Isak has registered 32 shots on target and 17 goals in the Premier League to date this season, while Iwobi has netted seven goals for the Cottagers this campaign.
Alexander Isak to have 2+ shots on target against against Fulham today is priced at EVENS
Sky Bet odds in Full-time Result market for Newcastle vs Fulham:
Newcastle 4/6
Fulham 7/2
Draw 3/1
Sky Bet Price Boosts for Newcastle vs Fulham:
Alexander Isak to have 2+ shots on target WAS 4/6 NOW 1/1
Timothy Castagne to commit 2+ fouls WAS 6/4 NOW 2/1
Newcastle to win 3-1 WAS 11/1 NOW 14/1
Alex Iwobi to score from outside the area WAS 22/1 NOW 33/1
All odds are correct at the time of publication
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Alexander Isak is priced at EVENS to have 2+ shots on target today – as Newcastle and Fulham go head-to-head at St James’ Park
Alexander Isak is priced at EVENS to have 2+ shots on target today – as Newcastle and Fulham go head-to-head at St James’ Park
Swedish striker Alexander Isak has been in scintillating form for Real Sociedad this season, and he will be looking to continue his impressive goal-scoring record as his side takes on Newcastle United at St James’ Park today. Isak has been a constant threat in front of goal, and he is priced at EVENS to have 2 or more shots on target in today’s game.
Newcastle United will be hoping to secure a vital three points as they look to climb up the Premier League table, but they will have to be wary of the threat posed by Isak. The 22-year-old has shown his quality in front of goal time and time again, and he will be looking to add to his tally against a struggling Newcastle side.
Fulham, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat and will be hoping to keep Isak quiet. However, with Isak’s impressive form and eye for goal, it could be a tough task for the Fulham defense.
With Isak priced at EVENS to have 2 or more shots on target today, it could be a smart bet for those looking to capitalize on his goal-scoring prowess. Keep an eye on the Swedish striker as he looks to make an impact in today’s game at St James’ Park.
Eric Gordon is here now, and was absolutely everywhere the Sixers needed him to be Friday night, when they stunned Cleveland.
Where he might be after the Feb. 6 trade deadline is open to conjecture, but certainly a floor-spacing sniper of his caliber would seem to be appealing to a contender. Especially given the fact that he also has a reasonable contract.
Also given the way he has been playing of late. The 36-year-old was in and out of the rotation the first several weeks of the season, his 17th in the league and his first in Philadelphia. But as the injuries have piled up he has begun seeing more daylight. Friday marked his seventh straight start, and his eighth in the last nine games.
Not coincidentally he has found his stroke. He went 5-for-8 from the floor and made all four of his 3-point attempts — two in a decisive fourth-quarter spurt — while scoring 15 points in the 132-129 victory over the East-leading Cavaliers, and over his last 17 games has knocked down exactly half of his 66 shots from the arc.
“That’s the only way you can be productive, is (by) playing,” he said, adding that he has developed chemistry with the team’s big guns — i.e., he opens up the floor for them, while at the same time giving the stars an outlet when the defense loads up against them.
“And now,” he said, “people start to see what I can really do with this team.”
Before that, he said his season had been “interesting.” Also hard.
“It’s hard because you’re not in the flow,” he said. “It’d be hard for anybody. Throughout my whole career, this is the first time I’ve ever been in this situation, so I would say it takes an adjustment. It’s definitely different.”
Coach Nick Nurse said before the game that everyone else has grown comfortable with Gordon, who is playing for his fifth team. They now know where he wants the ball, and what he can do once he gets it. Additionally he has been seeking out three-point opportunities in transition, always a great time to launch.
But when it comes down to it, there is a simple explanation for his resurgence.
“I think a lot of it’s probably just he’s a really good shooter,” Nurse said, “and just was not shooting it well. And now he is.”
Gordon is in fact making nearly 40 percent of his triple tries for the season, slightly above his career rate. And he was on the money when it mattered most Friday.
It was a rollicking affair between a Cavs team that began the night 36-7 and a Sixers team that had dropped seven straight to fall to 15-27. Everybody was making shots, from everywhere. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, just named to the All-Star team for the sixth straight season, had 37 points, while backup guard Ty Jerome, briefly a Sixer on draft night in 2019, poured in a career-high 33.
For the Sixers, Tyrese Maxey had 19 of his 29 in the first half, while Paul George had 21 of his 30 in the second. And the team as a whole established season highs for points, made threes (21, in 39 attempts) and three-point percentage (53.8). It was also the first time since a March 2021 game against Washington that the Sixers made over half their shots from the floor and the arc, and 85 percent of their free throws.
That enabled them to withstand Cleveland’s 25-for-52 3-point barrage, if barely. Jerome, who went 8-for-8 from 3, buried triples on consecutive possessions midway through the fourth, putting Cleveland up 116-110.
Then the Sixers improbably reeled off 13 straight points, six of those by Gordon. He swished a three-pointer from the left wing to put them ahead to stay, at 117-116, with 5:20 left, then capped the run with another trey from the right wing, with 3:19 remaining. And talk about chemistry — the first came off a feed from George, the second off a Maxey delivery.
“I’ve made a lot of those shots throughout my whole career, and you’ve just got to look forward to them,” Gordon said. “Those are shots that you’ve always got to look forward to.”
He had looked forward to winning here, after signing a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Sixers last July. Everybody had. But Joel Embiid has again been hurt, as have several others. And while the team showed some promise in December, it has never really hit its stride.
“Yeah, it definitely weighs on you when you’re not winning,” Gordon said. “You’ve just got to fight through. There’s still a lot of games. Our season’s far from over.”
It remains to be seen what this club will look like in the weeks ahead. It remains to be seen if veterans like Gordon stay or go. The only thing that’s clear is that he was exactly where he needed to be Friday, doing what he has always done.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Eric Gordon is starting to find his groove and showcase his true shooting abilities on the court. After a slow start to the season, Gordon has been steadily improving and proving why he is a valuable asset to the team.
Known for his scoring prowess and sharpshooting skills, Gordon is beginning to settle in with the Sixers and make a significant impact on the offensive end. Whether it’s draining threes from beyond the arc or driving to the basket for a layup, Gordon is showing that he can score in a variety of ways.
With each game, Gordon is gaining more confidence and getting more comfortable with his role on the team. He is starting to find his rhythm and do what he does best — make shots. As he continues to acclimate to the team and build chemistry with his teammates, Gordon is only going to become more dangerous on the court.
Sixers fans can expect to see more impressive performances from Gordon as he continues to settle in and showcase his scoring abilities. With his sharpshooting skills and offensive prowess, Gordon is proving to be a valuable asset for the Sixers and a key player to watch as the season progresses.
McMahon appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and spoke about dealing with certain aspects of the media. In particular, McAfee asked her how she deals with the cheap shots people have taken at her family over the years. Does she try to stay above it or ignore it?
“So it’s been my whole life. When I was in high school, [that] was when my dad was indicted [on federal charges for conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids to WWF wrestlers]. The media came after my family in a really big and really hard way to deal with when you’re in high school. And I think at that time, I was filled with a lot of anger and resentment. I had a hard time navigating all of that,” Stephanie explained.
“I think now in my later years when it seems to all happen again, it’s with a little bit of reverence that I can appreciate it because it’s just noise,” she continued. “People have opinions no matter what and that’s great. You can think you know exactly what’s going on, you can give whatever dirt you think you know. But at the end of the day, I know where I stand. That’s how I have to be. Grounded and rooted in who I am and what I believe in and try to ignore the noise.”
If you use this transcription, credit the source, H/T WrestleZone and link to this post.
Stephanie McMahon On People Taking Shots At Her Family: It’s Just Noise, I Know Where I Stand
Stephanie McMahon, WWE’s Chief Brand Officer and daughter of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, is no stranger to criticism and scrutiny due to her family’s prominent position in the industry. However, Stephanie remains unfazed by those who take shots at her family, stating that it’s just noise to her.
In a recent interview, Stephanie addressed the constant criticism and backlash that comes with being a part of such a high-profile family. She acknowledged that not everyone will agree with the decisions her family makes, but she is confident in where she stands and the work she has done within the company.
“It’s just noise to me,” Stephanie said. “I know where I stand, and I know the impact that my family has had on this industry. We have worked hard to build the WWE into what it is today, and I am proud of the legacy we have created.”
Stephanie went on to explain that she focuses on the positive aspects of her work and the opportunities she has been given, rather than dwelling on the negativity that can come with being in the public eye.
“I have a strong sense of self and confidence in my abilities,” Stephanie added. “I know that not everyone will agree with me or my family, but that’s okay. I am proud of the work we have done and the impact we have had on this industry.”
In closing, Stephanie emphasized that she remains focused on continuing to grow and evolve within the WWE, regardless of the criticism that may come her way.
“I am always looking for ways to improve and innovate within the company,” Stephanie said. “I am not afraid of taking risks and pushing boundaries. That’s what has helped us stay at the top of the industry for so long. So, to those who want to take shots at my family, I say bring it on. I know where I stand, and I am confident in the work that we do.”
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Stephanie McMahon, WWE, family, criticism, noise, confidence, self-assurance, standing strong, public perception, wrestling dynasty
Draya Michelle may have turned the big 4-0 … but she doesn’t look a day over 20.
The “Basketball Wives LA” star is steaming up the camera lens in these hot pics as she enjoys sunbathing in her bikini in the backyard or in the pool or even on the beach.
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter where Draya is … she looks fantastic anywhere she goes. And for all you guys who think you might have a chance with Draya … Fuhgeddaboudit!
Draya is definitely off the market … she’s been dating Houston Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green and the two had their first child in 2024.
Draya also shares a couple of other kiddos with two former lovers, one of them being ex-Dallas Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick.
Turns out … having all those children has been the best thing for Draya and her amazing bod! If you don’t believe us, you be the judge.
Just check out these sizzling snaps. Enjoy!
As Draya Michele celebrates her 40th birthday, she is looking hotter than ever! The actress and model recently shared some sizzling photos on her social media to kick off the festivities, and fans are loving it.
In the photos, Draya is seen flaunting her toned figure in a skimpy bikini, showing off her curves and killer abs. She looks confident and radiant as she poses for the camera, proving that age is just a number.
Fans and celebrities alike have been showering Draya with birthday wishes and compliments on her stunning photos. It’s clear that she is embracing her 40s with grace and style.
So here’s to Draya Michele and her hot shots as she enters this new decade with confidence and beauty. Happy 40th birthday, Draya! #DrayaMichele #40andFabulous
‘Outer Banks’ Babe Madison Bailey … Sexy Shots For My 26th Birthday!!!
Published
Madison Bailey spends much of “Outer Banks” in jean shorts, crop tops and bikinis … so, it might not surprise you to learn she brings a similar heat to her social media.
As Wednesday marks another trip around the sun for the Netflix actress — she’s officially 26 — we’re taking a closer look at her various hot shots … and it’s safe to say she has plenty to enjoy.
Madison has made it clear she’s right at home in a variety of colorful 2-piece swimsuits … though, it’s her black monokini that’s really captured our attention. Check it out … the starlet displays her fit frame, lounging in a pale pink patio chair, leaving little to the imagination thanks to her skin-showing swimsuit.
Madison has seemingly replaced the little black dress with the little black bikini … which she pairs with some strategically placed gold accessories. It’s not a formal birthday suit, but it’ll do!!!
To see how Madison’s IRL fashion compares to the looks she rocks on “Outer Banks,” check out our galleries above … and don’t forget to wish her a big happy birthday online, too!!!
Madison Bailey, the talented actress known for her roles in hit shows like Outer Banks, is celebrating her 26th birthday today! To kick off the festivities, let’s take a look at some of her sexiest shots that showcase her stunning beauty and undeniable charm.
From red carpet looks to casual selfies, Madison always knows how to slay in front of the camera. Whether she’s rocking a chic outfit or flaunting her natural beauty with minimal makeup, there’s no denying that she has a magnetic presence that captivates fans around the world.
So join us in wishing Madison a very happy birthday and enjoy these sizzling shots that highlight why she’s one of Hollywood’s rising stars. Here’s to another year of success, love, and happiness for the birthday girl! #MadisonBailey #HappyBirthday #26andFabulous
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Madison Bailey, Madison Bailey birthday, Madison Bailey photoshoot, Madison Bailey sexy, Madison Bailey 26th birthday, Madison Bailey celebration, Madison Bailey stunning shots, Madison Bailey birthday photos, Madison Bailey birthday celebration.
With funding from the National Science Foundation and other government grants, scientists and meteorologists from the Center for Severe Weather Research study a storm in Oklahoma in 2017. They get close to supercell storms and tornadoes to better understand their formation and improve prediction.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images North America
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Drew Angerer/Getty Images North America
The National Science Foundation canceled all of its grant review panels this week, as the organization works to align its grantmaking process with new executive orders from the Trump administration.
The NSF funds a wide range of scientific research through grants to universities and research institutions. It convenes panels of experts to weigh the merits of those proposals, ultimately informing which receive federal funding. It has a budget of around $9 billion.
More than 60 of those meetings were scheduled for this week, all of which were abruptly canceled Monday morning. The move sparked confusion among panelists as to the extent of the pause. In a statement to NPR, an NSF spokesperson said that all review panels will be rescheduled. “This will allow the agency to make the best use of everyone’s time and resources as we continue to develop guidance to ensure compliance with the recent executive orders.”
Romi Burks, a biologist at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, had spent weeks preparing to serve on her NSF panel. “It’s a considerable amount of effort,” she said. “It’s extremely disappointing for it to be canceled for political reasons.”
Delays in grant approval inevitably mean delays in funding research. Those delays could threaten the scientists, who include tenured faculty, post-doctoral researchers and graduate students who often depend on grants for financial support. Delays also create extra uncertainty that makes it hard to plan, says Burks. Researchers need to schedule travel for field work, or arrange time to collaborate with colleagues. “All of these things cannot happen until you have notification,” she says. “It’s already a long time to get grants reviewed, any more time is just an increasing burden.”
It’s unclear which executive orders are responsible for the freeze, though researchers suspect it may be related to President Trump’s targeting of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. NSF reviews grant applications based on two criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. The latter is a catch-all term that assesses how the research would benefit society. Historically, a crucial component of those broader impacts relate to increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in the scientific process.
The pause comes at a time of heightened anxiety and confusion in the U.S. research community. Last week, the National Institutes of Health — the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world — canceled its scientific meetings and study sections, which also helps determine which research to fund.
NSF also has review panels scheduled for next week. An agency spokesperson declined to confirm whether they’d also be rescheduled.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that it will freeze all grant reviews in response to recent executive orders issued by President Trump. The executive orders, which aim to cut funding for scientific research and limit the agency’s ability to support certain types of research, have raised concerns among the scientific community.
In a statement released by the NSF, the agency expressed its commitment to upholding the integrity of the scientific review process and ensuring that all research proposals are evaluated in a fair and impartial manner. However, the agency also noted that it will need time to assess the potential impact of the executive orders on its grant review process.
Scientists and researchers have expressed their dismay at the news, with many expressing concerns about the future of scientific research in the United States. Some have called on the NSF to take a stand against the executive orders and defend the agency’s mission to support cutting-edge scientific research.
As the NSF works to navigate these uncertain times, it remains to be seen how the agency will proceed with its grant review process and support the scientific community in the face of challenges posed by the Trump administration. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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Hey, uh, is anyone in the world of The White Lotuslooking into the violent death epidemic at these hotels? The FBI or an investigative journalist perhaps? That anyone would book a room after season one and two’s incidents at two separate locations is absurd, but then again, exposing the poor decision-making of the elite is exactly what the show does best.
Maybe someone will finally at least consider investigating after whatever horrible event about to happen at the White Lotus Thailand. The principle of Chekhov’s gun states that if a gun is shown in the first act, it should probably go off by the end. Well this is just the trailer and the series has already shown us multiple guns—but literal and verbal (but no less on-the-nose).
Let’s start with the literal guns, which seem like they’re going to be a much bigger factor than in previous installments. The trailer features an armed robbery and a shot of Tayme Thapthimthong at a gun range, presumably practicing to protect the resort. (Or take it down from the inside? We’ll see.)
Almost every new character—and there are a lot of them to keep track of—also lobs a one-liner implying they’re definitely going to end this thing in a wooden box. “It means we’re not dead yet,” Michelle Monaghan’s character proclaims to her longtime (not old!) girlfriends, played by Carrie Coon and Leslie Bibb. When Jason Isaacs’ character has a bad break, he asks his wife (Parker Posey) what she’d do if they lost everything. “Honestly I don’t know if I’d want to live; I just don’t have it in me,” she responds. Later, Belinda (a delightful return for Natasha Rothwell) suggests she’ll only go home in a “goddamn body bag.” Oh, and Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins are in an age-gap relationship (someone at the airport thought he was her dad, which she thinks can be fixed with a facial) and we get a snippet of the new theme song! It’s vacation time, baby!
Grab your bathing suit and maybe a bullet proof vest. Check in starts February 16 on HBO and Max.
The highly anticipated trailer for The White Lotus season 3 has just dropped, and it’s already causing quite a stir. In the dramatic clip, shots are fired (literally) as tensions reach a boiling point at the luxurious resort.
The trailer opens with serene shots of the tropical paradise, but it quickly becomes clear that all is not well in paradise. As the guests and staff navigate their own personal dramas, a gunshot rings out, sending shockwaves through the resort.
The White Lotus season 3 promises to be filled with even more twists and turns than ever before. With an ensemble cast of talented actors and a gripping storyline, fans can expect a rollercoaster ride of emotions and suspense.
Get ready to book your stay at The White Lotus for another unforgettable season of drama, intrigue, and of course, shots fired.
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The White Lotus season 3, Shots fired, White Lotus trailer, White Lotus season 3 trailer, The White Lotus season 3, White Lotus shooting scene, The White Lotus drama, White Lotus season 3 cast
ASUS has posted high-res die shots of the GeForce RTX 5090’s Blackwell GB202 GPU, the GDDR7 memory & also some fantastic overclocked results by pushing its Astral flagship over 3 GHz.
ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 Astral Overclocked With LN2 Over 3 GHz, Results In Almost 1000W Power Consumption
ASUS’s China manager, Tony Yu, managed to take the flagship ROG GeForce RTX 5090 Astral GPU for a spin with LN2 cooling and achieved some surprisingly good figures.
Image Source: ASUS’s Tony Yu
For overclocking, Tony is utilizing the best kind of cooling for extreme overclocks, which is LN2, and with this, he was able to achieve a maximum GPU frequency of 3390 MHz and a memory frequency of 34 Gbps, which is 21 percent higher than the stock frequency rated at 28 Gbps. These are both impressive figures, and we can expect even higher overclock once professionals start rolling out their records.
As for the performance, the graphics card was tested in 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, Fire Strike Ultra, Port Royal, and Wild Life Extreme benchmarks. The following is how these results compare to the numbers from our review of the RTX 5090:
0
9000
18000
27000
36000
45000
54000
RTX 5090 OC (ASUS ROG Astral 3.4 GHz / 34 Gbps)
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7000
14000
21000
28000
35000
42000
RTX 5090 OC (ASUS ROG Astral 3.4 GHz / 34 Gbps)
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7000
14000
21000
28000
35000
42000
RTX 5090 OC (ASUS ROG Astral 3.4 GHz / 34 Gbps)
In terms of performance improvement, the ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 ROG Astral overclocked GPU achieved a 25% uplift in 3DMark Port Royal, an 18% uplift in Time Spy Extreme, and a 12% uplift in FireStrike Ultra. This is a nice improvement, but we should remember that this is from a 41% uplift in its boost clock to 3.4 GHz (almost 1 GHz higher than the stock NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090) and the card itself was consuming around 1000W of power with the whole system’s power reaching almost 1800W.
Image Source: ASUS’s Tony Yu
Tony also shared some high-resolution and detailed die shots of the NVIDIA GB202 “Blackwell” GPU and the new GDDR7 memory featured on the GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, which you can see in the gallery below:
Image Source: ASUS’s Tony Yu
NVIDIA RTX Blackwell GB202 GPU
What we have known so far about the NVIDIA RTX Blackwell Gaming GPUs is that they are based on TSMC’s 4nm process node, feature up to 92 billion transistors with 4000 AI TOPS, 380 RT TFLOPs, a 125 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, the fastest GDDR7 memory interface with up to 1.8 TB/s bandwidth and come with a brand new Founders Edition design.
GDDR7 also brings a much-needed upgrade over GDDR6/X memory, offering twice the bandwidth and data rate of G6 memory with higher frequency and lower wattage. GDDR7 also supports PAM4 signaling and the PCB materials used on RTX 50 GPUs are top-of-the-line from an engineering point of view.
The NVIDIA Blackwell GB202 GPU measures 922mm2, a 21% increase in die size on the same node. This is a substantially bigger die and explains why NVIDIA is charging a $2000 US premium for RTX 5090 graphics cards. There is still more headroom available for NVIDIA to do a Titan or Ti variant, & while we would definitely like to see one, we can’t say for sure if there will be a higher-end variant, as that didn’t happen with the RTX 4090, though the chances of a workstation variant with a bigger core config and more memory remains on the table.
In the world of high-performance gaming, NVIDIA has always been at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Their latest Blackwell GB202 GPU and GDDR7 memory are no exception, as evidenced by the stunning die shots that have recently surfaced online.
The Blackwell GB202 GPU features a sleek design and powerful performance capabilities, making it an ideal choice for gamers looking to take their gaming experience to the next level. Paired with the latest GDDR7 memory, this GPU promises lightning-fast speeds and smooth gameplay.
But that’s not all – ASUS has taken things a step further with their GeForce RTX 5090 Astral, which has been overclocked to an impressive 3.4 GHz using liquid nitrogen cooling. This beast of a GPU consumes almost 1000W of power, but the performance gains are well worth it for hardcore gamers who demand nothing but the best.
Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, the NVIDIA Blackwell GB202 GPU and ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 Astral are sure to impress with their stunning visuals and top-notch performance. Keep an eye out for these powerhouse GPUs as they hit the market, and get ready to experience gaming like never before.
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NVIDIA Blackwell GB202 GPU, GDDR7 Memory, Die Shots, ASUS GeForce RTX 5090 Astral, Overclocked, LN2, 1000W Consumption, Gaming, Graphics Card, PC Hardware, Technology, NVIDIA, ASUS, GeForce RTX, Gaming Performance, High Power Consumption
RFK Jr. made $856,559 in referral fees from the law firm Wisner Baum, which is suing Merck over claims its HPV vaccine caused cervical cancer, according to new filings with the Office of Government Ethics.
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Even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is confirmed as the next Health and Human Services secretary, he still plans to collect fees from Wisner Baum, a law firm suing Merck over claims that the pharmaceutical company failed to properly warn consumers about risks from its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, according to new filings with the Office of Government Ethics.
Kennedy will only collect the fees if Wisner Baum wins, and only for cases that aren’t against the United States or in which the United States isn’t a party and doesn’t have “a direct or substantial interest,” according to the filings.
“Pursuant to the referral agreement, I am entitled to receive 10% of fees awarded in contingency fee cases referred to the firm,” Kennedy wrote in his signed ethics agreement. “I am not trying these cases, I am not an attorney of record for the cases, and I will not provide representational services in connection with the cases during my appointment to the position of Secretary.”
The filings, submitted to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics as part of the confirmation process, detail Kennedy’s many financial holdings and interests. If he becomes HHS secretary and continues to collect fees, he would be in a position to potentially profit from vaccine litigation while also regulating drugmakers and exercising authority over federal vaccine policy.
“RFK Jr’s ethics agreement is inadequate because it doesn’t address the bias created by his continuing financial interest in the litigation against Merck,” Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in government ethics wrote to NPR.
Neither a spokeswoman for Kennedy nor the Trump transition team immediately returned repeated requests for comment.
The documents and their link to the Gardasil vaccine lawsuit were first reported by The New York Times.
The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, to consider Kennedy’s nomination to run HHS.
In Kennedy’s profile page on Wisner Baum’s website, he is first identified as “co-counsel with Wisner Baum in the Gardasil litigation,” and he has used his platforms on social media and through his nonprofit to promote the suit and his concerns with the vaccine against the human papillomavirus.
HPV is a very common sexually transmitted virus that can cause cancers later in life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two doses of HPV vaccine at ages 11 to 12 and says it provides safe, effective and lasting protection against HPV infections.
According to Kennedy’s personal financial disclosure report, he made $856,559 in referral fees from the law firm. That’s in addition to $326,056 in salary and benefits he earned from the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense, an organization Kennedy chaired and that has been influential in the anti-vaccine movement. The nonprofit has filed nearly 30 federal and state lawsuits since 2020, including some that target the federal agencies he would oversee at HHS. Many of the legal actions taken by CHD challenged vaccines and public health mandates.
The filing says Kennedy took an unpaid leave of absence from the organization in April 2023, when he declared his run for the presidency, and that he resigned from CHD effective December 2024.
The filing also shows Kennedy declared a $8,848,402 share of partnership profits from the law firm Kennedy and Madonna, LLP, which has been renamed Madonna and Madonna, LLP. The filing says he received his “final partnership payout in May 2024.” He also made money from another law firm, publishing and various other fees for speaking and endorsements.
Edited by Scott Hensley and Jane Greenhalgh
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the prominent anti-vaccine activist, has announced that he will continue to collect fees from lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical company Merck over their HPV vaccines. Despite facing criticism for his involvement in spreading misinformation about vaccines, Kennedy insists that he is fighting for justice and accountability.
In a recent statement, Kennedy declared that he will not back down from his legal battles against Merck, alleging that the company has knowingly produced unsafe vaccines that have caused harm to individuals. He claims that his efforts are aimed at holding Merck accountable for their actions and ensuring that the public is aware of the risks associated with their products.
Kennedy’s decision to continue pursuing legal action against Merck has sparked controversy within the medical and scientific communities, with many experts condemning his anti-vaccine rhetoric and tactics. Critics argue that his unfounded claims about vaccine safety can contribute to the spread of misinformation and pose a threat to public health.
Despite the backlash, Kennedy remains steadfast in his mission to challenge Merck and seek justice for those he believes have been harmed by their vaccines. As the legal battles continue, the outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the debate over vaccines and their safety will persist as long as activists like Kennedy continue to push their agendas.
ATHENS — Does Georgia football have enough on its roster to win a national championship in 2025?
Nothing like getting right to the point.
Kirby Smart is still in it to win championships, but the model has changed, and UGA — like most everyone else — is working on a new business model.
That doesn’t ease the pain or frustration of what proved to be a tough College Football Playoff season for the Bulldogs.
Right when it seemed like the program had finally caught a break, and everyone was enjoying the feel-good story of pickup truck driving, homegrown QB Gunner Stockton, the luck of the Irish kicked in.
It’s one thing to say that “sometimes it’s just not your day.”
But fact is, Georgia was far from at its best and made uncharacteristic mistakes on the field and in the coaching booth, and an opportunistic Notre Dame team that led the nation in takeaways took full advantage.
Lessons Learned
Lessons were learned and realizations were made in these playoffs, and Georgia fans can take some comfort in knowing Smart is a fast learner who has a UGA administration that’s completely behind him.
History will reflect Georgia maintained its “dynasty” status with another SEC title under its belt and an unmatched active streak of eighth-straight Top 7 rankings.
Those are critical elements on Georgia’s resume that prospective players can and will take note of when considering the program.
Meanwhile, we know from history that Smart isn’t going to waste any time or negative energy looking back on the missed college football playoff opportunity.
It was Smart who famously said after a gut-wrenching 26-23 overtime loss to Alabama in the CFP Championship Game after the 2017 season that, “I’m not going to let that game beat me twice.”
So Smart went to work securing players that, four years later, won back-to-back titles after growing and competing within the program.
New Twist
That’s happening again, but with the appreciable twist of NIL and a free agent transfer portal world shaping the collegiate football landscape.
Ohio State and Ole Miss served as prime examples that an aggressive approach to the transfer portal is where it’s at.
So more real talk here, OK?
On paper, Georgia doesn’t appear to have done enough — yet — to have the sort of roster that will take down the type of team that will be waiting for it in the playoffs next season.
Ohio State, far and away, was the most talented and best team in the College Football Playoffs.
The version of Bulldogs who limped to the finish with a backup quarterback and heavy attrition at receiver and in the running backs room would have had a tall order matching up with the Buckeyes, even had they gotten by Notre Dame and Penn State.
One could spend a day discussing how the newly expanded playoffs mitigated the importance of the regular season and conference championship games.
Indeed, Ohio State finished fourth-place in the Big Ten and didn’t even appear in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Only Three
To think, only three SEC teams made the playoffs in a season that saw only four Big Ten teams finish in the Top 25, while the SEC produced seven.
It appears being a “top-heavy” conference isn’t such a bad thing in the world of expanded playoffs.
If a healthy and explosive fourth-place team from the Big Ten could win the national championship, it’s fair to wonder if a healthy, free-agent stocked SEC team with explosive offensive playmakers could have done the same.
Lane Kiffin would surely agree.
Finishing this obituary on the 2024 season, it can be noted the SEC got a bad draw when it came to the priorities of this year’s CFP Selection Committee.
Smart once said — after the 2018 season — that “it will be different every year” when it comes to what the CFP Selection Committee values, and he has been proven correct.
This committee bypassed “schedule strength” and settled on “won-loss record.”
Somewhere, Florida State fans are crying.
Parity and depth was not rewarded in the CFP rankings this past season, and in fact proved a detrainment to the SEC.
Coming Up
The NFL draft will surely reflect the SEC hasn’t dropped off, so much as its quality of play from top to bottom was too high for its own good.
The league cannibalized itself.
Looking ahead, Georgia’s schedule is a bit more manageable this season.
It’s not exactly favorable, but at least this season Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas are coming to Athens, along with reasonable road trips to rivals Tennessee and Auburn ahead.
Rivals Florida and Georgia Tech provide some intrigue, both neutral site games at NFL stadiums in Jacksonville and Atlanta.
But the Bulldogs’ roster has enough holes that Smart and his staff will stay busy.
Rapid development, more talent acquisition in the second portal window and elite coaching will be musts for Georgia to content for the national title.
No doubt, there will be changes ahead, and at Georgia that has typically been a good thing.
It Ain’t Broke
Another Smart saying: “If it ain’t broke, find a way to make it better.”
The 10th-year Georgia head coach has done that before.
Consider, the 2021 Georgia CFP Championship team replaced 15 NFL draft picks and 40 percent of its coaching staff, along 14 of 18 of the game captains.
This year’s team is in reload mode, too, with quarterback Carson Beck taking his NFL arm to Miami, and Trevor Etienne reversing field and choosing to bypass another season in Athens.
That’s a lot of offensive talent going out the door.
Georgia remains capable, but more offensive playmakers must be acquired or quickly developed, and a dangerous edge defender must emerge.
It would be wrong to default to thinking the Bulldogs will be “fine, just because” Smart has seemingly always found a way.
“Just because” isn’t good enough anymore — not with a 12-team playoff giving second and third chances to talented programs that get tripped up during the regular season.
The built-in first-round “bye” for conference championship teams didn’t prove to be the advantage some projected, as all four of those teams receiving a bye lost.
In fact none of the five conference champions managed to win even one playoff game.
That won’t and shouldn’t deter a team from trying to win its respective league title, nor should it diminish the value a conference championship represents.
The Answer
But in building for the future, Smart needs to figure out exactly how best to prepare and structure his team for the new season an expanded 12-team playoff represents.
One answer that can’t be wrong is bringing in more impactful players through the transfer portal, and that means securing more NIL dollars and finding corporate sponsorship.
Final thought: Notre Dame and Ohio State had impact transfer quarterbacks under center in Will Howard (Kansas State) and Riley Leonard (Duke).
Does Georgia need to find a star quarterback out there somewhere to compete for a title next season, or are the in-house candidates good enough.
Stockton and rising talent Ryan Puglisi are certainly “good,” but does “good” translate to “good enough?”
That’s up to Kirby Smart to decide. He’s been here before, and he’s found a way to rebound and win national championships.
The game has changed, but the head coach hasn’t, and that guarantees Georgia will be working as hard at it this offseason as any other program in the nation.
As the 2024 College Football Playoff comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the highs and lows of the Georgia Bulldogs’ journey.
Despite a strong regular season performance, the Bulldogs were ultimately defeated in the semifinals by a talented opponent. While it’s disappointing to see the team fall short of the national championship, Georgia fans can still take pride in their team’s accomplishments and the hard work of the players and coaching staff.
Looking ahead to the future, there are sure to be changes and improvements made by the Bulldogs in preparation for the next season. With a strong foundation and a dedicated fan base, there’s no doubt that Georgia will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in college football.
As we say goodbye to the 2024 College Football Playoff, let’s remember the excitement and passion that the game brings to fans across the country. And let’s look forward to the next season with hope and anticipation for what the Georgia Bulldogs and all college football teams will achieve.
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Georgia 2024, College Football Playoff, Georgia football, CFP predictions, college football analysis, Georgia Bulldogs, NCAA football, playoff projections, sports commentary, championship contenders
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