q2523

q2523 The 59-year-old Malzahn is leaving UCF after four season where he led the program to a 28-24 record but back-to-back losing seasons.‘Cruel Intentions’ Star Sean Patrick Thomas on Returning to the TV Spinoff 25 Years Later With a Different Kind of Forbidden LoveJurors end 1st day of deliberations without a verdict in the YSL gang and racketeering trial ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Charlotte Kramon, The Associated Press Nov 26, 2024 2:34 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker speaks with a prosecutor during the Young Thug trial at Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago . Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. The jury started deliberating Tuesday afternoon and was dismissed at 5 p.m. Jurors are expected to resume deliberations Wednesday morning. If they don’t reach a verdict by 3 p.m. Wednesday, the judge will send them home for the Thanksgiving weekend and they will return Monday morning. Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell's attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial" and “Slatty," which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months , and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug , pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn't have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna , accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon Charlotte Kramon, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More Entertainment News Drake makes another legal move against Universal over Kendrick Lamar diss track 'Not Like Us' Nov 26, 2024 1:20 PM It’s almost time for Spotify Wrapped. When can you expect your 2024 recap? Nov 26, 2024 11:45 AM Jury are deliberating in the long-running YSL gang and racketeering trial Nov 26, 2024 11:40 AM Featured FlyerCuba Simplifies Travel for Uruguayans with E-Visas and Enhanced Connectivity

Chancellor Rachel Reeves vows to take ‘iron-fist’ to Whitehall spending and demands Cabinet cut size of stateSince his appointment as the Senior White House Policy Advisor for US President-elect Donald Trump, Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-origin entrepreneur, has sparked significant debate. His views on immigration and green card limits have faced widespread criticism. However, despite the controversy, Elon Musk, one of the wealthiest individuals globally and a renowned tech visionary, has voiced his support for Krishnan. Washington: Since Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-origin entrepreneur, was announced as the Senior White House Policy Advisor for US President-elect Donald Trump, he has become a topic of intense discussion. Many have criticised his stance on immigration and green card limits. Despite the backlash, Elon Musk, widely regarded as one of the world’s richest persons and a visionary tech entrepreneur, has came in support for Krishnan. Amid the criticism, a user on X shared a post featuring a photo of butter chicken alongside an image of Sriram Krishnan. The caption read, “ Here is what Sriram Krishnan would look like if he was butter chicken.” The butter chicken image appears to be AI-generated, covering Krishnan’s face and neck with the dish. David Sacks, Donald Trump’s newly appointed head of artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency, stepped in to clarify Krishnan’s stance. He responded, “Point of clarification: Sriram didn’t say he wants to remove all caps on green cards. He said he wants to remove country caps on green cards...” Elon Musk agreed with Sacks’ explanation, He replied, “Makes sense.” Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Adan Khan is an emerging journalist with a keen focus on crime and politics. With a talent for making complex issues accessible, he has quickly become known for his ability to clarify intricate topics. Now with a year of experience in the news industry, Adan remains committed to delivering the truth, regardless of its difficulty. His writing seeks to make critical subjects both clear and engaging, offering readers insightful perspectives and guiding them through challenging issues. Dedicated to continuous growth, Adan is here to inform, engage, and make a meaningful impact in journalism.

Jamieson Greer: The New Architect of America's Trade FutureWrap Technologies, Inc. (OTCMKTS: WRTC) recently held its annual meeting of stockholders on December 23, 2024, where significant decisions were made. The company announced that its stockholders approved an amendment to the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. This amendment, known as the “Incentive Plan Amendment,” increases the number of shares of common stock available for awards under the Incentive Plan by 7,500,000 shares, bringing the total to 16,500,000 shares of common stock. Details about the Incentive Plan Amendment can be found in the company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2024. The specifics of the amendment are incorporated into the filing as part of the complete text. Additionally, other proposals included the ratification of HTL International, LLC as the company’s Independent Auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and the approval of a proposed amendment to the 2017 Equity Compensation Plan. All proposals were successfully approved by the stockholders present at the Annual Meeting, marking a positive outcome for the company. The results of the voting process signify the alignment between the company’s strategic direction and the support of its shareholders. The company aims to leverage these decisions to enhance its operations and drive growth moving forward. No further matters were addressed or decided upon at the Annual Meeting. The final results reported in the filing reflect a positive outcome for the company, indicating a unified approach towards its governance and future endeavors. The financial terms of the amendments and approvals were not disclosed in the filing. The company anticipates that these decisions will contribute positively to its financial outlook and operational efficiency. The closing of the Annual Meeting marked a significant milestone for Wrap Technologies, showcasing strong support from its stakeholders. Investors and stakeholders interested in further details regarding the company’s recent developments can access the complete filing on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website. This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Wrap Technologies’s 8K filing here . About Wrap Technologies ( Get Free Report ) Wrap Technologies, Inc operates as a development stage security technology company. It focuses on delivering solutions to customers, primarily law enforcement and security personnel. The firm products includes BolaWrap 100, which is a hand-held remote restraint device that discharges an eight-foot bola style Kevlar tether to entangle an individual at a range of 10-25 feet. Featured StoriesFILE - A recruiter talks with an applicant at a booth at a job fair at a shopping center in Beijing, on June 9, 2023. A record of more than one in five young Chinese are out of work, their career ambitions at least temporarily derailed by a depressed job market as the economy struggles to regain momentum after its long bout with COVID-19 Melody Xie thought 2024 would be the year for her to start the next chapter of her life as an adult in China: finding a job, getting married and eventually having children. But after sending out hundreds of resumes and failing to pass two civil service exams, the 24-year-old college graduate remains unemployed and has had no choice but to move back in with her parents who live in the southern city of Guangzhou. “It’s been a year since I graduated from university but I have no income, no savings and no social life,” she told VOA in a written response on November 28. Like Xie, hundreds of thousands of young people in China have struggled to find ideal full-time jobs throughout 2024. While the Chinese government has introduced some fiscal measures to boost the sluggish economy in October, China’s youth unemployment remains high. Since July, China’s unemployment rate for youth between 16 and 24 has remained above 17%. While some Chinese state media outlets claim the youth unemployment rate has improved since October, the economic downturn has been exacerbating China’s unemployment problem for several years, said Dali Yang, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Chicago. “There is a backlog of youths who were supposed to be joining the labor force over the last two to three years, but they didn’t do very well in the job market,” he told VOA by phone. “As a new cohort of youth graduating from college each year, that makes the job market very tough for the college graduates,” he added. In addition to the large number of unemployed college graduates in the job market, Li Qiang, executive director of China Labor Watch, told VOA that poor working conditions in the country are also discouraging many educated young people in China from looking for full-time jobs. “Many Chinese businesses will ask employees to work 12 to 16 hours a day, and they expect employees to work six or seven days a week,” Li said. “Most young people in China are not willing to accept these jobs with tough working conditions, so that has also led to an increase in youth unemployment rate,” he told VOA by phone. Linda Liu, a 25-year-old former project manager at a tech company in China’s Guangxi province, said jobs in some rural towns in China often offer very poor pay and almost no benefits. “After being laid off from my job at a tech company in Guangzhou at the beginning of 2023, I moved back to my hometown in Guangxi province and soon found a job there,” she told VOA in a written response. “But since the pay was very low and I can only take four days off each month, I quit after less than six months,” Liu added. While some young Chinese are still looking for jobs, others have decided to “lie flat” or quit without backup plans. “After being laid off in 2021, I left Beijing and moved to the southwestern Yunnan province for two years,” Celine Liu, a 26-year-old former law firm clerk, told VOA in a recorded response. “At the time, I wanted to pull myself away from the hectic lifestyle in the big city and figure out what I wanted to pursue in my life. But after moving back to Beijing earlier this year, I realized I could no longer adapt to life in the big city, and that has also affected my ability to do well in job interviews,” she added. The idea of “lying flat” also denotes a laid-back lifestyle that rejects intense competition and societal expectations. In recent years, many young Chinese people have chosen to “retire” to rural parts of the country with a lower cost of living to cope with the ongoing unemployment challenges. Some of them turn to e-commerce as a source of income. Others see quitting without a backup plan as an opportunity for them to slow down and enjoy life. “Many young people in China, including myself, follow the typical pattern of entering college, finding a job after graduation, getting married and having children, but we often don’t know what kind of future we want,” said Victor Wang, a 26-year-old former engineer in the Chinese city of Zhejiang. “After quitting without a backup plan, I finally have a chance to take care of my physical and mental health, and it finally feels like I’m in control of my life,” he told VOA in a written response. As the youth unemployment rate remains high in China, Ye Liu, an expert on international development at King’s College London, told VOA, young people in China might “diversify” their work patterns. “More young people [will engage] in freelancing, part-time employment and [work] multiple jobs,” she said. China will host an annual economic work conference this week and youth unemployment is expected to be one of several topics discussed by top Chinese officials during the event. Discussion of the topic remains sensitive on the internet in China and social media platforms. Last week, a commentary about China’s weak consumption, unemployment and “dispirited” youth by Gao Shanwen, chief economist of China’s state-owned SDIC Securities, was removed by China’s internet censors. Additionally, access to Chinese economist Fu Peng’s video social media account was blocked after he commented on China’s weaker consumption at a conference in September. The Chinese government has introduced some measures to boost employment opportunities for college graduates, including rolling out campus recruitment activities and increasing job placement rates for unemployed youth. China’s state news outlet, People’s Daily Online, reported more than 1,000 employers from around the country “are expected to offer more than 30,000 education-related positions.” However, Li at China Labor Watch said unless the Chinese authorities try to fundamentally improve working conditions and strengthen protection for workers’ benefits, China’s youth unemployment problem is unlikely to improve within the next five years.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women's volleyball program will again be faced with the decision whether to play the school , this time in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools forfeited matches in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit filed against the NCAA , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday rejected a request made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That ruling was upheld Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Chris Kutz, a Boise State athletics spokesman, said in an email the university would not “comment on potential matchups at this time.” Doug Hoffman, an Aggies athletics spokesman, said in an email Utah State is reviewing the court’s order. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on,” Hoffman wrote. San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it's likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sportsEnd Gripper Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030

A Northwest Territories Supreme Court judge has dismissed a challenge from the Gwich'in Tribal Council over the Gwichya Gwich'in Council's election results for president and directors in 2023. In that election, Mavis Clark was acclaimed as Gwichya Gwich'in Council president. The Gwich'in Tribal Council and six individual members of the Gwichya Gwich'in Council argued there were several "election irregularities" and "oppressive" conduct had taken place. The applicants alleged that Gwichya Gwich'in members weren't given adequate notice for the election, that the council imposed unlawful residency requirements on candidates for directors that required them to live in Tsiigehtchic for a period of at least one year, that Clark wasn't allowed to run under the council's election rules, and that the chief returning officer was biased in favour of Clark. All of that, the applicants argued, was grounds for a new election for president and directors and for a new chief returning officer to be appointed. Notices for the election were posted on the Tsiigehtchic Facebook page and in four places in the community, but the applicants argued that members without access to Facebook or who didn't live in the community didn't receive notice. N.W.T. Supreme Court Justice Sheila MacPherson rejected that argument, saying the elections policy states notice can be given on social media and there was no evidence of the council providing notice by mail for past elections. As for the residency requirement, MacPherson said it's up to the participants members to create a residency requirement. MacPherson also ruled Clark was eligible to run for president and that there was no evidence the chief returning officer was biased in her running of the 2023 election. Despite her ruling, MacPherson ordered all Gwichya Gwich'in Council financial statements from 2017 to 2023 be produced and made available to all members and to the Gwich'in Tribal Council within four months. "There is no evidence that financial statements have been provided to the members," MacPherson wrote. "In these circumstances, given that financial statements have not been provided to members for a number of years, I will make such an order." In a news release, the Gwich'in Tribal Council said it's reviewing the decision and is "considering its next steps." "The GTC maintains its commitment to upholding the values of democracy, transparency, and accountability within our governance systems. Our focus remains on continuing to advocate for the well-being and interests of the Gwich'in people," the release said. Clark declined an interview with CBC. The Gwichya Gwich'in Council said in a news release Monday that MacPherson's ruling brought "clarity and resolution." It said audited financial statements are available upon request to the Gwichya Gwich'in Council office. "This decision validates the integrity of our electoral process and allows us to focus on serving our members," Clark was quoted as saying in the news release.Living with disability has often meant living with a world that is rarely ready for inclusion. Generally acknowledged are the physical and systematic obstacles, but the barriers concerning mental health issues amongst the persons with disabilities (PWDs), too often remain in shadow. Studies have indicated the rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation regarding disabled people are much greater in comparison to their non-disabled counterparts. However, what lies behind this reality? The Intersection of Stigma and Isolation Societal stigma is the main contributor to mental health struggles that PWDs face. Many are perceived as worthless or worthy of sympathy, and from there they sink into alienation. Social exclusion from accessible events and professional spaces paints a picture of further alienation, and this leaves people in an isolated void. Such isolation can fuel the vicious cycles of depression and anxiety. Navigating Health Care Challenges Another major barrier is lack of access to mental healthcare. Therapy or counseling prove hard to access for PWDs due to financial constraints, accessibility of facilities, or the lack of understanding of healthcare providers regarding particular needs of disability. Usually, the health care provider turns out to be an added source of stress rather than a solution. The Pressure to Adapt Society’s focus on overcoming disability does pressure the individual to perform well or conform in ways that deny their personal reality, and it can be particularly defeating and frustrating when such stresses are compounded by daily frustrations and battles with accessibility or chronic pain. What Can Be Done? Education and Awareness: More informed and sympathetic and non-judgmental society due to education on disability and mental health can really reduce stigma. Accessible Mental Health Services: Transition into responsive mental health services for individuals with disabilities, such as teletherapy and counseling that is disability-informed. Community Building: Support groups and community space among PWDs would help to break isolation and create a community. Policy Advocacy: Advocating for policies, such as demanding access and inclusive provisions in public areas, working spaces, and healthcare services. This is not just an issue of equity but a moral imperative; it requires acknowledging and addressing the specific mental health struggles that people with disabilities face. Doing this will create an environment of understanding and support, and no one will be left to battle his or her mental health challenges alone. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Mental Health, Health and around the world.

TORONTO, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sprott Focus Trust, Inc. (Nasdaq-FUND) (the “Fund” or “FUND”) has declared a quarterly distribution of $0.2161 per share on its Common Stock. The distribution, optionally payable in additional shares of Common Stock or in cash by specific stockholder election, is to be paid on December 30, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 13, 2024 (ex-dividend on December 13, 2024). The price of shares issued for reinvestment will be determined on December 20, 2024. The Fund currently has adopted a Distribution Policy of paying quarterly distributions on its Common Stock. Distributions are being made at the annual rate of 6% of the rolling average of the prior four calendar quarter-end net asset values (“NAVs”), with the fourth quarter distribution being the greater of 1.50% of the rolling average or the minimum distribution required by IRS regulations. The policy, including the annual rate, is subject to change at the discretion of the Fund’s Board of Directors. The Fund’s estimated sources of the distribution to be paid on December 30, 2024 and for 2024 year-to-date are as follows: Estimated Allocations as of November 30, 2024 Estimated Allocations for 2024 through November 30, 2024 You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the current distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s Distribution Policy. The amounts and sources of distributions reported herein are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information 1 Average Annual Total Return in relation to NAV represents the compound average of the Annual NAV Total Returns of the Fund for the five year period ended November 30, 2024. Annual NAV Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund’s NAV over a year, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid. 2 The Annualized Current Distribution Rate is the current fiscal period’s distribution rate annualized as a percentage of the Fund’s NAV as of November 30, 2024. 3 Cumulative Total Return is the percentage change in the Fund’s NAV from December 31, 2023 to November 30, 2024, assuming reinvestment of distributions paid. 4 The Cumulative Fiscal Year Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions for the fiscal year period (January 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024), as a percentage of the Fund’s NAV as of November 30, 2024. About Sprott Focus Trust, Inc. Sprott Focus Trust, Inc. is a closed-end diversified management investment company whose shares of Common Stock are listed and traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The Fund’s investment goal is long-term capital growth, which it seeks by normally investing at least 65% of its assets in equity securities. For further information on the Fund, please visit our web site at: www.sprottfocustrust.com . An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The Fund is a closed-end fund and closed-end funds do not continuously issue shares for sale as open-end mutual funds do. The Fund trades in the secondary market. Investors wishing to buy or sell shares need to place orders through an intermediary or broker. Suite 230 | 320 Post Road | Darien, Connecticut | USA 06820 | (203) 636-0977 | www.sprott.com Contact: Glen Williams (416) 943-4394Couple charged in ring suspected of stealing $1 million in Lululemon clothesIn the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election , the vast majority of Colorado voters felt like they had more in common with their neighbors than not, according to a recent poll from the Colorado Polling Institute. The poll of 822 Colorado voters from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4 was conducted via calls and online. The margin of error of the survey is plus or minus 3.42%. “Coloradans may not agree on everything, but large majorities agree the state has a bright future and a common set of values that guide us,” said Kevin Ingham, principal of Aspect Strategic, according to a news release about the poll. About 77% of those interviewed said they believe that “Coloradans have more in common than what divides us,” compared to only 23% who disagree with that sentiment, according to the results. The poll found that half of all respondents believed the state is headed in the “right direction.” That’s a slightly higher share compared to the last time the question was asked in March. People who have lived in the state for over 20 years felt the least optimistic about the future of the state, with nearly half of that group saying they feel the state is “off on the wrong track.” Donald Trump voters in Colorado also felt significantly less positive about the future of the state compared to Kamala Harris voters. Responses also showed those who were polled have three top priorities for state lawmakers in the next state legislative session. Health care costs were the highest ranked issue with 48% of respondents saying it was their top priority. Illegal immigration was ranked second highest with 47% saying it was their highest concern. Affordable housing was the third highest with 46% marking it as their primary issue. More than nine in 10 respondents said the laws passed by the state legislature impact their lives either directly or indirectly. Gov. Jared Polis was ranked as very popular in the poll with 54% of respondents saying they have a favorable view of the governor. About 55% of voters said they feel the Democratic Party is out of touch with them, compared to 66% who said the same about the Republican Party. Three out of four Republican voters in the state said they are more of a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump than the traditional Republican Party. The poll honed in on voters unaffiliated with any political party, a group that is growing in the state. About a third of those unaffiliated voters said they feel both parties are out of touch with them. Seventy percent of the unaffiliated voters said it isn’t easy for them to find unbiased information about what is happening in politics.

Great politicians seem to have two main things in common: they pick the right time to be born and they pick the right time to leave office. Everything in between will be recast in their favour if they only get these two things right. Former German chancellor Angela Merkel recently released her memoir . She, without a doubt, picked the right time to be born. She was 35 when the Berlin Wall fell, creating a cause – an East German voice and self-determination in reunifying with the West – that impelled her into politics. She was undeniably smart, but also the right age and the right symbolic vehicle to catch chancellor Helmut Kohl’s eye and become his protegee. In just under 15 years, she became chancellor. If she’d left after one term – two at most – her greatness would never have been questioned. But after that, her legacy as a crucial advocate for East Germans in the process of unification and her historic ascent was overwritten by a series of decisions that have turned out to be disastrous for Germany, economically and geostrategically. A shadow has fallen over Anthony Albanese’s prime ministership in 2024. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen US presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton could also be said to have picked the right time to be born and, thanks to term limits in the US, also the right time to leave office. Reagan performed a necessary service in deregulating a sclerotic US economy, mired in stagflation, while presiding over the end of the Cold War. Clinton presided over a peaceful age of free trade and international co-operation. While neither was a flawless leader and the numerous mistakes they made can easily be identified, they avoided leading their nations into catastrophe. Anthony Albanese also picked the right time to be born: at the beginning of the ’60s, as the fruits of a social revolution against the rigid morality of the war generation were ripe and not yet spoiled. He was a beneficiary of the blossoming of the self-actualisation century, in which the chains of the traditional family were being rejected, to be replaced by a paternal social welfare state. As the child of a single mother, his timing was especially fortuitous; he and his mother were poor, but in highly relative terms historically. They lived in government-owned housing and his mother was entitled to (and received) a disability pension, as she was unable to work. His own university degree – nominally in political economy, mainly in ruthless campus politics – was free (to him, but of course not the taxpayer). Albanese was, as it were, born into a cause: to call for more of this, which made him possible: more social solidarity delivered by the state to replace the sticky ties of family and community obligation that had been found to be unreasonably oppressive by his generation and some in the one before it. Though it wasn’t visible at the time – transformations of this kind are mostly visible only with the benefit of hindsight – Albanese was in on the ground floor of the transformation of Labor from the party of the worker to the party of the left-liberal, the party of welfare. Operating the politics of this movement, Albanese gained the respect of his colleagues and parts of the public. In retrospect, his ideal moment to leave, with this legacy at its zenith, might have been the day in 2013 when he fronted cameras to lament the self-harm playing out within the Labor Party during yet another spill of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd era. Had he left then, he would have gone out channelling the disgust of Australians at the shenanigans of self-absorbed politicians, an avatar and hero of the people. Or maybe he could even have drawn it out a little longer and left a few years later, at the height of his “everyman” identity (according to The Daily Telegraph , which campaigned to “Save our Albo” in the face of a challenge to his seat from a group of further-left candidates). In either scenario, he would have been remembered as a likeable character in the soap opera of politics – good for future cameos to rally the faithful, positioned for a plum public role. Instead, he became prime minister. And the times have not suited him at all. I could talk about inflation and the cost of living, misjudging the mood of the nation over the Voice referendum, the war in the Middle East and antisemitism at home. Or his approach to change, which has been deemed too incremental by some, too radical by others. I could point to the grip in which he finds himself pinioned, between the forefinger of his younger self in Green-on-the-outside, red-on-the-inside ideologist Max Chandler-Mather and the thumb of John Setka loyalists and the rebellious union movement. But none of these things are as fatal to his legacy as the luck of timing, because Albanese is a man built for an era of liberal gentility, who became PM just as the liberal era was drawing to an end. Albanese can, at least in part, blame Merkel for ending it. The post-Cold War leader of Germany, which, as the largest European economy, has an outsized role in underwriting the European Union, placed her faith in diplomacy over energy security and military deterrence. Germany and Europe are now less able to stand up against Russian strongman Vladimir Putin ’s attempt to seize Ukraine because of her miscalculations. The chief foreign affairs columnist at the Financial Times , Gideon Rachman , also implicates former US President Barack Obama for compounding Merkel’s mistakes by responding weakly or seeking to appease dictators. He concludes that “decisions taken by the two leaders – or often the decisions not taken by them – had a damaging, if delayed, impact on global stability”. When even liberals like Rachman recognise that liberal heroes have made the world more dangerous, it is no wonder that voters around the world (who are usually quicker than FT columnists to sniff approaching dangers) are choosing a rougher cut of leader to champion them into the second quarter of the 21st century. Albanese will never be that. His political tradition is liberal largess, not protective menace. With the bad luck of timing hanging over him, whether he scrapes over the line at the coming election is moot. The politician he might have been remembered as has been overwritten. The question now is only whether his career is ended by his friends or his foes – with a bang, or with a long, drawn-out whimper. Parnell Palme McGuinness is managing director at campaigns firm Agenda C. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter .