Former Vice President Kamala Harris was back in the spotlight for the first time since her loss to President Donald Trump, taking the stage in San Francisco on Wednesday night to deliver a speech ripping the president. Harris gave the keynote address for the 20th anniversary gala for Emerge, a Democratic organization that recruits women to run for office. After a quick acknowledgement of the leftist organization at the beginning of her speech, Harris quickly moved to taking shots at the Trump administration. “The American people deserve leaders who make their lives better and make our country stronger, but sadly, we have seen quite the opposite over these past few months,” Harris said. “Now I know tonight’s event happens to coincide with the 100 days after the inauguration, and I’ll leave it to others to give a full accounting of what has happened so far, but I will say this, instead of an administration working to advance America’s highest ideals, we are witnessing the wholesale abandonment of those ideals.” We got stern, serious Kamala now. pic.twitter.com/BmgeCGD2ZF — ALX ?? (@alx) May 1, 2025 Harris argued that Trump is “counting on the notion that fear can be contagious … that if they make some people afraid, it will have a chilling effect on others.” The former vice president then accused Trump of creating the “greatest manmade economic crisis in modern presidential history,” referring to the president’s massive tariff rollout, which she described as “absolute chaos.” She praised leftist politicians like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who have traveled the country to hold rallies bashing Trump’s agenda. She also commended Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who traveled to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration deported on suspicion of being an MS-13 gang member. Kamala Harris: I'm really inspired by Democrat leaders like Chris Van Hollen, Jasmine Crockett, Maxwell Frost AOC, and others. pic.twitter.com/OlEBpiJ5hw — Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 1, 2025 Later in the speech, Harris pointed to a video of elephants at the San Diego Zoo that were captured on video forming a circle of protection during a recent earthquake. “So that scene has been on my mind,” Harris said, breaking into a laugh. “So in the video, here those elephants were. And as soon as they felt the earth shaking beneath their feet, they cut in a circle and stood next to each other to protect the most vulnerable. Think about it. What a powerful metaphor.” 2024 loser Kamala Harris tells Democrats to find inspiration in the San Diego Zoo elephants that circled up in shoulder-to-shoulder after an earthquake: "Think about it. What a powerful metaphor." pic.twitter.com/Q4QAoU8FQJ — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) May 1, 2025 Harris did not address speculation that she is preparing to jump into the 2026 California governor race to replace Gavin Newsom, who is term-limited. Earlier this month, she hinted at a future political run, saying she is “not going anywhere.”

A house fire in Texas killed a man widely considered the greatest roper of all time. Roy Cooper, affectionately known as “Super Looper,” died April 29 at a fire on his property in Decatur, Texas, at age 69. His son, Tuf, broke the news on Facebook. “It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of our Dad, The Super Looper, Roy Cooper. We’re all in shock and at a loss for words from this tragedy at the moment,” Tuf wrote. According to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, Roy was named Rookie Of The Year in 1976 and quickly catapulted to the top. Roy was inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame three years into his career. “He developed into one of the most dominant ropers in the history of the sport, earning the nickname ‘Super Looper.’ He was the first PRCA cowboy to surpass $2 million in career earnings and has won eight world championships, six in tie-down roping, one in steer roping, and one world all-around crown,” the website explains. Roy Cooper’s Death Left Many Heartbroken Tuf Cooper followed in his father’s footsteps and has made a successful career in rodeo. Loved ones posted condolences on his Facebook page after he posted about Roy Cooper’s passing. “I’m truly sorry for your loss. May the Lord welcome him home, where the arenas are golden and the ride never ends. Praying for comfort and peace for your family. RIP Cowboy,” someone wrote. Another fan shared, “We are so very sorry for your loss, Tuf. We mourn with you and hold you and your family in our prayers. Heaven gained a true Cowboy. -Your NeuAG Family.” This person had a special relationship with Roy Cooper. They wrpote, “Prayers and condolences to all your family. Your Dad was not only a mentor and a role model but set a benchmark that became goals and dreams for so many that followed. REST IN PEACE COWBOY….” This story’s featured image is by Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images. The post Rodeo Legend “Super Looper” Dies At 68 appeared first on InspireMore.

'You can't say it's in the budget'

Western India is home to one of the hottest deserts on Earth, and the residents of the western states of Rajasthan and Gujarat have traditionally used architecture to keep cool. Utilizing principles of thermodynamics, one house in the city of Bharuch, where temperatures can hover at 110°F for days during the summer, says cool all […] The post No AC Needed in India’s Heat: Inside Gujarat’s Eco-Friendly ‘Cool House’ appeared first on Good News Network.

Books short fiction Five Stories Set in Fantastic SFF Cities What wonders might be found in these fictional metropolises? By Ratika Deshpande | Published on May 1, 2025 Photo: Meiying Ng [via Unsplash] Comment 0 Share New Share Photo: Meiying Ng [via Unsplash] As much as I love a long walk through quiet fields in the country, nothing makes me feel more alive than moving through a city, zooming underground in its metros or pushing my way forward in markets bursting with people and lights and goods of all kinds. There’s a mixture of culture and technology and history on every block and intersection, and layers of stories to be unearthed in the haphazard alleys of unplanned neighbourhoods. When all these things collide, there’s magic to be witnessed—and the city doesn’t even have to be real for that to happen, as in the following examples: “The City of the Tree” by Marie Brennan The city of Cahuei lives under a cypress incomprehensible in size. The Jenevein and their army are gone now, returning Cahuei to the native Issli clans. But they also left the tree dying. Danger and death literally hangs over the city, as the cypress drops its leaves and branches. The city’s ruling council comes together to gather half-lost knowledge, in the hopes of summoning an archon that will restore life to the tree. But the clan leaders do not have all the information. Will they succeed in their summoning? And will the new archon be capable of taking up the responsibility that was once held by someone eons older? “The Tragic Fate of the City of O-Rashad” by P H Lee Full of looming towers and elevators that touched the sky, the City of O-Rashad was the most prosperous centre of trade there ever was, attracting goods and people from all around the universe. Who would attack such a mighty city? Even the LORD agreed, although the LORD also required that O-Rashad spend no more than 4 percent—and no less than 2 percent—of the GDP on the military. But this was ignored…which turned out to not be a good idea. This is the story of what happened next. “Waystation City” by A.T. Greenblatt       Waystation City is a place made up of people and places from different times. The medieval and the modern mix here, as people keep finding themselves transported to this place. The nineteen-seventies twins, Claude and Daphne, have been here for a while, and like many others before them, have decided they want to disappear, leave the city. It’s a big decision, and Gerty, our journalist narrator, along with the others, wants to make sure they truly want to go ahead with this decision. The twins are determined, and need Gerty’s help. She agrees, but will take her payment as usual: the twins’ story, which she will write about for the citizens of the Waystation City, who lap up stories of those who disappear while waiting for their own turn to be directed back home. For Waystation City is a city of change—and not everyone wants that.  Victoriocity This list was at least partly an excuse to tell everyone about Victoriocity, a delightfully strange and hilarious detective podcast set in the alternate 1880s. Grumpy inspector Archibald Fleet, accompanied by the frustratingly (for him) enthusiastic journalist Clara Entwhistle, is investigating a murder, something that’s no small task in Even Greater London—which encompasses southern England and is ruled by a cyborg version of Queen Victoria.  But there’s much more going on behind the scenes than simple murders (if you can call them that). Fleet and Clara will have to navigate the breadths, depths, and even the heights of Even Greater London to find answers—and intervene in time. “Doorway, Smile, Kiss, Fox” by Jeremy Packert Burke Themis is the latest in a long line of mnemosynes—human archives storing the memories of the greatest artists, writers, scientists, doctors, and other geniuses of the kingdom who could be consulted to offer brilliant solutions when needed. Except, these memories—collected through blood and obscure alchemic methods—are just as prone to loss as any ordinary person’s.  As his city struggles to survive in what can be called a cancerous mushrooming of towers, doors, windows, and other architectural components, Themis considers his fate—he has been failing his role as the mnemosyne since none of the solutions he’s offered so far has prevented the city from sprouting new buildings randomly. He will be replaced soon by another, for his king doesn’t care what happens to Themis—or, really, the city.  But Themis cares, both for the city and the people in it, whose memories are his—so much so that he doesn’t know where his own fit in among them. With his death certain in the near future, what can he do for this place, to keep it alive even as it continues to transform? [end-mark] The post Five Stories Set in Fantastic SFF Cities appeared first on Reactor.

Abrego Garcia Case Keeps Getting Worse for Dems-13

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, as the old mantra of Carl Sagan goes.