Tag: Los Angeles

  • Los Angeles Council Member Concerned In Struggle With Activist

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles Town Council member embroiled in a scandal over racist remarks and an activist fought at a Friday evening vacation match.

    The activist and Kevin de León were given into an altercation at a toy giveaway and vacation tree lights at Lincoln Park, the Los Angeles Occasions reported.

    Previous on Friday, de León attended his first Town Council assembly in just about two months following a scandal that erupted after a recording surfaced in October of former council President Nury Martinez, outgoing Councilman Gil Cedillo, de León and a exertions union chief taking part in a closed-door assembly by which racist language was once used to mock colleagues whilst the contributors schemed to give protection to Latino political power in council districts.

    Martinez resigned. Cedillo misplaced a June election and his final day in workplace is Monday. De León has apologized and mentioned he has no plans to surrender.

    De León mentioned in a observation to the newspaper that he was once assaulted Friday evening, whilst activists mentioned the council member was once the aggressor.

    The Occasions reported two native activist organizations, RootsAction and J-TOWN Motion and Unity, posted a video on Twitter appearing a portion of the incident between De León and a person recognized as Jason Reedy, a Folks’s Town Council organizer.

    De León’s workplace mentioned Reedy and different activists had been at fault. De León spokesperson Pete Brown mentioned the council member was once head-butted by way of Reedy, a member of his personnel was once elbowed within the face and a volunteer was once punched within the arm, the Occasions reported.

    De León’s observation to the Occasions mentioned they had been “violently and bodily assaulted by way of self-proclaimed activists at a group vacation match to the dismay of a large number of households and youngsters who had been there to have fun a Christmas tree lights and to obtain toys and meals.”

    “The escalating rhetoric is hitting a fever pitch, transcending from verbal threats into precise acts of violence and will have to finish sooner than extra critical hurt or lack of existence happens,” the observation mentioned. “Violence isn’t loose speech and has no position in politics or democracy.”

    Shakeer Rahman, an lawyer representing Reedy, known as de León “a shame” in a observation to the Occasions Friday evening.

    “Video pictures obviously displays him and his supporters beginning this attack whilst Mr. Reedy stands susceptible,” Rahman mentioned. “Now not simplest has Kevin de León misplaced all political legitimacy, his claims that he was once the only attacked right here merely underscores how he’s misplaced contact with fact.”

  • How the four-day workweek won momentum — and may just trade the way forward for paintings

    The speculation of a four-day or shorter workweek is gaining momentum international — a large because of the far off paintings increase throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

    A contemporary learn about from 4 Day Week World, a nonprofit workforce that has been accomplishing four-day week pilot methods in different nations, discovered that workers expressed pride with their general productiveness and function.

    “The speculation of lowering paintings time has been round for somewhat a while,” stated Charlotte Lockhart, founder and managing director at 4 Day Week World. “On the other hand, it’s actual now. We’ve 1000’s of businesses around the globe which are if truth be told lowering paintings time in a method or every other.”

    Shortening the workweek to 4 days is not a excellent have compatibility for each corporate, on the other hand. Regulate Brokers, a marketplace analysis corporate, primarily based in Los Angeles, discovered it did not go well with their workers.

    “What took place after 10 weeks used to be that our most respected metrics, that have been worker well being, and psychological well being, had declined in our [before and after] survey, ” stated Rebecca Brooks, CEO at Regulate Brokers. “There are numerous causes for that, however in the end, the function used to be to make our workers’ lives more uncomplicated, and we had been making them extra difficult.”

    Watch the video above to be told whether or not the four-day workweek is what running lifestyles will seem like at some point.

  • Jury Is going A Week With No Verdict At Weinstein Rape Trial

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jurors on the Los Angeles rape and sexual misconduct trial of Harvey Weinstein had been deliberating for per week with out attaining a verdict.

    The jury of 8 males and 4 ladies went house Friday afternoon and can go back to renew deliberations on Monday morning.

    They will have to make a decision on two counts of rape and 5 different sexual attack counts in opposition to the 70-year-old former film wealthy person.

    The jurors have had no questions for the court docket that may supply perception into the standing in their paintings.

    They were given the case on the finish of remaining arguments on Dec. 2. They have got been deliberating for five 1/2 days, or about 24 hours overall.

    The one factor raised, and the one time the legal professionals have returned to the court docket in per week, got here Friday morning when probably the most 5 change jurors requested if he may well be excused on account of commute plans. Weinstein’s attorneys objected, and the pass judgement on rejected the request.

    LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 04: Former film producer Harvey Weinstein (L) interacts with his attorney Mark Werksman in court at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center on October 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Harvey Weinstein was extradited from New York to Los Angeles to face sex-related charges. (Photo by Etienne Laurent-Pool/Getty Images)
    LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 04: Former movie manufacturer Harvey Weinstein (L) interacts along with his legal professional Mark Werksman in court docket on the Clara Shortridge Foltz Legal Justice Middle on October 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Harvey Weinstein used to be extradited from New York to Los Angeles to stand sex-related fees. (Picture via Etienne Laurent-Pool/Getty Photographs)

    Weinstein nonetheless has greater than two decades left on his sentence in New York after a rape and sexual attack conviction there this is underneath attraction.

    In California, he may just get 60 years to lifestyles in jail if he’s convicted on all counts involving all 4 ladies he’s charged with assaulting.

    All 4 testified all the way through the trial, at the side of 4 different accusers who testified for prosecutors making an attempt to turn a propensity for such acts via Weinstein.

    Prosecutors instructed jurors to finish the “reign of terror” of a person they referred to as a “degenerate rapist.”

    Weinstein’s attorneys argued that two of the ladies’s accusations are totally fabricated and two others reframed consensual sexual encounters as attack years later, after the #MeToo motion made Weinstein a goal.

    He has pleaded no longer in charge and denied enticing in any non-consensual intercourse.

  • Los Angeles bans oil and gasoline drilling inside town limits

    An oil pumpjack operates within the Inglewood Oil Box on January 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

    Mario Tama | Getty Pictures

    The Los Angeles Town Council has voted to prohibit new oil and gasoline drilling and section out present wells over the following 20 years, a ancient determination that comes after years of court cases via citizens about how air pollution from close by drilling has led to them well being problems.

    In a 12-0 vote, the council on Friday authorized an ordinance it all started drafting previous this 12 months that may in an instant ban new extraction and close down present operations inside two decades. The verdict to prohibit new drilling and decommission present wells is among the most powerful environmental insurance policies enacted within the state, and may just pave the best way for different towns across the nation to undertake an identical measures.

    Traditionally, environmental law that has originated in California has steadily unfold to different portions of the rustic, reminiscent of cleaner emissions requirements for automobiles within the Seventies. Extra just lately, the state banned the sale of latest gasoline-powered automobiles via 2035, and New York state quickly adopted go well with.

    There are 26 oil and gasoline fields and greater than 5,000 energetic and idle wells in LA. Wells are unfold out in all places town, together with Wilmington, Harbor Gateway, downtown, West LA, South LA and the northwest San Fernando Valley.

    The oil trade has in large part hostile town’s ban, arguing that phasing out manufacturing will make LA extra depending on overseas power. The council mentioned it will make sure oil corporations are held in charge of adequately plugging and finishing complete website remediation inside 3 to 5 years of shutting down manufacturing websites.

    The town could also be undertaking research to decide when oil corporations in LA will be capable of recoup their capital investments in drilling actions. If operators can recoup the ones investments earlier than the 20-year timeline, town may just require the ones corporations to close down manufacturing even quicker.

    Greater than part one million other people in LA are living inside a quarter-mile of energetic wells that free up destructive air pollution like benzene, hydrogen sulfide, particulate topic and formaldehyde. Just about one-third of town’s wells are situated out of doors of drill websites between parks, colleges and homes, and communities of colour are disproportionately suffering from the well being affects of the ones websites.

    Individuals who are living nearer to drilling are at better chance of preterm births, bronchial asthma, breathing illness and most cancers, analysis presentations. Dwelling close to drilling could also be related to weakened lung serve as and wheezing, in step with a learn about revealed within the magazine Environmental Analysis.

    Stand In combination Towards Group Drilling, or Stand LA, a coalition of environmental justice organizations, mentioned in a remark that the verdict “indicators that Black, Latinx and different communities of colour these days dwelling close to polluting oil wells and derricks in South LA & Wilmington will ultimately breathe more straightforward.”

  • Anne Heche’s Son Homer Laffoon Granted Regulate Over Property

    Anne Heche’s son Homer Laffoon was once formally named normal administrator of her property on Wednesday, Other people reported. The ruling through Pass judgement on Lee Bogdanoff in Los Angeles adopted a monthslong prison combat with Heche’s ex-boyfriend James Tupper.

    “We imagine the courtroom reached the right kind consequence this morning, each legally and equitably, and are happy to have this section of the method at the back of us,” Laffoon’s legal professional Bryan Phipps informed Other people.

    Heche died on Aug. 14, 9 days after she crashed right into a Los Angeles house in a automobile and suffered severe burns within the resultant fireplace.

    In a while, Tupper claimed to be in ownership of a will — which Laffoon mentioned by no means existed — that named him inheritor to Heche’s property. Laffoon, 20, petitioned for regulate of the property in September and later alleged that Tupper cast his mom’s signature.

    Laffoon additionally alleged Tupper attempted to stop him from contacting his 13-year-old part brother and James Tupper’s son, Atlas Heche Tupper, as Other people prior to now reported. In the meantime, Tupper claimed in courtroom that $200,000 value of knickknack went lacking from Heche’s house after her deadly crash.

    “With Mr. Tupper’s allegations and objections now resolved, we’re hopeful the management of the Property can continue with out useless complication,” Phipps mentioned in his commentary to Other people.

    Heche and Laffoon at a book launch in Beverly Hills last year.
    Heche and Laffoon at a guide release in Beverly Hills ultimate 12 months.

    Rachel Murray by means of Getty Photographs

    Whilst Tupper’s legal professional Christopher B. Johnson alleged “mismanagement” of Heche’s belongings, Bogdanoff gave no credence to the declare. The pass judgement on mentioned Laffoon might be got rid of as administrator if proof of fraud or embezzlement within the subject got here to gentle, however that not anything of the type has surfaced.

    After the Aug. 5 automobile crash, Heche fell right into a coma on Aug. 8 and remained on lifestyles strengthen till Aug. 14. Her property was once later sued through the tenant of the house she crashed into.

    Bogdanoff mentioned Wednesday that the worth of the property has but to be set, however scheduled a long run listening to at the subject.

    Laffoon was once given “particular powers” over his mom’s belongings in October, permitting him to maintain and take ownership of her belongings.

    Tupper prior to now objected to that ruling and claimed in courtroom paperwork that Laffoon “has acted in a adversarial means” in opposition to him and his son Atlas. Tupper’s objection alleged that “Atlas has no self belief in [Homer]’s talent to fulfill his fiduciary duties to Atlas.”

    Bogdanoff steered Laffoon and Atlas “discuss issues” as Atlas was once simply “stuck within the crossfire” of the combat.

  • Skittles Sends Transparent Message To Concertgoers Who Throw Sweet At Harry Types

    Skittles needs concertgoers to “deal with other folks with kindness” and now not throw sweet items at Harry Types.

    The sweet emblem pleaded with other folks not to toss its colourful, fruity deal with after the “As It Was once” singer was once hit within the face with sweet all through a Los Angeles display on Monday.

    Skittles, which prior to now suggested on Twitter for other folks not to throw the sweet, took out a full-page advert within the Los Angeles Instances on Saturday reminding lovers not to toss the deal with, Billboard reported.

    “Offer protection to the rainbow. Style the rainbow. However please, don’t throw the rainbow,” the advert learn.

    Video from Types’ live performance presentations a number of pieces that seem to be Skittles hovering from the group and hanging the singer within the face.

    Types is noticed grabbing his eye and squinting together with his left eye as he thank you the group on the Love On Excursion live performance.

    Types’ lovers criticized the Skittles thrower and claimed they ruined his efficiency of “Kiwi” with their “thoughtless and threatening” act.

    The Skittles fiasco isn’t the primary time this 12 months {that a} fan-thrown object has stirred up controversy.

    “Helmet” singer Steve Lacy smashed a fan’s disposable digital camera on level in October after an merchandise was once thrown at him, and he refused to ask for forgiveness for the episode.

    Spanish singer Rosalía won a bouquet of flora to the pinnacle all through a San Diego excursion forestall remaining month and later requested lovers to not throw pieces at her.

    Types has additionally been hit with different gadgets this 12 months, together with an unknown object that struck his crotch and hen nuggets, Billboard famous.

  • Couple Injured Following Assault Out of doors Elton John Live performance

    A pair who left an evening out at an Elton John live performance at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium suffered accidents in a carpark assault on Thursday.

    Video displays a couple of males beating any other guy, a part of the couple who KCBS-TV didn’t establish of their file at the assault, as he laid at the flooring of a carpark.

    The assault adopted one in every of a variety of John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Highway” displays on the baseball stadium.

    The assault concerned a person and a lady of their 60s, in line with TMZ, and it’s beneath investigation by way of the Los Angeles Police Division.

    The person observed at the flooring, who the inside track station known as “Jamie,” stated the assault started when a lady claimed she hit the couple’s automobile replicate and he recalled the lady seeking to hit him.

    Jamie claimed a person in a blue blouse, observed in video bought by way of KCBS-TV, started to time and again punch him whilst his spouse, who the station known as “Lillian,” watched the assault sooner than hopping out of the automobile herself.

    She later stated any person tossed her sooner than she blacked out from hitting her head at the car parking zone flooring.

    Lillian claimed she ultimately aroused from sleep to look her husband unresponsive at the flooring.

    The pair described experiencing head accidents whilst Jamie – who was once hospitalized following the assault – advised the inside track station he suffered accidents to his ear, his eye and his again along side a damaged ankle.

    A girl who claimed to be the daughter of the couple on Instagram stated her dad suffered fractures and head accidents on account of the assault.

    She additionally claimed that the one bystander who attempted to report the assault “were given punched and his telephone damaged by way of the similar one that assaulted” her folks.

    HuffPost has reached out to the lady for remark.

    Jamie, who described himself as a recently-retired grandfather, stated he doesn’t need his attackers to harm any person else like him.

    “They walked round like ‘, we’re King Kong, we will be able to escape with this,’ nah, you don’t escape with this shit,” he advised KCBS-TV.

  • Google Maps were given a large replace that displays the place fast-charging EV stations are and extra

    A charging port is observed on a Mercedes Benz EQC 400 4Matic electrical automobile on the Canadian World AutoShow in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 13, 2019.

    Mark Blinch | Reuters

    An up to date model of Google Maps for Android and iPhone is rolling out with a number of new options, just like the strategy to seek for electrical automobile stations with quick chargers and an augmented truth function that overlays extra details about native sights on most sensible of the actual international round you.

    Here is what’s new.

    In finding quick chargers in your electrical automotive

    When you pressure an EV, you are able to filter out charging stations to seek out probably the most time-efficient choice. So, should you seek for a “charging station” in Google Maps, for instance, a brand new choice seems that lets you clear out to just display “quick price” stations which might be suitable with the plug your automotive makes use of. It builds on an previous replace that permits customers to seek for stations by means of plug compatibility.

    In finding stations with quick chargers (left) and plugs suitable along with your EV (proper).

    Google

    Speedy charging comprises stations with chargers 50kW or upper. The replace is to be had in international locations the place EV charging stations are to be had, consistent with Google.

    New AR function coming to Google Maps

    Seek with Are living View begins rolling out in 6 towns subsequent week.

    Google

    Google Maps could also be getting an replace to its augmented truth software. Beginning subsequent week, a function known as “Seek with Are living View” will will let you use your telephone digicam to determine what is round you.

    While you hang up your telephone, for instance, and faucet the digicam icon in Maps, you can see close by landmarks, parks, motels, eating places, bars, banks and ATMs. You’ll be able to additionally see information like how busy the positioning is, whether or not or no longer it is open, what the associated fee vary is and the way it is rated by means of Google Maps customers.

    The function will first release in six primary towns: New York, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo and Paris.

    Google provides wheelchair accessibility information to international maps

    The facility to peer wheelchair accessibility puts is now to be had globally on Android and iOS.

    Google

    Google has expanded its Out there Puts function, which displays an icon on a industry profile to signify that it is wheelchair out there, to all international markets. The choice has been to be had within the U.S., Australia, the U.Okay. and Japan since 2020. Google highlighted that the function can also be helpful for people who find themselves strolling with a stroller or a cart, too, since they will need to know if a ramp is to be had ahead of visiting a particular location. The accessibility indicator is powered by means of industry house owners and those that use Google Maps.

    Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. 

  • Karen Bass Wins Los Angeles Mayoral Race In Victory Over Billionaire Rick Caruso

    U.S. Rep. Karen Bass is projected to win the Los Angeles mayoral race, proving that vast marketing campaign spending isn’t all the time sufficient to eke out a victory in The united states’s second-biggest town.

    Bass is slated to exchange outgoing Mayor Eric Garcetti, who used to be compelled out by means of time period limits, following an in depth contest in opposition to Rick Caruso, a billionaire industrial actual property wealthy person who joined the Democratic celebration this 12 months and dropped just about $100 million within the race. He outspent her seven to at least one, in large part with price range from his non-public fortune.

    The race used to be neck and neck up till Election Day, regardless that Bass used to be relatively preferred to come back out on best. She’ll be the primary Black feminine chief of LA.

    Bass is without doubt one of the nation’s maximum distinguished Black feminine politicians and used to be a finalist on President Joe Biden’s shortlist of operating pals in 2020. She has represented LA in Congress for 5 phrases, handily profitable greater than 80% of the vote every time she ran. Earlier than entering politics, Bass labored as a health care provider assistant and made a reputation for herself organizing a reaction to South LA’s crack epidemic within the Eighties, effectively securing tens of millions in executive investment to handle the disaster.

    Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso campaigning in the Wilmington neighborhood on Nov. 4.
    Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso campaigning within the Wilmington group on Nov. 4.

    Brittany Murray/MediaNews Team/Lengthy Seashore Press-Telegram by the use of Getty Pictures

    Caruso’s executive revel in has been restricted to main a handful of town commissions, together with the ones for police and utilities. However he’s extra smartly referred to as the person at the back of a few of Southern California’s maximum recognizable buying groceries facilities and his place at the College of Southern California’s board of trustees.

    He spent maximum of his grownup lifestyles as a Republican and a couple of years as a registered nonpartisan earlier than rebranding as a Democrat proper earlier than pronouncing his mayoral marketing campaign previous this 12 months. All the way through the race, he bought himself to electorate as a savvy political outsider who may just accomplish what status quo Democrats couldn’t appear to get completed.

    Bass and Caruso spent a lot in their campaigns discussing two of LA electorate’ best considerations: a homelessness disaster that helps to keep rising and a contemporary uptick in violent crime.

    Caruso, right, speaks as Bass listens during a debate in Los Angeles on Oct. 6.
    Caruso, proper, speaks as Bass listens all the way through a debate in Los Angeles on Oct. 6.

    Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances by the use of Getty Pictures

    Each introduced bold plans for sheltering probably the most town’s 40,000-plus homeless citizens, with Bass bringing up her connections in Washington to safe federal housing vouchers and Caruso pointing to his historical past of main civic tasks all the way through his town fee paintings. Bass pitched spending $292 million in her first 12 months at the task to handle the disaster, with the potential of elevating taxes to take action. Caruso proposed $843 million in that period of time with out elevating taxes ― an concept that critics have stated is just now not imaginable.

    As for crime, neither stated they’d heed progressives’ calls for to reel within the town’s more or less $3 billion police division price range. However whilst Bass deliberate to stay the pressure beneath 10,000 officials, Caruso stated he’d very much extend it.

    Bass nabs the task as LA weathers an overly public scandal on its Town Council. Remaining month, The Los Angeles Instances revealed audio of 3 council participants engaged in a crass and racist dialog with references to the younger Black son of one in all their colleagues. Whilst the council’s then-President Nury Martinez resigned days later amid intense scrutiny, the 2 others concerned ― Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo ― have refused to step down.

  • Robert Luna Defeats Scandal-Plagued Alex Villanueva In Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Race

    Retired Lengthy Seashore Police Leader Robert Luna is projected to win the Los Angeles Sheriff election, ousting a scandal-plagued incumbent who has time and again coated up deputy misconduct and retaliated in opposition to public officers who attempted to carry the dept responsible.

    Simply 4 years in the past, Alex Villanueva made historical past, changing into the primary Democratic sheriff and the primary candidate to defeat an incumbent sheriff in additional than 100 years. However by the point Villanueva used to be up for reelection, his fortify had evaporated. The Los Angeles County Democratic Celebration known as on him to renounce in 2021 and in the end recommended Luna previous this yr. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors additionally moved to invite citizens to present the board the authority to take away an elected sheriff. Right through the June number one election, Villanueva gained simply 30.66% of the vote, which induced a runoff with Luna, who got here in 2nd with 25.85% of the vote.

    Villanueva conceded the race Tuesday because it become transparent that the remainder uncounted ballots may now not shut the just about 20-percentage-point hole between him and Luna. County Measure A, which might give the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors the authority, by means of a supermajority vote, to take away an elected sheriff for motive, may be anticipated to cross, an extra rebuke of Villanueva. As of Tuesday, the sure votes have been forward by means of greater than 40 proportion issues.

    Regardless of operating as a Democrat with obscure guarantees of reform, Villanueva temporarily pivoted to open contempt of the individuals who voted him into place of job. He known as for placing “wokeism” “out of its distress in 2022” and refused to put in force COVID vaccine mandates amongst his team of workers. He has constantly denied the life of a well-documented gang disaster throughout the division, the place in line with whistleblowers, teams of deputies perform a shadow department of presidency. He has defied subpoenas from the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Fee associated with his dealing with of COVID-19 within the county’s jails and allegations that he attempted to hide up his deputies sharing pictures from Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash.

    Those that labored to carry the sheriff’s division responsible have confronted non-public assaults from Villanueva. For years, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division (LASD) investigated LA County Manager Sheila Kuehl, an outspoken critic of Villanueva, for taking bribes. After prosecutors declined to document fees, mentioning a loss of proof, armed LASD deputies confirmed up at Kuehl’s house and seized telephones, iPads and laptops, a transfer a Los Angeles Instances columnist described as a “vindictive political stunt.” Underneath Villanueva, LASD has additionally introduced a felony investigation into Inspector Normal Max Huntsman and sooner or later banned the county’s best watchdog from coming into LASD amenities and databases.

    After the Los Angeles Instances reported on LASD officers’ try to quilt up an incident through which a deputy knelt at the head of a handcuffed incarcerated guy for 3 mins, Villanueva threatened to head after the journalist who broke the inside track as a part of a felony leak investigation.

    Retired Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna has won the Los Angeles County sheriff's contest.
    Retired Lengthy Seashore Police Leader Robert Luna has received the Los Angeles County sheriff’s contest.

    Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Instances by way of Getty Pictures

    As sheriff, Villanueva presides over the most important prison device within the nation, which incarcerates just about 15,000 other people — maximum of whom have now not been convicted of a criminal offense. In September, the American Civil Liberties Union accused officers of operating a “barbaric” device the place incarcerated persons are chained to chairs for days, left to sleep at the ground with out blankets, and denied get right of entry to to bogs and drugs to regard psychological sickness.

    Luna has made obscure guarantees to “reform and modernize” the sheriff’s division and “get rid of” deputy gangs, however progressives have expressed skepticism about his pastime in significant alternate. Balloting for Luna is “about hurt relief,” Knock LA, a innovative impartial media outlet, wrote in its voter information.

    “Luna meets the naked minimal necessities for a viable selection to Villanueva as sheriff — he has demonstrated that he’s able to interacting with different elected officers in a practical, optimistic style; he sees the function of sheriff as current to meet a public function past the pursuit of private grievances and political witch hunts; and he isn’t devoted to the use of his platform to magnify essentially the most disgusting right-wing conspiracy theories and extremist positions,” Knock LA wrote. “It’s an embarrassingly low bar, however he clears it.”