Native Americans respond to Washington Commanders' new polarizing logo

Anew Washington Commanders logofeaturing a spear has drawn criticism from Native American organizations and prominent people in Native American communities.

The team posted images of a “new alternate logo’’ on social media accounts April 15. They show a spear intertwined with the team's "W" on a helmet. The "W'' remains the team's primary logo.

“The Washington Commanders' decision to update their logo is disappointing and inappropriate to say the least,’’ theAssociation on American Indian Affairssaid in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “It is time to stop repeating this cycle and listen to Native Peoples who have been clear, consistent, and unwavering on this issue: We are not your mascot.’’

For decades, Washington’s NFL team faced opposition to its depiction of Native Americans with its former mascot and nickname. The team stopped using the mascot and nickname in 2020 and rebranded as the Washington Commanders in 2022.

A caption on one of the team's social media posts this week reads, "Pieces of then and now, tied to one legacy.’’

Suzan Harjo, a Native American activist who was part of two lawsuits designed to force the team to change its previous mascot and name, said she thinks the team is being disingenuous – trying to appease people who want to bring back the old mascot.

“There are a lot of people in Washington D.C. (and parts of Virginia and Maryland) who really long for the days of the dreaded R-word,’’ Harjo said, referring to the team’s previous nickname. “It was a vile name. It was one of the vilest ever.’’

Of the new alternate logo, the team has stated that the "Spear and W interweave at their centers, a powerful joining of past and present.'' Along with, "The spearhead symbolizes those leading the fight.'' And, "A design that captures the forward-focused spirit of the Commander, a leader of warriors.''

TheNational Congress of American Indians(NCAI), which celebrated the retirement of Washington's former mascot in 2022, called the imagery on the alternate uniform "harmful."

"The new alternate logo, released by the franchise this week, purports to join the past and present," the organization said in a statement to USA TODAY. "NCAI maintains that any prideful nod to a harmful past, even one that may appear harmless on its face, can carry an insidious message and is therefore harmful."

Commanders logo:New Commanders uniforms include alternate 'Hail Raiser' featuring spear on helmet

Support for logo amid criticism

The Commanders declined to say whether the team consulted Native Americans on the design of the logo and deferred to the NFL questions regarding the league's role in the process The NFL did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Becky Clayton-Anderson, president of the Native American Guardians Association (NAGA), applauded the design of the new logo.

NAGA “is pleased to see the Washington Commanders incorporate a Native spear into their new logo design,'' Clayton-Anderson said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. "It’s encouraging to have a small piece of Native imagery represented again, honoring the deep connection between Native heritage and America’s sports traditions.’’

But another Native American group and other prominent people in Native American communities said they objected to the new logo.

Not In Our Honor, formed in 2005 by Native American college students to advocate against the use of Native American imagery in sports, said it didn’t find the logo acceptable or appropriate.

“They are backsliding from the correct decision to stop the Native American cultural appropriation,’’ Not In Our Honor said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “…The spear on their helmet has no place with the new name and brand.’’

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Marcus Briggs-Cloud, an Indigenous scholar, language teacher and Indigenous Maskoke person, said the logo does not reflect the Maskoke People's core values, such as love, humility, meekness and truth.

“But publicly highlighting those virtues, which are rendered in our language, would not support some people's desire to uphold the raging Indigenous noble savage imagery in American sports arenas,’’ Briggs-Cloud wrote in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports.

Of the new logo, Briggs-Cloud also wrote, “The image harkens back to European contrived imaginaries of the noble savage that reduce Indigenous Peoples to identities rooted in violence.’’

Could logo cause harm?

Stephanie Fryberg, a social psychologist whose research has included social representations of Native Americans, suggested the new logo will cause harm.

“The reintroduction of imagery and language tied to the team’s former identity is a step backward,’’ Fryberg said in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports. “Research has long shown that Native-themed mascots and symbols cause psychological harm, particularly to Native youth, by reinforcing stereotypes and contributing to the ongoing erasure of Native peoples in contemporary society….

“True progress means moving beyond harmful representations.’’

Philip Deloria, a Harvard professor of history whose research and teaching focus in part on relations among American Indian peoples and the United States, said by email it's "a shame that (the Commanders) decided to make this move.''

"They’d successfully rebranded and so why rebrand again?'' Deloria continued. "It let’s us see what theyreallywant, which seems to be an incremental resurrection of a history that they could have gotten past—if they’d wanted to.''

Deloria also took issue with the team, stating “the spearhead symbolizes those leading the fight.”

"Symbols don’t work that way,'' Deloria wrote. "They are collectively created, transmitted, and interpreted, not invented by a marketing team.  So that statement is essentially meaningless. ...It’s just part of the long history of the team making up excuses and justifications for what has long been a racist practice.''

"The spear is alive and well'

The new logo is integrated into new alternate uniforms, and Commanders president Mark Clouse addressed the changes during an interview with Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier during their daily afternoon show on 106.7 The Fan (WJFK-FM) in Washington, D.C.

“Well, certainly we had a lot of discussion about the utilization of the spear and the alternate uniform,’’ Clouse said. “…And the spear became just this really interesting icon that you saw us utilize in a variety of things last year and in our marketing. And then bringing it to the uniform was really the next logical step.’’

Although Clouse did not directly address criticism of the spear, he did say, “And look, I know we're not always going to make everybody happy. And what I can say for fans is we really do listen. We care.’’

But don’t expect the spear to disappear. The logo can be worn as part of the new alternate uniforms during four games this season, a Commanders spokesperson told USA TODAY Sports. It also will be incorporated into team merchandise, Clouse said during the radio interview.

“…We will continue to find ways to integrate it,’’ he said. “We love it.''

(This story has been updated with additional information.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Commanders' new logo sparks response from Native American groups

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April 19, 2026

Native Americans respond to Washington Commanders' new polarizing logo

Anew Washington Commanders logofeaturing a spear has drawn criticism from Native American organizations and prominent people in Native ...

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What to Know About Allegations of Excessive Drinking by FBI Director Kash Patel

FBI Director Kash Patelhas vehemently denied—and threatened a lawsuit over—a new reportfromThe Atlanticthis week, which alleges excessive drinking and unexplained absences during his tenure as bureau chief.

In onepost on X, Patel told the outlet and author of the report: “See you and your entire entourage of false reporting in court,” calling the piece a “legal layup.”

“Memo to the fake news - the only time I’ll ever actually be concerned about the hit piece lies you write about me will be when you stop,” Patel added in another poston XSaturday morning. “Keep talking, it means I’m doing exactly what I should be doing. And no amount of BS you write will ever deter this FBI from making America safe again and taking down the criminals you love.”

Thearticle, published Friday evening, cites more than two dozen people, including unnamed current and former FBI officials, alleging several episodes described as “freak-outs” from the 46-year-old former public defender. These allegations of erratic behavior and excessive drinking are indicative of what they describe as poor and even absent leadership of the agency, which hasabout 38,000 employees.

Several officials cited in the piece say that Patel is known for "obvious intoxication" at private clubs in Washington and in Las Vegas, forcing his staff to move early morning meetings to later in the day as he recovered. Justice Department and White House officials also described instances in which aides or security personnel had difficulty waking him. In one case, members of his security detail were unable to reach him behind locked doors, prompting a request for “breaching equipment” typically used by tactical teams. If substantiated, such conduct would violate the Department of Justice’sethics standards, which prohibit habitual intoxication.

Officials also said it had raised concerns about public safety, with some wondering how Patel would handle a domestic terrorist attack. “That’s what keeps me up at night,” one official toldThe Atlantic, adding that concerns have grown in the weeks since the United States beganmilitary operations against Iran.

The article also alleges that many staffers are just “waiting” for the notice that Patel will be fired from his position, despite President Donald Trump havingpreviously defendedthe FBI director. Officials cited in the report pointed to his unreachability and impulsivity in response to high-stakes situations.

In response to the allegations, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told the magazine that “crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high profile criminals have been put behind bars. Director Patel remains a critical player on the Administration’s law and order team.”

The report comes weeks after Iran-linked hackers calling themselves Handala claimed to have breached Patel’s personal email andpublished photographsand documents online, according to Reuters.

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Past controversies

The report adds to the mounting questions over Patel’s leadership of the U.S.’s principal federal law enforcement agency and is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding him.

In September 2025, Pateldrew criticismamong lawmakers across the political aisle over his handling of the manhunt for right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk’s killer, especially after heprematurely announcedthat the authorities had detained a suspect.

At the time, Patel said in an interview that he had “no regrets” about the social media post, claiming that he was acting in the interest of transparency.

“Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for finding Mr. Kirk’s assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement: At critical stages of investigation, shut up and let the professionals do their job,” Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois,saidin an FBI oversight hearing at the time.

Read more:After Missteps, Kash Patel Faces Questions Over His Leadership of Charlie Kirk Investigation

In December last year, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committeereleased a letterdemanding answers after reports emerged that Patel used a government aircraft on a “date night” with his country singer girlfriend, to go see her perform in Pennsylvania, and for trips to places like Texas and Scotland. Patelcalledthe accusations “baseless rumors” at the time.

Then, this February, he once againcame under firefor traveling to the Milan-Cortina Olympics to watch the U.S. men’s hockey team win the gold medal. Videos shared on social media after the game showed Patel chugging a beer, wearing a gold medal, and dancing and singing with the team.

An FBI spokesperson later defended Patel in aposton X. “No, it’s not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that was planned months ago.”

The White House did not immediately respond to TIME's request for comment.

byNeo

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April 19, 2026

What to Know About Allegations of Excessive Drinking by FBI Director Kash Patel

FBI Director Kash Patelhas vehemently denied—and threatened a lawsuit over—a new reportfromThe Atlanticthis week, which alleges excessi...

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An energy blockade on Cuba pulls the plug on Havana’s legendary nightlife

HAVANA (AP) —Havana'sbroad avenues are empty at night. Theaters are closed. Bars and cafes have curtains lowered. It’s hard to find lights in the streets or Cubans making money entertaining tourists.

Cuba Daily Life

Under the weight of anoil embargoimposed by the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, and the island's most severe economic crisis in decades, the city's once bustling nightlife has gone quiet.

“I feel empty inside when I see my streets empty,” said Yusleydi Blanco, a 41-year-old accountant. “I can’t be happy when my country is sad.”

‘Worse than the Special Period’

Following a 2016 deal between then-Presidents Barack Obama and Raúl Castro easing U.S. travel restrictions on Cuba, money flooded the island as tourism spiked. A small number of entrepreneurs openednewly allowed private businessesand bought imported modern vehicles that shared the streets withclassic carsfrom the 1950s.

In 2018, a record 4.7 million tourists arrived on the island. Hotel accommodations were so saturated that travelers without lodging were seen sleeping in a park in the small western Cuban town of Viñales that draws thousands of tourists and rock climbers to its scenic limestone cliffs.

Today, gasoline sales are limited to 20 liters (5 gallons) per vehicle and ownerscan wait months for a turn at the pump. Buses now stop running at 6 p.m. and international airlines including Air France, Air Canada and Iberia have stopped flying to Havana because they can’t refuel there. The sound of cars has disappeared in the wealthy El Vedado neighborhood, where the soundscape of chirping birds has reemerged.

The Cuban government reported the arrival of 77,600 tourists in February, down from 178,000 on the same month a year ago.

“This is worse than the Special Period," said 65-year-old parking attendant Dolores de la Caridad Méndez about the years of economic devastation that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba's Cold War patron, in the 1990s.

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‘Testing everyone's stamina'

In contrast with his Democratic predecessors, U.S. President Donald Trump has tightened economic sanctions against Cuba, demanding an end to political repression, a release of political prisoners and a liberalization of the island’s ailing economy.

The deepening crisis has led topersistent blackouts, cuts to the state-run food ration system, and severe shortages of water and medicine that have transformed daily life into an ordeal for many in the island of 10 million. Between 2021 and 2024, approximately 1.4 million Cubans left the island — mostly young people but also accomplished musicians, actors, dancers andother entertainers who fueled Havana's nightlife.

In January, the U.S. captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, which had been Cuba's primary supplier of oil. The Trump administration severed that supply and threatened to impose tariffs on other countries that sold oil to Cuba, which went without a single shipment until aRussian tankercame in March.

For entrepreneurs and business owners across the island, life has become difficult astourism plummetedand their hopes of selling cheaper goods to fellow Cubans dashed against the rocks of a vastly harder economic reality.

“You wake up and you're ready to conquer the world, saying, ‘Today I’ll sell more than ever,'” said Yeni Pérez, owner of the Old Havana cafe Entre Nos. “Then not a single client comes in and you go home devastated.”

“The next day,” she said, “You say, ‘Let’s give it another chance.' It's a time that's testing everyone's stamina."

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean athttps://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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April 19, 2026

An energy blockade on Cuba pulls the plug on Havana’s legendary nightlife

HAVANA (AP) —Havana'sbroad avenues are empty at night. Theaters are closed. Bars and cafes have curtains lowered. It’s hard to find...

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UK’s Cooper urges full resumption of shipping through Strait of Hormuz

By Tuvan Gumrukcu

ANTALYA, April 18 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Saturday the Strait of Hormuz had yet to ‌return to normal operations despite a ceasefire in the Iran ‌war, urging Tehran to allow global shipping to fully resume.

"We are at a critical ​diplomatic moment with a ceasefire now in place ... but we don't yet have normal passage through the strait," Cooper told Reuters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in Antalya.

A convoy of tankers was crossing the strait ‌on Saturday, the first major ⁠movement of ships in the crucial waterway since the U.S. and Israel launched their war on Iran on ⁠February 28.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday that Tehran had agreed to "the managed passage of a limited number of oil tankers and commercial ​vessels through ​the Strait of Hormuz". It added ​that the strait will remain ‌under strict Iranian control if the U.S. does not ensure full freedom of navigation for vessels travelling from and to Iran.

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Cooper said the U.S.-Iran truce needed to develop into a lasting peace, adding that restoring shipping through the waterway was urgent for the global economy.

"We need the Strait ‌of Hormuz open ... because this helps all ​of our economies right across the world ​that are currently being held ​hostage," she said.

Cooper said more than 50 countries had ‌backed efforts to support freedom of ​navigation, with over ​a dozen prepared to provide maritime support, including demining and reassurance for shipping, once the conflict ends.

She said there was still “considerable work ​to do” to ‌turn the ceasefire into an enduring settlement and urged all sides ​to uphold the truce.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; Editing by Jonathan ​Spicer, Louise Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

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April 18, 2026

UK’s Cooper urges full resumption of shipping through Strait of Hormuz

By Tuvan Gumrukcu ANTALYA, April 18 (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Saturday the Strait of Hormuz had...

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These are college football's eight biggest QB competitions. Who has edge?

Quarterback competitions aren’t what they used to be.

The amount of player movement at quarterback every winter has removed much of the guesswork from these offseason battles, given that many quarterbacks simply hop into the transfer portal rather than roll the dice on losing a competition and a year of eligibility.

But there are a few high-profile contests underway this spring in the Power Four, including at potential College Football Playoff contenders inAlabama,ClemsonandTennessee.

Heading into a crucial season, Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer is evaluating two highly talented but unproven contenders in redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell. The latter made a late move with 240 yards and four touchdowns in the Tide’s spring game.

These eight competitions are worth monitoring as the Bowl Subdivision gets ready for the summer:

Alabama

Contenders:Austin Mack, Keelon Russell.

Mack looked the part of Alabama’s next starter after coming in for Ty Simpson during the tail end of a Rose Bowl loss to Indiana in last year’s playoff quarterfinals. He completed 11 of 16 attempts against the Hoosiers and went 24 of 32 for 228 years on the season. Russell was a top-level recruit who played in just two games in 2025 and preserved his redshirt. Mack has the edge in overall experience and in his experience in the scheme after following DeBoer from Washington. But Russell winning the battle would come as no surprise.

Austin Mack or Keelon Russell?The latest intel on Alabama's QB competition

Clemson

Contenders:Brock Bradley, Chris Denson, Trent Pearman, Tait Reynolds, Christopher Vizzina.

Vizzina is the heavy favorite coming out of the spring after spending the past two seasons as Cade Klubnik’s backup and going for 317 yards and three touchdowns as the starter in last year’s loss to SMU. Reynolds, a freshman, has ascended into the backup role. That could result in Denson moving away from quarterback this season. Reynolds has a shot at unseating Vizzina heading into the opener but is more likely to earn an in-season promotion if the passing game sputters.

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Tennessee

Contenders:Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre.

The talent may be obvious, but neither option inspires huge confidence at this point: MacIntyre is a redshirt freshman who attempted nine passes in 2025 and Brandon is a true freshman, though of the five-star variety. While Josh Heupel’s biggest successes at Tennessee have come with a veteran under center, the Volunteers did make the playoff with then-freshman Nico Iamaleava as the starter.

Florida

Contenders:Tramell Jones Jr., Aaron Philo.

New coach Jon Sumrallhas said this competition will extend into fall camp even if Philo seems to be the favorite. He has the edge in experience after making more than 100 attempts across two years at Georgia Tech and has a deeper familiarity with the Gators’ offense under coordinator Buster Faulkner, who held the same position with the Yellow Jackets. Yet Jones outplayed Philo in the final scrimmage and did a better job during the spring of protecting the football.

Duke

Contenders:Walker Eget, Dan Mahan, Ari Patu, Terry Walker III.

Duke lost rising junior and projected starterDarian Mensah to Miami just as the portal closed this winter. In response, the Blue Devils signed San Jose State transfer Walker Eget, who went for 5,555 yards and 30 touchdowns the past two seasons and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. Eget has been slowed by knee surgery, however. That could give Mahan a small window to make a move in this competition; the Blue Devils’ coaches are high on the redshirt freshman.

North Carolina

Contenders:Travis Burgess, Taron Dickens, Billy Edwards Jr., Au’Tori Newkirk, Miles O’Neill.

Well, the Tar Heels definitely have options. Bill Belichick andnew offensive coordinator Bobby Petrinocould go with Edwards, who has Power Four starting experience but missed all but two games of last season at Wisconsin because of a knee injury. They could roll with Dickens,who put up jaw-dropping numbers at Western Carolinabefore transferring to Chapel Hill in February. O’Neill looks the part at 6-5 and 220 pounds but needs more seasoning after getting into seven games at Texas A&M as a redshirt freshman in 2025. Newkirk is the only UNC quarterback returning from last season, which probably means nothing. Burgess arrives on campus as a true freshman and is buried on the depth chart, though that could quickly change if the Tar Heels’ season runs off the rails. Anyone who saw Belichick’s debut knows that’s a possibility.

Virginia Tech

Contenders:Ethan Grunkemeyer, Troy Huhn.

The Hokies went into spring workouts with Grunkemeyer as the heavy favorite for the starting job. The sophomore was the primary starter at Penn State last season after Drew Allar's injury andfollowed former coach James Franklin, joining a quarterback room that lost starter Kyron Drones to graduation and needed an overhaul. But even as Grunkemeyer remains the odds-on pick to start the opener, Tech will enter Saturday’s scrimmage with a tighter competition thanks to Huhn’s strong performance in the spring. A true freshman, Huhn was verbally committed to Penn State but switched to Tech after Franklin was hired.

Iowa

Contenders:Hank Brown, Jeremy Hecklinski.

Former starter Mark Gronowski’s performance last season proved the right kind of quarterback can shine in Iowa coordinator Tim Lester’s scheme. True freshman Tradon Bessinger will arrive this summer and possibly impact the race during preseason camp. But the competition is really centered on two former transfers in Hecklinski (Wake Forest) and Brown (Auburn), who joined the program before last season. Hecklinski took over the backup role from Brown at the midseason point, though both continued to share practice snaps through bowl play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:College football biggest QB battles this spring in Power Four conferences

byNeo

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April 18, 2026

These are college football's eight biggest QB competitions. Who has edge?

Quarterback competitions aren’t what they used to be. The amount of player movement at quarterback every winter has removed much o...

Read More