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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren rolls into Memphis with fix-government pitch

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The event at Douglass High was an organizing event and the first stop of a sweep through Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Monday’s schedule called for stops in Cleveland and Greenville in Mississippi before an evening Town Hall meeting (televised by CNN) at Jackson State University.

Published

8 years ago

March 24, 2019

Oakland Post

New Tri-State Defender Staff Report

With Memphis-born Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” playing, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren took the stage at Douglass High School Sunday afternoon as her presidential bid rolled into a Southern swing.

The event at Douglass High was an organizing event and the first stop of a sweep through Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama. Monday’s schedule called for stops in Cleveland and Greenville in Mississippi before an evening Town Hall meeting (televised by CNN) at Jackson State University.

Cheering supporters greeted the Massachusetts Democrat, who roused the crowd with a frank speech during which she called the national government mistakenly labeled as broken by other politicians.

District 7 Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer, who is running for mayor of Memphis, moderated a question and answer session after the speech.

Warren said “corruption plain and simple” prevents Washington lawmakers from responding to some of the basic needs of average Americans, asserting that government works just fine,“for those at the top.”

Sweeping changes is needed, she said, including bringing a halt to lobbying “as we know it” and blocking “the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington.”

Declaring a a need for “big, systematic change in this country,” Warren advocated a constitutional amendment that guarantees every voter’s vote is counted.

The rules governing how the economy works also needs to be changed, said Warren, setting a context by drawing upon her upbringing in Oklahoma as the youngest of four children. Her father was a salesman of fencing, carpeting, housewares and other items, until he had a heart attack.

“He pulled through but he couldn’t work for a long period of time,” she said, detailing the loss of the family station wagon and that her mother got a minimum wage job at Sears that saved the family home and Warren’s future.

“If you want to know who I am, that’s the story that tells it all,” Warren said. “It’s written in my heart.”

Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer sets the stage for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren. (Photo Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises for The New Tri-State Defender

Warren said that for a long time she thought it was just a story about her mother and about how, “no matter how scared you get…you reach down and you get what you need to take care of the people you love.”

Later, she learned that it is a story about millions of people across the country.

A minimum wage job would support a family of three when she was growing up, Warren said.

“Today, a minimum wage job will not keep a momma and a baby out of poverty,” she said. “That is wrong and it’s why I am in this fight.”

Politicians used to ask what it would take to support a family of three, but now they ask what it will take to provide the profits for multi-national corporations, she said.

“I don’t want a government that works for multi-national corporations. I want a government that works for families like ours.”

Warren said her life has been centered around one fundamental question: “W)hat’s happening to working families in America?”

Continuing, she asked, “Why is it that hard working people, people who work every bit as hard as my mother did, have a tougher, steeper, rockier road than ever before?”

It’s not an accident, Warren said.

“We have a government that works great, that works fabulous…for giant drug companies. It just doesn’t work for people trying to get prescriptions filled.”

The government works great for payday lenders but not for people whose lives are being torn apart, she said, noting that the GDP (gross domestic product) and the stock market keep going up while wages, adjusted for inflation, have basically been flat for over a generation.

“Cost of housing up two thirds, cost of health insurance premiums more than double, the cost of sending a kid to school more than triple and the cost of child care up six times, seven times, eight times for families,” Warren said. “The squeeze on working people is real and they feel it every single day.”

Pitching for a “change in America,” she said, “We’re a Democracy and we need one that works for the people.”

On Tuesday, Warren’s southern swing was set to take her to a stop Selma, Ala., and to an organizing event at Boutwell Auditorium in Birmingham.

Hunter W. Thompson, who came to Memphis from Oxford, Miss. to see Warren, labeled her speech amazing.

“She was very forward. She was honest. I think she comes off as a great candidate. She has enough charisma and passion.”

Katherine Hancock agreed.

“I pretty much agree with everything she said. It was a great turn out and a great speech. She seems to have a great heart for the people of America.”

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Smooth suspension meets surprisingly spacious legroom. Experience true comfort on any road!

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Oakland Post

Car suspension test demonstrating a smooth ride, comfort features, and handling on various terrains.

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61 years since Selma, Houston leaders say the bridge remains to be crossed

61 years after Selma, Houston leaders say the fight for equality continues. The issues that sparked the marches still impact Black Americans today.

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

Houston leaders discuss the ongoing struggle for civil rights 61 years after Selma, emphasizing the need for continued action.

It has been 61 years since the Selma marches. But political leaders in Houston say that the issues protesters were marching for still plague the lives of Black Americans.

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Here is what you need to know about finding unique white elephant gift ideas that everyone wants to steal

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition. The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half […]

Published

1 month ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

The best white elephant gift ideas are funny enough to get a reaction but useful enough that people actually want to steal them. Look for gifts with a surprise factor, broad appeal, an inside joke, and just enough personality to spark some friendly competition.

The wrapping paper comes off, the room goes quiet for half a second, and suddenly everyone wants the same gift. That is the sweet spot. A great white elephant pick should make people laugh, lean in, and start plotting their next steal before the turn is even over.

Should a White Elephant Gift Be Funny or Useful?

A white elephant gift can be funny or useful, but the strongest choices usually give people a reason to laugh and a reason to keep the item. A practical gift with an odd design, unexpected feature, or playful theme can get a reaction without becoming something the recipient immediately wants to give away.

The right balance depends on the group. Close friends and family members may enjoy a ridiculous gag gift because they already understand one another’s sense of humor.

A workplace exchange, neighborhood party, or mixed-age gathering usually calls for something with broader appeal. In those settings, humor works better when it is built into an item people could still use afterward.

It also helps to think about how quickly the gift will make sense once it is opened. A strangely shaped kitchen tool, oversized mug, quirky desk accessory, or unexpectedly fancy everyday item can create an immediate reaction. Guests understand the joke right away, while the item still has enough practical value to attract a steal.

Pure gag gifts can be harder to pull off. Something that exists only for the punchline may get a big laugh during the reveal and then sit untouched for the rest of the game. If the goal is to bring one of the gifts everyone keeps fighting over, usefulness gives the joke staying power.

Memorable Present Ideas: Creating Inside Joke Gifts

Inside joke gifts can make a white elephant exchange feel much more personal, especially when most of the group shares the same stories. The trick is choosing a reference that people will recognize quickly instead of building the entire joke around something only two guests understand.

You can turn a memorable vacation mishap, office catchphrase, family story, or long-running group joke into the theme of the gift. A personalized comic book can work especially well when it turns familiar people or a ridiculous shared moment into part of the story.

Think carefully about who the joke involves before ordering anything permanent. The gift should make the person feel included in the fun, not singled out for the wrong reason.

Can You Bring Something You Already Own?

Holiday gift exchanges can be a good place to re-gift something you never used, especially if it is unopened and clean.

The following can all work if they still look presentable:

A duplicate kitchen gadget
An untouched game
A decorative item
A sealed gift set
An unopened candle
A new travel accessory

The goal is to give the item a second chance, not use the exchange as an excuse to clear out damaged or unwanted clutter.

Take a close look at the packaging before wrapping it. Faded boxes, missing pieces, visible wear, or anything that looks obviously used can make the gift feel careless.

Wrapping Budget-Friendly Gifts

Wrapping can make gifts more entertaining before anyone even knows what’s inside.

Misdirection works especially well for fun party games. Put a small gift inside a much larger box. Use packaging from an unrelated household item.

Add harmless weight so guests cannot guess what they are holding. The reveal becomes part of the joke without changing the gift itself.

You can also lean into the theme of the exchange. Bright paper, oversized bows, reusable bags, or deliberately over-the-top wrapping can make an ordinary item feel more memorable. If the gift itself is already funny, simple wrapping may work better so the surprise stays hidden until the last second.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Picking Last an Advantage in White Elephant?

Picking last can be an advantage because you get to see almost every gift before making your move. Instead of choosing blindly from the remaining wrapped presents, you can steal something that has already caught your attention if the rules still allow it.

That advantage depends on the house rules. Some games limit how many times a gift can be stolen.

Others lock an item once it reaches a certain number of steals. If the most popular gifts are already unavailable, the final player may have fewer strong options than expected.

The first player can also get another turn at the end in some versions of the game. That rule can balance things out, since the person who started with the least information may get one final chance to steal.

How Do You Plan White Elephant for a Large Group?

For a large white elephant exchange, set a firm spending limit and establish the stealing rules in advance.

Create a clear turn order before the game begins. Drawing numbers as guests arrive can save time once everyone is ready to start.

Keep the number of steals per gift limited so the game does not drag on. It also helps to have one person track which creative holiday presents have been stolen and when they are locked, especially if dozens of people are participating.

Can You Play White Elephant Virtually?

A virtual white elephant exchange can work over a video call, with one person keeping track of the turn order and each steal. Guests can either mail physical gifts ahead of time or use digital gifts that can be delivered once the game ends.

Set the spending limit and stealing rules before everyone joins. It also helps to decide how gifts will be revealed and who is responsible for sending each one afterward so the exchange does not become confusing.