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Kamala Harris seems 'unburdened' by her lackluster past. She can thank the media for that.

Vice president kamala harris' limited public appearances and friendly media coverage have allowed her to create a new persona. can it last until election day.

I hate to admit it, but I’m kind of impressed.

The effort between Democrats and the media to create a political star out of Kamala Harris has gone shockingly well. 

After President Joe Biden finally threw in the towel last month on his presidential bid, the refurbishing campaign began in earnest.

In a couple of weeks, Harris has gone from a generally disliked, ineffective flop of a vice president to a progressive champion who has miraculously united and excited her Democratic Party just ahead of its national convention in Chicago . 

The momentum of her campaign increased Tuesday when she announced her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim “one person’s socialism is another person's neighborliness” Walz . 

(Yes, Walz really said that last week on the “White Dudes for Harris” fundraiser call.)

Harris’ choice of Walz indicates she’s confident enough to go with a far-left progressive from a state that’s not really in play.  

She’s also managed to steal the spotlight from former President Donald Trump, who just weeks ago survived an assassination attempt that’s become old news rather quickly. 

Why segregate campaign fundraisers? ‘White women’ and ‘white dudes’ pledge their allegiance to Kamala Harris. Talk about weird.

One of Harris’ favorite refrains is the phrase, “ What can be, unburdened by what has been .” 

Perhaps she repeated it enough that it came true. The vice president suddenly seems completely unburdened by the negativity that has overshadowed her tenure in the White House. 

How’d Harris pull this off? 

With a lot of help.

Rule No. 1: Keep Harris on teleprompter

Harris’ ability to completely redefine herself in a matter of weeks seems tied to her teleprompter. Her campaign team has not let her go far from it. And for good reason. 

A brief unscripted response to reporters at last week’s prisoner swap celebration between the United States and Russia, that finally led to the homecoming of Americans like journalist Evan Gershkovich, is a great example. 

In what should have been a simple answer to deliver, Harris said in part the following : “This is just an extraordinary testament to the importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy, and understands the strength that rests in understanding the significance of diplomacy and strengthening alliances. This is an incredible day.”

There’s a tremendous effort to tell me this person is inspiring and skilled, but this is 10 extemporaneous seconds on the easiest win possible. The question she faces (the only one she’s faced?) is basically “how do you feel about this good thing?” 🫠 pic.twitter.com/j1ndSOjytc — Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) August 2, 2024

This harkens back to what Harris is known for doing when she’s off teleprompter – stringing together nonsensical word salads . 

And it's why Harris has so far limited her appearances to rallies and events where she’s safely on script and can control the narrative. 

Since becoming the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has not held formal news conferences or interviews where she could face tough questions. And the news media hasn’t put any pressure on her to do so.

Harris even skipped the National Association of Black Journalists convention last week, although she – the first Black woman and first Asian American presidential nominee of a major party – had been invited.

Criticize him all you want, but Trump also was invited and actually showed up, even though he certainly knew it wouldn’t be a friendly audience (it wasn’t). 

Bad-idea Biden strikes again: His terrible Supreme Court reforms would hurt our democracy

Will Harris' honeymoon period end? 

Harris’ limited public appearances and friendly media coverage have allowed her to create a new persona. 

Her unfavorability rating had spiked for much of the past year and half (with a 17-point gap as of early July between those who had an unfavorable and favorable opinion of her). That gap has miraculously shrunk by more than 10 points since Biden dropped out. 

I have to wonder if she can keep it up. Can the honeymoon last until Election Day? Won’t voters remember what she’s really like? 

Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for President George W. Bush, thinks the mainstream media’s distaste for Trump will push them to keep painting Harris in a positive light. 

“ I’ve been around the MSM for a long time and I’ve never seen them so passive,” he recently observed on X . “If you thought they were in the tank for Pres. Obama, it’s nothing compared now to their desire to defeat Trump and help Harris. They should be roasting Harris for hiding and refusing to do interviews. Instead, they’re in on it. If it helps her win, it’s more than fine with the MSM.”

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store .

It wasn’t that long ago that Biden finally came out of hiding and showed himself to the world at the debate with Trump in June. That didn’t go so well for him, but it was revealing to say the least.

Harris was able to avoid the primaries and the vetting that comes with that process. She owes it to the American people to let us see for ourselves who she really is.

And the media should do their job and make sure she does. 

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter: @ Ingrid_Jacques .

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page , on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter .

I've Read Over 300+ Cover Letters and This Is How I Decide if It's Good or Bad Within 3 Minutes

I’ve read a lot of cover letters throughout my career. When I was a fellowship program manager, I reviewed them in consideration for more than 60 open positions each year. So I saw it all—the good, the bad, and the standout cover letter examples that I can still remember.

As a result, I’ve become the go-to friend when people need feedback on their job applications. Based on my own experience putting people in the “yes” (and “no”) pile, I’m able to give these cover letters a quick scan and immediately identify what’ll turn a hiring manager off.

While I can’t give you insight into every person’s head who’ll be reading your materials, I can share with you the feedback that I give my own loved ones.

1. The Basics

First things first, I skim the document for anything that could be disqualifying. That includes typos, a “Dear Sir or Madam” or “ To Whom It May Concern ” salutation, or a vibe so non-specific that it reeks of find-replace. I know it seems harsh, but when a hiring manager sees any one of these things, she reads it as, “I didn’t take my time with this, and I don’t really care about working here.” So, she’s likely to pass.

Another thing I look for in this initial read through is tone. Even if you’re applying to your dream company, you don’t want to come off like you think someone entertaining your candidacy is the same as him offering you water at the end of a lengthy hike. You don’t need to thank the hiring manager so incredibly much for reading your application—that’s his job. If you align considering your application with the biggest favor ever, you’ll make the other person think it’s because you’re desperate .

So, skip effusive thanks and demonstrate genuine interest by writing a cover letter that connects the dots between your experience and the requirements of the position. Telling the reader what you’ve accomplished and how it directly translates to meeting the company’s needs is always a better use of space than gushing.

2. The Opening Sentence

If your first line reads: “I am writing to apply for [job] at [company],” I will delete it and suggest a swap every time. (Yes, every single time.) When a hiring manager sees that, she won’t think, “How thoughtful of the applicant to remind me what I’m reading!” Her reaction will be much closer to, “boring,” “meh,” or even “next!”

Compare it to one of these statements:

• “I’ve wanted to work in education ever since my third grade teacher, Mrs. Dorchester, helped me discover a love of reading.”
• “My approach to management is simple: I strive to be the kind of leader I’d want to work for.”
• “In my three years at [prior company], I increased our average quarterly sales by [percentage].”

See how these examples make you want to keep reading? That’s half the battle right there. Additionally, it makes you memorable, which’ll help when you’re competing against a sea of applicants.

To try it out for yourself, pick a jumping off point. It could be something about you or an aspect of the job description that you’re really drawn to. Then, open a blank document and just free write (translation: write whatever comes to mind) for 10 minutes. Some of the sentences you come up with will sound embarrassing or lame: That’s fine—no one has to see those! Look for the sentence that’s most engaging and see how it reads as the opening line for your cover letter.

3. The Examples

Most often, people send me just their cover letter and resume, so I don’t have the benefit of reviewing the position description. And yet, whenever a letter follows the format of “I am skilled at [skill], [skill], [skill], as evidenced by my time at [place].” Or “You’re looking for [skill], and I am a talented [skill], ” I could pretty much recreate it. Surprise : that’s actually not a good thing.

Again, the goal isn’t just to show you’re qualified: It’s to make the case that you’re more qualified than all the other applicants. You want to make clear what distinguishes you, so the hiring manager can see why you’re worth following up with to learn more. And—again—you want to be memorable.

If you write a laundry list, it’ll blend into every other submission formatted the same way. So, just like you went with a unique opener , do the same with your examples. Sure, you might still include lists of skills, but break those up with anecdotes or splashes of personality.

Here’s a real, two-line excerpt from a cover letter I’ve written before:

If I’m in a conference room and the video isn’t working, I’m not the sort to simply call IT and wait. I’ll also (gracefully) crawl under the table, and check that everything is properly plugged in.

A couple lines like this will not only lighten up your letter, but also highlight your soft skills. I got the point across that I’m a take-charge problem solver, without saying, “I’m a take-charge problem solver.” Plus the “(gracefully)” shows that I don’t take myself too seriously—even in a job application. If your submission follows the same list-type format all the way through, see if you can’t pepper in an example or anecdote that’ll add some personality.

You want your cover letter to stand out for all the right reasons. So, before you click submit, take a few minutes to make sure you’re putting your best (and most memorable) foot forward.

Column: Is Trump’s hate finally catching up to him?

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Hello and happy Tuesday. There are 83 days until the election and today we’re talking about families — angry, loving or even weirdly wonderful.

Which brings me to the closing ceremony of the Olympics. Was that the most Gen X/City of Angels extravaganza you’ve ever seen? Gotta love our L.A. fam.

Tom Cruise dived into the Paris stadium from hundreds of feet above, retrieved the Olympic flag from Mayor Karen Bass, then rode a motorcycle onto a plane that dropped him at the Hollywood sign, Botox intact.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers made a golden oldies appearance, having hit that inevitable stage of classic rocker where they look like figures in a wax museum, then turned it over to Billie Eilish — one of five Gen Z musicians that older generations can identify.

Then of course Snoop Dogg closed it out with a duet with Dr. Dre that reminded us that L.A. has as much talent as flash. Honestly, Snoop was a highlight of the Olympics, dancing with a horse , commentating for NBC (though it was Flavor Flav who sponsored women’s water polo, not Snoop, as I said earlier). Is there nothing Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (that’s Snoop to you) can’t do?

Cruise, Flea, Billie, Snoop, Dre — the dazzle can blind you to the substance. But the substance is there, with diversity, equity and inclusion as its core. In the Golden State, land of dreams and spectacle, that’s how we do it.

It’s a direct rebuttal to the Republican rush to redefine their repression and hate as “normal” family values, drenched in conformity and compliance, in response to the Harris-Walz ticket. Part of that rebuttal is a near-desperate attempt to paint variety as dangerous and inclusion as foolishness.

Last week, we talked about the battle over masculinity between MAGA and the Democrats.

On to the natural progression: Family. Whose vision will resonate with American voters?

Hate becomes a problem

The Trump campaign has long seemed to function on the belief that it could scurry around under the garbage of racism and misogyny, nibbling at ideas such as the Great Replacement Theory (that immigrants are “hordes” that will destroy America), then run for cover when the spotlight flips on.

“Fake news!” they cry when caught in the glare. “Liberal media!”

It’s a cynical strategy of barfing ugly all over the rug then blaming it on the dog, to switch critters on you.

It skitters underneath the “cat lady” claims, as well as the false “chameleon” narrative that Kamala Harris does not equally embrace her Indian and Black heritages.

Both assertions are about putting women and minorities in their place with venomous dog whistles of resentment and rancor that ring clearly in the ears of a certain set of voters, ones that have long made up Trump’s most loyal following — angry young white men.

But a funny thing happened when the Democratic ticket became a California stepmother with Hindu and Jewish influences and a salt-of-the-earth Midwesterner with two IVF kids.

The dog whistles changed frequency and we all could hear them clearly.

It turns out the average voter — the swing state undecided who is critical to victory — doesn’t believe “childless cat ladies” are a subset of sociopaths. Or that being mixed race is somehow too confusing to comprehend.

Hate is a lot harder to hide — or embrace — when it’s directed at particular people. When the Trump playbook found itself unexpectedly facing Harris and Walz, the bitterness against diversity, equity and inclusion morphed.

The derided acronym — DEI — switched from being a dog whistle into shorthand for values most of us respect, and that many families embody everyday simply through their complicated, varied existences.

California values. American values. Family values.

What’s the Trump campaign to do?

Scurry for the middle

Scramble, scramble, hurry, scurry — back toward the safety of a middle-ground message. Which is exactly what JD Vance seems to be charged with, even as Trump continues his grievance-filled rambles.

In an excellent interview with CNN’s Dana Bash (who provided a masterclass on how to fact check as you go), Vance claimed that Harris “is fundamentally a fake person.”

Unlike him. He’s real. He claimed his former anti-Trumpness was because he believed “media lies” and he was “ashamed of it.”

Vance also tried to back away from his cat-lady mess, framing all of the anti-everything language of Trump’s past months and years as a “pro-family” agenda.

“The point is our country has become anti-family,” he claimed.

But the problem for Trump-Vance is that their family values have long been grounded in white Christian nationalism — controlling women, ending rights for the LGBTQ+ community — and backing away from the hate is freaking out that base. That is especially true for those angry men.

“Tonight I declared a new Groyper War against the Trump campaign,” white nationalist Nick Fuentes wrote recently . “We support Trump, but his campaign has been hijacked by the same consultants, lobbyists, & donors that he defeated in 2016, and they’re blowing it. Without serious changes we are headed for a catastrophic loss.”

Groypers, for those with better things to consider, are a bunch of far-right white supremacists who count Fuentes as their leader.

Right-wing podcaster Joe Rogan also signaled defection from Trump , seemingly endorsing Robert Kennedy Jr. before backing away from that. Ditto for hard-right YouTuber Tim Pool.

Trump is feeling that heat enough that Monday night he did a social media interview with Elon Musk, child-king of petulant men. That call drew more than 1 million listeners.

During that conversation — calling it an interview is an insult to anyone who has ever asked a sentient question — Trump gave the usual rants, including his promise to close the U.S. Department of Education. “Not every state will do great” with giving their kids the foundation for success, he conceded. But it will be So Great for the far-right. As for Musk, it was serious fanboy energy.

Not all of those listening were fans, to be sure (I was one of those million). But it turns out angry men really do like Trump, and he really does like that adoration — Sally Field at the ’85 Oscars type of like .

They like the Trump who calls immigrants murderers and rapists. They like the Vance who slams women for not procreating according to his standards.

They don’t want to be moderate.

And so Trump-Vance has a problem. Going for the middle may gain some votes. But it may also lose the hate-based base.

The pull of decency

Doug Vose and his wife were high school sweethearts who both had Walz as a teacher their senior year. They still live in Minnesota, and Vose considers himself a dormant Republican.

Still, last week he published an op-ed with a warning to the Trump campaign.

“Make the campaign about the Trump tax policy,” he wrote. Make it about China. Make it about the border. Make it about anything other than leadership, decency and competency. Because if you don’t, and this becomes a character debate, you’re way out of your league.”

I asked Vose what prompted him to write such a piece, especially since he doesn’t always agree with Walz’s politics. He told me he typically votes for “all Republicans unless they are unserious.”

But Walz represents something he respects. Once, about nine years ago, he ran into Walz in the D.C. airport. Vose hadn’t seen his old teacher in years, but Walz still remembered everything about him.

“He remembered my first name, asked about my siblings, asked about my wife,” Vose said.

And when, in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, Vose had “ash falling on his lawn” from the civil unrest?

“I literally slept better at night knowing Tim Walz is making the decisions,” he said.

“He’s the adult in the room and he’s more concerned with what the right thing to do is rather than what’s best for his career.”

Whatever you think of their politics, it’s hard to say the same for Trump — or Vance.

We love to say that vice presidential picks don’t make or break elections. But this time, Vose is voting Harris-Walz in no small part because of Walz.

He might not be the only disillusioned Republican man making the same decision.

What else you should be reading

The must-read : Elections Officials Battle a Deluge of Disinformation The Uh-oh : Harris, Trump see votes in not taxing tips. Experts see trouble. The L.A. Times special : Kamala Harris raises $13 million in San Francisco, touts California roots

P.S. OMG. Tom Cruise did not, I repeat, did not, actually bring the Olympic flag back to L.A. That was fake news! Turns out it flew back on a regular old plane with Mayor Bass.

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Anita Chabria is a California columnist for the Los Angeles Times, based in Sacramento. Before joining The Times, she worked for the Sacramento Bee as a member of its statewide investigative team and previously covered criminal justice and City Hall.

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Susan Wojcicki, Former YouTube CEO and Influential Google Exec, Dies at 56

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Susan Wojcicki , who served as CEO of YouTube for nine years during a period of massive growth for the video platform and was one of Google ‘s first hires, died on Friday, Aug. 9. She was 56.

Wojcicki’s death after a two-year fight with cancer was announced by her husband, Dennis Troper, in a public post Friday evening on Facebook.

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Wojcicki joined Google in 1999 as the 16th employee, becoming the search engine’s first marketing exec and going on to become one of the most prominent women leaders in Silicon Valley. Co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin initially ran the company out of her garage in Menlo Park, Calif., which Wojcicki had rented out to the duo before Google secured office space.

In 2005, Wojcicki led the launch of Google Video — and in 2006 she oversaw the internet company’s $1.65 billion purchase of YouTube, a then-fledgling rival video-upload website. Among other accomplishments, she cut the company’s first deals to license search technology and led the initial development of Google’s image search.

As head of YouTube, Wojcicki pushed to build out the platform’s expansion onto internet-connected TVs, angling to win a bigger share of ad dollars from traditional television networks. “At a time when TV is losing audiences, YouTube is growing in every region, on every screen,” she said in 2016 at YouTube’s Brandcast event for marketers. Wojcicki also was forced to reckon with an advertiser boycott the following year in response to ads on YouTube that ran with objectionable content, including terrorism and hate-speech videos, which prompted the platform to implement stricter brand-safety policies.

Under Wojcicki’s leadership, Google launched YouTube TV, which had more than 8 million customers as of early 2024 and the U.S.’s biggest streaming pay-TV service, stealing share from traditional cable and satellite operators. In late 2022, the company scored a seven-year, multibillion-dollar deal with the NFL to making YouTube the exclusive U.S. retailer of the Sunday Ticket out-of-market games package. In 2015, the platform debuted a Netflix-style streaming service, called YouTube Red, stocked with original shows and movies — but that didn’t pan out, and YouTube eventually shut down its original programming initiative .

Wojcicki was a vocal advocate for employers to offer generous family benefits, particularly paid maternity leave. In 2015, she was named a Variety Power of Women honoree , highlighting her literacy charity Room to Read. “At YouTube, it’s been an opportunity for me to be able to help other women,” she told Variety at the time. “I see the potential that women have. And I enjoy being a mentor, figuring the best way for them to balance work with family.”

Neal Mohan, who succeeded Wojcicki as YouTube CEO, said he’d had “the good fortune of meeting Susan 17 years ago when when she was the architect of the DoubleClick acquisition,” the ad-tech company where he had been an executive. “Her legacy lives on in everything she touched @google and @youtube,” Mohan wrote on X . “I am forever grateful for her friendship and guidance. I will miss her tremendously. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.”

In her multiple roles at Google, Wojcicki had overseen product management of AdSense, Google Book Search and Google Video as well as the syndication of the company’s products. Prior to Google, she worked at Intel, Bain & Co. and R.B. Webber & Co.

Wojcicki was born on July 5, 1968, in Santa Clara, Calif. Her father, Stanley Wojcicki, was a physics professor at Stanford and her mother, Esther Wojcicki, was a teacher. She graduated from Harvard in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in history and literature before earning a master’s in economics at the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1993. She received an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 1998. Wojcicki married Troper, who currently works at Google as a director of product management, on Aug. 23, 1998.

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Don’t You Just Hate Writing Cover Letters?

Perhaps the skill of tailoring a cover letter to the job is too overwhelming when applying to many employers. Whatever the reason, most lawyers get it all wrong.

April 18, 2023 at 01:20 PM

5 minute read

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Cover letters are the bane of their existence for anyone who works in career services. Few people, from the most senior partners in firms to first-year law students, are good at writing a cover letter. Perhaps it is because cover letters are arduous, and most people don’t want to take the time to craft them. Maybe it’s because people are taught to be humble and don’t want to “toot their own horn” in a cover letter. Perhaps the skill of tailoring a cover letter to the job is too overwhelming when applying to many employers. Whatever the reason, most lawyers get it all wrong.

In working with my law students and alums over the years, I have used a mantra that makes sense regarding cover letter writing. It especially makes sense to those in their first legal writing class. Your resume is your facts; your cover letter is your analysis. In other words, your resume is what you have accomplished, and your cover letter is your chance to tell the employer why you are the match for the job. Also, when writing a cover letter, you must write from the point of view of what you can do for the employer rather than what they can do for you. Frankly, the employer doesn’t care what they can do for you—it is all about what you can do for them. Keep these two ideas in mind when you start to write.

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The Australian Olympian 'Raygun' went viral for her breaking moves. Now she's defending them.

• Rachael Gunn, known as "Raygun," is an Australian B-girl (break-girl) who competed at the Olympics .
• She lost three battles in the round-robin part of the competition, but her moves went viral online.
• Gunn and sporting organizations are speaking out about harassment and misinformation after her performance.

Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics — and while she didn't earn a spot on the podium, the Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, has received plenty of recognition online.

Gunn is a 36-year-old lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney whose research focuses on the "cultural politics of breaking," according to her faculty profile .

But Gunn's time on the Olympic stage was short-lived. The B-girl was eliminated during the round-robin stage of the women's breaking competition, losing in one-on-one battles to the United States' Logistx, France's Syssy, and Lithuania's Nicka.

Raygun didn't earn a point in any of those battles, but as clips of her performance spread online, she got something else: instant meme status.

Here's what you need to know about Raygun now that the breaking competition is over.

Raygun is an academic who studies breaking — and she competes internationally

Before Gunn went to the Olympics, she approached the 2024 Games from an academic perspective.

With her coauthor, Lucas Marie, Gunn published an article in the June 2023 issue of Global Hip Hop Studies titled "The Australian breaking scene and the Olympic Games: The possibilities and politics of sportification." The article examined how the Olympics' institutionalization would affect the Australian breaking scene.

Alongside her academic career, Gunn is a competing B-girl. But before she got into breaking, she had experience with ballroom dancing, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and tap, The Australian Women's Weekly reported. Gunn told The Sydney Morning Herald that her husband, Samuel Free, introduced her to breaking in 2008 while they were at university. Free is still her coach, she said.

Gunn told Women's Weekly that breaking "hooked" her in 2012, around the time that she began her doctoral program in cultural studies. She began competing more seriously in 2018 and eventually set her sights on the Olympics.

According to her university profile, she was the top-ranked B-girl of the Australian Breaking Association in 2020 and 2021, representing the country at the World DanceSport Federation Breaking Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023. She also won the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.

"My bag always has two main things: It's like, my knee pads and my laptop," Gunn said on the podcast " The Female Athlete Project ." "Because I need my knee-pads to break. And then, yeah, just do some emails quickly. Or like, do some revisions on a chapter I submitted, or copyedit this article I did, or moderate those grades."

The athlete also told the Herald that she preferred to wear "baggy jeans and a baggy T-shirt" while breaking.

"I like the heaviness they bring," Gunn said. "Maybe it's my background in hip-hop, but having weight closer to the ground works for me, gets me in the right headspace."

Raygun's performances at the Olympics sparked memes and criticism

Raygun took the stage at the Olympics wearing a tracksuit in Australia's green and gold, breaking out moves that included hopping like a kangaroo. Her performances attracted attention online and memes that compared her moves to, among other things, dancing children.

Related stories

The fact that RayGun has a Ph.D in breakdancing is its own commentary on academia vs real world expertise. https://t.co/pQcL8HzAW9 — BioTechSnack (@SnackBioTech) August 9, 2024

me forcing my mom to watch the dance i made up in the pool pic.twitter.com/zbtwEFjpTG — kenzi (@kenzianidiot) August 9, 2024

Judges made the right call here because what was that move lol #Olympics #Breakdancing pic.twitter.com/sXAs9AdHjX — MⓞNK BLOODY P👑s (@MonkeyBlood) August 9, 2024

But some critics argued that Raygun's performance didn't represent breaking — a sport that will not return to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Breaking came from Black and brown communities in the Bronx in the 1970s. Malik Dixon, an African American man who lives in Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Gunn came off as "somebody who was toying with the culture" during a significant moment for the sport.

(You can watch the 2024 Olympic events — including Raygun's full performance — on Peacock.)

Raygun qualified for the Olympics through the Oceania Breaking Championships

There were three ways to qualify for breaking at the Olympics, which the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) outlined in April 2022: at the WDSF championship in Belgium in September 2023, in a continental qualifier, or in an Olympic qualifier series held in 2024. Gunn qualified regionally by winning the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships, which were held in Sydney in October 2023.

AUSBreaking organized the Oceania Breaking Championships, according to the WDSF .

AUSBreaking posted on Instagram about the Oceanic Olympic qualifying event on Instagram in September 2023, announcing in a September 25, 2023 post that competitor registration was open. The panel of judges was composed of 10 breakers from multiple countries, led by head judge Katsu One of Japan.

Per the Sydney Morning Herald, Gunn was the highest-scoring B-girl on day one of the championships. She won two battles on the second day to secure her title and a qualifying spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

AUSBreaking released a statement on Instagram Monday about the selection process, saying that the qualifying event was "open to all interested participants in the Oceanic region," conducted in line with WDSF standards, and adjudicated by an international panel that used the same judging system as the 2024 Olympics.

"Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris," the statement reads. "Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day."

Raygun and sporting organizations have spoken out about misinformation after her performance

Claims have circulated online that Gunn unfairly obtained her spot in the games. Posts online, as reported by the Australian Associated Press , claimed that Gunn's husband was one of the judges in her qualifying event. One petition hosted on Change.org claimed that she established the governing body that ran the selection process. That petition was eventually removed after it was placed under review, per an archived snapshot .

A representative for Change.org confirmed to Business Insider on Thursday that the petition had been flagged for misinformation, reviewed per the platform's community guidelines, and removed from the platform.

"Change.org maintains strict guidelines against content that constitutes harassment, bullying, or spreading false information. We take such matters seriously and remove any content that violates these standards to protect our users and uphold the integrity of our community," the rep said in an email statement to BI.

Despite the online claims, Free was not one of the judges at Gunn's qualifying event. And Gunn did not establish AUSBreaking. The organization said in a statement that it was founded by its president Lowe Napalan in 2019, and "at no point" was Gunn "the founder, an executive, committee member, or in any position of leadership."

The Australian Olympic Commission (AOC) also released a statement condemning the Change.org petition, and demanding its removal. It also said that by winning the Oceania championship, Gunn was "legitimately nominated" by DanceSport Australia to the AOC to represent Australia at the Olympics.

"The petition has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis. It's appalling," AOC chief executive officer Matt Carroll said in the statement. "No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way and we are supporting Dr. Gunn and Anna Meares at this time."

In a video uploaded to her personal Instagram account, Gunn said that she was "honored" to have represented Australia and breaking during its Olympic debut. But the "hate" that followed was "devastating," she said. When it came to misinformation around her qualification, Gunn referred viewers to previously issued statements from the AOC and AUSBreaking.

Raygun and breaking judges have defended her Olympic performance

At a press conference on Saturday, the day after Gunn's competition, Anna Meares, the head of the Australian team, responded to criticism of Gunn online.

"I love Rachael, and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them airtime, has been really disappointing," Meares said, per ESPN .

"Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm. And I absolutely love her courage," Meares continued. "I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has."

During a press conference on Sunday, Martin Gilian, the Olympic breaking head judge, defended Gunn's performance, saying breaking was "all about originality" and representing your roots, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"This is exactly what Raygun was doing," Gilian said. "She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo."

Gunn said during the Saturday press conference that "all of my moves are original," ESPN reported. She told The Guardian that her biggest strength was "creativity."

"I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative," Gunn told The Guardian, "because how many chances do you get that in a lifetime to do that on an international stage. I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way."

This story was originally published on August 12, 2024, and has been updated to include the latest information and statements from those involved.

• Main content

• Apr 20, 2022

Think fixing our cover letter problem is impossible? Think again!

Updated: Apr 21, 2022

I hate cover letters and you probably do too. As job candidates we hate writing them and as hiring managers we mostly do not read them. As a relic of the 1950s , it seems like cover letters could be eliminated as a requirement from the majority of hiring processes with almost no negative impacts. Yet, we just can’t seem to quit cover letters – even in age of easily customizable resumes, online applications and LinkedIn profiles.

So, why do cover letters still exist in 2022?

Well, there is still a sizable group of hiring managers who want candidates to submit cover letters and a smaller, but passionate, group of hiring managers who will actually read them. Sometimes those hiring managers even remember to tell candidates to submit cover letters instead of just expecting them and then being disappointed when candidates don’t provide them. This is important to note because more candidates than ever are simply choosing not to apply for jobs that require covers letters as part of the application process.

When a candidate finds a job that they’re interested in and it requires a cover letter, that leaves many of them stressing out over just what to write. Luckily, there are about a million experts who can tell you what to write to best position yourself to provide a one-page document to accompany your two-page resume.

But there is a huge problem with all that well-intentioned advice: No two hiring managers seem to really value the same things from cover letters.

Here's a summary of the conversations I've seen on LinkedIn:

Some hiring managers want you to provide a brief, concise explanation of why you want the job. Keep it short and simple!

Some want you to be serious and all business. Just the facts!

Some want you to go over specific skills. Be thorough!

Some treat the letter itself as a writing assessment. No typos allowed!

Some want case study examples of past work successes. “How can you help solve my business challenges?”

Some want you to be funny and witty. Show your personality!

Good luck figuring out what your potential boss will want. We need a better way.

How hiring managers can help

I see two roads hiring managers can take to make this situation better.

Stop requiring cover letters! This is what I recommend; however, it is not going to happen soon.

Tell candidates exactly what you want their cover letters to address and stop making it a mind-reading exercise.

I know what you’re thinking. Telling people what you want. Well, that just sounds too simple and practical! Stay with me. Here is four step plan for how you can make it happen.

Take the time to come up with three to five specific questions that you want all your job applicants to address.

Provide a maximum word count for each answer. I suggest no more than 150 words for each question.

Put those questions in your job posting.

Actually read the letters if you ask for them!

On that last point, if you don’t find yourself doing that it’s time to think about taking the first step I proposed – you know, stop requiring cover letters.

Why this matters so much

Applying for jobs is a stressful period filled with ambiguity and wasted time for candidates. Providing specific guidance for what you want to see in a cover letter helps make everything better.

This strategy also helps make it more likely that the cover letter you receive was written by the actual candidate and represents something they put some actual thought and effort into.

It’s a win-win for everyone.

Hiring managers, let’s embrace our role in fixing this problem!

Bonus content: What does this mean?

I came across this statement in an article recently.

“Even if a hiring manager doesn’t read your cover letter, writing one will still help you stand out from other candidates.”

Wait. What?

This feels like philosophical test.

“If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a sound?”

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This Is How To Write A Killer Cover Letter (Even If You Hate Writing)

Posted october 6, 2016, by zahra campbell-avenell.

Let’s get a show of hands: Have you ever sent the same generic cover letter to multiple employers?

I’ll confess: I’m guilty. (And this is despite being a professional writer.)

I’d be surprised if most people haven’t done this at some point out of desperation, boredom or sheer exhaustion.

The reality is, when you’re trudging through the job search process (particularly while still working 9 to 5), the last thing you feel like doing when you get home is to bang out cover letter after cover letter, trying to sell yourself to someone who’s never even met you.

Surely your resume and your qualifications are enough?

You probably don’t need me to tell you – they’re not.

An exceptional cover letter, however, tailored to the job at hand, is a surefire way to stand out from other candidates, getting you one step closer to landing the job.

Hiring managers wade through hundreds of generic applications, and your cover letter is your chance to grab their attention and shout from the rooftops that you are the perfect fit for the role. If you do that, it’s impossible for them to ignore you.

But if you’re not a writer (or even if you are!) a standout cover letter can be hellishly difficult to write. A cover letter template might get you started, but it’s not something you can just copy verbatim. As a starting point, it’s great, but you still have to chip away at it until it’s unrecognisable from the original, and polish it enough to make your words fly off the page.

But how? You ask. 

Don’t stress – I’m here to help!

Having looked through hundreds of cover letters over my career, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. 

Think about it. A great cover letter needs to convey just 3 things: 

1. you have the skills to excel in the job at hand; 2. you have strong communication skills ; and 3. you will be the perfect fit for the team..

How do you squeeze all this onto one page?

My formula will help you nail every cover letter, every time. I’ve added a few great examples as inspiration – don’t copy and paste them, of course! – the idea is to be original and find what works for you.

1. Start strong

When you start your cover letter like this:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for the Marketing Coordinator position, as advertised on SEEK.

You’re pretty much saying this:

Dear Whatsyourname,

I know I need to submit a cover letter so here it is. I couldn’t be bothered customising it to fit this job because I’m not sure it’s worth the time. I’ll do my research once you invite me for an interview.

And we don’t want that, do we?

Let’s be honest – if you’re bored while you’re writing your letter, you can bet that your prospective employer is going to be bored reading it – right before tossing it in the bin.

You need to start with a bang – get them hooked and wanting to read more. The first few sentences of your cover letter are the most valuable real estate on that page – so don’t squander them! Here’s an opening that distils the essence of the job:

It’s clear that you require somebody who can not only write extremely well but also speak persuasively – somebody who is confident, charismatic, and communicative. I believe I am just the person you need.

Once you’ve got them reading, you can convince your potential employer that your background and skills are perfect for the role.

2. Echo the job description

Newsflash: when hiring managers are knee deep in recruitment, they don’t have every detail of the job description memorised. Use this to your advantage, and mirror the language of the advertisement as much as possible to show how your skills and experience align with the role at hand. So even if your previous job referred to article production as ‘copywriting’, if the new job description calls it ‘blogging’ – guess what? – you should call it blogging too.

Let’s say the job description calls for someone who is naturally organised and can manage the calendar of 2 senior business executives, your cover letter could say:

The Personal Assistant role is right up my alley as I have over 12 years of experience assisting senior business executives, and nothing brings me greater satisfaction than a well-organised calendar. 

Obviously you shouldn’t overdo this, but where possible, show that you’re a perfect match by using keywords and phrases that marry up with the skills outlined in the job description. This will resonate with the hiring manager, and also force you to think about (and provide examples of) where you can offer the most value.

3. Be yourself

Companies hire people, not skills. If your cover letter is conversational and friendly, it demonstrates that you’re not a robot – and that in fact you’re an awesome person that people will actually want to work with. This simple tweak will make your cover letter shine.

Here’s an example of what NOT to do:

I possess an excellent understanding of customer service. I am adept at training staff in retention and customer satisfaction to achieve company objectives. I am very confident in planning and delivering on targets.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with the above example, it lacks pizzazz. How about tweaking it to show some personality and flair?

If you’re looking for someone that comes in promptly at 9, puts their head down and doesn’t lift it until the end of the workday, I’m probably not your guy. But if you need someone who can shake things up and infect people with their passion for customer success, I can help.

Similarly, for companies with tongue-in-cheek branding like Compare the Market/Meerkat , you could try something a little more cheeky like this:

I was absolutely devastated when I heard that you weren’t looking for meerkat sitters, and I’d never get to meet Sergei in person. So when I saw the Assistant Accountant position open up at comparethemeerkat.com.au, I jumped at the opportunity. I know I’m perfect for this job because I love numbers almost as much as I love meerkats. Simples!

4. Make them want to meet you

The key to a great cover letter is to demonstrate your passion for the role – ideally without using the word ‘passion’. I can promise you that this is among the most overused words out there – and can seem disingenuous. (While you’re at it, you might want to nix ‘hard worker’, ‘fast learner’, ‘team player’ and ‘thinking outside the box’ too.) Here’s a typical example of this:  I am passionate about data entry and reaching my KPIs.

That’s clearly not true. Are you really passionate about either of those things?

I like to think of passion as something you’d happily do for free – and probably do anyway in your spare time. Wherever possible, show – don’t tell. Let’s try this again:

I’ve been the unofficial wedding planner for every single one of my married friends. When I saw the stylist role at Bridal Magazine, I realised that not only would I be doing something I love, for a brand I admire – but I would be getting paid for it.

The key to a stellar cover letter is to make the hiring manager’s job a little less boring. Remember: if a job is worth applying for, it’s worth a tailored and thoughtful cover letter. It will help you stand out in a sea of mediocrity, and convince the company that getting you in for an interview asap is a no-brainer.

Best of luck – you can do it!

Zahra Campbell-Avenell

Zahra started writing at the age of 6, and hasn't stopped since. When she's not creating content about careers, learning and personal development, you can find her researching her next travel adventure, bingeing on Netflix or shopping online.

Thanks for your enquiry

Good luck with your studies.

BREAKING: Supreme Court bars Biden administration from enforcing parts of its Title IX expansion

Raygun, viral Australian Olympic breakdancer, says online hate has been 'devastating'

Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael Gunn  said the hate she received over her routines at the Paris Games is “devastating.”

The 36-year-old B-girl, who performs as Raygun, responded to the intense and relentless online criticism in a short video message posted Thursday on Instagram.

She began by thanking her supporters.

“I really appreciate the positivity and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives,” she said. “That's what I’d hoped.”

Gunn said she didn’t realize that would also “open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.”

Social media memes and skits re-creating her dance exploded on the internet after clips of her routine went viral. One move in particular — where Gunn holds her arms close to her body and kicks one leg in the air as she leans back — was quickly dubbed the “kangaroo” in reference to her native country.

Gunn said in her post on Thursday that she “had fun” with her routine, but took it very seriously.

“I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all, truly. I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and part of breaking’s Olympic debut,” she said.

Gunn didn’t specifically address rumors surrounding her performance and instead referred critics who questioned how she made the team to statements the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and others released in her defense.

Early Thursday, AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll said in a statement that Gunn was selected for the team “through a transparent and independent qualification event and nomination process.”

He also slammed a Change.org petition that accused Gunn of “manipulating the selection process to her own advantage.” The petition demanded an apology from Gunn and Paris Chef de Mission Anna Meares. The petition has more than 56,000 signatures.

“It is disgraceful that these falsehoods concocted by an anonymous person can be published in this way. It amounts to bullying and harassment and is defamatory. We are demanding that it be removed from the site immediately,” Carroll said, adding that the petition has no factual basis.

The Australian Breaking Organization said in a statement Tuesday that the qualification process was conducted over two days and adhered to the World DanceSport Federation regulations, which align with the International Olympic Committee’s standards.

Gunn and fellow Aussie breaker Jeff Dunne were the top performers, the organization said.

“We condemn the global online harassment and bullying of Raygun. The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is immense, especially against the opponents in her particular group. We stand in solidarity with Raygun,” the organization said.

Martin Gilian, the head judge of the Olympic breaking competition, said Gunn “did her best” but “her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors.”

“Good on her for having a go and wearing a trackie while you’re doing it,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a recent radio interview. “I mean, how Australian is that?”

The World DanceSport Federation, the international governing body for breaking, said it had offered Gunn mental health support.

Gunn went on to address social media posts mocking her for getting zero points from the Olympic judges.

“Bit of a fun fact for you: There are actually no points in breaking,” she said, urging people to check the Olympics’ website to see how the judges thought she compared to the other competitors.

The Olympic website, however, says that judges score 1-on-1 battles on creativity, musicality, personality, technique, performativity and variety. The judges then submit their votes after each round and the breaker with the highest points is declared the winner.

Gunn ended her post by asking for privacy for her family and the breaking community.

“Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this,” she said, adding that she will answer questions once she returns from some “preplanned downtime” in Europe.

Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.

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I hate cover letters, so I instructed AI to write one for me.

Dear Hiring Manager,

I hope you're ready for the ride of your life, because I am about to blow your mind with my extraordinary qualifications and unparalleled experience. I am not just a candidate, I am a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

I am a unicorn, a phoenix, and a dragon all rolled into one. I have the ability to teleport, to read minds, and to control the weather. I can speak every language known to man and some that are yet to be discovered. I am an expert in quantum physics, ancient history, and interpretive dance. I have climbed Mount Everest, swam the Mariana Trench, and walked on the sun.

I'm not just a 'job-seeker,' I'm the 'job-seeker.' I'll be the 'hiring manager's' top pick, I'll 'seize' this opportunity to show you what I can do, and I'll be the 'hiring decision' that will change the course of human history. I'll be the 'final boss' of your hiring process.

So, what are you waiting for? Don't waste any more time going through other candidates. Hire me, and I assure you, you will not regret it.

Yours in Omniscience,

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Jamelle Bouie

What the Republican Party Might Look Like if Trump Loses

By Jamelle Bouie

Opinion Columnist

Donald Trump is behind. He trails in the pivotal postindustrial swing states and is treading water in the Southern and Sun Belt states — Arizona, Georgia and Nevada — that could help him find an alternative path to 270 electoral votes. In just a few months, Trump may join the exclusive club of two-time presidential losers.

Of course, it is still too early to make any real prediction about November. But the sharp reversal in Trump’s electoral fortunes raises an obvious question worth thinking about now: If Trump loses, and perhaps especially if he loses badly, what comes next for the Republican Party?

It is rare in American political history for a single figure to dominate a party as thoroughly as Trump does the modern Republican Party without delivering a string of electoral wins or otherwise reshaping the political landscape. Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan all defined and redefined their respective parties, but they did so in the context of strong political organizations and movements that could deliver consistent, and sometimes crushing, victories over their opponents.

Not so with Trump. One of the defining attributes of his leadership of the Republican Party is the extent to which he has so thoroughly reshaped Republican identity while leading Republican politicians to a string of election defeats across the nation. After his surprise win in 2016, Republicans either lost or underperformed in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Trump was a one-term president, the first since George H.W. Bush lost his bid for re-election in 1992. And the closer Republican candidates tie themselves to Trump in competitive elections, the more likely it is they will lose, from Kari Lake in Arizona to Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania.

As striking as the relative electoral weakness of the Trump-era Republican Party is its total inability to either govern or police the boundaries of its coalition. Trump has no program beyond his own prejudices and impulses. “ Build the wall ” and “ mass deportation now ” reflect a deep-seated hostility to nonwhite immigrants that has no basis other than rank bigotry. “Stop the steal” and Trump’s broader obsession with so-called election integrity is nothing more than an attempt to operationalize his core belief that he cannot actually lose an election — or anything, for that matter. Fittingly, the Trump-led Republican Party declined to devise a platform for the 2020 presidential election and produced a set of Trump-esque slogans for its 2024 one. To the extent that there is a Republican agenda, it is a product of the hard-right ideologues and conservative organizations that see Trump as a willing vessel and vehicle for their own interests.

Trump’s leadership has also occasioned the total collapse of the boundaries ( such as they were ) separating the far-right fringe of American politics from its mainstream. The former president provides license for — and inspiration to — a large crop of right-wing extremists who disdain democracy and openly fantasize about the use of violence to eliminate their political opponents. “Some folks need killing,” Mark Robinson , the Republican Party’s nominee for governor in North Carolina, declared at a church event in June.

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