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Editor’s note: This essay was first published on the author’s blog: Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks.

‘This body and this nation has [sic] a territories and a colonies problem.’ Those words from Del. Stacey Plaskett echoed in the House chamber this week as the delegate interrupted the election of the House speaker to demand voting rights for herself and the representatives of other non-states. The problem, however, is not with the House, but with Plaskett and other members in demanding the violation of Article I of the Constitution.

After her election in 2015, Plaskett has often shown a certain disregard for constitutional principles and protections. Despite being a lawyer, Plaskett has insisted in Congress that hate speech is not constitutionally protected, a demonstrably false assertion. Where there is overwhelming evidence of a censorship system that a court called ‘Orwellian,’ Plaskett has repeatedly denied the evidence presented before her committee.  When a journalist testified on the evidence of that censorship system, Plaskett suggested his possible arrest. (Plaskett suggested that respected journalist journalist Matt Taibbi had committed perjury due to an error that he made, not in testimony but in a tweet that he later corrected).

However, ignoring the free speech or free press values pales in comparison to what Plaskett was suggesting this week in nullifying critical language in Article I.

Article I, Section 2, states:

‘The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch in the States Legislature.’

The ability to vote in the House is expressly limited to the elected representatives of ‘the several states.’

Nevertheless, as the vote was being taken on the eventual election of Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.), Plaskett rose to demand recognition and to know why she was not allowed to vote:

‘I note that the names of representatives from American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia were not called, representing, collectively, 4 million Americans. Mr. Speaker, collectively, the largest per capita of veterans in this country.’

The language of the Constitution is clear and unambiguous. Absent an amendment to the Constitution, only states may vote on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

The presiding member asked a rather poignant question in response: ‘Does the gentlelady have a problem?’

The answer was decidedly ‘yes.’

Plaskett responded, ‘I asked why they were not called. I asked why they were not called from the parliamentarian, please.’

The response was obvious:

‘Delegates-elect and the resident commissioner-elect are not qualified to vote/ Representatives-elect are the only individuals qualified to vote in the election of the speaker. As provided in Section 36 of the House rules and manual, the speaker is elected by a majority of the members-elect voting by surname.’

Plaskett then declared, ‘This body and this nation has a territory and a colonies problem. What was supposed to be temporary has now, effectively, become permanent. We must do something about this.’

As Plaskett’s mic was cut off, she objected, ‘But I have a voice!’ as Democrats gave her a standing ovation. The media joined in the adoration, including The Atlantic magazine, which referred to her as ‘Congresswoman Plaskett’ rather than a delegate.

There is no question that the Virgin Islands have a high percentage of veterans for its population (which stands at only 104,000). It is also a cherished part of our country. But it is not a state.

Plaskett was demanding a floor vote for herself and delegates from American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C.

These delegates are currently allowed to vote only in committees. The House is permitted to grant such authority since these delegates are not actually voting on the final language or adoption of legislation.

What Democrats were supporting was to allow votes on the House floor, which would have collapsed the bright-line rule that has governed the body for decades. It would also have effectively removed the language referencing ‘states’ from Article I, Section 2, without a constitutional amendment.

This is why Plaskett’s ‘problem’ goes further than simply the selection of the Speaker.

The Democrats have long argued that delegates should be allowed to vote as full members, starting with the D.C. delegate. I have written previously on that issue in academic publications. See, e.g., Jonathan Turley, Too Clever By Half: The Partial Representation of the District of Columbia in the House of Representatives, 76 George Washington University Law Review 305-374 (2008). I also testified at the prior congressional hearings (here and here and here) and written columns (here and here) on why I considered the bill to be flagrantly unconstitutional.

It is neither pleasant nor popular to raise such constitutional objections. I received heat after one Senate hearing in which Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton told the senators that, if they were going to vote against this bill, ‘do not blame the Framers, blame Jonathan Turley.’ However, the problem has always been the curious constitutional status of these districts and territories.

The language of the Constitution is clear and unambiguous. Absent an amendment to the Constitution, only states may vote on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

The problem is not, as claimed by Del. Plaskett, with ‘colonies.’ The Virgin Islands is not a ‘colony.’ It can, at any time, move to become an independent nation. Otherwise, the American people would have to vote for this tiny island to be a state. Either way, citizens will choose the status of the island.

The Democrats giving Plaskett a standing ovation would have presumably added half a dozen new votes for non-states. The call would likely then be for the addition of some representation in the Senate. That would certainly give the Democrats control of the House, but it would allow a fluid definition of what constitutes a representative — a definition that could be manipulated in the future by the majority to maintain their control of the House.

The vote for speaker illustrates the problem. Short a couple of votes, the Democrats were demanding the recognition of new forms of representatives to elect Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Presumably, a future House could then remove the votes to achieve the same advantage. It could also recognize other territories to increase voting margins. (Notably, some liberal professors have also suggested dividing blue states to simply multiply Democratic votes in the Senate. That would be constitutional if it was allowed by Congress).

The call to create new forms of voting members on the House floor is consistent with the ad hoc measures in other areas. For example, despite opposition from the public, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and others have pushed to simply pack the Court with a majority of liberal justices to support their agenda.

The public’s opposition to court packing has not deterred the Democrats. In the same way, unable to secure a majority of citizens to support D.C. statehood, the Democrats previously sought to create a voting member without a constitutional amendment or change in status.

This week, they would have accomplished that result not just for Washington, but other non-states, including the Northern Mariana Islands, a commonwealth covering only 180 miles with a population of less than 50,000.

We have the oldest and most stable constitutional system in the world precisely because we have resisted improvisational or ad hoc measures to achieve political ends. The Constitution is a common article of faith that transcends our passing or petty divisions. These demands for constructive constitutional amendments are the voices of the faithless.

To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, ‘the fault dear [delegate] lies not in our [states] but in ourselves.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Add a Presidential Medal of Freedom to the list.

President Biden awarded Johnson and 18 other recipients the nation’s highest civilian honor on Saturday. ‘Thank you for all you’ve done to help this country,’ Biden said to the recipients during a ceremony at the White House.

When it came to dishing the medals, Biden needed an assist from Johnson, who just so happens to be a four-time NBA assists leader for the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-foot-9 Hall of Famer squatted down in front of Biden so the president could place the medal around his neck, a move that drew laughs from the crowd in the East Room.

Johnson flashed a thumbs up sign and the two embraced afterward.

Johnson was drafted out of Michigan State with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers, where he ushered in the era of ‘Showtime’ Lakers until he abruptly retired in 1991 after contracting HIV. ‘His honesty about his HIV status shattered stigmas and saved lives,’ the White House emcee announced on Saturday as Biden presented Johnson his medal. Johnson briefly played for the Lakers in 1996 before retiring for good.

He went on to become a successful entrepreneur and sports team owner. He’s in the ownership groups for MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the NFL’s Washington Commanders, Los Angeles FC in MLS and the NWSL’s Washington Spirit. His philanthropic work also supports underserved communities through his Magic Johnson Foundation.

Johnson, 65, said he was ‘so humbled and overwhelmed with emotion’ to be recognized.

‘Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that this kid from Lansing, MI would one day grow up and receive one of the highest civilian awards of the United States,’ Johnson, a 12-time All-Star, wrote on X. ‘To be in the company of so many remarkable individuals is both humbling and inspiring. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Biden for his leadership and for recognizing the contributions of so many who are working to make a difference in our nation, especially inner cities of America, and across the world.’

Johnson added: ‘This award is not just mine; it belongs to everyone who has helped me become the person and businessman I am today… It also belongs to everyone who has dedicated themselves to the causes of freedom, justice, and equality. I accept this honor with a deep sense of responsibility. It serves as a reminder of the work still ahead and the change we can all help bring about! I promise to keep working to make a positive difference for our country and the world.’

Johnson was among 19 recipients awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden, including Inter Miami soccer star Lionel Messi, former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton, U2 musician Bono, longtime Vogue editor-and-chief Anna Wintour and actors Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is presented to ‘individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors,’ according to the White House.

Messi was unable to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Biden on Saturday due to a scheduling issue.

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Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable.)

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here’s where things stand with Week 18 of the 2024 season under way:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (14-2), NFC North leaders: They couldn’t gain anything substantive with Monday night’s win at San Francisco aside from the resumption of the overall NFC lead. But the Lions can achieve everything they want from the regular season, including home-field advantage and the division title, by sweeping Minnesota at Ford Field in the final regular-season game of the league’s 2024 schedule Sunday night. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

y – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3), NFC East champions: They locked down the division crown in Week 17 and the NFC’s No. 2 seed. For now – with nothing to gain Sunday and key starters like RB Saquon Barkley resting – they need to get QB Jalen Hurts (concussion) healthy while awaiting their wild-card round opponent. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants

y – 3. Los Angeles Rams (10-6), NFC West champions: Like Philly, they wrapped up their division in Week 17 and just want to get through Week 18 intact before preparing for their playoff opener. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7), NFC South leaders: Their Week 17 rout of the Panthers moved them back into first place, and Atlanta’s overtime loss at Washington kept Tampa Bay there. Win their Week 18 game, and the Bucs earn a fourth consecutive division crown – and they’d also elevate to the third seed if the Rams lose Sunday. A loss combined with a Falcons win sends the Buccaneers down the playoff plank. Remaining schedule: vs. Saints

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (14-2), wild card No. 1: They’re one Week 18 win from wrapping up the division, home-field advantage and a first-round bye in the NFC. Who saw this coming? Remaining schedule: at Lions

x – 6. Washington Commanders (11-5), wild card No. 2: A thrilling overtime victory in Week 17’s Sunday night game against Atlanta launched them into the field … and maybe won QB Jayden Daniels the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Washington’s 8-3 record in NFC games is two better than Green Bay’s, so the Commanders will get the sixth seed if those teams wind up with the same record. Remaining schedule: at Cowboys

x – 7. Green Bay Packers (11-5), wild card No. 3: Getting swept by Detroit and (eventually) Minnesota relegated the Pack to wild-card status even before Week 17. Should be notable to see how hard they and the Commanders work to engineer a matchup with the No. 3 seed next week rather than facing a trip to Philadelphia. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), eliminated: Though they have a better record than the Falcons, whom the Seahawks beat earlier this season, Seattle has no path to the playoffs. Remaining schedule: at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-8), in the hunt: A gut-wrenching Week 17 loss to the Commanders means they need to beat Carolina in Week 18 and hope the Bucs also lose in order to win the NFC South. Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers

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AFC playoff picture

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), AFC West champions: By crushing Pittsburgh on Christmas, they secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye – and two-plus weeks off in actuality with many starters resting in what’s now a meaningless (for K.C., anyway) Week 18 contest at Denver. Remaining schedule: at Broncos Playoff schedule: BYE

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (13-3), AFC East champions: They’ve locked up the No. 2 seed, meaning the road to Super Bowl 59 could go through Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. Remaining schedule: at Patriots Playoff schedule: vs. Broncos or Dolphins or Bengals

y – 3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5), AFC North champions: Catching fire? Probably an understatement as they blazed their way to the division crown and No. 3 seed Saturday afternoon by smoking Cleveland. Playoff schedule: vs. Chargers or Steelers

y – 4. Houston Texans (9-7), AFC South champions: They rule a weak division for the second straight year and are cemented them as the fourth seed … which will likely mean a tough wild-card matchup, albeit in Houston. Remaining schedule: at Titans Playoff schedule: vs. Steelers or Chargers

x – 5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6), wild card No. 1: They moved up to the fifth seed courtesy of Pittsburgh’s loss and will secure the wild-card matchup with Houston by beating Las Vegas on Sunday. Lose, and the Bolts slide back to the sixth seed (due to their Week 3 loss at Pittsburgh) and get a trip to Baltimore. Remaining schedule: at Raiders Playoff schedule: at Texans or Ravens

x – 6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), wild card No. 2: They’ve lost four in a row (by an average of 13 points) to close out the regular season, dropping them from the AFC North lead and No. 3 seed down to sixth. A loss by the Chargers on Sunday would push Pittsburgh back up to fifth in the conference. Playoff schedule: at Texans or Ravens

7. Denver Broncos (9-7), wild card No. 3: They’ve had win-and-in scenarios in their past two games and lost both times. Lose again, and they’re out. However, one more victory – or tie – will advance Denver to the playoffs for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 with Peyton Manning and Von Miller nearly nine years ago. The Broncos’ Week 18 game against Kansas City means basically nothing to the Chiefs – and that should be a real advantage for Denver, which can do no better than the seventh seed. Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs

8. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8), in the hunt: Still alive thanks to a five-game winning streak. Though they appear like the best team outside the postseason field, the Bengals still need help to get in – losses by both the Dolphins and Broncos on Sunday.

9. Miami Dolphins (8-8), in the hunt: After handling the Browns on the road in Week 17 – and without injured QB Tua Tagovailoa, who seems likely to sit again against the Jets – they qualify if they win in Week 18 and the Broncos lose. Miami’s record in AFC games (6-5) is better than both Denver’s and Cincinnati’s. Remaining schedule: at Jets

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye

NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 18

Cincinnati clinches playoff berth with:

Denver loss + Miami loss or tie

Denver clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie

Miami clinches playoff berth with:

Win + Denver loss

Detroit clinches NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

Win or tie

Minnesota clinches NFC North and NFC’s No. 1 seed (first-round bye and home-field advantage) with:

Win

Atlanta clinches NFC South with:

Win + Tampa Bay loss

Tampa Bay clinches NFC South with:

Win or tie
Atlanta loss or tie

First-round order for 2025 NFL draft (projected)

(Team records in parentheses)

Cleveland Browns (3-14)
New England Patriots (3-13)
Tennessee Titans (3-13)
New York Giants (3-13)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12)
Carolina Panthers (4-12)
New York Jets (4-12)
Las Vegas Raiders (4-12)
Chicago Bears (4-12)
New Orleans Saints (5-11)
San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
Indianapolis Colts (7-9)
Dallas Cowboys (7-9)
Arizona Cardinals (7-9)
Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Houston Texans (9-7)
Denver Broncos (9-7)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)
Los Angeles Rams (10-6)
Washington Commanders (11-5)
Green Bay Packers (11-5)
Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Minnesota Vikings (14-2)
Detroit Lions (14-2)
Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

(Note: Spots 19 through 32 determined by playoff results)

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis

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The United States will try to make history and avenge its only loss at the 2025 world junior hockey championship when it faces Finland in Sunday’s gold-medal game in Ottawa (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

The defending champion Americans lost 4-3 in overtime to Finland in the third game of the preliminary round. They have been perfect since then, beating Canada, Switzerland (quarterfinals) and Czechia (semifinals) to reach the championship game. Finland has won five games in a row.

With one more win, the USA will become back-to-back champions for the first time in its history at the tournament. The Americans, who brought back 10 players and coach David Carle from last year’s team, had never before reached the final in the year after winning it all.

Sweden and Czechia will face each other in the bronze-medal game (3:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

Here’s what to know about the medal round of the world junior hockey championship:

When is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game?

The United States and Finland will play for gold at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. Sweden and Czechia will play for bronze at 3:30.

How to watch USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game

Both games will be shown on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.

How to stream USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game

Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network in the United States.

Today’s world juniors hockey games

All times p.m. ET

Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30

United States vs. Finland, 7:30

USA vs. Finland players to watch

United States: The Boston College line of Ryan Leonard, Gabe Perreault and James Hagens has combined for 25 points. Leonard has a team-best five goals. Perreault and Boston University’s Cole Hutson have a team-best nine points. Hagens (eight points) is considered the top prospect in the 2025 NHL draft.

Finland: Draft-eligible goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every minute and has a 2.12 goals-against average. Forward Jesse Kiiskinen has a five-game goal streak. Forward Konsta Helenius has seven assists.

Sweden vs. Czechia players to watch

Sweden: Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika has nine points. Forward Otto Stenberg scored twice against Finland.

Czechia: Forward Jakub Stancl has a tournament-best six goals.

World juniors schedule

Dec. 26

Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
United States 10, Germany 4
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Canada 4, Finland 0

Dec. 27

Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Finland 3, Germany 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)

Dec. 28

Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
United States 5, Latvia 1

Dec. 29

Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Canada 3, Germany 0

Dec. 30

Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)

Dec. 31

Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 
Finland 3, Latvia 0
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
United States 4, Canada 1

World juniors hockey playoff round

All times Eastern

Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)

Sweden 3, Latvia 2
United States 7, Switzerland 2
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Czechia 4, Canada 3

Jan. 4

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
United States 4, Czechia 1

Jan. 5

Bronze-medal game: Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN
Gold-medal game: USA vs. Finland, 7:30 p.m. ET, NHLN, TSN

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LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard made his season debut for the Los Angeles Clippers in Saturday night’s 131-105 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at the Intuit Dome.

Leonard gained confidence from the way his return went but knows he’s still ‘day-to-day’ when it comes to his availability due to ongoing right knee soreness.

‘I’m just keeping it moving,’ Leonard said. ‘Just keep playing and doing what I have been doing to get me to this point, that’s all I can ask for. It’s out of my control.’

Coach Tyronn Lue confirmed that the team will be intentional with Leonard’s playing time in the coming days.

“Just making sure we are taking it slow,” Lue said before the game about Leonard’s availability. “This is like his preseason and his training camp because he didn’t have that.”

The six-time All-Star is expected to be on a minutes restriction as he continues to get acclaimed but Lue did not want to commit publicly to an exact number. Leonard is fully on board with the decision to work back into the game slowly.

Leonard missed the first 34 games of the season but the Clippers managed to produce a 19-15 record in his absence behind the efforts of James Harden and Norman Powell.

Leonard became a full-contact participant for Clippers’ practices starting Dec. 18, which fueled speculation that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year was close to making a return. The San Diego State alum spent the last few days working with the team’s G League affiliate in San Diego and participating in 5-on-5 scrimmages.

During the Clippers’ media day session in September, Leonard consistently told reporters that he hoped to remain healthy enough to have a run in the playoffs. He signed a three-year, $153 million deal in January and felt he was coming off a ‘good’ season in 2023-24.

The Clippers are currently the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

How did Kawhi Leonard perform in his season debut?

Leonard scored 12 points and collected three rebounds in 19 minutes of play. He brought the crowd to its feet during the first half after going 3-for-3 from long range. He finished 3-for-5 from 3, but 4-for-11 from the field overall. He added an assist, a steal and had two turnovers.

He averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 68 games last season, the most he has played since playing a career-high 74 games during the 2016-17 season. Leonard was limited to 52 games throughout the 2022-23 season and missed the 2021-22 season due to an ACL injury.

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The United States will have a chance to win back-to-back titles for the first time after it defeated Czechia 4-1 in the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship.

The Americans got goals Saturday from Gabe Perreault, Cole Eiserman, Ryan Leonard and Oliver Moore to reach Sunday’s championship game (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

They will face Finland, which had beaten the USA earlier in the tournament. The Finns advanced with a 4-3 overtime victory against rival Sweden. Czechia and Sweden will play for bronze (3:30 p.m., NHL Network) on Sunday.

Eiserman had put the USA ahead in the second period with a power-play goal on a one-timer. Boston College teammates Leonard and Perreault had set up each other for the Americans’ first and third goals against Czechia goalie Michael Hrabal, who plays for the University of Massachusetts. Moore scored into an empty net.

Trey Augustine made 26 saves for his 11th career tournament win, passing Jack Campbell’s U.S. record.

The United States brought back 10 players and coach David Carle from last year’s title team. The USA reached the final for the first time in the year after it won a title.

Highlights from USA-Czechia and Sweden-Finland semifinals at the world junior hockey championships:

Final score: USA 4, Czechia 1

The Americans will face Finland in the final.

USA-Czechia score: Oliver Moore gets empty-netter

The USA ups its lead to 4-1. 1:06 left. It’s Moore’s first goal of the tournament.

Czechia pulls goalie again

1:46 left in game.

Czechia pulls goalie for extra skater

But Petr Sikora trips Ryan Leonard and the USA goes on the power play.

USA-Czechia score: Ryan Leonard puts USA up by two

The Boston College line connects again with Gabe Perreault feeding Ryan Leonard on a 2-on-1 break for an easy tap-in and a 3-1 lead. Leonard had fed Perreault on the USA’s first goal.

USA goes on power play

Czechia called for too many men on the ice. USA moves the puck around well but doesn’t score.

Big save by Trey Augustine

U.S. goalie Trey Augustine stretches to make a pad save to rob Adam Jecho on a rebound. Still 2-1 USA.

Czechia is pressing

They now lead the USA in shots.

Czechia on power play

Logan Hensler called for hooking Petr Sikora. Cole Eiserman gets in Sikora’s face afterward. USA kills it off with Trey Augustine making some solid saves.

Third period underway

USA leads 2-1. Finland awaits the winner.

End of second: USA 2, Czechia 1

That was a tightly played period, with U.S. and Czech players playing strong defensive hockey and limiting chances. The USA took advantage of an abbreviated power play to score on a Cole Eiserman one-timer. Czech goalie Michael Hrabal slid over to stop Cole Hutson in the final minute. Shots were 7-7.

USA-Czechia score: Cole Eiserman puts USA ahead

Trevor Connelly darts into the offensive zone and feeds Cole Eiserman, who scores on a one-timer at 13:41 for a 2-1 lead. Cole Hutson gets the secondary assist for his ninth point of the tournament.

USA on abbreviated power play

There’s 55 seconds left.

Czechia goes on power play

Adam Jecho gets Czechia’s first shot of the period and is high-sticked by Adam Kleber. But Tomas Galvas high-sticks Zeev Buium and it’s 4-on-4 play.

Strong defensive play

Seven minutes into the second period, there’s one shot on net, by the USA.

Second period underway

Czechia kills off the rest of the USA power play. Still 1-1.

End of first: USA 1, Czechia 1

Captain Ryan Leonard was very visible in that period. He made a great pass on Gabe Perreault’s goal and had two chances by driving the net. Shots are 9-7 USA. The Americans will have 24 seconds left in their power play when the second period starts.

Ryan Leonard stopped

U.S. captain Ryan Leonard is in all alone and Michael Hrabal makes a leg save. Czechia’s Adam Zidlicky is called for roughing and the USA goes on a power play.

USA-Czechia score: Czechia ties it up

Czechia forces a U.S. turnover and Jakub Stancl ties the game at 9:28. It’s his sixth goal of the tournament.

USA-Czechia score: Gabe Perreault gives USA lead

The Boston College line strikes. Ryan Leonard charges into the offensive zone and makes a pass while falling to Gabe Perreault, who beats Michael Hrabal for a 1-0 lead at 3:14 of the first period.

USA goes shorthanded

Captain Ryan Leonard is called for interference. He’s wearing a full shield after taking a puck off the face in the last game. The USA kills it off. Adam Jecho hits the post.

USA-Czechia game underway

This winner faces Finland in Sunday’s gold-medal game.

USA-Czechia goaltending matchup

USA’s Trey Augustine vs. Czechia’s Michael Hrabal

Projected USA lines

Final: Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)

Finland survives an onslaught from Sweden in the third period and overtime to win on a Benjamin Rautiainen bad-angle goal. It was Finland’s second power-play goal of the game after being the second worst in the tournament with the man advantage heading into the game. Konsta Helenius, a Buffalo Sabres first-round pick, had four assists.

Finland has won five games in a row, including against the United States. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every minute of the tournament and made 43 saves against Sweden.

USA-Czechia is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET in Ottawa.

Finland wins in overtime

Benjamin Rautiainen scores from a bad angle on the power play for a 4-3 win. The Finns will advance to the gold-medal game against the USA-Czechia winner. Sweden will play for bronze.

Finland goes on power play

Sweden’s Tom Willander is called for holding with 1:20 left in overtime. Finland hits the crossbar.

Sweden goes on power play

Jesse Nurmi is called for high-sticking. 4-on-3 play. Finland kills it off. Three shots for Sweden.

Overtime underway

Sweden and Finland play a lot of one-goal games and that will be the case again.

End of third period: Sweden 3, Finland 3

The puck seemed to be in Finland’s end the entire third period. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen was solid, but would probably like that Sweden third-period goal back. The game is heading to overtime. Ten minutes of sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime and a shootout, if necessary.

Sweden ties it up

Sweden’s dominant play pays off. Wilhelm Hallquisth’s innocent-looking shot from the point sneaks through Petteri Rimpinen. Score is 3-3 with 8:28 left.

Midpoint of third period

Finland up 3-2. Shots are 12-1 Sweden.

Sweden goes on power play

Emil Pieniniemi is called for cross-checking. Sweden’s power play has already connected once in his game. Finland’s tournament-leading penalty killing unit kills it off.

Sweden controlling play

Sweden outshooting Finland 8-1 early in the third period.

Third period underway

Finland leads 3-2.

End of second period: Finland 3, Sweden 2

After a tentative first period, the teams ramp up their scoring chances in the second period. Sweden’s Otto Stenberg scores twice, but Finland takes the lead on Arttu Alasiurua’s goal in the last minute. Finland’s struggling power play connects and one Finnish goal is overturned. Finland outshoots Sweden 20-10 in the period.

Finland takes lead

Arttu Alasiurua drives to the net and puts Finland up 3-2 with 20.8 seconds left in the second period.

Sweden ties game

This time, the tournament’s top power play connects. Otto Stenberg scores on a one-timer that deflects in off a Finnish player. Score is 2-2.

Finland takes lead

With Herman Traff in the penalty box for holding, Jesse Kiiskinen tips in a Topias Hynninen shot for his fifth goal of the tournament. Konsta Helenius picks up his second point of the game with a secondary assist. Score is 2-1 Finland.

Sweden penalty ends power play

Captain Axel Sandin-Pellika loses control of the puck and is called for tripping 17 seconds into the power play.

Sweden goes on power play

Emil Hemming trips Otto Stenberg. Sweden has the tournament’s power play. Finland has the best penalty kill.

Finland goal is overturned

Finland’s Aron Kiviharju scores from a bad angle, but Sweden challenges for offsides. After a long review, the goal is overturned. Still 1-1.

Finland ties game

Emil Hemming scores from near the left faceoff circle after a pass from Konsta Helenius. It happens a second after the Finns’ power play expires. Score is 1-1.

Finland goes on power play

Viggo Gustafsson is called for high-sticking, though it was a sell job by the Finnish player.

Sweden takes lead on Finland

After Sweden is pinned in its zone to start the period, Otto Stenberg starts a 2-on-1 break. He rips a shot over Petteri Rimpinen’s shoulder for a 1-0 lead.

Second period underway

Still scoreless.

End of first period: Sweden 0, Finland 0

Finland had the better play early, but Sweden gets a few chances off the rush later. Not a lot of good scoring opportunities. Finnish goalie Petteri Rimpinen gets a glove on Anton Wahlberg’s shot. Shots are 10-10.

Finland outshooting Sweden

Finland has a 6-2 lead in shots halfway through the first period.

Sweden kills penalty

Back to even strength. Game still scoreless.

Finland goes on power play

Viggo Gustafsson is called for high-sticking. Finland has the second-worst power play of the tournament. Sweden has the second-worst penalty kill.

Sweden-Finland semifinal underway

The winner goes for gold on Sunday. The loser plays for bronze.

Sweden-Finland goaltending matchup

Sweden’s Melker Thelin vs. Finland’s Petteri Rimpinen

Sweden-Finland semifinal is first

This is one of the bigger rivalries in international hockey. ‘We live next to each other, so I guess a little bit of hatred, if you could say that, comes from there,’ Swedish captain Alex Sandin-Pellika told TSN.

When is world juniors hockey semifinals?

Sweden and Finland will play at 3:30 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa. The United States and Czechia will play at 7:30.

How to watch world juniors hockey semifinals

Both semifinals will be shown on NHL Network in the United States and on TSN in Canada.

How to stream world juniors hockey semifinals

Fubo and Sling carry NHL Network in the United States.

Today’s world juniors hockey games

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
USA 4, Czechia 1

USA vs. Czechia players: What to know

United States: The Americans won a gold medal last year. They have brought back 10 players and coach David Carle. Returnees Leonard and Notre Dame’s Danny Nelson are tied for the team lead with four goals. So is Hagens, a front-runner for the top pick in the 2025 draft. Hagens and Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson have a team-high eight points. Boston College’s Gabe Perreault, the linemate of Leonard and Hagens, has seven points. The United States has the second-best power play at the tournament.

Czechia: Czechia won bronze last year. Forwards Eduard Sale and Jacob Stancl are tied for the team lead with five goals. Sale, a Seattle Kraken first-round pick who plays in the American Hockey League, has two game-winners. Stancl and Vojtech Hradec have a team-high eight points. Czechia has a slightly better penalty kill than the USA.

Sweden vs. Finland: What to know

Sweden: Sweden won silver last year. Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellika, a Detroit Red Wings first-round pick, is the tournament’s top remaining scorer with nine points. He and forward Anton Wahlberg have four goals. Victor Eklund, the brother of the San Jose Sharks’ William Eklund, is eligible for the 2025 draft. Sweden has the tournament’s top power play.

Finland: Finland lost to Czechia in last year’s bronze-medal game. Forward Jesse Kiiskinen has a team-best four goals and five points. Goalie Petteri Rimpinen has played every game, including a victory against the USA, and has a 2.00 goals-against average. Finland has the tournament’s top penalty kill and second-worst power play.

World juniors semifinal matchups

The United States, Sweden, Finland and Czechia were in last year’s semifinals, but the matchups are different this year. The USA beat Finland 3-2 and Sweden beat Czechia 5-2 in 2024.

World juniors schedule

Dec. 26

Sweden 5, Slovakia 2
United States 10, Germany 4
Czechia 5, Switzerland 1
Canada 4, Finland 0

Dec. 27

Slovakia 2, Switzerland 1
Finland 3, Germany 1
Sweden 8, Kazakhstan 1
Latvia 3, Canada 2 (SO)

Dec. 28

Czechia 14, Kazakhstan 2
United States 5, Latvia 1

Dec. 29

Sweden 7, Switzerland 5
Finland 4, United States 3 (OT)
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2
Canada 3, Germany 0

Dec. 30

Slovakia 5, Kazakhstan 4 (OT)
Latvia 4, Germany 3 (OT)

Dec. 31

Switzerland 3, Kazakhstan 1 
Finland 3, Latvia 0
Sweden 4, Czechia 2
United States 4, Canada 1

World juniors hockey playoff round

All times Eastern

Jan. 2 (quarterfinals)

Sweden 3, Latvia 2
United States 7, Switzerland 2
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Czechia 4, Canada 3

Jan. 4

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT)
USA 4, Czechia 1

Jan. 5

Bronze medal game: Sweden vs. Czechia, 3:30 p.m., NHLN, TSN

Gold-medal game: USA vs. Finland, 7:30 p.m., NHLN, TSN

Where is next year’s world junior hockey championship?

The 2026 tournament will be held in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. This will be the United States’ first time hosting since it was held in Buffalo in 2018.

IIHF names Hall of Fame Class of 2025

The International Ice Hockey Federation, which runs the hockey tournament, has announced its 2025 Hall of Fame class. They are former NHL players Zdeno Chara, Henrik Lundqvist, Frans Nielsen and David Vyborny, former women’s Olympians Kim Martin-Hasson and Vicky Sunohara, plus former Finnish Ice Hockey Association president Kai Hietarinta.

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President-elect Trump is playing host to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, suggesting he plans to develop a warmer relationship with one of his closest ideological allies in Europe.

Trump praised Meloni, 47, for having ‘taken Europe by storm’ during a dinner Saturday night. Meloni was elected in 2022 after running on a conservative pro-family and anti-immigration agenda, panned as ‘far-right’ by many in the media.

Meloni is the first female Italian prime minister, and she has served as leader of the Brothers of Italy party since 2014. Both she and her party surged in popularity thanks to backlash against how the Italian government handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meloni’s coalition government is likely the closest ideological ally Trump has within the European Union. Meloni has also developed a close relationship with top Trump ally Elon Musk, who has frequented Mar-a-Lago since Election Day.

Similar to the U.S., Italy faces a major illegal immigration problem with migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to their shores. Meloni’s ‘return hubs’ policy ensures that migrants are not released into Italy during their asylum process, a program she says has become a ‘model’ for Europe.

‘It is a new, courageous, unprecedented path, but one that perfectly reflects the European spirit,’ she said of the program in October.

Meloni has also proven to go against the grain on social issues, moving last year to limit parental rights for same-sex couples. The policy ensures that only the biological parent of a child within a same-sex marriage enjoys full parental rights.

Meloni’s coalition government has also proven uncommonly stable compared to Italy’s recent history. She has avoided in-fighting within her party and opposition leaders have failed to coalesce around any candidate to effectively challenge her.

All this places Meloni in a natural position to serve as a go-between for the Trump administration and the European Union over the next four years.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, was also in attendance when Meloni visited Trump’s Florida residence this weekend.

President Biden is set to travel later this week to Rome to meet with Meloni and then Pope Francis. The White House said Biden’s meeting with Meloni will ‘highlight the strength of the U.S.-Italy relationship’ and will include the president thanking the prime minister ‘for her strong leadership of the G7 over the past year.’

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Nearly every tribute to Jimmy Carter is necessarily encumbered with caveats about Carter, the president. While it is true that the ‘Reagan revolution’ provided America with needed jolts of patriotic and economic strength, Carter, our 39th president, consistently exhibited traits that public figures of our own times would do well to model.  

Much about the infamous ‘Carter years’ is rightly remembered with disdain. Those alive during the late 1970s will remember mortgage rates in the teens, the Iranian hostage crisis and long lines at the gas pumps. As has been well documented, many of Carter’s policies and his handling of many issues during his presidency failed to improve the country’s economy or the zeitgeist of its people. Name the issue (energy, the economy, welfare, international relations, terrorism, bipartisanship, et. al) and President Carter struggled with it.

But many — including myself — deeply admired him as a human being, respected him as our president and fondly remember his earnest smile and friendly wave. I believe he was a genuinely good human being and because of his generally virtuous nature, Carter was a politician who didn’t like to play politics. Washington insiders didn’t like working with him and international leaders didn’t seem to respect him.

Today, our nation suffers under another ‘naive in chief’ (though President 39 was, I believe, a man of vastly superior character to 46). The late-night comics have gotten some easy laughs riffing on how Jimmy Carter must have been thrilled with the Biden presidency. But unlike Biden, President Carter was, I believe, a benign presence. 

He could have been the man next door from just about any neighborhood in heartland America — the one who showed the neighborhood kids how to fix their bikes. His persona was pretty much identical to that of my dad’s friends from that era, an approachable grown-up you knew you could trust and who would help if he could. Like Teddy Roosevelt, who invested time serving Christian endeavors post-White House, Mr. Carter went from meeting with world leaders to … teaching Sunday School.

When Carter took office in January 1977, America was in the aftermath of Watergate, the Vietnam War’s end and the sexual and social upheavals of the 1960s were engendering a ‘new normal.’ The 1970s were a time when guilt over sin would be scorned in prime-time (thanks, Norman Lear) and the legal cords tethering America to the moral foundations of Western civilization would begin to be severed (thanks, ACLU). 

Regarding the years of change shaping the nation Carter was to inherit, a 1964 Time article made these observations about the emerging mindset of many Americans:

‘Pleasure is considered an almost Constitutional right rather than a privilege, in which self-denial is increasingly seen as foolishness rather than virtue. While science has reduced the fear of long-dreaded earthly dangers, skepticism has diminished the fear of divine punishment. In short, the Puritan ethic, so long the dominant moral force in the U.S., is widely considered to be dying, if not dead, and there are few mourners.’

Into this milieu, candidate Jimmy Carter announced that he was a ‘born-again Christian’ (a concept that many American moderns were learning of, no doubt, for the first time). Affable and honest, Carter injected something into public discourse that would change American politics forever: an evangelical Christian testimony. 

Using words from the Gospel of John, chapter three, candidate Carter talked about being ‘born again,’ and suddenly the term was part of the American vernacular. General Motors advertised a ‘Born Again Oldsmobile.’ Updated editions of books and TV shows were marketed as being ‘born again.’ Pundits mocked and commentators opined, but the conversation was irretrievably now in the process: politics and religion were mixed and Jimmy Carter had been the catalyst.

Numerous other conservative Christian leaders would weigh in on the battle to preserve America’s Judeo-Christian foundation. And while Jimmy Carter’s party is now associated with everything but ‘the religious right,’ let the record show that Carter affirmed what no Democrat today would dare say: God, Jesus Christ and the Bible were the cornerstones of his life, and they shaped his convictions and behaviors. 

Jimmy Carter exhibited ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ (c.f. Galatians 5:22-23). Carter seemed to exemplify Christ’s words in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10:44: ‘Whoever will be the greatest among you will be the servant of all.’ Carter carried himself as a gentleman. While campaigning for the election of 1980, both Carter and Reagan embodied characteristics pretty much unknown to American politics today: they were respectful and dignified and even their sparring in debates was instructive and watchable.

The 1970s were a time in which many negatives were set in motion that would yield tragic consequences for decades to come (the rise of modern Islamic fundamentalism, Marxism’s rebirth in Europe, post-modernism in classrooms on both sides of the Atlantic and the accelerated breakdown of the family throughout the West). 

But there is no denying that from that same era came one who exemplified some of the best things about America and American leaders: a Georgia peanut grower, tilling the soil of a family farm, could become governor of his state, then leader of his nation. True to his wife, Carter raised four children and would later raise roofs over the heads of underprivileged people. For many years, Carter’s standard look in public was to wear a carpenter’s nail apron as he swung a hammer to help others.

Jimmy Carter served his country, his church and his Savior and quietly left an example. Mr. President, I was just a kid back then, but I was watching and taking notes. Godspeed, sir, and thank you for serving our country as you did.  

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President-elect Trump appeared Saturday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Trump appeared at a screening of a documentary detailing challenges some conservative lawyers say they face in the legal system.

He entered the grand ballroom around 7 p.m. and returned about two hours later after eating dinner.

‘This is very exciting,’ Trump told the crowd of Meloni.

‘I’m here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy,’ he continued. ‘She’s really taken Europe by storm, and everyone else, and we’re just having dinner tonight.’

Other notable people in attendance for the screening of the documentary include his pick for his incoming administration’s Secretary of State, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, and his selection for national security adviser, Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz, as well as his choice for Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent.

Meloni’s visit to Trump’s resort comes after other world leaders met with the president-elect in Florida. 

Argentina’s President Javier Milei was the first world leader to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after his Election Day victory in November, followed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who each traveled to the Sunshine State to meet with Trump.

President Biden is set to travel later this week to Rome to meet with Meloni and then Pope Francis. The White House said Biden’s meeting with Meloni will ‘highlight the strength of the U.S.-Italy relationship’ and will include the president thanking the prime minister ‘for her strong leadership of the G7 over the past year.’

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Tee Higgins has been essential for the Cincinnati Bengals’ winning streak that helped them back into postseason contention.

They might have to finish Saturday’s Week 18 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers without the wide receiver, who is questionable to return with an ankle injury. The fifth-year player, set to be a free agent at the conclusion of this season, had four catches for 53 yards as Cincinnati carried a two-possession lead early in the fourth quarter.

A hamstring injury cost Higgins, who’s playing this season on the franchise tag, the first two games of the season, and a quad ailment forced him to sit out three games during the middle of the campaign.

Since returning from that injury (five games), Higgins has 40 catches for 517 yards and seven touchdowns, including three scores last Saturday against the Denver Broncos. 

All things Bengals: Latest Cincinnati Bengals news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

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