garnered from her own remarks and actions during the campaign for the film,' he said. 'Interviews and press activities that were observed publicly, in real time and unedited, which allowed for the internet to generate their own views and opinions. In her lawsuit, Blake claims Justin showed her nude images and videos of women, talked about an alleged previous porn addiction and made sexual comments about the cast and crew The messages show Justin suggesting how they might 'flip the narrative' as more stories emerge about the controversy surrounding the film Others show the publicists celebrating when their efforts pay off 'These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media. 'Wayfarer Studios made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film, to work alongside their own representative with Jonesworks employed by Stephanie Jones, due to the multiple demands and threats made by Ms. Lively during production which included her threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met. 'It was also discovered that Ms. Lively enlisted her own representative, Leslie Sloan with Vision PR, who also represents Mr. Reynolds, to plant negative and completely fabricated and false stories with media, even prior to any marketing had commenced for the film, which was another reason why Wayfarer Studios made the decision to hire a crisis professional to commence internal scenario planning in the case they needed to address. 'The representatives of Wayfarer Studios still did nothing proactive nor retaliated, and only responded to incoming media inquiries to ensure balanced and factual reporting and monitored social activity. 'What is pointedly missing from the cherry-picked correspondence is the evidence that there were no proactive measures taken with media or otherwise; just internal scenario planning and private correspondence to strategize which is standard operating procedure with public relations professionals,' Freedman added. Blake denied planting false or negative stories about her co-star or his company. 'I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,' she said. Ryan Reynolds Justin Baldoni Share or comment on this article: How Ryan Reynolds has been Blake Lively's 'rock' amid sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni e-mail 9 shares Add comment
Paz Moreno was thankful to survive after being bitten by a venomous blue-ringed octopus, but the victim blaming that followed compounded her mental anguish. It's a phenomenon that other animal attack survivors know all too well. Paz Moreno hesitantly takes a step towards the water's edge at Chinaman's Beach. Located in the affluent suburb of Mosman on the shores of Sydney Harbour, there's little to be afraid of — the waves are small and avoidable, the turquoise depths nicely buffered by a comfortable stretch of sandy shore to safely plant your feet. This was once one of Paz's favourite places to swim. When she first moved to Australia from Chile in 2018, Paz quickly and eagerly adapted to Australia's beach lifestyle. "Here, you use the beach as a part of your life every day ... I see people go to the beach in the winter ... there's no problem with that — it's just routine," she says. "In Chile, it's not so common to be in touch with ocean life." Despite this, she developed a reverence for the octopus — pulpo, in Spanish — from a young age. "I felt very ... not scared ... but, 'Oh we have to be careful with these animals', more than sharks or other kinds of creatures, because they are very intelligent," Paz says. For this reason, she "never wanted to have an encounter with an octopus". Paz stands hand-in-hand with her partner Mauricio Quilpatay, their feet buried in the sand, ankle deep. She dreams of going further — back into the water. "I feel it will be soon. A moment in my life that I will return, but I don't think it will be like it used to," Paz says. "The ocean is so huge. It's a fantasy that we are in control." One, two, three pinches In March 2023, just as the summer heat was fading, Paz decided to take a quick dip at Chinaman's Beach with Mauricio, right before she taught her usual Thursday Spanish class. She zipped up her swimsuit, adjusted her snorkel and entered the glittery blue water. "I submerged, and I saw a shell. I picked it up and returned to the surface to look at it," she says. "I checked the shell because the shells can have a crab in it or a snail." It was seemingly empty, so Paz placed the shell in the pocket of her swimsuit, and continued swimming. The first pinch came when she began to leave the water. "It wasn't painful but was kind of annoying." A second pinch. Paz checked her swimsuit and saw nothing. A third pinch. She noticed a lump protruding underneath her swimsuit. She held the lump and unzipped for another check. There was the octopus, "with the full bright blue lines". Paz was aware it was a blue-ringed octopus, as she'd recently watched a TikTok video about the dangerous animal, "so it was pretty fresh". Mauricio quickly leapt into action. "She turned towards me and said take it off. I didn't think about it, I just followed instructions," he says. Mauricio grabbed what he described as a "spherical blob of bright yellow and blue" in his fingertips, flicked it to the sand and dialled triple-0. The couple then managed to contain the octopus in a bottle with some water as they waited for the ambulance. The creature had turned brown with the sun and sand, and Paz was hopeful that, maybe, it wasn't what she thought it was. But when the ambulance arrived, a paramedic flicked the bottle and the octopus once again flashed blue. This was an emergency. Call your family Soon after the ambulance arrived, Paz began to feel a numbness around her mouth and tongue. "Like when you eat spicy food but without the spicy feeling." In the back of the ambulance, she was told to call her family. "I think that was a big red flag for me," Paz says. "I wasn't afraid, I think I had disassociated. I was being very rational about it." In hospital, her respiratory strength, blood pressure and heart rate were decreasing, but overall, she was feeling OK. Being accompanied by the octopus, nicknamed Cuddles by hospital staff, made Paz something of a fascination during her stay. "So many people came to visit and take selfies with the octopus. I think that was the weirdest part." But it isn't surprising. The blue-ringed octopus is one of the many dangerous animals Australians grow up fearing. Thankfully, however, very few of us ever interact with one. When Paz and Mauricio first told their families of their plans to move to Australia, their loved ones were "terrified" for them, over potential encounters with spiders and sharks. Paz reassured them, saying "no worries, I am not going to Queensland" — a place she thought of as home to a disproportionate number of the country's dangerous animals. Paz's apartment is decorated with photos of her travels around the world with Mauricio, and their cat Uli, who continues to be a great comfort to her following the octopus encounter. Finding herself belly to beak with one of Australia's most infamous critters still feels hard to believe, but she says it was what happened after the accident that surprised her the most. In the aftermath, she says two things surprised her: the media's response, and the post-traumatic stress she now experiences, which has prevented her from making a swift return to the ocean, and left her with a disgust for soft, fishy textures. "I was a big fan of ceviche, so when I visited Chile a couple of months ago my family were waiting with a big pot." But Paz couldn't indulge. News of deadly crocodile or shark encounters, Irukandji stings or in this case, blue-ringed octopus bites tend to travel very fast in Australia, even making international headlines. It's not uncommon for bite victims to read articles or conversations online centred around their accident. Paz says she was taken aback by what she saw. "I felt that it was kind of racist," she says, adding that people were commenting on whether the victim was a "foreigner" who didn't respect wildlife. For Mauricio, this couldn't be further from the truth. "Paz is the sort of person who can look at the most hideous animal and find in those eyes a spark," he says. "She sees our cat Uli's eyes in every other animal. It's alien to me and something that I admire about her." Bite Club Dave Pearson understands this phenomenon all too well, which is why he started Beyond the Bite, also known as Bite Club, a place where those who have had traumatic encounters with animals can share their experiences. Dave was bitten by a shark in 2011. Despite the obvious differences between the two encounters, Dave shares a lot of Paz's experiences. "I started looking at the news stories about myself, and that's when I discovered the not-so-social side of social media," he says. "I kind of expected, you know, everyone to go, sorry to hear this happened Dave ... I didn't expect any of the victim blaming." Happy to have escaped from the attack with his life, Dave didn't expect to feel anything other than luck when he left the hospital. Instead, he began waking up screaming. A carefree return to the ocean was also not on the cards. Dave says the stress didn't really hit until six months after he was bitten, when he'd made a physical recovery. He felt lonely in his experience. "Nobody has the answers and that was scary," Dave says. "Mentally you don't know what to expect. "A counsellor came and had a few words to me, and I didn't really understand much of what they were saying or take anything away from it." In 2018, the Bite Club teamed up with the University of Sydney to research the direct and indirect psychological impacts of shark-bite events. The study, a first of its kind, found one third of the members of Bite Club who had been bitten by a shark were experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. One particular focus of the research was the impact of media exposure on the victims. The group's experiences ultimately led the researchers to advocate for guidelines for the media, akin to those used for reporting on suicide. Once upon a time, human interactions with dangerous animals were not so uncommon. And as these interactions have reduced, interest in them has increased, according to lead researcher Jennifer Taylor, a postdoctoral research associate in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. "People spoke a little bit about not only social media, not only traditional media, but every social interaction," Dr Taylor says. "People knew the story, would ask them to retell the story ... and it might have been a space or a place where they actually did not want to get back into retelling their traumatic event. "The other side of it too, and we certainly saw this in the shark space ... in a conservation sense, [is] that these topics can get quite political as well." In Paz's case, people were quick to point out the dangers of picking up shells, which were potential hiding places for the deadly octopus. "Unsympathetic and unsupportive conversations can happen when someone's actually healing from a trauma," Dr Taylor says. "Certainly, these are valuable conversations to have, but perhaps not with someone who's just survived a traumatic event." Dr Taylor acknowledges that the 24-hour news cycle — always hungry for a story — is a challenge, but says journalists must strike a "delicate balance" between "the public's need to know and the person's right to heal in private". Owning the story As Dave sought to recover from the psychological impacts of being bitten by a shark, he found one thing made a big difference: talking to other people in Bite Club who had also had traumatic encounters with dangerous animals, and not just sharks. The group quickly went global with victims of bear, dog, lion and hippo attacks contributing to the conversation. "I just didn't want anyone to feel alone like I did. And it seems to work really well," Dave says. When Dave would meet fellow bite victims, they'd be finishing each other's sentences. In some instances, Dr Taylor says this connection to people with similar experiences and "owning their own story" can be a catalyst for post-traumatic growth. "Once they'd sort of hit that stage or distance or resolved within themselves that it wasn't the worst thing that had ever happened, it was sort of like... If I can help someone going through something similar or help someone ease their discomfort, then I'm prepared to do so." Paz says she was thankful that when news of her octopus bite went around the world, her name was left out of the stories. But now, she has a desire to share what she's learnt. Twisting her earring, which is the shape of an octopus tentacle, Paz says, "If people want me to be the octopus lady, the octopus lady I will be". When Paz describes her experience, she goes between the words "weird" and "random", but her message is clear. No matter how strange the event, if you know you're not feeling like yourself anymore, it's important to seek help. This is something Dr Taylor reinforces. "It's not an aspect of cognition. It's not an intellectual exercise. It's an emotional one," she says. "It's about having felt that depth of fear. Even if you did not lose your life, you thought perhaps you could lose your life, and it is that level of fear that is instrumental ... that is what changes biochemistry, the brain, neurotransmitters, all of that stuff. "So it's really easy to underestimate yourself and the impact of those sorts of events." Determined to return to the water, Paz took "baby steps" to make that happen. And last Sunday, she took her first dip since being bitten. "I'm afraid of this happening again, and I know the probability is very low ... that's an irrational consequence of the accident," Paz says. But allure of the ocean had become irresistible. "I cried immediately after... It was like recovering from something that I lost, but that has always stayed with me. Something deeply mine. "I missed it very much." Credits Related topics Animal Attacks Animals Human Interest Mental Health Port Macquarie Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Sydney
Supporters of US Steel sale make last-ditch case as doubts surround Nippon dealBethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Biden signs a bill officially making the bald eagle the national bird of the US WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has made it official: The bald eagle is now the national bird of the United States. Biden signed a bill into law on Tuesday to correct what had long gone unnoticed and designate the bald eagle as the national bird. The bald eagle has been a symbol of the United States for more than 240 years, appearing on the nation's Great Seal since the design was finalized in 1782. That year, Congress also designated the bald eagle as the national emblem. But the honor of becoming the national bird had remained elusive until now. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens.Witnesses told police that James McIntyre, 33, of Chicago, shook Mace's hand in an “exaggerated, aggressive” manner after approaching the South Carolina Republican in the Rayburn House Office Building on Tuesday evening, according to a police affidavit. Mace, who is identified only by her initials in a court filing, posted a string of social media messages about the incident. She said she was “physically accosted” at the Capitol, and she thanked President-elect Donald Trump for calling her Wednesday morning to check on her condition. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts “I’m going to be fine just as soon as the pain and soreness subside,” Mace wrote. Mace declined to be treated by a paramedic after her encounter with McIntyre, who was arrested Tuesday by the Capitol Police, the affidavit says. Mace told police that McIntyre said, “Trans youth serve advocacy,” while shaking her hand. Last month, Mace proposed a resolution that would prohibit any lawmakers and House employees from “using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.” Mace said the bill is aimed specifically at Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride — the first transgender person to be elected to Congress. A magistrate judge ordered McIntyre’s release after an arraignment in Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Efforts to reach an attorney for McIntyre weren't immediately successful.