By Steven Poole, CNN Updated 1210 GMT (2010 HKT) March 8, 2021 (CNN) By the time the first bell rang and Joe Frazier came bobbing towards him, Muhammad Ali was already four years into a fight that helped define him as one of the 20th century's most influential figures. Under the lights at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, Ali was once again fighting for the world title and, for many fans, boxing's true heavyweight champion had finally returned from exile. Banished as one of the most electrifying and polarizing figures of the late 1960s, Ali had become the face of protest, and the man to unite the anti-war movement with the ongoing struggle for civil rights and racial equality. Seconds out, round one For the "Fight of the Century," everyone who was anyone sat ringside. Read More There was Frank Sinatra, hanging on the ring apron as a photographer for Life magazine; and writer Norman Mailer putting words to the action. Singers and actors -- Barbra … [Read more...] about ‘The Fight of the Century’: A divided US nation 50 years on
Late night with seth meyer
Three things every state can learn from the Texas utility meltdown
Late-night hosts and pundits were quick to poke fun at the Texas power system when scenes of winter storm devastation there began rolling in. But the challenges facing Texas are not unique to Texas. Similar organizations control electricity in much of the country, and utilities everywhere face damage from severe storms. The struggles facing Texas today could be yours tomorrow. So, what can we learn from Texas’s woes? Reliability isn’t always rewarded Wholesale power markets serve about 60 percent of the United States. These markets, where power companies compete to sell their electricity, incentivize low-cost production. Companies offer their electricity, typically at a price per hour, on exchanges run by operators like Texas’s ERCOT. Those operators figure out how much electricity is needed across the regions they serve and choose the lowest-cost bidders to supply it — meaning power generators have an incentive to bid low and sell as much electricity as possible. … [Read more...] about Three things every state can learn from the Texas utility meltdown
The Four-Year Swing That Saved America’s Safety Net
John McCain kills the “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act on July 27, 2017. Photo: AP/YouTube There’s been a lot of justified talk about how the Biden COVID-19 stimulus bill that passed the Senate over the weekend represents one of the largest expansions of federal assistance to low-to-moderate-income families since, well, pick your precedent, from a list that includes FDR’s New Deal and LBJ’s Great Society. The bill’s ultimate legacy, of course, will be determined later. Will its many temporary provisions (notably, boosts in the child tax credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit) be made permanent? And what will follow it as the Biden administration’s next act, which will presumably address the broad outlines of the health-care system and anti-poverty programs? But even at this preliminary stage of the 46th presidency, we’re seeing quite the turnaround from the social-policy trajectory of the 45th. Just 1,320 days ago, the Trump-and-congressional-Republican plan to … [Read more...] about The Four-Year Swing That Saved America’s Safety Net
Team LeBron Wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150
ATLANTA (AP) — In the midst of a pandemic, this was assured of being an NBA All-Star Game like no other. The stands were mostly empty. The crowd noise was largely piped in. There were no A-list celebrities sitting courtside. Two players had to sit out after getting haircuts. READ MORE: Serena Williams, Gabrielle Union Express Support For Meghan Markle, Prince Harry After Bombshell Interview But in the end, it had a familiar feel. Team LeBron won again. Knocking down shots from all over the court, LeBron James’ powerhouse squad closed the first half with a dominating run to set up a 170-150 romp over Team Durant in the league’s 70th midseason showcase Sunday night. The top vote-getters in each conference have picked the teams the last four years, a duty that James has earned every season. He’s now 4-0, having defeated Stephen Curry’s squad in 2018 and teams selected by Milwaukee’s two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo the previous two years. This time, James … [Read more...] about Team LeBron Wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150
Team LeBron wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for March 7 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. ATLANTA — In the midst of a pandemic, this was assured of being an NBA All-Star Game like no other. The stands were mostly empty. The crowd noise was largely piped in. There were no A-list celebrities sitting courtside. Two players had to sit out after getting haircuts. But in the end, it had a familiar feel. NETS' KYRIE IRVING IN HOT WATER WITH NBA PRIOR TO ALL-STAR GAME Team LeBron won again. Knocking down shots from all over the court, LeBron James' powerhouse squad closed the first half with a dominating run to set up a 170-150 romp over Team Durant in the league's 70th midseason showcase Sunday night. Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell blocks a shot by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert during the second half of basketball's NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Sunday, March 7, 2021. (AP … [Read more...] about Team LeBron wins NBA All-Star Game 170-150