November 20, 2023, Chicago

Chairman Ni Pin and Chairman Hu Wei,

Ambassador Baucus,

Ambassador Branstad,

Governors and mayors,

Senators, congressmen and congresswomen,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to be in Chicago, the hub of the United States, to join friends old and new in exploring the right way forward for China and the United States. This year marks the coming-of-age of the China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC). Over the past 18 years, the CGCC has provided an important platform for exchanges between entrepreneurs of our two countries, and played a positive role in promoting bilateral economic cooperation. CGCC Chicago has been actively involved, giving a strong boost to investment, trade and cultural exchanges between China and the American Midwest. Let me first express my warm greetings and heartfelt thanks to all those who have long supported bilateral investment and cooperation and the development of China-U.S. relations!

I just came back from San Francisco, where I had the privilege to participate in the summit meeting between our two Presidents and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The summit meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden in San Francisco a few days ago is of special significance, producing fruitful outcomes and attracting worldwide attention. It is a highlight in the China-U.S. relationship this year, a milestone in the history of bilateral relations, and also a major event in international relations. During the visit, I witnessed how the two Presidents set the direction for China-U.S. relations at this critical moment, sensed the eagerness of both peoples for greater exchanges and cooperation, and also felt more acutely the extensive common interests between our two countries and the profound public support for China-U.S. friendship.

The visit helped to put in place the pillars for China-U.S. relations. The two Presidents had a four-hour-long candid, comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views on strategic and overarching issues critical to the direction of China-U.S. relations. President Xi pointed out that for China and the United States, turning our back on each other is not an option. It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other. Any conflict and confrontation would have unbearable consequences for both sides. The right approach is to respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation. China is committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with the United States. We are willing to be its partner and friend. At the same time, we have interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld, and red lines that must not be crossed. In particular, the U.S. side should stop arming Taiwan, and support China’s peaceful reunification.

The visit fostered a future-oriented San Francisco vision. The journey from Bali to San Francisco has not been an easy one. But San Francisco should not be the finish line. President Xi emphasized that China and the United States need to jointly develop a right perception toward each other, and find the right answer to the fundamental and overarching question as to whether we are adversaries or partners; jointly manage disagreements effectively, and refrain from flip-flopping, being provocative, or crossing the lines; jointly advance mutually beneficial cooperation, including in such areas as counternarcotics, law enforcement and AI; jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries, and coordinate and connect our initiatives; and jointly promote people-to-people exchanges, and support greater interactions and communication between our peoples. These are the five pillars that have laid out a roadmap for the sound, steady and sustained growth of China-U.S. relations.

The visit reached more than 20 important deliverables in multiple areas, including: establishing government talks on AI and launching the Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s; setting up a working group on counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. side lifting its sanction on relevant Chinese institutions; agreeing to work toward a significant further increase in scheduled passenger flights early next year, and expanding cultural, sports, youth and business exchanges; in terms of principles related to China-U.S. relations, stressing the importance of all countries treating each other with respect and finding a way to live alongside each other peacefully, and of maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, upholding the U.N. Charter, cooperating in areas of shared interest, and responsibly managing competitive aspects of the relationship, so as to provide guidelines for bringing China-U.S. relations back to the right track.

The visit also renewed the goodwill between the two peoples. At the welcome dinner hosted by friendly organizations in the United States, President Xi fondly recounted his friendship with the American people, stressing that the more difficulties there are, the greater the need for us to forge a closer bond between our peoples. President Xi also expressed China’s readiness to continue cooperation with the United States on panda conservation, and to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years. 

President Xi’s old friends in the United States, including those from Iowa who have known him for more than four decades, a 103-year-old Flying Tigers veteran, the descendants of General Joseph Stilwell, Kuliang Friends and those from the Washington state, joined him in San Francisco for a heartwarming reunion. Also, an American family, dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, warmly welcomed President Xi, holding up a board with handwritten Chinese characters “Welcome, President Xi! We love you!” All these touching episodes have made us even more confident that the friendship between our peoples will surely weather wind and rain and continue to thrive.

Dear friends,

We are living in a time of changes and chaos, when challenges abound. The crisis in Ukraine is lingering on. The Middle East is again engulfed in conflicts. The recovery of the world economy remains sluggish. And global production and supply chains are facing new disruptions. China-U.S. cooperation is indispensable for both developing bilateral relations and creating a better future for the entire world. The China-U.S. relationship has never been smooth sailing, and we are still facing many difficulties and challenges. The theme of this annual gala, “Let’s Move Forward”, reflects the readiness of both sides to implement our Presidents’ important common understandings, and also our aspiration to embark on a new journey from San Francisco onward.

The two sides need to rise to the challenges, and act on the important common understandings reached in San Francisco. To do anything, attitude comes first, action is the key, and real effect is what matters most. At the summit meeting, President Biden noted that a stable and growing China is good for the United States and the whole world, and reiterated that the United States does not support “Taiwan independence”, does not seek a new Cold War, and does not seek to contain or suppress China’s development or to decouple with China. It is important to move in the same direction, follow up on the important common understandings reached between the two Presidents, and translate the commitments into concrete policies and real actions. It is important to avoid backpedaling, still less saying one thing but doing another. The two sides need to respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation, so as to turn the San Francisco vision into reality and further improve China-U.S. relations.

The two sides need to follow the rules and bring bilateral economic relations back to the right track. Earlier this month, IMF upgraded China’s GDP growth forecasts for this year to 5.4%, speaking volumes about the confidence of the international community in the Chinese economy. Right now, more than 7,000 Chinese companies are doing business in the United States. The Chinese-funded members of the CGCC alone have invested a total of over US$137 billion in the United States, creating over 230,000 jobs directly. Many of you attended the sixth China International Import Expo a few weeks ago. Altogether, over 230 American businesses participated in the event, taking up the largest exhibition area for six years in a row. China’s development is a blessing for the world, and the success of China and the United States is an opportunity for each other.

Sanction is never a solution, and will only create more problems. It is important to follow the will of our peoples, respect market rules and uphold free trade, and resolutely say no to any attempt to politicize economic issues on the pretext of security.

The two sides need to bring out the vitality, and foster closer ties between the peoples and at the subnational level. The Midwest is known as the granary and the industrial heartland of America. It is home to 30% of American companies on the Fortune Global 500, and it exports 70% of the world’s grains and soybeans. The Midwest is also a promising land for China-U.S. economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. The first pair of sister cities between our two countries was between Nanjing, Jiangsu province and St. Louis, Missouri. Chinese companies including Wanxiang and Fuyao have invested in projects here, writing more stories of China-U.S. mutually beneficial cooperation.

It is hoped that the U.S. side will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies. And I count on CGCC Chicago to continue building bridges and providing solutions for its members, pool the strength of our two peoples, and make the pie of win-win cooperation bigger, so as to inject more stability into China-U.S. relations and positive energy into the world.

Dear friends,

Martin Luther King once said in Chicago, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Let’s embark on a new journey starting from San Francisco, move forward with no delay, and jointly usher in a better future for China-U.S. relations and our two peoples!

Thank you.

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Striking gold may seem like something only heard of in history books now, but there still are numerous places in the United States where you can hit a literal jackpot and take some gold flakes or even a nugget home.

California boasts the most famous gold rush in the country, dating back to 1848. Hundreds of thousands of people poured into California the following year—the largest mass migration in U.S. history—which also explains why San Francisco’s football team is called the 49ers.

But California isn’t the only place speckled with the shining metal. Colorado first struck gold in 1858 near present-day Denver. Arizona saw its first gold rush in 1858, too, at the Gila River near Yuma. Alaska’s gold rush, also known as the Klondike Gold Rush, started in 1896 in Canada’s Yukon territory.

Gold rushes nationwide brought new settlers, and these discovery sites grew into flourishing cities. San Francisco and Boulder, Colorado, for example, are among the metropolises that originated from the gold rush era. Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Wisconsin are all known as great states for gold seekers.

The allure of gold continues to mesmerize people today, leading many to travel throughout the states. These glittery-eyed prospectors, however, still have to keep certain rules in mind, according to the Department of the Interior. They must check if prospecting is permitted and research any regulations on searching for gold and metals. Gold seekers must also gain permission from landowners to start their search. Some public lands, like national parks, don’t allow prospecting, but other areas under the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management may allow it.

However, gold panning isn’t just about finding gold; it’s about connecting with other adventurers and reliving a vital moment in American history. SD Bullion researched five places for you to start your glittering adventure, whether it’s panning for gold or learning about a place’s history.

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The 2024 US presidential election race is well and truly underway.

President Joe Biden is seeking re-election and has the backing of his party establishment, leaving him in a strong position to ward off rival Democrats who might believe they’re better placed than the 80-year-old incumbent to take on an energised Republican Party.

On the other side, former president Donald Trump’s early announcement and diehard supporters have propelled him to the top of the GOP list, but there’s a host of potential rivals, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, seeking to break his stranglehold on the party base.

Here’s who’s seeking the White House, who’s already bowed out, and who might yet surprise us in the lead-up to the 2024 US presidential election.

Declared: Donald Trump

Former US president Donald Trump during a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse on Saturday, January 28, 2023.(AP Photo: Alex Brandon)

Background: Former president of the United States, real estate mogul, former reality TV host

Home state: Florida/New York

Age on election day 2024: 78

Former president, reality TV star and real estate mogul Donald Trump is seeking to return to the White House after being defeated in 2020 by Joe Biden after a single term.

Mr Trump’s presidency alienated many Americans but energised and transformed the Republican base. His four years in office were marked by a return to a more protectionist trade policy, a shunning of traditional diplomacy in favour of personal relationships with world leaders, and the installation of a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

They also saw a hollowing out of the public service, an abandonment of the democratic and ethical norms surrounding the presidency, and a reliance on “acting” officials to fill cabinet-level positions for increasingly long periods of time.

After refusing to accept the result of the 2020 election, culminating in the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, Mr Trump became the first president in history to be impeached twice, although he was acquitted both times in the Senate.

He has since been indicted on a wide range of criminal charges, relating to a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, his alleged storage of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, his alleged attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and his alleged attempts to pressure public officials to overturn the results in Georgia specifically. He was also found liable by a jury for sexually abusing advice columnist E Jean Carroll in the mid-90s.

Far from sinking his campaign, his legal woes seem to have propelled him to a massive lead over his primary rivals, making him the clear frontrunner for the GOP once again.

Declared: Ron DeSantis

Florida governor Ron DeSantis speaks after being sworn in for his second term outside the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 3, 2023.(AP Photo: Lynne Sladky)

Background: Governor of Florida, former congressman, former military lawyer

Home state: Florida

Age on election day 2024: 46

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis staked out his position as Mr Trump’s biggest political threat in 2022 with a huge electoral win at home, trouncing Democrat Charlie Crist by 15 points and further reddening what was once considered a swing state.

He quickly became the go-to candidate for those hardcore conservatives who were ready to move on from Mr Trump, having achieved right-wing policy wins in Florida while also showing a flair for the kind of culture-war skirmishes that animate the GOP base (think inquiries into trans health services and legal battles with “woke” Disney).

Supporters cited his ability to pick his battles better than the former president, hoping he could essentially offer the same policies and fighting spirit in a younger, less abrasive package — the elusive “Trumpism without Trump”.

Mr DeSantis’s much-hyped White House run, however, got off to a rocky start, beginning with a campaign announcement hosted on Elon Musk’s Twitter that was marred by technical glitches.

He’s since struggled to connect with voters, robbing him of vital momentum needed to catch up with Mr Trump’s substantial polling lead and leading him to replace his campaign manager in August.

The governor is travelling the country and playing up his successes by calling Florida a “blueprint for the nation”, and is beginning to test the waters with increasingly direct jabs at Mr Trump.

But the question remains whether he has what it takes to win a head-to-head contest with his fellow Floridian, who has the air of incumbency and doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to taking on political rivals.

Declared: Vivek Ramaswamy

Vivek Ramaswamy speaks to reporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2023, on Friday, March 3, 2023 at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, United States.(AP Photo: Alex Brandon)

Background: Biotech entrepreneur, author, political activist

Home state: New York/Ohio

Age on election day 2024: 39

Dubbed the “CEO of Anti-Woke, Inc.” by The New Yorker, Vivek Ramaswamy announced his candidacy for president on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show ahead of the 2023 CPAC conference.

Already a successful businessman in the asset management and biotechnology sectors, Mr Ramaswamy has forged a second career as a conservative activist and author since 2020, focusing on opposing ESG investing (environmental social and governance) as well as the broader social justice, diversity and environmental movements.

The son of Indian immigrants, his platform includes shutting down the FBI and the federal Department of Education, “declaring independence” from China, and using military drones to eliminate Mexican drug cartels.

It’s an approach to presidential politics he openly credits to Mr Trump.

“I think I’m best positioned to advance our America First agenda, take it even further than Trump did, but also unite the country in the process,” Mr Ramaswamy told public broadcaster PBS.

At 39 on election day, he would be the youngest president ever elected.

Fun fact: He once moonlighted as a rapper named Da Vek while studying at Harvard, telling student newspaper The Crimson his life’s theme song was Eminem’s Lose Yourself.

Eminem has since asked Ramaswamy to stop using his music on the campaign trail.

Declared: Mike Pence

Former vice-president Mike Pence speaks to students at Georgetown University in Washington on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.(AP Photo: Jose Luis Magana)

Background: Former vice-president of the United States, former governor of Indiana, former congressman

Home state: Indiana

Age on election day 2024: 65

After four years serving as a quiet, faithful vice-president to Mr Trump, Mike Pence adhered to convention and oversaw the certification of the 2020 US election result, ensuring Mr Trump’s presidency came to an end and avoiding a constitutional crisis.

He has strongly defended his actions in doing so, but has otherwise largely avoided criticising his former boss’s time in the White House, suggesting he is keen to avoid alienating Mr Trump’s base as he makes his own White House run.

“I’m persuaded that no one could have defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 except Donald Trump, but I think we live in a different time and it calls for different leadership,” he told the Associated Press in the lead-up to his declaration.

On paper, a staunchly conservative former VP with evangelical bona fides should be a strong candidate in a GOP primary, with high name recognition and the credibility needed to bring together a broad right-wing coalition.

In reality, hardcore Trump supporters could be heard chanting “Hang Mike Pence” during the Capitol riot, and even his supporters acknowledge his political instincts are lacking.

His position on abortion — he wants to make it not just illegal but “unthinkable” in all circumstances — is popular with large parts of his party but will be a tough sell in a general election, with a post-Roe America still grappling with the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision to return the issue to the states.

Declared: Tim Scott

US senator Tim Scott speaks during a news conference about inflation on February 16, 2022.(Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)

Background: Senator for South Carolina, former congressman, former state representative, insurance agent

Home state: South Carolina

Age on election day 2024: 59

South Carolina senator Tim Scott’s formal announcement ended a months-long testing of the waters that included a “listening tour” with stops in Iowa and the establishment of an exploratory committee in April.

Popular with his constituents and colleagues, Senator Scott’s early rhetoric has been different from that of his fellow Republican candidates, telling supporters they can choose “victimhood or victory”, and emphasising that the party’s nominee should be able to display “compassion for people who don’t agree with us”.

As the GOP’s only black senator, as well as a self-made businessman who grew up poor in a single-parent household, he already has a significant national profile with a compelling story to boot.

He’s backed it up with significant spending in early primary states, launching some of the largest ad buys yet in Iowa and New Hampshire to run across both broadcast and digital platforms.

He entered the race with more cash on hand than any other presidential candidate in US history, due to a leftover $US22 million ($33 million) from his 2022 Senate campaign.

Declared: Nikki Haley

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley speaks during a town hall campaign event at Ankeny, Iowa on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.(AP Photo: Charlie Neibergall)

Background: Former ambassador to the United Nations, former South Carolina governor

Home state: South Carolina

Age on election day 2024: 52

A former South Carolina governor and Mr Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley announced her run for the presidency via a video on Twitter emphasising her determination to fight back against bullies.

The daughter of Indian immigrants, she became her home state’s first female and first non-white governor in 2010 at the age of 38.

Ms Haley kept her head down during the Trump years and exited the administration in 2018 with her reputation relatively intact, but there’s no indication her time working for the 45th president won her the favour of any of his supporters.

The fact that she had previously said she wouldn’t run against her former boss in 2024 is also unlikely to help in that respect.

On the issues, Ms Haley is a frequent critic of China, a supporter of the death penalty, and has attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from the right on social issues.

But it’s how she navigates the waters of her relationship with Mr Trump that could well determine the success, or otherwise, of her campaign.

Declared: Doug Burgum

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum speaks to delegates at the Republican State Convention in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on April 7, 2018.(Reuters: Dan Koeck)

Background: Governor of North Dakota, former software executive, former chimney sweep

Home state: North Dakota

Age on election day 2024: 68

An outlier in the Republican field, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum is known more for his earnest policy positions than for battling Democrats.

The former software executive runs a deep red state but has flirted with moderate positions during his time in office, including labelling the 2020 party platform “divisive” when it came to LGBT issues.

However, he hasn’t hesitated to sign conservative bills into a law, including a number of anti-trans bills and a near-total abortion ban.

Mr Burgum makes no secret of the fact that he prefers to focus on energy policy, including his goal for North Dakota to become carbon-neutral by 2030 (albeit through carbon capture and storage, with continuing subsidies for the fossil-fuel industry).

Prior to announcing his candidacy in the Wall Street Journal, Mr Burgum shared a video highlighting his rise from a small town boy to a self-made entrepreneur, and a governor who has cut red tape and taxes.

He’s also well aware that his low profile outside his state makes his 2024 run a long shot, telling an interviewer: “There’s a value to being underestimated all the time.”

It puts into perspective the efforts he took to make it onto the first debate stage, appearing without painkillers despite tearing his Achilles tendon the day before, and achieving the debate’s 40,000-donor threshold in part by offering people $US20 gift cards in exchange for $US1 donations.

Declared: Chris Christie

Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie speaks with reporters in Kyiv, Ukraine on August 4, 2023.(AP Photo: Efrem Lukatsky)

Background: Registered lobbyist, former governor of New Jersey, former US attorney

Home state: New Jersey

Age on election day 2024: 62

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie was once considered the poster boy for loud, aggressive Republicans — until Donald Trump came along.

Ideologically a moderate, Mr Christie was happy for his governorship to be defined by heated verbal arguments with voters and political clashes with the Obama administration.

But it ended in scandal after he was implicated in the “Bridgegate” saga, in which several people close to him were found to have purposefully closed lanes to cause traffic jams on the George Washington Bridge as retribution against a Democratic mayor.

Mr Christie last ran for president in 2016, making some waves in early debates before bowing out after a lacklustre showing in New Hampshire. He then briefly led the Trump presidential transition team before being pushed out by Mr Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

He’s now casting himself as the only person with the guts to take on Mr Trump directly, launching his campaign with a flurry of personal attacks on the former president, who he described as a “lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog”.

“We can’t dismiss the question of character anymore, everybody. If we do, we get what we deserve, and we will have to own it,” he said.

Mr Christie criticised the loyalty pledge candidates were required to sign before they could appear on the first debate stage, which committed them to supporting the party’s eventual nominee in the general election.

He’s made it clear he won’t be supporting Mr Trump in a general election — but said he did what he needed to do to get onstage.

Declared: Asa Hutchinson

Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson speaks during an interview with the Associated Press on December 13, 2022.(AP Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Background: Former governor of Arkansas, former DEA administrator

Home state: Arkansas

Age on election day 2024: 73

Asa Hutchinson says he is running for president because he is convinced Americans want leaders that “appeal to the best of America, and not simply appeal to our worst instincts”.

He served two terms as Arkansas’s governor from 2015 to 2023, winning his second term in a landslide with more than 65 per cent of the vote.

Prior to that he spent time in the George W Bush administration, firstly as the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration and secondly handling border security in the then fledgling Department of Homeland Security.

Mr Hutchinson left the governor’s office with a conservative record, but has shown a willingness to split with his party on occasional issues in the past — including vetoing a bill that would have banned gender-affirming medication for minors (a veto his party later overrode), and praising the Biden administration’s “depoliticising” of the government’s COVID response.

More recently, he’s said Donald Trump should drop out of the race following his criminal indictment in the state of New York.

Mr Trump, for his part, calls Mr Hutchinson “Ada Hutchinson” — “because of certain reasons or others”.

Declared: Larry Elder

Republican gubernatorial candidate Larry Elder speaks after the polls close on the recall election in Costa Mesa, California, United States on September 14, 2021.(Reuters: Mike Blake)

Background: Conservative radio host, California gubernatorial candidate, lawyer

Home state: California

Age on election day 2024: 72

Talk radio personality Larry Elder is a relative political novice, despite having built himself into a national brand in conservative media since he first began hosting The Larry Elder Show in 1993.

The former attorney ran his first political campaign in 2021, when he took on Gavin Newsom in a recall election effort that the blue-state Democrat won easily.

Mr Elder is, like many others on this list, a staunch right-winger — opposing minimum wage laws, environmental legislation and the Black Lives Matter movement, and supporting school choice programs and physical barriers along the border with Mexico.

He announced his candidacy for the presidency on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News program, telling the TV host his decision was in part motivated by the fact he’s the only member of his family who hasn’t served in the military.

Mr Elder said he had met the criteria required to attend the first Republican primary debate, but organisers disagreed — prompting him to declare he would sue the Republican National Committee.

Declared: Will Hurd

US Representative Will Hurd questions witnesses during a House Intelligence Committee impeachment inquiry hearing in Washington, DC, on November 21, 2019.(Pool via Reuters: Andrew Harrer)

Background: Congressman, cybersecurity consultant, former CIA agent

Home state: Texas

Age on election day 2024: 47

A self-acknowledged “dark horse candidate“, Texas congressman Will Hurd sticks out from the Republican field in more ways than one.

The 47-year-old moderate was a CIA operative for nine years in the 2000s, spending time mostly in Washington but also serving in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

He represents a nearly 70 per cent Latino district which runs for 820 miles (1,319 kilometres) along the Texas-Mexico border, which has elevated his voice as he has called for a calmer, solutions-based approach to the country’s border issues.

He has also called Mr Trump a “lawless, selfish, failed politician … who lost the House, the Senate and the White House”.

“If Donald Trump is leading in the polls, and he’s your opponent, then kissing his butt is not going to help you win,” he told his fellow GOP candidates in August.

Along with Chris Christie, Mr Hurd spoke out against the Republican Party’s requirement for candidates to sign a loyalty pledge to support the eventual nominee before they were granted access to the first primary debate stage.

Declared: Ryan Binkley

Republican presidential candidate Ryan Binkley speaks at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 28, 2023.(Reuters: Scott Morgan)

Background: Pastor, businessman

Home state: Texas

Age on election day 2024: 56

Ryan Binkley is aiming high with his first political campaign.

The Dallas businessman and non-denominational pastor is bringing an overtly religious message to the campaign trail, promising a country that is “strong, unified and reconciled to God and each other”.

He’s focusing his message on Iowa, where he recently landed a coveted speaking slot at the state party’s Lincoln Dinner.

Mr Binkley is campaigning on immigration reform, reducing the national debt, urban education, and — in a sign of how prominent the issue has become in conservative circles as much as liberal ones — taking on the pharmaceutical industry.

But despite already having invested more than $US1.7 million ($2.64 million) into his own campaign, he’s failing to show up in most early polls — if he’s included at all.

Declared: Perry Johnson

Perry Johnson enters the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland on March 2, 2023.(Supplied: Perry Johnson for President Inc)

Background: Businessman, author, Michigan gubernatorial candidate

Home state: Michigan

Age on election day 2024: 76

A businessman known primarily for his work in quality control, Perry Johnson announced his 2024 presidential bid during conservative gala CPAC, where he came in third in a straw poll behind former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

His previous attempt to run for office didn’t go so smoothly, having been disqualified from Michigan’s 2022 governor’s race once fraudulent signatures were found on his nominating petition.

An avid bridge player, Mr Johnson lists among his accomplishments five National Bridge Championships and an eighth-place finish in the 1998 World Championship in Lille, France.

Like Larry Elder and Miami mayor Francis Suarez, Mr Johnson said he had met the criteria required to attend the first Republican primary debate — but organisers disagreed.

Possible: Kristi Noem

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on February 25, 2022.(Reuters: Marco Bello)

Background: Governor of South Dakota, former congresswoman, farmer

Home state: South Dakota

Age on election day 2024: 52

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem is increasingly becoming part of the conversation when it comes to the 2024 Republican field.

The 51-year-old second-term governor connects well with her party’s base, telling the story of how she had to leave college early as a young woman after her father died in a farm accident.

Ms Noem earned a reputation as a Trump loyalist during his time in office, and has been spoken about as a possible running mate.

However, she has stood up to the former president on occasion, notably calling out his trade war with China for “devastating” her state’s economy — not to mention denying him a spot on Mount Rushmore.

When asked in early 2023 if she had considered running for president, she said she’s “not convinced she needs to”.

Possible: John Bolton

US national security advisor John Bolton during a visit to London on August 12, 2019.(Reuters: Peter Nicholls)

Background: Former national security adviser, former ambassador to the United Nations, former Fox News commentator

Home state: Maryland

Age on election day 2024: 75

A well-known foreign policy hawk, John Bolton cut his teeth during the Reagan administration before being appointed as an undersecretary of state and then ambassador to the United Nations by George W Bush.

A committed advocate for the war in Iraq, he was later an uncomfortable presence in the Trump White House during his year-long tenure as national security adviser, and has spoken openly of his alarm at Mr Trump’s haphazard approach to foreign policy in the years since.

He says he’s seriously considering challenging the former president, calling Mr Trump’s 2024 campaign “poison” for the GOP.

A debate clash between Mr Trump and Mr Bolton would be something to witness. Mr Trump could barely hide his disdain for Mr Bolton when they were working together, and reportedly told advisers “the moustache is a problem” when considering him for a cabinet post early in his presidency.

Declared: Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden delivers the 2023 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.(Pool via AP Photos: Jacquelyn Martin)

Background: President of the United States, former vice-president of the United States, former senator for Delaware

Home state: Delaware

Age on election day 2024: 81 

The incumbent president has formally declared his intention to seek a second term, accompanied once again by Vice-President Kamala Harris as his running mate.

A senator for 36 years before becoming Barack Obama’s vice-president in 2009, Mr Biden has so far had mixed success when it comes to implementing his first-term agenda.

However, he’s fallen short when it comes to protecting voting rights and following through on other major campaign promises, such as raising the minimum wage.

Mr Biden’s age — and how he navigates it as an issue — will also play a significant factor in whether or not he can pull off a successful re-election campaign.

Already the oldest president in history at 80, he’ll be 82 by the beginning of his second term, and will have to convince voters he’s fit to serve up until he leaves the White House at 86.

Declared: Robert F Kennedy Jr

Robert F Kennedy Jr, nephew of former US president John F Kennedy, waves as he attends a demonstration against COVID-19 vaccines in Mmilan, Italy on November 13, 2021.(Reuters: Flavio Lo Scalvo)

Background: Environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist, author

Home state: New York/Massachusetts

Age on election day 2024: 70

Robert F Kennedy Jr, the son of popular former senator and 1968 presidential candidate Robert “Bobby” Kennedy, will contest the 2024 primary as a Democrat.

An environmental lawyer by trade, Mr Kennedy is more widely known as an outspoken conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine campaigner dating back to well before the COVID-19 pandemic.

His most recent book offering is The Real Anthony Fauci, in which he argues Dr Fauci, the scientist who spearheaded America’s pandemic response, worked “in tandem with his long-term partner, billionaire Bill Gates” to suppress hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin as COVID treatments in favour of vaccines.

In response, Dr Fauci called Mr Kennedy “a very disturbed individual”.

Mr Kennedy’s anti-vaccine statements have elicited strong rebukes from other members of the Kennedy family in the past — as well as from his wife Cheryl Hines, an actress on Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

He’s nevertheless managed to pull together a number of notable endorsements, including from Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, and recorded double-digit showings in early polls that will irritate Democrats who believe the party needs to quickly unite behind Mr Biden.

Declared: Marianne Williamson

Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson speaks at the Faith, Politics and the Common Good Forum at Franklin Jr High school in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 9, 2020.(AP Photo: Andrew Harnik)

Background: Self-help author, spiritual and progressive activist

Home state: California/Texas

Age on election day 2024: 72

Self-help author Marianne Williamson was the first notable Democrat to challenge Mr Biden for the party’s nod in 2024.

Once known as “Oprah’s spiritual adviser” due to her frequent appearances on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show, Ms Williamson has backed progressive causes throughout her career, including anti-poverty campaigns, support for HIV/AIDS charities and the establishment of a US Department of Peace.

But she’s perhaps most well-known for her unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination in 2020, during which she initially polled high enough to be included in the first round of primary debates.

Her campaign was short-lived, but still made headlines due to her overtly spiritual approach to politics, as she told voters she would “harness love for political purposes” and take on Donald Trump’s “dark psychic force”.

Ms Williamson says she’s challenging Joe Biden because she believes she can “contribute to harnessing the collective sensibility that I feel is our greatest hope at this time”.

Unlikely: Gavin Newsom

California governor Gavin Newsom speaks to victims’ families and local leaders after a mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California, on January 24, 2023.(AP Photo: Aaron Kehoe)

Background: Governor of California, former lieutenant-governor of California, former mayor of San Francisco

Home state: California

Age on election day 2024: 57

As the governor of California and a former mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom has earned a reputation as a slick, ambitious politician, able and willing to change tactics as circumstances require.

Despite a history of personal scandals and a number of recent crises in the Golden State, he’s currently riding high in state polls and handily beat an effort to recall him in 2021.

Mr Newsom has spoken about running for president in the future, but has repeatedly denied he’s running in 2024 — going so far as to say there’s “no one better to lead” than Mr Biden.

A day is a year in politics, though, and his recent eagerness to weigh in on national issues — not to mention his perpetual battle with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — points to someone who is aware he should at least keep the door open should circumstances change.

Poll-watchers say it’s not a matter of if, but when Mr Newsom runs for president.

Fun fact: He used to be married to Kimberly Guilfoyle, who’s now engaged to Donald Trump Jr.

Unlikely: Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks about an electric ute at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, on September 16, 2021.(Reuters: Rebecca Cook)

Background: Governor of Michigan, former state senator, former state representative

Home state: Michigan

Age on election day 2024: 53

Outside of being the target of an ill-fated kidnapping attempt, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer isn’t too widely known beyond the borders of the United States.

But as a female, second-term governor with a liberal record who is nevertheless popular in a swing state — and who just soundly defeated a Trump-backed opponent — Ms Whitmer is someone who ticks all the boxes required for a Democrat to mount a formidable primary campaign.

She’s managed to pass a slate of left-leaning legislation in Michigan despite rock-solid Republican opposition, and is beginning to see her national spotlight grow as she pioneers the use of Gen-Z-friendly platforms like TikTok and Twitch to reach younger voters.

The only issue is she’s flatly said she’s backing President Biden — even if she’s keeping her options open in the future.

Unlikely: JB Pritzker

Illinois governor Jay Robert (JB) Pritzker speaks during a science initiative event at the University of Chicago on July 23, 2020.(Reuters: Kamil Krzaczynski)

Background: Governor of Illinois, former businessman, former political staffer

Home state: Illinois

Age on election day 2024: 59

A member of the wealthy Pritzker family, which owns the Hyatt hotel chain, billionaire Jay Robert “JB” Pritzker was a longtime Democratic donor before winning the party’s nomination for Illinois governor in 2018.

While a billionaire investor might seem an unlikely ally of progressives, the 58-year-old governor has won over the party’s left with a string of policy wins in his state, having legalised recreational cannabis, enacted a $US15 minimum wage, codified access to abortions after the overturning of Roe v Wade and enacted a ban on assault weapons.

He’s also open about his intent to run for higher office one day, and hasn’t hesitated to spend his own money to achieve political goals.

Mr Pritzker was spoken about for some time as the Democrats’ “break glass” option for 2024 if Joe Biden decided not to run. But he’s now strongly endorsed Mr Biden, launching a spirited defence of the incumbent’s decision to seek re-election and taking up a position on the president’s campaign advisory board.

“I don’t think there’s anybody that’s serious that’s actually considered running against Joe Biden because he’s done such a great job,” he said.

Unlikely: Dean Phillips

United States Congressman Dean Phillips on September 16, 2020.(Pool via Reuters: Kevin Dietsch)

Background: Congressman, businessman

Home state: Minnesota

Age on election day 2024: 55

Citing polling showing most Democratic voters would prefer to field an alternative candidate to Joe Biden, third-term Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips has begun speaking out against the president’s seemingly obstacle-free path to the Democratic nomination.

“Democrats are telling me that they want, not a coronation, but they want a competition,” he told CBS’s Face the Nation in August.

“If we don’t heed that call, shame on us. And the consequences, I believe, are going to be disastrous.”

A former liquor CEO and ideological moderate, Mr Phillips says he’s calling on all qualified candidates to jump into the race.

He’s also met with Democratic donors to discuss his own possible run — although he says his own candidacy is “very unlikely” to be part of the 2024 story.

Unlikely: Pete Buttigieg

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a news conference at the construction site of the Hudson Tunnel Project in New York on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.(AP Photo: John Minchillo)

Background: Secretary of transportation, former mayor of South Bend, former US Navy Reserve lieutenant

Home state: Indiana

Age on election day 2024: 42

A former mayor of South Bend, Indiana (population 100,000), Pete Buttigieg ran an unexpectedly strong (and just plain unexpected) race for the presidency in 2020 before being chosen to become Mr Biden’s transportation secretary.

Since then, he’s been an effective surrogate for Mr Biden on morning TV and cable news, and a popular presence on the campaign trail for Democrats in the 2022 midterms.

While politically talented, experience nevertheless remains a question for Mr Buttigieg, who’ll be just 42 by the time the election rolls around — although he will have spent four years in Mr Biden’s cabinet since his last campaign.

If elected president, he would be the first openly gay person to hold the office, as well as the youngest president ever elected.

Mr Buttigieg has backed Mr Biden’s re-election campaign, and says “I don’t have any plans to do any job besides the one I’ve got.”

It’s not the most categorical of denials, but it is a sign that a challenge against his boss is very unlikely to happen.

Unlikely: Stacey Abrams

Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams concedes the 2022 governor’s race in Atlanta on November 8, 2022.(AP Photo: Ben Gray)

Background: Former Georgia state minority leader, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate, voting rights activist

Home state: Georgia

Age on election day 2024: 50

Stacey Abrams makes a point of being open about her ambitions, telling interviewers she has a responsibility to show young people of colour they can aim for the top.

She first came to national prominence after outperforming expectations in a tough governor’s race in 2018, and campaigned to be included on Mr Biden’s list of potential running mates in 2020.

The massive voter organisation effort she put together for her own campaign was credited with helping turn Georgia blue in the 2020 presidential and senate elections, as well as helping senator Raphael Warnock fend off a challenge from college football superstar Herschel Walker in 2022.

However, the Georgia governorship has remained just out of reach for Ms Abrams, and leapfrogging it to announce a White House bid could open her to attacks claiming she’s not electable — a difficulty she is already facing as she mulls a third run for the governor’s mansion.

Ms Abrams has made it clear she won’t run for president if Mr Biden is running. But if something causes him to shift course, an outsider bid would be very on-brand.

Green Party: Cornel West

Political activist Cornel West announces his candidacy for the US presidency via social media on June 5, 2023.(Supplied)

Background: Philosopher, progressive activist

Home state: Oklahoma/New York

Age on election day 2024: 72

One of America’s most prominent public intellectuals, Cornel West launched his third-party presidential bid with a video on Twitter set to jazz music.

“In these bleak times, I have decided to run for truth and justice which takes the form of running for president of the United States as a candidate for the People’s Party,” he said.

A few days later he said he would be seeking the Green Party nomination instead.

The philosopher and activist, called Brother West by his supporters, is just as widely known for his appearances in popular media as for his academic career, which has seen him teach at Harvard, Princeton and Dartmouth universities.

He’s appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher and Joe Rogan’s podcast, released hip-hop albums, and made cameo appearances in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.

Throughout his long career he’s championed progressive causes such as racial justice, ending poverty and mass incarceration, pacifism, and universal healthcare.

Dr West, a Christian who refers to himself as a non-Marxist socialist, has supported left-wing presidential candidates in the past, including Bill Bradley, Jill Stein and Bernie Sanders.

While he doesn’t stand much of a chance at winning the White House, his candidacy will worry Democrats concerned he could siphon votes away Mr Biden, potentially handing the election to the Republicans.

Independent: Joe Manchin?

West Virginia senator Joe Manchin speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Afghanistan on September 28, 2021.

Background: Senator for West Virginia, former governor of West Virginia, coal and real estate broker

Home state: West Virginia

Age on election day 2024: 77

Conservative Democratic senator Joe Manchin, who represents coal-loving West Virginia, has long been a thorn in the side of the progressive wing of his party, using his position to loudly undercut left-wing talking points and stall or sink progressive legislation.

His supporters argue he’s essentially a bonus vote, delivering the Democrats a regular senator from one of the country’s reddest states who can be counted on to vote for majority leaders, judges and the occasional big-ticket item such as the Affordable Care Act.

Forever decrying partisanship and political extremes on both sides of the aisle, he’s now toying with taking things a step further, as he refuses to rule out an independent or third-party bid for the presidency in 2024.

He’s attended several events hosted by No Labels, a non-partisan group chaired by Republican Larry Hogan and former Democrat Joe Lieberman that intends to run a unity ticket as a third option in 2024.

Don’t call him a spoiler candidate, though.

“I’ve never been in any race I’ve ever spoiled. I’ve been in races to win. If I get in the race, I’m gonna win,” he told a town hall in New Hampshire in July.

“I haven’t made a decision,” he quickly added.

Independent: Liz Cheney?

Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney speaks during the Anti-Defamation League’s Never is Now summit in New York on November 10, 2022.(Reuters: Jeenah Moon)

Background: Professor of politics, former congresswoman, former diplomat

Home state: Wyoming

Age on election day 2024: 58

Former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney, the daughter of George W Bush vice-president Dick Cheney, was once considered to have serious street cred in the Republican Party.

That changed in the wake of the January 6 attack, after which she became one of the few Republicans to genuinely stand up to Mr Trump, serving on the commission to investigate the attack and calling out her colleagues for their unwillingness to confront the former president.

Her unwillingness to “go along with President Trump’s lie” cost her her seat in Congress.

Ms Cheney has spoken openly about challenging Mr Trump since then, and has built up a considerable campaign war chest. But she’s acknowledged that if she were to be on the ballot in 2024, it wouldn’t be as a Republican.

She says she’ll make a decision soon. In the meantime, she’s taken on a professorship at the University of Virginia as she mulls things over.

Independent: Larry Hogan?

Maryland governor Larry Hogan holds a news conference in Annapolis, Maryland, on July 22, 2020.(Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)

Background: Former governor of Maryland, former Maryland secretary of appointments, land broker

Home state: Maryland

Age on election day 2024: 68

Frequent Trump critic Larry Hogan says he has made the “difficult decision” not to run for president as a Republican, citing the need to avoid repeating “the same mistakes that we made in 2016” by splitting the anti-Trump vote.

“It’s better for us to have a smaller field with a strong candidate or two rather than 10 or more people who are failing to get attention, who are all in single digits,” he said.

However, the former Maryland governor said in early September that he has not closed the door on a White House run as a No Labels candidate — the same group courting Democratic senator Joe Manchin.

“I think we should only put together a ticket in the event that it’s Trump and Biden,” he told CBS’s Face the Nation.

“Nobody’s trying to spoil anything. This is about actually receiving a majority of the votes.”

A centrist, Mr Hogan blames Mr Trump’s domination of the Republican Party for its lacklustre results in 2018, 2020 and 2022, when he said the Republicans should have won the Senate.

He says the better way forward is for parties to have a message — and a candidate — that appeals to a wider group of people.

“I think kind of doubling down on the rhetoric just to appeal to the base may backfire in a general election,” he told NPR’s Morning Edition.

His own electoral success is unquestionable, having left office due to term limits with a 77 per cent approval rating — one of the highest in the country for a governor — despite being a Republican running a deeply blue state.

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Roger Utting/123rf

United Airlines says it will be nearly 70% larger in New Zealand than in 2019.

United Airlines has announced a new Christchurch-San Francisco route making it the only airline to offer direct flights between the South Island and the US.

The announcement is part of what the airline calls “the largest South Pacific network expansion ever to and from the continental US”.

The flights to Christchurch from California start on December 1 and United will be flying three times a week on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. It is the first ever direct flight between Christchurch and San Francisco.

The airline is also adding new direct flights from Los Angeles to Auckland, as well as increased services to Australia.

The last direct connection between the South Island and the US was Air New Zealand’s service from Christchurch to Los Angeles which ended in 2006.

Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances at United, said the airline has been “enhancing” its network over the last few months.

“Our strong partnerships with Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia provide unparalleled connectivity, and with our historic expansion across five destinations in New Zealand and Australia, United is the clear choice for customers’ travel to the region,” said Quayle.

Christchurch Airport welcomed the news, saying on social media: “We’re so excited to announce that from 1 December United will be flying direct from Ōtautahi Christchurch to San Francisco all summer! Operating three times per week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, you’ll be able to head to destinations across the United States and beyond.”

Currently, flyers from Christchurch need to stop over in either Auckland, Nadi or Sydney for flights to the US.

The airport’s chief executive Justin Watson said the new route will “supercharge” tourism in the region.

“The American travel market is buoyant. Americans are travelling widely again and we know they want to experience what the South Island offers,” said Watson

“Statistics show American visitors who enter the country through Christchurch Airport spend 42% more in New Zealand and stay 33% longer. Based on government data, the seasonal service is forecast to bring in $44 million in visitor spend for New Zealand, with $32 million of that in South Island regions. This is the ideal combination of national value impact and regional economic impact.”

Air New Zealand, which is a Star Alliance partner of United, welcomed the news.

The airline’s Chief Transformation and Alliances Officer Mike Williams said: “We’re thrilled that as part of our long-standing alliance partnership, our friends at United Airlines will be adding two new direct services between the United States and New Zealand in the upcoming northern winter season. This will bring the total number of routes offered by our Alliance to 8, providing unparalleled choice for Kiwis and North American visitors alike.

”Once in Aotearoa, visitors can head around the country seamlessly on our extensive domestic network.

“Our alliance partnership with United allows customers of both airlines to reach all corners of the world. It gives Kiwis the opportunity to connect domestically across the US and beyond, while also bringing more visitors to our shores. We look forward to our strong alliance continuing for many years to come.”

United claims it will have more flights and serve more destinations between the US and Australia and the US and New Zealand than any other carrier in the world.

In January another giant US airline, Delta, confirmed it will start flying to New Zealand for the first time.

It will begin operating a Los Angeles-Auckland service from October 28 using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

The post United Airways announce ‘historic’ direct Christchurch-San Francisco route appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• I’ve flown in long-haul economy on Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and United Airlines this year.
• My most recent trip was on United after flying on Singapore and ANA — both considered 5-star carriers.
• Simple luxuries onboard the Asian airlines made the shortcomings of United more glaringly obvious.

For the first time ever, United Airlines disappointed me.

Last week, I set off on my annual trip to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland — a month-long event in which the city is transformed into a theater paradise with shows covering everything from stand-up comedy to improv musicals.

I usually book United or Delta when I fly across the Atlantic, and the former was the cheaper option this year amidst spiking international airfare. In fact, I actually decided to fly via London and take a train to and from Edinburgh to save about $1,000.

Having flown United several times in the past two years — including both domestic and international — I know what to expect and have typically had a good experience.

However, this trip was different. It wasn’t necessarily that the flight was bad, the economy cabin was just noticeably worse than other airlines I’ve flown on this year — specifically, Singapore Airlines and Japan’s All Nippon Airways.

Here’s what my recent experience flying on United in economy was like and why I’ll have lower expectations next time.

My nonstop United flights started and ended in Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, flying in and out of London Heathrow.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Newark is United’s third-largest hub behind Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, but it is a key player in the airline’s robust transatlantic network — which United boasts as being the biggest in the US. 

My $812 basic economy fare only included a personal item and a carry-on bag, so I was able to head straight to security for both flights thanks to United’s mobile boarding pass option.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I don’t typically travel with a checked bag simply because I prefer not to gamble with the many times unreliable baggage handling systems — especially after last year’s hectic summer. So, the basic economy fare is perfectly fine with me. 

If I did need to check luggage, however, the first bag would have cost $75, according to United.

Both aircraft were a Boeing 767-300ER — a fleet that United has updated with a fresh look as a way to modernize the older planes. And, I’ll admit, they didn’t feel decades-old.

Taylor Rains/Insider

United has kept its Boeing 767s around post-pandemic, having invested millions into retrofits that include adding Polaris business class and Premium Plus to the widebodies.

The two I flew on (N651UA and N675UA) are 31 years and 23 years old, respectively, according to Planespotters.

“I’ll give kudos to our maintenance team for keeping these aircraft in great shape,” United CCO Andrew Nocella said in a 2021 quarter two earnings call, noting the planes could fly for another 30 or more years.

“We do have optionality to fly these aircraft longer than I think people automatically assume.”

For both flights, I cozied up in seat 42L — a window seat on the right side of the aircraft that I paid in advance to reserve.

The seats were configured in a 2x3x2 layout, so I only had an aisle seat neighbor. Taylor Rains/Insider

Last year, I got a seat at random and didn’t enjoy the stress of possibly ending up in the middle seat, albeit I did get lucky with a window. But I still splurged for a guaranteed window this time around.

In total, I paid $64 for both legs, bringing the cost of my flight to London to about $875 roundtrip. Flights nonstop to Edinburgh were over $2,000 when I booked in February.

The seat was as I remembered it with a seatback screen and power ports, as well as the ever-important headrest that I need for sleep.

Taylor Rains/Insider

The headrest can make or break the inflight experience for me.

In fact, a mediocre headrest was actually one of the few faults I found in Singapore’s premium economy cabin — and why I actually prefer the carrier’s coach product instead. 

Plus, the 2x3x2 configuration meant it was just me and my aisle-seat neighbor. I also had okay legroom, though I’m only 5’3″ and on the smaller side and fit into most airline seats.

Taylor Rains/Insider

According to SeatGuru, each seat has 31 inches of pitch and 17.3 inches of width, which is the expected standard in coach.

I felt I had plenty of space for my hips and legs, but taller passengers may want to upgrade to extra-legroom seats like Economy Plus or Premium Plus.

However, that’s pretty much where the perks stopped — and, for the first time, I was disappointed in United’s product. But, I think I figured out why.

Taylor Rains/Insider

It was about an hour after takeoff that I realized the seat was pretty much as standard as it could get, nothing that made it stand out or give it a special pizzazz.

Up until this point, I had experienced a wide range of economy cabins this year, including Singapore Airlines and ANA, as well as low-cost carriers LEVEL and Norse Atlantic Airways.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I experienced Singapore’s Airbus A380 coach class in January from Frankfurt to Singapore and then tried out ANA’s Boeing 787 economy product in March on a flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles.

In April, I suffered for seven hours on Spanish low-cost carrier LEVEL between New York-JFK and Barcelona thanks to cramped seats and overpriced food. However, budget newcomer Norse actually surprised me with its roomy cabin and inflight entertainment.

These two sets of carriers are on opposite sides of the spectrum — Singapore and ANA are considered 5-star carriers by Skytrax, while budget airlines LEVEL and Norse require the pesky add-on fees.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I have had both my best and my worst flight experiences this year, and it gave me a new perspective when flying on major global carriers.

After experiencing the best of the best with Asian airlines, and then facing the challenges of low-cost airlines (albeit Norse was better than expected), I went into United with the wrong expectations.

United’s seats are sleek, but slim. Taylor Rains/Insider

United, which also happens to be partnered with both ANA and Singapore in the Star Alliance, is basically right smack in the middle in terms of the inflight experience.

And, I didn’t notice the shortcomings until now.

Essentially, I’ve realized that United easily has the perks to outshine carriers like LEVEL and Norse, but it falls drastically short compared to Singapore and ANA.

I definitely felt more cramped on Norse (pictured) compared to United. Taylor Rains/Insider

United’s 767 pitch equaled that of Norse’s 787, but the former’s had better width and an overall more aesthetically pleasing cabin.

LEVEL’s A330, on the other hand, only offered 30 inches of the pitch and I was stuck in the middle seat of the center section of the aircraft — it was actually pretty miserable, to say the least.

Starting with the seat itself, Singapore and ANA’s were both better padded, while ANA even offered a footrest — a perk that makes sleep that much easier.

The seat and footrest on ANA. Taylor Rains/Insider

Footrests are not very common in economy on airlines and are typically reserved as a premium economy perk, so I was surprised to see one onboard ANA.

But I can’t fault United for not having them since Singapore didn’t either, though both offer one in their premium economy cabins.

The Asian carriers also offer more legroom with 32 inches on Singapore and a whopping 34 inches on ANA — the latter being just one inch less than United’s Economy Plus section.

The legroom on Singapore felt much more spacious, though the extra storage probably helped as it kept the underseat area more clear. Taylor Rains/Insider

Economy Plus is United’s extra-legroom option and can cost a pretty penny to reserve.

So, getting good legroom as the default with Singapore and ANA made me forget how cramped US economy cabins can be without the upgrade.

In fact, 31 inches of pitch is the standard on most of American and Delta’s widebody jets, according to SeatGuru.

Granted, 31 inches is not bad, but if other carriers offer more, then that’s an easy reason to spend money elsewhere.

As far as amenities, the plush linens on the Asian airlines made United’s feel cheap.

Top left is Singapore, top right is ANA, and the bottom is United. Taylor Rains/Insider

While I particularly liked ANA’s silky blanket, Singapore’s linens were the best I’ve ever had in economy thanks to the thick, warm blanket and the hotel-grade pillow. I even got an eye mask.

United’s pillow, however, felt rough. And, the U-shaped design wasn’t as comfortable as I think the carrier hoped. I also didn’t get a blanket on the return flight — only on the red eye to London. 

I have actually always had an issue with United’s mediocre 767 pillow, but ANA and Singapore’s made that shortfall much more obvious on my recent flight.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I didn’t sleep well on United, either, and that was after taking melatonin. I blame the recline mostly, as well as the less-than-cozy linens.

This wasn’t my experience on Singapore and ANA, though. Both seats had better comfort — something I only really noticed after flying United — with Singapore’s product helping me sleep for eight of the 12 hours between Frankfurt and the island nation.

Meanwhile, there were several other small perks that made ANA and Singapore shine — one being the convenient cupholders strategically molded into the product.

The left two images are ANA’s cupholder, while the right side is Singapore. Taylor Rains/Insider

I found myself grasping my drink during turbulence on United — a problem made easier with a designated cupholder.

Singapore’s tray table was even pretty unique with a hidden mirror, and it could fold in half to take up more or less space.

Taylor Rains/Insider

I didn’t realize how much a well-designed tray table can impact convenience when flying. ANA and Singapore gave me extra slots for cups, and I’m sure the mirror on Singapore can come in handy after a 12-hour flight.

Moreover, I appreciated the extra storage pockets offered on ANA and Singapore, and I even got a pre-flight drink on the latter — something I’ve never experienced on United, nor on Delta or American for that matter.

The seatback pockets on Singapore (top left), ANA (bottom left), and United (right). Taylor Rains/Insider

During my United flight, I struggled to find enough space for my laptop, chargers, water bottle, and provided food and drinks as the seats lacked any sort of added storage space.

I ended up using the slit between the seat and the fuselage to free up space by my feet. Granted, the dual seats did not have a divider between them, making the under-seat area a little more spacious, which helped.

While I can’t knock United for its inflight entertainment — which is always great — it had other pitfalls surrounding customer service, the food, and cleanliness as well.

I think United has a great selection of movie and TV shows. I watched Bay Watch and Miss Congeniality. Taylor Rains/Insider

Singapore and ANA are renowned for their friendly flight attendants, yummy meals, and squeaky-clean cabins, but I found the opposite on United.

But, to be fair to United, the carrier does have really great inflight entertainment. However, I found the USB port didn’t work on the return leg.

When it comes to customer service, I don’t expect flight attendants to be nice and happy at all times. But, I got a sense of annoyance during most interactions with them.

Taylor Rains/Insider

To be clear, I don’t really care how flight attendants treat me because their jobs can be very difficult — but there was a significant tone difference that made me feel less welcome on United compared to my journeys on ANA and Singapore.

For example, when I asked to clarify the meal options I was met with a less-than-nice reaction and a response that indicated my question was simply annoying. Not a huge deal, but something that stuck out.

As far as the food, I knew not to expect much on United — the carrier doesn’t have the best reputation in terms of catering. But, I remember the meals being better before.

Dinner came with chicken and rice, veggies, chocolate bites, mozzarella, and bread. Taylor Rains/Insider

I skipped the meal service on the outbound in favor of trying to get a few hours of sleep — albeit unsuccessfully — but I had both lunch and dinner on the return journey.

We were offered pasta or chicken for lunch and a savory pastry for dinner. I opted for the chicken, and the meat itself was good but the sides — as well as the dinner pastry — were pretty tasteless.

I’ll admit, the pastry didn’t taste as bad as Air Canada’s, but it wasn’t very appetizing. Taylor Rains/

The chicken dish came with bread, mozzarella, tomatoes, rice, vegetables, and chocolate. While half of the meal was good — particularly the chicken — I couldn’t stomach the rice, and the vegetables had a strange texture. The mozzarella was also surprisingly bland.

Meanwhile, the pastry reminded me of my experience on Air Canada, which offered me a breakfast pastry that had a texture and look resembling baby food.

This compares to the food I had in July 2022 on United’s 767 from Boston to London, which was much more appetizing.

The dinner on my United 767 flight from Newark to London in July 2022. Taylor Rains/Insider

Last year, the meal served was also chicken and veggies, complemented with ice cream, a roll, and a side salad. I remember the ingredients being more diverse and flavorful.

It’s also possible that United’s catering is simply better when originating in the US rather than in London since my less-than-stellar meal was experienced on my recent return flight — the tastier meals I had last year were on the outbound.

Singapore and ANA, on the other hand, had more creative meals with much better flavoring and overall appeal.

The top two photos are ANA’s breakfast (left) and dinner (right). The bottom two photos are Singapore’s breakfast (left) and dinner (right). Taylor Rains/Insider

The colors and smells of the food on ANA were appetizing, and I loved the sushi and edamame options despite my initial hesitations.

Meanwhile, Singapore offered potatoes, beef, noodles, and ice cream. Overall, the Asian airlines are simply in another league in terms of catering — especially considering Singapore’s specialized catering center near Changi International Airport.

While I can bear passive cabin crews and mediocre food, the one thing that will get me is cleanliness — and United’s lavatory was a dump.

While the bathroom was gross, I appreciated the full-body mirror. Taylor Rains/Insider

Ever since I flew on Singapore and ANA, I have a new standard for cleanliness on aircraft and the lavatory is a sticking point.

On the Asian carriers, I found the bathrooms were always tidied up, the sinks were wiped down, and the bins were emptied.

ANA’s bidet is on the top left and was a lifesaver on the flight. Meanwhile, Singapore’s full-body mirror and touchless bin opener were nice touches. Taylor Rains/Insider

The bathrooms on ANA actually had a bidet toilet — one of the only airlines in the world to have it — while Singapore’s had a sleek look with wood-like finishings.

Not to mention, the Asian lavatories had nice perks like a step to open the bin, meaning I didn’t have to stick my clean hand into the trash can to make the paper towel fit.

On United, however, there was paper all over the floor and the bins were so full the paper towels were pouring over the top. It was, in a word, gross.

I went to the lavatory a few hours into the flight and found it was far from clean. Taylor Rains/Insider

I didn’t trust the cleanliness after my first trip to the lavatory four hours into the flight, so I ended up waiting to go again until I cleared passport control at Newark.

However, United’s lavatory did have a full-body mirror, which was the only thing I appreciated. And, I noticed this isn’t just a United problem as the lavatories on LEVEL and Norse were not regularly cleaned either.

Given all of this, I don’t necessarily think it was a horrible flight or United has a bad product. Simply, I finally experienced the world’s 5-star airlines and they have that ranking for a reason.

Singapore Airlines flight attendants onboard the carrier’s A380 in 2020 when it was turned into a restaurant. Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images

ANA and Singapore are in another league when it comes to product. The seats are spacious and the food is delicious and the flight attendants are trained with a very specific expectation of customer service.

And, this doesn’t mean I won’t ever fly United again. In fact, I have several trips coming up that I’ll be on United — I’ll just go in with lower expectations next time.

I was disappointed in the customer service, food, and cleanliness on United after flying 5-star carriers Singapore and ANA earlier this year. Taylor Rains/Insider

However, it’s possible I’d opt for Singapore or ANA on flights from the West Coast to Asia rather than taking United across the Pacific — assuming the price is right.

According to Google Flights, a roundtrip flight from San Francisco to Tokyo in November on United is $1,500.

ANA is $300 more and, for me, the product would easily be worth the extra few hundred dollars thanks to the little touches that make all the difference.

The post Flew United Economic system and It Was Disappointing In comparison with Singapore, ANA Airways appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

• Rachel Dube took a 20-hour flight with United Polaris business class. 
• She says the service was amazing, and the seats were comfortable. 
• Dube says the flight went very quickly and she would fly United’s Polaris business class again. 

While I’ve always had a love for international travel, the pandemic really sparked my love of aviation.

I splurge on some flights, but I’m also a big fan of using points and miles and finding flight deals. Typically, I’ll fly between 50 to 60 long-haul flights a year on various airlines to try out new routes, and airline products, and to visit new places.

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey is my home airport, and since it’s a hub for United Airlines, I fly with them a lot. I’ve gained status with the airline and love the perks and the international flight route network. 

On a recent flight to Brisbane, Australia, I flew United’s business class, called Polaris

The business product Polaris is one of my favorites to fly and has now been rolled out into every wide-body aircraft that United operates internationally. For long-haul flights, the airline has an incredibly comfortable seat that can be turned into a lie-flat bed. It has a large-tv screen and there are thoughtful amenities like pajamas and slippers. 

A Polaris Business class seat. Rachel Dube

The seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration with ample storage, plenty of space, and a seat that turns into a lie-flat bed. They also offer plenty of privacy even with the open configuration.

The seats offered plenty of privacy. Rachel Dube.

I found that it was a game-changer during the 20 hours spent flying

This wasn’t my first time flying United Polaris business class, but I found it helped me combat jet lag. In the past, I’d only flown routes to Europe, so I didn’t fully get the opportunity to utilize the lie-flat bed for a full night of sleep, or other amenities like slippers and pajamas. 

The Polaris business class seats on the Boeing 787. Rachel Dube

The journey home from Australia started at the Brisbane International Airport. Although United doesn’t have a lounge there, Air New Zealand (a Star Alliance partner) does, so I waited there until early boarding. 

The Air New Zealand Lounge in BNE. Rachel Dube

After boarding, I headed to my seat, which was outfitted with an Away amenity kit, two Saks Fifth Avenue blankets, and two pillows.

Within the Away amenity kit was an eye mask, pair of socks, toothbrush kit, tissues, and some miniature-sized skincare from Sunday Riley. Each seat also had a pair of noise-canceling headphones, a water bottle, and a set of slippers.

The seat had an Away amenity kit, two Saks Fifth Avenue blankets, and two pillows Rachel Dube

After settling into our seats, we were offered champagne or water. I opted for the latter and opened up the large tray table that offered plenty of space to eat and drink. 

The tray table offered plenty of room to eat and drink Rachel Dube.

The cabin looked brand new and had luxe features

The flight had a 16-inch TV screen, a seat control panel that reclines the seat and moves the seat into a lie-flat position, and an extendable TV remote with a device outlet beside it. 

The TV screen at the United Polaris seat. Rachel Dube

I was impressed with the amount of space the seat had and the under-seat compartment fit my very large tote comfortably. There was also ample room for my carry-on luggage in the overhead bins. 

Each seat had plenty of space Rachel Dube

In addition, each seat had a reading light and adjustable window shade that can be controlled with the push of a button. 

Each window shade was controlled with a button. Rachel Dube

When I first turned on the TV, it displayed a schedule of the first flight with what services would be available during the time onboard. The total flight time for this flight was 13 hours to San Francisco. 

The flight offered lunch, snacks, and breakfast ahead of arrival

Australian-inspired options like a seared barramundi fish fillet, vegemite and cheese toastie, and fairy bread were offered as choices during the flight. I wasn’t too hungry after we took off, so I just got an ice cream sundae. 

One of the desserts offered onboard. Rachel Dube

  Since the journey was longer than 12 hours, pajamas were also available. I asked the flight attendant for one when we took off and it was oversized and extremely comfortable. 

After my snack, I headed to the bathroom to change into pajamas. The business class lavatory is definitely larger than the one in economy. It also featured an assortment of Sunday Riley toiletries for usage during the flight.

The bathroom on the plane was much larger than economy. Rachel Dube

When I arrived back at my seat, I switched it into the lie-flat position

Iset it up with the two pillows and two blankets. It was super comfortable. 

The seat converted into a lie-flat bed. Rachel

During the flight, I dozed in and out and watched a whole assortment of movies. I slept for quite a while but also was able to enjoy the onboard entertainment.

In between the movies and rest, I also checked out the onboard flight map. It was very interactive and showcased the flight path, speed, and more. 

Once we were getting closer to landing, I ordered the spinach, feta, and rosemary frittata. I ended up only eating the bowl of fruit and croissant, which were all I needed. 

One of the breakfast options onboard. Rachel Dube

After we landed in San Francisco, I had a few-hour layover before my next flight to Newark

I headed to the United Polaris lounge. The lounge was super spacious and featured a made-to-order restaurant, ample seating, and tons of other helpful amenities. I opted to take a shower and change in between flights and it made me feel so much better.

The showers in the Polaris lounge in the San Francisco airport. Rachel Dube

Once onboard, my seat was pretty much the same and featured all the same amenities aside from one less Saks Fifth Avenue blanket. This flight was onboard a Boeing 737-300ER, which has 60 business class seats. 

The only noticeable difference in my seat was that my tray table had this helpful stand for tablets. It was a thoughtful touch that I’d never noticed before. 

The amenity kit was also a little less luxe and included fewer items than the other long-haul flight. However, the flight was only 5 hours so I didn’t feel like we’d need the extra amenities anyway.

The Away amenity kit wasn’t as extensive as the first flight. Rachel Dube.

Overall, I loved the space, comfort, and service onboard United’s Polaris business class and I will definitely be flying it again. Both flights went super quickly and I arrived home to Newark Liberty International airport in no time.

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The post Flying on United Polaris for My 20-Hour Flight Was a Recreation Changer appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

June 11

The Washington Post on a rare win for judicial restraint

Because the Supreme Court took a right turn during the Trump years — and particularly after it overturned Roe v. Wade last year — conservative activists have hoped that the court would repudiate many old precedents they have long disliked. On voting rights, cases such as Allen v. Milligan, which concerns Alabama’s 2022 congressional map, appeared to be potential vehicles for the court to recast the law in a sharply conservative direction.

But last week, a closely divided court tempered such hopes, as Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh sided with the three liberal justices in that Alabama case, upholding a core precedent on one of the country’s most important civil rights laws, the Voting Rights Act. They deserve to be commended for — at least in this instance — restraining what has become a reckless, activist court.

The justices considered Alabama’s congressional map, which has hardly changed since the early 1990s despite population growth patterns that had rendered it increasingly unrepresentative; by the 2020 redistricting cycle, the imperative to draw a second majority-Black district was glaring. Line-drawers in Alabama’s overwhelmingly Republican legislature declined to do so, inviting court challenges.

Alternative maps containing a second Black-majority district were in some cases superior on the basis of traditional redistricting criteria, such as avoiding the splitting of county lines, than the one the state adopted. Under the court’s 1986 Thornburg v. Gingles ruling, there was little doubt that Alabama had violated the Voting Rights Act’s Section 2. But this court, with the help of Chief Justice Roberts, has dismantled the act’s protections in successive cases since 2013. The Alabama case appeared to be an opportunity for the Roberts court to eviscerate Gingles, too.

Alabama asked the court to do so, arguing that the justices should replace it with a new interpretation of the law that would make it easier for states to claim their electoral maps are legal, even if they appear to shortchange minority voters. But, writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts rejected Alabama’s invitation to rewrite precedent, declaring the state’s proposed new standard would defy the Voting Rights Act’s text and prove unworkable and complex.

This means courts will continue to examine real-world conditions to determine whether race has factored into the political process to an excessive degree — and unreasonably limited minority groups’ ability to elect candidates of their choosing. Even as it preserves important protections for minority voters, this process also reflects the congressional compromise that led to Section 2’s current text, which commands courts to consider the discriminatory effects voting rules and procedures might have.

Cynics might speculate that Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh are preparing the way to issue blisteringly conservative rulings later this month, perhaps on affirmative action. But their motives are unknowable and, in practice, irrelevant. Whether Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh would have repudiated Alabama’s maps absent long-established court precedent or whether they did so to convey that a conservative court will not dismantle every precedent when given an opportunity, the result is the same. And, either way, their action is laudable. Restraint is a judicial virtue this court has too often failed to embody.

Now, the question is whether this is a blip in the court’s otherwise sharp-right shift or a sign that there are finally five justices willing to slow, pause or halt the court’s campaign to upend legal precedents that have guided American society for generations.

ONLINE: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/11/alabama-supreme-court-ruling-restraint/

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June 9

The Wall Street Journal on Trump’s indictment

Whether you love or hate Donald Trump, his indictment by President Biden’s Justice Department is a fraught moment for American democracy. For the first time in U.S. history, the prosecutorial power of the federal government has been used against a former President who is also running against the sitting President. This is far graver than the previous indictment by a rogue New York prosecutor, and it will roil the 2024 election and U.S. politics for years to come.

Special counsel Jack Smith announced the indictment in a brief statement on Friday. But no one should be fooled: This is Attorney General Merrick Garland’s responsibility. Mr. Garland appointed Mr. Smith to provide political cover, but Mr. Garland, who reports to Mr. Biden, has the authority to overrule a special counsel’s recommendation. Americans will inevitably see this as a Garland-Biden indictment, and they are right to think so.

The indictment levels 37 charges against Mr. Trump that are related to his handling of classified documents, including at his Mar-a-Lago club, since he left the White House. Thirty-one of the counts are for violating the ancient and seldom-enforced Espionage Act for the “willful retention of national defense information.”

But it’s striking, and legally notable, that the indictment never mentions the Presidential Records Act (PRA) that allows a President access to documents, both classified and unclassified, once he leaves office. It allows for good-faith negotiation with the National Archives. Yet the indictment assumes that Mr. Trump had no right to take any classified documents.

This doesn’t fit the spirit or letter of the PRA, which was written by Congress to recognize that such documents had previously been the property of former Presidents. If the Espionage Act means Presidents can’t retain any classified documents, then the PRA is all but meaningless. This will be part of Mr. Trump’s defense.

The other counts are related to failing to turn over the documents or obstructing the attempts by the Justice Department and FBI to obtain them. One allegation is that during a meeting with a writer and three others, none of whom held security clearances, Mr. Trump “showed and described a ‘plan of attack’” from the Defense Department. “As president I could have declassified it,” he said on audio tape. “Now I can’t, you know, but this is still a secret.”

The feds also say Mr. Trump tried to cover up his classified stash by “suggesting that his attorney hide or destroy documents,” as well as by telling an aide to move boxes to conceal them from his lawyer and the FBI.

As usual, Mr. Trump is his own worst enemy. “This would have gone nowhere,” former Attorney General Bill Barr told CBS recently, “had the President just returned the documents. But he jerked them around for a year and a half.”

That being said, if prosecutors think that this will absolve them of the political implications of their decision to charge Mr. Trump, they fail to understand what they’ve unleashed.

In the court of public opinion, the first question will be about two standards of justice. Mr. Biden had old classified files stored in his Delaware garage next to his sports car. When that news came out, he didn’t sound too apologetic. “My Corvette’s in a locked garage, OK? So it’s not like they’re sitting out on the street,” Mr. Biden said. AG Garland appointed another special counsel, Robert Hur, to investigate, but Justice isn’t going to indict Mr. Biden.

As for willful, how about the basement email server that Hillary Clinton used as Secretary of State? FBI director James Comey said in 2016 that she and her colleagues “were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information.” According to him, 113 emails included information that was classified when it was sent or received. Eight were Top Secret. About 2,000 others were later “upclassified” to Confidential. This was the statement Mr. Comey ended by declaring Mrs. Clinton free and clear, since “no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.”

This is the inescapable political context of this week’s indictment. The special counsel could have finished his investigation with a report detailing the extent of Mr. Trump’s recklessness and explained what secrets it could have exposed. Instead the Justice Department has taken a perilous path.

The charges are a destructive intervention into the 2024 election, and the potential trial will hang over the race. They also make it more likely that the election will be a referendum on Mr. Trump, rather than on Mr. Biden’s economy and agenda or a GOP alternative. This may be exactly what Democrats intend with their charges.

Republicans deserve a more competent champion with better character than Mr. Trump. But the indictment might make GOP voters less inclined to provide a democratic verdict on his fitness for a second term. Although the political impact is uncertain, Republicans who are tired of Mr. Trump might rally to his side because they see the prosecution as another unfair Democratic plot to derail him.

And what about the precedent? If Republicans win next year’s election, and especially if Mr. Trump does, his supporters will demand that the Biden family be next. Even if Mr. Biden is re-elected, political memories are long.

It was once unthinkable in America that the government’s awesome power of prosecution would be turned on a political opponent. That seal has now been broken. It didn’t need to be. However cavalier he was with classified files, Mr. Trump did not accept a bribe or betray secrets to Russia. The FBI recovered the missing documents when it raided Mar-a-Lago, so presumably there are no more secret attack plans for Mr. Trump to show off.

The greatest irony of the age of Trump is that for all his violating of democratic norms, his frenzied opponents have done and are doing their own considerable damage to democracy.

ONLINE: https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-indictment-classified-documents-jack-smith-mar-a-lago-biden-justice-department-81591082

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June 9

The Los Angeles Times on schools and Pride month

It was supposed to be a routine vote. On the Tuesday agenda for the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education was an item designating June as Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community, recognizing the month in which the 1969 Stonewall uprising began. Local boards and councils vote on ceremonial items like this all the time to recognize various communities in their districts.

But then the agents of hate showed up. Even before the meeting, dozens of people gathered outside to lodge their objection to a vote that they believe supported the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Among the protesters were members of the Proud Boys, a group advocating for white supremacist and anti-government ideologies that participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Soon, LGBTQ+ advocates showed up to protest the protesters, and before long the crowd became unruly and violent. Three people were arrested.

In the end, the Glendale school board voted to support the designation and, in so doing, took a courageous stand against an insidious strain of intolerance that has been creeping into public school districts across the nation.

Just the week before, a very similar scenario played out in North Hollywood over a school assembly featuring, “The Great Big Book of Families” at the Saticoy Elementary School. Protesters carried signs with statements such as, “Parental Choice Matters.” Ironically, Saticoy parents did have a choice about whether they wanted their kids to attend the assembly.

That protest didn’t scare the Los Angeles Unified school board either. On Tuesday the board passed a resolution listing upcoming events it will recognize in addition to Pride Month, such as LGBTQ+ History Month in October and Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20. In addition, the resolution encourages all district schools to incorporate LGBTQ+ curriculum adopted by the state.

Troublingly, the protests in Glendale and North Hollywood are part of a growing political movement nationwide targeting LGBTQ+ communities, trying to silence and erase them, and even often falsely accusing them of crimes. Books that have been banned in districts nationwide, including in California, are often targeted solely because they include LGBTQ+ characters or topics.

On Tuesday, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. in light of more than 525 state bills in 2023 targeting them. It was the first time in its 43-year history that the civil rights organization made such a declaration. More than 70 of these bills have been signed into law so far this year.

These targeted campaigns aren’t just happening in states governed by primarily Republican legislators. At the Temecula Valley Unified School District in Riverside County, teachers protested on Tuesday after the school board rejected social studies textbooks and curriculum for elementary students that contained what school board members called “morally objectionable material.” School board President Joseph Komrosky called slain gay rights activist and former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk “a pedophile.” Shame on that board for tolerating such hateful statements at a public meeting.

Too many school districts are giving into the intolerant bullies. Los Angeles and Glendale should be proud that their school boards did not.

ONLINE: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-06-09/editorial-schools-glendale-protest-pride-lgbtq

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June 9

The New York Times on Donald Trump indictment and betrayal of our trust

It is hard to overstate the gravity of the criminal indictment issued against Donald Trump late Thursday by a federal grand jury. For the first time, a former president has been charged with violating federal laws, laws that he swore to uphold just over six years ago. It is the first time a former leader of the executive branch has been charged with obstructing the very agencies he led, and the first time a former commander in chief has been charged with endangering national security by violating the Espionage Act.

The indictment, unsealed on Friday, accuses Mr. Trump of 37 crimes. The majority of them — 31 of the counts — are for willful retention of national defense information, each a violation of the Espionage Act. There is one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, in which Mr. Trump is accused of conspiring with his personal aide, Walt Nauta, to hide classified documents from the F.B.I. and the grand jury investigating the case. The other charges involve withholding documents, corruptly concealing documents and making false statements to law enforcement authorities.

The potential prison sentences for Mr. Trump add up to as much as 420 years, even though conviction almost never results in the maximum sentence. But this indictment confronts the country with the harrowing prospect of a former president facing years behind bars, even as he runs to regain the White House.

Mr. Trump and his Republican allies are already trying to politicize the indictment, insisting that the charges issued by 23 randomly chosen residents of South Florida were an attempt by President Biden to demolish his rival. But the evidence compiled by the government is so substantial that it is clear the Justice Department had no choice but to indict.

The indictment says that Mr. Trump not only took from the White House classified documents that he was not authorized to possess but also that he showed them to visitors and political cronies at his country club. One of the documents involved a potential attack on another country, which The New York Times has reported was Iran. “Isn’t it amazing?” he asked one visitor, brandishing the document. During that conversation Mr. Trump acknowledged that he knew the document was “a secret,” the indictment said.

The details in the indictment make it clear that Mr. Trump knew that he was not authorized to keep national security secrets in his possession and that he played a cat-and-mouse game to conceal them from the F.B.I. and other federal officials. At one point he suggested his lawyer take some documents to his hotel room and “pluck” out anything really bad, the indictment says. “Wouldn’t it be better if we just told them we don’t have anything here?” he asked his lawyers. He added, “Well, look, isn’t it better if there are no documents?” Meanwhile, he instructed his lawyers to falsely inform federal investigators that they had cooperated fully.

With these actions, the former president demonstrated once again his contempt for the rule of law, his disregard for America’s national security and his mockery of the oath he took to support and defend the Constitution.

Mr. Trump walked out of the White House with details of the nuclear capabilities of the United States and a foreign government, descriptions of support for terrorist activities by a foreign country and communications with the leader of a foreign country. It is the willful retention of this material that led to the 31 charges of violating the Espionage Act, which makes it a crime if someone deliberately retains national defense material “and fails to deliver it to the officer or employee of the United States entitled to receive it.”

Mr. Trump’s recklessness in retaining and showing off military secrets is both arrogant and breathtaking. It put the lives of American soldiers at risk. These are some of the United States’ most closely guarded secrets — so sensitive that many top national-security officials can’t see them — and Mr. Trump treated them like a prize he had won at a carnival. These actions underscore, yet again, why he is unfit for public office.

What makes the spectacle all the more stunning is that it was entirely unnecessary. Had Mr. Trump responded to the many formal requests to return the wrongfully taken documents by apologizing and handing them over immediately, he would have avoided any confrontation with federal law enforcement. That’s what responsible public servants like Mr. Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence did when classified material was found among their papers.

The former president’s defenders rushed in to call it political persecution. “It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him,” wrote the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, in a tweet before the indictment was unsealed, as if Mr. Biden had any involvement in these charges.

To make an accusation that a prosecution is a purely political act — one that will undermine the public’s faith in an independent judiciary — is a serious charge and requires at least some basis in fact before it is irresponsibly broadcast to the world. There is no support for that charge, because it requires ignoring two years of evidence painstakingly collected by nonpolitical law enforcement investigators. The Justice Department appears to have followed the basic processes and rules already in place to reach this decision. The public is now able to judge for itself whether the government has a serious case and whether it is actually the Republican critics who are the ones doing the instant politicizing.

And Mr. Trump will be afforded due process, including a trial by a jury of one’s peers and the right to appeal a guilty verdict — all the protections the Constitution guarantees.

The Justice Department’s role is to apply the law equally, without regard to the status or political affiliation of the accused lawbreaker. That’s what makes this indictment so necessary: Federal prosecutors have sought and won convictions in dozens of classified-document cases involving behavior less egregious than Mr. Trump’s. And that’s why the claims of a witch hunt are lamentable. Don’t take it from us; listen to Mr. Trump’s own former attorney general, Bill Barr.

“This says more about Trump than it does the Department of Justice,” Mr. Barr said on “CBS Mornings ” on Tuesday. “He’s so egotistical that he has this penchant for conducting risky, reckless acts to show that he can sort of get away with it.” He added, “There’s no excuse for what he did here.”

It’s become common during the past eight tumultuous years to invoke the term “unprecedented” — a useful shorthand for Mr. Trump’s compulsion to upend established norms and blow past crucial democratic guardrails. But his unprecedented behavior should not obscure an equally important point, which is that the response to it has many precedents.

The United States has prosecuted dozens of former governors, cabinet members and lawmakers. These prosecutions are essential in reaffirming the principle that no one — and especially no political leader — is above the law. To fail to bring such a case is to make it more likely that other abuses of power will occur.

ONLINE: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/opinion/trump-indictment-documents.html

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June 8

The Guardian on the upcoming GOP presidential primary

Donald Trump has an excess of companions in the race for the Perry Johnson ).

No one can predict what will happen in this race, and upsets do happen. Large fields and long shots positioning politicians for a future bid or the vice-presidential slot on the ticket are nothing new in primaries. Nor are improbable, often self-funded entrants. But the current flurry of activity – Mr. Pence, former New Jersey governor Mr. Christie and North Dakota’s governor Doug Burgum all announced runs this week – seems to be prompted less by the belief that Mr. Trump is beatable than by the belief that Ron DeSantis isn’t the man to beat him. The Florida governor surged in polls after winning by a landslide in the midterms, while Trump-backed candidates fell short. It did not last.

Mr. Trump’s savaging of Mr. DeSantis shows he takes nothing for granted. But he is polling more than 50% among Republicans, while Mr. DeSantis is a distant second on about 20%. Mr. Trump has the status of a former president, yet pitches himself as an insurgent. His personal conduct and erratic politics are already priced in, and he has delivered for his base – notably on the supreme court and, therefore, abortion. Some still like the idea of Trumpism without Trump: a more competent, less reckless version of the former president. But Mr. DeSantis has appeared awkward on the campaign trail. While he counts on a hard line on social issues – including abortion and the battle with Disney – to help him regain ground, it may be unsettling donors.

Mr. Pence trails in distant third: though vice-presidents often win presidential nominations, he is loathed both for backing his former boss’s iniquities until the 11th hour – and for certifying 2020’s election results and rejecting the lie that Mr. Trump had won. His support is in single digits, at about 5%, as is that for Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, and Mr. Trump’s ambassador to the UN. Tim Scott, also of South Carolina, and only the second black Republican senator ever directly elected, has impressed some pundits but is even further behind.

The concern of anti-Trump Republicans is that the sheer number of candidates will split the votes of those pondering an alternative. While Mr. Christie has laid into Mr. Trump, and Mr. Pence did so in his campaign launch, Mr. DeSantis has vacillated before hardening his line – and still refuses to comment on Mr. Trump’s claims that the last election was stolen.

The others criticize him only in veiled terms. They hope to pick up Mr. Trump’s supporters should he be hobbled, perhaps due to some unforeseen act or his multitude of legal woes. Prosecutors have formally notified the former president that he is a target of the criminal investigation examining the retention of national security materials. It is far from clear that any of the cases against him will obstruct his return. Yet the biggest threats to Mr. Trump’s political prospects still appear to remain outside his party.

ONLINE: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/08/the-guardian-view-on-the-republican-primary-leader-of-the-unappetising-pack

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The Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.

Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC — but his congregation was leaving it.

Each has found new church homes, and they’re not alone.

The Rev. Bill Farmer, center, speaks to members of the congregation during service at the Grace Methodist Church on May 14 in Homosassa Springs, Fla. Many departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year, while others are going independent or joining other denominations.  

Chris O’Meara, Associated Press

Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid intractable debates over theology and the role of LGBTQ people. There are sharp differences over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.

But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together.

Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether stay or go.

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The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations — ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. Other conferences use different names, such as “Beacon” or “Oasis,” but the idea is the same.

“The pain is real, and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Lynda Ferguson, the great-grandchild of a circuit-riding Methodist pastor.

Her North Carolina church, First United Methodist Asheboro, became a Lighthouse congregation. That assures newcomers that it’s committed to staying United Methodist, so they won’t have to worry about another disaffiliation vote. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina.

Ferguson said she can personally relate to those from departing congregations. Her childhood church — the one that shaped her faith and where at age 12 she felt the call to ministry — also voted to leave.

“Part of the Lighthouse mission is to let people know the United Methodist Church is still here and still welcoming,” said the Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church in Stokesdale, North Carolina, which also became a Lighthouse congregation.

Michael Hahn and his family are among a group of newcomers who have begun participating in Stokesdale after their previous congregations left the denomination.

Hahn, whose family has been Methodist for generations, said he couldn’t imagine leaving the denomination, which he values for blending faith and rationality.

Many of the departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year. Others are going independent or joining different denominations.

While the Global Methodist Church doesn’t have a program like the Lighthouse initiative, it has begun launching or adopting congregations that can become homes for those who want to leave the United Methodist Church but whose congregations are staying.

That was the case with the founders of Grace Methodist Church. They launched the church in January in Homosassa, Florida, after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC. The new church immediately affiliated with the Global Methodist Church. Farmer came out of retirement to serve as the church’s pastor.

The group’s previous congregation “was a good church,” Farmer said, and he wished it well. But “my struggle was with the United Methodist structure, what’s going on in the United States, particularly.”

The ongoing schism has been long in the making. The United Methodist Church — with about 6.5 million members in the United States and at least that many abroad — has long debated its bans on same-sex marriages and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy.

The denomination has repeatedly upheld the bans, largely through the voting strength of the growing, more conservative churches abroad. But conservatives chose to form a new denomination amid growing defiance of the bans in U.S. churches.

Members of the congregation sing during service at the Grace Methodist Church on May 14 in Homosassa Springs, Fla. Grace Methodist Church launched in January after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC.  

Chris O’Meara

More than 3,500 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences’ permission to disaffiliate from the UMC, according to United Methodist News Service. With conference season underway, disaffiliations are closing in on 4,000 and could rise even more by the end of the year, said the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group advocating for departing congregations.

That’s a fraction of the United Methodists’ 30,000 U.S. churches, though several of the departing congregations are among the largest in their states.

In the Arkansas Conference, more than 100 churches — out of roughly 600 total — have received permission to disaffiliate. That leaves parts of the state with few or no remaining United Methodist congregations, said the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of the conference’s new Restart Initiative, which is hoping to enlist congregations to be Beacon churches. Such churches would invite self-described “exiles, refugees, nomads” to worship services, help them start home groups or develop other ways to keep them connected.

“We’re just really simply inviting churches to consider how they can provide this kind of hospitality,” Roberts said. “I love the word ‘hospitality’ because the word ‘hospital’ comes from that word. It is about providing healing.”

From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history

From Stonewall to today: 50+ years of modern LGBTQ+ history

In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the New York Police Department unwittingly helped start the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. At the time, clubs with gay or lesbian patrons weren’t allowed to serve alcohol, but the Stonewall Inn still served booze to their customers, which gave police cause to raid the bar. The clientele pushed back, and 13 people were arrested. LGBTQ+ people and their allies protested for days. Among the crowd was transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, who later founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), an organization that provided resources for LGBTQ+ youth and sex workers.

After the events at Stonewall—which the NYPD eventually apologized for in 2019—more and more people pushed for LGBTQ+ equality. Activists organized the first LGBTQ+ marches in the United States and around the world, giving rise to annual Pride parades. In 1973, the American Psychological Association no longer considered being gay or lesbian a mental illness, and the first openly lesbian politicians were elected in the following year. Currently, openly gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer candidates occupy political offices at most levels of government, including in the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, and state governorships. 

There is still more to be done, but since Stonewall, the government has passed laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal. More than two dozen countries have passed legislation giving marriage rights to everyone.

In the military, it took decades for gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members to win the right to enlist. And it wasn’t until 2011 that LGBTQ+ troops could openly serve in the United States armed forces. While the Obama administration repealed the ban on transgender troops in 2016, former President Donald Trump effectively reinstated it in 2019 (though the ban was overturned by the Biden administration in 2021).

To find out more about LGBTQ+ history, Stacker combed through news reports and used data from GLSEN to compile over 50 years of LGBTQ+ progress. Read on to see the evolution of this movement, from then to now.

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JOHANNES EISELE/AFP // Getty Images

1969: Stonewall Riots

Anger erupted after New York City police arrested 13 people during a raid at the Stonewall Inn, a bar and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates protested for days, even though police took action—even turning fire hoses onto the crowd. Many say the event catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement.

Drew Angerer // Getty Images

1969: Gay Liberation Front forms

The events of Stonewall led to the creation of the GLF, a group that organized the Christopher Street Liberation Day in New York in 1970—now considered the first Pride parade. It started with only a few hundred people, but by the time the group reached Central Park, thousands were marching for LGBTQ+ equality.

Evening Standard // Getty Images

1972: Sweden allows people to legally change gender

In 1972, Sweden became the first country to give people the right to legally change their gender on identifying documents. However, people needed to be over 18 years old, unmarried, and sterilized; the country didn’t remove the mandatory sterilization law until 2013. In some U.S. states, people still need to undergo gender-reassignment surgery to legally change their gender.

rbkomar // Shutterstock

1972: UK has first Pride parade

The United Kingdom held the country’s first LGBTQ+ Pride parade on July 1, 1972. Britain’s GLF organized the event, and about 700 people showed up to march. Their slogan was simple: “Gay is good.”

LSE Library // Flickr

1973: Homosexuality is no longer classified as a mental illness

Until the early ’70s, physicians could diagnose someone in a same-sex relationship as mentally ill. But in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed “homosexuality” from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or the DSM-II).

US Department of Labor // Wikimedia Commons

1974: First openly lesbian officials elected

Kathy Kozachenko and Elaine Noble became the nation’s first openly lesbian or gay elected officials in 1974. Kozachenko won a seat on the Ann Arbor City Council in Michigan, while Noble held a position in the Massachusetts General Assembly.

Jiaqian AirplaneFan // Wikimedia Commons

1977: First openly gay man elected

Harvey Milk made history when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming the first openly gay male politician elected in a major city. Before he was assassinated a year later, Milk helped pass city ordinances to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation.

JIM WATSON/AFP // Getty Images

1978: The rainbow flag is created

In 1978, Harvey Milk’s friend Gilbert Baker brought his 30-by-60-foot rainbow flag to an LGBTQ+ rights rally in San Francisco. Afterward, it became an enduring symbol of pride for the LGBTQ+ community. According to The Washington Post, Baker sometimes referred to himself as “the Betsy Ross of gay liberation.” He died in 2017 at the age of 65.

Spencer Platt // Getty Images

1981: Norway enacts anti-discrimination laws

In 1981, Norway amended its laws to include protections for LGBTQ+ people. The legislation stated that business owners couldn’t discriminate against customers based on sexual orientation nor deny them access to public events. Hate speech was also prohibited.

Andrzej Wójtowicz // Wikimedia Commons

1981: Gay men affected with ‘rare cancer’

In 1981, the New York Times reported 41 gay men had been afflicted with a “rare cancer.” Doctors originally thought HIV/AIDS was a skin cancer known as Kaposi’s sarcoma. A year later, though, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) started calling the illness “acquired immune deficiency syndrome,” or AIDS.

felipe caparros // Shutterstock

1982: Wisconsin passes LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination law

In 1981, Rep. David Clarenbach (D-Wis.) brought forth a measure to protect LGBTQ+ people from employment discrimination in public and private sectors, making Wisconsin the first in the U.S. to pass a statewide law against such discrimination. The law also banned landlords from denying housing based on sexual orientation.

Pixabay

1983: BiPOL forms

BiPOL, the first bisexual political group, started in San Francisco in 1983. They helped put on the Bisexual Rights Rally a year later, which took place outside the Democratic National Convention.

AlisonW // Wikimedia Commons

1986: Bowers v. Hardwick

After Michael Hardwick failed to show up for a court summons for public drinking, a police officer went to his house. That’s when he and a male friend were arrested for having consensual sex, which was illegal between two people of the same gender. The case, Bowers v. Hardwick, went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the state. The Court didn’t strike down sodomy laws until 2003.

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1986: New York passes anti-discrimination bill

After more than a decade of debate, New York City passed an anti-discrimination bill in 1986: Sexual orientation couldn’t be the basis of discrimination in employment, housing, or public accommodations.

Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock

1987: UK opens first HIV/AIDS clinic

The HIV/AIDS crisis continued into the late ’80s. In 1987, Princess Diana dispelled the myth that the disease could be transmitted by touch: without gloves, she shook the hand of an infected man at the opening of the United Kingdom’s first HIV/AIDS unit at the London Middlesex Hospital.

Rick // Wikimedia Commons

1987: Barney Frank comes out as gay

Although his straight allies and colleagues cautioned him against it, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) revealed his sexual orientation in 1987, making him the second openly gay congressman. Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.) reluctantly came out in 1983. Frank announced his retirement in 2011.

Tasos Katopodis // Getty Images

1987: ACT UP

The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) helped change the way people thought about the disease. Their slogan was simple but effective: “Silence = death.” Many say that the group jump-started a movement that led to the creation of HIV/AIDS drugs.

You may also like: Defining historical moments from the year you were born

Elvert Barnes // Wikimedia Commons

1988: National Coming Out Day starts

A year after the second March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, a group of activists founded National Coming Out Day (October 11), which aims to help LGBTQ+ people live openly.

Elvert Barnes // Wikimedia Commons

1989: Denmark legalizes same-sex unions

Demark recognized same-sex domestic partnerships in 1989, which extended the rights of marriage to gay and lesbians couples. In 2010, same-sex couples in the country could register for adoptions, and by 2012, they could legally get married.

KELD NAVNTOFT/AFP // Getty Images

1990: First Pride parade in South Africa

Activist Simon Nkoli helped start the Gay and Lesbian Organisation of the Witwatersrand. GLOW organized the first Pride parade in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1990, where people also marched against apartheid. Some LGBTQ+ marchers were so scared of exposing themselves that they marched with bags over their faces. Only about 800 people gathered for the first parade; by 2018, that number swelled to 22,000.

Lois GoBe // Shutterstock

1994: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ enacted

Then-President Bill Clinton signed “don’t ask, don’t tell” as a compromise with Republicans: gay and lesbian service members could join the military, but they could not tell anyone about their sexual orientation. Some officials—including Colin Powell, who was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time—voiced concerns about AIDS and whether gay and straight soldiers would have to live in the same quarters.

Mark Wilson // Getty Images

1995: Gay and lesbian workers can get government security clearance

Until 1995, someone who was gay or lesbian might not get a federal security clearance because government officials considered sexual orientation a security risk, the rationale being that gay and lesbian people who kept their lives secret could be subject to blackmail. Then-President Bill Clinton signed an executive order ending the regulation.

US Federal Government // Wikimedia Commons

1996: President Bill Clinton signs Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Clinton signed a law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. In 2013, he wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post asking the Supreme Court to overturn DOMA. In the piece, Clinton wrote he believed the law to be “incompatible with our constitution,” and the Court agreed with him.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP // Getty Images

1996: High schooler starts Gay-Straight Alliance

After she started the Gay-Straight Alliance at her Utah high school, Kelli Peterson—a 17-year-old lesbian senior—made national news. The administration didn’t want to allow her LGBTQ+ group but the Equal Access Act meant the school couldn’t legally prevent them from meeting. Instead, Salt Lake City’s Board of Education banned all high school clubs. Students sued the school, and a federal judge ruled in their favor.

Denin Lawley // Unsplash

1997: Ellen DeGeneres comes out

Ellen DeGeneres told the world she was a lesbian on the cover of Time magazine. Then, her television character, Ellen Morgan, became the first openly LGBTQ+ lead in a sitcom. DeGeneres won an Emmy for writing the series, but her show was canceled a year later. In 2003, she started her long-running eponymous talk show and later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama.

SAUL LOEB/AFP // Getty Images

2000: Vermont recognizes same-sex unions

A 1997 lawsuit led Vermont to pass a bill guaranteeing same-sex partners the same legal rights as married people. The Vermont Supreme Court held that the state was unconstitutionally discriminating against gay and lesbian couples. In 2009, Vermont became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage.

Jordan Silverman // Getty Images

2000: Netherlands recognizes same-sex marriage

After changing one sentence in their legislation, gay and lesbian couples in the Netherlands were given the right to marry, divorce, and adopt. The Dutch country was the first in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP // Getty Images

2003: US legalizes consensual same-sex acts

The Supreme Court legalized all consensual sex acts between same-sex adults after the ruling in Lawrence v. Texas. “Their right to liberty under the Due Process Clause gives them the full right to engage in their conduct without intervention of the government,” wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy.

Alex Wong // Getty Images

2004: Massachusetts performs first same-sex marriage

On May 17, 2004, Marcia Kadish and Tanya McCloskey became the first same-sex couple to get married in the U.S. A year earlier, the Massachusetts Supreme Court had ruled that the ban on marriage for gay and lesbian couples was illegal. It took until 2008 for another state (Connecticut) to follow.

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Angela Jimenez // Getty Images

2009: Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Then-President Barack Obama enacted the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act to give the U.S. Department of Justice additional funding to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. This includes crimes committed based on a victim’s race, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Some activists, however, feel the law did not do enough to increase prosecution of crimes against LGBTQ+ people.

Chip Somodevilla // Getty Images

2010: Same-sex marriage legal in Iceland

After same-sex marriage became legal in Iceland, the country’s openly lesbian prime minister wed her long-time partner. Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir and Jónína Leósdóttir were previously in a civil union. That same year, same-sex marriage became legal in Portugal and Argentina.

OLIVIER MORIN/AFP // Getty Images

2011: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repealed

At 12:01 a.m. on September 20, 2011, “don’t ask, don’t tell” was no longer in effect. Then-President Barack Obama signed a law repealing the policy in December 2010. The decision allowed gay and lesbian troops to serve openly in the military.

Mark Wilson // Getty Images

2012: First openly LGBTQ+ senator

Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay or lesbian senator in 2012. Before heading to the Senate, Baldwin served as one of only four openly gay members of the House at the time.

Scott Olson // Getty Images

2013: Supreme Court recognizes same-sex marriage

In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court held that the Defense of Marriage Act—which stated that marriage could only be between a man and a woman—was unconstitutional. They also decided not to hear a case about Proposition 8, the California ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage. This paved the way for nationwide marriage equality, which would come two years later.

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Alex Wong // Getty Images

2014: Transgender students get federal protection

Under the Obama administration, the Department of Education extended Title IX coverage to transgender students. The civil rights law bans sex discrimination in schools or activities that are funded by the federal government. The Trump administration aimed to roll back trans protections and include only people who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth in the legislation.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP // Getty Images

2014: First transgender person nominated for Emmy

Transgender actress Laverne Cox became the first openly trans person nominated for an Emmy when she received the nod for her role in “Orange Is the New Black.” She also appeared on the cover of Time the same year. Cox made history again in 2018 when she became the first openly trans person on the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine.

Jason Merritt // Getty Images

2016: Ban lifted on transgender troops

In June 2016, the military lifted the ban on transgender troops. That same month, the Obama administration dedicated the Stonewall Inn as a national monument, the first LGBTQ+ site added to the National Parks System.

Alex Wong // Getty Images

2017: First openly transgender state legislator elected

Virginia voters made history in 2017 when they elected transgender candidate Danica Roem to their state legislature. That same year, then-President Donald Trump announced that the military would no longer accept transgender troops because of “tremendous medical costs and disruption.”

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PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP // Getty Images

2018: ‘Rainbow wave’ in politics

Voters elected more than 150 LGBTQ+ politicians to office in 2018. Among the history-makers at the time were Jared Polis, the openly gay governor of Colorado; U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Native American lesbian representing Kansas; and Malcolm Kenyatta, the first gay Black man elected to the Pennsylvania legislature.

Whitney Curtis // Getty Images

2019: Taiwan passes same-sex marriage

Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Only a year before, lawmakers voted to deny the right to same-sex couples.

SAM YEH/AFP // Getty Images

2019: Transgender troops banned from military

Then-President Donald Trump’s restrictions on transgender people in the military went into effect on April 12, 2019. While the administration claimed there was no ban, transgender troops were required to serve as the gender they were assigned at birth under this regulation.

Alex Wong // Getty Images

2019: Mayor Pete runs for president

Democrat Pete Buttigieg is the second openly gay man to run for president of the United States. (In 2012, Fred Karger, a lesser-known Republican, became the first.) Buttigieg—who entered the Navy Reserves under “don’t ask, don’t tell”—dropped out of the Democratic primary in March 2020 and endorsed Joe Biden. In 2021, he became the first openly gay Cabinet member in U.S. history, serving as Secretary of Transportation in the Biden administration.

John Gress Media Inc // Shutterstock.

2019: Being transgender no longer a ‘disorder’

The World Health Organization no longer considers being transgender a mental illness. The WHO removed “gender identity disorder” from the International Classification of Diseases, which is a global manual for diagnosing mental illness. The update may help put an end to the practice of forcing transgender people to get surgery and forced sterilization in order to legally change their gender.

DEREK R. HENKLE/AFP // Getty Images

2020: NYC Pride March canceled by coronavirus

For the first time since its inception, the NYC Pride March was canceled out of an abundance of safety and due to social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Other events around the globe were similarly canceled. But that hardly means Pride Month was called off—instead, virtual events have since become common during the month of June to celebrate the historic milestones of the LGBTQ+ movement and to observe the battles still being fought for equal rights today.

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Gotham // Getty Images

2021: Biden reverses Trump-era ban on transgender people in the military

Just five days after taking office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that overturned the previous administration’s ban on transgender people in the military. Before the ban in 2017, it was estimated 2,450 service members were transgender, with about 0.1% of the total force seeking gender-related treatments. The Trump administration deemed gender-affirming care too expensive for the military to budget when in actuality it would only increase military spending by 0.04% to 0.13%.

Doug Mills-Pool // Getty Images

2021: Gender-affirming care for minors is blocked—then overturned

A law passed in Arkansas banned physicians in the state from providing gender-affirming health care to minors—even with parental consent. Trans children in the state were immediately unable to access trans-related health care, health care which has been proven to lower the risk of suicide among transgender youth. In July 2021, following a court case filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) spurred by protests and activists, the bill was overturned and gender-affirming care was once again accessible for minors.

Across the pond, in December 2020, the U.K.’s High Court ruled transgender children under the age of 16 could not consent to receive trans-affirming health care. Trans youth seeking medical treatment needed to consult a judge before receiving care. The National Health Service (NHS) appealed the decision and won in September 2021. Roughly 2,400 children a year in the U.K. seek gender-affirming health care through the NHS, making this overturned case paramount for a significant number of minors.

Alina Kruk // Shutterstock

2021: Switzerland and Japan make strides toward marriage equality

In September 2021, a two-thirds majority in Switzerland voted to legalize gay marriage in a referendum vote. This referendum also extended family rights for same-gender couples, allowing them to adopt children and permitting couples of two women to have children through sperm donation. The new ruling will be enforced in July 2022. Switzerland is one of the last Western European countries to legalize same-sex marriage.

In Japan, the country inched closer to marriage equality in a ruling which claimed to bar same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. Gay marriage is not yet legal in Japan, but this ruling will likely set a precedent for future legislation.

FABRICE COFFRINIAFP // Getty Images

2022: Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in US states

As of May 2022, over 300 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 36 states across the U.S. in 2022, some of which have become law in eight states. In Florida, one such measure—dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics—prohibits elementary school teachers from educating students in grades K-3 about sexual orientation or gender identity. Another law in Alabama that criminalizes gender-affirming medical care for trans youth was partially blocked by a judge in May. A significant number of these bills specifically target transgender people.

Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

2022: First openly lesbian women elected governor

The U.S. has never had an openly lesbian woman hold the office of governor; however, during the November 2022 midterms, not one but two openly lesbian women won gubernatorial elections in their respective states.

Maura Healey of Massachusetts is both the first woman as well as the first openly lesbian woman to be elected governor in Massachusetts. Healey, who has been her state’s attorney general for the last eight years, defeated Republican candidate Geoff Diehl by a wide margin to secure her spot as the next governor of the New England state. 

Tina Kotek of Oregon was right behind Healey, becoming the second openly lesbian governor elected in the U.S. Kotek’s race against Republican Christine Drazan was extremely close; however, her win continues a decades-long democratic hold on the governorship. Kotek is also the first openly lesbian woman to hold the position of Speaker of the Oregon House.

Getty Images

2023: Gender-Affirming Care

Just halfway through the year, 2023 broke the record for the number of anti-trans bills introduced nationwide. More than 70 have passed, while hundreds more remain active. At the federal level, 23 pieces of legislation are being discussed. Many of these bills focus on health care—particularly banning gender-affirming care and criminalizing this type of health care for the medical professionals who provide it and the legal guardians who permit it. For example, a bill introduced in Oklahoma proposes felony charges for providing gender-affirming care to people under 26 years old. 

There have also been significant victories for gender-affirming care in 2023. In January, Colorado, which used to be dubbed the “Hate State,” passed legislation protecting gender-affirming medical care as essential health care, becoming the first state to do so. Colorado’s legal protections also apply to recipients of gender-affirming care from out of state, as well as medical providers both in and outside of Colorado. Four other states—Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and Minnesota—have passed similar legislation protecting transgender health care.

Justin Sullivan // Getty Images

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The post Some worshippers switching congregations amid United Methodist cut up over LGBTQ points appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

United Airlines has partnered with Virgin Australia to connect US travelers to the world’s largest Pride celebration in Sydney with a special flight staffed exclusively by members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.

On February 22, 2023, celebrations at San Francisco International Airport began with a gate celebration, giveaways and onboard activities and ended with a welcome party upon arrival in Sydney. While Virgin Australia has been offering dedicated domestic flights in Australia for Pride since 2021, this marks the first time United has joined the effort.

Lori Augustine, United’s vice president of operations in San Francisco, said, “At United, we recognize, embrace and celebrate the differences that make our customers and employees unique. We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment while supporting the diverse communities we serve. Our Pride Flight is another example of good moving forward at United.”

Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO of Virgin Australia Group, said: “It is so important that we speak out to promote diversity and inclusion in the communities where we live, work and fly. Our partnership with United Airlines is incredibly important and it is wonderful to witness the collaboration between the airlines and the joy we have brought to our guests by spreading our pride across the Pacific Rim and Australia.”

United has an ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ equality, including a proud history of firsts. United was the first U.S. airline to fully recognize domestic partnerships in 1999 and was the first U.S. airline to offer non-binary gender options across all of its booking channels in 2019.

In addition, United remains committed to inclusion and empowering employees to be themselves at work. That’s why in 2021, the airline updated its appearance standards, moving away from gender-specific guidelines and allowing customer-facing employees to present themselves authentically through visible tattoos, nose piercings, hair, makeup, nails and more.

© Russell Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved., Source trade journals

The post United and Virgin Australia associate for Satisfaction flight from San Francisco to Sydney appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

United Flight 863 onward February 22nd will be operated entirely by United LGBTQ+ pilots, crew and allies and will connect US travelers to the world’s largest celebration of Pride Sydney

SAN FRANCISCO, February 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — United Airlines is partnering with Virgin Australia to connect US travelers to the world’s largest Pride celebration Sydney with a special flight staffed entirely by LGBTQ+ community members and allies. departure on Wednesday February 22nd out of san francisco International Airport, the celebrations begin with a celebration at the gate, continue with inflight giveaways and activities, and culminate with a welcome party on arrival Sydney. While Virgin Australia has offered dedicated domestic flights Australia for Pride since 2021, this is the first time United have joined that effort.

“As a proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community and the premier airline from the US to AustraliaUnited is excited to join the party and help people celebrate the upcoming Pride events in Sydney,” called Lori AugustineVice President of Operations at United in san francisco. “At United, we recognize, embrace and celebrate the differences that make our customers and employees unique. We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment while supporting the diverse communities we serve. Our Pride Flight is another example of how, like United, good leads the way.”

“Virgin Australia launched our first Pride Flight in the middle of the pandemic and fast forward to today, we have flights everywhere Australiaand our first ever international Pride Flight from san francisco with our wonderful partner United Airlines,” he said Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO of the Virgin Australia Group. “It’s so important that we use our voice to promote diversity and inclusion in the communities where we live, work and fly. Our partnership with United Airlines is incredibly important and it is so wonderful to witness the collaboration between the airlines and the joy we have has made our guests spread pride across the Pacific Australia.”

United has an ongoing commitment to LGBTQ+ equality, including a proud history of firsts. United was the first US airline to fully recognize domestic partnerships in 1999 and was the first US airline to offer non-binary gender options across all of its booking channels in 2019. Also in 2019, the airline became the first public company to be included in Pride Live’s Stonewall Ambassador program in recognition of the airline’s commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. Through EQUAL, the airline’s LGBTQ+ business resource group, more than 4,500 members work together to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and work with members and leaders across the company to develop ways to provide resources, education and advocacy.

United remains committed to inclusion and empowers employees to be themselves at work. That’s why the airline updated its appearance standards in 2021, moving away from gender-specific guidelines and allowing front-line employees to present themselves authentically through visible depictions of tattoos, nose piercings, hair, makeup, nails and more.

United is the Bay Area’s global airline, flying to more destinations around the world than any other airline Northern California. United operates more than 200 daily departures from san francisco International Airport, which takes customers to more than 100 destinations around the world, including the most international service with flights to 26 different international cities.

United is the country’s leading airline Australia and operates flights to three destinations in Australia by SFO including Sydney, Melbourne And Brisbane. United offers more service Australia than ever and offers more seats from the USA Australia than any other airline.

United’s partnership with Virgin Australia offers customers new connectivity options Australia most popular travel destinations, and MileagePlus® members have the opportunity to earn and redeem miles/points across both airline networks.

United Flight 863 departs from SFO 10:45 p.m. on WednesdayFebruary 22 and arrive in SYD at 09:05 on FridayFebruary 24th.

About United

United’s common goal is “Connecting people. unite the world”. From our US hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC, United operates the most comprehensive global route network of any North American airline. On our journey to becoming the world’s best airline, United is bringing back our customers’ favorite destinations and adding new ones. For more information on how to join the United team, visit www.united.com/careers and for more information about the company, visit www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

SOURCE United Airlines

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