While the NFL world is focused on next week’s NFL draft, the Washington Commanders continue to make significant hires.
On Monday, Washington hired Dave Gardi away from the league office to serve as the senior vice president of football initiatives. Gardi will handle in-game management duties for the Commanders, supporting the coaching staff and front office on compliance with NFL protocols, officiating trends and health and safety protocols.
On Tuesday, owner Josh Harris made another big hire, bringing top Senate aide Kirtan Mehta, per Hans Nichols of Axios.
Mehta’s new role will focus on Washington’s search for a new home. While the team would likely prefer to build its new stadium on the old RFK Stadium site in D.C., some hurdles remain.
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Here’s why Mehta’s hiring is important via Nichols:
But he’s the kind of hire a new NFL owner would make to navigate the politics of moving a team from the Maryland suburbs to a parcel of land that’s currently owned by the federal government.
D.C., Maryland and Virginia all want the Commanders, and Mehta will be instrumental in Harris finding the best possible deal for the franchise.
Washington mayor Muriel Bowser has been outspoken about the Commanders returning to D.C. since Harris bought the team from former owner Dan Snyder last year.
Nichols on Mehta:
Mehta’s first task: Getting House-passed legislation through the Senate that would allow Bowser to negotiate with Harris on a potential package for a stadium on the banks of the Anacostia River
Mehta comes to the Commanders after serving as the chief of staff for Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO). He previously worked with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) for five years. Manchin chairs the Energy & Natural Resources committee.
TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will donate 250 flowering cherry trees and July 4th fireworks to Washington, DC, after she and President Trump tuned into the World Series game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister seven days ago, emphasized the nations’ common love of baseball and her country’s historic gift of cherry trees to DC as the leaders began their official dialogue Tuesday, which is expected to focus behind closed doors on military and trade policies.
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is gifting cherry trees and July 4th fireworks to DC. AFP via Getty Images
“To the press corps, I’m very sorry that we kept you waiting. As a matter of fact, Mr. President and I just enjoyed watching the Major League Baseball match,” Takaichi opened her official greeting.
“Actually, Dodgers versus Blue Jays, and the Dodgers are now having a one-point lead, and we really enjoyed the match.”
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Takaichi, a conservative protégé of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said that the cherry trees would be gifted in recognition of the United States’ 250th anniversary next year and would bolster a new “golden age” of US-Japan relations.
“To have a magnificent celebration, we will extend a gift of 250 cherry trees to Washington, DC. In addition, I understand that fireworks from Japan, from Akita Prefecture, will be shown in Washington, DC, on July 4 next year,” she said.
Japan first gave cherry trees to Washington in 1912. AFP/Getty ImagesTakaichi said that Japanese fireworks will be used for Independence Day next year — America’s semiquincentennial. Polaris
Japan in 1912 gifted over 3,000 cherry trees during President Howard Taft’s tenure — a fact celebrated every spring at Washington’s heavily attended Cherry Blossom Festival.
Trump is in the midst of a dramatic refresh of the capital city, including the addition of a massive White House ballroom and the planning of a possible 250th anniversary triumphal arch across from the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump and Takaichi watched a World Series match on TV before addressing the press. AFP via Getty ImagesTakaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister last week. AFP via Getty Images
“We’ve received your orders for a very large amount of new military equipment. And you know that we make the best military equipment in the world,” said Trump, who will deliver a speech later in the day aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier near the mouth of Tokyo Bay.
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“We appreciate that order, and we very much appreciate the trade. We’re going to do tremendous trade together, I think, more than ever before. We’re just signing a new deal, and it’s a very fair deal.”
Trump in July reached a new trade pact with Japan, lowering his threatened 25% “reciprocal” tariff to 15% in exchange for pledges of $550 billion in Japanese investments in the US, in addition to Tokyo reducing barriers to imports of US vehicles and agricultural products.
Japanese cars also face a 15% tariff under that deal, lower than the 25% rate Trump applied to most other countries.
Trump vowed to deepen trade and military ties with Tokyo. Getty ImagesTrump will conclude his three-nation tour with a trip to South Korea. AFP via Getty Images
The White House has not teased any looming reforms to the Japan trade deal this week — and the two leaders signed a brief document reaffirming the “GREAT DEAL” reached in July.
Takaichi and Trump also signed a document pledging to cooperate to boost investments and develop policies to secure rare-earth and critical minerals against “non-market policies and unfair trade practices” from China — after Trump recently signed similar documents with Australia, Malaysia and Thailand.
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Trump’s three-nation tour of the region is focused heavily on making economic deals.
During his first stop in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, he signed agreements to lower tariffs on certain goods from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam in exchange for pledges of billions of dollars in purchases of US airplanes, natural gas and agricultural goods such as soybeans and corn.
Trump will return to the US after visiting South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday, where he hopes to announce a trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that will address Beijing’s new export restrictions on products made with rare-earth and critical minerals, as well as Chinese fentanyl smuggling and steps to revive soybean purchases.
WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – Ninety-eight veterans and their guardians prepared for the 54th Never Forgotten Honor Flight during an evening dinner and show with fellow veterans, guardians and family members.
Each veteran stood when their branch of service was called, singing their branch’s medley. Attendees also met the people they will be traveling to Washington, D.C. with.
“This night has been just tremendous. I can’t believe the amount of respect for the veterans that this organization gives. The food was great, the music was great. All and all, just a very good pre-flight send off for the guys,” said Erik Johnston, a guardian.
Father and son make the trip together
Erik Johnston is going as a guardian for his father, Bill Johnston. Erik said it took time to convince his father to participate, but Bill finally signed up and is looking forward to seeing the Vietnam Memorial for some personal reasons.
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“To say goodbye to a lot of thoughts that have been in the back of our minds, for a long time,” Bill Johnston said. Bill is excited to meet new veterans and talk about things that are too often not addressed. He is also looking forward to seeing Arlington National Cemetery.
Veterans will arrive at the Central Wisconsin Airport around 5 a.m. Monday, October 27th.
NewsChannel 7’s Madison Maronde will join the flight and share the experiences of veterans on the ‘Arthur B. Riiser Memorial Flight.’
