What Vice President Harris Said — And Didn’t Say — About Hurricane Relief

In a “fireside chat” with actress Priyanka Chopra, Vice President Kamala Harris said the Biden administration is “thinking about the families in Florida [and] in Puerto Rico” and “what we need to do to help them in terms of an immediate response and aid.”

But she also talked about the long-term need to ensure equitable treatment of “our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme [climate] conditions … that are not of their own making.”

Her remarks, which she made on Sept. 30, set off a tsunami of criticism from Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who accused the vice president of saying hurricane relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be based on race.

“Harris said yesterday that — or day before yesterday — that, you know, if you have a different skin color, you’re going to get relief,” Scott said in an Oct. 2 interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

Host Margaret Brennan corrected Scott, saying: “That’s not what the vice president said.” Scott replied, “That’s exactly what she meant.”

But Scott was just repeating what had become a Republican talking point about Harris’ response to Hurricane Ian, which devastated southwest Florida and South Carolina.

Two days earlier, the rapid response director of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign responded to a tweet from @EndWokeness that misleadingly claimed, “Kamala on Hurricane Ian relief: The Biden administration will focus on ‘giving resources based on equity’ by directing funds to ‘communities of color.'” Christina Pushaw, the DeSantis aide, retweeted that comment and added, “This is false. @VP’s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified. FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background.”

US Marines Warn Against Navy's FY24 Decommission Scheme

WASHINGTON | The U.S. Navy has spent more than four years repairing one of its amphibious ships, blowing past its budget by at least $99 million. Yet, the ship is still not ready to deploy.

After pouring nearly $300 million into its repairs, the service says it would prefer to simply decommission the ship and move on.

In fact, the Navy would like to decommission the nine other vessels in this class of amphibious dock landing ships, all of which need significant repairs. Some have more than a decade of planned service life left, but the Navy says it would rather spend its money on other capabilities than attempt to repair them.

Mural Dedicated to Tuskegee Airmen Legend Unveiled at Boston Airport

Everyone passing through the USO office at Logan Airport will now be greeted by the face and story of the 95-year-old World War II Tuskegee Airman legend Enoch O’Dell “Woody” Woodhouse II.

“When people come by this place,” Woodhouse said, noting the possible visitors passing through from all around the world. “They’re going to look up here and say, ‘My God, this is what the governor of Massachusetts thought of a Roxbury guy, a guy from the so-called ‘ghetto.'”

Kim Kardashian Settlement Will Cool Celebrity Crypto Craze

If the federal government wanted to make an example out of a celebrity failing to disclose payment for promoting a cryptocurrency, you can’t do better than Kim Kardashian.  

Social media’s reigning queen and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) came to a settlement announced Monday in which she agreed to pay a fine of $1.26 million and not participate in any crypto promotions for three years in return for admitting no wrongdoing in connection to touting EthereumMax without specifying the $250,000 compensation. 

This is notable, as it is the highest fine the SEC has levied to date on a celebrity for crypto shenanigans — an indication that the feds were looking to send a signal to other stars willing to play fast and loose with promotional guidelines. 

‘Game of Thrones’ Fans Boycott George R.R. Martin’s Next Book, Accusing Coauthors of Racism

Bestselling fantasy author and “House of the Dragon” executive producer George R.R. Martin is caught in the crossfire of the heated battle over inclusive casting — and some of his fans are calling for a boycott of his upcoming book due to comments by its coauthors.

Out Oct. 25, “The Rise of the Dragon: An Illustrated History of the Targaryen Dynasty, Volume One” is being touted as a “deluxe reference book” for those itching to learn more about Westeros’ most powerful family. When Martin publicized it on social media last week, thousands of fans responded in outrage, many calling out the problematic behavior and “history of racism” of his coauthors, married couple Linda Antonsson and Elio M. García Jr. “I will not be buying anything with Linda and Elio attached to it,” one wrote, while others urged Martin to sever ties with the pair.

Now the coauthors are fighting back, with Antonsson insisting to 'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' Entertainment that she is not a racist and García saying he feels under attack for sticking to his views about Martin’s original works.

The “Game of Thrones” superfans have been collaborating with Martin since before HBO’s hit adaptation of his “A Song of Ice and Fire” books. Soon after Antonsson and García created the online forum Westeros.org in 1999, Martin recruited them as fact-checkers for his book “A Feast for Crows.” In 2014, they served as coauthors on “The World of Ice & Fire,” an illustrated companion book for the series of novels.

Tua Injury: Updates, Thoughts, and Questions

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will miss the Week 5 game against the New York Jets

Before the Miami Dolphins returned to practice Monday for the first time since their Thursday night loss against the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Mike McDaniel announced that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not play against the New York Jets in Week 5.

McDaniel says it was premature to decide whether Tagovailoa will be going on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games, and that the quarterback was doing better the last two days.

Tagovailoa is in the concussion protocol as a result of the scary-looking injury that led to him being carted off on a stretch at Paycor Stadium in the second quarter of the Dolphins' 27-15.

Doctor Who Examined Tagovailoa Is Dismissed; N.F.L. Assessing Concussion Rules

After Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained two head injuries in the last week, a neurologist who was part of the process that allowed him to return to the field was removed.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s head slammed against the turf during the Miami Dolphins game
against Buffalo last Sunday. He also appeared to sustain a head injury in a game on Thursday.

The N.F.L. Players Association has dismissed a neurologist who evaluated Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after Tagovailoa hit his head in a game against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. Tagovailoa was allowed to return to that game, only to be carted off the field during a game four days later after apparently sustaining a second head injury.

The dismissal came hours before the players’ union and the N.F.L. announced on Saturday that they were working to modify the league’s concussion protocol, perhaps within days.