August 27, 2025

Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Annette’s News Roundup.

Trump continues to normalize his plan to implement a dictatorship.

Trump Suggests Americans Open to a ‘Dictator’ | TIME

‘Maybe We Like a Dictator’: Trump Suggests Many Americans Would Prefer Autocracy.

President Donald Trump said Monday that he thinks Americans may like a “dictator,” though he wouldn’t describe himself as one.

“They say: ‘We don’t need him. Freedom, freedom, he’s a dictator, he’s a dictator,’” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. “A lot of people are saying, ‘Maybe we like a dictator.’ I don’t like a dictator. I’m not a dictator. I’m a man with great common sense and a smart person.”

Trump’s remarks came as he signed a raft of executive orders, including one in which he tasked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to lead the training of a specialized National Guard unit dedicated to “ensuring public safety” in Washington, D.C.

The President’s deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and threats to deploy the National Guard to other Democratic-led cities purportedly to crack down on crime—despite decreasing crime rates—have raised concerns about his authoritarian tendencies and presidential overreach.

“When I see what’s happening to our cities and then you send in troops, instead of being praised, they’re saying you’re trying to take over the Republic,” Trump said of his critics. “These people are sick.”

It’s not the first time Trump has rebuffed criticism of being dictator-like while also seeming to sympathize with the idea. On the campaign trail in December 2023, Trump said on Fox News that he would not be a dictator “except for Day 1,” adding “after that, I’m not a dictator.”

One more thing.

On the subject of militarizing our cities, raise this with your representatives.

Touch to watch.👇

Call your elected officials. Write letters to the editor or an Op-Ed for your local newspaper. Express your outrage that Trump jokes about dictatorship. Remind everyone that he promised to defend the Constitution and our nation. Democracy is not a joke.

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Victory in Iowa.

One more thing.

Iowa may be in play. Can we defeat the incumbent GOP Senator Joni Ernst?

Looks like it.

Do you remember Zach Wahls?

First elected in 2019, he represents the 43rd district. Wahls was elected Minority Leader of the Iowa Senate from 2020 through 2023.

But his real moments of fame came in on January 31, 2011, when he was 19 and an undergraduate at the University of Iowa.

Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Iowa. A video of his testimony posted on YouTube went viral. It had more than 1.5 million views within two weeks[13] and exceeded 15 million views by April 2012.

Here’s the big video.

Want to see Zach Wahls defeat a repulsive Trump ally, Joni Ernst? (She who philosophized "We all are going to die," after a constituent at her Town Hall expressed concern that cuts to Medicaid would cause people to lose their lives.)

Here’s a link to support Zach Wahls for Senator from Iowa

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On Trump’s firing of Fed Board Governor, Lisa Cook

You need to know this.

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Nike Basketball Introduces Caitlin Clark as a Signature Athlete and Unveils Her New Signature Logo — NIKE, Inc.

What to know

Nike Basketball is officially introducing Caitlin Clark as its newest signature athlete, expanding the brand’s partnership with one of the most watched, impactful and passionate players in the game.

As a Nike signature athlete, Caitlin will continue to work side by side with experts across the brand to help shape the future of basketball: fueling hoops culture, growing the women’s game, and empowering the next generation.

Caitlin and Nike are also unveiling her new signature logo, an instantly recognizable combination of interlocking C’s as extraordinary as the athlete they represent.

The logo will come to life for the first time in a new collection of sportswear and on-court staples that reflect Caitlin’s approach to sport and style, with a focus on comfort, function and clean design.

A navy and yellow Caitlin Clark logo T-shirt will be available in North America starting September 1 at nike.com. The rest of her logo apparel collection will launch October 1 at nike.com.

Nike Basketball is officially introducing Caitlin Clark as its newest signature athlete, expanding the brand’s partnership with one of the most watched, impactful and passionate players in the game.

With a distinct voice and style of play that resonate across culture and community, Caitlin makes greatness feel attainable, inspiring kids to play and fans to tune in. As a Nike signature athlete, she will continue to work side by side with experts across the brand to help shape the future of basketball — fueling hoops culture, growing the women’s game, and empowering the next generation to reach their dreams.

“Nike’s signature roster features all-time greats, and I am incredibly proud to join some of the best athletes in the world,” says Caitlin. “I’m excited to share a first look at what we’ve started to create together.”

Alongside Caitlin’s introduction as a signature athlete, she and Nike are unveiling her new signature logo: an instantly recognizable combination of interlocking C’s as extraordinary as the athlete they represent.

Together, Caitlin and Nike designers obsessed over every detail to create a signature logo that speaks to her precision, power and unique ability to inspire the next generation of hoopers.

Two interwoven C’s reflect Caitlin’s magnetic connection with fans around the globe who are drawn to her unwavering confidence, steadfast commitment and remarkable shooting ability. Tucked between the larger letters is a smaller, hidden C that represents how Caitlin’s game was built from the inside out — a product of her passion for the sport, relentless drive and constant pursuit of perfection.
From the beginning, Caitlin took a hands-on approach to the design and creative process, working closely with Nike designers and scrutinizing every detail to land on a signature logo that felt timeless and resonant, simple yet elevated.

The logo will come to life for the first time in a new collection of sportswear and on-court staples that reflect Caitlin’s approach to sport and style, with a focus on comfort, function and clean design.

“To me, this is more than just a logo, it’s a dream come true,” says Caitlin. “People always talk about leaving your mark on the game — and this is another way I can do that.”
Caitlin’s upcoming logo collection will include essential T-shirts, hoodies, shorts and pants for athletes of all ages, as well as additional premium pieces for adults. Her first signature shoe and apparel collection will debut in 2026.

A Nike athlete since 2022, Caitlin is a global ambassador for the game and a champion for hoopers of all backgrounds. Her expanded partnership with Nike reflects a shared goal of shaping the future of basketball by fueling the culture of the game, innovating in service of hoopers around the world, and getting — and keeping — women and girls on the court.

“At Nike, we’ve always drawn inspiration not only from the world’s greatest athletes but also from those who elevate the spirit of sport itself. Caitlin exemplifies both: an exceptional basketball player and an outstanding ambassador for the game,” says Ann Miller, EVP, Nike Global Sports Marketing. “We’re excited to take this next step together, continuing to shape this historic time for women’s basketball and pushing the game and industry forward.”

Caitlin’s addition to Nike Basketball’s unmatched roster of women signature athletes further reflects the brand’s position as the greatest supporter of active WNBA players — a distinction forged through best-in-class partnerships built on shared values, the co-creation of the highest-level performance innovations, and a longstanding desire to tell women athletes’ stories and listen to their needs.

In partnership with Caitlin and her peers atop the game, Nike Basketball is leading a curious charge to better understand the nuances of women’s basketball and its athletes by investing in shared platforms to document their journeys and highlight their perspectives on the sport.
That effort reflects a belief shared by Nike Basketball and its athletes: The next generation of players can come from anywhere, from any background — and a shared commitment to growing the women’s game will make it better for both today’s hoopers and for the next generation.

A navy and yellow Caitlin Clark logo T-shirt will be available in North America starting September 1 at nike.com. The rest of her logo apparel collection will launch October 1 at nike.com.(Nike)

One more thing.

In honor of the introduction of Caitlin Clark’s logo yesterday, Nike gave free tee-shirts bearing the new ringed CCs to the 16,737 people attending the Fever’s game in Indianapolis last night.

The Fever won 95 to 75 against the Seattle Storm, with an injured Caitlin still on the sidelines.

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Are you ready, New York?

Waymo, Self-Driving Taxi, Spotted on Upper West Side

A self-driving taxi car was spotted recently on the Upper West Side.

Waymo, an autonomous driving vehicle company, is already up and running across the United States, including in California, Texas, and Georgia, and now the driverless service has made its way to New York City.

On August 22, the city’s Mayor’s Office announced that the Department of Transportation has granted Waymo its first-ever permit to begin testing a limited number of the driverless vehicles as part of a pilot program in sections of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.

There are currently eight autonomous vehicles in the pilot program covering Manhattan south of 112th Street and Downtown Brooklyn. During the pilot program, there will still be humans in the front seat to assess the performance of the vehicles.

The pilot is set to conclude near the end of September, when it will then have the possibility of being extended.

“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” Mayor Eric Adams said in a news release. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century.”

Waymo officials are using the pilot program to evaluate how its driverless vehicles deal with factors such as jaywalkers, cyclists, carriage horses, and the overall New York City congestion on the roadways.

The official announcement of the Waymo pilot program approval in New York City only took place at the end of last week, but a sharp-eyed West Side Rag tipster sent in the above photo of a Waymo vehicle on West 75th Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, on August 14, before the official announcement.

“Spotted on 75th between Columbus and Amsterdam August 14th, before any public announcements,” Joshua Sills wrote to the Rag in an email. “As soon as he saw me taking a photo he pulled out.”

Similar to Uber or Lyft, there is a phone app that customers use to hail a Waymo for a taxi ride. (West Side Rag)

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