US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer saysPresident Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday appointed Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, former Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla, and ex-army chief and former Union minister General (retd) VK Singh as new governors of Bihar, Manipur and Mizoram, respectively, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. President Murmu also accepted the resignation of Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, the statement said, adding Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed as the new Odisha governor. Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been named the new governor of Kerala. “The above appointments will take effect from the dates they will assume charge of their respective offices,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. Bhalla, who served as the Union home secretary from August 2019 till August this year, will take over as the governor of Manipur, which has been in the throes of ethnic strife between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities since May 3 last year. The cycle of violence and reprisal attacks has prompted the Centre to deploy more troops and reimpose Afspa in parts of Manipur, where at least 260 people been killed in the ethnic violence. Also read | Tamil Nadu gov, state at loggerheads again over VC appointment to university Following Bhalla’s appointment, there was a buzz in the political circles of the northeastern state and among security forces about the Centre’s move to send the retired IAS officer in the gubernatorial role and if the move was a precursor to a possible imposition of President’s Rule. “Nobody knows for sure if the Centre has decided to impose President’s Rule by sending an officer, who is he most trusted by the home minister. These are just speculations for now. Maybe this has got nothing to do with President’ Rule but the fact that Centre wants an officer, who has closely tracked what is happening in Manipur. There is already a security advisor chosen by the home minister who is the chief of the unified command,” a mid-level BJP leader, requesting anonymity, said. Bhalla did not respond to HT’s request for a comment on his appointment. Also read | In Manipur conflict, rise in Myanmar-made weapons Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in the southern state have been at loggerheads over several issues, primarily about the functioning of state universities and his non-signing of certain bills passed by the assembly. Last week, SFI activists protested against Khan outside the Kerala university campus during his visit to attend a programme. Different Left groups in the state have accused him of trying to appoint people linked to ABVP — student wing affiliated with the RSS — to key level appointments in the universities. Khan has been appointed as the governor of Bihar, where assembly elections are due next year. Gen (retd) VK Singh, who served as a minister in the Narendra Modi government from 2014 and 2024, did not contest the Lok Sabha elections this summer, having represented Ghaziabad seat in Uttar Pradesh for a decade. His appointment as the governor of Mizoram is important given the fact that the state has been receiving thousands of refugees from violence-hit Myanmar, heavy smuggling of arms and ammunition from Myanmar, and various groups protesting the government’s plan to fence the Indo-Myanmar border. While Raghubar Das, former chief minister of Jharkhand, has resigned as the governor of Odisha, there were reports of him returning to active politics. His meeting with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in September, ahead of the Jharkhand assembly polls had fuelled speculation. The BJP had then dismissed the speculation, but with a rejig in the national team expected shortly, the possibility of Das making a comeback is again being discussed in party circles.
The 3 R approach for companies to build nature-positive cities
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee worked for the country and society with values and principles without worrying about the ruling party or the opposition. Addressing an 'Atal Geet Ganga' event on the eve of Vajpayee's 100th birth anniversary, Adityanath said, ''Atal Ji is known as a model of good governance in the country. He is also considered the symbol of all-inclusive politics. His political life spanning six decades is considered a symbol of purity, transparency and honesty.'' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also addressed the programme. ''Atal Ji always used to say that politics without principles is like a noose of death. He worked for the country and society with values and principles without worrying about the ruling party or the opposition for six decades. His standards and ideals are guiding lights in Indian politics even today,'' Adityanath said. Recalling the later prime minister's contributions, Adityanath said Vajpayee worked for rural development, urban development, the concept of Antyodaya, employment generation for the youth, protecting the dignity and pride of India, and setting models for the security of the country, all of which later became benchmarks for others. ''Every Indian has a sense of respect and reverence for Atal Ji, be it as a poet, journalist, nationalist thinker, true son of Mother India, or a sensitive human being. Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said everyone is familiar with the personality of Vajpayee and his fame in the international stage. ''Atal Ji made India proud in the international arena,'' Singh said, as he recalled working with Vajpayee in the Union Cabinet. ''Atal Ji often used to talk about the development of Lucknow. He represented the Lucknow parliamentary constituency for a long time. He also became the prime minister as an MP from this constituency,'' Singh said. The event was also attended by Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, former Deputy Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, and ex-Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, among others. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Companies tighten security after a health care CEO's killing leads to a surge of threatsNew Delhi Amid concerns flagged by the Congress, the Election Commission on Tuesday said there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in Maharashtra where assembly polls were held recently. The poll body focussed on two primary concerns raised by the Congress – arbitrary deletion of voters and subsequent additions in the electoral rolls of Maharashtra, and changes in voter turnout data figures on the day of polling between 5pm and 11.30pm. After meeting the ECI on December 3, senior Congress leader Manu Abhishek Singhvi had claimed that in 118 constituencies in the state, of which the BJP won 102, each constituency saw voter turnout increase by about 25,000 persons per constituency, compared to the general elections between the general and the state elections. In its November 29 letter to the ECI, the party had claimed that in the 50 assembly constituencies that saw an average increase of 50,000 electors, the BJP won 47 of them. The ECI claimed that this was a “baseless accusation” that “creates unnecessary and avoidable doubts and anxiety in the mind of the public”. On discrepancy in voter turnout between 5 pm and 11:30 pm, the ECI said, “At the time of counting, data entered in Form 17C is tallied with data in EVM in presence of the counting agents and therefore allegation of gap between voting percentage data released 5:00 PM on poll day and final polling percentage data is superfluous.” “Commission trusts that INC should not have any clarification missing after these elaborations. Commission is committed to a respectful collaborative relation with all political parties, so critical for a healthy democracy and welcomes suggestions for any improvement in the electoral process,” the response signed by ECI secretary SK Das said. It said that there were only six assembly constituencies, not 50 as claimed by Congress, where more than 50,000 electors were added. Copies of the draft rolls, and claim and objections were provided to Congress in all constituencies, the ECI said. “INC representatives indeed participated in revision of electoral rolls at various stages till the finalisation of electoral rolls,” the ECI said. It said that in the five month-period between the general and state elections, there was an addition of 4,881,610 electors and deletion of 800,391 (average of 2,779 electors per assembly constituency), resulting in a net addition of 4,081,228 electors in the state. This is because, in December 2021 (brought into force in August 2022), the Representation of People Act, 1951, was amended to increase the number of qualifying dates for registration in electoral rolls from only January 1 to April 1, July 1 and October 1. As July 1 and October 1 fell in the five-month period, people who turned 18 years olf also became eligible to registered for the state elections and were enrolled. Of the 4,081,228 net additions, 872,094 (21.4%) were between the ages of 18 and 19, while 1,774,514 (43.5%) were between the ages of 20-29, accounting for 64.8% net additions. The ECI said that returning officers and the district election officers, under the supervision of the ECI, prepare the electoral rolls which are revised annually. The final roll is published around January 5 each year and is then continuously updated until October. The draft roll is published until October. After this publication, both the public and political parties can file claims and objections. In addition, ahead of all state assembly elections, the ECI carries out Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the rolls which involves house to house survey, physical field verification by the booth level officers, random checking by higher-ups, and regular meetings with political parties. Political parties appoint booth level agents to oversee the process. The ECI said that monthly lists of additions, deletions and modifications to the rolls are published on the website, and the draft and final rolls are available on the CEO/DEO’s websites. Free copies of part-wise draft and final rolls are provided to all recognized political parties while general public can get a copy by paying a “nominal fee”. The ECI said that two copies of the electoral rolls, one hard copy with images of the electors and one soft copy without the images, is made available at ERO level. “These instructions are uniformly followed in the entire country,” the ECI said. The ECI also said that the list of all claims and objections is shared with recognized political parties on a weekly basis. Congress had claimed that voters were arbitrarily deleted from the rolls in the five-month period between the general elections and the Maharashtra assembly polls. The party had asked for the raw data and the forms involved. The ECI outlined the standard operating procedure around deletion from the rolls. It said that deletions due to registered death require proper verification, including submission of a death certificate. For unregistered deaths and change in address, the necessary forms (Form 7 and Form 8, respectively) must be received. For each deletion, the BLO must submit a field verification identity. For all proposed deletions, except registered deaths, the ECI said that a notice is issued and the concerned elector is given “reasonable opportunity” to be heard. If more than 2% of all electors are proposed to be deleted from one polling station, the electoral registration officer must personally “cross verify” each case of deletion. The ERO must also personally cross verify deletions is the same person objects to the deletion in more than five cases. On discrepancy in voter turnout, the ECI said, “[T]he Commission has decided to not only inform you once again, but also educate citizens at large about the concept of statutory sharing of VTR with candidates contesting the elections in Form 17C, and the very different concept of non-statutory framework of sharing VTR on VTR APP designed for the general public and underline the difference between the two,” the ECI wrote. During the general elections, the changes in voter turnout had been a major sticking point, resulting in a scathing letter from the ECI to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The ECI said that “voter turnout” is not a legally defined concept nor is its publication legally required at any level. It reiterated that Form 17C (part I), is the “immutable co-shared record”, with details of the number of votes recorded, that is shared with the polling agents of the candidates at the end of the poll after it is filled out by the presiding officer of the polling station. The data given in the voter turnout app is a “facilitative measure” by the ECI which is not a statutory requirement. It is collected by sector magistrates every two hours starting at 9 am through various media including phone, in person visits to the booth, messaging group, etc. “It is possible that sector magistrates may not get accurate upgraded trends from some PSs in some cycles of data collection,” the ECI wrote. These trends are not a substitute for the data in Form 17C, it said. “Considering 5:00 PM data as the final voter turnout or as its closest approximation is merely a misconception,” the ECI said and called it “interim data of approximate voter turnout”. Polling can continue even after 6 pm, the ECI said. After polling ends, the presiding officer has to perform “multiple statutory, non-statutory and administrative functions”, the poll body said. Form 17C Part I (with data from the EVM about the number of votes registered on the machines, votes polled during mock poll, number of votes cast, etc.), is given to the candidates or their agents at the end of the poll, on the polling day itself, the ECI said. On the polling day, the returning officer must collect and securely store EVMs in strongrooms. “Updation of the poll turnout data on the VTR APP coming around the same time, is only a next priority,” the ECI said. “The voting data provided at 11:45 PM on the day of poll can also not be considered as final voter turnout, as it is also not possible to provide the final voter turnout data before scrutiny of Election Papers, which is held on the next day of poll in the presence of the candidates and observers. Also, some polling parties may not have been able to return/submit their documents by that time,” The ECI said that the scrutiny of Form 17A (list of people who voted at booth level) is done a day after polling. In certain cases, some polling parties return on P+2 or P+3 days day to difficulties in “geography, security concerns and weather conditions”.Thermal Rifle Scopes Market Set for Exceptional Growth from 2024 to 2032
Jimmy Carter, the 100-year-old former US president and Nobel peace laureate who rose from humble beginnings in rural Georgia to lead the nation from 1977 to 1981, has died, his nonprofit foundation said Sunday. Carter had been in hospice care since mid-February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia — the same small town where he was born and once ran a peanut farm before becoming governor of the Peach State and running for the White House. Carter died “peacefully” at his home in Plains, “surrounded by his family,” The Carter Center said in a statement. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love,” Chip Carter, the former president’s son, said in the statement. Carter was the oldest living ex-US leader and the nation’s longest-lived president — an outcome that seemed unlikely back in 2015 when the Southern Democrat revealed he had brain cancer. But the US Navy veteran and fervent Christian repeatedly defied the odds to enjoy a long and fruitful post-presidency, after four years in the Oval Office often seen as disappointing. During his single term, Carter placed a commitment on human rights and social justice, enjoying a strong first two years that included brokering a peace deal between Israel and Egypt dubbed the Camp David Accords. But his administration hit numerous snags — the most serious being the taking of US hostages in Iran and the disastrous failed attempt to rescue the 52 captive Americans in 1980. He also came in for criticism for his handling of an oil crisis. In November of that year, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan clobbered Carter at the polls, relegating the Democrat to just one term. Reagan, a former actor and governor of California, swept into office on a wave of staunch conservatism. – Active post-presidency – As the years passed, a more nuanced image of Carter emerged — one that took into account his significant post-presidential activities and reassessed his achievements. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, and he was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice. He observed numerous elections around the world and emerged as a prominent international mediator, tackling global problems from North Korea to Bosnia. Carter, known for his toothy smile, said basic Christian tenets such as justice and love served as the bedrock of his presidency. He taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist, his church in Plains, well into his 90s. In recent years, he had received various hospital treatments, including when he revealed in August 2015 that he had brain cancer and was undergoing radiation. US Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who is the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr preached, wished the Carter family comfort as the former president entered hospice last year. “Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God,” Warnock wrote on X, then Twitter. “In this tender time of transitioning, God is surely walking with him.” In April 2021, President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, met with the Carters at their home in Plains. The White House later released a photo showing the couples smiling together, although only Rosalynn was seen by the press outside, bidding the Bidens farewell while using a walker. Rosalynn, Carter’s wife of 77 years, died on November 19, 2023 at age 96. The former president, who looked frail, poignantly appeared at her memorial service in a wheelchair, with a blanket on his lap bearing their likenesses. Carter is survived by the couple’s four children, three sons and a daughter. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.“Wanted” posters with the names and faces of health care executives have been popping up on the streets of New York. Hit lists with images of bullets are circulating online with warnings that industry leaders should be afraid. The apparent targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the menacing threats that followed have sent a shudder through corporate America and the health care industry in particular, leading to increased security for executives and some workers. In the week since the brazen shooting , health insurers have removed information about their top executives from company websites, canceled in-person meetings with shareholders and advised all employees to work from home temporarily. An internal New York Police Department bulletin warned this week that the online vitriol that followed the shooting could signal an immediate “elevated threat.” Police fear that the Dec. 4 shooting could "inspire a variety of extremists and grievance-driven malicious actors to violence," according to the bulletin, which was obtained by The Associated Press. “Wanted” posters pasted to parking meters and construction site fences in Manhattan included photos of health care executives and the words “Deny, defend, depose” — similar to a phrase scrawled on bullets found near Thompson’s body and echoing those used by insurance industry critics . Thompson's wife, Paulette, told NBC News last week that he told her some people had been threatening him and suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Investigators believe the shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione , may have been motivated by hostility toward health insurers. They are studying his writings about a previous back injury, and his disdain for corporate America and the U.S. health care system. Mangione’s lawyer has cautioned against prejudging the case. Mangione, 26, has remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday . Manhattan prosecutors are working to bring him to New York to face a murder charge. UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, said this week it was working with law enforcement to ensure a safe work environment and to reinforce security guidelines and building access policies, a spokesperson said. The company has taken down photos, names and biographies for its top executives from its websites, a spokesperson said. Other organizations, including CVS, the parent company for insurance giant Aetna, have taken similar actions. Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. has announced that its investor day will be held online, rather than in-person as originally planned. Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm, said last week it was temporarily closing its six offices for security reasons and would have its employees work from home. Heightened security measures likely will make health care companies and their leaders more inaccessible to their policyholders, said former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. “And understandably so, with this act of violence. There’s no assurance that this won’t happen again,” said Potter, who’s now an advocate for health care reform. Private security firms and consultants have been in high demand, fielding calls almost immediately after the shooting from companies across a range of industries, including manufacturing and finance. Companies have long faced security risks and grappled with how far to take precautions for high-profile executives. But these recent threats sparked by Thompson's killing should not be ignored, said Dave Komendat, a former security chief for Boeing who now heads his own risk-management company. “The tone and tenor is different. The social reaction to this tragedy is different. And so I think that people need to take this seriously,” Komendat said. Just over a quarter of the companies in the Fortune 500 reported spending money to protect their CEOs and top executives. Of those, the median payment for personal security doubled over the last three years to just under $100,000. Hours after the shooting, Komendat was on a call with dozens of chief security officers from big corporations, and there have been many similar meetings since, hosted by security groups or law enforcement agencies assessing the threats, he said. “It just takes one person who is motivated by a poster — who may have experienced something in their life through one of these companies that was harmful," Komendat said. ___ Associated Press reporters Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York and Barbara Ortutay in San Francisco, contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Whoever ends up coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars next season, receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will be the team's most dynamic rebuilding piece. Mac Jones threw two touchdown passes, including his fifth in as many games to Thomas , and the Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 20-13 in the rain Sunday to sweep the season series for just the fourth time in 30 years. Jones completed 15 of 22 passes for 174 yards, with most of those going to Thomas. The first-round draft pick from LSU finished with seven receptions for 91 yards. His 11-yard TD catch with 7:05 remaining gave him his eighth game with at least 60 yards and a score, tying him with Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the most by a rookie in NFL history . “Brian just keeps impressing each week,” said Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, whose future with the team remains cloudy. “You can't say enough good things about Brian.” Thomas also became the fifth player in Jaguars history with double-digit TD receptions in a single season, joining Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marcedes Lewis and Reggie Williams. “It's definitely a great feeling to be able to do some of the things I did," Thomas said. “I don't even know all of them. But some of them I heard, just a great accomplishment.” The Titans (3-13) improved their position for the 2025 NFL draft — a potential chance to land a franchise quarterback — and secured last place in the AFC South. The Jaguars (4-12) guaranteed themselves third in the division. There was little else at stake in this Week 17 matchup. Jacksonville looked as if it might make it a blowout, but Pederson’s squad settled for field goals while building a 13-0 lead early. The Titans got back in it with an 85-yard drive to start the second half, which ended with Mason Rudolph’s 8-yard TD pass to a wide-open Nick Vannett. Tennessee kicked a field goal late to make it a seven-point game and got the ball back with 1:29 remaining. Rudolph drove the Titans to the Jacksonville 26, but safety Antonio Johnson knocked down his fourth down pass at the goal line to end it. “He was staring down the receiver the whole time," said Johnson, who was benched earlier this season. “Once I saw him pull the pin, I just broke on it and just got the ball on the ground. ... To seal the game felt good.” Rudolph completed 19 of 31 passes for 193 yards, with the touchdown and an interception in his second consecutive start in place of Will Levis. The Titans have lost five in a row and seven of eight. “I hope they’re not numb to it," coach Brian Callahan said. "I sure am not. ... It’s terrible. There’s no joy in this process. There’s no fun in this. It’s terrible. I feel it every day I walk into work. I feel it every day I stand up here in front of you guys. "Nothing is enjoyable about this, so I don’t get numb to any of it, and I hope nobody gets numb to it. And our job is to try to fix it. We’ll do whatever we can do to fix whatever problems we got to fix, to add whatever players we have to add, to make sure that we have a better football team moving forward.” Jacksonville’s Josh Hines-Allen moved a step closer to the franchise sack record. Hines-Allen sacked Rudolph in the third quarter, giving him 53 for his career and leaving him two shy of tying Tony Brackens’ team mark. Boris Cheek became the NFL’s all-time leader in games officiated when he took the field for the Titans-Jaguars game. Cheek officiated his 461st game over 29 seasons, passing Walt Coleman for the top spot. Coleman officiated 460 games over 30 seasons until his retirement in 2018. Titans running back Tyjae Spears was evaluated for a concussion late in the third quarter. Spears, who wears a protective “guardian cap” over his helmet to help prevent head injuries, ran 20 times for 95 yards. Tennessee had to turn to third-string right tackle John Ojukwu after backup Jaelyn Duncan left in the first half with a shoulder injury. Duncan started in place of Nicholas Petit-Frere, who was benched last week and inactive against Jacksonville. Jaguars right guard Brandon Scherff (shoulder) left in the second quarter but returned on the next series. Titans finish the season next weekend against division champion Houston. Jaguars play at Indianapolis next weekend to close out another year with double-digit losses. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflBatties scores 16, Harvard takes down Iona 67-61
Just what we need before Christmas – another berserk story from the Excited States of America showing how far the nation has slipped down the pole of insanity to irrelevance and anarchy. It all began a little more than a week ago when a young Ivy League school grad armed with a home-made “ghost gun” made from a 3D-printer got off his bicycle long enough in downtown Manhattan to stalk United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and put two bullets in the back of the former executive who fell to the cold concrete deader than the proverbial doornail. And few of the passers-by even looked up! The killer then hopped back on his bike and disappeared into the hazy air of a Manhattan morning and wasn’t caught until almost a week later when a sharp-eyed McDonalds’ customer came across him chowing down on a breakfast burger in Altoona, Pennsylvania and called the police who easily did what an army of cops couldn’t do in the biggest city in America. They arrested him on charges leading to murder. And now the stage is set for what is sure to become another “trial of the century” in a country losing its ability to separate right from wrong and in danger of losing its moral compass too. Will its highly polarized political class save it? Doubtful. Will its business billionaires and $500-an-hour lawyers do better? I doubt it even more. After all, they live off it and live obscenely well. Do I exaggerate? No way and point out that the person charged is one Luigi Mangione, 26, a former private school valedictorian, University of Pennsylvania graduate and son of Louis Mangione, a wealthy Baltimore businessman and resort owner. But Mangione’s wealth fades when compared to revenues of $371.6 billion made by UnitedHealthcare in 2023, making it the richest health care insurance provider in the USA. Murdered CEO Thompson was paid $100 million in salary alone the same year. But critics point out that United Healthcare regularly denies almost one-third of the claims made against it, strongly boosting its bottom line but leaving thousands of insurance claimants untreated. The evidence against Mangione is strong including bullet casings found at the scene matching his “ghost gun” and imprinted with “Delay, deny, defend” a phrase he borrowed from the “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski, who he greatly admired. In a bizarre manifesto, alleged to be written by Mangione, he showed his hatred of the American health care system after unsuccessful back surgery. “Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming,” he said, adding Americans pay the highest health care rates in the world but get results below some Third World countries. He also praised the anti-technology theories of Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti who accused Americans of becoming “well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Despite his fanatic views, Mangione has won support from thousands, possibly millions, of Americans, who clearly support his extreme views and hatred of the American health care system. “Free Luigi” memes are all over the Internet and other social media platforms and there’s wide-spread speculation over who should play the manly looking killer if a movie is made of his infamous exploits. But this hasn’t impressed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro according to a story on PBS. “In some dark corners, this killer is being hailed as a hero. Hear me on this, he is no hero,” Shapiro said. “The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this morning.” But a wave of derogatory posts quickly swept over the Net supporting Mangione’s despicable deed. Being a Canadian, I dislike writing so often about the craziness of American politics. But what can you do? There’s no other county in the world that resembles Uncle Sam as much as the Great White North and we’re not exactly enamored with our health care system either. But to gun someone down on the street in cold blood doesn’t make sense. It only makes the situation worse and encourages more violence of the most abhorrent kind. Don’t you agree? is a retired journalist, who doesn’t know what to think anymore.
Julia Wick | (TNS) Los Angeles Times As California politicos look ahead to 2025, the biggest question looming is whether Vice President Kamala Harris — a native daughter, battered just weeks ago by presidential election defeat — will enter the 2026 California governor’s race. Related Articles National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump invites China’s Xi to his inauguration even as he threatens massive tariffs on Beijing National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump National Politics | What Americans think about Hegseth, Gabbard and key Trump Cabinet picks AP-NORC poll National Politics | Trump is named Time’s Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange’s opening bell Harris has yet to give any public indication on her thoughts and those close to her suggest the governorship is not immediately top of mind. But if Harris does ultimately run — and that’s a massive if — her entrée would seismically reshape the already crowded race for California’s highest office. Recent polling suggests Harris would have a major advantage, with 46% of likely voters saying they were somewhat or very likely to support her for governor in 2026, according to a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey co-sponsored by The Times. “If Vice President Harris were to choose to run, I am certain that that would have a near field-clearing effect on the Democratic side,” Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, said during a recent UC Irvine panel interview . Porter, a high-profile Democrat who has been eyeing the wide-open governor’s race, has yet to say whether she plans to run. Porter’s point was broadly echoed in conversations with nearly a dozen California political operatives and strategists, several of whom requested anonymity to speak candidly. Most speculated that a Harris entry would cause some other candidates in the race to scatter, creating further upheaval in down-ballot races as a roster of ambitious politicians scramble for other opportunities. “In politics, you always let the big dogs eat first,” quipped Democratic political consultant Peter Ragone. The current gubernatorial field is a who’s who of California politicians, but lacks a clear favorite or star with widespread name recognition. The vast majority of California’s 22 million voters have yet to pay attention to the race and have little familiarity with the candidates. The list of Democratic candidates includes Los Angeles’ first Latino mayor in more than a century ( Antonio Villaraigosa ); the first female and first out LGBTQ leader of the state Senate ( Toni Atkins ); the sitting lieutenant governor and first woman to hold that post ( Eleni Kounalakis ); the state superintendent of public instruction ( Tony Thurmond ) and the former state controller ( Betty Yee ). Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is serving his second term as California governor, meaning he is ineligible to run again. Several other Democrats, including Porter, outgoing Health and Human Services Director Xavier Becerra and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta have also publicly toyed with the idea of a run. They could be less likely to enter the fray should Harris decide to run. What the billionaire mall mogul Rick Caruso — who has also been exploring a run — would choose to do is an open question, as Caruso might contrast himself with Harris as a more centrist candidate. The real estate developer was a registered Republican until November 2019. It’s unlikely that Harris will proffer a public decision in the immediate term, leaving plenty of time for political insiders to game out hypotheticals in the weeks and months to come. Harris’ office did not respond to a request for comment. “I think every candidate for governor is trying to get some kind of intel,” Mike Trujillo, a Los Angeles-based Democratic political consultant and former Villaraigosa staffer, said of a potential Harris run. Trujillo speculated that Harris’ current state was probably similar to Hillary Clinton’s hiking sojourns in the Chappaqua woods after losing to Donald Trump in 2016, or Al Gore growing a beard in the bruising aftermath of his 2000 defeat. “The first thing she’s probably thinking about is, ‘Well, can I run again for president in four years?’ Not, ‘Do I run for governor in two years?’” said one political operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. Harris maintains a home in Brentwood and previously served as California’s senator and attorney general. A successful run for governor in 2026 would almost certainly impede a grab for the presidency in 2028. (Though if history is any guide, an unsuccessful run for California governor does not definitively preclude a bid for the Oval Office: Two years after losing the White House to John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon lost the 1962 contest for governor to Pat Brown . The Yorba Linda native became the nation’s 37th president in 1969.) As the chief executive of a state that doubles as the world’s fifth-largest economy, Harris would have more power to steer policy and make changes as a California governor than she did as vice president, where her job required deference to President Biden. But leading a state, even the nation’s most populous, could feel like small potatoes after being a heartbeat (and a few dozen electoral votes) from the presidency. The protracted slog to November 2026 would also be a stark contrast to her ill-fated 107-day sprint toward the White House, particularly for a candidate whose 2020 presidential primary campaign was dogged by allegations of infighting and mismanagement. “I don’t think Kamala Harris has a deep psychological need to be governor of California, or to be in elective office in order to feel like she can contribute to society,” said the operative who’s worked with Harris in the past. “I think some of these people do, but she’s somebody who has enough prominence that she could do a lot of big, wonderful things without having to worry about balancing California’s budget or negotiating with Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel,” the Encino Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. Technically, Harris has until March 2026 to decide whether she enters a race. But political strategists who spoke to The Times theorized that she probably would make a move by late spring, if she chooses to do so. “People will be more annoyed if she drops in in June,” a Democratic strategist involved with one of the gubernatorial campaigns said. Sending a clear signal by February would be more “courteous,” the strategist continued, explaining that such a move would give candidates more time to potentially enter other races. Kounalakis is a longtime friend and ally of Harris’ , and the vice president also has long-term relationships with some of the other candidates and potential candidates. California has eight statewide elected offices and campaign finance laws allow candidates to fundraise interchangeably for them, meaning money already raised for a candidate’s gubernatorial campaign could easily be redirected should they decide to run for, say, lieutenant governor instead. There are already a number of candidates running for lieutenant governor, including former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, former state Sen. Steven Bradford and former state Treasurer Fiona Ma. But that office probably would see even more interest should Harris enter the gubernatorial race. It’s a largely ceremonial position, but one that has served as a launching pad for the governorship. Still, even if Harris does enter the race, Republican political strategist Mike Murphy threw cold water on the idea that she would have an automatic glide path to the governor’s office. “It’s like Hollywood. Nobody knows anything. She’s famous enough to look credible in early polling. That’s all we know for sure,” Murphy said. “Does that predict the future? No. Are there a lot of downsides (to a potential Harris candidacy)? Totally, yes.” ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.