Apple AirPods Max are the over-ear AirPods. First released in late 2020, a new version was revealed in September this year. But the only updates to the new headphones were a (welcome) update from Lightning to USB-C connectivity and updated colors. So, when’s the sequel coming? Put it this way, don’t hold your breath, as a new report claims there are “no concrete plans” to update the headphones again soon, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter . The new comments from Gurman suggest that the current model will be around for a while. This will disappoint many who hoped that the new colors were a stopgap before a completely different pair of over-ear headphoens were released. After all, the processor that powers the AirPods Max is the H1 first seen in 2019, meaning that the latest and most affordable AirPods 4 have some features the AirPods Max don’t. That said, the switch to USB-C was a great update and the new colors are fierce, with a feisty orange and lip-smacking purple alongside the eye-catching starlight and more demure blue and midnight options. And the nature of the over-ear headphones is that the noise isolation they offer is exceptional, so maybe the need for improvements to the current excellent noise cancellation isn’t as urgent as it might have been for in-ears. Even so, the lack of adaptive audio has been noted by some critics. "I expect the company to keep the Max headphones around for the foreseeable future in their current form," Gurman said, which sounds to me like a year or two at the least before there’s an update “in a meaningful way,” as he puts it. It’s thought that the sales of AirPods Max, though decent, are not enough to justify R&D spending enough to bring an update soon. And, to be fair, if you’d just bought the new AirPods Max and a second-gen version appeared soon, you might be a bit put out. Take heart: assuming Gurman is right, you can splash out on Apple’s priciest headphones safe in the knowledge that they’re not going to be updated soon. And that little thing called Black Friday is already showing discounts on the new models.
FY 2024 REVENUE INCREASED 125% TO A RECORD $3.3 MILLION FY 2024 REACH OPERATIONAL PROFITABILITY NET INCOME TO A RECORD $0.54 MILLION GUIDES FY 2025 REVENUE GROWTH OF APPROX. 150%; EPS RANGE OF $0.001 TO $0.002 ANNOUNCES INCREASE TO PREVIOUSLY COMMUNICATED SHARE REPURCHASE GOAL, TO REPURCHASE $5 MILLION OF SHARES BY YEAR END 2025 NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AB International Group Corp. (OTC: ABQQ), an intellectual property (IP) and movie investment and licensing firm, announces financial and operating results for the year ended August 31, 2024. The audited financial results have been filed in a 10-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Company also provided its financial outlook for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025. “ABQQ achieved record results during fiscal year 2024, as we delivered revenue growth of 125% and reached profit net income $542,331, reflecting a continued dedication to maintain exceptional levels of profitability as our business scale,” said Chiyuan Deng, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Movie License and NFT MMM IP License built up two of the most admired and well-positioned business in the marketplace, each with a robust innovation product pipeline designed to win with global consumers. Looking forward, our talented teams are highly motivated to continue driving towards the long-term opportunities of these iconic businesses.” Key Financial Highlights: Revenues for the year ended August 31, 2024, increased 125% to $3,300,467, as compared to $1,473,222 for fiscal 2023. Operating expenses were $2,813,563 for the year ended August 31, 2024, compared to $5,030,354 for fiscal 2023. We experienced a decrease in theatre operating costs in fiscal 2024 compared to fiscal 2023, mainly due to the decrease in admission revenues and the decrease in movie exhibition costs as a percentage of admission revenue. We incurred a net income of $542,331 for the year ended August 31, 2024, as compared with a net loss of $3,566,710 for fiscal 2023. As of August 31, 2024.Total Stockholders’ Equity $1,459,902, as compared to $890,988 in Fiscal 2023. During fiscal year 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 285 million shares of its common stock for a total of $50,699 at a weighted average price paid per share of $0.00018. Full Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook for the Twelve-Month Period Ending August 31, 2025 The Company's full fiscal year 2025 outlook is forward-looking in nature, reflecting our expectations as of November 26, 2024, and is subject to significant risks and uncertainties that limit our ability to accurately forecast results. This outlook assumes no meaningful changes to the Company's business prospects or risks and uncertainties identified by management that could impact future results, which include but are not limited to changes in economic conditions, including consumer confidence and discretionary spending, inflationary pressures, and foreign currency fluctuation; geopolitical tensions; and supply chain disruptions, constraints and related expenses. Revenues are expected to increase approximately 150% to $8.25 million. Gross margin is expected to be approximately 60.5%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.001 to $0.002. About AB International Group Corp. AB International Group Corp. is an intellectual property (IP) and movie investment and licensing firm, focused on acquisitions and development of various intellectual property. We are engaged in acquisition and distribution of movies. The company owns the IP of the NFT movie and music marketplace (NFT MMM) as the unique entertainment industry Non-Fungible Token. The Company operates AB Cinemas, physical movie theaters currently in NY with plans to expand nationwide ( www.abcinemasny.com ). The company also owns ABQQ.TV which is a movie and TV show online streaming platform. ABQQ TV generates revenue through a hybrid subscription model and advertising model like other online streaming platforms. For additional information, visit www.abqqs.com , www.abcinemasny.com , https://stareastnet.io/ and www.ABQQ.tv . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to changes to the Company’s management team and statements relating to the Company’s transformation, financial and operational performance including the acceleration of revenue and margins, and the Company’s overall strategy. Because forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the possibility of business disruption, competitive uncertainties, and general economic and business conditions in AB International Group markets as well as the other risks detailed in company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AB International Group undertakes no obligation to update any statements in this press release for changes that happen after the date of this release. Investor Relations Contact: Charles Tang (852) 2622 2891 corp@abqqs.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ba28f62-fe9e-45be-89c9-c8c7a2fa9707 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d08431cf-b411-4d9f-80d4-ca34f1320c5fStock Market Today: Stocks end lower after stubborn inflation data - TheStreet
K.Griffin 3-9 1-1 7, Williams-Dryden 6-12 7-9 19, Davis 3-12 1-1 7, M.Griffin 1-2 0-0 2, Johnson 2-6 1-4 5, Hardewig 1-5 0-0 2, Noel 1-6 0-0 2, Watson 6-8 1-1 14, Ballard 1-3 0-0 3, Releford 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-65 11-16 61. Feddersen 6-8 2-4 17, Moni 2-10 0-0 6, M.Miller 5-9 0-0 15, Watkins 4-5 3-3 14, White 3-12 5-5 12, Dissette 0-0 2-2 2, Kasubke 2-5 0-0 5, Stefonowicz 0-1 2-2 2, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-50 14-16 73. Halftime_N. Dakota St. 33-32. 3-Point Goals_West Georgia 2-18 (Ballard 1-2, Watson 1-2, Noel 0-2, Davis 0-3, K.Griffin 0-3, Hardewig 0-3, Johnson 0-3), N. Dakota St. 15-37 (M.Miller 5-9, Feddersen 3-4, Watkins 3-4, Moni 2-7, Kasubke 1-3, White 1-9, Stefonowicz 0-1). Rebounds_West Georgia 28 (Williams-Dryden 8), N. Dakota St. 41 (Feddersen 9). Assists_West Georgia 6 (Hardewig, Noel 2), N. Dakota St. 15 (Moni, Watkins 4). Total Fouls_West Georgia 13, N. Dakota St. 17. A_123 (4,974).AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:08 p.m. EST
Bukayo Saka, left, faces months on the sidelines (Adam Davy/PA) Bukayo Saka will be sidelined until at least March following surgery on his hamstring, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed. Arsenal moved back up to second in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Ipswich at the Emirates – their first fixture without Saka after the England winger tore his right hamstring in a 5-1 win against Crystal Palace last weekend. Prior to Friday’s fixture, Arteta said Saka, 23, would be sidelined for “many weeks”, but speaking in the moments after his side saw out a win that keeps the pressure on leaders Liverpool, Arteta afforded a grizzlier timeframe for his star man. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be without a key player for months (Adam Davy/PA) “He has had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” said Arteta. “It will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, and the mobility of that. It is very difficult to say. “The replacement of Bukayo is going to be the team. There were moments where it flowed well tonight and moments where you could see there is still work to do. But I am certain that we are going to do that. We have to rely on the team and not the individual.” The length of Saka’s injury will come as a significant blow to Arteta, who is bidding to oversee Arsenal’s first Premier League title in two decades. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. In Saka’s absence, and in the Gunners’ final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the game’s sole goal midway through the opening period. Gabriel, Havertz and Martin Odegaard all spurned chances to increase Arsenal’s lead in the second period, but their victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool – having played one match more than the Reds – and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Arteta continued: “I am very happy with the victory and the clean sheet and big parts of the game. They are difficult opposition and we are playing so many games. “You see that teams are winning from small margins. Today we could have made that margin bigger but we didn’t and we held our nerve in the last few minutes to defend well. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. “We should have scored more. We had big openings in the second half, the big header of Gabriel from one yard, but the team was consistent and conceded nothing and that is something that will always give us the chance to win games.” Arsenal will next be in action against Brentford on New Year’s Day. Ipswich, who remain second from bottom, three points away from safety, host Chelsea on Monday night. Ipswich suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Newcastle in the fixture which preceded their trip to the Emirates, and this marked their fifth loss from six games. “It was a good step back in the right direction for us,” said boss Kieran McKenna. “We didn’t hit our levels against Newcastle. We knew today we had to be resilient and we did that.”President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. Trump has also reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the app during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially men, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. This month, Trump met with TikTok Chief Executive Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The filings Friday came ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the 1st Amendment. This month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said that because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its ... engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk. Hadero and Price write for the Associated Press.S&P/TSX composite rises Wednesday while U.S. markets move lower
Swifties live-streaming Eras Tour concerts say they’re part of a ‘community’
Machine learning reveals behaviors linked with early Alzheimer's, points to new treatments November 26, 2024 Gladstone Institutes Scientists used a new video-based machine learning tool to pinpoint otherwise-undetectable signs of early disease in mice that were engineered to mimic key aspects of Alzheimer's. Their work sheds light on a new strategy for identifying neurological disease earlier than currently possible and tracking how it develops over time. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Subtle signs of Alzheimer's disease can emerge decades before a diagnosis -- often in the form of irregular behaviors that reflect very early stages of brain dysfunction. But until now, identifying and measuring these slight behavioral changes in a scientific way hasn't been feasible, not even when studying Alzheimer's in mice. In a study published in Cell Reports, a team of scientists at Gladstone Institutes used a new video-based machine learning tool to pinpoint otherwise-undetectable signs of early disease in mice that were engineered to mimic key aspects of Alzheimer's. Their work sheds light on a new strategy for identifying neurological disease earlier than currently possible and tracking how it develops over time. "We've shown the potential of machine learning to revolutionize how we analyze behaviors indicative of early abnormalities in brain function," says Gladstone investigator Jorge Palop, PhD, senior author of the study. "We leveraged a valuable tool that opens the door to a more complete understanding of devastating brain disorders and how they begin." The scientists used a machine learning platform called VAME, short for "Variational Animal Motion Embedding," to analyze video footage of mice exploring an open arena. The open-source tool identified subtle behavioral patterns captured on camera -- changes that might not be noticed by simply looking at the mice. Tracking Disorganized Behavior VAME's deep learning platform is unlike conventional behavioral tests in mice, which often center around preconceived tasks that the animals are challenged to complete. Among the limitations of those tests, they can't capture the full range of spontaneous behavioral changes caused by disease -- particularly in early stages, explains Stephanie Miller, PhD, staff scientist at Gladstone and first author of the study. They also lack scalability and often rely on labor-intensive methods. For the Gladstone study using VAME, the team evaluated two types of mice that simulated different aspects of Alzheimer's. In both models, the machine learning tool identified a significantly increased level of "disorganized behavior" as the mice aged. For example, the mice exhibited unusual patterns of behavior and transitioned more often between different activities -- factors that might be associated with memory and attention deficits. "Similar machine learning approaches could be used one day to study spontaneous behaviors in humans, potentially providing early diagnosis of neurological diseases," Miller says, noting that smartphone-quality video is sufficient for VAME analysis. "I envision this technology will be used to assess patients in the clinic and even in their homes. It gives scientists and doctors a way to solve the very hard problem of diagnosing preclinical stages of disease." Miller began experimenting with VAME several years ago when the technology was still in its infancy. She and Palop collaborated with the team of Stefan Remy, MD, in Germany, which initially developed the platform. Together, they helped demonstrate VAME's utility for neuroscience research in a study published in Communications Biology . Evaluating a Potential Treatment Adding another dimension to their new study, the Gladstone team used VAME to learn whether a potential therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer's would prevent the disorganized behavior in mice. The scientists leveraged prior research from Gladstone investigator Katerina Akassoglou, PhD, who discovered that a blood-clotting protein called fibrin creates a cascade of toxic effects when it leaks into the brain through damaged blood vessels. By blocking fibrin's toxic effects, Akassoglou's lab has been able to prevent the neurodegeneration that leads to cognitive decline and to protect against Alzheimer's in animals. To find out if this therapeutic strategy could safeguard mice from Alzheimer's-linked behaviors, the team genetically blocked fibrin from triggering toxic inflammation in the brain. This intervention reduced the development of abnormal behaviors in the Alzheimer's mice. "It was highly encouraging to see that blocking fibrin's inflammatory activity in the brain reduced virtually all of the spontaneous behavioral changes in Alzheimer's mice, reaffirming that fibrin and the ensuing neuroinflammation are key drivers of the disease," says Akassoglou, also an author of the study. "Machine learning can offer an unbiased way to evaluate potential treatments in the lab -- and I believe it may ultimately become an invaluable clinical tool, as well." Palop and Miller are now working with other Gladstone teams who study neurological disease to help them employ the VAME technology for new behavioral studies. "My goal is to make this tool and similar approaches more accessible to biologists and clinicians in order to shorten the time it takes to develop powerful new medicines," Miller says. About the Study The study, "Machine learning reveals prominent spontaneous behavioral changes and treatment efficacy in humanized and transgenic Alzheimer's disease models," appears in the November 26 issue of Cell Reports . Authors include Stephanie Miller, Kevin Luxem, Kelli Lauderdale, Pranav Nambiar, Patrick Honma, Katie Ly, Shreya Bangera, Mary Bullock, Jia Shin, Nick Kaliss, Yuechen Qiu, Catherine Cai, Kevin Shen, K. Dakota Mallen, Zhaoqi Yan, Andrew Mendiola, Takashi Saito, Takaomi Saido, Alexander Pico, Reuben Thomas, Erik Roberson, Katerina Akassoglou, Pavol Bauer, Stefan Remy, and Jorge Palop. Story Source: Materials provided by Gladstone Institutes . Original written by Kelly Quigley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal References : Cite This Page :No. 7 Tennessee extends its season-opening winning streak to 7 games in 78-35 win over UT Martin
Charles & Colvard, Ltd. Receives Non-Compliance Letter from NasdaqChase Artopoeus has two TD passes, TD run as Chattanooga tops Austin Peay 24-17 in season finaleWASHINGTON — There's a common trait that President-elect Donald Trump is clearly prizing as he selects those to serve in his new administration: experience on television. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., speaks during a hearing July 18, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Duffy to be Transportation Secretary. Trump loves that "central casting" look, as he likes to call it. Some, like his choices for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, and transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, were until recently TV hosts on Trump's favorite network, Fox News. Mike Huckabee, his pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel, hosted the Fox show “Huckabee” from 2008 to 2015 after his time as Arkansas governor. Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former syndicated talk show host and heart surgeon, was tapped to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency that oversees health insurance programs for millions of older, poor and disabled Americans. He would report to Trump's choice for health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., himself a regular on the cable news circuit. Mehmet Oz visits the AW Driving School & License Testing Center on Sept. 23, 2022, in Allentown, Pa. Trump, a former reality television star himself, has made no secret of his intention to stack his administration with loyalists after his decisive 2024 election win — including some whose lack of relevant experience has raised concerns among lawmakers. But he's also working to set up a more forceful administration in this term, and in his eyes, many of those people happen to intersect with celebrity. The trend was not lost on Democratic Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, who posted on social media after the Oz nomination: “We are becoming the world’s first nuclear-armed reality television show.” For good measure, Himes added: “Just spitballing here, but what if the Attorney General and the Secretary of HHS fight each other in an octagonal cage?” That was a reference to Trump's affinity for the UFC fighters who do battle in the octagon. Choosing TV personalities isn't that unusual for the once-and-future president: A number of his first-term choices — John Bolton, Larry Kudlow, Heather Nauert and Mercedes Schlapp, were all on TV — mostly also on Fox. Omarosa Manigault Newman, a confrontational first-season member of Trump's NBC show “The Apprentice," was briefly at the White House before she was fired. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican who ran Trump’s 2016 transition team until he was fired, said that eight years ago, Trump held “Apprentice-like interviews at Bedminster,” summoning potential hires to his club in New Jersey. On a call on Tuesday organized by the Council on Foreign Relations, Christie said this year’s Cabinet choices are different than 2016’s but it’s still “Donald Trump casting a TV show.” “He’s casting,” Christie said. Trump has readily highlighted the media experience of his choices as he's announced them. He said Duffy, a former lawmaker and onetime cast member of MTV’s “The Real World," was “a STAR on Fox News.” Pete Hegseth walks to an elevator for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower on Dec. 15, 2016, in New York. Hegseth, a military veteran, “has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our Military and Veterans,” Trump said. He also noted that Hegseth's book “The War on Warriors” spent nine weeks on The New York Times “best-sellers list, including two weeks at NUMBER ONE.” As for Oz, Trump said: “He won nine Daytime Emmy Awards hosting ‘The Dr. Oz Show,’ where he taught millions of Americans how to make healthier lifestyle choices." It's also true that those seeking positions in Trump's orbit often take to the airwaves to audition for an audience of one. Tom Homan, Trump's choice for “border czar,” is a frequent Fox contributor. Ohio Sen. JD Vance was chosen as Trump's running mate in part because of how well he comes across on air. Trump's choice to lead the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, upped his profile when he took to Fox News to argue that a pre-election appearance on NBC's “Saturday Night Live” by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris was a violation of the “equal time” rule governing candidate appearances on television. The White House-to-cable news pundit pipeline tends to cut across administrations of both parties, to some extent. President Joe Biden had three MSNBC contributors on his transition team and his former press secretary went to the network after she left the White House. Biden, though, looked to career diplomats, longtime government workers and military leaders for key posts like the Defense Department. Trump's affinity for Fox News is well-documented, though the romance cooled for a time after Fox made an early call of Arizona for Biden in 2020, a move that infuriated Trump and many of the network’s viewers. Trump suggested viewers should migrate to other conservative news outlets. While the Arizona call ultimately proved correct, it set in motion internal second-guessing and led some Fox personalities to embrace conspiracy theories, which ultimately cost the network $787 million to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. But Trump is still an avid watcher — the network provides Trump a window into conservative thinking, with commentary from Republican lawmakers and thinkers who are, often, speaking directly to the president-elect. 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. 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. 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.” 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. 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.” 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
ALL the way from the I'm A Celebrity jungle, GK Barry has launched a posh new jewellery collection. The influencer has been announced as UK jewellery brand Abbott Lyon’s brand-new ambassador - and her range includes the stunning necklaces she's been wearing the jungle. 4 GK's stunning Abbot Lyon collection features bangles, rings and necklaces Credit: SUPPLIED 4 The range is perfect for Christmas gifting or a festive treat The collection is filled with bold statement pieces that can be personalised, and they're perfect for Christmas gifts. Before entering the jungle, GK said: “I’ve poured my heart into this collection because I wanted to create something fun that also helps you show them you care. "Personalisation is everything to me – it’s the ultimate way to express yourself.” She's been sporting the ‘Signature Name Necklace’ while in the jungle, but the collection features other stunning pieces like the designer-inspired chain Gala Pavé Initial Choker and Bracelet. READ MORE ON GK BARRY IN THE BAGG GK Barry’s best pal Joe Baggs insists ‘she’s not playing a game’ on I'm A Celeb LOVED UP WAG dreams & designer vagina fails - the romance of GK Barry & Ella Rutherford There's also the stunning 18K gold-plated choker or bracelet with a pavé crystal finish, which is available in both silver and gold. And the items are not only water, sweat and heat-resistant but are made from over 60% recycled materials. GK's range also includes the Own Way Monogram Bangle and Ring, which allows shoppers to put their own mark on the pieces of jewellery, by choosing two letters to be inscribed. The cubic zirconia gems ensure the items are a perfect accessory to add a touch of luxury to any outfit – no matter the occasion. Most read in Fabulous ZAR-AAH! ‘Xmas party outfits we can afford’ cries shopper after finding Zara sale shop HEATED ROW Bonnie Blue slammed for saying men have 'right' to cheat in heated debate WEIGH TO GO My husband feels like he's having an affair with a new woman after I shed 12st TOUGH LUCK I’m single mum & I’m refusing to host Christmas this year - it’s exhausting When asked about her collection before entering the jungle, GK Barry said: “I wanted to help find the ultimate gift this Christmas and my new Abbott Lyon collection is full of gifts they’ll love, guaranteed. "Each piece can be customised with initials because let’s be real, we’re all iconic, and jewellery should be too! GK Barry reveals she has a secret signal on I'm A Celeb for loved-ones - did you spot it? “I’m obsessed with the Pavé Initial Choker and Initial Bracelet – they’re absolute game changes for making you (or them!) feel like the main character. "And don’t even get me started on the Monogram Bangle and Wide Ring – talk about statement pieces that instantly make you feel like a boss." She continued: "Whether you’re buying for someone or treating yourself to a cheeky initial necklace, these styles are total winners.” 4 GK has been spotted wearing a necklace from the collection in the jungle Credit: Supplied 4 The stunning range is perfect for Christmas gifting Credit: Supplied Who is GK Barry? GK Barry amassed more than a million followers on TikTok in just over a year during the first UK lockdown in 2020. Grace Keeling, better known as GK Barry, is a 25-year-old social media influencer. She rose to fame during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, creating a TikTok account and posting short vlogs showcasing her day-to-day life. Although she originally intended on staying low-key, she gained a large following in no time at all. By August 2020, only five months after starting her account, she had already hit 100,000 followers, reaching more than a million in just over a year. She now has over 4.5million followers across her social media platforms. After completing a degree in film studies from Nottingham Trent University, Grace furthered her education with a master’s in digital marketing. While at Nottingham Trent, she worked on the set of BBC series Doctors and the Netflix film Hood, as well as creating content for ShawMind — a charity working to promote mental health awareness. Grace is known for her podcast, named The Saving Grace Podcast. On the show she invites celebrities and influencers to have a chat about life and the latest trends, as well as any embarrassing stories from their past. In May 2024, Grace said she was dating a female footballer . Then in June it came out that the soccer star in question plays for England. The Sun revealed that Grace and Charlton Athletic striker Ella Rutherford, 24, are getting serious — they've met each other's family and holidayed together. A source exclusively told The Sun : "GK has been seeing Ella for a while but they are very much official now. "They grew even closer on holiday in Benidorm and GK has met all her family. "She's really happy and they are having so much fun together."Governors of deep blue states are scrambling and jockeying to craft their narrative to Donald Trump’s election-winning deportation message, with varying results. Thus far, California’s governor is attempting to become the anti-Trump opposition leader, as Massachusetts’s top executive is softening her state’s sanctuary status, and even Illinois’ leftist goveror is suddenly supporting the idea of deporting “criminals.” These Democrats are all pushing what former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich calls an “act of insurrection” against the legally elected president of the United States. Last month, Gingrich blasted the threats made by Denver’s extremist mayor that he would use his city police department as his own personal Confederate Army troops to physically oppose officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gingrich pointed out that “The mayor of Denver doesn’t seem to understand that the United States Army settled the question of states, counties and cities defying the federal government in a meeting at Appomattox in 1865 when General Lee surrendered.” The Democrats are grasping for ways to respond to Trump, nonetheless, and no dominant narrative has yet emerged. Probably unsurprisingly, with images of the White House dancing in his head, radical, left-wing California Gov. Gavin Newsom is attempting to set himself up as the chief resistance to Trump’s deportation plans. This week, just before Christmas, Newsom announced that he would begin looking for ways to help illegals evade federal authorities in a blatant attempt to thwart Donald Trump from fulfilling his campaign pledge to launch the biggest deportation campaign in U.S. history. Newsom’s extremist regime pushed out a memo entitled “Immigrant Support Network Concept,” which proposed regional hubs to “connect at-risk individuals, their families, and communities with community systems — such as legal services, schools, labor unions, local governments, etc.,” Fox News reported. Not only is Newsom looking to create entire bureaucracies geared toward evading federal law, he also pledged to throw $25 million in tax dollars into efforts to “Trump proof” the state by funding every way his Democrats can devise to shield illegals from ICE, and he also called a special legislative session to push the policy. The entire scheme is clearly Newsom’s way to be seen as the face of Trump opposition in preparation for a run for the White House in 2028. Meanwhile, in the center of the nation, Illinois’ left-wing Gov. J.B. Pritzker found himself a sudden fan of deporting “criminal” illegals. A few weeks before Trump’s massive election victory, Pritzker seemed to see the writing on the wall and tried to walk a finer line by insisting that “violent criminals” should be deported, but all other illegals should be protected. On the other hand, he also tried to burnish his opposition bona fides by claiming he would oppose “raids” to round up illegals. “We also just want to make sure there isn’t a violation of people’s rights with ... raids ... that are done in coordination [with] local law enforcement,” he said the week after Trump’s election. “We think that’s improper and in Illinois, that’s not something that we would condone.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also tried to fudge her past blatant support for illegals by adopting some tougher sounding verbiage. As the country turned to favor President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to deport illegal aliens, Hochul performed an about-face last month when she claimed during a press conference that she favors deporting illegals accused of or convicted of crimes. “If someone breaks the law, I’ll be the first one to call up ICE and say, ‘Get them out of here,’” the sanctuary state governor exclaimed. Yet, despite Hochul’s tougher talk, her Democrat-dominated legislature went the Newsom way by introducing legislation to make it even harder to deport illegals from New York. In contrast, the Democrat governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, made as if to sound like a sudden hardliner on migrants. Healey seemed to backpedal on her state’s status as a “sanctuary” for illegals in not one, but two interviews, where she flat out said that the Bay State is “not a sanctuary state.” Healey made this startling claim in interviews with the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald in which Healey not only said her state is not a sanctuary state, but said she will work with the feds to deport illegals, and would reduce the amount spent on sheltering illegals. This despite the fact that Massachusetts has enshrined in its laws a “right to shelter” for anyone who is homeless and without a place to stay. But speaking of this “right,” she told the Globe , “My view is that the law was never intended to apply to the circumstance that we’ve been dealing with the last couple of years here, people coming from other states.” “We are not a sanctuary state,” she continued, “and we simply do not have a means to house people.” Healey is throwing $856 million in tax dollars at shelters for illegals, which is still a budget cut from the expected $932 million. And Healey says more cuts will be coming to spending on migrants. Healey also told the Herald that she thinks state and local jurisdictions should work with the feds to deport “criminal” migrants from the state. Despite that turnaround, Healey is not suggesting that the state or its counties and cities cancel their rules preventing police officers from working with ICE, so it is not exactly clear how she expects criminal illegals to be deported if she does not back police agencies working with the feds to do so. It is likely that more of a consensus on responding to Trump’s policies will come together after the 47th President actually puts his machinery in place to begin the deportation process. But right now, Democrat governors are floating trial balloons on the issue. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston
Games to snuggle up with this holiday season
CSE closes the week with an uninterrupted sequence of successMILWAUKEE — David Joplin scored 27 points and Kam Jones and Damarius Owens each added 14 to lead No. 10 Marquette to a 94-59 win over Stonehill on Wednesday night. Joplin made his first five shots, including three 3-pointers, and was 10 for 12 from the field. Joplin poured in a career-high 29 in the Golden Eagles’ previous game, an 80-69 win Saturday over Georgia in the Bahamas. Owens, a freshman, had scored five points in his first three games. He went 3 of 3 from 3. Amir Nesbitt led Stonehill (4-5) with 14 points, Hermann Koffi scored 13 and Chas Stinson added 10. Josh Morgan, who averages 15.4 points per game and is the Skyhawks' leading score, didn’t play because of a foot injury. Takeaways Stonehill: The Skyhawks, who entered Division 1 in 2022, are trying to figure how to win away from home as they lost their 26th straight road game. Marquette: The Golden Eagles (7-0) remain one of two undefeated Big East teams after No. 22 Xavier (6-1) fell 78-53 to Michigan, and Providence (5-1) lost 79-77 to Oklahoma. Key moment Stonehill stayed close until 8:53 in the first half when Ethan Meuser’s second straight 3-pointer cut Marquette’s lead to 27-21. Then, Marquette went on a 24-10 run to claim a 51-31 halftime lead. Stonehill's Chas Stinson tries to get past Marquette's Stevie Mitchell during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Milwaukee. Credit: AP/Morry Gash Key stat The Golden Eagles shot 60.7% (37 for 61) from the floor and scored 52 points in the paint. Up next Marquette hosts Western Carolina on Saturday, and Stonehill hosts Quinnipiac on Sunday.Swifties live-streaming Eras Tour concerts say they're part of a 'community'
Games to snuggle up with this holiday seasonNone