Former President Barack Obama was lambasted for rebuking a new Supreme Court ruling against race-based redistricting in Louisiana, just days after cutting ads for a Virginia effort to transform that state's map into a 10-1 Democratic advantage. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 against Louisiana's 2024 mid-decade redistricting that produced a serpentine district represented by Rep. Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge, calling it an "illegal" racial gerrymander, while Obama argued the decision weakened a Voting Rights Act provision prohibiting race-based discrimination. "Today’s Supreme Court decision effectively guts a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act, freeing state legislatures to gerrymander legislative districts to systematically dilute and weaken the voting power of racial minorities — so long as they do it under the guise of ‘partisanship’ rather than explicit ‘racial bias’," Obama said. "Unless it’s Virginia. In that case, it’s great to have a 10-1 gerrymand...
While the rest of the world, both inside and outside the NFL, discusses and even debates the Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini saga, it is apparent the coach continues to enjoy the support of some people who matter most: Such as Patriots owner Robert Kraft. And season-ticket holders. We know this because this week, even as scrutiny on the coach grew amid his Draft-day absence while he sought "counseling," the Patriots had Vrabel join an event for season-ticket holders. At that packed house event inside the atrium of Gillette Stadium, those season-ticket holders universally showed Vrabel love. They applauded for him. They even gave him a standing ovation when he was introduced. MIKE VRABEL BACK AT PATRIOTS FACILITY AFTER 'COUNSELING' DAYS OFF And that leaves us with a lot to unpack. The NFL has deferred all decisions regarding Vrabel and his relationship with Russini, a former reporter for The Athletic , to the Patriots. Commissioner Roger Goodell said nothing ...