First Run News

Even the dumbest of animals are easily conditioned to avoid angst and discomfort. As the saying goes, once burnt, twice shy — which is why Super Bowl LII’s avoidance of partisan politics will do nothing to help the NFL’s ongoing ratings and public relations problems. In an increasingly polarized country where the political left has grabbed almost every lever of our culture, professional football was once an island paradise, a mini-vacation, an oasis — whatever metaphor you dig up, the point is the same.

Even the dumbest of animals are easily conditioned to avoid angst and discomfort. As the saying goes, once burnt, twice shy — which is why Super Bowl LII’s avoidance of partisan politics will do nothing to help the NFL’s ongoing ratings and public relations problems. In an increasingly polarized country where the political left has grabbed almost every lever of our culture, professional football was once an island paradise, a mini-vacation, an oasis — whatever metaphor you dig up, the point is the same.

While discussing Republican attacks on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Monday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” host Chris Matthews referred to attacks on Pelosi as “ethnic politics” and stated that attacking people from the coasts who are “usually ethnic” is an old tactic by Republicans. Matthews said, “Picking on somebody from one of the coasts, usually ethnic, and making them the poster person of the Democratic Party is old business for the Republicans. They did it with — way back to some guy from the Bronx back in the 40s.

While discussing Republican attacks on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Monday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Hardball,” host Chris Matthews referred to attacks on Pelosi as “ethnic politics” and stated that attacking people from the coasts who are “usually ethnic” is an old tactic by Republicans. Matthews said, “Picking on somebody from one of the coasts, usually ethnic, and making them the poster person of the Democratic Party is old business for the Republicans. They did it with — way back to some guy from the Bronx back in the 40s.

The contents of the controversial Republican memo alleging abuses of government surveillance powers at the FBI and Justice Department have been hotly debated, and now the American public is now be able to read them in detail. The document, authored by the Republican staff of the House Intelligence Committee, was released Friday after President Donald Trump declassified it and approved its release without redactions by that committee.

After a tumultuous and busy first year in office, President State of the Union address to Congress and the country. Our team of journalists from ABC News investigated some of those statements, looking for additional context, detail and information. Here is ABC News' fact check of the address: TRUMP CLAIM: "We enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history." OUR TAKE: False WHY: The recently enacted tax bill is the 12th largest as a percentage of the

First lady President Donald Trump, made a statement -- a fashion statement, that is -- dressed in a white pantsuit, among a sea of Democratic women sporting black attire, who were making a significantly more political statement. Mrs.

Virginia Del.