Former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is transferring to Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining. Confirming earlier reports, Keene posted an image of himself in a Wolverines uniform on social media on Monday. Keene passed for 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games for the Bulldogs in 2024. Fresno State opened the season with a 30-10 loss at Michigan on Aug. 31, with Keene throwing for 235 yards with one touchdown and two picks. Including two seasons at UCF (2021-22), Keene has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 8,245 yards with 65 TDs and 28 interceptions in 39 games. Keene's competition for the starting job at Michigan includes incoming freshman Bryce Underwood, the 247Sports Composite's No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class. --Field Level MediaRepealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that'll changeRepealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that'll change
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent roughly 22 months in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100 Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. He left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Jimmy Carter: A brief bio Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes more than a year after the former president entered hospice care. He was 100 years old. Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames while landing in South Korea, killing 179 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A jetliner skidded off a runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into flames in South Korea after its landing gear apparently failed to deploy. Officials said all but two of the 181 people on board were killed Sunday in one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. The 737-800 operated by Jeju Air plane arrived from Bangkok and crashed while attempting to land in the town of Muan, about 290 kilometers (180 miles) south of Seoul. Footage of the crash aired by South Korean television channels showed the plane skidding across the airstrip at high speed, evidently with its landing gear still closed. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD.
Jimmy Carter: A brief bio
A chorus of support is growing behind actress Blake Lively after she filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni. Actress Amber Heard on Monday became the latest celebrity to speak out on behalf of the "Gossip Girl" alum over what she says was a coordinated social media effort to tarnish her name. Over the weekend, Lively filed a complaint claiming that Baldoni and a lead producer had behaved unacceptably during the filming of box office hit "It Ends With Us." The allegations included that Baldoni -- who also directed the film -- had spoken inappropriately about his sex life, and had sought to alter the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed to. They also detailed how lead producer Jamey Heath had watched Lively while she was topless, despite having been asked to turn away. But the complaint goes into great detail -- including with texts and emails -- on a PR campaign to wreck her reputation and to divert attention from any public comments she might make about the men's alleged misbehavior. This was "a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others from speaking out about the hostile environment that Mr Baldoni and Mr Heath created," the complaint says. It includes allegations that the two men hired a crisis PR team that amplified or planted negative stories about Lively on social media platforms. "You know we can bury anyone," Melissa Nathan, a member of the team, is alleged to have said, according to messages contained in the complaint. Heard's ex-husband Johnny Depp hired the same PR team during the high-profile defamation trial between the couple in 2022, in which a jury unanimously found that Heard defamed Depp over allegations he abused her. "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying 'A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,'" Heard said in a statement carried by NBC News. "I saw this firsthand and up close. It's as horrifying as it is destructive." Heard's support came on the heels of a joint statement by America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel, who starred with Lively in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." "As Blake's friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation," they wrote on Instagram. "Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us', we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice." A lawyer for Wayfarer, the studio behind the film, said in a statement released to the New York Times that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively. "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media," lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote. The complaint was lodged with the California Civil Rights Department, and is a precursor to a lawsuit. Major Hollywood talent agency WME -- which represents Lively -- has reportedly dropped Baldoni as a client. hg/aha
Sinn Fein actively pursuing route into government, insists leader McDonald'Extreme concern' ACT teen accused of possessing ISIS videos could commit bomb attack
Despite Mary Lou McDonald’s confidence around shaping a coalition without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail – the two parties that have dominated the landscape of Irish politics for a century – the pathway to government for Sinn Fein still appears challenging. With counting following Friday’s election still in the relatively early stages – after an exit poll that showed the main three parties effectively neck-and-neck – there is some way to go before the final picture emerges and the options for government formation crystalise. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, has dismissed talk of a Sinn Fein surge and said he was “cautiously optimistic” about where his party will stand after all the votes are counted. Meanwhile, Ireland’s deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, insisted his party has a “very clear route back to government” as he predicted seat gains. The counting process could last days because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference. The leaders of the main three parties were all re-elected as TDs on Saturday evening, topping the polls in their respective constituencies. The early indications have turned the focus to the tricky arithmetic of government formation, as the country’s several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockey for a place in government. Ms McDonald told reporters at the RDS count centre in Dublin that she would be “very, very actively pursuing” the potential to form a government with other parties on the left of the political spectrum. The smaller, left-leaning parties in Ireland include the Social Democrats, the Irish Labour Party, the Green Party and People Before Profit-Solidarity. Ms McDonald said her party had delivered an “incredible performance” in the election. “I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould here in this state,” she said. “Two party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history and that, in itself, is very significant.” She added: “I am looking to bring about a government of change, and I’m going to go and look at all formulations. “If you want my bottom line, the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years, in our strong opinion, is not a good outcome for Irish society. “Obviously, I want to talk to other parties of the left and those that we share very significant policy objectives with. So I’m going to do that first and just hear their mind, hear their thinking. But be very clear, we will be very, very actively pursuing entrance into government.” In Friday night’s exit poll, Sinn Fein was predicted to take 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of outgoing coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively. Prior to the election, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both ruled out entering government with Sinn Fein. Fine Gael leader Mr Harris rejected suggestions Sinn Fein had broken new ground. He told reporters in his count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow: “Certainly we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it. “I mean, it looks likely, on the figures that we’ve seen now, fewer people, many fewer people would have voted Sinn Fein in this election than the last one. “In fact, I think they’re down by around 5% and actually the parties, particularly the two parties, the two larger parties in government, are likely to receive significant support from the electorate. So definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented.” He said it was too early to tell what the next government would look like. “I think anybody who makes any suggestion about who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government, they’re a braver person than I am,” he said. “Our electoral system dictates that there’ll be many, many transfers that will go on for hours, if not days, before we know the final computations at all. “But what I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead, and I’m cautiously optimistic and excited.” Fianna Fail’s Mr Martin told reporters at a count centre in Cork he was confident that the numbers exist to form a government with parties that shared his political viewpoint. Mr Martin said it “remains to be seen” whether he would return to the role of Taoiseach – a position he held between 2020 and 2022 – but he expressed confidence his party would outperform the exit poll prediction. “It’s a bit too early yet to call the exact type of government that will be formed or the composition of the next government,” he said. “But I think there are, there will be a sufficiency of seats, it seems to me, that aligns with the core principles that I articulated at the outset of this campaign and throughout the campaign, around the pro-enterprise economy, around a positively pro-European position, a government that will strongly push for home ownership and around parties that are transparently democratic in how they conduct their affairs.” Asked if it would be in a coalition with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Social Democrats, he said that would be “racing a bit too far ahead”. The final result may dictate that if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are to return to government, they may need more than one junior partner, or potentially the buy-in of several independent TDs. Mr Martin said it was unclear how quickly a government can be formed, as he predicted his party would gain new seats. “It will be challenging. This is not easy,” he added. The junior partner in the outgoing government – the Green Party – looks set for a bruising set of results. Green leader Roderic O’Gorman is in a fight to hold onto his seat, as are a number of party colleagues, including Media Minister Catherine Martin. “It’s clear the Green Party has not had a good day,” he said. The early counting also suggested potential trouble for Fianna Fail in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, is considered to have a battle ahead, with the risk of losing his seat. Meanwhile, there is significant focus on independent candidate Gerard Hutch who, on Saturday evening, was sitting in fourth place in the four-seat constituency of Dublin Central. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. A Special Criminal Court judge described Mr Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in “serious criminal conduct”. The constituency will be closely watched as other hopefuls wait to see if transfers from eliminated candidates may eventually rule him out of contention. In the constituency of Louth, the much-criticised selection of John McGahon appeared not to have paid off for Fine Gael. The party’s campaign was beset by questioning over footage entering the public domain of the candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub in 2018. The Social Democrats have a strong chance of emerging as the largest of the smaller parties. The party’s leader, Holly Cairns, was already celebrating before a single vote was counted however, having announced the birth of her baby girl on polling day.ABUJA – A pro-democracy and public interest organization, The Citizens, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to addressing Nigeria’s economic and security challenges through robust measures. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja today, the group commended the Federal Government and the judiciary for their roles in strengthening democracy, particularly through recent rulings on the financial autonomy of local governments. They also lauded the affirmation of the legal status of key anti-corruption institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). They, however, expressed strong disapproval of the relentless efforts by certain paid agents to tarnish the reputation of key officers in the current administration. The group commended the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for his unwavering diligence in service and steadfast loyalty to President Bola Tinubu. In a press release, they stated: “We call on the federal government to consider amending existing laws to address the spread of false information, cyberbullying, and criminal defamation of character through electronic, print, and social media platforms. Such acts pose a serious threat to public peace and must be tackled decisively.” He firmly resisted all offers and courageously led the “2007 Movement” in the House of Representatives, which successfully thwarted the infamous Third Term Agenda. These actions are a testament to his unwavering integrity and impeccable character, the release noted. A man of enviable qualities, he stands out for his good character, refined personality, and exceptional spirit. His contributions to the legislature have earned him a place among the finest lawmakers ever produced by the Nigerian Parliament. While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his courage and political will to push through the financial autonomy of the Local Governments, they urged him to ensure effective implementation of the policy so that the desired development gets to the grassroots. We make bold to state our readiness as Nigerian Citizens to support Government at all levels to making Nigeria better for us all, the release concluded. Also lending his voice, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of The Citizens, Nnanna Raphael Igbokwe, expressed his dismay at the activities of certain individuals he described as “mercantile agents.” According to Igbokwe, these agents are merely acting out a script handed down by their masters, targeting Femi Gbajabiamila for refusing to bow to pressure aimed at frustrating the passage of the 2022 Electoral Act. Igbokwe noted that these detractors were vehemently opposed to the inclusion of a clear definition of “consensus candidate” in the Act. He alleged that their ultimate goal was to manipulate the process in favor of a weak candidate emerging from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on his part reiterated his commitment to upholding democratic principles, emphasizing that the qualifications or disqualifications of any candidate must strictly adhere to the provisions outlined in the Constitution. He stressed that candidates should emerge through transparent and democratic processes, such as party primaries, rather than being imposed by a select few under the pretext of a consensus arrangement. According to him, this approach ensures fairness and respects the will of the people. “Democracy thrives when the people have a voice in determining their leaders, not when decisions are made arbitrarily in the guise of consensus,” Gbajabiamila declared. The press conference, held under the auspices of The Citizen, also had in attendance notable members of its Board of Trustees, including Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa, Hon. Lawal Abubakar, Hon. Matthew Omeghara, and Dr. Elijah Auta.
Ireland's two large centre-right parties look on course to be returned to power but they will likely need at least one smaller partner to secure a majority, raising questions about the stability of the next government. Login or signup to continue reading That could leave the parties facing prolonged negotiations or an unstable coalition ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, whose pledge to slash corporate tax and impose tariffs poses a threat to the Irish economy. After voters went to the polls on Friday, governing parties Fine Gael and Fianna Fail were on 20.5 per cent and 21.9 per cent of first-preference votes respectively, according to a tally by Virgin Media News with left-wing Sinn Fein on 19.1 per cent. With the two centre-right parties ruling out a deal with Sinn Fein, the main question was how close to the 88 seats needed for a majority the pair can get - and whether they would need one or two more coalition parties to get over the line. "Clearly there is a route there to government," Fianna Fail's leader and deputy prime minister, Micheal Martin, told state broadcaster RTE when asked about a deal with Fine Gael and another party. "But a lot will depend ... on how many seats the respective parties get." It was "far too early" to discuss possible coalition partners or whether he might be the next prime minister, he said. Fianna Fail could get as many as 48 seats and Fine Gael could take 39, leaving them on the cusp of 88 seats, former Trinity College Dublin political science professor Michael Gallagher told RTE, citing vote tallies. The most obvious candidates for a coalition partner would be centre-left parties Labour and the Social Democrats, who Gallagher said could take eight seats each. But if those numbers are lower when votes are counted under Ireland's complex system of proportional representation, four parties could be needed to form a government, making it much more fragile. A clear outline of final seat numbers was not expected to emerge until Sunday. The current junior coalition party, the Greens, were in danger of losing all 12 of their seats, party leader Roderic O'Gorman said. Prime Minister Simon Harris called the election on the heels of a 10.5 billion euro ($A17 billion) giveaway budget that began to put money into voters' pockets during the campaign, largesse made possible by billions of euros of foreign multinational corporate tax revenues. However, a campaign full of missteps for his Fine Gael party, culminating last weekend in a viral clip of Harris walking away from an exasperated care worker, cost them their pre-election lead. The government parties also faced widespread frustration during the campaign at their inability to turn the healthiest public finances in Europe into better public services. Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army, appeared on course to lead the next government a year ago but suffered a slide in support from 30 per cent to 35 per cent, in part due to anger among its working-class base at relatively liberal immigration policies. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, former rivals that have between them led every government since the foundation of the state almost a century ago, agreed to share the role of prime minister during the last government, switching roles halfway through the five-year term. Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!ITV Emmerdale fans 'work out' Kim Tate 'exit' as Will Taylor bombshell is exposed
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Anoto announces outcome of rights issueRobinson scores 25 in Mercer's 90-89 OT win against Jacksonville
In our Xmas gift to you, beloved Stockhead reader, we give our 2025 Experts' Digest. Fourteen Australian stockpickers have come to the party with 59 – THAT'S RIGHT, 59 – large and small cap mining stocks they see with upside next year, plus which commodity's and themes they are playing and avoiding in 2025. Seven fundies and analysts are on the roster for part two. But first a few little little themes we picked up. As to be expected, gold and copper were the commodities on everyone's lips. Close to half of our respondents, six for each metal, picked gold and copper as the market to play. The most reviled metal was nickel, which had four picks for worst commodity in 2025. One contrarian bet from Sanlam Private Wealth's Ben Faulkner tipped a quicker than expected rebound for nickel prices. Lithium bets are also more bearish than bullish, with four tips in the worst commodity idea list, but two tipping an early revival in 2025. More fundies thought iron ore would struggle than prosper amid weak Chinese economic activity but met coal received support. Uranium, alumina and silver also saw some love, with three picks on the right side of the ledger and none on the bad side for each of uranium, silver and coking coal. The most selected name among our respondents was AIC Mines. The $178 million-capped owner of the Eloise copper mine in Queensland was three analysts' choice to play their bullish copper thesis. Silver explorer Sun Silver, lithium hopeful Vulcan Energy Resources, African goldie Toubani Resources and gold exploration success story Spartan Resources all received two votes. Gold names were by far the best represented, with 15 of the 59 companies primarily focused on gold mining and exploration. Most are ASX listed, with three expected to plan listings in H1 2025, including the London-listed owner of the Telfer gold mine, Greatland Gold. Dermot Woods – Precision Funds Management Best commodity/investing idea Lithium: Everybody who said it was stronger for longer in 2021/22 are now saying it's going to be in the basement for two years – very good sign. We also like coking coal, copper and uranium . They will all get a proper supply squeeze sometime in next year or two. Worst commodity/investing idea Aussie banking stocks: Horrifically overvalued, will have to come back to pack. Stocks to watch in 2025 Spartan Resources (ASX:SPR) – Owner of Never Never gold discovery in WA. Will see more exploration success and a possible takeover in 2025. Encounter Resources (ASX:ENR) – Kaleidoscopic explorer, has made a potential niobium discovery near market darling WA1 Resources (ASX:WA1) . Same thesis as Spartan. Toubani Resources (ASX:TRE) – Gold deposit holder in Mali. A possible flyer. Could do anything if Mali tax negative news flow for Resolute and Barrick dissipates. Rusty Delroy – Nero Resource Fund Best commodity/investing idea PGEs, particularly palladium: Currently trades deeply into the cost curve. Consensus demand forecasts underestimate the uptake of PHEV and REEV autos, which both require catalytic converters. Consensus supply numbers overestimate the supply from recycling, which has little to no incentive at spot commodity prices combined with higher cost of capital (interest rates). Stockpile is largely eroded. Something has to give. We like the physical metal (PALL:NYSE) combined with a mix of producer/explorer names for leverage. Worst commodity/investing idea Steel and steel related commodities (particularly iron ore): These feel fragile going into next year. Combined with some ‘ambitious concepts’ around hydrogen we will go with an FMG short for the downside leverage play. Stocks to watch in 2025 Stellar Resources (ASX:SRZ) – Owns the high-grade Heemskirk deposit in Tasmania. Tin is a commodity we very much like the structural dynamics of and Stellar has a first-world, high-grade, development asset which is incredibly hard to find in a boutique and under-appreciated metal (critical in electronics). Toubani Resources (ASX:TRE) – Obviously Mali is not flavour of the month but this is probably the deepest value gold play on either the ASX or TSX. High margin, scale production, simple mining and metallurgy. Jupiter Mines (ASX:JMS) – Cheap, long-life manganese producer. Xanadu Mines (ASX:XAM) – Copper takeover target. Peel Mining (ASX:PEX) – Copper takeover target. 3D Energi (ASX:TDO) – Tiny cap oil junior with leverage to high probability exploration wells. Luke Laretive – Seneca Financial Solutions Best commodity/investing idea Silver: Demand looks strong, and there's not a lot of near-term supply to fill the market. But I really think it's that energy complex – thermal coal, oil, natural gas, natural hydrogen, lithium and silver (as much of the incremental demand is from solar). Worst commodity/investing idea Antimony: I can't see that continuing. It's up over 100% last 12 months, that doesn't go on forever. Stocks to watch in 2025 James Bay Minerals (ASX:JBY) – We think there is a lot of potential at Battle Mountain, and the team have been able to pull off a near-miracle making that acquisition at the price they did. Sun Silver (ASX:SS1) – Far too cheap relative to their peers. Top End Energy (ASX:TEE) – More speculative, but drilling in 2025 and we think natural hydrogen is the smokey of 2025. Other picks include Vulcan Energy Resources (ASX:VUL) , AIC Mines (ASX:A1M) , Karoon Energy (ASX:KAR) , Red Hill Minerals (ASX:RHI) , Stanmore Coal (ASX:SMR) , Wildcat Resources (ASX:WC8) , and New Hope Corp (ASX:NHC) . Ben Faulkner – Sanlam Private Wealth Best commodity/investing idea Copper: We see copper demand growing in 2025 and catching up with supply, which should see an imbalance in the market to favour higher prices. The upside risk here is that China’s economy fires up again in 2025 after the numerous stimulus measures put in place recently. Nickel: Every market commentator is bearish nickel due to cheap supply out of Indonesia and other low cost producers flooding the market. We think the worst has passed and many of those “dirty” producers have been shut down with no new licences granted for such production methods. Worst commodity/investing idea: Oil: The oil market remains over supplied and we continue to see OPEC members running their own agenda and not sticking to supply quotas. We expect more of this to happen in 2025 and non OPEC members also increase production. Iron ore: We see the iron ore market being over supplied in 2025 as more production globally comes online. Without any real signs of demand to take on this supply we expect prices to trend lower. Stocks to watch in 2025 Western Mines Group (ASX:WMG) – WMG owns the Mulga Tank project, which unveiled the discovery of a major komatiite hosted nickel sulphide mineral system under cover in WA. WMG has continued aggressive exploration regardless of the noise and negative sentiment in the nickel market at the moment. Many juniors flip around to the “hottest” commodity where WMG has been dedicated to exploration at Mulga Tank over three years as it’s a world class quality project and this has paid off for them. With a market cap of $15m we think in a better nickel market this stock is worth multiples of that. QMines (ASX:QML) – QMines is a Queensland-based copper and gold exploration and development company. QML owns rights to 100% of the Mt Chalmers (Cu-Au) and Develin Creek (Cu-Zn) deposits. Mt Chalmers and Develin Creek now have a measured, indicated and inferred JORC 2012 resource of 15.1Mt at 1.3% CuEq for 195,800t CuEq. QML completed a pre-feasibilty study this year which showed robust economics with a 10+ year mine life. QML offers copper and gold exposure with the opportunity for the company to continue to find new discoveries and progress to the development of their mine. QML has a small market cap of $20m which we believe offers compelling value for a company with such advanced assets. Disclaimer: Sanlam Private Wealth was lead manager to past capital raisings of the companies listed above and earned fees from those and other capital raising services. Sanlam staff and Ben Faulkner are also shareholders of the companies mentioned above. Romano Sala Tenna – Katana Asset Management Best commodity/investing idea Met coal: I’m tempted to run with oil as it has underperformed for the past two years. However, the supply-demand outlook still looks decidedly soft at this juncture. I think therefore it comes down to gold or metallurgical coal . The latter is marginally in front, predicated on the long term supply-demand deficit due to the emergence of India as a genuine economic powerhouse. Whether it's 2025 or 2026, we are confident that the met coal price will be somewhat higher given the growing demand from India and lack of new or even replacement supply. Worst commodity/investing idea: None: Difficult! 2024 has been a challenging year for most commodities. There have been a handful of standout performers, but most commodities have been sold off; predicated on nervousness around the Chinese economy. From these already depressed levels, we don’t see an obvious candidate to underperform (further) during 2025. Stocks to watch in 2025 Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) – Whilst it doesn’t play in to the met coal thematic, we nonetheless believe that MIN will have a strong year in 2025. MIN has been one of the very best performers in terms of total shareholder return (TSR) for nearly two decades. 2024 was a year from hell, with governance issues, declining commodity prices and record debt all converging to create the perfect storm. Investors need to remember the record debt was a product of record growth. The Onslow iron ore project will be fully operational by mid-2025 and this is the largest and most lucrative project in the company's long history. Whitehaven Coal (ASX:WHC) – WHC plays directly to our view that the met coal price will be notably stronger in the coming months and years. Additionally, its share price is also likely to be driven by its purchase of the Daunia and Blackwater met coal mines from BHP. These were truly remarkable acquisitions, whereby WHC doubled the size of the business without issuing a single new share. There are signs costs have well and truly peaked and are on their way down. WHC is the cheapest stock in the ASX100 by a margin. Once the sentiment improves, the rerating is likely to be rapid. Coronado Global Resources (ASX:CRN) – A higher risk, higher return way to gain exposure to the met coal price. CRN has had a horrible 2024, more than halving from $1.76 per share to the low 80c range. The declining met coal price during 2024, combined with a string of operational issues, has undermined investor confidence. However, the consensus PER for CY25 is Gavin Wendt – MineLife Best commodity/investing idea Precious metals: A prudent bet for 2025. Strong investment demand fundamentals remain in place, supported by rising debt levels, global currency weakness, central bank buying and global political and economic uncertainty. Gold remains the standout commodity for 2025 as the factors that have driven it to record highs in 2024 remain prevalent. Silver, too will follow in gold's path. The gold ratio is 88:1. The last three times it has been this inexpensive relative to gold, silver went on to rally 40%, 300% and 400%. Conversely, the three times the ratio has fallen below 20 in the past, it has marked a period when gold was relatively inexpensive compared to silver. History therefore suggests that the current conditions represent a buying opportunity in silver. Worst commodity/investing idea None, but Wendt says the outlook for China dominated commodities and those reliant on Chinese economic demand including nickel, zinc, copper, iron ore and rare earths remain under pressure. Stocks to watch in 2025 Auric Mining (ASX:AWJ) – Auric has achieved production status via a relatively low-risk strategy of contract mining and toll treatment, firstly at its Jeffreys Find gold deposit and shortly at its Munda deposit, both in Western Australia. Proving that miners don't have to be big to be hugely successful, AWJ's strong share price performance reflects its success. The next two stages of mining at Jeffreys Find will generate additional net cash of $7-10m before mining and production commences at Munda. Sun Silver (ASX:SS1) – Owns the Maverick Springs silver deposit in Nevada, having listed in May this year. Reprocessing of historical drill data increased the inferred mineral resource to 423Moz silver equivalent – 253.3Moz of silver and 2Moz of gold from 195.74Mt ore, with average grades of 40.25g/t silver and 0.32g/t gold. Encouragingly, the upgrade did not include results from the company's ongoing inaugural drill program, which encountered high-grade silver in the northwest section of Maverick Springs, an area outside the existing resource where historic drilling identified grades up to 6216g/t silver. We like Sun Silver as it’s a silver play in a first-rate location. QPM Energy (ASX:QPM) – QPM Energy has pivoted neatly to become an emerging gas producer and electricity supplier in Queensland's Bowen Basin, at a time of rising energy prices, and as the AEMO warns of increased blackout risk in Queensland due to hot weather, high demand and aging coal plants. QPM should see strong sales revenue in 2025 on the back of gas production growth and electricity generation. Strike Energy (ASX:STX) – STX maintains a dominant position within the Perth Basin’s Permian Gas Fairway, which has the potential to develop into one of Australia’s largest onshore gas resources. Along these lines, in 2023 the company launched its fully funded gas acceleration strategy, which is targeting up to four sources of gas production (Walyering, Ocean Hill, and South and West Erregulla) to come online by the end of 2025. Strike has also committed itself to the development of the $137M South Erregulla fully integrated peaking gas power station development, which will be completed before October 2026. Peter Kormendy – Shaw and Partners Best commodity/investing idea Bauxite/alumina/aluminium, copper, coking coal, gold and u ranium. We also think lithium has bottomed and now is a good time to look at the higher quality resources. Worst commodity/investing idea Not supplied. Stocks to watch in 2025 Paladin Energy (ASX:PDN) , Bannerman Energy (ASX:BMN) and Silex Systems (ASX:SLX) (uranium mid-tiers) – The uranium market is structurally under-supplied and demand for nuclear energy (decarbonising electricity grids, AI/data centres) is likely to see the shortage of supply become an increasingly large problem for the power utilities. We expect to see uranium spike higher through the course of this decade and see little to cap the upside. Metro Mining (ASX:MMI) – Ships bauxite to China and is trading at just 3.7x PE and 1.5x EV/EBITDA in 2025. Bauxite prices are rising due to strong demand from China at a time of supply disruptions in Guinea, China and an export ban from Indonesia. AIC Mines (ASX:A1M) – Queensland copper miner has growth options with the nearby Jericho deposit and regional exploration. Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT) – Current 142.6mt at 1.39% Li2O resource at Shaakichiuwaanaan in Quebec, Canada, is the largest lithium resource in North America. Santana Minerals (ASX:SMI) and Southern Cross Gold (ASX:SXG) – The gold price has hit all time highs in 2024 but looks likely to push higher in 2025 as the US enters its rate cut cycle, global geo-political tensions remain elevated and central banks purchase gold as an alternative to the US$. Santana has 2.5Moz at Bendigo-Ophir in New Zealand. SXG continues to drill high grade intercepts at Sunday Creek, 60km north of Melbourne. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the interviews in this article are solely those of the interviewees and do not represent the views of Stockhead. Stockhead does not provide, endorse or otherwise assume responsibility for any financial product advice contained in this article. At Stockhead, we tell it like it is. While Spartan Resources, Sun Silver, QPM Energy, QMines, James Bay Minerals, Top End Energy and Toubani Resources are Stockhead advertisers, they did not sponsor this article. Originally published as These 14 stock experts give their key mining picks for 2025: Part Two Stockhead Don't miss out on the headlines from Stockhead. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Stockhead Road to 2025: QMines In this episode, host Sarah Hughan recaps the past 12 months for Queensland explorer QMines and its impressive projects. 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By Zhenbo Wang *, Associate professor of mechanical, aerospace and biomedical engineering, University of Tennessee In 2024, space exploration dazzled the world. NASA's Europa Clipper began its journey to study Jupiter's moon Europa . SpaceX's Starship achieved its first successful landing , a critical milestone for future deep space missions. China made headlines with the Chang'e 6 mission, which successfully returned samples from the far side of the Moon. Meanwhile, the International Space Station continued to host international crews, including private missions like Axiom Mission 3. As an aerospace engineer, I'm excited for 2025, when space agencies worldwide are gearing up for even more ambitious goals. Here's a look at the most exciting missions planned for the coming year, which will expand humanity's horizons even further, from the Moon and Mars to asteroids and beyond: Scouting the lunar surface with CLPS NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative aims to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon using commercial landers. CLPS is what brought Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander to the Moon in February 2024, marking the first US Moon landing since Apollo. In 2025, NASA has several CLPS missions planned, including deliveries by companies Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines and Firefly Aerospace. These missions will carry a variety of scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to different lunar locations. The payloads will include experiments to study lunar geology, test new technologies for future human missions and gather data on the Moon's environment. Surveying the sky with SPHEREx In February 2025, NASA plans to launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, or SPHEREx, observatory. This mission will survey the sky in near-infrared light, which is a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye but that special instruments can detect. Near-infrared light is useful for observing objects that are too cool or too distant to be seen in visible light. SPHEREx will create a comprehensive map of the universe by surveying and collecting data on more than 450 million galaxies along with over 100 million stars in the Milky Way. Astronomers will use this data to answer big questions about the origins of galaxies and the distribution of water and organic molecules in stellar nurseries - where stars are born from gas and dust. Studying low Earth orbit with Space Rider The European Space Agency, or ESA, plans to conduct an orbital test flight of its Space Rider uncrewed spaceplane in the third quarter of 2025. Space Rider is a reusable spacecraft designed to carry out various scientific experiments in low Earth orbit. These scientific experiments will include research in microgravity, which is the near-weightless environment of space. Scientists will study how plants grow, how materials behave and how biological processes occur without the influence of gravity. Space Rider will also demonstrate new technologies for future missions. For example, it will test advanced telecommunication systems, which are crucial for maintaining communication with spacecraft over long distances. It will also test new robotic exploration tools for use on future missions to the Moon or Mars. Exploring the Moon with M2/Resilience Japan's M2/Resilience mission, scheduled for January 2025, will launch a lander and micro-rover to the lunar surface. This mission will study the lunar soil to understand its composition and properties. Researchers will also conduct a water-splitting test to produce oxygen and hydrogen by extracting water from the lunar surface, heating the water and splitting the captured steam. The generated water, oxygen and hydrogen can be used for enabling long-term lunar exploration. This mission will also demonstrate new technologies, such as advanced navigation systems for precise landings and systems to operate the rover autonomously. These technologies are essential for future lunar exploration and could be used in missions to Mars and beyond. The M2/Resilience mission is part of Japan's broader efforts to contribute to international lunar exploration. It builds on the success of Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, mission, which landed on the Moon using a precise landing technique in March 2024. Investigating an asteroid with Tianwen-2 China's Tianwen-2 mission is an ambitious asteroid sample return and comet probe mission. Scheduled for launch in May 2025, Tianwen-2 aims to collect samples from a near-Earth asteroid and study a comet. This mission will advance scientists' understanding of the solar system's formation and evolution, building on the success of China's previous lunar and Mars missions. The mission's first target is the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa. This asteroid is a quasi-satellite of Earth, meaning it orbits the Sun but stays close to Earth. Kamoʻoalewa is roughly 131-328 feet (40-100 meters) in diameter and may be a fragment of the Moon, ejected into space by a past impact event. By studying this asteroid, scientists hope to learn about the early solar system and the processes that shaped it. The spacecraft will use both touch-and-go and anchor-and-attach techniques to collect samples from the asteroid's surface. After collecting samples from Kamoʻoalewa, Tianwen-2 will return them to Earth and then set course for its second target, the main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS. This comet is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. By analysing the comet's materials, researchers hope to learn more about the conditions that existed in the early solar system and possibly the origins of water and organic molecules on Earth. Solar system flybys Besides the above planned launch missions, several space agencies plan to perform exciting deep-space flyby missions in 2025. A flyby, or gravity assist, is when a spacecraft passes close enough to a planet or moon to use its gravity for a speed boost. As the spacecraft approaches, it gets pulled in by the planet's gravity, which helps it accelerate. After swinging around the planet, the spacecraft is flung back out into space, allowing it to change direction and continue on its intended path using less fuel. BepiColombo, a joint mission by ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, will make its sixth flyby of Mercury in January 2025. This manoeuvre will help the spacecraft enter orbit around Mercury by November 2026. BepiColombo aims to study Mercury's composition, atmosphere and surface geology. NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which launched in October 2024, will make significant progress on its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa. In March 2025, the spacecraft will perform a flyby manoeuvre at Mars. This manoeuvre will help the spacecraft gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its long voyage. Later in December 2026, Europa Clipper will perform a flyby of Earth, using Earths gravity to further increase its momentum so it can arrive at Europa in April 2030. The ESA's Hera mission will also perform a flyby of Mars in March 2025. Hera is part of the Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment mission, which plans to study the Didymos binary asteroid system. The mission will provide valuable data on asteroid deflection techniques and contribute to planetary defense strategies. NASA's Lucy mission will continue its journey to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun, in 2025. One key event for Lucy is its flyby of the inner main-belt asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson, scheduled for April 20, 2025. This flyby will provide valuable data on this ancient asteroid's composition and surface features, which can help researchers gain insights into the early solar system. The asteroid is named after the paleoanthropologist who discovered the famous "Lucy" fossil. ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, mission will perform a Venus flyby in August 2025. This manoeuvre will help JUICE gain the necessary speed and trajectory for its journey to Jupiter. Once it arrives, JUICE will study Jupiter's icy moons to understand their potential for harbouring life. 2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for space exploration. With NASA's ambitious missions and significant contributions from other countries, we are set to make remarkable strides in humanity's understanding of the universe. These missions will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inspire future generations to look to the stars. *Zhenbo Wang receives funding from NASA.Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that'll change
In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” Very sorry to hear of President Carter’s passing. I pay tribute to his decades of selfless public service. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/IaKmZcteb1 — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 29, 2024 US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr Carter “reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion”. “His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come,” she said. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Gordon Brown, another former prime minister, said it was a “privilege” to have known Mr Carter, who “will be mourned, not just in America, but in every continent where human rights are valued”. Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceDylan Hernández: MLS deal with Apple TV could be hurting league's efforts to grow its fan basePresident-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will head a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has met with plenty of scorn from Democrats. That’s not surprising: We live in polarized times. Whatever the issue, the partisan instinct is to take a position antithetical to the opposition, and the combination of Trump, Musk and Ramaswamy only intensifies that compulsion. But when it comes to efficiency, Democrats must refuse to take the bait. Democrats cannot be cornered into defending harmful and unnecessary bureaucracy, red tape and wasteful spending. Instead, the party should fight for a very different vision of efficiency: government dedicated to swiftly and dramatically improve the lives of ordinary people and protect them from corporate profiteers — in other words, from exactly the kind of people who will lead the DOGE initiative and populate the incoming Trump administration. Musk and Ramaswamy are nothing if not ambitious. They “cut the federal government down to size” and have set their sights on slashing up to $2 trillion, or about 30% of the federal budget. Their proposals for how to do this include cutting funding for scientific research, laying off federal employees at random, and trimming defense spending. Given that the substantially under President Trump’s first term, the Pentagon will probably be safe. But we can’t say the same for other areas that make up the majority of government spending, including entitlements such as . More likely than not, DOGE’s proposals will align with the goals of Project 2025, the conservative plan to radically remake the government by privatizing essential public services and concentrating power in the executive branch. After months of denying any knowledge of Project 2025, Trump has proposed one of its architects, to head the Office of Management and Budget. This means things like replacing career civil service workers with Trump loyalists, gutting regulations, rolling back civil rights and labor protections, abolishing the Department of Education, and more. Of course, Republicans salivating over the chance to slash government isn’t new. Remember anti-tax activist Grover Norquist saying he wanted to “reduce government to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub”? What’s new is how the Department of Government Efficiency repackages cruel and unpopular conservative ideology in meme-covered bottles, rebranding austerity, corporate deregulation, and cuts to public welfare as hip and edgy. Even the acronym DOGE is a reference to Dogecoin, a jokey, dog-themed cryptocurrency. Indeed, it isn’t even a real government department, but an advisory committee. DOGE, in other words, is a fake department named after a fake form of money. And despite Musk and Ramaswamy’s images as men of bold new ideas, DOGE isn’t even a novel proposal. In 1982, Ronald Reagan created the Grace Commission, run by businessman Peter Grace, who vowed to “root out inefficiency” with the help of a counsel of corporate executives. Reagan promised to “drain the swamp” (a phrase Trump would adopt), but government bureaucracy has only grown in the decades since. Much of it, ironically, has been put in place by Republicans because they abhor the idea of the “undeserving” getting public assistance — think poor single mothers receiving food stamps or the sick and disabled not having to worry about deductibles or co-pays. Ordinary people, however, are hardly as hostile to government or worried about “free riders” as the right-wing ideologues about to take power in Washington. What most folks want is for the government to work well and to work for them. Plenty of polls show that majorities of voters want the state to be more involved in , , , , and more. Americans like big government when it delivers. Much of my family lives in Buncombe County, North Carolina, the epicenter of Hurricane Helene’s recent destruction. No one complained when public officials managed to repair the storm-damaged water infrastructure in record time, condensing a job that would normally take a year or more into by working around the clock and finding creative ways to problem-solve. That’s one model of what truly efficient government looks like, and it’s the kind of government efficiency that Democrats should stand for. Imagine public transportation that is clean, fast, on time, and free. Or being able to quickly and seamlessly e-file your taxes in a matter of minutes, based on employer-submitted earnings, the way people in many industrialized countries do. Or what about the efficiency of knowing your kids could go to excellent public colleges without having to fill out or rely on impossible-to-pay student loans? Why should being able to apply for unemployment benefits or emergency disaster relief through functioning websites, and receiving swift and adequate assistance, seem like a pipe dream? Efficient government programs should be high quality and, whenever possible, universal. Means-testing programs have been shown to and drive up costs by adding layers of unnecessary bureaucracy. Our byzantine profit-driven health care system, for example, would be much more efficient if it was replaced by a well-funded public option, one that would free patients from having to file claims or fight to have life-saving treatments covered. Today, administrative costs make up around a third of all U.S. health care expenditures. Americans spend nearly five times more per person than Canadians pay. This type of wasteful spending should be reallocated. That is what anti-war and racial justice advocates have been saying for years. Why not trim bloated military and police budgets and reinvest money saved in revenue-starved schools, mental health services, libraries, jobs and more? We need the government to build green housing, high speed rail, renewable energy infrastructure, and we need it done fast — not bogged down by proceduralism, paperwork and pointless delays. Sadly, improving government isn’t what DOGE is about. Consider Musk’s legacy at Twitter. Sure, he eliminated six letters when he changed the name to X (talk about efficiency!) but , including those who worked in vital areas like security and fraud. He even cut the janitorial service, reportedly forcing at least one employee to bring their own toilet paper to work and rig it up using a coat hanger. Today of what Musk paid for it. X may still be semi-functional, but it’s a social media site, not an essential service. Unlike the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Food and Drug Administration, we’d all be fine if X collapsed. In the end, when Trump and his buddies say “efficiency” what they really mean is “boondoggle.” As Musk puts other people’s jobs on the chopping block, his net worth has ballooned to over $300 billion. With improved access to federal funding for his vehicles and spaceships — and less pesky government oversight from his enemies at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Trade Commission — he’s poised to become even wealthier. Every American, no matter who they voted for, deserves better than DOGE. Democrats don’t need to pretend to be for small government, but they certainly shouldn’t embrace inefficient government. What they need is a clear, compelling vision of how government can and should efficiently be used for good.