Legal experts reacted to the Supreme Court hearing on Colorado removing former President Donald Trump from the ballot on Thursday by saying it would most likely rule against the state. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in December that Trump cannot be on the state’s ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment‚ but Trump appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court‚ which heard oral arguments Thursday. The lawyers said the Supreme Court appeared likely to rule in favor of Trump and against...

Voters in El Salvador this week gave their tough-on-crime president a sweeping mandate: Keep going. While votes are still being counted‚ President Nayib Bukele claims he won re-election by a landslide‚ with more than 85 percent of the vote. If those results hold when the official count is announced‚ not even Latin America’s best-known populist presidents‚ like Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez or Bolivia’s Evo Morales‚ will have come close to winning election by such margins. Mr...

President Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials‚” special counsel Robert Hur found in a bombshell report released Thursday — though Hur recommended against criminal charges‚ in part because a jury might find Biden to be an “elderly man with a poor memory.” Biden‚ 81‚ flouted legal restrictions on sensitive documents throughout his 36 years in the Senate and eight years as vice president — stashing them in cardboard boxes in his garage in Wilmington‚ Del...

The Kremlin had its pick of the press corps to conduct Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first one-on-one interview with a Western media figure since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But rather than have Putin sit down with The New York Times or NBC News‚ the BBC or Le Monde‚ it provided access to Tucker Carlson‚ who posts his videos to X and his self-named website. That’s because the Russians aren’t seeking a credible interview for a mass audience. They want to...

CNN is facing a backlash from its own staff over editorial policies they say have led to a regurgitation of Israeli propaganda and the censoring of Palestinian perspectives in the network’s coverage of the war in Gaza. Journalists in CNN newsrooms in the US and overseas say broadcasts have been skewed by management edicts and a story-approval process that has resulted in highly partial coverage of the Hamas massacre on 7 October and Israel’s retaliatory attack on Gaza. “The majority of...

It's been said countless times‚ but teachers really are the best and bravest of us all. Anyone who has spent time surrounded by kids‚ trying to help them learn while managing the countless crises that can occur when hundreds of immature humans are put together in one place‚ knows that teaching encompasses so much more than just academic instruction. Teachers serve as mentors‚ counselors‚ nurses‚ mediators and sometimes even security guards.That's why a middle school teacher who thought there was a fight happening in her classroom ran full speed toward it—in a dress and heels‚ no less. A TikTok video shared by @lilythern shows a teacher sprinting down a school hallway with an overlay of text that reads‚ "This middle school teacher thought she was running to break up a fight." As she runs into the classroom‚ she sees a couple of dozen students gathered in a tight circle and shouting. The teacher immediately starts pushing her way through the outside of the circle‚ yelling‚ "Hey! Break it up! Break it up!" But there is no breaking up to be had. In fact‚ what she finds is the exact opposite. As the students part to let her through‚ we see some of them holding up signs and smiling. Then we see a man down on one knee. Watch: @lilythern #fyp #touchingmoment #middleschoolersbelike #loveit How fast was that adrenaline switch from fight-or-flight to genuine joy? Seriously‚ the fearlessness with which she ran into that room is as heartening as the proposal itself. People in the comments loved it:"She is so strong. She was running towards the chaos to stop it with her bare hands. What a fighter. This is the best proposal ever.""That was the 'Not in my school!' run! 😂😂😂😂""Fearless teachers are the ones that deserve the most respect.""Don’t marry her‚ she has to join the Avengers."The students were clearly thrilled to be a part of the sweet proposal‚ and the teacher's immediate and enthusiastic "yes" made it all that much sweeter. Definitely a moment none of these students—or their teacher—will ever forget. This article originally appeared on 4.12.23

We've all been there. Standing in line to be seated at a fairly busy restaurant while your stomach growls in protest. But when two women left a concert August 22 in search of food‚ they had no idea they'd find themselves taking orders and cooking food. Sylvia Arrendondo and her mother Idalia Merkel went to a local Denny's in Texas and were seated by another customer before realizing the restaurant was extremely short-staffed. Instead of taking their business elsewhere‚ they decided to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Arrendondo wrote about the unique experience on her Facebook page where she explained that only two people were working. One was serving tables and the other was the cook. As for the man that was acting as host‚ seating new guests‚ he had no idea what he was doing because he didn't work there. He told Arrendondo and Merkel that his wife used to work at Denny's so she started helping to serve tables and he decided to help get people seated.The service industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and the subsequent "great resignation." Complaints about low wages‚ poor management and rude customers that abuse staff members are just a few of the reasons cited by people who have left the industry. It may be surprising for some to learn that the federal minimum wage for tipped employees like servers and bussers is just $2.13 an hour. The rest of the wage is supposed to be made up of tips‚ which‚ depending on where you work‚ may be split at the end of the night between other workers. This act of splitting tips is called "tip pooling" and is calculated by number of hours worked. Splitting tips after a long day of work dealing with customers who may not have been so kind would understandably make some people upset. But it didn't take a deep dive on the treatment of restaurant employees for Arrendondo and the other customers who helped out. They saw two seemingly college-aged kids doing their best to keep the place running and they didn't hesitate to jump in to help‚ completely unpaid. When asked why she didn't just leave‚ Arrendondo said‚ "We just looked at each other and it wasn't even a question. We both knew what we had to do.""This was probably the most beautiful act of American unity that I have personally encountered‚" Arrendondo told Upworthy. She added that the sole paid server would occasionally start to cry before being comforted by the cook‚ only to return the favor when he would get overwhelmed.Talk about community. These two kids had exhausted all of their resources‚ including calling their manager multiple times. And instead of customers getting angry‚ demanding better service or walking away‚ Arredondo and Merkel stepped up. The kindness of this group of strangers will surely stick with these employees and the people who were involved."The strength‚ courage and integrity by these two workers was beyond admirable. My mom and I have never been so proud and happy to help‚" Arrendondo told Upworthy. "After all‚ we have all been there."Eventually after some convincing‚ the two employees shut the restaurant down and Arrendondo and Merkel went home much more tired than anticipated. Still hungry‚ but full of gratitude and pride. This article originally appeared on 08.26.22

A video created by Blake Kasemeier has made a lot of people feel seen because it perfectly explains the mindset people develop when they grow up poor. But it’s not just about remembering the hard times of the past. It describes how even though Kasemeier has overcome poverty as an adult‚ the effects of growing up financially disadvantaged still follow him to this day.Kasemeier tells stories on social media about parenting‚ grief‚ growing up and where they sometimes collide. He documented the loss of his mom in the 2019 podcast series “Good Grief” and has written for some of the world’s leading health and fitness brands.The video begins with Kasemeier admitting that when he was young‚ he'd always save half of his food until he got home "just in case." It was a symptom of living in a financially unstable family with a single mother who had him at 23 years old. To help them get by‚ she occasionally wrote "hot checks" at the grocery store and blasted a Counting Crows tape to cover up any scary sounds coming out of the car.Even though sometimes it seemed like they wouldn't get by and it was “close most days” — "moms always find a way." See on Instagram The video ends with a poignant stanza about the lasting effects of growing up in an economically unstable home.“It sits inside of you. Kinda like a worry but a lot like a flame‚” Kasemeier says. “These days‚ we are doing alright. Maybe the fire finally went out‚ but there is a part of me that will always taste the smoke.”"The thing about being born rich or‚ rather‚ not poor‚ is that when you are broke‚ it feels like you are a tourist on a bad trip. A place that you don't belong‚" Kasemeier continues. "The thing about being born the other way around‚ is that as hard as you work to escape it‚ it's always gonna kinda feel like homeThe post received some emotional reactions from people on Instagram."I feel the last sentence is the most profound of this video—and the underlying sense of entitlement many have vs the underlying sense of lack of self-worth others may have‚" thewitchofportobell0 wrote."Tasting the smoke is a great way to put this. Growing up this way really makes you look at some of your frugality and not norm habits in a new light. Hard to relearn‚" Jakemerten added. See on Instagram Even though there were hardships growing up in an economically disadvantaged family‚ Kasemeier wouldn’t have it any other way. “I am deeply grateful for the way I was raised‚” he told Upworthy. “Unfortunately‚ everyone experiences some trauma in their upbringing—I wouldn't want to trade mine for someone else's. I grew up to be grateful for what I have and without a feeling of entitlement to success: I expected that everything that came to me was going to come through hard work and being kind to people and that has served me very well. It also allowed me to have a great deal of empathy for what everyone is going through.”Kasemeier further explained the mindset to help those who weren’t raised in that environment better understand the mentality.“I can tell you that what I experience is a feeling that the other shoe is going to drop‚ that when I'm up (financially)‚ I don't expect it to last—that leads to a lot of imposter syndrome‚” he told Upworthy. “There are little things—like constant anxiety that your card will decline when you go to check out at a grocery store (knowing full well that you have more than enough money). There are big things‚ like financial literacy.”The video talks about economic insecurity‚ but is also touching tribute to his late mother‚ who‚ as he said in the post‚ found “a way.”“She came from a tiny farm in rural Arkansas‚ moved to Hollywood where she met my dad and had me at 23 without a degree or any connections‚” Kasemeier told Upworthy. “They had a shotgun wedding and divorced shortly after‚ my mom was left to navigate parenthood in a pretty challenging way—something I appreciate so much having kids of my own at a totally different place in my life than she was.”

Fifty years ago‚ when Paul McCartney announced he had left the Beatles‚ the news dashed the hopes of millions of fans‚ while fueling false reunion rumors that persisted well into the new decade. In a press release on April 10‚ 1970 for his first solo album‚ "McCartney‚" he leaked his intention to leave. In doing so‚ he shocked his three bandmates. The Beatles had symbolized the great communal spirit of the era. How could they possibly come apart?Few at the time were aware of the underlying fissures. The power struggles in the group had been mounting at least since their manager‚ Brian Epstein‚ died in August of 1967.'Paul Quits the Beatles'Was McCartney's "announcement" official? His album appeared on April 17‚ and its press packet included a mock interview. In it‚ McCartney is asked‚ "Are you planning a new album or single with the Beatles?"His response? "No."But he didn't say whether the separation might prove permanent. The Daily Mirror nonetheless framed its headline conclusively: "Paul Quits the Beatles."The others worried this could hurt sales and sent Ringo as a peacemaker to McCartney's London home to talk him down from releasing his solo album ahead of the band's "Let It Be" album and film‚ which were slated to come out in May. Without any press present‚ McCartney shouted Ringo off his front stoop.Lennon had kept quietLennon‚ who had been active outside the band for months‚ felt particularly betrayed.The previous September‚ soon after the band released "Abbey Road‚" he had asked his bandmates for a "divorce." But the others convinced him not to go public to prevent disrupting some delicate contract negotiations.Still‚ Lennon's departure seemed imminent: He had played the Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Festival with his Plastic Ono Band in September 1969‚ and on Feb. 11‚ 1970‚ he performed a new solo track‚ "Instant Karma‚" on the popular British TV show "Top of the Pops." Yoko Ono sat behind him‚ knitting while blindfolded by a sanitary napkin.In fact‚ Lennon behaved more and more like a solo artist‚ until McCartney countered with his own eponymous album. He wanted Apple to release this solo debut alongside the group's new album‚ "Let It Be‚" to dramatize the split.By beating Lennon to the announcement‚ McCartney controlled the story and its timing‚ and undercut the other three's interest in keeping it under wraps as new product hit stores.Ray Connolly‚ a reporter at the Daily Mail‚ knew Lennon well enough to ring him up for comment. When I interviewed Connolly in 2008‚ he told me about their conversation.Lennon was dumbfounded and enraged by the news. He had let Connolly in on his secret about leaving the band at his Montreal Bed-In in December 1969‚ but asked him to keep it quiet. Now he lambasted Connolly for not leaking it sooner."Why didn't you write it when I told you in Canada at Christmas!" he exclaimed to Connolly‚ who reminded him that the conversation had been off the record. "You're the f–king journalist‚ Connolly‚ not me‚" snorted Lennon."We were all hurt [McCartney] didn't tell us what he was going to do‚" Lennon later told Rolling Stone. "Jesus Christ! He gets all the credit for it! I was a fool not to do what Paul did‚ which was use it to sell a record…"It all falls apartThis public fracas had been bubbling under the band's cheery surface for years. Timing and sales concealed deeper arguments about creative control and the return to live touring.In January 1969‚ the group had started a roots project tentatively titled "Get Back." It was supposed to be a back-to-the-basics recording without the artifice of studio trickery. But the whole venture was shelved as a new recording‚ "Abbey Road‚" took shape.When "Get Back" was eventually revived‚ Lennon – behind McCartney's back – brought in American producer Phil Spector‚ best known for girl group hits like "Be My Baby‚" to salvage the project. But this album was supposed to be band only – not embroidered with added strings and voices – and McCartney fumed when Spector added a female choir to his song "The Long and Winding Road.""Get Back" – which was renamed "Let it Be" – nonetheless moved forward. Spector mixed the album‚ and a cut of the feature film was readied for summer.McCartney's announcement and release of his solo album effectively short-circuited the plan. By announcing the breakup‚ he launched his solo career in advance of "Let It Be‚" and nobody knew how it might disrupt the official Beatles' project.Throughout the remainder of 1970‚ fans watched in disbelief as the "Let It Be" movie portrayed the hallowed Beatles circling musical doldrums‚ bickering about arrangements and killing time running through oldies. The film finished with an ironic triumph – the famous live set on the roof of their Apple headquarters during which the band played "Get Back‚" "Don't Let Me Down" and a joyous "One After 909."The album‚ released on May 8‚ performed well and spawned two hit singles – the title track and "The Long and Winding Road" – but the group never recorded together again.Their fans hoped against hope that four solo Beatles might someday find their way back to the thrills that had enchanted audiences for seven years. These rumors seemed most promising when McCartney joined Lennon for a Los Angeles recording session in 1974 with Stevie Wonder. But while they all played on one another's solo efforts‚ the four never played a session together again.At the beginning of 1970‚ autumn's "Come Together"/"Something" single from "Abbey Road" still floated in the Billboard top 20; the "Let It Be" album and film helped extend fervor beyond what the papers reported. For a long time‚ the myth of the band endured on radio playlists and across several greatest hits compilations‚ but when John Lennon sang "The dream is over…" at the end of his own 1970 solo debut‚ "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band‚" few grasped the lyrics' implacable truth.Fans and critics chased every sliver of hope for the "next" Beatles‚ but few came close to recreating the band's magic. There were prospects – first bands like Three Dog Night‚ the Flaming Groovies‚ Big Star and the Raspberries; later‚ Cheap Trick‚ the Romantics and the Knack – but these groups only aimed at the same heights the Beatles had conquered‚ and none sported the range‚ songwriting ability or ineffable chemistry of the Liverpool quartet.We've been living in the world without Beatles ever since.Tim Riley is Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director for Journalism‚ Emerson CollegeThis article was originally published by The Conversation on 4.10.20. You can read it here.