Lawrence Kippers

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say. But that’s exactly what the Trump Administration is doing to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.

To understand why this is so appalling, it’s important to know the facts. Congresswoman Omar came to this country with her father when she was 12 years old. Five years later, her father became a naturalized citizen. If Ilhan had been 18 at the time, she would have had to apply for citizenship separately. But because she was 17, she became a naturalized citizen automatically.

Congresswoman Omar went on to graduate from college, work as a community organizer, become the first Somali-American legislator elected to public office in the U.S., and win a seat in Congress. There, she has been one of the Trump Administration’s fiercest critics, which has led the president to repeatedly single her out as someone who he believes does not belong in this country.

Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen. Federal agents have raided her home, confiscated personal records, and seized her phone — all to try and uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case.

Think about that. The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president. And it’s not the first time this has happened. Under President Trump, the Justice Department has repeatedly gone after those he considers his political enemies — from the Attorney General of New York, to the former head of the FBI, to members of the Federal Reserve.

In those cases, the prosecutions either stalled or were dismissed for having no basis in law, and the same is likely to happen in this case. But not before Congresswoman Omar’s life has been turned upside down, her legal bills have piled up, and she’s been forced to spend time fighting unsubstantiated charges instead of serving the people of Minnesota.

The fact that any president, or any administration, is willing to engage in such transparent efforts to intimidate someone should outrage all Americans, regardless of how they feel about Congresswoman Omar’s political views. Because if this becomes the new normal, there’s no reason to believe it will stop with her — or that future presidents, in either party, won’t do the same.

[philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_]

Students from North Carolina A&T can be seen marching back to their HBCU after voting on the first day of early voting in the state.

The Guilford County Board of Elections voted to remove the school’s on-campus polling site. (video via @tmsimmons) https://t.co/n4qnDQY82k

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@pashaina890 @JakeLake720 Ok. He wasn't bigger than Sweetness, though.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@pashaina890 @JakeLake720 Ditka wasn't bigger than Payton at that time.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@_buffalo_bill @jemelehill I think there's a similarity to Stevie in that there seems to be a 2 Americas divide on what makes them great. I think Kast was goated at Aquemini. I think others see Aquemini as the beginning of their ascent. Stankonia was dope, but nothing after that cracks my rotation.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@_buffalo_bill @jemelehill Kast is the GOAT group, and thats not up for debate, but this exchange highlights the most interesting part of their legacy to me: 2 ppl can be diehard Kast fans, and their playlists not include any of the same songs. I often grapple w/how that should impact their legacy.

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

Congrats to my @WhiteSox (and @Cubs) on making the playoffs! Let’s ride a hot streak all the way to the World Series.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@FridgeHN1C @nickypoliver @vinhlegacy I had the album. Listened to it quite regularly for a few months. That song was definitely skippable. Haven't played it in over 20yrs.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@FridgeHN1C @nickypoliver @vinhlegacy Apparently, Primus was only on the clean version. I had no idea he said violence on the album.

Given this convo is about intro to the rap gap, the single is Em's intro and "Primus" is the appropriate lyric. It's, also the better bar given the NIN reference in the next line.

[Andrew Barber @fakeshoredrive]

🏆🏆🏆

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@iTiffanyDarling @KevOnStage First person I thought of

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@ggabefootball This doesn't seem like the right headline to make that point.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@itsjulisa_ Hard

[katsu @katsuxbt]

Allen Iverson says he didn’t invent the crossover. A Georgetown walk-on who never played a minute taught it to him, and made him a legend instead of himself

Interviewer: “I was surprised to learn that you learned the crossover from a guy from Brooklyn who barely played at Georgetown”

AI: “Look at what that guy gave me”

Interviewer: “But you learned it from another guy. You didn’t make it up”

AI: “He didn’t even have his name on the back. The most important thing for me when I was going to college is I always wanted my name on the back of my jersey. This guy did not have a name on the back. He was a walk-on”

Interviewer: “He didn’t play”

AI: “Didn’t even play. But he had a nasty crossover. He used to hit me with that thing at practice. I put my pride aside, my ego, ‘Hey, come here, man. You gotta show me how to do it.’ And to this day, he still says, ‘Yours is better than mine’”

[Andrew Barber @fakeshoredrive]

This weekend in Chicago, Common was presented with his Platinum plaque for ‘Be’ — his first album to sell a million copies. It took 20 years, but classics have no expiration date 🥂

[Merriam-Webster @MerriamWebster]

Why is it ‘cancelled’ in the U.K. but ‘canceled’ in the U.S.?

Because we gave them that L in 1776.

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@naima https://t.co/XKbZkpu9Wy

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@naima https://t.co/KDEHicXIfu

[Lawrence Kippers @lawkipp]

@Best_Weston_ @DragonflyJonez @dmags247 I read this in Roy Kent's voice.

[Chicago Bulls @chicagobulls]

We are devastated by the passing of 3x NBA Champion and beloved broadcaster Stacey King.