WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is planning to attend the Nationwide Affiliation of Black Journalists’ annual conference in Chicago on Wednesday.

In a press release launched Monday night time, the Trump marketing campaign stated the Republican presidential nominee would take part in a query and reply session “that may think about probably the most urgent points dealing with the Black group.”

Trump’s marketing campaign has spent months scheduling appearances in areas exterior his conventional strongholds of help, together with when he attended — and was roundly booed at — the Libertarian Occasion conference in Washington earlier this 12 months.

In its announcement, the marketing campaign trumpeted Trump insurance policies that it argued benefited Black Individuals throughout his first time period.

President Joe Biden has seen his favorability charge amongst Black voters fall dramatically since he took workplace in 2021. However the race in opposition to Trump has been shaken up for the reason that president stepped apart and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris — who could be the primary Black lady and the primary South Asian American to be elected president if she wins in November.

NEW YORK — Donald Trump on Monday appeared to again away from his earlier dedication to debate Vice President Kamala Harris, questioning the worth of a meetup and saying he “most likely” will debate however he “may also make a case for not doing it.”

Trump, in an interview with Fox Information Channel that aired Monday evening, was pressed a number of instances about committing to debating Harris earlier than giving a squishier reply than he had in latest days.

The Republican former president had been wanting to debate President Joe Biden when he was the Democratic nominee after months of suggesting that Biden was not mentally up for the matchup — or the presidency. However after Biden dropped out of the race and Harris grew to become poised to be the Democratic presidential candidate, Trump has been questioning the phrases of the unique debate he agreed to with Biden. He has urged the Sept. 10 debate on ABC Information ought to be moved to a special community, calling ABC “faux information.”

Final week, in a cellphone name with reporters, Trump was requested if he’d decide to debating Harris no less than as soon as. He responded: “Oh sure, completely. I might need to,” and stated there was an obligation to debate.

Within the interview Monday, host Laura Ingraham repeatedly pressed Trump on whether or not he would decide to a debate.

“I need to do a debate. However I can also say this. Everyone is aware of who I’m. And now individuals know who she is,” Trump stated.

Trump ultimately stated, “The reply is sure, I will most likely find yourself debating.”

He went on for a minute, saying any debates should be held earlier than early voting begins in states, after which added, “The reply is sure, however I may also make a case for not doing it.”

Trump has skipped debates earlier than, together with all of the 2024 Republican presidential main debates. He initially did not take part after suggesting the timing was too early after which questioning the venue of one other earlier than ultimately making it clear he wouldn’t take part in any of these debates.

The Republican candidate additionally sought within the interview Monday to make clear feedback he made final week at a conservative occasion during which he advised an viewers of Christians that they “received’t should vote anymore” after he is elected.

He urged Christians, who he claims don’t vote in excessive numbers, to vote “simply this time,” and stated, “You received’t should do it anymore.”

In 4 years, he stated: “It’ll be fastened, it’ll be fantastic. You received’t should vote anymore, my stunning Christians,” he stated.

He added moments later: “In 4 years, you don’t should vote once more. We’ll have it fastened so good, you’re not gonna should vote.”

The feedback drew alarm from Democrats and others who famous Trump’s sample of utilizing authoritarian language, his earlier feedback that he would solely be a dictator on “day one” and his habits after dropping the 2020 presidential election, during which he refused to simply accept the outcomes and sought to overturn them.

His marketing campaign and supporters supplied varied explanations for Trump’s feedback, and Ingraham prodded him to clarify what he meant.

“They do not vote and I’m explaining that to ’em. ‘You by no means vote.’ This time, vote. I’ll straighten out the nation. You received’t should vote anymore. I will not want your vote,” Trump stated.

Ingraham requested if he meant Christians will not have to vote for him as a result of he’ll solely have 4 years in workplace.

Trump began his reply by talking about voting charges of Christians and gun house owners, and Ingraham interrupted to ask him once more.

“Don’t fear concerning the future. Vote, on, you must vote on November fifth. After that, you don’t have to fret about voting anymore. I don’t care as a result of we will repair up, the nation will likely be fastened and we received’t even want your vote anymore as a result of frankly, we can have such love. In the event you don’t need to vote anymore, that’s okay,” Trump stated.

Trump made comparable feedback final month at one other Christian-focused occasion, during which he lamented the voting charges of Christians and implored them to take part within the election.

“In 4 years, you don’t should vote, OK? In 4 years, don’t vote. I don’t care,” he stated.

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Related Press author Adriana Gomez Licón in West Palm Seashore, Florida, contributed to this report.

LAKE FOREST, Ailing. (AP) — Chicago Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has skilled some ups and downs throughout his first eight days of coaching camp.

Regardless of his occasional struggles, the primary choose of the 2024 draft from Southern California believes he’s making progress.

“I believe I’m on monitor to be prepared,” Williams stated. “I’m precisely the place I have to be and the place they need me to be. I’m excited.

“Each day I get up, I’m studying one thing new. Preparing for the season, preseason and these subsequent practices. Very excited, nonetheless progressing.”

The Bears haven’t determined whether or not or how a lot Williams will play in Thursday night time’s preseason opener, the Corridor of Fame Recreation in opposition to the Houston Texans at Canton, Ohio. Coach Matt Eberflus was anticipated to announce his plans for the sport on Tuesday, however Williams sees the upside in getting taking part in time in opposition to principally backups in an additional preseason recreation.

“The reps are at all times paramount for anyone like myself — a younger rookie, second-year man, third-year man — it’s paramount,” Williams stated. “It’s actually vital and we’ll see about these preseason video games arising, how they play out.”

Williams has struggled at occasions with easy issues just like the cadence or getting performs off earlier than the play clock expires. At different occasions, he flashes brilliance along with his throws.

At Monday’s observe, he made two passes into tight home windows for touchdowns at the back of the tip zone. Linebacker Jack Sanborn needed to marvel at one.

“I imply, he made a throw within the again that I even gave him slightly high-five for, trigger it’s spectacular,” Sanborn stated.

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has been inspired by Williams’ capacity to simply accept the place he wants to enhance and to work at it.

“I believe that every day enchancment and that constructive mindset that he exhibits up with each single day, each of these issues give him an opportunity to be nice as a result of he works laborious and he does all the fitting issues round and main as much as each single observe,” Waldron stated.

At Saturday’s observe, Williams was picked off by reserve gamers on successive performs and in addition had a soccer knocked out of his hand by edge rusher Montez Sweat, who isn’t supposed to the touch the quarterback in observe. It wasn’t Williams’ greatest day, however he bounced again on Monday after a time without work.

“I’m at all times robust in regards to the errors,” Williams stated. “That’s the half about me that drives every thing, being robust on myself, being robust on the errors that occur, whether or not it’s (missed assignments), a turnover or something like that, being robust on myself and understanding that there are going to be errors.”

Williams continues to look forward when he’s correcting errors.

“I do know it’s getting ready me for these video games late within the season, these preseason video games arising,” he stated. “Clearly, I’m going versus this protection on daily basis, in order that they make it robust on me.”

A side of Williams’ recreation most evident within the first week of observe was how he can prolong a play exterior the pocket and improvise for an enormous throw. He hit Tyler Scott on a deep ball final week off one such play.

That capacity was a difference-maker at USC for Williams throughout his 2022 Heisman Trophy-winning season and once more final yr.

“It’s a wholesome of steadiness of engaged on it and understanding, feeling the offensive line and the place they’re going, the line of defense and issues like that, the play, the scheme that you’ve got been working that play and getting after it and letting it rip,” Williams stated.

Maybe the hardest half for Williams is assembly his personal expectations.

“Clearly there’s going to be difficult occasions,” he stated. “It’s not that it’s not coming faster or slower than I anticipated.

“It’s kind of simply myself, after I exit on the sphere, I anticipate myself to not mess up. It’s simply how I’m.”

The 2 interceptions had been examples of it.

“And so after I do, it’s irritating, and I’d suppose for any quarterback within the league — there’s solely 32 of us which can be beginning — for any quarterback within the league, I’d anticipate them to be the identical of if you go on the market you anticipate to haven’t any (missed assignments), no interceptions, no turnovers and issues like that.

“And if you do, it’s irritating. Nevertheless it’s the way you reply and react to these irritating occasions is if you develop and get higher.”

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PARIS (AP) — Heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk has come to Paris to assist Ukrainian athletes on the Olympics amid conflict at house.

On Monday, he visited the Ukrainian Home in Paris and from there he watched the fencing competitors by which Ukrainian Olga Kharlan received the bronze medal in ladies’s particular person saber, marking the primary medal for Ukraine on the 2024 Olympics.

“My private want was, and I in all probability knew, that Olga is a kind of individuals who would convey a medal for Ukraine,” Usyk advised the Related Press minutes after Ukrainian fencer received the medal.

Usyk expressed hope that there can be extra medals because the competitions proceed. He emphasised that the presence of the Ukrainian crew is important, contemplating the each day missile strikes, broken sports activities infrastructure, and Russian occupation of areas that have been house to many athletes.

“We’re at conflict. However our athletes nonetheless got here,” he mentioned. “They’re combating.”

On each of his arms, he has tattoos of the Olympic rings. One in every of them is labeled “London 2012,” the place he received the gold medal within the heavyweight class.

“We assist all our Olympians who’re right here in Paris representing our nation,” he mentioned. “The extra awards for us, the higher.”

One in every of Ukraine’s most outstanding athletes is the boxer Oleksandr Khyzhniak, who misplaced his gold-medal last in Tokyo and is now again to combat for it once more on the 2024 Olympics.

“He has unfinished enterprise that he has set for himself, which is the Olympic gold,” Usyk mentioned. “Alex is striving for it.”

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AP Summer season Olympics:

A United Airways flight was pressured to divert after a passenger fell so sick on board that it prompted what one crew member reportedly known as a “biohazard” – and made crewmates and different passengers begin vomiting.

The airplane, Flight 2477 heading from Houston to Boston on Sunday, ended up touchdown in Washington DC so it might bear “a deep clear”, the New York Submit reported.

The paper reported on an audio recording – posted to X, previously referred to as Twitter – of a crew member describing the state of affairs. “I talked to the crew and it sounds prefer it’s fairly dangerous again there. The crew is vomiting, and passengers throughout are asking for masks,” the audio mentioned.

The crew member added: “With this type of being a biohazard, I believe we have to get this airplane on the bottom ASAP.”

In an announcement, United informed the newspaper: “The plane is at the moment present process a deep clear and we’re working to get prospects on their method to Boston quickly.”

A United Airways flight from Houston to Boston diverted to Northern Virginia on Sunday after “after a buyer skilled a medical subject,” based on United.

The airline didn’t disclose the character of the sickness on flight 2477, however a radio site visitors recording shared by flight monitoring firm RadarBox suggests there might have been some form of biohazard on board.

“It is fairly unhealthy again there. It is nonetheless actually unhealthy. The crew is vomiting and passengers throughout are asking for masks, and so forth.” says a voice on the recording, presumably from the flight crew. RadarBox credited the recording to @Thenewarea51, which in flip credited the audio to Invoice B. on X, previously Twitter. “Particularly this sort of being a biohazard, I feel we have to most likely get this aircraft on the bottom ASAP.”

There have been 155 passengers and 6 crew members on board, and none required medical help upon arrival at Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport, based on United.

United stated the Boeing 737-800 obtained a “deep clear” and departed with passengers and crew at 5:17 p.m. ET.

The airline’s flight tracker reveals the flight obtained to Boston greater than 5 hours late.

The revenue hole between white and Black younger adults was narrower for millenials than for Technology X, based on a brand new examine that additionally discovered the chasm between white folks born to rich and poor dad and mom widened between the generations.

By age 27, Black People born in 1978 to poor dad and mom ended up incomes nearly $13,000 a yr lower than white People born to poor dad and mom. That hole had narrowed to about $9,500 for these born in 1992, based on the examine launched final week by researchers at Harvard College and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The shrinking hole between races was because of higher revenue mobility for poor Black youngsters and drops in mobility for low-income white youngsters, mentioned the examine, which confirmed little change in earnings outcomes for different race and ethnicity teams throughout this time interval.

A key issue was the employment charges of the communities that folks lived in as youngsters. Mobility improved for Black people the place employment charges for Black dad and mom elevated. In communities the place parental employment charges declined, mobility dropped for white people, the examine mentioned.

“Outcomes enhance … for youngsters who develop up in communities with rising parental employment charges, with bigger results for youngsters who transfer to such communities at youthful ages,” mentioned researchers, who used census figures and information from revenue tax returns to trace the modifications.

In distinction, the category hole widened for white folks between the generations — Gen Xers born from 1965 to 1980 and millennials born from 1981 to 1996.

White People born to poor dad and mom in 1978 earned about $10,300 lower than than white People born to rich dad and mom. For these born in 1992, that class hole elevated to about $13,200 due to declining mobility for folks born into low-income households and rising mobility for these born into high-income households, the examine mentioned.

There was little change within the class hole between Black People born into each low-income and high-income households since they skilled comparable enhancements in earnings.

This shrinking hole between the races, and rising class hole amongst white folks, additionally was documented in instructional attainment, standardized take a look at scores, marriage charges and mortality, the researchers mentioned.

There additionally had been regional variations.

Black folks from low-income households noticed the best financial mobility within the southeast and industrial Midwest. Financial mobility declined essentially the most for white folks from low-income households within the Nice Plains and components of the coasts.

The researchers urged that policymakers might encourage mobility by investing in colleges or youth mentorship packages when a group is hit with financial shocks similar to a plant closure and by rising connections between totally different racial and financial teams by altering zoning restrictions or college district boundaries.

“Importantly, social communities are formed not simply by the place folks reside however by race and sophistication inside neighborhoods,” the researchers mentioned. “One method to rising alternative is subsequently to extend connections between communities.”

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Observe Mike Schneider on the social platform X: @MikeSchneiderAP.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson may have simply politely not answered the query. Athletes do this on a regular basis. Or he may have answered it in a means that wasn’t so…so…so him. On the very least, Watson may have used the chance to point out that he lastly will get it. Or is attempting to. However no. Nope. Nah.

Watson went full Watson and it is best to by no means, ever go full Watson.

What Watson stated is not essentially a shock but it surely’s a window into who he’s as an individual. This might not be an issue for the Browns as a result of, in the long run, what issues to them is how Watson performs. In the event that they had been involved about Watson the individual, they would not have signed him within the first place.

All of this began with a easy query. Watson was requested what he is modified getting into this season versus his earlier two with Cleveland.

This was his reply: “Actually, it is actually simply blocking out all of the bull—- exterior. Stuff coming in two years, totally different atmosphere, totally different crew, totally different all that. So, you are available in and your character is being talked about this manner and it form of flip on you and also you’re attempting to get folks to love you or enhance. However now it is like, on the finish of the day, it is two years in and if you happen to do not like me or you’ve got your individual opinion, it’s what it’s.

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“… Blocking out all of the noise and specializing in me, specializing in what I must do to be the very best Deshaun Watson I may be for myself, for my household and for my teammates.”

MORE:Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns keep away from camp holdout with restructured deal

Learn this quote fastidiously and pay shut consideration to the “blocking out all of the bull—-” a part of it. It is exceptional, truly. The last word meme. Take your decide of which one. Possibly this. It is like somebody punching themselves within the face after which saying: I will block out all of the ache of a self-inflicted damaged nostril and give attention to me, the one that punched himself within the face.

What sort of logic is that?

Greater than two dozen ladies have accused Watson of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct throughout therapeutic massage periods. The NFL suspended him for 11 video games. As has been mentioned by many individuals, many occasions, if you happen to consider all and even most of these ladies are mendacity, you’re a full idiot.

Extra importantly, Watson put himself in these conditions. These had been his alleged actions.

What Watson stated will get even worse. When requested if it has been troublesome to dam the surface noise, Watson stated: “In fact. My character was being challenged. Like I stated, I do know who I’m. Lots of people by no means actually knew my historical past or knew who I actually was, so they are going based mostly off different folks’s opinions and no matter different individuals are saying.

“I am an individual that likes to have folks like me and I really feel like lots of people are like that. So, generally issues in your mind, you’ve got simply bought to churn and you have to simply be like, ‘Neglect it.’ It’s what it’s.”

Once more, it will have been higher for him to close up. It is OK to have an inside voice.

Watson would reply to this criticism by saying he is harmless. That he did nothing fallacious. He’d say it is his proper to defend himself. However Watson nonetheless would not perceive that for most individuals who aren’t dupes or sycophants, after they see accusations from dozens of ladies, they consider the ladies. They do not dwell within the fantasy world he inhabits. Few folks do.

What’s clear is that as time passes, Watson is beginning to really feel extra snug speaking about that second, and these feedback present him, in a means, attempting to rewrite that historical past. However he cannot. Everyone knows what Watson is accused of and what number of ladies made these accusations.

Watson cannot discuss his means out of this. Ever.

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WHITE SULFUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — I’ve tried. I’ve actually tried with Deshaun Watson. I defended the Browns pursuing him as a result of Baker Mayfield wasn’t ok they usually wanted to improve an important place. Regardless of all his authorized points, Watson was the perfect quarterback obtainable on the time. 

However Watson isn’t and has by no means been a sufferer in any of this. 

Greater than two dozen ladies stated he harassed or assaulted them throughout therapeutic massage appointments. Greater than two dozen civil lawsuits in opposition to him or the Houston Texans have been settled in confidential agreements.

Shortly after arriving on the Greenbrier this week for the beginning of coaching camp, Watson was requested a normal, mundane camp query about rehab from his shoulder surgical procedure and if something has modified together with his method. Right here was his reply. 

“I believe, actually, it’s actually simply blocking out all of the bull—-,” he stated. “It was powerful coming in two years in the past, totally different atmosphere, totally different group, totally different all that. So that you are available and your character’s been talked about this manner after which type of flip on you and the largest factor, you’re attempting to get individuals to love you or enhance. However now it’s like, on the finish of the day, it’s two years in and in case you don’t like me or you’ve got your individual opinions, then, yeah, it’s what it’s. So, I believe blocking out all of the noise and specializing in me and specializing in what I must do to be the perfect Deshaun Watson I may very well be for myself, my household and my teammates.”

Blocking out the noise is okay and vital for profitable quarterback play. Taking part in the sufferer card as a result of individuals query his character and pouting as a result of individuals could not like him is nauseating and pointless. He did this to himself.

I notice final 12 months was extremely troublesome on Watson, first with the season-ending shoulder harm after which the best way town fell onerous for Joe Flacco. 

Cleveland followers have by no means actually embraced Watson, and positively to not the extent they swooned for Flacco throughout his unimaginable month of December. For Watson, that needed to be powerful and maybe a bit embarrassing to endure.

However right here’s the half he can management: Flacco arrived and instantly thrived in Kevin Stefanski’s play-action offense. He made it look precisely the way it’s speculated to look. There have been too many interceptions, sure, however Flacco ran the offense higher than Watson. He had a lot success within the system that he walked away with the NFL’s Comeback Participant of the Yr primarily based on 5 video games. 

So what did the Browns do in response? Fired the offensive coordinator and overhauled an offense that was lastly thriving as a result of it wasn’t the franchise quarterback who was making it go. It was the retired man off the pickleball court docket. Can’t have that. Can’t embarrass the $230 million man like that.  

The Browns are all the best way on this now. They must do no matter it takes to appease Watson and cater to him, even when it means scrapping an offense that we lastly noticed for a month carry out optimally when run successfully. 

The issue is Watson by no means actually seemed comfy doing it. So Ken Dorsey is right here as the brand new offensive coordinator to deliver a few of the shotgun/unfold ideas that made Cam Newton and Josh Allen nice quarterbacks. No less than Stefanski held onto play-calling duties. He’s now a two-time Coach of the Yr. He ought to be calling performs so long as he desires the job. 

The extra troubling theme, past the scheme and on-field efficiency, is the best way Watson spoke like a person who in some way has been wronged in all of this. 

“My character was getting challenged,” Watson stated. “I do know who I’m, and lots of people by no means actually knew my historical past. I knew who I actually was, in order that they’re going primarily based off different individuals’s opinions and no matter different persons are saying. However yeah, I’m an individual. I prefer to have individuals like me, and I really feel like lots of people are like that. So typically issues are in your mind, you simply gotta flip and simply gotta neglect it. It’s what it’s.”

Watson has by no means actually proven a lot regret or taken sufficient accountability for his alleged predatory actions.

Solely as soon as did Watson present any kind of contrition, which was in a pregame interview earlier than his first preseason recreation as a member of the Browns. 

“I wish to say that I’m really sorry to the entire ladies that I’ve impacted on this state of affairs,” Watson stated earlier than his debut at Jacksonville. “The choices that I made in my life that put me on this place I’d undoubtedly prefer to have again, however I wish to proceed to maneuver ahead and develop and study and present that I’m a real individual of character and I’m going to maintain pushing ahead.”

It was a vital and prudent first step — however sadly, the one time he has ever proven regret. He walked again a lot of his apology at his subsequent media availability the next week and has remained defiant and unapologetic ever since.

That lack of regret is what Choose Sue L. Robinson famous when she initially suspended Watson for six video games.

I imagine Watson has gotten some actually dangerous recommendation by way of all of this. His group, a minimum of to my data, by no means employed a disaster administration group to start mitigating the PR harm. He by no means was out entrance on any charity work involving ladies’s abuse victims. 

As an alternative, he went to Saudi Arabia over the offseason — a rustic with a horrific report on human rights and particularly ladies’s rights — and took to social media to rave about what an excellent time he had there. 

Watson’s involvement in quite a few lawsuits definitely was a think about what he may or couldn’t say publicly. However two years later, he nonetheless can’t perceive why individuals could not like him? Or perceive why the neighborhood has been gradual to embrace him? Actually? 

The uncomfortable reality in all of that is that if Watson can keep wholesome and return to the shape he confirmed in Houston — if he can thrive on this new offense — many Browns followers will finally embrace him. Successful is a deodorant, as Stefanski has typically stated. Even in relation to overlaying up sexual misconduct. 

Till then, we get gems like this from Watson: “I don’t give two f—s what different individuals say, to be trustworthy.” 

Then let’s be trustworthy. Most NFL followers don’t care what he has to say, both. Till he says “I’m sorry.”

(Picture: Nick Cammett / Getty Photographs)