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Barack Obama reveals how LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose were a part of a pick-up tournament organised by the former POTUS for his 49th birthday.

It is no surprise that Barack Obama was an avid basketball fan. The former President of the United States had a great relationship with the NBA and was often spotted at several league events.

Not many might know it, but apart from merely watching games, the 44th American President would quite often play basketball. Back in the 1970s, Obama had played on the junior and university teams at Hawaiis Punahou School and eventually won a state championship in 1979.

Even once he was elected as the President, the left-handed shooter would often play hoops, however this time he would play with and against some of the NBAs all-time greats. Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen are some of the legends to have shared the court with Barack. In an interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, Obama revealed how he once played a secret pick-up tournament with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose in the White House.

Also Read: NBA fans react to the Lakers superstar getting into it with an announcer for disrespecting Bronny

During his tenure as the president, Obama would often display his love for the game of basketball. One such event organised was on his 49th birthday, where a secret pick-up tournament was held inside the White House. On his recent podcast appearance, the 59-year-old disclosed:

For my 49th birthday, we had an All-Star Game that was just kind of for us. LeBron came. Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose; all these amazing NBA players. Each team had three NBA players and two amateurs. All my high school friends came over. We had this round-robin tournament, and we had Wounded Warriors who we invited to watch; we signed autographs and gave shoes away afterwards.

One of the perks of being president is, you can invite people to the White House and they show up.

Having LeBron suddenly guard you this mountain of a human you never feel so small and weak. You just pass the ball, or hand it to him and say here, Im not worthy.

Team sports at its best is a great equalizer, Obama said about his love for the sport. There were coaches favourites and some politics behind the scenesbut basically, when you were on the court it was like, how did you play, rather than who you were.

Also Read:3 Reasons Why Kawhi Leonard Will Stay With Clippers during 2021-22 NBA season

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"LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose featured in the All-Star Game": Barack Obama reveals that a secret... - The Sportsrush

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R&B singer H.E.R.s career is consistently on the rise. The 24-year-old artist, who once hid her identity and then her face behind her staple sunglasses is stepping out of the shadows. In the past two years, shes performed at award shows, the late-night talk show circuit. And earlier this year, she performed at the Super Bowl.

This year, she also collaborated with President Obama and former First Lady, Michelle Obama for their upcoming Netflix animated series, We the People.

The series, according to Entertainment Tonight, produced by both the Obamas and Kenya Barris, aims to educate children about United States civics using music. The series will feature artists like Janelle Monae, Cordae and more.

According to Variety, H.E.R. will work on the Active Citizenship episode.

During a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, H.E.R. spoke about what the opportunity to work with the Obamas meant to her.

The singer said she would do anything for the Obamas and shared that working for them made her really want to kill the assignment because it was attached to them.

Wow, I am a part of something that the Obamas [did]. Its kind of life-changing. H.E.R. said.

In addition to working with this beloved couple, H.E.R shared that it is important for children to be engaged at this level.

She told ET:

Sometimes you think, Im just a kid, or, Thats a job for the adults, but the youth is really the beginning of the rest of our lives. I would like to believe my generation and younger, were going to set the tone for the future and its up to us to be informed. I always say you cant understand today without understanding yesterday, and so I think kids are going to start being more proactive and not reactive and really take control of our future. And well learn from those things that we learned in the past, and make a difference and make a change when they know that they canthat they have the power to. This project is going to empower people. I mean, it empowered me.

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H.E.R. Says Working With The Obamas On New Netflix Series Was Life-Changing - Yahoo Lifestyle

Republican candidate for Arizona Governor Kari Lake lashed out at local reporter Dennis Welch when he grilled her about past donations to Democrats John Kerry and Barack Obama, attacking Welch and the media and Democrats for forcing Covid vaccines on people.

Welch began his interview with Lake, a former local Fox 10 Arizona anchor, by asking about donations to then-presidential candidates John Kerry in 2004 and then-future President Barack Obama in 2008.

The donation to Kerry was made using Lakes married name, Kari Halperin, and listed her employer as Zen Video, while the Obama donation was attributed to a K. Halperin of Zen Video. Lake repeatedly insisted that the Obama donation was listed in error, and was actually made by her husband Jeffrey Halperin while simultaneously insisting there was nothing wrong with a Republican having once donated to Democrats.

Im a staunchI am probably the most conservative person in this race right now, Lake said. And look at Ronald Reagan. He was a former Democrat. Whats the problem with it?

The line of questioning didnt sit well with Lake, who spent the bulk of the interview trashing Welch and his station but also pushing misinformation about Democrats.

So what changed? Welch asked.

What changed? Have you not seen? Dennis, have you not seen the country this country is going? Lake replied, and added Have you not seen them with the Democrats are doing? Theyre for defunding the police, theyre for this ridiculous curriculum that is destroying the minds of our children, theyre for shutting down businesses, locking us up in our homes, making us wear masks, forcing vaccines on us, theyre for abortion all the way up and past birth. Seriously if, if somebody is still a Democrat. The Democrat party has changed.

Most of those points are, generously speaking, matters of interpretation or opinion, but Democrats are not, in fact, in favor of abortion past birth, and vaccines are not government-mandated at this time. Lake was an early adopter of Covid trutherism, promoting misinformation while she was still a news anchor.

At one point during the interview, Lake wondered aloud what the headline would be on Welchs piece, and the answer to that is Kari Lake defends donating to Democratic presidential candidates, which sits atop AZFamilys roughly 2-minute initial package on the interview which included some of Lakes jabs at Welch and his station:

But Lake posted the entire 10-minute interview to her Facebook page under the heading 10 minutes of pure discomfort as candidate for AZ Governor, Kari Lake torches local reporter.

Watch above via Kari Lake.

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WATCH: GOP Candidate Lashes Out When Local Reporter Grills Her About Donating to Barack Obama in Wild Interview - Mediaite

If a heat wave in your state is making the outdoors uninhabitable this month, consider staying in and streaming instead. Netflix is rolling out dozens of exciting new titles throughout July,from classics like all three "Austin Powers" moviesto a dating show featuring contestants dressed quite literally as "sexy beasts."

But new Netflix titles also mean a whole wave of departing ones, and when titles are gone, they're gone. "The Iron Lady," which tells the story of the controversial life of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher played by Meryl Streep, leaves Netflix by July 5, while Disney favorite "The Princess and the Frog" starring the first Black Disney princess voiced by Anika Noni Rose, departson the 15th. Meanwhile, "Spotlight," the 2015 drama on the Boston Globe investigation that unearthed widespread sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, starring Mark Ruffalo and Michael Keaton, will depart at the end of the month.

Also at the end of the month, Netflix will be saying goodbye to "Friends With Benefits," starring Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, and numerous cameos of fan favorites sprinkled in, throughout, on the 31st. Also saying goodbye are classic comedy-apocalypse flick "Zombieland," starring Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone, and the first "Mad Max."

But there's plenty to look forward to, and we got you covered. From the perfect crimes, to an Obama-produced musical on civics, Netflix's July additions are perfect for staying in, staying cool, and streaming.

"Audible," July 1

Directed by the Emmy nominated Matt Ogens, "Audible" is the story of a Deaf high school football player, Amaree McKenstry, and his close friends during their senior year. Throughout the film, McKenstry copes with the loss of a friend's suicide, explores relationships, and prepares for the upcoming homecoming game. The filmmakers spoke to Salon about making a film that uses sound design to make an impact on its hearing viewers.

"We the People," July 4

Aptly dropping on Independence Day, the highly anticipated,Obamas-executive-produced, short-form musical series is a bright and quickcrash course on American civics, that's fun for the whole family regardless of your family's background and familiarity with civics.. The series features music and voicing from artists like H.E.R., Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Mone, Amanda Gorman, Bebe Rexhaand others.

"I Think You Should Leave" Season 2, July 6

Hosted by Comedy Central alum Tim Robinson, the second season of offbeat, classic sketch showfeatures a whole roster of fun guest stars, and wild yet everyday scenarios.

"Cat People," July 7

No, it's not the movie based on the viral New Yorker essay "Cat Person" it's "Cat People," a feel-good docuseries on the many, many different kinds of cat people out there, who come in all shapes and sizes, and from all backgrounds, united by their love for cats. This should help recalibrate the image of a cat person who isn't necessarily a shut-in and doesn'tlook like the scraggly haired lady on "The Simpsons."

"Dogs" Season 2, July 7

To balance things out, of course, Netflix will be releasing the second season of the beloved 2018 documentary series of the deep, nuanced emotional bonds shared between different dog owners and their dogs. While the first season traveled the globe, this season will stay statesideand feature a former astronaut, Butler University's beloved canine mascot, a veteran and more.

"Gunpowder Milkshake," July 14

Called the "mother of all action films" by Netflix, "Gunpowder Milkshake" is the story a mother-daughter assassin team and their palswho rebel against the men who could take everything from them. Directed by Navot Papushado, the action film looks like the latest in the delightfully expanding genre of odes to female rage and stars a bunch of badass women:"Doctor Who" alum Karen Gillan, "Game of Thrones" wine lover Lena Headey, Michelle Yeoh, Angela Bassett andCarla Gugino.

"Heist," July 14

Who doesn't love a story of the perfect crime? "Heist" is the shocking docuseries on three of the biggest heists in modern American history, explained by the very people who pulled these heists off. From stealing millions in Vegas casino cash, to the biggest bourbon burglary in history, "Heist" will feature original interviews, exciting reenactments, and essentially pull back the curtain on your favorite fictional heist movies, like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Catch Me If You Can."

"Private Network: Who Killed Manuel Buenda?" July 14

In another true crime deep dive, "Private Network" will investigate the murder of Mexican journalist Manuel Buenda, and explore the deep ties between politics and drug trafficking.

"Never Have I Ever" Season 2, July 15

Season 1 of the breakout comedy "Never Have I Ever" was a fan favorite throughout last summer, and the Mindy Kaling-created show is back. This time around, Netflix teases a new love life and new classmate for teen protagonist Devi Vishwakumar (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), as well as plenty of "questionable decisions."

"Sexy Beasts," July 21

It wouldn't be summer without a catty new dating show, and "Sexy Beasts" takes this quite literally, starring single contestants dressed in elaborate makeup and prosthetics to assume the form of a wide range of different animals. This, of course, is all in pursuit of bringing back blind-dating chemistry. The result is a chaotic and beastly new dating show.

"Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop," July 22

In this new Netflix original anime, a shy boy will express himself via haiku poem to his bubbly but self-conscious crush, leading to a brief but magical summer. You can watch a trailer below.

"The Last Letter From Your Lover," July 23

Starring Shailene Woodley and Joe Alwyn, among others, this new "The Last Letter From Your Lover," based on the novel of the same name, follows the story of journalist Elle Haworth (Felicity Jones) as she uncovers the secret letters of two lovers, Jennifer Stirling (Woodley) and Callum Turner (Anthony O'Hare), having an extramarital affair in 1965 all while embarking on a romance of her own. You can watch the steamy trailer below.

Here's the full list of everything coming to Netflix this month:

July 1"Audible""Dynasty Warriors""Generation 56k""Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway""Young Royals""Air Force One""Austin Powers in Goldmember""Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery""Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me""The Best of Enemies""Boogie Nights""Born to Play""Bureau of Magical Things" Season 1"Charlie's Angels""Congo""Dennis the Menace""The Game""Hampstead""The Karate Kid""The Karate Kid Part II""The Karate Kid Part III""Kung Fu Panda""Kung Fu Panda 2""Life as We Know It""Love Actually""Mary Magdalene""Memoirs of a Geisha""Midnight Run""Mortal Kombat""No Strings Attached""Not Another Teen Movie""Ophelia""Sailor Moon Crystal" Seasons 1-3"She's Out of My League""Spanglish""Star Trek""The Strangers""Stuart Little""Supermarket Sweep" Season 1"Sword of Trust""Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby""Terminator 2: Judgment Day""Underworld""Underworld: Awakening""Underworld: Rise of the Lycans""What Dreams May Come""Why Do Fools Fall in Love""ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE"

July 2"The 8th Night""Big Timber""Fear Street Part 1: 1994""Haseen Dillruba""Mortel" Season 2"Snowpiercer"

July 3"Grey's Anatomy" Season 17

July 4"We The People"

July 5"You Are My Spring"

July 6"I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson" Season 2

July 7"Brick Mansions""Cat People""Dogs" Season 2"The Mire: '97""The War Next-door""Major Grom: Plague Doctor""This Little Love of Mine"

July 8"Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime""Home Again""Midnight Sun""RESIDENT EVIL: Infinite Darkness"

July 9"Atypical" Season 4"Biohackers" Season 2"The Cook of Castamar""Fear Street Part 2: 1978""How I Became a Superhero""Last Summer""Lee Su-geun: The Sense Coach""Virgin River" Season 3

July 10"American Ultra"

July 13"Ridley Jones"

July 14"A Classic Horror Story""The Guide to the Perfect Family""Gunpowder Milkshake""Heist""My Unorthodox Life""Private Network: Who Killed Manuel Buenda?"

July 15"A Perfect Fit""BEASTARSSeason 2"Emicida: AmarElo - Live in So Paulo""My Amanda""Never Have I Ever" Season 2

July 16"The Beguiled""Deep""Explained:"Season 3"Fear Street Part 3: 1666""Johnny Test""Twilight""The Twilight Saga: New Moon""The Twilight Saga: Eclipse""The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1""The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2"

July 17"Cosmic Sin"

July 20"milkwater"

July 21"Chernobyl 1986""The Movies That Made Us" Season 2"One on One with Kirk Cameron" Season 1"Sexy Beasts""Too Hot to Handle: Brazil""Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans"

July 22"9 to 5: The Story of a Movement""Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop"

July 23"A Second Chance: Rivals!""Bankrolled""Blood Red Sky""Kingdom: Ashin of the North""The Last Letter From Your Lover""Masters of the Universe: Revelation""Sky Rojo: Season 2"

July 24"Charmed" Season 3"Django Unchained"

July 26"The Walking Dead""Wynonna Earp"

July 27"All American" Season 3"Mighty Express" Season 4"The Operative"

July 28"Bartkowiak""Fantastic Fungi""The Flash" Season 7"The Snitch Cartel: Origins""Tattoo Redo"

July 29"Resort to Love""Transformers: War for Cybertron: Kingdom"

July 30"Centaurworld""Glow Up" Season 3"The Last Mercenary""Myth & Mogul: John DeLorean""Outer Banks" Season 2

July 31"The Vault"

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From female assassins to sexy beasts, here's what's new on Netflix in July - Salon

Tucker Carlson, host of Tucker Carlson Tonight, on the set of his Fox News program in 2017. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

Tucker Carlson, host of Tucker Carlson Tonight, on the set of his Fox News program in 2017.

On consecutive nights this week, Fox News prime-time host Tucker Carlson has alleged that the National Security Agency charged with monitoring communications abroad to keep the U.S. safe is spying on him in hopes of getting his top-rated show canceled.

"We heard from a whistleblower within the U.S. government who reached out to warn us that the NSA, the National Security Agency, is monitoring our electronic communications and is planning to leak them to take this show off the air," Carlson said Monday night.

Ascribing political motivations to the Biden administration, Carlson said the whistleblower had information about a story he's working on that could only have been derived from his own texts and emails.

On Tuesday, the NSA denied spying on him or wanting his show canceled. That night, Carlson returned to the air, crackling with indignation. He followed up his incendiary charge of possible criminal acts by saying the agency had notably not denied it was reviewing his communications.

He did not, however, offer anything more concrete. And Fox News has notably not reported on Carlson's allegations within its news programs, according to a review of transcripts. Not on Fox News political anchor Bret Baier's show. Not on Fox anchor John Roberts' afternoon news program. Not even on the often conspiracy theory-friendly morning show, Fox & Friends.

Online, Fox News has published two brief posts one without a byline simply rounding up what Carlson said but offering no new reporting. And Fox News public relations executives have not responded to repeated requests for comment from NPR and other outlets asking whether the network stands behind Carlson's claims. They instead pointed to Carlson's own remarks.

Asked by NPR for greater verification or documentation, Carlson wrote, "My word. Why would I make something like that up? Doesn't help me. I've got enough drama."

"But it's true," he said. "They haven't denied it, including tonight. The NSA was reading my email. That's absolutely confirmed."

Carlson did not answer NPR's questions of whether he was in contact with people in Russia or Ukraine over the 2016 elections, the president's son Hunter Biden or any related matter.

The NSA is banned from targeting U.S. citizens for direct eavesdropping unless a secret federal court finds there is reason to believe they are terrorists or agents of a foreign power. Yet the agency often sweeps up the emails or other communications of Americans who are in touch with one of the agency's foreign targets. Because the agency operates on such a massive global scale, the communications that are "incidentally" collected can be extensive.

"Tucker Carlson has never been an intelligence target of the Agency and the NSA has never had any plans to try to take his program off the air," the NSA said in a formal statement Tuesday. "We target foreign powers to generate insights on foreign activities that could harm the United States. With limited exceptions (e.g. an emergency), NSA may not target a U.S. citizen without a court order that explicitly authorizes the targeting."

The NSA's statement saying Carlson was not a "target" of its intercept operations does not conclusively mean the agency did not collect some of his emails or texts. If, hypothetically, Carlson was exchanging messages with someone in Russia or Ukraine as part of his show's coverage of the 2016 election or the Trump administration or Hunter Biden, and the person overseas was being monitored by the NSA, the agency might well have gathered his messages. The agency is supposed to conceal the names of any Americans whose communications are gathered that way.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, announced Wednesday he had asked Rep. Devin Nunes of California to investigate the NSA over Carlson's claims and other episodes. Nunes, a former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee when Republicans controlled the chamber, has pushed conspiracy theories from former President Donald Trump and his allies over numerous matters, including the 2016 elections, Russia and Ukraine.

Carlson is right on one score at least: He has had more than enough drama. Carlson has come under attack for some of his claims surrounding COVID-19 and public health officials and his defense of Trump against critics. Yet Carlson has navigated a delicate dance on those, taking the pandemic more seriously, more quickly, than many of his opinion colleagues at Fox, and also acknowledging, at times, Trump's flaws.

More problematically, Carlson has embraced rhetoric that inspires white supremacists, even as a top writer for his show quit after his online posts were revealed to have been racist and bigoted. Carlson also defended those who laid siege to the U.S. Capitol in January as patriots wrongly singled out for denigration by overbearing law enforcement authorities and liberals.

And most recently, and seemingly paradoxically, Carlson has also argued that the FBI may have been behind the siege.

"His audience is in perpetual state of anger and outrage, where now the target has shifted from 'the radical left' and the [D]emocrats, to the security state," tweeted Joan Donovan, research director of Harvard University's Shorenstein Center and a scholar of online misinformation and hate groups.

"He's making stronger and stronger claims about a conspiracy to overthrow the government without requisite proof," Donovan wrote. "This propaganda feeds into ... his audience's collective desperation that NO ONE is going to bring about justice. To them, the govt is now occupied by illegitimate forces."

Carlson's assertions could prove true or contain grains of truth. But that's not necessary for him to keep broadcasting: Lawyers for Fox News prevailed in a slander suit against Carlson by arguing his words could not literally be believed. A federal judge embraced that reasoning.

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Tucker Carlson Says The NSA Wants Him Off The Air. Fox News Isn't Following His Lead - NPR