National Archives releases Reagan's racist call with then-President Nixon, ex-Nixon library director says

Story by CNN
Written by Kate Sullivan

Washington - In a newly unearthed audio clip, then-California Gov. Ronald Reagan disparaged "monkeys" from African countries in a phone call with then-President Richard Nixon, according to the former director of Nixon's presidential library, who published his findings in The Atlantic.

AUDIO: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/ronald-reagans-racist-conversation-richard-nixon/595102/

Tim Naftali, who directed the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum from 2007 to 2011, writes that Reagan -- who would later become the 40th President of the United States -- called Nixon in October 1971, the day after the United Nations had voted to recognize the People's Republic of China. In the call, he says, Reagan is heard apparently referencing the way the Tanzanian delegation started dancing in the General Assembly when the UN took the vote to seat the delegation from Beijing instead of Taiwan.

Reagan, Naftali writes, is heard saying to Nixon, "Last night, I tell you, to watch that thing on television as I did."
Nixon interjected: "Yeah."

Reagan continued, "To see those, those monkeys from those African countries -- damn them, they're still uncomfortable wearing shoes!"

Reagan -- a devoted defender of Taiwan who despised the UN -- wanted the US to withdraw from full participation, Naftali said.

The National Archives originally released the tape of the phone call in 2000 without the racist portion, but as a researcher, Naftali said, he requested a new review of Nixon's conversations with Reagan last year. The National Archives released the complete version of the recording online two weeks ago.

In another audio clip, Naftali writes, Nixon then called then-Secretary of State William Rogers and recounted his conversation with Reagan. "As you can imagine," Nixon told Rogers, "there's strong feeling that we just shouldn't, as (Reagan) said, he saw these ... cannibals on television last night, and he says, 'Christ, they weren't even wearing shoes, and here the United States is going to submit its fate to that,' and so forth and so on."

The newly unearthed audio comes weeks after President Donald Trump used racist language to attack four progressive Democratic congresswomen of color, implying they weren't American and suggesting they "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came."

AUDIO: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/15/politics/donald-trump-racist-tweets-democrats/index.html

The President faced swift backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, and the House voted to formally condemn Trump's racist language.

Casey Kasem’s Widow Files Wrongful Death Suit Against His Former Attorney.

Story by Inside Radio

The saga over the death of Casey Kasem continues as his widow, Jean Kasen, files a wrongful-death suit against the late countdown king’s attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III. According to court documents, she is accusing the lawyer of conspiring with the radio legend’s adult children “to isolate and kill Casey Kasem for financial gain,” Fox News reports.

Since his death in 2014 from a Parkinson’s-like disease, the longtime host of “American Top 40” and the voice of Shaggy on Scooby Doo has not been able to rest in peace. Accusations from both sides of Kasem’s family, with his adult children, including Kerri Kasem, and Jean Kasem, over his death and final resting place have dragged on for years.

In November 2018, a “48 Hours” special, “The Mysterious Death of Casey Kasem,” aired with Kerri Kasem and Jean Kasem trading barbs, as Jean told host Peter Van Sant, “They killed my husband. They killed their father.” Kerri countered, accusing Jean of her father’s death. “Jean killed my father. What she did led to his death.”

The children are also named in the latest suit, which claims that “Ingham and Casey’s older adult children ensured that Casey starved to death in a strange hospital far from home without his wife of more than three decades and youngest daughter [Liberty Kasem] by his side,” according to Fox News.

Instead of acting as an advocate for the ailing Kasem, Ingraham was “an active participant in this horrifying plot to end Casey’s life for financial gain. To that end, he performed actions that were far outside the bounds of any conceivable ‘representation’ of Casey,” the suit reads.

What will happen before Wednesday's MLB trade deadline? ESPN'S Experts Weigh In

Who will get traded by Wednesday's MLB trade deadline?

Story by ESPN
Written by ESPN MLB Experts

Happy MLB Trade Deadline Day Eve! With just one full shopping day remaining until this year's single deadline and plenty of intrigue remaining, we asked our MLB experts to dive into the players, teams and themes that could make the biggest splash before the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Here's what Bradford Doolittle, Sam Miller, Buster Olney and Jeff Passan had to say about key questions going into the deadline.

Schoenfield: Which teams most need to make a move? | Fantasy impact of deadline deals

Who is the biggest name who will be traded before the deadline?

Sam Miller: Noah Syndergaard.

Buster Olney: Edwin Diaz. If the Dodgers get him -- and they are trying -- Los Angeles would be a prohibitive favorite to roll through the National League in the playoffs.

Jeff Passan: Edwin Diaz. Where he goes -- or, more accurate, who ponies up -- is the ultimate question.

Bradford Doolittle: I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that Marcus Stroman will be it. Ordinarily you'd at least plug in a pending free agent on a bad team who would make no sense to stay put, but this market even lacks one of those.

Who is one big name we will hear in trade rumors until the deadline who will ultimately stay put?

Passan: Madison Bumgarner. Even as the starting-pitching market shrinks and teams up their offers, the Giants' above-.500 record will prove too alluring to deal Bumgarner.

Olney: Madison Bumgarner. The Giants players have earned the right to try to ride out the wave and put Bruce Bochy in the playoffs one final time before he retires.

Doolittle: It's hard for me to see how the acquisition of Stroman makes sense for the Mets if you turn around and deal Syndergaard for a return that only improves New York's outlook for 2020. So I say Thor stays put.

Miller: Kyle Tucker. Also MacKenzie Gore. Gavin Lux. In 2019, the best thing for a general manager's job security is to have the bossest prospects.

What will be the one big theme we remember this trade deadline for?

Olney: It turns out that the new trade deadline is something nobody likes. Some clubs are already griping that it should be pushed back to Aug. 15 because so many teams are on the fence about whether to be buyers or sellers.

Miller: Ambiguity and ambivalence. Over the past few weeks, many of the same teams have been rumored to be both buying and selling, caught between this year's goals and next year's, and spun dizzy by the jumbled crowdedness of the wild-card races.

Doolittle: Risk aversion. I really hope I'm wrong about this.

Passan: What the Mets did -- and didn't do.

Come Wednesday at 4:01 p.m. ET, will we have any idea what the Mets were doing this week?

Doolittle: Why would this week be any different from the past nine months or so? But it does look like they are getting a head start on their hot stove season, which given a thin free-agent class might not be the worst idea.

Passan: It's the Mets. Trying to forecast what they do is like trying to predict waves in the ocean.

Miller: You figured the Mets would be trying to compete in 2020, so trading for Stroman makes some sense: He's the free-agent starter they might have wanted to acquire this winter, but without the long-term commitment. It's surprising that they, and not a 2019 contender, would be willing to pay the most in prospects for Stroman's next 15 months, but on the other hand they didn't have to give up all that much.

Olney: Yes, absolutely. They are trying to win now. But we'll continue to debate how in the world they believe this ambition matches the collection of talent they possess.

Will the Yankees get a starter before the deadline?

Miller: I doubt it. Put it this way: If James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka or Domingo German were on this trade market, they'd be at least as in-demand as Robbie Ray, Bumgarner or Stroman. Even Syndergaard has a worse-than-average ERA this year; if he were already in the Yankees' rotation, we'd be asking whether the Yankees should be worried about him and whether that worry demands a trade. Given how strong their top five relievers are, you can already jot down zeros (and ever-so-occasional ones) for around half of their postseason innings, and asking the existing rotation to throw three or four innings per start in October seems safe.

Olney: Yes, because no GM is under greater pressure to make a deal than Brian Cashman. He'll get Ray, Trevor Bauer or some other starter.

Passan: Yes, though it won't be the front-line sort they would like to start Game 1 of the Division Series.

Doolittle: Sure, they'll get someone. I don't know if it'll be in the Bauer-Syndergaard-Bumgarner class. The Yanks would match up well with Arizona in a Zack Greinke deal, but there's a no-trade clause to work around, and I suspect Greinke would view the Bombers as too inconvenient. Given my skepticism about getting some splashy moves, I think we're looking at Mike Minor or Tanner Roark, someone on that level.

Which reliever are the Dodgers most likely to land to boost their bullpen?

Passan: With Ken Giles injured, the Dodgers could pursue Edwin Diaz, Kirby Yates or Felipe Vazquez to provide a lethal bridge -- or perfect complement -- to Kenley Jansen in the ninth.

Miller: The Dodgers have been ramping up their deadline activity by, say, 15% with each passing October defeat: They did nothing in 2014, got Mat Latos in 2015, Rich Hill and Josh Reddick in 2016, Yu Darvish in 2017 and Manny Machado in 2018. There's no 15% better than Machado on the trade market this year, but let's presume they'll get the best reliever available. That's Felipe Vazquez.

Doolittle: I've loved the idea of Vazquez for the Dodgers for weeks, and even now that they've turned the catching duties over to Will Smith, they could still dangle Keibert Ruiz if the Pirates can be moved. But if that isn't workable, then maybe L.A. can work the Mets for a Zack Wheeler-Diaz combo platter.

Olney: If the Rays or Red Sox don't outbid L.A., the Dodgers will get Edwin Diaz.

Are the Red Sox done dealing or do they have another move left to make?

Olney: They are aggressively chasing bullpen help and would love to have Diaz -- but they don't match up very well with the win-now Mets because their best prospects are not major-league-ready. On paper, the best possible match for the Mets and Red Sox in a Diaz deal might be Andrew Benintendi, who could play center field for the Mets -- and if Boston does this, it would solve its closer issue for the foreseeable future.

Miller: I think they'll get more relievers.

Passan: The Red Sox will add a bullpen arm. The quality depends on the willingness of teams with more assets to acquire the top-end arms.

Doolittle: They'll add more bullpen help, but I'm not sure how impactful it will be because it's such a seller's market when it comes relievers and the Red Sox don't have a ton of organizational depth from which to deal.

What about the Astros?

Passan: They're highly motivated to land a starting pitcher, and I think they will.

Miller: Should be looking at starting pitching. They're in an enviable position of needing only rotation depth, not a Game 1 or 2 (or 3!) starter at this point.

Olney: Some rival executives believe the Astros will wind up with Wheeler, because he's the type of pitcher they covet, and because GM Jeff Luhnow is loath to pay the high prices required for the likes of Syndergaard.

Doolittle: I don't see how they don't come away with a midrotation starter, whether it's Wheeler or Matthew Boyd or possibly Ray.

Of the other division leaders, which are we most likely to see make a splash before the deadline: Minnesota, Atlanta, Chicago or St. Louis?

Miller: The Twins have the most to gain. The other three front offices are led by men who have made some huge trade splashes in the recent past. But I'll say the Twins, who must be hearing footsteps behind them and be terrified of wasting a season as great as this one.

Olney: Atlanta is working hard to upgrade its bullpen and has been in the Diaz conversations.

Doolittle: I think all of those clubs will add something, but the Twins' need for pitching depth is probably the most glaring need and thus will make for the splashiest deal, relative to the overall tepid tenor of this year's market. Going hard after someone like Kirby Yates makes all kinds of sense for Minnesota.

Passan: All four are looking for pitching, and while all four may deal for some, the finite number of difference-making arms will differentiate the deadline success for each.

Which rumored potential seller that is still in contention is most likely to do something big before the deadline: San Francisco, Cleveland or Arizona?

Miller: Arizona. The Diamondbacks have been at exactly .500 23 times this season, and they know that's not going to get them there.

Olney: Other teams say the Diamondbacks are going to be among the most aggressive sellers. My guess is that the Indians trade Bauer to cash in on his value, getting major-league-ready talent in return, and then add a lesser depth starter (like the Reds' Roark) to plug the Bauer hole in their rotation as they wait for the return of Corey Kluber.

Doolittle: I could see the Giants and Indians adding on the margins but not doing anything splashy, whether it's with incoming or outgoing players. For San Francisco, letting its veterans play this one out would be the splash move, while the Indians just aren't likely to add payroll. Arizona can try to move Ray or even Greinke without totally punting on its chances to eke into the playoffs, so insofar as anyone will do something big, I'd peg the D-backs as most likely.

Passan: Arizona is the clear choice here. The Diamondbacks are selling, and they could wind up the busiest team on July 30 and 31.
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Read more: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27059188/2019-mlb-trade-deadline-rumors-news-analysis-trade-tracker

110TH NAACP Convention Re-Cap

Industry Gears Up For New Apple Podcast Categories.

Story by Inside Radio

Apple says the changes it has planned to the Apple Podcast categories are now scheduled to go live later this summer, most likely next month. In preparation for that change the company is now encouraging show producers to begin updating the category selections of its existing shows. It has also begun allowing show producers to begin submitting new RSS feeds with the updated category values in Podcast Connect. But the process may not always be without some glitches. In an email to podcasters, the company does warn that in preparation for the switch, the podcast category menu may be temporarily removed in order to make the updates.

BluBrry says by its tally nearly 75% of podcasts will be impacted by the reworking of the Apple Podcast category list. “Chances are your podcast will be affected by the new Apple podcast category change coming this August,” it says in an update to users. Its analysis shows just how sweeping the change will be. “Apple will transition from 67 top and subcategories to 112. Every top-level category has been touched, either with the title being renamed or the addition or removal of sub-categories. Of the changes, 51% of the existing categories remain unchanged and 16% are renamed and the remaining 33% removed. There are nearly 70% more podcast categories,” the company’s blog post says.

The review says the most affected categories include Comedy, Education, Government & Organizations, Music, News & Politics, Sports & Recreation, Technology, and TV & Film. The categories of Comedy, Music, News & Politics and TV & Film now have 37 new subcategories to grow into. Apple Podcasts will now include several new top-level category names. Most notably, the list includes the addition of a designated True Crime category to capitalize on what’s arguably the medium’s hottest format. Dozens of other top-level categories are also being added, such as Fiction and History. Sports & Recreation is being recast and is now simply called Sports. Government & Organizations and Technology are being eliminated. “The most shocking subcategory to be eliminated was ‘Podcasting’ found under ‘Technology’ since there are nearly 10,000 shows found in that subcategory today,” BluBrry points out.

Using data from the Blubrry podcast directory—with over 700,000 podcasts—it determines that more than 130,000 shows have at least one required category change. Over 55% of shows that use a top-level category as their primary category now have new subcategories to pick from. And Blubrry also offers some comfort to others. “For podcasters worried about what will happen to your category listing on Apple podcasts, breathe easy: Apple will map removed subcategories to their top-level category. That means that if you do nothing and your category is affected, you will still, at the very least, be in a top-level category,” the company says.

In preparation for the new Apple Podcast categories, most hosting companies are announcing updates to their own systems to accommodate the addition of several new show categories. In a blog post directed at its users, Libsyn says its software is being update to fully support the additions and tells producers whose category hasn’t been impacted that their podcast will be automatically matched in the new lineup. But shows where the category has changed, deleted, or cannot be exactly matched in the new Apple Podcast list will need to be manually updated inside Libsyn.

Podbean has given a similar message to its users. “Apple will be rolling these out in the coming weeks. Therefore, Podbean has updated the available category options in the Podbean dashboard to reflect these changes,” it told its users in a blog post.

With more than 60% of listening done on Apple Podcasts, the company’s categories have to date amounted to the industry’s de facto standard. The last time Apple Podcast categories had such an overhaul was in 2011 and podcasters say it wasn’t as significant as what it has planned for next month.

Translator Limits For AM Owners? No Way Says The FCC.

Story by Inside Radio

The Federal Communications Commission has rejected an attempt to block iHeartMedia from obtaining a new FM translator in the Modesto, CA market. Audio Division chief Albert Shuldiner’s decision greenlights the company to sign-on the Modesto-licensed K298DG at 107.5 FM, which it plans to use in order to give “Power Talk 1360” KFIV an outlet on the FM dial.

The petition seeking to deny iHeart the translator had been filed by Justin Howze, who argued that because of the company’s reorganization, a different entity than what had applied for the signal was now seeking the translator. If the FCC agreed, that would have been disqualifying (http://www.insideradio.com/free/big-bids-bargains-as-fcc-s-long-delayed-auction-closes/article_3c8e1bba-7e8d-11e8-8d50-af71d014b46e.html).

But in a seven-page decision Shuldiner ruled that its “debtor in possession” status was only temporary and the argument is moot since iHeart has since emerged from chapter 11 (https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-670A1.pdf). And in a move that would have broader implications for all AM station owners had it gone the other direction, Shuldiner also rejected the argument that the FCC should put limits on how many FM translators a company can obtain for AMs. Howze had urged the FCC to use limits similar to what had been adopted during Auction 83 when the agency was forced to contend with more than 13,337 applications for new FM translators flooding in. Those limits ultimately meant that only 5,450 new translator permits, or 41% of those applied for, were ultimately awarded.

“Were we to impose the extreme market-by-market limits…we could severely dilute–if not undercut completely–the public interest benefits to local markets served by AM stations that the Commission sought to implement,” Shuldiner concluded. He says the rules that were used during Auctions 99 and 100—the two opened to give AM owners a shot at an FM translator—were adopted after public notice and comment and have “served the stated public interest rational for the auction filing windows.”

In addition to its forthcoming translator, KFIV also relays on KWSX (1280) into the Stockton, CA market.

PPM Dominators Have Rich Market Heritage In Their Favor.

Story by Inside Radio
Written by Paul Heine

What’s it take to be a double-digit ratings dynasty? It requires doing a lot of things right – consistently – from music, branding and positioning to the best personalities, promotions and community involvement. Based on an analysis of PPM data from Nielsen’s June survey, another key ingredient is market heritage.

To determine who the top performing stations are, Inside Radio ranked the top 10 stations in the June survey across all 48 PPM markets based on total week 6+ AQH share. The winners (see chart) are heavily tilted toward markets outside the top 30 where there is less competition. “Typically smaller market means less signals and therefore the average station has a larger slice of the pie, which is what AQH share measures,” notes Charlie Sislen, partner at Research Director, Inc. But getting past that, the common thread that unites these best-of-the best stations is longevity. “These are all stations with incredible heritage,” notes ratings historian Chris Huff. “The rough average of their time in format is over 24 years.”

Entercom’s “95.7 R&B” WVKL Norfolk, which tops the tally with an 11.4 share, has been programming urban AC for 18 years, according to Huff’s research. The No. 2 station on the all-PPM market ranker is iHeartMedia’s WCOL-FM Columbus, OH with an 11.1 share. It’s been in the country format since February 1992. Entercom AC “Lite 100.5” WRCH Hartford (third with a 10.4) evolved from beautiful music/easy listening to AC in 1990. WHJY’s 38-year rock heritage in Providence dates back to September 1981 – the iHeart station finished fourth with a 10.2. In a three-way tie for fifth with a 9.8 share is iHeart’s “Magic 105.7” WMJI Cleveland, which began life as an oldies outlet in September 1990 and, like most oldies stations, evolved into classic hits. If you include its oldies-to-classic hits journey as one format, WMJI has a 29-year legacy in the format.

Classic hits, in fact, has three entries in the top 10, more than any other format. The others are “Classic Hits 104.5” WJJK Indianapolis (No. 8 with a 9.7) and WGRR Cincinnati (tied for ninth with a 9.6), both Cumulus Media stations. WJJK has been classic hits since September 2006. But if you disregard its two years as “Jack,” its time classic hits/oldies legacy goes all the way back to 1997.

“A lot people believed that PPM would erase a lot of the heritage ‘halo’ advantage, but this just shows that strong, consistent brands are just as important as ever, if not more so,” Huff points out.

Sislen notes that these top performers not only have format longevity, they’ve worked hard to invest in – and protect – their brand over a long period of time. “I see a group of stations that mostly have had great brands for a long period of time, and they have worked hard to maintain that brand, which is not an easy accomplishment,” he observes. “If you protect the brand and take care of the radio station, you get shares like that.”

Another unifying aspect is that all the formats represented on the list target the 18-49 or 25-54 demo. That means they ply their trade in the most competitive demographic arena, as opposed to the 55+ zone, where there are fewer outlets in the hunt. That surprised Sislen, who expected to see some stations on the tally with strong 55+ appeal, such as news/talk and soft AC. “It is a real testament to these station’s strength that they win 6+ and most likely perform equally well in those highly competitive sales demos,” Sislen observes.

It's Majic 102.3 & 92.7 "The Real Sound of the DMV

Congressional House of Representatives approves bill raising minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2025

Story by The Hill
Written by Juliegrace Brufke

The House on Thursday approved legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2025 in a 231-199 vote that cut largely along party lines.

The legislation represented a long-evolving compromise between liberal and centrist Democrats who were initially at odds over how large the wage hike would be, how long it would take to phase it, and whether it would rise at the same level across the country or allow for regional flexibilities.

Liberals won the battle for enacting a wage hike to $15 across the country, while centrists succeeded in lengthening the phase-in period from five to six years. The legislation also includes an amendment favored by centrists requiring that the economic impact be studied as the early stages of the wage hike is implemented.

A report from the Congressional Budget Office projected the hike would lift 1.3 million people out of poverty, but that it would also cost the U.S. 1.3 million jobs by 2024. Those figures provided plenty of ammunition for both supporters and opponents of the bill, who cherrypicked the projections that backed their various arguments.

Three Republicans — Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Francis Rooney (Fla.) and Chris Smith (N.J.) — backed the Democratic bill. Six Democrats — Reps. Anthony Brindisi (N.Y.), Joe Cunningham (S.C.), Kendra Horn (Okla.), Ben McAdams (Utah), Kurt Schrader (Ore.) and Xochitl Torres Small (N.M.) — voted no.

The Democratic defections would have been much more numerous — perhaps threatening the bill — without the last-minute amendments favored by the centrists. Those additions were the result of a series of meetings, led by Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), a co-chair of the centrist Blue Dogs, which stretched back to May and were aimed at securing the backing of more moderates.

Liberal Democrats were not enthused about those changes, but accepted them as a condition of getting the bill passed with a large show of support.

“Raising the minimum wage isn’t just an economic justice issue; it’s a women’s issue and a racial justice issue,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said after the vote.

In passing the bill, House Democrats made good on one of the central promises of the 2018 campaign. The proposal has little chance of moving through the Republican-controlled Senate, but it empowers Democrats to highlight the contrast between the parties’ economic priorities heading into the 2020 elections.

Democrats are expected to criticize Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for creating a legislation graveyard for the minimum wage hike and other bills approved by the Democratic House.

Thursday’s vote marked the first time that the House has moved to hike the minimum wage since 2007, when it was raised to $7.25 per hour starting in 2009.

Supporters of the wage hike said it will help not only struggling workers, but also the larger communities in which they live.

"When we put money in the pockets of workers, they will spend that money in their local economies," said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee and lead sponsor of the bill.

Different local communities have raised their own minimum wages since the last federal hike, but some lawmakers lamented that their districts hadn’t seen a spike in the wage for more than a decade.

“Milwaukeeans are stuck at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour set over a decade ago,” said Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), who represents the city. "These workers struggle to support themselves and their families with their meager wages. And however hard they try, at $7.25 an hour they are working themselves into poverty.”

Republicans opposed to the wage hike noted estimates on the number of jobs that could be lost with such a wage increase.

“This legislation would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, a 107 percent increase over the current rate of $7.25 an hour,” Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) said during debate.

“An increase of this magnitude could harm American businesses, could harm American consumers, and certainly will harm American workers. The legislation does not consider the labor market, it disincentives job growth, and has the potential to leave nearly 4 million workers unemployed.”

Raising the minimum wage is one of the policy issues Democrats want to highlight ahead of the 2020 elections, though the fight this week was largely overshadowed by the storm surrounding President Trump’s attacks on four minority congresswomen.

Those attacks led to a House vote condemning Trump’s remarks as racist as well as another vote on whether to consider articles of impeachment against Trump from Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), with that measure failing.

President Donald J. Trump’s Attacks on The Squad Aren’t Just Racist; They’re a Deliberate Attempt to Stifle Their Freedom of Speech

Congrewwwomen Four speak of Trump's comments

Commentary by Nida Khan

On Saturday morning, Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib and Deb Haaland addressed the annual gathering of progressives at the Netroots Nation conference in the city of brotherly love (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was not present on this panel). Introduced by Netroots’ board member Aimee Allison as ‘the squad’, the four women touched on everything from the suffering of migrants and horrendous conditions at detention facilities, to impeachment to foreign policy and everything in between. But it was perhaps Omar’s following comments that perfectly encapsulates everything at this moment when the President of the United States is telling duly elected women in Congress to go back to where they came from: “One thing I tell women of color is that we never needed to ask for permission or an invitation to lead.”

It’s no secret that the squad has been fierce and they hold no punches — and nor should they. The idea that a man who made the most incendiary and outrageous statements while running for President and won (and continues to make such despicable statements while in office), now has the audacity to try to silence these brave Congresswomen is not only insulting, but it is downright dangerous. Yes, his tweets and comments are racist, point blank, no question. But what they also are is an attempt to restrain the squad, to eliminate dissent and stifle individual thought. It is yet another dictatorial maneuver designed to castigate anyone who has a different perspective than the wannabe King, and anyone who doesn’t bow down to the conservative line.

“The Democrat Congresswomen have been spewing some of the most vile, hateful and disgusting things ever said by a politician in the House or Senate ..,” tweeted Trump. He said the progressive Congresswomen “hate our country” and that we should all “Get a list of the HORRIBLE things they have said.” He referred to them as “anti-Israel”, “anti-USA” and even more inflammatory, “pro-terrorist”. When asked where he thought they should go, Trump responded: “It’s up to them. Go wherever they want, or they can stay, but they should love our country. They shouldn’t hate our country.”

The fact that the President of the United States is openly questioning the allegiance of members of Congress in this manner is beyond frightening and channels the era of McCarthyism. Trump has singled out these four women, basically painted them with a big red “T” for traitor and galvanized his supporters to view them in the same way. There’s not even an attempt to sugarcoat it; he is openly saying that if you don’t think like we do, you can go back to wherever you came from. It’s pretty ironic for a group of constantly aggrieved individuals who relentlessly scream about ‘free speech’ to try to take away the First Amendment rights of those they disagree with. It is an alarming series of events at a time when independent thought and dare I say, resistance, are needed more than ever.

For the first time in the history of this nation, two Muslim women were elected to the House of Representatives, including the first ever lawmaker who wears a hijab. Less than a year later, the President is calling them ‘pro-terrorist’. This is your typical racist ignorant retort when Muslims assert themselves, actually humanize Muslim lives, call out foreign policy or simply provide another perspective on issues like war. It happens to me virtually every time I pen a piece; I’m almost always called a ‘terrorist sympathizer’, or ‘pro-terrorist’. But when the person who occupies the highest office in the land says the same, it sends a chilling message to all Muslims and anyone who may want to speak out that you will in fact be targeted.

Omar, Tlaib and AOC have been very vocal about their views on subjects like Israel, Palestine, the Middle East, war and more. Omar was rebuked, and rightfully so, for using language that perpetuated anti-Semitic tropes, but her consistently larger point of calling out Israel’s treatment of Palestinians or our support for such treatment (even greater under Trump of course), should not be lost in this discussion. Instead of an actual policy debate, there have been concerted attempts to try to smear her as somehow anti-American, ‘pro-Al Qaeda’ or ‘pro-terrorist’ as the President just did. It is utterly disgraceful and reprehensible. It is a personal attack designed to discredit her or anyone else who may hold the same views as her. She should absolutely be more careful and sensitive with her verbiage so as not to inflict harm on another minority group, but let’s be clear, criticizing Israel does not equate to being anti-Semitic. For far too long, Palestinians and Muslims in general have been erased from this conversation, and now the President would like to do the same.

AOC has repeatedly questioned the funding of endless wars; yesterday Kellyanne Conway said that a lot of us are “sick and tired of our military being denigrated” and “America coming last”. This is yet another calculated attempt to not only tell the squad to keep their mouths shut, but it also sends a message to the rest of the nation that we too must watch what we say, write or even think out loud. It’s Omar, Pressley, Tlaib and AOC today, and it could be any one of us tomorrow. Who’s to say that the next journalist, writer, educator, historian, celebrity or anyone that this President and this Administration doesn’t like won’t be singled out and branded with a letter “T”?

Many try to dismiss Trump’s antics as sheer strategic politics. While they are absolutely designed to rile up his base and energize people behind him for 2020, they are actually even more nefarious than that. He truly wants his supporters to believe that the squad (and anyone who holds similar ideas) are somehow ‘opposed to core American values’ and that they consistently ‘talk down to the U.S.’ as former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich himself put it. Not only is it beyond insulting to tell women of color to essentially know their place, but it sends a clear warning that if you dare speak out against the U.S. in any manner, you will be deemed as somehow un-American. It’s the notion that all people of color in this country should be grateful that we are even here — never mind that this land belonged to Native Americans originally, or that the country was built on the backs of slaves, or that many are here because ‘where they came from’ has been robbed and ravaged of its own resources.

In analyzing what has transpired over the last few days, we cannot forget that power and control are some of the core tenants of white supremacy. It’s important to remember that the feigned outrage by Trump, his supporters and the right in general is to the idea of a perceived loss of power. When in actuality, we are still very far from a semblance of equality. For example, while the 116th Congress is the most ethnically and racially diverse ever, it is not even close to representing what our nation truly looks like today. As Pew pointed out: “Non-Hispanic whites make up 78% of voting members in the new Congress, considerably larger than their 61% share of the U.S population overall.” It begs the question, if there’s this much outrage over an imagined loss of power, what will happen when whites, specifically white males, actually start to lose power?

For far too long, many people of color have felt marginalized, silenced or simply ignored. Our voices have been left out of the conversation, out of policy debates, out of media roundtables and out of the public discourse at large. If there is any lesson young children of color in this great nation (and across the world for that matter) can take from the fierce Congresswomen under assault today it’s that they too should be unapologetically true to who they are and know that striving for a more just and equitable society means facing opposition from many places far and wide. They should understand that being a patriotic citizen means dissent; it means advocating and fighting for change; it means challenging the status quo both through your sheer existence and via the causes you champion; and it means never allowing anyone to take away your ability to do so simply because he or she is threatened — even if that person occupies the White House.
It means, as Omar rightly stated, never asking for permission.

'Today we can't breathe.' DOJ will not bring civil rights charge against NYPD officer in death of Eric Garner

A New York City police officer will not face federal charges in the 2014 death of Eric Garner. USA

Story by USA Today

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department will not bring federal charges against a New York City police officer over the death of Eric Garner during a chaotic arrest that ignited nationwide protests five years ago.

The decision, announced Tuesday by Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue, marks the end of a civil rights probe into an episode – much of it captured on video – that helped turn a national spotlight on how police officers use force against minorities.

“Like many of you, I have watched that video many times, and each time I’ve watched it, I’m left with the same reaction: that the death of Eric Garner was a tragedy," Donoghue said. "The job of a federal prosecutor, however, is not to let our emotions dictate our decisions. Our job is to review the evidence gathered during the investigation, like the video, to assess whether we can prove that a federal crime was committed."

Authorities spent years investigating Garner's death in an examination that proved contentious both inside and outside of the Justice Department. Attorneys in the department's Civil Rights Division long advocated for bringing a criminal charge, while prosecutors in Brooklyn recommended against it.

In the end, Donoghue said Attorney General William Barr broke the logjam, deciding in recent days that Justice would not bring a federal civil rights prosecution against officer Daniel Pantaleo.

"The video and the other evidence gathered in the investigation does not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Pantaleo acted willfully in violation of federal law,” Donoghue said.

Garner, a 43-year-old black man, was accused of selling single cigarettes outside a store on Staten Island when Pantaleo attempted to arrest him. Garner gasped, "I can't breathe," after Pantaleo and other officers knocked him to the ground with Pantaleo holding him around the head and neck. The video of the encounter would later become a social media phenomenon.

Garner died soon after. His last words, however, became a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement, whose members have staged demonstrations across the county against what they call excessive force by police. The campaign gained increased notoriety as professional athletes and Hollywood's elite took up the cause, some donning T-shirts emblazoned with Garner's last words.

“We’re here with heavy hearts because the DOJ has failed us," Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, said Tuesday. "Although we looked for better from them, five years ago my son said ‘I can’t breathe’ 11 times, and today we can’t breathe because they have let us down.”

The city medical examiner listed Garner's cause of death as "compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police." The officer's lawyer, Stuart London, and the police union have denied that Pantaleo used a choke-hold maneuver banned by the NYPD.

The city paid a $5.9 million civil settlement to Garner's family. Pantaleo has been assigned to administrative duty since Garner's death.

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway Defies Congressional Committee Subpoena - Chairman Elijah Cummings (MD.) Announces Upcoming Contempt Vote

Boxing legend Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker dead at 55

Pernell Whitaker (R) lands a punch against Azumah Nelson during a May 19, 1990, fight at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Pernell Whitaker defended the WBC lightweight title and IBF lightweight title. (Getty Images)

Story by Yahoo Sports
Written by Kevin Iole

Pernell Whitaker, who forged a reputation as arguably the greatest defensive boxer who ever lived, died late Sunday in Virginia Beach, Virginia, when he was struck by a car while crossing a bridge. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

He was 55.

A gold-medal winner on the legendary 1984 U.S. Olympic team, Whitaker was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, his first year of eligibility. He won world championships at lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight. He was the lineal champion at lightweight and welterweight.

At his peak, he was almost impossible to hit, fighting out of a crouch and swiveling like a corkscrew out of the way of punches.

“He was an original and will be remembered as one of the most talented boxers of all-time,” his promoter, Kathy Duva, said. “ … While he was far from a perfect human being, he was pretty close to a perfect fighter. In the ring was where he was most happy and in control. I will choose to remember him in the pocket, making his opponent miss and letting the world know that nobody could touch him.

“I love him very much, in spite of and because of his flaws. I’m going to miss him very much.”

Whitaker, who was 40-4-1 with 17 knockouts and a no contest, was also on the wrong end of two of the worst decisions in boxing history.

The most famous of those was his Sept. 10, 1993, majority draw in San Antonio, Texas, with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. for the WBC and lineal welterweight title. Whitaker seemed to badly outbox Chavez, who entered the fight 87-0 with 75 knockouts, but two of the three judges called it a draw.

In his account of the fight in the Sept. 20, 1993, edition of Sports Illustrated, the late William Nack wrote, “Whitaker’s boxing exhibition was a tactical and technical virtuosity that at times led Chavez on a bewildered, groping circuit of the ring, as if Chavez were chasing wisps of ringside smoke. That Whitaker, in a perverse reward for his brilliance, needed to plead for respect and recognition underscored how badly justice had been served.”

While he was too proud to admit defeat, the great Chavez admitted he’d had difficulty in the bout.

“I feel a little bit beat up," Chavez said. "It was a difficult fight. Unfortunately, I couldn’t do anything better. I still think that I forced the fight, I kept going forward. There was something I kept doing wrong.”

The draw with Chavez, though, was not even the worst bad decision of Whitaker’s career. His first loss came five years earlier in France, when he seemed to outbox Jose Luis Ramirez but dropped a split decision.

The New York Times, in its March 13, 1988, edition, wrote, “Whitaker … appeared to have an easy time from the start and was peppering the champion with right jabs throughout the fight.”

He came back and defeated Ramirez the next year to capture the IBF and WBC lightweight belts.

Among the elite fighters Whitaker defeated in his professional career were Hall of Famers Buddy McGirt and Azumah Nelson, Ramirez and Roger Mayweather.

In 1995, he became just the fourth boxer to win world titles in four weight classes when he moved up to super welterweight and outboxed Julio Cesar Vasquez to win the WBA title.

Whitaker never defended that belt, moving back to welterweight and defending his WBC belt five more times. That led to an April 12, 1997, showdown in Las Vegas with Oscar De La Hoya. Whitaker was 33 at the time and slowing down, while De La Hoya was 24 and on the rise.

Whitaker, though, was typically brilliant and out-landed De La Hoya 232 to 191. Whitaker denounced the decision after as similar to those disappointments he’d suffered against Ramirez and Chavez, though in a Las Vegas Review-Journal poll of journalists who’d covered the fight, 14 scored it for Whitaker, 11 for De La Hoya and one had it a draw.

Nonetheless, Whitaker believed deeply he’d won and said, “I was robbed. What happened to me tonight was what happened to me before.”

Whitaker had personal issues outside the ring and was convicted of cocaine possession in 2002. He had five children, though he was predeceased by his son, Pernell Jr. He is survived by sons Dominique, Dantavious and Devon and daughter, Tara.

Services are pending.

NBA Legend Bill Russell receives the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs

Ross Perot, billionaire tycoon and 2-time presidential candidate, dies at 89

Ross Perot ran for President twice, in 1992 and 1996. AP

Story by CNN
Written by Marlena Baldacci, Kate Sullivan and Karl de Vries

Ross Perot, the billionaire tycoon who mounted two unsuccessful third-party presidential campaigns in the 1990s, died Tuesday, family spokesman James Fuller confirmed to CNN. He was 89.

Perot died after a five-month battle with leukemia, Fuller said.

A billionaire by his mid-50s after he sold a controlling interest in the data processing business he founded, Electronic Data Systems Corporation, to General Motors for $2.5 billion, Perot's foray into presidential politics made him one of the more colorful political figures of the 1990s.

His Texas twang, populist platform -- he memorably railed against the North American Free Trade Agreement, warning of a "giant sucking sound" of American jobs to other countries if passed -- and frequent TV appearances brought him wide recognition, and his 1992 campaign, in which he garnered nearly 19% of the vote and finished third behind Bill Clinton and incumbent President George H.W. Bush, remains one of the most successful third-party bids in American history.

For years, Bush blamed Perot for his defeat, saying in a 2012 HBO documentary that he believed Perot "cost me the election." Election experts and scholarly research, however, has challenged that theory: The New York Times found Perot's effect on the outcome of the election "appears to have been minimal," and The Washington Post reported Clinton would have still won by a large margin if Perot hadn't run.

In 1995, Perot created the Reform Party, and the following year received 8% of the vote in the presidential election as the party's candidate.
Following his second and final bid for the presidency, Perot served as president and CEO of Perot Systems Corporation, which he founded in 1988. He was the head of the company until 2000, when he passed the title on to his son, Ross Perot Jr.

Nine years later, Dell Incorporated bought Perot Systems for $3.9 billion, which was a net gain of about $400 million for the Perot family.

Aside from his business and political careers, Perot also received national attention for his efforts during the Vietnam War to create better conditions for US prisoners of war. He traveled to Laos, where he met with ambassadors from Russia and North Vietnam, and was awarded the Medal for Distinguished Public Service by the Department of Defense in 1974 for his efforts. In 1979, when two EDS employees were taken hostage during a revolution in Iran, he organized and paid for a successful private mission called Operation Hotfoot to rescue the men and bring them home.

"In business and in life, Ross was a man of integrity and action. A true American patriot and a man of rare vision, principle and deep compassion, he touched the lives of countless people through his unwavering support of the military and veterans and through his charitable endeavors," Fuller said in a statement. "Ross Perot will be deeply missed by all who loved him. He lived a long and honorable life."
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Read more:

CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/09/politics/ross-perot-dead/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_content=2019-07-09T14%3A44%3A56&utm_term=link&utm_source=fbCNN&fbclid=IwAR2rRHuKcKvP3SkT_3AjxI8BVF_t6JLoDW2RUEwfG3s9H_0SRI1FHiWV0wo

New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/us/politics/ross-perot-death.html

The Hill: https://thehill.com/homenews/452205-political-world-mourns-death-of-ross-perot

Wall St. Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/h-ross-perot-texas-billionaire-who-twice-ran-for-president-has-died-11562682596

NPR: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/09/739845066/ross-perot-billionaire-businessman-and-former-presidential-candidate-dies-at-89

Politico: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/09/h-ross-perot-dies-1402875

Rickey Smiley To Replace Tom Joyner

Story by Inside Radio
Photo left of Rickey Smiley(l) and Tom Joyner(r)

It’s official: Rickey Smiley is being tapped to succeed Tom Joyner when Joyner retires at the end of the year after 25 years in syndicated morning radio. Joyner broke the news to listeners Friday morning on his show, introducing Smiley to his audience. “You’ve got to keep the party with a purpose going and find a purpose to the party,” Joyner told Smiley.

Joyner’s Dallas-based morning show is syndicated nationally to urban AC stations by Reach Media. The one-time “Fly Jock” was named anchor of the first morning show with music in syndication in January 1994, a groundbreaking move at the time.

“Twenty-five years ago, there was no template for a syndicated urban radio show and we worked hard to prove that we could successfully produce and market a national platform that would entertain, inform and empower African-American listeners,” Joyner said in a news release. Reflecting on his accomplishments, he added, “We broke some ground, raised the bar for what audiences expected from black radio all while partying with a purpose.”

In handing the urban AC morning baton over to Smiley, Joyner added, “I’m confident that Rickey’s activism along with his love for radio, the community, and HBCUs, will pick up where we left off.”

Smiley currently hosts his own Reach Media-syndicated AM drive program heard on more than 60 younger-skewing urban contemporary stations across the country. “It’s an honor to continue the legacy of my boss and frat brother Tom Joyner. Not only has he been a friend to my family and me over the years, but we consider him family,” Smiley said. “Tom’s mentorship has instilled in me valuable wisdom that I will carry with me through this new morning show.”


Reach Media, part of Urban One, is reportedly grooming Smiley show member Headkrack to eventually assume many of Smiley’s current younger-skewing affiliates. But Friday’s announcement made no mention of that. Reach Media did say that Eva Marcille and Gary Wit Da Tea would be among the on-air cast members joining Smiley to broadcast out of the Dallas studios beginning January 2020 and that more details about the show would be shared in the coming months.

Reach Media says its other morning urban AC program, “The Russ Parr Morning Show,” will also continue in syndication into 2020.

“Tom changed the entire urban radio marketplace. He entertained and educated multiple generations of listeners over the last 25 years,” Reach Media and Radio One CEO David Kantor said. “While there is and will always be only one Tom Joyner, we are excited that Rickey will be moving to Urban AC in January. Like Tom, Rickey’s talent, community consciousness and commitment to his audience will serve his listeners well.”

Joyner resumes his “One More Time Experience” next month with stops in Columbus (July 12), St. Louis (July 13), Raleigh (July 19) and Charlotte (July 20).

Affiliates Notified Of New HeadKrack Morning Show Coming In 2020.

Story by Inside Radio

The official announcement is still to come, but current affiliates of the Reach Media-syndicated “Rickey Smiley Morning Show” are being notified of plans for a new morning show anchored by Smiley show member HeadKrack.

As earlier reported by Inside Radio, Smiley will succeed Tom Joyner, who is retiring at the end of the year. Smiley will assume current Joyner affiliates on urban AC stations, while HeadKrack will be the centerpiece of a new morning show that will air on urban contemporary stations currently carrying Smiley.

“We are very excited to let you know we are building a mainstream urban show around HeadKrack for next year as well, and will be in touch soon to discuss with you,” a memo to affiliates reads. “As a reminder, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show continues as you currently hear it, for the remainder of 2019.”

A Bronx, NY native, HeadKrack began his radio career doing nights at Radio One rhythmic CHR “97.9 The Beat” KBFB Dallas. He’s won multiple underground hip-hop battles across the country and was a featured artist on the 2003 and 2004 Vans Warped Tour, and has made numerous performances at festivals nationwide. HeadKrack won Atlanta’s 2010 Red Bull Emcee Battle and has performed onstage with Run DMC, Common, Jurassic 5, De La Soul, Big Pun, Wyclef Jean (The Fugees) and Xzibit.
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Read More: http://www.insideradio.com/free/rickey-smiley-to-replace-tom-joyner/article_1166a252-99aa-11e9-9d9a-6fe5916030e0.html

Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan Explains Why Emmis Is Selling Its Biggest Stations including New York's Heritage WBLS 107.5 FM and Hot 97 WQHT

Story by Inside Radio

July 2, 2019

In a creatively structured deal with hedge fund Standard General, Emmis Communications is charting a new future that opens up two growth paths. The 40-year-old radio company is getting a nearly $100 million cash infusion to fund acquisitions into new areas outside its traditional radio wheelhouse. And Mediaco, the new venture Emmis is forming with hedge fund Standard General will give Emmis a launching pad to build a new enterprise in tandem with a deep-pocketed investor.

“We really have to two ways to grow: old Emmis, which will look at different areas and Mediaco, which will be the new enterprise,” Emmis CEO Jeff Smulyan told Inside Radio in an interview shortly after the deal was announced Monday.

The springboard is Emmis’ sale of its New York radio crown jewels – urban AC WBLS (107.5) and rhythmic CHR “Hot 97” WQHT to Standard General. The New York investment firm will partner with Emmis to form a new public company, Mediaco Holding. Emmis will receive $91.5 million in cash, a $5 million note and 23.72% of the common equity of the new publicly traded company, which is expected to be listed on NASDAQ, while Emmis will remain a separate public company.

“We looked at this and said, ‘We’re getting $96 million and keeping our receivables and getting a 24% stake that could be worth $30-$50 million,” Smulyan explains. “We hope this grows into a very nice investment, and we’ll have the ability to help steer that.”

What Smulyan is now calling the “original” or “old” Emmis is being reduced to four radio stations in its home base of Indianapolis, along with Indianapolis Monthly magazine and Digonex, a dynamic pricing company. The company also owns its Indy headquarters and a tower site in nearby Whitestown, IN. “Indy is home. We’ve always said we’d probably stay here. But you never say never. We’re comfortable here,” Smulyan says.

Emmis is in talks to sell gospel WLIB New York and still owns sports “ESPN NY 98.7” WEPN-FM New York, which it leases to ESPN Radio under a four-year deal.

‘Something Completely Different’

The sale of its two biggest radio stations is the latest in a series of sell-offs by Emmis. In June, it agreed to sell its controlling 50.1% interest in its Austin, TX cluster in a deal valued at $39.3 million. Once the latest deals close, Emmis will be debt-free, Smulyan says, and have cash “to create new value, buy some things and see them grow. It could be something completely different,” he offers. “It’s been very gratifying, because we’ve been approached by people about new ventures.”

Emmis says it will remain active in the management of both stations and provide corporate services to Mediaco under a management agreement between the parties. Smulyan will be CEO of Mediaco and will continue as chairman and CEO of Emmis. Standard General gets to appoint a majority of Mediaco’s board with Soohyung Kim, CEO, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Standard General, named Mediaco Chairman. “We’ve known Soo for a long time. He would like to build a new company and we’re looking forward to partnering with him on it,” Smulyan observes.

Founded in 2007, Standard General has $1 billion in funds and focuses on companies “with complex capital structures that are undergoing dramatic change or are faced with material events,” the company says on its website. No stranger to the media business, Standard General became the majority owner of TV station group Young Broadcasting after its emergence from chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010. Young Broadcasting combined with Media General in November 2013, which then merged with LIN Media, before selling to Nexstar Broadcasting in 2016. Standard General was in line to buy nine TV station spinoffs before the Sinclair Broadcasting purchase of Tribune Broadcasting was derailed by the FCC.

Smulyan says he got to know Kim at various investor conferences and meetings over the years. “We talked about doing some things together and this is the culmination of that. They are looking to do some more things in media.”

With a nearly 24% stake in Mediaco and him serving as CEO, Smulyan says Emmis will manage whatever acquisitions Mediaco makes. “We think it’s a launching pad that creates some value. If we go out and create a few hundred million dollars in value in the next few years with Mediaco, it will be a great deal. The ball is in our court.”

But systematically selling its radio stations in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Terre Haute, Austin and now New York has been bittersweet, Smulyan says. “Nobody loves radio more than I do but it’s no secret that it’s not been a growth industry for the last 10 or so years,” he contends. “We really feel that it’s time to move in a new direction We’d like to tackle some businesses that are growing 5-10% a year and see if we can make them grow a little bit better.”