Alex Vargo

Liftoff. The Artemis II mission launched from @NASAKennedy at 6:35pm ET (2235 UTC), propelling four astronauts on a journey around the Moon. Artemis II will pave the way for future Moon landings, as well as the next giant leap — astronauts on Mars.

BREAKING | NBC News: The FBI says they've determined that the vehicle-ramming attack that occurred earlier this month at Temple Israel near Detroit and conducted by Ayman Mohamed Ghazali was a Hezbollah inspired terror attack.

Exclusive audio: Michigan's left-wing Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed told staffers he wanted to avoid making a public statement about the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei because "there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad" via @alanagoodman @FreeBeacon - freebeacon.com/democrats/ther…

It's important to understand that this is being done for purely political reasons. There is no serious policy end goal here from Congressional Democrats other than to try to score political points with their base.

19 years ago, a high school basketball coach put his team manager into a game for the final four minutes. The kid had never played a single minute of competitive basketball in his life. He scored 20 points. Jason McElwain was diagnosed with severe autism at age two. He didn’t speak until he was five. He couldn’t chew solid food until he was six. He wore a nappy for most of his early childhood. As a baby, he was rigid, wouldn’t make eye contact, and hid in corners away from other children. He tried out for his school basketball team every year and got cut every time. Too small. Too slight. Barely 5’6 and about 54 kilograms. But he loved the game so much that his mum called the school and asked if there was any way he could be involved. The coach created a team manager role for him. For three years, McElwain showed up to every practice and every game. He wore a shirt and tie on match days. He ran drills, handed out water, kept stats, and cheered every basket like he’d scored it himself. On 15 February 2006, the last home game of his final school year, the coach let him suit up in a proper jersey and sit on the bench. With four minutes left and a comfortable lead, the coach sent him in. His first shot missed. His second missed. Then something shifted. He hit a three-pointer. Then another. Then another. His teammates stopped shooting entirely and just kept passing him the ball. He hit six three-pointers and a two-pointer. 20 points in four minutes. The highest scorer in the game. When the final buzzer went, the entire crowd rushed the court and lifted him onto their shoulders. His mum tapped the coach on the shoulder, in tears. “This is the nicest gift you could have ever given my son.” McElwain won the ESPY Award for Best Moment in Sports that year, beating out some of the biggest names in professional sport. He’s 36 now. He works at a local supermarket, coaches basketball, has run 17 marathons including five Boston Marathons, and travels the country speaking about never giving up. When asked about that night, his coach still gets emotional. “For him to come in and seize the moment like he did was certainly more than I ever expected. I was an emotional wreck.”

Feeling extra lucky to be here working in Washington this St. Patrick’s Day thanks to the generosity of @POTUS and his great medical team. #NotDunnYet

CHAOS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE ACC TOURNAMENT ‼️ PITT STUNS STANFORD 🫨 (via @accnetwork)

@_WilliamsonBen Thanks, brother - appreciate you!!

A great read on one of the best guys in the business - @alexdvargo

18 years ago today I almost died, and nearly lost part of my hand, in a car accident. My SUV slid on ice and flipped over. Praise God, I was wearing my seatbelt. I spoke with @FoxNews about that day and my journey in politics since. foxnews.com/politics/capit…

Ben Rhodes says he doesn’t support Hamas. But he’ll take time out of his day defending people who do. 🧐

Forget “Enter the Sandman” or Timmy Trumpet. The coolest closer entrance in MLB history is “The Rubberband Man” by The Spinners for #Pittsburgh #Pirates closer Kent Tekulve. 😎 HBD 🎂 3/5/1947 Teke! #LetsGoBucs

46 years ago today, the cover of Sports Illustrated. 🇺🇸

Jean and I are praying for the family of Captain Khork, who gave his life in service to a grateful state and nation. May his soul and the souls of all the faithfully departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace.

After decades spent exporting terrorism and murdering Americans, Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. Justice has been served. God bless America, and may God continue to be with our service members in the days ahead. 🇺🇸

AMERICAN HERO: CW5 Eric Slover receives the Medal of Honor from @POTUS during tonight’s State of the Union Address.

For Johnny ❤️

THE GOAL HEARD AROUND THE WORLD 🥇🥇 #WINTEROLYMPICS

THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVES. 🇺🇸 #WinterOlympics

DeJuan Blair. That guy rocked.

Of course he is. Great work by the Times, as usual.