Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Quick Hits: Volume CDXIX

 - Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom has now joined the chorus of those who are making the radical suggestion that males should not participate in female sports leagues. 


He even was kind enough to provide clarity on what the "W" in WNBA stands for. 





This was in Chicago where the hometown team Sky hosted the Indiana Fever. Kanter Freedom was eventually asked to leave the arena late in the third quarter after this incident. 


 



Look, I'm not a huge fan of these kinds of stunts. To me, it doesn't really result in productive discourse, something which is needed when addressing such a hot button issue. Then again, as long as the WNBA continues to kick the can down the road by not saying definitively what a woman is, these kinds of clown shows will continue. And what a shame that would be given the league is enjoying perhaps the most successful 3-year stretch in its near three decade existence. 



- He's just making it up as he goes along. 


Mike Lindell is withholding the payment required for a recount and audit of ballots cast in the Republican primary for Minnesota governor, claiming that the Secretary of State's office has proposed an unlawful recount process, according to a statement released by his campaign Monday.

The MyPillow founder, who, according to the current results, finished second to Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the race, said on Wednesday that he would personally pay for the recount. Secretary of State General Counsel Lauren Bethke set Monday as the deadline for Lindell to submit the request.

Lindell's campaign said the $825,000 payment was "primed and ready to cover the costs" but had not been submitted because of a dispute over the planned scope of the recount. The campaign said state officials intend to recount only the votes cast for Lindell and Demuth and not all the votes cast in the Republican gubernatorial primary, while excluding votes for other candidates in the race.

"The actions taken by the Secretary of State put Mike Lindell in an untenable position," Lindell's campaign said.

The campaign argues that the scope of the recount violates Minnesota law, citing a provision that defines a recount as determining "the number of votes validly cast for the office or question to be recounted."

Lindell is asking the state to waive the payment deadline until a court can rule on the parameters of the recount proposed by election officials.

Cassondra Knudson, a spokesperson for Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, said in response to the Lindell campaign's statement, "Our office provided the contingent recount plan to Mr. Lindell after it was approved by the State Canvassing Board on August 18. The plan follows state law and administrative rules on recount procedures, and is consistent with plans of its kind for the past two decades."


Lindell wants a full audit, but the state is only obligated to acquiesce to a recount. He was never going to be allowed to dictate the terms. 


At this point, I'm not really concerned about Lindell's reputation being further tarnished. Sadly for him, that's all self inflicted. But the salient issue is the potential to sow distrust in Minnesota's election system among some Republicans. That's the last thing the party needs with an already uphill battle to end a near 20-year losing streak in Minnesota statewide elections. 



- I've been lamenting for some time know that there is virtually nothing which unites Americans these days. One sentiment that was a legitimate unifying force? The love and admiration of Dolly Parton, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 80. 





The question now would be is there any *living* soul in America who could be as universally beloved as Dolly? The only one who comes to mind is maybe actor Denzel Washington. But I don't think even he is on the level she attained. 


Erick Erickson wrote a terrific piece on how Dolly just loved others unconditionally while seeking no fanfare for her good works. 


Dolly Parton, for years, has donated band uniforms to poor, majority-black schools across the South with no public credit or recognition. She has provided books for children because her father was illiterate. She rebuilt homes and she rebuilt churches. She built and upgraded hospitals in poor communities. She provided jobs and opportunities for the poor.

She did not demand that the government do it. She used her wealth to do it.

Dolly Parton did not care if you were gay or trans or straight or white or black or Republican or Democrat. She loved her neighbor as herself.

Today, partisans of the Left insist one cannot love their neighbor without affirming their sins. Partisans of the Right insist one cannot love their neighbor without denouncing their sins. A growing number of people on both sides of the political spectrum believe they cannot love their neighbors who are different, politically or otherwise. Some relish hating their neighbors and find ways to justify it.

A growing number of Christians in America think basic empathy, i.e., understanding another person’s lot in life, is a bridge too far. Others insist that one cannot embrace an understanding of loving one’s neighbor without compromising principled beliefs.

A growing number of online partisans in the church believe if one is too friendly or nice to those outside the church, that’s a sign of one’s compromise of belief and infidelity to scripture.

All I know is if we had more people willing to love their neighbors like Dolly Parton did, not waiting on the government to act or insisting others affirm their values first, we’d be a lot better off.


Amen.


We can certainly mourn the fact Dolly is no longer physically with us. However, the legacy she's left can serve as an inspiration to us all. 


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