Martial Arts Politicians

Wai Jia: The Kung Fu Forum Kung Fu Forum
21

Now I want to see Putin v Trump in a cage match…

Trump is awarded an honorary black belt by South Korean president of taekwondo - and pledges to wear the full martial arts suit in U.S. Congress if he makes it back to the White House
Donald Trump has been awarded an honorary ninth Dan Black belt
The president of World Taekwondo Headquarters, Lee Dong-seop, visited Trump at his Mar-a-lago mansion in South Florida
Trump put on a taekwondo outfit known as a dobok and posed for photos
Significant photographs from moments of his presidency could be seen on wall
On Friday, Trump congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse on his acquittal
A Wisconsin jury found the teenager not guilty on five counts
‘If that’s not self defense, nothing is,’ said the former president
By JAMES GORDON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 21:07 EST, 21 November 2021 | UPDATED: 11:30 EST, 22 November 2021

Kukkiwon, also known as World Taekwondo Headquarters, and home of the World Taekwondo Academy, has awarded former U.S. President Donald Trump a 9th Dan Black belt - the highest level attainable by professional martial artists.

The president of Kukkiwon, Lee Dong-seop, went to visit Trump at his home in Mar-a-lago in Palm Beach, Florida this weekend to give him a taekwondo and the coveted black belt.

‘I heard that the Donald Trump is highly interested in taekwondo,’ Lee said.


Former President Donald Trump received an honorary black belt and certificate at Mar-A-Lago on Friday from Kukkiwon president Lee Dong-seop


Former President Donald Trump was pictured signing his autograph on a taekwondo outfit


Kukkiwon president Lee Dong-sup awarded the an Honorary 9th Dan Certificate to Trump

It’s believed the visit was set up by a South Korean resident in the U.S.

Kyle Rittenhouse says he supports BLM movement and that his case had ‘nothing to with race’ as he slams ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ during his Kenosha trial: Pictured in suit and tie in Florida on eve of interview with Tucker Carlson , and other top stories from November 22, 2021.

‘It is my pleasure and honor to receive this honorary certificate. Taekwondo is a great martial art for protecting oneself in these times,’ Trump said.

The former president vowed that he would look to wear the taekwondo clothing in Congress should he make a return to the White House in the future.


Other members of the Kukkiwon organization that represents taekwondo were all present


‘It is my honor to receive the Honorary Dan Certificate and I think taekwondo is magnificent martial art for self-defense,’ Trump is said to have responded in a statement


Trump’s awarding at a ninth Dan means he shares the same rank as Russian president Vladimir Putin who was presented with a black belt and made a grandmaster of taekwondo in 2013


Russia’s President Vladimir Putin during a training session with the Russian national judo team at the Yug-Sport Training Center in 2019

Putin takes part in training session with Russian judo champions

Half a dozen photos could also be seen on the wall of Trump’s Florida mansion including one of him shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom as the pair met at the border in the Demilitarized Zone in June 2019.

Earlier that month, another picture showed him meeting the Queen in early June of the same year.

Also from that visit, a framed photo sees Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump pictured walking to greet the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in London. The First Lady can be seen in a bright flowing orange dress.


President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands as they meet at the border in the Demilitarized Zone in Panmunjom, South Korea

Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un shake hands in Hanoi

Another photo sees Trump, saluting a U.S. Coast Guard Change-of-Command Ceremony at the Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2018.

In another serious photo, Trump and Melania can be seen at the front door to the White House as they prepared to welcome the Colombian President and his wife in February 2019.

Central to the selection of iconic pictures is one of Trump waving as he boarded the presidential aircraft Air Force One which happened countless times during the course of his presidency.

An imitation sculpture of the iconic Mount Rushmore was could be spotted with the addition of Trump’s head blended into the topography.

Trump’s awarding at a ninth Dan means he shares the same rank as Russian president Vladimir Putin who was presented with a black belt and made a grandmaster of taekwondo during an official visit to South Korea in 2013.

Despite not actually practicing taekwondo himself, Putin also managed to achieve the coveted rank.

On Friday night, Trump congratulated Kyle Rittenhouse after the teenager was found not guilty of murder in the fatal shooting of two men in racial justice protests.

The verdict divided America. As the left denounced the outcome as a miscarriage of justice, the right said Rittenhouse never should have been put on trial.

‘Congratulations to Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges,’ said Trump in an emailed statement.

‘It’s called being found NOT GUILTY—And by the way, if that’s not self defense, nothing is!’

A fundraising appeal followed.

‘This trial was nothing more than a WITCH HUNT from the Radical Left,’ said an email to supporters, directing them to donate to the online WinRed platform.

‘They want to PUNISH law-abiding citizens, including a CHILD, like Kyle Rittenhouse, for doing nothing more than following the LAW.’

Jurors found Rittenhouse, 18, not guilty on all charges: two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide for wounding a third man, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety in protests marred by arson, rioting and looting on August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

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22

This is what this thread is all about…

…we need more of this.

2 Brazilian politicians settled a dispute over a waterpark-conservation project by fighting each other in a 3-round MMA fight
Sophia Ankel Dec 15, 2021, 3:40 AM


A screenshot from a livestream shows Brazilian politicians Simão Peixoto and Erineu da Silva facing off in an MMA match on Sunday, December 12, 2021. Screenshot/Facebook; Prefeito Simão Peixoto

Two Brazilian politicians in the country’s Amazon region settled a dispute the old fashioned way.

Erineu da Silva and Simão Peixoto decided to settle their differences with an MMA fight on Sunday.

The pair had been feuding about a local waterpark, with da Silva calling Peixoto a “crook.”

Two Brazilian politicians settled a dispute over a local waterpark project with their fists over the weekend, taking part in a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight, according to multiple reports.

In September, former councillor Erineu da Silva, 45, publicly challenged Simão Peixoto, the 39-year-old conservative mayor of Amazonian town of Borba, to a fistfight, The Guardian reported.

The two men had been feuding ever since Silva had called Peixoto a “crook” over allegations that he had failed to conserve a waterpark near the Madeira River, which runs through Borba, according to The Guardian.

Peixoto eventually accepted the challenge, but said he would only fight in a proper match because he was “not a street fighter,” VICE reported.

—Metrópoles (@Metropoles) December 13, 2021
“I’m not a street fighter … I’m the mayor of the municipality of Borba,” the politician said on his Facebook page last month, according to The Guardian.

“[But] if he really wants to fight … we’re ready to fight … I’ve always been a winner.”

The two men eventually settled on an MMA contest, with the fight taking place as part of a longer event in the gymnasium of a local school in Borba. The match took place at around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning and was live-streamed on the mayor’s Facebook account.

You can see the fight below, starting from around 40 minutes into the stream:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1520699881638402

Hundreds of spectators paid to watch the event, The Guardian reported.

Video of the event shows the two politicians, in MMA shorts and gloves, aggressively kicking and punching each other, as well as clinching on the ground. The fight lasted a total of 13 minutes, according to VICE.

Peixoto was eventually declared the winner by a referee, although both men appeared in good spirits afterwards, hugging and shaking hands.

It is still unclear how, if at all, the fight will impact the waterpark dispute that instigated the brawl in the first place.

23

Checkley Sin Kwok Lam

We know this guy…:eek:

January 18, 2022
10:07 PM PST
Last Updated 12 hours ago
China[URL=“https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-film-producer-says-he-wants-run-become-new-city-leader-2022-01-19/”]
Kung fu master Sin wants to run Hong Kong as leadership race looms
By Jessie Pang and Twinnie Siu

3 minute read
A Chinese national flag (L) and a Hong Kong flag fly outside the Legislative Council, three days before the territory celebrates the 20th anniversary of its handover to Chinese rule, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Hong Kong kung fu master and film producer Checkley Sin Kwok Lam said on Wednesday he intended to run in the city’s leadership race, a surprise move that comes as incumbent leader Carrie Lam has yet to confirm whether she will run for a second term.

The 65-year-old is the first person to announce their candidacy ahead of the election on March 27. Chief Executive Lam, who has presided over some of Hong Kong’s most tumultuous periods in history, is due to end her term in June.

Willing candidates need the backing of a powerful “patriots-only” electoral body formed by 1,500 pro-Beijing people in Hong Kong. It was unclear whether Sin had such support.

In a YouTube video, Sin said his internet supporters convinced him to change his mind on not getting involved in politics.

“Under the new election system, I believe every capable and reliable patriot can join the new chief executive election,” Sin said. “I believe that I have the ability to win.”

With the election just weeks away, the silence from leader Lam and other heavyweights is unusual. Local media have speculated that potential candidates include Lam, Financial Secretary Paul Chan and former chief of the World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan. Lam has repeatedly declined to comment on whether she will run for a second term.

Sin, who produced the film Ip Man, has been an active promoter of martial arts in the city. He heads the World Wing Chun Union, which focuses on the traditional southern Chinese kung fu style which was popularised in Hong Kong by Ip Man and Bruce Lee.

Shares of National Arts Group , from which Sin resigned as chairman last July, soared more than 50% on Wednesday in their highest percentage gain since 2006. The company’s market value is around HK$102 million ($13 million).

Hong Kong-born Sin has his own YouTube channel with 155,000 subscribers and posts online every few days on topics ranging from politics to the Beijing Olympics. In 2021, one of his shows focused on what he called ‘Western hypocrisy’ on Hong Kong.

He first started his online commentary in October 2019 at the height of Hong Kong’s anti-government protests where he strongly sided with the government and the police force.

The nomination period runs from Feb 15- March 2 and candidates must get nominations from at least 188 of the 1,500 people in the election committee, according to a document from city’s legislature.

($1 = 7.7917 Hong Kong dollars)

Reporting by Jessie Pang and Twinnie Siu; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Marius Zaharia and Michael Perry

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24

Ukraine

Putin is no longer a Taekwondo 9th Dan, Nor a honorary president for the international Judo Federation
11:06:00 AM Tkd kwan 0 Comments

Few months ago we have posted about personalities whom were awarded by Taekwondo black belts, and some of them even got very high ranks such the Russian president who was awarded the 9th Dan Taekwondo black belt by the World taekwondo president.

The Russian president was awarded the black belt by the head of the World Taekwondo Federation, Choue Chung-won, and made a grandmaster of Taekwondo during a visit to South Korea in November 2013.

After nine years, The act that Putin did caused a lot to his image, and he is no longer a 9th Dan belt.

In response to his invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has been stripped of his honorary black belt in Taekwondo.

This is not the only thing that happened to the Russian leader, Another martial art federation took an action.

‘’ Vladimir Putin has temporarily been suspended as the International Judo Federations honorary president on Sunday. The federation sited the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine as the reason for the suspension, per the Associated Press. ‘’

Sunday marks the fourth day since Russia has invaded Ukraine. Putin has a keen judoka and attended a competition at the 2012 London Olympics.

''World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which go against the World Taekwondo vision of Peace is More Precious than Triumph and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance.

In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th Dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013.

In solidarity with the International Olympic Committee, no Russian or Belarusian national flags or anthems will be displayed or played at World Taekwondo events. World Taekwondo and the European Taekwondo Union will not organize or recognize Taekwondo events in Russia and Belarus.

World Taekwondos thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and we hope for a peaceful and immediate end to this war.‘’

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25

Putin & Judo

February 27, 2022
1:57 AM PST
Last Updated 3 days ago[URL=“https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/putin-suspended-honorary-president-international-judo-federation-2022-02-27/”]
Putin suspended as honorary president of International Judo Federation
Reuters

1 minute read

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks about authorising a special military operation in Ukraine’s Donbass region during a special televised address on Russian state TV, in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2022, in this still image taken from video. Russian Pool/via REUTERS TV

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Russian president Vladimir Putin has been suspended as honorary president of the International Judo Federation (IJF), the sport’s governing body announced on Sunday, because of his invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s invasion by land, air and sea on Thursday followed a declaration of war by Putin.

A judo blackbelt, the 69-year-old is a keen practitioner of the discipline and has co-authored a book titled “Judo: History, Theory, Practice”.

“In light of the ongoing war conflict in Ukraine, the International Judo Federation announces the suspension of Mr Vladimir Putin’s status as Honorary President and Ambassador of the International Judo Federation,” the IJF said in a statement.

The IJF on Friday said it had cancelled a May 20-22 event in Russia.

“The International Judo Federation announces with regret the cancellation of the 2022 Grand Slam in Kazan, Russia,” IJF President Marius Vizer said.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Tom Hogue

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26

RIP Antonio Inoki

Pro-wrestler, politician and hostage negotiator Antonio Inoki dies at 79
October 1, 20224:01 PM ET
JULIANA KIM
Former professional wrestler Antonio Inoki shouts at a press conference in Tokyo on August 21, 2014.
Yoshikazu Tsuno /AFP via Getty Images

Antonio Inoki was revered for never being afraid of a challenge — whether it was dueling heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali or negotiating the release of hostages with the Iraqi government. That’s why he was often called “the fighting spirit that burns.”

Inoki died at age 79 after battling a rare disease called amyloidosis, his company, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, announced on Saturday.

“His achievements, both in professional wrestling and the global community are without parallel and will never be forgotten,” the professional wrestling group wrote in a statement.

Kanji “Antonio” Inoki was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1943 but spent most of his childhood in Brazil where his family relocated. There, Inoki found a passion for professional wrestling and took on the name “Antonio.”

He was soon recruited by Rikidozan, one of the the most famous Japanese wrestlers of all time, and returned to Tokyo to join the Japanese Wrestling Association.

Inoki quickly became widely popular for his versatility and charisma in the ring. Years later, he went on to start his own wrestling company in 1972 called New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Inoki’s reached global fame in 1976 when he faced Muhammad Ali in a rare wrestler vs. boxer match in Tokyo. The match became credited for pioneering what is known today as mixed martial arts, where a fighter is allowed to use any style of combat.


Heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali fighting the champion Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki at Budokan Hall in Tokyo in 1976.
Keystone/Getty Images

Off the ring, Inoki was known for his attempts to forge peace and diplomacy through sports.

In 1990, Inoki was instrumental in freeing 36 Japanese hostages held in Iraq.

During his lifetime, the late wrestler also made more than 30 trips to North Korea, serving as one of Japan’s few links to the authoritarian regime. Most notably, Inoki organized two large sporting extravaganza — one in 1995 and another in 2014 — held in Pyongyang to garner international attention.

The first event, known as “Collision in Korea” drew nearly 380,000 spectators and was considered the biggest-pay-per-view in pro-wrestling history.

In 1998, Inoki retired as a wrestler and in 2010, he was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame. He is technically considered WWE’s first-ever Japanese world champion but that title is not yet recognized by the organization.

“Antonio Inoki was among the most respected men in sports-entertainment and a bona fide legend in his homeland,” WWE wrote in a statement. “This passion for competition earned him the nickname “Moeru Toukon” amongst his peers, which translates to ‘The fighting spirit that burns.’”

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27

Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu

Nunchucks Master From The Oranges Invents New Martial Arts System
Eldridge Hawkins Jr. is the founder of Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu. He’s also a former New Jersey mayor – and a hall of fame martial artist.

Eric Kiefer,
Patch Staff
Verified Patch Staff Badge
Posted Thu, Dec 15, 2022 at 8:04 am ET

(Photo courtesy of Eldridge Hawkins Jr.)
Eldridge Hawkins Jr. (in black), the founder of Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu, demonstrates a takedown technique with the aid of student, Gage Knopf.

ORANGES, NJ — When he was crafting his new martial arts system, Eldridge Hawkins Jr. had a simple-but-tricky vision: it needed to be “realistic.” Apparently, this Essex County master of the nunchucks has nailed his target – and then some.

Recently, the North American Nunchaku Association, one of the most respected nunchaku organizations in the world, became the latest group to recognize Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu as an official martial arts system.

Hawkins – the system’s founder – is a former West Orange resident who served as mayor of Orange from 2008 to 2012. He was inducted into the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame earlier this year. Read More: Ex-Mayor In The Oranges Earns Spot In Martial Arts Hall Of Fame

According to Hawkins, Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu is a “complete” style that aims to combine the iconic martial arts weapon with more traditional striking techniques.

He writes:

“Specifically, this new nunchaku style fuses various elements of competition katas and swinging strikes of the American-style nunchaku system (as taught by founder Grand Master Michael Burke, 9th Dan), with the close quarter fighting of Chinese Kenpo Kung-Fu/Fusion Kenpo (as instructed by Professor Harry Baker, 10th Dan), Ed Parker’s Kenpo Nunchaku teachings, Jujitsu, and [my] own original techniques. More specifically, several of the strikes, locks, throws and more of Kenpo and Jujitsu have been augmented where appropriate to facilitate self-defense techniques utilizing the nunchaku and everyday objects in conjunction with the standard empty hand techniques.”
Because most people don’t usually walk around town with a pair of nunchaku, Hawkins’ system teaches students to strike, trap, choke or otherwise control an attacker with common items such as sticks, belts or even socks. It’s a style that’s realistic and meets national and international training standards of established martial arts organizations, he said.

Several of his peers in the martial arts have backed up his claims.

“I enjoyed the [Ken-Fu] self-defense and thought it was very useful and practical,” said Chris Pellitteri, president and founder of the North American Nunchaku Association / American Kobudo Association.

“Most nunchaku systems don’t focus on self-defense – it was refreshing to see,” Pellitteri said.

There are several other groups that have agreed with the North American Nunchaku Association on this point, including the American Style Nunchaku Federation, Independent Karate Schools of America, and the United States Martial Arts Federation.

//youtu.be/kSRisRKPs_E

Hawkins, now 42, began his martial arts career at Red Iron Dragon Karate Academy in East Orange when he was 7-years-old. He earned his first black belt in 2001 in Chinese Kenpo Kung Fu. Over the years Hawkins placed in and won several tournaments while studying different forms of martial arts, earning a master-level rank in different styles including Fusion Kenpo, U.S. Ju-Jitsu and American-style nunchaku.

The former politician, who is known to his students as Shihan E. Hawkins, is the senior international rank examiner in charge of training for the American Style Nunchaku Federation, a member of the United States Ju Jitsu Federation Senior Masters Caucus, and has recently been appointed to the role of vice president in the United States Martial Arts Federation.

Despite multiple knee surgeries, Hawkins has used teaching and his work with Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu to remain active in the sport – and lifestyle – that he’s come to love. And his fellow martial artists say it’s good that he did.

“I congratulate Master Hawkins on the new Ken-Fu recognition from NANA and thank him for his ongoing contributions to the martial arts community and American Style Nunchaku Federation,” said Grand Master Michael Burke, president of the American Style Nunchaku Federation.

The Ken Fu Nunchaku Jutsu technical committee – which helps ensure the quality of training standards – includes Professor Harry Baker, 10th Dan of Baker’s Red Iron Dragon; Grand Master Michael Burke, 9th Dan; Hanshi Bruce Bethers, 9th Dan, as well as other black belts Ashanti Shakir, Rodney Armstrong, Sabu Rashidi, and Hawkins’ father, Eldridge Hawkins Sr.

See current Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu system rank requirements here. Interested students or any dojo sensei interested in learning more can visit the UFC Gym, 498 Main Street in Orange, or visit the following websites: https://kenfununchaku.com or www.FusionKenpo.com.

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Are cage match challenges trending?

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin — who has unbeaten mixed martial arts record — challenges Teamsters union boss to cage match
By Ryan King
June 26, 2023 6:11pm Updated
0 seconds of 1 minute, 15 secondsVolume 0%

Sen. Markwayne Mullin is done with the snippy tweets.

He wants a real tussle with the boss of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Mullin (R-Okla.), who has an unbeaten mixed martial arts record to his credit, formally challenged Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien to a cage fight for charity on Monday.

“An attention-seeking union Teamster boss is trying to be punchy after our Senate hearing. Okay, I accept your challenge. MMA fight for charity of our choice,” Mullin told O’Brien on Twitter. “Sept 30th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ll give you three days to accept.”

Mullin’s challenge followed O’Brien calling him a “Greedy CEO who pretends like he’s self made” last week.

“In reality, just a clown & fraud,” added O’Brien, tweeting under the provocative handle “TeamsterSOB”. “Always has been, always will be. Quit the tough guy act in these senate hearings. You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy.”


GOP Senator, Markwayne Mullin, challenges Teamster boss, Sean O’Brien, to a fight.
Markwayne Mullin/Twitter

Both men have been trading barbs since March, when O’Brien dinged Mullin — who owns a plumbing company — during a testy Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing about unionization.

Mullin accused Teamsters of trying to intimidate his employees into unionizing and charged O’Brien was “sucking” money from worker paychecks by “forcing them to pay dues.”

After saying the senator was “out of line,” O’Brien said the Teamsters “create opportunity because we hold greedy CEOs like yourself accountable.”

“You calling me a greedy CEO?” Mullin asked.

“Oh yeah, you are,” O’Brien replied. “You want to attack my salary, I’ll attack yours …What did you make when you owned your company?”

“I kept my salary down at about $50,000 a year because I invested every penny into it,” Mullin said.

OK, all right,” said O’Brien, before restarting hostilities by asking Mullin: “You mean you hid money?

Mullin recalled that war of words last week, eliciting O’Brien’s ire.

“Hey, JohnWayne Mullin..First off, my name’s O’Brien not O’Malley. Secondly, you should get your facts straight because every time you speak in these hearings you’re full of sh*t,” O’Brien tweeted June 21. “The more you run your mouth, the more you show the American public what a moron you are.”


Labor leader Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters labor union, speaks during the Labor Notes conference.
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Teamsters, which touts 1.2 million members, is among the largest labor unions on the planet and represents workers in the trucking, rail and publishing industries, among others.

Mullin previously said he would fight porn star Stormy Daniel’s disgraced former lawyer Michael Avenatti, but that never manifested. Avenatti is currently behind bars.

Mullin was elected to the House in 2012 and ascended to the Senate after winning a special election to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) last year.


Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing.
Getty Images
Mullin and O’Brien aren’t the only major figures to stir chatter over a public scrap via Twitter.

Last week, Twitter CEO Elon Musk taunted fellow social media titan Mark Zuckerberg into a “cage fight.” Zuckerberg, a jiu-jitsu disciple, appeared to accept.

Musk, who was peeved by Facebook’s reported plans to produce a micro-blogging Twitter alternative, has teased that his signature move will be “the walrus,” a technique meant to immobilize his enemies by sitting on top of them and doing absolutely nothing.


Elon Musk looks on as he speaks during his visit at the Vivatech technology startups and innovation fair at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris.
AFP via Getty Images

Then-Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg leaves the Elysee presidential palace, in Paris back in 2018.
AFP via Getty Images

What do you think? Be the first to comment.
Musk has admitted he has not done much training to compete with Zuckerberg, making the South African-born CEO a decided underdog.

A Teamsters rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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29

Sen. Dallas Harris

Sen. Dallas Harris is a martial arts master who co-founded Nevada’s LGBTQ+ caucus
Here’s why she would rather fight Nikki Haley instead of George Santos.
By Greg Owen Friday, February 23, 2024

Photo: Dallas Harris for Nevada
Nevada State Sen. Dallas Harris (D), 38, represents District 11 in Clark County and parts of Las Vegas.

She serves as chief majority whip in the Nevada State Senate and is one of only four out LGBTQ+ lawmakers in the legislature. She was appointed to the seat in 2018 and won a four-year term in 2020. She’s running for reelection in 2024.

Harris is a Las Vegas native and earned her JD at George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. in 2005. As an attorney with Nevada’s Public Utilities Commission for several years, Harris gained experience under the hood with state government. As well, she’s a pro-bono attorney with the Adult Guardianship Project at the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.

Harris spoke with me from her district office in Las Vegas, in a mall southwest of the Strip. She was dressed casually in a grey crew neck sweater, where long dreads — new for Harris after years of short hair — rested around her shoulders.

LGBTQ Nation: Last May, you and another lawmaker founded the Nevada Legislature LGBTQ+ Caucus. What are three bills that you want to either see get passed or make sure they never see the light of day?

Dallas Harris: Yes. Okay, let’s start with “never see the light of day” because I think there are too many to count across the country right now in that category. So in Douglas County, that’s a county here in Nevada that’s a bit more conservative than, let’s say, some of our more populous counties, we’ve seen some attempts to limit the sports that children can play, as little as elementary school. Those are things that I want to make sure we do not see here in Nevada on a statewide level. Let’s just be like the anti-Florida. That would be great.

As far as things that I want to see get done, one thing we did last year that was awesome — but the governor, for some reason, vetoed it — was we had a bill that would take away the gun rights of folks who had committed violent hate crimes. So, you were already convicted of a violent crime, demonstrating some bias against someone, and we’re saying, we’re going to take your guns away. We’d have a cooling off period. And the governor vetoed it, so we’re gonna bring that back.

That’s Republican governor Joe Lombardo. What was his reasoning?

We can speculate. Politics, virtue signaling to his base. I think that he cares more about that than us.

What is a biennium, and had you ever heard that word before you joined the Nevada legislature?

(laughing) It is the two-year period of the Nevada legislative session, and no, why would anybody use that term?

One of your legislative priorities is education, and you’ve been instrumental in increasing funding for K-12 students in Nevada. Who has been the more formidable opponent, Republican lawmakers or parents’ rights groups?

Ooooh. Republican lawmakers, for sure. They’re the gatekeepers, right? They are the ones that have the right to vote up or down, any way they want, regardless of what I or a parents’ rights group pushes them to do. They’re the ultimate hurdle. At the end of the day, the buck stops with them for sure.

Do you think groups like Moms for Liberty or Libs of TikTok have had any influence on them?

I think they’ve done immeasurable amounts of damage to children across the country who are just discovering themselves and are now growing up in environments that could have been welcoming and open but instead are now very much closed and dark and look just like that metaphorical closet that we talked about coming out of.

You’ve talked about your interest in tech policy. The Consumer Electronics Show happens every year in Vegas in January. Did you attend this year and what’s one technology or product you were impressed by or a trend we should look out for?

I could not make time for it this year. But I’m continually impressed with the innovation that’s happening. Technology grows at an exponential rate, right? Not at a linear one. And so, next year, we’re gonna see things that we couldn’t even envision, and it just keeps getting better.

What do you think about AI?

It’s great. I mean, that’s moving, like I said, exponentially quickly. Let’s see where it settles. I think there’s good uses for it and bad uses for it, but that’s the case with just about everything. But it has the potential to do a lot.

How did you meet your wife, who is she, and who proposed to whom?

Okay, so we met at a, like a barbecue party of mutual friends of ours. I was 19 at the time, so we’ve known each other forever. She knew me when I had zero degrees, I like to say. I’ve got four now. I was like a punk kid, I’d just started college. And so, around 2017, we decided to actually date and give that a shot. We got married in 2019.

Who proposed to whom?

Technically, she proposed to me first with a ring pop in our kitchen, because she refused to wait for me to do it. But then I did a proper proposal at the HRC gala in 2019. And then we were married in August.

Was there some expectation that you were supposed to be the one to propose?

No, but I had, like, called her dad and asked for permission (laughing). We’d kind of fallen into, sadly, those kinds of like heteronormative roles, I guess, right?

That one is pretty romantic.

It’s kinda cool, though, that we both had a chance to pop the question.

What else can you share about her?

Her name is Summer Thomas-Harris, and we’ve got a 12-year-old and a two-year-old that we raised together. She is a social worker, she got her master’s degree in social work from UNLV [Univeristy of Nevada, Las Vegas], and she’s just fantastic. She’s a firebrand.

You are on the Senate Growth and Infrastructure Committee. From your seat there, what is the single most important thing the world should do to address climate change? Just one thing.

Care. I feel like it’s kind of cheating, but if people cared more, other things would happen, right? That would spur all of the other things, all the actual actions that need to be done. If I could get people to do anything, it would be to care — to look up. Like, the movie, right? So look up. Yeah, I would get people to look up.

As well as the LGBTQ+ caucus, you’re also a member of the Black Legislative Caucus. Who parties harder?

Oh, oh. I would have to say the Black Caucus probably parties harder, together. The LGBTQ caucus probably parties harder as individuals.

continued next post

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continued from previous post

You’re an athlete and a big sports fan, and there are a lot of shout-outs to teams and pics of you and your wife at games on social. What are your favorite sports to play and your favorite teams to watch, ranked?

Right okay, sports to play: definitely, tennis is number one. I am a big, big tennis player. And basketball is number two.

Sports to watch: on TV, same order, tennis, basketball, football, maybe number three. Hockey’s on the list. Maybe hockey number three, we’ll put football number four.

Now, to watch in person. Man, I really love to go to the WNBA games. You know, like being at a Las Vegas Aces game, there’s just nothing like it. So, I gotta put that experience at the top. Love going to tennis tournaments in person. That’s also a lot of fun. Baseball is probably at the bottom on both TV and in person. For some reason, that puts me to sleep.

Where were you for the Super Bowl?

At home, watching from the safety of my couch.

You are a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Who would you rather meet in the Octagon? Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley or disgraced former Congressman George Santos?

Oh, hmmm. Haley. I think she’d put up more of a fight, be more of a challenge. Santos might tap out, you know, within seconds (laughing).

Maybe contrary to your sports addiction, you studied theatre at the Las Vegas Academy. What’s your favorite Broadway musical and why?

Rent. And that just may be a function of my age, the time in which I grew up. But Rent was huge, and my mom took me to see it live here in Las Vegas. I saw it when I went to New York on Broadway, and Joey Fatone was in it, you know, just shortly after NSYNC disbanded. And so lots of fond memories of that. I could probably do the whole thing out loud at any moment if I needed to.

I was looking at a calendar of upcoming Las Vegas concerts so I could ask you about what you’d like to see, which I’ll do.

Okay.

But not before adding that it was maybe the whitest list of musicians anyone could ever come up with: Donny Osmond, Carrie Underwood, Barry Manilow, Wayne Newton, Miranda Lambert, Chicago, Bret Michaels, 311. I mean, there was literally not one Black act or artist upcoming and there were only, like two B-list Latino comedians.

Are Black people and the people who admire them just not into Vegas anymore, or did none of these hotels see Usher at the Superbowl?

Well, you know, Usher just actually finished a residency here in Las Vegas, so we had him for a decent amount of time. Maybe we’ll chalk it up to some of those African American artists are just too big to play in Las Vegas at the moment, right? We can’t hold Beyonce at a residency. I’m just kidding, we could. It’s Las Vegas. Beyonce is not ready to do a residency, but we’ll take her when she’s ready.

SZA’s coming off winning some Grammys, you know, if she wants to do a residency, I’d love to see her, too, but she’s at the peak of her career. So it’d be great to come on down and do a residency or come do a concert. We got space for them all.

There were three more artists that I didn’t mention with upcoming concert dates. And they’re all gay icons. You get two tickets to see either Madonna, Adele, or Christina Aguilera. Who do you choose?

Oh, oh, oh. Adele. I think Adele. It would be between Adele and Madonna.

By the way, on March 1, all three of those performers are going to be on stage in Vegas all at the same time. So I don’t know what’s going to happen. There could be like, a tear in the space-time continuum. Or a black hole or I don’t know what.

A break in the sound barrier.

Either/or: Frank Sinatra or Sammy Davis?

Sammy Davis.

ARIA Hotel or Fontainebleau Hotel?

I haven’t been to the Fontainebleau yet. So I’ll say Fontainebleau, but only because I wanna give it a chance.

Wicked Spoon Buffet at the Cosmopolitan or Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars?

Wicked Spoon.

The New York, New York roller coaster or Stratosphere roller coaster?

Stratosphere.

Blackjack or craps?

DH: Blackjack.

Red or black?

Red.

What’s the best part of your job as state senator for Nevada’s 11th district?

Talking to people. I think a legislator, our job is to solve problems. And so I enjoy listening to people and the issues they’re having, and trying to figure out ways that we can solve them. Like, people can come and complain to me all day long. I want to hear it, and I want to be able to hash out solutions to their problems that the government can provide. The government isn’t always the answer, but sometimes just being there to listen is helpful. Even that’s a solution.

That TKD question made me laugh.

31

MMA Fighter Conor McGregor Announces Irish Presidential Run After Meeting With Trump

Pocharapon Neammanee
Fri, March 21, 2025 at 10:20 AM PDT
2 min read

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor announced his run for Ireland’s presidency on Thursday, pushing for an anti-immigration stance just days after meeting with United States President Donald Trump at the White House.

“Ireland, the choice is yours and it is an easy one,” McGregor said on X, formerly Twitter. “Vote for me as your president and we will SAVE IRELAND TOGETHER!”

In a separate post, the former UFC star expressed his opposition to the European Union Migration Pact, a set of rules to evenly distribute migration, asylum, border management and integration claims more evenly across the bloc.

“Any other Presidential candidate they attempt to put forward will be of no resistance to them. I will!” McGregor wrote.

McGregor, who garnered a massive following among conservative men in the U.S., made his announcement the same week he met with Trump at the White House, where he told the president his “work ethic is inspiring.”
[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iT_9f.papdjJShGV0TGe_A–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_huffington_post_584/0c7b59bd346c509cf2dcfd05b795ee7b”}[/IMG2]
Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor has announced he plans to run for president of Ireland. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

At the White House, McGregor also made anti-immigration comments, stating, “Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness.”

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin slammed McGregor’s visit to the White House in a social media post Monday, stating “Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.”

McGregor, a prominent figure in the “manosphere,” has faced multiple allegations of sexual assault. He is currently facing a lawsuit by a woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her in the bathroom at the Kaseya Center during the 2023 NBA finals in Miami. Last year, a Dublin jury found McGregor liable for sexually assaulting a woman in a hotel penthouse in 2018.

Rachel Morrogh, the chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, told the Guardian that McGregor’s visit to the White House was “sinister,” calling it “an attempt to rebuild the very damaged reputation of Conor McGregor.”

“I think what has really shocked us is that the office of the president of the United States, which is so respected and so revered, is being used to launder Conor McGregor’s reputation,” Morrogh said.

Conor McGregor: Notorious
Martial Arts Politicians

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32

Putin’s grim-faced ‘beast from the east’ boxer henchman: 7ft tall Russian heavyweight champ once beaten by David Haye is now Kremlin MP who ranted about ‘sinking British Isles’

By TARYN PEDLER

PUBLISHED: 09:39 EDT, 12 February 2025 | UPDATED: 12:15 EDT, 12 February 2025

Tyrant Putin's henchman, once celebrated as the towering ‘Beast from the East’ in the boxing ring, has seamlessly transitioned from sports to the political arena, becoming a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin’s administration.

Standing at a formidable 7ft, Valuev’s journey from heavyweight champion to Russian MP has been marked by unwavering loyalty to the Kremlin and a readiness to serve his nation, both in parliament and on the battlefield.

Nikolai Valuev’s boxing career reached its zenith in 2009 when he faced Britain’s David Haye in a much-anticipated bout that was billed as David vs Goliath.

Despite his imposing stature and weight of a staggering 316 pounds, Valuev suffered a defeat, leading to his retirement from professional boxing later that year.

However, his departure from the sport paved the way for a new chapter in politics.

Chillingly, the lawmaker revealed late last year he was upset Great Britain still existed - saying there would be less problems in the world if it didn’t.

‘If you imagine that in any of the past six centuries, the British Isles suddenly sank into the ocean, then for the rest of the world, indeed, there would be fewer problems for a certain time,’ he said.

He added, in warning, if Britain no longer existed ‘others will take the place that becomes vacant.’

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/14/95133225-14389151-image-a-12_1739370680119.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Nikolai Valuev’s journey from heavyweight champion to Russian MP has been marked by unwavering loyalty to the Kremlin and a readiness to serve his nation, both in parliament and on the battlefield

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/13/62934479-14389151-Valuev_was_beaten_by_David_Haye_in_his_final_fight_as_a_professi-a-6_1739367586539.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Nikolai Valuev’s boxing career reached its zenith in 2009 when he faced Britain’s David Haye in a much-anticipated bout that was billed as David vs Goliath

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/13/95129819-14389151-image-a-2_1739367367797.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Despite his imposing stature and weight of a staggering 316 pounds, Valuev suffered a defeat, leading to his retirement from professional boxing in 2009

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/14/95132959-14389151-image-a-8_1739370226199.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (R) applauds after watching a mixed martial arts fight at Ice Palace in Saint-Petersburg, late on June 21, 2012, with former world heavyweight boxing champion, Nikolai Valuev standing behind

The former heavyweight champion’s life has been nothing short of interesting, if not controversial.

By 2011, Valuev secured a seat in the State Duma representing the United Russiaparty, aligning himself closely with Putin’s vision for Russia.

Throughout his political tenure, Valuev has been an outspoken advocate for Russian sovereignty and has often echoed the Kremlin’s narratives. Read More

Notably, he opposed the US adoption of Russian orphans, reflecting a broader resistance to Western influence on domestic affairs.

His criticisms extended to international sports bodies, where he condemned the International Olympic Committee’s actions against Russian athletes amidst doping scandals, viewing them as unjust punitive measures.

In a testament to his dedication, 2022 saw Valuev responding to a military summons amid Russia’s intensified actions in Ukraine.

Embracing his duty, he was prepared to don the uniform and serve on the front lines.

However, his deployment was interrupted by a hospitalisation following complaints of a leg injury.

Undeterred, Valuev continued to bolster morale, making public appearances in military attire and rallying support for Russian troops.

By 2023, Valuev was prominently featured supporting Putin during key addresses concerning Russia’s military endeavors.

Valuev was seen clapping in the crowd, as Putin claimed Russia is engaged in a ‘real war’ with the West during his Victory Day speech in Moscow’s Red Square last year.

During the 10-minute speech, Putin told the crowd: 'Soldiers and seamen, and officers, generals, admirals, fighters and commanders, to all participants of the special military operation, I congratulate you on Victory Day.

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/14/95133223-14389151-image-a-11_1739370676355.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Throughout his political tenure, Valuev has been an outspoken advocate for Russian sovereignty and has often echoed the Kremlin’s narratives

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/13/95129797-14389151-image-a-3_1739367383861.jpg”}[/IMG2]

The lawmaker revealed late last year he was upset Great Britain still existed - saying there would be less problems in the world if it didn’t. Pictured: Valuev in action during the WBA world heavyweight championship fight against David Haye of England on November 7, 2009

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/13/95129809-14389151-image-a-5_1739367392306.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Valuev was allegedly barred from entering Azerbaijan on Monday due to ‘offensive comments’

‘It is the celebration to honour our fathers and grandfathers who fought for their motherland and through their sacrifice they saved the world from Nazism.’

Putin, who has often referred to the invasion of the Ukraine as a repeat of WWII, revealed that a ‘special military operation’ was needed to free Donbas of the chains of ‘Nazi’ rulers in Kyiv and the West.

‘Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point,’ Putin said.

‘A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.’

He added: 'Today we have a real war waged against us but we will be defending ourself from terrorism, we will defend the citizens of Donbas.

Valuev fervently propagated the narrative of defending Russian interests against Western adversaries, portraying the conflict as a necessary stand against external threats.

His transformation from a sports figure to a political stalwart underscores his deep-seated commitment to his nation’s cause.

Nikolai Valuev’s journey from the boxing ring to the halls of power illustrates a profound shift from global sportsmanship to fervent nationalism.

His unwavering support for Putin and readiness to serve in multiple capacities highlight a complex figure whose actions continue to resonate within Russia and beyond.

It comes after Valuev was allegedly barred from entering Azerbaijan on Monday.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizade said Baku - Azerbaijan’s apital - made the decision after Valuev’s ‘offensive statements against Azerbaijan and our people.’

‘His threatening remarks against our country are absolutely unacceptable,’ Hajizade said in a statement.

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/14/95132957-14389151-image-a-10_1739370335438.jpg”}[/IMG2]

Standing at a formidable 7ft, Valuev’s journey from heavyweight champion to Russian MP has been marked by unwavering loyalty to the Kremlin

[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/13/62934481-14389151-Valuev_has_revealed_that_he_has_been_summoned_to_fight_in_Vladim-a-7_1739367669454.jpg”}[/IMG2]

By 2023 Valuev was prominently featured supporting Putin during key addresses concerning Russia’s military endeavors

Valuev is the third Russian lawmaker to be banned from entering Azerbaijan.

Hajizadeh noted in his statement that all three Russian MPs declared persona non grata ‘regretfully’ belong to the ruling United Russia party.

Valuev made his comments after Azerbaijan last week ordered the closure of the so-called Russia House, a local branch of Russia’s state-run cultural diplomacy agency Rossotrudnichestvo.

The Russian lawmaker wrote on his Telegram channel that while Azerbaijan does not have a similar institution in Russia, it has a diaspora that has ‘nothing to do with cultural exchange, but money.’

‘To put it tactfully, this money is not always legal… isn’t it time to a take a closer look at [the diaspora]?’ he wrote.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has said the Russian cultural center lacked legal registration and it expected Moscow to take steps to rectify it.

Moscow says it has ‘repeatedly’ requested Baku to help with the registration but has not received a response.

That’s a huge politician.

33

Conor McGregor Says He’s No Longer Planning To Run In Ireland’s Presidential Election

By Ted Johnson Ted Johnson
Political Editor
@tedstew
September 15, 2025 9:24am
[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:“https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/trump-conor-mcgregor.jpeg?w=681&h=383&crop=1”}[/IMG2] Conor McGregor during a visit to the White House in March.White House
Conor McGregor, the mixed martial arts fighter, said that he is no longer planning to run in next month’s presidential election in Ireland.

McGregor wrote on X, “Following careful reflection, and after consulting with my family, I am withdrawing my candidacy from this presidential race. This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one at this moment in time.

“While I will not contest this election, my commitment to Ireland does not end here. I will continue to serve my people by using my international platform to promote Irish interests abroad, to strengthen our economic opportunities, and to advocate for transparency and responsibility in public life at home. This campaign has sparked an important conversation about democracy in Ireland about who gets to stand, who gets to choose, and how we can ensure that the presidency truly belongs to the people. That conversation will not end with my withdrawal.”

Per the BBC, he made his announcement just before he was due to address the Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council, as he was to seek nominations to get his name on the ballot.
McGregor has been posting of his desire to run in the election. In his post, he also wrote that Ireland was being constrained “by the straitjacket of an outdated Constitution that is selectively upheld by the main Oireachtas parties, and exploited to prevent a true democratic Presidential election being contested, but rather fixed to ensure only Establishment approved candidates may be selected on the ballot.”

He also railed against “a malevolent political witch-hunt working together with the mainstream media supercharged Fake News.” Last year, McGregor was found liable for assaulting a woman after a night of partying in a Dublin hotel penthouse in 2018. He lost his appeal earlier this year, per the BBC.

McGregor met with Donald Trump at the White House earlier this year, and even spoke to reporters in the briefing room.

Conor McGregor: Notorious
Martial Arts Politicians

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