Fact check: No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes ...

The claim: A Michigan school put litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats

A video of a central Michigan school board meeting went national in mid-January after a parent claimed that a "nefarious" agenda had taken hold of public schools in her county.

In the Dec. 21, 2021, YouTube video, which has over 80,000 views, Lisa Hansen says during the Midland Public Schools board meeting she had been told there was a litter box in the bathroom of at least one local school for students who self-identify as cat "furries."

"I’m still wrapping my brain around this a little bit, but yesterday I heard something and I was stunned ... I'd even use the word 'furious,'" she says. "I heard that at least one of our schools, in our town, has, in one of the unisex bathrooms, a litter box for the kids that identify as cats … I am really upset, as a parent, that my child is put in an environment like that."

Meshawn Maddock, the co-chair of the state Republican Party, shared the unsubstantiated comment on Facebook.

In general, "furries" are people who adopt and identify with an anthropomorphized animal persona, often within online or local communities of other furries, says Furscience, the public face of a team of researchers who study the subculture. Roughly three in four are under the age of 25, the group writes.

Hansen noted the rumor warranted "more investigation" and did not make a claim about who had installed the litter boxes. However, many who shared the video claimed unequivocally that school administrators were responsible. This was the case for a Jan. 21 Facebook post that was viewed over 8,600 times and a tweet shared over 5,000 times.

"At a recent school board meeting, it was revealed that a Michigan school placed a LITTER BOXES in the bathroom for students that identify as cats," user Jovan Pulitzer captioned the video in the Facebook post. "Unbelievable."

Many commenters who watched the video took the claim seriously. "It is ok to pretend to be a cat or dog in your private time, but the world and work force should not be forced to play along," one said.

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However, as USA TODAY reported, the district's superintendent shut down the rumor soon after Maddock shared the video on Jan. 20.

USA TODAY reached out to Maddock and others who shared the claim on social media for comment.

Superintendent: 'No truth whatsoever' to litter box claim

In an email sent to parents, staff and community members on Jan. 20, Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow denied the claim that "litter boxes were provided within MPS student restrooms for those who identify themselves as 'furries.'" The email was also published in a regional Facebook group.

"Let me be clear… there is no truth whatsoever to this false statement/accusation! There have never been litter boxes within MPS schools," he wrote. "It is such a source of disappointment that I felt the necessity to communicate this message to you."

It was "unconscionable" that he was addressing the rumor, Sharrow said, but he felt it necessary to do so because of its renewed spread on social media. As he stated in his message, the board meeting took place on Dec. 20, 2021, and did not circulate widely until mid-January.

Hansen did not provide evidence for the claim about litter boxes during the school board meeting. She told The New York Times on Jan. 23 that she was a "concerned mom" who didn't feel she knew enough about what was going on at her child's school.

“We parents aren’t sure what our schools are up to,” she wrote in an email, according to the Times. “That’s the problem. Accountability is not a crime.”

USA TODAY reached out to Hansen for comment.

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that a Michigan school put litter boxes in bathrooms for students who identify as cats. The source of the claim was a parent at a Midland County School Board meeting who said she had "heard" that this had occurred in one local school, but she did not provide evidence. The district's superintendent said in a public statement that "there have never been litter boxes within (Midland Public) schools."

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Fact check: Biden executive order on discrimination in women's sports

The claim: Biden's executive order says transgender female athletes must be allowed to compete against women and is tied to federal funding

Since taking office on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden has issued a flurry of executive orders, including one that is aimed at preventing discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation and prohibiting workplace discrimination in the federal government.

While the move was celebrated by LGBTQ advocates, the announcement brought forth criticism from some conservatives on social media, with claims that the order threatens women's rights. Critics protested with the hashtag #BidenErasedWomen.

A Facebook post shared on Jan. 23 claims Biden ordered schools to allow transgender athletes to play in women's sports.

"This is insane. A Biden Executive order call for Transgenders to be included in Women's sports," reads a post from “Students for Trump” founder Ryan Fournier, which has been posted to Facebook as a screenshot by a Facebook user.

Another user shared a screenshot of a tweet from author Abigail Shrier that reads, "On day 1, Biden unilaterally eviscerates women's sports. Any educational institution that receives federal funding must admit biologically-male athletes to women's teams, women's scholarships, etc. A new glass ceiling was just placed over girls."

Mark Chase, a spokesperson for Fournier, pointed to Section 1 of the executive order and said education institutions that receive federal funding must allow boys who self-identify as girls to participate in female sports, and that there would be administrative consequences if not. He said the order would build upon the Supreme Court's Bostock v. Clayton case "in an ambitious manner."

"Women’s sports is a protected category. This ensures fair competition, which will only be diminished if schools are pushed to give biological men the right to participate in them. This executive order is a threat to decades of women’s achievement thanks to executive fiat," Fournier said In a statement to USA TODAY.

USA TODAY reached out to Shrier and the Facebook users for comment.

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The executive order explained

The “Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation” calls for a broader application of last year's Supreme Court Bostock v. Clayton County ruling, which mandated that LGBTQ people are protected from sex discrimination in the workplace.

The majority opinion held that, “It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex.”

The order builds on the landmark ruling and directs federal agencies to extend protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and calls for the Supreme Court ruling to apply to Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination in federally funded schools.

Under "Bostock's reasoning," Title IX, the Fair Housing Act and Section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act “prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, so long as the laws do not contain sufficient indications to the contrary.”

"Every person should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear, no matter who they are or whom they love," Biden's executive order reads. "Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports."

The order states that discrimination against LGBTQ people "overlaps with other forms of prohibited discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race or disability," as spelled out in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The executive order does not tie an education institution's federal funding to allowing biological male athletes access to women's sports teams and scholarships, the White House said in a statement issued to USA TODAY.

The order mandates that all students, including transgender students, be able to learn without facing sex discrimination, and as part of that, transgender women should compete on female teams, according to the statement.

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Experts and advocates weigh in

Advocates for the LGBTQ community also have refuted claims that the executive order takes away women's rights and emphasized that the order spells out existing laws.

Gillian Branstetter, a spokesperson for the National Women’s Law Center, told Vox that the order is not a "radical step" and that the Biden administration is "merely enforcing the Supreme Court's ruling as it was written."

Branstetter added that Biden's executive order “is not an abandonment of his call for unity by any stretch of the imagination,” and "it’s frankly a little boilerplate because it’s merely enforcing the Supreme Court (decision) as is the executive branch’s constitutional duty."

Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice at the American Civil Liberties Union, wrote on the ACLU's site that Biden "most certainly did not 'erase women' — whatever that means."

"By stating the administration’s intention to follow Supreme Court precedent and federal law, at core all the newly-elected president did was lay out what the law is and agree, unlike his predecessor, to follow it," Strangio wrote, adding that federal statutes are the source of legal protections for LGBTQ people, not Biden's executive order.

However, what the order does do, according to Strangio, is establish that the Biden administration is prepared to enforce all legal protections under federal law for LGBTQ people.

"Every employer, every landlord, every health care provider that is considering firing or evicting or denying health care to a transgender person must now think about the fact that all three branches of the federal government have made clear that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is illegal," Strangio wrote.

More: As transgender troop ban gets reversed, LGBTQ community hopeful for Biden's years to come

Transgender athletes at college and Olympic levels

The executive order does not address athletics beyond the mention of discrimination in "school sports." Further, transgender amateur athletes already have policies they must follow in order to compete.

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which oversees 24 sports at over 1,000 colleges and universities, gender confirming surgery or legal recognition of a player's transitioned sex is not required in order for transgender players to participate on a team.

When hormones are used, the NCAA requires one year of hormone treatment for trans female athletes prior to competing on a women's team, and trans male athletes remain eligible to compete in women's sports until the athlete begins a physical transition using testosterone.

In November 2015, the International Olympic Committee agreed that those who transition from female to male are able to compete in male sports without restriction.

Those who transition from male to female are able to compete in the women's category after declaring the gender identity of female, which cannot be changed for a minimum of four years; and demonstrating testosterone levels below a specific level for at least 12 months before their first competition and then throughout the eligibility period.

For K-12, according to Transathlete.com, policies vary by state and and school district, with 16 states having policies in place that facilitate the full inclusion of transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming students in high school athletics. There are 14 states that require medical proof, and 10 states that did not issue statewide practices but allow schools to create their own policies on a case-by-case basis.

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Existing legal battles

Claims about the executive order follow legal and legislative action aimed at transgender athletes.

Republican lawmakers in several states are pushing legislation to ban transgender athletes from competing in sports for the gender with which they identify.

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In Montana, a GOP-backed bill bans transgender students from playing on school and college sports teams for the gender with which they identify, the Associated Press reported. Proponents of the bill say allowing transgender athletes to play can result in a an unfair playing field in middle and high school sports.

A group of female high school runners in Connecticut — one of the states that allows transgender athletes to compete without restrictions — filed a federal lawsuit that seeks to block transgender athletes in the state from participating in female sports, according to the Associated Press.

Our ruling: Missing context

The claim that Biden's gender discrimination executive order says transgender women must be allowed to compete on women's teams is MISSING CONTEXT, based on our research. The order protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and states children should not be "denied access" to "school sports." The White House said this would include having transgender females play on women's teams. But the posts do not acknowledge that rules for transgender athletes are already in place at the college and Olympic levels, as well as in many states and school districts. Further, it is false to say any educational institution that receives federal funding must add biologically male athletes to teams.

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Fact check: UN's Agenda 21, 2030 Agenda won't create 'new world ...

The claim: The United Nations will establish a 'new world order' under its Agenda 21/2030 Mission Goals

Is a "new world order" part of the UN's plan? There is evidence that the claim has circulated on social media for years, but a May repost by Facebook user Vernon Adkinson recently went viral.

Over 20 goals comprise the "new world order" the United Nations will focus on as part of its "Agenda 21/2030 Mission Goals," according to the claim. Items on the agenda include one world government; a single cashless currency; government-owned and controlled schools, colleges and universities and an end to single-family homes.

"THIS IS NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORY," Adkinson insisted in the caption. "If you don’t believe it, a simple google search will take you to the U.N. website where you can access the document and read it for yourself. It is amazing (not) how well the Covid 19 plandemic ties in with Agenda 21/2030."

Adkinson did not respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY.

What are the U.N.'s Agenda 21 and its Agenda 2030 mission goals?

Agenda 21 was one of several agenda items for the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment & Development in Rio de Janeiro.

The agenda included 31 items addressing global social and economic dimensions; conservation and resource management; role strengthening for women, children and workers, as well as proposed methods of implementation.

Items listed in the "new world order" do not appear in Agenda 21. For instance, there is no mention of currency. Terms like "military" and "sovereignty" also do not appear, though both are referenced in the "new world order."

More:'No one is safe until everyone is safe': Vaccine nationalism threatens global coronavirus effort

However, there are brief mentions of some of the items from the claim. The term "central banking" is present in reference to capacity-building in developing countries; it is not described as a "world central bank." Property rights are also addressed, regarding protecting women's rights to property, but not an end to all privately owned property.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a resolution adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2015 that is focused around achieving 17 goals within 15 years:

End all poverty in all forms everywhere End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Reduce inequality within and among countries Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (acknowledging the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Terms like "one world," "currency," "military," "family unit," "5G," "private transportation," "air travel," and "synthetic drugs" are not mentioned in the 2030 Agenda, though they are listed in the "new world order."

There are references to equal rights and access to land and other forms of property for poor and vulnerable men and women, full and permanent sovereignty over natural and economic resources for individual states and universal health coverage to include affordable vaccines for all. The 2030 agenda does not mention global sovereignty over these items as the claim suggests.

Is the United Nations planning to institute a 'new world order' by 2030?

There is no evidence that the U.N. will establish "one world government" along with associated implications, such as a single military and currency.

Daniela Gross, a spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, told USA TODAY in an email that the claim is entirely fabricated.

"No, this is false. This is not a genuine UN document," Gross wrote.

The author of a 2014 report on Agenda 21 conspiracy theories, Heidi Beirichm, told AFP Australia in June that the "new world order" claim is a far-right hoax.

"That post is filled with all the bogus claims the far right has made against (Agenda 21) for a long time now,” Beirich, a co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said.

Moreover, Agenda 21 and the 2030 Agenda are not legally binding. The latter is subject to each country's commitment. A frequently asked questions page states that "implementation and success will rely on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes."

Similarly, Beirich described Agenda 21 as a "perfectly sensible planning paper, a nonbinding statement of intent aimed at dealing with sustainability on an increasingly crowded planet," in her 2014 conspiracy theory report for the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Our rating: False

We rate this claim FALSE because it is not supported by our research. A claim suggesting the UN's Agenda 21 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will establish "one world government" has been debunked by experts. A representative from the UN said that the agenda is not a genuine agency document.

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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

Pride Month: What to know about the LGBTQ celebration | CNN

CNN —

June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBT communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves.

But Pride gatherings are more than bright colors and good times. They are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.

The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement. Most Pride events take place each year in June, although some cities hold their celebrations at other times of the year.

Who celebrates it?

A participant from Venezuela takes part in Berlin's annual gay pride parade in 2017. JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images

Pride events are geared toward anyone who feels like their sexual identity falls outside the mainstream – although many straight people join in, too.

LGBT is an acronym meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. The term sometimes is extended to LGBTQ, or even LGBTQIA, to include queer, intersex and asexual groups. Queer is an umbrella term for non-straight people; intersex refers to those whose sex is not clearly defined because of genetic, hormonal or biological differences; and asexual describes those who don’t experience sexual attraction.

These terms may also include gender fluid people, or those whose gender identity shifts over time or depending on the situation.

How did it start?

People celebrate outside the historic Stonewall Inn during the New York Pride March on June 27, 2021, in New York City. Roy Rochlin/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

In the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village, and began hauling customers outside. Tensions quickly escalated as patrons resisted arrest and a growing crowd of bystanders threw bottles and coins at the officers. New York’s gay community, fed up after years of harassment by authorities, broke out in neighborhood riots that went on for three days.

The uprising became a catalyst for an emerging gay rights movement as organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance were formed, modeled after the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement. Members held protests, met with political leaders and interrupted public meetings to hold those leaders accountable. A year after the Stonewall riots, the nation’s first Gay Pride marches were held.

In 2016 the area around the Stonewall Inn, still a popular nightspot today, was designated a national monument.

Where did the Pride name come from?

Members and allies of the LGBTQ community march on June 12, 2021, in Washington. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

It’s credited to Brenda Howard, a bisexual New York activist nicknamed the “Mother of Pride,” who organized the first Pride parade to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.

What’s the origin of the rainbow flag?

Eric Thayer/Getty Images

In 1978, artist and designer Gilbert Baker was commissioned by San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk – one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US – to make a flag for the city’s upcoming Pride celebrations. Baker, a prominent gay rights activist, gave a nod to the stripes of the American flag but drew inspiration from the rainbow to reflect the many groups within the gay community.

Baker, a prominent gay rights activist, gave a nod to the stripes of the American flag but drew inspiration from the rainbow to reflect the many groups within the gay community.

A subset of flags represent other sexualities on the spectrum, such as bisexual, pansexual and asexual.

Can I participate in Pride events if I’m not LGBT?

Kamala Harris, then California's attorney general, rides in San Francisco's Pride parade in 2016. JOSH EDELSON/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Sure. Pride events welcome allies from outside the LGBT community. Parades and other celebrations are opportunities to show support, to observe, listen and be educated.

4-H: Trump agency push to dump LGBT policy led to Iowa leader's ...

The Trump administration pushed the national 4-H youth organization to withdraw a controversial policy welcoming LGBT members — a move that helped lead to the ouster of Iowa's top 4-H leader earlier this year, a Des Moines Register investigation found.

The international youth organization, with more than 6 million members, introduced the new guidance to ensure LGBT members felt protected by their local 4-H program. The document and their attempts to broaden membership in the LGBT community was a smaller part of a larger, multi-year effort to modernize the federally authorized group.

Several states posted the national guidance on their websites, including Iowa, where it prompted fierce opposition from conservatives and some evangelical groups.

"The current focus of this campaign may be Iowa, but the values and vision of the entire Cooperative Extension are under attack," Andy Turner, director of the New York 4-H program, wrote in an email to John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas, Iowa's top 4-H leader, last April.

Within days of the LGBT guidance's publication, Heidi Green, then-chief of staff for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, requested that it be rescinded, Sonny Ramaswamy, then-director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the federal department that administers 4-H, told the Register.

Afterward, a NIFA communications manager sent an "urgent" email to at least two states — Iowa and New York — urging the 4-H organizations there to remove the LGBT guidance from their websites, the Register found.

The subsequent decision to take down the policy set off a firestorm this spring that engulfed 4-H programs in at least eight states — including Iowa, Idaho, Wisconsin, California, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Virginia and New York.

And it eventually precipitated the firing of Iowa 4-H director John-Paul Chaisson-Cárdenas, a fierce advocate of the LGBT policy, the Register found after conducting extensive interviews and examining more than 500 pages of state and federal communications.

The 4-H policy's removal comes amid other moves by the Trump administration to roll back federal protections that the previous administration saw as also covering gender identity — or the deeply held sense of who one is that may differ from the sex organs with which one is born.

► New Tuesday:Chuck Grassley says USDA should not have pressured 4-H to rescind LGBT policy

The Trump administration previously declared it would place limits on transgender troops serving in the military, and it rescinded a 2016 Dear Colleague letter issued by Obama’s Education Department that said prohibiting transgender students from using facilities such as restrooms that matched their gender identity violates federal anti-discrimination laws.

The administration also attempted to remove questions about gender identity from the 2020 census. And, in October, the New York Times obtained a leaked memo from the Department of Health and Human Services that seeks to define gender as “either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with.”

The move would “essentially eradicate federal recognition of the estimated 1.4 million” transgender Americans, the Times reported.

The Trump administration to date has declined to comment on the leaked memo.

► New Monday:A national LGBTQ civil rights organization is pressing the Trump administration on its role in 4-H pulling transgender protections

Iowa director pressured to drop policy

As Iowa’s document — and the ones posted to other states’ sites — circulated the internet this spring, Christian conservative leaders and media outlets rallied their supporters to pressure 4-H leaders to remove the document, and a Christian law firm threatened legal action.

Some states relented. In Iowa, Chaisson-Cárdenas, the first statewide Latino director of 4-H in the organization’s 115-year history, resisted.

A dyslexic Guatemalan refugee who graduated from the University of Iowa, Chaisson-Cárdenas was adamant that 4-H was “for all kids.”

Emails sent to John Lawrence — vice president of Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach, which oversees Iowa's 4-H program — reflect deeply felt opinions for and against the policy.

Some said the policy was “great” and “very positive.” One former 4-H member, who claimed to be a transgender father, offered to speak on the issue.

Others, who identified themselves as 4-H volunteers, leaders and former members, called the policy a “fascist push to redefine humanity” and characterized transgender children as “horrendous” and “sinful.”

Several threatened to pull donations, leave leadership roles in their local extension or call their state legislator. Chaisson-Cárdenas said he received threats on his life.

In emails, Chaisson-Cárdenas pushed back against his bosses' efforts to apologize or retract the document.

“I guess I am not sure why we are valuing the propaganda machine of a recognized hate group over the existing rights of LGBTQ youth?” Chaisson-Cárdenas wrote in reference to WorldNetDaily, an alt-right online publication that extensively covered the dust-up in Iowa.

“It feels wrong to me," he wrote.

The battle to modernize 4-H

In 1991, USDA and extension leaders wrote a document titled “Pathway to Diversity” that called on university extension systems to become more diverse and multicultural.

As a congressionally authorized youth program, 4-H had an obligation to follow federal civil rights statutes, according to the document, but more importantly, if 4-H wanted to survive for 100 more years, it needed to diversify.

Since first drafting official inclusion policies, leaders in extension services and their colleagues in 4-H headquarters regularly reaffirm their commitment to diversity, experts said.

Recently, 4-H committed to the campaign “4-H Grows: A Promise to America’s Kids,” which seeks by 2025 to have the organization reflect "the population demographics, vulnerable populations, diverse needs and social conditions of the country."

As part of that pledge, extension leaders partnered with 4-H headquarters to create “working groups” around vulnerable populations, including incarcerated and LGBT youth, as well as kids with disabilities.

By 2015, 4-H headquarters was receiving frequent questions about how best to include LGBT students in local programming, according to documents obtained by the Register.

“With the recent surge of communication by the press on issues impacting LGBTQ people, we are starting to see an urgent need for training and resources to help combat the negative impact of these messages on our young people,” wrote Kimberly Allen, an extension specialist and professor at North Carolina State University.

Katherine Soule, the chair of an LGBT working group in 2016 and a leader of California’s 4-H, said group leaders were asked to adapt the Obama administration’s Dear Colleague letter protecting gender-identity rights for 4-H.

Soule and a group of western 4-H leaders created a best-practices document that became the foundation of a national guidance. That guidance document went through multiple drafts before being posted to NIFA's website.

Bonita Williams, a national program leader with 4-H, emailed state 4-H leaders March 13 with a link to a web page that had resources on all vulnerable populations identified in the "4-H Grows" promise.The national LGBT guidance was posted within the sub-category on LGBT youth.

The national guidance called on 4-H to treat all students consistent with their gender identity and allow them "equal access," even when families or community members "raise objections."

"As is consistently recognized in civil rights cases, the desire to accommodate others’ discomfort cannot justify a practice that singles out and disadvantages a particular class of individual," the national proposal read.

The document drew angry responses from 4-H leaders across the country and threats of "additional action" from the Liberty Counsel, a Christian law firm labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Register's review of documents found.

Opponents argued that the policy violated people's First Amendment rights by forcing them to use pronouns that might appear contrary to a person’s physical appearance, according to emails to 4-H headquarters. Some said the guidance also violated federal law, which does not list gender identity as a protected class.

The policy created “an environment in which my family no longer feels welcome,” Heather Jenkins, a local leader in Frederick County, Virginia, wrote to national leaders March 26.

"Believing that God creates us in His own image as male and female is not hate speech," Jenkins wrote. “When you create an environment in which my family is discriminated against because we refuse to use and subscribe to specific terms and vocabulary that go against our religious beliefs, you are infringing on our rights.”

The LGBT guidance was removed from NIFA's site by the next day.

Transgender Iowans: In the spotlight, seeking their true selves

‘A very political situation'

Ramaswamy, NIFA’s former director, said in an interview that he had received “two, maybe three calls” about the LGBT policy when he was summoned to a meeting with Green, then the chief of staff for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, a few days after the new guidance was published.

At that meeting, Green asked Ramaswamy to remove the document, which he said struck him as odd because 4-H posts "guidance about all manner of things."

When contacted by the Register, Green — who has since left the USDA — refused to answer questions about the meeting and hung up.

Ramaswamy said he agreed to remove the guidance because the document hadn't crossed his desk before it had been posted, which is a step in the organization's typical approval procedure.

After the document was removed, a March 27 email titled “Urgent message” was sent by Dianne Bell, NIFA's web communications manager, to at least two states — Iowa and New York — urging them to remove the policy from their websites.

"Regrettably, we must ask you to remove it from your website immediately,” Bell said in the three-sentence email that also asked the states to confirm that the policy had been removed. The email did not outline any reasons for the federal retraction or explain its request of the state 4-H chapters.

Ramaswamy said Bell “had no right to do that,” adding that she was only supposed to find out what states were planning to do with the policy.

Other officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture declined to answer questions, instead sending a three-sentence statement that said the guidance didn’t officially set 4-H policy and should never have been disseminated.

Neither officials with the department nor the 4-H national headquarters would answer specific questions about how and why the policy was retracted.

Three of the four authors of the policy declined or did not respond to questions. The fourth, Soule, told the Register she didn’t have answers.

The about-face on the LGBT policy by national 4-H headquarters left some 4-H volunteers angry and program officials confused, according to the Register’s investigation.

“I feel bad for the folks at USDA,” Glenda Humiston, the vice president of the University of California’s Agriculture and Natural Resources, told other 4-H leaders during a May training video. “I think they are in between a rock and a hard place.” “We’re out here at the land grant universities developing new knowledge, new research, ways to implement your jobs better,” she continued, “and they’re being put into a very political situation.”

What happened in Iowa

In Iowa, Chaisson-Cárdenas said he was particularly excited to have received guidance from other 4-H leaders regarding LGBT issues.

Before Williams, the national 4-H program leader, had emailed state 4-H leaders a copy of the national guidance, Chaisson-Cárdenas said he had been approached by a transgender student in Iowa who didn’t feel safe at the county office but wanted to be involved in 4-H.

“Please let your committee know that we have taken their LGBT stuff to serve as the basis of our new state policy,” Chaisson-Cárdenas wrote to Williams in response to her email. “Let them know that they are making a difference.”

Chaisson-Cárdenas said he presented hard copies of the national policy to the Iowa 4-H leadership team, including Lawrence, the ISU vice president, and the team's advice was to add Iowa State language but to stick closely to the national policy.

Chaisson-Cárdenas said he showed leaders the revised Iowa document again, on March 19, and that none of the leaders recommended any further changes.

Then, after securing what he believed to be approval, Chaisson-Cárdenas posted the LGBT guidance and opened the document for comment. A link announcing the proposed guidance was added to the 4-H Focus newsletter on or around March 21.

Lawrence said he was on medical leave when the document was presented to the leadership team. He said he does not remember providing edits to Chaisson-Cárdenas and said he did not see what was posted until after he returned to the office.

Lawrence said the process for creating policy wasn’t followed. A "guidance document" had been presented to the team, but when the document appeared online, "the word 'guidance' was taken out of the first page and 'policy' was put on," he said.

"The document itself as guidance would have been a good piece of education for our staff — of best practices, of recommendations — and, I think, could have been used in that setting," Lawrence said. "But when it comes across as policy and everybody must follow, it set a very different tone."

The Iowa LGBT document, which Lawrence kept up through the comment period, does include the word "policy" on top of the first page. But the portion suggesting ways to ensure LGBT students' safety appears under the header “Guidance for inclusion.”

Emails trickled in during the first weeks the policy was posted, but the issue remained mostly under the radar until mid-April, when Chaisson-Cárdenas defended the policy on air with conservative WHO Radio host Simon Conway.

That evening, Lawrence emailed ISU’s senior communication officials about the matter, noting that the university’s president and provost were involved and that Sen. Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway, had called him.

“Certainly, there were questions raised from many places, including (from) individual legislators,” Lawrence said.

Over the next few days, the trickle of emails became a deluge.

"It was an embarrassment to the 4-H program from the beginning and only got worse as the program wore on,” wrote a member of the Crawford County extension council, referring to the WHO interview. “… Who decided that John-Paul should speak for all the thousands of 4-H'ers and their families in this latest of his uninformed attempts at being relevant?"

“Sitting on my desk is the latest request from the 4-H Foundation for my donation," said the extension member, whose name was redacted by Iowa State. "It will sit there until you … either fire this man or at least put him in a position where he can do no further damage to our program.”

On April 12, Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader, a conservative Christian organization in Des Moines, issued a call to supporters to protest the document’s “radical” approach, which he saw as allowing “a man who claims the female gender (without any medical procedure or legal verification) to sleep in the girls' hotel rooms.”

Lawrence sent a form email to extension staff and council members later that day reminding them the guidance was a draft, not an enshrined policy.

As pressure on Iowa State continued to mount, Chaisson-Cárdenas emailed his bosses, asking them to remind extension members that federal and state civil rights laws already provide transgender students the right to use facilities in line with their gender identities.

If counties discriminate against LGBT youth, he wrote, they will be in violation of those laws — guidance or no guidance.

"This was not about the policy itself," Chaisson-Cárdenas told the Register. “As a matter of fact, … John had to admit to me, he could not find anything wrong with the actual policy."

Lawrence said that he can't remember exactly what he told Chaisson-Cárdenas.

‘A very heavy price’

On May 10, less than a month after the comment period ended and the guidance was pulled from the Iowa chapter’s website, “restated” guidelines were posted.

They affirmed that Iowa 4-H does not discriminate on the basis of 14 characteristics, including “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” But they did not address the issue at the heart of the controversy — the use of sex-segregated facilities by transgender students.

Lawrence issued a letter of discipline to Chaisson-Cárdenas that same day, expressing disappointment in how the Iowa transgender guidance was approached and posted as 4-H “policy.”

“Your lack of judgment and professionalism is deeply concerning,” Lawrence wrote.

Chaisson-Cárdenas contends he followed procedure. In multiple emails, Chaisson-Cárdenas refers to having shown the LGBT policy at least twice before it was posted to Lawrence; Chad Higgins, the senior director of extension and his direct supervisor; and the rest of the Iowa chapter's leadership team. Neither Lawrence nor Higgins countered his claim in writing, according to the documents obtained by the Register.

"What was posted on the website, I did not edit," Lawrence said, adding that he did not remember if the leadership team provided guidance as to what Iowa's policy should be.

Chaisson-Cárdenas said he was given the opportunity to resign at the May 10 discipline meeting or “next steps would be taken.” He kept working, maintaining his stance that xenophobia is pervasive within 4-H and that an updated inclusion policy with specific protections for LGBT members was needed.

He was terminated in August.

Asked for details explaining Chaisson-Cárdenas' dismissal, Iowa State issued a statement listing his "tendency to focus on individual tactical projects while neglecting the overall strategic direction of the Iowa 4-H program; concerns raised by peers, employees and partners about his management style; and a pattern of poor decision-making and judgment."

Chaisson-Cárdenas said he was never put on a performance plan — normally a necessary step to firing someone from the university — and said he was never given lower than “meets expectations” on any performance review. Even as comments on the LGBT policy were rolling in, Chaisson-Cárdenas’ said his supervisors graded him as meeting expectations in his annual performance review.

Lawrence declined to confirm if those claims were accurate.

In the wake of his firing, more than 200 people — including 4-H leaders — signed a letter to ISU President Wendy Wintersteen noting that Chaisson-Cárdenas has had a career of “intentionally reaching youth who were otherwise overlooked.”

“To remove him from his position in the midst of this great work is a disservice to youth in Iowa and throughout the nation,” the letter read.

Lawrence said his message to Extension staff across Iowa after Chaisson-Cárdenas' termination was that despite a change in leadership, “we’ve not had a change in direction.”

“Our focus on diversity needs to continue and, quite frankly, we need to strengthen it,” he said.

Iowa State Extension is working with the Office of Equal Opportunity to hire another person to work on issues of discrimination, Lawrence said. When that person is hired, diversity officer Ross Wilburn will focus on education and coaching and the new person will focus on enforcement.

Ramaswamy, whose six-year appointment ended in May, called both Chaisson-Cárdenas’ firing and the fallout at Iowa State “mind-boggling.”

“Look at the memos that come from Iowa State University and it says, down on the bottom, that they're about 'equal opportunity,' right?” Ramaswamy said. “… What this tells me is they’re about equal opportunity when it's convenient.”

In hindsight, he said he should have pushed back against the effort to remove the transgender guidance.

"I wish I had stood up and said, 'Take a hike. We will not take it down,'" he said. "'So sue me; so fire me' — I should’ve stood up."

Chaisson-Cárdenas said he believes he had an obligation to resist efforts to retract the transgender guidance and to fight xenophobia in 4-H’s ranks.

“I’m paying a very heavy price for doing it, and I don't regret it for a single second,” he continued, his voice catching.

"It was the right thing to do."

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Elon Musk has taken control of Twitter and fired its top executives ...

New York CNN Business —

Elon Musk has completed his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, a source familiar with the deal told CNN Thursday, putting the world’s richest man in charge of one of the world’s most influential social media platforms.

Musk fired CEO Parag Agrawal and two other executives, according to two people familiar with the decision. Twitter declined to comment.

The deal’s closing removes a cloud of uncertainty that has hung over Twitter’s business, employees and shareholders for much of the year. After initially agreeing to buy the company in April, Musk spent months attempting to get out of the deal, first citing concerns about the number of bots on the platform and later allegations raised by a company whistleblower.

Musk appeared to acknowledge the takeover in a tweet Thursday night saying, “the bird is freed.”

By completing the deal, Musk and Twitter have avoided a trial that was originally set to take place earlier this month. But Musk’s takeover, and the immediate firings of some of its top executives, now raises a host of new questions for the future of the social media platform, and the many corners of society impacted by it.

In addition to Agrawal, Musk on Thursday fired CFO Ned Segal and policy head Vijaya Gadde, according to the two sources. Musk also fired Sean Edgett, Twitter’s general counsel, according to a source.

Left to right, clockwise: Twitter former executives Vijaya Gadde, Parag Agrawal, Ned Segal, Sean Edgett. Andrew Harnik/AP/Kevin Dietsch/Patrick T. Fallon/Martina Albertazzi/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Musk has said he plans to rethink Twitter’s content moderation policies in service of a more maximalist approach to “free speech.” The billionaire has also said he disagrees with Twitter’s practice of permanent bans for those who repeatedly violate its rules, raising the possibility that a number of previously banned, controversial users could reemerge on the platform.

Perhaps most immediately, many will be watching to see how soon Musk could let former President Donald Trump back on the platform, as he has previously said he would do. Depending on the timing, such a move could have major implications for the upcoming US midterm elections, as well as the 2024 Presidential campaign.

In taking those steps, Musk could singlehandedly upend the media and political ecosystem, reshape public discourse online and disrupt the nascent sphere of conservative-leaning social media properties that emerged largely in response to grievances about bans and restrictions on Twitter and other mainstream services.

Earlier this week, Musk visited Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters to meet with employees. He also posted an open letter to Twitter advertisers, saying he doesn’t want the platform to become a “free-for-all-hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.”

The acquisition also promises to extend Musk’s influence. The billionaire already owns, oversees or has significant stakes in companies developing cars, rockets, robots and satellite internet, as well as more experimental ventures such as brain implants. Now he controls a social media platform that shapes how hundreds of millions of people communicate and get their news.

A deal that went off the rails

Even for Twitter, a company known for a certain amount of chaos over its history, the months-long deal process with Musk was turbulent.

Musk, a prominent and controversial Twitter user, became involved with the company earlier this year when he built up a more than 9% stake in its shares. After announcing he had become Twitter’s largest shareholder, Musk accepted and then pulled out of an offer to sit on the company’s board.

Musk then offered to buy Twitter outright at a significant premium, threatened a hostile takeover and signed a “seller-friendly” deal to buy the company that involved waiving due diligence.

“This is not a way to make money,” Musk said in an on-stage interview shortly after making an offer to buy Twitter. “My strong intuitive sense is that having a public platform that is maximally trusted and broadly inclusive is extremely important to the future of civilization.”

Musk also pledged to “defeat the spam bots or die trying,” referring to the fake and scam accounts that are often especially active in the replies to his tweets and those of others with large followings on the platform.

Within weeks of the acquisition agreement, however, Musk began raising concerns about the prevalence of those same fake and spam accounts on Twitter and ultimately attempted to terminate the deal.

Musk visited Twitter's San Francisco headquarters earlier this week before the acquisition closed to meet with employees. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Twitter sued him to follow through with the agreement, alleging that Musk was using the bot argument as a pretense to get out of a deal for which he had developed buyer’s remorse. In the weeks after the deal was announced, much of the stock market, including social media companies, declined amid concerns about rising inflation and a looming recession. The downturn also hit Tesla and, in turn, Musk’s personal net worth.

Legal experts widely believed that Twitter was on strong footing to have the deal enforced in court. Two weeks before the contentious legal battle was set to go to trial, Musk said he would follow through with the deal on its original terms after all. As the parties negotiated, Musk’s attorneys asked a judge to stay the legal proceedings, prompting pushback from Twitter, which feared that Musk might not stay true to his promise to close the deal.

In a sharp response, Twitter’s lawyers wrote that Musk had been attempting to exit the deal and “now, on the eve of trial, Defendants declare they intend to close after all. ‘Trust us,’ they say, ‘we mean it this time.’”

Delaware Chancery Court chancellor Kathaleen St. Judge McCormick gave the parties until 5 p.m. on Oct. 28 to close the deal or face a rescheduled trial.

What’s next for Twitter

With the deal drama out of the way, attention now turns to Musk’s plans for Twitter.

Beyond the removal of Twitter’s CEO and other executives, Musk’s takeover could also usher in the return of some measure of influence over the company by founder Jack Dorsey, who stepped down as CEO in November and left its board in May. While Dorsey has said he will not formally return to Twitter, he has privately discussed the takeover with Musk and offered advice.

Musk has also reportedly told prospective investors in the deal that he planned to get rid of nearly 75% of the company’s staff, in a move that could disrupt every aspect of how Twitter operates. He previously discussed dramatically reducing Twitter’s workforce in personal text messages with friends about the deal, which were revealed in court filings, and didn’t dismiss the potential for layoffs in a call with Twitter employees in June.

Among the changes Musk could make to Twitter is restoring the account of former President Donald Trump, who was banned from the platform following the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Under Musk, Twitter may not have use for many of its existing staff. Musk has repeatedly made clear he would overhaul Twitter’s content moderation policies and bolster what he calls “free speech,” potentially undoing years of efforts from the company to address misinformation and harassment and to create “healthier” conversations on the platform.

Such a move could also have ripple effects across the social media landscape. Twitter, although smaller than many of its social media rivals, has sometimes acted as a model for how the industry handles problematic content, including when it was the first to ban then-President Trump following the January 6 Capitol riot.

And in recent years, several alternative social networks have launched largely targeting conservatives who claim more mainstream services unduly restrict their speech. These services include Trump’s Truth Social and Parler, which Kanye West recently said he would acquire. While it’s unclear how far Musk could go in fulfilling his free speech dreams, any loosening of existing content moderation policies could effectively make Twitter, which provides a much larger audience, a more enticing service for some of the users who have fled to those smaller, fringe services. (Musk, however, could run into regulatory issues, especially in Europe, depending on how far he takes his efforts to loosen content restrictions.)

Apart from content moderation, Musk has also tossed out a wide range of other possible changes for the platform, from enabling end-to-end encryption for Twitter’s direct messaging feature to suggesting recently that Twitter become part of an “everything” app called X, possibly in the style of popular Chinese app WeChat.

Despite his months-long attempt to get out of buying the company and his own recent remarks that he is “obviously overpaying” for it, Musk has tried to sound optimistic about Twitter’s potential.

“The long-term potential for Twitter, in my view, is an order of magnitude greater than its current value,” he said on Tesla’s earnings conference call last week.

Donie O'Sullivan Clare Duffy
Donie O'Sullivan
Clare Duffy

Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court hearing: Live stream, updates

Gallup Poll finds 58% of Americans back Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court.

Judge says life experiences would shape Supreme Court approach.

Sen. Lindsey Graham reasserts grievance about treating of past nominees of GOP presidents.

Jackson on child pornography offenses: "I know how serious this crime is."

WASHINGTON – Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson defended her sentencing practices and her views on expanding the Supreme Court, among other topics, during a second day of sometimes sharp questioning from members of the Senate Judiciary CommitteeWednesday, as hearings continue over her historic nomination to be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.

At one point, the judge said - if she is confirmed - that she will recuse herself in a case before the court about the use of race in the admissions process at Harvard University. The Harvard Law graduate has been a member of the college’s board of overseers since 2016.

Senators asked the judge about a wide range of topics Tuesday, including about her judicial philosophy, her faith, her work as a former federal public defender and sentences she handed down as a District Court judge in Washington.

Wednesday's hearing began with two senators finishing up their first round of questions, before moving into a second round – slightly shorter – with questions from the committee's 22 members. The hearing ended just before 8 p.m. after 10 hours of questioning

It was a stark contrast at times. Some Republicans accused her of being soft on crime, of being evasive on questions such as expansion of the court, and of being a liberal activist judge. Democrats were deferential to her, praising not only her judicial temperament but her trailblazing status as well.

"It's hard for me not to look at you and see my mom – not to see my cousin," Sen. Cory Booker told Jackson during an emotional moment. "I see my ancestors … and nobody’s going to steal that joy.”

Democrats are planning to finish the hearings on Thursday and hope to move Jackson to a final confirmation vote by early April.

Jackson's first day:Jackson fights back against GOP criticism over sentencing, Gitmo

Democrats push back on GOP demand to release pre-sentencing reports

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Democratic senators continued to push back on the GOP demand that pre-sentencing reports in cases involving child pornography cases be unsealed.

Republicans, who have accused Jackson of being too lenient with pedophiles, want the reports public. The controversy involves sentencing recommendations from the Probation Office that are included in pre-sentencing reports. Those reports are sealed – that is blocked from public view – because they contain personal information about the defendants and victims.

“The notion of making those pre-sentence reports available for this political environment, and be potentially available for public consumption, is reprehensible and dangerous,” Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “These reports contain sensitive information about innocent third parties and victims, and children for God's sake.”

Durbin promised to fight the request every step of the way, and said “I'm counting on the victims rights group to be with me in this process.”

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, a former prosecutor, said no prosecutor he knows would want the documents released.

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, another former prosecutor, said “the day that pre-sentence reports become public for even one judge is the day that the entire probation department has to be cautious from there on about the kind of cooperation that they will get from people who divulge extraordinarily intimate things.”

Former prosecutor Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said releasing pre-sentencing reports could also put probation officers in danger. He said the information they contain “is explosive.”

Durbin said that he’s spoken to some Republicans who signed a letter earlier Wednesday requesting documents who are now rethinking their ask.

“I've been speaking to some Republican senators who once they reflected on this letter, had second thoughts about it, they were misled initially that we have lots of documentation,” Durbin said. “We had one sheet of paper, that we shared with them almost immediately”

– Dylan Wells

Emotional Leahy: Jackson 'an inspiration to us all'

Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the longest serving current senator, said he was appalled at the racially tinged criticism of Jackson even before the hearings began.

“When I hear one of my Republican colleagues talk about how terrible it was to have the president say he was going to name a black woman to the Supreme Court, because ‘what does that say to all these qualified white men,’ -- I thought when I first came here that that era of Jim Crow and all was over, and I was amazed to hear it here,” Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont told reporters after the hearing.

A visibly emotional Leahy said Jackson “is an inspiration to all of us, to our families, those of us who have daughters, and granddaughters both white and black.”

“She's gonna make history and for some who are opposing her, it's a bitter pill to accept this kind of change in America,” Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.

“There was a promise that they were going to treat her with respect, obviously four or five of my colleagues didn’t get the memo,” Durbin added. He told reporters he hasn’t heard from any Republicans planning to vote yes yet.

– Dylan Wells

Committee vote on Jackson likely in early April, setting up floor vote by Easter

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., announced at the end of the hearing Wednesday that senators would meet on Monday, March 28, to consider whether to send a recommendation for Jackson's confirmation to the Senate floor.

But committee rules -- and past practice -- generally allow for a nominee to be "held over" for a week. That would mean a committee vote for Jackson on April 4.

If that schedule holes, it would queue up a final confirmation vote by the full Senate before Easter, the target Durbin had set before Jackson was nominated.

- John Fritze

Blackburn ends questioning on abortion, critical race theory

After more than 23 hours, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s questioning of Jackson ended Wednesday with a series of probing questions from Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., including about critical race theory.

“Do you consider critical race theory in your sentencing decisions as a judge?” Blackburn asked of the theory dealing with systemic racism.

“Critical race theory, any academic theory, is not considered in my sentencings,” Jackson said. “It never comes up in sentencing.”

Blackburn also pressed Jackson on gun rights, sentencing and abortion. In virtually every one of her answers, Jackson said she couldn’t answer.

“The Supreme Court is looking at that very issue in a case before right now,” Jackson said. “And as a nominee for the Supreme Court, it's important that I not speak to it because the court is deciding this question.”

Blackburn seemed to acknowledge that was the case, and also seemed to nod to the idea that Jackson is likely to be confirmed.

“That,” Blackburn said of the abortion issue, “is an issue will be decided before you go to the court.”

- John Fritze

Jackson draws line between legal and political war power decisions

Jackson demurred on her views on war powers in response to questioning by Georgia Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff.

“In the war powers realm, there may be questions of law that are appropriate for courts to decide, but there may also be political questions,” Jackson said.

She said, for example, that a dispute between the legislature and executive branches over exercises of authority not governed by the law, like the executive authority to move troops during war, would not present a question for the court to decide.

“That would be the kind of thing I would have to carefully examine in order to determine whether I could rule,” she said.

- Dylan Wells

Jackson chokes up about trailblazer status, her initial Harvard experience

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., praised Jackson for rising from humble beginnings to become the first Black woman nominated to the Supreme Court.

“What would you say that checks into all those young Americans — the most diverse generation in our nation's history — what would you say to some of them who may doubt that they can one day achieve the same great heights that you have?” Padilla asked.

The room fell silent for Jackson's response as she choked back tears. Her husband and parents nodded as Padilla told Jackson, "you do inspire, you are an inspiration." Soon after, Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas pulled out a tissue in the audience.

“I hope to inspire people to try to follow this path because I love this country, because I love the law, because I think it is important that we all invest in our future and the young people are the future,” she said. “And so, I want them to know that they can do and be anything.”

Jackson, a Miami native, said she didn’t know anything about alma mater Harvard University until her debate coach took her there to enter a speech competition. After she enrolled, Jackson soon questioned whether she belonged there.

“And a black woman I did not know was passing me on the sidewalk, and she looked at me and I guess she knew how I was feeling,” Jackson said. “And she leaned over as we crossed and said ‘persevere.’ I would tell (young people) to persevere.”

- Chelsey Cox and Dylan Wells

Black members of Congress moved by Booker’s speech

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus spoke to reporters after Sen. Cory Booker’s emotional remarks about the historical nature of Jackson’s nomination and Black representation.

Booker’s comments brought Jackson to tears, and once he finished speaking the judge’s parents embraced the senator, as did many of his colleagues and Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee of California, as well as Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas.

“It makes me so proud that we have a soon to be Supreme Court justice, the first African American woman,” said Lee, who wiped tears from her eyes while hugging Booker. “I just have to say, since 1789 – just think what this country has lost.”

The three representatives are members of the Congressional Black Caucus. There are only three Black men in the Senate able to vote on the nomination, and no Black women.

“Those who wish to derail it, shame on you, because Black women around America are rising. Peacefully they are rising up and they may stop you in the streets in your state to ask you why you could not vote for a competent, qualified black woman who was in slavery by her history and had the beast of burden,” Jackson Lee said.

“We can't apologize for her complexion. She's a black woman. It is time for the Supreme Court to have this personality, this persona,” Green added. “My god, if not her, who? She’s one of our best.”

– Dylan Wells

Kennedy: Are unenumerated rights policy?

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed Jackson on the idea that judges aren't policymakers, questioning if the court's recognition of unenumerated rights is a type of policymaking.

Unenumerated rights are those not explicitly included in the Constitution. Without saying it directly, Kennedy was likely referring to the right of privacy the court has recognized that was an underpinning of the Roe v. Wade decision that recognized a right to abortion.

"The role of the judiciary is to interpret the law," Jackson responded. "To the extent that somebody argues to the court that there's been a violation of the due process clause of the Constitution, it is within the role of the court to determine what that means."

- John Fritze

Jackson again defends representation of Guantanamo detainees

GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas focused on Jackson’s representation of Guantanamo Bay detainees during his questioning. Jackson has been pressed on the issue previously during the hearing, and explained that she represented them as a federal public defender.

Cotton latched on to Jackson's representation of a detainee both as a public defender and later while working at a law firm that took up the case. Jackson said she was asked by the partners at the firm to work on the case because of her familiarity with the case.

The senator asked if America would be less safe if the detainees at Guantanamo were released.

“Senator, America would be less safe if we don’t have terrorists out running around attacking this country, absolutely. America would also be more safe in a situation in which all of our constitutional rights are protected,” Jackson said.

She added: “This is the way our scheme works. This is how the constitution that we all love operates, it’s about making sure that the government is doing what it is supposed to do in a time of crisis."

– Dylan Wells

Senators spar over pre-sentencing records

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sparred with Republicans over documents the GOP wants to review as they debate Jackson’s handling of child pornography cases.

The battle began when Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, attempted to submit a letter he said was signed by 10 Republicans seeking information from the U.S. Probation Office about its sentencing recommendations in the cases at issue.

Durbin declined to recognize Cruz and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., accused Cruz of trying "to get on television" with the request. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the committee, later got Durbin’s attention to submit the letter.

The controversy involves sentencing recommendations from the Probation Office that are included in pre-sentencing reports. Those reports are sealed – that is blocked from public view – because they contain personal information about the defendants and victims. Sometimes the sentencing recommendations from the office become public later, though none are included in the dockets of the cases at issue.

Durbin said the White House contacted Jackson’s chambers on Thursday to request the Probation Office recommendations. Durbin, holding up a copy of a chart, said “the Probation Office provided this chart reflecting those recommendations.”

The chart shows that Jackson often sentenced defendants at or above recommendations from the office as USA TODAY reported Wednesday in summaries of the cases.

Durbin denied that Democrats had withheld the information from Republicans.

“Once the Republican side requested the same information, my staff shared it within minutes,” Durbin said. “So now, your side, senator, has exactly what the White House and the Democratic side has the same chart provided by the Probation Office.”

Durbin also threw cold water on the idea of requesting the sentencing reports.

"I am not going to be a party to turning over this information and endangering an innocent person," Durbin said. "I don't believe this information is going to change anyone's vote."

The Probation Office has not vouched for the chart and the office has not responded to multiple requests for information from USA TODAY.

- John Fritze and Kevin McCoy

Hirono asks Jackson about abusive practices by federal judges

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, who introduced a bill on workplace sexual misconduct, asked Jackson about improving workplace safety and protections against sexual harassment.

Jackson said she tries to act as a role model for her law clerks.

“I try to bring in people who have the respect of others, people who come with strong recommendations, people who I think will get along with one another and certainly people who I think will get along with me and we create a little group, a working group,” Jackson said. “And I think that it's worked out well.”

During her questioning, Hirono said federal judicial branch employees are not protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She introduced a bill to protect this group from sexual harassment and misconduct.

- Chelsey Cox

Jackson fights emotion during Booker’s speech

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., the only Black member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, emotionally spoke about the historical significance of Jackson’s nomination while the Supreme Court nominee fought back tears.

“I'm sorry, you're a person that is so much more than your race and gender,” Booker said. “You're a Christian, you’re a mom, your (an) intellect, you wrote books, but for me, I’m sorry, but it's hard for me not to look at you and see my mom – not to see my cousin. I see my ancestors … and nobody’s going to steal that joy.”

“You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American,” Booker added, and said he would rejoice once Jackson ascends to the highest court of the land.

Jackson’s father embraced the New Jersey senator after his speech. Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.; Al Green, D-Tx.; and Sen. Alex Padilla; D-Calif, hugged him, as well.

- Chelsey Cox

Jackson says she regrets committee's focus on sentencing

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., as expected, immediately returned to questions about sentences Jackson handed down in child pornography cases when she was a District Court judge.

“Do you regret it?” Hawley pressed Jackson. “I just wonder if you regret it or if you stand by it?”

Jackson responded: “What I regret is that in a hearing about my qualifications to be a justice on the Supreme Court, we've spent a lot of time focusing on this small subset of my sentences."

Jackson said she had sentenced more than 100 people and that “no one case can stand in for a judge's entire record.”

When Hawley asked Jackson if she had anything to add, she said no. And after several more minutes of back-and-forth between the two, Jackson appeared to be exasperated.

"I’ve answered this question," Jackson said repeatedly. "I'll stand by my answer."

- John Fritze

Blumenthal compares Jackson to judicial trailblazers

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called out Jackson's shared birthday with trailblazer Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman confirmed as a federal judge.

Jackson has previously talked about being inspired by Motley, a native of Blumenthal's home state of Connecticut, and has often commented on their shared birthday: Sept. 14.

“When you're the first it means no one has ever done it before like you and there may b hundreds or thousands of people who might have wanted that opportunity and thought, 'I can't do that because there's no one there like me,'” Jackson said. “And so being a trailblazer — whether it's Judge Motley or Justice (Thurgood) Marshall or Justice (Sandra Day) O'Connor — being a trailblazer is really inspiring,"

–Chelsey Cox

Sasse decries cancel culture, cameras in Supreme Court

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., asked Jackson about the status of free speech on college campuses, decrying how speakers with differing views have been shouted down or have been scared away from universities, including “traditional liberals.”

“It is better to debate ideas that you disagree with than to shout them down—isn’t it,” Sasse said.

Jackson said law schools in general should be a place where different arguments should be made, adding she and the senator are on the same page.

Sasse then spoke out against allowing cameras in the Supreme Court, saying they are a main culprit behind dysfunction in Congress. He urged the justices to reject such a proposal.

“We should recognize that the jack------ we often see around here is partly because of people mugging for short-term camera opportunities,” he said.

- Phillip M. Bailey

Cruz’ grilling on Jackson’s child sex crime sentencing leads to fireworks

Toting a poster-sized fact sheet of child sex crime cases sentenced by Jackson, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, again took aim at the sentences she imposed on sexual offenders.

“I’m asking you to take the opportunity to explain to this committee and the American people why in 100% of the cases you have people with vile crimes – and you have language saying they’re vile crimes – but then you sentenced them to very, very low sentences,” he said.

In one of the most acrimonious moments of this week's hearings, Jackson repeatedly reiterated that “no one case can stand for a judge’s entire sentencing record” and that she sentenced more than 100 people during her career.

Cruz repeatedly interrupted Jackson’s responses, which led Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., to jump to her defense. The Illinois senator directly addressed Jackson and said there is “no point” in responding to Cruz’ line of questioning.

When Cruz’ allotted time of 20 minutes ran out, he continued to speak despite Durbin’s protests, asking Jackson to address the reasoning behind her sentencing in a specific case.

“Will you allow her to answer the question?” Cruz asked.

“You won’t allow her to answer the question,” Durbin shot back.

Durbin then handed the floor over to Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., despite Cruz’ repeated cries that the committee chairman would not allow Jackson to answer his questions.

- Ella Lee

Jackson would recuse herself in case examining race in admissions at Harvard, UNC

If confirmed for the Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said Wednesday she will recuse herself in a case before the court about the use of race in the admissions process at Harvard University.

Jackson, a Harvard Law graduate and member of the college’s board of overseers, has faced calls for recusal even before her confirmation hearings began this week. She has sat on the board since 2016.

Asked by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, if she would recuse herself in the case, Jackson said: “That is my plan, senator.”

The court’s sitting justices in January agreed to hear the case about whether the use of race in the admissions process at Harvard and North Carolina violated civil rights laws and the Constitution.

- Rick Rouan

Schumer, other lawmakers attend third day of hearings

Lawmakers who are not members of the committee took the unusual step of witnessing some of the questioning happening during Wednesday's hearing.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared in the hearing room during GOP Sen. John Cornyn’s questioning this morning, sitting in the row of chairs behind Jackson’s husband to the judge’s left.

Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio also stopped by the hearing room throughout the day, as did Democratic Reps. Al Green of Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, Barbara Lee of California, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.

White House counsel Dana Remus also attended, seated between Jackson’s parents and Supreme Court “sherpa” former Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala.

– Dylan Wells

Jackson: Important to hear arguments

Responding to a question from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., about the court’s so-called shadow docket, Jackson said she believes it’s important to hear from the parties involved in a case.

“You make determinations based on arguments, and it's important to do so,” Jackson said.

That rarely happens on the Supreme Court's emergency docket because those cases usually must be decided before the court has a chance to hear arguments. Klobuchar noted the court handed down a new emergency decision on Wednesday as the hearing was underway, an unsigned opinion that will require Wisconsin courts to redraw their legislative boundaries.

More:U.S. Supreme Court throws out Wisconsin's redistricting plan for legislative maps

In a separate case. the Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to block the state’s congressional maps.

The justices did not hear arguments in either case.

“There's a need to balance getting full briefing with emergency circumstances,” Jackson said. “It's also my understanding, from my time clerking on the court, that the court does recognize the value of allowing things to what we call 'percolate,' meaning lower courts (can) hear issues,” she said.

- John Fritze

Lee questions Jackson on personal court-packing opinion

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, pressed Jackson on her personal view of court-packing.

“I understand that the canons of judicial ethics don’t allow you to comment on matters that might come before you; this is one that could not come before you as a justice,” Lee said.

Jackson in response reiterated her discomfort with providing her personal opinion in a professional capacity.

“I’m a human being and I have an opinion on a lot of things,” Jackson said. “The reason why, in my view, it is not appropriate for me to comment is because of my fidelity to the judicial role.

The Utah senator pushed back, noting again that the question of court-packing would not come before her (Congress would make the decision) and that he believes she could provide a “valuable” perspective because of her experience as a federal judge.

- Ella Lee

Cornyn hints at overturning Roe while questioning Jackson

GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas asked Jackson if she feels there’s any good reason for the Supreme Court not to overrule a previous decision or overturn precedent, hinting at a possible move to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“The Supreme Court has laid out factors beyond just the precedent being wrong as a reason to overturn it,” Jackson said.

“All precedents of the Supreme Court has to be respected,” she later added.

The senator then questioned Jackson on the medical meaning of “viability” and the number of weeks at which a fetus is viable, and Jackson said she hadn’t studied the specific issue.

“The Supreme Court has tests and standards that it has applied when it evaluates regulation of the right of a woman to terminate their pregnancy,” Jackson said. “The court has announced that there is a right to terminate up to the point of viability, subject to the framework in Roe and Casey, and there is a pending case right now that is addressing these issues.”

– Dylan Wells

Jackson: 'I know how serious this crime is'

In one of the sharpest exchanges yet over the issue of Jackson’s sentencing decisions in child pornography cases, the judge noted that she sent every one of the defendants in question to jail and asserted she followed the sentencing process laid out by Congress.

“Every person in all of these charts and documents I sent to jail, because I know how serious this crime is,” Jackson said. “And on the other side of their terms of imprisonment, I ensured that they were facing lengthy periods of supervision and restrictions on their computer use so they could not do this sort of thing again."

“That's what Congress has required of judges,” she said. “And that's what I did in every case.”

Jackson was responding to questions from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who said Jackson declined to consider sentencing “enhancements” in some of the cases that could have increased jail time.

“All I can say is that your view of how to deter child pornography is not my view,” Graham said. “I think you're doing it wrong.”

The enhancements cited by Graham include considerations such as whether a computer was used to view or distribute the illicit images. Independent experts say that virtually all pornography is viewed electronically today and argue the consideration is years out of date.

More:A look at the child pornography cases at issue in Jackson's Senate hearings

“She is currently not an outlier in sentencing,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said. “Seventy percent of federal judges face the same dilemma and wonder why Congress has failed to act.”

–John Fritze

Graham: 'Not about you'

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., summed up what has been a central theme of the GOP’s response to Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court: Consternation about how previous nominees have been treated.

Graham and other senior Republicans on the committee have focused much attention on previous nominees, including Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Judge Janice Rogers Brown, whose 2003 nomination by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was stalled by Democrats for years.

“This is not of your making. So it's really not about you,” Graham acknowledged before laying into how Democrats handled past nominees.

Graham returned to the theme at the end of his remarks.

“Did you watch the Kavanaugh hearings?” Graham asked Jackson. “How would you feel if we did that to you?”

After Jackson demurred, Graham complained he had only 20 minutes to make a point during the third day of hearings.

“She’s filibustered every question I have,” Graham said.

– John Fritze

Graham accuses Jackson of 'activism'

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., accused Jackson of “activism” in a high-profile immigration case that Republicans say shows she departed from the meaning of the text of federal laws passed by Congress.

Jackson rejected an effort by the Trump administration in 2019 to expand the number of immigrants who could be deported on an expedited basis. Her ruling against the Trump administration was overturned by the D.C. Circuit.

“That, to me, is Exhibit A of activism,” Graham charged. “You reached a conclusion because you disagree with the Trump administration.”

Jackson said she considered two statutes in the case, the one that Graham cited and another that dictates how federal agencies make regulatory decisions. She put additional weight on that second law.

“It doesn't address the fact that Congress has another statute that is presumptively applied in agency cases to tell agencies how to exercise discretion,” Jackson said.

– John Fritze

Jackson said life experiences would shape her approach on the court

Asked about what kind of Supreme Court justice she would be if confirmed, Jackson returned to her experience growing up in Miami, Florida, and the civil rights movement that ended the segregation her parents endured and paved the path to her nomination to the high court.

She said she considered herself to be a "lucky inheritor of the civil rights dream," noting that her confirmation hearing is "about the progress that we've made in this country in a very short period of time."

Jackson said she would draw on her experience as a judge, public defender and member of the Sentencing Commission in addition to being a Black woman.

"I would do what I've done for the past decade, which is to rule from a position of neutrality," she said. "To look carefully at the facts and the circumstances of every case without any agendas, without any attempt to push the law in one direction or the other...interpreting the law consistent with the Constitution and precedents and to render rulings that I believe and that I hope that people would have confidence in."

–Courtney Subramanian

Gallup poll: 58% of Americans support confirming Jackson

Jackson maintains support from 58% of Americans in her nomination to the Supreme Court, a new Gallup poll found. The statistic ties as the highest Gallup has measured for any recent nominee.

The level of support for Jackson is only on par with Chief Justice John Roberts, who in 2005 received support from 59% of Americans, according to Gallup’s polling. Other nominees since the 1980s received support in the lower 50% or below.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – the two most recent nominees, whose hearings have been brought up throughout Jackson’s – received 41% and 51% of support, respectively.

When polled down party lines, Gallup found 88% of Democrats, 55% of independents and 31% of Republicans think the Senate should confirm Jackson to the nation’s highest court. The majority of Republicans, 55%, are opposed to her confirmation, according to the poll.

The poll was taken between March 1-18, before Jackson’s hearings began. President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court on Feb. 25.

– Ella Lee

Judiciary Committee announces witness list

The Senate Judiciary Committee released the list of witnesses who will provide testimony on Thursday, the last day of the hearing on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

Ann Claire Williams, D. Jean Veta, and Joseph M. Drayton of the American Bar Association will kick off the day. The second group of majority witnesses is made up of Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, University of Virginia School of Law dean Risa Goluboff, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights president Wade Henderson, lawyer Richard B. Rosenthal, and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives President Capt. Frederick Thomas.

On the minority side, the witnesses are Alabama state Attorney General Steve Marshall, The C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State co-director Jennifer Mascott, anti-abortion activist Eleanor McCullen, First Liberty’s Keisha Russell and Operation Underground Railroad’s Alessandra Serano.

– Dylan Wells

Jackson adds to philosophy answer

Jackson offered additional context to her answer a day earlier about her judicial philosophy – and how she feels about the notion of originalism.

Originalism is the idea that the Constitution should be interpreted based on the meaning of the founding document’s words at the time they are written. Jackson had nodded to that theory several times Tuesday.

In response to a question from Durbin, Jackson on Wednesday said it is important to consider the original meaning but also to “analogize” to present day.

Durbin had framed his question in the context of the First Amendment’s freedom of press. How, Durbin asked as he held up a cellphone, should federal courts view the First Amendment ,given that technology has changed the way most Americans read their news today?

“When the court gets an issue that requires constitutional interpretation, it looks at the facts and circumstances of the particular case, and the text and principles of the Constitution in light of the times in which they were written, and analogizes to present day,” Jackson said.

Durbin said that when conservatives pledge themselves to originalism they “better have your mind open to the reality that this world is changing.”

– John Fritze

Jackson says she gave defendants their ‘day in court’ to support rehabilitation

In a line of questioning about Jackson's sentencing habits, Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., suggested that Jackson’s “level of empathy” toward defendants may be “beyond what some of us would be comfortable with” regarding justice administration. She argued in response that her decisions, particularly with explaining defendants’ actions to them, expands on a congressional framework that tells judges one of the purposes of punishment is rehabilitation.

“What I conveyed – or did when I was a trial judge – as I sentenced people to very lengthy periods of incarceration was, you are getting your day in court,” she said. “You are able to say what you want to say, but you have to sit here and listen to my reading into the record – the victim statements, in this case. You have to go away understanding that I am imposing consequences for your decision, your decision to engage in criminal behavior.”

She added that as a public defender, she found that many individuals were embittered by the criminal justice system, not encouraged to understand their wrongdoing.

“Nobody said to them, ‘Do you understand that there are children who will never have normal lives because you sold crack to their parece, and now they’re in a vortex of addiction? Do you understand that, Mr. Defendant?’” she said. “I was the one in my sentencing practices who explained those things in an interest of furthering Congress’ direction, that we’re supposed to be sentencing people so that they can ultimately be rehabilitated to the benefit of society as a whole."

Tillis rebutted that “virtually half” of those individuals were reincarcerated within eight years before yielding his time.

– Ella Lee

Tillis rails against court packing

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., started his line of questioning by asking Jackson to describe the different sides of the debate over adding justices to the Supreme Court.

He then pivoted to discuss the “ecosystem” of groups supporting Jackson’s nomination, including Demand Justice, a left-leaning activist group that has called for adding at least four justices to the high court and eliminating the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster.

“We’re talking about the ultimate destruction of two institutions,” he said.

On court expansion:Supreme Court commission submits report to White House with no recommendation on 'packing'

Jackson has avoided discussing her views on the subject and made clear in her exchanges with other GOP senators that she won’t wade into the issue of expanding the size of the nine-member Supreme Court.

Tillis did not ask her about the issue, but warned Jackson could see attempts to add more justices if she is confirmed.

– Phillip M. Bailey

A look at Jackson's child porn sentences

Jackson has come under intense questioning at her confirmation hearing from some Republicans who accused her of being too lenient as a trial judge with sentences imposed in child pornography cases.

USA TODAY reviewed seven cases initially raised by Republicans. Among the findings: Jackson's sentences were above the punishment recommended by the Probation Office in two of the cases and Jackson issued the same sentence recommended by that office in three cases.

Largely missing from the hearings so far has been extensive background on the cases in question. Here are summaries of the cases reviewed by USA TODAY.

– Kevin McCoy and John Fritze

Grassley spurns Democrats on information access regarding Jackson’s sentencing records

Ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, rebuffed Democrats for purportedly withholding information on data related to probation officer recommendations.

Democrats on Tuesday used a chart on probation officer recommendations to refute a line of questioning by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., regarding Jackson’s sentencing on child sex crimes, NBC News reported. Republicans claimed that information was being intentionally withheld, though Democrats said the documents were provided by the White House that morning and Durbin claimed “everyone had access to if they wanted it.”

“No one on our side of the aisle had access to this information,” Grassley said. “In fact, before this past week, I'm not sure anyone but the probation office and the court had access to this information.”

He asked for more transparency and to add his name to letters from Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, requesting additional information on the data.

Despite that, he also complimented the committee’s Democrats for exercising “grace and dignity” throughout Jackson’s hearing, drawing a negative comparison to now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's hearings.

– Ella Lee

Ossoff questions Jackson about ‘presidents are not kings’ decision

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia asked Jackson about a 2019 decision on presidential power over House Democrats’ effort to subpoena former White House counsel Don McGahn.

“You, in an opinion that has been widely cited, made the observation that presidents are not kings. What does that mean?” asked Ossoff.

“The framers decided, after experiencing monarchy, tyranny and the like, that they were going to create a government that would split the powers of a monarch in several different ways,” responded Jackson.

“The separation of powers is crucial to liberty, it is what our country is founded on, and it's important as consistent with my judicial methodology for each branch to operate within their own sphere. That means for me that judges can't make law, judges shouldn't be policymakers,” she added.

Ossoff kicked off Wednesday's questioning. Because Tuesday's hearing ran long, he and GOP Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina will each conduct their first round of questioning before the committee members each have an opportunity to ask a second round of questions. Ossoff’s Georgia colleague, Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, was in the room watching the proceedings during Ossoff’s questioning, and Ossoff acknowledged him at the top of his remarks.

– Dylan Wells

Cornyn accuses Durbin of editorializing hearing

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, interrupted an opening statement from ranking member Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to complain of Durbin's apparent fact-check on his line of questioning Tuesday about whether Jackson ever referred to former President George Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as "war criminals" in legal filings.

Cornyn said after Republicans questioned Jackson, Durbin chose "to editorialize and contradict the points being made by the side of the aisle."

Durbin later offered new research showing she never referred to the pair as "war criminals," pointing out that she was advocating on behalf of clients who raised claims of torture.

"I don't think it's appropriate for the chairman, after every time somebody on this side of the aisle ask questions of the judge, you come back and you denigrate, and you attack and you criticize the line of questioning," Cornyn said, adding Jackson is doing a "pretty good job" defending herself.

Durbin defended his actions by noting he was observing "chairman's time," a tradition in the Judiciary Committee exercised by former chairmen, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

"In the minority, we waited through chairman's time when we had Republican chairs," Durbin said. "There will not be a separate set of rules for Democrats in control of this committee."

– Courtney Subramanian

Durbin: Some Republicans playing politics

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., kicked off Jackson’s hearing Wednesday by playing some defense over charges that the judge was too lenient on sentences in child pornography cases.

Durbin said the 13-hour hearing turned into a “testing ground for conspiracy theories and culture war theories.”

“It is difficult if not impossible to put ourselves in your place,” Durbin said. “You're in the mainstream of sentencing when it comes to child pornography cases.”

Durbin chalked the exchanges with some senators up to politics, asserting that “yesterday was an opportunity to showcase talking points for the November election.”

– John Fritze

Those 7 child porn cases:A look at the child pornography cases at issue in Ketanji Brown Jackson's Senate hearings

At least one key Republican senator isn't buying the criticism of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's record on sentencing in child pornography cases: Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah.

"It struck me that it was off course, meaning the attacks were off course that came from some," Romney told The Washington Post on Tuesday. "And there is no there, there."

That's significant because Romney is one of a handful of GOP senators who could potentially vote for Jackson.

– John Fritze

Sentencing likely to reappear

Particularly toward the end of Tuesday's hearing, Republicans peppered Jackson with questions about sentences she handed down as a federal trial court judge. Those inquiries were focused on seven cases involving what's known as "non-production" child pornography offenses, in other words possessing or distributing the material.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has led the charge on the issue, despite pushback from Democrats, the White House and some independent experts who note that the U.S. Sentencing Commission itself reports that the majority of the child pornography offenses at issue result in sentences that are below the federal guidelines – which are advisory.

Working mom:Jackson's comments on motherhood, her husband's tears and other moments

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Hawley said he hadn't yet decided what questions he would ask during his second round. Given his focus on the issue so far, it seemed certain that he would raise it again Wednesday, perhaps focusing on transcripts from court proceedings Jackson held in the cases.

"Those were tough questions," Hawley acknowledged. "I asked her and I thought she handled them well."

But Hawley indicated he wasn't convinced by Jackson's answers.

"Her argument to me was, 'Hey, this is tough, but I'm doing the best I can.' And my argument to her was, 'I don't agree with your judgment,'" Hawley said. "That's just a professional disagreement."

But Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the issues Hawley was raising were at least partly the fault of Congress for not stepping in to update the guidelines.

"This is an extraordinary challenge to every judge because Congress won't touch this hot-button issue," Durbin said late Tuesday. "Judges are stuck."

– John Fritze

Plan for Day 3

After a marathon 13-hour session Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee was angling for a shorter – slightly shorter – round of questions in the third day of hearings.

To start with, because Tuesday's hearing went so long, two members of the committee couldn't squeeze in their first round of questions: Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Jon Ossoff, D-Ga. They'll start off the hearings Wednesday and will get 30 minutes each.

Then the rest of the committee will get a second round of questions, at 20 minutes each.

"I'm going to land this plane," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., quipped as he ended his questioning late Tuesday. "We'll take off again tomorrow."

The senators will also meet in a closed session to discuss Jackson’s FBI background investigation, a standard procedure for every Supreme Court nominee.

The hearings are supposed to conclude Thursday with testimony from outside groups, such as the American Bar Association.

– John Fritze

How many days will confirmation hearings last?

The Judiciary Committee's hearings last four days total, with two days of direct questioning of Jackson.

On the final day – Thursday – the committee will hear testimony from the American Bar Association and other outside witnesses. They will have five minutes each for statements, and question rounds will also be five minutes.

Corrections & Clarifications 2017

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December 2017

News: A previous version of this article gave the incorrect day for the last night of Hanukkah. That item has been removed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/20/5-things-you-need-know-wednesday/965077001/

News: A previous version of this article misidentified the Red Cross organization involved in corrupt activities. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/12/19/calls-mount-prosecute-corrupt-red-cross-officials-ebola-survivors-face-health-complications-amid-red/962083001/

News: In some editions Dec. 17, a story on the Republican tax plan misidentified the income levels for the new tax brackets.

Life: On Dec. 18, the Week in Entertainment column misspelled Anne Bancroft and Katherine Ross’ names.

Facebook: An earlier version of this post listed the incorrect release date. https://www.facebook.com/usatoday/posts/10155669314955667

Tech: An earlier version of this story misstated which basketball league Fox Sports broadcasts. It is the National Basketball Association. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/12/13/if-disney-buys-fox-assets-your-tv-movie-and-sports-watching-could-change/940970001/

Money: An earlier version of this list had the wrong description for one of the states. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/12/07/best-and-worst-run-states-america-which-one-top-rated/926586001/

Money: A previous version of this article gave the wrong location for one of the Secret Santas. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/12/12/secret-santa-pays-layaway-items-new-jersey-pennsylvania-walmart-stores/943594001/

Video: On Dec. 4, a video titled "Camera captures terrifying 'death spin' 13K feet up" was posted to USA TODAY’s website, Facebook and Twitter that incorrectly sourced the video. The correct source of the video is CATERS NEWS. The posts have been updated where possible.

News: A prior version of this story misstated the status of Mike Flynn's legal case. He pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the FBI. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/12/10/what-does-flynns-indictment-mean-vice-president-pence/935678001/

News: A previous version of this article misspelled the name of one of the accusers. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/11/trump-sexual-misconduct-accusers-megyn-kelly-today/939683001/

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the missile range. It has since been corrected.

News: A story in some editions Dec. 8 about an Arctic Circle town gave the incorrect figure in Fahrenheit for the 30-year winter temperature increase in Longyearbyen, Norway. The increase was 18 degrees. The story also misspelled the name of the American who founded the town. He was John Munro Longyear.

Sports: An earlier version of this story incorrectly referred to the country for which IOC President Thomas Bach competed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2017/12/05/ioc-decision-russia-compete-neutral-athletes-pyeongchang/922438001/

News: A Dec. 6 story misstated the number of Democratic amendments added to the GOP’s tax overhaul proposal. Senate Democrats won passage of one amendment to the Republican bill.

News: An earlier version of this story said Rep. Don Young would become the longest-serving member of Congress. He is the longest-serving congressional member who is currently in office. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/12/05/alaskas-don-young-become-longest-serving-member-congress-after-conyers-retirement/922937001/

Sports: An earlier version of this story linked to Facebook comment purportedly from White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. That reference has been removed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/11/26/lawmakers-ask-questions-tennessees-potential-hiring-greg-schiano/896197001/

Life: An earlier version of this report included a new name for A Prairie Home Companion. A name hasn't yet been chosen. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/12/03/prairie-home-companion-renamed-town-hall-after-garrison-keillor-allegation/917378001/

Money: An earlier version misstated the name of Cindy Gallop's website. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/12/01/sexual-harassment-went-unchecked-decades-payouts-silenced-accusers/881070001/

November 2017

Sports: An earlier version of this story included the incorrect day of the Ravens-Steelers game. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/11/29/ranking-nfl-playoff-division-races-nfc-afc-south-west-north-east/902077001/

Money: A previous version of this story conflated information about willingness to take a pay cut and the amount willing to be taken. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/11/29/money-no-longer-biggest-incentive-selecting-job/901899001/

Tech: In an earlier version, the headline overstated the number of channels YouTube removed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/11/22/youtube-kids-programming/891024001/

News: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Charles Manson's grandson. Jason Freeman is the son of Charles Milles Manson Jr. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/11/20/charles-manson-one-nations-most-infamous-mass-killers-dead-83/870075001/

News: An earlier version misstated the month temporary protected status will end for Haitians who came to the U.S. following the 2010 earthquake in that country. The special protections will end in July 2019. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/11/20/trump-administration-send-haiti-earthquake-victims-home-18-months/883328001/

Sports: A previous version of this story misstated players who had 3,000 hits and 500 home runs for their careers as of 1996. They were Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/13/mlb-rookie-of-year-aaron-judge-cody-bellinger/856753001/

Sports: A story in the Nov. 20 edition on 40 things we learned from the NFL weekend included incorrect information about the Giants-Chiefs game. One touchdown was scored.

Tech: This story has been updated to clarify Tesla's statement on the Roadster's pricing. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/11/16/musk-steals-his-own-truck-show-new-roadster-reveal/873392001/

News: A Kaiser Health News story that ran Nov. 17-19 understated Americans’ reliance on Medicaid. About 25% of people will turn to the federal-state health insurance program for help at some point over the course of the year.

Books: Holiday Wishes by Jill Shalvis (Avon Impulse) is No. 40 on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list. The incorrect book was listed at that position on D2 Nov. 9.

News: A Nov. 15 story about a shooting spree in Northern California misstated in some editions the middle name of Kevin Janson Neal, identified as the gunman by the Rancho Tehama subdivision.

Sports: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated a court’s decision on Isiah Thomas. He was found to have aided and abetted a hostile work environment. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/11/james-dolan-liberty-wnba-madison-square-garden

States: An item in the Michigan section of the Nov. 6 State-by-State page mistakenly contained information about a Portage, Ind., shipping port.

Tech: Uber hopes to launch flying car service by 2020. A previous version of this video incorrectly stated the capabilities of UberAir's flying cars. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/11/08/ubers-blade-runner-flying-car-mission-comes-l-a/840064001/

News: A previous version of this story erroneously included a mass shooting in Oregon in which the gunman did not use an AR-15. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/11/06/ar-15-style-rifles-common-among-mass-shootings/838283001/

News: A Nov. 1 video on a rescued baby beluga calf misstated the amount of beluga whales left in the wild. There are only 328 Cook Inlet beluga whales left in the wild. There are other populations of beluga whales found in the world. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/animalkind/2017/11/02/baby-beluga-whale-rescued-after-found-distress/107239198/

Sports: A Nov. 3 story on the World Series included the incorrect year for when Cleveland last won the World Series and left out a team among those who have never won the Series. The Indians won in 1948, and the Brewers are among those who have never won. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2017/11/03/world-series-over-free-agency/828166001/

News: A story Oct. 27 about proposed tax changes for Americans misstated the effective date for mortgage-interest changes. The proposed changes would take effect after Nov. 2.

Social media: An Instagram post on @USATODAY on Nov. 2 used the wrong photo with a quote from the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa. The post was deleted.

October 2017

Your Say: A previous version of this letter to the editor mislabeled Kevin Spacey’s behavior. It is now labeled as “predatory.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/10/31/readers-sound-off-outrage-over-kevin-spacey-misplaced/817397001/

Sports: A previous version of this story included an incorrect position for the PIrates' Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 World Series. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/11/01/world-series-game-7-classics/820041001/

Sports: An item in Sportsline Oct. 26 incorrectly referred to Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys. He is the owner/president/general manager.

Sports: A previous version of this story included an incorrect nickname for Don Meredith. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/10/26/middle-finger-often-middle-sports-controversy/804550001/

Sports: A previous version of this story incorrectly referred to Martinsville as the oldest track on the NASCAR circuit.https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2017/10/26/martinsville-playoff-race-first-data-500-preview/803115001/

News: An earlier version of the story mischaracterized the Edison Electric Institute. The story also misstated the payment status of workers from Jacksonville Electric Authority for work performed. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/30/puerto-rico-power-restoration-why-taking-so-long/806747001/

Money: A story on changes in Mega Millions lottery game on Oct. 25 left out several states and the District of Columbia that initially are offering the Just the Jackpot option at its inception that happened Saturday. The 17 states total are Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/10/24/5-things-change-mega-millions-starting-saturday/792842001/

Tech: The password-free login option, Wi-Fi Protected Setup, is built into the Android operating system. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/10/29/wi-fi-connection-problems-worst-here-three-ways-solve-them/803027001/

News: A previous version of this article misstated the date of Rodrigo Duterte's election. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/23/all-presidents-men-and-women-trump-like-leaders-proliferate/789931001/

News: An earlier version of the headline accompanying this story misstated the poll result. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/10/25/discrimination-white-americans-minorities-poll/801297001/

Opinion: This editorial has been updated to reflect the fact that not all of the U.S. soldiers killed in Niger were Green Berets. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/10/24/niger-surprise-disservice-to-fallen-troops-editorials-debates/793599001/

Life: A photo in an Oct. 19 story about new faces in fall TV misidentified actress Dominique Fishback.

News: A story Oct. 16 about the new dean of the University of Chicago Divinity School misspelled the name of Yale Divinity School Dean Greg Sterling. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/15/university-chicago-makes-history-first-jewish-divinity-school-dean/748077001/

Life: A story Oct. 12 about allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein mischaracterized the nature of discussions around Louis C.K.’s behavior toward women. The comedian has been dogged by rumors of inappropriate behavior, but has not been publicly accused. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/10/10/harvey-weinstein-controversy-more-than-just-one-man/747632001/

Money: An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed the source of viewership data and incorrectly stated Fox Business Network's name. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/10/13/fox-business-network-rides-politics-and-punch-ratings-success-fight-cnbc/753711001/

News: A story Oct. 10 about Puerto Rico aid efforts had an inaccurate list of reasons for the bottleneck. There is no shortage of trucks or drivers. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/09/puerto-rico-aid-hurricane-maria/741739001/

Life: Taylor Swfit's ... Ready For It is a promotional single that hasn't been marketed to radio. An earlier version of this story did not make that distinction. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2017/10/09/taylor-swift-failing-charts-heres-why-her-first-two-singles-havent-soared/729600001/

Life: An earlier version of this report gave an incorrect date for when McDonald’s Szechuan sauce was available. The limited supply was given out on Oct. 7. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/10/08/mcdonalds-more-szechuan-sauce/744932001/

Life: Hillary Rodham Clinton’s book What Happened is non-fiction. It was previously misclassified in USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list.

College: A previous version of this article misspelled Hanan Rimawi’s name and misstated the year she began her volunteer work. http://college.usatoday.com/2016/01/30/bridging-generations-tulane/

Sports: A previous version of this story included an incorrect number of home runs Roger Maris hit in 1961. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2017/09/25/aaron-judge-50-home-runs-rookie/701759001/

Social media: On Oct. 2, graphics were posted to USA TODAY Facebook and Twitter that said the Las Vegas massacre was the worst shooting in U.S. history. While it is the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history, there are other, more deadly massacres in America’s past. The posts have been updated where possible.

News: An earlier version of this story gave the incorrect party affiliations for Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/10/03/equifax-ex-ceo-faces-questions-why-its-internal-controls-failed/725756001/

September 2017

News: A previous version of this story misstated how long a nude sculpture may be on the National Mall. Organizers hope to have it there until March 7. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/29/heres-why-45-ft-tall-nude-sculpture-coming-national-mall/718238001/

Money: Based on information reported in a study by Aaron Wallis Sales Recruitment, an earlier version of this story misidentified Charles Koch’s first job. According to Koch’s spokesman, his first job was as a consultant with Arthur D. Little. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/09/21/billionaire-richest-people-first-jobs-top-degress/686886001/

Sports: An earlier version of this article misidentified Phil Mickelson. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/09/phil-mickelson-brother-caddie-tim-presidents-cup-selfie-obama-bush-clinton-golf

Sports: Joey Odoms has been a former member of the Maryland Army National Guard since Aug. 10, 2016, and is not a current member as previously stated. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/09/ravens-national-anthem-singer-joey-odoms-resigns-statement-baltimore-nfl-fans-ethical-decision

News: A silhouette in the Sept. 22 Snapshot illustrated an incorrect aircraft. It should have been a B-29.

News: A Sept. 20 map that examined the U.S.-Mexican border contained inaccurate numbers for the entry port traffic of two Texas cities. El Paso has 28,011,030 and Boquillas, 14,099. In addition, a story accompanying the map misspelled the name of the GIS project manager at Arizona State University. She is Shea Lemar.

News: A story Sept. 26 in some editions about Republicans’ failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act gave the incorrect day. It happened Sept. 26.

Sports: A USA TODAY Sports Facebook Live video, about the NFL protests on Sept. 24, was deleted because of technical difficulties with the video feed.

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the distance from Puerto Rico's east coast to the island of Culebra. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/24/isolated-puerto-rican-town-need-water-power-and-news/697827001/

News: A Sept. 26 story in some editions about President Trump’s comments on sports failed to identify the source of a quote. It was NFL spokesman and former White House press secretary Joe Lockhart who said, “When the president of the United States calls anyone a son of a bitch, it’s a story.”

News: An earlier version of this story misidentified the founder of National Day Calendar, Marlo Anderson. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/09/18/made-up-holidays-talk-like-pirate-day/533398001/

Life: Lena Waithe and Aziz Ansari won an Emmy for best writing for a comedy series for Master of None. An earlier version of this story misidentified the show. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/09/18/emmys-not-on-camera-telecast/676144001/

Opinion: A Sept. 15 column contained a quote asserting that a relative of Gov. Phil Bryant was involved in the murder of Emmett Till. The assertion is unsubstantiated, and Bryant said in February that it is false. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/09/15/mississippi-choice-confederate-past-new-flag-and-future-margaret-mcmullan-column/661382001/

News: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of one of the firefighters, Chris Sillman. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/13/without-official-order-houston-firefighters-were-undermanned-harvey-flood-rescues/657734001/

Social media: A post on USA TODAY’s Facebook page on Sept. 11 shared an outdated graphic illustrating Hurricane Irma’s path. It was removed and reposted.

News: A previous version of this article included an incorrect photograph of Isaiah Lecompte, a 17-year-old who was injured in a shooting. The photo was of a different teen. https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/wilmington-gun-investigation-chain-of-violence/

Tech: The T-Mobile One plan to take advantage of the Netflix deal costs $120 per month for two lines. The story has been updated. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/09/06/want-free-netflix-t-mobile-hopes-so/637191001/

News: A story Sept. 1 on former president Barack Obama’s ancestral village of Kogelo, Kenya, misstated its direction from Nairobi. It is 250 miles northwest of the capital. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/09/02/obamas-struggling-ancestral-kenya-village-misses-him-and-cashing-his-presidency/581838001/

Money: A previous version of this story, from the Associated Press, provided incorrect information about home interest deductions. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/09/01/tax-reform-push-simplify-taxes-on-but-dont-touch-some-deductions/620531001/

August 2017

Social media: An earlier version of this graphic understated the total costs for U.S. natural disasters. https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/903349349308096512 https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/903349725268762627 https://www.facebook.com/usatoday/photos/a.100797840666.101835.13652355666/10155249090590667/?type=3&theater

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the role of the Fox News employee fooled by the shark photo. He is a host. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/08/29/hurricane-harvey-shark-photo-fake-and-part-bigger-problem/612601001/

News: A previous version of this video incorrectly identified the location of the flood. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2017/08/29/good-samaritan-batman-truck-saves-man-flood/105044324/

Life: An Aug. 29 photo caption on a story about 10 successful summer movies incorrectly described a scene depicting British soldiers in the movie Dunkirk. The soldiers were preparing to evacuate the harbor.

College: An earlier version of the story below misreported the approximate number of students enrolled at University of Houston. It has just over 40,000 students. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/28/how-texas-universities-are-coping-with-harvey/

News: An Aug. 17 story on the solar eclipse incorrectly described a school attendance policy for Nashville Public Schools. After originally deciding in July to modify the school calendar so students would attend class on Aug. 21, the city’s board of education later approved a newly modified calendar that did not include Aug. 21 as a school day.

College: A previous version of this story misidentified one of the co-founders of The Tab. He is George Marangos-Gilks. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/24/check-out-these-5-student-digital-media-orgs-with-campus-editions/

Sports: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee will vote on a new stadium deal for the Pawtucket Red Sox in the fall. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/08/22/minor-league-parks-bad-deal-cities/591770001/

Tech: A previous version of this story inaccurately described a facet of Verizon's 5GB plan. It limits the resolution of video streaming. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/08/23/verizons-cheaper-unlimited-data-plan-means-serious-tradeoffs/595720001/

Sports: A previous version of this story included inaccurate information about the cause of death for Rocky Marciano Sr. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2017/08/21/rocky-marciano-jr-floyd-mayweather-doesnt-deserve-record-conor-mcgregor/588155001/

Life: An earlier version of this report misstated the duration of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin’s partnership. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/08/20/jerry-lewis-comedy-genius-dead-91/584342001/

Facebook: An earlier version of this graphic misstated the conditions of Bannon's departure. It's been deleted. https://www.facebook.com/usatoday/photos/a.100797840666.101835.13652355666/10155194726990667/?type=3&theater

News: An earlier version of this video incorrectly stated the country of registration for the freighter, ACX Crystal. The freighter is registered in the Philippines. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/17/commander-stricken-destroyer-fitzgerald-relieved-after-navy-report-cites-failures/577805001/

News: An earlier test version of this newsletter, which didn't go out to subscribers, incorrectly referred to the neo-Nazi site the Daily Stormer. https://www.usatoday.com/story/nletter/2017/08/15/final-eclipse-checklist/565261001/

Money: A previous version of this story didn't clearly state that Nicholas Langeveld is the former chairman of Affectiva. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/08/17/funding-women-founded-startups-stalling-here-some-reasons-why/490286001/

Twitter: Public college campuses in Texas permit concealed carry as of Aug. 1, not open carry. https://twitter.com/USATODAYcollege/status/897838987011928064

News: This post has been updated to remove an embedded tweet from an account that could have been interpreted as belonging to national security adviser H.R. McMaster. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/08/14/obama-charlottesville-tweet-likes/567196001/

College: A previous version of this story misspelled the name of the University of Northern Colorado student body president. He is Kevion Ellis. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/14/college-leaders-across-the-country-unite-to-condemn-racism/

Opinion: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly characterized carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/08/14/climate-change-trump-administration-editorials-debates/562985001/

Life: An earlier version of the photo caption in the following gallery misidentified Sheryl Lee Ralph. https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/2017/08/14/twinning-all-your-favorite-celebrity-twins/104398712/

Sports: A photo caption with a story about Kyle Larson’s NASCAR win at Michigan in some Aug. 14 editions misidentified his team. Larson drives for Chip Ganassi Racing.

News: A previous version of this article misidentified the location of Guam. It's in the western Pacific. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/08/09/state-media-north-korea-releases-jailed-canadian-pastor-humanitarian-grounds/551685001/

Money: In charts on The America’s Markets page on Aug. 9, closing prices for Aug. 8 for the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and Nasdaq composite were inverted. The close for the S&P 500 was 2,474.92 and the Nasdaq close was 6,370.46

News: A previous version of this story misstated when the U.S. gained control of Guam. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/nation-now/2017/08/08/guam-reacts-north-korea-nuclear-threatilitary/551184001/

College: A previous version of this article misclassified the percentage of Asian American students in Harvard’s incoming class. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/07/for-the-first-time-ever-most-of-the-new-harvard-class-isnt-white/

College: A previous version of this story contained an incorrect credit on the photograph of the Kind Campaign founders. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/03/how-we-became-activists-lauren-paul-and-molly-thompson-of-kind-campaign/

College: A previous version of this story misquoted Esther Schor speaking about the symbolic meaning of The New Colossus. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/03/statue-of-liberty-poem-immigration/

Tech: A previous version of this story mentioned a title that Audible removed from its Audible for Dogs list. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/08/06/audible-teams-up-cesar-millan-calm-dogs/539529001/

Life: An earlier version of this story misidentified the length of Despacito's Hot 100 run. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/08/03/justin-bieber-breaks-silence-canceled-purpose-tour-rambling-instagram/535705001/

Life: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of actor Grant Show. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/08/02/80-s-campfest-dynasty-gets-new-century-makeover-cw/533147001/

News: An Aug. 2 story on violence in Cancun, Mexico, misstated Chicago’s homicides. The Illinois city leads the nation in total homicides this year but does not have the highest rate per capita.

News: On an earlier version of our website, a headline about a prison release was mistakenly attached to a story about President Trump and Donald Trump Jr. USA TODAY regrets the error.

College: A previous version of this article included a styling of Kesha’s name that she no longer uses. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/08/01/voices-kehas-new-song-is-a-feminist-anthem-and-im-here-for-it/

July 2017

Sports: Katie Dalmasso's age was misstated in an earlier version of this story. She is 32. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2017/07/29/who-hugh-freeze-conflicting-views-former-ole-miss-coach-emerge/522705001/

News: The following video was removed from USA TODAY social media accounts. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2017/07/27/shark-jumps-onto-fishing-boat-stuns-everyone/104061530/

News: A previous version of this story and correction notification have been updated to correct misinformation provided by the California Office of Health Hazard Assessment regarding its 2009 goal for lead in drinking water. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/26/contaminants-water-legal-but-still-pose-big-health-risks/510237001/

News: An earlier version of this story featured an incorrect photo of Calvin Lai. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/07/24/why-juries-have-hard-time-convicting-cops/506662001/

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the percentage of respondents who said President Trump wasn't likely to complete his first term. The correct number is 36%. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/07/24/impeach-donald-trump-poll-americans-split-remove-president/501871001/

Money: Zoe Dawkins’ company, Indeed, matches 50% of the first 6% of 401(k) contributions. In the July 19 edition, the match was incorrectly reported. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/19/young-investor-yolo/474990001/

News: An earlier version of the following article misstated the person who created the Facebook group. It was Steve Ciprani. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/07/21/march-public-education-protesters-gather-washington/497683001/

News: A story in some editions on July 20 about the Senate’s Obamacare repeal plan misstated the day the Congressional Budget Office released its report. It was July 19.

News: A front-page story July 19 that provided updates on figures prominent in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial incorrectly identified the sister of Nicole Brown Simpson. She is Denise Brown.

Money: An earlier version of this story had the name of the Buick Riviera spelled incorrectly. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/07/19/5-dead-car-models-automakers-could-revive-by-2020/103790348/

Money: A previous version of the following story misstated Tanya Meck's title. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/17/deltas-response-ann-coulter-doesnt-fit-their-brand/484529001/

Life: A headline and associated Web page address for a July 18 Entertain This! post about Duchess Kate’s fashion choices while in Poland misidentified the concentration camp visited by the royal family. Due to the inaccurate nature of the web address (URL), the item was also republished on the website. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/07/20/duchess-kate-respectful-and-stylish-poland-visit/497551001/

Tech: An earlier headline and accompanying tweet for this story referenced the wrong MacBook model. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2017/07/18/im-using-touchscreen-macbook-pro-heres-how/483911001/

Travel: An earlier version of this story, based on other media reports, misstated American Airlines' response to the odor. Passengers were routinely deplaned. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/nation-now/2017/07/17/american-airlines-says-passed-gas-did-not-cause-flight-evacuation/483617001/

Money: A previous version of this story misstated which day Moe's was offering free queso. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/07/13/moes-starts-beef-chipotle-over-queso/476426001/

USA TODAY College: An earlier version of the following article misidentified the graduation status of college senior Venkayla Haynes.http://college.usatoday.com/2017/07/12/survivors-blast-ed-dept-officials-claim-that-90-of-campus-rapes-are-regretted-hookups/

Money: A story July 11 about feral cats being used by businesses to control rodents misstated the age of Brittany Sorgenstein. She is 31.

News: A story July 10 on immigration advocacy groups’ gains in opposing President Trump’s policies misstated Mike Fernandez’s source of wealth. It came from the health care industry.

News: A front-page story July 12 incorrectly reported that neither of two memorials to Newark’s violent disturbances in 1967 uses the word “riot.’’ In fact, one memorial does use the term.

Tech: An earlier version of the following article gave the incorrect price of the plan if you transfer from another carrier by July 31. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/07/10/virgin-mobiles-iphone-only-plan-whats-catch/461210001/\

News: In a story about port trucking July 10, USA TODAY incorrectly stated how low Rene Flores’ take home pay could be. At times, he made a few hundred dollars per week.

News: An earlier version of the following story misstated John Quinn’s role at USA TODAY. He was a founding editor who succeeded John Curley as the paper’s second top editor.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/07/12/john-quinn-founding-usa-today-editor-dies/470702001/

News: In an earlier version of this story, the amount of Vitamin D used in the study was misstated. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/07/08/if-vitamin-d-may-sunburn-remedy-what-does-mean-skin-cancer/460710001/

Tech: Amazon says the Next brand is not owned or developed by the company, but Amazon Wine is serving only as the seller. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/07/06/amazon-start-selling-its-own-wine/454805001/

Life: An earlier version of this report gave an incorrect title for the James Brown biopic Get on Up. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/07/08/true-blood-star-nelsan-ellis-dies-39/462062001/

Twitter: A tweet was sent from @USATODAY on July 6 about fried chicken that did not meet our standards. The tweet has been removed. https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/883078100841631744

Opinion: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly stated that Missoula, Mont., and San Marcos, Texas, have adopted a minimum wage of $15 an hour. Missoula has hiked wages for city workers only; San Marcos has adopted a plan that says companies taking advantage of city subsidies must pay $15. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/07/05/minimum-wage-fight-seattle-loses-editorials-debates/450011001/

Life: The original story misidentified the gender of Donal Logue's child. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/06/27/gotham-star-asks-twitter-help-find-missing-son/103239118/

June 2017

News: A graphic in the June 30 edition should have listed Iran as one of the nations affected by the travel ban.

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the date Earhart disappeared. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/30/why-mystery-amelia-earhart-endures-80-years-later/439102001/

Money: A story on Walgreens dropping its bid to purchase Rite Aid should have said that Rite Aid's stock price dropped 26.5% Thursday. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/06/29/walgreens-rite-aid/438450001/

News: A story June 30 about how retail giants enabled the exploitation of truckers misidentified a spokeswoman for Target. She is Erika Winkels. https://www.usatoday.com/pages/interactives/news/rigged-retail-giants-enable-trucker-exploitation/

Life: An earlier version of this story misidentified Fox Business News’ Lisa Kennedy Montgomery. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/06/29/seth-meyers-shames-fox-and-friends-for-praising-trump/103281666/

Money: A story in the June 26 Money section on small businesses in the South misspelled the name of the start-up Wyzerr.

News: The investigation is looking into the conduct of Jane Sanders. An Associated Press headline on an earlier version of this story misstated the target of the inquiry. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/26/feds-looking-into-bernie-and-jane-sanders-over-real-estate-deal/430452001/

News: An earlier version of this article misstated a detail from a University of Western Ontario study. Both groups in the study gained some muscle mass. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/14/long-distance-running-bad-losing-weight/396053001/

Life: An earlier version of this report gave an incorrect air time for the BET Awards. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/06/22/leslie-jones-bet-awards-host/103081230/

Tech: A previous version of this story gave the wrong federal agency that previously employed Thomas Martin. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/stevenpetrow/2017/06/20/cell-phone-number-scams-identity-theft/102787432/

College: An earlier version of this story misidentified the name and role of the teacher shown in the Tesserae yearbook photo posted to Facebook. She is technology teacher Sharon Kendrick. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/06/21/new-voices-bill-new-york-high-school-journalists/

College: An earlier version of this story misspelled Lindsey Gaetani’s first name. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/06/21/she-was-once-a-homeless-single-mother-she-just-graduated-from-college/

Money: This story originally misstated the parties that settled economic-loss claims involving Takata air bags. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/06/19/takata-air-bag-recall-bankruptcy/103003136/

News: A weather page graphic June 20 misstated the temperature of the sun’s core. It’s about 29 million degrees Fahrenheit.

College: An earlier version of this story misstated Zachary Wood’s role in the Williams College club Uncomfortable Learning. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/06/19/2-students-are-testifying-to-the-senate-about-free-speech-on-campus/

News: An earlier version of this story misstated Marie-Pierre St-Onge’s title. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/16/coconut-oil-isnt-healthy-its-never-been-healthy/402719001/

Life: An earlier version of this story misidentified the artist behind Mike Will Made-It's Nothing is Promised. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/06/16/rihanna-dj-khaled-bryson-tiller-wild-thoughts-samples-santana/102914450/

Weather: A previous version of this story misstated how long it had been since the June snowpack was this large. The amount of snow on the ground in the central Sierra region this week marked the biggest June snowpack in years. https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2017/06/07/californias-endless-winter-8-feet-snow-still-ground-june/102586278/

News: A front-page graphic June 8 that showed the senators who would be questioning ex-FBI director James Comey omitted Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.

News: A story in the June 1 edition about cellphone charging technology mischaracterized MRI scans, which leverage magnetic resonance and not ultrasound.

May 2017

Life: In 1957, John Wayne headed to Greece while travelling overseas to film 'Legend of the Lost' with Sophia Loren. A previous version of this image incorrectly identified the location. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/05/24/remembering-john-wayne-with-never-seen-photos-on-his-110th-birthday/102083924/

Money: A May 24 story about efforts to recover money for victims of Bernard Madoff’s fraud inaccurately identified the source of payments to trustee Irving Picard’s law firm. The firm is being paid by the Securities Investor Protection Corp. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/05/23/us-madoff-fund-has-paid-zero-fraud-victims-so-far/102048186/

Opinion: An earlier version of this column misidentified one of the presidents Roger Ailes advised. It was George H.W. Bush. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/05/18/roger-ailes-coarsened-politics-and-media-before-imploding-in-tawdry-scandal-column/101829146/

News: An item in the Connecticut section of the May 19 State-by-State page misidentified the police department that is being urged to release a video of the fatal shooting of an unarmed 15-year-old driver. It is the Bridgeport Police Department.

News: An earlier version of this video incorrectly listed the presidents who were impeached. https://www.facebook.com/usatoday/videos/1870106343313885/

News: A story May 11 about Russia’s reaction to the firing of FBI Director James Comey listed the wrong state for Rep. Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat.

News: A photo caption accompanying a May 10 story on how colleges are dealing with students’ needs for mental health resources mistakenly implied the number of suicide victims at the University of Vermont-Burlington. A group called Active Minds placed 1,100 backpacks on the university’s campus to honor suicide victims in general. The figure represents the number of college students who die by suicide each year, according to the group, not the number at the University of Vermont.

Money: The corporate logo accompanying a news item about Level 3 Communications in the May 5 edition was incorrect.

Sports: An earlier version of this story misstated the ages of the victims and some details of the collision. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2017/05/10/chris-berman-espn-wife-dies-car-accident/101502960/

Tech: An earlier version of this story gave the incorrect source and number for a projection of unfilled computing jobs. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/03/28/tech-skills-gap-huge-graduates-survey-says/99587888/

News: In earlier versions, the gender of Aubrey Hooper was incorrect. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/05/02/police-alter-story-after-fatal-shooting-texas-teen/101192656/

Life: A story on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 misidentified the location of Pinewood Studios. It is south of Atlanta. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/05/01/guardians-on-galaxy-vol-2-set-visit-chris-pratt-kurt-russell/101098586/

News: An earlier version of this photograph had the incorrect political affiliation in the caption. https://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/gallery/101081406/nerd-prom-the-white-house-correspondents-dinner-red-carpet-photos/

News: An earlier version of this story misidentified one of the groups organizing marches on May Day. It should be Beyond the Moment. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/04/30/thousands-expected-for-may-day-protests/101132580/

Sports: An earlier version of this post misstated when this call occurred. It was from 2013. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/manny-ramirez-japan-baseball-home-run-call

April 2017

News: A Page One story on April 26 by the Center for Public Integrity, published by USA TODAY, on tax cuts in several states incorrectly stated North Carolina’s actions concerning the state sales tax rate. North Carolina expanded the items that were subject to the state sales tax. The story also should have made clear that in North Carolina, the state charges a sales tax of 4.75% and that another 2%, or more, can be added by counties. The story also incorrectly stated North Carolina’s top income tax rate in 2012. The top income tax rate was 7.75%. The story also should have made clear that some states are phasing out state income tax rates over time and the Tax Foundation’s position on North Carolina’s and Kansas’ tax reform proposals. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/04/26/7-states-may-provide-window-into-taxes-under-trump/100893760/

College: An earlier version of this story misrepresented some of the people Brooke Evans met with on Capitol Hill. She met with senatorial staff members. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/04/27/how-one-student-turned-her-struggles-with-homelessness-into-a-crusade/

Life: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the length of the documentary. It is one hour and twenty minutes. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/28/what-know-before-diving-into-netflixs-casting-jonbenet/100848172/

News: A prior version of this story misidentified the city of Boulder City, Nev. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/20/weak-markets-make-consumers-wishful-recycling-big-problem/100654976/

Money: An April 27 story about the Trump administration’s tax proposal should have made clear that individuals are subject to the estate tax if they inherit at least $5.5 million. Married couples must inherit at least $11 million.

Tech: Due to an error in the underlying report, a previous version of this story and the accompanying chart gave the incorrect estimate for Salesforce cloud revenue. It is projected to be $10 billion, up 21%. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/04/26/oracles-mark-hurd-builds-cloud-arsenal-take-amazon/100652206/

Life: An earlier version of this story misrepresented Starlee Kine's role in Serial Productions. She was a story consultant on S-Town. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/04/25/serial-productions-s-town-record/100656842/

Butterfly: An article on April 23 about Australia’s proposed new citizenship test misstated the country’s population. It is 24 million.

News: A story on April 19 about a ceremony in which Georgetown University formally apologized to the descendants of 272 slaves misquoted Sandra Green Thomas. She said: “And so, I return. No, we the descendants return to the home place, to our ancestor’s home place acknowledging contrition, offering forgiveness, hoping for penance, and more importantly seeking justice for them and ourselves.”

Life: An earlier version of this story misrepresented one of Einstein's accolades. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/04/24/albert-einstein-genius-national-geographic/100824198/

Life: An earlier version of this report gave the incorrect date for Prince’s death. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2017/04/18/prince-deliverance-music-anniversary-death/100630150/

College: An earlier version of this article contained outdated information about the Starbucks program. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/04/17/15-companies-that-help-employees-pay-for-college/

News: A previous version of this article misstated the type of service conducted on Good Friday. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/14/how-coptic-christian-town-celebrates-easter/100482588/

Money: An item on the April 13 Markets page should have stated that Valspar sold its wood-coating business to Axalta, clearing the way for Valspar’s $9.3 billion purchase by Sherwin-Williams.

News: An earlier version of this story misspelled the victim's last name. The victim is Robert Godwin Sr. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/16/cleveland-police-suspect-broadcast-killing/100549268/

Sports: A story in April 11 editions called a hockey minor league by an incorrect name. It is the ECHL. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2017/04/10/coaches-suits-ties-barry-trotz-scotty-bowman/100299514/

News: An earlier version of this story misidentified the relationship between North Korea founder Kim Il Sung and the country's current leader; he is the grandfather of Kim Jong Un. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/12/donald-trump-xi-jinping-china-north-korea/100363990/

News: An earlier version of the following story did not make clear that "Democracy dies in darkness" is The Washington Post's tagline. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/04/12/michael-wolff-tells-kellyanne-conway-youre-the-darkness/100373392/

Life: An earlier version of the following Entertain This! post misidentified John Boyega’s character in the film. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/04/12/detroit-movie-trailer-kathryn-bigelow-john-boyega/100368750/

News: An earlier version of the following story misstated Judge Sheila Abdus-Salaam's religion. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/12/body-first-muslim-judge-appointed-nys-highest-court-found-hudson-river/100401428/

News: A previous version of the following tweet incorrectly stated the yield of the Hiroshima bomb. https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/852625181524840448

News: A tweet sent from @USATODAY on April 13, with a link to a story about David Dao being compared by some to Rosa Parks, was deleted and reposted. The headline on the story was edited to reflect clarity that Dao’s lawyer said he received an email making the comparison and the subsequent tweet was shared with the new headline. https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/852603978663723009

News: A brief about Wentworth Military Academy and College in the April 10 State-By-State page was located under the wrong state heading. It should have run under Missouri.

News: An April 10 story about Passover foods should have indicated that Kosher laws prohibit the eating of leavened items.

News:A tweet sent from @USATODAY on April 7 about airstrikes in Syria included a GIF that did not meet our editorial standards. The tweet was removed.

Tech: The following story has been updated to show that the retail industry employs one in 10 U.S. workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/04/06/amazon-says-hire-30k-part-time-workers-over-next-year/100112980/

News: A graphic accompanying a story Aprill 5 about NASA probe Cassini incorrectly stated its launch date. It was Oct 15, 1997.

News: A Page One story April 5 on the centennial of the U.S. entry to World War I incorrectly named the composer of the song Over There. It was written by George M. Cohan.

News: Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this story misstated the percentage of baby box recipients in Finland who used it as an infant sleep space in a 2011 poll. Forty-two percent used it in that way. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/30/you-know-those-baby-boxes-s-nonsense-some-experts-say/99776956/

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the increase in deaths associated with being overweight in a new study. The increase was 6%. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/04/03/sorry-little-extra-fat-not-survival-advantage-study-says/99985134/

College: An earlier version of this story misspelled Brooke Bekoff’s last name. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/04/03/meet-the-two-college-students-behind-the-hamilton-memes/

Travel: A previous version of this story didn't specify that six countries were covered by the travel ban. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/03/29/trumps-travel-ban-could-cost-18b-us-tourism-travel-analysts-say/99708758/

Travel: LaGuardia Airport's Terminal B project is on schedule and on budget. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/mcgee/2017/03/29/airports/99744116/

Tech: The 20% discount will be available to men as well as women. https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/04/03/lean-in-sheryl-sandberg-20-percent-counts-campaign-to-close-gender-pay-gap/99841634/

March 2017

News: An earlier version of this story failed to mention that Kentucky was among the Southern states that expanded Medicaid. It has also been updated to say a rapid increase in deaths among young people ages 15 to 44 led to 85% of the increase in premature deaths. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/03/29/suburban-drug-overdoses-fuel-spike-premature-death-rate/99728380/

Sports: An earlier tweet implied Jason Day was participating in WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He previously withdrew. https://twitter.com/usatoday/status/845032869315661825

Tech: An earlier version of this story was not complete in its description of Amazon's review policy. Amazon bans on incentivized reviews, which includes reviews in exchange for free or discounted products, does not apply to its Vine program or book reviews. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/03/20/review-you-wrote-amazon-priceless/99332602/

College: An earlier version of this story included an erroneous reference to the location of Fairfield University. It is located in Connecticut. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/03/20/muslim-college-women-find-acceptance-and-love-with-hijab-celebrations/

Sports: An earlier version of the headline accompanying this post misstated the gender of the fan’s child. http://thebiglead.com/2017/03/16/worst-dad-at-the-ncaa-tournament-leads-vcu-cheers-with-passed-out-son-in-his-arms/

Opinion: The March 16 editorial on the environment should have said that last month was the second hottest February on record globally, after February 2016. http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/03/15/trump-fiddles-while-earth-burns-editorials-debates/99126844/

Life: Irresistible in Love by Bella Andre is No. 36 on USA TODAY's Best-Selling Books list. The title of the book was incorrect in the March 16 edition.

News: A March 16 story on President Trump’s travel ban omitted Yemen as one of the six majority-Muslim nations targeted by his revised executive order.

Money: A story March 10 about the impact of General Motor’s decision to sell its European operations carried the wrong byline. The reporting came from Detroit Free Press staff writer Mark Phelan, who is part of the USA TODAY Network. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/03/09/soul-searching-gm-after-selling-opel/98933702/

College: An earlier version of this story included outdated information about the relationship between Young Invincibles and the Center for Community Change. Young Invincibles is no longer sponsored by the center and is fully independent. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/03/07/report-the-race-gap-in-higher-education-is-very-real/

News: A USA TODAY Network Tennessee photo about Gatlinburg fires, published in a Dec. 1 video, was digitally enhanced and did not meet the Network’s publishing standards. The image, taken by a contract photographer, has been removed.

News: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified to whom Edward Snowden released classified government information in 2013. Snowden gave the documents to multiple news outlets. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/03/07/wikileaks-says-has-published-cia-hacking-codes/98844256/

Life: A photo in an earlier version of this story misidentified Romain Dauriac. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/03/08/scarlett-johansson-files-divorce-romain-dauriac/98892796/

Life: The USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list published in the newspaper on March 2 was incorrect because of a provider error in reporting data. The list has been revised with the correct data, and an updated version of the 150 top best-sellers appears online at books.usatoday.com.

Opinion: An earlier version of this column misidentified a Department of Education program called “School Improvement Grants.” http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/03/02/betsy-devos-trump-delivers-education-promises-column/98594982/

Life: A previous version of this story contained social media postings that have been removed. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/01/11/selena-gomez-the-weeknd-abel-tesfaye/96454802/

Life: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote to director Bill Condon. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/03/01/beauty-and-beast-introduce-world-first-gay-disney-character/98593276/

Life: An earlier version of this story listed Bette Davis' Oscar credits incorrectly. She won the Best Actress award for the 1935 film Dangerous. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/03/01/feud-stars-real-bette-davis-and-joan-crawford/98416212/

College: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of scholars who skipped the 2017 International Studies Association conference and the number of usual attendees at the annual event. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/03/01/scholars-skip-academic-conference-over-trump-travel-ban/

February 2017

Tech: An earlier version of this column misstated the percentage points that blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans are underrepresented in the tech industry compared with the U.S. labor force. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2017/02/27/shareholder-calls-on-apple-to-fix-diversity-senior-management-board-tony-maldonado/98196276/

Life: An earlier version of this story misidentified the movie at the center of the first season of FX’s Feud. Joan Crawford and Bette Davis co-starred in 1962’s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/02/28/coming-fx-2018-feud-charles-and-diana/98524346/

Life: Richard Arlen was misidentified in a previous Wings movie still. http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/movies/2014/03/03/the-academy-awards-best-picture-through-the-years/1815109/

Money: Because of a production error, the year-to-date figures for the Market Performance by Sector chart were calculated incorrectly and have been wrong daily since Jan. 5.

News: A previous version of this article gave an incorrect title for Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/02/19/umm-what-supposed-terror-attack-baffles-swedes/98129506/

News: A previous version of this story included the wrong location regarding an incident between the U.S. Navy and Russia. It should have said the Black Sea. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/02/15/russian-spy-ship-spotted-near-us/97939010/

Sports: Comet, a Coton de Tulear, owned by Elaine Baird, competes in the agility competition at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City. An earlier version of this photo misidentified Comet. http://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/gallery/97792682/141st-westminster-kennel-club-dog-show/

Sports: An earlier version of this tweet misstated Tom Brady's meaning. https://twitter.com/USATODAYsports/status/831569835989540865

Sports: An earlier version of this story misstated whom Tom Brady was referencing as he discussed setting politics aside when deciding whether to visit the White House. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2017/02/14/tom-brady-white-house-visit/97888762/

Money: The cover story on workplace romances misspelled Melinda Gates’ first name.

News: A previous version of this article misstated details about the "One China" policy and the timeframe of when the U.S. recognized Beijing's position that there is one China. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/02/09/president-trump-china-xi-jinping-policy-united-states/97730540/

Life: An earlier version of this story had the wrong price for the Zac Posen gown. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/02/10/zac-posen-betty-boop/97421456/

College: A previous version of this article misstated the date New York City schools closed for winter storm Niko. http://college.usatoday.com/2017/02/09/winter-storm-niko-is-causing-many-northeast-colleges-to-close/

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the status of Ben Carson’s nomination. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/02/09/how-some-trump-advisors-see-islam-their-own-words/97662862/

Tech: An earlier version of this report misstated the salary difference between older candidates and younger ones. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/02/09/being-black-tech-can-cost-you-10k-year/97695196/

Sports: A previous version of this story misstated the number of days Michael Floyd was with the Patriots. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/02/michael-foyd-patriots-stats-super-bowl-ring-51

Life: In a previous version of this story a giveaway was mentioned that has now expired. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/02/04/look-ahead-week-of-feb-5/97106898/

News: A previous version of this story inappropriately referred to a recently disclosed legal opinion raising questions about the constitutionality of the government's power to seize "too big to fail" banks. The opinion does not apply to the Dodd-Frank law as enacted. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/03/through-executive-orders-trump-takes-aim-financial-regulations/97431284/

Life: An earlier version of this story should have attributed the statement updating the condition of Jamie Lynn Spears' daughter Maddie to hospital staff. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/02/07/jamie-lynn-spears-daughter-maddie-regains-consciousness/97607614/

News: A previous version of this article did not include USA TODAY coverage of the December 2015 terror attack in London. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/02/07/usa-today-white-house-donald-trump-terrorist-attacks/97584176/

Life: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized traits associated with gender non-conforming people. The story also misstated the topic of Couric’s discussion with Yale University students. http://ux-origin.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/02/03/katie-couric-gender-identity-natgeo-doc/97421704/

News: An earlier version of this report misattributed a quote to the White House press secretary. http://ux-origin.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/02/07/white-house-78-terror-attacks-list-trump/97582018/

Money: Because of a production error, the source of a statistic in Monday's Snapshot was left off. The information comes from a Hyperwallet survey of 1,500 U.S. e-commerce marketplace sellers.

Life: An earlier version of this story contained the incorrect name of Lady Gaga’s opening song. The song she opened with was God Bless America. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/nation-now/2017/02/06/did-you-catch-these-hidden-messages-lady-gagas-halftime-performance/97537744/

Money: A story on Under Armour’s earnings published in the Feb. 1 edition incorrectly stated the company’s revenues. Revenue figures were in the billions, not millions.

January 2017

News: An earlier version of this photo misidentified the service branch of Marines shown. https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2017/01/19/donald-trumps-inaugural-parade/96786956/

News: An earlier version of this story misidentified which states have new restrictions on driver's licenses. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/01/30/5-things-you-need-know-monday/96944340/

Life: An earlier version of this report incorrectly identified one of the two ‘La La Land’ songs nominated for the original song Oscar. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/01/11/la-la-land-golden-globes-backlash/96360032/

News: An earlier tweet of this story was accompanied by an incorrect image. https://twitter.com/usatoday/status/825337790741233664

News: An earlier version of this caption incorrectly identified Schiffrik. http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/nation/2017/01/21/protesters-rally-at-womens-march-on-washington/96878212/

News: An earlier version of the following headline and story misidentified the action taken by the Trump administration. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/01/21/what-does-trumps-first-executive-order-mean-your-mortgage/96881572/

Life: A previous version of the following story misidentified the designer of Melania Trump's pre-inauguration dress worn Thursday night. The gown was designed by Reem Acra. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/01/20/melania-trump-helps-design-her-own-inaugural-gown/96845012/

News: An earlier version of this photo caption misidentified the service branch of the Marines pictured. http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2017/01/19/donald-trumps-inaugural-parade/96786956/

Money: A story about the opening of tax season that ran Tuesday listed the wrong phone number for the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center appointment hotline. The number is 844-545-5640. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/01/23/five-things-early-tax-filers-need-know/96941142/

Life: An earlier version of this story had the wrong date for the Oscars. It is Feb. 26. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/01/24/octavia-spencer-no-one-hit-wonder-return-oscar-party/97003130/

Sports: An earlier version of this report misstated the first name of the Oregon assistant coach. It is David Reaves. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/pac12/2017/01/22/oregon-assistant-coach-administrative-leave-dui-arrest/96923514/

News: This post has been updated to correct John Kelly's first name. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/01/20/trump-next-time-were-going-win-old-fashioned-way/96817236/

News: An earlier version of this story misstated the fatal-accident rate among airliners. The story has been updated with the correct statistics. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/01/17/failure-find-malaysia-airlines-flight-370-leaves-many-questions-unanswered/96677490/

Sports: A previous version of this tweet misquoted Bo Jackson. https://twitter.com/USATODAYsports/status/819646563639263233

Sports: An earlier version of this story contained a photo that incorrectly identified Anthony Lynn. http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/chargers/2017/01/12/san-diego-chargers-anthony-lynn-coaching-search/96484872/

Money: A headline Friday about Amazon’s hiring plans misstated the company’s time frame for adding U.S. workers. The new jobs are expected to be completed in 2018.

Money: An earlier version of this story didn't clearly state that 25% of unemployed Americans have been out of work for at least six months. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/01/08/out-work-six-months-more-heres-why-you-cant-find-job/96224280/

Life: An earlier version of this post misidentified the choir singing America the Beautiful. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/01/11/abc-taking-the-stage-african-american-music-and-stories-that-changed-america-obamas/96396394/

Money: A graphic and story in the Jan. 8 edition on U.S. owners' equity in real estate should have said that all the equity figures used were in trillions of dollars.

Life: Naomi Campbell is pictured on the Golden Globes' red carpet. An earlier version of the 11th image misidentified her. http://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/life/people/2017/01/08/stars-shine-on-2017s-golden-globe-awards-red-carpet/96320408/

News: A story Jan. 6 about dinosaur footprints did not make clear the involvement of a source, Brent Breithaupt, who was quoted. He was not involved with the analysis of the dinosaur tracks."

Money: A chart on fees affecting retirement savings Jan. 8 had a typographical error. It should have said investing $10,000 a year in a retirement plan that averages 7% returns over 30 years is great.

Life: The description of the Jan. 10 episode of The Mick was outdated due to a change in Fox’s programming plans.

Life: A previous version of this story misidentified Aaron Taylor-Johnson. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/01/09/golden-globes-ballroom-and-heres-what-happened/96335452/

Life: An earlier version misstated the number of SAG Award wins for Meryl Streep. The story has also been updated to clarify the number of award nominations Streep has received. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2017/01/09/why-meryl-streep-isnt-overrated-numbers/96340752/

News: Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway’s name was misspelled in some editions Jan. 10.

News: A full-page graphic about the Affordable Care Act in the Jan. 10 newspaper misstated the body mass index percentages. The number represented BMIs greater than 30.

Life: Producer Mimi Valdes is pictured with Pharrell on the Golden Globes' red carpet. An earlier version of this story misidentified her. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2017/01/08/8-worst-dressed-golden-globes/96323378/

Life: An earlier version of this story misstated controversial affiliations for Milo Yiannopoulos. http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/01/03/leslie-jones-speaks-out-after-harasser-milo-yiannopoulos-lands-book-deal/96100890/

Tech: An earlier version of this story understated the number of products that received CES 'Best of Innovation' awards. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2017/01/04/28-coolest-ces-products/96098496/

2016:Corrections & Clarifications

2018:Corrections & Clarifications

2019:Corrections & Clarifications

A Kansas teacher is suing school officials for requiring her to ...

CNN —

A Kansas teacher is suing her school district superintendent, board members and principal after being suspended for not using a student’s preferred name.

Pamela Ricard, who teaches math at Fort Riley Middle School, says she refuses to use the preferred names and pronouns of transgender and nonbinary students because it violates her religious beliefs.

After being disciplined multiple times for refusing to use a student’s preferred name, Ricard filed a federal lawsuit against the Geary County Schools Unified School District on Monday.

In the lawsuit, she argues that denying requests to allow her to ignore students’ preferred names and pronouns “deprived her of due process and equal protection of law” and violated her First Amendment rights to free speech and exercise of religion. Ricard also accused the defendants of breaching their contract with her.

Ricard maintains in the lawsuit that her decision does not harm her students, but LGBTQ organizations and medical associations throughout the country have consistently stressed the detrimental consequences of misgendering children and ignoring their preferred names.

Misgendering a child can seriously impact their self confidence and mental health, according to Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, executive director of GLSEN, a national organization supporting LGBTQ+ students and educators in K-12 schools.

“Ms. Ricard’s faith teaches her that God immutably creates each person as male or female,” the lawsuit states.

“We proposed a neutral policy to the district over eight months ago that would allow teachers to uniformly address students by their enrolled names,” Josh Ney, Ricard’s lawyer, told CNN. “That proposal was summarily rejected by the district, so we brought this lawsuit due to the constant threat of termination hanging over my client’s head.”

Fort Riley Middle School did not respond to CNN’s multiple requests for comment. Mark Edwards, the legal counsel representing the Geary County Schools Unified School District, told CNN they have no comment.

According to the suit, after one incident of Ricard using a student’s birth name instead of their preferred name, then principal Shannon Molt sent an email on March 31 to all teachers at Fort Riley Middle School, saying: “When we have a student that requests to go by a preferred name that is different than their given name, our district honors the request. Once you are aware of a preferred name, use that name for the student.”

Ricard acknowledges in the suit that despite being told that another student who was listed in school records as female preferred to be addressed by a different name, Ricard called the student “Miss [student’s last name].” Ricard was reminded multiple times to use the student’s preferred name and pronouns, but continued to call the student by their last name only.

In April 2021, the lawsuit says Ricard received a three-day suspension with pay for violations of 11 district policies, including rules on bullying and diversity and inclusion. Multiple appeals were denied by school officials, the lawsuit says.

“Any policy that requires Ms. Ricard to refer to a student by a gendered, non-binary, or plural pronoun (e.g., he/him, she/her, they/them, zhe/zher, etc.) or salutation (Mr., Miss, Ms.) or other gendered language that is different from the student’s biological sex actively violates Ms. Ricard’s religious beliefs,” the lawsuit says.

Ricard may face “further disciplinary action,” including termination, if she continues to violate the policy, according to the lawsuit.

“I continue to enjoy teaching my students day in and day out, but the stigma of being officially labeled a ‘bully’ simply for using a student’s enrolled last name has been disheartening,” Ricard told CNN in an email. “I love all my students, but I shouldn’t be forced to contradict my core beliefs in order to teach math in a public school.”

‘This is about the basic rights and dignity of a human being’

In the suit, Ricard says that not using a student’s preferred pronouns does not “interfere with the efficient functioning of a school” or “create a hostile learning environment.”

However, LGBTQ organizations who support and advocate for the rights of students, as well as major health associations in the US, strongly disagree with this perspective.

“We know from research, long term, very powerful research that affirming a young person’s gender leads to better health and well-being,” said Joel Baum, senior director of the nonprofit Gender Spectrum, which supports gender-diverse youth. “This is about the basic rights and dignity of a human being. Your beliefs do not allow you to refuse to acknowledge who a student is.”

The American Psychological Association, American Medical Association and the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and dozens of other medical associations, have officially recognized the importance of affirming a young person’s name and pronouns, Baum said.

LGBTQ youth who attend schools where they are not protected by policies preventing discrimination against them “report lower GPAs and are more likely to miss school because they feel unsafe,” Willingham-Jaggers told CNN.

“Transgender youth are more likely to consider suicide than their peers, and experience other mental health crises which are exacerbated when they face this kind of stigma and erasure in the classroom,” she said.

Yet transgender youth across the country continue to face discrimination when attempting to stand up for who they are, or speak up when they feel threatened.

In Kansas alone, over 50% of LGBTQ+ secondary school students who experience harassment don’t report the incident due to fear it will make the situation worse, according GLSEN Kansas Statewide Organizer Will Rapp.

“This incident isn’t an isolated issue. According to GLSEN research, more than 40% of transgender students in Kansas report being unable to use their chosen name and correct pronouns in school,” Rapp told CNN. “When educators express this kind of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment it sends a message that school is not a safe place and many LGBTQ+ youth and especially transgender youth feel unable to approach trusted educators for support.”

“Every educator must be held accountable for creating a safe and affirming environment for all students, regardless of gender identity,” Rapp said.

Along with being unable to use their preferred names and pronouns, 85% of transgender students reported being harassed or assaulted in school, according to GLSEN.

A need for stronger policies and training

Ricard argues in her lawsuit that the district’s policy on names and pronouns has been inconsistent and does not provide teachers with clear guidance on determining the preferences of a student and parents.

Following her initial suspension in April 2021, the school sent out a “Use of Preferred Names and Pronouns” guidance document that asked staff members to share the student’s request with administrators or counselors and respect their chosen pronouns, according to the lawsuit.

In September 2021, the Geary County Schools Unified School District’s Board of Education also adopted an addition to the district’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy to require educators to refer to students by their preferred names and pronouns, the lawsuit says.

Ricard’s requests for religious accommodations that would exempt her from having to follow the guidance and policies were denied, according to the lawsuit.

“This idea of religious exemption, simply because you aren’t comfortable with something, flies in the face of so many aspects of public education,” Baum said. “Imagine if a science teacher who believes the world was created in six days isn’t comfortable teaching evolution. That wouldn’t fly. Beliefs are one thing, and conduct is something else.”

Transgender students in the United States face obstacles that extend far beyond the classroom.

Arkansas last year became the first state to ban gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapy, for minors. West Virginia also signed a bill into law in 2021, which was temporarily blocked, that prohibited transgender girls and women from participating in girls’ and women’s secondary school or higher education sports teams.

A judge in Texas on Friday also blocked the state from enforcing Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to investigate gender-affirming care of minors as “child abuse,” which parents and advocates criticized as another attack on transgender children.

Legal experts break down Johnny Depp, Amber Heard verdict ...

Johnny Depp sued Amber Heard, alleging she defamed him in a Washington Post op-ed.

Heard referred to herself as "a public figure representing domestic abuse" in the op-ed.

Depp argued that he is a victim of domestic violence by Heard.

A jury awarded Depp more than $10 million in damages – but also $2 million to Heard.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's libel trial has come to a close with Depp emerging the victor.

A jury awarded the star more than $10 million in damages, essentially agreeing that Heard's 2018 opinion piece about being a victim of spousal abuse – in which she did not name Depp – had a negative impact on his career.

But the jury also awarded Heard $2 million after one of Depp's lawyers, Adam Waldman, called Heard's claims a "hoax" before the trial. Alafair Hall, a spokeswoman for Heard, told USA TODAY that Heard plans to appeal.

Heard's attorney Elaine Bredehoft discussed the plans to appeal with the "Today" show Thursday, telling host Savannah Guthrie "she has some excellent grounds for it.”

“She was demonized here,” Bredehoft said. “A number of things were allowed in this court that should not have been allowed, and it caused the jury to be confused.”

The attorney also alleged social media swayed the jury's decision despite being advised not to look at the case outside of the courtroom. "They went home every night. They have families. The families are on social media. We had a 10-day break in the middle because of a judicial conference. There’s no way they couldn’t have been influenced by it," she stated.

Opinion:Johnny Depp and Amber Heard reduced all of us with their disgusting display

“Both Depp and Heard were using the court of public opinion, both of them were auditioning for the chance to star in another $1 billion movie," said criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter of Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor, after the verdict. "And after this trial, Depp is likely to have that chance again, whereas Heard may struggle to come back."

In closing arguments, Depp attorneys Camille Vasquez and Benjamin Chew painted a picture of Heard as the abuser in the couple's tumultuous marriage.

Heard's lawyer J. Benjamin Rottenborn in turn called Depp "a monster" who abused his ex-wife and engaged in an ongoing smear campaign that started when the couple divorced.

But Heard wasn’t believable "and got terrible advice from her attorneys," said trial attorney Christa Ramey, co-founder of Los Angeles-based civil litigation firm Ramey Law PC. "She looked and sounded phony and rehearsed, like an actress reading a script. ... She did a lot to damage her case."

Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, for $50 million, alleging she defamed him in her Washington Post opinion column (which is printed in Fairfax County, Virginia) in December 2018. She in turn countersued him for $100 million.

Jury reaches verdict:Johnny Depp wins libel trial, Amber Heard partially wins countersuit

Johnny Depp takes the stand in Amber Heard trial, says claim has 'no truth to it whatsoever'

Johnny Depp, Amber Heard trial:Exes face off in court over multimillion dollar libel case

Both actors dove deep into their mutually destructive relationship on the stand.

Addressing Heard's assault allegations and his history with substance abuse, Depp told the courtroom, "The only person I ever abused in my life is myself."

Heard told the courtroom her ex-husband "knows he's lying, otherwise why can't he look at me?"

The jury of five men and two women skewed male, which "probably played a role in this verdict," said Beverly Hills entertainment attorney Mitra Ahouraian, who often deals with defamation issues. "Some men, after the #MeToo movement, have a phobia of being accused of something that’s not true and having their whole life ruined, so if any men on the jury had those concerns, that may have swayed them a bit.”

Ahouraian noted that Depp "gained a lot of goodwill by using the trial to tell his side of the story and rebuild his image" and his win could encourage other celebrities to use the courts as a platform, "assuming there's some truth to their side."

But "most celebrities can’t stomach that kind of an ordeal, which is why they typically settle outside of court. We have never seen a celebrity trial like this one and we may not see it again for a long time.”

Johnny Depp, Amber Heard libel trial:Your lawsuit FAQs, answered

Here's a recap of what happened during the trial:

Johnny Depp wins libel trial, Amber Heard partially wins countersuit

Depp won the defamation lawsuit he filed accusing ex-wife Heard of defaming the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star in a 2018 op-ed, with a Virginia jury awarding him $10.35 million in damages and vindicating his stance that Heard fabricated claims that she was abused by Depp before and during their brief marriage.

Heard also partially won her counter-lawsuit over comments made by Depp's lawyer Adam Waldman, who called her abuse allegations a hoax. The jury awarded her $2 million in damages.

The jury came to the unanimous verdict Wednesday after 13 hours of deliberations and six weeks of testimony.

Depp said he was "truly humbled" that the "jury gave me my life back" in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday.

Opinion: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard reduced all of us with their disgusting display

"My decision to pursue this case, knowing very well the height of the legal hurdles that I would be facing and the inevitable, worldwide spectacle into my life, was only made after considerable thought," Depp's statement read. "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome. Speaking the truth was something that I owed to my children and to all those who have remained steadfast in their support of me. I feel at peace knowing I have finally accomplished that."

Heard was present in the courtroom as the verdict was read. In a statement to USA TODAY, Heard said she was disappointed and "heartbroken" by the verdict. "I’m even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women. It is a setback," she said. "It sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously."

Johnny Depp's lawyer says jury needs to "give (him) his life back"

Vasquez, who has become internet famous amid the high-profile trial, asked the jury on Friday "to give Mr. Depp his life back" by finding Heard guilty of libel. Heard “ruined his life by falsely telling the world she was a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of Mr. Depp,” Vasquez told the jury in closing arguments.

"There is an abuser in this courtroom, but it is not Mr. Depp," Vasquez said. "And there is a victim of domestic abuse in this courtroom, but it is not Ms. Heard."

Vasquez and Chew maintained that Depp never abused Heard and that Depp's career and reputation plummeted following the Washington Post op-ed.

Vasquez called Heard's testimony "a performance, the role of her lifetime as a heroic survival survivor of brutal abuse," saying she "went all in" and "spun a story of shocking, overwhelming, brutal abuse." Vasquez accused Heard of doctoring the photos and said evidence that Heard has embellished some of her injuries is proof that all her claims of abuse are unfounded.

Amber Heard's lawyer calls Johnny Depp a "monster"

“In Mr. Depp’s world, you don't leave Mr. Depp,” Rottenborn said. “If you do, he will start a campaign of global humiliation against you.”

Heard's lawyers Rottenborn and Bredehoft used their two hours in an effort to capture Depp as a "wild animal" who abused drugs and alcohol and said when Heard hit him, she was defending herself.

Rottenborn said the nitpicking over Heard's evidence of abuse ignores the fact there's overwhelming evidence on her behalf and sends a dangerous message to domestic-violence victims.

“If you didn’t take pictures, it didn't happen,” Rottenborn said. “If you did take pictures, they’re fake. If you didn't tell your friends, they're lying. If you did tell your friends, they’re part of the hoax.”

Amber Heard details personal impact of trial: 'Every single day I have to relive the trauma'

Heard took the witness stand Thursday and detailed how her libel lawsuit with Johnny Depp has affected her personally and professionally, tearfully testifying about allegedly being "harassed, humiliated, threatened every single day" from Depp's fans since the trial began.

"People want to kill me and they tell me that every day," Heard said through tears. "Johnny threatened … promised me that if I ever left him, he'd make me think of him every single day."

The "Aquaman" actress continued: "Every single day I have to relive the trauma."

Heard said she is "not a saint" and "not trying to present myself as one" but decided to go through the libel trial to give voice to those in similar situations. "Johnny has taken enough of my voice," she said. "I hope to get my voice back."

The actress also said the experience of going to trial "has been agonizing, painful and the most humiliating thing I've ever been through."

Heard was then cross-examined by Depp's attorney Camille Vasquez. She refuted claims from Depp's witnesses, including claims that she called paparazzi to photograph her with bruises on her face outside the courtroom when she filed a restraining order in May 2016 and sent TMZ a video of Depp slamming cabinets during an argument.

Who is Camille Vasquez?Johnny Depp's internet-famous lawyer is inspiring Latina admirers

Johnny Depp returns to the stand in libel trial

Depp was also back on the witness stand Wednesday, testifying as a rebuttal witness.

The actor disputed a claim made by Heard that Depp had nothing to do with getting her a role in the superhero blockbuster "Aquaman." When Heard testified, she pushed back on a question from Depp's lawyers insinuating Depp got her the role.

Depp, though, said that after Heard auditioned for the role, he talked to the studio on her behalf. "Ultimately she did get the job, so hopefully, I suppose, I had curbed their worries to some degree," he said.

On the stand, Depp also answered a question about what it has been like for him to listen to Heard's testimony during the trial.

"Insane," he said, "It's insane to hear heinous accusations of violence, sexual violence…that she's accusing me of. (It's) horrible, ridiculous, humiliating, ludicrous, painful, savage, unimaginably brutal, cruel."

Depp added that "no human being is perfect" and once again denied the allegations.

Johnny Depp's ex Kate Moss testifies on abuse allegations

Heard previously cited an alleged incident between Depp and Moss during her earlier testimony. During Heard and Depp's U.K. trial in 2020, the actress claimed that two people told her Depp once pushed Moss down the stairs.

Moss, who dated Depp in the '90s, denied the claims in testimony May 25.

The model recalled an incident in Jamaica where she and Depp were leaving a room after a rainstorm. Moss testified that Depp left the room first and she followed.

"I slid down the stairs and hurt my back and I screamed because I didn't know what happened to me and I was in pain," she testified. "He came running back to help me and carried me to my room and got me medical care."

Moss added: "He never pushed me, kicked me or threw me down any stairs."

Amber Heard's legal team rests its case as trial inches to a close

Attorneys for Heard wrapped up their case Tuesday without calling Depp to the stand. In a win for Heard's team, Judge Penney Azcarate declined to throw out a $100 million counterclaim Heard filed that alleged Depp's then-lawyer, Adam Waldman, had defamed Heard when he called her abuse allegations a hoax.

Azcarate said the bar for tossing out a claim before it goes to the jury is high and there was enough evidence to allow it to go forward. She had already ruled Depp could be held responsible for statements made by his lawyer, a principle Depp's team disputes.

Depp has denied he ever struck Heard, and says she was the abuser in the relationship. Heard has testified about more than a dozen separate instances of physical abuse she says she suffered at Depp’s hands.

A Warner Bros. executive also testified Tuesday that Heard's role in the film "Aquaman 2," as well as her ability to renegotiate her contract, were not impacted by any statements made by her ex-husband or his representatives.

The video deposition of Walter Hamada, president of DC Films Production, was played in court Tuesday. Hamada said Heard's role in "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," slated for a 2023 release, was never reduced from how it was originally written in the script.

Johnny Depp's severed finger likely self-inflicted, surgeon says

A severed fingertip on Depp's hand took center stage at the trial Monday, an injury that Depp said was caused by Heard throwing a vodka bottle at him during a violent 2015 brawl. Heard in turn has testified that during that fight Depp assaulted her sexually with a bottle.

Hand surgeon Richard Moore said on the stand that photographs of Depp's injury were not consistent with a bottle shattering on or near his hand, noting that the rest of his hand would likely have sustained cuts as a result. Moore said that the injury instead was much more consistent with the finger being pinched between accordion doors — which is what Depp told friends in a text message after the incident.

Depp has since said that he lied about having caused the injury himself in order to protect Heard. The actress has consistently maintained that she never injured Depp during their brief and volatile marriage.

Ellen Barkin recalls Johnny Depp as controlling during their dating months

Barkin, the actress who dated Depp for a few months in the '90s, described the actor as controlling and jealous in a recorded deposition played at the trial May 19.

“Where are you going?” Barkin said Depp would ask her. The actress described their relationship as largely sexual. “Who are you going with? What did you do last night?”

Barkin added: “I had a scratch on my back once that got him very, very angry because he insisted it came from me having sex with a person who wasn’t him."

Barkin, who co-starred in the 1998 Depp film "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," said that during filming Depp threw a wine bottle in her direction while he was fighting with some friends in a hotel room. However, she said she didn't know why he threw the bottle.

Other recorded depositions played for the jury also characterized Depp as an out of control force whose spending and drinking only escalated after he reached megastardom in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series.

Amber Heard's sister says she saw Johnny Depp land blows

Heard's sister, Whitney Heard Henriquez, testified May 18 that she not only witnessed Depp land blows in a fight with her sister, but that she was forced to intervene in order to protect the actress.

Henriquez said the fight took place in 2015 shortly after the couple married. Heard had discovered that her new husband had cheated on her; Depp countered that Heard had forced him into the extramarital affair, Henriquez said. Her testimony is the first eyewitness account of Depp striking Heard. Depp has denied hitting his ex-wife.

Also Wednesday, a onetime friend of Heard's, Raquel Pennington, said in a pre-recorded video deposition that while she never saw Depp hit Heard, she often saw Heard with cuts and bruises. After one fight, Pennington photographed Heard's facial injuries. Heard told her friend that the actor had head-butted her.

The photos Pennington took showed a swollen nose, a cut lip, and two moderately black eyes on Heard's face. She also took a photo of strands of hair that she said were ripped from Heard's scalp.

Amber Heard talks about Washington Post op-ed, alleged sexual assault

Heard returned to the stand on May 17 facing stiff cross-examination questioning about both a fight in Australia that resulted in an alleged sexual assault, as well as the more recent Washington Post op-ed at the center of Depp's libel lawsuit.

The actress previously testified that he sexually assaulted her with a liquor bottle during the fight, and he has testified that she severed the tip of his finger. Both have denied the other's allegations.

Vasquez said Heard didn't seem to be scared of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor despite the alleged assault. "This is a man who tried to kill me," the actress testified in response. "Of course it's scary. He's also my husband."

Vasquez also addressed the op-ed during Heard's testimony on Tuesday, asking if specific parts of the article were about Depp. Heard said the article was in response to the #MeToo movement rather than specific to her ex-husband.

"When powerful men, in general, do something horrible or something they shouldn't there is a system in place to protect them, clean up after them, maintain them, keep them afloat," Heard testified of her op-ed. "It was not about him."

She later added: "It was a reference to a general larger phenomenon, not just Johnny."

Amber Heard describes bruise cover-ups, denies leaving fecal matter in bed

Heard took the stand on May 16 and described a 2016 fight she had with Depp in which he allegedly threw a phone at her. The fight led to her filing for divorce.

Jurors in the trial were shown photos of Heard's face after that altercation, which clearly showed redness and swelling. Depp's lawyers have argued that Heard is concocting claims of abuse, and Los Angeles police officers who testified earlier in the trial did not report seeing evidence of facial injuries.

Heard also testified she became an expert at hiding evidence of abuse, using a make-up color wheel that allowed her to apply different shades of make-up that counteracted the bruising depending on the healing process stage. “I'm not going to walk around L.A. with bruises on my face,” she said.

Heard also rebutted accusations that in retaliation she left human fecal matter in the couple's bed, saying it was likely the couple's Yorkshire terrier who had developed bowel problems after eating Depp's marijuana.

“Absolutely not,” she said about the alleged poop prank. “I don't think that's funny. I don't know what grown woman does. I was not in a pranking mood.”

Amber Heard tells jurors Johnny Depp sexually assaulted her with a bottle

A tearful Heard took the stand to recount how in a jealous rage Depp flung her into a ping pong table and then sexually assaulted her with a bottle that she feared was broken.

"I couldn't get up," Heard said, crying. "I thought he was punching me. I could just feel this pressure on my pubic bone.”

The incident took place in 2015, shortly after their marriage and as Depp was starting to shoot the fifth installment of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series in Australia.

Heard said that Depp was angry almost from the moment she arrived at their home, convinced that she was having affairs with some of her co-stars, including Billy Bob Thornton and Eddie Redmayne. Heard denied having the affairs.

During the fight, Heard said she thought a drunken Depp was assaulting her with his fist, but later figured out that she was being assaulted with a bottle. “I looked around and saw so much broken glass. I just remember thinking, ‘Please God, please don’t be broken,'” she said.

Amber Heard begins testimony, recalls 'falling in love' with Johnny Depp

Heard began her testimony May 4 by recounting details from her childhood and early days in Hollywood, including meeting Depp on the set of 2011's "The Rum Diary," and how their relationship progressed from colleagues and friends to eventual romantic partners after filming wrapped.

The two had "no contact" for a while after filming – Depp at one point called her and invited her to his California home, Heard said, but they didn't end up seeing each other until the press tour for the film later on. Heard said it was then that they began "falling in love" but kept things under the radar because his split with ex Vanessa Paradis, with whom he shares two children, had not yet been publicized.

"When I was around Johnny I felt like the most beautiful person in the whole world," Heard said, later adding, "I fell head-over-heels in love with this man."

As their relationship progressed, Heard said Depp took issues with clothing she wore and expressed concern she was cheating on him with friends. And arguments began to turn ugly, Heard alleged, with Depp tossing around expletives, smashing glass or turning over a table before leaving and coming back as the "wonderful, almost unreal... unbelievably nice, sensitive, warm generous funny man that I loved," she said.

Amber Heard's lawyers say she has PTSD from violent marriage

Heard suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from violence she suffered at the hands of Depp, including multiple acts of sexual assault, psychologist Dawn Hughes testified May 3.

Hughes said there is corroboration of many of the instances of abuse, including apologies and admissions made by Depp to Heard and admissions he made to friends in text messages about his bad behavior when he drinks. In some cases, Heard told her therapists about the abuse contemporaneously, Hughes said.

Depp has said he never physically abused Heard. Hughes said Heard acknowledged that she did at times push and shove Depp, call him names and insult his parenting.

Much of the violence, Hughes said, stemmed from Depp’s obsessive jealousy. He insisted she avoid nude scenes, if she worked at all, and accused her of affairs with actors Billy Bob Thornton and James Franco. If she did work on a film, Depp would call the director and others on set and say he “had eyes” there who would report to him if she fraternized improperly, Hughes said.

Lawyers argue whether Johnny Depp's career was tanking before op-ed

Depp's team contends that the prolific actor's career was torpedoed when ex-wife Heard wrote an op-ed piece for the Washington Post in 2018 in which she spoke broadly about being a victim of domestic violence.

Depp's agent, Jack Whigham, told the court that Heard's piece was "catastrophic" to the actor's career, specifically linking it to the disappearance of a $23 million deal to appear in a sixth installment of the lucrative "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series.

Lawyers for Heard countered that it was in fact Depp's own self-destructive behavior that caused Disney to demur, and not welcome Depp back as Captain Jack Sparrow — not the article. They cited reports of heavy drug and alcohol use, a lawsuit by a crew member in July 2018 who says he was punched on set by Depp, and a separate libel lawsuit Depp filed against a British newspaper in 2018.

Amber Heard op-ed was supposed to mention Johnny Depp specifically

Much of the trial so far has been a look into the fraught relationship between Depp and Heard, and not the actual article at the center of Depp's $50 million lawsuit against her. But on April 28, the article took center stage.

Terence Dougherty, general counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, told jurors there was a push and pull between Heard and her lawyers, and the ACLU, which drafted the 2018 Washington Post op-ed piece under Heard's name, reflecting her role as an ACLU ambassador on gender violence issues.

During those discussions, Heard sent back an edited version approved by her lawyers that "specifically neutered much of the copy regarding her marriage," according to an email from Jessica Weitz, an ACLU employee who coordinated with Heard.

According to the email, though, Heard was looking for a way to have a deleted passage restored to the article.

The final article never mentioned Depp by name. Instead, Heard was identified as "a public figure representing domestic abuse," and in another passage she wrote, "I had the rare vantage point of seeing, in real time, how institutions protect men accused of abuse."

Johnny Depp blackballed from 'Pirates' due to abuse lawsuit, says agent

Christian Carino, a one-time agent for both Depp and Heard, testified April 27 that Heard's spousal abuse lawsuit resulted in Hollywood agents and producers wiping Depp from a "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel, although he provided no evidence for the claim.

"It is something within the industry that is understood," Carino told the courtroom. Earlier in the trial, Depp told the court that even if Disney offered him $300 million to appear in a sixth movie in the lucrative franchise, he would reject it.

Also appearing on the stand Wednesday were two Los Angeles police officers who responded to 911 calls at Depp's penthouse in 2016. Both officers indicated they saw no evidence of bruising or battery when Heard met them at the door. Heard's lawyers countered that the police officers could not have accurately assessed her condition, given dim lighting and their distance from her.

More:Officer responding to Johnny Depp, Amber Heard fight testifies he saw no injuries on actress

Amber Heard has 'histrionic personality disorder,' doctor says

Forensic psychologist Shannon Curry took the stand April 26 to testify on behalf of Depp and delivered her opinion that Heard suffers from both a borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder.

Curry said she came to those conclusions after a dozen hours of interviews with Heard as well as a review of her mental health records.

She described those suffering from borderline disorder as being “driven by an underlying fear of abandonment.” Histrionic disorder is associated with “drama and shallowness” and a need to be the center of attention, and noted that sufferers often were people who are physically attractive and “utilize their looks to get that attention.”

Curry's testimony would seem to support Depp's contention that Heard was the aggressor in the relationship. Heard's attorneys countered that Curry had drinks and dinner with Depp at his home before she was hired. Curry said that was part of the interview process.

More:Psychologist hired by Depp's team says Amber Heard suffers from histrionic personality disorder

Johnny Depp warned Amber Heard of 'bloodbath'

During cross-examination on April 25, Heard attorney J. Benjamin Rottenborn played a series of audio recordings of alleged fights between his client and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star.

"The next move, if I don't walk away … it's going to be a bloodbath, like it was on the island,” Depp says on the recording. Later, he yells, “You stupid (expletive)” at her.

Depp winced on the stand as the clips were played, while Heard appeared to fight back tears. Depp wrapped up his time on the stand by revisiting a fight that the actor said resulted in a severed fingertip after Heard threw a vodka bottle at him.

Heard's attorneys countered with text messages from Depp to his physician in which he said "I have chopped off my left middle finger." Depp said he was joking, adding that music was his first love and a fingertip is integral to playing guitar. "Why would I ruin the only thing that I was really good at in my life besides my children?" he said.

Amber Heard's lawyers bring up Johnny Depp's drug use with past texts

During court on April 21, Heard’s attorneys sought to undermine Depp by spending hours in court focused on the actor's drinking, drug use and texts he sent to friends — including one about wanting to kill and defile his then-wife.

Depp's text messages only bolster his ex-wife's defense, her lawyers said.

“I, of course, pounded and displayed ugly colors to Amber on a recent journey," Depp said in a text message to Bettany, in July 2013, which was shown to jurors. “I am an insane person and not so fair headed after too much of the drink,” he continued.

Rottenborn focused on another exchange that year between Depp and Bettany in which Depp wrote: “Let’s burn Amber!!!”

Depp has previously apologized to the jury for the vulgar language in the texts and said that "in the heat of the pain I was feeling, I went to dark places.” He apologized again Thursday.

Rottenborn also showed the jury one of Depp’s texts to Bettany in 2014 in which he referenced whiskey, pills and cocaine. The texts were written during a period in which Depp said he had stopped drinking. And they were sent around the time of a private flight from Boston to Los Angeles, during which Heard said Depp assaulted her while he was blackout drunk.

Johnny Depp recalls last argument with Amber Heard

Heard has said the first time she was assaulted was when Depp slapped her in 2013 after she made fun of a tattoo he had — one that used to say “Winona Forever” when he was dating the actress Winona Ryder that he altered to “Wino Forever” after they broke up.

“It didn't happen,” Depp said of the alleged assault when he testified on April 20. “Why would I take such great offense to someone making fun of a tattoo on my body?”

Depp also gave a graphic description of a final fight as the couple drifted toward divorce, accusing Heard and her friends of pretending that he was assaulting her. Soon after, Heard sought a restraining order and was photographed with marks on her face.

The fight had started as Depp said he’d realized it was time for the couple to split. The argument intensified, he said, as Depp accused her of leaving human fecal matter on his side of the bed in the penthouse they’d shared. He said Heard kept denying it, blaming it on their small dogs, but he was convinced she was lying.

Johnny Depp calls Amber Heard's Washington Post op-ed 'heinous'

In court April 19, Depp shared his side of the story, opening his testimony by calling Heard's Washington Post story "heinous," adding "I never struck Ms. Heard in any way, nor have I ever struck any women in my life."

Depp added he took the stand to prove Heard's claims have "no truth to it whatsoever," and because he feels a responsibility to "stand up for my children," referring to daughter Lily-Rose, 22, and son Jack, 20.

He also testified primarily about the early years of his relationship with Heard, saying she seemed "too good to be true" at first. He said there were little things though, that gave him indications of a rocky relationship ahead. And within a year and a half, it was as if Heard had become another person.

Johnny Depp's doctor recalls treating actor's severed finger

In a video deposition recorded Feb. 22 and played in court April 18, per People, Variety and The Washington Post, Depp's doctor and a nurse recalled treating the actor after ex-wife Heard allegedly threw a vodka bottle at him in 2015.

Dr. David Kipper said he wasn't aware how Depp had been injured when cleaning his wounds in Australia, where the actor was filming the fifth installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean." In July 2020, Depp accused Heard of throwing a bottle at him, which severed the top of his middle finger.

Heard has denied Depp's claims, saying he may have injured his finger when he smashed a telephone. Heard's attorneys have also referred to text messages in which they say Depp acknowledges cutting the finger himself.

Kipper added that Depp told an emergency room doctor he'd cut his own finger with a knife, according to People.

Kipper said Heard was present and seemed upset but added he did not notice any physical injuries on her and she did not seek medical attention. Lloyd also testified that at one point in Australia, she saw a bruise on Heard's arm, according to The Washington Post. Both Kipper and Lloyd said on April 18 that they did not witness physical abuse between the couple.

More:Johnny Depp's friend rejects Amber Heard's abuse claim as 'malicious lie,' says he never saw bruises

Amber Heard's former assistant call actress 'verbally abusive'

Kate James, a former personal assistant to Heard from 2012 to 2015, said she never saw the actress suffer any physical abuse at the hands of Depp — but she said Heard once spit in her face when she asked for a higher salary.

Heard descended into screaming fits of blind rage, sent incoherent text messages at 4 a.m. and was often drunk and high on illegal drugs, James testified in a video deposition that was played in court April 14.

Depp, on the other hand, was very calm, almost shy, "like a total Southern gentleman,” James said.

James said she was hired with an initial salary of $25 an hour and that her duties ranged from picking up Heard's dry cleaning to talking with the actress' Hollywood agents.

James said she also was tasked with picking up two copies of any magazine that featured Heard and storing them in the garage to prevent Depp from seeing them. Heard went into a “blind rage” when James failed to place the magazines in the garage, she said.

Johnny Depp's longtime neighbor saw no evidence of abuse

Isaac Baruch, a longtime friend and next-door neighbor of Depp, testified April 13 that Heard had told him the movie star threw a phone at her and hit her inside the couple’s Los Angeles penthouse.

But Baruch said he never noticed any evidence of abuse on Heard’s face, both when he first saw her in the hallway or the next day in the sunlit lobby of their art deco-style building.

“She's got her face out like this to show me, and I’m looking, and I inspect her face,” Baruch said of the encounter in May 2016. “And I don't see anything. … I don't see a cut, a bruise, swelling, redness.”

Baruch, a painter, said Depp has financially supported him, providing him with places to live and giving him about $100,000 over the years.

More:Johnny Depp's friend rejects Amber Heard's abuse claim as 'malicious lie,' says he never saw bruises

Baruch also testified that he saw security video showing Heard's sister Whitney throwing a fake punch at Heard’s face while the two waited for an elevator in the building where he and Depp and Heard lived. “And then they start laughing,” he said.

Depp’s attorneys argue that the sisters were practicing for a real punch to feign abuse from Depp.

Opening statements: An abusive husband or an unstable wife?

“You’re going to see who the real Johnny Depp is — behind the fame, behind the pirate costumes,” Heard Rottenborn told the jury during opening statements in the civil trial on April 12. “Because Johnny Depp brought this case, all of this is going to come out.”

He argued that Heard was exercising her First Amendment rights as an advocate when she wrote the article, which focused largely on the broad topic of domestic violence. He also pointed out that the article in question never even mentions Depp’s name.

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Depp, Heard opening statements:Remarks feel familiar to London trial from 2020

“Everyone in Hollywood knew exactly what she was talking about," countered Johnny Depp's attorney Benjamin Chew. "Today, Johnny Depp's name is associated with a lie." Depp's team argued that the article is an example of “defamation by implication.”

“You’re going to learn that (Heard) is a profoundly troubled person who manipulated people around her, like she manipulated Mr. Depp,” added Vasquez.

“She can’t back down. She has been living and breathing this lie for years,” Vasquez said. “She’s going to give the performance of a lifetime in this courtroom.”

Contributing: Marco della Cava, Edward Segarra, Hannah Yasharoff and Amy Haneline, USA TODAY; Matthew Barakat and Ben Finley, The Associated Press