Olympics greats Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte rip USA Swimming during 2025 World Championships: 'Call it a funeral'New Foto - Olympics greats Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte rip USA Swimming during 2025 World Championships: 'Call it a funeral'

Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte aren't happy with the way Team USA has performed at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Phelps and Lochte expressed their disappointment with the team, sharing an Instagram post proclaiming it was time to hold a funeral for USA Swimming. Lochte was the first to share the image, which features people in mourning at a funeral. The image contains a tombstone, which reads: "In loving memory of United States Swimming." Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte just took some public shots at USA Swimming on Instagram.Agree with them or not, this is a pretty big deal. They're fed up and not afraid to start letting people know.pic.twitter.com/R9nxNBzeuP — Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell)August 1, 2025 The tombstone then lists the dates 1980-2025, suggesting USA Swimming lived 45 years before dying in 2025. Under those dates lies an epitaph, which reads, "They set the bar high — until they stopped reaching for it." It's unclear whether Lochte found the image elsewhere or asked for it to be generated. The image appears to be made by A.I. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Phelps shared the image on Instagram, adding his own critique of USA Swimming. Phelps' comment read, "Is this the wake up call USA Swimming needed? Let's find out....." Lochte and Phelps opted to share the image during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Team USA got out to a slow start at the event, as multiple members of the teamdealt with acute gastroenteritis. Despite those early struggles, the teamsecured five gold medalsas of Friday morning. That tied Team USA with Australia for the most swimming medals at the event. Team USA does own the most overall swimming medals at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, with 20. That performance isn't good enough for Lochte and Phelps, who happen to know a thing or two about the sport. Phelps is widely celebrated as one of the best swimmers — and one of the best Olympic athletes — of all time. He won 23 gold medals, the most of any Olympian. He also holds the record for most gold medals in individual events, with 13. Long after his retirement, Phelps remains one of the most prominent names in the sport. Lochte is a six-time Olympic gold medalist, winning events between 2004 and 2016. Two of Lochte's gold medals came in individual events. The other four came in relays, where Phelps was one of his teammates. The pair played a major role in Team USA's swimming dominance during their careers. Between 2003 and 2022, Team USA secured the most gold medals in swimming at the World Championships every year they were held. Team USA finished second to Australia in 2023, ending that streak, but then bounced back to reclaim first at the 2024 Olympics. Despite Team USA tying for the lead in gold medals and leading the pack with 20 overall swimming medals in 2025, Lochte and Phelps clearly view the squad's performance as a major disappointment.

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
August 01, 2025

Olympics greats Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte rip USA Swimming during 2025 World Championships: 'Call it a funeral'

Olympics greats Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte rip USA Swimming during 2025 World Championships: 'Call it a funeral' Michael Phelps and...
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Micah Parsons requests trade from Cowboys after contract negotiations fall apart: 'I no longer want to be here'New Foto - Micah Parsons requests trade from Cowboys after contract negotiations fall apart: 'I no longer want to be here'

Micah Parsons wants a trade from the Dallas Cowboys. The star pass rusher released a lengthy statement Friday, detailing his frustrations with the team's approach to negotiating his next contract. Parsons posted hisstatement on Xwith the caption, "Thank you Dallas." In the note, Parsons detailed the timeline of his contact negotiations with the team. Early in the note, Parsons wrote, "I no longer want to be here." He then claimed he and his agent reached out to the Cowboys prior to the start of the 2024 NFL season and again after the 2024 season about a new contract, only to be ignored by the team. Parsons then confirmed earlier reports suggesting he met with team owner Jerry Jones in March "to talk about leadership." At that meeting, Parsons claimed Jones started to discuss Parsons' next contract. Parsons said he engaged in a back-and-forth with Jones over contract details, but did not feel it was "a formal negotiation." At the end of that meeting, Parsons said he told Jones his agent would reach out to further discuss the new deal. When Parsons' agent got in touch with the team, the Cowboys went silent, according to Parsons. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] At the end of the note, Parsons said the Cowboys have yet to speak with his agent regarding a new contract. He then confirmed he submitted a trade request to team COO and co-owner Stephen Jones. "Up to today the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about a contract. Not one demand has been made by my agent about money years or anything else. Still I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally." Despite that request, the Cowboys reportedlyhave no desire to trade Parsons, according to Diana Russini of The Athletic. Parsons, 26, has one year left on his current contract. He's set to make $24 million in 2025 before hitting the free-agent market. Since being drafted by the Cowboys with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Parsons has emerged as one of the best defenders in the league. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons and is a two-time first-team All-Pro selection. Despite his contract situation,Parsons showed up at voluntary workoutsin April to lend his support to new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Parsons alsoshowed up for training camp, though he has not participated in practices due to his contract situation. [Get more Cowboys news: Cowboys team feed] Friday's trade request comes a day afterParsons tweeted out a GIFimplying it would be his final season with the Cowboys. Prior to Parsons releasing his statement Friday, at least two Cowboys defenders showed support for the star pass rusher by changingtheir social media avatarsto pictures that included Parsons. Star receiver CeeDee Lamb weighed in on the situation, telling the Cowboys to "just pay the man" in a post on X.

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
August 01, 2025

Micah Parsons requests trade from Cowboys after contract negotiations fall apart: 'I no longer want to be here'

Micah Parsons requests trade from Cowboys after contract negotiations fall apart: 'I no longer want to be here' Micah Parsons wants ...
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Jake Retzlaff still loves BYU but expresses faith in his fresh start at TulaneNew Foto - Jake Retzlaff still loves BYU but expresses faith in his fresh start at Tulane

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jake Retzlaff is embracing some new nicknames. "BYJew" is anendearment of the past. Now, "Kosher Cannon," "Shabbat Shotgun" and "Bayou Jew" are among the monikers mentioned bythe sizeable Jewish communityat Retzlaff's new school, Tulane. It's a fresh start for Retzlaff, but one the former BYU quarterback wasn't necessarily seeking until May, when he was named in a since-dismissed civil sexual assault lawsuit. Retzlaff maintains that he loved playing for the Cougars, despite being one of very few Jews on BYU's predominantly Mormon campus in Provo, Utah. "BYU was an amazing place. It made me into an amazing human being. I feel like it helped me grow in so many ways on and especially off the field," Retzlaff said, wearing a Star of David on a chain around his neck. "It helped me connect stronger with my faith than I did before, because I was in a place where it was so faith-oriented that it was just right in front of you." Retzlaff went 11-2 as a starter for a 2024 BYU team that finished the season at No. 13 in the finalAP Top 25 Poll. Hisdecision to withdrawcame while he reportedly faced a suspension for acknowledging what he described as a consensual sexual relationship while defending himself against the lawsuit. The university's honor code requires students to abstain from premarital sex. Speaking on Friday for the first time since arriving at Tulane about a week ago, Retzlaff declined to address the factors that led him to leave BYU, where he spent the past two years. "I'm just worried about where my feet are," Retzlaff said. "I'm just worried about this next chapter, being at Tulane, winning football games." Tulane coach Jon Sumrall said the university's administration vetted Retzlaff before clearing the way for Sumrall to bring him to the Green Wave, where he'll now have to outperform three other transfer QBs — Kadin Semonza from Ball State, Donovan Leary from Illinois and Brendan Sullivan from Iowa — to win the starting job. "I was very transparent with the guys in the (quarterback) room. I was also very up front with Jake," Sumrall said. "None of them were promised anything in regards to who's going to start." Retzlaff said he had other offers, but remembered fondly his recruitment by the then-coach of Troy in 2023 — Sumrall. Retzlaff recalled telling his father, Steve, that he could envision playing for Sumrall one day. "I knew he's a guy I want to be around," Retzlaff said. Tulane didn't have a scholarship available for Ratzlaff, but the 22-year-old graduate transfer said that being a walk-on suits him because he plays with a chip on his shoulder and doesn't want to be short-sighted about money at the expense of setting himself up for long-term success. "I know that I'm going to get what I deserve, hopefully, at the next level," Retzlaff said. "If that means sacrificing a little bit of money on my side (now) .. so what? Let's go win football games." First, he has to learn a new offense, which he said has meant a lot of late nights. He also is working to acclimatize himself to oppressively hot, heavy air of swampy south Louisiana in the summer, even wearing a sweat absorbent wrist band on his throwing arm for the first time. "I'm soaked right now," he said after practice, contrasting his new home to the cooler, mountainous, semi-arid Salt Lake area. "I haven't sweat this much in my life." One adjustment he won't mind is being on a campus where around 40% of students are Jewish. "It's a cool deal. It's so opposite" from BYU, Retzlaff said. "My faith is super important to me. So, that fact just made it that much sweeter to come here." He said he's felt welcome in the locker room as well. "The guys have been nothing but great to me — every guy on the team and especially the quarterback room," Retzlaff said, noting that he has tried to eat each meal of each day with different players in an effort to get to know them better. Whoever plays quarterback for Tulane will do so for a team that has appeared in three straight American Conference title games, but also had a lot of turnover after last season — including the loss of one-year starter Darian Mensah to Duke in the transfer portal. Sumrall not only isn't projecting Mensah's replacement, but said he might play two quarterbacks in the Green Wave's season opener against Northwestern in New Orleans on Aug. 30. "No matter what, this is a new chapter in my life," Retzlaff said. "I'm excited to attack it and make the most of it." ___ AP college football:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-football

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
August 01, 2025

Jake Retzlaff still loves BYU but expresses faith in his fresh start at Tulane

Jake Retzlaff still loves BYU but expresses faith in his fresh start at Tulane NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jake Retzlaff is embracing some new nickna...
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Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending planNew Foto - Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan

NEW YORK (AP) — Democrats are launching a nationwide summer blitz designed to force vulnerable Republicans to defend PresidentDonald Trump'sbig tax breaks and spending cuts bill— especially Medicaid cuts that will leave millions of Americans without health care coverage. Republican leaders in Washington, meanwhile, have encouraged their members to promote more popular aspects of the bill during smaller controlled appearances where GOP officials are less likely to face difficult questions or protests. The Democratic National Committee's "Organizing Summer" will feature events in all 50 states, beginning with Alaska, Texas, Colorado and California over the coming week. The party's message will be reinforced by online advertising and billboard trucks at state and county fairs in the coming days targeting vulnerable House Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey, among other states. "As Democrats, our job is to ensure that every American across the country understands the devastating impacts of this bill," DNC Chair Ken Martin said. "Democrats will be holding events, highlighting Republican hypocrisy, and ensuring Americans across the country know exactly who is responsible for taking away health care, food, construction jobs, and nursing homes in order to give massive handouts to billionaires." The massiveRepublican-backed tax and spendingpackage that Trump called "big, beautiful" and signed into law on July 4 may ultimately become the defining issue of next year's midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for Trump's final two years in office. Republicans are touting the bill as a tax cut for all Americans, but polling suggests that U.S. adults have beenslow to embrace the GOP's message. The new law will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, leave more than another 10 million people without health insurance and leave millions of others without food stamps, according to the nonpartisanCongressional Budget Office. For much of the year,Republican officials have avoided town hall meetingswith constituents or public appearances where they might face protesters or unscripted questions from voters. GOP members of Congress may be slightly more visible this summer, however, according to a memo distributed this week by the House Republican campaign arm. The memo encourages Republicans to be proactive in selling Trump's bill during the August recess, although the National Republican Campaign Committee suggests its members focus on tax cuts in smaller settings they can control. Among the NRCC's suggestions outlined in the memo: "Visit a local hospital and discuss how you voted for no tax on overtime," "stop by a restaurant to highlight your vote on no tax on tips" and "work the counter at a local store and chat about your work to lower costs." The monthlong August break "is a critical opportunity to continue to define how this legislation will help every voter and push back on Democrat fearmongering," the Republican memo says. Democrats are planning a decidedly more public campaign this month than their Republican rivals, although they'll also offer "multi-day intensive bootcamps" as part of a training program for political operatives and community leaders. Events are being planned for all 50 states with special focus on 35 of the most competitive congressional districts in the country. Current and former Democratic officials will be featured, includingformer Rep. Gabby Giffords, who emerged as a leader against gun violence since her 2011 assassination attempt. As part of the new effort, the Democratic National Committee is also launching a new digital advertising campaign initially targeting vulnerable Republicans in Iowa, Kentucky, Ohio and Virginia. That's in addition to the DNC sending mobile billboard trucks to county fairs in the districts of Republicans in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. "Trump's big ugly bill: $4 trillion giveaway to billionaires. The rest of us pay the price," read the billboards, which will feature the name and face of each Republican congressman. And as Republicans search for an effective message to sell Trump's bill, Democrats are increasingly confident. "The big, ugly law is a political disaster," said Viet Shelton, spokesman for the House Democrats campaign arm. "Everyone hates it and vulnerable House Republicans know it, which is why they're scared to face their constituents in person during the August recess."

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
August 01, 2025

Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan

Democrats launching summer blitz to press Republicans on Trump spending plan NEW YORK (AP) — Democrats are launching a nationwide summer bli...
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Trump calls on the Federal Reserve board to take full control of the central bank from PowellNew Foto - Trump calls on the Federal Reserve board to take full control of the central bank from Powell

WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpon Friday called for the Federal Reserve's board of governors to usurp the power ofFed Chair Jerome Powell, criticizing the head of the U.S. central bank for not cutting short-term interest rates. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump called Powell "stubborn." The Fed chair has been subjected to vicious verbal attacks by the Republican president over several months. The Fedhas the responsibility of stabilizing prices and maximizing employment. Powell has held its benchmark rate for overnight loans constant this year, saying that Fed officials needed to see what impactTrump's massive tariffshad on inflation. If Powell doesn't "substantially" lower rates, Trump posted, "THE BOARD SHOULD ASSUME CONTROL, AND DO WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS HAS TO BE DONE!" Two of the seven Fed governors, Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, issued statements Friday saying they see the tariffs as having a one-time impact on prices and the job market as most likely softening. As a result, the two dissented atthe Fed meetingon Wednesday and pushed for slight rate cuts relative to what Trump was seeking. Even though Trump, who nominated Waller and Bowman, has claimed the U.S. economy is booming, he welcomed their arguments and what he called their strong dissents. Friday'sjobs reportshowed a rapidly decelerating economy, as just 73,000 jobs were added in July and downward revisions brought down the June and May totals to 14,000 and 19,000, respectively. Trump sees the rate cuts as leading to stronger growth and lower debt servicing costs for the federal government and homebuyers. The president argues there is virtually no inflation, even though the Fed's preferred measure is running at an annual rate of 2.6%, slightly higher than the Fed's 2% target. Trump has called for slashing the Fed's benchmark rate by 3 percentage points, bringing it down dramatically from its current average of 4.33%. The risk is that a rate cut that large could cause more money to come into the economy than can be absorbed, possibly causing inflation to accelerate. The Supreme Court suggested in a May ruling that Trump could not remove Powell for policy disagreements. This led the White House to investigate whether the Fed chair could be fired for cause because of the cost overruns in the Fed's$2.5 billion renovation projects. Powell's term as chair ends in May 2026, at which point Trump can put his Senate-confirmed pick in the seat. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that 14,000 jobs were created in June and 19,000 in May, not 19,000 in June and 14,000 in May. ___ Follow the AP's coverage of the Federal Reserve System athttps://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system.

byKonstantin Pynzar
in
August 01, 2025

Trump calls on the Federal Reserve board to take full control of the central bank from Powell

Trump calls on the Federal Reserve board to take full control of the central bank from Powell WASHINGTON (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpon Frid...
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