No Asterisks Here: Behind the Scenes of Toronto Raptors Championship Celebration

Toronto Raptors center Serge Ibaka, left, guard Kyle Lowry, center, and guard Danny Green celebrate with teammates after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 of basketball's NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

OAKLAND — A security guard rolls a cart stacked high with a mountain of 30 racks along the walkway from the court to the locker room as the NBA Finals ceremony takes place. Media members wait in line to get into the locker room and take video of the new champs following the Toronto Raptors’ 114-110 Game 6 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.

The players finally emerge from the tunnel and head into the locker room. The media is still held out, but their cheering is audible.

While waiting, Raptors wing Danny Green emerges from the locker room to spray the media with champagne. Eventually, the line turns into a mosh pit, forcing its way into the locker room to view the celebration.

By the time a small wave of media is herded into the away locker room in Oracle, the lid has already been blown off. The walls and floor have been tarped off and are now collecting an inch-deep pool of some combination of cheap beer and bubbly. The hundreds (OK, maybe a hundred) of bottles of Cuvée 89 Rosé float around on top. My socks are soaking through my shoes while writing this.

Nineteen teams have been to the mountaintop. And now, the Toronto Raptors are one of them.

Devin Heroux @Devin_Heroux

Current situation in Raptors locker room. https://t.co/QtFYE90ZFp

The party has already been going as Kawhi Leonard enters the cave with his Finals MVP trophy. He pops a bottle, sprays most of it and then gurgles the last little bit. Yes, there is a giant smile on his face. He’s a fun guy!

Vik Chokshi @docksquad33

Kawhi dancing! Love it! Board man gets paid!
https://t.co/A5wDRbUFZo

Past him, there are media members draped in ponchos and TV cameras covered in plastic. The few who were less prepared for the fireworks are now soaked.

Pascal Siakam, who scored 26 points in Game 6 and was a revelation all season and postseason, is jumping up and down while draped in a Cameroonian flag. Marc Gasol, Toronto’s big midseason trade acquisition who took a lesser role to afford the Raptors a multidimensional look in the frontcourt, is alternating English and Spanish interviews while FaceTiming as Raptors PR tries to escort him through the herd of cameras for him to give his press conference.

Made in Memphis @MadeinMemphis1

MARC GASOL DANCING AFTER WINNING AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS IS EVERYTHING. https://t.co/ZRpn73boCk

Clutching the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Serge Ibaka is backed up against a tarped wall while a swarm of media questions him. Champagne foam is dripping off his goatee.

“I don’t know, but the guys just left [the trophy] with me,” Ibaka said. “So I said, ‘Why not? I deserve it.’”

Will Gottlieb @wontgottlieb

Ibaka holding the Trophy https://t.co/3xDdYAVutl

Ibaka does deserve it.

After nearly reaching the peak with the Oklahoma City Thunder earlier in his career, he eventually landed in Toronto—no longer the shot-blocking dynamo of his younger days but still a solid frontcourt presence. He adapted to his role, came off the bench and contributed 16.7 points per game over the last three while shooting 65.6 percent from the field.

Kyle Lowry deserve it too. His 26-point, 10-assist, seven-rebound, three-steal game laid to rest any doubt that he is a meaningful postseason contributor on a championship team. His impact over the series was unquestionable after he and the Raptors had previously underperformed in the postseason in the past.

Frank Gunn @frankgunnphoto

.@raptors @kawhileonard and @Klow7 celebrate in the dressing room after winning the #NBAFinals #toronto #WeTheNorth https://t.co/5LTB32TAI4

“Words can’t explain how I feel,” Lowry said. “It’s been a long, long time. Thirteen years of NBA basketball. Couple years of college. A couple years of high school basketball. And to be able to say I’m a world champion, it makes me feel great. And to do it with the group of guys that we did it with is amazing; like it’s just kind of still surreal.

“Kind of, it hasn’t hit me yet. I’m still kind of in this moment of just like, ‘Is this real yet?’ And for me just at the end of the day, I work extremely hard on my game, I work extremely hard on myself, and I am extremely hard on myself. And I’m happy to be able to say I’m a champion, and it’s been a long time coming.”

Taking the whole thing in, the scene is remarkable. Corks are flying. These guys just took down the Golden State Warriors. They were less than whole but still perhaps the greatest NBA dynasty of all time. In their building, Oracle Arena. On the last game night there. The Warriors were on the ropes, to be sure, but this accomplishment is still historic. A certain level of disbelief is hard to shake.

It almost didn’t happen.

Despite losing Thompson late in the third quarter, who was absolutely on fire, the Warriors had a great look to win the game with eight seconds to go. A long, crosscourt inbounds pass nearly went awry before Draymond Green corralled the ball and whipped it to Stephen Curry, who lofted a three on as good a look as the Raptors afforded him all night.

“I just saw him get free; he got a good look at it,” Danny Green said. “We had two guys contest it, and it came up long, and luckily we had guys fighting for the rebound—Kawhi getting his hand in there. I was just thinking, ‘Please, God. Don’t make it.’”

Green, who is now being pestered for interviews, is wearing a soaked white “NBA Champions” T-shirt, his new matching hat and a pair of ski goggles. He seems slightly overwhelmed and expresses as much while he answers questions and gets drenched with Rosé in the midst of his answer.

Toronto Raptors @Raptors

This one’s for you, Canada. #WeTheNorth https://t.co/Z5aYnY4xCE

“We’re trying to do it now, man, as best we can,” he said. “It’s hectic! Lot of media, lot of cameras. I’m sure when we get a chance to get out of here, when it’s just our team, we’re gonna have an amazing time.”

Winning a title doesn’t just happen. There is no single-elimination tournament where variance can be the judge, jury and executioner. Just getting hot at the right time doesn’t win you a title.

There has to be a collective goal and execution over the course of 240 days. Then you have to win four out of seven in four different series. That takes skill, depth, smarts and, of course, a little bit of luck.

Matthew Kyriacou @MattKyriacou88

This is what was going on in the Raptors locker room if anyone was wondering https://t.co/W4br0WtkZi

“Just look at the roster—look at the roster of that team,” Gasol said. “You look at the depth, the depth of them. Then you look at the bench, you look at the young players that they have, you see the coaching staff, their mindset, you look at the front office, their mindset they have.

“Go from top to bottom: ownership, trainers, physical therapists, chefs, everything. It’s a top-class organization. They’re all about winning. And like I was telling your colleague, it doesn’t guarantee you’re going to win, but it does help that everyone has that championship mentality.”

“It was a heck of a 12 months,” coach Nick Nurse said. “And I don’t know, I just try to take things as they come. Didn’t look too far ahead.”

The Raptors were constructed and prepared for this moment. This summer presents some major questions about the fabric of the Toronto roster, but before worrying about that, they’ll have plenty of time to enjoy this moment.

This was a uniquely emotional Finals. From Kevin Durant‘s uncertain status and seeing him leave with a torn Achilles after playing just 12 minutes in Game 5 to Klay Thompson missing Game 3 and eventually suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in Game 6, the Raptors needed to be ready to face various versions of this Warriors team. Toronto’s poise in managing that, even with all of Golden State’s health concerns, required a superior level of mental focus.

The reigning champs did not bow out.

Neither did the Raptors. They answered every run. All of the tension associated with that culminates in this moment. No more taking it day by day. No more games.

It was all for this. This is why they party.

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Netflix’s first Arabic original series sparks uproar in Jordan

Netflix’s first Arabic original series shot in Jordan has stirred controversy in the Middle Eastern country as the prosecutor seeks to ban it after viewers accused it of presenting an immoral image of the kingdom.

“Jinn” is a supernatural drama about teenagers who encounter good and evil genies during their school trip to the ancient city of Petra.

While the five-episode show debuted worldwide with much fanfare, it has sparked uproar among many Jordanians, who took to Twitter to express their anger and call for its censoring.

Following the show’s release last week, Jordan’s top prosecutor has demanded that the cyber-crimes department at the ministry of interior to take “immediate necessary measures to stop the broadcast” of the series because it includes “immoral scenes”.

The controversy revolves two scenes in which the character played by a female actor, Salma Milhis, kisses a different boy from her class.

One social media user said Jinn was an “obscene” drama that sought to “distort the conservative Jordanian society.”

Another user said the series would have a “dangerous effect” because it “negatively affects adolescents who are attracted to follow” the show.

Rashid Dahabreh, a Jordanian University graduate, tweeted about the “double standards” of Jordanian society as the female actor has come under fire, whereas the male actors involved in the kissing scenes have not.

“Salma Milhis who plays the role of Mira in the show is being subjected to insults about her honour, but no one is going after the male actor … this is an extension of the Middle Eastern mentality, that a man is allowed to be a sexual being but a woman is stigmatised as a prostitute under the same lens … double standard society,” he tweeted.

*rape and honor killings happen*

Jordanians:

*kiss in jinn*

jordanians and the government: استغفر الله وين الأخلاق و الأدب يا عيبو

*decisions to ban jinn in a couple of hours*

— protectsalma (@badboyyehaw) June 14, 2019

Others pointed out the hypocrisy of those expressing their anger, reminding them of their enthusiasm towards the last season of the hit HBO show Game of Thrones last month.

“They object to the Jinn show because it is against their morals. As if last month they weren’t all glued to their screens watching Game of Thrones,” one Twitter user wrote.

“Someone explain to me why it’s okay for Game of Thrones to have pornographic scenes and the Arabs are so happy with the show, but [Jinn] that has a kissing scene has outraged the entire nation?” another asked.

الشيء الأردني الوحيد في مسلسل #جن هو البتراء .

— Abdelkarim Salman (@AbdelkarimAlso3) June 14, 2019

Translation: The only thing that’s Jordanian about the show is the city of Petra.

Can we forget about jinn and focus on sudan? Please?

— Rama Khrisat (@rama_khrisat) June 14, 2019

One user expressed her annoyance at the trending topic itself, tweeting: “May a jinn possess all of you, now change the subject!”

The website of the Jordanian army said the cyber-crimes unit was attempting to pull the show from Jordanian Netflix.

The controversy led Jordan’s Media Commission to issue a statement saying it had no control over the production of the series and its censorship role was only applied on series and films that were broadcast on television or theatres in Jordan

Netflix Middle East denounced the controversy on Twitter as a “wave of bullying”.

In a statement on Friday, the streaming service said the show deals with “universal themes” that “can be viewed as provocative.” A spokesman said content removals were rare but that Netflix complied with official requests.

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Report: Wizards Have ‘No Imminent Plans’ to Reach out to Raptors’ Masai Ujiri

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 13: The Toronto Raptors and Masai Ujiri celebrate after winning the 2019 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors after Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 13, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

The Washington Wizards have “no imminent plans” to reach out to Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri, according to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Thursday night the Wizards were preparing to make a run at Ujiri to lead their basketball operations, with a potential offer including a $10 million annual salary as well as ownership equity in the franchise.

Ujiri has long been viewed as one of the top executives in the league, as his resume includes the 2013 NBA Executive of the Year award (with the Denver Nuggets) and now a championship.

He joined Toronto’s front office in 2013 and has overseen the most successful run in franchise history. After the Raptors had made the postseason five times in 18 seasons prior to his arrival, he has helped guide them to the playoffs in each of the last six seasons, topping 50 wins in each of the past four years.

Toronto has made it to the Eastern Conference Finals twice since 2016 and reached its first-ever NBA Finals this season. Thanks to a bold trade for Kawhi Leonard last offseason, the Raptors dethroned the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors to capture their first Larry O’Brien Trophy.

As a result, Ujiri has reportedly generated interest elsewhere.

Washington is in a relatively similar position to the one Toronto found itself in last year. With John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards have made the postseason in four of the last six seasons. However, they have not been able to get over the hump with that All-Star backcourt, having not gotten out of the second round since 1979.

When healthy, Washington has the talent to be a playoff contender—but if the Wizards are ever going to take that next step, a bold decision-maker like Ujiri could be the answer. After all, it was Ujiri who broke up the DeMar DeRozan-Kyle Lowry duo to acquire Leonard, who was entering a contract year. And that’s a trade that will live in Raptors lore.

Per Wojnarowski, Ujiri still has two years remaining on his contract in Toronto.

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DRC Ebola outbreak still not global emergency, says UN

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) does not qualify as an international threat, even though cases have been confirmed in neighbouring Uganda.

“It was the view of the committee that the outbreak is a health emergency in DRC and the region, but does not meet the criteria for a public health emergency of international concern,” the United Nations health agency’s expert committee said in a statement on Friday after an emergency meeting.

Despite the outcome of the deliberations, “this outbreak is very much an emergency,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a Geneva press conference via telephone from the DRC.

The virus has killed more than 1,400 people since its outbreak – the second-deadliest in history – was declared in August last year after emerging in eastern DRC’s northern Kivu and Ituri provinces.

To be declared a global emergency, an outbreak must constitute a risk to other countries and require a coordinated response. The declaration typically triggers more funding and political attention.

Uganda cases

On Thursday, the WHO acknowledged that it had been unable to track the origins of nearly half of new Ebola cases in the DRC, suggesting it did not know where the virus was spreading.

The United Nations health agency said on Thursday that two people had died in Uganda after arriving with the disease from the DRC.

Its expert committee has met twice previously to consider the situation in the DRC. In April, the WHO said the outbreak was of “deep concern” but officials were “moderately optimistic” it could be contained within a “foreseeable time.”

The outbreak, occurring close to the borders of Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan, has been like no other. Community mistrust has been high and attacks by rebel groups have undermined aid efforts.

Experts say people are still dying outside of Ebola treatment centres, exposing their families to the disease, and many do not appear on lists of known contacts being monitored.

“Vaccines alone can’t work if community hides cases due to distrust. Violence persists. We are in this for the long haul,” Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law at Georgetown University, said, referring to deadly attacks on health facilities in the DRC.

According to the WHO, more than 100 attacks on treatment centres and health workers in the DRC have been recorded since the beginning of this year.

INTERACTIVE: Ebola explainer May 20 2018

As the far deadlier 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak raged in West Africa, the WHO was heavily criticised for not declaring a global emergency until nearly 1,000 people had died and the virus had spread to at least three countries.

Internal WHO documents later showed that the agency feared the declaration would have economic and social implications for Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. More than 11,300 people died in the three countries.

Before the WHO panel’s move, Axelle Ronsse, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, had expressed uncertainty whether a declaration would help. She said outbreak responders, including the WHO, should reevaluate their strategies to contain the spiralling outbreak.

“It’s quite clear that it’s not under control,” she said. “Now may be the time to reset and see what should be changed at this point.”

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US Open 2019 Leaderboard: Friday Live Updates, Scores and Results for Round 2

Clock Icon4 minutes ago

PGA TOUR Communications @PGATOURComms

Matt Kuchar, 3-under through 8 holes today at the @usopengolf, is currently T2 at -5. In 16 previous U.S. Open starts, his only top-10 finish was a T6 in 2010, the last time it was played at Pebble Beach. @PGATOUR
Clock Icon9 minutes ago

Golf Digest @GolfDigest

That’s one way to make a par.
https://t.co/R7uPKjwwrk
Clock Icon15 minutes ago

Spieth Tracker @Spieth_Tracker

BANG! Center of the cup. BIRDIE. No doubt! We’re back to 2 under for the tournament! #USOpen
Invalid Date
June 14, 2019
Clock Icon22 minutes ago

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Justin Rose is 2 clear of the field! #USOpen https://t.co/jQHbdWzqbg
Clock Icon28 minutes ago

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Brooks Koepka clawing his way up the leaderboard with a birdie at No. 16.

He’s just four off the lead.
https://t.co/hGiEsp1qDI
Clock Icon33 minutes ago

Will Gray @WillGrayGC

Reminder on cut watch day that the @usopengolf trims to top 60 and ties, not top 70 and ties like most Tour events.
Clock Icon34 minutes ago

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Junior Am champ Michael Thorbjornsen looking like a veteran pro with this chip-in at 7: https://t.co/mIilDxRFSp #USOpen
Clock Icon44 minutes ago

Quiet Start for Koepka

Six straight pars to begin his second round. Koepka is even with Woods at two under.
Clock Iconabout 1 hour ago

Hadley Hovering

After shooting a three-under 68 Thursday, Chesson Hadley has already carded four birdies today. The problem is his double bogey, keeping him one shot below Rose for the lead.
Clock Icon4:26 pm

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Jordan Spieth’s current status =

He sinks this one from the fringe for his third in four holes! #USOpen https://t.co/QINsJbL0Uk
Clock Icon4:25 pm

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Here comes Jordan Spieth. He has three birdies in his first four holes and is just four back of the lead.
Clock Icon4:10 pm

Leaderboard Update

1. Justin Rose -6 (3*)
T2. Rickie Fowler -5 (4:47 p.m. ET)
T2. Xander Schauffele -5 (5:09 p.m.)
T2. Louis Oosthuizen -5 (5:20 p.m.)
T5. Aaron Wise -4 (8)
T5. Chesson Hadley -4 (6*)
T5. Matt Kuchar -4 (4)
T5. Scott Piercy -4 (3:41 p.m.)
Clock Icon4:04 pm

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

Put it in reverse, @TigerWoods.

First of the day. https://t.co/jGaJNdo1r1
Clock Icon3:55 pm

Bob Harig @BobHarig

Nice start for #Tiger. After two good approaches at 10 and 11, gets birdie putts to drop from 11 feet at the 11th. Now -2.
Clock Icon3:45 pm

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Good start for Jordan Spieth! #USOpen https://t.co/xB1cWUmKTp
Clock Icon3:39 pm
Clock Icon3:28 pm

Tiger Tracker @GCTigerTracker

Took an Uber to get here just in time. Smokes driver down the 10th fairway. Time to roll….. #USOpen
Clock Icon3:11 pm

Golf Digest @GolfDigest

U.S. Open leader Justin Rose is getting dialed in for the second round. https://t.co/Gvxaw0jbpn
Clock Icon2:59 pm

US Open Round 2 2019-06-14

What’s Wrong with Jordan Spieth?

Won three majors by age 23
Spiraled to No. 28 world ranking
‘Voice in his head’ doomed him

Tully Corcoran

via Bleacher Report
Clock Icon2:45 pm

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

@TigerWoods
@BKoepka
@JustinRose99
@JordanSpieth

These four will be teeing it up at Pebble shortly. https://t.co/EDezipj4Qj
Clock Icon2:33 pm

LKD @LukeKerrDineen

Good morning https://t.co/aFP5hFgsQ6
Clock Icon2:21 pm

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Not that every round isn’t important, but Friday is pivotal for claiming a U.S. Open title.

The leader/co-leader after 36 holes has gone on to win 12 of the last 20 and 4 of the last 5 (Kaymer ‘14, Spieth ‘15, Johnson ‘16, Koepka ‘17). #USOpen
Clock Icon2:03 pm

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Here are the Round 2 hole locations at the #USOpen. https://t.co/jwc0gs3SsC
Clock Icon1:51 pm

FOX Sports: Golf @GolfonFOX

Who’s ready for Round 2 of the #USOpen?

@BKoepka tees off at 11:02 am ET. https://t.co/oZVxg0Zg15
Clock Icon12:23 pm

via Bleacher Report

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US Open 2019 Leaderboard: Friday Live Updates, Scores and Results for Round 2

Clock Icon4 minutes ago

PGA TOUR Communications @PGATOURComms

Matt Kuchar, 3-under through 8 holes today at the @usopengolf, is currently T2 at -5. In 16 previous U.S. Open starts, his only top-10 finish was a T6 in 2010, the last time it was played at Pebble Beach. @PGATOUR
Clock Icon9 minutes ago

Golf Digest @GolfDigest

That’s one way to make a par.
https://t.co/R7uPKjwwrk
Clock Icon15 minutes ago

Spieth Tracker @Spieth_Tracker

BANG! Center of the cup. BIRDIE. No doubt! We’re back to 2 under for the tournament! #USOpen
Invalid Date
June 14, 2019
Clock Icon22 minutes ago

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Justin Rose is 2 clear of the field! #USOpen https://t.co/jQHbdWzqbg
Clock Icon28 minutes ago

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Brooks Koepka clawing his way up the leaderboard with a birdie at No. 16.

He’s just four off the lead.
https://t.co/hGiEsp1qDI
Clock Icon33 minutes ago

Will Gray @WillGrayGC

Reminder on cut watch day that the @usopengolf trims to top 60 and ties, not top 70 and ties like most Tour events.
Clock Icon34 minutes ago

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Junior Am champ Michael Thorbjornsen looking like a veteran pro with this chip-in at 7: https://t.co/mIilDxRFSp #USOpen
Clock Icon44 minutes ago

Quiet Start for Koepka

Six straight pars to begin his second round. Koepka is even with Woods at two under.
Clock Iconabout 1 hour ago

Hadley Hovering

After shooting a three-under 68 Thursday, Chesson Hadley has already carded four birdies today. The problem is his double bogey, keeping him one shot below Rose for the lead.
Clock Icon4:26 pm

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Jordan Spieth’s current status =

He sinks this one from the fringe for his third in four holes! #USOpen https://t.co/QINsJbL0Uk
Clock Icon4:25 pm

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Here comes Jordan Spieth. He has three birdies in his first four holes and is just four back of the lead.
Clock Icon4:10 pm

Leaderboard Update

1. Justin Rose -6 (3*)
T2. Rickie Fowler -5 (4:47 p.m. ET)
T2. Xander Schauffele -5 (5:09 p.m.)
T2. Louis Oosthuizen -5 (5:20 p.m.)
T5. Aaron Wise -4 (8)
T5. Chesson Hadley -4 (6*)
T5. Matt Kuchar -4 (4)
T5. Scott Piercy -4 (3:41 p.m.)
Clock Icon4:04 pm

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

Put it in reverse, @TigerWoods.

First of the day. https://t.co/jGaJNdo1r1
Clock Icon3:55 pm

Bob Harig @BobHarig

Nice start for #Tiger. After two good approaches at 10 and 11, gets birdie putts to drop from 11 feet at the 11th. Now -2.
Clock Icon3:45 pm

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Good start for Jordan Spieth! #USOpen https://t.co/xB1cWUmKTp
Clock Icon3:39 pm
Clock Icon3:28 pm

Tiger Tracker @GCTigerTracker

Took an Uber to get here just in time. Smokes driver down the 10th fairway. Time to roll….. #USOpen
Clock Icon3:11 pm

Golf Digest @GolfDigest

U.S. Open leader Justin Rose is getting dialed in for the second round. https://t.co/Gvxaw0jbpn
Clock Icon2:59 pm

US Open Round 2 2019-06-14

What’s Wrong with Jordan Spieth?

Won three majors by age 23
Spiraled to No. 28 world ranking
‘Voice in his head’ doomed him

Tully Corcoran

via Bleacher Report
Clock Icon2:45 pm

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR

@TigerWoods
@BKoepka
@JustinRose99
@JordanSpieth

These four will be teeing it up at Pebble shortly. https://t.co/EDezipj4Qj
Clock Icon2:33 pm

LKD @LukeKerrDineen

Good morning https://t.co/aFP5hFgsQ6
Clock Icon2:21 pm

Golf Central @GolfCentral

Not that every round isn’t important, but Friday is pivotal for claiming a U.S. Open title.

The leader/co-leader after 36 holes has gone on to win 12 of the last 20 and 4 of the last 5 (Kaymer ‘14, Spieth ‘15, Johnson ‘16, Koepka ‘17). #USOpen
Clock Icon2:03 pm

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf

Here are the Round 2 hole locations at the #USOpen. https://t.co/jwc0gs3SsC
Clock Icon1:51 pm

FOX Sports: Golf @GolfonFOX

Who’s ready for Round 2 of the #USOpen?

@BKoepka tees off at 11:02 am ET. https://t.co/oZVxg0Zg15
Clock Icon12:23 pm

via Bleacher Report

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POLITICO Playbook PM: Elizabeth Warren’s lucky debate draw

BREAKING — DEMOCRATIC DEBATE LINEUPS … Orange group: Cory Booker, Julián Castro, Bill de Blasio, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Jay Inslee, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Tim Ryan and Elizabeth Warren. … Purple group: Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Kirsten Gillibrand, John Hickenlooper, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Eric Swalwell, Marianne Williamson and Andrew Yang.

— PURPLE GROUP is clearly the main event. Biden, Harris, Sanders and Buttigieg in one sitting! Among the top tier of candidates, Warren’s got the other night all to herself.

— ORANGE GROUP will go first. More from Zach Montellaro

NEW … FROM ANITA KUMAR … THE PRESS SECY SEARCH: After press secretary Sarah Sanders announced her departure Thursday, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney’s office called STEVE CORTES, a President Donald Trump ally and frequent TV surrogate, to talk to him about the job, according to a source familiar with the situation.

CORTES, who served on Trump’s Hispanic Advisory Council during the 2016 campaign and is now serving on Trump’s 2020 reelection advisory committee, has been considered for White House communications posts before. He’ll visit the White House next week. Reached for comment today, Cortes declined to comment. The White House did not immediately return a message.

— ANDREW RESTUCCIA and NANCY COOK: “The Sarah Sanders replacement sweepstakes begins”

TALKER … WSJ: “Trump’s 2020 Re-Election Campaign Wants Order and Discipline, Down to Font Sizes,” by Mike Bender, Rebecca Ballhaus and Alex Leary: “President Trump’s path to a second term starts not in Florida, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, but in the pages of a corporate-style branding book developed inside a spacious and well-equipped campaign office.

“The document, ‘Branding Guidelines for the Trump Presidential Campaign,’ covers design minutiae such as font size, spacing and authorized colors— ‘Trump Red’ and ‘Trump Blue’ for logos, and ‘Trump Gold’ for special occasions. It specifies which images of Mr. Trump to use to convey compassion, which to show strength and, in the case of a photo of the president pointing into the camera, when to let donors know they need to boost contributions.” WSJ

HMM … PETERSON INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS: “Trump Has Gotten China to Lower Its Tariffs. Just Toward Everyone Else.”

THE YOU-CAN’T-MAKE-ME PRESIDENCY — “Trump says he won’t fire Kellyanne Conway”: “On Friday, Trump fiercely defended Conway and criticized the Hatch Act, saying it unfairly muzzles officials. ‘It really sounds to me like a free-speech thing. It doesn’t sound fair,’ Trump said during an interview with ‘Fox & Friends.’

“‘No, I’m not going to fire her, I think she’s a tremendous person, tremendous spokesperson,’ Trump added. ‘They have tried to take away her speech and I think you’re entitled to free speech in the country.’” POLITICO

— REMEMBER: THE SUPREME COURT ruled that the Hatch Act does not violate free speech. (If you care, see United Public Workers v. Mitchell and United States Civil Service Commission v. National Association of Letter Carriers.)

MORE FROM TRUMP’S FOX INTERVIEW — “Trump goes on Fox to clean up his foreign interference comments,” by Caitlin Oprysko: “Remarkably, Trump … asserted on Friday that he didn’t foresee that issue arising. ‘I don’t think anybody would present me with anything because they know how much I love the country,’ he said, despite well-documented attempts by Russian nationals to do just that during the 2016 election.

“‘Nobody’s gonna present me with anything bad, and No. 2, if I was — and of course, you have to look at it, because if you don’t look at it, you won’t know it’s bad, but, of course, you give it to the FBI or report it to attorney general or somebody like that,’ he argued. ‘But of course you do that — you couldn’t have that happen with our country, and everybody understands that and I thought it was made clear.’” POLITICO

— “Trump Claims ‘Night and Day’ Change on Border, Announces Czar,” by Bloomberg’s Josh Wingrove: “President Donald Trump claimed migration through the U.S. southern border has already slowed dramatically following a deal with the Mexican government, and that former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan would return to his administration as ‘border czar.’” Bloomberg

— HUSBAND OF THE WEEK, via Pia Deshpande: “President Donald Trump on Friday likened his wife to the beloved former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, saying, ‘We have our own Jackie O, it’s called Melania, Melania T.’” POLITICO

— THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS is that Jackie O was not Jackie O in the White House. She was Jackie Kennedy.

Happy Friday afternoon. The White House announced that Canadian PM JUSTIN TRUDEAU will visit Trump in Washington on Thursday, with a focus on the USMCA and the upcoming G-20 summit.

FRIDAY READ … CNN’S REBECCA BUCK in WAPO: “On the trail, looking for traces of my dad”

THE NRCC RECRUITING CHAIR IS RETIRING … INDY STAR’S MAUREEN GROPPE: “Indiana Republican Susan Brooks will not seek re-election to Congress”: “Indiana Rep. Susan Brooks, one of only 13 Republican women in the House as well as the head of GOP recruitment for 2020, found someone she could not convince to run: herself. The Carmel Republican will not seek a fifth term next year, she told USA TODAY. …

“For 2020, Democrats had put Brooks on their ‘retirement watch list.’ They see her district, which includes the wealthy northern Indianapolis suburban areas, as potentially flippable as Republican support has eroded in some suburban areas under President Donald Trump.” Indy Star

— IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO … The NRCC got crosswise with Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican leader, contributing to the demise of a pay-raise negotiation … Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 House Republican, got into a behind-the-scenes fight with NRCC Chairman Tom Emmers. She told him people are starting to doubt he is up to the job … And now, the very person charged with convincing GOP candidates to run for Congress as the party seeks the majority is forgoing reelection.

— WE ARE TOLD that Brooks is not relinquishing her recruiting chairmanship.

— SARAH FERRIS: “Rep. Susan Brooks shocks GOP with retirement decision”

THE INVESTIGATIONS … ABC: “President Donald Trump says it ‘doesn’t matter’ what former White House counsel Don McGahn told Mueller”: “President Donald Trump is directly disputing the account of a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible obstruction of justice … In an exclusive interview with ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos, Trump says McGahn ‘may have been confused’ when he told Mueller that Trump instructed him multiple times to have the acting attorney general remove the special counsel because of perceived conflicts of interest.

“‘The story on that very simply, No. 1, I was never going to fire Mueller. I never suggested firing Mueller,’ Trump told Stephanopoulos. But when Stephanopoulos pushed back and referenced McGahn’s testimony, Trump was defiant. ‘I don’t care what [McGahn] says, it doesn’t matter,’ Trump said.

“‘Why would [McGahn] lie under oath?’ Stephanopoulos later asked. ‘Because he wanted to make himself look like a good lawyer,’ Trump said. ‘Or he believed it because I would constantly tell anybody that would listen — including you, including the media — that Robert Mueller was conflicted. Robert Mueller had a total conflict of interest.’ ‘And has to go?’ Stephanopoulos followed up. ‘I didn’t say that,’ Trump insisted.” With video: ABC

LATEST ON THE TANKER ATTACKS — “‘Flying Object’ Struck Tanker in Gulf of Oman, Operator Says, Not a Mine,” by NYT’s Ben Dooley in Tokyo: “One of the tankers that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman was struck by a flying object, the ship’s Japanese operator said on Friday, who also disputed part of the account of United States officials who had blamed Iran for the attack. …

“[Yutaka] Katada, citing accounts from the ship’s crew, said: ‘I do not think there was a time bomb or an object attached to the side of the ship.’ … Mr. Katada said that the holes in Kokuka Courageous were well above its waterline. ‘There is zero possibility that they were torpedoes,’ he added.” NYT

— FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: The president and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe spoke by phone this morning and discussed the tanker situation, Abe’s trip to Iran, trade and the G-20, according to a statement from deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley to today’s pooler, Liz Goodwin of the Boston Globe.

IMMIGRATION FILES — BUZZFEED’S @ZoeTillman: “NOW: The DC Circuit rules that the Trump admin. cannot block pregnant, undocumented minors in U.S. custody from obtaining abortions. The court rejects ‘the government’s position that its denial of abortion access can be squared with Supreme Court precedent.’”

FOR THOSE KEEPING TRACK — “U.S. extradition case against Assange set for next year,” by AP’s Gregory Katz in London: “The judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday set a full extradition hearing for Feb. 25, 2020. It is expected to last about five days. Interim hearings are expected in July and October.” AP

TRADE WARS — WSJ’S RAJESH ROY in New Delhi: “India to Impose Its Own Tariffs on Some Goods Imported From the U.S.”: “India will impose higher tariffs on some goods imported from the U.S., according to Indian officials, in an apparent response to a U.S. move earlier this month to remove some special trade benefits that India had enjoyed. The decision takes effect Sunday, just days ahead of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to New Delhi aimed at boosting U.S.-India ties. …

“Indian officials delayed implementing their tariffs for a year in hopes the U.S. would reconsider the steel and aluminum tariffs aimed at India.” WSJ

ON THE WORLD STAGE — “U.S. calls Sudan military crackdown ‘devastating,’ urges independent investigation,” by WaPo’s Paul Schemm in Addis Ababa

BEHIND THE SCENES — “The Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Was Far Along Before Mnuchin Delayed Work,” by NYT’s Alan Rappeport: “An image of a new $20 bill, produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and obtained by The New York Times from a former Treasury Department official, depicts Tubman in a dark coat with a wide collar and a white scarf. …

“A current employee of the bureau, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, personally viewed a metal engraving plate and a digital image of a Tubman $20 bill while it was being reviewed by engravers and Secret Service officials as recently as May 2018. This person said that the design appeared to be far along in the process. …

“But the Treasury Department, which oversees the engraving bureau, decided that a new $20 bill would not be made public next year. Current and former department officials say [Secretary Steven] Mnuchin chose the delay to avoid the possibility that Mr. Trump would cancel the plan outright and create even more controversy.” With picture: NYT

NATASHA KORECKI: “Biden: No deep fakes, bots or disinformation by my campaign”

THE POLICY PRIMARY — WSJ’s JOSHUA JAMERSON: “Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren proposed legislation Friday that would allocate $7 billion in federal grants to help minority entrepreneurs start businesses. Ms. Warren, the senator from Massachusetts, said the program would be administered by a new Department of Economic Development … States and municipalities would play a role in administering Ms. Warren’s proposed program, the Small Business Equity Fund.” WSJ … Medium post

VALLEY TALK — NANCY SCOLA: “How a liberal think tank is driving Democrats on reining in tech”: “[T]he Open Markets Institute has become one of the most influential drivers of Democratic politics in the fight to rein in Facebook, Amazon and Google … Despite its small size — 15 or so employees operating out of a shared WeWork space in downtown D.C. — Open Markets is exercising outsized influence these days, helping to shape Washington’s intensifying scrutiny of giant tech companies and their vast influence on American society. And the apex example of its influence is its relationship with [Elizabeth] Warren.

“Open Markets has its critics, among them pro-business organizations that say the group offers few fresh ideas and scorns honest debate. And its leaders have developed a reputation for pugnacious rhetoric, responding aggressively to legislative proposals, news coverage or analysis deemed insufficiently tough on the tech companies. … Beyond Warren, the group has established a sprawling network of ideologically like-minded people in Washington and across the country.” POLITICO

— WSJ’S RICH RUBIN: “Does Amazon Really Pay No Taxes? Here’s the Complicated Answer”: “Democratic presidential candidates have seized on reports that Amazon.com Inc. paid no 2018 federal taxes as they press for changes in the tax system.

“A closer look at the internet giant’s tax disclosures over several years paints a more complicated picture: Amazon has paid income taxes somewhere, albeit at a low rate, likely helped by deductions and incentives related to investment, research and employee compensation.” WSJ

KEEPING TABS — WAPO’S PETER JAMISON: “Trump still owes D.C. $7 million in inauguration costs as he plans July Fourth gala”

— “Ivanka Trump Made $4 Million From President’s Washington Hotel,” by Bloomberg’s Bill Allison: “Together, Trump and husband Jared Kushner earned between $28.8 million and $135.1 million in outside income while working as unpaid senior advisers to her father, President Donald Trump, their disclosures, which covers 2018, show.” Bloomberg

ONE MORE SUNDAY SHOW …

ABC

“This Week”: President Donald Trump … Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) … Panel: Rick Klein, Chris Christie, Stefanie Brown James, Julie Pace

TV TONIGHT — Bob Costa sits down with PBS NewsHour’s Yamiche Alcindor, NYT’s Peter Baker, WaPo’s Ashley Parker and CNBC’s Eamon Javers at 8 p.m. on PBS’ “Washington Week.”

REP. STEVE SCALISE’S OFFICE has cut a video marking the two-year anniversary of the congressional baseball practice shooting. The video

SPOTTED: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) standing in front of the H&M at Metro Center today. Pic

EPA ARRIVAL LOUNGE — Jordan Pic will be a special adviser for intergovernmental affairs at the EPA. She is currently scheduler for Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).

Anna Palmer @apalmerdc
Jake Sherman @JakeSherman
Daniel Lippman @dlippman
Eli Okun @eliokun
Garrett Ross @garrett_ross

View all our politics and policy newsletters

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Women rally for equal pay, gender parity in Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland – Tens of thousands of women have joined a general strike in Switzerland to demand gender equality and better representation in the public sphere.

Under slogans including “If women want they can block the nation” and “Women’s rights are human rights”, protesters on Friday took to the streets in Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, Lugano and other major Swiss cities.

In Lausanne, demonstrations started on Thursday night outside the cathedral, where for the first time in 600 years the guardian of the bell tower was symbolically replaced by women and the bell tower was illuminated in violet, the official colour of the protest.

“The challenges posed to our society in terms of gender equality and prevention of violence against women remain important,” said journalist Laurence Bezaguet.

“We don’t want to erase our differences. We rather want to be able to choose, together with men, the way we want to live based on each other’s competence.”

Equal opportunities, equal pay, equal space in the public sphere and recognition of women’s competence were some of the demands that women in Switzerland brought to the streets in the march.

In the region of Ticino, campaigners have launched a working manifesto listing 19 points for which women demonstrate, including equal pay, flexible working time, the right to choose one’s sexual identity, the fight against homophobia, violence and gender stereotypes, amongst others.

Switzerland ranks only 20th in the World Economic Forum’s gender equality index [Denis Balibouse/Reuters]

Thirty-eight years after gender equality and equal pay were enshrined in the Swiss constitution, their implementation is still deficient.

Switzerland ranks 20th in the World Economic Forum’s classification of countries on gender equality, behind many European nations.

When it comes to gender equality within the economic sector, the country’s position drops to 34th.

“The principle of equal pay between men and women remains dead word,” according to Brigitte Mantilleri, director of the equality service at the University of Geneva.

A detailed report published on Friday by the Tribune de Geneve defines the banking sector the “cancer” of wage parity.

Women employed in the banking sector in the Geneva region or “Canton” earn almost 25 percent less than men.

But equal pay is just one of the issues at stake.

Domestic sphere

For Margareta Guy, 65, the reason to take to the streets was to teach her granddaughters that the rights women had conquered so far could not be given for granted, especially within the family.

“I think the mindset hasn’t changed much, even if we have gained some very important rights over time,” Guy said.

“The Swiss society is very conservative and I see the attitude of some men towards women is the same. They still see us as inferior. It worries me for the future generations.”

Guy said she remembered when women first gained their right to vote in 1971. Switzerland was one of the last countries in Europe to allow women to cast their ballots in national elections.

“That was a historic moment and a shame that it took so long for men to allow us to vote.”

In 1971, Swiss men voted in a referendum to change the Constitution and allow women to vote after they rejected the proposal in 1959.

Elisabeth Blunschy became one of the first women to be elected as a member of parliament in 1971. In 1977, she became the first woman president of the National Council.

But while in the public sphere women were gaining some rights, in the domestic one they were still subject to their husbands.

Only in 1985, women were granted equal marriage rights. Until this date, a husband had legal authority over his wife, meaning, for example, he had to approve of her opening a bank account or could prevent her from working or living where she chose.

Business as usual

But some women stayed away from Friday’s protest. The employees of a famous nightclub in the red-light district in Geneva will be working as usual.

Amid the posters that call for the mass strike, a violet billboard read in French: “For you, our women don’t strike.”

Giangiorgio Gargantini, a Swiss syndicalist, posted the image on his Facebook page to show what he described as the “medieval” approach to the women’s strike from some quarters.

“That expression ‘our women’ is abominable,” he said. “No surprise that those who use the body of women for business would be so ignoble to use this day to promote their vile commerce.”

The issue touches on the role that men should play on such a day, Gargantini said. “We should march with them today, a step behind.”

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Biden: No deep fakes, bots or disinformation by my campaign

Joe Biden’s pledge to not use misinformation comes the same week President Donald Trump said he would accept campaign assistance from a foreign power. | Joshua Lott/Getty Images

2020 Election

The former vice president issues a far-reaching pledge not to participate in the spread of disinformation.

Joe Biden is pledging to not take part in the spread of disinformation over social media in his campaign for president, including rejecting the use of deep fake videos, synthetic social media accounts and bot networks to attack opponents.

Those are among the tactics federal law enforcement found to be widespread in the 2016 presidential election.

Story Continued Below

The former vice president’s pledge comes the same week that President Donald Trump said he would accept campaign assistance from a foreign power and that the FBI director was “wrong” to expect a campaign to report such an overture to law enforcement. And last month, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the target of an altered video that falsely showed her slurring her speech; experts expect such visual forgeries, which sometimes employ artificial intelligence, to grow only more prevalent in the run-up to 2020.

Former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation concluded that Russia had driven false social media messaging in an attempt to manipulate the 2016 presidential election. And FBI Director Christopher Wray has repeatedly warned that such meddling — both by foreign powers and domestically — is ongoing and expected to be part of the 2020 campaign.

Most Democratic presidential campaigns have already vowed not to use hacked or stolen materials and many campaigns have said they wouldn’t use deep fake videos.

But Biden’s pledge goes further in that it vows not to use bot networks to spread disinformation or attack opponents, or hire third parties or proxies to do it on their behalf. That’s significant because data scientists have said they’ve seen a sustained use of disinformation as a tactic in both the 2018 midterms and already in the 2020 presidential campaign.

Researchers tracking such activity have said it’s difficult to trace whether foreign or domestic actors are behind it. An effort within the Democratic Party is asking campaigns to escalate the discussion of some type of nonaggression pact among 2020 candidates, in part to help discern the bad actors online.

“This is simple. American elections should be decided by the American people and not by Russian or any other foreign power,” Biden said in a prepared statement. “Donald Trump doesn’t think it matters if candidates accept damaging intel on their opponent from a foreign government. He’s dead wrong.”

The discussion comes as Democrats this weekend are to take up the issue in Santa Fe, N.M., at a national meeting of the Association of State Democratic Chairs.

“I think it’s important that we understand that these bots are used to stir dissension within the Democratic Party — not purposely by their campaigns but by those who wish to be disruptive, whether they are pro-Trump or just simply anti-one person or another who happens to be running,” said Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Buckley is preparing to introduce a resolution that is scheduled for a Saturday vote.

A copy of the resolution, provided to POLITICO, urges the Democratic National Committee to establish a new party-wide framework, to combat the use of “illicit campaign tactics,” including preventing the use of disinformation tactics like fake social media accounts, fake websites, “bots, trolls, troll farms, deep fakes and any use of falsified images, video or audio.”

“We need to have everybody rowing in the same direction when it comes to the general election. We need to make sure our nominee’s victory is large enough that not Russia, not China, not any foreign power … can have any impact,” Buckley said. “We have to make sure that the margin is large enough that it can’t be tampered with.”

Earlier this year, POLITICO reported that a wide-ranging influence campaign was already underway on social media, including an effort to target those in the race for president. Data scientists and researchers have found that at least some of the activity already this year appeared consistent with tactics employed by Russia and other foreign powers in 2016, but that the methods have grown more insidious, including building a larger network of fake accounts around real people to amplify desired messaging.

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World Court rejects UAE’s request of measures against Qatar

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has denied a request by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for immediate measures against Qatar in a dispute over alleged discrimination between the Gulf neighbours.

The ruling came on Friday, weeks after the UAE forced the pause in the main court process to stop Qatar from blocking access to a UAE website that allows Qataris expelled from the Emirates to obtain permits to return.

By not allowing access to the site, the UAE argued Qatar was aggravating the dispute.

Qatar told the ICJ, which is informally known as the World Court, it had blocked the site because it posed a state security threat due to “malware” coded within that was designed to infiltrate the Gulf state’s security systems.

Chief judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said on Friday that the court in The Hague “rejects the request for provisional measures submitted by the United Arab Emirates” by a margin of 15 to one.

‘Victorious’

Mohammed Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, the agent for Qatar at the ICJ, told Al Jazeera after the ruling that the UAE had requested the injunction in March 2019.

“We were quite happy about this victorious judicial judgement received in this court and now the case should proceed for the court to discuss the jurisdiction and the merits,” he said.

“Hopefully, the court will be able to reach a level where they can view, examine and make a judgement on the evidence submitted by the state of Qatar in terms of the true victims of this racial discrimination case imposed on the 5th of June 2017 from the United Arab Emirates,” he added, referring to the start of a blockade against Qatar by four Arab countries.

The main case revolves around the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain – the countries which, along with the UAE, have been enforcing the sea, air and land blockade of Qatar – have not signed up to the convention, and so the case is only between signatories Qatar and the UAE.

In a July 2018 hearing, the ICJ ordered the UAE to ensure that Qatari families living in the Emirates were reunited with their relatives back home and Qatari students in the UAE were allowed to continue their studies without fear of deportation.

Al Jazeera’s Neave Barker, reporting from The Hague, said an overall result in the case “could be many more months in the pipeline, or it could even take years.”

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