Kent Martin

When awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics, Pierre Curie rejected the prize unless he could share it with his wife Marie. In his response, Pierre was adamant that awarding their research on radioactivity without recognising Marie's essential contribution would be unjust.

There is absolutely no occasion @realDonaldTrump won't seize as an opportunity to fulminate & divide. He cheers the death of poltical opponents & seizes on the critical illness of an ally--a friend--to attack his foes. But not one word of "get well." Didn't occur to him.

I haven't seen anyone tracking all of the alleged (or open) Trump corruption, self-dealing, and quid pro quos in one place. For the last 15 months, I've been tracking every single tip+story I can find and organizing it. Today, I published a 6,000 word piece with every example.

A Dramatic End to a Legendary and Most Dominant Program!♟️ Imagine the University of Alabama or Ohio State shutting down its powerhouse football 🏈 program, Kentucky or Duke eliminating its storied men’s basketball 🏀 program, or UConn ending its women’s basketball dynasty. Unthinkable! Yet that is exactly what Webster University did today—abruptly terminating its legendary SPICE Chess Program in St. Louis, the Chess Capital of the United States. Just months ago, in January 2026, the team won the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship for a record-tying 10th time in a field of 86 university teams. Since its founding in 2012, SPICE and its student-athletes at Webster University achieved more success than all other collegiate chess programs in the United States combined—despite operating with a significantly smaller budget than most top chess programs: • 14 consecutive years ranked #1 Division I college chess team in the nation (an all-time Division I record) • 2 World Championships, more than 100 world, national and major titles, and multiple Olympiad gold medals (an all-time Division I record) • 10 Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships (tied for the Division I all-time record) • 7 Final Four Championships (an all-time Division I record) Originally established as the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), the program moved to Webster in 2012 after winning back-to-back national titles at Texas Tech. Under the visionary leadership of former President (later Chancellor) Dr. Beth Stroble and former Provost (later President) Dr. Julian Schuster, SPICE became a national and international model of excellence. Beyond its unmatched results on the board, SPICE made history off the board as the first university in the United States to offer a minor in chess, while maintaining a team GPA consistently around 3.5. This is not merely the end of a chess program—it is the loss of one of the most extraordinary success stories in the history of American collegiate athletics. As the founder of SPICE, its former Director and Head Coach, and Director Emeritus, I was never contacted by the current administration or University President Dr. Tim Keane. I was never asked to assist with fundraising, nor was I even thanked for the tremendous visibility the program brought to the university. I learned of this decision only through my former student and current Head Coach, GM Liem Le, whose last day was today, April 30, 2026. GM Le won four national championships as a Webster student and team captain, and two more as head coach. The secret to SPICE’s success was simple: we always put the best interests of our students first. Unfortunately, the current administration did not uphold that standard or honor the commitments made to its world-class chess team. Thankfully, I believe our remaining students will have opportunities to transfer to other strong programs. In my 50+ year career, this is the poorest handling of a major athletic program by a university president that I have ever witnessed. With adequate notice, a national fundraising campaign could have been launched by me to save it. Abruptly ending the nation’s most successful collegiate chess program—built over 14 years and a major source of pride and recognition for Webster University—represents a profound and unnecessary loss. @websteru @WebsterUNews @AP @FIDE_chess @stltoday @stlmag @stlbizdbarr @stlbizesherberg @STLChessClub @WorldChessHOF @USChess @SInow @espn @chesscom #Alabama #UConn #Duke #Kentucky #OhioState

After many rewarding years, my time at Webster University is coming to a close, as the university has decided to discontinue its chess program. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together. The Webster chess program established itself as one of the most successful collegiate chess programs in history, achieving sustained excellence at both the national and international levels. Over the past 14 years (2012–2026), our students captured 2 World Championships, 3 Olympiad gold medals, and more than 90 national titles. In collegiate competition, Webster remained the top-ranked program and qualified for the national championship every year. We won or tied for first place in 10 of 14 Pan American Intercollegiate Championships and secured 7 of 13 President’s Cups. I am deeply grateful to the visionary leaders who supported the program from the beginning, especially former Chancellor Dr. Elizabeth Stroble and former President Dr. Julian Schuster, as well as the dedicated staff, generous donors, and friends who helped build its success. I also want to sincerely thank the program’s founders and my predecessors, Susan Polgar and Paul Truong, for creating a legacy in collegiate chess that will be very difficult to match. Above all, I am most proud of our players. Their professionalism, outstanding work ethic, and commitment to excellence defined the program and made everything possible. More than 60 alumni — including many grandmasters from around the world — have graduated from Webster, and I am confident they will continue to thrive both on and off the chessboard. Although this chapter is ending, I am excited about the future and the new opportunities ahead to keep mentoring, competing, and contributing to the game I love. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this remarkable journey.

@AllAmerican202 Hands down, the best version of this immortal classic. Could listen to it on endless repeat. Thank you, AA.

Coming soon …. Cheers to all parents who are getting ready to watch their kiddoes graduate. Congrats.

@hwinkler4real Our children grew up watching "Night Shift" and yes, they turned out just fine, thanks! And hey have the best sense of humor, too.

Loved making this with Ron and Michael !!!

@AnneSerling Given the events of the past 12 hours, it's amazing (though not surprising) how prescient you and your father have always been. The apple didn't fall far from the tree. Thank you.

When we so cheapen the concept of human life that we can be permissive to the occasional bomb or bullet, I think we've taken a giant step back into the Dark Ages. And I don't think there's a light at the end of that tunnel. ~ Rod Serling

in a world full of fake performative AI slop girlbosses we have HER

@AnneSerling Just like great lessons, great writing never ages. Thank you, Anne.

"You want to defend the United States of America, then defend it with tools it supplies you with- its Constitution." "Seven Days in May." Novel by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II. Screenplay: Rod Serling

@RinainDC @CBSNews Tough story to cover thoroughly. Good luck!

Having the most Monday of Mondays, but still showed up @CBSnews & managed a smile. Talked about backlash to Iran war not being a partisan invention—it’s real pain hitting American families. Gas prices climbing, markets shaky, & polls showing most folks think it’s gone too far.

I am a devout Christian. I deeply know the Bible and Jesus. And the fruit of that knowledge is clear: on the holiest day of the year (or any day), someone saying they’re going to create a living Hell for a group of humans made in God’s image is the antithesis of Christ.

@AnneSerling Clearly and simply, he always explains the past, present and future. Thank you, Rod. Thank you, Anne.

@QuintonLucasKC Always classy. Thanks, Mr. Mayor.

I know there’s no city more dunked on internally and externally than StL, but I was downtown last week for a meeting, lunch, and dinner. Crowded at night w/a Blues game. Full spots on Wash Ave. Lunch hour pedestrian traffic. It doesn’t have NYC pedestrian activity, but few do.

@BenVereen Breathtaking. Nobody does it better.

Reposting @favemusicalclips ✨ Ben Vereen - Clap Hands, Here Comes Charley - Funny Lady (1975)

@DemDeanna As the saying goes, I'm okay, you're okay. Hang in there.

Hey, FAM. I’m having anxiety, I’m angry and I feel alone today. Could you please say hi? 🤗 #Sinners 😈 #BlueToTheCore 💙

This is absolutely infuriating and completely idiotic. An estimated 95,000 scientists and researchers have left federal agencies since Trump returned to the White House. These are the people tracking hurricanes, studying pediatric cancer, and modeling the climate tipping points that determine whether we can still prevent catastrophe. We lost them because this administration defunded their work, shuttered their offices, and made clear that finding out the truth is no longer a government priority. NASA’s own administrator just said studying climate change isn’t part of NASA’s mission. The agency that first warned Congress about global warming in 1988 now treats that work as a distraction. Meanwhile, China and Europe are recruiting our scientists, funding their labs, and making long-term bets on the industries of the future while we gut the research infrastructure that took generations to build. We are surrendering global scientific leadership voluntarily, deliberately, and one resignation letter at a time. nytimes.com/2026/03/25/cli…

Donald Trump was everything Washington feared and despised could happen to the American presidency. theatlantic.com/magazine/archi…

@AnneSerling Your father knew the right words to keep our minds sharp and focused on the tasks ahead. He's the moral compass we needed then and more than ever now. Thank you, Anne.❤️💙❤️💙

As contagious as it is to watch Belushi, you just can't take your eyes off of Aykroyd. The sheer amount of talent on that small stage is staggering. The Blues Brothers performing 'Soul Man' live on SNL, in 1978. 48 years apart yet it is still incredibly impressive.