The Senate is heading for a vote on a temporary government funding package as lawmakers seek to keep the holiday season free from any suspense over a government shutdown

A Fox News guest discussing last week’s “drag nuns” protest, the Trump prosecution and “the left” has suggested the time may be coming for someone in America to “pull the trigger” like at Concord, the battle which helped to spark the Revolutionary War. Retired MLB pitcher and conservative commentator Curt Schilling made the on-air comments Friday while in conversation with host Jesse Watters. Schilling complained that leaders on the right “talk, talk, that’s all they’re doing” without backing up ideology with action. “We’re up against a side and a force that doesn’t play by the rules – refuses to play by the rules,” Schilling said, adding of conservatives: “We get excited, and we get emotional; that’s it. They break the law; they do the things they need to do to ensure their agenda is driven forward – and we’re watching them gut our nation from the inside out, and I don’t know where the rubber’s gonna meet the road.” Referencing the American founding fathers and “the young men that signed the Constitution,” Schilling continued: “They sacrificed everything to come out from under a tyrannical government and, then, eventually, at some point, there was a man at Concord who decided he was gonna pull the trigger.” The Battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775 marked the start of America’s ultimately victorious War of Independence from Britain. “And I feel like we’re getting back to a point where somebody’s gonna have to pull a trigger, because everything we hold dear – everything this country was founded on – is being just dragged through the mud and mocked and made fun of,” he said. “This country was founded on godly principles – no matter how offensive that is to the left, it’s true.” When Watters asked whether his guest meant “pull the trigger” metaphorically, Schilling stumbled slightly over his words. “Absolutely. Well, no,” he said. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if I say ‘metaphorically,’ because they’re gonna run with that quote no matter how I put it. I could’ve phrased it in any possible way, saying ‘stand up and fight and blah blah blah’ – and I would be inciting a riot.” The backlash was swift on social media, where Schilling’s choice of words – despite the partial backtracking – was vilified as inciteful. The Intellectuast, @highbrow_nobrow, tweeted a clip of the interview on Saturday, writing: “This is a very clear dog whistle for stochastic terrorism” while deriding Fox as “dangerous propaganda.” “This is who MAGA are — they prefer violence over voting,” wrote Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, tweeting a clip of the comments. “It’s not going to work. RT if you plan to vote next November.” Author Brian O’Sullivan called Schilling’s comments “undeniably dangerous” in a tweet, suggesting charges should result “If some right-wing nut ever took his call-to-arms to heart.” Schilling is no stranger to political controversy. The All-Star pitcher was fired by ESPN in 2016 after promoting social media content that appeared to mock the transgender community. He was an outspoken Trump supporter and has espoused the 45th President’s aversion to finesse, coming under fire more than once for posts and statements many deemed offensive. The Independent has reached out to Fox News Media. Schilling, one day after his Fox interview made headlines, attempted clarification again on Twitter. “Be the first to admit it was a bad choice of words but it was clarified immediately,” he wrote on Saturday. “As I said then and we’ve seen now, doesn’t matter. They’ll outright lie and make up s**t to the point where they can quote you and create a fictional quote then jate {sic) you for it or talk s**t. Or the best one is when these clowns do the ‘dog whistle’ BS OR ‘what he meant to say was’ schtick. “No matter, like I said, when you call them out as the American hating lazy ass frauds they are they scream and make s**t up. Their ENTIRE EXISTANCE (sic) is based on race, sexual orientation, unfettered access to abortion, legalizing drugs and emotions. Facts elude them and destroy everything they claim. Facts and an honest days (sic) work that is.” Read More Curt Shilling: Pro-Trump All-Star pitcher blasts ‘coward’ baseball writers after ninth Hall of Fame rejection Fox News host criticised for ‘disturbing’ claim about immigrants Fox News producer out after onscreen message calling President Biden a 'wannabe dictator' A nun commends Dodgers' handling of Pride Night controversy; some archbishops call it blasphemy Former drag queen George Santos launches random vulgar attack on ‘drag nuns’ Trump says ‘Long live the King’ in rant day after Biden said ‘God save the Queen’ Nikki Haley's husband begins Africa deployment as she campaigns for 2024 GOP nomination Fox News producer out after onscreen message calling President Biden a 'wannabe dictator'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has replaced his campaign manager as he struggles to gain traction in his attempt to take down former President Donald Trump in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination. Campaign Manager Generra Peck will now instead move to the role of chief strategist with James Uthmeier taking on the top post, according to The Messenger. Mr Uthmeier previously held the position of chief of staff in the governor’s office. The shakeup comes not long after the campaign said that Ms Peck’s position was secure. She was in charge of Mr DeSantis’s successful 2022 reelection campaign in Florida but has been criticised by advisers to the governor as well as donors to the campaign after the campaign began to slow and funding started to run out. The campaign has had two rounds of staff and expenses cuts and a revamp of his media strategy to make the governor more available to mainstream outlets. A number of donors and advisers outside the campaign remained unsatisfied, prompting Mr DeSantis to ask Mr Uthmeier last week if he could analyse what issues may be plaguing the campaign and how they may be solved, leading to his hiring as campaign manager. The campaign doesn’t want to refer to the new moves as a “reboot,” The Messenger notes, preferring the word “reload”. “People have written Governor DeSantis’s obituary many times,” Mr Uthmeier told the outlet in a statement. “From his race against establishment primary candidate Adam Putnam, to his victory over legacy media-favored candidate Andrew Gillum [in 2018], to his twenty-point win over Charlie Crist [in 2022], Governor DeSantis has proven that he knows how to win. He’s breaking records on fundraising and has a supporting super PAC with $100 million in the bank and an incredible ground game. Get ready.” Iowa operative David Polyansky will take on the role of deputy campaign manager, leaving his post as an advisor to Never Back Down, the DeSantis-supporting Super PAC. More follows... Read More Florida school board reverses decision nixing access to children's book about a male penguin couple Trump and Biden tied in hypothetical 2024 rematch: poll DeSantis won’t rule out abortion ban but suggests there’s no ‘mileage’ in Congress

Chris Buescher won his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race by holding off Martin Truex late in the FireKeepers 400 on Monday

A man who says he was injured during a November 2022 shooting that killed rapper Takeoff in Houston, Texas, is suing the venue where the incident happened, alleging the establishment failed to provide adequate security to protect guests at the event, among other claims.

By Rae Wee SINGAPORE The dollar wobbled near an over one-year low against its major peers on Tuesday,

Nineteen-year-old Delaney Irving was unconscious when she crossed the finish line of Gloucester's 2023 cheese-rolling contest.

Ray Stevenson, the Irish actor who played the villain in “RRR,” an Asgardian warrior in the ‘Thor’ films, and a member of the 13th Legion in HBO’s “Rome,” has died

More than 200 conservative Muslims marched in Indonesia’s capital, calling for the cancellation of Coldplay’s concert on Wednesday night over the British band’s support for the LGBTQ+ community

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Chelsea can wrap up a fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title this afternoon as they travel to relegation-threatened Reading on the final day of the season. The Blues have a two-point lead over Manchester United in the table, with a goal difference better by five, as Emma Hayes’s side look to complete the WSL and FA Cup double. Reading vs Chelsea LIVE: Latest WSL updates from final day United are away at Liverpool and must hope Reading pull off an unlikely victory. The Royals need to win to have any chance of survival, and begin the day two points adrift of Leicester. Chelsea have won their last six WSL games - including last weekend’s key victory against Arsenal - while Reading have lost their last five. Here’s everything you need to know. Is Reading vs Chelsea on TV? The WSL title-decider will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. The match will kick-off at 2:30pm BST on Saturday 27 May. Is Liverpool vs Manchester United on TV? The other match in the title race will be shown on BBC One, with the same kick-off time of 2:30pm. What is the team news? Deanne Rose could start in a timely fitness boost for Reading, but goalkeeper Jackie Burns remains unavailable. Chelsea are expected to be unchanged, which means Magdalena Eriksson and Pernille Harder will play for the club for the final time. Fran Kirby and Millie Bright remain out. Predicted line-ups Reading: Moloney; Mayi Kith, Cooper, Evans, Mukandi; Eikeland, Moore, Vanhaevermaet, Harries; Troelsgaard, Wellings Chelsea: Berger; Perisset, Mjelde, Eriksson, Charles; Cuthbert, Ingle; James, Harder, Reiten, Kerr What have the managers said? Emma Hayes: “This is just business as usual for us. The preparation is what we’d prepared for at the very beginning of the season. It’s not like we’ve won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective. We’ve always known from previous experience it goes to the last game.” Kelly Chambers: “If you just give up now or don’t believe then, for me, what’s the point of stepping out there on Saturday? There’s still a glimmer of hope there for us and we just have to give everything we can. If we are beaten by the better team, I can accept that – what I can’t accept is that we don’t turn up and fight for everything.” Read More ‘Business as usual’ as Chelsea look to wrap up Women’s Super League title Chelsea the title favourites as Leicester look to survive – WSL talking points Departing Magdalena Eriksson and era-crowning win show why WSL title heading back to Chelsea Liverpool vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates Reading vs Chelsea LIVE: Latest Women's Super League updates Manchester United hit Mason Mount obstacle as Chelsea name price