Tennis icon Martina Navratilova backed Olympic gold medalists Nancy Hogshead and Kaillie Humphries after they criticized California’s handling of the issue.
“Right on Nancy!!! We are just built different!!!” Navratilova wrote on X. She later added: “Newsom could overturn this in a second. No excuse.”
Understanding the US - Again
Re: Understanding the US - Again
From the above,
Re: Understanding the US - Again
From happily fantasizing about Midwest's martial "TFTA" dudes 
to despairing over trans issues in one swift keyboard stroke. That’s one hell of a rabbit trail.
Oh, where art thou, Lake Wobegon?
to despairing over trans issues in one swift keyboard stroke. That’s one hell of a rabbit trail.Oh, where art thou, Lake Wobegon?
Re: Understanding the US - Again
@Jay gaaru, defend this.
Los Angeles-area mayor to plead guilty to acting as Chinese propaganda agent
By Steve Gorman
Mon, May 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM CDT
3 min read
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/los ... 56512.html
Los Angeles-area mayor to plead guilty to acting as Chinese propaganda agent
By Steve Gorman
Mon, May 11, 2026 at 10:57 PM CDT
3 min read
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/los ... 56512.html
LOS ANGELES, May 11 (Reuters) - The mayor of Arcadia, California, a heavily Chinese-American suburb of Los Angeles, has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of acting as a foreign agent of China, spreading propaganda on behalf of Beijing, U.S. officials said on Monday.
Within hours of the case being made public, Eileen Wang, 58, resigned from Arcadia's city council, along with the position of mayor she assumed in February on a rotating basis, according to the city manager's office.
She appeared briefly before a federal magistrate judge who instructed attorneys to agree to a date for a future hearing when Wang will formally enter her plea. Bond was set at $25,000. Monday's proceeding was conducted through a Mandarin interpreter.
In the 19-page plea deal filed April 1 and unsealed with the charging document on Monday, Wang agreed to plead guilty to a single felony count of acting as a foreign agent of the Chinese government without prior notification to the U.S. Justice Department.
The charge carries a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.
"Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy," U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in announcing the case.
In the plea agreement, Wang admitted to promoting propaganda favorable to China "at the direction and control" of Chinese government officials from late 2020 through 2022, when she was elected to a four-year term on the Arcadia city council.
Specifically, she helped to run a website called the "U.S. News Center," which purported to be a legitimate news source for the predominantly ethnic Chinese local community but was actually a mouthpiece for the Beijing government, the plea ...
...
According to the filing, Wang received and carried out directives from Chinese government officials to post pro-China content on the website, including articles disputing reports of human rights abuses committed against ethnic Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region.
Responding to a complimentary text message from a Chinese government official acknowledging her work, Wang replied "Thank you leader," her plea agreement said.
According to the document, Wang had worked closely with an associate named Yaoning "Mike" Sun, who she had once publicly described as her fiance and was briefly listed as a campaign finance adviser.
Sun, 65, was sentenced in February to four years in prison after his guilty plea in October 2025 to one count of acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
Among Wang's contacts with the Beijing government, prosecutors alleged, was a Chinese Communist Party figure named John Chen, who according to court documents was a high-level member of China's intelligence apparatus who met personally with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in prison for a similar guilty plea.
A statement released by Wang's attorneys said she "apologizes and is sorry for the mistakes she has made in her personal life."
City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said in a separate statement that the federal charge stems from "conduct that ceased after Ms. Wang was sworn into office in December 2022." It said "no city finances, staff or decision-making processes were involved." (he he, we are asked to believe)
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Jay gaaru: Californians can do no wrong.
I ask: What say you about KD Harris?
Jay gaaru: KD Harris is, after all, a Midwest gal who made her way to CA.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The US only imports 2% crude oil from hormuz strait, the rest it produces. Why then are gasoline prices going up in the US. The crude oil produced in the US can be charged at less than going rate of crude price and hence gasoline prices don't need to rise. This increase is confounding to me at least. Who is benefitting from the increase of prices - the likes of Chevron, Exxon, etc in the US. DJT wanted to remove the federal tax on gasoline temporarily but don't know whether it got traction.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
So OM and a huge entourgae of CEO's visitng the Emperor's court
What churan will they sell one another??
More importantly what concession will US make.
Things may come to light in the coming days, but given Eyeran issue is going south what is OM expecting from Eleven??
More importantly the fallout in our neighbourhood.
Nepal seems to be itching to make noise.
So do Beedis and Pakis
Rest seem to be quiet
What churan will they sell one another??
More importantly what concession will US make.
Things may come to light in the coming days, but given Eyeran issue is going south what is OM expecting from Eleven??
More importantly the fallout in our neighbourhood.
Nepal seems to be itching to make noise.
So do Beedis and Pakis
Rest seem to be quiet
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Fox News is throwing around numbers like China is going to order 500 Boeing 737 Max planes and GE engines. They will be buying lots of soy as well. What would the US have to give? Probably stop the Iran conflict. All indications are that Trump is going to comply. 500 planes will be worth 67 Billion USD, which is a non-noise number.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/13/worl ... dents.html
What China’s Choice of Airport Greeter Says About Trump
Beijing welcomed President Trump with a high-ranking vice president, but the choice of a ceremonial leader suggests China is trading symbolism for substance.
Lily KuoPei-Lin Wu and Pablo Robles, May 13, 2026
President Trump arrived Wednesday night in Beijing, where he was welcomed by a military band, an honor guard, hundreds of Chinese youth waving flags and China’s vice president, Han Zheng.
Such carefully designed receptions for foreign leaders telegraph Beijing’s attitude toward these visits. Sometimes Beijing sends a lower-level official to convey displeasure or distance. Sometimes they send someone senior and influential to signal a high degree of respect.
This time, they sent someone who is high-level but whose position is mostly that of a figurehead — which could be a way to send a layered message.
“Beijing sent Han Zheng to Trump’s inauguration and knows that his title of vice president, even though it is a ceremonial role, will impress the status-conscious American president,” said Julian Gewirtz, a China historian at Columbia University who served in senior China policy roles in the National Security Council under President Biden.
“It’s an example of how, throughout this summit, China is hoping to trade symbolism for substance — using protocol and Trump’s preference for pageantry to hold off a return to economic escalation and buy time for China,” he said.
In his role as vice president, Mr. Han is often sent to formal diplomatic events, such as the coronation ceremony in Britain of King Charles III or Mr. Trump’s second inauguration as president. But Mr. Han, who stepped down from the elite Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China’s ruling Communist Party, now has little influence over policymaking.
The choice of Mr. Han could also signal how Beijing is approaching a visit by the leader of the most powerful country in the world, but who now faces a more defiant and assertive Beijing. It would suggest that Mr. Trump could be feted with the honors of a formal state visit but not given special treatment beyond that of another other power in the world.
“In Chinese diplomacy, protocol is substance, especially during a state visit,” said Evan Medeiros, a professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University who served as an Asia adviser to President Barack Obama. “The arrival ceremony is the first threshold in the protocol game; it is how China signals respect.”
Mr. Han’s presence is a slight downgrade from the welcome Mr. Trump received in 2017, some analysts say. During that state visit, Mr. Trump was greeted by Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat and a member of the Politburo, the party’s second-most powerful body. At the time, Xinhua, China’s official news agency, described the presence of such a “heavyweight” as a sign of “the importance China attaches to the meeting” between the two leaders.
.....
Gautam
Also:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watc ... sit-begins
WATCH LIVE: Trump and Xi hold meeting as China state visit begins.
What China’s Choice of Airport Greeter Says About Trump
Beijing welcomed President Trump with a high-ranking vice president, but the choice of a ceremonial leader suggests China is trading symbolism for substance.
Lily KuoPei-Lin Wu and Pablo Robles, May 13, 2026
President Trump arrived Wednesday night in Beijing, where he was welcomed by a military band, an honor guard, hundreds of Chinese youth waving flags and China’s vice president, Han Zheng.
Such carefully designed receptions for foreign leaders telegraph Beijing’s attitude toward these visits. Sometimes Beijing sends a lower-level official to convey displeasure or distance. Sometimes they send someone senior and influential to signal a high degree of respect.
This time, they sent someone who is high-level but whose position is mostly that of a figurehead — which could be a way to send a layered message.
“Beijing sent Han Zheng to Trump’s inauguration and knows that his title of vice president, even though it is a ceremonial role, will impress the status-conscious American president,” said Julian Gewirtz, a China historian at Columbia University who served in senior China policy roles in the National Security Council under President Biden.
“It’s an example of how, throughout this summit, China is hoping to trade symbolism for substance — using protocol and Trump’s preference for pageantry to hold off a return to economic escalation and buy time for China,” he said.
In his role as vice president, Mr. Han is often sent to formal diplomatic events, such as the coronation ceremony in Britain of King Charles III or Mr. Trump’s second inauguration as president. But Mr. Han, who stepped down from the elite Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China’s ruling Communist Party, now has little influence over policymaking.
The choice of Mr. Han could also signal how Beijing is approaching a visit by the leader of the most powerful country in the world, but who now faces a more defiant and assertive Beijing. It would suggest that Mr. Trump could be feted with the honors of a formal state visit but not given special treatment beyond that of another other power in the world.
“In Chinese diplomacy, protocol is substance, especially during a state visit,” said Evan Medeiros, a professor of Asian studies at Georgetown University who served as an Asia adviser to President Barack Obama. “The arrival ceremony is the first threshold in the protocol game; it is how China signals respect.”
Mr. Han’s presence is a slight downgrade from the welcome Mr. Trump received in 2017, some analysts say. During that state visit, Mr. Trump was greeted by Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat and a member of the Politburo, the party’s second-most powerful body. At the time, Xinhua, China’s official news agency, described the presence of such a “heavyweight” as a sign of “the importance China attaches to the meeting” between the two leaders.
.....
Gautam
Also:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watc ... sit-begins
WATCH LIVE: Trump and Xi hold meeting as China state visit begins.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
If Obama's visits to ME and Europe in 2009 were an apology tour, Trump's visit to Beijing is an outright supplication tour.
What will Beijing demand (and probably get)?
1) An end to Quad and USN FONOPS in the South China Sea. Recognition that China's "nine-dash-line" in fact encompasses sovereign Chinese territorial waters.
2) Rescind political and military support to Taiwan.
3) Rescind political and military support to Japan and South Korea.
4) Continue boosting Pakistan's profile-- Pakistan must remain a central figure in any US-Iran war-ending negotiations. Also, continue support to Pakistan in case of any fresh outbreak of hostilities with India.
5) Align with China's political operations in the Indian subcontinent, especially with regard to India's neighbours (Nepal, Bangladesh, SL) and irredentist groups within India (Khalistanis, NE separatists).
These are in order of increasing acceptability to Washington. The US will find it very hard to swallow 1, 2, or 3 but could very easily give China what it wants on 4 or 5 (at India's expense).
In exchange for meeting its conditions, Beijing will leverage Tehran's dependency on Chinese arms imports and financial support to convince Iran to come to the table and give Trump a face-saving "victory".
What will Beijing demand (and probably get)?
1) An end to Quad and USN FONOPS in the South China Sea. Recognition that China's "nine-dash-line" in fact encompasses sovereign Chinese territorial waters.
2) Rescind political and military support to Taiwan.
3) Rescind political and military support to Japan and South Korea.
4) Continue boosting Pakistan's profile-- Pakistan must remain a central figure in any US-Iran war-ending negotiations. Also, continue support to Pakistan in case of any fresh outbreak of hostilities with India.
5) Align with China's political operations in the Indian subcontinent, especially with regard to India's neighbours (Nepal, Bangladesh, SL) and irredentist groups within India (Khalistanis, NE separatists).
These are in order of increasing acceptability to Washington. The US will find it very hard to swallow 1, 2, or 3 but could very easily give China what it wants on 4 or 5 (at India's expense).
In exchange for meeting its conditions, Beijing will leverage Tehran's dependency on Chinese arms imports and financial support to convince Iran to come to the table and give Trump a face-saving "victory".
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Cartoon by Jen Sorensen
Re: Understanding the US - Again
I like the first two. That is the limit. That is where the liberals should have stayed.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
I am not sure China is in a position to drive such a hard bargain. They have to give more and take less. Is their economy as good as they are making it out to be?
Re: Understanding the US - Again
Reportedly to improve the FBI Director's statistics, the FBI is putting on to the top-ten most wanted list suspects just a few hours or days before they arrest them. (That is, "we're about to arrest this so-and-so, can we put him on the top ten most wanted list before we do so?")
Also, now even when the local police or state police is making an arrest, if an FBI person was present, it now counts as an arrest by the FBI.
Also, now even when the local police or state police is making an arrest, if an FBI person was present, it now counts as an arrest by the FBI.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
The Mayor's office has a two minute video; which is in this 8:39 minute video.
Mamdani says he has balanced the NYC budget while funding his voters' priorities; and outlines how he did it.
https://youtu.be/2fHolT4_vmw
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I found the 2 minute video, in case you don't want the commentary
https://youtu.be/m4BIv5ebu_M?si=lYhGEN7TFYsvdO-o
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My brief commentary - the high tech boom plus the financialization of the US economy has made the US cities rather difficult to afford for the people who run it - the police, teachers, emergency personnel, and so on; and the retail sales people, the staff at restaurants, librairians and so on; and the artists and actors and all the personnel who add to the cultural life of the city and give it a character.
Re: Understanding the US - Again
LMGTFY (Let Me Gemini that for you):
------------------------------------------
As of the 2024–2025 season, the average Broadway ticket price is approximately $129.12. While top-tier, star-driven shows can exceed $300–$900 per seat, many options, including hit musicals, are available for under $100, especially when utilizing lotteries, rush tickets, or the TKTS booth.Key Pricing Details for 2025-2026Average Cost: The average paid admission is around $129–$135.
Inflation Impact: Although prices have risen, they have lagged behind inflation; if they had kept pace since 2019, the average would be over $150.
Star Factor: Shows with high-profile celebrities (e.g., Othello, Good Night, and Good Luck) drive up the average, with some seats averaging over $300.
Budget Options: Options for under $70 are available for many shows, including Chicago>> and Hadestown.
Tips for Lower Prices:
Avoid Third-Party Fees, Avoid sites like Broadway.com, which often add high fees, and buy directly from the official show website or box office.
Discount Options: Use TodayTix for discounts or TDF for members.
Lottery/Rush: Participate in digital lotteries or in-person box office rush for the cheapest seats.
As our friend Richard Stallman would say about programmers/artists - "They are neither programmers/artists nor starving."
------------------------------------------
As of the 2024–2025 season, the average Broadway ticket price is approximately $129.12. While top-tier, star-driven shows can exceed $300–$900 per seat, many options, including hit musicals, are available for under $100, especially when utilizing lotteries, rush tickets, or the TKTS booth.Key Pricing Details for 2025-2026Average Cost: The average paid admission is around $129–$135.
Inflation Impact: Although prices have risen, they have lagged behind inflation; if they had kept pace since 2019, the average would be over $150.
Star Factor: Shows with high-profile celebrities (e.g., Othello, Good Night, and Good Luck) drive up the average, with some seats averaging over $300.
Budget Options: Options for under $70 are available for many shows, including Chicago>> and Hadestown.
Tips for Lower Prices:
Avoid Third-Party Fees, Avoid sites like Broadway.com, which often add high fees, and buy directly from the official show website or box office.
Discount Options: Use TodayTix for discounts or TDF for members.
Lottery/Rush: Participate in digital lotteries or in-person box office rush for the cheapest seats.
As our friend Richard Stallman would say about programmers/artists - "They are neither programmers/artists nor starving."
Re: Understanding the US - Again
It is tough. They shoudn't have majored in Leisure and Entertainment Studies with a major/minor in Theatre/Music/Tap Dancing or whatever.