Greene, a Republican who represents Georgia’s 14th congressional district, defended her previous comments about being a Christian nationalist at a CPAC event in Dallas on Friday. In July, Greene told a Turning Point USA event that the Republican Party should be Christian nationalists and she defended those remarks in Dallas as she addressed accusations that she had made remarks similar to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. “I take that very seriously,” Greene said....

Here’s how he ended a major speech in May: “With all our concerns about the next several quarters, there is still–in my judgment–ample evidence that we are experiencing only a pause in the investment in a broad set of innovations that has elevated the underlying growth rate in productivity…” Despite the convoluted syntax, the message was emphatic: keep the faith. Productivity is the crux of the matter. From 1973 to 1994, nonfarm labor productivity (output per hour worked) rose at an average rate of 1....

Abbott announced on Monday that the state Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will work to bring medical professionals from outside the state. These professionals will help hospitals struggling with the increased number of COVID-19 cases. Abbott also sent a letter to the Texas Hospital Association asking hospitals to voluntarily postpone elective medical procedures in order to have more hospital space available for COVID-19 patients, WFAA reported. The governor said that a procedure should only be delayed if it won’t risk the patient’s life or worsen their condition....

Democrats across the nation denounced Abbott, declaring the move a political stunt at the expense of the migrants, and accused the Republican governor of breaking human trafficking laws. But the decision to relocate tens of thousands of asylum seekers has put a national spotlight on President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, and with their social safety nets pushed to the brink, Democratic mayors have been forced to make the issue a regular talking point....

Speaking on Newsmax’s Eric Bolling The Balance, Abbott said the state has deployed “thousands upon thousands” of National Guard troops and agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety who are currently “barricading the border” as well as using large shipping containers to block areas where migrants may attempt to illegally enter the country. “They’re laying miles of razor wire upon razor wire,” Abbott said. “This afternoon, they will be dropping down some of these large containers that you see on 18 wheelers, the same type of containers that you see on the ships, to blockade the border....

And he does so without his crew chief. Brian Pattie was suspended two races after Biffle’s car failed post-race inspection following Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On Wednesday, NASCAR announced that Pattie will miss races this week at Pocono Raceway and the following week at Michigan International Speedway. He has been fined $50,000 and the team lost 15 driver and owner points in the standings, pushing Biffle to his current overall position....

Noll, who lived in the coastal town of Crescent City, California, died of natural causes on Monday, according to a statement shared on his son’s company Noll Surfboards’ Instagram page. In it, a photo of a younger Noll was shared alongside a message that read: “This post contains sad news.” The message continued: “It is with a heavy heart the Noll family announces the death of our patriarch Greg Noll....

STEELE: NBA, unlike NFL, not shying away from Trump talk As part of a lengthy answer to a question about what the monthlong commemoration means to him, the Spurs coach said this: The rest of Popovich’s response (as transcribed by ESPN.com’s Michael C. Wright) was just as pointed. Prior to the above statement, he called idea that minorities have the same access to the American Dream as whites “hogwash.” Black History Month itself, he said, was America’s “national sin....

Earlier this month, the midfielder was forced to deny reports he has agreed to join the LaLiga leaders after he was photographed with representatives of the Catalan club. Arthur is a rising star and helped Gremio to the 2017 Copa Libertadores title, shortly after which he was snapped in Barca colours during a meeting with sporting director Robert Fernandez. Roman says Barcelona will have fierce competition for Arthur’s signature from fellow European giants Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter....

The five-time France international, last capped in a friendly against Paraguay in June 2014, arrived in the Italian capital on Friday for a medical, with Roma announcing the official completion of the deal a day later. Man City hint at bright future Grenier moves to Serie A until the end of the season, when Roma will have an option to make the switch permanent. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder had fallen out of favour at Lyon, where he made just four substitute appearances in Ligue 1 this season....

Griezmann, 27, has been linked with a move to the Premier League giants, as well as La Liga leaders Barcelona, having revealed earlier this week that he intends to iron out his future prior to the World Cup. “My future will be decided before the World Cup, I want to go to Russia with a clear mind, I think that’s what everybody wants, it’s not so much the question of where I’ll play, which may be boring, but about having the peace of mind if I’m still in one place or another,” he said....

Musk told Twitter folk their baby has been named X Æ A-12 Musk, according to the Tesla CEO. At this time, it’s unclear how to pronounce the name. It isn’t entirely shocking that Grimes and Musk went the avant-garde route. Singer-musician Grimes revealed she was planning on an untraditional name. She even gave some applause to netizens who made a meme mocking her probable naming routine. Jokes suggested that Grimes would name her baby something that reflected an HTML code or some unpronounceable word made up of characters....

The Grizzlies’ cornerstone player, Randolph will be part of the team’s returning nucleus as it builds off a 50-win season. The extension is worth $20 million, according to media reports. Without the deal, Randolph would have become an unrestricted free agent. Staying with the team was his first choice. “It’s cool, man. This is where I wanted to be,” Randolph told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis. With Randolph under wraps, the team now turns to other key players....

Memphis can finish as high as No. 5 in the West or as low as No. 7. Los Angeles is locked into the fourth seed, so this could be a first round matchup. Line: Los Angeles -7.5, Total: 197.5 This spread has dropped after opening at L.A. -8.5 in Vegas. The total has also dropped after opening at 199.5. The Grizzlies (42-38 SU, 40-37-3 ATS) have a tough closing schedule with this game and a trip to Golden State tomorrow night....

Carter, 37, agreed to a multiyear contract. Financial terms were not disclosed. MORE: LeBron James returns to Cleveland | Jazz keep Hayward | Lance Stephenson showdown The Grizzlies lacked 3-point threats last season. Carter gives the Grizzlies a replacement for free agent Mike Miller, who said on Twitter on Friday night he was “just informed the Grizz are going in another direction.” Carter averaged 11.9 points in 81 games, all off the bench, last season for the Mavericks....

What’s the reason for the shareholder confidence? Egged on by bank executives, investors have come to believe this is the extent of the damage. We’ll take these write-downs and no more! The credit problems are over! Let’s move on! Investment bank CEOs and their shareholders clearly believe that the worst is over. But a fine line separates belief from credulity, and the large investment banks are blurring it. Throughout 2007, the credit situation has progressively deteriorated....

The National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media held a news conference outside TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the Star Tribune reported. The Vikings are leasing the university’s stadium for two seasons while their new $1 billion stadium is built on the site of the former Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. The coalition contends that university administrators have been unwilling to meet with them to discuss the issue. In a statement, the university said it cannot regulate expression by private parties on its property....

The commission that drew the map followed a pattern traditionally seen in Colorado of separating areas with high Hispanic populations into separate districts, the filings argued. They said that though Latinos make up 21 percent of the state’s population, they are dispersed among several voting districts where they are outnumbered by white voters who tend not to elect their preferred candidates. The rights groups requested that the map commission draw the district lines in a way that allows Latino voters to stay grouped together, the AP reported....

Guardianship abuse is a nationwide problem, and even the most diligent people can find themselves suddenly cut off from their own parents and grandparents, subject to a court system that prioritizes procedure over common sense. The media have given passing attention to this issue in recent months, thanks to the “Free Britney” movement and the Netflix film I Care a Lot,but for those affected by these injustices, media buzz is not nearly enough....

Bravo – the understudy to number one keeper Ederson – denied Alfred N’Diaye and Conor Coady as City survived 4-1 in a shoot-out to reach the quarter-finals, following 120 scoreless minutes. City 13/2 to beat West Brom 3-0 The 34-year-old Chile international, who arrived from Barcelona last season, has been forced to take a back seat to Brazilian counterpart Ederson but Guardiola heaped praise on the veteran. “Claudio helped us to qualify for the next round,” Guardiola told Sky Sports....