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MAGA embraces ‘daddy’ Donald Trump: The ‘Resistance’ recoils from ‘weird’ new nickname

From a T-shirt to a White House music video, MAGA is leaning hard into the new nickname given to President Donald Trump: Daddy.

The moniker was bestowed on the president by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the G7 summit after Trump likened Israel and Iran to children fighting in a schoolyard.

“And then daddy sometimes has to use strong language to get them to stop,” Rutte said Wednesday at the summit at The Hague, referring to Trump using an expletive to voice his frustration after the sides violated the cease fire he brokered.

The president’s supporters are running with the new nickname, which is being used by Trump’s campaign to hawk $27 red Trump T-shirts.

The shirts feature the president’s mugshot with “DADDY” in big, bold letters.

The White House also leaned heavily into the nickname, producing a video Wednesday of the president set to “Daddy’s Home” by Usher:

In another video Thursday featuring the song, the White House’s account on X wrote: “America’s back. Daddy’s home.”

Trump’s political operation also seized on the moment:

Prominent Trump supporters also enjoyed the new meme.

Catturd, a conservative influencer who has nearly 4 million followers on X, addressed the nickname while ending his post with what has become Trump’s signature valediction.

“Dear liberals …Trump is your daddy,“ Catturd wrote. ”Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

But the Resistance said the new nickname is “weird.”

“Why are republicans so weird? Why would you want Trump to be your “Daddy,” one user on X wrote.

“It’s weird, disturbing and disgusting how Republicans call Trump ‘Daddy,’” said another, ending their post with a vomit emoji.

Ron Filipkowski, a former Republican-turned-Trump critic and CEO of MeidasTouch.com, referred to Trump’s marital affairs while bashing the nickname.

“If Trump is your ‘daddy,’ that just means he’s going to ignore you and cheat on your mom,” he posted to X.

The nickname also caught the attention of late night television hosts, including “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”

“Why is anyone calling him ‘daddy?’ Why is he calling himself, ‘daddy?’” Meyers wondered.

“Am I watching a NATO summit or a softcore Cinemax movie from the 80s called ‘Donnie’s Romp Through Holland?’”

General

UFC 317 predictions and best bets: Topuria vs. Oliveira props and analysis

The UFC’s seventh Pay-Per-View event of 2025 is finally here. Two titles are on the line this Saturday and MMA fans around the country seem torn as to how these championship bouts will play out.

There are some great matchups booked and fans are likely in for an exciting night of action.

Here, I provide some in-depth UFC 317 predictions with breakdowns of the best bets available to make leading into fight night.

UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira predictions and analysis

Saturday’s UFC event is without a doubt one of the most exciting held by the promotion thus far in 2025. It’s packed with great fights, yet none is bigger than the main event lightweight championship bout between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira.

These two men were given the opportunity to compete for the belt after Islam Makhachev decided to vacate his title and move up to the 170-pound division.

Topuria and Oliveira are considered by many to be the most exciting fighters in all of mixed martial arts. Ilia has finished 14 of his 16 professional fights. Oliveira has stopped his opponents in 31 of his 35 professional fights.

If there is any fight that is likely to end before the final bell sounds, this is the one.

Topuria was a wrecking ball in the featherweight division, scoring win after win against some of the best fighters in the sport. He’s an elite grappler, yet truly shines on the feet with knockout victories over elite opponents like Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway.

Oliveira is a great striker in his own right. His jiu-jitsu is what stands out, however, as he has earned 21 professional victories by submission throughout his career.

I expect to see Ilia Topuria scoring yet another knockout victory in this fight.

He has the best boxing skills in the UFC and marches forward against opponents hunting for a knockout. Oliveira has been finished by strikes in the past and Ilia has everything necessary to land a knockout shot in this matchup.

It will be extremely difficult for Oliveira to get Topuria to the mat, as well. Ilia is a world-class wrestler with a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Topuria will push the pace from the first moment and land one of his patented overhand rights to score a knockout in the second round.

Official prediction: Ilia Topuria wins via 2nd-round KO

Topuria vs. Oliveira moneyline analysis

The odds below are provided by Caesars Sportsbook

Ilia Topuria: -420
Charles Oliveira: +320

Generally speaking, when a fighter from a lower division moves up in weight, he becomes an underdog. That is particularly true when that fighter is taking on a former champion.

Ilia Topuria is somewhat of an anomaly and enters Saturday’s fight as the -420 favorite. He has already dispatched two pound-for-pound greats and has shown very few vulnerabilities throughout his entire career.

Charles Oliveira remains one of the top lightweight fighters in the world. He is extremely well-rounded and is perhaps the best finisher in all of MMA. Charles has lost twice since 2022, however, which could help to explain why he enters this fight as the +320 underdog.

The odds for Topuria in this fight reflect how highly regarded he is in the MMA community. With another victory this weekend, he may establish himself as the best fighter alive today.

UFC 317: Undercard predictions and best bets

Alexandre Pantoja: -238 at DraftKings Sportsbook
Payton Talbott via TKO: +390 at FanDuel Sportsbook
Beneil Dariush via decision: +275 at bet365 Sportsbook

In the co-main event of UFC 317, Alexandre Pantoja will look to earn the fourth defense of his flyweight championship against a true veteran of the fight game, Kai Kara-France.

It’s hard to imagine Pantoja losing to anyone at 125 pounds right now. He is incredibly well-rounded, with powerful striking and elite jiu-jitsu skills.

It’s difficult to predict how exactly Pantoja will earn the win in this fight. I expect him to control the action throughout this fight, matching the striking skills of Kara-France while mixing in the occasional takedown. A finish is certainly possible, yet I would not be surprised to see him earn a clear decision win.

Not long ago, Payton Talbott was considered by many to be one of the best prospects in all of MMA. A clear defeat in his last fight led some to write him off as nothing more than hype.

I still feel that Talbott is one of the scariest strikers in the bantamweight division.

Felipe Lima is no walk in the park for Payton. The 27-year-old has a 14-1 record in MMA and has looked great in his UFC run. Talbott is simply a better striker and will land a hard shot before the end of the 2nd round to score the TKO victory.

Two old warriors will also look to earn one final title shot with a victory this weekend. Beneil Dariush and Renato Moicano are likely nearing the end of their careers and both need a victory to remain in title contention.

Beneil is the more complete fighter here. His wrestling, in particular, should allow him to control the action in this fight. I expect Dariush to shoot for takedowns throughout this fight and control Moicano on the mat to score a decision win.

General

Former Alabama star signs with defending NBA champions

All four of Alabama basketball’s NBA Draft-eligible players found a home after going unpicked. Chris Youngblood became the final of the four to sign as an undrafted free agent, heading to the defending NBA champions.

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed the Tuscaloosa native to a deal that could see him land in the G-League, Alabama basketball announced on Thursday. Youngblood spent one season with the Crimson Tide, his final year of college eligibility.

Youngblood began his college basketball career at Kennesaw State. He then transferred to South Florida before heading to Alabama for the 2024-25 campaign, which ended with the Tide falling in the Elite Eight.

Despite winning the American Athletic Conference’s player of the year award before joining Nate Oats and company in Tuscaloosa, Youngblood found happiness in a bench role with the Crimson Tide for part of the year.

“It’s funny because at first, my family thought I was gonna be mad about not starting, but I was like, ‘Man, this team is wonderful,’” Youngblood said during the season. “So I’ve just embraced this coming-off-the-bench role with my boy (Aden Holloway).

Youngblood finished his lone Alabama season with 10.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He made 44.7% of his field goal attempts.

The Thunder won the NBA championship earlier this month, beating the Indiana Pacers in seven NBA Finals games. No Alabama players were selected in the draft, which happened Wednesday and Thursday.

Mark Sears signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, Grant Nelson with the Brooklyn Nets and Cliff Omoruyi with the Toronto Raptors following the conclusion of the draft.

General

Hot activewear brand bringing first Alabama store to Birmingham’s The Summit

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General

Kanye West, Combs’ son team up for ‘Diddy Free’ track as trial nears end

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son, Christian “King” Combs, has teamed up with Kanye West to release a new EP titled “Never Stop,” which includes a track called “Diddy Free.”

The project dropped on streaming platforms at midnight on Friday and features seven songs.

One standout track, “Diddy Free,” includes the chorus: “N–as ain’t goin’ to sleep ‘till we see Diddy free.” Other lyrics include: “They be takin’ shots, they can’t trigger me, nah (Shit don’t trigger me) / F..k the world, critics and the witness / Face clean, they tryna dirt the image (F..k) / Sittin’ n–as down that stood on business (You can’t stop us though),” per Genius.

West served as executive producer on “Never Stop,” which also features his and Kim Kardashian’s daughter, North West, on the song “Lonely Roads.”

The release of “Never Stop” comes amid closing arguments in Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York City. On Friday morning, the defense presented its summation to the jury, claiming Combs is facing a “false trial.”

They argued that he is not guilty of sex trafficking, but rather a participant in the “swingers lifestyle,” which included consensual “threesomes” with his ex-girlfriends and male entertainers.

Combs has been on trial since May, and his children — including Christian — have continued to voice their support of him. Earlier this month, West made a brief courtroom appearance, telling a reporter he was there to support Combs.

Combs is pleading not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

General

New Huntsville Hospital program makes psychiatric, neurological care more accessible

With the press of a button, some patients can now virtually meet with a specialist at the main Huntsville Hospital location.

Two hospitals in the HH Health facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art cameras to assist patients who require psychiatric or neurological care.

The HH Health System’s Telemedicine Program Manager, Sara Werner, said these specialties have the greatest need for connecting with specialists.

According to the HH Health System website, thousands of North Alabamians struggle with depression, alcoholism, and other behavioral health issues. There are only a few state-licensed psychiatrists in the area. They report fewer than 75 practices in North Alabama, and the majority of them are in Madison County.

This program is already active at Madison Hospital and will help people at Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield later this year.

“When they’re traveling, it’s a strain because of the patients in, let’s say, Huntsville Hospital and their family lives in Florence, that that can be a big burden to be so far away from their family,” Werner said. “The expense of the family having to drive back and forth and just the stress of not being in your own community.”

Telehealth neurological services are already available at Helen Keller Hospital. That means the on-call neurologist at Huntsville Hospital can help consult with patients from 75 miles away. Telehealth specialists can review medical histories, prescribe medication and help develop a treatment plan.

These two hospitals were chosen, in part, because they can support the telemedicine carts needed for these visits. They have reliable Wi-Fi connections and strong connectivity bandwidth to provide service, according to Werner.

There are “telehealth carts” with state-of-the-art cameras to help connect patients and Huntsville Hospital specialists.

“Our carts have a 20x zoom for stroke care, especially,” Werner said. “The physicians are going to need to zoom in and see the pupils. That’s really important to be able to have the tools so that the physician assessment can be just the same quality as it would be for a patient in person.”

Werener said that they eventually want to grow, both to expand to more hospitals and specialties, like pulmonology and cardiology.

“We look to eventually expand to all of our system hospitals that have a need,” Werner said. “As you know, this program is new, and we’re really focused on that long-term growth, but we want it to be sustainable, and so we’re expanding gradually. Telemedicine is new for us. We want to be able to learn from each launch and really adapt as we grow.”

General

Update: Thunderstorms with penny-sized hail and damaging winds in Northwest Alabama Friday

On Friday at 12:05 p.m. an updated severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 12:45 p.m. for Colbert, Lauderdale and Lawrence counties.

The storms are packing penny-sized hail (0.75 inches) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

“At 12:05 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Rogersville, or 14 miles east of Muscle Shoals, moving northeast at 5 mph,” says the weather service. “Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.”

Locations impacted by the warning include Rogersville, Lexington, Courtland, Anderson, Center Star, Kingtown, Oliver, Whitehead, Red Bank and Elgin.

The weather service states, “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:

Lightning safety plan:

When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain

When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:

Beware of swollen waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

The two-second rule for following distance is your ally in heavy rain. Extend it to four seconds to ensure safe spacing in adverse conditions.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Visibility matters:

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Recruiting update: Is Auburn still in the mix for Jackson 4-star QB Landon Duckworth?

If Jackson senior Landon Duckworth wasn’t well known outside of the Southeast before last week, he is now.

The uncommitted, dual-threat quarterback was consistently among the top performers in the prestigious Elite 11 quarterback competition.

“People are like, ‘Yeah, he’s a good Alabama quarterback.’ But then he goes out to the Elite 11 with the top quarterbacks in the country, and he is right there at the top, step for step with everyone else,” Aggies coach Cody Flournoy said. “He still has a lot of room to improve. He has incredible upside. He is really good right now, and he’s going to keep getting better.”

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Duckworth was named Class 4A Back of the Year in January after leading his team to the state title. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 3,439 yards and 39 touchdowns and also rushed for 648 yards and 12 TDs. He also was MVP of the state championship game against Cherokee County.

He said Thursday night while attending teammate EJ Crowell’s commitment party that Auburn and South Carolina remain his finalists even after the Tigers flipped another rising senior QB in Peyton Falzone this week.

Duckworth said he hopes to make a college decision in July but doesn’t have an exact date yet. Last week, he was named AL.com’s Coastal Male Athlete of the Year. He followed his team’s football run by helping the Aggies repeat as 4A basketball champs and taking part in Jackson’s winning 4X100 relay team.

The On3 Industry rankings for Alabama senior recruits currently have Duckworth as the No. 4 prospect in the state, one spot below Crowell.

In other recruiting news:

COMMITMENTS

Jackson 4-star Jamarrion Gordon committed to North Carolina this week.

The 5-11, 185-pound senior DB also had offers from most SEC schools and had previously committed to Alabama and UCF. Other offers include Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee along with Oregon, Penn State, Michigan, Miami and more.

“If you are a defensive back, who doesn’t want to play for Bill Belichick?” Jackson coach Cody Flournoy asked. “Everyone is interested to see what will happen with UNC, but they have a great coaching staff and, of course, great facilities. It’s an easy, good decision for ‘Juicy.’”

Gordon told AL.com on Thursday night that his mind was made up after attending the UNC-Duke basketball game earlier this year.

“I knew I was going there right then,” he said. “I’m locked in, 100 percent.”

Gordon described longtime NFL coach Belichick as “a cool guy, very exciting to be around.”

James Madison got a commitment from Huntsville 6-5, 290-pound 3-star OL Michael Price, who also had offers Air Force, Colorado State, North Alabama and others.

Daphne 3-star OL Jai’Vale Fredericks committed to Louisiana over offers from Florida State, South Alabama, Troy, UAB, Tulane and more for the 6-6, 290-pound senior.

Williamson’s Jermaine McCree committed to Appalachian State.

The 5-11, 160-pound 3-star DB chose also had offers from Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida State, UAB and more.

Blount 6-1, 180-pound senior DB Christopher Leatherwood committed to North Alabama.

Gadsden City senior DB Tylan Sims recently committed to Mercer.

LeFlore OL/DL Amauri Reed committed to North Alabama.

OFFERS

Lanett 6-3, 230-pound senior DL Jeremiah McGillberry earned his first D1 offer from Alabama A&M.

Woodlawn 6-1, 165-pound senior DB/WR Cornealius Hudson picked up an offer from Samford.

Ohio State is the latest to offer Hoover junior RB CJ Cowley, who played at Spain Park last season.

The 5-10, 180-pound 3-star recruit also has SEC offers from Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt along with Miami, Penn State, Troy, UAB and more.

Williamson DB Captain Munnerlyn Jr. received an offer from North Alabama.

Sports writer Dennis Victory contributed to this report

General

Alabama DA: Man convicted of rape ‘slithered’ out of past charges thanks to ‘hug-a-thug policies’

A Chilton County man with a lengthy criminal record has been convicted in the rape and beating of a woman.

A jury this week convicted 41-year-old Corey Oliver of first-degree rape, 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney CJ Robinson announced Friday.

Oliver is still facing unrelated rape and incest charges set for trial later this year.

Robinson said the crime happened in 2018 but was disclosed to district attorney investigators in 2024, at which time he was indicted.

Oliver had been in a dating relationship with the victim when he strangled, beat and raped her at knifepoint.

The Thorsby man has more than 10 prior felony convictions, he said, and about 40 arrests that began with drugs and property crimes and escalated to sexual crimes of violence.

“For my entire career, nearly 20 years, I have seen his name over and over and over on dockets,” Robinson said. “Corey Oliver was a direct beneficiary of the hug-a-thug policies of prison reform that plagued Alabama citizens for nearly 10 years.”

“In his previous cases, the prosecutors, the judges, the probation officers, everyone did their job according to the law and the end result was an evil person, who should have been in prison, was free to keep committing crimes and victimizing women and children,” he said.

Robinson said Oliver “slithered” his way out of several previous charges where authorities suspected he intimidated victims as they routinely refused to follow through with charges or changed their statements during legal proceedings.

In this case, he said, investigators discovered the victim while working a separate investigation of sexual assault on a different victim.

District attorney investigators and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office connected her with resources.

“Our Victim Service Officer and our Assistant DAs did an amazing job fighting to ensure Corey Oliver’s path of destruction is finally over,” Robinson said.

Oliver is set to be sentenced on Aug. 6. His other trial is set for October.

General

What are Trump’s odds of getting a third term? Where bettors are putting their money on 2028

Donald Trump’s hints at running for a third term despite the Constitution clearly forbidding it has not stopped an off-shore gambling website from increasing its odds that the president wins another White House bid.

Trump’s odds to win the presidency in 2028 have shot up from 10-to-1 to 6-to-1 at BetOnline, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Paul Krishnamurty, who sets the odds on politics market for BetOnline, told the outlet that other means besides the Constitution explain why the website increased its odds on a Trump third term.

“A potential world war, highly likely ongoing global instability, mass protests and division across the USA … make it likelier that a state of emergency could be called, or that Trump could use the unique circumstances to consolidate power,” he told the Review-Journal.

Over the last week, Middle East tensions grew as the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.

Meanwhile, federal immigration authorities remain in Los Angeles instituting crackdowns that sparked protests.

Vice President JD Vance is the frontrunner for the White House at 2.5-to-1 odds.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is third at 10-to-1, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is fourth at 11-to-1.

But in order to be president, Trump would first have to win the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.

BetOnline’s odds show the president in second place for the GOP nod at 3.5-to-1, behind Vance at 1.2-to-1.

While the Constitution forbids presidents from seeking a third term, Krishnamurty pointed to other possibilities for Trump.

“Many of his opponents believe he wants to be dictator for life, that his agenda, e.g. Project 2025, is a power grab, that he wants to emulate [other dictators] whom he frequently praises,” the oddsmaker said.

“And on his own side, Steve Bannon says he can and will run again. Lindsay Graham implied the same.”

“Therefore, it would, in my view, be wrong to exclude the possibility, ” he said. “Others believe those arguments are nonsense, that the status quo will prevail, and we are offering a ‘No’ option in these markets.”

BetOnline also lists odds on whether Trump will appear on the 2028 presidential election ballot.

“No” is the favorite at 6-to-1, while “yes” is listed as a 3.5-to-1 underdog.