Airports and highways are expected to be jam-packed during Thanksgiving week.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he wants real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker." Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka. The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations. People are also reading... Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation. Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to Kushner's own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said. Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, sought. Christie blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
The Annapolis City Council introduced a resolution Monday that would postpone the coming ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.Negotiations for the EU-Mercosur agreement have concluded after 25 years. The two sides will now have to ratify the deal, but it could still be blocked as it has many opponents — particularly in Europe. "Today marks a truly historic milestone," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday in Montevideo, when the EU and the Mercosur trade bloc finalized their deal . She said that a "powerful message to the world" had been sent. "In an increasingly confrontational world, we demonstrate that democracies can rely on each other." Von der Leyen added that the agreement, which has been almost 25 years in the making, was "one of the largest trade and investment partnerships the world has ever seen." Connecting Europe with South America The EU-Mercosur agreement connects more than 700 million people on the European and South American continents. Some 450 million citizens in 27 EU states, and about 270 million in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It does not yet apply to the Mercosur trade bloc's newest member, Bolivia, nor to Venezuela whose membership of the bloc has been suspended until further notice due to democratic backsliding. Most of the key points had already been agreed in 2019. The agreement will remove over 90% of tariffs on goods exchanged between the two blocs, which the European Commission estimates will save EU exporters more than €4 billion ($4.2 billion) per year. Rare earth elements needed for cars, machinery From the EU perspective, the main focus is likely to be on the import of raw materials and the export of cars and machinery. The bloc's interest in finalizing the agreement became more acute in the wake of the reelection of US President-elect Donald Trump, who threatened the EU with tariffs during his campaign . In view of the global geopolitical situation, von der Leyen said the agreement was "a political necessity." The EU hopes to become less dependent on China for its access to rare earth elements , for example. Mercosur states will be able to supply the EU with these raw materials that are crucial for modern technological products, like mobile phones and electric vehicles . In 2023, according to the EU, the Mercosur states exported mainly mineral products, food, beverages and tobacco to the EU, which in turn exported machinery, equipment, chemicals and pharmaceutical products. The trade volume between the two blocs that year amounted to around €110 billion. In the EU, particularly in Germany , car manufacturers will be likely hoping that the 35% import duty on cars will be reduced, while South American producers will be looking forward to being able to more easily sell meat, sugar and other such products to the EU. Environmental protection at risk, say critics Over the past five years, it has proven difficult to conclude the agreement largely because the EU has demanded stricter environmental regulations. These will be set out in an additional protocol. In its press release, the European Commission stressed that the current agreement had "strong, specific and measurable commitments to stop deforestation." Criticism of the agreement has also been voiced in South America in recent years. During his 2023 election campaign, the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, expressed his opposition to the deal, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva has also criticized the additional protocol. European farmers oppose deal In recent weeks, the agreement has also sparked vehement protests from farmers in the EU, particularly in France and Belgium. They fear unfair competition from cheap South American products, arguing that producers there benefit from lower environmental standards. The German Farmers' Association has also spoken out against the agreement, calling for negotiations to be restarted. Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace have rejected the agreement outright, arguing that continued rainforest deforestation to produce beef and grow soy to feed cattle will be catastrophic. Supporters of the agreement, meanwhile, argue that it will protect EU standards as well as quotas in certain areas, such as beef, poultry and sugar. The European Commission said on Friday that the interests of all Europeans, including farmers, would be protected by the agreement. EU member states in disagreement Opinions on the agreement also differ within the EU. France has been a staunch opponent of the deal , and on Thursday the office of President Emmanuel Macron said it had told von der Leyen that it considered it "unacceptable" in its current form. It said France would continue to tirelessly defend its "agricultural sovereignty." Poland and Italy have also expressed their doubts, while Germany and Spain both support the agreement. Recently, Germany had pushed increasingly hard for a swift conclusion. Though the agreement has been finalized, it's likely to be some time before it actually takes effect. Both blocs will have to ratify the deal, and it could still be blocked. The European Commission said that the end of the negotiations was a "first step." EU-Mercosur trade deal: A tale of two cattle breeders To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This article was originally written in German.
Clintons urge voters agitated by today’s politics to remain involved in public serviceNoneDonald Trump has taken to social media and threatened to impose punishing tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China on day one of his presidency. Such a move should not surprise anyone. During the recent U.S. election campaign, Trump repeatedly said “tariff” was his favourite word in the dictionary. In fact, protectionism has been a central feature of Trump’s outlook since long before he first ran for office. More than 40 years ago, when he was nothing more than a real estate mogul, Trump was decrying the fact that major trading partners such as Japan were “taking advantage” of the U.S. The phrase “taking advantage” is one of the president-elect’s favourite rhetorical tropes. He frequently uses it, for instance, to castigate NATO member countries, Canada among them, who do not spend the requisite two per cent of GDP on their military. Needed for non-economic reasons As for Trump’s most recent rattling of the tariff sabre, it is noteworthy that he does not cite as justification the harm imports from the targeted countries cause to U.S. industry. Trump’s stated motives are not economic. He does not cite protecting U.S. jobs as a reason for new and punishing levies on imports from Mexico, China and Canada. Rather, the soon-to-be president says he will impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods from his two North American partners, and 10 per cent in addition to the current tariff on goods from China, because of – wait for it – fentanyl and the flow of what Trump calls “illegal” migrants. What do illegal drugs and desperate people seeking a safe haven have to do with refrigerators from China, strawberries from Mexico, and auto parts from Canada? If you answered “nothing”, you’re right. The reason Trump cites these unconnected phenomena as justification for new protectionist measures is that U.S. presidents do not have unlimited authority to impose tariffs at their whim. Constitutionally, tariffs fall within the purview of the U.S. legislative branch, Congress. The president can only unilaterally impose new tariffs in wartime or for national security reasons. The wartime power goes back to a 1917 law passed during World War I. The national security provision only came about in 1974, in a new trade act Congress passed during Richard Nixon’s presidency. The 1974 act gives presidents the power to impose tariffs of up to 15 per cent, for a limited time period, 150 days, if they deem imports have a negative impact on U.S. “national security.” There is no law giving the president the right to impose 25 per cent tariffs for an unlimited time period. In 2018, when Trump imposed tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum (including those from Canada), it was for notional national security reasons – and only for the prescribed limited period. Those tariffs did not even last the full 150 days. The U.S. business community was as opposed to them as were Canada and other U.S. trading partners. All we know of Trump’s intentions this time is what we can glean from two brief posts on his own social media platform, Truth Social. Both are infused with his customary over-charged rhetoric and haphazard use of the upper case. One post focuses on China. The other targets the two North American countries with which Trump himself negotiated a trade agreement to supplant the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). They called that new deal the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Now, Trump blithely threatens to ignore his own signature and break U.S. law to boot. His Truth Social post does not mention a time limit for tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods. It only says the new 25 per cent levies would remain in effect until such time as the flow of drugs, especially fentanyl, and of so-called illegal aliens into the U.S. stops. Unprecedented use of president’s emergency powers Trump has not, to this point, shown much concern for what is legal or constitutional – whether in his personal, business or political affairs. But if he and his advisors were to seek some legal justification for tariffs in excess of 15 per cent and without a time limit, they might cite a more recent law than the 1974 trade act, the U.S.’s International Economic Emergency Act (IEEA) of 1977. Doing so might be difficult for the Trump gang, however, because the IEEA does not even mention the word tariff. The 1977 act gives the U.S. president power to declare there exists an “unusual and extraordinary threat... to the national security ... or economy of the United States” which originates “outside the United States.” Having made that determination, the president then has the right to regulate international commerce. Those powers are broad and sweeping. However, no president has ever used them as a pretext for tariffs. As well, the IEEA’s emergency powers are, like those of the 1974 trade act, time-limited. A prior law, the National Emergencies Act, provides that a presidential declaration of emergency will only remain valid for one year, after which it must be renewed. All of that legal stuff is not front and centre for the Canadian government right now. When asked about Trump’s tariff threat, Justice Minister Arif Virani said: “I’m going to rely upon my economic colleagues to address that. I think we’ll continue to work diligently to make sure that the relationship is functioning well and we’ve got a Canada-US Action Committee of Cabinet.” But what about the USMCA and U.S. law? Is the minister preparing any legal challenges to what would clearly be illegal tariffs, on at least two counts? The justice minister’s terse and non-committal answer was, “I’m not going to speculate.” One reason bullies get away with being bullies is that their victims, as well as bystanders and witnesses, scrupulously respect rules and norms for which bullies only have undisguised contempt. Support rabble today! We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year. rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today. Nick Seebruch, editor Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet. Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today. Nick Seebruch, editor Support rabble.ca
, known for enjoying a glass of vodka while hosting foreign dignitaries, is a modern proponent of the temperance movement compared to previous leaders. Peter the Great, for instance, would consume from a custom-made 1.5-litre chalice. His love of women was the only match for his love of alcohol. Boris Yeltsin, meanwhile, was discovered wandering along Pennsylvania Avenue, during a presidential trip, half-dressed and on a quest for pizza. now, however appears to be reshaped in his more temperate image. Tax measures and marketing restrictions mean alcohol consumption has fallen for over ten years, hitting a low of seven litres per person in 2017, down from a record high of 20 litres in 2003. These 'health initiatives' are now been undermined by another of Putin's hallmark policies - war. The mental strain of nearly three years of full-blown conflict is now reportedly causing a resurgence in heavy drinking. From January to October of this year, alcohol sales in Russia reached a record 184.2 million decaliters, according to data released by the industry regulator, marking the highest volume since records began in 2017. Russians' fondness for vodka, a term that affectionately translates to 'little water', remains strong, with the national drink topping the market with 62.5 million decaliters sold. Sales of still wine reached 46.9 million decaliters, a rise of 22.5 per cent from 2017, while sales of sparkling wine saw a significant increase of 10.9 per cent from last year and a whopping 61 per cent more than in 2017, totalling 16.3 million decaliters. Research agency To Be Exact claims Russians are now consuming the equivalent of eight litres of pure alcohol per person each year. This surge in consumption, of course, has accompanied an increase in alcohol dependency rates, as reported by Moscow officials, marking the first such rise in a decade. From 2010 to 2021, first-time diagnoses of alcohol use disorder fell from 153,900 to 53,300. However, in 2022, this figure began to climb again, with doctors issuing 54,200 diagnoses. Russia's health ministry has attributed this trend to the Covid-19 pandemic, where people stuck inside due to lockdown restrictions had nothing better to do than to drink. However, this explanation fails to consider an obvious unanswered question about war and the increasing totalitarianism within Russian life. "Social and economic upheavals, increased geopolitical confrontations and sanctions have somewhat slowed" progress in reducing excessive alcohol consumption, Ruslan Isayev, who heads a Moscow-based addiction clinic, told Kommersant. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's Other reasons include fears of losing a loved one, being drafted into the military, or facing imprisonment for voicing dissent - all compounded by the existential threat of nuclear confrontation with the West. On Tuesday, the Kremlin declared that it had lowered the bar for launching a nuclear strike against the West, updating its nuclear weapons doctrine to permit their use in response to attacks on its territory with Western-supplied arms. Concurrently, Russia has started manufacturing mobile nuclear bomb shelters for the first time. Perhaps the advice to Moscow should be: make vodka not war.Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah agree to a ceasefire to end nearly 14 months of fightingNone
CLEMSON, S.C. — Earlier this fall, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer got a text message from another SEC coach who had reached out to sing the praises of Beamer’s quarterback, LaNorris Sellers . South Carolina had just defeated then-No. 10 Texas A&M and Sellers had accounted for 350 yards of offense. Advertisement ‘You’ve got bleeping Superman playing quarterback back there,’” Beamer recalled his colleague writing. But on Saturday afternoon, as fans yelled with excitement and the band played in the Gamecocks’ tunnel, Beamer took it a step further. “LaNorris Sellers is the best player in the country,” Beamer said. “And all you media people that vote on the Heisman, if you’re not voting for that guy (to be) in the mix for the Heisman Trophy, you’re out of your minds. Name a player in the country that’s done more than that kid has this year.” Sellers may not be quite ready for a Heisman run this season, but there’s no denying the 19-year-old redshirt freshman has become must-see TV — especially as the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff has given more teams in the hunt increased national exposure in the regular season. Such was the case again Saturday, when No. 15 South Carolina (9-3, 5-2 SEC) beat No. 12 Clemson (9-3, 5-2 ACC) 17-14 in a road matchup that all but spoiled the rival Tigers’ Playoff hopes . GO DEEPER College Football Playoff 2024 projections: What now for Ohio State after Michigan upset? Sellers — a 6-foot-3, 242-pound escape artist from Florence, S.C. — dazzled, breaking through contact all afternoon. Even when it looked like the Tigers’ defense had him wrapped up, he still found a way to slip through and turn on the jets. And with the game on the line and South Carolina facing a third-and-16 with 1:18 to play, he ripped off a 20-yard touchdown run that ultimately won the game. In a game that will forever cement his legacy with the Gamecocks, Sellers finished the afternoon with 16 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to passing for 164 yards. Of South Carolina’s 431 yards of total offense, Sellers accounted for 330. He led the Gamecocks to only their second win in the Palmetto Bowl in the last decade. “LaMagic, LaComeback, whatever you want to call him — he’s a magician for sure,” junior defensive back Nick Emmanwori said. “LaHeisman, I think he’s a Heisman candidate. ... I’m glad he’s on my team.” Advertisement Sellers said his final run, with South Carolina trailing 14-10, was actually supposed to be a pass play. Clemson even had a spy on him to help mitigate the threat of him taking off with his legs. But as Sellers went through his first read, then his second, looking for a wide receiver, all he saw was green grass. “I just stepped up,” he said. “Why not take it when I’ve been doing it all game?” And into the end zone he went as some 81,000 Clemson fans sat in stunned silence. “I saw a great player in Sellers today. That was pretty special. There’s a couple you just tip your hat and you’ve gotta give him credit for that,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “Just watch every game. It’s like a rerun. It doesn’t matter who they’re playing.” Indeed, Sellers has torched defenses all season long — rushing for 106 yards in the upset win against Texas A&M earlier this month and passing for 353 yards two weeks ago against Missouri . The best part? He still has three more years of eligibility after 2024 as South Carolina looks to build itself into a Playoff contender. Beamer now has more wins through his first four seasons than any other South Carolina coach did in the same time frame, including Steve Spurrier. Behind Sellers, the Gamecocks are on the way, and that’s great for college football as expansion creates more contenders. “He’s a competitor. He’s a warrior. Nothing bothers him. He’s so poised and doesn’t get too high or too low. He was just having fun out there playing,” said Beamer, who also made a case for his team being included in the Playoff despite three losses. “I get it. The committee has a really tough job. They have to choose the 12 best teams. I get it, we have three losses, I understand that. But it’s hard for me to sit there and say we’re not one of the twelve best teams in the country when you look at our strength of schedule, when you look at our wins on the road. “I don’t know if there’s a hotter team in America.” Or a hotter quarterback than Sellers for that matter. (Photo: Isaiah Vazquez / Getty Images)Rescuers build snow caves to stay with injured snowboarder in Strathcona Park Search and rescue team members had worked through Sunday afternoon and night in heavy snow, by snowmobile and by ski, to try to access the couple Jeff Bell Nov 25, 2024 12:00 PM Nov 25, 2024 12:06 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Rescuers responded to injured snowmobiler near Mount Washington. VIA COMOX VALLEY SEARCH AND RESCUE Listen to this article 00:01:55 Rescuers built snow caves in the back country of Strathcona Provincial Park overnight Sunday so they could stay with an injured snowboarder until she could be flown out. The injured woman was taken out by helicopter about 10:30 a.m. Monday and transported to a waiting ambulance. Her male companion was not injured. The rescue effort began when Comox Valley Search and Rescue was paged about 3:30 p.m. Sunday about a snowboarder who had been hurt on Mount Allan Brooks, near Lake Helen Mackenzie. About 15 search and rescue team members worked through the afternoon Sunday in heavy snow, by snowmobile and by ski, to try to access the couple, spokesperson Paul Berry said Monday from the rescue site. A group of four rescuers finally got to the couple about 1:30 a.m. Monday, and built two snow caves to shelter overnight, Berry said. “It’s not unusual to have to spend the night when conditions don’t allow you to do anything else.” Many more search and rescue team members were part of the response, including some trying to break trails with their snowmobiles, he said. The rescue was the second on the weekend for the Comox Valley rescue volunteers, who were also called out on Saturday afternoon to help an injured snowmobiler near Mount Washington, Berry said. Due to a high avalanche-danger warning in the area, they had to get an assessment from an avalanche site safety officer before proceeding. Two males had been “high marking” — trying to get their snowmobiles as high up a slope as possible — when one fell and hurt his shoulder, Berry said. High marking can be risky depending on conditions and where it is done, he said. The victim was taken by helicopter to an ambulance waiting at the Courtenay Airpark. [email protected] 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 Local News Man clinging to piling rescued from Cowichan Bay after skiff overturns Nov 25, 2024 10:30 AM B.C. health minister vows overdose revamp after addictions portfolio is scrapped Nov 25, 2024 7:00 AM Vancouver Island retailers take stock of federal government's GST holiday Nov 25, 2024 5:45 AM Featured FlyerA telephone town hall Monday provided Idahoans the opportunity to get the governor's perspective on key issues facing the state. With just a few weeks passed since the general election and the state's legislative session fast approaching, Gov. Brad Little sat down with Lupe Wissel, state director of AARP Idaho, in a look ahead to the upcoming political landscape for the state and the nation. While the focus was largely on state-specific issues, many callers raised questions regarding how potential national changes implemented by the incoming Trump administration could impact the state. IMMIGRATION CONCERNS The issue most consistently raised during the call-in session was related to the realm of immigration. President-elect Donald Trump has claimed he will launch the “largest deportation program in U.S. history,” as reported by the Associated Press . One caller asked what Idaho’s plan would be to offset the potential deportation of 35,000 people — the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the state — and potential dairy staffing shortages that could follow an exodus of workers. “Their initial intent is known criminals, where they know they’re a danger to society,” Little said. “That’s the No. 1 priority, and I believe that's going to be the case.” Little noted that the dairy industry is also putting together a proposal that would put its workers in the same category as other agricultural entities, that are able to have workers come on a permitted basis year-round. According to the International Dairy Foods Association , the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which failed to pass in Congress, sought to eliminate the seasonality requirement in the H-2A program — which allows foreign workers to enter a contract for up to 10 months of agricultural work — to expand its application into the diary sector. “There’s a lot of H-2A workers that come to Idaho, but it’s only seasonal — well, you have to milk cows all year round,” Little said. SOCIAL SECURITY TAX CUTS One caller pointed to Trump’s proposed exemption on Social Security income taxes and the popularity this proposal has among seniors in Idaho. Little said that if this were ultimately passed by Congress, he would ensure Idaho is conforming to federal tax standards. “My position (is) always that taxes should be fair, simple, predictable and competitive, and one of the ways to make them simple is ... how you calculate your federal liability is the same way you should calculate your state liability,” Little said. Under the current standards of the Social Security Administration , a federal tax return filed by an individual with an income between $25,000 and $34,000 could pay an income tax on up to 50% of benefits. In the case of those filing jointly, the threshold shifts to between $32,000 and $44,000. These taxes currently pay into the Social Security system to maintain the program for future withdrawals and retirees. WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS One caller expressed concerns about women’s reproductive rights and how uncertainty regarding the implications of state law has led to doctors leaving the state. “There’s litigation taking place in Idaho right now to kind of clarify the issue for doctors,” Little said. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently scheduled to hear oral arguments on Dec. 10 regarding whether emergency abortions can be prosecuted under Idaho law. The case concerns the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), a federal law requiring medical providers that receive Medicare funds to treat and stabilize anyone in an emergency. A decision in the case will determine the validity of the state of Idaho’s argument that this federal law doesn’t supersede state law and that EMTALA does not require abortions to be conducted in emergencies, as reported by the Idaho Press . The incoming Trump administration’s position on bans similar to what is in place in Idaho is less than clear. In the past year, he has characterized an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy as "too severe," while also saying he would vote against Florida’s ballot measure that sought to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban, as reported by the Associated Press .None
Google investing nearly $1B this year in Nebraska; total will hit $4.4BNoneNEW YORK (AP) — More shoppers than ever are on track to use ‘buy now, pay later’ plans this holiday season, as the ability to spread out payments looks attractive at a time when Americans still feel the lingering effect of inflation and already have record-high credit card debt. The data firm Adobe Analytics predicts shoppers will spend 11.4% more this holiday season using buy now, pay later than they did a year ago. The company forecasts shoppers will purchase $18.5 billion worth of goods using the third-party services for the period Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with $993 million worth of purchases on Cyber Monday alone. Buy now, pay later can be particularly appealing to consumers who have low credit scores or no credit history, such as younger shoppers, because most of the companies providing the service run only soft credit checks and don’t report the loans and payment histories to the credit bureaus, unlike credit card companies. This holiday season, buy now, pay later users can also feel more confident if a transaction goes awry. In May, the CFPB said buy now, pay later company must adhere to other regulations that govern traditional credit, such as providing ways to demand refunds and dispute transactions. To use a buy now, pay later plan, consumers typically sign up with bank account information or a debit or credit card, and agree to pay for purchases in monthly installments, typically over eight weeks or more. The loans are marketed as requiring no or low interest, or only conditional fees, such as for late payment. Klarna, Afterpay and Affirm are three of the biggest buy now, pay later companies. But consumer advocates warn that shoppers who sign up for the payment plans using a credit card can be hit with more interest and fees. That's because individuals open themselves up to interest on the credit card payment, if it's carried month to month, on top of any late fees, interest, or penalties from the buy now, pay later loan itself. Experts advise against using a credit card to pay for these plans for this reason. Consumer watchdogs also say the plans lead consumers to overextend themselves because, for example, not paying full price up front leaves, in the shopper’s mind at least, more money for smaller purchases . They also caution consumers to keep careful track of using multiple buy now, pay later services, as the automatic payments can add up, and there is no central reporting, such as with a credit card statement. “Buy now, pay later can be an innovative tool for purchases you’re going to make anyway,” said Mark Elliott, chief customer officer at financial services company LendingClub. “The challenge is that it does fuel overspending.” For merchants, that’s part of the appeal. Retailers have found that customers are more likely to have bigger cart sizes or to convert from browsing to checking out when buy now, pay later is offered. One report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York cited research that found customers spend 20% more when buy now, pay later is available. “The reality is that the increased cost-of-living and inflation have put more people in a situation where they’re already relying on revolving credit,” Elliott said. “The psychographics of ‘buy now, pay later’ may be different — people don’t think of it as debt — but it is.” If a consumer misses a payment, they can face fees, interest, or the possibility of being locked out of using the services in the future. Emily Childers, consumer financial expert for personal-finance technology company Credit Karma, said that internal data shows member credit card balances are up more than 50% for Gen Z and millennial members since March 2022, when the Fed started raising interest rates. “Young people are entering this holiday season already in the red,” she said. “And, based on what we’re seeing in the data, they’re continuing to bury their heads in the sand and spend.” The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.
They were all exceptional – Mikel Arteta loved seeing Arsenal run riot in Lisbon
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