Trump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon
Former President Obama promoted ‘pluralism’ during a speech at the Obama Foundation's Democracy Forum. Conservatives on social media blasted former President Obama after his first speech since the presidential election in which he lamented polarization in politics. During a speech Thursday at the Obama Foundation's Democracy Forum, Obama made the case that if "one side" attempts to cement "a permanent grip on power" through "suppressing votes," "politicizing" the military or weaponizing the judiciary and criminal justice system to target opponents, "a line has been crossed." "Pluralism is not about holding hands and singing ‘Kumbaya,’" Obama said. "It is not about abandoning your convictions and folding when things get tough. It is about recognizing that, in a democracy, power comes from forging alliances and building coalitions and making room in those coalitions not only for the woke, but the waking. "Purity tests are not a recipe for long-term success." ‘DEPORTER-IN-CHIEF’ OBAMA SURPASSED DEPORTATIONS UNDER TRUMP’S FIRST TERM Former President Obama and President-elect Trump (AP Images) Obama’s speech quickly drew strong criticism from conservatives. "It’s over for Obama," journalist Miranda Devine posted on X . "The spell is broken. Donald Trump vanquished him, Biden, Harris, the Bushes, the Cheneys. All of them, with a spring in his step." "Ever since his last minute desperate smear of Trump with the ‘very fine people on both sides’ lie, Barack Obama has been slowing realizing his status as false prophet of the Democrat party is no more," conservative radio host Buck Sexton posted on X. EAGLES' JALEN HURTS WOULDN'T GOLF WITH OBAMA AND MADE A DISPUTED EXCUSE WHY: 'HE DIDN'T WANT THESE PROBLEMS' Former President Obama during the Obama Foundation's 2024 Democracy Forum Dec. 5, 2024, in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) "Obama turned our politics into ‘if you disagree with me, you are a bad person,’" Republican communicator Matt Whitlock posted on X . "Few people did more to pave the way for Trump. So he can take a seat." "By voting in a democratic election, millions of people proved they hate democracy," author Jon Gabriel posted on X . "Yes, this Obama fellow is quite the intellect." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP President-elect Trump waves at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden Nov. 16, 2024, in New York, with Kid Rock, Dana White and Elon Musk. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) "Setting aside the unbelievable hypocrisy here, this is also the guy who’s launching a project to lessen our political divisions. Being the problem — way up on his high horse, looking down disappointedly at the unwashed masses — while publicly lamenting the problem is peak Obama," Fox News contributor Guy Benson posted on X. Obama, in his remarks, insisted he is "convinced that if we want democracy as we understand it to survive," people must work for a renewed dedication to pluralist principles. "Because the alternative is what we've seen here in the United States and in many democracies around the globe. Not just more gridlock. Not just public cynicism. But an increasing willingness" among "politicians and their followers to violate democratic norms. To do anything they can to get their way. To use the power of the state to target critics and journalists and political rivals and to even resort to violence" to obtain and retain power. Fox News Digital's Alex Nitberg contributed to this report Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Valkyries selected center Iliana Rupert of Atlanta, guard Veronica Burton of Connecticut, guard Carla Leite of Dallas and forward Maria Conde of Chicago with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft on Friday, the first players for the new Bay Area franchise that's set to begin play next season. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Valkyries selected center Iliana Rupert of Atlanta, guard Veronica Burton of Connecticut, guard Carla Leite of Dallas and forward Maria Conde of Chicago with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft on Friday, the first players for the new Bay Area franchise that's set to begin play next season. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Valkyries selected center Iliana Rupert of Atlanta, guard Veronica Burton of Connecticut, guard Carla Leite of Dallas and forward Maria Conde of Chicago with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft on Friday, the first players for the new Bay Area franchise that’s set to begin play next season. This marked the WNBA’s first expansion draft in 16 years since the Atlanta Dream joined the league in 2008. Golden State is able to acquire the contract or negotiating rights to one player from each of the other 12 WNBA teams. The Valkyries can also choose one player from throughout the league who’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent. The Valkyries will play at Chase Center, the 5-year-old home of the Golden State Warriors, and practice across the bay in the organization’s Oakland training facility. Warriors star Draymond Green sported a Valkyries jersey with No. 25 on the back — for the inaugural campaign of 2025 — while sitting out injured during Thursday’s win over the Houston Rockets. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball AdvertisementPresident-elect Donald Trump broke his silence by sending a cryptic message to Elon Musk, his biggest ally and tech billionaire on social media after the latter faced the MAGA wrath over his comments on foreign work visas. Tesla and Space X CEO, Musk has been instrumental in Trump's win for a second term at the White House, an issue that has been brought up by Democrats and critics to criticize his influence in American politics. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, both selected to head the ambitious Department of Government Efficiency, faced online backlash from MAGA netizens after they advocated for more H-1B worker visas for skilled foreign-born workers. Trump's unexpected reaction to Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt's engagement Russia warns of Washington's 'extremely hostile' nuclear stance pre-Trump term However, Trump made a cryptic post on Truth Social at 8:47 a.m. on Friday, appearing to ask Musk about his plans to come to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's estate in Florida . "Where are you? When are you coming to the “Center of the Universe,” Mar-a-Lago," Trump asked in the post. He went on to tell Musk that his billionaire rival Bill Gates has requested to drop by for a visit Friday night. Trump then told Musk that he misses him and his son. "We miss you and x! New Year’s Eve is going to be AMAZING!!!" he said, before adding his signature initials of "DJT." Musk has been a fixture in Mar-a-Lago since before the elections according to sources, often appearing in Trump's family photos with his children and grandchildren. He was, however, missing from the Trump family's Christmas celebrations. He posted a photo of himself dressed up like Santa Claus, calling himself "Ozempic Santa," revealing the use of Mounjaro, an Ozempic-like weight loss drug. DON'T MISS: Tiffany Trump confirms pregnancy with two words and sweet baby bump photo [NEW] Video resurfaces of Donald Trump asking child if she 'still believes in Santa' [STRANGE] Denmark increased defense budget after Trump's Greenland plan — 'No coincidence' [EXCLUSIVE] Musk and Trump were last seen together at the Army-Navy football game on Dec. 14 in Maryland. Musk has been accused of leveraging his social media presence to almost cause a government shutdown recently. Trump's fiercest critics have pointed out that Musk seems to be running the show. However, at a recent conservative talk show hosted by Turning Points USA, Trump allayed such fears, saying that Musk would not be president due to his nationality. "No, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you," he said, adding, "And I'm safe. You know why he can't be? He wasn't born in this country." Musk, who is originally from South Africa, recently engaged in a deluge of social media debates about why it is essential to hire tech workers with H-1B visas to further the growth of the tech industry. "The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low," he wrote, saying that there could be a "dire shortage of extremely talented and motivated engineers in America." He was backed by DOGE co-lead, Ramaswamy, an Indian American tech entrepreneur, who also faced the MAGA wrath and was termed a "conman." In 2016, Trump had a different stance on H-1B but his new views during a second term remain unknown. "I know the H1-B very well, it's something I use and I shouldn't be allowed to, we shouldn't have it. Very very bad for workers... it's very bad for our workers and very unfair for our workers and we should end it," he had said in 2016.
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Dancing With the Stars pro Lindsay Arnold revealed that she gifted herself a plastic surgery procedure for Christmas this year. The 30-year-old professional dancer took to social media on Thursday (December 26) to open up about the gift and when it was happening. Keep reading to find out more... Lindsay is going to undergo a breast augmentation and lift. “My Christmas present this year is that I am getting a breast augmentation,” she told her followers on TikTok, squealing with excitement. “Guys, I’m freaking out. I’m freaking out okay, but I’m also so excited.” The dancer explained that she would have the surgery after celebrating her upcoming 31st birthday with husband Samuel Lightner Cusick in Mexico. Their trip takes place in early January. “I’m very excited, but I’m not going to lie... it is kinda scary,” she admitted, adding that it was “so many decisions.” She continued, explaining, “You make the choices for yourself, and you have to live with those choices. So I’m hoping that I make the right decisions.” “It’s something that I knew I always wanted to do,” she said, describing the decision as a whirlwind. Lindsay also asked her fans if they wanted her to document the process. Learn more about celebrity’s plastic surgery revelations .
Apartment building where viral video fueled Trump's claims about city likely will close next yearRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina Democratic Party sued on Friday to block the potential removal of tens of thousands of ballots tallied in an saying state election officials would be violating federal law if they sided with protests initiated by the trailing Republican candidate. The lawsuit filed in Raleigh federal court comes as attorneys for Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin also went to state courts on Friday to attempt to force the State Board of Elections to act more quickly on accusations contained in the protests. The board tentatively planned to hold a public hearing on the protests next Wednesday, according to a board email provided with Griffin’s motion. Griffin wants a final decision from the board earlier. Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes following a machine recount of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their Nov. 5 election. A partial hand recount began this week and is nearly complete. But Griffin, joined by three other GOP state legislative candidates, contend that well over 60,000 ballots shouldn’t have counted, casting doubt on election results. Among their complaints: voter registration records of some voters casting ballots lack driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, and overseas voters never living in North Carolina have run afoul of state residency requirements. The Democratic Party’s lawsuit said that some of the protests represent “systematic challenges to voter eligibility” that counter a federal law’s prohibition of what’s essentially removing people from voter registration lists retroactively after an election. The lawsuit wants a judge to declare federal law and the Constitution prevents the votes from being discarded and to order the election board — a majority of its members Democrats — to comply. “No North Carolinian deserves to have their vote thrown out in a callous power grab,” state party Chair Anderson Clayton said in a written statement. According to state law, a board considering an election protest could correct a ballot tally, direct another recount or order a new election. Griffin’s attorneys filed requests Friday for judges to demand that the board issue final rulings by late Tuesday afternoon. They were filed in Wake County Superior Court and at the Court of Appeals — the same court where Griffin serves. Usually three members on the 15-judge court — second only to the Supreme Court in state’s jurisprudence — hear such motions. “Public trust in our electoral processes depends on both fair and efficient procedures to determine the outcome of our elections. By failing to give a timely decision, the State Board continues to undermine the public interest,” Griffin attorney Troy Shelton wrote. Attorneys for Riggs separately on Friday also responded to Griffin’s actual protests before the board, saying they should all be denied. Griffin led Riggs — one of two Democrats on the seven-member court — by about 10,000 votes on election night, and flipped to Riggs as tens of thousands of qualifying provisional and absentee ballots were added to the totals through the canvass. Riggs has declared victory. The three Republican legislative candidates joining Griffin’s protests all trailed Democratic rivals after the machine recounts. One is GOP Rep. Frank Sossamon, who trails Democratic challenger Bryan Cohn by about 230 votes. Should Cohn win, Republicans would fall one seat short of retaining its current veto-proof majority in both chambers. That would give more The Associated Press has not called the Supreme Court race and two of the three legislative races highlighted in the protests. Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press
EUNISELL Interlinked Plc., an electrical and electronic solutions company, has released its financial results for the first quarter ending September 30, 2024, showing significant improvements in key metrics. The unaudited financial statement filed with the Nigeria Exchange Limited reports a revenue increase to N360 million, up from N43 million in the same period last year, reflecting an 800 per cent rise. The company also reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N122 million, compared to a loss of N4.6 million in the first quarter of 2023. Eunisell Interlinked, which provides integrated engineering and technology solutions to industries such as oil and gas, infrastructure, power, and manufacturing, saw its net profit margin rise to 34 per cent, reversing the negative position in Q1 of 2023. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) increased to 29 per cent, up from a negative figure in the same period last year. The company’s liquidity remains stable, with current assets exceeding current liabilities. Earnings per share (EPS) improved to N1.03, reversing the negative EPS recorded in the first quarter of 2023. Speaking on the report, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the firm, Chris Okoro, noted that the results reflect ongoing efforts to manage costs and focus on customer needs. “This performance is a clear reflection of our commitment to operational efficiency and delivering value to our customers. “Over the past few quarters, we’ve focused on refining our processes, ensuring that we maintain high standards in service delivery while carefully managing our cost base. “Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of these strategies, as well as the resilience of our business model. “As we move into the next quarters, we are determined to build on this momentum. We plan to expand our customer base, particularly in sectors where we see long-term growth potential. “At the same time, we are increasing our investments in technology, which will allow us to enhance our service offerings and better meet the evolving needs of our clients. “Our goal is not just to grow, but to grow sustainably, while continuously improving our operational efficiency,” Okoro said. Eunisell Interlinked’s services include the development, installation, and sale of electrical equipment and cables across various voltage levels.PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The trifecta for holiday shoppers is almost here: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are all just days away. The big box stores are offering big deals as usual, but as you're shopping this holiday season, remember to shop local and shop small as much as you can. You'll get a personal experience, find unique items and you'll be putting money directly into your community. The owners of Vault and Vine , a gift shop, florist, and café, are on pins and needles as we move into the official holiday shopping season. "Nervous because for a lot of small businesses, Small Business Saturday is make or break for an entire year," said Vault and Vine co-owner Diana Baye. "If we don't do well during the holiday season, we don't make it to January." So to draw shoppers in, small businesses are offering deals. "We're offering double loyalty on Small Business Saturday," said Baye. That means 10% back on your purchase that you can spend any time. Plus, you get unique items, many of them handmade, you can't find anyplace else. "Three-quarters of all retail businesses in Center City are independent. They don't have locations in other cities. They're not the brands that you would find at a mall," said Clint Randall, Vice President of Economic Development of the Center City District . And to shop at a great cluster of small businesses, just head to Dilworth Park for the Made in Philadelphia Market . "It's called Made in Philadelphia for a reason, right? Every single vendor in that Dilworth Park market is a Philadelphia vendor. There's, I think, about 50 of them," said Randall. "A lot of them are already doing, you know, 'Black Friday sales,' which will then become, you know, a Small Business Saturday sale, and they're there through the whole holiday season." Baye's message to people who shop only at national big box chains? "If everyone keeps doing that, that is going to be your only option. There will be no small businesses. There will be no variety," she says. And eventually, Baye warns, "Those low prices that you enjoy, eventually they go up because they're the only game in town." And shoppers in Center City have their pick of stores to choose from. The Center City District says the number of retailers has increased 15% over the last five years and about 83% of all storefronts are occupied.The 2025 economy: 5 things to watch
D ear Neil: A squirrel must have planted a bur oak acorn in one of our pots last year because we were blessed with a seedling this spring. It grew well (27 inches tall), although it was attacked by a fungus this fall. Should we plant it into the ground now or wait another year? Plant it in the next month or two. In fact, I would plant it right away. Its root system is probably winding around and around at the bottom of the pot. If so, use your pruning clippers to cut one or two of the encircling roots so that they will branch out. Otherwise, they may girdle themselves as they grow larger over the years. You really don’t want to leave it in a container any longer than necessary. It’s tall enough to stand on its own. Put a stake alongside it to keep an animal from stepping on it, and keep it watered every few days now through the winter, spring, and summer. By the way, the “fungus” might have been the minor damage of sawfly larvae as they take the tissues out from between the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. They are fairly common on bur oaks, but they are of no particular concern. Dear Neil: I know you like a shrub called Italian jasmine, but I can’t find it in nurseries. Do you have any suggestions? Sadly, I do not. It’s a venerable old plant that was more popular 50 to 70 years ago than it is now. But it’s handsome and really ought to be brought back into more common use in our landscapes. For those who are unfamiliar, it’s Jasminum humile. North Carolina State University’s website notes that it has recently been separated into a separate genus with the name Chrysojasminum humile. It’s an arching shrub to 4 to 5 ft. tall and 5 or 6 ft. wide, perhaps slightly larger in South Texas. It’s winter-hardy about as far north as the I-20 corridor or slightly beyond, although the great cold spell of February 2021 did a lot of damage to plants that had previously survived for decades. It has square stems that are lined with small, very dark green, glossy evergreen leaves. Its flowers are produced in late winter and spring. They’re small, trumpet-shaped and clear yellow. I’ve never seen any fruit on the plants. Italian jasmine is propagated by stem cuttings taken in late winter on through early summer. It roots very easily, and several cuttings can be planted into each nursery pot to make plantable transplants within 12 months. It grows best in full sun and in highly organic, consistently moist soils. I’ve never seen an insect or disease bother it. If you decide that you’d like to try it, ask for it at your favorite independent retail garden center. Ask for the owner, manager, or buyer, and see if they stock it or can order it in for you come springtime. Nurseries that do landscape contracting year ‘round are usually your most likely sources. Dear Neil: We moved to Texas from Indiana last spring. I’d like to plant rhubarb. What suggestions do you have for me? It is not adapted to this part of the country. We’re simply too hot. I could try to encourage you with tips and tricks, but I’d just be wasting your money and effort. Stick with things that will be far better suited. Dear Neil: If I have overseeded my bermudagrass lawn with winter rye, do I need to worry about applying nitrogen fertilizer this time of year? You do not need to worry. Apply it at half the rate recommended for normal feedings. The rye is still young and just getting started. By applying your high-quality nitrogen fertilizer (30 to 40 percent of the nitrogen in slow-release form) in the reduced rate, most of it will be taken up by the ryegrass. Any that’s left over will be held in reserve by the permanent turf’s root system. All will be well. Dear Neil: Ten years ago we planted a red maple in our front yard. For several years it provided beautiful fall color, but in the past two years the leaves have started to turn black around their edges by early October. They fall to the ground with no color change. A second tree in another location provides beautiful color. Is it climatic or something in the soil? What can we do? If you’re talking about Acer rubrum, the true red maple from the Northeast, I’ve seen that happen time and again here in Texas. It’s especially common in alkaline soils (western two-thirds of Texas). It can also be due to one tree getting way too dry or suffering trunk or root system injury. Examine both trees closely, and if you’re still puzzled, have a certified arborist take a look at the affected tree. Dear Neil: I have grown tomatoes in two raised beds, alternating the beds when I plant. I add compost and manure each time before I plant. This year’s crop was very limited, and it was suggested that I replace all of the soil. That would be such a job. What do you suggest? I don’t have nearly enough facts. Nematodes might be involved. They are microscopic, soil-borne worms that sting plant roots and suck fluids from them. The plants become stunted and unproductive, and you can usually see knotty galls on their roots. In that case, replacing the soil might be your best choice. Do a little research on nematodes to see if they sound like a possibility. You can also have the soil tested for their presence by working with the Texas Plant Clinic at Texas A&M. All the information is on their website. Otherwise, be sure the plants are still getting full sunlight. Sometimes we allow shade to creep over our gardens without noticing it.
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Kirill Kaprizov misses Texas trip, listed as day-to-dayOver the past few weeks, users on social platform X have been submitting X-rays, MRIs, CT scans and other medical images to Grok, the platform's artificial intelligence chatbot, asking for diagnoses. The reason: Elon Musk , X's owner, suggested it. "This is still early stage, but it is already quite accurate and will become extremely good," Musk said in a post. The hope is that if enough users feed the AI their scans, it will eventually get good at interpreting them accurately. Patients could get faster results without waiting for a portal message or use Grok as a second opinion. Some users have shared Grok's misses, like a broken clavicle that was misidentified as a dislocated shoulder. Others praised it: "Had it check out my brain tumour, not bad at all," one user wrote alongside a brain scan. Some doctors have even played along, curious to test whether a chatbot could confirm their own findings. Although there's been no similar public callout from Google's Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT, people can submit medical images to those tools, too. The decision to share information as sensitive as your colonoscopy results with an AI chatbot has alarmed some medical privacy experts. 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Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories The potential consequences of sharing health information When you share your medical information with doctors or on a patient portal, it is guarded by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, the federal law that protects your personal health information from being shared without your consent. But it only applies to certain entities, like doctors' offices, hospitals and health insurers, as well as some companies they work with. In other words, what you post on a social media account or elsewhere isn't bound by HIPAA. It's like telling your lawyer that you committed a crime versus telling your dog-walker; one is bound by attorney-client privilege, and the other can inform the whole neighbourhood. When tech companies partner with a hospital to get data, by contrast, there are detailed agreements on how it is stored, shared and used, Malin said. "Posting personal information to Grok is more like, 'Wheee! Let's throw this data out there and hope the company is going to do what I want them to do,'" Malin said. X did not respond to a request for comment. In its privacy policy, the company has said it will not sell user data to a third party, but it does share it with "related companies." (Despite Musk's invitation to share medical images, the policy also says X does not aim to collect sensitive personal information, including health data.) Matthew McCoy, assistant professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania, noted that there may be very clear guardrails around health information uploaded to Grok that the company hasn't described publicly. "But as an individual user, would I feel comfortable contributing health data? Absolutely not." It's important to remember that bits of your online footprint get shared and sold -- which books you buy, for example, or how long you spend on a website. These are all pieces of a puzzle, fleshing out a picture of you that companies can use for various purposes, such as targeted marketing. Consider a PET scan that shows early signs of Alzheimer's disease becoming part of your online footprint, where future employers, insurance companies or even a homeowners association could find it. Laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act can offer protection against discrimination based on certain health factors, but there are carve-outs for some entities, like long-term care insurance and life insurance plans. And experts noted that other forms of health-related discrimination still happen, even if they're not legal. The risk of inaccurate results Imperfect answers might be OK for people purely experimenting with the tool. But getting faulty health information could lead to tests or other costly care you don't actually need, said Suchi Saria, director of the machine learning and health care lab at Johns Hopkins University. Training an AI model to produce accurate results about a person's health takes high-quality and diverse data, and deep expertise in medicine, technology, product design and more, said Saria, who is also the founder of Bayesian Health, a company that develops AI tools for health care settings. Anything less than that, she said, "is a bit like a hobbyist chemist mixing ingredients in the kitchen sink." Still, AI holds promise when it comes to improving patient experiences and outcomes in health care. AI models are already able to read mammograms and analyze patient data to find candidates for clinical trials. Some curious people may know the privacy risks and still feel comfortable uploading their data to support that mission. Malin calls the practice "information altruism." "If you strongly believe the information should be out there, even if you have no protections, go ahead," he said. "But buyer beware."
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