President-elect Donald Trump has announced many of his picks for potential nominees for his Cabinet and other White House administration roles since winning the 2024 presidential election. While the picks still have to be officially nominated and approved in many cases, voters were recently asked to share whether they approve or disapprove of his current selections. What Happened: Trump's announced picks have generated plenty of discussion on social media and across the political spectrum with the announced pick of Matt Gaetz as attorney general eventually saw the former Congressman withdraw his name due to concerns of being a distraction and fears of not getting approval. A new Morning Consult poll asked voters for their approval ratings on Trump and his picks for the new White House administration. The poll found Trump had an approval rating of 53%, down from 54% in the poll published on Nov. 17. Split by political party, Republicans gave Trump a 91% approval rating, down from 93%, Independents gave an approval rating of 44%, down from 46% and Democrats gave an approval rating of 21%, up from 20%. Personnel Pick Ratings : Here are the approval and disapproval ratings of recent personnel picks by Trump for his next White House term. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State: 45% approval, 34% disapproval, 21% no opinion Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Health and Human Services Secretary: 44% approval, 39% disapproval, 17% no opinion Mike Huckabee, U.S. ambassador to Isreal: 44% approval, 31% disapproval, 25% no opinion Mehmet Oz, CMS administrator: 41% approval, 38% disapproval, 20% no opinion Tulsi Gabbard , Director of National Intelligence: 39% approval, 33% disapproval, 29% no opinion Pam Bondi , Attorney General: 39% approval, 29% disapproval, 33% no opinion Elise Stefanik , U.S. ambassador to the United Nations: 38% approval, 29% disapproval, 33% no opinion Kristi Noem, Homeland Security secretary: 37% approval, 33% disapproval, 30% no opinion Pete Hegseth , Defense secretary: 36% approval, 32% disapproval, 32% no opinion Linda McMahon , Education secretary: 36% approval, 36% disapproval, 28% no opinion Scott Bessent , Treasury secretary: 36% approval, 25% disapproval, 39% no opinion Doug Collins , Veterans Affairs secretary: 35% approval, 25% disapproval, 40% no opinion Doug Burgum , Interior secretary: 35% approval, 26% disapproval, 39% no opinion Janette Nesheiwat , Surgeon General: 35% approval, 25% disapproval, 40% no opinion Matt Whitake r, NATO ambassador: 34% approval, 28% disapproval, 38% no opinion Sean Duffy , Transportation secretary: 34% approval, 28% disapproval, 38% no opinion Chris Wright , Energy secretary, 34% approval, 29% disapproval, 37% no opinion Lee Zeldin , EPA administrator: 34% approval, 29% disapproval, 37% no opinion Brooke Rollins , Agriculture secretary: 34% approval, 24% disapproval, 43% no opinion Marty Makary , FDA commissioner: 33% approval, 27% disapproval, 40% no opinion Dave Weldon , CDC director: 33% approval, 27% disapproval, 40% no opinion Howard Lutnick , Commerce secretary: 33% approval, 25% disapproval, 42% no opinion Russell Vought , Office of Management and Budget director: 33% approval, 26% disapproval, 41% no opinion Scott Turne r, Housing and Urban Development secretary: 33% approval, 26% disapproval, 41% no opinion Brendan Carr , FCC chair: 32% approval, 26% disapproval, 42% no opinion The new results did not include Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-leaders of the Department of Government Efficiency. In the previous poll , Musk had approval rating of 45%, 40% disapproval and 15% said no opinion. Ramaswamy had a 39% approval rating, 34% disapproval and 27% said no opinion. Did You Know? Congress Is Making Huge Investments. Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold Ahead Of The 2024 Election With Our Easy-to-Use Tool Why It's Important: McMahon received a 36% approval and 36% disapproval as the only candidate to not have a higher approval than disapproval. This could be bad news for the former WWE executive as the last poll saw Gaetz as the only person with a higher disapproval than approval rating at 41% and 34% respectively. With Gaetz and Musk, who had a disapproval of 40% previously, no longer in the poll, it is Kennedy who has the highest disapproval followed by Oz and McMahon. The highest approval ratings go to Rubio, Kennedy and Huckabee. The last poll also saw Rubio and Kennedy have the highest approval ratings. Huckabee again has the highest net approval rating at 13 points, followed by Rubio at 11 points. Read Next: Trump HHS Pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Wealth Comes From Family, Law Practice, Oil, Bitcoin Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was fined $75,000 by the NBA for public criticism of officiating and using inappropriate and profane language, the league announced on Monday. Edwards made the remarks that drew the punishment following Minnesota's 113-103 home loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. The 23-year-old playmaker, who helped the United States capture gold at the Paris Olympics, has averaged 25.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists a game for the T-Wolves this season. Edwards used profanity in describing what he considered a poor performance from the referees, calling it "terrible" and saying he and teammate Julius Randle are penalized "for being stronger than our opponent every night. "We don't get no calls. That's how I feel about the officials every game we play." Edwards was whistled for four fouls against the Warriors and shot four free throws himself. At 14-13, the Timberwolves are 10th in the Western Conference, ahead of Phoenix on tie-breakers. js/mwthletes in the spotlight often face scrutiny beyond their performances, especially when their personal lives intertwine with their professional careers. , rookie pitcher for the and boyfriend of gymnastics sensation , found himself in the crosshairs of social media after announcing a charitable pledge. What should have been a celebratory moment-a matching donation to the -became fodder for fans, who turned his generous act into an internet punchline. came via himself as part of , an initiative designed to amplify charitable causes. The foundation, dedicated to supporting veterans and their families, received a significant boost thanks to . This pledge, coupled with his high-profile connection to , seemed poised to spotlight the positive impact of athletes using their wealth for good. Instead, online communities, including , turned their attention to , teasing his involvement as an extension of her financial success. Comments ranged from lighthearted jokes to outright roasting. One quipped, The jab referenced , where she briefly held the number two spot among collegiate athletes, before sliding to fourth behind and . Despite the jokes, still places her firmly among the elite earners in college sports, highlighting her continued influence even as her gymnastics career winds down. , meanwhile, is no financial slouch. Selected first overall in the , he earned a record-breaking signing bonus-the largest ever in Paired with a base salary, is estimated near . With an impressive and in his first season, his earning potential in arbitration and free agency is expected to soar, potentially rivaling in the near future. A shift in expectations for athletes The mockery wasn't entirely malicious. For every detractor, there were fans . One commenter exclaimed, These underscore a broader conversation about the evolving expectations placed on athletes. Modern sports icons are increasingly not just for their on-field accomplishments but also for how they leverage their platforms to drive social change. wasn't just about fulfilling a pledge; it marked a growing trend of athletes engaging in philanthropy. High-profile examples include school initiative and equity investments in underrepresented communities. Fans now expect their sports heroes to be role models both in the game and in the world. Beyond the teasing While the jokes might sting, . The foundation, lauded for its work supporting veterans, benefits immensely from like Skenes'. For veterans and their families, such financial support translates into like adapted homes, mental health resources, and community programs. Both are reshaping the narrative around athletes in their respective fields. As they navigate public scrutiny and online commentary, their focus on giving back and remains their strongest defense. Whether fans are laughing with them or at them, one thing is clear:
UCF will attempt to shake off a dreadful offensive performance when it collides with LSU on Sunday afternoon in the third-place game of the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. The Knights (4-1) couldn't get anything going against No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday, going 21-for-62 from the field (33.9 percent) and just 2-for-17 from 3-point range (11.8 percent) en route to an 86-70 loss. Jordan Ivy-Curry finished with 13 points while Keyshawn Hall and Dior Johnson added 11 apiece for UCF, which never led and fell behind by as many as 23. Knights coach Johnny Dawkins is hoping that his team's struggles don't carry over into the meeting with the Tigers (4-1). "We have to do better offensively," Dawkins said. "We have to space the floor better. We have to balance our offense between our perimeter and our bigs. Those are things that we didn't do consistently (on Friday)." LSU also needs to clean things up after committing 15 turnovers in a 74-63 setback against Pitt on Friday. Tigers forward Jalen Reed doesn't believe giving the ball away will be a lingering issue. "I feel like a lot of our turnovers were more on us than them," Reed said. "I feel like a lot of the turnovers were careless, but we're a better team than that and I feel like we'll take care of the ball better moving forward." Reed and Vyctorius Miller each posted 14 points in the loss to the Panthers, with Reed also hauling in seven rebounds. Cam Carter chipped in 11 points. Carter is putting up a team-leading 16.4 points per game. Jordan Sears (12.0 points per game), Reed (11.0) and Miller (10.2) also have scoring averages in double figures. Ivy-Curry (16.8 points per game), Hall (16.2) and Darius Johnson (13.0) have been leading the way for UCF. Sunday marks the first-ever meeting between the Knights and Tigers. --Field Level Media
SEOUL, South Korea , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hugel Inc., a leading global medical aesthetics company, said on Friday it will spur expansion in the botulinum toxin market of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) via a strategic partnership with Dubai -headquartered aesthetic and medical distribution partner Medica Group. The two companies have recently entered into an agreement to bolster the distribution of Hugel's toxin Botulax in the key markets of the region. Hugel, which exports its own toxin to 64 markets including the US, Europe and China , the world's three largest toxin buyers, obtained sales approval for Botulax in the Middle East last year. Medica Group is a leading player in the region and has strong distribution networks through its head office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and branches in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon . The company distributes medical aesthetic products from about 30 global brands, proving their solid know-how in the field and strong execution capabilities in the MENA. The MENA is one of the fastest growing regions for medical aesthetics, driven by strong economic momentum, favorable demographic characteristics, increasing accessibility to social media as well as social and consumption transformation. Hugel's Executive Chairman, Suk Cha , commented on the partnership: "We are very pleased to enter into this strategic collaboration with Medica Group. The Middle East represents a key market for Hugel, with its rapidly growing demand for medical aesthetic treatments. We have chosen Medica Group as our distributor because they share our commitment to excellence and quality. Their proven expertise, extensive reach and deep understanding of the region make them the ideal partner to bring our Botulax product to this dynamic region. Botulax is recognized globally for its quality, and we are confident that, through this partnership, it will become a leading choice for medical professionals and patients in the Middle East and Africa ." Andre Daoud , CEO of Medica Group, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: "Our partnership with Hugel marks a key milestone for us as we continue to expand our portfolio and lead the aesthetics market with global solutions. The introduction of Botulax in the Middle East and Africa offers healthcare professionals access to a world-class botulinum toxin that is highly trusted for its quality, safety, and performance. This strategic partnership aligns with our mission to provide advanced, innovative products and services that meet the demands of the region's growing beauty and medical aesthetics market. Hugel's global expertise, combined with our deep local knowledge and network, will create tremendous value for our customers and their patients." About Hugel Established in 2001, Hugel is a leading global medical aesthetics company that manufactures injectables for skin rejuvenation such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid fillers and skin boosters as well as absorbable sutures and cosmetics products. The company is the only South Korean supplier to the world's three largest botulinum toxin markets, the US, China and Europe . It exports medical aesthetic products and devices to around 70 countries and operates eight global subsidiaries in the US, Australia , Canada , Taiwan , China , Hong Kong and Singapore . About Medica Group A leading partner in the field of aesthetic medicine, Medica Group continues to push the boundaries of beauty and wellbeing in the region. Being at the forefront of the industry, the group is renowned for its innovative approach, state-of-the-art solutions with a solid commitment to delivering outstanding results and setting new standards in aesthetics. A trusted partner for international aesthetic brands, Medica showcases a commitment to excellence and quality through the technologies of its product and services, and the collaboration of the aesthetic medicine community. Contact: Jihyun Kim , Manager of the PR Team, Hugel jihyun.kim@hugel-inc.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hugel-and-medica-join-forces-to-boost-botulinum-toxin-sales-in-middle-east-north-africa-302313729.html SOURCE Hugel