Knockout lover’s delight: Vargas vs. Bechelt, Miura vs. Roman, HBO Saturday

January 27, 2017

SAN DIEGO, January 27, 2017 – Francisco “El Bandido” Vargas earned his WBC super featherweight title and defended it over the toughest total of 21 rounds in two fights any boxer has endured since Arturo Gatti.
Fans hope Vargas (23-0-2, 17 KOs) will deliver his third straight Fight of the Year show against Mexican slugger Miguel Berchelt at the Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, California. The bout will air on HBO Boxing After Dark at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Both fighters made weight; see the weigh-in here.
In 2015, Vargas got off the canvas to defeat Japanese champion Takashi Miura in a ninth round TKO. Six months later, Vargas fought 12 brutally tough rounds against Orlando Salido to a draw, hanging on to his WBC featherweight title.
While Vargas wouldn’t mind a quick, easy performance on Saturday, he knows it’s not likely against the hard-punching Berchelt, whose only loss was a first-round knockout by obscure Colombian boxer, Luis Eduardo Florez. Florez suffered his own KO loss to American Jamel Herring early in 2016. While Berchelt’s 90 percent knockout rate is impressive, he lacks the resume of Vargas, and this will be only his second fight outside of Mexico in the U. S.
Nevertheless, Berchelt projects complete confidence in his ability to challenge Vargas. He appreciates the opportunity and he’s not going to squander it. “This is something everyone dreams about, this is a great opportunity to fight on HBO, “said Berchelt through translator Jerry Olaya. Berchelt said Vargas takes him lightly at his own risk.
“They’re talking past me already and they might have problems with me in this fight … He’s had two wars recently. But I have a long list of knockouts, and I think this is the secret to this fight.”
Vargas says he’s looking forward to getting in the ring after a long layoff to recover from two tough fights. “ This title cost me a lot to win, and I am not going to let it go easily. I’m taking my belt back with me.” While Vargas says he wouldn’t mind an easy night, he’s prepared to put on the kind of war the fans love. Vargas knows he is beloved by the boxing public for his warrior attitude. He smiles and laughs about it when he gets the inevitable questions about whether he’s going for his third FOTY on Saturday. “Boxing fans know what to expect every time I step into the ring—and that is a war,” said Vargas.
But these type of fights take years off a boxer’s career, and Vargas can still be a warrior by adding some boxing skills to the mix so he scores without absorbing so much punishment. In both his FOTY bouts, Vargas was seriously cut and withstood a lot of pounding while dishing out plenty of his own. It’s still hard to believe he stayed on his feet against Salido. Vargas needs to avoid being cut and avoid letting Berchelt pound on him for the sake of entertainment. But we all know in the heat of the moment with the fans going wild, above all Vargas likes to entertain. See highlights of his previous bouts here.
Orlando Salido plans to be ringside to watch Vargas and Berchelt, as well as the undercard bout between Vargas’s 2015 FOTY opponent, Takashi Miura of Japan. Miura (30-3-2, 23 KOs) faces lightweight veteran Miguel “Mickey” Roman of Mexico (56-11, 43 KOs). The sturdy Roman has fought a handful of bouts outside Mexico and lost to a handful of well-known opponents.
Miura was originally scheduled to fight Salido, but withdrew due to injury. He’s shaken off the disappointment of his loss to Vargas; he believes he could have continued and finished the bout. He can get right back in contention with a win against Roman in what is certain to be just as action-packed as the main event. “I was very disappointed when I lost to Vargas, but I have redirected myself and I am excited to begin my journey toward winning back my title,” said Miura. Miura had a single fight last May in Japan, ending with a first-round knockout.
Roman intends to come straight at Miura without delay. “I’m going to go for the knockout from the opening bell. I know that’s the style Miura has as well but I’m going to get to him first,” said Roman.
Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions said, “We know that the fans love knockouts, and these four guys have 110 KOs among them all. I think that speaks for itself and gives you a good idea of what Saturday night is going to be like.”
“I’m ready to give the fans what they want to see,” said Vargas. While it ‘s breathtaking to watch the bravery and skill of warriors like Vargas, one also has to wonder how much more fans can ask of them for our entertainment. It wouldn’t hurt for him to protect himself a little more on Saturday en route to a victory, setting up a possible Miura rematch.
Fans shouldn’t overlook the undercard fights featuring several worthwhile matchups. They will be streamed live via RingTVLive.com
Middleweight Tureano Johnson of the Bahamas had a terrific performance on the Golovkin vs. Lemieux undercard in 2015. He became GGG’s mandatory opponent, but was injured in training and lost out. Johnson (19-1, 13 KOs) would love to get back in the middleweight mix with a solid outing against Antonio Guitierrez of Mexico (21-2-1, 9 KOs). Guiterrez is no pushover. He lost a close decision to Gabriel Rosado last June, a fight most observers believe Guitierrez won. Johnson’s only loss was to Curtis Stevens.
Also on the undercard is welterweight Sadam Ali of Brooklyn, (23-1-0, 13 KOs), who would like to be considered for some top name opposition with a win over Jorge Silva of Mexico (22-12-2, 18 KOs); and super featherweight prospect Lamont Roach of Washington DC (12-0, 4 KOs) against Alejandro Valdez of Mexico (26-8-2, 20 KOs) for a WBC youth super featherweight belt.
Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a serious boxing fan covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in Communities Digital News. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.
Please credit “Gayle Falkenthal for Communities Digital News ” when quoting from or linking to this story.
Copyright © 2017 by Falcon Valley Group

Sentiment rank: 1.8

© Source: http://www.commdiginews.com/sports/knockout-lovers-delight-vargas-vs-bechelt-miura-vs-roman-hbo-saturday-77077/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Fred Hoiberg defends 'accountability' and player 'influence'

admin

January 27, 2017

The hesitation said it all.
During his Friday meeting with the media, Fred Hoiberg was reminded of his success from his days coaching at Iowa State, and then asked if his current gig with the Bulls was really worth all the headaches that seem to surround this team in his first two seasons.
His reply started with a laugh.
Then a long drawn out, “Ummmmm.’’
“It’s a job that’s tough, all 30 of us that are in this position have tough jobs,’’ Hoiberg said. “There’s a lot of pressure. It’s a high stress. It’s tough on our families. It’s all those things. At the same time, being in this league, you know what you’re getting into. I was in the NBA for 15 years – 10 as a player and five in the front office. My dream was to get back in and coach.
“You’re in these situations, these things come up over the course of the year with pretty much every team, with maybe the exception of a few. You deal with it the best you can and try to move forward. We did that. Again, hopefully we learn from it and become a better basketball team.’’
While a lot of the focus on Friday was on Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo speaking to the media about the jabs all three players took over a 24-hour period, almost lost in all the explanations was the fact that some of what was said was an indictment on Hoiberg.
Following the Wednesday loss to Atlanta, Wade and Butler used the media to fire on their teammates about work ethic, heart, shot selection and caring about the game. Rondo retaliated on his Instagram account Thursday, and at one point wrote, “My vets didn’t have an influence on the coaching staff. They couldn’t change the plan because it didn’t work for them. I played under one of the greatest coaches, and he held everyone accountable.’’
A couple of important messages there by Rondo. First, that Wade and Butler were influencing Hoiberg and changing his gameplans when they didn’t like them. Secondly, that Hoiberg wasn’t holding “everyone accountable’’ like Doc Rivers did in the Boston days.
Even Butler was asked about the influence he has on Hoiberg, and didn’t exactly deny it.
“Maybe,’’ Butler said. “If I have a concern, I go to them. That don’t mean [Hoiberg] listens to me all the time, but I would hope that he takes my opinion into mind.’’
Hoiberg was asked if Wade or Butler do have influence over the staff and gave a one-word reply of, “No.’’
As far as the accountability, well, even Hoiberg admitted that it’s a part of this team that remained a work in progress.
“It’s something that we talked a lot about,’’ Hoiberg said of accountability. “It’s something that we’re going to continue to address, continue to get better in all areas. It starts with me. I got to get us prepared to play. I got to get us prepared to go out and play consistent basketball and then try to put a plan to get us to go out and win games and be consistent in all areas.’’
Players weren’t about to dispute that either.
“We’re getting better at it,’’ Butler said, when asked if accountability was an issue. “I think that’s what everything’s about, is getting better at what you’re not the best at, every single day. We’re learning, man. Even though it’s 47 games in. We’re still learning. We gotta be better in a lot of ways. That could be one.’’

Similarity rank: 1.1

Sentiment rank: 3.5

© Source: http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/fred-hoiberg-defends-accountability-and-player-influence/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Immigrant Advocates Criticize Trump’s Ban On Syrian Refugees

admin

January 27, 2017

(CBS) — Local immigrant advocacy groups are upset over President Trump’s ban on Syrian refugees.
Calling it a contradiction to the values this country was founded on, members of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago called on the president to reverse the move.
Dr. Zaher Sahloul says only 18,000 Syrian refugees — out of an estimated 4.8 million — have settled in the U. S. so far.
He says the vetting process here is already one of the strictest in the world, taking between 18 to 24 months to conduct interviews and background checks.
Hoda Katebi, a member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago, says the ban will criminalize Muslims like herself and her Iranian family.
She says a Phd candidate at Stanford who went home to Iran over winter break will not be allowed to return — wasting time and money on a degree he can’t complete because the government considers him a “security threat.”
Suzanne Sahloul, with the Syrian Community Network, says the policy will mean a woman named Eman waiting for her family to come here from Syria may not be reunited.
The council is concerned a temporary ban would be extended permanently and expanded to include more Muslim-majority countries.

Similarity rank: 12

Sentiment rank: -3.1

© Source: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/01/27/immigrant-advocates-criticize-trumps-ban-on-syrian-refugees/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Потрібно збільшити експорт української зброї – Порошенко

admin

January 27, 2017

Президент України Петро Порошенко відзначив необхідність збільшення експорту української зброї і розробки програми оновлення виробничого фонду оборонних підприємств України, передає Інтерфакс-Україна.
“Ми повинні підтримати зростаючий попит на українську зброю власного виробництва. Підкреслюю, що ми не розпродуємо, на відміну від деяких (попередніх – ред.) горе-міністрів оборони і тих, хто приймав відповідні рішення. Ми на сьогоднішній день твердо і переконливо завойовуємо ринок видами озброєння, які виробляються в Україні”, – сказав Порошенко під час засідання Ради національної безпеки і оборони України в п’ятницю.
При цьому президент нагадав, що вітчизняне оборонне замовлення виконується на виробничих фондах, рівень зносу яких становить 67%, а на деяких підприємствах – 80%.

Similarity rank: 9.6

© Source: http://biz.nv.ua/ukr/markets/potribno-zbilshiti-eksport-ukrajinskoji-zbroji-poroshenko-548403.html
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Actor Mike Connors, who played ‘Mannix,’ dies at age of 91

admin

January 27, 2017

LOS ANGELES — Mike Connors, who starred as a hard-hitting private eye on the long-running television series “Mannix,” has died. He was 91.
The actor died surrounded by family Thursday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital from complications of leukemia that had been diagnosed a week earlier, said his son-in-law, Mike Condon.
“Mannix” ran for eight years on CBS beginning in 1967. Viewers were intrigued by the tall, smartly dressed, well-spoken detective who could mix it up with the burliest of thugs and leap on the hood of a racing car to prevent an escape. Episodes normally climaxed with a brawl that left the culprits bruised and beaten.
“Up until Mannix, most private investigators were hard-nosed, cynical guys who lived in a seedy area and had no emotions,” Connors theorized in 1997. “Mannix got emotionally involved. He was not above being taken advantage of.”
In the first season, Joe Mannix was a self-employed Los Angeles private investigator hired by a firm that used computers and high-tech equipment to uncover crime. The ratings were lukewarm. Connors feared the series would be canceled but it was produced by Lucille Ball’s Desilu studio, and CBS was reluctant to antagonize its biggest star.
In the second season, Mannix opened his own office and combatted low-lifes by himself. The ratings zoomed.
When “Mannix” was revised the office acquired a secretary, played by African-American actress Gail Fisher.
The network was concerned that affiliates in the South might object to her character but “there wasn’t any kind of backlash,” Connors recalled.
Another highlight was the theme music by legendary screen composer Lalo Schifrin.
Connors also starred in the TV series “Tightrope!” and “Today’s FBI.” Each lasted one season.
His movie and TV career stretched from the 1950s to 2007, when he had a guest role on “Two and a Half Men.”
Connors made his film debut in 1952’s “Sudden Fear,” which starred Joan Crawford. Other films included “Island in the Sky,” “The Ten Commandments,” and a remake of “Stagecoach.”
Connors, born Krekor Ohanian in 1925, was from an Armenian community in Fresno. He served in the Air Force during World War II and played basketball at the University of California, Los Angeles.
After graduation he studied law for two years but his good looks and imposing presence attracted him to acting. In an era when film actors were given names like Tab and Rock, he appeared as Touch Connors – “Touch” being his basketball nickname.
He later changed it to Michael and finally, Mike.
Connors and his wife, Mary Lou, were married in 1949 and had two children: a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Dana.
Were you interviewed for this story? If so, please fill out our accuracy form
Send questions/comments to the editors.

Similarity rank: 1.3

Sentiment rank: -7.6

© Source: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/27/actor-mike-connors-who-played-mannix-dies-at-age-of-91/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Behind China's dazzling New Year spectacle

admin

January 27, 2017

Friday is Chinese New Year’s Eve, and celebrations are underway, including a televised New Year’s countdown. For a sense of just how big this is: more than 115 million people watched and streamed Super Bowl 50 last year, but one billion people are expected to watch the Lunar New Year Gala in China.
The festivities are a dazzling feast for the eyes, with over-the-top pomp that demands attention, a frenetic mix of dancers, athletes and singers, reports CBS News correspondent Adriana Diaz. She went behind the scenes to see how it all comes together.
“This show is one of a kind,” said Yang Dongsheng, the TV special’s chief director and architect. “We have a wide range of routines to try appeal to everyone.”
That range, of course, extends beyond the flashy stage. Propaganda, which has gained prominence under current President Xi Jinping, is also on display.
It’s a logistical high-wire act that involves 13,000 performers and cutting-edge technology.
At the rehearsals, there was no shortage of bright colors and special effects. The performers have been rehearsing for months for five hours of eye-popping TV.
Behind the scenes, we were given special access to a most bizarre backstage. The hallways were a hodgepodge of elaborate – though at times, unidentifiable – costumes.
And in what may also make this the cutest show on earth, we saw children dressed up as baby roosters. After all, 2017 is the year of the rooster.
But the tight space and tighter schedule brings its challenges, said dancer Yu Qingqing.
“We often rehearse until 1 or 2 a.m. And some don’t have time to eat at noon,” she said in Chinese.
They grab a bite whenever and wherever they can. Still, Yu said it’s well worth it.
“It means so much to us in China,” she explained. “It’s hard to make the show’s cut. Only the elites survive.”
The show can launch a career and boost the celebrity of even the biggest names. Celine Dion performed in 2013. This year’s headliner, Jackie Chan, was greeted with cheers at rehearsals this week.
For Chan, and the legions of other performers in this year’s show.. the event marks not just a celebration of fresh beginnings.. but of patriotism and pride.

Similarity rank: 3.5

Trump Is Confusing China On Purpose, Adviser Reveals

admin

January 27, 2017

President Donald Trump’s approach to international relations confuses Chinese leaders, and it is intentional, an adviser revealed.
Trump is purposefully unpredictable, as he hopes to throw China off its game, Michael Pillsbury, a renowned China expert and adviser to the president’s team, said recently.
Not long after he won the election, Trump began poking and prodding exposed nerves in the U. S.-China bilateral relationship, such as U. S. relations with Taiwan, the South China Sea, and trade. In particular, Trump’s regular questioning of the one-China principle has infuriated Chinese officials in Beijing unsure how to handle this issue.
“He wants to be unpredictable towards the Chinese,” Pillsbury told CGTN, a Chinese broadcaster.
Trump has said “the Chinese are the best negotiators in the world,” so “to get an advantage, he wants to be unpredictable in the eyes of the Chinese government,” he told reporters.
“I think he’s succeeded in this,” Pillsbury added, noting, “I think he’ll be one of our best presidents.”
Pillsbury’s statements reflect comments made at the Raisina Dialogue.
“His tweets have created a flutter in the Chinese state media,” Pillsbury revealed , arguing that Trump’s “unpredictability” might encourage the Chinese government to make “once unthinkable” concessions on important issues.
Pillsbury told CGTN that Trump does not actually need advisers on China, commenting that he understands China and has written extensively about China in his books, including his most recent “Great Again: How To Fix Our Crippled America.”
“The element of surprise wins battles. So, I don’t tell the other side what I’m doing, I don’t warn them, and I don’t let them fit me comfortably into a predictable pattern,” Trump wrote.
“I don’t want people to know exactly what I’m doing — or thinking. I like being unpredictable,” he added.
“It keeps them off balance,” he concluded.
Making America great again will require some assistance from China. Pillsbury argues that “the road to making America great again runs through Beijing.”
“China holds the key to boosting American growth … China, perhaps more than any other country, can help us create jobs, stimulate investment, and drive growth,” Pillsbury asserts, “But, that requires China take a sharp turn away from its brutally mercantilist policies that advantage its workers over ours and flout the norms of international trade. It requires ending China’s unfair trade practices and making trade compromises.”
Trump’s unpredictability raises the stakes, as a misstep could lead to confrontation, but, at the same time, it could also lead to a renegotiation of the bilateral relationship to better serve American interests.
Follow Ryan on Twitter
Send tips to ryan@ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

Similarity rank: 3.3

Sentiment rank: 0.9

© Source: http://dailycaller.com/2017/01/27/trump-is-confusing-china-on-purpose-adviser-reveals/
All rights are reserved and belongs to a source media.

Las Vegas fugitive captured in Taylorsville

admin

January 27, 2017

TAYLORSVILLE — Police in Utah arrested a fugitive wanted for attempted murder in Nevada early Friday.
North Las Vegas police first warned Utah officials about 35-year-old Ronnie Withers, who they believed might have been heading to Utah.
Withers’ cousin tipped police officers that he was in the Millcreek area overnight, according to Lt. Brian Lohrke with the Unified Police Department.
Officers spotted Withers’ van near 4500 South and State Street and attempted a traffic stop.
Withers fled and police pursued him. He eventually stopped the van at 2080 West and 4700 South in Taylorsville, where he barricaded himself inside the van and threatened to harm himself.
Lohrke said police were aware ahead of time that Withers had access to weapons, so they used “a lot of restraint” in the situation. Officers eventually used tear gas to get him out of the van and a K-9 to drag him to a safe spot.
Withers was taken to a hospital and will be booked into the Salt Lake County Jail after treatment, Lohrke said.
Withers was wanted in connection with the stabbing of his ex-girlfriend in North Las Vegas Jan. 24, the Las Vegas Sun reported. The woman was critically injured in the stabbing.

Similarity rank: 3.2

Sentiment rank: -95.3

History of the 'Special Relationship' Between U. S. Presidents and British Prime Ministers

admin

January 27, 2017

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill meet in Quebec, June 1, 1944. After the successful D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944, the two leaders met in Quebec to agree their policy on the treatment of Germany after the war. Churchill is credited with coining the term “special relationship” to describe ties between the U. S. and Britain.
President John F. Kennedy and Britain’s Prime Minister Harold Macmillan enter the Key West limits en route to their conference at the Key West Naval Base, Key West, Florida, March 26, 1961. The two leaders became friends despite their significant age gap of 23 years.
British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and President Lyndon Johnson at the White House in Washington, April 1, 1965. The “special relationship” between the U. K. and the U. S. hit a rough patch under Prime Minister Wilson and President Johnson. Wilson refused U. S. requests to send British troops to help American troops in the Vietnam War, a war that Johnson would face strong criticism for getting involved in.
President Richard Nixon and British Prime Minister Harold Wilson at Chequers, the official country residence of the British prime ministers, March 5, 1969. Nixon and Wilson’s relationship had a rocky start. Prime Minister Wilson appointed John Freeman, who had once described Nixon as a “man of no principle,” as ambassador to Washington. On his visit to the U. K., Nixon greeted Freeman respectfully, which led Wilson to write a letter thanking Nixon for “one of the kindest and most generous acts.”
President Jimmy Carter, left, waves to those on the lawn of the White House who came to greet the British Prime Minister James Callaghan, second from right, and his wife Audrey Callaghan, second from left, March 10, 1977, in Washington. The traditional 19-gun salute for Callaghan was nixed by D. C. police due to a hostage situation nearby the White House, The Washington Post reported at the time.
Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, left, and President Ronald Reagan dance in the foyer of the White House during a State Dinner in Thatcher’s honor in Washington, Nov. 16, 1988. Perhaps no other pair of president and prime minister since FDR and Churchill epitomized the U. S.-U. K.’s “special relationship” than the Iron Lady and the Gipper. Reagan called Thatcher “the best man in England” and Thatcher once said Reagan was “the second most important man in my life.” First lady Nancy Reagan referred to the two as “political soulmates.”
President George Bush, right, and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, left, drive away in a golf cart, Nov. 24, 1989, from the helicopter landing zone at Camp David. When Iraq’s Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, Thatcher famously told Bush it was “no time to go wobbly.”
President Bill Clinton, right, laughs at a comment made by British Prime Minister John Major during a press conference at the White House in Washington, April 4, 1995. Major and Clinton’s relationship was tense because Major backing Clinton’s opponent in the 1992 presidential race, George H. W. Bush.
President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair shake hands after a press conference in Thurmont, Maryland, down the road from the presidential retreat Camp David, Feb. 23, 2001. Blair backed Bush’s decision to send troops into Iraq, earning him the nickname of Bush’s “lapdog” from the British press and public.
President Barack Obama and Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron play table tennis at Globe Academy, May 24, 2011, in London. “He sometimes calls me ‘bro’” Cameron said of Obama. In 2016, Obama, however, criticized the U. K.’s approach to intervention in Libya, making things awkward. The White House later released a statement calling Cameron “as close as a partner as the president has had.”

Similarity rank: 2.3

Sentiment rank: 5.3

March for Life highlights gains by abortion opponents in Washington

admin

January 27, 2017

Last Updated Jan 27, 2017 12:16 PM EST
The March for Life , held each year in Washington to mark the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, will have one of its biggest-name speakers in years: Vice President Mike Pence.
Tens of thousands of activists will gather today in Washington for the March for Life anti-abortion rally. But for prospective Supreme Court nomi…
Neither a president nor a vice president has ever addressed the march, which is now in its 44th year. One of President Trump ’s top advisers, Kellyanne Conway , is also on the speakers’ list.
Conway told the crowd that Mr. Trump and Pence stood with them.
“We hear you,” Conway said. “We see you. We respect you, and we look forward to working with you.”
Just before the rally was scheduled to begin, Mr. Trump expressed his support for the event on Twitter.
“The #MarchForLife is so important,” the president said. “To all of you marching — you have my full support!”
The #MarchForLife is so important. To all of you marching — you have my full support!
Organizers told the National Park Service in their permit application they expect 50,000 participants. Yet Mr. Trump insisted on the eve of the rally that the crowd would be far larger, saying “a lot of people are gonna be showing up.”
“You know, the press never gives them the credit that they deserve,” Mr. Trump told Republicans gathered in Philadelphia. “They’ll have 300, 400, 500, 600 thousand people. You won’t even read about it. When other people show up, you read big-time about it. Right? So, it’s not fair, but nothing fair about the media.”
Abortion-rights opponents gather at the Washington Monument to hear Vice President Mike Pence speak at the March for Life rally on Jan. 27, 2017, in Washington.
One of Mr. Trump’s first official acts after taking office a week ago was to sign an executive order banning U. S. aid to foreign groups that provide abortions.
In Congress, Republican majorities in both chambers are vowing to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which provided more than a third of the nation’s abortions in 2014. They also hope to ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Mr. Trump has pledged to sign both measures if they reach his desk.
In a suggestion now gone viral, thousands of donations to Planned Parenthood have been made in VP-elect Mike Pence’s name.
Less than a year ago, with President Obama’s second term winding down, things were markedly different. The Supreme Court struck down Texas’ strict regulations on abortion clinics as interfering with a woman’s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. And with polls at the time suggesting Hillary Clinton would likely defeat Mr. Trump, abortion opponents worried about an era of liberal majorities on the court.
“The horizon looked bleak for the pro-life movement,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life.
Mancini suggested that many voters chose Mr. Trump largely because he pledged to appoint a Supreme Court justice who shared their views on abortion, even if they disagreed with him on other issues.
“I don’t identify as a Republican or a Democrat but I do vote pro-life,” Mancini said.
But for federal appeals court Judge William Pryor, outspoken opposition to abortion as Alabama’s attorney general has pushed him to the bottom of Mr. Trump’s shortlist, CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford reports.
President Donald Trump will announce his Supreme Court justice nominee next week. CBS News’ Jan Crawford discusses the leading contenders.
Sources tell CBS News Pryor’s nomination is unlikely after Senate Republicans warned about a repeat of his 2003 appeals court confirmation fight.
“I believe that not only is the case unsupported by the text and structure of the Constitution, but it has led to a morally wrong result,” Pryor said then. “It has led to the slaughter of millions of innocent unborn children. That’s my personal belief.”
For two years, Democrats blocked Pryor’s confirmation.
Abortion opponents were heartened by a recent study that found the number of abortions in the United States dropped under 1 million in 2014, the lowest total in 40 years. The report by the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, credited increased access to birth control but also a surge in abortion restrictions in many states.
Americans remain deeply divided on abortion.
The latest Gallup survey, released last spring, found that 47 percent of Americans described themselves as pro-choice and 46 percent as pro-life. It also found that 79 percent believed abortion should be legal in either some or all circumstances.
Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said that poll shows why abortion-rights supporters shouldn’t despair. She also said Republicans were taking actions that would result in more illegal abortions and deaths of pregnant women.
“The vast majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade and support the legal right to abortion,” Hogue said.
Friday’s march comes less than a week after one of the largest mass demonstrations in the city’s history, the Women’s March on Washington, which drew more than half a million people opposed to Mr. Trump on issues including abortion.
In America’s capital and in cities across the globe, millions take to the streets in solidarity against the new Trump administration
Mancini said she had planned to participate in the women’s march until organizers dropped an anti-abortion group as an official partner. She said its failure to embrace different views on abortion was a missed opportunity.
The March for Life is usually held on the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision – Jan. 22 – but it was pushed back this year because of Mr. Trump’s inauguration.