On this episode of Good Word with Goodwill, the Lakers continue to win, what it takes to be the face of the NBA, are the Cavaliers a lock for the Eastern Conference Finals and Kevin Durant’s future.
March 2025
Lakers are real contenders, Cavaliers keep rolling and Kevin Durant’s future starts this offseason
On this episode of Good Word with Goodwill, the Lakers continue to win, what it takes to be the face of the NBA, are the Cavaliers a lock for the Eastern Conference Finals and Kevin Durant’s future.
Parties agree to form triple coalition in Austria 155 days after elections
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
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Image: BMEIA/ Michael Gruber.
The Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP), the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) and the liberal New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS) party have approved a plan for a triple coalition to form a government after elections in September 2024. The NEOS party were the last to accept the plan for their government, having approved it with a vote share above 94% of the membership this Sunday.
New chancellor Christian Stocker was sworn in on Monday along with most members of the cabinet. The new cabinet has 14 members: 5 ministers and the chancellor from center-right ÖVP, 6 ministers from center-left SPÖ, and 2 from liberal NEOS.
The NEOS party meeting to approve the three-party coalition, held in hybrid format in Vienna on Sunday, included about 2,000 members of the party. Following the meeting, the NEOS leader Beate Meinl-Reisinger said the decision supported liberal democracy.
The government formation process was a long and difficult one, taking 155 days, the longest such timespan in the history of Austria. Because of the exclusion of the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) from the political mainstream, president Alexander Van der Bellen entrusted the ÖVP with the first round of coalition talks after the election, however, the talks collapsed, giving the FPÖ a chance to form the modern Austrian republic’s far-right government. FPÖ–ÖVP talks also failed, far-right politics proving unacceptable for the more moderate ÖVP. Today’s triple coalition thus averts new elections.
The deal marks the first time NEOS is included in national government of Austria.
Sources
[edit]
- Nik Martin. “Austria’s 3-way coalition gets final vote of approval” — Deutsche Welle, March 3, 2025
- Kristóf Molnár. “Beiktatták az osztrák kormányt, Christian Stocker az új kancellár” — 444.hu, March 3, 2025
NBA fines Cavs guard Ty Jerome $25K for calling refs ‘really bad,’ ‘horrendous’
After the game, in which officials called 53 personal fouls, Jerome offered some candid criticism of the officiating crew and called out referee Natalie Sago by name.
NBA fines Cavs guard Ty Jerome $25K for calling refs ‘really bad,’ ‘horrendous’
After the game, in which officials called 53 personal fouls, Jerome offered some candid criticism of the officiating crew and called out referee Natalie Sago by name.
NBA fines Cavs guard Ty Jerome $25K for calling refs ‘really bad,’ ‘horrendous’
After the game, in which officials called 53 personal fouls, Jerome offered some candid criticism of the officiating crew and called out referee Natalie Sago by name.
Knicks signing SF MarJon Beauchamp to two-way contract
The Knicks are signing SF MarJon Beauchamp to a two-way contract, SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley confirms.
US Navy Secretary nominee Phelan outlines readiness, cost-cutting reforms in Senate hearing
Monday, March 3, 2025
Image: United States Senate Committee on Armed Services.
John Phelan, the nominee for United States Secretary of the Navy, presented his plans to address maintenance shortfalls, shipbuilding delays, and personnel challenges within the Navy during his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday. Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Phelan emphasized the need for significant reforms to improve fleet readiness, tackle cost overruns, and enhance living conditions for sailors. His nomination has drawn scrutiny due to his lack of military experience.
During John Phelan’s recent Senate confirmation hearing for the position of Secretary of the Navy, Senator Rick Scott presented a photograph of the USS Dewey (DDG-105) displaying significant rust during a port visit to Singapore. Scott used the image to highlight maintenance concerns within the Navy, an issue Phelan acknowledged as part of broader systemic challenges. “The U.S. Navy is at a crossroads, with extended deployments, inadequate maintenance, huge cost overruns, delayed shipbuilding, failed audits, subpar housing, and, sadly, record-high suicide rates … these are systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for far too long. Frankly, this is unacceptable,” he said.
Critics of John Phelan’s nomination have expressed concerns primarily centered around his lack of military experience and potential challenges in navigating the complexities of the Department of the Navy. Phelan’s background is rooted in business and finance, with no prior service in the armed forces. This absence of military experience has raised questions about his preparedness to lead a branch as complex as the Navy. Stacie Pettyjohn, director of the defense program at the think tank Center for a New American Security said “It will be difficult for anyone without experience in the Pentagon to take over the leadership of a service and do a good job. Services are sprawling organizations with distinct cultures, subcultures and bureaucratic interests, and where decisions are made through many formal processes. To change a service’s plans, one must understand this Byzantine landscape.”
Supporters of John Phelan’s nomination argue that his business acumen makes him well-suited to address the Navy’s logistical and industrial challenges. Armed Services Committee Chairman Senator Roger Wicker highlighted challenges in the Navy’s shipbuilding efforts, stating, “If we threw a zillion dollars at the Department of the Navy today, we couldn’t build the ships because we don’t have the industrial base. We’ve got to fix that. And I think that’s why the president looked to an entrepreneur and an experienced business person.”
Sources
[edit]
- Chris Panella. “Here’s how Trump’s pick to lead the US Navy wants to fix the submarine shipbuilding problem” — Business Insider, February 27, 2025
- Micah Sandy, Medill News Service. “Navy secretary nominee John Phelan grilled by Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats” — UPI, February 27, 2025
- Leo Shane III. “Navy secretary nominee blasts ‘systemic failures’ plaguing the fleet” — Navy Times, February 27, 2025
- Tara Copp. “Trump turns to outsider to shake up Navy, but his lack of military experience raises concerns” — Associated Press, February 27, 2025
Return of superstar closer Félix Bautista means everything to an Orioles team with major aspirations
Bautista is finally back from a 2023 elbow injury, and he rejoins an Orioles team where simply reaching the playoffs is no longer a sufficient outcome. Aspirations are higher than that.
Return of superstar closer Félix Bautista means everything to an Orioles team with major aspirations
Bautista is finally back from a 2023 elbow injury, and he rejoins an Orioles team where simply reaching the playoffs is no longer a sufficient outcome. Aspirations are higher than that.