newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Rangers playoff fallout includes Jacob Trouba-induced dilemma

The day before they could have been starting the next ...

Regarding the Rangers, who under the NHL’s best-case scenario will reconvene for training camp on Nov. 17.
1. That date is closer to the end of the qualifying round than the beginning of the qualifying round was to the date the season ended. Maybe that is a primary reason the Rangers “did not pick up where they left off.”
2. The kids, the kids, the kids. But kid you not, while Kaapo Kakko did take a substantial step from there to here, perhaps the most encouraging work of the Carolina series came from Jacob Trouba.
The defenseman, who seemed in prime physical condition upon reporting following the pause, was tough in his own end, a presence in the offensive zone and just what the Rangers envisioned when they acquired Trouba from Winnipeg last year and signed him to a seven-year, $56 million contract extension.
Indeed, with Tony DeAngelo suffering through a hamstring issue that limited his effectiveness, David Quinn might have moved Trouba up onto the first power-play unit that was utterly impotent from start to finish, the Blueshirts going 0-for-13 while five-on-four.
Ideally, Trouba will reclaim the first-pair matchup role for which he was signed to fill. That would free Adam Fox from the heaviest lifting on the defensive right side of things. It is, however, unlikely that Brendan Smith, the partner with whom Trouba has played his best hockey, can handle first-pair matchup minutes.
So again, the Rangers are in need of — and perhaps on the lookout for — a first-pair defenseman. Perhaps K’Andre Miller, so impressive throughout summer camp, will develop into that, but it is wildly unrealistic to believe the 20-year-old, after two years of college hockey at Wisconsin, could fill the description next season. Making the team at all right out of the gate is probably a stretch.
Trouba was paired with Libor Hajek for 18 of the first 20 games last season. The must-have ingredient in the deal for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller isn’t quite at the show-me phase of his career at the age of 22 after having played two seasons of pro hockey (in which he’s been injured both years), but the Rangers would surely like to see an elevation in his game when they skate next.
Trouba was uncertain and attempting to adjust to his new life as a Ranger when paired last season with Hajek. Clearly in a greater comfort zone, perhaps Trouba would be of more help to Hajek if he gets another shot on No. 8’s left.
3. Brett Howden played with authority throughout against the Hurricanes. He stood out not only for his assertiveness and ability to create some offense, but also because he was one of a handful of players who were more impressive in August than from October through March.
Howden had been moved out of the middle entirely by Christmas by Quinn. The 22-year-old, a former first-rounder also acquired from Tampa Bay in the McDonagh-Miller deal at the 2018 deadline, played the remainder of the year at wing on the third and fourth lines.
But for the elimination Game 3, Quinn moved Howden, who’d been centering the fourth line for the first two games, up to the middle of the third line. In making that move, the coach also shifted Filip Chytil from center to right wing.
So with questions abounding about the second center position in light of Ryan Strome’s looming restricted free agency (followed in a year by unrestricted free-agent eligibility) and unaccountably poor performance in the tournament, does Howden report next year as a center or a winger? Morgan Barron is expected to compete for a spot at LW.
And what about Chytil, moved out of the middle for the most important game of the year?
4. Artemi Panarin worked hard with a personal trainer prior to summer camp and took this tournament seriously. That’s why it was so confounding to watch the Hart Trophy finalist in what surely were his poorest three consecutive games in a Rangers uniform. Maybe his game is so reliant on touch, there was too much time off for No. 10 to find it. But other touch players have been able to thrive despite the 4 1/2-month layoff.
Of course, too, James Reimer came up with perhaps the series’ most defining saves when he twice used his glove to rob the Russian Rockette from close range in the final five minutes of the first period of what was then a scoreless Game 3.
Two glove saves there plus a pair of glove saves from Petr Mrazek on Howden and Mika Zibanejad in the first period of Game 2 were the most critical stops of the series in which the ’Canes completely reversed the Rangers’ perceived edge in nets.
5. It is not that Fox was all that bad. It is that it was just a shock to see Fox not be all that good.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Jets’ Chris Herndon looking to rebound after lost season

Part five in a series analyzing the New York Jets ... .

Chris Herndon’s 2019 season consisted of 18 snaps.
The Jets’ tight end entered his second season with high expectations. But his season began with a four-game suspension from the NFL for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. He then injured his hamstring just before his suspension ended and missed another four games. Herndon returned to face the Giants in November, but after one catch for 7 yards, he left the game with broken ribs that ended his season.
The 24-year-old now calls the missed season a learning experience.
“It really taught me how fast this all can be taken, not to take it for granted and just have an extreme amount of appreciation to be out there,” Herndon said on a Zoom call Thursday.
Herndon is now back on the field, working with his teammates. The expectations the Jets had for him last year now transfer to this year, although he was careful not to make any predictions.
“Right now, I don’t want to look too far ahead,” Herndon said. “I kind of just want to take things day-by-day, get into camp, start getting reps on the field and go from there. I don’t want to put too much in the air right now.”
Ryan Griffin filled in admirably last year in Herndon’s absence, but Herndon certainly will return to his role as the No. 1 tight end now that he’s healthy again.
The Jets official Twitter account put out a clip of him catching a long pass from Sam Darnold recently, offering fans a tantalizing glance of the potential those two could have. They had great chemistry as rookies in 2018. Herndon had 39 catches for 502 yards and four touchdowns after the Jets selected him in the fourth round out of Miami.
Herndon sounds ready to go, saying how grateful he is to be back on the field.
“It feels good,” Herndon said. “My body’s feeling good. I’m in a good space mentally. I’m just excited to be back with my team and putting in work with them again.”
Last year, Herndon faced setback after setback.
“It was tough,” he said. “It didn’t go exactly as planned, especially coming off suspension. It was definitely a big learning year from me, kind of a chance to step back and watch from the outside and also made me appreciate it even more. That was just a quick view of how fast it can be taken from me. It wasn’t the best year, but I definitely learned a lot.”
Herndon said it was particularly tough to accept when he was told his season was over after just one game.
“I felt like I was doing the right things to come back after the suspension ready and then had a little fluke accident,” Herndon said. “Then, the first game back getting injured. It was definitely tough at first, the first couple of weeks, accepting for me the season was done and I couldn’t be out there with my team.”
The Jets are doing strength and conditioning work. They are scheduled to put helmets on next week and begin light practices before putting pads on the week after that.
Herndon said he thinks the NFL can pull off a season despite concerns about COVID-19.
“A lot of people have been putting in a lot of work. I’m sure they want to put that out for display, for the world to see,” Herndon said. “I feel like as long as we’re all doing what we have to do around the whole league, then this can be successful. Once again, there’s a lot of unknowns with all that’s going on right now. We just got to play it day by day.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Rao’s catering at recent Hamptons party conditional on negative COVID test

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Exclusive East Harlem eatery Rao @ @ @ @ @ in July , but we hear the only way to have food from the red @ @ @ @ @ Hamptons party was to have proof of a negative COVID test .
Rao ’ s @ @ @ @ @ strict rules for attendees .
Actress Renée Willett arranged a tasting menu from the restaurant @ @ @ @ @ , where guests were “ required to present COVID tests upon entry , ” said @ @ @ @ @ must have been taken within four days of the event .
No home tests were @ @ @ @ @ Aaron Bronfman , Bravo star Elyse Slaine and Emory Stewart attended with their results in @ @

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Exclusive East Harlem eatery Rao’s began offering takeout in July, but we hear the only way to have food from the red sauce mecca at a recent Hamptons party was to have proof of a negative COVID test.
Rao’s just catered a bash with strict rules for attendees. Actress Renée Willett arranged a tasting menu from the restaurant at her Water Mill home, where guests were “required to present COVID tests upon entry,” said a source.
“It must have been taken within four days of the event. No home tests were accepted.”
Andrew Warren, Aaron Bronfman, Bravo star Elyse Slaine and Emory Stewart attended with their results in hand.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--‘Bachelorette’ Becca Kufrin and Garrett Yrigoyen have reportedly split

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Looks like he crossed a line .
Engaged season 14 “ Bachelorette ” stars Becca Kufrin and Garrett Yrigoyen have split , according to E !
News .
E !
reports that Yrigoyen ’ s support for the pro-police “ Thin Blue Line ” and “ Blue Lives Matter ” movements — expressed in mid-June via Instagram amid the nationwide uproar over the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor — caused an irrevocable rift between the former lovebirds .
It may not come as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had not posted anything to social media together for months .
“ Becca is still very upset with Garett ’ s comments and the controversy surrounding it , ” a source told the network , “ Their lifestyles don ’ t mesh anymore .
Garrett wants different things and they came to a realization that they aren ’ t compatible anymore.
” Kufrin , 30 , and Yrigoyen , 31 , moved to Carlsbad , Calif. , last year , but are reportedly now living apart , though that may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing a backpacking trip in the wilderness with his buddies and is taking time for himself , ” per E !
.
“ They are trying to keep it low-key because they are still working things out , ” the source adds , “ but the relationship is definitely done.
” Around the time of Yrigoyen ’ s Instagram controversy , Kufrin admitted on her fellow “ Bachelor ” franchise star Rachel Lindsay ’ s podcast , “ Bachelor Happy Hour , ” that “ for those who are curious about my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all I can say right now is I don ’ t know.
” “ It ’ s something that we are trying to work through and discuss and do work on at home at this time , ” she continued , “ and that ’ s where the work will remain.
” Lindsay , 35 , minced far fewer words in late July on Danny Pellegrino ’ s “ Everything Iconic ” podcast , saying of Yrigoyen , “ I think he ’ s a piece of s–t , and I have said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ f–k with him . '
” “ This isn ’ t the first time he ’ s had problematic behavior , ” Lindsay continued .
“ When he was on the season , he had a history of liking things that were racist , sexist , homophobic , calling the Parkland students child actors , it was a lot , so this is who this man is.
” Lindsay was alluding to another Instagram controversy involving Yrigoyen — this one from 2018 — when he was caught allegedly liking posts that mocked transgender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parkland school shooting .

Looks like he crossed a line.
Engaged season 14 “Bachelorette” stars Becca Kufrin and Garrett Yrigoyen have split, according to E! News.
E! reports that Yrigoyen’s support for the pro-police “Thin Blue Line” and “Blue Lives Matter” movements — expressed in mid-June via Instagram amid the nationwide uproar over the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor — caused an irrevocable rift between the former lovebirds. It may not come as a surprise to keen-eyed fans of the couple, who had not posted anything to social media together for months.
“Becca is still very upset with Garett’s comments and the controversy surrounding it,” a source told the network, “Their lifestyles don’t mesh anymore. Garrett wants different things and they came to a realization that they aren’t compatible anymore.”
Kufrin, 30, and Yrigoyen, 31, moved to Carlsbad, Calif., last year, but are reportedly now living apart, though that may be due to the fact that “Garrett is doing a backpacking trip in the wilderness with his buddies and is taking time for himself,” per E!.
“They are trying to keep it low-key because they are still working things out,” the source adds, “but the relationship is definitely done.”
Around the time of Yrigoyen’s Instagram controversy, Kufrin admitted on her fellow “Bachelor” franchise star Rachel Lindsay’s podcast, “Bachelor Happy Hour,” that “for those who are curious about my relationship with Garrett at this point, all I can say right now is I don’t know.”
“It’s something that we are trying to work through and discuss and do work on at home at this time,” she continued, “and that’s where the work will remain.”
Lindsay, 35, minced far fewer words in late July on Danny Pellegrino’s “Everything Iconic” podcast, saying of Yrigoyen, “I think he’s a piece of s–t, and I have said to her, ‘I will not f–k with him.'”
“This isn’t the first time he’s had problematic behavior,” Lindsay continued. “When he was on the season, he had a history of liking things that were racist, sexist, homophobic, calling the Parkland students child actors, it was a lot, so this is who this man is.”
Lindsay was alluding to another Instagram controversy involving Yrigoyen — this one from 2018 — when he was caught allegedly liking posts that mocked transgender individuals, immigrants and survivors of the Parkland school shooting.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--What Kevin Durant’s Caris LeVert evaluation could mean for Nets

After the Nets beat the league-leading Bucks on Tuesday without ...

Even Nets GM Sean Marks admits Kevin Durant is a “loud voice” in shaping the franchise’s future. And that voice may be speaking volumes on who’s going to be around next season.
Durant hopped on the “Play for Keeps” podcast, and offered up a wide-ranging interview that included him speaking about his Achilles rehab, Kyrie Irving, and why he came to Brooklyn — as well as who helped bring him here.
“I felt that having young players, I wanted to be around younger players. I wanted to be around Caris LeVert, guys who I got to know over the last couple of years. Spencer Dinwiddie, somebody I enjoyed playing against. So everything aligned when I was thinking about it. Obviously, Kyrie is somebody who I admire his game, I wanted to hoop with. It was just who I wanted to hoop with at this point.”
Presumably that will come next season, when the Nets should be a contender. Fans will dissect every sentence and try to decipher who’ll still be around for that.
Many have pointed to LeVert as the Nets’ prime asset to acquire a third star. But Durant — who has worked out with LeVert for several summers — admits even he was surprised at the young wing’s basketball acumen.
“[LeVert] is definitely better than I thought. He’s different,” Durant said. “He can score that thing. He can pass it, strong, he’s quick. His thing is about being efficient, and I think that’s what you’re seeing. The shots he’s taking now, it’s like all of his lane. It’s not a lot of 3s, a lot in the mid-range, getting to the cup. I think his IQ is what surprised me the most for the game.”
The lack of a third point guard — along with injuries to Irving and LeVert — crippled the Nets midseason. But Chris Chiozza has been a late revelation, handing out a career-high 10 assists in the win over the Bucks. The Nets can make him a restricted free agent with a modest qualifying offer of $1.5 million.
“Chris Chiozza’s one of the guys that came in late, but he surprised me. He’s surprised me a lot,” Durant said. “We started playing three-on-three once I started getting back into shape a little before the pandemic hit. Then he started getting more minutes in the games, knocking down 3s, just playing with pace. He’s just looked good.He looked like he belonged out there.He was a guy who was a two-way player, up-and-down from the G-League. … He really showed me he can play in this league.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum from the young Chiozza is venerable Jamal Crawford, like Irving, a longtime friend of Durant’s.
The oldest Net ever at 40, Crawford perfectly fits the profile of the cap-friendly vet that super teams surround their stars withto fill out the roster.
“Mal is just a hooper, through-and-through,” Durant said. “He’s one of those guys that just loves to play and appreciates being in the NBA. Even if he’s not playing big minutes, I think it’s somebody you need to have on your rosterespecially if he can still practice and still be a player. I understand if he can’t move and he can’t guard anybody and he can’t play: But he can still move.“Even if you’re not going to play him big minutes, he’s not going to complain. He’s just going to do his job, but also he’s going to be good for the younger players. He’s been great for Caris and Joe Harris, he’s been great for them. Just getting reports back from Sean and some of the guys down there. They just love having him around. … You need people like that on your roster, even if they’re the 15th, 14th man.”
“I think Jamal can provide a lot for you in that role, you know what I’m saying? If you can throw somebody like him out there, end of a playoff game or end of a game, he can definitely win you a game, hit some shots. And you minimize his role? Give him a few minutes with the third unit or the second unit? He’ll get buckets. He can swing a game, be an X factor still.”
It’s worth noting that Marks is reporting back to Durant. Chances are his reports back to the GM will carry weight — and bode well for LeVert, Chiozza and Crawford.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--University of Louisville soccer players kicked off team over coronavirus party

Three University of Louisville men ’ s soccer players were reportedly booted off the team and three others were suspended on Thursday for throwing an off-campus party that led to an outbreak of 29 coronavirus cases .
“ I ’ m extremely disappointed in these young men and particularly with the three that have been dismissed , ” Louisville men ’ s soccer coach John Michael Hayden said in a Thursday statement .
The 29 infected as a result of last Saturday ’ s bash are all athletes who play for either the men ’ s or women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the field hockey team , the Louisville Courier Journal reported .
Preseason practice and workouts for all four teams have been postponed due to the outbreak , and all the infected players are under quarantine , the report said .
By hosting the party , the players violated Kentucky ’ s coronavirus-related social distancing guideline of limiting private gatherings to no more than 10 people .
“ That limit was ignored , ” said the university ’ s athletic director , Vince Tyra , according to the Louisville Courier Journal .
“ By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the number of positive results there was more than 10 .
So they didn ’ t follow those state guidelines at all , ” said Tyra .
Thursday ’ s disciplinary actions are believed to be the university ’ s first case of punishing students for violating coronavirus protocols .

Three University of Louisville men’s soccer players were reportedly booted off the team and three others were suspended on Thursday for throwing an off-campus party that led to an outbreak of 29 coronavirus cases.
“I’m extremely disappointed in these young men and particularly with the three that have been dismissed,” Louisville men’s soccer coach John Michael Hayden said in a Thursday statement.
The 29 infected as a result of last Saturday’s bash are all athletes who play for either the men’s or women’s soccer teams, the volleyball team or the field hockey team, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
Preseason practice and workouts for all four teams have been postponed due to the outbreak, and all the infected players are under quarantine, the report said.
By hosting the party, the players violated Kentucky’s coronavirus-related social distancing guideline of limiting private gatherings to no more than 10 people.
“That limit was ignored,” said the university’s athletic director, Vince Tyra, according to the Louisville Courier Journal.
“By the contact tracing you can see by the number of positive results there was more than 10. So they didn’t follow those state guidelines at all,” said Tyra.
Thursday’s disciplinary actions are believed to be the university’s first case of punishing students for violating coronavirus protocols.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--‘Today’ show’s third hour takes hit during NBC layoffs

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) The “ Today ” show @ @ @ @ @ a direct hit amid widespread NBC layoffs , Page Six is told .
Following the @ @ @ @ @ , who took a buyout , remaining staff are reporting to Libby Leist , the @ @ @ @ @ two hours of “ Today.
” Almost 10 percent of NBCUniversal employees have been axed @ @ @ @ @ has also axed “ E !
News ” — currently hosted by Lilliana Vazquez — @ @ @ @ @ air .

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The “Today” show’s third hour took a direct hit amid widespread NBC layoffs, Page Six is told.
Following the exit of producer Jackie Levin, who took a buyout, remaining staff are reporting to Libby Leist, the executive producer of the first two hours of “Today.” Almost 10 percent of NBCUniversal employees have been axed.
Meanwhile, the company has also axed “E! News” — currently hosted by Lilliana Vazquez — after 29 years on the air.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Senate bans federal employees from using TikTok on government devices

The National Security Agency is urging US military and intelligence ...

The US Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill banning federal employees from using the social media app TikTok on government-issued devices.
Authorities have raised security concerns about the video-sharing platform because it’s owned by the Chinese-based company ByteDance. The vote follows a vow from President Trump to shut down the app entirely in the US by Sept. 15 unless it sells its US operations to Microsoft or another US-based company.
“I’m encouraged by the bipartisan support we have seen in this body to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable and that includes…holding accountable those corporations who would just do China’s bidding,” Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who sponsored the bill, said in a statement.
The Senate bill follows a vote in the House last month approving similar legislation from Rep. Ken Buck (R-Co.) that bans federal employees from downloading the app on government-issued devices.
A final version combining the two bills will move to Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
“We support Congress’ intent to protect government-issued devices against the privacy and security risks inherent in certain third-party applications,” a White House official said when asked if Trump would support the bill.
A TikTok spokeswoman said promoting a safe app experience that protects users’ privacy is the company’s top priority. ByteDance has said it has never provided TikTok user data to the Chinese government and wouldn’t do so if officials ask.
A growing number of countries have begun considering or implementing bans on the app, over its Beijing-based operations, including India, Australia and Japan.
ByteDance CEO Zhang Yiming told employees in a leaked email Monday that he considers a forced sale to be “unreasonable” and said the US is ultimately pursuing a ban.
“But this is not their goal, or even what they want,” he wrote. “Their real objective is to achieve a comprehensive ban.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Daniel Jones is attacking steep Giants learning curve

New Giants coach Joe Judge , who is entering his first ...

A second-year quarterback entering his first season as the Day 1 starter. A brand new offense to learn. A brand new head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach to get to know. No on-field work as a team in the spring. A slow ramp-up of practice time in the summer. The most restrictive training camp the NFL has ever seen. Not a single preseason game to test what you mastered, what you need to work on.
The word that comes to mind to describe the lot in life Daniel Jones finds himself in with the Giants is “unfavorable.’’
These COVID-19-related impediments create so many potential pitfalls for the bulked-up 23-year-old that it is understandable if he feels at least a bit disadvantaged when compared with more experienced quarterbacks around the NFL returning to a familiar staff and offense.
Nope. Jones isn’t buying it.
“I don’t think so,’’ Jones said Thursday. “It’s on me to learn the system as quick as I can, as effectively as I can, and use the time we have, use the practice we have to do that, and come in prepared and ready to go.’’
This comment might as well have been scripted by Joe Judge, who thus far has assembled a “no excuses’’ zone around himself, banning any bemoaning about the unprecedented pandemic adjustments required from a first-year head coach.
There is no doubt Jones’ professional life is about as unsettled as it can be. He was able to get on the field for some throwing sessions with his top targets this offseason in Austin, Texas, but those unscripted workouts do not take the place of 10 regimented organized team activities. Jones is navigating his way about the unfamiliar hallways and makeshift meeting rooms at MetLife Stadium as he tries to flatten the learning curve to get himself ready for the scheduled Sept. 14 season opener.
“Obviously no one’s playing preseason, we’re all operating under the same rules, under the same outline as far as practice and then on into the season,’’ Jones said. “All we can do is prepare as well as we can in the time we have and make sure we’re getting the most of every single day.’’
Sure, it is a plus he is familiar with his top receivers, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton, as well as running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Evan Engram.
But there are so many minuses.
Rather than a gradual bonding with Jason Garrett, the former Cowboys head coach hired by Judge as the Giants’ offensive coordinator, Jones has to engage in a sort of distance-dating football courtship, extracting what he can when he can.
“I’ve enjoyed learning from him so far,’’ Jones said of Garrett. “He’s extremely detailed in his teaching and what he expects on the field, that’s probably what’s stood out the most.’’
Judge is not into offering free passes, but he also realizes he cannot evaluate Jones as he would a veteran operating under normal circumstances.
“If it was somebody’s second year in the offense, you would want to see their command of the offense on the field,’’ Judge said. “For Daniel, we have to be fair. It’s a new offense, a new system we have schemed for him. He’s had a limited amount of walk-throughs of actually being on the field to do this. At this point, I am just looking to see his progress day by day and not looking to compare him to where he was last year.’’
Where Jones was last year, from a physical standpoint, is not where he is this year. Jones as a rookie played at 220 pounds. As The Post reported in late June, Jones wanted to add strength and size to his body and used the coronavirus lockdown back home in Charlotte, N.C., to add to his frame.
Jones, who is 6-foot-5, said he is now 228-229 pounds,
“I feel good, feel like I’m as strong as I’ve been,’’ Jones said. “I wanted to get stronger, wanted to gain some weight, and I think for what it does to every part of my game, standing in the pocket, running when I need to, obviously throwing the ball as efficiently as I can, using my strength, my lower body, each piece of that was part of the goal this offseason in my training.’’
Jones succeeded in getting bigger. Getting better, with all thrown at him this fractured offseason, is the greater challenge.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Open the schools — or kiss the economy goodbye

If the city ’ s children are to get an education this ...

In June, America was united, briefly, on the need to reopen schools. Other countries had managed to do so successfully, and evidence suggested children are at low risk from severe COVID-19 complications. But that was before President Trump tweeted his support for reopening. Soon, states that previously dodged the coronavirus experienced major outbreaks, and the conversation divided along party lines.
Today, school officials, teachers and pundits question if schools should reopen this fall — or at all — if the pandemic continues. There is no reason to cancel school, however, especially considering the steep economic costs.
Health experts suggest delaying school reopenings in hard-hit areas until the virus is under control — with luck, by early fall. They encourage states with low infection rates to open on time. So far there is no correlation between school openings and infection levels.
Despite high infection rates, Florida plans to reopen public schools in the next few weeks, while Gotham, which now has among the lowest rates in the country, will apparently proceed with its plan for children to attend school perhaps on a staggered basis. Chicago schools, meanwhile, won’t open until November, at least.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has stressed that reopening is critical for children’s emotional and educational development. There is also an overwhelming economic case to be made in favor of reopening. To wit, the cost of not reopening schools will last a generation.
Education is the most effective means of economic mobility and is critical for long-term success. It explains much of America’s income growth and development in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, schools provide important child-care services. As Goldman Sachs found, if schools don’t open, an estimated 15 percent of our labor force can’t return to work.
Economists reviewed the loss of earnings from school disruptions during World War II in Austria and Germany. They found that missing a year of school means 9.4 percent to 16.2 percent lower earnings for up to 40 years, with bigger losses for children with less-educated parents. More recent estimates from 139 countries indicate a year of schooling increases earnings by 9 percent. Even brief school closures, such as the 1916 polio pandemic, lowered levels of educational attainment.
The costs won’t be suffered uniformly. Online schooling is better than no school, but it’s hardly an improvement for many students. As in wartime Germany and Austria, better-educated parents can make up the difference, by helping their children with online education and adding more homeschooling.
Some parents will hire tutors, create learning pods, move to communities that offer in-person education or find private schools that reopen. Children from low-income households, however, won’t have these options.
Rather than press for reopening to help the underprivileged, progressives are demanding that affluent parents forgo educating their children, in an act of class solidarity.
Then there’s the impact on communities and cohesion. Public schools bring children of different economic backgrounds together. Time away from these schools is associated with more crime and drug use.
In recent decades, moreover, decent schools and safety were reasons why many upper- and middle-class families stayed in cities. Their presence catalyzed the modern urban renaissance. In their absence, cities revert to retaining the very rich, the very poor and a handful of childless 20-somethings — in other words, communities with limited interaction.
If cities like New York fail to offer decent in-person schooling options for the next year, many middle- and upper-middle-class families will go elsewhere — and once they enroll their children in suburban schools, it’s unlikely they’ll return.
Considering what’s at stake, it’s inexcusable that cities like New York wasted time instead of deploying every possible resource to open schools in a meaningful way. It could prove the biggest policy failure of Mayor de Blasio’s administration — one that will take years for the Big Apple to overcome.
It’s true that while COVID-19 may not pose a risk to children, some evidence suggests they can spread it, especially to vulnerable teachers and staff. Yet as European and Asian countries show, this risk can be mitigated without shutting schools down.
It may take two years or longer before America is completely safe from COVID-19. Each crisis, though, tends to ratchet up standards for safety. Keep-schools-closed advocates claim we can’t open until it’s safe. What “safe” means varies. But a typical flu season kills more children than COVID-19 has so far. By current standards of safety, school closures will become the permanent norm.
Allison Schrager is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Adapted from City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Nancy Pelosi’s ill-advised boost for Big Pot

Cannabis company stocks are skyrocketing as investors are high on ...

When asked recently how a legislative measure allowing the marijuana industry access to banking was germane to our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nancy Pelosi said that weed is “a therapy that has been proven successful.”
Come again? The House speaker’s claims were dangerous and flat-out incorrect.
As a former Obama administration drug-policy appointee, I was stung by her words. A host of reputable organizations, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Lung Association, have concluded that marijuana users are among the groups of people more likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIDA, stated in a blog post that “because it attacks the lungs, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 could be an especially serious threat to those who smoke tobacco or marijuana or who vape.”
Early on in the pandemic, viral memes made the rounds claiming that marijuana was a cure for COVID-19. Former NFL player-turned-pot-profiteer Kyle Turley has repeated this claim all over Twitter as he promotes his new line of cannabinoid and pot shop in Las Vegas.
In response, the Food and Drug Administration has been working overtime sending warning letters to Turley and other pot peddlers making false claims about marijuana’s efficacy as a coronavirus cure. A quick glance at the data shows why.
Marijuana smoke is known to damage lungs and has been found to contain many of the same harmful components as tobacco smoke. Evidence also suggests that it leads to the development of chronic bronchitis. Plus, marijuana use can potentially increase the risk of infections such as pneumonia, a common illness found in severe, often-fatal COVID-19 infections.
“OK, just eat edibles,” Big Pot’s cheerleaders retort. Not so fast.
Research has shown that THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, is an immunosuppressant. When it comes to fighting viral infections like the novel coronavirus, your immune system creates proteins that work to destroy the virus. THC inhibits the body’s ability to create these proteins, rendering it more susceptible to infection. This can result in more severe symptoms or a rougher recovery.
Marijuana is associated with a wide array of other harms. Before they encourage pot use and boost the industry that profits from it, lawmakers might consider the increased risk of severe mental issues such as schizophrenia, psychosis, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Those 1980s anti-drug ads may have been a tad overwrought, but a large and growing body of scientific evidence suggests they weren’t wide of the mark.
Let’s be honest: Pelosi’s weed provision had little to do with Americans’ health — and everything to do with pot shops getting access to the federal financial system. Big Pot has suggested that the lack of banking capabilities makes the industry a “cash-only” operation vulnerable to crime.
Nonsense. In reality, law enforcers have testified that most robberies of marijuana storefronts were aimed at procuring large amounts of the marijuana products for resale on the thriving black markets — not cash stowed away in heavy-duty safes.
Furthermore, undercover video from top pot shops in Denver shows many of these establishments accept card payment through workarounds.
Instead of working to grant the marijuana industry access to the banking system and blindly parroting industry rhetoric that has warranted repeated warnings from the FDA, our leaders on Capitol Hill must focus on mitigating the fallout of this pandemic.
The push for pot normalization is nothing more than an attempt to open up the marijuana industry to major investment firms, hedge funds, pension funds and established corporations, such as Big Tobacco. As former House Speaker and pot champion John Boehner says, such firms are keen to dive “headfirst into cannabis.”
Who would have thought boosting Big Pot would unite Boehner with his Democratic successor, Pelosi? They’re both wrong.
Kevin Sabet is a former three-time White House senior drug-policy adviser, serving the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations. He serves as president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Kamala Harris typifies the Democrats’ love for dictatorial control

Last year , Kamala Harris may have become the first presidential candidate in history to laugh derisively at the idea that the Constitution limits what a president can do .
When Joe Biden said that her plan for gun control by executive fiat didn ’ t pass constitutional muster , she scoffed and deployed one of her canned one-liners : “ I would just say , ‘ Hey , Joe , instead of saying , ‘ No , we can ’ t , ’ let ’ s say , ‘ yes we can !
’ ” Yes , we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that new laws be passed by Congress .
Harris was one of the Democratic field ’ s great enthusiasts for unilateral rule and paid no price whatsoever for it in the campaign .
Her presidential bid stalled out for her lack of a message and authenticity , not for her lack of constitutional scruple .
In fact , her rejoinder to Biden in the debate got applause , and if the reporting is to be believed , she now is a finalist to join the Biden ticket .
If Democrats haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overweening presidency during the Trump years , they never will .
President Trump ’ s bark has been worse than his bite , but even floating the idea of delaying the election or signing sweeping executive orders on immigration and health care as a substitute for congressional action is bad enough .
He ’ s actually circumvented Congress in other ways , most dubiously by redirecting military funding to the border wall and also with his series of “ acting ” appointments not requiring Senate confirmation .
Democrats have condemned all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the harshest possible terms .
They have reacted to it by inventing the wildest scenarios of Trump perfidy and eagerly buying up a steady diet of books warning of Trump ’ s incipient fascism ( “ Fascism : A Warning , ” “ On Tyranny , ” “ How Fascism Works ” ) .
They have done everything , it seems , except re-evaluate their own predilection for governance by presidential and administrative decree .
Harris proved it during her failed run .
Her gun-control plan would have , among other things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dating partners convicted of domestic violence from buying firearms and mandated “ near-universal background checks.
” Whatever you think of these measures , they would have lacked any possible basis in law .
The Des Moines Register ran a headline about a speech in Iowa she gave touting her plan — “ Kamala Harris : Congress Would Get 100 Days to Act on Guns Before She Would Issue Executive Order.
” Thanks , Kamala , for the consideration .
Giving Congress a little more than three months to do what you want before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statesman-like and generous .
In a tweet , she boasted , “ Some will say my plan to combat gun violence is ‘ too bold.
’ ” Actually , what discerning people said is that it is “ too illegal.
” Her approach to immigration was the same .
She wanted to enact an enormous amnesty and give so-called Dreamers a path to citizenship by rewriting immigration laws on her own , building on President Barack Obama ’ s immigration policy through ukase .
She also promised to move on prescription-drug pricing by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her plan .
The sense of Congress as an accessory — nice to have , but not strictly speaking necessary — suffused her program .
This should be one of the foremost things people know about her but has barely caused a ripple .
Democrats and the press are never particularly exercised by executive overreach , so long as it ’ s in what they consider a good cause .
Of course , Biden might not pick Harris .
Even if he does , she will play second fiddle on the ticket and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one who brought up the constitutional problem with her gun plan .
But her attitude toward executive power is characteristic of the progressive mind .
Whatever constitutional punctiliousness the left has developed in response to Trump will be hastily abandoned as soon as it ’ s an obstacle to anything significant that liberals want to do .

Last year, Kamala Harris may have become the first presidential candidate in history to laugh derisively at the idea that the Constitution limits what a president can do.
When Joe Biden said that her plan for gun control by executive fiat didn’t pass constitutional muster, she scoffed and deployed one of her canned one-liners: “I would just say, ‘Hey, Joe, instead of saying, ‘No, we can’t,’ let’s say, ‘yes we can!’ ”
Yes, we can — flippantly blow by the constitutional requirement that new laws be passed by Congress.
Harris was one of the Democratic field’s great enthusiasts for unilateral rule and paid no price whatsoever for it in the campaign. Her presidential bid stalled out for her lack of a message and authenticity, not for her lack of constitutional scruple. In fact, her rejoinder to Biden in the debate got applause, and if the reporting is to be believed, she now is a finalist to join the Biden ticket.
If Democrats haven’t been scared straight about the perils of the overweening presidency during the Trump years, they never will. President Trump’s bark has been worse than his bite, but even floating the idea of delaying the election or signing sweeping executive orders on immigration and health care as a substitute for congressional action is bad enough.
He’s actually circumvented Congress in other ways, most dubiously by redirecting military funding to the border wall and also with his series of “acting” appointments not requiring Senate confirmation.
Democrats have condemned all of this. They have characterized it in the harshest possible terms. They have reacted to it by inventing the wildest scenarios of Trump perfidy and eagerly buying up a steady diet of books warning of Trump’s incipient fascism (“Fascism: A Warning,” “On Tyranny,” “How Fascism Works”). They have done everything, it seems, except re-evaluate their own predilection for governance by presidential and administrative decree.
Harris proved it during her failed run. Her gun-control plan would have, among other things, closed the so-called boyfriend loophole to keep dating partners convicted of domestic violence from buying firearms and mandated “near-universal background checks.” Whatever you think of these measures, they would have lacked any possible basis in law.
The Des Moines Register ran a headline about a speech in Iowa she gave touting her plan — “Kamala Harris: Congress Would Get 100 Days to Act on Guns Before She Would Issue Executive Order.”
Thanks, Kamala, for the consideration. Giving Congress a little more than three months to do what you want before going ahead and doing it anyway is statesman-like and generous.
In a tweet, she boasted, “Some will say my plan to combat gun violence is ‘too bold.’ ” Actually, what discerning people said is that it is “too illegal.”
Her approach to immigration was the same. She wanted to enact an enormous amnesty and give so-called Dreamers a path to citizenship by rewriting immigration laws on her own, building on President Barack Obama’s immigration policy through ukase.
She also promised to move on prescription-drug pricing by herself if Congress didn’t pass her plan.
The sense of Congress as an accessory — nice to have, but not strictly speaking necessary — suffused her program. This should be one of the foremost things people know about her but has barely caused a ripple. Democrats and the press are never particularly exercised by executive overreach, so long as it’s in what they consider a good cause.
Of course, Biden might not pick Harris. Even if he does, she will play second fiddle on the ticket and he, to his credit, was the one who brought up the constitutional problem with her gun plan. But her attitude toward executive power is characteristic of the progressive mind. Whatever constitutional punctiliousness the left has developed in response to Trump will be hastily abandoned as soon as it’s an obstacle to anything significant that liberals want to do.
Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Tom Brady discusses challenges he’s facing with Buccaneers

New England Patriots legend Tom Brady is slowly navigating his way through the obstacles that come with joining a new team .
“ It ’ s been different having the opportunity with this time to move and for example study my playbook , ” Brady said during a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday .
“ I mean , I really haven ’ t had to do that in 19 years .
You forget , ‘ Man , that is really tough.
’ Like all the different terminologies and you ’ re going back a very long time in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in like I did.
” The 43-year-old quarterback — who signed a two-year , $ 50 million contract this offseason — is making the move , after spending 20 years in New England , along with trusty tight end Rob Gronkowski .
A week after Brady ’ s departure , Gronkowski followed his former Patriots teammate to Tampa Bay , as the New England traded him to the Bucs for a fourth-round draft pick .
While the dynamic Brady-Gronkowski duo may be together again , Brady faces the intense mental challenge that comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team for the first time .
His other teammates are also getting accustomed to him .
Brady is scheduled to make his Buccaneers debut against the Falcons on Sept. 13 .
“ I am glad we ’ re not playing a game this Sunday , ” Brady said .
“ I am glad that we have time to prepare .
It ’ s been a good week or so being in here and I think every day I am trying to take advantage of the opportunity to improve myself so that I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this team really deserves .
These guys are working really hard and I want to come in here and do a great job for them .
”

New England Patriots legend Tom Brady is slowly navigating his way through the obstacles that come with joining a new team.
“It’s been different having the opportunity with this time to move and for example study my playbook,” Brady said during a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday. “I mean, I really haven’t had to do that in 19 years. You forget, ‘Man, that is really tough.’ Like all the different terminologies and you’re going back a very long time in my career to really put the mental energy in like I did.”
The 43-year-old quarterback — who signed a two-year, $50 million contract this offseason — is making the move, after spending 20 years in New England, along with trusty tight end Rob Gronkowski. A week after Brady’s departure, Gronkowski followed his former Patriots teammate to Tampa Bay, as the New England traded him to the Bucs for a fourth-round draft pick.
While the dynamic Brady-Gronkowski duo may be together again, Brady faces the intense mental challenge that comes with preparing to play for a new team for the first time. His other teammates are also getting accustomed to him. Brady is scheduled to make his Buccaneers debut against the Falcons on Sept. 13.
“I am glad we’re not playing a game this Sunday,” Brady said. “I am glad that we have time to prepare. It’s been a good week or so being in here and I think every day I am trying to take advantage of the opportunity to improve myself so that I can be the best quarterback for this team that this team really deserves. These guys are working really hard and I want to come in here and do a great job for them.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--If de Blasio can’t even lie about the crime wave right, how’s he going to end it?

When it comes to explaining New York ’ s crime spike , Mayor Bill de Blasio can ’ t even keep his excuses straight .
So why should anyone think he ’ ll be able to do anything to curb the violence ?
This week , Hizzoner tried to claim that he hadn ’ t blamed New York City ’ s out-of-control violence on the courts being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — a patently pathetic ( and false ) cop-out .
“ I never blamed them , ” he said during his daily press briefing .
Sorry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy and Lia Eustachewich were able to cite several instances where Hizzoner did , in fact , link the crime wave to limited-capacity courts .
On July 20 , he said : “ An important piece of this equation is [ that ] the criminal-justice system is not functioning the way it normally does .
That is just a factual statement.
” On July 17 , he pleaded with the Office of Court Administration to fully open the courts .
On July 6 , following the July 4 weekend crime explosion , de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not working , the economy ’ s not working , people have been pent up for months and months — so many issues underlying this challenge.
” Meanwhile , the violence rages on .
On Thursday , a 21-year-old died in a drive-by shooting in Queens ; his 19-year-old pal was shot in the arm .
That followed a spate of shootings over the preceding 24 hours .
Over July , the city suffered through 244 gunfire incidents , a 177 percent jump over the 88 it saw during July last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leapt 59 percent over July 2019 .
De Blasio ’ s flip-flop on his blame-the-courts mantra — and his failure to even acknowledge it — is strong evidence he ’ s covering up for the real factors fueling the violence : namely , the “ perfect storm ” of officials refusing to arrest , charge , jail ( and keep locked up ) those who commit crimes .
Over the years , pols rammed through a rash of anti-cop , pro-criminal “ reforms ” — with de Blasio leading the way .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t even acknowledge their mistakes , don ’ t expect them to fix them .

When it comes to explaining New York’s crime spike, Mayor Bill de Blasio can’t even keep his excuses straight. So why should anyone think he’ll be able to do anything to curb the violence?
This week, Hizzoner tried to claim that he hadn’t blamed New York City’s out-of-control violence on the courts being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — a patently pathetic (and false) cop-out.
“I never blamed them,” he said during his daily press briefing.
Sorry, but Post reporters Julia Marsh, Craig McCarthy and Lia Eustachewich were able to cite several instances where Hizzoner did, in fact, link the crime wave to limited-capacity courts.
On July 20, he said: “An important piece of this equation is [that] the criminal-justice system is not functioning the way it normally does. That is just a factual statement.”
On July 17, he pleaded with the Office of Court Administration to fully open the courts.
On July 6, following the July 4 weekend crime explosion, de Blasio insisted “the court system’s not working, the economy’s not working, people have been pent up for months and months — so many issues underlying this challenge.”
Meanwhile, the violence rages on. On Thursday, a 21-year-old died in a drive-by shooting in Queens; his 19-year-old pal was shot in the arm. That followed a spate of shootings over the preceding 24 hours.
Over July, the city suffered through 244 gunfire incidents, a 177 percent jump over the 88 it saw during July last year, according to NYPD data. Murders leapt 59 percent over July 2019.
De Blasio’s flip-flop on his blame-the-courts mantra — and his failure to even acknowledge it — is strong evidence he’s covering up for the real factors fueling the violence: namely, the “perfect storm” of officials refusing to arrest, charge, jail (and keep locked up) those who commit crimes.
Over the years, pols rammed through a rash of anti-cop, pro-criminal “reforms” — with de Blasio leading the way. If he and his fellow pols won’t even acknowledge their mistakes, don’t expect them to fix them.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Ohio professor says he’s being ‘censored’ over class about Marxism

A professor at a public college in Ohio claims he ’ s being censored because the administration will only let him teach a class critical of Marxism to honor students , according to reports .
“ I have proposed several electives .
All have been approved , not going against the sacred beliefs of the radical wing of our department.
” His course , “ Marxism : A History of Theory and Practice ” will only be available to honors students , despite Osborne ’ s request that it be open to all students on the Dayton campus .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can take it , ” Osborne told Fox News .
“ The biggest damage is being done to students in business , in the college of economics .
Most of them are not honors students … They deserve to hear.
” He said he was barred from teaching the class to the general student population because of complaints from other faculty .
“ We have an angry , radical-left cohort in the department , they praise Marxism in the classroom , ” he told The College Fix , a conservative news website focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his predicament .
“ They will not let me teach critically about it , ” Osborne told the website .
Wright State didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post .

A professor at a public college in Ohio claims he’s being censored because the administration will only let him teach a class critical of Marxism to honor students, according to reports.
“Clearly, it’s all just censorship,” Wright State economics professor Evan Osborne told Fox News.
“I have proposed several electives. All have been approved, not going against the sacred beliefs of the radical wing of our department.”
His course, “Marxism: A History of Theory and Practice” will only be available to honors students, despite Osborne’s request that it be open to all students on the Dayton campus.
“The honors class … sharply limits who can take it,” Osborne told Fox News. “The biggest damage is being done to students in business, in the college of economics. Most of them are not honors students … They deserve to hear.”
He said he was barred from teaching the class to the general student population because of complaints from other faculty.
“We have an angry, radical-left cohort in the department, they praise Marxism in the classroom,” he told The College Fix, a conservative news website focused on higher education, which first reported on his predicament.
“They will not let me teach critically about it,” Osborne told the website.
Wright State didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--How To Watch Lakers Vs. Rockets Live Online

James Harden and Russell Westbrook look to lead the Houston Rockets to victory as the dynamic backcourt duo battle Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT .
The race for the fourth seed in the ( wild , wild ) Western Conference continues as the Rockets ( 42-25 ) try to rebound from their Tuesday night loss to the Trail Blazers .
Both the Utah Jazz ( 43-25 ) and Oklahoma City Thunder ( 42-25 ) were victorious on Wednesday , with Utah beating Memphis and OKC defeating the Lakers , so the Rockets need to string together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Houston ’ s odds of winning are greatly improved by the news that LeBron James will miss tonight ’ s game due to a sore right groin .
How can you watch the Rockets/Lakers game live on TNT ?
Here ’ s everything you need to know .
WHAT TIME DO THE ROCKETS AND LAKERS PLAY TONIGHT ?
Tonight ’ s matchup is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m .
ET on TNT .
HOW TO FIND A ROCKETS VS LAKERS LIVE STREAM : If you have a valid cable login , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game live via the TNT live stream on the TNT website or Watch TNT app .
Additional Lakers/Rockets live stream options below .
CAN I WATCH THE LAKERS-ROCKETS GAME LIVE ON HULU ?
Yes !
If you have a valid subscription to Hulu + Live TV , you can watch the Rockets/Lakers matchup live via the service ’ s TNT live stream .
DOES SLING TV OR YOUTUBE TV HAVE TNT ?
You bet .
You can also watch TNT live with an active subscription to YouTube TV , Sling TV , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TO WATCH TNT FOR FREE : Both YouTube TV and Sling TV offer a free trial for eligible subscribers .

James Harden and Russell Westbrook look to lead the Houston Rockets to victory as the dynamic backcourt duo battle Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT.
The race for the fourth seed in the (wild, wild) Western Conference continues as the Rockets (42-25) try to rebound from their Tuesday night loss to the Trail Blazers. Both the Utah Jazz (43-25) and Oklahoma City Thunder (42-25) were victorious on Wednesday, with Utah beating Memphis and OKC defeating the Lakers, so the Rockets need to string together some victories to avoid the sixth seed. Houston’s odds of winning are greatly improved by the news that LeBron James will miss tonight’s game due to a sore right groin.
How can you watch the Rockets/Lakers game live on TNT? Here’s everything you need to know.
WHAT TIME DO THE ROCKETS AND LAKERS PLAY TONIGHT?
Tonight’s matchup is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. ET on TNT.
HOW TO FIND A ROCKETS VS LAKERS LIVE STREAM:
If you have a valid cable login, you can watch tonight’s Rockets/Lakers game live via the TNT live stream on the TNT website or Watch TNT app. Additional Lakers/Rockets live stream options below.
CAN I WATCH THE LAKERS-ROCKETS GAME LIVE ON HULU?
Yes! If you have a valid subscription to Hulu + Live TV, you can watch the Rockets/Lakers matchup live via the service’s TNT live stream.
Hulu + Live TV offers a seven-day free trial for eligible subscribers.
DOES SLING TV OR YOUTUBE TV HAVE TNT?
You bet. You can also watch TNT live with an active subscription to YouTube TV, Sling TV, or AT&T TV NOW.
HOW TO WATCH TNT FOR FREE:
Both YouTube TV and Sling TV offer a free trial for eligible subscribers.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel with Jennifer Grey confirmed by Lionsgate CEO

Lionsgate is expanding two of its key franchises , with a fifth “ John Wick ” movie and “ Dirty Dancing ” reboot .
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed the moves on Thursday afternoon during the company ’ s conference call with Wall Street analysts following the studio ’ s release of quarterly earnings , which came in above estimates .
Lionsgate revealed in July that “ Dirty Dancing ” star Jennifer Grey was collaborating with the studio on an untitled dance movie in which she will star and executive produce .
But it refused to say if the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dirty Dancing.
” Feltheimer said during Thursday ’ s call that it was indeed a “ Dirty Dancing ” movie .
“ And to reveal one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood , we ’ re pleased to confirm that Jennifer Grey will both executive produce and star in a new ‘ Dirty Dancing ’ movie for Lionsgate from ‘ Warm Bodies ’ director Jonathan Levine , ” he said .
“ It will be exactly the kind of romantic , nostalgic movie that the franchise ’ s fans have been waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest-selling library title in the Company ’ s history.
” Lionsgate had announced last year that it had scheduled “ John Wick 4 ” for May 21 , 2021 , following a strong opening for “ John Wick : Chapter 3 – Parabellum.
” Feltheimer said the studio has moved “ John Wick 4 ” back a year and is planning to shoot it back to back with a fifth installment .
“ We ’ re also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our ‘ John Wick ’ action franchise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slated to hit theatres Memorial Day weekend 2022 , ” he said .
“ We hope to shoot both ‘ John Wick 4 ’ and ‘ 5 ’ back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year.
” Feltheimer also said Lionsgate has been moving to get back into production amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ With the appetite for fresh content at an all-time high and options for consumers dwindling due to the global shutdown , we made it a strategic priority to be one of the first major studios back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Over the past five months , we ’ ve put together a thoughtful strategy to restart production with protocols to best ensure the safety of cast and crew.
” “ We recently began production on the thriller/horror film ‘ The Devil ’ s Light ’ in Eastern Europe , and we ’ re gearing up physical production to begin shooting several other films over the next two months , including ‘ The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent ’ starring Nic Cage , ” he said .
“ These efforts put us in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market short on supply .
”

Lionsgate is expanding two of its key franchises, with a fifth “John Wick” movie and “Dirty Dancing” reboot.
Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed the moves on Thursday afternoon during the company’s conference call with Wall Street analysts following the studio’s release of quarterly earnings, which came in above estimates.
Lionsgate revealed in July that “Dirty Dancing” star Jennifer Grey was collaborating with the studio on an untitled dance movie in which she will star and executive produce. But it refused to say if the project was tied to the 1987 hit “Dirty Dancing.”
Feltheimer said during Thursday’s call that it was indeed a “Dirty Dancing” movie.
“And to reveal one of the worst kept secrets in Hollywood, we’re pleased to confirm that Jennifer Grey will both executive produce and star in a new ‘Dirty Dancing’ movie for Lionsgate from ‘Warm Bodies’ director Jonathan Levine,” he said. “It will be exactly the kind of romantic, nostalgic movie that the franchise’s fans have been waiting for and that have made it the biggest-selling library title in the Company’s history.”
Lionsgate had announced last year that it had scheduled “John Wick 4” for May 21, 2021, following a strong opening for “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.” Feltheimer said the studio has moved “John Wick 4” back a year and is planning to shoot it back to back with a fifth installment.
“We’re also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our ‘John Wick’ action franchise, with ‘John Wick 4’ slated to hit theatres Memorial Day weekend 2022,” he said. “We hope to shoot both ‘John Wick 4’ and ‘5’ back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year.”
Feltheimer also said Lionsgate has been moving to get back into production amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the appetite for fresh content at an all-time high and options for consumers dwindling due to the global shutdown, we made it a strategic priority to be one of the first major studios back into production,” he said. “Over the past five months, we’ve put together a thoughtful strategy to restart production with protocols to best ensure the safety of cast and crew.”
“We recently began production on the thriller/horror film ‘The Devil’s Light’ in Eastern Europe, and we’re gearing up physical production to begin shooting several other films over the next two months, including ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent’ starring Nic Cage,” he said. “These efforts put us in a strong position to capitalize on a market short on supply.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Rays’ Blake Snell: ‘It feels a lot better’ when we beat the Yankees

The Yankees are set to make their lone trip to Tropicana Field during this truncated season for a four-game series that starts Friday .
And according to Blake Snell , the Rays are ready for the first-place Yankees .
“ When we beat the Yankees , we party definitely harder after the game celebrating a good win , ’ ’ the 27-year-old left-hander said , according to the Tampa Bay Times .
With the Red Sox having punted on the season after trading Mookie Betts , the Orioles lacking talent and the Blue Jays without a home , the Yankees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle for AL East supremacy , though Tampa Bay has gotten off to a slow start in 2020 .
“ It ’ s tough to beat the Yankees , ’ ’ Snell said .
“ They ’ re talented .
They ’ re very good .
It ’ s an extremely hard team to beat .
With our talent , when we do that , I would definitely say it feels a lot better because we know they have the money to get the best guys in the world.
’ ’ Even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set to have an MLB-high team payroll of $ 109 million , according to Spotrac , while the Rays are set to come in at $ 28 million- ahead of only Pittsburgh and Baltimore .
Yet the Rays were once again considered postseason contenders- even before MLB expanded the playoffs for this season from 10 to 16 teams .
“ It ’ s in our DNA to be the David to take on the Goliaths , ” Rays president Matt Silverman told The Post ’ s Ken Davidoff last month , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have fared taking on two Goliaths , but that ’ s our lot in life , and we have embraced that challenge .
It makes it even more rewarding when we ’ ve reached the playoffs.
” Snell has clearly taken that message to heart .
“ Facing the Yankees , I ’ m way more locked in , ’ ’ said Snell , who is 2-1 with a 2.08 in five starts at Tropicana Field against the Yankees , but just 3-6 with a 4.41 ERA in 16 starts overall versus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way more focused because it ’ s such a talented team , ’ ’ Snell said .
“ I face them all the time .
There ’ s no better feeling than beating the Yankees .
Just strictly because of how good they are .
Their fans love to talk .
And when you beat them , it ’ s just , yeah , you know you did something good .
’ ’

The Yankees are set to make their lone trip to Tropicana Field during this truncated season for a four-game series that starts Friday. And according to Blake Snell, the Rays are ready for the first-place Yankees.
“When we beat the Yankees, we party definitely harder after the game celebrating a good win,’’ the 27-year-old left-hander said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
With the Red Sox having punted on the season after trading Mookie Betts, the Orioles lacking talent and the Blue Jays without a home, the Yankees and Rays figure to be in a battle for AL East supremacy, though Tampa Bay has gotten off to a slow start in 2020.
“It’s tough to beat the Yankees,’’ Snell said. “They’re talented. They’re very good. It’s an extremely hard team to beat. With our talent, when we do that, I would definitely say it feels a lot better because we know they have the money to get the best guys in the world.’’
Even in this 60-game season, the Yankees are set to have an MLB-high team payroll of $109 million, according to Spotrac, while the Rays are set to come in at $28 million- ahead of only Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
Yet the Rays were once again considered postseason contenders- even before MLB expanded the playoffs for this season from 10 to 16 teams.
“It’s in our DNA to be the David to take on the Goliaths,” Rays president Matt Silverman told The Post’s Ken Davidoff last month, “I’m not sure how well David would have fared taking on two Goliaths, but that’s our lot in life, and we have embraced that challenge. It makes it even more rewarding when we’ve reached the playoffs.”
Snell has clearly taken that message to heart.
“Facing the Yankees, I’m way more locked in,’’ said Snell, who is 2-1 with a 2.08 in five starts at Tropicana Field against the Yankees, but just 3-6 with a 4.41 ERA in 16 starts overall versus his nemesis.
“I’m way more focused because it’s such a talented team,’’ Snell said. “I face them all the time. There’s no better feeling than beating the Yankees. Just strictly because of how good they are. Their fans love to talk. And when you beat them, it’s just, yeah, you know you did something good.’’


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--The best fix for NY gov’t budgets: Juice the economy

US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Sunday bizarrely claimed that hungry ...

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is warning of major problems with the state and city budgets, the result of the same pain: a virus-plagued economy.
Which suggests the obvious top priority: boost the economy — at least much as possible during the pandemic.
DiNapoli’s report, out Tuesday, is blunt. The lockdowns cost Gotham more than 944,000 positions in March and April. Unemployment soared from 3.4 percent in February to 20.4 percent in June.
The weak economic activity under the lockdowns, in turn, sparked a massive dip in tax collections for the city — and the state, too, since its economy is largely driven by the city’s.
DiNapoli warns that it may take years to get back on track, but de Blasio’s budget — even with its projection of a $9.6 billion revenue loss over two years — takes a likely too-rosy view of the recovery, counting on “a strong rebound next year, with record job gains and strong growth in nonproperty tax collections (14.1 percent).”
It also “assumes $1 billion in recurring labor savings, but the city has yet to reach an agreement with the municipal unions.”
And it cuts funding for police overtime without making clear how it will manage that without harming public safety.
“The Office of the State Comptroller urges the City to prepare additional actions to balance the budget,” DiNapoli warns.
The best step to take, of course, is to get those tax collections back up, by allowing the economy to refire. Instead, de Blasio is intent on driving the economy further into the ground — and wealthy, already heavily taxed Gothamites out of town. After Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned this week against raising taxes on the rich, Hizzoner actually piped up to back the idea.
“I was troubled to hear this concept that because wealthy people have a set of concerns about the city that we should accommodate them,” he said. “That’s not how it works around here anymore.”
Hello? People with money spend it, spinning off revenues that can help shore up the city’s budget. Why not do what you can to keep those people here?
Meanwhile, the city’s supposedly in its final phase of reopening, yet neither de Blasio nor the governor will even give still-shuttered businesses (indoor restaurants, gyms, malls) any idea of when they can reopen. How’s that helping the economy?
DiNapoli also blasts the mayor for not keeping spending in line with reality, given the revenue loss.
Yes, COVID means restrictions. But officials should be moving mountains to do whatever they can to perk up the economy. Doing so won’t just help their bottom lines, but the Jane and Joe New Yorkers’ as well.


newyorkpost--2020-08-06--Judge rules Trump can’t postpone E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case

President Trump can ’ t postpone E. Jean Carroll ’ s defamation case against him by using an immunity defense , a judge ruled Thursday —citing a recent Supreme Court decision in a case to subpoena the president ’ s tax records .
Trump had asked a judge for a stay in the Elle magazine “ Ask E. Jean ” advice columnist ’ s case , while a similar defamation lawsuit is decided on appeal and while he is still in office .
But Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Verna Saunders denied the request in light of the high court ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not immune from Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance ’ s efforts to subpoena eight years of his tax records and financial statements .
“ While the Vance Court ’ s decision permits the issuance of a criminal subpoena to a sitting President , it ’ s analysis and conclusions address the same issues and questions raised by defendant in this action , ” Saunders ruling read .
In particular , one of those questions is , “ Whether the Supremacy Clause of the constitution bars a state court from exercising jurisdiction over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his term , ” Saunders said .
“ No , it does not.
” Saunders added that the Supreme Court decision can be applied to all state court lawsuits against the president , “ including those involving his or her unofficial/personal conduct.
” Carroll sued Trump in November claiming that he defamed her when he publicly denied her allegations that he raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman changing room around 1995 .
“ We are very gratified , ” Carroll ’ s lawyer , Roberta Kaplan said of Saunder ’ s decision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward with discovery so that we can prove that Donald Trump defamed E Jean Carroll when he lied about her in connection with her brave decision to tell the truth about the fact that Donald Trump had sexually assaulted her .
”

President Trump can’t postpone E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case against him by using an immunity defense, a judge ruled Thursday — citing a recent Supreme Court decision in a case to subpoena the president’s tax records.
Trump had asked a judge for a stay in the Elle magazine “Ask E. Jean” advice columnist’s case, while a similar defamation lawsuit is decided on appeal and while he is still in office.
But Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Verna Saunders denied the request in light of the high court’s ruling last month that Trump is not immune from Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance’s efforts to subpoena eight years of his tax records and financial statements.
“While the Vance Court’s decision permits the issuance of a criminal subpoena to a sitting President, its analysis and conclusions address the same issues and questions raised by defendant in this action,” Saunders’ ruling read.
In particular, one of those questions is, “Whether the Supremacy Clause of the constitution bars a state court from exercising jurisdiction over a sitting President of the United States during his term,” Saunders said. “No, it does not.”
Saunders added that the Supreme Court decision can be applied to all state court lawsuits against the president, “including those involving his or her unofficial/personal conduct.”
Carroll sued Trump in November, claiming that he defamed her when he publicly denied her allegations that he raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman changing room around 1995.
“We are very gratified,” Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, said of Saunders’ decision. “We are now eager to move forward with discovery so that we can prove that Donald Trump defamed E. Jean Carroll when he lied about her in connection with her brave decision to tell the truth about the fact that Donald Trump had sexually assaulted her.”
Lawyers for Trump didn’t immediately return a request for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-08-07--Watch Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s wild ‘WAP’ video with Kylie Jenner

At long last , Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have teamed up on a track , “ WAP , ” released Thursday night along with a steamy music video .
In a live YouTube conversation before dropping the new visual , the pair discussed the making of the clip , gave each other kudos and expressed some anxiety about it coming out .
Cardi , 27 , referenced criticisms she had seen levied against her on social media for taking time between releases .
The video , which Cardi described as being censored due to it having some “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty sensual .
In the new visual , Cardi and Megan , 25 , wander through a mansion , where lavish rooms are occupied by beautiful women , including some very recognizable cameos : Kylie Jenner , 22 , Normani , 24 , and Rosalía , 26 , to name a few .
In between , Cardi drops a verse in a leopard-printed room complete with an actual leopard , while Megan takes the vocal lead in a bathroom that includes white tigers .
“ I ’ m talking wap , wap , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chorus .
“ That ’ s some wet and gushy.
” Cardi B was one of several featured artists at April ’ s Virtual PlayOn Fest , one of the earliest virtual festivals during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The festival streamed an archival set from the rapper , along with over 65 other acts .
She also joined Senator Bernie Sanders for an Instagram Live discussion on coronavirus .
Last month , Megan Thee Stallion suffered gunshot wounds during an incident involving singer-rapper Tory Lanez , 28 .
She later detailed the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been shot in both feet and that she was the victim of “ a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me.
” “ It ’ s not funny , ” she continued referring to various online rumors that had cropped up in the wake of the incident .
“ There ’ s nothing to joke about .
There was nothing for y ’ all to start making fake stories about .
I didn ’ t put my hands on nobody .
I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @

At long last, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have teamed up on a track, “WAP,” released Thursday night along with a steamy music video. In a live YouTube conversation before dropping the new visual, the pair discussed the making of the clip, gave each other kudos and expressed some anxiety about it coming out. Cardi, 27, referenced criticisms she had seen levied against her on social media for taking time between releases. The video, which Cardi described as being censored due to it having some “nasty ass s–t,” is still plenty sensual.
In the new visual, Cardi and Megan, 25, wander through a mansion, where lavish rooms are occupied by beautiful women, including some very recognizable cameos: Kylie Jenner, 22, Normani, 24, and Rosalía, 26, to name a few. In between, Cardi drops a verse in a leopard-printed room complete with an actual leopard, while Megan takes the vocal lead in a bathroom that includes white tigers. “I’m talking wap, wap, wap,” they rap on the chorus. “That’s some wet and gushy.”
Cardi B was one of several featured artists at April’s Virtual PlayOn Fest, one of the earliest virtual festivals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival streamed an archival set from the rapper, along with over 65 other acts. She also joined Sen. Bernie Sanders for an Instagram Live discussion on coronavirus.
Last month, Megan Thee Stallion suffered gunshot wounds during an incident involving singer-rapper Tory Lanez, 28. She later detailed the incident on Instagram Live, explaining that she had been shot in both feet and that she was the victim of “a crime that was committed against me and done with the intention to physically harm me.”
Related Video Megan Thee Stallion's Instagram photos are ready for a ‘hot girl summer’
“It’s not funny,” she continued, referring to various online rumors that had cropped up in the wake of the incident. “There’s nothing to joke about. There was nothing for y’all to start making fake stories about. I didn’t put my hands on nobody. I didn’t deserve to get shot.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-07--Ex-con arrested after video showed him threatening NJ Costco employee

“ You were obviously having so much fun in this empty ...

A New Jersey ex-con caught on video berating a Costco cashier — calling the woman an “old hag” — has been arrested for making terroristic threats, police said.
William Gilbert Commauf, 48, of Barnegat, was taken into custody Wednesday by Stafford Township police after he was identified in video posted to social media showing the frightening July 29 encounter he had with an employee at a Costco in Manahawkin, police said in a statement.
“Shut up,” Commauf told the female cashier, video shows. “Shut up and ring up my stuff. Shut your mouth and ring up my stuff. Shut up — do your job.”
Commauf — whose actions gave another shopper “anxiety,” she said on one clip — then turned his ire toward the cashier’s husband.
“Where’s your husband?” Commauf said. “I’ll smack him around, you old hag. Ring up my s–t, you old hag.”
Commauf also threatened to “knock out” another person not seen on the clip, video shows.
“I’ll knock you out too, you little bitch,” he said.
Commauf, who was arrested on charges of terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct, was taken into custody Wednesday at the Ocean County Jail, police said.
He remained held without bond as of early Friday, jail records show.
Commauf has a long rap sheet dating back to the late 1990s, when he served time in prison in New York state for robbery and escape, the Asbury Park Press reports.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement A man caught on video berating a Costco cashier has been arrested. TikTok TikTok Advertisement William Commauf Ocean County Jail Advertisement
He also previously served time behind bars in Texas for felony theft and was convicted in North Carolina in 2004 for assaulting a woman three years earlier, a crime for which he received probation and a suspended sentence, the newspaper reports.
Commauf also has a criminal history in New Jersey, where he was convicted of shoplifting last year from a Hobby Lobby store in Holmdel. He was also convicted of shoplifting twice in Woodbridge in 2018, including one incident at a Hobby Lobby, the newspaper reports.


newyorkpost--2020-08-07--HBO’s ‘Lovecraft Country’ is a Thrilling Ode to Pulp Fiction

HBO ’ s Lovecraft Country tells you what it is from the jump .
We follow Atticus “ Tic ” Freeman ( Jonathan Majors ) as he traverses trenches under siege by men , monsters , and aliens .
It ’ s a visual dreamscape of pulp fiction favorites that culminates with none other than Dejah Thoris , Edgar Rice Burroughs ’ s titular Princess of Mars , coming to Tic ’ s side .
The dream ends abruptly , though .
Tic wakes up in the back of a segregated 1950s bus , book in hand , with cruel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lovecraft Country is a show as obsessed with the sometimes goofy hallmarks of genre fiction as it is with the true horrors of America ’ s past .
Sundown towns , slavery , sexual assault , and the genocide of colonization are all treated as monsters as terrifying as the Lovecraftian beasts that also stalk the show ’ s characters .
The fantastical elements are what make Lovecraft Country so damn fun , but the cold hard look at America ’ s racist past and present are what make it feel so urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Matt Ruff , Lovecraft Country takes its name from the nickname given to the area of New England horror writer H.P .
Lovecraft set most of his stories .
However , the HBO show pushes out this meaning to encompass all of the USA , particularly during the height of Jim Crow .
For all his contributions to pulp fiction and science fiction writing , Lovecraft is also remembered for his virulent racism .
With this in mind , Lovecraft Country sets the kind of thrilling and mind-bending tales Lovecraft was known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans already fighting the omnipresent monsters of racism .
Lovecraft Country follows Tic , a sweet science fiction-obsessed nerd , as he returns home to the South Side of Chicago after years serving in the U.S. military .
His father Montrose ( Michael K. Williams ) has gone missing and according to Tic ’ s beloved uncle , George ( Courtney B. Vance ) , was on the trail of Tic ’ s deceased mother ’ s family .
With this information in hand , Tic and George set off in their reliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a mysterious Massachusetts town in the heart of Lovecraft Country .
However , they ’ re not on the road alone .
Joining them is Letitia ( Jurnee Smollett ) , a childhood friend of Tic ’ s who has definitely noticed that Tic isn ’ t a scrawny boy in glasses anymore .
While Leti ostensibly needs a ride to her brother ’ s farm , she soon becomes a key part of this intrepid team journeying cross-country with the help of the Green Book George himself wrote .
Along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vindictive racists , a terrifying sheriff , and eventually , yes , monsters .
And that ’ s just the first episode .
Lovecraft Country ‘ s biggest storytelling twist is that it ’ s an unconventional series .
Each episode feels like its own unique pulp fiction tale .
The cast remains the same , but the tone of each episode is totally different .
After the straight forward premiere , we dabble in a scary haunted house story , an archaeological adventure in the mold of Indiana Jones , and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This conceit allows Tic , Leti , and their friends trade heroic roles all while pulling the audience along on a larger epic story about secret societies and dark magic .
Anchoring all this unconventional storytelling is an incredible ensemble of actors .
Fresh off a riveting supporting turn in Da 5 Bloods , Jonathan Majors plays Tic as a an all-American chivalric hero as eager to help carry an older woman ’ s luggage as he is to bound across a literal abyss to save his love interest .
Together Majors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal on screen in Lovecraft Country .
They are hot , separately and together .
Courtney B. Vance provides the moral anchor of the tale : his George is a kind-hearted man , as fond of books as he is his astronomer wife , Hippolyta ( Aunjanue L. Ellis ) .
Balancing his energy out is Michael K. Williams ’ s angry and tortured Montrose .
Together the two men represent the light and dark sides within Tic .
Other standouts in the cast include Wunmi Mosaku , who plays Leti ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the blue-blooded eerily white woman who seems to be toying with Tic ’ s fate at every turn .
Comic-Con @ Home Saturday Highlights : 'Lovecraft Country , ' 'Bill and Ted , ' and More Comic Con at Home Schedule : Every TV and Movie Panel , From 'New Mutants ' to 'The Walking Dead ' Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams Bring 'Lovecraft Country ' to HBO in First Trailer Lovecraft Country is not perfect .
It sometimes leans a little too hard into the conventions and clichés of genre storytelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Also since every episode mines a different pulp fiction motif , the overall plot can feel interrupted .
Key details are tossed out with a single establishing line of dialogue or just glossed over , which can give you a sense of whiplash .
While the show ’ s dual focus on genre storytelling and America ’ s racist legacy might lead you to think that Lovecraft Country is HBO ’ s natural followup to Watchmen , it reminded me much more of another show from the network : True Blood .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in supernatural lore , wild twists , and the raw sexual energy of its leads .
There ’ s even a character who looks like a dead ringer for young Alexander Skarsgard on that show .
Lovecraft Country is a pulpy treat : sexy , scary , and featuring a poignant examination of some of the true horrors in American society .
While it sometimes undercuts its own seriousness , that ’ s kind of the point .
Lovecraft Country is a love letter to the pulp fiction that H.P .
Lovecraft wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dread .

HBO’s Lovecraft Country tells you what it is from the jump. We follow Atticus “Tic” Freeman (Jonathan Majors) as he traverses trenches under siege by men, monsters, and aliens. It’s a visual dreamscape of pulp fiction favorites that culminates with none other than Dejah Thoris, Edgar Rice Burroughs’s titular Princess of Mars, coming to Tic’s side. The dream ends abruptly, though. Tic wakes up in the back of a segregated 1950s bus, book in hand, with cruel reality smacking him upside the head.
Lovecraft Country is a show as obsessed with the sometimes goofy hallmarks of genre fiction as it is with the true horrors of America’s past. Sundown towns, slavery, sexual assault, and the genocide of colonization are all treated as monsters as terrifying as the Lovecraftian beasts that also stalk the show’s characters. The fantastical elements are what make Lovecraft Country so damn fun, but the cold hard look at America’s racist past and present are what make it feel so urgent in 2020.
Based on the book by Matt Ruff, Lovecraft Country takes its name from the nickname given to the area of New England horror writer H.P. Lovecraft set most of his stories. However, the HBO show pushes out this meaning to encompass all of the USA, particularly during the height of Jim Crow. For all his contributions to pulp fiction and science fiction writing, Lovecraft is also remembered for his virulent racism. With this in mind, Lovecraft Country sets the kind of thrilling and mind-bending tales Lovecraft was known for through the eyes of the Black Americans already fighting the omnipresent monsters of racism.
Lovecraft Country follows Tic, a sweet science fiction-obsessed nerd, as he returns home to the South Side of Chicago after years serving in the U.S. military. His father Montrose (Michael K. Williams) has gone missing and according to Tic’s beloved uncle, George (Courtney B. Vance), was on the trail of Tic’s deceased mother’s family. With this information in hand, Tic and George set off in their reliable car, Woodie, on an adventure to a mysterious Massachusetts town in the heart of Lovecraft Country.
However, they’re not on the road alone. Joining them is Letitia (Jurnee Smollett), a childhood friend of Tic’s who has definitely noticed that Tic isn’t a scrawny boy in glasses anymore. While Leti ostensibly needs a ride to her brother’s farm, she soon becomes a key part of this intrepid team journeying cross-country with the help of the Green Book George himself wrote. Along the way, the trio are hunted by vindictive racists, a terrifying sheriff, and eventually, yes, monsters.
And that’s just the first episode. Lovecraft Country‘s biggest storytelling twist is that it’s an unconventional series. Each episode feels like its own unique pulp fiction tale. The cast remains the same, but the tone of each episode is totally different. After the straight forward premiere, we dabble in a scary haunted house story, an archaeological adventure in the mold of Indiana Jones, and, naturally, a twisted body horror tale. This conceit allows Tic, Leti, and their friends trade heroic roles all while pulling the audience along on a larger epic story about secret societies and dark magic.
Anchoring all this unconventional storytelling is an incredible ensemble of actors. Fresh off a riveting supporting turn in Da 5 Bloods, Jonathan Majors plays Tic as a an all-American chivalric hero as eager to help carry an older woman’s luggage as he is to bound across a literal abyss to save his love interest. Together Majors and Jurnee Smollett seem to reinvent sex appeal on screen in Lovecraft Country. They are hot, separately and together. Courtney B. Vance provides the moral anchor of the tale: his George is a kind-hearted man, as fond of books as he is his astronomer wife, Hippolyta (Aunjanue L. Ellis). Balancing his energy out is Michael K. Williams’s angry and tortured Montrose. Together the two men represent the light and dark sides within Tic. Other standouts in the cast include Wunmi Mosaku, who plays Leti’s ambitious sister Ruby, and Abbey Lee, the blue-blooded eerily white woman who seems to be toying with Tic’s fate at every turn.
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Lovecraft Country is not perfect. It sometimes leans a little too hard into the conventions and clichés of genre storytelling, leaving the show feeling hokey. Also since every episode mines a different pulp fiction motif, the overall plot can feel interrupted. Key details are tossed out with a single establishing line of dialogue or just glossed over, which can give you a sense of whiplash. While the show’s dual focus on genre storytelling and America’s racist legacy might lead you to think that Lovecraft Country is HBO’s natural followup to Watchmen, it reminded me much more of another show from the network: True Blood. Like that hit series, Lovecraft Country revels in supernatural lore, wild twists, and the raw sexual energy of its leads. There’s even a character who looks like a dead ringer for young Alexander Skarsgard on that show.
Lovecraft Country is a pulpy treat: sexy, scary, and featuring a poignant examination of some of the true horrors in American society. While it sometimes undercuts its own seriousness, that’s kind of the point. Lovecraft Country is a love letter to the pulp fiction that H.P. Lovecraft wrote: fun, ferocious, and full of dread.
Lovecraft Country premieres on HBO on Sunday, August 16.
Where to stream Lovecraft Country