Many took to social media to mock Matt Gaetz for lasting "less than a Scaramucci" after he announced on Thursday he'd be withdrawing his name for consideration as President-elect Donald Trump 's attorney general. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition," former Florida Republican representative Gaetz posted on X, formerly Twitter . "There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General." Trump responded to the Gaetz announcement in a Truth Social post by saying the former congressman was "doing very well," and "has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!" Gaetz's nomination was facing significant opposition related to allegations of sex-trafficking and that he had a sexual encounter with a 17 year old—all of which the Florida Republican vehemently denies. Newsweek reached out to Gaetz and Trump for comment via email on Thursday. Many of Gaetz's critics were quick to mock him, comparing his brief nomination to the short tenure of former Trump administration official Anthony Scaramucci, who set a record in early 2017 as the shortest-serving communications director in White House history. Since then, some have routinely compared short time periods connected to politics to Scaramucci's brief tenure. He served 11 days, from July 21 to July 31, 2017. Gaetz was nominated 8 days ago, on November 13 "Well that didn't even last a full Scaramucci," the official Florida Democrats account quipped on X, reposting Gaetz's Thursday announcement. "Gaetz nomination lasted less than a Scaramucci," Aaron Rupar, an independent journalist and prominent Trump critics, wrote on X. Some even attempted to calculate the precise amount of a Scaramucci. "So, by my calculation, Gaetz lasted 0.727 Scaramucci units aka 'mooches.' Although arguably -0.727 since he didn't actually make it into the job," Josh Gerstein, senior legal affair reporter at Politico posted. Scaramucci, who has become a Trump critic since his brief time serving in the White House, got in on the joke as well, although he also shared some positive sentiments about the incoming administration "Trump and Elon are doing some good things with @DOGE and making some interesting appointments," he wrote. "However, Gaetz for AG was an unforced error and it's good for his administrator and the country that he's moving on from that episode in less than a Scaramucci." Gaetz has been accused of being involved in recruiting women online for sex, including a 17-year-old girl. The Department of Justice (DOJ) last year told Gaetz that he would not face federal sex-trafficking charges. However the House Ethics Committee was looking into the allegations until the Florida Republican resigned from Congress last week with the announcement that he'd be Trump's attorney general nominee. Two other women had accused Gaetz of paying them for sex. Their attorney, Joel Leppard, told Newsweek Wednesday that his clients were paid a total of $10,000 over Venmo and PayPal . Leppard said his clients had not wanted to publicly testify against Gaetz. Gaetz has vehemently denied that he did anything improper and blames the accusations on a smear campaign. He posted to X that the allegations began under former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy . Along with investigating Gaetz for sexual misconduct, the House committee was looking into allegations of illicit drug use, sharing inappropriate images on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds to personal use and accepting a bribe or impermissible gift. The House Ethics Committee met on Wednesday and voted against releasing the report on Gaetz. House Speaker Mike Johnson , a Louisiana Republican, had publicly opposed the report's release before that vote.B.C. Premier Eby says U.S. tariffs would be 'devastating' for forest industry
4 easy, comforting bean dishes for fall
NFL reinstates Patriots safety Jabrill PeppersThe Sex Lives of College Girls has already teased how Reneé Rapp ’s character, Leighton, will leave the show. During the season 3 premiere on Thursday, November 21, Leighton learned that there was no accelerated math class at Essex College in Vermont after she was the only one to sign up for the course. After a disastrous commute to University of Vermont for the class, her professor offered to find out if she can transfer to Boston’s Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Conveniently, Boston is where Leighton’s girlfriend Alicia ( Midori Francis ) was just offered a job. (The story line appeared to be a subtle reference to Rapp’s “I Hate Boston” song.) Based on the preview for the season, Rapp, 25, is still expected to make more appearances before Leighton officially leaves for MIT. The actress rose to stardom after playing the fan-favorite character on Sex Lives of College Girls . Rapp, who has a background in Broadway, has since shifted her focus to music after launching her debut album, Snow Angel , in 2023. Rapp announced her departure in July 2023 after previously telling Us Weekly she had “no idea” what to expect from future episodes of the series. “I don’t think any of us know — at least not that I know. But to be honest, I’ve been so away,” she exclusively told Us in April 2023. “Like, I don’t even live at home right now because we’re filming Mean Girls [the musical] and I’m trying to finish this album, so I genuinely have no idea. But I do know that [season 3] is happening.” Sex Lives of College Girls , debuted in 2021 follows four college freshmen as they explore their sexualities while navigating life at the fictional Essex College. The Max series also stars Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur and Alyah Chanelle Scott . Before her exit was announced, Rapp said the first year filming the show was “terrible” for her. “It sucked so bad, because at the time, I was in a heteronormative relationship. I hated going to work, because I was like, ‘I don’t think I’m, like, good enough to be here. I don’t think I can be here. I don’t think I can be doing this,'” Rapp shared on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast in March 2023. “I was like, ‘Maybe I’m just trying too hard.’ I was so freaked out by the idea of my sexuality, not being finite or people laughing at me or me laughing at myself that I hated first year of filming.” Rapp is not the only cast member to leave Sex Lives of College Girls over the years. Gavin Leatherwood shocked viewers when he exclusively confirmed to Us in March 2022 that he would not be returning as Nico, Leighton’s brother, in season 2. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News “There is a season 2, but I’m not going to go back,” he told Us at the time. “It was such an incredible experience. I think Mindy [Kaling] is brilliant and the cast, everyone’s lovely. But with so many amazing opportunities out there, we want to keep spreading our wings and leading ourselves to other projects so that’s the move.” Leatherwood, 30, noted that although he was “ happy to do the first season ,” he was looking to branch off in “a different direction.” He did not appear in season 2. New episodes of Sex Lives of College Girls are released Thursdays on Max.NFL reinstates Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers
Sixth Avenue Custom Millwork Launches Revamped Website to Enhance Client ExperienceHENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Ashlon Jackson scored a career-high 30 points and No. 14 Duke defeated No. 10 Kansas State, 73-62 on Monday, in the semifinals of the Ball Dawgs Classic. The Blue Devils (6-1) overcame an early 11-point deficit behind Jackon’s shooting hand to advance to Wednesday’s championship game against the winner of the game between No. 9 Oklahoma and DePaul. Jackson, who has scored in double figures in all six of Duke’s games, shot 12 of 19 (63.1%) from the floor, including 6 of 9 (66.7%) from 3-point range. Reigan Richardson added 16 points for the Blue Devils. Kansas State (5-1) was led by Ayoka Lee, who had 16 points. Serena Sundell scored 15 and Kennedy Taylor came off the bench to add 11 for the Wildcats. Takeaways Kansas State: With her 16-point performance, Lee needs 48 points to pass Kendra Wecker (2001-05) for the Kansas State career scoring record. Wecker scored 2,333 points. Lee, the 2024-25 Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year, is averaging 15.3 points. Duke: Jackson hit her season average of 13.3 points by the 3:54 mark of the second quarter when her pull-up jumper gave her 14. The junior guard was 8 of 11 from the floor, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and had 20 points by halftime. Key moment With the Blue Devils trailing by six midway through the second quarter, Jackson triggered a 15-0 run with 13 of the team’s points to help Duke take a lead they’d never relinquish. Up next Duke will face the winner of No. 9 Oklahoma-DePaul on Wednesday in the championship game, while Kansas State will face the loser in the consolation game. Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
4 easy, comforting bean dishes for fall
Prabowo's Coalition Sweeps Key Regional Elections in Indonesia
4 easy, comforting bean dishes for fallHeidi Klum Hints Wearing Red Lingerie in Snow Is Her New Year's TraditionMatilda's player has married fiancee Kat Thompson in the Hunter Valley in front of family, friends, and a host of Matildas teammates, including Sam Kerr. or signup to continue reading Less than four weeks after the Dudley Redhead United Football Club junior became the second-most-capped in history, van Egmond celebrated her wedding day on Friday, December 27. In attendance was global superstar Kerr along with several Australian teammates, including Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Mackenzie Arnold, Hayley Raso, Clare Polkinghorne and Caitlin Foord. Football legend Andy Roberts, who made 234 national league appearances for Newcastle United and the Newcastle Jets and was a guest at the wedding, shared photos of the day on social media. The happy couple used Roberts' vintage Porsche Speedster for their special day. Roberts told the ACM masthead the Kerr was "quite taken" by the wedding car, enquiring about the Porsche Speedster and asking if she could have a sit in the driver's seat, to which he happily obliged. The injured Chelsea striker attended the wedding with pregnant fiancee Kristie Mewes, a United States international who plays for West Ham in English Women's Super League. Kerr posted pictures to Instagram congratulating "the Van Egmonds", including a shot of Roberts' car. Roberts said the wedding was staged in a beautiful setting and guests experienced it all in terms of weather - 41-degree heat and a hail storm. Van Egmond, who has made 153 appearances for the Matildas, played at four World Cups and three Olympics, posted pictures to Instagram earlier in the day at brunch in the Hunter Valley and with Thompson at Newcastle's City Hall. The 31-year-old Newcastle Jets product plays for San Deigo Wave in the United States. Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au Renee Valentine is a sports journalist with more than 20 years of experience in Newcastle. She is passionate about increasing the visibility of sportswomen in the media. Got a sports story, email Renee at r.valentine@newcastleherald.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
‘Stand and Bang’ – Latest Celtic Warrior Happy to be a Collins and Not a MayweatherALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Google, already facing a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine , is fighting to beat back another attack by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging monopolistic conduct, this time over technology that puts online advertising in front of consumers. The Justice Department and Google made closing arguments Monday in a trial alleging Google's advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, will decide the case and is expected to issue a written ruling by the end of the year. If Brinkema finds Google has engaged in illegal, monopolistic conduct, she will then hold further hearings to explore what remedies should be imposed. The Justice Department, along with a coalition of states, has already said it believes Google should be forced to sell off parts of its ad tech business, which generates tens of billions of dollars annually for the Mountain View, California-based company. After roughly a month of trial testimony earlier this year, the arguments in the case remain the same. During three hours of arguments Monday, Brinkema, who sometimes tips her hand during legal arguments, did little to indicate how she might rule. She did, though, question the applicability of a key antitrust case Google cites in its defense. The Justice Department contends Google built and maintained a monopoly in “open-web display advertising,” essentially the rectangular ads that appear on the top and right-hand side of the page when one browses websites. Google dominates all facets of the market. A technology called DoubleClick is used pervasively by news sites and other online publishers, while Google Ads maintains a cache of advertisers large and small looking to place their ads on the right webpage in front of the right consumer. In between is another Google product, AdExchange, that conducts nearly instantaneous auctions matching advertisers to publishers. In court papers, Justice Department lawyers say Google “is more concerned with acquiring and preserving its trifecta of monopolies than serving its own publisher and advertiser customers or winning on the merits.” As a result, content providers and news organizations have never been able to generate the online revenue they should due to Google’s excessive fees for brokering transactions between advertisers and publishers, the government says. Google argues the government's case improperly focuses on a narrow niche of online advertising. If one looks more broadly at online advertising to include social media, streaming TV services, and app-based advertising, Google says it controls as little as 10% of the market, a share that is dwindling as it faces increased and evolving competition. Google alleges in court papers that the government’s lawsuit “boil(s) down to the persistent complaints of a handful of Google’s rivals and several mammoth publishers.” Google also says it has invested billions in technology that facilitates the efficient match of advertisers to interested consumers and it should not be forced to share its technology and success with competitors. “Requiring a company to do further engineering work to make its technology and customers accessible by all of its competitors on their preferred terms has never been compelled by U.S. antitrust law,” the company wrote. Brinkema, during Monday's arguments, also sought clarity on Google’s market share, a number the two sides dispute, depending on how broadly the market is defined. Historically, courts have been unwilling to declare an illegal monopoly in markets in which a company holds less than a 70% market share. Google says that when online display advertising is viewed as a whole, it holds only a 10% market share, and dwindling. The Justice Department contends, though, that when focusing on open-web display advertising, Google controls 91% of the market for publisher ad servers and 87% of the market for advertiser ad networks. Google says that the “open web display advertising” market is gerrymandered by the Justice Department to make Google look bad, and that nobody in the industry looks at that category of ads without considering the ability of advertisers to switch to other forms of advertising, like in mobile apps. The Justice Department also contends that the public is harmed by the excessive rates Google charges to facilitate ad purchases, saying the company takes 36 cents on the dollar when it facilitates the transaction end to end. Google says its “take rate” has dropped to 31% and continues to decrease, and it says that rate is lower than that of its competitors. “When you have an integrated system, one of the benefits is lower prices," Google lawyer Karen Dunn said Monday. The Virginia case is separate from an ongoing lawsuit brought against Google in the District of Columbia over its namesake search engine. In that case, the judge determined it constitutes an illegal monopoly but has not decided what remedy to impose. The Justice Department said last week it will seek to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser , among a host of other penalties. Google has said the department's request is overkill and unhinged from legitimate regulation. In Monday's arguments, Justice Department lawyer Aaron Teitelbaum cited the search engine case when he highlighted an email from a Google executive, David Rosenblatt, who said in a 2009 email that Google’s goal was to “do to display what Google did to search," which Teitelbaum said showed the company's intent to achieve market dominance. “Google did not achieve its trifecta of monopolies by accident,” Teitelbaum said.
Hangzhou, China Launches New Direct Cargo Flight to the U.S. for Cross-Border E-commerce