Country star Zac Brown of the GRAMMY-winning Zac Brown Band is responding to backlash over his participation in the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, and he’s standing firm in his decision.
On Sunday, June 14, Brown will open the event with a performance of the national anthem alongside the United States Marine Band. His involvement has sparked criticism from some fans, but the Georgia native says for him, “this is patriotism, not politics.”
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Brown explained why he chose to take part.
Zac Brown; Photo by Tyler Lord
“Man, I’m there for the troops, man. I’m there to honor America… This is patriotism, not politics for me. I mean, f*** all the division. I don’t believe in that. I love this country. I love all the people that have sacrificed so that I can live my American dream and that everyone that lives here gets a chance to do that if they work hard, make the right decisions and do that. So it doesn’t have a place in politics for me,” he stated and later pointed out, “There’s going to be 8,000 active service members that are going to be there.”
Beyond supporting the troops, Brown also shared that he’s a longtime UFC fan.
“I’ve watched every single UFC probably multiple times. It’s my favorite sport. I’m honored that Dana’s [White] given me the opportunity to do this. We’re going to be playing after the weigh-ins for the concert on Saturday and then getting to do the anthem for this with the Marine Band is going to be sick.”
The “Chicken Fried” singer added that he has already been rehearsing arrangements with the band, calling the opportunity “an honor.”
“I’m so excited for this weekend. And it’s history, man, getting to be part of American history, man. Having the first sporting event that’s on the lawn of the White House. I mean, it’s an honor.”
In addition to the national anthem performance, Brown will join Zac Brown Band for a performance at UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on Friday, June 13 for a live performance.
Earlier this month, UFC announced a limited-edition merch collaboration with Zac Brown Band in celebration of the event. The collection is available now.
The UFC Freedom 250 event takes place Sunday, June 14 at 7 p.m. CDT on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., in celebration of President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the United States’ 250th anniversary. The main card will stream live on Paramount+.
And to add insult to injury, the French behemoth learned the hard way that in New York, eggs aren’t always constrained to bodega bacon and cheese sandwiches.
Yes, some unruly Knicks fans pelted Wemby with eggs as he made his way from the team bus to his hotel last night.
There are some major perks to being 7’4″, and Wembanyama’s freakish frame is one of the factors that’s made him an absolute juggernaut on the court.
But there are downsides too:
It’s hard to find pants that fit, you have to sleep in a fetal position, you need a custom-made shower … oh, and it’s easy for egg-sassins to spot you in a crowd and subject you to a shell shower.
Victor Wembanyama speaks onstage during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 21, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Maybe Wemby will have his revenge on the court when the series heads back to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday.
Or maybe the Knicks will cap off their historic playoff run by bringing home their first championship since 1973.
Whatever the case, hopefully we can all agree that this sort of behavior is not cool, and the Knicks fan who threw the eggs is a world-class douchebag.
A douchebag with good aim, obviously, but a douchebag nonetheless.
At this point, Prince William and Kate Middleton have been married for 15 years.
A lot has changed in that time. They’re parents of three. They’re next in line for the throne.
But you never forget an ex.
At a recent royal event, Kate came face-to-face with the man she dated just before William. Oh?
Catherine, Princess of Wales departs from the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling at All Saints’ Church on June 06, 2026. (Photo Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Sometimes, you run into your ex at a (royal) wedding
Last weekend, Peter Phillips — cousin to Prince William — married Harriet Sperling.
The royal wedding took place at All Saints Church in Kemble, a village in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire.
Yes, those are very British names. No, Gloucestershire is not the steak sauce.
Two of the guests at the nuptials were Rupert Finch and his wife, Lady Natasha.
Yes, it is significant — especially with William and Kate in attendance.
During her time at the University of St. Andrews, Kate was a freshman while Rupert was what we’d call a senior.
(The British don’t do freshman-sophomore-junior-senior but have various “forms” and at this point we’re too afraid to ask what that means.)
At that time, Kate and Rupert dated — however briefly.
It mattered enough that the sixth and final season of The Crown (years after it stopped being good) portrayed the relationship on screen.
Obviously, they ended up breaking up. She went on to date William, though the two were initially just friends.
For his part, Rupert is also married to Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, which is a lot of names for one aristocrat.
By the way, Kate also owns some of Natasha’s dresses — Natasha being the founder of Beulah London.
Way back in 2010, William proposed to Kate. She said yes.
The two have married, welcomed three children, and are in line to become king and queen as British insists upon continuing their monarchy for some reason.
It is refreshing to hear about exes handling each other’s presences with maturity and dignity.
While filming in upstate New York in 1987, Jack Nicholson discovered – and quickly became obsessed with – his favorite bread. It was love at first bite.
Dan Sullivan of Petersburg announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate on May 29 to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. (Photo courtesy of Dan Sullivan)
The Alaska lieutenant governor’s office, which oversees state elections, announced an investigation into the validity of a U.S. Senate candidate from Petersburg following complaints from Alaska’s incumbent senator with the same name, Dan Sullivan.
Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg formally responded to the state’s challenge on Wednesday, calling it an affront to his rights. He maintains his candidacy for U.S. Senate is authentic, and said he’s running to challenge the Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan to represent Alaskans.
On Monday Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican, announced the investigation into the candidacy of Sullivan of Petersburg and sent him a list of questions to answer under sworn affidavit. She noted that false statements carry the penalty of perjury. She said the results of the investigation would determine whether he may appear on the August 18 primary ballot.
Republican incumbent Sen. Sullivan has served two terms in the U.S. Senate. The two Sullivans are among 16 candidates for the U.S. Senate for a six-year term.
Sen. Sullivan has complained that Sullivan from Petersburg is a “sham candidate” and says his challenger is intentionally misleading voters to benefit a ranked-choice vote for Democratic candidate and former Alaska U.S. House Representative, Mary Peltola. The Alaska seat is the focus of both Republicans and Democrats nationally, as it could be key for Democrats to win back control of the U.S Senate this November.
In a prepared statement announcing the investigation, Dahlstrom questioned Sullivan’s candidacy and said there are “credible allegations” that the Petersburg Sullivan filed to run with the same name and party affiliation as the incumbent “with the deliberate intent to confuse voters.”
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom speaks after being sworn into office in Dec. 2022. Dahlstrom is a former state lawmaker who served as the Dunleavy administration’s commissioner of corrections before joining the gubernatorial ticket. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Dahlstrom said the Alaska Division of Elections has a responsibility to protect the integrity of elections. “Serious allegations have been raised concerning this filing in the race for U.S. Senate, and the people of Alaska deserve a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that the election is carried out properly and without deception,” she wrote.
Dahlstrom and officials with her office declined interview requests on Tuesday and Wednesday. In response to a request that the lieutenant governor’s office explain the legal basis for Dahlstrom’s actions, her chief of staff said officials in the office were unable to comment because the issue remains under active investigation.
A spokesperson with the Alaska Division of Elections declined to comment, referring questions back to Dahlstrom’s office. A spokesperson for the state’s Department of Law declined to say which law Sullivan may have violated with his candidacy, citing the ongoing civil matter of the inquiry. The spokesperson pointed to Alaska criminal law regarding perjury — where the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knowingly made a false sworn statement — which is a class B felony.
Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher and resident of Petersburg for nearly 50 years, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on May 29, sparking national interest, questions, and criticism from the incumbent. He said he’s running to benefit Alaskans, that he was surprised at the incumbent’s criticisms and the state’s announcement, which he learned about via a text from a reporter on Monday evening.
“My name is my name. The ballot belongs to the people and not to the incumbent,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
“Our names would be listed on the ballot different, our websites — I don’t look like the senator, he doesn’t look like me — they’re not identical,” he said. “I’m not sure how that would fool someone. If you went to my website and thought that I was the senator, that would be rather absurd.”
Dahlstrom gave Sullivan a deadline of noon on Wednesday to respond to a series of questions regarding his affiliation with the Republican Party, names he has used to register to vote, design decisions on his campaign website and logo and whether he has coordinated with the Democratic Party.
Alaska Democratic Party executive director Jenny-Marie Stryker said by email Tuesday her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” A spokesperson for the Peltola campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Dahlstrom also asked Sullivan if he would object to his name appearing on the ballot at “Sullivan, Daniel James Jr. (non-incumbent)” and without a Republican party designation.
Sen. Sullivan’s campaign applauded the state’s action. “We welcome the Lieutenant Governor’s investigation and have full confidence the facts will speak for themselves. Alaskans deserve to know exactly how this candidacy came about — who recruited it, who’s paying for it, and who benefits from it. The answer to that last question is Mary Peltola,” said Sullivan’s campaign manager Billy Mackey, by email on Wednesday.
Sen. Sullivan and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the U.S. Senate, have spoken out against the Petersburg Sullivan’s candidacy.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 24, 2025. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
It isn’t clear why the lieutenant governor is investigating Sullivan of Petersburg. Candidates in other races have had similar iconography and names. In 2022, Republican state House candidate Forrest Wolfe used iconography and advertising similar to that used by Democratic U.S. House candidate Forrest Dunbar, drawing complaints from progressives.
Two years ago, Democrats in some legislative races said they believed candidates registered as Democratic under false pretenses in order to take votes away from coalition-minded Republicans. No investigations took place at that time.
It also isn’t clear why Dahlstrom is suggesting a different listing on the ballot for Sullivan Petersburg. State regulation already prescribes what should happen if two identically named candidates appear on the same ballot. “For example, under the ‘S’ placement, ‘Smith, John A.’ will appear before ‘Smith, Walter W.’ and ‘Smith, John A.’ will appear before ‘Smith, John L.’,” it states.
Sullivan, from Petersburg, said he will continue to defend his candidacy, and submitted a strongly-worded letter responding to the Lt. Gov. on Wednesday.
“The law forbids your office from denying me access to the ballot just because Senator Sullivan and the NRSC would prefer I not be allowed to run. This investigation by your office – and coordination of it with the press – is an unprecedented affront to my rights as a candidate and the rights of Alaska voters to select their own representation in the U.S. Senate,” he wrote.
In an interview Tuesday, he said he’s confident in Alaska voters, and doesn’t think the similar names will cause confusion.
“I would hope that everyone who enters the voting booth knows who’s running for office and knows why they want to vote for someone,” he said.
Sullivan said he was a life-long registered Independent, but since the Alaska Independence Party disbanded last year, he registered as a Republican. He said he considered himself a centrist, an old school Republican like his father and grandfather, and one who can work across party lines for the benefit of Alaskans, like U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowksi.
Sullivan said he’s seen quality of life decline in his home town of Petersburg, with a lack of improvements in ferries, healthcare, housing, schools and cost of living rising — and decided to run to attempt to improve those things for Alaskans. He said his name gives him an “instant megaphone” and said Sen. Sullivan is part of the problems he sees at home.
“He’s been there 12 years, and what do we have to show for it? And if we elect him again, that’s for another six more years, 18 years of stagnation. So that’s where I thought the problem was, and that’s where I figured I might as well make my stand,” he said.
He said he’s disappointed in the senator’s response and had expected Sullivan to run his incumbent campaign based on his own record and merits.
“It’s really as simple as if there’s enough people out there that, you know, feel the same way as I do, they’re going to vote for me, and if there’re people who feel like the senator is doing a great job, then they’ll vote for him,” he said.
Mackey, campaign manager for Sen. Sullivan, said the candidate is entitled to his views.
“Senator Sullivan is happy to debate his record of delivering for Alaska: record infrastructure investment, energy projects, and support for our fisheries and military communities — against anyone, anywhere in the state,” he said. “What Alaskans won’t tolerate is a scheme designed to confuse voters and manipulate the outcome of a Senate election. If this candidacy is as authentic as he claims, the investigation should be welcome news to him too.”
Sullivan from Petersburg said he’ll comply with the state’s investigation and continue to defend his candidacy. He said if the state decides he’s not qualified he can go back to fishing, but he’s going to stick with it as long as he can.
“I think it’s really important, not even just for me, but for future elections that they don’t limit people just because an incumbent senator is concerned that I’m going to eat into his vote count, that’s really absurd,” he said. “It kind of boggles my mind, so you know, we’ll see where it goes.”
James Brooks contributed to this story from Juneau.
Carrie Underwood made a surprise appearance at Nashville’s 12 South Farmers Market earlier this week to celebrate her new wellness brand, HiNote.
The country superstar and American Idol judge paid a visit to the HiNote pop-up track where she met with fans, served up some samples of HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Mix, and even posed for photos.
Underwood launched HiNote in May. The venture is focused on helping women prioritize their health with practical tools that fit into everyday life.
Carrie Underwood surprises fans at HiNote Pop-Up Truck at 12 South Farmers Market on June 09, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for HiNote
The brand’s first product, HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix, features protein, collagen, fiber, fruits and vegetables, and vitamins, and is available in Berry Medley, Juicy Peach, and Strawberry Lemonade flavors.
Alongside the launch, Underwood also rebranded her fit52 app as HiNote Life, bringing together workouts, recipes, nutrition tracking, and community features in one place. The project is the latest addition to a wellness-focused business portfolio that includes her New York Times bestselling book Find Your Path, the fit52 platform, and other health and fitness ventures.
HiNote Pop-Up Truck at 12 South Farmers Market on June 09, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for HiNote
“Health and wellness have always been such an important part of my life,” Underwood shared.. “Through my app, my own workouts, and daily conversations, I keep hearing the same heartfelt truth from women everywhere, myself included: we want to care for ourselves while still showing up for everything else our busy lives demand. That’s why I created HiNote. To help build a home for the everyday habits that support real life: movement, nourishment, and simple routines you can stick with.”
During a recent interview with Cody Alan on Sirius XM’s The Highway, Underwood further elaborated on the brand.
“We’ve had the fit52 thing going on, trying to teach people how to move their bodies and meeting women but, you know, it’s for everybody, meeting people where they are and trying to make things very ‘no muss, no fuss.’ You don’t need a lot of crazy equipment. It’s nothing crazy. These are easy things that are very approachable and should be able to fit into anybody’s schedule and lives,” she explained.
Carrie Underwood HiNote; Photo by Jeff Johnson
“And I feel like creating products to go along with that was just kind of a natural next step. It’s been something we’ve been dreaming about for a while and finally decided like, ‘Hey, let’s make this dream a reality.’ So we did create what we’re calling our everyday energy. It’s a daily nutrition drink mix. And we’re not telling you to get on any crazy diets or anything like that. We really just want to be a part of your day and create good sustainable energy and provide 20 grams of protein, five grams of fiber. We’ve got fruits and vegetables, superfoods, no artificial dyes, sugar-free. We really just wanted to create something that I myself would use and have been using way before everybody else because I get all the fun stuff first. But it’s been a lot of fun so far and I can’t wait for people to try it.”
HiNote Everyday Energy Daily Nutrition Drink Mix is currently available for purchase on HiNote.com in single-flavor bags and variety packs, along with a branded shaker bottle. Fans can also access the HiNote Life – Powered by fit52 app through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
The second is that she has returned to tennis several years after retiring.
But there’s growing buzz about banning BLP-1 as a performance-enhancing drug. Is she going to have to choose between them? Should she?
Serena Williams attends Netflix Is A Joke Festival Presents: The Roast of Kevin Hart at The Kia Forum on May 10, 2026. (Photo Credit: Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Netflix)
Anti-doping authorities in the tennis world and beyond have been monitoring GLP-1 drugs since 2024, shortly after the fad took off.
For now, they are not a prohibited substance.
They are also not currently classified as a performance-enhancing drug by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency).
It is possible that this will never change.
There are arguments for banning the use of GLP-1s in sports, allowing it, and also for something in between.
Do they actually enhance anyone’s athletic performance though?
In Tennis, anti-doping protocols are managed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). WADA oversees compliance.
Serena claimed that, despite being one of the greatest athletes on Earth, she struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise until she began using a GLP-1 medication.
(Again, there is a financial stake given her husband’s investment, leaving some to question the credulity of her paid statements.)
Now, if GLP-1 use were to be considered a performance-enhancing medication, it might be for fat loss.
However, studies have shown that GLP-1 patients experience muscle loss. Obviously. Which would, if anything, sound like it would detract from an athlete’s performance.
Ultimately, this discussion sort of misses the point, doesn’t it?
First of all, politics can play a bigger role in what is and is not banned from competitions.
Marijuana could not reasonably enhance anyone’s athletic performance, yet it is generally banned for athletes.
Trans women on estrogen may be banned, even though their HRT would, if anything, reduce their athletic performance. Meanwhile, cis women with higher levels of testosterone could also be banned, simply for being themselves.
Medicalized starvation — which, ultimately, is what GLP-1 medication does — probably doesn’t give an athlete an edge on the field.
But athletes are maybe the last people who should be promoting this as a “healthy” option for those who do not medically need it, such as diabetes patients.
Dan Sullivan of Petersburg announced his campaign for the U.S. Senate on May 29 to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. (Photo courtesy of Dan Sullivan)
The Alaska lieutenant governor’s office, which oversees state elections, announced an investigation into the validity of a U.S. Senate candidate from Petersburg following complaints from Alaska’s incumbent senator with the same name, Dan Sullivan.
Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg formally responded to the state’s challenge on Wednesday, calling it an affront to his rights. He maintains his candidacy for U.S. Senate is authentic, and said he’s running to challenge the Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan to represent Alaskans.
On Monday Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican, announced the investigation into the candidacy of Sullivan of Petersburg and sent him a list of questions to answer under sworn affidavit. She noted thatfalse statements carry the penalty of perjury. She said the results of the investigation would determine whether he may appear on the August 18 primary ballot.
Republican incumbent Sen. Sullivan has served two terms in the U.S. Senate. The two Sullivans are among 16 candidates for the U.S. Senate for a six-year term.
Sen. Sullivan has complained that Sullivan from Petersburg is a “sham candidate” and says his challenger is intentionally misleading voters to benefit a ranked-choice vote for Democratic candidate and former Alaska U.S. House Representative, Mary Peltola. The Alaska seat is the focus of both Republicans and Democrats nationally, as it could be key for Democrats to win back control of the U.S Senate this November.
In a prepared statement announcing the investigation, Dahlstrom questioned Sullivan’s candidacy and said there are “credible allegations” that the Petersburg Sullivan filed to run with the same name and party affiliation as the incumbent “with the deliberate intent to confuse voters.”
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom speaks after being sworn into office in Dec. 2022. Dahlstrom is a former state lawmaker who served as the Dunleavy administration’s commissioner of corrections before joining the gubernatorial ticket. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Dahlstrom said the Alaska Division of Elections has a responsibility to protect the integrity of elections. “Serious allegations have been raised concerning this filing in the race for U.S. Senate, and the people of Alaska deserve a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that the election is carried out properly and without deception,” she wrote.
Dahlstrom and officials with her office declined interview requests on Tuesday and Wednesday. In response to a request that the lieutenant governor’s office explain the legal basis for Dahlstrom’s actions, her chief of staff said officials in the office were unable to comment because the issue remains under active investigation.
A spokesperson with the Alaska Division of Elections declined to comment, referring questions back to Dahlstrom’s office. A spokesperson for the state’s Department of Law declined to say which law Sullivan may have violated with his candidacy, citing the ongoing civil matter of the inquiry. The spokesperson pointed to Alaska criminal law regarding perjury — where the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knowingly made a false sworn statement — which is a class B felony.
Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher and resident of Petersburg for nearly 50 years, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on May 29, sparking national interest, questions, and criticism from the incumbent. He said he’s running to benefit Alaskans, that he was surprised at the incumbent’s criticisms and the state’s announcement, which he learned about via a text from a reporter on Monday evening.
“My name is my name. The ballot belongs to the people and not to the incumbent,” he said in an interview Tuesday.
“Our names would be listed on the ballot different, our websites — I don’t look like the senator, he doesn’t look like me — they’re not identical,” he said. “I’m not sure how that would fool someone. If you went to my website and thought that I was the senator, that would be rather absurd.”
Dahlstrom gave Sullivan a deadline of noon on Wednesday to respond to a series of questions regarding his affiliation with the Republican Party, names he has used to register to vote, design decisions on his campaign website and logo and whether he has coordinated with the Democratic Party.
Alaska Democratic Party executive director Jenny-Marie Stryker said by email Tuesday her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” A spokesperson for the Peltola campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Dahlstrom also asked Sullivan if he would object to his name appearing on the ballot at “Sullivan, Daniel James Jr. (non-incumbent)” and without a Republican party designation.
Sen. Sullivan’s campaign applauded the state’s action. “We welcome the Lieutenant Governor’s investigation and have full confidence the facts will speak for themselves. Alaskans deserve to know exactly how this candidacy came about — who recruited it, who’s paying for it, and who benefits from it. The answer to that last question is Mary Peltola,” said Sullivan’s campaign manager Billy Mackey, by email on Wednesday.
Sen. Sullivan and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which works to elect Republicans to the U.S. Senate, have spoken out against the Petersburg Sullivan’s candidacy.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, speaks to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 24, 2025. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
It isn’t clear why the lieutenant governor is investigating Sullivan of Petersburg. Candidates in other races have had similar iconography and names. In 2022, Republican state House candidate Forrest Wolfe used iconography and advertising similar to that used by Democratic U.S. House candidate Forrest Dunbar, drawing complaints from progressives.
Two years ago, Democrats in some legislative races said they believed candidates registered as Democratic under false pretenses in order to take votes away from coalition-minded Republicans. No investigations took place at that time.
It also isn’t clear why Dahlstrom is suggesting a different listing on the ballot for Sullivan Petersburg. State regulation already prescribes what should happen if two identically named candidates appear on the same ballot. “For example, under the ‘S’ placement, ‘Smith, John A.’ will appear before ‘Smith, Walter W.’ and ‘Smith, John A.’ will appear before ‘Smith, John L.’,” it states.
Sullivan, from Petersburg, said he will continue to defend his candidacy, and submitted a strongly-worded letter responding to the Lt. Gov. on Wednesday.
“The law forbids your office from denying me access to the ballot just because Senator Sullivan and the NRSC would prefer I not be allowed to run. This investigation by your office – and coordination of it with the press – is an unprecedented affront to my rights as a candidate and the rights of Alaska voters to select their own representation in the U.S. Senate,” he wrote.
In an interview Tuesday, he said he’s confident in Alaska voters, and doesn’t think the similar names will cause confusion.
“I would hope that everyone who enters the voting booth knows who’s running for office and knows why they want to vote for someone,” he said.
Sullivan said he was a life-long registered Independent, but since the Alaska Independence Party disbanded last year, he registered as a Republican. He said he considered himself a centrist, an old school Republican like his father and grandfather, and one who can work across party lines for the benefit of Alaskans, like U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowksi.
Sullivan said he’s seen quality of life decline in his home town of Petersburg, with a lack of improvements in ferries, healthcare, housing, schools and cost of living rising — and decided to run to attempt to improve those things for Alaskans. He said his name gives him an “instant megaphone” and said Sen. Sullivan is part of the problems he sees at home.
“He’s been there 12 years, and what do we have to show for it? And if we elect him again, that’s for another six more years, 18 years of stagnation. So that’s where I thought the problem was, and that’s where I figured I might as well make my stand,” he said.
He said he’s disappointed in the senator’s response and had expected Sullivan to run his incumbent campaign based on his own record and merits.
“It’s really as simple as if there’s enough people out there that, you know, feel the same way as I do, they’re going to vote for me, and if there’re people who feel like the senator is doing a great job, then they’ll vote for him,” he said.
Mackey, campaign manager for Sen. Sullivan, said the candidate is entitled to his views.
“Senator Sullivan is happy to debate his record of delivering for Alaska: record infrastructure investment, energy projects, and support for our fisheries and military communities — against anyone, anywhere in the state,” he said. “What Alaskans won’t tolerate is a scheme designed to confuse voters and manipulate the outcome of a Senate election. If this candidacy is as authentic as he claims, the investigation should be welcome news to him too.”
Sullivan from Petersburg said he’ll comply with the state’s investigation and continue to defend his candidacy. He said if the state decides he’s not qualified he can go back to fishing, but he’s going to stick with it as long as he can.
“I think it’s really important, not even just for me, but for future elections that they don’t limit people just because an incumbent senator is concerned that I’m going to eat into his vote count, that’s really absurd,” he said. “It kind of boggles my mind, so you know, we’ll see where it goes.”
James Brooks contributed to this story from Juneau.
If there was ever an occasion for setting aside differences, this was it:
The New York Knicks came back from a 29-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals last night.
And some of the biggest celebrities on the planet took to the court to celebrate the historic win — including ones who might normally give each other the cold shoulder.
Taylor Swift performs onstage during “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Johan Cruijff Arena on July 05, 2024 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Aldara Zarraoa/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
As usual, Kylie Jenner was there, alongside boyfriend Timothee Chalamet, a hardcore Knicks fan.
And in a development that few saw coming, Taylor and Kylie briefly embraced one another during the post-game celebration.
Social media users were quick to make note of the somewhat surprising interaction.
After all, Kylie happens to be the younger sister of Kim Kardashian, and Kim’s feud with Taylor has been simmering for what feels like several geological eras.
Yet here were Kylie and Taylor, hugging, smiling, and chatting like two people who weren’t connected to one of pop culture’s longest-running beefs.
Of course this was no time for nursing old grudges.
The moment occurred after the Knicks beat the Spurs 107-106 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.
The Knicks haven’t won a championship since 1973, and the post-game scene looked like the world’s most chaotic awards show.
Kylie turned around, spotted Taylor standing behind her, and immediately broke into a smile. The two exchanged a quick hug and a brief conversation before heading off in different directions.
Naturally, Swifties and Kardashian-watchers immediately began dissecting every frame.
Does this mean the feud is over? Not exactly.
Taylor has never suggested she’s ready to become best friends with Kim Kardashian, and nothing about one courtside hug indicates a sudden reconciliation.
But it does seem to suggest that Kylie has no interest in carrying on family drama that began nearly a decade ago.
And while Taylor’s interaction with Kylie generated plenty of buzz, she was already one of the night’s biggest attractions.
Fans packed Madison Square Garden hoping to witness a Knicks win, but no doubt many were also eager to catch a glimpse of Taylor, who arrived wearing a custom “Stevie Knicks” shirt in a nod to both the team and her longtime friend Stevie Nicks.
The appearance comes during an especially busy stretch for the singer, who has been making headlines thanks to speculation surrounding her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce.
For now, though, the biggest takeaway from Game 4 might be this:
The Knicks are one win away from a championship.
And Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner are apparently on hugging terms.
Both developments seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago.
