Politics

Vitantonio Liuzzi said politics played a big part in him losing his seat with Toro Rosso as a result of internal politics at Red Bull. Vitantonio ‘Tonio’ Liuzzi became a Formula 1 driver with Red Bull in 2005 with the newly-revamped Jaguar team running Christian Klien for the first three races, and Liuzzi stepping in for the next four rounds. The intent was to have the pair share the second seat at the team with veteran David Coulthard in the lead role, but Liuzzi was sidelined after the first swap back as Red Bull realised the unusual approach wasn’t ideal for either driver, nor themselves. “The plan was to have four races for Klien, four for me, four for him… but after the first swap, we realised it was not good for him, nor for me,” Liuzzi told F1 Unlocked . “I decided to step out and Didi [Mateschitz, Red Bull owner and team founder] himself, he came to me and said, ‘Don’t worry, we are planning to buy another team, an Italian team, and I would like to make you as a … [Read more...] about Ex-driver opens up on Red Bull ‘politics’ and points finger at Gerhard Berger

IndyCar stalwart Will Power branded the competition in F1 a “joke” and feels sorry for the drivers suffering through that and the “politics”. Formula 1 is regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport as the top drivers and personnel go to battle in the effort to field the best challenger and driver combinations to secure title glory. Naturally though, this has led to lengthy periods of one-team domination in Formula 1, with Red Bull and Mercedes having traded that top spot since 2010. Red Bull would win four Drivers’ and Constructors’ title doubles from 2010-13, before Mercedes won eight Constructors’ and seven Drivers’ crowns from 2014-21, with 2021 being a rare season where these teams were effectively on a par as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton delivered an all-time great title battle. Now we are back to the days of Red Bull being on top, the Austrian outfit having sealed a fresh title double in 2022 and seemingly are well on the way to another, winning all seven races so far … [Read more...] about F1 branded a ‘joke’ and dictated by ‘politics’, blasts IndyCar legend

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Robert Marion Berry, an Arkansas Democrat who served seven terms in Congress and was known for his blunt rhetoric and advocacy for farmers and older residents, has died. He was 80. Berry, who was known as “Marion,” died Friday, his family confirmed in a statement Saturday. A cause of death was not provided. “With his signature quick wit and way with words, he lived his life in service to others," said Berry’s son, Mitch. "He truly believed that the role of government was to help people, and it was a charge he took very seriously. He was generous with his time and talents as his dozens of mentees can attest.” Berry was first elected to Congress in 1996 but decided against reelection in 2010 for health reasons. He underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor in July 2011. A licensed pharmacist and farmer, Berry was elected … [Read more...] about Former Arkansas U.S. Rep. Marion Berry, who served 7 terms, dies at 80

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — As he launches his presidential campaign on Monday, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is officially wading into a GOP primary battle already largely dominated by two commanding figures: former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Scott, the only Black Republican senator, will make his campaign announcement in his hometown of North Charleston after making it official last week with the Federal Election Commission. The late morning event is taking place at Charleston Southern University, Scott’s alma mater and a private school affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Then he'll spend Tuesday with donors in Charleston before a whirlwind, two-day campaign swing to Iowa and New Hampshire. Like others in the GOP race, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and “Woke, … [Read more...] about Tim Scott set to announce launch of his 2024 GOP presidential campaign

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 DOVER, Del. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware announced Monday that he will not seek reelection to a fifth term in the U.S. Senate. Carper's announcement paves the way for a wide-open contest for the seat he has held since 2001 in heavily-blue Delaware. It also ensures that his unblemished record of never having lost an election during more than four decades in politics remains intact. "If I ran for a fifth term in the Senate and won, it would be a record 15 statewide elections," Carper, 76, noted in prepared remarks at a Wilmington news conference. He said he and his wife, Martha, began talking months ago about what the future holds for them. “After a good deal of prayer and introspection, and more than a few heart-to-heart conversations, we’ve decided we should run through the tape over the next 20 months and finish the important work that my staff and I have begun … [Read more...] about Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware won’t seek reelection, opening up seat in liberal state

LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s ongoing medical struggles have raised a sensitive political question with no easy answer: Who would California Gov. Gavin Newsom pick to replace her if the seat becomes vacant? Despite calls from within her own party to resign, Feinstein, who turns 90 next month and is the oldest member of Congress, has given no indication that she is considering stepping down. Her frail appearance, confused interactions with reporters in Washington and the growing list of health challenges disclosed by her office continue to fan questions about her fitness for the job — now and into the future. Should a vacancy occur, a range of names, from obscure to famous — including Oprah Winfrey — have been floated in California circles as possible replacements. Newsom, who is mentioned as a possible future presidential contender, would also have to deal with political complexities, some of his own making: In 2021 he promised to appoint a Black woman should … [Read more...] about California’s Newsom faces tough question: Who would replace Feinstein?

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar , D-El Paso, unveiled bipartisan border legislation Tuesday that would offer a legal pathway to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants while investing in security measures along the borders with Mexico and Canada. The bill, dubbed the “Dignity Act,” is the latest effort in Congress to address humanitarian and economic concerns at the border and the first package of its scale this year to be presented with bipartisan support. It comes shortly after the House GOP, building on a plan crafted by Texas Republicans, passed a border bill that immigrant rights activists and Democrats decried as punitive and politically unviable. Escobar joined with Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Florida to lead the effort, with the support of Democrats Kathy Manning of North Carolina and Hillary Scholten of Michigan and Republicans Jenniffer González-Colón of Puerto Rico and Lori Chavez-DeRemer of California. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, … [Read more...] about Texas Democrat unveils bipartisan immigration plan with path to citizenship, border security spending

HARTFORD — After Gov. Ned Lamont's state Supreme Court candidate, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Slack Glover, failed to gain enough support in the powerful Judiciary Committee, leading to her subsequent withdrawal on Friday, lawmakers say the next nominee should have extensive experience in Connecticut law and courthouse procedures. Legislators on both sides of the aisle on Tuesday said Glover's two decades of working under federal rules, with little experience in Connecticut civil and criminal procedures, worked against her nomination. Her experience exacerbated committee concerns surrounding her signature among other federal law clerks that supported the nomination of conservative Amy Coney Barrett to a federal circuit court in 2017. Coney Barrett leap-frogged from that position to the U.S. Supreme Court under President Donald Trump. Rejected by the committee, Lamont will regroup and review other potential candidates for the high court in the weeks and possibly months ahead. … [Read more...] about Lawmakers want next CT Supreme Court nominee to have state experience

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Republican senators whose walkout of the Oregon Senate has prevented a quorum for almost three weeks said Tuesday they're not coming back until the very last day of the legislative session next month. The walkout, which began on May 3 ostensibly because bill summaries weren't written at an eighth grade level as required by a long-forgotten law, has derailed progress on hundreds of bills, including a sweeping measure on abortion rights and gender-affirming care that the conservatives particularly object to. An email from Republican leader Sen. Tim Knopp's office said the Republicans and Independent Sen. Brian Boquist would return on June 25, the end of the legislative session, to pass “bipartisan” budgets and bills. "We are the last line of defense to hold the majority accountable,” Knopp said. The crisis in Oregon’s statehouse is a microcosm of the deeply … [Read more...] about Boycotting Oregon GOP senators vow to stay away until last day of session