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nice philippines North Korean state media mentioned South Korea’s martial law drama from December 3 for the first time on Wednesday, describing the actions of President Yoon Suk-yeol as “shocking.” The report denounced Yoon as a “fascist dictator” and South Korean soldiers who followed his commands as “gangsters.” Pyongyang’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) contemptuously described Yoon’s government as a “puppet regime,” presumably meaning a puppet of the United States. The North Korean agency blasted Yoon for “suddenly declaring a martial law decree and unhesitatingly wielding the guns and knives of its fascist dictatorship wrought havoc across South Korea.” “Yoon Suk-yeol, who was faced with the possibility of being kicked out, committed an insane act that was reminiscent of the coup during the military dictatorship several decades ago and that drew strong condemnation from all walks of life, including the opposition party and further ignited the public anger demanding impeachment,” the report said . “Several helicopters and fully armed martial law forces, including the gangster organization, the Army Special Warfare Command, were deployed to seal off the National Assembly,” the report said. “The international community is sternly watching, with assessments that the martial law incident exposed vulnerabilities in South Korean society – and that Yoon Suk Yeol’s political life could face an early end,” KCNA concluded. Watchdog site NK News noted that North Korea waited an exceptionally long time to weigh in on the martial law disaster, compared to its general enthusiasm for harping on any news that could make South Korea’s government look weak or corrupt. KCNA was pumping out a steady stream of critical coverage of Yoon before the martial law attempt, but stopped mentioning him at all for a week afterward. Jonathan Corrado, policy director at the Korea Society nonprofit in New York, told Radio Free Asia (RFA) the North Koreans might have been wary of covering the martial law story too quickly or closely, because even “bad” news about South Korea gives North Korea’s captive citizens a good look at someplace they would much rather be living. Corrado recalled North Korea’s gleeful coverage of South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s downfall on corruption charges in 2016 and 2017, which “revealed the extent of South Korea’s urban modernization” to the residents of North Korea’s drab cities, and “showed the North Korean public the extent of South Korea’s civil society and democracy.” North Korean defector Lee Hyun-seung, who now works as a strategist for the Global Peace Foundation in Maryland, suggested North Korea was keeping fairly quiet about the biggest South Korean political crisis in 40 years because the North Koreans are worried about accidentally changing the narrative. “North Korea believes that President Yoon will be impeached,” Lee said. “They are staying silent because they believe that if they step forward, they could provide an excuse for conservatives to oppose impeachment.” Lee also thought the North Koreans might be reluctant to draw attention to themselves because they have “organizations that operate to influence South Korea,” and they want those organizations to operate without too much scrutiny in South Korea’s moment of crisis. The UK Guardian chortled at the “irony” of North Korea – which really is ruled by a fascist dictator – hectoring Yoon for allegedly unleashing “dictatorship on the people” of South Korea. KCNA also fawned over protests against Yoon in Seoul, of the sort that would never be permitted against Pyongyang’s dictator Kim Jong-un. “Leaders in Russia, China, and especially North Korea are likely watching the political turmoil in South Korea with glee, sensing a geopolitical advantage,” Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha University, told the Guardian. “Authoritarian regimes believe that if they manage to stay in power, they can outlast democratic rivals that eventually commit self-harm, descend into dysfunction, and fall out with allies,” Easley said. One other consideration is North Korea’s decision to get involved in the Ukraine war on Russia’s behalf. With thousands of troops on the ground in Russia, fighting against Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk province, Pyongyang might prefer not to stir up too much trouble with its southern neighbor for a while.Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's final journey will commence from the 24 Akbar Road All India Congress Committee headquarters to the Nigam Bodh Ghat at 9.30 am on Saturday. Congress leaders and workers will pay tribute to the departed leader at the party headquarters. The Union government has decided that a state funeral will be held for the former Prime Minister at the Nigam Bodh ghat at 11.45 am. The ministry of defence will make the necessary arrangements. The Central government on early Friday morning declared a state mourning for seven days in which no official functions will take place and the national flag will fly at half mast. Draped in the Tricolour, Singh's body was brought to his 3, Motilal Nehru Road, residence, the sprawling bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi that served as his retirement abode for more than 10 years, on Thursday night from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he was admitted in a critical condition at around 8.30 pm on Thursday. His mortal remains will be taken to the Congress headquarters at 8:30 am on Saturday. On Friday, top Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, paid their last respects to Singh. AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other leaders were also present. Mrs Gandhi described the death of Manmohan Singh as a "personal loss". The Congress parliamentary party said that the former PM was her friend, philosopher and guide and that in his death, the party has lost a leader who was the epitome of wisdom, nobility and humility. In her message on Manmohan Singh's demise, Mrs Gandhi said he leaves a void in national life that can never be filled. "We in the Congress party and the people of India will forever be proud and grateful that we had a leader like Manmohan Singh, whose contributions to India's progress and development are immeasurable," she said, adding, "He was so gentle in his manner but so resolute in his deeply held convictions." "His commitment to social justice, secularism and democratic values was deep and unwavering. To spend any time with him was to come away enlightened by his knowledge and sagacity, moved by his honesty and integrity and awed by his genuine humility," Mrs Gandhi said, adding that his advice, "wise counsel" and views were eagerly sought and deeply valued across the political spectrum in the country. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met in the national capital on Friday evening and paid glowing tributes to the former Prime Minister, saying he was a towering figure in India's political and economic landscape whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide. In the condolence resolution passed at the meeting, the CWC mourned the loss of a "true statesman" whose life and work have profoundly shaped the destiny of India. "Manmohan Singh was a towering figure in India's political and economic landscape, whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide. As finance minister in the early 1990s, Manmohan Singh was the architect of India's economic liberalisation," the CWC resolution read. With unmatched foresight, Manmohan Singh initiated a series of reforms that not only saved the nation from a balance-of-payments crisis but also opened the doors to global markets, it said. "Through his policies of deregulation, privatisation and the encouragement of foreign investment, Manmohan Singh laid the foundation for India's rapid economic growth. Under his stewardship, India emerged as one of the world's fastest-growing economies, a testament to his brilliance and vision," the CWC said.

Classroom photo by Kenny Eliason on unsplash.com Parsec Education, a Fresno-based K-12 data analytics company, announced Wednesday A crew of foreign nationals is accused of using disguises, Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to reflect PACT Capital, a commercial real estate capital advisory firm, announced

The Electoral Reform Commission is likely to recommend an investigation into irregularities during the last three national polls held under ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. It is also of the opinion that the election commissioners who oversaw those polls breached their oath of office to preserve the constitution, according to commission Chairman Badiul Alam Majumdar. The reform commission may recommend appointing election commissioners through a search committee with representatives from the government, the opposition, and the third-largest party in parliament. Besides the restoration of the caretaker government system, capping the tenures of a prime minister at two terms and a proportional representation system, the reform commission is likely to recommend giving more powers to the Election Commission (EC). While discussing the updates on the reform commission's work with The Daily Star recently, Badiul said the other points under consideration include increasing women's seats in parliament, the reintroduction of "no vote" on ballot papers, and allowing Bangladeshi migrants to cast their votes from abroad. PUNISHMENT 'A MUST' The last general election in January had been at the centre of controversy as it was not competitive and inclusive due to a boycott by the major opposition parties, including the BNP. The AL had to field dummy independent candidates, many of whom were leaders of the party, to make the polls appear participatory. The 2018 election became controversial with opposition parties alleging ballot-box stuffing the night before election day. In January 2019, the Jatiya Oikya Front alleged before the EC that between 30 and 60 percent of the votes were cast the night before. The same month, Transparency International, Bangladesh in a study found that stamping of ballots took place the night before election day in more than one centre in 33 of the 50 surveyed constituencies. The 2014 election was one-sided, in which 153 lawmakers out of 300 were elected unopposed as most of the opposition, including the BNP, boycotted the election. The AL-led alliance won more than two-thirds majorities in all three national elections held under the Hasina government. A section of police officials on Tuesday admitted that they were under pressure from higher authorities while performing duties during the last three national elections. In a meeting with the reform commission, they also alleged that there were "financial transactions" during the polls. The reform commission members believe that the election commissioners, by overseeing the "controversial" elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024, breached their "oath to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution." Its chief Badiul said everyone is aware of how those elections were conducted. "We are considering these issues so that no one can get the scope to evade accountability for their wrongdoing. Those responsible should be brought to justice and punished. These elections need to be investigated. If the question of justice arises, the matter must be investigated first. These are our considerations while preparing the recommendations," he said. He emphasised the EC's role as a constitutional body and said that the election commissioners took an oath to uphold the constitution and ensure the democratic system will be effective through free, fair, and neutral elections. "By failing to do so [hold fair polls], they have violated the constitution on one hand and breached their oath on the other," Badiul added. The reform commission is also thinking about how to hold the election commissioners accountable if they are involved in irregularities. The reform commission is considering proposing legal provisions to take action against the commissioners through investigation in such cases, said a member of the reform commission, who wished not to be named. MEANINGFUL CHANGES Badiul said that they are considering a recommendation to change the law under which the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners are appointed. The government can appoint its desired people as CEC and election commissioners under the law, he said. "There is weakness in the law, which is not befitting this era". To avoid manipulation of the system, the reform commission chief said, representatives from the opposition and the third-largest party in parliament, along with the treasury bench, should be included in the search committee responsible for selecting nominees for the CEC and other election commissioners' posts. The commission is likely to recommend restoring the provision of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (RPO) that empowered the EC to postpone elections at any stage after announcing the schedule. After an amendment in July 2023, the EC now can postpone elections only on the polling day. He noted that the RPO includes provisions for taking action against election offenders, but no significant action was seen in the past. Asked about his thoughts on empowering the EC, Badiul said, "We will try to increase the powers of the independent Election Commission. It is under our consideration." He said, "It is also important to mention that we cannot make any individual independent. According to the constitution, the Election Commission is already independent. However, we cannot force someone to act independently if they have a subservient attitude. "That is why we are advocating for a law to ensure the appointment of neutral individuals as the CEC and ECs. If this happens, meaningful changes can take place." PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Badiul said the reform commission would keep the issue of introduction of a proportional representation system "under serious consideration", along with the restoration of a caretaker government to oversee national elections; and limiting the tenures of the prime minister to two terms. He noted that these issues, as well as the introduction of bicameral legislation, and direct elections to women's seats, are related to constitutional amendments. The government formed a separate commission for constitutional reforms. "Members of the two commissions are discussing ways to ensure coordination between their proposals on such matters," Badiul said. Proportional representation is an electoral system in which seats in parliament are allocated to political parties based on the proportion of votes they receive in an election. About the caretaker government system, Badiul said, "Recently, the High Court issued a verdict regarding the restoration of the caretaker government. This is now a reality, and we are considering it in our recommendations." Asked about increasing the women seats and direct election to these seats, Badiul said that this will ensure women's "true representation" in parliament. The commission is thinking about a rotational voting system for women's seats, he said. If these seats are increased to 100, the total number of parliamentary seats will rise to 400. "These 100 seats would rotate across constituencies over three election cycles, with women competing alongside men for other seats," he said. He said that they are thinking about the reintroduction of "no vote" option on the ballot paper so that none get the chance of being elected unopposed. "No vote" was on the ballot papers in the 2008 polls, and none was elected unopposed in the election. Around 3,82,000 people cast "no vote" in that election, said EC officials. The reform commission is also likely to propose some other changes, including the requirement for candidates to disclose their foreign assets in their affidavits. The interim government constituted the electoral reform commission on October 3 and sought its report within 90 days. Since then, the commission has taken proposals from stakeholders, including political parties, former CECs, members of different citizen platforms, and general people. "We are at the final stage of our work and hopeful that will be able to submit the report within the stipulated time," Badiul said. The Electoral Reform Commission is likely to recommend an investigation into irregularities during the last three national polls held under ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. It is also of the opinion that the election commissioners who oversaw those polls breached their oath of office to preserve the constitution, according to commission Chairman Badiul Alam Majumdar. The reform commission may recommend appointing election commissioners through a search committee with representatives from the government, the opposition, and the third-largest party in parliament. Besides the restoration of the caretaker government system, capping the tenures of a prime minister at two terms and a proportional representation system, the reform commission is likely to recommend giving more powers to the Election Commission (EC). While discussing the updates on the reform commission's work with The Daily Star recently, Badiul said the other points under consideration include increasing women's seats in parliament, the reintroduction of "no vote" on ballot papers, and allowing Bangladeshi migrants to cast their votes from abroad. PUNISHMENT 'A MUST' The last general election in January had been at the centre of controversy as it was not competitive and inclusive due to a boycott by the major opposition parties, including the BNP. The AL had to field dummy independent candidates, many of whom were leaders of the party, to make the polls appear participatory. The 2018 election became controversial with opposition parties alleging ballot-box stuffing the night before election day. In January 2019, the Jatiya Oikya Front alleged before the EC that between 30 and 60 percent of the votes were cast the night before. The same month, Transparency International, Bangladesh in a study found that stamping of ballots took place the night before election day in more than one centre in 33 of the 50 surveyed constituencies. The 2014 election was one-sided, in which 153 lawmakers out of 300 were elected unopposed as most of the opposition, including the BNP, boycotted the election. The AL-led alliance won more than two-thirds majorities in all three national elections held under the Hasina government. A section of police officials on Tuesday admitted that they were under pressure from higher authorities while performing duties during the last three national elections. In a meeting with the reform commission, they also alleged that there were "financial transactions" during the polls. The reform commission members believe that the election commissioners, by overseeing the "controversial" elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024, breached their "oath to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution." Its chief Badiul said everyone is aware of how those elections were conducted. "We are considering these issues so that no one can get the scope to evade accountability for their wrongdoing. Those responsible should be brought to justice and punished. These elections need to be investigated. If the question of justice arises, the matter must be investigated first. These are our considerations while preparing the recommendations," he said. He emphasised the EC's role as a constitutional body and said that the election commissioners took an oath to uphold the constitution and ensure the democratic system will be effective through free, fair, and neutral elections. "By failing to do so [hold fair polls], they have violated the constitution on one hand and breached their oath on the other," Badiul added. The reform commission is also thinking about how to hold the election commissioners accountable if they are involved in irregularities. The reform commission is considering proposing legal provisions to take action against the commissioners through investigation in such cases, said a member of the reform commission, who wished not to be named. MEANINGFUL CHANGES Badiul said that they are considering a recommendation to change the law under which the chief election commissioner and other election commissioners are appointed. The government can appoint its desired people as CEC and election commissioners under the law, he said. "There is weakness in the law, which is not befitting this era". To avoid manipulation of the system, the reform commission chief said, representatives from the opposition and the third-largest party in parliament, along with the treasury bench, should be included in the search committee responsible for selecting nominees for the CEC and other election commissioners' posts. The commission is likely to recommend restoring the provision of the Representation of the People Order, 1972 (RPO) that empowered the EC to postpone elections at any stage after announcing the schedule. After an amendment in July 2023, the EC now can postpone elections only on the polling day. He noted that the RPO includes provisions for taking action against election offenders, but no significant action was seen in the past. Asked about his thoughts on empowering the EC, Badiul said, "We will try to increase the powers of the independent Election Commission. It is under our consideration." He said, "It is also important to mention that we cannot make any individual independent. According to the constitution, the Election Commission is already independent. However, we cannot force someone to act independently if they have a subservient attitude. "That is why we are advocating for a law to ensure the appointment of neutral individuals as the CEC and ECs. If this happens, meaningful changes can take place." PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION Badiul said the reform commission would keep the issue of introduction of a proportional representation system "under serious consideration", along with the restoration of a caretaker government to oversee national elections; and limiting the tenures of the prime minister to two terms. He noted that these issues, as well as the introduction of bicameral legislation, and direct elections to women's seats, are related to constitutional amendments. The government formed a separate commission for constitutional reforms. "Members of the two commissions are discussing ways to ensure coordination between their proposals on such matters," Badiul said. Proportional representation is an electoral system in which seats in parliament are allocated to political parties based on the proportion of votes they receive in an election. About the caretaker government system, Badiul said, "Recently, the High Court issued a verdict regarding the restoration of the caretaker government. This is now a reality, and we are considering it in our recommendations." Asked about increasing the women seats and direct election to these seats, Badiul said that this will ensure women's "true representation" in parliament. The commission is thinking about a rotational voting system for women's seats, he said. If these seats are increased to 100, the total number of parliamentary seats will rise to 400. "These 100 seats would rotate across constituencies over three election cycles, with women competing alongside men for other seats," he said. He said that they are thinking about the reintroduction of "no vote" option on the ballot paper so that none get the chance of being elected unopposed. "No vote" was on the ballot papers in the 2008 polls, and none was elected unopposed in the election. Around 3,82,000 people cast "no vote" in that election, said EC officials. The reform commission is also likely to propose some other changes, including the requirement for candidates to disclose their foreign assets in their affidavits. The interim government constituted the electoral reform commission on October 3 and sought its report within 90 days. Since then, the commission has taken proposals from stakeholders, including political parties, former CECs, members of different citizen platforms, and general people. "We are at the final stage of our work and hopeful that will be able to submit the report within the stipulated time," Badiul said.An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition

Sanoma Corporation, Stock exchange release, 27 December 2024 at 18:30 EET SANOMA CORPORATION: ACQUISITION OF OWN SHARES 27 December 2024 Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd: The company holds a total of 349,690 of its own shares (SANOMA) including the shares acquired on 27 December 2024. Detailed information concerning the acquisition is attached to this stock exchange release. On behalf of Sanoma Corporation Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) Helsinki branch Antti Salakka Jaakko Kosunen Additional information Kaisa Uurasmaa, Head of Investor Relations and Sustainability, tel. +358 40 560 5601 Sanoma Sanoma is an innovative and agile learning and media company impacting the lives of millions every day. Our Sustainability Strategy is designed to maximise our positive 'brainprint' on society and to minimise our environmental footprint. We are committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and signatory to the UN Global Compact. Our learning products and services enable teachers to develop the talents of every child to reach their full potential. We offer printed and digital learning content as well as digital learning and teaching platforms for primary, secondary and vocational education, and want to grow our business. Our Finnish media provide independent journalism and engaging entertainment also for generations to come. Our unique cross-media position offers the widest reach and tailored marketing solutions for our business partners. Today, we operate in twelve European countries and employ more than 5,000 professionals. In 2023, our net sales amounted to approx. 1.4bn€ and our operational EBIT margin excl. PPA was 12.6%. Sanoma shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. More information is available at sanoma.com. Attachment SANOMA SBB 27122024

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump offered a public show of support Friday for Pete Hegseth, his choice to lead the Defense Department, whose confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat roles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, Army National Guard major and combat veteran, spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and privately reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead Trump's Pentagon. "Pete Hegseth is doing very well," Trump posted on his social media site. "He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense." The president added that "Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!" The nomination battle is emerging not only as a debate about the best person to lead the Pentagon, but an inflection point for a MAGA movement that appears to be relishing a public fight over its hard-line push for a more masculine military and an end to the "woke-ism" of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, responds to reporters during a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Military leaders are rattled by a list of “woke” senior officers that a conservative group urged Hegseth to dismiss for promoting diversity in the ranks if he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon. The list compiled by the American Accountability Foundation includes 20 general officers or senior admirals and a disproportionate number of female officers. It has had a chilling effect on the Pentagon’s often frank discussions as leaders try to figure out how to address the potential firings and diversity issues under Trump. Those on the list in many cases seem to be targeted for public comments they made either in interviews or at events on diversity, and in some cases for retweeting posts that promote diversity. Tom Jones, a former aide to Republican senators who leads the foundation, said Friday those on the list are “pretty egregious” advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, policies, which he called problematic. “The nominee has been pretty clear that that has no place in the military,” Jones said of Hegseth. Hegseth embraced Trump’s effort to end programs that promote diversity in the ranks and fire those who reflect those values. Other Trump picks, like Kash Patel for FBI director, have suggested targeting those in government who are not aligned with Trump. Trump's allies forcefully rallied around Hegseth — the Heritage Foundation's political arm promised to spend $1 million to shore up his nomination — as he vows to stay in the fight, as long as the president-elect wants him to. Vice President-elect JD Vance offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, the embattled choice to lead the Defense Department. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vance told reporters during a tour of western North Carolina. "We're not abandoning this nomination," Vice-President-elect JD Vance said as he toured post-hurricane North Carolina. He said he spoke with GOP senators and believes Hegseth will be confirmed. The effort became a test of Trump's clout and of how far loyalty for the president-elect goes with Republican senators who have concerns about his nominees. Two of Trump's other choices stepped aside as they faced intense scrutiny: former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., his first choice for attorney general, and Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff who was Trump's first choice to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration. Thanking the president-elect for the support, Hegseth posted on social media, "Like you, we will never back down." Hegseth faces resistance from senators as reports emerged about his past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. He promised not to drink on the job and told lawmakers he never engaged in sexual misconduct, even as his professional views on female troops came under intensifying scrutiny. He said as recently as last month that women "straight up" should not serve in combat. He picked up one important endorsement from Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, whose support was seen as a potentially powerful counterweight to the cooler reception Hegseth received from Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel. Ernst, who is also a sexual assault survivor, stopped short of an endorsement after meeting with Hegseth this week. On Friday, Ernst posted on X that she would meet with him again next week. “At a minimum, we agree that he deserves the opportunity to lay out his vision for our warfighters at a fair hearing,” she wrote. On Friday, Trump put out the statement in response to coverage saying he lost faith in Hegseth, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president-elect and his team were pleased to see Hegseth putting up a fight and his performance this week reiterates why he was chosen, the person said. They believe he can still be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be defense secretary, left, joined by his wife Jennifer Rauchet, attends a meeting with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) If Hegseth goes down, Trump's team believes the defeat would empower others to spread what they cast as "vicious lies" against every candidate Trump chooses. Still, Trump's transition team is looking at potential replacements, including former presidential rival Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis plans to attend the Dec. 14 Army-Navy football game with Trump, according to a person familiar with the Florida governor's plans who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. DeSantis and Trump spoke about the defense secretary post Tuesday at a memorial service for sheriff deputies in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to people familiar with the matter who said Trump was interested in DeSantis for the post, and the governor was receptive. DeSantis is poised to select a replacement for the expected Senate vacancy to be created by Marco Rubio becoming secretary of state, and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump is seen as the preferred choice by those in Trump's orbit. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Kash Patel spent several years as a Justice Department prosecutor before catching the Trump administration’s attention as a staffer on Capitol Hill who helped investigate the Russia probe. Patel called for dramatically reducing the agency’s footprint, a perspective that sets him apart from earlier directors who sought additional resources for the bureau. Though the Justice Department in 2021 halted the practice of secretly seizing reporters’ phone records during leak investigations, Patel said he intends to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters. Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. “He believes in the promise of robust, innovative capital markets that are responsive to the needs of Investors, & that provide capital to make our Economy the best in the World. He also recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. The commission oversees U.S. securities markets and investments and is currently led by Gary Gensler, who has been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Gensler, who was nominated by President Joe Biden, announced last month that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated — Jan. 20, 2025. Atkins began his career as a lawyer and has a long history working in the financial markets sector, both in government and private practice. In the 1990s, he worked on the staffs of two former SEC chairmen, Richard C. Breeden and Arthur Levitt. Jared Isaacman, 41, is a tech billionaire who bought a series of spaceflights from Elon Musk’s SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk . He is the founder and CEO of a card-processing company and has collaborated closely with Musk ever since buying his first chartered SpaceX flight. He took contest winners on that 2021 trip and followed it in September with a mission where he briefly popped out the hatch to test SpaceX’s new spacewalking suits. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. President-elect Donald Trump tapped former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China, saying in a social media post that the former CEO “brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China.” Perdue lost his Senate seat to Democrat Jon Ossoff four years ago and ran unsuccessfully in a primary against Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Perdue pushed Trump's debunked lies about electoral fraud during his failed bid for governor. A Republican congressman from Michigan who served from 1993 to 2011, Hoekstra was ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term. “In my Second Term, Pete will help me once again put AMERICA FIRST,” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice. “He did an outstanding job as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands during our first four years, and I am confident that he will continue to represent our Country well in this new role.” Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Former Rep. Billy Long represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2023. Since leaving Congress, Trump said, Long “has worked as a Business and Tax advisor, helping Small Businesses navigate the complexities of complying with the IRS Rules and Regulations.” Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was appointed in January 2020 by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and then lost a runoff election a year later. She started a conservative voter registration organization and dived into GOP fundraising, becoming one of the top individual donors and bundlers to Trump’s 2024 comeback campaign. Even before nominating her for agriculture secretary, the president-elect already had tapped Loeffler as co-chair of his inaugural committee. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Marty Makary, Food and Drug Administration Makary is a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns. He routinely appeared on Fox News during the COVID-19 pandemic and wrote opinion articles questioning masks for children. He cast doubt on vaccine mandates but supported vaccines generally. Makary also cast doubt on whether booster shots worked, which was against federal recommendations on the vaccine. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Surgeon General Nesheiwat is a general practitioner who serves as medical director for CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey. She has been a contributor to Fox News. Dr. Dave Weldon, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Weldon is a former Florida congressman who recently ran for a Florida state legislative seat and lost; Trump backed Weldon’s opponent. In Congress, Weldon weighed in on one of the nation’s most heated debates of the 1990s over quality of life and a right-to-die and whether Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent vegetative state after cardiac arrest, should have been allowed to have her feeding tube removed. He sided with the parents who did not want it removed. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.Joe Burrow's Monday Night Football heroics were marred by a burglary at his Cincinnati home, prompting the family and neighbors to call 9-1-1. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.METAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLPresident-elect Donald Trump’s self-professed affinity for revenge, vindictiveness and retribution might lead a cynic to presume that his plans for steep tariffs on Mexican, Chinese and Canadian imports are aimed at California. The state’s imports and exports exceeded $628 billion last year, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Exports created nearly 600,000 jobs in 2021 , according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The freighters floating in and out of the Golden Gate carry roughly $10 billion worth of goods to the Port of San Francisco alone each year, according to estimates from the California Association of Port Authorities. Trump announced last week that on his first day in office he will impose a 25% tariff on all goods entering the U.S. from Mexico and Canada and add an additional 10% to existing tariffs on Chinese imports. China, Mexico and Canada were the state’s biggest, second-biggest and seventh-biggest source of imports in 2023, according to the federal commerce department. Many economists agree that all Americans could experience higher prices . Yet with the potential of retaliatory tariffs, port cities like San Francisco will pay a heavy price. Trump, who lost California by an average of more than 4 million votes in each of the past three elections, has repeatedly berated the state, lamenting when president that it was “going to hell.” It is hard to imagine that he is losing sleep over the price to be paid by those living in a state that has spurned him. Yet, like most assumptions about politics and economics, the reality is far more complicated. While California is home to the nation's busiest ports, the hardest-hit communities will be in the heart of MAGA country — small rural communities such as Fulton, Mississippi and Gibson County, Indiana, where residents voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Fulton, a town of less than 5,000 people in Itawamba County, is located on Mississippi-Alabama border. Trump received nearly 90% of the county’s vote in November. The city sits on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway which flows into the Gulf of Mexico 300 miles to its south and has been a trading center since the 1700s. Today, the region produces metal parts used globally in manufacturing refrigerators as well as piping and other products. More than half of Itawamba County’s economy was based on exports in 2017, according to a Pew Research Center analysis at the time. Only six counties in the nation relied more heavily on international trade at that time than Itawamba. A trade war would hurt San Francisco, which would need to rely even more heavily on economic contributions from tourists, conventioneers and high-tech entrepreneurs. Itawamba County doesn’t have as many options. A similar story could be told about Gibson County, Indiana, where Trump received about 75% of the vote. The county is home to a sprawling Toyota manufacturing plant, mostly for American consumption. However, it also ships thousands of vehicles to Mexico and Canada. Pew estimated in 2017 that more than 40% of its economy was based on foreign trade. None of this diminishes the threat Trump’s tariffs pose to California. From petroleum, automobiles and computer accessories flowing in, to the wine, nuts, rice and computer technology flowing out, trade has long been a pillar of the state’s economy. Some doubt that Trump is serious about imposing the tariffs, suggesting he put them out there only as a bargaining chip to sway countries to crack down on the flow of drugs and immigrants into the U.S. Yet it is hard to not take Trump’s pledge seriously when he repeatedly said on the campaign trail that “tariff’’ is his favorite word, as well as the most beautiful word , in the English language. Trump has shown no affection for California, whose immigration and environmental policies he vows to override, and whose governor he refers to as “Gavin Newscum.” However, as hard as California will feel the effects of his trade policies if enacted, his supporters in MAGA country will feel them even harder. Marc Sandalow is a senior faculty member at the University of California’s Washington Program. He has been writing about California politics from Washington for more than 30 years.

Cancer – (21st June to 22nd July) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Nothing beats your attitude Minor issues may be there in the love affair but they will be resolved. Continue your performance at the workplace. Both wealth and health are positive today. Share happy moments in love. Take up a new role at the office that will test your mettle. Financially you are good and health will also be at your side. Cancer Love Horoscope Today Shower love on the partner and also plan a romantic dinner. Your partner may be adamant or stubborn today over a topic that can create tense moments. Give surprise gifts and plan a vacation to strengthen the bonding. Some married female natives will have troubles with the family of their spouse and this needs to be resolved today. Avoid unpleasant things in the relationship to keep it going stronger for a long period. Cancer Career Horoscope Today Look for more professional opportunities to prove your potential today. Some tasks will demand you to stay additional hours while you may also impress the client with your communication skills. IT engineers, automobile engineers, and healthcare professionals will have chances to move abroad. Some academicians will receive an appraisal. Entrepreneurs will get into new partnerships which will bring in good returns shortly. Funds will come by to expand the trade to new territories. Cancer Money Horoscope Today Wealth will come in from different sources and you may go ahead with the idea to invest in real estate. Some Cancer natives will be successful in the stock market. You may go ahead with the plan to buy jewelry or electronic appliances. You can also travel today with the family and funds will not be an issue. Businessmen will clear all pending dues and will also be successful in raising funds through promoters. Cancer Health Horoscope Today Today is a good day to schedule the surgery. Those who have breathing issues need to consult a doctor. Seniors must be careful while boarding a bus or train. Children may develop viral fever, sore throat, or body aches. Pregnant females must avoid riding a scooter today. Maintain a healthy diet and ensure you include many green leafy vegetables and fruits in your diet. Cancer Sign Attributes Strength: Intuitive, Practical, Kind, Energetic, Artsy, Dedicated, Benevolent, Caring Weakness: Insatiable, Possessive, Prudish Symbol: Crab Element: Water Body Part: Stomach & Breast Sign Ruler: Moon Lucky Day: Monday Lucky Color: White Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Stone: Pearl Cancer Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Less compatibility: Aries, Libra By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)President Mulino on Panama Canal: 'Nothing to Talk About' with TrumpSunday's 26-21 win over the Jets featured several special teams miscues, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by New York. On the flip side, the Seahawks got their second pick-6 in as many weeks and just enough production by Geno Smith and the offense. The Seahawks' uneven performance was characteristic of a season in which they started 3-0, then lost five of six before winning another three in a row to take command of their underachieving division. Seattle (7-5) leads Arizona by one game, with a matchup against the Cardinals looming next weekend. Zach Charbonnet gave Seattle its first lead of the day on an 8-yard touchdown run with 5:37 to go, and the Seahawks' defense capped another strong outing with a game-sealing stop on fourth down. After a sack by Leonard Williams gave the Jets a fourth-and-15 at the 34-yard line, Aaron Rodgers threw a desperation pass to Garrett Wilson that fell incomplete, giving Seattle the ball with 33 seconds left. Williams is on a tear. After losing out on NFC defensive player of the week honors last week to teammate Coby Bryant despite 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits, “Big Cat” had an even better game. Williams finished with two sacks, three tackles for loss, a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown that was the longest pick-6 in NFL history by a defensive lineman, and a blocked extra point. The touchdown was the first of Williams’ career. He became the first player since 1982 with multiple sacks, an interception return for a touchdown and a blocked kick in a game. Maybe this week the league will agree he was the NFC's best defender. The special teams could not have been much worse in the first half. The Seahawks fumbled three kickoffs, losing two, and allowed Kene Nwangwu's 99-yard kickoff return for a TD. Dee Williams fumbled on a kickoff in the first quarter to give New York the ball at the 27-yard line, and four plays later, Rodgers hit Isaiah Davis for a touchdown to give the Jets a 14-0 lead. Laviska Shenault Jr. muffed two kicks and fumbled at the Seattle 38-yard line in the second quarter. Seattle also had an extra point blocked. Smith led his third game-winning drive of the season and his 11th since he became Seattle’s starting quarterback in 2022. Facing the team that drafted him in 2013, Smith went 20 of 31 for 206 yards and a touchdown. For the first time in five weeks, he was not intercepted. The Seahawks trailed by 14 points on two occasions, but Smith brought Seattle back while avoiding the untimely picks that dogged him recently. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Barner in the second quarter, and led the Seahawks on a go-ahead nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Coach Mike Macdonald and his staff have to address the problem with their kick returners, Shenault and Dee Williams. Two lost fumbles and several muffs could have easily cost Seattle the game. WR DK Metcalf left the game briefly with a knee issue but returned. ... P Michael Dickson was unavailable in the fourth quarter because of back spasms. 38 — The Seahawks decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 at their own 33-yard line with 9:34 left in the game. A primary reason was that Dickson was unavailable to punt because of back spasms. The Jets were flagged for having 12 men on the field after sending a punt returner out, which gave Seattle fourth-and-1 at the 38. The Seahawks got a first down after Jets cornerback Quantez Stiggers was flagged for pass interference on Metcalf, and eight players later, Charbonnet scored to put Seattle ahead. Without going for it on fourth down from their own 38, the Seahawks likely would’ve lost. The Seahawks will seek a season sweep of the Cardinals. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

If I had a dollar for every person I’ve talked to recently who has stopped reading and watching the news, or at least cut way back, I’d be able to retire. Oh, wait. I AM retired! Retired from a lifelong career in newsrooms, and even I admit to dreading watching the evening news and reading newspapers. Election results in Iowa and nationally have produced feelings of anxiety for half the population. Final results show Donald Trump winning by 1.5 percentage points. He finished just under 50%, meaning just more than half of Americans voted for somebody else. The results of that narrow margin of victory open a much wider gulf between what Trump plans to do to our country and the desires of those who did not vote for Trump. It was far from a mandate, although Trump will claim he got one. These early days of the transition confirm the worst fears of many Americans. Trump is rapidly picking cabinet secretaries, apparently by looking at a sheet full of people’s pictures and going “eeny meeny miny moe.” No FBI background checks. Not enough questions about what landmines these people have in their background. The only qualifications that matter are whether they look good on TV and whether they’ve spent enough time kissing Trump’s you-know-what. And we all know this is the calm before the storm. Once Trump gets in office, it will be another four full years of chaos, childish taunts, blowing up his own staff, alienating allies – on and on. Adding to the stress was Sunday’s gut punch of President Biden pardoning his son, after repeated promises not to do so. Most of us who hunger for integrity from their leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to stay plugged in. Discerning news viewers need a break, and they’re taking it. MSNBC has lost nearly half its audience since election day. CNN is down 22%. Fox News ratings are soaring. How to stay sane So how do serious news consumers stay informed for the next few months – heck, for the next four years – without going stark-raving mad? I feel it’s important to not completely unplug from the news. So here are a few tips I use to stay on top of the latest developments, while also protecting my mental health. 1. Scan the headlines in a news source you trust, to get a sense of what’s going on. For important stories, I’ll read the first few paragraphs without delving deeper into every single story. 2. Avoid speculative stories. Stories that say what might happen or could happen usually serve only to raise my anxiety level. Many opinion pieces use the speculative model. During times like this, I prefer stories that tell me what has happened or will happen. 3. Avoid any story with a question in the headline. A few examples from this week: “Will Trump be the President of Vice? (The New York Times). “Can Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Again?” (NY Times) “What happens if Elon Musk treats the government like he did Twitter?” (Washington Post) “Is Kristi Noem ready to run FEMA?” And, this favorite from the Washington Post: “With Trump, will we see World War 3?” There’s nothing about that story that calms my nerves. Right now, I don’t want speculation. I want facts – as succinctly as possible. 4. Get out in nature. Take a walk in the woods. Breathe in some fresh air, listen to the sounds of nature, feel the breeze on your skin. It’s no guarantee that everything will be okay, but it sure helps bring perspective. There’s more to life than our political fears. 5. I do not get my news from social media. Too much clickbait. Too much thoughtless provocation. Too many trolls. 6. Continue to invest in quality journalism that you trust. You’ll want those reporters there when you return to your regular news consumption habits. For now, give yourself a break. For a little while. Now is not the time to completely avoid the news, as tempting as it might be. Cut back for a while. But stay informed. Stay engaged. And stay sane. Dave Busiek spent 43 years working in Iowa radio and television newsrooms as a reporter, anchor and the last 30 years as news director of KCCI-TV, the CBS affiliate in Des Moines. He is a member of the Iowa Writers' Collaborative and his blog, "Dave Busiek on Media" appears on Substack.METAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Electric Truck Charging’s Cost & Price Flexibility Are Its SuperpowerThe Buffalo Bills enter their bye week less-than a game behind the top seed in the AFC after their win against the Kanas City Chiefs in Week 11. One of the biggest reasons for the Bills' success so far this season has been Josh Allen, who took over in the final minutes of the Chiefs matchup, scrambling for a 26-yard game-sealing touchdown on fourth down. Allen now has 23 total touchdowns, 2,859 total yards and five interceptions on the season. Against Kansas City, Allen finished with 317 total yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Allen's massive performance has earned him plenty of praise from the national media, with some calling him the MVP favorite through 11 weeks. Former teammate and Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy is one of those who feels he is the favorite. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports “Josh is right there with [the top quarterbacks in football]," said McCoy. "When it’s clutch moments, he’s going to take over, and that’s why he should be your MVP this season.” Related: Shocking Bills vs. Chiefs Viewership Numbers Revealed McCoy continued, claiming he was confident in Allen and the Bills even before the massive touchdown. “Not to even brag, but I knew he would win the game because the scenario,” McCoy said. “Like, you’ve got the champs, close game, third down doesn’t work out, now it’s fourth-and-two, fourth-and-three, you go for it, obviously . . . Josh took over. That’s what he does, though. McCoy was named to three Pro Bowls in his four seasons with the Bills. His last season with the team came in 2018, which was also Allen's rookie year. Related: Bills Coach Outlines 'Scary' Bye Week Plan

Sam Prendergast led the way as Leinster eased to a bonus-point win over a disappointing Munster side at Thomond Park. With Jack Crowley rested, Munster had no answer to Leinster’s class, and the visitors were 21-7 ahead when Prendergast made way for Ross Byrne with 16 minutes remaining. The win extends Leinster’s lead at the top of the URC and marks their eighth victory in the last nine meetings in what has become a one-sided derby clash. “It was my first time playing against Munster in a senior game and playing down here. Some atmosphere, and we fought through the hard moments well to get a good bonus-point win,” said Prendergast after Leinster’s sixth successive victory over Munster at Thomond Park. Leinster delivered a masterclass in efficiency during the opening half, heading into the break with a 14-0 lead. While questions surrounded their lineout coming into the match, it was Munster’s set-piece that faltered, with the hosts losing four throws, including some in promising positions inside Leinster’s 22. Even when Munster retained possession, Leinster’s top-class defense ensured no way through. Leinster capitalized on their opportunities early, opening the scoring in the ninth minute. A few phases off a lineout allowed Luke McGrath to snipe over for the first try, with Prendergast adding the conversion. The young out-half displayed his full array of skills, dictating the game with precision both in hand and with the boot. Munster’s pressure led to a yellow card for Tommy O’Brien for offside, but Garry Ringrose’s superb defense denied Munster skipper Tadhg Beirne from grounding the ball over the line. Despite the extra man, Munster couldn’t capitalise, and it was Leinster who increased their lead before O’Brien returned. A fumbled Munster lineout five meters from their own line, following an excellent touch from Prendergast, gifted Leinster another scoring opportunity. After several phases were held up, McGrath fed Prendergast, who powered between Tom Farrell and Shane Daly to score a try he converted himself, giving Leinster a 14-0 lead after 32 minutes. Munster introduced John Hodnett at the break and shifted Tom Ahern to the second row, changes that paid off immediately. Ahern won a crucial lineout, and after a series of tapped penalties, he charged through to score. Billy Burns added the conversion to cut the deficit to 14-7 just five minutes into the second half. The home crowd, a capacity of 26,267, came alive, but Leinster responded superbly. Joe McCarthy set up Josh van der Flier, who marked his 150th Leinster appearance with a try converted by Prendergast to restore a 21-7 lead after 55 minutes. Leinster wrapped up the bonus point six minutes from time when captain Caelan Doris powered over following a tapped penalty. Ross Byrne added the extras to complete a commanding 28-7 victory. Scorers: Munster: Try: T Ahern. Con: B Burns. Leinster: Tries: L McGrath, S Prendergast, J van der Flier, C Doris. Cons: S Prendergast (3), R Byrne. Munster: M Haley (B O’Connor 74); C Nash, T Farrell, R Scannell, S Daly; B Burns (T Butler 65), E Coughlan (P Patterson 51); D Bleuler (K Ryan 74), N Scannell (E Clarke 23-36, 74), O Jager (J Ryan 55); F Wycherley (J Hodnett 41), T Beirne (c); T Ahern, A Kendellen (B Gleeson 65), G Coombes. Leinster: J Osborne; T O’Brien, G Ringrose (J Larmour 74), R Henshaw, J O’Brien; S Prendergast (R Byrne 64), L McGrath (F Gunne 53); J Boyle (A Porter 23), R Kelleher (L Barron 64), R Slimani (C Healy 53); J McCarthy, J Ryan (B Deeny 74); R Baird, J van der Flier (S Penny 74), C Doris (c). Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland).

Some tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020Threatening text messages seen by jury at bush bash shooting trialThe New Orleans Pelicans (5-20) are dealing with seven players on the injury report, including Brandon Ingram, heading into their Thursday, December 12 game against the Sacramento Kings (12-13) at Smoothie King Center. The Kings have listed three injured players. The game starts at 8:00 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. The Kings won their last outing 141-97 against the Jazz on Sunday. In the Kings’ win, Kevin Huerter led the way with a team-high 26 points (adding five rebounds and four assists). The Pelicans’ most recent contest on Sunday ended in a 121-116 loss to the Spurs. Trey Murphy III’s team-leading 25 points paced the Pelicans in the losing effort. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Bet on this or any NBA matchup at BetMGM. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .

As he delivered his postgame speech after the Vikings escaped with a 23-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, head coach Kevin O’Connell locked eyes with undrafted defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. ADVERTISEMENT After watching Redmond explode into the backfield on multiple occasions, making a couple of tackles for a loss in the process, O’Connell wanted to make it known how much he appreciated his impact on the game. So, as he handed out game balls like he typically does after each win, O’Connell made sure Redmond got the recognition he deserved. “Sometimes we start feeling a guy’s energy,” O’Connell said. “Just highlighting that.” Redmond was caught off guard in the locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium, joking that he almost started to get emotional when he heard O’Connell say his name aloud. ADVERTISEMENT “It meant a lot,” Redmond said. “It was a special moment.” It was a stark contrast to back in training camp at TCO Performance Center when Redmond got kicked out of practice by O’Connell in response to a scuffle after the whistle. He remembers leaving that particular summer practice a little bit unsure about his future with the Vikings. “When I was walking off I was like, ‘Oh man. What did I do? I messed up,’ ” Redmond said. “The rule was not to fight, and I know that, so I was, like, ‘Man. I can’t be doing this stuff. I’m barely here.’ ” Fortunately for Redmond, O’Connell was forgiving in the immediate aftermath, and he got to keep his spot on the roster. Fortunately for the Vikings, Redmond has made the most of his opportunity, and he has slowly started carving out a niche for himself this season. ADVERTISEMENT “There’s a reason why he made our team,” O’Connell said. “He’s a perfect fit for our scheme with the way we move those guys up front.” The fact that Redmond has proven skills as interior pass rusher is something defensive coordinator Brian Flores has tapped into even more he’s found places to insert him into the game on a weekly basis. “The athleticism jumped out immediately,” Flores said. “This guy can run.” ADVERTISEMENT That has long been a calling card for Redmond. He was an explosive athlete in college at Oklahoma, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.81 seconds, proving he had the twitchiness to play at the next level. After signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, Redmond arrived at rookie minicamp hellbent on proving everybody wrong. He got cut after training camp despite showing flashes of his potential. “It crushed me,” Redmond said. “I didn’t know if I was ever going to get another shot.” As he sat at home wondering what was next for him, Redmond randomly got a call from the legendary Bob Stoops, the former head coach of Oklahoma, who is now the head coach of the Arlington Renegades of the UFL. ADVERTISEMENT “It was wild,” Redmond said. “I look at my phone and see the name. I was like, “Why is Bob Stoops calling me?’ I answered it and he asked if I wanted to play on his team.” After growing up in in Oklahoma, Redmond was not about to say no to a legend. He joined the Arlington Renegades and eventually parlayed that into a cup of coffee with the Vikings ahead of training camp “I went there with the mindset that I was going to make the best of it and try to get back to where I wanted to be,” Redmond said. “I had a lot of fun there, and it helped get me to where I am now.” ADVERTISEMENT Though he wasn’t exactly a household name, Redmond did enough to make the team out of training camp. “Whenever I walk through those doors and my code still works, I don’t take it for granted,” Redmond said. “I put in everything I can to everything I do here because I’ve been on the other side of it.” Now he’s starting to look more and more like somebody who could emerge as a key contributor for the Vikings down the road. “That’s all I wanted to do when I got here,” Redmond said. “Just prove that I can play at this level.” He can. He has a game ball as proof. “I was so happy for him,” Flores said. “I think he’s got a long career in front of him.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .

By Lisa Curry Everyone is feeling the pinch these days — charities, postal workers and the communities we serve. At Megaphone, instead of succumbing to division — a tactic often used to weaken collective power — we are choosing solidarity. Regardless of personal opinions about the current postal strike or its outcome, we are grateful that unions continue to exist to champion workers’ rights, despite their imperfections and decades of systemic efforts to dismantle them. At Megaphone, we believe everyone deserves safe, meaningful and dignified work. Contrary to prevalent narratives around poverty and its related challenges, we know that people want to work. Humans are inherently social beings, driven to contribute and connect with their communities. Despite this, societal messaging often paints a harmful picture, claiming that certain people don’t want to work or contribute. The truth is more complex. Many folks face barriers that make participation in traditional workplace environments difficult, if not impossible. People with disabilities, mental health challenges, or issues with executive functioning — such as memory, planning or focus — are often excluded by economic ideologies that value efficiency over accessibility. These systems, built on a “survival of the fittest” ethos, leave little room for those who don’t fit the mold. Through our programs, we provide accessible, meaningful opportunities for self-determined work. Our Vendor Mentorship Program exemplifies this commitment. For those unfamiliar, our Vendor Program is open to anyone, no questions asked, allowing vendors to work when and wherever it is best for them. That said, selling Megaphone products on the streets of Vancouver is no easy task. We live in an increasingly isolated and even hostile society, and many of our vendors face significant barriers to connecting with the larger community. Our Vendor Mentorship Program, launched in May of 2023, bridges this gap by offering new vendors three paid mentorship sessions with a veteran vendor. These sessions provide essential skills, peer support and a small cash boost to help new vendors start buying products to sell on their own It’s been a hugely successful endeavour, and in September, this program won an international award for “Best Vendor Support” at the International Network of Street Papers conference in Liverpool, England. As such, our current annual Winter Campaign is fundraising for this specific program, which is essential to our operations. However, the current postal strike has put us in a precarious position, with our mailouts ready to go... but grounded as the dispute drags on. So our team of staff, board members and volunteers are hitting the streets in December to deliver fundraising packages on foot across Vancouver, North Vancouver and Burnaby. If you like what we do, please watch for these envelopes, or consider making a donation online at megaphonemagazine.com/donate . We also now accept gifts of securities.And don’t forget to buy your 2025 Hope in Shadows calendar — while quantities last! The two sheets of vendor-designed wrapping paper you will find in this issue of the magazine are the perfect fit for wrapping up the calendars, so your gift-giving is covered! Our vendors are out in full force throughout Vancouver, but if you have trouble finding one, give us a call at 604-255-9701, ext. 137.Sheila Nix, Vice President Kamala Harris’ chief of staff, said Thursday evening that Harris ran a “pretty flawless campaign” during a summit of campaign managers, reporters and Harvard University staff. “I think the vice president was the best position of all the possible people on our side. She had been sitting vice president for 3 1/2 years and was also part of the campaign and was ready to jump in,” Nix said during a dinner reception for the Campaign Manager Conference at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “We obviously had a lot of things to do right away,” Nix continued. “We had to get the delegates so that she could be the nominee. We had to flip the convention to her instead of President Biden. We had to merge teams and we had a 107-day campaign in front of us and we had to move quickly. “I would posit she ran a pretty flawless campaign, and she did all the steps that [were] required to be successful,” she added. “And I think -- obviously, we did not win, but I do think we hit all the marks.” MORE: Video Harris ran a ‘strong campaign’ but ‘ran out of time’: Gov.-elect Josh Stein Senior staffers from several other campaigns, such as those of Asa Hutchinson, Dean Phillips, Jill Stein, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie and President-elect Donald Trump, also offered brief reflections during the dinner. The collective broadly addressed two main themes: reasoning to jump into the race and what may have been a strategic misstep. Attack or not to attack? Several of the campaigns mused on whether they made the right decision on holding back from going on offense against Trump during the primaries -- leaving Christie's campaign and, to a lesser extent, Hutchinson’s on an island of their own. “Anybody here who ever wants to challenge the race at any level for any office, you don't ever beat an incumbent without attacking the incumbent,” said Mike DuHaime, senior adviser to Christie. “You have to say the incumbent has not been doing a good job or I would be better than the incumbent. You can't say that the incumbent is really, really, really, really, really great, but I'm also really, really, really, really great.” The Christie campaign became frustrated when it realized the other primary candidates weren’t following Christie’s lead, DuHaime added. “It becomes frustrating, obviously. And you start to talk privately about what were, what are other people's actual motivations,” DuHaime said. While Christie took on Trump directly, aggressively and consistently, the same could not be said for Hutchinson. “Unfortunately, it got to the point where in order for him just to continue to fight, to have his voice and his name and his face seen, he had to go on the offensive,” said Rob Burgess, campaign manager for Hutchinson. “Clearly, he didn't do it as aggressively as Gov. Christie, but he did it in his own Arkansas way.” MORE: Why Republicans start out as favorites in the 2026 Senate elections Even though Haley became the last candidate standing against Trump during the primary, the former South Carolina governor did not start going after Trump as aggressively as other competitors until she became the sole alternative. Along with Haley, other candidates such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Sen. Doug Burgum and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also avoided heavily attacking Trump out of fear that it would turn off those who still liked the former president and supported his agenda but had doubts he could win. “I think, like a lot of people in here, we determined that 40% of the electorate was always going to be for President Trump, 40% were Trump curious and then 20% of the possibly primary were not going to be for President Trump,” said Mike Zolnierowicz, campaign manager for Burgum. Nix, Harris’ campaign manager, also attributed Trump’s decision not to participate in any debate following the ABC News presidential debate on Sept. 10 as detrimental to the Harris campaign’s strategy of presenting the choice between Trump and Harris clearly to voters several times. “I think that was hard for us to then get the attention that we would have liked to,” Nix said. MORE: Watch the full ABC News presidential debate One-state vs. multiple-state strategy During the dinner, one common theme discussed among several of the campaign managers was the decision to have either a one-state strategy or a multistate strategy. Betsy Ankney, Haley’s campaign manager, stressed that a Republican candidate couldn’t be successful if he or she only zeroed in on one state. “One of the things that we saw earlier was that, you know, Iowa [and] New Hampshire were eight days apart,” Ankney said. “Every other candidate other than Donald Trump and Nikki Haley had a one-state strategy. Chris Christie was playing in New Hampshire. DeSantis, Iowa. There was no way that you could be successful in this campaign without having a strong showing in the world stage and being able to go to distance.” Ankeny added that campaigns mismanaging their influxes of cash -- their “embarrassment of riches” -- was another major misstep of the election. “I think that a potential theme of this entire election cycle is an embarrassment of riches,” she said. “You saw that with the DeSantis campaign in the primary. You saw that with the Harris campaign in general. A lot of times, when candidates have more money than they know what to do with, they make bad decisions, and we were mean and lean and scrappy.” MORE: Many Haley voters won't back Trump. They weren't going to anyway. Campaign managers for Scott, Christie and Hutchinson discussed focusing and investing in one of the early primary states rather than all of them due to limited resources, lack of money and what many saw campaigns as their best chance to be successful. Although the campaign manager for DeSantis was not in attendance, his presidential campaign also focused heavily on one state: Iowa. Hutchinson’s campaign manager, Burgess, was blunt during Thursday night’s conversation that he and the former Arkansas governor disagreed on whether to focus on one state or multiple states, leading Burgess to leave the campaign. “He wanted to run a five-state campaign, and I didn't know how I was going to pay for it,” Burgess said. “I wasn't comfortable with him taking a mortgage out of his house, and I didn't want to be responsible for the campaign having debt.”

Cadiz City Students empowered with robotics and programming skills by BingoPlus FoundationSheila Nix, Vice President Kamala Harris’ chief of staff, said Thursday evening that Harris ran a “pretty flawless campaign” during a summit of campaign managers, reporters and Harvard University staff. “I think the vice president was the best position of all the possible people on our side. She had been sitting vice president for 3 1/2 years and was also part of the campaign and was ready to jump in,” Nix said during a dinner reception for the Campaign Manager Conference at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “We obviously had a lot of things to do right away,” Nix continued. “We had to get the delegates so that she could be the nominee. We had to flip the convention to her instead of President Biden. We had to merge teams and we had a 107-day campaign in front of us and we had to move quickly. “I would posit she ran a pretty flawless campaign, and she did all the steps that [were] required to be successful,” she added. “And I think -- obviously, we did not win, but I do think we hit all the marks.” MORE: Video Harris ran a ‘strong campaign’ but ‘ran out of time’: Gov.-elect Josh Stein Senior staffers from several other campaigns, such as those of Asa Hutchinson, Dean Phillips, Jill Stein, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie and President-elect Donald Trump, also offered brief reflections during the dinner. The collective broadly addressed two main themes: reasoning to jump into the race and what may have been a strategic misstep. Attack or not to attack? Several of the campaigns mused on whether they made the right decision on holding back from going on offense against Trump during the primaries -- leaving Christie's campaign and, to a lesser extent, Hutchinson’s on an island of their own. “Anybody here who ever wants to challenge the race at any level for any office, you don't ever beat an incumbent without attacking the incumbent,” said Mike DuHaime, senior adviser to Christie. “You have to say the incumbent has not been doing a good job or I would be better than the incumbent. You can't say that the incumbent is really, really, really, really, really great, but I'm also really, really, really, really great.” The Christie campaign became frustrated when it realized the other primary candidates weren’t following Christie’s lead, DuHaime added. “It becomes frustrating, obviously. And you start to talk privately about what were, what are other people's actual motivations,” DuHaime said. While Christie took on Trump directly, aggressively and consistently, the same could not be said for Hutchinson. “Unfortunately, it got to the point where in order for him just to continue to fight, to have his voice and his name and his face seen, he had to go on the offensive,” said Rob Burgess, campaign manager for Hutchinson. “Clearly, he didn't do it as aggressively as Gov. Christie, but he did it in his own Arkansas way.” MORE: Why Republicans start out as favorites in the 2026 Senate elections Even though Haley became the last candidate standing against Trump during the primary, the former South Carolina governor did not start going after Trump as aggressively as other competitors until she became the sole alternative. Along with Haley, other candidates such as South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Sen. Doug Burgum and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also avoided heavily attacking Trump out of fear that it would turn off those who still liked the former president and supported his agenda but had doubts he could win. “I think, like a lot of people in here, we determined that 40% of the electorate was always going to be for President Trump, 40% were Trump curious and then 20% of the possibly primary were not going to be for President Trump,” said Mike Zolnierowicz, campaign manager for Burgum. Nix, Harris’ campaign manager, also attributed Trump’s decision not to participate in any debate following the ABC News presidential debate on Sept. 10 as detrimental to the Harris campaign’s strategy of presenting the choice between Trump and Harris clearly to voters several times. “I think that was hard for us to then get the attention that we would have liked to,” Nix said. MORE: Watch the full ABC News presidential debate One-state vs. multiple-state strategy During the dinner, one common theme discussed among several of the campaign managers was the decision to have either a one-state strategy or a multistate strategy. Betsy Ankney, Haley’s campaign manager, stressed that a Republican candidate couldn’t be successful if he or she only zeroed in on one state. “One of the things that we saw earlier was that, you know, Iowa [and] New Hampshire were eight days apart,” Ankney said. “Every other candidate other than Donald Trump and Nikki Haley had a one-state strategy. Chris Christie was playing in New Hampshire. DeSantis, Iowa. There was no way that you could be successful in this campaign without having a strong showing in the world stage and being able to go to distance.” Ankeny added that campaigns mismanaging their influxes of cash -- their “embarrassment of riches” -- was another major misstep of the election. “I think that a potential theme of this entire election cycle is an embarrassment of riches,” she said. “You saw that with the DeSantis campaign in the primary. You saw that with the Harris campaign in general. A lot of times, when candidates have more money than they know what to do with, they make bad decisions, and we were mean and lean and scrappy.” MORE: Many Haley voters won't back Trump. They weren't going to anyway. Campaign managers for Scott, Christie and Hutchinson discussed focusing and investing in one of the early primary states rather than all of them due to limited resources, lack of money and what many saw campaigns as their best chance to be successful. Although the campaign manager for DeSantis was not in attendance, his presidential campaign also focused heavily on one state: Iowa. Hutchinson’s campaign manager, Burgess, was blunt during Thursday night’s conversation that he and the former Arkansas governor disagreed on whether to focus on one state or multiple states, leading Burgess to leave the campaign. “He wanted to run a five-state campaign, and I didn't know how I was going to pay for it,” Burgess said. “I wasn't comfortable with him taking a mortgage out of his house, and I didn't want to be responsible for the campaign having debt.”

AP News Summary at 4:50 p.m. EST