Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele blasted the Left’s “preaching” of “diversity‚ tolerance‚ and acceptance” while she has faced criticism for celebrating her biracial identity. Steele sat down with Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro on the “Sunday Special” edition of his podcast for an hour-long conversation about her career and the fallout at ESPN. After telling Shapiro about what led to the infusion of politics and sports at ESPN‚ Steele was asked about the pressure she has received to repeat leftist talking points on race and gender. “You’re a black woman‚ which means that you have two of the intersectional checkmarks‚ but you don’t necessarily mirror everything that the intersectionality crowd would want you to say‚” Shapiro said. “How much pressure have you gotten both inside ESPN and then also just from the outside world to sort of repeat slogans that people think you should be saying based on your identity&;#63;” “I think one of the biggest things that has made me so divisive and disliked and at least parts not all for sure‚ but parts of the black community is my conversation about being biracial‚” Steele replied. “So if I’m asked and if I’m filling out a census … I’m going to check black and white‚ you know‚ my dad’s black‚ my mom is white.” “I’m so proud of both. And for some reason that’s controversial‚” she continued‚ adding that she would expect her family’s racial makeup to be celebrated by those who constantly push for more diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion. “And I just was always confused by that and like‚ why isn’t my family the actual perfect definition of diversity and tolerance and acceptance and inclusion&;#63;” Steele asked. “Why is it bad that I love my mom as much as my dad and want to celebrate her as well&;#63; And when I was crushed for that a few times‚ I got ticked off. I’m like‚ enough. This is total B.S.‚” she said. “And it’s actually complete hypocrisy‚ the opposite of what we are preaching of diversity and tolerance and acceptance.” WATCH THE FULL ‘SUNDAY SPECIAL’ EPISODE WITH SAGE STEELE Steele‚ who recently launched her new podcast “The Sage Steele Show” on Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios platform‚ told Shapiro earlier in the interview that politics wasn’t a major concern at ESPN until there was a “huge turn” in 2016 when Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election. A few years later‚ Steele was punished by ESPN for negative comments she made on COVID vaccine mandates and President Barack Obama. Steele left the network in 2023 after settling a lawsuit with ESPN‚ alleging the company wrongfully retaliated against her after she expressed her opinion.

Despite making “tremendous progress” toward implementing a school choice program in Tennessee‚ Republicans ultimately failed to come to an agreement during negotiations on two different versions of school choice measures that had been put forward in the state’s House and Senate. Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee‚ who had pushed for the state’s legislature to pass school choice legislation‚ said on Monday that families “will have to wait yet another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child.” The state’s 2024 legislative session ends this week‚ and a new General Assembly will be sworn in after the elections this fall. “I am extremely disappointed for the families who will have to wait yet another year for the freedom to choose the right education for their child‚ especially when there is broad agreement that now is the time to bring universal school choice to Tennessee‚” Lee said. “While we made tremendous progress‚ unfortunately it has become clear that there is not a pathway for the bill during this legislative session.” Lee’s plan‚ known as the “Education Freedom Scholarship Act‚” looked to make scholarships worth $7‚000 available for 20‚000 students in the next school year. For the first year of the scholarships‚ those with low incomes would have access to half of the scholarships while the other half would be handed out on a first come‚ first serve basis. The plan would push for all students in the 2025-2026 school year to have scholarships they could use at private schools and charter schools and they would also be made available for homeschool families. Lee thanked the leaders in both chambers of the state legislature “for their commitment to pursuing education freedom next year.” The bills being considered by the state Senate and House contained major differences. The bill sponsored in the Senate by Republican Majority Leader Jack Johnson mirrored Lee’s proposal and added a requirement that scholarship recipients take an annual norm-referenced test approved by the state board of education. Meanwhile‚ the state House version of the bill — sponsored by Republican House Majority Leader William Lamberth — was more strict in how the scholarships could be applied as they were designated only for use at private schools with limited use for public schools. The House version also did not include scholarships that could be used by homeschool families. Lamberth cited concerns about fiscal responsibility for why the House bill included those major differences. “We would expand as possible as we go forward. Here in Tennessee‚ we are always very fiscally conservative. We balance our budget every year‚” Lamberth told The Daily Wire earlier this month. “We are just very careful not to have a program that has no fiscal constraints on it. So the intention would be to expand this program down the road‚ but we’re going to start out with 20‚000 students.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The school choice program was opposed by Democrats and teachers unions‚ but also by some conservative activists who say that school choice legislation could be fiscally irresponsible‚ introduce backdoor ways for the government to regulate Christian schools and homeschoolers‚ and fund education for illegal immigrants‚ The Daily Wire previously reported. The governor‚ however‚ says his proposed program will empower parents and give all students better opportunities “to succeed.” “It’s very simple — this is about every Tennessee student having the opportunity to succeed‚ regardless of their zip code or income level‚ and without question‚ empowering parents is the best way to make sure that happens‚” Lee said. Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report. 

Over the past several days‚ we have witnessed Columbia University‚ one of the oldest institutions of higher education in America‚ transform into a hellscape of virulent anti-Semitism masked under the thinly veiled guise of anti-Israel protests. The quad where I so fondly remember spending my days as an undergraduate is now home to a university-sanctioned encampment of hate‚ sequestering Columbia’s Jewish community into their dorm rooms — and even leaving campus entirely — in fear of their physical safety. New York Mayor Eric Adams’ offers to activate the NYPD to dispel the pro-Palestinian mob have fallen on deaf ears with university administrators‚ including President Minouche Shafik. Unfortunately‚ this unfolding chaos is just a new chapter of anti-Semitism that has long been embedded in the culture at Columbia and other elite universities nationwide. As an American Jew‚ I was proud to serve as president of Columbia’s largest pro-Israel group‚ then known as LionPAC‚ during my junior year in 2010-2011. My tenure involved routinely responding to a variety of protests against the Jewish state. Mock “apartheid walls” and cardboard cutouts of Israeli tanks were erected on Low Steps. Holocaust deniers‚ hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine‚ spoke freely under the infinite confines of “academic freedom”. And students simply trying to walk to class were subjected to “die ins” on College Walk‚ where anti-Israel activists donning fake IDF uniforms and machine guns would pretend to slaughter Palestinians‚ who would lay lifeless on the ground for minutes on end. These charades were no surprise at a university that hosted one of the world’s most prolific Holocaust deniers‚ Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‚ and tenured Professor Joseph Massad‚ who called Hamas’ October 7th slaughter of innocent Israeli Jews a “stunning” and “astonishing” display of “Palestinian resistance”. In other words‚ today’s protests are a natural manifestation of Columbia’s seemingly limitless tolerance for anti-Semitism. There is ample room for reasonable debate about the war between Hamas and Israel and the Israeli government’s policies vis-&;agrave;-vis Palestinians. That is not the goal of these demonstrations. Jewish students are being verbally assaulted with calls to “go back to Europe‚” and rather than clearing the encampment‚ Columbia has instead cancelled in person classes to the detriment of all students. In my experience‚ Columbia’s pro-Israel faculty have always eschewed public activism out of fear of professional exile or termination. Columbia Business School assistant professor Shai Davidai‚ who has been heroically outspoken about the horrific conditions on campus and the administration’s abject failure to protect students‚ on Monday was denied entry to campus. Meanwhile‚ anti-Israel professors are allowed to freely celebrate terrorism and promulgate genocide with little to no repercussions. At best‚ Columbia’s feckless administration is demonstrating a shocking inability to distinguish between free speech and hate speech. At worst‚ they are complicit in an egregious‚ coordinated effort to harass and bully Jewish students to flee campus altogether — a tactic employed from time immemorial against the Jewish people. President Shafik’s young tenure at the helm of Columbia will be defined by what she does next. She can either continue to protect those espousing unfettered anti-Semitism‚ imperiling the safety of its students and their ability to attend classes. Or she can use this moment to send a message that those who call for genocide against the Jewish people will not enjoy safe harbor at Columbia. This week‚ Jews around the globe will come together to celebrate Passover by retelling the story of the ancient Israelites’ enslavement and exile in Egypt. Now is the moment to prove that the suffering of our ancestors was not endured in vain. The Jewish people must remain steadfast and resolute against those who seek our destruction. I commend the bravery of Professor Davidai and those Jewish students on campus who refuse to be intimidated by these hateful masses. The answer is not to retreat‚ but no student should ever be forced to choose between their physical safety and attending classes. President Shafik must allow the NYPD to disperse these mobs‚ arrest those who refuse to leave‚ and restore order to an institution that once stood as a hallmark of America’s promise.  * * * Michael Shapiro‚ Columbia University Class of 2012‚ is a former communications advisor and speechwriter for House Speaker Paul D. Ryan. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” actor Chris Pratt and his wife‚ Katherine Schwarzenegger‚ are facing backlash for their decision to demolish a historic home to make way for a new build. The couple chose to have a Los Angeles home known as “the Zimmerman house” destroyed. The Los Angeles Conservancy‚ a nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic places in the city‚ described the house as “a noteworthy example of Modernist design from this era.”  The Conservancy noted that though the house was determined to be “potentially historic” by the SurveyLA program‚ it was never formally classified as such and was therefore eligible for demolition at the owner’s discretion.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Los Angeles Conservancy (@laconservancy) The mid-century modern home was designed by architect Craig Ellwood in 1950‚ per SF Gate. The outlet noted that it was reportedly sold off-market for $12.5 million in 2023 and was torn down “shortly after.” It was once featured in Progressive Architecture magazine. As with most architecture‚ it comes down to location‚ location‚ location. The house is situated down the street from two homes owned by Maria Shriver‚ Schwarzenegger’s mother‚ in Brentwood. A TikTok video tour of the home posted by the account @vintageonq‚ which was taken during an estate sale‚ has gone viral as this news hit the headlines. The TikTok goes through a list of the past occupants. The social media user noted that the property most recently belonged to Sam and Hilda Rolfe‚ who bought the home in 1975 for $205‚000. Sam Rolfe is known for creating the TV series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” He died in 1993‚ but Hilda lived in the house until her death in 2022. Critics aren’t just upset that Pratt and Schwarzenegger tore down the home. They’re also furious that the couple allegedly enlisted architect Ken Ungar for the new build‚ a pro who’s known for designing modern farmhouse mansions. The Eichler Network‚ an outlet documenting mid-century homes in California‚ published an op-ed about the event including photos of the lot where the house once stood. The writer expressed “shock” and “disbelief at the pile of rubble” upon viewing the aftermath. “Witnessing the demolition of revered residential architecture is a gut punch. Even walking the inclined driveway leading to the empty lot where such a home once stood can be painful‚” the article said. “Special place in hell for people who do this‚ go buy a readily made McMansion instead you dumb b****&;#33;&;#33;&;#33;‚” one person wrote on X‚ adding in a follow-up‚ “Tearing this down‚ for what&;#63;&;#63; Floor to ceiling black and white marble with no soul&;#63;” Reddit commenters also lamented the demo of the property on a midcentury modern focused subreddit. “Yet more proof that money can’t buy good taste‚” one person wrote. “This is incredibly sad. Ellwood/Burke just did custom one-offs‚ so there aren’t that many around. CSH #16 is one of my favorites. Great form and materials. Don’t want to ever see what atrocity that will take its place‚” another person wrote. Pratt and Schwarzenegger are currently selling their home in the hills of Pacific Palisades for $30 million.

This month’s full Pink Moon will dazzle stargazers tomorrow night (April 23). The Pink Moon will be on full and best display at exactly 7:49 PM ET tomorrow. But from Earth‚ we likely won’t notice that it’s at its peak. According to NASA‚ the moon will look full for three days. So from Monday through Thursday‚ we’ll all notice a shockingly bright and round moon in the sky. Unfortunately‚ the full moon will not look pink as the name suggests. Instead‚ it will be golden or orange as it usually is. NASA explained that the term “Pink Moon” originated from Native Americans who associated the monthly moon with the spring flowers Phlox subulata‚ more commonly known as moss phlox or creeping phlox. The flowers can bloom in multiple colors‚ but they’re most often a bright pink. And they start popping up in April. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Canadian Museum of Nature (@museumofnature) The Maine Farmers’ Almanac began referring to full moons by their Indian names in the 1930s. Pink Moon comes from tribes in the eastern United States. Tribes in other parts of the country dubbed the moon Egg Moon‚ Fish Moon‚ or Sprouting Grass Moon. Some believe the springtime pink full moon is a symbol of letting go. And‚ just as the season brings rebirth and renewal to nature‚ it should push us into fresh starts of our own. Those who take a moment to marvel at the moon may also notice another cosmic spectacle‚ the Lyrid meteor shower. While Saturday and Sunday were the best nights to watch for shooting starts‚ the show will continue for another week. The meteor shower happens when Earth passes through the C/1861 G1 Thatcher debris field. During the peak nights‚ it was possible to see up to 100 meteors an hour‚ but on typical nights‚ people will see around 10 to 20 per hour. However‚ the light from the full moon will make the shooting stars less visible. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post The Full Pink Moon Rises Tomorrow: When Is The Best Time To Watch&;#63; appeared first on InspireMore.

A man who is grieving the loss of his young wife is also ensuring his five-year-old son knows he’s loved and supported even when dad isn’t by his side. Haley Odlozil became a beloved social media influencer after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015. For eight years‚ she shared her life stories as she battled the disease‚ but Haley lost her battle in 2023 at only 30 years old. When she passed‚ Haley left behind her husband and high school sweetheart‚ Taylor‚ and her son‚ Weston. Taylor has been documenting his journey of healing since losing his wife‚ and he recently took his first trip without Weston. The day Taylor said “goodbye” to his son‚ he handed him a touching letter to remind him how loved he is‚ and he recorded the tearful moment for TikTok. In the video‚ Taylor hands Weston the letter and gives him a giant hug outside the airport. In the caption‚ the dad explained that he was going to spend a week in Italy to celebrate his friend’s wedding. While he was excited about the trip‚ he was feeling uneasy about leaving his son. “I’ve never left Weston this long‚” he wrote. “He is definitely a security blanket for me. I’ve also never done a trip like this without Haley. But you have to go live your life in order to get through grief.” Taylor explained that he promised his wife he would continue living “life to the fullest” after she died. So‚ taking the flight was an important step. @taylorodlozil Well I’m off to Italy for a week for my friend’s wedding. I’m excited but also struggling. I’ve never left Weston this long. He is definitely a security blanket for me. I’ve also never done a trip like this without Haley. But you have to go live your life in order to get through grief. I made a promise to Haley I would live life to the fullest. I’m already missing Weston. I wrote him a letter in case he missed me. I know he’s in good hands with my parents and Haley’s parents. #italy #wedding #newmemories #livelifetothefullest ♬ original sound – Taylor Odlozil The video quickly went viral with over 1.5 million views to date. And while he didn’t share the contents of the note on TikTok‚ he later gave Newsweek an exclusive look at what he wrote. “I want you to know how much I love you‚” he began. “You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I miss you so much and can’t wait until I get back to see you. I am so proud of the boy you are and the man you will eventually become. You make me want to be a better man and better father.” “There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing and being with you‚” he continued. “You are the best son a father could ask for. I hope you are having a great time with your grandparents. I know for a fact they love you as much as I do.” Taylor went on to remind Weston to say his prayers each night before saying “I love you” once more. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Grieving Widower Shares Beautiful Letter Of Love With 5-Yr-Old Son appeared first on InspireMore.